Wednesday, December 16, 2015

What are you Waiting For?

Sermon Text: Ps. 27:14 - Wait for the Lord;  be strong and take heart  and wait for the Lord.
Sermon Title:  What are You Waiting For?
1.  Builds anticipationPhil. 4:6 - 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
2.  Grows your faithRomans 10:17 - 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
3.  Draws you closer to Godvs. 8 - 8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”  Your face, Lord, I will seek.
4.  Weeds out bad motivesMatt 6:33 - 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
5.  Becomes a teachable momentvs. 11 - 11 Teach me your way, Lord;  lead me in a straight path  because of my oppressors.
6.  Gives you “street cred” – 1 John 4:4 - 4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
7.  Confirmation that God will do it!  - vs. 14 - Wait for the Lord;   be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.


Sunday, December 13, 2015

Put a Name on It Part IV

Sermon Text: Matthew 1:23 - "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us").
Sermon Title: Put A Name On It – Part IV

Point 1:  Call Him by name
a) El Shaddai:“God Almighty.” It stresses God’s loving supply and comfort; others His power as the Almighty one standing on a mountain and who corrects and chastens (Gen. 17:1; 28:3; 35:11; Ex. 6:1; Ps. 91:1,
b)  El Elyon: “The Most High God.” Stresses God’s strength, sovereignty, and supremacy (Gen. 14:19; Ps. 9:2; Dan. 7:18, 22, 25).
c)  Yahweh Jireh (Yireh): “The Lord will provide.” Stresses God’s provision for His people (Gen. 22:14).
d)  Yahweh Nissi:“The Lord is my Banner.” Stresses that God is our rallying point and our means of victory; the one who fights for His people (Ex. 17:15).
e)  Yahweh Shalom:“The Lord is Peace.” Points to the Lord as the means of our peace and rest (Jud. 6:24).
f)    Yahweh Sabbaoth:“The Lord of Hosts.” A military figure portraying the Lord as the commander of the armies of heaven (1 Sam. 1:3; 17:45).
g)  Yahweh Ro’i: “The Lord my Shepherd.” Portrays the Lord as the Shepherd who cares for His people as a shepherd cares for the sheep of his pasture (Ps. 23:1).
h)  Yahweh Tsidkenu: “The Lord our Righteousness.” Portrays the Lord as the means of our righteousness (Jer. 23:6).
i)    Yahweh Shammah: “The Lord is there.” Portrays the Lord’s personal presence in the millennial kingdom (Ezek. 48:35).
j)    Yahweh Elohim Israel: “The Lord, the God of Israel.” Identifies Yahweh as the God of Israel in contrast to the false gods of the nations (Jud. 5:3.; Isa. 17:6).
k)  Adonai: Like Elohim, this too is a plural of majesty. The singular form means “master, owner.” Stresses man’s relationship to God as his master, authority, and provider (Gen. 18:2; 40:1; 1 Sam. 1:15; Ex. 21:1-6; Josh. 5:14).
Point 2:  Call the Right God - 1 Sam 5:2–7 -2 Then they carried the ark into Dagon’s temple and set it beside Dagon. 3 When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! They took Dagon and put him back in his place. 4 But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained. 5 That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor any others who enter Dagon’s temple at Ashdod step on the threshold. 6 The Lord’s hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation on them and afflicted them with tumors. 7 When the people of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy on us and on Dagon our god.”
The Philistines got the Ark of the Covenant and set their god beside God. Each morning there god had fell over. They finally revealed their god could not stand up to THE God.
       We do the same thing every year. We bring all kinds of gods by the wrong names and set them beside Jesus birthday. None of them can stand up to Jesus. They weren't born on Christmas. They were created by man. We bring in gifts and set them beside Jesus. We name it Christmas. We bring Christmas parties and set it beside Jesus and name it Christmas. We bring in Christmas trees and set them beside Jesus and call it Christmas. We bring in Santa Claus and set him beside Jesus and call it Christmas but he falls over too. We bring in sales, shopping, trips and family and set them beside Jesus and call it Christmas. All of them fall over just like Dagon. They are the wrong name and I don't care how much you call them Christmas they are not Christmas and they will fall also. They will fail you every time.
Life Application: 
1.  Call on him…Jesus to save you.
2.  Get your own name for God – I need you…way maker…bill payer…new relationship

3.  Remember for Christmas – his name is Emmanuel.  

Sunday, December 6, 2015

Put a Name on It Pt 2 - 11am

Sermon Text:  Luke 1: 13, 62-64 - 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.
Sermon Title:  Put a Name on It! Pt II
Lesson 1:   Whenever God tells you to name something DO ITVs. 19-20 - 19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”
Lesson 2:  Incorrect naming will stop your flow in God verse 20
Zachariah was not able to talk.  
Vs. 22-24 - 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.
23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion.
Lesson 3: Zachariah got the name right. Vs. 62 – 64 - 62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.
1.  Relationships will tell you the wrong name based on tradition
2.  When putting the right name on it you must be willing to be different
3.  The last words Zachariah said was doubt…the first words after putting the right name on it was praise

Point 4:  Put a Name on it!
a)  El Shaddai:“God Almighty.” The derivation is uncertain. Some think it stresses God’s loving supply and comfort; others His power as the Almighty one standing on a mountain and who corrects and chastens (Gen. 17:1; 28:3; 35:11; Ex. 6:1; Ps. 91:1,
b)  El Elyon: “The Most High God.” Stresses God’s strength, sovereignty, and supremacy (Gen. 14:19; Ps. 9:2; Dan. 7:18, 22, 25).
c)  Yahweh Jireh (Yireh): “The Lord will provide.” Stresses God’s provision for His people (Gen. 22:14).
d)  Yahweh Nissi:“The Lord is my Banner.” Stresses that God is our rallying point and our means of victory; the one who fights for His people (Ex. 17:15).
e)  Yahweh Shalom:“The Lord is Peace.” Points to the Lord as the means of our peace and rest (Jud. 6:24).
f)    Yahweh Sabbaoth:“The Lord of Hosts.” A military figure portraying the Lord as the commander of the armies of heaven (1 Sam. 1:3; 17:45).
g)  Yahweh Ro’i: “The Lord my Shepherd.” Portrays the Lord as the Shepherd who cares for His people as a shepherd cares for the sheep of his pasture (Ps. 23:1).
h)  Yahweh Tsidkenu: “The Lord our Righteousness.” Portrays the Lord as the means of our righteousness (Jer. 23:6).
i)    Yahweh Shammah: “The Lord is there.” Portrays the Lord’s personal presence in the millennial kingdom (Ezek. 48:35).
j)    Yahweh Elohim Israel: “The Lord, the God of Israel.” Identifies Yahweh as the God of Israel in contrast to the false gods of the nations (Jud. 5:3.; Isa. 17:6).

Life Application/Homework:
1.  Put the right name on your problem
2.  Put the right name on your pain

3.  Put the right name on your promise

Put a Name on It Pt 2

Sermon Text:  Luke 1: 13, 62-64 - 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.
Sermon Title:  Put a Name on It! Pt II
Lesson 1:   Whenever God tells you to name something DO ITVs. 19-20 - 19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”
Lesson 2:  Incorrect naming will stop your flow in God verse 20
Zachariah was not able to talk.  
Vs. 22-24 - 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.
23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion.
Lesson 3: Zachariah got the name right. Vs. 62 – 64 - 62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.
1.  Relationships will tell you the wrong name based on tradition
2.  When putting the right name on it you must be willing to be different
3.  The last words Zachariah said was doubt…the first words after putting the right name on it was praise

Life Application/Homework:
1.  Put the right name on your problem
2.  Put the right name on your pain

3.  Put the right name on your promise

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Put a Name on It

Sermon Text: Genesis 2: 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field.
Sermon Title: Put a Name on It
Luke 1: 31, 59 – 63 - 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60 but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”
61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”
62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.”.
Exodus 17:7 - Moses named the place Massah (which means "test") and Meribah (which means "arguing") because the people of Israel argued with Moses and tested the LORD by saying, "Is the LORD here with us or not?"
Genesis 26:33 - So Isaac named the well Shibah (which means "oath"). And to this day the town that grew up there is called Beersheba (which means "well of the oath").
Genesis 26:22 - Abandoning that one, Isaac moved on and dug another well. This time there was no dispute over it, so Isaac named the place Rehoboth (which means "open space"), for he said, "At last the LORD has created enough space for us to prosper in this land."
Genesis 35:15 - And Jacob named the place Bethel (which means "house of God"), because God had spoken to him there.
Genesis 32:30 - Jacob named the place Peniel (which means "face of God"), for he said, "I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared."
Judges 2:5 - So they called the place Bokim (which means "weeping"), and they offered sacrifices there to the LORD.
 In other words the Jews put on name on it.
Point 1: Name your day Psalm 118: 24 This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Point 2: Name your mood/attitude Isaiah 26:3 - You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
Point 3: Name your ability   Philippians 4:13 - For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Point 4: Name your future Romans 8:31 - What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Conclusion:

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Journal Entry - 5 of 5

Personal Journal Entry Note #5 of 5 – October 25, 2015 Published November 20, 2015

Overview: The purpose of Our Journey His-story (OJHS) journal is for you to learn what to do when you are faced with a crisis, have a map and blueprint to trace your steps when you face a seemingly insurmountable problem and for Pastor & Sheep to live out our faith together as “He who begin a good work in us will bring it to completion” Phil 1: 6.  We will "finish what we started".  I begin this OJHS personal prayer journal entry with a summary of journal entries I've had since February. As I share with you my journaling, I believe it is important that I bring everyone up to date and you see how God operates during painful periods in our life, how he can operate in your life and how he is operating at New Life
The more banks I tell our story to the more angry I get.  One bank meeting the banker told us they feel like we have grounds to sue the bank that did this… I wasn’t sure whether they were baiting me to see if I would play the victim…I told them I didn’t have time to be a victim…I had a vision and I would be victorious if they give us the loan…banks stick together so being a victim would make the bank the villain…just don’t trust the lawsuit suggestion…
        My prayers were so powerful…my journaling so reflective; my banking meetings so constant…I am not giving up.  One bank says maybe; another says no; still another doesn’t return a call…still more prayer…Lord I know you got us Lord.  I know you are with us no matter how the meetings go.
        My faith is soaring even though I don’t see any end in sight.  I met with a lot of leaders individually and collectively and all of them to a person are full of faith.  We have circled the wagons…I feel God is about to move but I don’t know when. 
        More prayer…more meetings…more calls…then a trip to Dallas for MegaFest.  Bishop Jakes church finance consultant/advisor wants me to meet with one more person…the advisor is not happy with the process…he is assertive, confident of victory but frustrated with the length of time its taking…  We meet in the lobby of the hotel and we discuss in detail everything…I am believing God…the Lord reminds me of my meeting with the focus group of LifeChangers who told me others are wondering why the youth building is not completed and why are things taking so long.  So during my meeting I begin to believe God to do everything.  You have not cause you ask not so I ask…with a firm handshake and clean eye contact I ask for everything. Not only restart construction but add the youth building.  I am really going to trust God.
        The more we talk the more I believe God is at work.  Weeks go by and I see the hand of God working through this lender.  We discuss how to change the scope to not do some classrooms and office space and add the youth building.  They say yes.  but I don’t agree right away.  I put them on hold for a few days…I’ve gone from crying for a yes to telling the bank with the yes I will get back to them…I’m not crazy, I’m full of faith and I have to make sure no one else gives me a better deal – God is at work.  I put the pastoral staff on a fast and I agree to the bank coming to be in church…Everything is going our way – God’s way – Yes! Yes! Yes!  I agree.  Now it’s more documents and one thing after another to get to closing. 
Everyday more meetings; lawyer…mayor…architect… contractor…staff… vision board…and then repeat all that over again.  Now the Summit is here and every preacher is confirming what’s going on behind the scenes…I can’t wait; I call, text and email the bank one more time to get the yes documented before loan docs are done and before I tell the LifeChangers.  We talk Friday night as well as Saturday all during the day.  I’m satisfied…although we haven’t closed.  It’s time to tell everyone what God has done.  God you are so faithful.  You timed this from Thursday February 26th to now.  Every 227 days; every 5448 hours; every 326,880 minutes; every 19,612,800 seconds of this wait was worth it.  You increased our faith – you kept us together.  We kept growing spiritually and numerically…now we are restarting the building….with the Youth Building – Hallelujah – Thank you Jesus. 
Please see contractor schedule for the OJHS below.  All dates can change depending on weather and subcontractor availability. 

YOUTH BUILDING OBLIGATION TO THE GENERATION
Mobilize Equipment                 end of November – December 1st  
Electrical                                 January 1st week
Plumbing                                         January 3rd week
Dry Wall/Studs                        February 1st week
Punch List                               February last week
Ready for Occupancy              March 2nd Week
SANCTUARY EXPANSION (MORE SEATS, MORE SOULS)

Schedule still pending             Hopefully start before Christmas

Virtual Family Sunday Questions

What ways can we create community as a family? How has our viewership/church attendance enhanced or diminished our family covenant? What way...