1 Pastor's Point of View

Ezekiel 1:25-2:1; Revelation 1:9-17While these types of experiences seem rare, they can occur today, not only to great prophets but those that consider themselves ordinary believers. They are especially crafted by God to produce “Awe”, or what we call the “Fear of the Lord” which is a foundational experience (Proverb 1:7, 9:10) which aids the believer to develop “Compassionate wisdom.” This type of experience usually induced by either theophany or angelic appearance can be shocking to the surprised recipient but it is given to produce awe of God. This experience prepares the believer for a very challenging call and mission. This type of experience can also resolve the subtle evil of becoming “over-familiar” with God: all daddy and no Lord; which may lead to a primarily egocentric relationship, where God becomes an easy broker or a soft touch: Remember that in the Lord's prayer “your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” come before Give us today our daily bread etc. God has for all of us His will to be done on earth and sometimes it is so challenging that He gives such shocking experiences. It helps produce awe, respect, reverence for God that surpasses the normal human responses like fear because of the difficult call and challenge to their faith. And as in Paul's life, God given radical manifestation began his ministry and continued throughout his ministry (Acts 9:23:11; 27:23)Our key passages (Ephesians 1:25-2:1; Revelation 1:9-17) Continue to illustrate the humanly uncomfortable manifestations for God's prophets' but what begins as a shock ends with wisdom, confidence in God and His plan.Usually these shocking manifestation of God occur when God's macro/major plans are revealed: Other examples are easy to locate in Scripture.  Abraham's call in Genesis 12:3 “Where he fell face down” before God's revelation.Moses Burning Bush experience in Exodus 3, The whole chapter records Moses shock and human reticenceIsaiah's reaction in Isaiah 6:1-5 especially verse 5, “woe to me!” I am ruined… because eyes have seen the king, the Lord almighty” Remember also Job 42:1-5)Mary's response to the angel Gabriel, Luke 1:29-30 “... Mary was greatly troubled and confused at the angel's words'The disciples at Jesus's transfiguration (Matthew 17:6 “When the disciples heard the voice of the Lord, declaring Jesus as His son, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified!While these experiences themselves seem to be far from a blessing they all lead to a great respect for God and HIs personal call in their lives, an “Awe” and confidence that He who calls us is able to empower us to get it done (Philippians 1:6) a shock experience that leads to glory.Finally these experiences can be distinguished from an Ananias and Sapphira type of experience. Which illustrates a judgment from God. John the revelator's “falling at the risen Jesus's feet”, as though dead that produced great fear” was only a prelude to His call that produced great awe before God: John was “awestruck” before Jesus and His great Revelation. He received an experience while in prison at the island of Patmos, to encourage him to continue to see and write God's final Revelation. John still had a purpose for the Kingdom & God had not abandoned him, even in prison.Amen 

Read 1 Samuel 24 (See also a second similar experience in 1 Samuel 26); Romans 12:9-21 (See also Hebrews 10:30-31)David, pursued by a spiritually declining King Saul, who lost his throne because of disobedience to God (1 Samuel 15) hid with his small band of misfits in the cave of Adullam: In Chapter 26 a similar experience of pursuit is detailed where as in Chapter 24 by divine design Saul was given information as to David's general whereabouts: “The desert of Enged,” (24:1); yet not an exact location. In chapter 24 it is assured that God in His providence led Saul to David's exact cave, where he and his men were hiding. Saul entered this cave alone to relive himself. How convenient for David to be alone with Saul undetected in the cave. David was given by God a golden opportunity for revenge against his very real enemy and God's rebellious king; wouldn't he be doing himself and God a favor in killing him? And doesn't he have a biblical right, although he wasn't an official judge or jury, according to the Torah(e.g. Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20: Deuteronomy 19:21, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, wouldn't it be justice to enact his personal revenge? The answer according to David's Inaction (verses 3-7) and the N.T. (Matthew 5:38-48 and Romans 12:9-21, is No! According to the concept of progressive revelation and in the shadow of Jesus' revelation concerning His teachers against personal retribution: it's not allowed except for self-defense. Only God the creative sustainer and atoner remains the ultimate Judge. This is especially clear in the N.T. but not absent in O.T, for note David's “stricken conscience,”(24:5) and a God supported reaction of mercy again paralleling N.T. teaching on the topic of judgment (again note Romans 12:9-21). Saul was still King, although a very backslidden royal, was still the anointed of God and David respects that. David even regretted cutting off a small corner of Saul's robe, to demonstrate what he could have done to Saul. And it seems in Saul's reaction, what looked like the possible reconciliation between David and Saul; and through Saul's conciliatory words a possible peace between Him and God. But according to 24:16-24 Saul's words of seeming repentance lasted only a moment and not long lasting as to Saul's further behaviors in chapter 26 indicate and also 24:25, David was not counting on Saul's rehabilitation.Saul's further spiritual decline is recorded in his consultation with the medium/ witch of Endor, since God was no-longer speaking to him and Samuel was dead, in chapter 28; and his ignominious death, with his sons, even Jonathan, in chapter 31. But, what can we as N.T. believers be reminded of David's inaction?As answer to the question: If God chose David to replace Saul for valid reasons as King, why allow Saul to pursue David? He loves David, chose him and is almighty, could He not put an end to Saul before the pursuit?Possible answer: David was also being tested by God to learn something about himself: would he continue to trust God in this seeming paradoxical situation? Even Jesus, in His humanity was tested (Matthew 4, Luke 4) tempted and had to learn something about humanity, “yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15) James 1:2-4 underlines God's use of tests to further our growth in developing the mind of Christ.David as chosen king expressed the correct, divinely approved behavior in regards to Saul. But, David was far from perfect as the rest of his monarchy demonstrates(remember David and Bathsheba 2 Samuel 11; but he proved to be a great repenter not a rationalizer, see Psalm 51.)Since it was God, working behind the scenes that brought Saul to David's doorstep in Chapter 24 & 26, so that David could wax N.T. How can we know when God is orchestrating a personal test to gauge our trust in Him in paradoxical situations? The answer is, as in

Luke 10:38-42 (Verse 42) Matthew 6:32-33; Matthew 6:19-21, 24 (Treasures in Heaven)This brief text underlines two main points: first, that Jesus looks to both men and women to be dedicated disciples; Second, that in our physical, societal lives our goals and priorities are more easily earthly, the heavenly goals are more difficult and ethereal. This is part of our fallen human nature and it's focus that's why the Gospels present such episodes our text where earthly practiced good duties are considered important but we should also include and make room for the spiritual and as difficult as it may be for us fallen humans, Christ's Kingdom and calling should be prioritized not only by full-time ministers, but for every believer and as I emphasized many times before, God promises to provide needed help( Matthew 6:32-33; Luke 11:3) This brief episode in Mary and Martha's (Lazarus sisters), lives demonstrates that what can distract us from our expected devotion to Christ, His calling and Kingdom are good, practical earthly things, in this case a cultural expectations for honorable women to prepare a feast for an honored rabbi; what would be wrong with this? But, this text interprets this good thing being done as a distraction(verse 40) in contrast to Mary's adoration of Jesus “... (sitting at the Lord's feet listening to what He said(His word)? While Martha was covering all the basis of societal, cultural expectations for such an event Mary seemed to not be doing her part for the honored guest and this bothered Martha. And she demanded that He command Martha to “help me”. Jesus' response to Martha is culturally counter intuitive in that society. Martha Martha… you are worried about many good things but compared to them there are more important things, summarized as only “a few or even one.” Mary has come up short for the expected societal demand, but has chosen what is better and even if the soup prepared gets cold, her taking time to worship Jesus will be accepted. This does not mean that Martha, Mary don't also have good earthly duties beyond hospitality and even more important societal responsibilities to family, careers, comfort, upward mobility, but these come also because they are not easily detectable distractions as to our calling from Christ. While we strive to not commit clear heinous sins that are obvious to all, there exist other demons behind the so-called respectable actions that take up too much of our time and energies and they then become a distraction to our relationship with God and our service to Him. Satan's temptation of Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4, Luke 4) included some good practical earthly suggestions for a fasting, starving Jesus: “Jesus turn the stones to bread, for you are physically hungry, this would be a good thing, even a good thing to do, but Jesus said No! (“It is written, humans and even Jesus, shall not live on bread alone (Luke 4:4).” It would have been a good thing but Jesus taking this road would have led to a distraction from His mission. Other stories of women ministry to Jesus make similar points: first, a sinful woman anoints Jesus feet with tears, even pouring expensive perfume on them in the supper at the Pharisee's house. Jesus becomes a display of repentance but for the Pharisee, this was a distraction from holiness and proof that Jesus may not be a true prophet. After all and possibly a waste of something very expensive. Second, possibly the same event in Mark 14:3-9 Jesus becomes was rebuked by those present as a waste of a years wages that could have been sold and given to the poor; but to Jesus it was a “beautiful thing she did to prepare for His burial,” as out of worship, their seeming reasonableness in this situation became a distraction. Judas Iscariot was one of the critics who shortly after the betrayal of Jesus (verses 10-11). Third, a similar strong reprisal in Matthew 26:6-13 Jesus' indignant audience spiritually could not see beyond their legalistic no

Luke 18:1-8 (See also Luke 11:5-8)Ephesians 6:10-13When we are born from above we begin our training to become a child of heaven, but most of the time He keeps us in this fallen world. He permits us to be opposed in many areas of our lives, even our prayer. We are not only temples of the Holy Spirit, but also retain our fallen nature or flesh. So there exists opposition from within and without in many areas of our lives and Christian walk. This parable as well as the accompanying passages illustrates these difficulties in praying, even if we are filled with the Spirit (Romans 8:26-28). Our main passage illustrates this by addressing an unfair balance of power: The powerless, weak widow (considered the least in a Patriarchal society) and the most powerful, an unjust judge. This judge illustrated here, neither feared God or cared for people, especially a poor, powerless widow. He didn't even care as to how he was perceived by society(verse 2). And it goes without saying, no lawyer would touch her case. But, the one characteristic this widow had that eventually the judge acquiesced to was her “importunity” or “bold” persistence”: She kept coming and coming with her plea, “grant me justice against my adversary”(verse 3) This stubborn, unjust, uncaring judge for sometime(long time) refused to hear her. Finally gave in for a very self-centered reason (verses 4-5). The NIV version implies that in his eyes she looked unbalanced: This self-centered, unjust, uncaring judge could only think of himself.The widow depicts, I think, the believer who is engaged in oppositional prayer, who has to persevere in order to finally get justice. But, what gives us hope from this parable and supports it's main theme or lesson i n Luke 18:1 is that the antagonist and judge is replaced by a supremely caring God and sustaining God(John 3:16) Who is eager to provide all our needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19) but what He doesn't do is eliminate all opposition to our prayer existing in this fallen world(Ephesians 6:10-13).God is characterized in this parable as the total opposite of the unjust judge (note verses 6-8) But because we still pray in a fallen oppositional environment we still have to pray with a similar importunity and even desperation “crying out to HIm day and night” and it seems that “He also keeps putting them off”(Verse 7) but he's not, although He remains sovereign and He sets the time and manner of His responses to our prayers. Also He permits His children to be opposed by the world (Ephesians 6:100-13) These points require us to show boldness, perseverance and faith.1)This parable “Especially applicable to the Parousia: The 2nd coming, victory and judgments etc. This will be the greatest event in human history(Verse 8) But the lesson of this parable(See verse 1) can apply to other needs and events in our lives: while opposition will continue in our praying, God promises to provide what we need, in His time and manner but only if we faint not. (Galatians 6:9) It almost seems at times that God is opposing us: Seems opposite to reality for the wordsays (Philippians 4:19), He is our provider and sustainer, but in His time and manner.2) But while God is the opposite of the unjust judge, He still permits us to  be engaged in this sinful world full of unjust judges and by a similar importunity of the poor widow is needed, by us to face the oppositions from the devil, demons, and our sinful flesh: Ephesians 6. Consider again (Galatians 6:9) “if we faint or give up, because God is committed to meet all our needs and accomplish His goals for our lives, but there remains a straining required of us, against the world, the flesh and the devil. Read Philippians 3:12-14.3) And most importantly God promises to help us in our praying against these oppositional forces(note Romans 2:26-28; Hebrews 4:4-16)… He is

Acts. 10:23-48, note especially verses 44-46. [Read in the context of Luke 24:49 & Acts 2:1-4, The Jewish Pentecost].The Jewish believers in Jerusalem, after the resurrection of Jesus, were admonished to be in quasi hiding which refer to as an “”upper room” (1:4, 2:1).. They were told to not go anywhere until they received “power from on high”” (Luke 24:49) or baptized, immersed, bathed in the Holy Spirit's power: only then go out in His direction and power(1:4). They were not told when this would happen or that it would happen in 50 days later, at the Jewish feast of Pentecost: note the word “suddenly”(2:1). The Spirit came in His time and manner and in grand fashion(read 2:1-4, The primary sign was “Other tongues”(Verse 4), not also verse 3, “Tongues of fire”. Tongues have to do with communication, Supernatural Communication. It's not just the words of the gospel preached but the anointing or power of the Spirit behind them even in their praying (1 Corinthians 13:1; 14:1-2).The time and manner for the Gentiles Spirit Baptism comes a little later in Acts 10 where God uses the Jewish believer, Peter, to reach out to the nations predicted in the Old Testament(Isaiah 49:6). Peter was not very opened minded so God had to give him a vision, or to open his religious mind; That Christ sacrificed is the cleansing, atoning for all people: 10:15 “...Don't call anything impure that God has made clean “(repeated 3x - he's a little stubborn). At this point the centurion's men came to beckon Peter: God thought their devotion to the Jewish God deserved the progressive revelation to them, Peter was doing a pretty comprehensive job(10:23-43), but spoke too long according to the Spirit who was eager to empower the gentiles, so He interrupted Peter - (See verse 43) and similar to Acts 2:1-4, the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on them (verses 44-46)Notice that their experience was exactly like the Jewish Pentecost. Peter and his circumcised entourage were “astonished” and pleased when they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God just like them (see 2:1-4; also Galatians 3:26-29)The Spirit is depicted here as being very eager to Baptize them, but He couldn't wait for Peter to finish his verbal dissertation in the Gospel. Peter was convinced(note verses 47-48) at least for a time:consider the confrontation Paul had with him in Galatians 2:11-21. Peter's openness seems to have suffered a set-back in Galatia. He and we need to keep growing in our liberality towards those different from us.  What can we today learn from this powerful story in Acts 10:1)That God Prepares His people for further experiences in His Holy Spirit: a time of prayer and preparation (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4,8; Peter and all involved had to be prepared.Peter had to experience divine trance, or vision unrequested by him. He had to experience it; ex. To get him ready and be willing to go preach to the gentiles. Cornelius's household were devout and clearly open Acts. 10:1-7. More prepared than Peter pre-vision.II. God expects His people to be obedient even if what He asks of them is challenging. And He is willing to do His part, by His Spirit, to gift them to action: He did this to the early Spirit filled Jewish believers; He did it to Peter by His visions. THe promise of Luke:24:49 and Acts 2 is enacted through the book of Acts and Christian history by the Spirit's power we also need in our day in His time and manner.III. God is eager, is His time, to extend His call to the Gentile that He interrupts, even Peter's eloquent sermon. It's not only about his or our words, dogmas etc. it's by His Spirit(read Zechariah 4:4:6… Not by [human] might [only] but by my Spirit, says the Lord.Read also Acts 1:8Amen

1 Corinthians 11

Are Now Saved by Grace Not by Works of The Law!(Isn't All Forgiven)Main Scriptures: 1 Peter 4:12-19; 2 Corinthians 5:10Peter in this passage is following the O.T. pattern that God, while judging andpunishing the nations, also disciplines His children, Israel(for example, the Babylonian captivity for 70 years for their gross idolatries, see also the book of Habakkuk etc.) The purpose of these painful, tragic events was to restore His children to the right relationship with Him, but they never stopped being His children. The word “Judgment” used in 1 Peter 17 really, in context = “discipline” for the purpose of cleansing or restoration. Peter concludes that the contrast to those pagans (ungodly, sinners) who refuse to believe is great, even incomparable(verse 18) There is also a warning message from Peter to believers as to their ongoing behaviors as believers. Even though Christians are saved by grace and faith there is a faith walk for followers and they will be evaluated by the Spirit, the word and their final judgment; and while it does not affect their salvation it somehow affects their final divine evaluation (See both 2 Corinthians 5:10... receive what is “due us”; 1 Corinthians 3:15 a believer may “suffer loss”, as to their reward). Therefore not everything at the believers evaluation will be pleasant(note the judgment seat of Christ; 2 Corinthians 5:10, is different than the GreatWhite Throne of Judgment at the last days, for those who continually refused and who rebelled against Christ's rule after His Millennial Reign(Revelation 20:11-15)Why? Because Peter is addressing the possible difficulties that Christiansmay experience in this fallen world. At times living the Christian life or certaincircumstances can be “very hard” (1 Peter 4:18, also verses 12-16) and Peterwants to encourage them to persevere and not become saintly in theirconfessions but worldly in their behaviors because salvation is solidly based onfaith and grace. The quality of our living or works, our Spirit inspired faith walk willaffect our reception in heaven(1 Peter 4:17; 1 Corinthians 3:15; II Corinthians5:10) Remember also the book of James emphasis in 3:14-26, especially 17, “...faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action/works is dead”; also Paul'sadmonition in Romans 8:4, not to live according to the flesh, but according to theSpirit: both are still within us and our behaviors will still be adjudicated(2Corinthians 5:10) even when we are still saved (1 Corinthians 3:15)ConclusionI) Salvation comes entirely by grace through faith in Christ(John 3:16-18;Ephesians 1:7; 2:9; even 1 Corinthians 3:15 admits this”... how you and I buildour lives in Christ, will count in our ultimate evaluation and even if we “suffer loss,as to our reward, we will be saved.II) Although God has no expectations that our walk will be perfect assaints (1 John 1:8-2:2) He does expect to put forth our best faith effort as to ourliving.III) Walk and live in Christ in the context that God remains our father,Jesus remains our advocate, when we do sin, and the Spirit remains ourcounselor and Power behind God's mercy and forgiveness, and witnessAnd although sometimes it's hard even for His adopted children to trust inHis love and mercy even with the Holy Spirit within us, the Word to informus and community of faith to encourage us, He promises to never leave usand forsake us and continue to apply His forgiveness to us as weapproach Him in humility, honesty and hunger.AmenRe-read 1 Peter 4:17-19 especially verse 19

Genesis 28:10-22Jacob and Esau, twin sons of Isaac, struggled for dominance even from thewomb, but it was Jacob, who by deceptive means, steals the firstborn birthright from Esau, with their mother's help: What a soap opera story(See Genesis 27). Jacob, whose name means “Deceiver or supplanter” is then forced to escape to Haran the birthplace of his grandfather Abraham. It was during this fleeing for sin committed that God manifests His grace via a supernatural dream, in a most unexpected place: a “certain(ordinary desert) place”(28:10). Jacob was not described as seeking God, or praying, lamenting to God, asking for forgiveness, he was just escaping a bad situation he and his mother caused. He was not looking for a calling from God but only to survive Esau's wrath.. Here in a nondescript place, with no religious significance, no sacred altars around (Compare to Isaiah's call while in the temple Isaiah 6:1-13) God encounters Jacob: a Theophany. In fact as stated in Romans 8:28, God worked all that happens for His purposes and the benefit of Jacob. Jacob's unbeknownst to the other characters in this narrative, was chosen by God, not Esau, to be the last patriarch father to the future 12 tribes of Israel(See also Romans 9:13 “Jacob I loved, I chose for aparticular service, Esau I hated = I preferred Jacob) Why? Since his name means “Deceiver, supplanter”, None of our business, Godis sovereign! What can we learn from this story?I) God came in a context of duplicity: no goodness here (See Genesis 27) Toattract God's Involvement. But God in many ways intervenes where He is not called upon because He is Sovereign. Circumstances don't have to be perfect for Him to intervene: (John 3:16; Romans 5:8 etc)II) God came unexpectedly in a very ordinary place: during a rest-stage(28:10-11); “Just a certain place”, but in God's chosen time and manner. There were no altars around or during a prayer meeting etc. And there was nothing that Jacob did to prepare or to earn this revelation.III) God came in a special revelation via the use of dream but not any ordinarydream but a revelatory dream with a message: In 28:12 The text presents what Jacob saw and what the Lord said 28:13-15. A vision for Jacob in his present situation and beyond his time. This was only the beginning of his transformation, finalized by a 2nd theophany in chapter 32, where he wrestles with God and as a result his name waschanged, from Jacob to Israel (he struggled with God and was transformed: but noperfect IV) God came, his transformation process begins 28:16-22God came sovereignly, Jacob was unaware that He was in that place(28:16)A new fear and awe for the Lord verse 17He commits himself with a vow verse 19He prays to return victories to his father's house, after his journey, and hedoes (Chapter 32) But all of the above was not without hardship and wrestling with God.Amen

Luke 13:1-8; James 5:15-16

James 5:16-18; 1 Kings 19:6-28James paraphrased: “Elijah the great prophet was a human being, even as weare, full of weakness needed to pray more earnestly because the power behind hisprayer did not lie in his supernatural giftedness but rather in his humane need for God's intervention... The prayer of a righteous person is only powerful when energized by the Holy Spirit: James 5:18-19;God permits or causes difficult situations to punish sin and hopefully causerepentance. God's chastisements always come with a prophetic message for sinners t repent and follow Him; it's not only uncontrolled divine wrath to just ease His anger.III) Finally the ultimate purpose of God's will in all situations that we experience inlife, the goodness body is found in Verse 24 - Verse 25; The woman and her sons know experientially the truth of God's word and its heading restoring power in every situation.Amen; Romans 8:28

Galatians 5:22-6:10 (especially 6:10 compared to James 1:27 and even 1Corinthians13 → Where it all lands!)Paul writes these conciliatory, comforting words in the context of a rebukingdiatribe to the churches of Galatia. They were receiving and listening to Judaizingbeliefs from Jerusalem. They were teaching his gentile converts that they needed to follow the law and be circumcised along with faith in Jesus to be saved. This was a call to arms for Paul and this letter mirrors his opposition to these ideas, especially for the gentiles. Paul emphasizes that it's not the law or circumcision that saves but only by faith in Christ (Galatians 3). He even rebuked Peter, who seemed intimidated by thesevisiting Judaizers (2:11-21). Paul was opposed to this message, and he expressed hi opposition to this message in very strong language. The author of 1 Corinthians 13pronounces curses and a coarse rebuke both against heretical angels (1:8-9) as well as Judiazers (5:12)All just prior to writing the beautiful words of Galatians 5:22-25 concerning the“Fruit of the Holy Spirit”. Was he speaking in the context of the fruit of the Spirit” when in prior chapters he issues such rebukes or is he reflecting on his own, “Acts of the flesh”(5:19-21)? I think Paul the very human Apostle of the Spirit was upset at what the damage these Judaizers were causing to their gentile brothers and sisters that he behaved confrontationally, urgently so he might mitigate the damage that would be done to the key message that would unite as one people, Jew and Gentile. And once he dealt with this hot issue he seems to calm himself down to a more “Fruit of the Spirit” inspired strategy that would unite and be conciliators to are body, both Jew and Gentile; In 6:1-10 illustrates some of how the Spirit inspired qualities would look like and what the central aim would be “to do good to all.”1) How to treat those entrapped in a sin: possibly one done against the teacher; 6:1:“People that are spiritual enough to restore sinners, are still possible sinners;”a) There cannot be any holier than thou Christians in Paul's view.2) To fulfill the central law of Christ (Galatians 5:22 & 6:2 “Love must help carryeach others overbearing burdens (see also Galatians 5:14)a) (Rather than trying to take the speck out of someone else's eye take thebeam out of our own eye (Matthew 7:5) follow Jesus's example in 1 Peter5:7, he accepts all our cares and anxieties, when you help someone withthe burdens, they cannot carry alone, ask yourself why are you or I doingit?3) Stay far away from relational pride: comparing, comparing, evaluating, constantlycomparing! Rather focus on self (It's our actions compared to God's word andSpirit (See the acts of the flesh 5:19-21)4) Learn to Lead by example and don't be lazy: teach others to be responsibleespecially in spiritual matters (note verse 5 is not equal to 6:2 which impliesburdens that come upon others like 6:1 that our brother and sister cannot carryalone. (See also 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 → comforting each other!)5) Be generous especially to your teachers, verse 6 (Again the fruit of the Spirit5:22-26) (See also 2 Corinthians 9:6-15)6) Reaping and sowing: We can never fool God (Verses 7-8) (or mock God like, forexample Ananias and Sapphira Acts 5:1-11. Note here the negative ordestructive effect doesn't come from God but “from the flesh” the positive effectsfrom the SpiritConclusionWarning that this will not be easy for human Christians: Verse 9, but the clearestevidence that we are keeping in step with the Spirit(5:26) is summarized in verse10: again not perfectly done but done with humility, honesty and hunger for God'sglory.Again read 6:9-10;

Read Isaiah 54:1-3  (Two Sides of The Same Coin, So To Speak)Main Texts: 1 Samuel 1:1-28. Barren Hannah and the birth of Samuel; Luke 1:5-25,57-66 Barren Elizabeth's and the birth of John the Baptist; both conclude with worship Songs: Hannah 1 Samuel 2:1-4; Zechariah; Luke 1:67-80. In these particular situations barrenness was God created or permitted by God(1 Samuel 1:5-6; Luke 1:7) and counterintuitively in these particular situations were actually both a painful test of fait conjoined to the creation of Divine Opportunity; And they were not dependent on the central actors faith; But rather on God's determined will which resulted in both joy and faith.

Luke 1:26-45; 46-56: The Announcement from Shock to Singing.In God's time and manner God sent one of His best Archangels, Gabriel to manifest His divine purpose to a 14 year old virgin, in a small poor town, called Nazareth pledged to an equally poor man named Joseph. The message was a shock to this young girl that left her dumbfounded. Gabriel prophesied the impossible, alongside of his earlier message to Zechariah and Elizabeth, also impossible: Young Mary would experience the miraculous virgin birth of theSon of God and old Elizabeth gave birth to His prophet.I think that she, a nobody, a virgin, would be part of God's greatest creative eventinhuman history, past, present and future, would be a stretch by any human calculation. The incarnation, I believe, was even greater then Genesis 1:1-2. It was the incarnation of actual deity (Philippians 2:5-11) not a pagan god masquerading as a human. Again God in HIs infinite power and compassion usually chooses the weak, powerless to perform impossible parts of His purposes (1 Corinthians 1:18).

Matthew 10:37-39 and also Luke 14:26-27; 1 Timothy 5:8;Wrongly or Incompletely understand they can cause unnecessary angst. They need the help of other passages with a similar theme. In these passages we are studying how to be a disciple and Jesus in regard to our loved ones. Are the above passages calling us to abandon and not care for our loved ones in our sacrificial service to Christ? My short answer is no! This is supported by passages like 1 Timothy 5:8; also Matthew 6:11, 25-34 especially verses 32-33 and even 7:7-12 (describes what good Fathers do, as well as our heavenly father - “We don't give their children snakes, but bread...”)If you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.

 Illustrated by the Conjunction “Yet” in Psalm 42  (Repeated 3x in Psalms 42 & 43: 42:5,11; 43:5)Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.Sometimes God's purposes in both our individual lives and group lives seem to beunattainable in this life. All things seem to point to failure: It seems too late, even feels too late and some around us assure us that God's purposes are too late to happen: but consider Hebrews. The book of Hebrews 11:13 admits that some of God's promises and purposes don't get fully accomplished in this short life but fully in heaven.

Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.1 Corinthians 2:1-16 especially verse 4Paul in his preaching and doing ministry “resolved” (1 Corinthians 2:2) tonot depend only on his human talents but primarily on the message ofChrist Crucified (1 Corinthians 1:18) and dependence on the Holy Spirit todemonstrate the wisdom and veracity of the message and God's purpose(note Romans 15:19).Main Points1) There is a message to be delivered both by words and demonstration,both dependent on the Spirit's revelation and anointing. Verse 6-10,especially verse 10.2) The Spirit Must Become our ultimate connection to all things divine,especially the “deep things of God.” Although we will never understandGod's wisdom completely in this life (1 Corinthians 2:11-12), we canunderstand enough to be saved and grow in development of the mind ofChrist (v.16). The worldly pundits that consider it “foolishness” cannever, (verses 10-14) especially verse 14.3) What about those without the Holy Spirit? (verses 14-16)No matter how humanly smart and powerful they may be and successfulin all areas of life, even in religion, they cannot appreciate the cross ofChrist (2:8) and “the deep things of God” because they can only bediscerned by the revelation of the Spirit grounded on the word of God,His creation (verses 14-15).Finally, the goal of all things Christian is found in verse 16 (Isaiah 40:13).My paraphrase: “Who has known the mind of the Lord (his thoughts or“deep things”) so as to be able to instruct Him? The answer no one,especially not the Jews, who demand signs like a military messiah orGreeks who think human philosophizing can lead to God's instruction andtruth. Only the Holy Spirit in His revelation both to our spirit or mind and Hiswritten words of revelation in Scripture, rightly divided of course!Read al Philippians 2:1-5

Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.1 Corinthians 13; It's not only for Weddings) See also Hebrews 5:11-6:31 Corinthians 13 is also a very important interpretive key to the rest of the N.T. Itreveals limits to our knowledge and understanding of the Gospel. Even in our “Born From Above” state, the best we can know and understand is “in part”(v12). But even with our partial understanding via the Holy Spirit, Scripture, the body of Christ we can progress in a pleasing way before God. He appreciates our good faith effort in the context of His mercy and forgiveness.Our progression in our Christ experience goes from doctrines, gifts of the Spirit tothe ultimate goal of love, because even at the center of His being, “God is love”: And the central call for us is to love; remember Matthew 22:37-40: God, others and ourselves. Without our growth in love both as an inner attitude and outer behavior all other things received from God (gifts, faith, hope) in His estimation, “we gain nothing or more literally “it amounts to nothing”' The NIV in verse 2 states literally “I am nothing!” This chapter aligns with Paul's teaching in Galatians, about the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25); This is what it means to “Keep in step with the Spirit.”(Galatians 5:25). But, chapter 13 does not state that love as a perfect finality is possible while on earth only in heaven, but grows in it while still on earth.(13:12)

Hebrews 11:1-11; especially verses 1,6;Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.Ephesians 2:8 (also review John 1:9; Romans 1:18-20 and concerning the gift of faith; 1 Corinthians 12:9; 13:2; James 5:15) Romans 1:20 states that humanity, not just Christians “are without excuse” as to belief. Consider the long list of evidence before us: The Christ of history, His crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension. The present power of the Holy Spirit; The marvelous creation of a creator God, the passage in John 1:9 that says every person that comes into this world is “enlightened” by the Word/Jesus.Therefore Romans 1:20 states that all are without excuse. God was infinite ways toreach all and allows us to participate with Him by our Spirit empowered witness. But, for the Christian the sure way to please God is faith exercised, especially in challenging situations.(Consider the challenges forcing the heroes of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11)

Luke 23:34; 29-41; Matthew 6:12, 14-15Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.While Jesus cries out to the Father to forgive His oppressors because they don'tunderstand what they are doing, well not completely. Jesus was not totally exonerating His crucifies, note e.g. His conversation with the thief on the cross next to Him (23: 39-41), and the murderer's act of contrition: now he's ready to go to paradise. Since the religious leaders and followers had a particular developed tradition, that would not allow them to declare Jesus is Jewish Messiah, Jesus understood their reticence to believe and follow. Therefore Jesus' statement from the cross extended a certain amount of mercy for their lack of understanding,but it was not shallow forgiveness rather forgiveness with requirement to believe.

Revelation 2:8-13; 3:7-13; Read also Philippians 3:10-14Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.These were unlike those considered “rich” & “Prosperous”. You would think thattheir prosperity would automatically indicate God's favor and blessings. The church of Laodicea in Revelation 3:14-22, was large and rich. They self confessed prosperity and favor before God in verse 17, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But, Jesus thought differently and gave them a strong rebuke but followed by a counsel: rebuke verses 15-16; counsel verses 17-20. While rebuking their shallow unbiblical views of physical prosperity He remains restorative in His counsel. The Ephesian Church, also prosperous was issued a strong rebuke in 2:4, with all their obvious visible prosperity the Lord states, “Yet I hold this against you: Your have forsaken the love (for the Lord and each other that you had at first” (1 Corinthians 13).Yet the lord is hopeful that His strong chastisement of them would lead to restoration.This is the Lord's approach by hopeful counsel, “for whom the Lord loves Hedisciplines(Hebrews 12:6). Our God does all things in the hopes of restoring.

Daniel 3Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.Tale of the three Hebrew magistrates in Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon where theKing was Divine and Generous to His captives: even gave some very importantresponsibilities in his kingdom, like Daniel (Chapters 2-3). And not everyone in thekingdom was happy with this. Therefore intrigue results around the universal decree to worship a sacred statue of the Divine King. This call was applicable to all people, even the Hebrews. This was not considered an unreasonable request from the generouspotentate in pagan societies, even in Jesus day, but it put them in conflict with the First Commandment and They went from a comfortable place to a dangerous place inBabylon.

Luke 5:17-26; Mark 9:21-25; Mark adds in 2:1-2 ; See also Luke 8:43-48; Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.In Luke 5:17-26 clearly all three were present: verse 17, “The power of the Lord was with Him to heal” (Sounds like a divinely imparted approval of power, a gift of healing for the crippled man who surprises Jesus and the crowd. Seems to imply that sometimes the gift of healing or power would not be there or at least Jesus refuses to heal, when rejected in Nazareth, Mark 6:4-6.Mark 6:5-6 “And He could do no mighty miracles there, except that He laid HIs hands upon a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief” See even Jesus could be limited (note “Could not do”)Also implied back in Luke 5, God was on board with the healing but not only a physical healing but more importantly the forgiveness of sins. And this caused a stir with certain religious leaders.It seems in this episode all three present: The will of God(The Spirit prepared Jesus, for He saw them coming) The power of God(verse 17) God-given gift of faith(v20). And when He saw He acted comprehensively. (The host's roof was destroyed and the loss of pigs at the Gadarenes, Luke 8:26-38: Note the difference in attitude of the people whose home was just broken into! Jesus had the complete package of healing for the paralytic: sins forgiven, paralysis healed. Luke 8:36-40; The deceased, unclean woman who presses through the crowd that was following Jesus, touches him all around yet only she seems to be healed (Matthew 9:18-26 & Mark 5:21-42, describes what she thought.)She was healed and Jesus seems puzzled and uninvolved in the healing (Note especially Mark 5:30-33 & Luke 8:45-46) “who touched me?”Note, The woman's reaction demonstrates humility, honesty, and hungerHere it seems to be the will of God enacted and which Jesus seemed to not be privy to. But, faith was given and healing and forgiveness occurred but how does Jesus presence fit into the experience?Note - John 5:19 & 30; Whatever the Father does OK with Jesus! This is what total surrender in ministry looks like. See also 6:38(read)Conclusion - The Power of God works best in league with the will of God, and the gift of faith. Even in Gethsemane where the Father told Jesus no, and then received encouragement by the angel of the Lord (Luke 22:39-43). The no was only temporary for the will of God included the promise of Resurrection power: Romans 8:11

Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.Main ScripturesPsalm 91; 1 Corinthians 15: 25-26; 15:54-58Part of the panoply of evil, the most feared item is death. It's “the Testimony to bedestroyed,” 1 Corinthians 15:26. So that the ultimate components of the Fowler's snare include sin, mortality and death. This human snare has oppressed humanity, believers and unbelievers, since the fall (Genesis 2-3). Does the oracle-psalm found in Psalm 91 rectify or reverse such a human quandary, especially after the death and Resurrection of Christ as Savior and Lord. He did say “It is finished.” in John 19:30, and part of John 3:16, says he/she who believes is the Risen Christ will not perish but have eternal life.And it seems on some level Psalm 91 concurs with the elimination of all element ofvaried, “fowler's snares”, deadly pestilences”, “night terrors”, “arrows and “plagues”, in fact verse 10 cries out “no harm of any hand will overtake you, nor “disaster” etc. Does the “It is finished” and the literal reading of Psalm 91 promise a totally new existence now, especially to those “born from above”(John 3:16)? It sounds like it, but what has been human reality from creation and the sacrifice of Jesus: life and death!

Matthew 13:24-30; 1 Corinthians 6:2-3Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.This parable is only found in Matthew along with its eschatological explanation. Itpresents the kingdom of heaven that's trying to be established in a world full of wheatand weeds. They grow together and God has permitted an enemy gardener to infest thefield with weeds. Ephesians 2:2 describes Satan as the originator of the “ways of thisworld.” & “...ruler of the Kingdom of the air” The spirits who is now at work in those whoare disobedient(The weeds); 1 John 5:19 states, “We know that we are children of Godand that the whole world (we are growing in) is under the control of the evil one.”, full of“weeds”. For some reason God permits the weeds(evil) and wheat (His Kingdom) to beentangled in a complex way, beyond human understanding and ability to separate them.It's not until God sends His own reapers(angels) as part of the harvest at His Parousiaor 2nd coming that they will gather out of His Kingdom all cause of sin & all evil doers...Matthew 13:41. Our job is never to do the son's job, to rightly clear the field of this fallen world, but rather keep planting the wheat. It will grow with God's help even in the midst of the weeds.

Text: Mark 9:14-29Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.The best story in the N.T. that illustrates the mixed bag condition of our faith. Thisstory illustrates the possible co-existence of faith and doubt and what ultimately makesthe difference: Jesus Christ and His love and power. This is a sad picture of a fatherwho's only son was demon oppressed and manifesting epileptic type seizures thatthreatens his life (verses 17-18). If this fact was not bad enough, the powerful disciplesof Jesus(see Mark 6:17,30,30) were not able to cast it out (v18). And on top of it all theJudaism of that day believed most human maladies were evidence of sin(contrast In9:1-2). All was set against him and his son. And as a result of all the above, hestruggled with belief. Can you blame him for his discouragement? How would we feel ina similar situation?

Genesis Chapter 1:26Is God only our heavenly Father?Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.

Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.Psalm 126; Hebrews 12:1-3A simple and clear message both of rejoicing and weeping experiences for Jesus while on earthand His children, whether in the Old Testament or the New Testament. (See also Psalm 85)Setting:Some Israelites returned to Jerusalem at about 538 BC, permitted by an edict of Cyrus(Isaiah 44:28) who now ruled over Babylon as part of the Persian Empire. While good news, few Israelites were moved to tears of joy because of the realization that it would take very tough plowing to restore Jerusalem, even with God's help. To restore any semblance of the past glorywould require much labor, courage and faith. The few that would brave the journey would eventually experience the joy and restoration as well as the great difficulties (See Haggai, Zechariah, Ezra/Nehemiah)But the restoration depicted in the above O.T. books was physically and structurally noway near the splendor of Solomon and Herod's Temples. But according to the prophetic vision of the O.T and its fulfillment in N.T. The child of God, not a building, is the Temple 1 Corinthians6:19-20 of the Holy God or Holy Spirit. So as N.T saints we apply these words not to a sacred edifice but to people, disciples of Jesus Christ. They like Jesus, “for the joy set before Him, Holy Spirit empowered Resurrection life (Romans 8:11), endured the difficulties especially the cross”:So then we “fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of [our] faith”. Our lives follow the same pattern of Jesus's life where He both wept and rejoiced. Psalm 126:5 illustrates this process through farming metaphors: “sow in tears, at times but also we reap, by the Spirit with songs of joy.” (Psalms 126:5)”, (again remember Matthew 6:32-33 see also Psalm 85). And what is interesting here and in other Psalms, sometimes the end results, are placed up front to assure us that the restorations will come in His time and manner.I. “Fortunes” were restored but not to the fullest extent. Verse 1.1. The Israelites who returned was meager, but their joy extraordinary.2. The Temple they finally built which took many years, was shabbycompared to Solomon and Herod's edifice but full of the Spirit (SeeZechariah 4:6-10)3. Even we, as Temples of the Holy Spirit, as glorious as this is, cannotcompare with the glorious New Jerusalem coming down from heaven asthe image of our perfect eternal existence with God after the Resurrectionof the dead (Revelation 21:9-27, see also Revelation 21 & 22, Romans15:1-58). The above is the fullest extent of His will: Looking for that citybuilt by God; Hebrews 11:10!a) Note also Hebrews 11:1; 13-16,39.II. We Need to “Fix or Concentrating our eyes upon Jesus the pioneer and perfecter offaith(Hebrews 12:2)1. He lived it to perfection and is experiences the “Telos” of it all, now inheavena) He, by the Holy Spirit will help us “run with perseverance the racemarked for us” [With it's ups and downs, pains and joys]b) Set or marked out” for us, also implies for “me”, the individualcalling by God; (Examples, see Hebrews 11, all the servants of theLord had similar and different callings, for their missions on earth.)III. Jesus's life experiences, as reminders and the Spirit or (The Spirit of Christ) together are the best and sufficient encouragement and support for our ministry1. The stories of Jesus and empowerment of the Spirit, together encourageus.IV. Finally our part is being faithful in perseverance and prayer

(Not With The Spirit & His Fruit, in the Context indefatigable Grace & Forgiveness of God)Galatians 5:22-24 → 6:1-10I) Some ways the Fruit of the Spirit is manifested through us to othersa) Gentle loving counsel to the sinner, showing genuine concern towards restoration. 6:1b) Sharing burdens, the central law of Christ 6:2c) Taking Responsibility for our actions, both good and bad: humbly 6:3d) Don't negatively compete, especially regarding the gifts of God (humbly do your gift) 6:5e) Generosity Now and leadership in all areas: when we show proper respect to them wehonor God. 6:5(b)i) See also verses 7-8 “Sowing and reaping”1) (See Psalm 126 for O.T. illustration, especially verses 5-6)II) During Continuous Difficult Situations, Doing Good to All Becomes Weakened, because weare human. It seems to be the first to go! Verses 9 & 10.During extended times of difficulties it becomes hard not to become cynical and wearyof doing good, when bad continues all around us: unabated and not understood.Examples of Jesus experiences of human weakening:- His continued frustrations with His chosen disciples, note Matthew 17:17 (read)- At Gethsemane, Matthew 26: 39; Luke 22:42- “Father if you are willing, take this cup(the cross) from me... (sounds like thewords of a weary prophet)- Yet not my will but yours be done(said while he was tired beyond belief)- Until God's intervention in Verse 43: The strengthening angel.- He then went back to awaken his emotionally exhausted or “weary”Apostles; verse 45-46III) When we experience similar weakenings, It's hard to do good to all.Especially when we try to spend all our time “licking our wounds”We need strengthening angels to help carry our loads. This picture illustrates the helping powerof the Spirit, most necessary in Jesus and our lives.Note Paul's prophetic word in 1 Corinthians 12:9-11; especially verse 9And even if at times we fail to continue in doing good, God's forgiveness and powerfulgrace can help us to recover.Remember the behaviors expected by the fruit of the Spirit, is very dependent on theSpirit's power and faithfulness. They are the fruit of the Spirit not only of our own efforts.Amen

(Some suggestions on How to do this from a disaster that occurred in David's life,on His Way to Kingship)1 Samuel 30:1-7 (read the whole chapter) Ephesians 3:20-21 especially verse 6Verse 6 tells the reader that the situation couldn't get much worse and David was“greatly distressed.” Not only did he lose his whole camp, supplies, people and twowives, but now all his men were so “bitter” that they wanted to stone him.” How low canyou go!? Added to the above, Saul's pursuit to end his life! “Yet” or “But” David(still)found strength in the Lord. This statement does not only mean psychologically,internally through some sort of positive thinking etc. He found strength in a Living God:Real power and energy which resembles the promise made to us in Acts 1:8. Theseriousness of their distress is illustrated in verse 4, “David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep.” Still David inquired of his living, breathing personal God who is able. He just needs the opportunity to demonstrate this and for David his distressing situation provided that opportunity to discover what Ephesians 3:20-21 states, “He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.”

Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.First & Foremost love is not only a gift, like the others mentioned here andchapter 12:1-11, but a more excellent way! And it appears first in his description of thecharacteristics of the “produce” or fruit of the Spirit. The Fruit of the Spirit is produced,with our cooperation, by the Spirit from within and helps create the character traits ofJesus in and through us. The gifts of the Spirit are loaned to us to evangelize and edifythe church more powerfully (Acts 1:8). This is why love as the premier trait is termed, “amore excellent way” (of being & living, produced by the Spirit within, with ourcooperation) Not that we have any chance of becoming perfect like Jesus, in this fallenexistence ( see verses 8-13)

Proverbs 10:22; 2 Corinthians 9:6-12, especially verse 1; Philippians 4:10-20, especiallyverse 112-13.The key point, when it comes to especially silver and gold, is that in our servicefor the Lord's all situations are not the same: There are times of want(hungry) andplenty(being well fed). What is common to both is Philippians 4:13.We are in the process of learning by experience that “We can do everything Heasks us to do, through Him who gives us strength or enables us to perform Hispurposes. So in all our endeavors whether we consider them sacred or secular, there isno real difference, we have to rely and serve Him(We pray and live for Him “withoutceasing” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17) And whether we are going through a period of wantor plenty, they are both permitted by God, we have to continue to trust in Him andcontinue to do all things, sacred or secular for the glory of God: 1 Corinthians 10:31,Colossians 3:17.Proverbs 10:22 further reminds us that wealth and earthly provisions, that issilver or gold or the sacred, God is involved in all things concerning us; He wants toprovide on all levels of existence (remember Matthew 6:32-33 etc). And when it is Godenabled and given prosperity it will also be God glorifying a blessing to others andourselves. And this prosperity will not cause us trouble spiritually with God that wealthcan sometimes cause (note James 5:1-6, God is against selfish rich hoarders). Again,they can cause trouble for our relationship with the Lord. But note my paraphrase ofProverbs 10:22, placed in the context of 2 Corinthians 9:6-12: “The blessing of Yahweh,which also includes physical blessings, can bring wealth to those he chooses to blesswithout anxiety, stress and troubles they can cause.”Philippians 4:10-20 and 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 provide N.T. illustrations for whatProverbs 10:22 is stating.A) Philippians 4:10-20a) That while God permits periods and experiences of need and want Healso provides times great provision even wealth for His children. But, Hispersona & Spirit never leave us nor forsakes us: Philippians 4:13 to learn“I can do all this through Him who gives me strength”. What is implied byPaul, from his own experiences is that even in periods of great provisionswe still need him in one way or another. It just feels more difficult when weexperience more conscious needs. But, for example, remember thelessons illustrated in the Scriptures: Elijah, fed by the ravens 1 Kings17:4-6; The Manna from heaven John 6:5-8; Jesus multiplies the loavesand fishes Matthew 14:17-19 and especially Matthew 6 etc.B) 2 Corinthians 9:6-15: Here Paul reminds us that God can bless or make us rich inevery way. (Verse 11) And of course this includes the physical as Proverbs 10:22tells us, but for a purpose, note again, verse 11, so that God will be glorified byyour growing generosity, others helped and we are blessed (The basic holytriangle for all things spiritual)a) So that when Luke 6:20 states “blessed are the poor for theirs is theKingdom of God etc” What's implied is the community th;at is part of thiskingdom, now as well as forever, can and should step in to help, especiallythose who are experiencing wealth (read also, Acts 2:44; 4:32-37 andJames 1:26-27). Paul corroborates this in 2 Corinthians 9:11-15, “... Godloves a cheerful giver verse 7.”C) Proverbs 10:22This sharing of God given wealth can avoid much of the troubles andstress that fleshly, hoarded wealth can cause in our sinful world, becauseit's God given and managed. (e.g. The rich versus the poor, class warfareetc.)Amen

Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.1 Corinthians 12 1:1-; 4-11, especially verse 10, “distinguishing between spirits” orprophetsThe Christian community prospers also by the gifts of the Spirit, as He gives and directs,for the “common good”(v7): The fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit edify or should benefit the body as well as us personally. He is the conductor and we are the varied instrumentalist of His orchestra( 1 Corinthians 12:11; 12-30)In today's post-modern(modern focused on rationalism and science) perspective thefocus is on the personal, subjective point of view rather than science and facts. There is a back to the future type of movement in religion returning our interests to Biblical experiences through the prophetic and the importance of personal mysticism.There is a revival of openness and experience of spiritual gifts especially the propheticwith a lessening of caution. While Paul reminds his people in Ephesians 6:10-18 the concurrent reality that there are “principalities” and “powers” that do the bidding of Satan and mimic gifts like the prophetic. Therefore we need the Spirit's gift of being able to distinguish between Spirit's (or prophets) because the true and the false sound and look very much alike but their messages and demeanor are different.Paul's suggestion is not to avoid the charismatic worship and giftings but to discern anddistinguish what looks alike but is really from a different source and purpose. For example 12:1-3 is not an illustration of what happens in Corinthian services at times (“Jesus be cursed” versus “Jesus is Lord”) rather what should happen in charismatic worship should elevate and bring glory to Jesus Christ and build up the body. Not to be a curse to Christ and His body, so to speak: The end result is like saying “Jesus be cursed”. The prophetic either builds up or divides depending on the truth of the message and the attitude of the person exercising the gift.Paul in chapter 14 welcomes both the exercise of the prophetic, note in 14:29 it'sanalysis: Paul limits the amount of prophetic messages in a service, to “two or three”... “while others should weigh carefully what is said”, and how it's said: read also 1 John 4:1-3. Therefore some suggestions on how to evaluate are:A) By the clear teachings of Scripture does the prophet encourage repentance (14:25)glorifies Jesus as Lord and builds up the church. Compare these messages to thecreeds embedded in scripture. And don't be afraid to ask questions: humbly andrespectful of course.

Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.Revelation 1:9-18; Luke 5:7-8Genesis 17:1-3: Abraham Fell Face DownExodus 33:18-21 Moses Can't See God's FaceEzekiel 1:28 Ezekiel fell face downIt's all about the experience of “Awe” in the presence of God. Spiritmanifestations like “being slain in the Spirit” or any other manifestations, should not only produce spiritual giddiness, laughter or even happiness, but at times “awe” or fear and reverence for the Lord. Scripture tells us about the “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom or knowledge but the foolish despise or reject such impartations (Proverbs 1:7)”The above people of God, prophets in their own right, all experienced this fear,reverence or “awe.” “Awe” defined by our biblical examples goes beyond just “toadmire” but a feeling of being in the presence of someone so vast that it transcends ourunderstanding or capacity to bear!So many of them fell forward in awe. What's necessary in our personalexperience with God is both to know that He is love and also that He is “awesome”: toexperience His unconditional love and His fearful majesty. Otherwise we don't get thefull picture as both Peter in Luke 5:7-8, and John in Revelation 1 ( our main text) andothers who experienced His miraculous presence: again that He is both loving andawesome. If God is just lovey dovey then we might get the idea that as His children wecan get away with anything and He won't mind. No! Note what Ananias and Saphiralearned the hard way, that God's person is not to be taken lightly even lied to (Acts1-11). We need to sit on his lap, as daddy and kneel at His feet as King. Let's exploreJohn's experience in Revelation 1:9-18.A) What John saw and how He reacteda) What he saw and heard.i) He was in the Spirit on the Lord's dayii) He heard a loud voice like a trumpet blast behind him (Shock,surprise!)iii) He was commanded to write down what he hears and sees forseven churches (There is a message; not just a shockingexperience)iv) The vision and message is in Apocalyptic language borrowed fromO.T. passages like, Daniel 7:9-13; 10:6; (See also Revelation19:13). Among the lampstands stood someone like the son of manbut how he was dressed, looked and spoke did not resemble thegentle shepherd Jesus presented in the Gospels: read verses13-16B) How he reacted, 1:17 and how Jesus responded.He saw and heard and physically and emotionally reacted by fear andawe: Message: This is some serious business, now listen up! But the revelationdoesn't end here. Note again the latter part of verse 7: Jesus' consolation: Hephysically placed His right hand on him and said stop being afraid(awe) etc.Verse 18. What started as awe, fear and reverence ends in consolation, and acrucial message about the Kingdom.C) Out of it all comes an awesome Revelation and mission. And because of theexperience John had with the Risen Christ and the ensuing awe, he got right to it.This happened while he was still imprisoned in Patmos.a) The Manifestation that the Lord gave John produced the experience ofawe that propelled him to write the message in spite of his prison situation(Compare him with Jeremiah). He felt down awestruck at His presenceand got up fearless in His calling.Read 1 Peter 6:6-9Amen

Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.(This call to patience and waiting happens in all our lives: a common experience in our walk with the Lord)Acts 1:1-11, esp. V. 4; Luke 2:21-40One Common experience in our Christian walk is to never stop waiting on the promisesof God: This is trusting perseverance. We all experience this in either the long form orthe short form. In Acts the disciples only had to wait 50 days, until the feast ofPentecost, to recruit the promise but for Simeon and Anna, and remember Abraham, itwas the long form trusting. Because in God's loving sovereignty, He retains the time andthe manner of all fulfillment and especially in the long time waiting situations He has His reasons: note Galatians 4:4-5.1) Sometimes we don't have to wait a long time; Acts 1:1-11 “only 50 days beforePentecost”2) Other times we must wait longer. This point is illustrated throughout the Biblebeginning with Abraham in Genesis and in Luke 2 with Simeon and Anna. Theyboth had important prophetic roles as to the identification of Jesus as theMessiah.a) Simeon was promised by the Holy Spirit that “he wouldn't die before hehad seen the Lord Christ!” (Luke 2:26). This implies that he was waiting along time. Then one particular day in God's time he was “moved by theSpirit to go to the temple courts just when the child Jesus and His parentswould be there. He then prayed and prophesied over Him a significantprophecy. God in perfect timing fulfilled His promise and Simeon did hisobedience verses 29-35.b) Anna even beats Abraham in waiting time, she was possibly waiting froma young married girl, her marriage lasted only 7 years. She spent the restof her life waiting or serving the Lord in prayer and fasting etc. She was 84years old when God's timing brought Jesus and His parents to her, toprophesy(verses 36-38). With God's help she was found faithful.3) To wait upon the Lord in the Bible does not assume passivity but activity.a) Both Anna & Simeon were actively waiting by serving in the temple bypraying and fasting etc: “Keeping occupied until He shows up.” oranswers. Consider the parable in Luke 19:12-27 who's message to thechurch is be faithful and diligent in serving God and His purposes untilanswers, even in the Long form. May the year 2024 be a prosperous yearfor your church and its servants and also for all our families and friends;may we experience a much more fruitful year of ministry, service andanswered prayer.

Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.Philippians 2:6-11, including the context of verses 11-5 & 12-17, Revelation 13:8The whole process includes the Election of the plan before the foundation of theearth (Revelation 13:8); The incarnation of the Son in Jesus or Christ(Christmas) Hismiraculous life and crucifixion; His Resurrection and Ascension and awaiting the fulleffects of His victory and Enthronement. These are all summarized in poetic Hymnicstyle in Philippians 2:6-11 along with practical applications in 2:1-5 & 12-17. This hymnactually summarized Paul's major parts of the Gospel & its doctrine. It was alsoprobably part of the Baptism service sung or recited by the catechumens.1) The Hymn summarizes the N.T understanding of salvation through the Son ofGod.a) It was decided in the Divine Pre-existence by the Triune God, implied inPhilippians 2:6 & Revelation 13:8.b) Two-Points found in verses 6 & 7i) Jesus the Incarnate Son of God did not have to steal divinityii) Jesus did not use his Divinity to His advantagec) “Human likeness” & “in appearance as a man” does not equal just lookinghuman rather He was the identical copy of humanity to its essence;God-like & immortal while being human; verses 7-8d) He voluntarily humbled Himself and became a servant to His Father &humanity, through the Cross (John 3:16) verse 8e) The Prelude to deserved resurrection and exaltation: Jesus Christ the Sonof God Lord or King of the Creation. Earned Kingship (verses 9-11).i) Result verses 10&11 - “glory” to God the Father2) The behaviors of Jesus, our Savior and Lord are a teaching model for Hisdisciples. Philippians 2:1-5 & 12-17. See especially 1 Peter 5:6-9a) Note the same pattern of humility to exaltation applied to us through-outthis life until heaven; 1 Corinthians 13:12;b) 1 Peter 5:6-9 tells us to have the same mind and purposes as Christ as toour obedience to the Father, more specifically listed in Philippians 2:1-5;12-15. These are some examples of attitudes and behaviors toward eachother that display our humility and obedience to Christi) Express tenderness & compassion towards each other; 2:1-2ii) Don't do anything out of selfish ambition and vain conceitiii) Not only looking after your own interests: 2:4iv) Take seriously your salvationv) Keep working at it with the Spirit's help. 2:12-13vi) Stop your “grumbling & arguing” (Relational conflict) for this is theway of the world 2:14vii) Be willing to sacrifice for God's purposes; 2:17viii) And boast primarily in what the Lord has done and is doing for us;2:16.And all this began with the child in Bethlehem, the Incarnation of the Son of God!Oh Come Let Us Adore Him!Amen

Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.1 Kings 17:8-24Elijah the Prophet had some bad news for King Ahab & his pagan QueenJezebel in 17:1 because of their idolatries (16::30-34): drought for the next ten years.This put Elijah also in a bad spot, but God always provides for His servants, even ifneed be, by Ravens(v 2-6). When the situation worsened, God prepared a poor widowof Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to take care of him. But she was in a worsecondition than Elijah (note verse 11-12). During her best days she thought of dying(v12), yet God chose her, not even an Israelite, to receive His word and provide for His prophet. And she, although it was difficult to obey. Many times God chooses the weak persons for the very purpose if confounding the strong (1 Corinthians 1:26-2:5)And as in the N.T. Gospel God uses weak, wounded and even reluctant servantsto do His will(Moses, Gideon, even Elijah, Chapter 19)

Revelation 1:9-20The Picture of the victorious Christ & all three, combined as one! See also Daniel7:9-14 especially verses 13&14. The all sufficiency of Christ, gained by His death,Resurrection and ascension or His enthronement illustrated in Philippians 2:1-11. Thisdoes not negate the mysterious working together with the Father & Spirit: Philippians2:11, John 15:26-16:16, “... to the glory of God the Father”, “empowered by the HolySpirit. No other deities work together for our benefit, so much so that in the mystery ofthe Trinity, they are three and one.Therefore passages like Hebrews 4:14-16 depicts His throne as draped in graceand mercy.And unlike human royalty & pagan deities, our God doesn't rule by or throughaloofness & regal intimidation but, rather as one who washed the disciples feet, John13:7 as the servant King, administering His power through love. Even His correctdiscipline is out of love (Hebrews 12:6) not the divine right of kings: for while we wereyet sinners, He died for us (Romans 5:6-11) and for God so loved the people in thisfallen world that He sent His son... (John 3:16) He & our Triune God is servant royalty.This complex triune God through our risen victorious Christ is pictured inRevelation 1:9-20: An amalgam of all three. He is an amalgam of the ancient of days(God the Father); The Son of Man (His Son) and the fire & water of the Spiritrepresenting our God's victory and our all sufficiency: (Colossians 1:13-20). This is thecentral apocalyptic picture of Savior & Lord's victory (1:13-18)How does this picture and message speak to John & the church (His people)?1) If we pay the price we will receive His ultimate Revelation, sustaining presence &victory.Then Jesus said to His disciples, if anyone wants to follow me, he must denyhimself, take up His cross(implies not only difficulties but mission) & follow me,not in a cookie cutter way but also in a personal way. “Renouncing all” of Luke14:33 must be balanced with Matthew 6:32-33 and the fact that when wededicate ourselves to Him we will not lack any good thing, Psalms 34:10.For John the prison of the island of Patmos; Revelation 1:6, as the result of hisfaithfulness to the Gospel and Christ's kingdom, was rewarded and privileged to be inthe Spirit and hear, see and experience the victorious Son of Man & His final revelationin scripture.2) Like everything God does this privilege & revelation was to bless John & others1:11 & 19-20. “The 7 stars and the golden lampstands” (I take to mean the 7churches that represent all Christ's body in every age and their “angels” orleaders, pastors etc.) The ultimate assurance of God's victory through Christ bothfor now and forever more (Again Colossians 1:13-20 is one passage that says itall: for now and then, our future. Expect also to see victories in our lives today,victories through our God permitted battles, like John on the island of Patmos.3) The call for us to also hear & experience the victorious God, through Christ, on apersonal level.a) Revelation 3:19-22. The context warns the prosperous church not to getoverly invested in this fallen world, save some of your treasure forheaven's bank. We will earn the right to share, sit on Christ's throne, thatis, partake in His eternal victory: both now and more fully(Revelation 21 &22)Amen

Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.Forget About Matthew 5:48, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father” →good luck to fulfill this literally in any lifetime... This is hyperbole to emphasize theseriousness of our walk, to make our best honest effort.But, the truth of the matter is that we continue to be sinners saved by grace, bothas part of the fallen human race and individually. We are to crucify our sinful flesh daily.But, even with the help of the Holy Spirit the goal is betterment not perfection. And wewill always need His grace & forgiveness throughout our lives (1 John 1;8-2:2)Also God treats & relates to us both as a community with common elements &requirements and as individuals who from our DNA, our family systems, cultures andreligions, we are unique to Him and treats us with this in mind. God doesn't have a strictcookie cutter mentality. He treats us as His individual children. 

Main Scripture: Matthew 24This sermon was interrupted so we have to begin it mid-sermon. Thank you for listening.But what could be the faint shadow of these days coming.I think there are four1) MAD(the potential of mutually assured destruction)2) Delusional leaders & their followers; 1 Peter 2:113) The surrounding of Jerusalem by their enemies for the purpose offull destruction, no longer two state solutions.4) The Gospel preached throughout the modern world (Matthew24:14)In conclusion the only clear singular sign is found in Matthew 24:27-31: as clear as alightning storm, no one can miss it. Our part remains to be watching, working and ready.(The parable of the 10 bridal virgins; Matthew 25:1-13)Acts 1:6-11“.. He will come back in the same way you have seen Him go to Heaven.”Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.

 Psalm 121(All Existence) Psalm 121Sometimes the Lord via the Spirit helps us in more clear and direct ways that can be seen as clearly supernatural, James 5:15 etc. But in all other times He operates more behind the scenes. He has His hand upon all aspects of our lives but not clearly seen. He has some part in all things for me! Psalm 121 describes this idiomatically in verse 8: “our coming and going.” Therefore the answer to the central question posed in verse one, is the rest of the Psalm: We have a God who comprehensively is involved in our lives: sometimes clearly and other times not so clearly. Verse one also describes the danger of turning to various idolatries practiced in Canaan in the sacred mounds or Hills. In the New Testament idolatry is described as self centered, self sufficiency or greed(Luke 12:15, 31 & Colossian 3:5)Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.

John 21: 15-25, especially verses 22-23; 1 John 5:14-15; Matthew 6:10; Romans12:1-2Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.A Lesson on the Sovereignty of God in our lives. To ask anything “in Jesusname” from God also implies as to what pleases the Lord and helps conform to His willand purposes in our lives. In fact in Romans 8:26-28 it states that at times “We do notknow what we ought to pray for(so it's not a matter of using Jesus name in prayer as aformula) But the Spirit Himself intercedes. “...for the saints in accordance with God'swill.” And the one fault that prevents us from having our prayers answered issummarized in James 4:3, “When you ask you do not receive, because you ask with thewrong motives, that you may spend all that you get(only) on your (selfish) pleasures.”Not only should your prayers bless you, but benefit others & glorify God, when they areanswered(The sacred triangle.)

Main Scriptures:Luke 15: 1-7 The One Lost SheepLuke 15:11-32 The One Prodigal SonGod has the ability to love and care for one person at a time. No one gets lost in a crowd.Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.

Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  If you have any Podcast topic suggestions, please send an email to Freegospel3@gmail.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.Psalm 91; 1 Corinthians 13:6-13; The Setting of the Psalm; The Psalmist, who is a godly person, enters theprotective area of Yahweh, the Temple sanctuary. In the sanctuary he testifies andinstructs out of his experience of deliverance by the Lord. He expresses his doctrine or belief(v1) and then details what he learned from his struggle and deliverance. He also testifies about the prophetic words of the Lord to him in verses 14-16.But in the context of Progressive Revelation, how would N.T. believersunderstand these verses, especially in the context of a broader, more comprehensive understanding of life in Christ both now and forever.Remember this Psalm was probably an older Psalm where the idea of anafter-life was less developed. Compare Genesis 25:7-8 and the N.T. statements about the eternal part of life in Christ, a few examples: John 14:1-4; Revelation 21-22 etc.When a Christian reads and meditates on this Psalm they realize the completefulfillment of its promises found in verses 3-13 will not be perfectly realized until our eternal life or after-life experience. Note can verses like 9 & 10 be fully experienced in this fallen world? (note John 16:33; also the example of the Christmas Carol), again considering the dynamic of progressive revelation.

Main Scriptures: Judges 7:1-22; Isaiah 54:1-3;Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  If you have any Podcast topic suggestions, please send an email to Freegospel3@gmail.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.At certain times God orders what seems counterintuitive to human reason, tobring glory to His name. For example in 1 Corinthians 1:18 it is the foolish looking cross that actually demonstrates the love and power of God: counterintuitive! This strange way for God to produce a victory occurs only when ordered by God. This is the point of Gideon, Abraham and Jesus' experience in doing God's will. But only when he directs.We are not called to just do counterintuitive things in order to spur God to action! It'sonly when He clearly speaks, then we obey.First, Make Sure, as much as possible, that the approach is God ordained.We are not to create difficulties in the hopes that God will intervene. In our maintext God clearly spoke in Chapter 7:1-7 and Gideon obeyed. That brought the armydown to 300: “With the 300 men... I Will save you and I will give the Midianite vast army into your hands.” In this peculiar situation, created by God, all will clearly know that it's the Lord that tips the proverbial scale. In fact even with Israel's original numbers, they were no match for the Midian army: Without the Lord's special intervention Goideon and Co. could not win.Note constantly throughout the book of Judges the children of Israel, whoconstantly slipped into ungodly, idolatrous ways had to “cry unto the Lord” and He was always faithful to respond(Judges 6:1-11)Second, Because some of God's solutions seem counterintuitive to us.He gives us special grace to persevere. In Gideon's story it manifested through variedsigns that he asked God to perform.

Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  If you have any Podcast topic suggestions, please send an email to Freegospel3@gmail.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.Acts 8:1-8; especially verse 6; note also John 14:11 & Romans 15:17-19 and especially Acts 1:4-8[The Central Purpose of the Baptism or Filling(s) of The Spirit, Ephesians 5:18, power to witness & evangelize: officially and personal/unofficially, being living epistles 2 Corinthians 3:2-4.Remember everything that the Spirit does through and among us for thefurtherance & nurturance of the Gospel is supernatural: “born from above”, John 3:3.The Gospel is not only a new religious belief system that tries to convince others that it's theology and ethics are superior but also foundationally supernatural as well asdoctrinal and ethical. The spreading of the Kingdom is impossible without the HolySpirit's power(The gift of the Spirit, 1 Corinthians 12-14) and even in its characterbuilding it's all about the “Fruit of the Spirit.” Christianity from “soup to nuts”, has anecessary supernatural foundations.

Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  If you have any Podcast topic suggestions, please send an email to Freegospel3@gmail.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.Luke 22:39-52; Hebrews 4:14-16;5:7-10;The fact that Jesus begins His Passion(Suffering) Doesn't mean that God has leftHim, rather the opposite is true. Note 22:39-44, especially verses 43-44. Godwas still with Him in power even though at the point during His crucifixion, he feltabandoned: “My God why have you forsaken me”(Mark 15:34; Matthew 27:46)

Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  If you have any Podcast topic suggestions, please send an email to Freegospel3@gmail.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.Note the first line of that great hymn, on Christ the Solid Rock I stand “I dare nottrust(completely, naively) the sweetest frame, but wholly(more)lean on Jesusname! This is not as easy as it sounds and we will briefly explore this.Main Texts: John 2:12-24, especially verses 23-24; Psalm 27:10-14.I think it's much easier and natural for humans to trust what is visible andtangible: what we can see, hear and touch, than that which remainspredominantly invisible. Most of the time, we confess, “We walk by faith not mostof the time by sight.” As I said last week, we as humans are created in the imageof God and have talents & skills, some more than others, but generally speakingwe are creative, and also most have families.Clans, faith communities around us to lend a hand when needed. So it's easier ifnot better or Biblically more advisable to do so: We're only human!” Most of the time we can trust our back-ups. But because of our fractured human situation (Genesis 3), that's not enough for even, “mothers, father's might forsake us, at times, but the Lord will(always) receive us”(Psalm 27:10). This teaching is both the hardest and most basic instruction of scripture: To put our ultimate trust in the Lord, why?A) Our physicality & visibility while God is predominantly “Spirit” & invisible. Andeven though we experience His Spirit at times in glorious ways it's not likereceiving a helping hand from a visible, caring, loving person in our lives. Butsome, even our closest friends, etc, are capable of failing us. And if we arehonest will admit that some have. Again, note Jesus's experience and statementin John 2:23-24. But it's not about no trust, we are all created to be relational andin need of others, but ultimate final trust, remember the hymn!

Main Texts: John 11:6; Ezekiel 37:1-7; Romans 4:17;Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  If you have any Podcast topic suggestions, please send an email to Freegospel3@gmail.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.As we, male and female, are created in the image of God, distinct from nature &the animal kingdom, we reflect His capabilities, but not infinite measure. We have abrain, mind, emotions, relational capabilities etc., for beyond the animal kingdom.Therefore we have intelligence and creative capabilities and can mimic what God does, but on a much lesser level, we are not nor will ever be gods!Humans can decide to create, sustain, destroy, even if they don't believe in God.We create societies, cultures, industries, science etc. with God's permission but thereare somethings that God permits and even cooperates in their creation that areimpossible for us humans to resolve or overcome. The Bible refers to them as“mountains” that humans with all their ingenuity, God given, cannot remove(see Mark11:23-25)Only God can create something out of nothing (Romans 4:17) and can removethese mountains that are an impossible obstacle for us to remove.

Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  If you have any Podcast topic suggestions, please send an email to Freegospel3@gmail.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.All of the above does not point to our triune God as either a male or femalegender or both(androgyny) rather it's the use of analogy i.e. God is strong as ourheavenly Father and caring as our heavenly mother. But in truth our Triune God ischaracterized as having the best of the virtues characterized in Fathering andMothering. The truth of the matter is that God created two genders with significantbiological and emotional differences for the purpose of marriage and creating a family(Genesis 1:27-28; 20-24). But our triune God is prior to gender; in fact there is amysterious description in the Gospel of John 4:24, “God is a spirit, and those whoworship Him must worship Him in Spirit and Truth”: i.e beyond just flesh and bones and gender, like we are. And God cannot be reduced to “light” or an emotion like “love” but the being that creates and sustains all, with all the good virtues infinitely in His person. Yet the Son of God was incarnated as a man, what a mystery!

Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  If you have any Podcast topic suggestions, please send an email to Freegospel3@gmail.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.Some hear preached this statement, found in three synoptic gospels, as Jesuspromise, if believed, to heal everyone in the same way and all the time. But I think thatthis word was specific to this distressed person, “full of leprosy”(very serious skindisease that in all its forms was considered “unclean” & possibly even contagious, seeLuke 5:12, Leviticus 14)

Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com.  If you have any Podcast topic suggestions, please send an email to Freegospel3@gmail.com.  Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.Main Scriptures: Romans 8:1-4, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 5:19 and 1 Thessalonians 4:17And while there is much disagreement about eschatological expectations, especially over 1 Thessalonians 4:17(the Rapture of the Church), by Scripture loving believers, what we all agree with is that none of us will taste the “wrath of God”(1 Thess 1:10;5:9). But how will we escape it? Some believe in a pre-tribulation rapture of the church, others a mid-trib rapture, and others no pre-second coming rapture at all, only the Second Coming of Jesus(Revelation 19-21). But again we all agree that because of the Cross and Resurrection of Christ and our faith in Him we have already passed from judgment that is no more condemnation emerging out of God's righteous, fair judgment of the world.But how did the early Christians living in Jerusalem understand the tradition passed to them, about the last day's outpouring of God's judgment and the believers salvation or deliverance from God's wrath?