Join us by audio! We are Faith Alive Church - a church with the mission in the name - to keep faith alive. Faith isn't a one time decision, or a checkbox on a form. Faith is how God functions and He's given us a portion of His faith to live by on earth.
Joshua BoydToday we finish our series The Journey of Faith with our eighth part. This weekend is Memorial Weekend which honors those who died serving our country. We used the word served because a soldier doesn't do what he wants to do, he does what he is told to do. In the military, there are consequences for doing your own thing – not just for the one who does the action but for those around who might suffer because one person didn't listen or went into self-preservation mode. The heroes are the ones we see carrying another when they are down or wounded. Pushing through the fear and danger to protect and save others. Looking out for the good of the many rather than trying to save self. One of the many ways we tend to get behind or feel like we are the wounded one in life is by the cares of this life. In Mark 4:18-19 Jesus said that there is something that can prevent the Word of God from producing fruit in your life: The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God's word, 19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.The Word of God is powerful and can overcome evil. We, however, control the door of our heart – what we let in. When worries and cares enter the door, they crowd out the Word from coming in. This is when the journey of faith gets bogged down. How many have taken road trips and the GPS has given you the estimated time of arrival but then you run into construction or an accident—backing up traffic for miles, slowing you down, delaying your arrival. This is what worrying does for our faith journey. It slows us down, preventing progress. There is a solution that takes discipline to see it through. 1. Give the Lord your cares and worries2. Help others with their burdensIn past messages on this journey, we've talked about obedience and humility, two elements required to get us to our journey's destination. Humility, as we heard on our Wednesday night Bible Study, is seeing yourself as God sees you – an honest evaluation of yourself. This includes the honest assessment of the cares you are carrying. Jesus was humble and honest and yet called Himself what he was: the Son of God. He's given us the command to be like him.
Jordon GilmoreEphesians 4:29 ESV1. It begins with an honest Biblical assessment of where we are, of who God is and what He has done2. Leads to an attitude adjustment 3. It should build in us a resolve to be steadfast in our hope Point 1Psalm 103:1-5David was continually telling himself to bless the Lord. Psalm 42:1-11Point 21 Samuel 30:6It is only possible to encourage yourself when you know there is some anchor to place that encouragement into. Psalm 116:7Point 3The ups and downs continue but my response begins to stabilize Ps 146:1-2 ESV“Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.”
Joshua BoydThis morning we celebrate our moms in the house and the moms that raised us. I'm very thankful for my mom who, right after she had me and then my sister, realized she didn't know how to raise two kids as a twenty-four-year-old. She needed help. She needed God…and found Him. From a child, my sisters and I heard Bible faith teaching on the radio every morning. Mom's journey of faith, from a devout Catholic with a heart for God to a born-again Spirit-filled believer dedicated to following God and His Word, brought my sisters and I along in it. The journey of faith for all of us, can't be done alone. It will feel like you are alone sometimes because walking with God and obeying His will goes against the mainstream. Elijah thought he was alone when 450 prophets of Baal showed up to his challenge and he was the only representative of God's side. He “won”…God won but Elijah left, went to a cave and said Lord take me now, I'm alone. God's answer? You are not alone, there are 7,000 others who have not worshipped Baal. Go, here are your next steps. Scriptures are full of encouragement for us that we are not alone; and we have commands to be the one who comes alongside others. Amos 3:3NKJV Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?NLV Do two men walk together unless they have made an agreement?NLT Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?Moms and Dads, we can apply this to us in all three context: parents must be walking in agreement about rearing the kids, discipline, church, Bible doctrine, etc. We can't be living our lives going in two different directions and expect our kids to find their path. We are the stewards of their journey of faith. Proverbs 22:6Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.Ephesians 6:4And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.Look at Proverbs 31. You might think you know where I'm going when you hear that chapter, but you don't. Yes, these verses describe the Godly, woman and mother who cares for her husband and household, is successful in life and business. Look at verse 1Proverbs 31:1The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him:It was the king's mother who taught him about what kind of woman to look for. His mother described the godly wife that he should find. Moms, you are key in directing the path of your children's journey of faith. You walk the path yourself, literally carrying them at first. Then when they are old enough to start walking on their own, spiritually, you walk alongside them to show the way and keep them on the path. When Louisa first started walking and we'd be on a sidewalk together, she'd go all over the place distracted by everything. Even though the sidewalk was clear and straight, her feet weren't following it. Christians do the exact same thing. God has a clear and straight path for us, but when we are spiritually immature, we get distracted by too much and wander all over. This is where faith buddies come in. Moms and dads, we are each other's faith buddy. Guys, help your brother. Ladies, help your sisters. Be the one that sees the wandering of someone else and goes to walk with them to support, uphold and guide.
Jordon GilmoreLuke 15:1-7, 10The passage starts out setting the scene. Large crowds had seen His miracles and are now coming to hear Him. The Pharisees see no value in the people that came to hear Jesus. In this passage there are 3 types of people:1. True disciples2. Self righteous 3. SinnersWe've all played all three roles in our lives. Jesus is telling teach role about themselves in the different parables. 1. When you are the sheep or coin, you appreciate the fact that God spared no expense to save you. To what extent are we taking the same attitude 2. Sometimes we are the 99. We have to watch our attitude when the focus is on the one. 3. We are called to rejoice over the one. Parable of the Sheep - life happens, wanders off. the owner leaves the 99 to go find the oneParable of the Coin - you lost it. The one who lost it searched until foundParable of the Prodigal Son - purposely wanders off and gets lost, the father didn't pursue How much time are you spending rejoicing with those who are rejoicing?
Joshua BoydPart six of our Journey of Faith series today is going to have a familiar sound to it: Willing and obedient. When each of us hear a message from the Lord on Sundays or Wednesdays, we should take it personally – meaning what is the Lord speaking to me right now? And just as importantly, let me receive this word because there is a reason He is speaking this to me right now. God's Word, especially from your trusted leaders, isn't a “topic of the week”, or like a TV series episode. No, it is the instruction for the season. It is a word of warning or direction for what God knows you and I will face now or in the near future. As we talked about Wednesday night, God will make a way of escape for you from every temptation and test – His taught Word is a major part of that way. Listen. How many of us want the blessing of the Lord on our lives? I might as well as Jordon if he wants the fruit from his garden, or asking you if you want the paycheck for doing the work. Obviously yes. Human nature looks for the outcome – what is in this for me. But the flesh, the sinful nature of humankind, only wants to do the bare minimum to get any gain. I need to lose weight and get more physically fit. I have to workout how much? Stop eating what? Is there a pill I can take and keep living my life the way I want to? There is no pill in the kingdom of God. There is obedience. No obedience pain, no Godly gain.
Jordon GilmoreMatt 28:16-17“Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.”Matthew 28:16-17 NKJVWhy we doubt: arrogance and prideAsk yourself: is Christ greater than all I can see? Yes!“But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;”I Corinthians 1:27 NKJVJohn 20:11-18To be known by God solidifies in our spirits that He livesLuke 24:13-35Revealed Himself as a resurrected Lord by opening the Scriptures and expounding themOpen up the scripture. Read it. “Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!””John 20:27-28 NKJVMatthew 28:11-15
Joshua BoydToday is Palm Sunday, the start of what is called passion week. Does anyone know why we call it passion week? I too had to look it up. The English word passion comes from the Latin word passio which means “to endure suffering”. So this is celebration of Christ's week of enduring suffering for us. He, like us had His journey of faith that took Him down a very specific pathway. It wasn't easy. It was very narrow. So narrow that no other person has ever walk that exact path. He did it because He fully trusted His Father. And He did it for us. When you plan a trip with your family, which vehicle do you take? For most of us, probably the biggest one to pack in the stuff, but also the most reliable one. Right? We've gotten to the point with two cars over 10 years old to rent a vehicle for longer trips so we can save the wear on our cars and have a vehicle we can fully trust. God is looking for those who He can put His trust in, those who won't slip when times get rough, those He can depend on to finish the task. We teach on faith regularly here at Faith Alive Church and here is a key element of our faith: for God to have faith is us, we have to have faith in Him. Let's dissect that statement to fully understand it. when we have faith in God, we are saying that we trust Him. I trust that what He has said will happen. I trust that He is true to His Word. Here is the real key though: when we trust, we obey. When you fully trust, you fully obey. When you don't trust, you don't obey. So the truest indicator of faith isn't your answered prayer record, it is how much you obey.
Jordon GilmoreThis is how we stay in the narrow path.“Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command.”1 Chronicles 12:32 ESVWe have a fixed period called time. One of the greatest gifts we can have is to understand the time to make the most use of it. “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:”Ecclesiastes 3:1 ESVTo understand the times means to understand:1. What has happened before - can you look back and recognize when God moved in your life. Can you discern what His purpose was in those situations. 2. What is happening now 3. What may happen nextUnderstanding is composed of awareness or recognition. We pray for an advanced skill of discernment. Four areas of understanding the times1. Biblically and spiritually - Rom 3:21-222. Personally - 1 Sam 30:8 do you understand how to shift and realign your personal resources to maximize the output for the season3. Leadership - Joshua 1:1-3 one of the greatest responsibilities we have as leaders is understanding seasons. What and who has God placed under your leadership?4. Culturally - the climate we are acting in as believers - Matt 22:21 - culture is the climate that we carry out God's strategies
Joshua BoydGrowing up, how many of you had moms or dads that warned you not to go with the crowd or do what everyone else is doing just because everyone else is doing it? I did. Peer pressure starts in early childhood as kids develop their sense of individuality. It is easy to go with the crowd even when what they are doing is obviously wrong. We've all observed a group of kids start to take a path of disruption and disorganization simply because a few started to. Unfortunately, we don't just grow out of this behavior. It has to be trained out and mature adults have to develop good judgment to make the right decision even when others are not. Matthew 7:13-14 KJV13 Enter ye in at the strait [or narrow] gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. The words here in the original language describe the Kingdom path as a narrow, closely confined pathway—one that would require deliberate steps, careful navigation and decision making. The word for narrow is also translated pressed. Where are we going with this? Throughout scripture, the imagery of the straight path means being on the right path and the crooked path is wrong way.
Jordon GilmoreThe song we just played reminded me of a truth, the spiritual truth that I want to talk about today: Kingdom expectations. And so we're going to be in a couple of different scriptures if you want to go ahead and pull these up or write them down: Hebrews 11:1 - a very familiar one, and Romans 15:13. When you have expectation for something, there is action around getting ready for it. Hope is connected to faith. Hebrews 11:1The God of hopeRomans 15:13What is hope?Bible hope = expectation 1 Peter 1:3-5Expectation = I'm going to construct my reality on the basis that this is truePhilippians 1:19-21Three things to think about1. Our expectations are based on real truth, Gods truth2. Our expectations are backed by a limitless God3. Our ultimate expectation is set in eternity Psalm 25:3Don't lose hope, hope is the foundation of your faith.
Joshua BoydWe are back on our road learning about the Journey of Faith. It isn't a journey unless we start and our journey of faith begins with believing the good news of salvation. Step after step in our journey is only progressed by believing the Word and acting on it by faith, keeping our conscience clear, and our obedience on the ready. That takes work. And it is a constant improvement or growth of your faith. We go from faith to faith, glory to glory. Hebrews 4:11 - Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For most of us, that initial journey of faith to salvation didn't take too long. Once you believed, the action of calling on the name of the Lord brought you to the destination of salvation. Eternal life is yours, Jesus has wiped your sins away and it didn't even take but a few minutes. Wow, this life of faith is easy!Much like the children of Israel though, leaving Egypt in one day—an example of our salvation—wasn't the end of their journey. Specifically, it wasn't their final destination. Salvation isn't the end of the Christian walk. For too many it is though – don't let that be you, don't let that be your kids. Jesus commanded us to go and “get people saved so they'll go to heaven”. No. He said, go and make disciples—go and lead people on their own journey of faith. That means we have to be at least slightly ahead on our own journey. The labor of entering into the rest God has for us is in the journey. This is a marathon, a long distance drive, post-graduate education. There is a reward at the end—not just heaven. The journey of faith brings the end result of our prayer, our petitions. The Lord says He's given us all things to enjoy. He wants you saved, your needs and desires met, your health strong, your children saved and protected. Galatians 6:9 - So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up. Our part? Don't give up. Keep the faith.
Jordon GilmoreThe Lord delights in smells. Today we explore the biblical significance of scents and aromas, highlighting their role as offerings and indicators of sin and emphasizing the importance of this often-overlooked aspect of spirituality.
Joshua BoydWe are on a journey of faith – both in our Christian walk and in our current series. The start of our journey must be salvation. We believed the word to be born again. We had to pray and ask Jesus to come and save us. We had to call on Him. That was the first act of obedience by faith and it sealed the deal for our salvation. The rest of our journey works the same way: we hear, believe, then act. Our first act of obedience is calling on the name of the Lord in response to hearing the good news of what happens when we do. In this part two of our series, let's focus on what can hinder our journey: unbelief. How can a born-again Christian experience unbelief? Let's find out.Israel was “saved”. Their coming out of Egypt is a type of us coming out of the world into God's Kingdom – salvation. They saw with their own eyes the repeated miracles of God, yet they struggled over and over with believing God and obeying Him. It got to the point that their hearts became hard toward God.Our journey of faith begins with believing the good news of salvation. Step after step in our journey is only progressed by believing the Word and acting on it by faith, keeping your conscience clear, and your obedience on the ready. That takes work. It is labor, it is a fight—the good fight. And it is a constant improvement or growth of your faith. We go from faith to faith, glory to glory.
Jordon GilmoreGod's grace is sufficient for all needs, as demonstrated by the provision of daily bread and the example of the Israelites in the desert. The Apostle Paul's conversation with God highlights that God's grace is enough, even in weakness, and should be received with faith. Operating in the kingdom means relying on God's grace, not our own merits or abilities.God's grace, unmerited favor, is sufficient for salvation and all aspects of life. The Apostle Paul, facing a persistent “thorn in the flesh,” prayed for its removal, but God responded, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Paul, like us, must trust in God's grace, believing it is enough to carry us through life's challenges, even when we feel weak or uncomfortable.God's grace is sufficient for all situations, even those where our strength is tested. Paul, in 2 Corinthians 12:9, learned to embrace his weaknesses, recognizing that God's power is made perfect in them. We should anchor our faith in God's grace, knowing it is enough for every day and every challenge.
Joshua BoydWe talk about faith very often at FAITH Alive Church. It is much more than a favorite subject. It is the mission of this church to keep faith alive in us. Understanding what faith is and how it works is vital to our success as Christians. God works by faith and has giving us a measure, a portion, of His own faith. Today, we start a new series called “The Journey of Faith”. Living by faith, a command in Scriptures, doesn't come overnight. For some believers, it never happens. Living by faith doesn't come automatically. It takes the right actions to work. Think about when you received salvation, when you were born again. Did you wake up one day and suddenly decide to get saved? No! It was a process, maybe long for some and shorter for others, that required certain ingredients to mix together to get the right outcome. Let's look at what the Word says about the salvation process.
Jordon GilmoreThe idea of “daily bread” emphasizes the importance of a consistent relationship with God and seeking His provision daily. This is illustrated through the story of the Israelites in the desert, who complained about their provision despite God's previous miracles. The Israelites' experience mirrors human nature, where we often forget God's blessings when faced with discomfort or challenges.God provided manna daily to test the Israelites' faith and obedience, highlighting the importance of daily reliance on Him. Similarly, our daily struggles and responsibilities can be seen as God's miracles, testing our trust and prompting us to seek His guidance. Ultimately, God's glory and provision are revealed through our daily engagement with Him.
Joshua BoydWhat does it mean practically to fear the Lord? Jesus said “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15) There's the definition of loving God. You cannot love God and consistently disobey or ignore His commands. When we refuse to obey, we become an enemy of God. James 4:4 says that if we are friends with the world what they do, we become the enemy of God. God won't force us to obey, we have a choice in the matter. But oh the rewards of making the right choice! This is where we bring our topic of angels back in. Angels fear the Lord. Angels obey His commands completely. And God will send His angels to help those of us who do the same.
Jordon GilmoreAre we satisfied with God providing what we need, or do we let our wants drive our relationship with God?Do we act as if we need God?Matthew 6:9-13Give me the portion of You I need today1. Jesus wants us to model a relationship with the Father that is daily.2. Jesus is compelling us to ask the Father what we need for the day because He knows what we need for the day. 3. When we don't take this wisdom from the Lord and we try to store up just in case, we are driving by pride and fear. 4. Jesus was trying to point to a particular time in Jewish history with the manna to give an example. Our relationship with God should be one where we are satisfied with our daily bread.
Joshua BoydWhen Jordon and I stand before you each week, we endeavor to bring the message for you for right now. This is the live feed from the top. As children of God, we have a relationship with the Father that allows us to communicate and fellowship with Him daily. You and I talk to our natural family everyday without putting thought or effort into it. we do it because of relationship. It is the same with our heavenly Father. There are times though that as a parent or a family member, we have to get someone's attention, so with intention we tell them to listen! That is how I feel about this word today. The Lord says, stop, listen, this is important! It will determine the year for you. When the prophets spoke a Word from the Lord, there was always a condition: if you do this then this will happen. Unfortunately, sometimes the condition was a past event: if you would have done this then this next thing would not have to happen. Jesus gave a command to his disciples in John 14:1. “Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.With the command comes the power to obey it. The Lord doesn't tell us to do something we cannot do. So as we hear this today, hear it with the weight that it has. Hear it for yourself and hear it with the intent to obey.
Jordon GilmoreWe have a tendency to become comfortable in negative situations, even when a solution is available. The story of Jesus healing demon-possessed men in Matthew 8:28-34 as a starting point. All of us should reflect on their our lives and identify areas where we might be resisting positive change, even if it means confronting our own demons.The presence of Jesus immediately causes demons to recognize and respond to him, even if the person they possess is unaware. These negative situations, or “footholds of the enemy,” can be anything from personal struggles to toxic relationships, and they will always yield to the power of God. Even if we resist the Holy Spirit's guidance, yielding to God's presence will force these footholds to respond.Dark areas in our lives, like unforgiveness or negative self-talk, can become normalized, but we must be honest about their harmful effects. We should not accept these areas as normal, as they can hinder our spiritual growth and prevent us from experiencing God's full presence. Instead, we should seek God's help to expose and overcome these areas, allowing Him to transform us and bring us into His perfect will.People were afraid of Jesus' healing power, even though it brought light and freedom, because they were comfortable with their dysfunction and afraid of change. This fear can manifest in our own lives, preventing us from seeking healing and transformation. We must embrace the process of healing, even when it costs us, to walk in God's perfect will and experience true freedom.
Joshua BoydI'm going to start today by stating our main point today: Satan is an angel. He's not an equal to God, he's not uncreated. He is an angel. The world and even religious tradition have made it seem like an eternal battle of two mighty generals controlling the battlefield in an epic struggle for the ages. It isn't like that at all. Throughout the Old Testament, the Spirit of the Lord uses prophets to bring words to real kings of this world while using the same words to speak to the powers of the spiritual world. In that sense, we can use the image of a king or general in battle conquering cities and lands. In fact, much of what we know about our enemy and his origins comes from these prophetic passages. Satan is real, he has a name and thus has a purpose. God created him with one purpose and Satan chose to follow his own purpose. For us to know our enemy, we'll start with his origin story. To do that we need to look at one type of angel mentioned throughout the Bible. This isn't an angel that appeared to people as a messenger, it has a different purpose.
Jordon GilmoreThe tearing of the temple curtain symbolizes access to God's presence for all believers, not just the high priest. Many Christians, however, settle for a surface-level relationship with God, stopping short of true intimacy and fellowship. Barriers like busyness, lack of knowledge, and spiritual struggles can prevent believers from drawing near to God's throne of grace.Today we reflect on personal barriers preventing a deeper relationship with God, using the example of hesitation to participate in worship. Emphasizing the significance of Jesus' sacrifice, highlighting the opportunity for a more intimate connection with God beyond transactional prayers, let's be encouraged to move beyond surface-level relationships and embrace a closer, more transformative faith.
Joshua BoydPlease turn to a standard passage during this Christmas season, the book of Luke. Luke 1:11-13, 18-19Compare this experience with that of Mary a few verses down.Luke 1:26-37There are only two angels in Scripture whose name we know. Gabriel here is one. Does anyone know the other? Michael. Both Gabriel and Michael have specific purposes: Gabriel gives extremely high priority messages. Michael is one of the lead or arch angels who leads battles against darkness. Each of the three books Michael is mentioned, he is fighting evil forces. Gabriel is mentioned in two books, Daniel and Luke. In Daniel he is bringing the message of the timeline for the end of times. In Luke, he brings the message of John and the Messiah. These are arguably three of the most anticipated messages from the Lord and Gabriel was the sole angel to deliver them. He has a purpose. Michael has a purpose. Notice when Gabriel came to both Zechariah, Mary and Joseph, which we Jordon spoke about last week, Gabriel's message from the Lord included the action to give the child a specific name. With John, his name means God is gracious. When Gabriel spoke to Mary and Joseph, he said to name the baby Jesus, God Saves. What is in a name? Everything.
Jordon GilmoreJoseph and the wise menOne of their tasks was to preserve the life of baby Jesus.Matthew 1:19-20A dream of reassurance Matthew 2:10-12A dream of preservation Matthew 2:13A dream of forewarning and salvation Matthew 2:19-A dream of opportunity The most common type of dreamMatthew 2:22-23A dream of direction and security Psalm 4:8
Joshua BoydI want you to picture in your mind something that you cannot see with your eyes. Imagine the largest athlete you can think of – a six foot seven 300-pound beast of a man. This being is with you everywhere you go, night and day. He is powerful enough to overcome any person. He doesn't sleep or take a break. There are more angels in this room than people – we'll get into why that is from the Scriptures later. There is an entire real other world happening around us all the time. A world we cannot see or feel with our senses but it existed before this physical world we live in now existed. They beings in the spiritual realm have been around much longer than any human – they've lived longer than humans have been created. Angels are real. Do you believe that? Do you believe that YOU have an angel assigned to you for life? Angels have a specific purpose and there are different angels for different purposes. In this series, we will discover the purpose of angels and how they work. Scripture References1 Chronicles 21:16, 301 Chronicles 28:11, 182 Chronicles 3:10-13Daniel 10:4-10Matthew 18:1-5, 10Colossians 2:181 Corinthians 6:3Acts 5:17-23
Jordon GilmoreThis morning, we'll likely conclude this concept or series, My Heart and My Ministry. It could even be a side message. I want to focus on a ministry I mentioned a few weeks ago.I want to discuss encouragement and goodness, a fruit of the spirit. Goodness is ambiguous. What does it mean to be good? There are many definitions and suggestions for good people.But what does the Bible say about goodness? How can we use goodness and encouragement together as a personal ministry? I want to focus on goodness because it doesn't require special training, talent, or education.
Jordon GilmoreWe Are All Called to MinistryLet's refresh our memory on what our purpose for this series is. It's from Proverbs chapter 4, verse 23. It says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for out of it flows all that you do.” So far in the series, we've mainly focused on talking about the heart.We began by emphasizing the importance of the heart and how deeply concerned God is about it, even more than about our actions, words, or where we go. He cares about our hearts and wants them.We then discussed the natural condition of our hearts. The scripture says that our hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked. It's hard for us to even know our own hearts. But we ended that message with a scripture from First John that reminded us that even in the deepest, darkest parts of our hearts that we don't understand, we can be assured that God knows our hearts.And not only does God know our hearts, but he also knows how far our hearts are from him. Despite this knowledge, he still chose to love us, to die for us, to adopt us as his children, and to use us in his kingdom. So we can be encouraged by that.Last time, we talked about our regenerated or renewed heart. We discussed how it's God who gives us a new heart. We must be open to God's presence and willing to share our hearts with Him. We can invoke the words of Psalm 42:3, “Search my heart, O God, and know my thoughts.” When we do this, God promises to give us hearts for Him.Today, we'll delve into the second part of the series title: “My heart, my ministry.” Let's begin by focusing on the last part of Proverbs 42:3, which emphasizes the importance of our actions.The Bible says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for out of it flows all that you do.” This verse underscores the significance of our hearts in shaping our actions and decisions.In the context of ministry, we can define it as service to God and others in the name of God. This definition is straightforward and clear. Ministry involves serving God and others, regardless of their beliefs or backgrounds.Interestingly, ministry is not limited to believers. It extends to serving people, even those who are non-believers, enemies, or those with whom we disagree. This means that we can still minister to them.In the modern church, the term “ministry” has often been associated with professional or vocational roles. We tend to think of ministers as individuals in specific positions, such as those on stage or with titles. However, this definition overlooks the fact that all Christians are called to ministry.When we consider the definition of ministry as service to God and others, we realize that we are all ministers. Every Christian is called to serve God and others in His name.
Joshua BoydToday we finish up the series on Honor. The true disciple of Christ, the one who desires to mature in their walk with God, is one who has learned to honor God. If we want God to honor us, we must first honor Him. How? We've learned over the past few weeks that honor requiresHumbling ourselvesValuing the things that God valuesGivingSubmitting to Authorityto Each Otherto GodEach of these attributes of honor are really actions on our part. Some actions, like humbling ourselves, can't be readily seen by others. You and I can't see the heart behind the attitude. The more we mature in our walk with God though, the more we can identify the fruit of the attitude. In other words, we can see the fruit of humility even if we can't see the heart decision to be humble. Even in giving, the most outward action of honor, we can't see the heart behind the action. Jesus stood in the temple one day and watched the people give. Those who were giving the most money ended up being the ones doing it for show. It was the one who gave the largest percentage who had the most faith and gave with the right heart. Jordon's series on the condition of the heart ties so neatly into this message. I love when we see the work of the Holy Spirit.
My Heart and My Ministry Series Part 3Jordon GilmoreJesus emphasized the importance of a regenerated heart, as exemplified by Nicodemus, a religious leader. The Christian life is a process of continuous change and reevaluation, requiring a new heart to enter the kingdom of God. Despite our progress, we should remain open to reevaluating our hearts and embracing a new perspective.God initiates heart change because of His love for us. He removes our stubborn hearts and replaces them with responsive ones, enabling us to follow His decrees and regulations. This process is essential for effective ministry, as it allows us to serve God with a pure and obedient heart.God initiates change in our hearts due to His love and desire for His name's sake. When we fall short, we can pray for a clean heart and renewed spirit, as exemplified by David in Psalms 51. This prayer is essential for all believers, regardless of their spiritual journey.Repentance is a continuous process of evaluating our hearts and seeking God's forgiveness. We should not disqualify ourselves from ministry due to perceived heart issues, as God can work through our imperfections. Asking God to search our hearts and critique our thoughts can be uncomfortable, but it leads to growth and a deeper relationship with Him.
Joshua BoydThis morning we will expand on the topic of honor, especially the attribute of humility that we introduced early in the series. There is no real honor without humility. Or more precisely, there is no honor of someone else without humility. Pride honors itself. It puts its own position, its own way above that of others. Jesus, our Master, lived out our example. He did want He requires of us. John 5:19-24, 44Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and He will lift you up (1 Peter 5:6). Honor God and He will honor you. Honor yourself and despising God leads to God despising you – He resists the proud. There is a word that describes the character and actions of humility. It's a word that we don't like to use and many churches won't even teach on it. That word is submission. The Oxford dictionary defines submit: “accept or yield to a superior force or to the authority or will of another person.” Synonyms include: yield, capitulate, give way, agree, consent, defer. Honor requires SubmissionThis isn't a popular topic. Too many want the reward but don't want to take the path to get there. But it is absolutely necessary in order to truly honor God and honor each other. Anything else is pride disguising itself as humility. Words can only hide pride for so long. Eventually actions – lack of submission – reveals the true attitude. Others see your behavior long before they hear you talk. Unfortunately, in this present politically heated world we live in, words quickly become the mechanism for revealing our attitude.
Jordon GilmoreExamine the condition of our Heart.1 Cor. 11:26-29Out of our hearts flow our ministry“The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”Genesis 6:5 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.””Jeremiah 17:9-10 ESVThe natural state of our hearts is not goodThe terrifying reality is that it is entirely possible to serve your entire life with the wrong heartThe Pharisees did ministry with the wrong heartMatthew 9:1-8Why do we think evil in our hearts?Matthew 15:10-20Isaiah 29:131 John 3:19-22If we take an honest assessment of our hearts, we may not like what we see, but God already knows the state of our heart and still chose us.
Joshua BoydGod honors, not everyone, those who honor Him. Too often, believers put the responsibility on God that God has designated to us. Do you want to be honored? It isn't automatic. It isn't because of your title, status, family, good works, etc. You must first honor Him. But not honoring God isn't the neutral position—it is the complete opposite. If you think lightly of Him, His ways, His Word, His commands, he will think lightly – despise – you. Yikes! Giving is a key indicator of honor. When you honor someone, you will give to them, and give to be with them. That leads us to today's point:Honor means GivingIn other words, when you honor something or someone, you will give to it or them—time, energy, money, priority. Every person who wants to be a disciple of the Master, the Lord, must be a tither, must give offerings. Without that physical act of giving, there is no honor. Why do you think we spent so many Sundays this year talking about Biblical Finances. Where you prioritize your money, is where you prioritize your heart.
Jordon GilmoreTopic 1 - God wants our heartProv 4:23“Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.”Proverbs 4:23 NKJVGuard your heartMinistry = Personal service for God towards menMatt 22:34-40Love the Lord with ALL your heartProv 3:5-6Trust the Lord with ALL your heart Prov 21:2The Lord weighs the heartDavid1 Samuel 13:13-14
Jordon GilmoreLuke 16:1-13Apart from God's grace, we really have nowhere to go. Everything we have and everything we are is a gift of unmerited favor. The unjust steward was using what he had in the present to take care of things he knew would come in the future. Are we so earthly minded about the use of our time that we fail to use it for the eternal things of God?
Joshua BoydPart 2 of our series on honor begins today with some questions: what do you value? What do you put the highest price on? The apostle Paul's values changed after he encountered the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus. Philippians 3:5-9The Kingdom of God works by honor. We can restate it this way: the Kingdom of God works by a value system – one that is much different from the world's value system. This might be one of the largest gaps between the two kingdoms. When you travel the world, you can see differences in culture and laws that show what is valued or prioritized between one nation versus another. Japanese culture values family heritage, elders and the culture itself. Here in the US, what would you say that we value? I know we spend way too much money on entertainment. The world ridicules, thinks very little of the things that are the highest value in the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:28God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.That means us! We have to realize, like Paul, that our heritage, our education, our occupation mean nothing in the Kingdom of God. That doesn't mean God won't use our education and our occupation for His sake. It means that we can't rely on only that to get ahead in this world and especially with God. When we value eternity more than this world, we start to see what we should honor.
Joshua BoydThe Apostle John said “I must decrease that He might increase”. For us to show honor to a person or our Lord, we have to first humble ourselves and decrease the weight on our side of the scale so that it gives more weight to the one we are honoring. Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and He will lift you up.
Jordon Gilmore 1 Chronicles 29:111. God's timing is perfect just as His ways are perfect. Ps 18:302. What the enemy meant for evil, God has turned around for our good. 3. “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”Romans 8:28 NLT
Joshua BoydToday is our twelfth and final message of the Biblical finances series and this will act as our transition to the next message: What the Bible Says about Honor. In the Kingdom of God, nothing happens without honor. No honor, no favor. No honor, no answers. Turn to Matthew 10 to look at the key passage for this morning. When we talk about Biblical prosperity, we've learned that it isn't just referring to money in the bank or stuff in the yard. Prosperity includes protection from sickness, theft, decay and death—not only to your physical body but your bank accounts, your stuff, your kids, etc. 3 John 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.God looks at our hearts first. Is our heart prospering? Then we are primed and ready for external prospering. So the fuel is in the tank, the primer has taken the fuel to the engine, what is the final remaining piece to get the engine started? A spark. That spark is honor.
Jordon Gilmore2 Corinthians 11:5-102 Corinthians 12:7-10So often we miss the strength of God because we are not willing to be weakAre we making room for God to work through our weaknesses or are we just relying on our strengths?1 Peter 5:101 Peter 5:5-10
Jordon GilmoreJob 1:20Luke 6:45Phil 4:8Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.One of the best measures of character is what comes out when they are stressed. Focus on positivity. Fill your mind and heart with good things so that they are in there when you need them. Putting the right stuff in is important, but getting the bad stuff out is necessary too. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,”II Corinthians 10:4-5 NKJV“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.””John 16:33 NKJV“And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.””Luke 22:31-32 NKJV
Joshua BoydGod wants to use you more and more for bigger and better things both in your personal life and in His kingdom. The only way that is accomplished is by His trust in YOU growing over time. He can't trust you if you aren't trusting Him. The more you trust Him, the more He can use you. It will be uncomfortable at first sometimes. Abraham had to say goodbye to family to go where God was sending Him. Moses had to leave the palace to go suffer with the people of God. Jesus had to die physically on a cross. The persecution we suffer for trusting in God is nothing to be compared to the eternal glory we can experience. If we are faithful with a few things…just a few…God will make us ruler of many things. How many of you govern a city right now? Jesus said, if you are faithful now, you can rule multiple cities in eternity. We can't see that with our eyes. We can't see God with our physical eyes. But we can use the faith He has given us to trust what we cannot see more than the things we can see. When we do that, there is great reward both now and for all eternity.
Jordon GilmoreHis faithfulness shows us we can depend on His word. His justness shows us that he will keep things lines up according to what is right. Deuteronomy 32:3-51 John 1:9We have to know that when we mess up our relationship isn't affectedHebrews 10:23 What is your faith anchored to?It makes God smile when we are faithful (like Him)Romans 1:16-17The just shall live by faithMuch of the arguing over justice comes at people's concept of justice, not God's
Joshua BoydDeuteronomy 8:18 CJBNo, you are to remember Adonai your God, because it is he who is giving you the power to get wealth, in order to confirm his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as is happening even today.This morning we continue our series on Biblical Finances and looking at this key verse in Deuteronomy, I want to focus in on one word: remember. The Lord is telling the Hebrews that He is giving them the power to get wealth, a blessing to prosper. We still see the fruit of this blessing on the Jews today – who have an innate ability to prosper in business. God not only wants us to prosper, He has given us the power to prosper. We've been talking about this for weeks now with our most recent topic being the blessing. We have the blessing of Abraham on us as believers, and we have the power to bless and pass down that blessing to our children. We are blessed for the purpose of being a blessing. The enemy works very hard to keep the blessing off our lives through unbelief and sin. Someone who is not a child of God doesn't have the blessing of Abraham. Someone who is a child of God but is living in a habitual sin, is blocking the flow of the blessing in their own lives. The pipes are clogged. However, when the enemy fails at preventing the blessing, he attacks from another angle: seeking the wealth.
Jordon GilmoreWe started off talking about our relationship to God as God being our father, us being his children, and how it brings the parents, natural parents, mothers and fathers so much joy to see their children reflecting their character to see their children reflecting them in the earth. The same is true for us that God gets so much joy. God gets so much glory when we as his children reflect his character. That's what we're called to do. And you know, and and what's so amazing about it is God didn't just ask us to reflect his character, but he gave us a real and a perfect example. In the life of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And so I want to continue on in and talking about us reflecting the character of God. And I want to kind of move into some practical examples and ways that and and kind of areas where I think there's opportunity for us to. Reflect the character of God in our day-to-day interactions with people as a church, as employees. As you know, parents as spouses. So many opportunities for us to reflect the character of God, and so. So. That is, that's what we're going to begin doing this morning. So kind of our our anchor verse for this this series, it's a it's a simple one, it's straightforward. It is Ephesians 5:00 and 1:00. Ephesians 5 and one. Therefore the imitators of God as. Beloved children. Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children
Joshua BoydOn this Father's Day, we are grateful for our dads – those who are dads in our church and all of our dads. God designed marriage and the family to be an image of His relationship with us. We are His children when we believe and trust in Him. He becomes our Father at that moment of salvation. God used Abraham, because of Abraham's faith, to bring two families on earth: the Jews and the people of faith. Abraham is the father of the Jews and the father of faith. God blessed Abraham and through him, blessed all of the families on earth. Genesis 12:2-3I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”And we learned last time that as we put our faith in Christ, according to Galatians 3:9, we become part of the descendants of Abraham, not as Jews but as children of faith! Galatians 3:9 gives us a valuable truth: So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith.The blessing that God places on Abraham is yours and mine to share when we have our faith, our trust, in Christ. This means that we can be fruitful and multiply. It means that those who bless us will be bless and those who curse us will be cursed. Let me speak to the dads today. We have a unique position in our family. Biblically, we are the spiritual leader, the spiritual head of the family, and as such we have great responsibility to the Lord. One of those responsibilities is speaking blessings over your family.
Joshua BoydDeuteronomy 8:18 CJBNo, you are to remember Adonai your God, because it is he who is giving you the power to get wealth, in order to confirm his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as is happening even today.We've been using this verse as our key verse for the series and I want to dive into it more today. There is an element in this verse that defines how God wants to interact with his children and that then becomes a template for how we should interact with our kids. That element is the blessing. While there is no mention of the word “blessing” in this verse, one of the definitions of the word is: “the power to get wealth”. Other translations say “the power to make wealth” or “power to produce wealth”. Most of us today don't think about the power in the blessing. We have reduced the word “blessing” to saying a prayer over our food or saying “God bless you” when someone sneezes. The act of blessing someone to the Hebrews, means much more than offering a kind word. It is an empowerment and an act of respect. The root of the word means “to kneel”. When we bless the Lord, we are showing Him the respect He deserves and humbling ourselves before Him. It is an acknowledgement of the source. When God blesses someone or something, He is initiating the power and strength to accomplish the end result.
Joshua BoydDeuteronomy 8:18 CJBNo, you are to remember Adonai your God, because it is he who is giving you the power to get wealth, in order to confirm his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as is happening even today.Today we continue with the theme “Biblical Finances” as we look at the offering – but probably not in the way you would expect. Yes, offerings can be financial, over and above the tithe. This act shows our love for God and his people. Romans 15:25-29Notice Paul here calls their offering a “good deed”. When we think of good deeds, what comes to your mind first? Taking food to someone? Mowing a neighbors lawn? It involves action, doing something. The Scriptures define an offering as a good deed. If an offering is a good deed than a good deed is an offering. In other words, offerings don't always involve money.
Jordon Gilmore1. Watch and wait for God2. Protect the seed3. Provide support Mark 4:26-27John 15:4-5John 17:17
Jordon GilmoreMatt 13:3-93 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow.4 And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth.6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them.8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
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