Sermon Reflections from God at the Movies "If" | Alex Hardt | June 16, 2024  

In our journey through life, we often find ourselves at a crossroads, pondering the profound questions of existence: Why am I here? What is my purpose? These questions are not just philosophical musings but are deeply rooted in our desire to find meaning and direction. The quest for purpose is universal, and it's a treasure hunt where the map to our destination is God's wisdom.
 
Wisdom is more than knowledge; it's the application of God's truth in our lives. It's a treasure that surpasses all material wealth, offering us a life of peace, security, and fulfillment. Unlike the fleeting satisfaction that comes from earthly achievements, wisdom provides us with a guiding light through life's complexities. It's about seeing our lives from God's perspective and aligning our desires with His.
 
Our lives are often marred by brokenness and pain, leaving us feeling lost and disconnected. However, through our faith in Jesus Christ, we can experience healing that transcends the physical realm. The story of Jesus healing the deaf and mute man in Mark 7 is a powerful testament to this truth. It's not just about the restoration of physical abilities but about finding a renewed sense of purpose and identity in Christ.
 
Purpose is not a passive state; it requires action. It's about translating our beliefs into deeds that reflect God's love and grace. The movie "If" illustrates this beautifully, showing characters who find purpose in helping others. Similarly, we are called to serve and love, making God's compassion tangible in the world. Our actions can have a profound impact, as seen in the story of a young girl creating "bags of grace" for those in need, embodying the very essence of living out one's purpose.
 
LIFE APPLICATION
This week, challenge yourself to actively seek God's wisdom in your daily life. Reflect on how you can apply this wisdom to serve others and make a positive impact in your community. Ask yourself:
 
How can I incorporate prayer and scripture into my daily routine to grow in wisdom?
 In what areas of my life do I need healing to fully embrace my God-given purpose?
 What tangible actions can I take this week to demonstrate God's love to those around me?
 
Remember, your purpose is not defined by the world's standards but by your relationship with the Heavenly Father. Embrace the journey, knowing that each step guided by God's wisdom leads you closer to the treasure of a purposeful life.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
Wisdom Surpasses Wealth Wisdom is more precious than material riches because it guides us to live in alignment with God's will. By valuing wisdom above earthly treasures, we prioritize our spiritual growth and find true fulfillment in life.

Healing Leads to Purpose The healing of the deaf and mute man illustrates that Christ's touch goes beyond physical restoration; it opens us to a deeper understanding of our purpose. Embracing Jesus' healing can lead us to a life of clarity and meaningful action.

Action Reflects God's Love Living out our purpose is not passive; it requires action that reflects God's love to the world. By actively serving others and sharing the gospel, we fulfill our calling and make a tangible impact in the lives of those around us.

Blessings, 
Pastor Alex

​MESSAGE LINK
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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 Jesus is Here | Julio Barros | April 14, 2024

It was a pleasure to welcome Pastor Julio to the pulpit today as he and his congregation had worked alongside us in packing meals for Rise Against Hunger.  It was a glorious time of serving together in spite of the fact that there was a language barrier.  It was a glimpse of heaven as we know all believing peoples will be there on day worshiping the Lord together.

The text of Pastor Julio’s sermon was Luke 18 and the parable of the unbelieving judge who was constantly bombarded by the widow coming to him seeking justice.  She was persistent until the judge finally relented and sought justice for her.  Her persistence was likened to our prayers and our need to be persistent in prayer.  God is listening and desires to know our hearts.  That which one prays for repeatedly is truly on their heart and matters to them.  God knows this and honors persistence.

Pastor Julio spoke on the importance of prayer in various ways.  First, he mentioned that prayer has a physical effect on the one who prays.  This close time with God makes one happier and even will cause one to smile.  Taking time to pray daily will make a difference in your life as it is what the Bible would consider good medicine.  Proverbs 17:22 “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”    Spending time with God will change your heart and provide an attitude adjustment for better living.

Next, Pastor mentioned the spiritual effects of having a prayer life.  When you pray you build something around you that adds protection and hope for your family and wisdom for daily living.  It is a time when you tap into the wisdom of God and let it flow into you.  Prayer is not just mindless repetition but communication and relationship building with God himself.   How do you build friendships with others?  You do it by spending quality time with them, sharing your heart and working together.   God allows us to spend quality time with Him, share our hearts and serve Him with others to strengthen our relationship with Him. Jesus called himself our friend in John 15:14 “You are my friends if you do what I command.”  Our question to ourselves should be, how do I know what God commands of me?  Through His Word He reveals himself to us, through faith in Jesus and the indwelling of His Holy Spirit we can learn of God’s ways and through prayer God speaks to us.  Being the friend of Almighty God is an awesome thing.
Now to the actual praying and the need to be persistent like the widow in the parable.  God will answer prayer but in His time.  Isaiah 55:9 “

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”   We do not know the times of life, the interactions of relationships and the whys and why nots of all things like God does.  So His answers are sometimes, “Yes”, sometimes “No” and sometimes “Wait”.   We must keep praying and trust in God’s timing and sovereignty.  We must always remember that God gave man free will and what God desires may not come to pass if the person is unrepentant and rejects God.  Pray diligently that the Holy Spirit will be able to soften your loved ones hearts towards God and that they will come to know Jesus.  I lean on 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”  God desires that all come to know Him- so keep on praying. 

Pastor Julio closed with this thought, “May our daily life be an act of prayer.” That would truly bring a change of heart to us both physically and spiritually. Praise God!

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 Turning Anger into Love | Damon Hopkins | March 17,2024  
 
I love to hear Damon speak as he always speaks from experience and a heart in tune with God.  Like Pastor Alex when he began this series, he began with an experience of anger and its consequences.  Damon’s experience was an anger or dislike of a person based on something he could not readily identify. The dislike or hatred grew each time he was with this person.  Being in tune with the Holy Spirit within him, his spirit was agitated as his feelings did not line up with what he felt a Christian should feel.  Damon turned to God and asked him to reveal the source of this dislike and turn it to good.  Over time, Damon learned to love and appreciate this individual because God led and he listened.  The Holy Spirit can and will do a mighty work within us moving, changing, refining, and molding our character so that we can better reflect our Lord Jesus.
Damon has gleaned 3 principles about anger that he shared with us.

1. Our battles are not against flesh and blood .  Scripture teaches us this in Ephesians 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”  We cannot see Satan at work but we can feel him and he is felt and known by the Holy Spirit that indwells us.  One of my favorite stories in the Old Testament is when Elisha as being pursued by a king and his servant came to tell him that they were surrounded. He is Elisha’s rely:  “When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” Like Elisha we do not need to be afraid because our God is greater than any forces of evil and He promises to be with us and never leave us for forsake us.

 

1. Pay attention to what is going on inside you.  Solomon gave similar advice in Proverbs 2:9-11 “Then you will understand righteousness and justice  and equity, every good path;  10 for wisdom will come into your heart,  and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; 11 discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you,”  God promises to give us what we need if we will listen to Him and follow His guidance.    Jesus told us in John 16:3 to do exactly what Damon said, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.’   God’s Holy Spirit that indwells you will be your guide if you will but listen.

 

1. Anger, even righteous anger does not justify unrighteous responses.   James directly addresses this issue. James 1:19-21 “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”  Damon urged us to be ready listeners and slow to speak and anger.  Knowing that angry responses are a foothold for the devil, one must proceed with caution and listen to the Lord.

 
It was truly a pleasure to have Damon back to speak to us.  He is a walking miracle and brings God’s light whenever and wherever he speaks. 
Thanks Damon for your heartfelt words of wisdom from Gods’ Word.
Linda

MESSAGE LINK
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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 Stumbling Over Anger | Alex Hardt | March 4,2024  
 
Pastor Alex took time this week to instruct us on the makeup, use and disposition of anger in our lives.  It is an emotion all of us have from time to time and the intensity of our anger varies.  Often times we are angry without knowing the root cause of our anger and as in the case of an iceberg it is often very deeply hidden.  In Ephesians 4 Paul speaks of this root as sin in 26-27 “ Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. “   Misuse of anger leads to sin. James is very plain in James 1:20 “for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”   Knowing that anger needs to be ‘handled’ so as to not to lead us to sin, we need to take it seriously and seek God’s help in controlling, recognizing and dealing with it.   Pastor Alex said the recognizing the source urges us to uncover our emotions leads towards healing instead of destruction. 

How can we do that?  Scripture gives us ways to see anger for what it is.  Ephesians 4:26 would imply that anger can be continued day to day.  It can fester and grow.  By not letting the sun go down on our anger we are containing and addressing it right away.  Letting it fester produces bitterness, more anger and strife.  We do not want to let our anger grow. James 1:20 tells us “for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”   The anger of man for man’s sake or reasons is sin, it is not anger expressed righteously for something done against God.  Man’s anger is self-driven and does not produce the righteousness of God.   That anger causes us to sin and sinning does not work towards God but away from Him.   1 Corinthians 13:5 is speaking of love but also teaches us about anger. “It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”  Anger helps us keep a record of wrongs done to us for which we may want to seek revenge. 

Back to the question, how do we get rid of anger or overcome it?  Scripture gives us advice on this in Ephesians 4:30-31 we are given a reason to be rid of it as well as what it includes.  “ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”  Our sinful anger grieves the Holy Spirit, it saddens Him as it is not from God and of God.  Paul advises us to get rid of it.  Put it out of your life, leave it behind, make be inaccessible in your mind through the power of God.  Pray, study, confess and ask God for His help.  “Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil’. Is the advice of the psalmist in Psalm 37:8   Proverbs 15:8 “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”   As you can see, scripture has much to teach us about anger.  If this is an issue for you, pray and search scripture for comfort and strength to help with your anger issues.

Pastor Alex wanted us to realize too that Satan is pleased with anger and as we have said it does not lead to God’s righteousness or right behavior.  Satan wishes to destroy our witness and lead us away from God.  He cannot take our salvation but he can destroy our witness, make us unhappy and lead us farther away, bringing grief to the Holy Spirit within us.  I love the verses in 1 Peter 5:8-9  that Pastor referenced. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”   Overcoming Satan’s power to draw us into anger requires resisting, standing firm, being aware of this pitfall and taking him seriously.  He is not a threat to God but is to us if we are not rooted, grounded and firmly focused on God.  That’s why Peter, who experienced this first hand, tells us to be on guard- watchful and serious.  Remember 1 John 4:4 “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”  Take Heart in Jesus!

What does one conclude about anger and dealing with it in a godly way?  Lean on Jesus, seek the counsel of the Holy Spirit to root out the causes of your anger.  Be alert and seek to not give in to Satan’s schemes and devices to lure you into sinning with anger.  God’s plan is for you to live righteously and glorify Him in your words and deeds.  Ponder James 4:17 “ If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” Be strong in Jesus!
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. ​