Greater Life Church

In John 4, Jesus meets the woman at the well. She talks about her past and looks forward to a future when the Messiah comes, but she is reluctant to discuss her present. For many of us, right now is chaotic, and we are just trying to survive and make it to the bright future we are imagining. This woman had a past. She was looking forward to a better future, but her present was a mess. As she looked to the future of seeing the Messiah, she missed that He was standing right in front of her. She had no idea that day would change her entire life. No one knows what the day will bring. Today is special, because it is the day the Lord has made. Anything is possible today. Tomorrow is not promised, so seize the opportunity the Lord provides today. The promises of the Lord are renewed every day. Now is the day to take hold of that promise.

In John 4, Jesus meets the woman at the well. She talks about her past and looks forward to a future when the Messiah comes, but she is reluctant to discuss her present. For many of us, right now is chaotic, and we are just trying to survive and make it to the bright future we are imagining. This woman had a past. She was looking forward to a better future, but her present was a mess. As she looked to the future of seeing the Messiah, she missed that He was standing right in front of her. She had no idea that day would change her entire life. No one knows what the day will bring. Today is special, because it is the day the Lord has made. Anything is possible today. Tomorrow is not promised, so seize the opportunity the Lord provides today. The promises of the Lord are renewed every day. Now is the day to take hold of that promise.

Our text says a Just man walks in his integrity. There is a distinction between a "Just Man" and "Just a Man." Our world tends to define being a man in a negative light. To them, men are abusers, manipulators, inept, or dumb. While some men may exhibit some of these traits, most do not. Most men provide for their families and try to be a good example to their children. Bro. Long exhorts us to "Don't stop acting like men". Be a good man and set a good example for those who are coming up to follow. The bible says there arose a generation that did not know the Lord. As the elders died, the next generation did not learn to follow after God. It is easy to play the blame game with the generations of God's people after Moses and David. Did the elders not teach the young, or did the young not listen to the message? We must not fall into that same pattern. Our young people need more than war stores from times gone by. They need to see us living the life we profess to believe in, and doing that consistently, at church, at home, and on the job. Children mimic their fathers. The world tries to downplay a man's role in the family, but statistics and research overwhelmingly prove that view to be wrong. If dad is a good man, there is a high probability that his children will be good too. It is critically important for fathers to live a life that inspires their children to follow in their footsteps.

Our text says a Just man walks in his integrity. There is a distinction between a "Just Man" and "Just a Man." Our world tends to define being a man in a negative light. To them, men are abusers, manipulators, inept, or dumb. While some men may exhibit some of these traits, most do not. Most men provide for their families and try to be a good example to their children. Bro. Long exhorts us to "Don't stop acting like men". Be a good man and set a good example for those who are coming up to follow. The bible says there arose a generation that did not know the Lord. As the elders died, the next generation did not learn to follow after God. It is easy to play the blame game with the generations of God's people after Moses and David. Did the elders not teach the young, or did the young not listen to the message? We must not fall into that same pattern. Our young people need more than war stores from times gone by. They need to see us living the life we profess to believe in, and doing that consistently, at church, at home, and on the job. Children mimic their fathers. The world tries to downplay a man's role in the family, but statistics and research overwhelmingly prove that view to be wrong. If dad is a good man, there is a high probability that his children will be good too. It is critically important for fathers to live a life that inspires their children to follow in their footsteps.

The day of Pentecost was spectacular. But it was not a one-time event. The bible tells us that God added to the church daily. It was the beginning, and the church experienced steady growth. We often have good church, but that too is not a one-time event. What kind of church do we want to be? More importantly, what kind of church does God want us to be? The great commission was to preach the gospel to the world. We cannot do that if we are a hidden gem that no one knows about. We must be a city on a hill, shining our light for all to see. This cannot happen if we do not prepare. Those in the upper room that day didn't just show up when things started happening. The bible says they were all of one accord and were focused on prayer. They were determined to stay in that upper room until God poured out His blessing on them. The wind blowing in the upper room that day was not for them to experience a feeling; it was to fill them with God's spirit. We want what they had, but are we willing to do what they did to receive it? In our text, Jacob wrestles with the Angel of the Lord. After wrestling all night, Jacob refused to let him go until he received a blessing. The mindset of those in the upper room and Jacob is the same. They would do whatever it took to receive a blessing from God. They were determined to leave with something.

The day of Pentecost was spectacular. But it was not a one-time event. The bible tells us that God added to the church daily. It was the beginning, and the church experienced steady growth. We often have good church, but that too is not a one-time event. What kind of church do we want to be? More importantly, what kind of church does God want us to be? The great commission was to preach the gospel to the world. We cannot do that if we are a hidden gem that no one knows about. We must be a city on a hill, shining our light for all to see. This cannot happen if we do not prepare. Those in the upper room that day didn't just show up when things started happening. The bible says they were all of one accord and were focused on prayer. They were determined to stay in that upper room until God poured out His blessing on them. The wind blowing in the upper room that day was not for them to experience a feeling; it was to fill them with God's spirit. We want what they had, but are we willing to do what they did to receive it? In our text, Jacob wrestles with the Angel of the Lord. After wrestling all night, Jacob refused to let him go until he received a blessing. The mindset of those in the upper room and Jacob is the same. They would do whatever it took to receive a blessing from God. They were determined to leave with something.

The Bible has many descriptions of the nature of God. He is a just God, He is a Holy God. He judges sin and purges evil. Satan knew all of this. When he rebelled and attempted to place himself on par with God, his punishment was swift and divine. Such was Satan's perception and experience when he approached Adam and Eve in the garden. Satan had devised a plan to entice these humans into sinning, which would result in swift punishment. He was plotting murder from the beginning by spinning a web of lies. However, there was something Satan did not anticipate because he did not know the whole nature of God. Instead of judgment, God gave humanity a path to salvation through His mercy. Before He executes judgment, God will extend mercy to cover the sin. Not learning from his failure in the garden, Satan tries to kill Jesus to thwart God's plan. Again, he failed because he didn't know the nature of God. Satan's blind spot is that he cannot stop the mercy of God. No matter how broken we are, God's mercy will cover it all. His mercy puts us in the devil's blind spot.

The Bible has many descriptions of the nature of God. He is a just God, He is a Holy God. He judges sin and purges evil. Satan knew all of this. When he rebelled and attempted to place himself on par with God, his punishment was swift and divine. Such was Satan's perception and experience when he approached Adam and Eve in the garden. Satan had devised a plan to entice these humans into sinning, which would result in swift punishment. He was plotting murder from the beginning by spinning a web of lies. However, there was something Satan did not anticipate because he did not know the whole nature of God. Instead of judgment, God gave humanity a path to salvation through His mercy. Before He executes judgment, God will extend mercy to cover the sin. Not learning from his failure in the garden, Satan tries to kill Jesus to thwart God's plan. Again, he failed because he didn't know the nature of God. Satan's blind spot is that he cannot stop the mercy of God. No matter how broken we are, God's mercy will cover it all. His mercy puts us in the devil's blind spot.

When we encounter a problem in life, we often try to deal with it ourselves. We struggle with that until we turn it over to God. The truth is, God should be our first option, not our last. How much trouble would we save ourselves if we went to Him first rather than later? Stop turning to doctors, friends, and YouTube for help with our problems; let God be God. We cannot stop the enemy from taking his turn. We cannot stop the weapon from being formed, but the fight is over once God has His turn. The bible has many stories where God moves in to confuse the enemy and turn them against themselves, or wins the battle before it begins. The people of God could not have won the battle despite all their energy and effort, but God was more than enough to prevail. Time and time again, God will do what we cannot do. When we think we are at our end, God is just getting started. Surrendering to God is not weakness. He will not look at us in shame for turning to Him. In our text, the woman with the issue of blood had spent many frustrating years, exhausted her savings, but still suffered. Then she heard about Jesus. In a moment, her years of suffering were over. The bible says she knew in that moment that God had healed her. When you've tried everything you can do, let God have His turn.

When we encounter a problem in life, we often try to deal with it ourselves. We struggle with that until we turn it over to God. The truth is, God should be our first option, not our last. How much trouble would we save ourselves if we went to Him first rather than later? Stop turning to doctors, friends, and YouTube for help with our problems; let God be God. We cannot stop the enemy from taking his turn. We cannot stop the weapon from being formed, but the fight is over once God has His turn. The bible has many stories where God moves in to confuse the enemy and turn them against themselves, or wins the battle before it begins. The people of God could not have won the battle despite all their energy and effort, but God was more than enough to prevail. Time and time again, God will do what we cannot do. When we think we are at our end, God is just getting started. Surrendering to God is not weakness. He will not look at us in shame for turning to Him. In our text, the woman with the issue of blood had spent many frustrating years, exhausted her savings, but still suffered. Then she heard about Jesus. In a moment, her years of suffering were over. The bible says she knew in that moment that God had healed her. When you've tried everything you can do, let God have His turn.

Sympathetic resonance is an acoustic phenomenon in which the vibrations in one object produce vibrations in another. For instance, if a chord is played on a piano, the harmonic vibrations can be transferred to another piano nearby. For this to occur, both pianos must be tuned correctly so that the resonant frequency of one matches the resonant frequency of the other. In a spiritual sense, when the word of God is spoken, it should resonate through the church and touch each of us. Similar to the physical phenomenon, for this to occur, we must be in tune with God for His word to resonate with us. How do we get out of tune with God? One way is just life. Life has a way of pilfering little things from us. Over time, these little things add up to be a significant loss. The disappointments and disillusionments rob us of our happiness and joy. We become content with just getting by or making do with what we have left. Life has stolen things from us. We must say, "Give it back!" Let us be in tune with God so that every cord struck will resonate with us.

Sympathetic resonance is an acoustic phenomenon in which the vibrations in one object produce vibrations in another. For instance, if a chord is played on a piano, the harmonic vibrations can be transferred to another piano nearby. For this to occur, both pianos must be tuned correctly so that the resonant frequency of one matches the resonant frequency of the other. In a spiritual sense, when the word of God is spoken, it should resonate through the church and touch each of us. Similar to the physical phenomenon, for this to occur, we must be in tune with God for His word to resonate with us. How do we get out of tune with God? One way is just life. Life has a way of pilfering little things from us. Over time, these little things add up to be a significant loss. The disappointments and disillusionments rob us of our happiness and joy. We become content with just getting by or making do with what we have left. Life has stolen things from us. We must say, "Give it back!" Let us be in tune with God so that every cord struck will resonate with us.

An heirloom is a cherished possession passed down through generations, often holding sentimental value rather than monetary worth. Its significance lies in the memories it evokes and the meaning attributed to it by the recipient. In today's Mother's Day message, Sis. Sarah uses a red sweater and a quilt, both steeped in history, to illustrate the enduring power of prayers from generations past.

An heirloom is a cherished possession passed down through generations, often holding sentimental value rather than monetary worth. Its significance lies in the memories it evokes and the meaning attributed to it by the recipient. In today's Mother's Day message, Sis. Sarah uses a red sweater and a quilt, both steeped in history, to illustrate the enduring power of prayers from generations past.

We like to live in the overflow of life, enjoying God's blessings and favor. However, there are times when we experience the opposite, and life seems to be pulling us under. In those times of unexpected setbacks, we put on our best smiles and try to lift our hands in praise. Job was a blessed man. He had wealth and standing in his community. He was at the pinnacle, and life was going well for him until the bottom fell out. Bad news followed more bad news until he had lost everything. Job's friends assumed he had done something to deserve God's punishment. Maybe he wasn't praying enough. Perhaps he was hiding sins that were the cause of his misfortune. The book of Job shows us how to face the questions, accusations, and sideways glances and not be destroyed by them. It is a manual for living by faith. Job's life teaches us that the rain falls on the just and the unjust. No one is exempt from troubles and pain. The book of Job also teaches us that God works even when we cannot see or feel it. Life's unexpected experiences can reveal unexpected views of God working on our behalf. Job learned that God was there in the awkward places of life. God is just as real and just as close in times of trouble as he is in good times.

We like to live in the overflow of life, enjoying God's blessings and favor. However, there are times when we experience the opposite, and life seems to be pulling us under. In those times of unexpected setbacks, we put on our best smiles and try to lift our hands in praise. Job was a blessed man. He had wealth and standing in his community. He was at the pinnacle, and life was going well for him until the bottom fell out. Bad news followed more bad news until he had lost everything. Job's friends assumed he had done something to deserve God's punishment. Maybe he wasn't praying enough. Perhaps he was hiding sins that were the cause of his misfortune. The book of Job shows us how to face the questions, accusations, and sideways glances and not be destroyed by them. It is a manual for living by faith. Job's life teaches us that the rain falls on the just and the unjust. No one is exempt from troubles and pain. The book of Job also teaches us that God works even when we cannot see or feel it. Life's unexpected experiences can reveal unexpected views of God working on our behalf. Job learned that God was there in the awkward places of life. God is just as real and just as close in times of trouble as he is in good times.

We have all described ourselves as being out of breath. It is a common figure of speech to describe the feeling after physical exertion, perhaps due to strong fumes or smoke. The truth is that saying we are out of breath is an exaggeration because if we were truly unable to breathe, we would quickly die from lack of oxygen. In Genesis, God formed man from dust and breathed life into him. Man was the only of God's creations to have life breathed into them. All the others were spoken into existence. By doing this, God imparted Himself into his creation. In our text, Ezekiel has a vision of being taken into a valley of death. There, God asks him if the dead bones could live again. He describes the bones as dry, meaning they had been dead for a long time. God tells Ezekiel to prophesy over the bones, and he does. There was noise and a shaking, and the bones began to move and reconnect. The bones appeared like a body when it was over, but there was still no life. There are a lot of places in life with noise and movement, but it is still dead and lifeless. God tells Ezekiel to prophesy again. When he did, breath returned to the bodies, and they stood again as a great army. Without the breath of God, we have nothing. Can these dry bones live? Is there hope for our situation? We must have more than noise and shaking; we must pursue the breath of God.

We have all described ourselves as being out of breath. It is a common figure of speech to describe the feeling after physical exertion, perhaps due to strong fumes or smoke. The truth is that saying we are out of breath is an exaggeration because if we were truly unable to breathe, we would quickly die from lack of oxygen. In Genesis, God formed man from dust and breathed life into him. Man was the only of God's creations to have life breathed into them. All the others were spoken into existence. By doing this, God imparted Himself into his creation. In our text, Ezekiel has a vision of being taken into a valley of death. There, God asks him if the dead bones could live again. He describes the bones as dry, meaning they had been dead for a long time. God tells Ezekiel to prophesy over the bones, and he does. There was noise and a shaking, and the bones began to move and reconnect. The bones appeared like a body when it was over, but there was still no life. There are a lot of places in life with noise and movement, but it is still dead and lifeless. God tells Ezekiel to prophesy again. When he did, breath returned to the bodies, and they stood again as a great army. Without the breath of God, we have nothing. Can these dry bones live? Is there hope for our situation? We must have more than noise and shaking; we must pursue the breath of God.

The parable of the prodigal son is one of three found in Luke 15. These parables are not an indictment of those who fall short, but an illustration of God's great love for his creation. Each parable ends with a celebration when what was lost is found. The message for us is that no matter if we are the lost sheep, the lost coin, or the wayward son, there is a path back to God's love and forgiveness. Too often, we forget that we were once lost. At some point, we were all that lost sheep, lost coin, or child who left home and got into trouble. Just as the Father received us back, we must also welcome those who have become lost. When someone comes to our service, we should welcome them just as the father welcomed home his lost son. The Bible says the prodigal son came to himself and realized the servants in his father's house were better off than he. Recognition without action is just information. He would not have improved his situation if he had not gotten up and acted. The son overcame his pride and resolved to return home. No matter what our situation or how far we have wandered, there is still a path

The parable of the prodigal son is one of three found in Luke 15. These parables are not an indictment of those who fall short, but an illustration of God's great love for his creation. Each parable ends with a celebration when what was lost is found. The message for us is that no matter if we are the lost sheep, the lost coin, or the wayward son, there is a path back to God's love and forgiveness. Too often, we forget that we were once lost. At some point, we were all that lost sheep, lost coin, or child who left home and got into trouble. Just as the Father received us back, we must also welcome those who have become lost. When someone comes to our service, we should welcome them just as the father welcomed home his lost son. The Bible says the prodigal son came to himself and realized the servants in his father's house were better off than he. Recognition without action is just information. He would not have improved his situation if he had not gotten up and acted. The son overcame his pride and resolved to return home. No matter what our situation or how far we have wandered, there is still a path

Some people are planners who are intentional about mapping out all the details. Others are dreamers, with an idea about the outcome, but who will deal with details as they come to pass. Others are worriers, who stress about all the things that might happen. Matthew 6:34 says, "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. This passage speaks to all three groups of people. Jesus sometimes gave vague directions to the disciples: I must needs go through Samaria, or Let's us go to the other side. Other times He was very specific: "Go your way into the village over against you: and soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. It came to pass in all of these situations just as Jesus had said it would. He already knew and had the problem worked out. Jesus had told the disciples many times, both abstractly and bluntly, that he would die on the cross and then arise three days later. Even with all the prior history with Him, the disciples were confused, scared, and lost after the crucifixion. In our text, three women went to the tomb to anoint the body with spices. Historians believe this may have been a two-hour journey. They set out to do the best they could to honor Jesus, but without knowing how they would accomplish their goal. Somewhere along the journey, they realized that a large stone was sealing the sepulcher, and they quickly realized they didn't know how to move it. Like us, they asked, "How am I going to do this?" There is an enemy who knows how big the stone in our life is. He wants to make sure we cannot reach Jesus. But, like with these three women, Jesus has already made a way. Nothing will keep us from getting to Jesus. That thing that is too big or difficult for us is easy for God. The enemy thinks the stone blocks us from God, but when God is ready to move, nothing will stop Him.

Some people are planners who are intentional about mapping out all the details. Others are dreamers, with an idea about the outcome, but who will deal with details as they come to pass. Others are worriers, who stress about all the things that might happen. Matthew 6:34 says, "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. This passage speaks to all three groups of people. Jesus sometimes gave vague directions to the disciples: I must needs go through Samaria, or Let's us go to the other side. Other times He was very specific: "Go your way into the village over against you: and soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. It came to pass in all of these situations just as Jesus had said it would. He already knew and had the problem worked out. Jesus had told the disciples many times, both abstractly and bluntly, that he would die on the cross and then arise three days later. Even with all the prior history with Him, the disciples were confused, scared, and lost after the crucifixion. In our text, three women went to the tomb to anoint the body with spices. Historians believe this may have been a two-hour journey. They set out to do the best they could to honor Jesus, but without knowing how they would accomplish their goal. Somewhere along the journey, they realized that a large stone was sealing the sepulcher, and they quickly realized they didn't know how to move it. Like us, they asked, "How am I going to do this?" There is an enemy who knows how big the stone in our life is. He wants to make sure we cannot reach Jesus. But, like with these three women, Jesus has already made a way. Nothing will keep us from getting to Jesus. That thing that is too big or difficult for us is easy for God. The enemy thinks the stone blocks us from God, but when God is ready to move, nothing will stop Him.

Greater Life Church

Greater Life Church

None of us have gotten to where we are on our own. Along the way, a friend, co-worker, family member, Sunday School Teacher, or parent has helped, encouraged, taught, or made a way for us. Humans are social creatures. When God said it was not good for man to be alone, He was referring to more than just a spouse to share life with. Everyone has a role to play in the body of Christ. No matter how small that role may appear, each role is vital to the mission. After a movie, the credits show all the people who worked on the film. From the director to the key grip to the makeup artist, each has a vital role in bringing the movie to the big screen. The same is true in the kingdom of God. God has given us specific talents and expects us to use them for His glory. Do not let anyone diminish your role. God placed us right where we are to accomplish a specific purpose. 1 Corinthians 12:22 says that even the parts of the body that seem the weakest are indispensable.

None of us have gotten to where we are on our own. Along the way, a friend, co-worker, family member, Sunday School Teacher, or parent has helped, encouraged, taught, or made a way for us. Humans are social creatures. When God said it was not good for man to be alone, He was referring to more than just a spouse to share life with. Everyone has a role to play in the body of Christ. No matter how small that role may appear, each role is vital to the mission. After a movie, the credits show all the people who worked on the film. From the director to the key grip to the makeup artist, each has a vital role in bringing the movie to the big screen. The same is true in the kingdom of God. God has given us specific talents and expects us to use them for His glory. Do not let anyone diminish your role. God placed us right where we are to accomplish a specific purpose. 1 Corinthians 12:22 says that even the parts of the body that seem the weakest are indispensable.

We have phrases we use to describe when someone or something is not working as expected. We say something is off the rails when things are going wrong, or if someone gets distracted, we say they got sidetracked. This phrase comes from the railroad industry. A train becoming derailed is a huge problem. A sidetrack is less of a problem. It is a section of tracks where cars are moved to rearrange the train or store them out of the way. The cars stored on the side track are not intended to stay there forever and will eventually need to be moved back onto the main tracks to become functional again. When applied to non-railroad situations, we can find ourselves sidetracked by people or things in life that are not important. Our world is full of distractions. The enemy knows this and will use every opportunity to put things in our way to sidetrack us. These distractions are not necessarily sinful in and of themselves, but they prevent us from fulfilling God's purpose. If we look around and see we are off course, we must change direction to get back on course. Our texts today were Jesus' first and last interactions with the disciples. They occurred in the same place, by the same body of water, and had similar events. In the first encounter, Jesus calls them from a career of fishing to make them fishers of men: to reach lost souls. In John 21, many things had occurred in the previous few days. The disciples have seen the last supper, the betrayal by Judas, Peter denying Jesus, the trial, crucifixion, death on the cross, the empty tomb, and Jesus manifesting himself to them after rising from the dead. The disciples are confused, scared, and unsure of what to do now. They decide to go fishing. They were exactly where they were when Jesus found them. Jesus had done all He said He would do, and now the disciples had to return to being fishers of men. Are you where you thought you would be? Are you where you want to be? What are you willing to do to get back on track? Are you ready to make a course correction?

We have phrases we use to describe when someone or something is not working as expected. We say something is off the rails when things are going wrong, or if someone gets distracted, we say they got sidetracked. This phrase comes from the railroad industry. A train becoming derailed is a huge problem. A sidetrack is less of a problem. It is a section of tracks where cars are moved to rearrange the train or store them out of the way. The cars stored on the side track are not intended to stay there forever and will eventually need to be moved back onto the main tracks to become functional again. When applied to non-railroad situations, we can find ourselves sidetracked by people or things in life that are not important. Our world is full of distractions. The enemy knows this and will use every opportunity to put things in our way to sidetrack us. These distractions are not necessarily sinful in and of themselves, but they prevent us from fulfilling God's purpose. If we look around and see we are off course, we must change direction to get back on course. Our texts today were Jesus' first and last interactions with the disciples. They occurred in the same place, by the same body of water, and had similar events. In the first encounter, Jesus calls them from a career of fishing to make them fishers of men: to reach lost souls. In John 21, many things had occurred in the previous few days. The disciples have seen the last supper, the betrayal by Judas, Peter denying Jesus, the trial, crucifixion, death on the cross, the empty tomb, and Jesus manifesting himself to them after rising from the dead. The disciples are confused, scared, and unsure of what to do now. They decide to go fishing. They were exactly where they were when Jesus found them. Jesus had done all He said He would do, and now the disciples had to return to being fishers of men. Are you where you thought you would be? Are you where you want to be? What are you willing to do to get back on track? Are you ready to make a course correction?

God created the heavens and the earth, and then He created man to rule over all He had made. God does not make mistakes or change His mind. Nothing surprises Him, even though we often fail to live up to His plans. The writer of Hebrews notes that God put everything under man's feet, but there are still some things not under man's control. The word "but" often trips us up. It interrupts and disrupts the conversation, reminding us that we are not as perfect as we think. It shouts of the impossibility or improbability of something, acting as an exception to the facts. It whispers that our situation differs from everyone else's, blocking our path and blinding us to God's promise. However, there is a counterbalance to this. Looking beyond verse 8 to verse 9, we see that Jesus is the counterbalance. No matter how we may have fallen short or failed to grasp all God has for us, we need only look to Jesus. Jesus has already won the battle against the devil. He is defeated. All we need to do is show up and worship Him. Don't stop at verse 8; press on to verse 9 to find Jesus.

God created the heavens and the earth, and then He created man to rule over all He had made. God does not make mistakes or change His mind. Nothing surprises Him, even though we often fail to live up to His plans. The writer of Hebrews notes that God put everything under man's feet, but there are still some things not under man's control. The word "but" often trips us up. It interrupts and disrupts the conversation, reminding us that we are not as perfect as we think. It shouts of the impossibility or improbability of something, acting as an exception to the facts. It whispers that our situation differs from everyone else's, blocking our path and blinding us to God's promise. However, there is a counterbalance to this. Looking beyond verse 8 to verse 9, we see that Jesus is the counterbalance. No matter how we may have fallen short or failed to grasp all God has for us, we need only look to Jesus. Jesus has already won the battle against the devil. He is defeated. All we need to do is show up and worship Him. Don't stop at verse 8; press on to verse 9 to find Jesus.

All of us have left something behind at some point. Leaving our wallet, phone, or other important item behind disrupts our routine, and we feel at a loss to function normally. In our text, Issac saw the fire, the wood, and the knife, but he knew something was missing. He had no doubt participated with his father many times in sacrificing an animal to the Lord, but the lamb was missing this time. Without the lamb, there could be no sacrifice. The altar is essential. We should have an altar in our lives. However, if we do not have a sacrifice for the altar, it is for naught. Most churches have pews, music, and the things we expect to see in a church. Many churches have an altar. But if Jesus is not there, it is just a fire pit. God gave them instructions for the Passover when Israel was still in Egypt. Each family was to have a lamb. They had specific instructions on how to prepare and eat the lamb. But it was not enough to have the lamb in their homes; they also had to put the blood of that lamb on the doorpost. Not only did they have to have the lamb in their home, but they also had to have an outward demonstration of that lamb in their homes. Do people see a sign that we have the lamb in our homes?

All of us have left something behind at some point. Leaving our wallet, phone, or other important item behind disrupts our routine, and we feel at a loss to function normally. In our text, Issac saw the fire, the wood, and the knife, but he knew something was missing. He had no doubt participated with his father many times in sacrificing an animal to the Lord, but the lamb was missing this time. Without the lamb, there could be no sacrifice. The altar is essential. We should have an altar in our lives. However, if we do not have a sacrifice for the altar, it is for naught. Most churches have pews, music, and the things we expect to see in a church. Many churches have an altar. But if Jesus is not there, it is just a fire pit. God gave them instructions for the Passover when Israel was still in Egypt. Each family was to have a lamb. They had specific instructions on how to prepare and eat the lamb. But it was not enough to have the lamb in their homes; they also had to put the blood of that lamb on the doorpost. Not only did they have to have the lamb in their home, but they also had to have an outward demonstration of that lamb in their homes. Do people see a sign that we have the lamb in our homes?

Every life is defined by two movements of time, but often, we only consider one of them. The first is the chronological timeline from birth to death. The other time is eternity. What we do in our life on Earth has echoes and impacts to eternity. The Greeks had two words for time: Chrono and Kairos. Kairos differs from the more general concept of Chronos, which refers to chronological time. Kairos is a qualitative concept that involves understanding a situation and recognizing its unique opportunity. Kairos is what shapes our destiny. Man tends to live without sensing the importance of time. God provides Kairos moments but does not force us into them. How much do we miss because we do not recognize Kairos moments? Within each of us is the opportunity to embrace what God presents. God gives us choices. We make the choice, and the choice makes us. We must remain vigilant and watchful for the opportunities God places before us and be quick to accept the direction that He provides.

Every life is defined by two movements of time, but often, we only consider one of them. The first is the chronological timeline from birth to death. The other time is eternity. What we do in our life on Earth has echoes and impacts to eternity. The Greeks had two words for time: Chrono and Kairos. Kairos differs from the more general concept of Chronos, which refers to chronological time. Kairos is a qualitative concept that involves understanding a situation and recognizing its unique opportunity. Kairos is what shapes our destiny. Man tends to live without sensing the importance of time. God provides Kairos moments but does not force us into them. How much do we miss because we do not recognize Kairos moments? Within each of us is the opportunity to embrace what God presents. God gives us choices. We make the choice, and the choice makes us. We must remain vigilant and watchful for the opportunities God places before us and be quick to accept the direction that He provides.

Prior to our text, Abraham and Lot had decided to separate, as their families and flocks were too large for the land to accommodate both families. The Bible said their possessions had become so great. Growth is a blessing, but over time, growth can cause problems. The pressure had caused the families to fight with one another. They realized that fighting among themselves created a risk because of the enemies outside. Growth is not the problem. The problem arose when they had to choose who would go where. Abraham chose the valley, and Lot settled in the plains near the city. Where Lot chose to pitch his tent in a lush territory with good land. The place was not the problem for Lot; it was what he was facing. He chose to face the worldly draw of Sodom. The Bible says he faced his tent in that direction but continued moving closer. The men of Sodom were wicked. It was not long until Lot went from facing to being near to living in Sodom. The direction you look is essential. If you are looking somewhere other than where you want to be, you will not get to where you want to go. Lot made this choice not only for himself but also for all the people he was responsible for. It is never just about us. Our actions have consequences for our families and those for whom we are responsible. Lot started by having his tent near Sodom. By the time of our text, he is living in Sodom, and the city's men are trying to break down his door to get at the angels who came to visit. The place where we live will eventually infiltrate our home. The angels told him to leave because they were there to destroy the city, yet Lot did not want to go even then. We talk about Lot's wife looking back but do not discuss Lot lingering even in the face of impending destruction. God was waiting on Lot. He could have destroyed Sodom, but He waited on Lot. God is waiting for us today.

Prior to our text, Abraham and Lot had decided to separate, as their families and flocks were too large for the land to accommodate both families. The Bible said their possessions had become so great. Growth is a blessing, but over time, growth can cause problems. The pressure had caused the families to fight with one another. They realized that fighting among themselves created a risk because of the enemies outside. Growth is not the problem. The problem arose when they had to choose who would go where. Abraham chose the valley, and Lot settled in the plains near the city. Where Lot chose to pitch his tent in a lush territory with good land. The place was not the problem for Lot; it was what he was facing. He chose to face the worldly draw of Sodom. The Bible says he faced his tent in that direction but continued moving closer. The men of Sodom were wicked. It was not long until Lot went from facing to being near to living in Sodom. The direction you look is essential. If you are looking somewhere other than where you want to be, you will not get to where you want to go. Lot made this choice not only for himself but also for all the people he was responsible for. It is never just about us. Our actions have consequences for our families and those for whom we are responsible. Lot started by having his tent near Sodom. By the time of our text, he is living in Sodom, and the city's men are trying to break down his door to get at the angels who came to visit. The place where we live will eventually infiltrate our home. The angels told him to leave because they were there to destroy the city, yet Lot did not want to go even then. We talk about Lot's wife looking back but do not discuss Lot lingering even in the face of impending destruction. God was waiting on Lot. He could have destroyed Sodom, but He waited on Lot. God is waiting for us today.

Everyone has a past. God has brought each of us to the place we are today. People who search their ancestry find that they came from Europe, Asia, Africa, or a mix of all those places. Sometime in the past, people across the globe decided to move from where they were to somewhere else to make a better life. Although our family tree branches out from around the world, we no longer speak the same language or have the same culture as those who came before us. Where we come from does not determine the future God has for us. Photography has been around long enough for us to easily find photos of locations around the globe from decades or even a century ago. It is interesting to see a place that may have been devastated by a natural disaster or ravaged by war as it looks today. Seeing the same location rebuilt to a greater glory is inspiring. If we could have a picture of our life from when we were at our worst, we can easily see the glory that God has built from that ruin. Our past does not trap us. God can change all of that. The outcome of our life is going to look different. That doesn't necessarily mean it is bad right now, but it can be better with God. We know our past and our present. But can we imagine what God will have for us next?

Everyone has a past. God has brought each of us to the place we are today. People who search their ancestry find that they came from Europe, Asia, Africa, or a mix of all those places. Sometime in the past, people across the globe decided to move from where they were to somewhere else to make a better life. Although our family tree branches out from around the world, we no longer speak the same language or have the same culture as those who came before us. Where we come from does not determine the future God has for us. Photography has been around long enough for us to easily find photos of locations around the globe from decades or even a century ago. It is interesting to see a place that may have been devastated by a natural disaster or ravaged by war as it looks today. Seeing the same location rebuilt to a greater glory is inspiring. If we could have a picture of our life from when we were at our worst, we can easily see the glory that God has built from that ruin. Our past does not trap us. God can change all of that. The outcome of our life is going to look different. That doesn't necessarily mean it is bad right now, but it can be better with God. We know our past and our present. But can we imagine what God will have for us next?

Sardis was one of the wealthiest cities of the time. It sat up on a hill and was heavily fortified. Historians do not know who started the church there or how large it was. We only have reference to this church in the book of Revelation. What we do know is that the Holy Ghost worked there as it had in another first-century church. Also, like the other early churches, the church at Sardis began to be affected by the culture of their surrounding and began to slip from the vision they had in the beginning. John's letter was a call for them to get back on track. They were going through the motions, but God told them they were dead. This condition was not terminal. God speaks to them about how to recover. He tells them to be watchful. If we are not watchful, we cannot receive the message. Then He tells them to strengthen that which remains. They had not lost everything. Do not ruminate about the failures. Focus on what is remains and build from there. God will take those things left and equip us to make it with what we have. God is interested in what is left that He can use to bless us.

Sardis was one of the wealthiest cities of the time. It sat up on a hill and was heavily fortified. Historians do not know who started the church there or how large it was. We only have reference to this church in the book of Revelation. What we do know is that the Holy Ghost worked there as it had in another first-century church. Also, like the other early churches, the church at Sardis began to be affected by the culture of their surrounding and began to slip from the vision they had in the beginning. John's letter was a call for them to get back on track. They were going through the motions, but God told them they were dead. This condition was not terminal. God speaks to them about how to recover. He tells them to be watchful. If we are not watchful, we cannot receive the message. Then He tells them to strengthen that which remains. They had not lost everything. Do not ruminate about the failures. Focus on what is remains and build from there. God will take those things left and equip us to make it with what we have. God is interested in what is left that He can use to bless us.

God blessed us in 2024, but we are looking forward to what God has for us in 2025. We want more of whatever God has for us this year. Today, Brother Long lays out a vision for Greater Life Church in 2025. We do not have a vision and a Vision Sunday message to simply have a catchy phrase. The Bible says that without a vision, the people perish. We need hope and something to look forward to. The enemy will try to prevent this vision. He wants us to believe that the best days are in the past and that there is no hope for the future. Going back is always tempting. We think it would be easier to stay with what we know or to return to a time when we believed life was better. We tend to remember that the past was better than it actually was. Moving forward with what God has is better than the past. In our text, Naomi told her daughters-in-law to return to their homes. She was bitter and ready to give up, too. Oprah returned home, but Ruth was determined to go with Naomi. When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined, she quit trying to dissuade her. Being determined is different from stubbornness. Determined is optimistic, and resolute. Stubborn is negative. It is bitterness. Are we determined or stubborn? Naomi needed Ruth's determination and encouragement. There will be Orpahs who walk away, but there will also be Ruths who are determined.

God blessed us in 2024, but we are looking forward to what God has for us in 2025. We want more of whatever God has for us this year. Today, Brother Long lays out a vision for Greater Life Church in 2025. We do not have a vision and a Vision Sunday message to simply have a catchy phrase. The Bible says that without a vision, the people perish. We need hope and something to look forward to. The enemy will try to prevent this vision. He wants us to believe that the best days are in the past and that there is no hope for the future. Going back is always tempting. We think it would be easier to stay with what we know or to return to a time when we believed life was better. We tend to remember that the past was better than it actually was. Moving forward with what God has is better than the past. In our text, Naomi told her daughters-in-law to return to their homes. She was bitter and ready to give up, too. Oprah returned home, but Ruth was determined to go with Naomi. When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined, she quit trying to dissuade her. Being determined is different from stubbornness. Determined is optimistic, and resolute. Stubborn is negative. It is bitterness. Are we determined or stubborn? Naomi needed Ruth's determination and encouragement. There will be Orpahs who walk away, but there will also be Ruths who are determined.

The Tabernacle didn't just happen. God gave Moses explicit instructions down to the last detail, and these details matter to God. Every part and piece of the Tabernacle had a specific purpose, use, and meaning. God designed it to serve His purpose and was a copy of the Tabernacle in heaven. Upon entering the Tabernacle, you would first come to the altar of sacrifice. Here, the sinner would offer a live sacrifice to atone for his sins. This altar was the only place to erase the sins of the past. Solomon's temple was different. It had three entrances, and one could get into it without passing the altar of sacrifice. In Moses' Tabernacle, you could not get to the second altar (in the holy of holies) without atoning for sins at the first altar. The second altar is where worship takes place. It is not possible to worship when burdened by sin. We must keep our altar in place to have a proper relationship with God through worship.

The Tabernacle didn't just happen. God gave Moses explicit instructions down to the last detail, and these details matter to God. Every part and piece of the Tabernacle had a specific purpose, use, and meaning. God designed it to serve His purpose and was a copy of the Tabernacle in heaven. Upon entering the Tabernacle, you would first come to the altar of sacrifice. Here, the sinner would offer a live sacrifice to atone for his sins. This altar was the only place to erase the sins of the past. Solomon's temple was different. It had three entrances, and one could get into it without passing the altar of sacrifice. In Moses' Tabernacle, you could not get to the second altar (in the holy of holies) without atoning for sins at the first altar. The second altar is where worship takes place. It is not possible to worship when burdened by sin. We must keep our altar in place to have a proper relationship with God through worship.

Places often hold a special status in our lives. Perhaps you have visited Times Square, Disney World, or the Grand Canyon. The Bible lists multiple places that have significance to our faith: The path across the Red Sea, the burning bush, Calvary, and others. Jesus said He was going to prepare a place. We are blessed to have a place where we can gather to worship and convene with God. In our text, God tells Jeremiah to go to a specific place. We often focus on verse four of our text, seeing ourselves as the marred vessel. But do not be so quick to skip over the part where the potter was already working in the house before Jerimiah arrived. Before the remaking, we have to get to the house. There were no doubt other pieces in the potter's house, too. Some of them may have also been flawed. They were in the same house and the same atmosphere but were not changed. Only by being in the potter's hands can we be remade. There is power in those hands. There is healing in those hands. It is not enough to be in church, sitting on a pew. We must allow God to work on us. The right place is in God's hand

Places often hold a special status in our lives. Perhaps you have visited Times Square, Disney World, or the Grand Canyon. The Bible lists multiple places that have significance to our faith: The path across the Red Sea, the burning bush, Calvary, and others. Jesus said He was going to prepare a place. We are blessed to have a place where we can gather to worship and convene with God. In our text, God tells Jeremiah to go to a specific place. We often focus on verse four of our text, seeing ourselves as the marred vessel. But do not be so quick to skip over the part where the potter was already working in the house before Jerimiah arrived. Before the remaking, we have to get to the house. There were no doubt other pieces in the potter's house, too. Some of them may have also been flawed. They were in the same house and the same atmosphere but were not changed. Only by being in the potter's hands can we be remade. There is power in those hands. There is healing in those hands. It is not enough to be in church, sitting on a pew. We must allow God to work on us. The right place is in God's hand

Belief is a vital part of our faith walk. If we do not believe Jesus is who He says He is, everything else falls apart. Belief is important, but it is not enough. In our text, Paul speaks to John's followers, asking if they have received the holy ghost. They believed and had baptism, but there was more. As apostolics, we know that in addition to belief and baptism for the remission of sins, we must also experience an infilling of the Holy Ghost with evidence of speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance. So now we have belief, baptism, and the Holy Ghost. What more do we need? Tonight, Pastor Long twists the question Paul asked John's followers: Have you believed since you received? Do we live a life that portrays a continued belief and faith in healing, deliverance, and miracles? Have we been in this so long that we fall into complacency and edge into doubt? If believing was sufficient to get us through tough times years ago, why do we doubt He can still do those things? Have unanswered prayers robbed us of our belief? Have you believed since you received?

Belief is a vital part of our faith walk. If we do not believe Jesus is who He says He is, everything else falls apart. Belief is important, but it is not enough. In our text, Paul speaks to John's followers, asking if they have received the holy ghost. They believed and had baptism, but there was more. As apostolics, we know that in addition to belief and baptism for the remission of sins, we must also experience an infilling of the Holy Ghost with evidence of speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance. So now we have belief, baptism, and the Holy Ghost. What more do we need? Tonight, Pastor Long twists the question Paul asked John's followers: Have you believed since you received? Do we live a life that portrays a continued belief and faith in healing, deliverance, and miracles? Have we been in this so long that we fall into complacency and edge into doubt? If believing was sufficient to get us through tough times years ago, why do we doubt He can still do those things? Have unanswered prayers robbed us of our belief? Have you believed since you received?

David is one of the most beloved characters in the Bible. He was not perfect and made mistakes as a man, a father, and a king. What set David apart from others was that he knew how to humble himself when he failed. Our text says David grew greater and greater. This statement was not about a specific moment of brightness in his life but a description of how he lived his life. It describes a man who is not stuck or moving backward. He went through discouragement, opposition, and setbacks, but he did it in a way that allowed him to strengthen his relationship with God. As important as going on is, it is not the secret to a successful life. Often, we go on because we have no choice. The secret to victory is to carry on without letting life's challenges and trials affect our attitude. Too many people go through life complaining and angry about their circumstances. The secret is growing in these adversities and becoming better because of them. As we begin this new year, ask if we are closer to God than last year. Growth is intentional and requires effort. Growth takes time, and we must make the choice to learn from mistakes and setbacks life deals us. Are we any better because of the trials, pain, and adversity? If not, we will continue to experience these things until we learn and grow from them. There is opportunity in the opposition. Grow on!

David is one of the most beloved characters in the Bible. He was not perfect and made mistakes as a man, a father, and a king. What set David apart from others was that he knew how to humble himself when he failed. Our text says David grew greater and greater. This statement was not about a specific moment of brightness in his life but a description of how he lived his life. It describes a man who is not stuck or moving backward. He went through discouragement, opposition, and setbacks, but he did it in a way that allowed him to strengthen his relationship with God. As important as going on is, it is not the secret to a successful life. Often, we go on because we have no choice. The secret to victory is to carry on without letting life's challenges and trials affect our attitude. Too many people go through life complaining and angry about their circumstances. The secret is growing in these adversities and becoming better because of them. As we begin this new year, ask if we are closer to God than last year. Growth is intentional and requires effort. Growth takes time, and we must make the choice to learn from mistakes and setbacks life deals us. Are we any better because of the trials, pain, and adversity? If not, we will continue to experience these things until we learn and grow from them. There is opportunity in the opposition. Grow on!

We are in a season of lists and wishes. Some sit on Santa's lap, and others make wish lists online. With online shopping, we can know when we ordered it when it left the warehouse, and when it is out for delivery. We can also get a photo of it at our front door within minutes of delivery. Amazon, Walmart, Target, and other online retailers operate enormous warehouses called fulfillment centers, where workers fill boxes with every item on the order and send it to the trucks for delivery. Other aspects of life work differently. We can want and ask for things, but we do not know when we will see them. Depression, anxiety, and loneliness often increase during the Christmas Holiday season. Many question their life and why things happen to them during this time of year. The Bible is full of the phrase, "This happened so that prophecy would be fulfilled." We do not always understand why something happens, but everything that happens is to fulfill God's plan. The word fulfilled means to furnish or supply. In God's terms, this fulfillment is always more than expected. God does not lie and does not change His mind. If He said it, it will happen in its season. That last part is the tricky part for us. God's timing is perfect, but it is always longer than expected. God's promises will always be fulfilled.