Sermon Reflections from Destined For Greatness | Alex Hardt | September 24, 2023
It was good to have Pastor Alex back in the pulpit after his adventures and misadventures into the world of medicine, surgery and healing. God is good and He returned Alex to us filled and renewed. Have you thought about what your purpose is in life and why God put you right where you are? Knowing our Omnipotent God does not make mistakes, we have to consider what is around me, who is around me that God wants me to impact with His message. We were created to give God glory so where do you need to spread or show His glory right where you are? Our passage in 1 Peter 2 begins with Paul’s admonition to rid ourselves of all evil, hypocrisy, envy, slander, etc. and be ready to take in God’s spiritual food to make us strong and able to face the pressures of this world. Paul tells us we are chosen by God and much will be required of us, so we need to be ready. Being chosen by faith in Jesus is a privilege and because we chose to follow Jesus we are precious to Him. Ponder that for a minute or two. Chosen by God and Precious to Him. What better place can there be than being one who is set apart for His work and loved by Him. I am reminded of one of my favorite verses Nahum 1:7 “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him,” Being precious to Him guarantees we are going to be cared for in good times and bad. He is always good, we can depend upon Him. Once we accept that we are chosen and precious to Him, we can get on with aligning ourselves with Jesus and looking with expectation towards the work He has for us. How does one align themselves with Jesus?, would seem a critical question. Peter would suggest that making Christ the cornerstone of our faith is critical. Jesus needs to be the central focus of our study and worship. Dive into God’s Word and learn about Jesus. Pray and ask Him for discernment and wisdom in your everyday life. Seek to reflect Jesus and his foundational principles within your life. Be daring and bold, asking God what purpose He has for you and pray for the courage to step out where He leads you, as He will! Are you aligned with Jesus? If you consider yourself on the pathway God has laid out for you, then seek to live out each day in God. Ask yourself, who can I bring alongside me today to talk with about God? Where can I show His love, kindness, gentleness and hope through the circumstances of my day? Maybe you don’t see an opportunity to talk about God, so make one! Call a friend, or someone who is suffering and offer a ‘cup of cold water’ in His name through your words and prayers. Maybe it is time to send a card to which you can add a word of encouragement. Maybe it is time to plan an event to bring others into fellowship in your home or at a restaurant. God meant us for community and we need to be engaged. You can’t talk and live with and in God by yourself. You were chosen to be in the world relating and filling the needs people have for Him. When in doubt, remember and claim our memory verse in Luke 18:27 “Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” If we are about His kingdom’s work, we can leave a legacy of faith in our wake showing His greatness. Linda MESSAGE LINK Click Here to View the Message on Youtube Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am. Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass. Sermon Reflections from Dazzled By the Divine | Sara Wade | September 3, 2023
Have you ever wondered if the impossible is possible? Sometimes in our moments of desperation and pain, when we feel overwhelmed and have no idea what to do... we become open to God and seeing his handiwork. So much of what happens in our life is beyond our capacity, skill set, talents, gifts, intelligence, or strength. There is no way that either you or I could do or handle everything alone. We need someone to come alongside us and give us wisdom, someone to give us strength, someone to lead us and guide us, someone to help us do what seems to be impossible. This someone happens to be God. Matthew 17:18-20 says it like this... 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” The disciples of Jesus couldn't do what was asked of them. Jesus had trained, showed, and instructed them how to cast out demons. And yet they still couldn't do it. And I know what your thinking... Of course, they couldn't cast out demons...that's out of this world...that's impossible. Jesus, God, is asking humans to do only what God can do. And you would be right, except Jesus doesn't give them a pass. He calls them out for their little faith. They didn't believe that God could use them to do the impossible. They just needed an ounce of faith in God and God's plans to cast out the demons through them, but the disciples (the closest friends of Jesus) didn't even have that. Jesus wasn't upset that they didn't cast out the demons...he was upset because they didn't believe they could. They didn't trust God or believe that God would use them. They didn't trust that God, the creator of the universe, could cast out and destroy demons. How is the world supposed to believe and trust in God, if Jesus' own disciples are doubting the Almighty?!? Every day people are encountering situations where it seems impossible that any good could come out of the situation or that the situation could be resolved or that anything could be done. We feel overwhelmed, hopeless, lost, broken, empty, and afraid. But if we have even the smallest of faith. The faith of a mustard seed then we can move mountains the scriptures says. I don't know about you, but I am sure glad I don't have to face life alone. That I have a God who is there by my side, leading me, guiding me, and helping me to make the impossible possible. I can see a different path forward because of God. My future no longer looks dark but full of light. It doesn't mean it will be easy, it just means it's possible. And that possibility gives me hope of a brighter future. May you trust God, may you be dazzled by the divine, and may you know that the impossible is possible with God. ] Blessings, Pastor Alex MESSAGE LINK Click Here to View the Message on Youtube Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am. Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass. |
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