New Birth Church w/ Pastor Bruce C Davis

Radical Prayer LifeThe Purpose of Prayer                        Matthew 6: 9 – 10NIV  Kingdom – Will – Earth – Heaven  Why should we pray if God knows your every need? Why should we pray if God is Sovereign (All-Powerful)? The process of ManGenesis 2:7, Palms 24: 1 – 4The Authority of Man-Kind is delegated not sovereign (Man has been given the authority to manage or governed the earth Not the Owners  The purpose of ManGenesis 1:26 - 31 NIV, Matthew 7: 28 – 29The authority of Man comes from the Lord; the stronger the connection the clearer the authority!This concept of a Spirit Man (Hu-man) was created especially to Rule over (manage) the earth!  After Adam (Man) sinned God left His earth as Humans connected their authority to the kingdom of darkness!  Without a dirt body; God will not exercise His sovereign authority on planet earth!  The Governance of the earth was designed for God and Man partnership!  “Without God man cannot without man God will not”   (Abraham & Sodom, Noah & Ark)  ConclusionThe Chief Purpose of Prayer is to usher in the Kingdom of God into your life!  In The Kingdom of God is everything you need  (Your needs are already met but through the Kingdom of God)  The Will of God is connected to His Kingdom coming to your Life; His Will Follow His Kingdom!Jesus prayed with such consistency and fervency because Prayer opens portals or dimensions from this realm (planet earth to spiritual realms) the Kingdom of God. Prayer without Revelation of the Kingdom of God will bring great frustration; the will of God is revealed in His Kingdom.   Action Plan:Pray for the passion to study God’s Word return to you and that the secrets of the Kingdom will be revealed to you!

Radical Prayer Life  SeriesThe Foundation of PrayerMatthew 6:5-13 NIV Introduction   Prayer was given to Man as a result of the fall of Adam! With Adam, God’s presence was literal and tangible. Adam had no need to pray. Adam dwelt in God’s presence. Nothing has greater value to man than the true presence of Almighty God.  Adam didn’t realize he needed a woman because Adam was fulfilled in the presence of Almighty God. Adam’s need for Eve was to fulfil a purpose not being fulfilled. (Adam was fulfilled with God, but mankind could not multiply and subdue the earth without women.)Genesis 4: 9-15 NIV Cain and Abel had no need to pray because the presence of the Almighty God was tangible in the earth.  Genesis 4:26 NIVMankind begins to call on the Lord (Prayer)  Point 1The Motive of the human heart is step one to building a prayer life! (Matthew 6:5 NIV)Prayer is very private, it’s not for an audience. (Jesus would usually go further alone to pray, not even the disciples had access to His true prayer life.) Fellowship (Koinonia) is what Adam did before the fall. This is spending time with God without any motivation other than wanting to spend time with God.  Fellowship with God has become abnormal in the church.Fellowship is what men like David discovered that allows you to posture your heart so God can become your friend. Elevation comes as a result of spending quality time with “The One” who holds everything!  Fellowship - lots of singing songs of praise and worship while thinking about / meditating on all His benefits. Psalms 103:1-5 NKJVYour only sincere desire is to know Him.Fellowship with the Lord corrects our motives!  Note: The Kingdom has every promise categorized and locked. Matthew 16:19 NIVWithout the right posture of your heart, your life will become like Cain’s, doing the requirements but getting no reward. Remember in the Kingdom every lock needs a Key.  The heart, the core of who we are, must stay lit up. 1 John 1:5 NIVThe greatest hindrance to personal prayer is unchecked motives! Some contaminants of our motive:Un-Forgiveness PrideDishonesties Unrepentant All Sins fall under one of these categories. The heart is where your motives are developed and live. From your Motives, life flows! Proverbs 4:23 NIVProverbs 21:2 NIV  Point  2 God is not impressed by someone who is trying to impress Him or others with prayer. (Matthew 6:7-8 NIV)Prayer is not designed to be Ritualistic but Relational. Prayer is the system The Father has given to individuals who wish to have their needs considered by the Kingdom of God, and not themselves or any other kingdom. The impressiveness of prayer is not how it’s done, but the results it manifest. You can get an answer to your prayer but never get to know the God who answered you!My needs are already known. The heart has to come to a place of trust. Note to Self: God will supply All of my needs in His time because He is Lord, not I.    Conclusion Hebrews 11:13 NIV - All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.Hebrews 11:39 NIV - These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, Action PlanSpend fellowship time with God; ask for nothing but give yourself to Him.  Join Pastor Bruce Next week for part 2 “The Purpose of Prayer” from his brand new sermon series Radical Prayer Life!  Matthew 6:9-13 NIV - “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

Radical Resources Sermon Series Part 1A. Radical Favor Matthew 6: 25 – 34 NIV  Humans did not evolve from an Amoeba, we were designed and created by God; Genesis 1:26 is a picture of you.   God never gave humans religion. We didn’t lose religion we lost “Genesis 1:26” Authority. Creation is in rebellion because of the fall of the First Adam (1Corithians 15:45 NLT) The Scriptures tell us, “The first man, Adam, became a living person.” But the last Adam—that is, Christ—is a life-giving Spirit.God is a Seeker and we have the DNA of God running through our soul; we are also seekers (John 4:23 NIV).  We didn’t know where to find God; He sought us out.Every Human is a seeker.  You got married because you were seeking something, you went to pursue a college degree because you were seeking something.  Jesus wants to guide us in the right direction because He knows how we are wired.  He knows we are seekers but we must Prioritize our Seeking, and put God First!  Favor : Adding all the Things you Need! Luke 2: 52 NIV You grow in Favor (It’s a process, you must know where you are in the Favor of God and Man)  Proverbs 3: 1 – 4  NIV  Psalm 84:11 NIV Grace doesn’t replace Holy Living (Grace through Jesus Christ restore your right position with God, not based on your work; Righteousness).Loving the presence of the Lord releases Favor (David was promoted from the backside of the desert tending to his father’s flock, to the throne of all Israel)!  God’s Purpose is being fulfilled in your Life! Conclusion:  Favor must be maintained through relationships Favor comes from Man, do not discount the importance of Man. (I don’t need anyone but God is an untruthful statement)  

Radical Resources Sermon Series The IntroductionMatthew 6:25 - 34 NIV 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. In this series, we will look into some of the systems that the kingdom of God makes available to us.   The resources in the Kingdom are systematically entrenched in the Word of the Lord so that believers can have full access. (Religion has no access to God’s Kingdom; religion can only give you an empty cup). The Kingdom of God can not be discovered, it must be revealed. (The secrets of the kingdom are given by the Holy Spirit through the Lordship of Jesus Christ.) God created all of His creations with systems; nothing that God created was random.The natural earth and heavens were created on systems. Jesus’ systematic approach to His ministry was seen every time he fulfilled what the prophets of old declared over His destiny. When you don’t recognize and understand the systems that govern the kingdom of God, the Kingdom of this world and the kingdom of darkness, you won’t be able to walk in your restored authority.Authorities that have no foundation in knowledge will be at best, ineffective and at worst, abusive.  God supplies His resources through systems. (All kingdoms supply resources through systems). In the Kingdom of Darkness, if you want to get ahead you must embrace evil. In the Kingdom of this world, you must love the world to get what you need. (In the time to come, mankind will have to receive the mark of the beast in order to buy and sell.) Looking for random blessings is unconstitutional. (Random is for non-citizens of the Kingdom of God).  As a citizen of the kingdom, you make the necessary application through a protocol called prayer. Prayer is a system. For example, the prayer system is limited when the desired results require fasting ( this kind comes by prayer and fasting )The alignment of systems (Bringing order to your life)  Your personal holiness Your financial posture (money management, giving) Parental relationship (how are you treating your children) Education what are you learning Marital relationshipCareer/business  These systems do not overlap. You can be holy, but a bad parent and You can be unholy but a great parent. The blessings and answers can be willfully held up because of a violation of a system. The accuser of the brethren uses this to hinder our answers to prayer. E.g. praying for finances when you are unfaithful/inconsistent with your giving. The Word of God keeps believers in compliance with these spiritual systems. Balance your life! The System of Prayer The System of Favor The System of Fasting The System of Praise and Worship The System of Giving The System of Receiving The System of Deliverance The System of Healing The System of Breakthrough The System of Prosperity The System of Joy The System of Peace The System of Increase  All of God’s provisions or resources are systematically dispensed.    Conclusion: The Mystery of The Mercy of God.   

Radical Faith Series Part 4 Radical (Crazy) FaithPastor Bruce DavisGenesis 22: 1 – 18 NIV   Sometime later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”“Here I am,” he replied.2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”“Here I am,” he replied.12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram[a] caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”15 The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring[b] all nations on earth will be blessed,[c] because you have obeyed me.” Radical Faith happens with a personal encounter with the Lord (The Holy Spirit touches you)  Radical Faith is the standard of faith that the King and the Kingdom requires!  All other levels of faith lead to this Level! Baby – Little – Great – Radical Faith: you have obtained many blessings through your process of building faith but on the level of Radical Faith, what you have accumulated must be put to death. Men and Women who have a personal encounter with the presence of God are never the same; we need to own our “God Experience”! We seek what we desire; Jerimiah 29: 13 NIV  13You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.   This Level of faith requires giving up All your will/desires!  Hebrews 11: 19 NIV Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.This is what stops most believers from building faith (Giving Up what God Blessed you with)  Radical Faith: Radical Obedience - Delayed obedience can cause you to miss your moment to become Radical.The world can only see the stature of God that We His children allow them to see (When you see us you see the Father) The Believers' faith reveals the Father to the World!  Hebrews 11: 8 – 12NIV   8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the Promised Land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 And by faith, even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she[b] considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.Conclusion:  Hebrews 11: 7 – 12NIV  7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith, he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.Obedience is a prerequisite to entering into Radical Faith (your reputation cannot be your interest on this Level of faith)  Even when you look foolish in the eyes of others, The Kingdom of God rejoices over your obedience.  Note: Abraham took 120 years to build the ark and preached every day and NO one listened beside his wife, sons, and daughters-in-law!   Action Plan: Go over each teaching in this series 7 Days of Fasting & Prayer 

Radical Faith Series Part 3 - “Great Faith”Luke 7: 1 – 10 NIV  Pastor Bruce C. Davis  Luke 7: 1 – 10 NIV   1When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. 2There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.”              6So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 9When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.There are Two Kingdom systems in which you can enter. This is where Greater Faith is accessible.  Understanding the Kingdom Authority - (Knowledge is not the equivalent to Understanding)  Having information without proper placement of the knowledge can do more harm than Good!   The need for spiritual teaching is desperately misunderstood. The thoughts of God (Theology) were always given to men and women that God would place His hands on to bring revelation!  We all need to be taught; to be a learner requires humility and submission. The Centurion had a revelation from the Holy Spirit concerning the operations of the King and His Kingdom. He loved God and he expressed his love for God by paying for the synagogue to be constructed!   Accessing Great Faith is not a miracle, it is a system.Characteristics of Great Faith Proximity is not an issue - No distance can stop Great Faith from receiving what it believes. The Centurion was not near Jesus but fully expected Jesus to make his servant well.   Humility - (I am not worthy to come to you.) We care too much about building a reputation for ourselves. Dead men do not have feelings. Take up your cross; you must lose your life so that you can save it. Dying to self will enable you to walk in humility.   Understand how to be under authority in a Kingdom - You will not be able to step into Great faith unless you see Jesus as a King with a Kingdom! When you cannot handle someone telling you what to do, it will be difficult for you to access great faith. You don’t need a touch, “Say the Word ONLY” - You just need Jesus to speak the Word. In the Kingdom, everything is owned by the King; positions, wealth, relationships, etc. Self-hoarding is not allowed in this Kingdom, the other kingdoms may allow it though  Jesus’ words are under the authority of the kingdom of God. Jesus said as the Father has sent me, so I send you. We are under delegated authority!   The kingdom of Darkness doesn’t move without a higher authority!   Matthew 15: 21 – 28 NIV  21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment. Great Faith can Accelerate your Progress! Great Faith Makes All Things Available and Possible (She was not who Jesus was authorized to reach)  She Recognized Jesus’ kingly position, “Son of David” (You cannot enter this Kingdom without Revelation of its King)Jesus was under the authority of His Father (“I only Do what my father does and say what He tells me to say” - John 12: 49 NIV)     The Kingdom of God is here/ The Authority of Heaven is here, but you must get under it, or this authority will not work with you!  This Kingdom doesn’t work for us, but with us!Flesh and Blood were not leading this woman’s mouth, it was the Holy Spirit. What was her revelation?  It is not necessary for me to sit at the table. The loaf or a slice of bread is not necessary because the crumbs have every ingredient that the slice and the loaf have. All I need is a piece of this bread that you have for the Jewish people and that would be more than enough to meet my needs!     Conclusion: “The Greater the faith, the Smaller the Evidence that is needed”You don’t need someone to tell you every day that you will make it; you don’t need the odds to be in your favor. You work better as an underdog!   Matthew 17:20 (NIV)20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Action Plan:Grow your faith no matter what level you are on!  Start Practicing the Will/Word of God Today! 

Radical Faith Sermon Series - Pt. 2 Little Faith: “The Doubting Faith”Sunday, January 12, 2020Scripture: Matthew 14: 22 – 32Pastor Bruce Davis Matthew 14: 22 – 32 NIVLittle faith means not being fully comfortable about a favorable outcome; Faith gets its strength from the Word of God!  Doubt causes Fear, and Fear Cripples Faith! Little Faith is the process that all believers must take as you build your confidence in what you hope God can do through you and for you! The principle of doubt is based on Ignorance. (Lack of experiential knowledge) You must experience Jesus and His word!Doubt is the fire that tests our faith!Doubt will not leave your heart until you build confidence in God and His word! Doubt conveys thoughts of failure! Doubt sleeps in our hearts and is awakened by acts of faith. (You will not know how much you doubt until you start to walk on your waters in a raging storm.) Doubt is exposed through challenges!  God must allow you to be challenged to expose doubt so that He can help you to remove it through the practicing of His Word! God elevates you from Baby Faith to Little Faith and then on to Great Faith. (You cannot elevate yourself; self-elevation is not allowed in the Kingdom)  Conclusion:Matthew 8:23 – 27 NIVWhy are you so Afraid? (What is the origin of your fearfulness?) Fear of failure cripples Faith Walkers. (Don’t think so highly of yourself! God will allow you to fail a couple of times before you succeed to get that self-centeredness out of your heart)You cannot be a Faith Walker and care about how you are viewed by others! Action PlanPractice the Word of God to Kill your Doubt that Produces Fear!Join Pastor Bruce next week at our 8 am and 10 am experiences for a continuation of his Radical Faith Sermon Series.

Radical Faith Sermon SeriesPart 1: Baby Faith (Foundation of Faith)Romans 10: 14 – 17 NIV  14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”16But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.The most important message you can ever hear is the message about Jesus Christ’s plan of salvation. Baby Faith is salvation faith, believing in the message and accepting salvation in Jesus Christ!   Our Faith in God has a birthing (when we first believed). True faith/belief is the result of fire tests/trials; you are not truly believing God until you have been tested in that area of your life!  Salvation Faith is the prerequisite of seeing, experiencing and entering the Kingdom of God. Hebrews 11: 1 – 6 NIV  Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.4 By faith, Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith, he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.Faith is Neutral; you can make your faith grow in anything or anyone!    Worldly Faith: The confidence in your education, business, bank savings, stocks, assets, etc. as the sustainer of your life!God wants you to know that Nothing or No one can be trusted with your faith/confidence! Faith (Pi’tho – Pistis) – to persuade to have confidence The Lord seeks to persuade the believer who is in willful submission, that His will is the preferred path to success. God intends for you to see His faithfulness to provide and supply your every need as evidence so that your future confidence can be entrusted in Him!   This world (government leaders, employers, religions and religious leaders) are trying to convince you to have confidence in them!  Mark 11: 22 NIV 22“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered.Conclusion:  Growing your faith in God  Deuteronomy 6: 4 – 9 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. [a] 5Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.   9Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Shema: Listen and Obey. The view is that when God speaks you simply listen and do as He says!  akoḗ – properly, hearing; use of inner (spiritual) hearing that goes with receiving faith from God Matthew 11: 11 – 15 NIV 11Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. 13For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15Whoever has ears, let them hear.  Spiritual discernment: to understand the words of God because God’s word must be revealed to the hearer!  James 1: 22 NIV   22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.Practicing the instructions of the word of God grows your faith in God!Action Plan:Is your faith alive?  The evidence of Life is Growth!  Join Pastor Bruce Next week at our 8 am and 10 am experiences for a continuation of his Radical Faith Sermon Series!  

Message from the King (I am coming back)Watch Night 2019 Mark 8:34 –  38 NIV   1.  The Value of the Human Soul Your Soul has No earthly value Earthly resources, unless done with the intentions of building the Kingdom of God and honoring the King; has No eternal value!  Our soul is our passport to our eternal destination (What we do in our Soul can determine Life or spiritual death/separation)  Luke 10: 25 – 28 NIV Our Souls are given to us by God to express Love back to God; we express Love to God through our obedience to His word. John 14: 15 NIV 15“If you love me, keep my commands. Genesis  35: 18 ESV  18 And as her soul was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni;[g] but his father called him Benjamin.What can you exchange/Trade/Swap for your Soul? Luke 16:19 – 31 NIV  Without spiritual insight from Jesus, this would’ve been the most tragic and horrific story!  Lazarus was sick and he never got his healing, he was a beggar and never got his financial breakthrough. God never lifted him on the earth, he never wrote a book of principles of elevating from poverty to prosperity. The rich man never favored him, he died in his state of agony and torment; seeming never to have victory in this life!  This story reveals that Nothing on this planet can transition to eternity!  22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. The Rich man died shortly after Lazarus and both were aware of earth’s activities  Lazarus couldn’t have gotten to Abraham’s side with the escort of Angels (angels are only assigned to those who die in God).  The rich man did not have an Angelic escort, he transitioned from his comfortable life of wealth and riches to Torment in one moment!  Jesus shared this event to show the extreme end to two individuals; one who had everything and the other who had nothing!  Only our souls can transition to eternity, not our bodies or any earthly possessions including earthly covenant.  (Matthew 22: 30 NIV   30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven) No matter how beautiful your body is, it cannot transition to the afterlife. None of your awards wealth or riches can make the transition; your earthly position in this life has no value in eternity! Our world is restrained by time. Everything, whether it be good or bad, that happens to you on the earth cannot transition with you in eternity! None of the joy and pleasure you experience on this planet can transition to eternity; your sinful habits can find no place in eternity (The Rich man just wanted a sip of water and wanted Abraham to send Lazarus back to earth from the dead to warn his family Not to come where he was)  Matthew 16: 16 NIV  Conclusion2Corithians 5: 6 – 10 NIV Matthew 6:  19 – 21 NIV1Corithians 3: 13 – 15 NIV  Eternity is an interesting Reality;  only what we do on the planet for God and His Kingdom can transition and before it can make it to eternity it must be tried with the fire of God!   What are you trading for your soul? 

He Came: The Christmas Story (Part 4) – Don’t Abort the Mission!Sunday, December 22nd, 2019Scripture: Luke 1:26-38Speaker: Minister Cira Davis  Luke 1:26-38 NLTFear makes you run and hide.  With fear in the way, God's direction for your life is blocked.The fulfillment of the Christmas story was threatened by fear.God challenged Mary's fear with the peace of divine purpose.  Mary chose to trust God rather than resist her calling.Don’t seek approval for your life from others. The arms of flesh will fail you, dare not trust your own.God will always give you a sign in the spiritual and earthly realm.When we hesitate with what God has called us to do, we create a breeding ground for doubt, fear and insecurity.Trust the direction/plan God has for your life. Stay the course and DON’T ABORT THE MISSION!!!!ConclusionWhatever God has called you to do, don’t let any potential persecution or judgment of others keep you from obedience and God's purpose for your life.  God's plan is worth ANY  resistance you might face in this world. Action PlanAsk God to reveal what He created you to do and be confident that He’ll equip you to do it.Commit to God’s purpose for your life even if it's difficult and the people around you don’t understand.  Allow God to speak TRUTH to whatever is giving you anxiety today.  He will empower you to move forward into your purpose.Allow PEACE to reign in your life.

Can you be Trusted?Luke 1:26-38 NLTDuring this time of the year, we normally start to do a lot of reflection over the past year looking at the goals that we may have set that we did or did not achieve. We spend time looking at where we may or may not be on our jobs; looking at life and asking questions about where we are and where we’ve been.Today as we dive into God’s word, I want us to ask ourselves some questions. We are about to step into 2020, a brand new year that has: • 12 Months• 52 Weeks• 365 Days• 8,760 Hours• 525,600 secondsAs we prepare for this new year, will we be able to maximize every single moment?1. Can the Lord trust you?2. What is your heart’s posture?ConclusionWe are the hands and feet of the Lord in the earth. The world will NEVER see Jesus, they will only see you.Action PlanCheck the posture of your Life. Is it a life that is surrendered to God?

He CAME/The Christmas story Part 2Scripture: Isaiah 9:6 SpeakerOPERATION CHRISTMAS MOOD IS A GO!Isaiah 9:6​NKJV: ​For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.1. Jesus came to give us FAITH Galatians 3:19-25 (KJV)2. Jesus came to be depended upon and to make us dependable: When sin entered the world, we became unreliable. And God became unreliable to us.​2 Samuel 22:​3​ - ​My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence.Psalm 9:9​ ​- The L​ORD​ is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Psalm ​59:16​ - But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. Psalm ​62:7​- On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. GOD IS FAITHFUL, A PRESENT HELP IN TIME OF TROUBLE!Challenge: Depend upon him/his character

He Came: A Christmas StoryIsaiah 9:61. Who is He that came?❏ In Hebrew, there are ​8 words​ in this Name, ​arranged in pairs​. In each pair there isone word that speaks of something metaphysical, something divine, something about the character of this Son who was to be given; and the other word is more functional, speaking of what this person would do, what his role would be. ​They are:❏ WONDERFUL / Counselor ❏ GOD Mighty / Hero❏ Father / EVERLASTING ❏ Prince / PEACE2. Why did He come?❏ HE CAME TO FULFILL THE LAWMatthew 5: 17-18 KJV3. What was the Law?❏ The content of the Law is spread among the books of ​Exodus​, ​Leviticus​, ​Numbers​, andDeuteronomy​. They include:●  The Ten Commandments●  Moral laws - on murder, theft, honesty, adultery, etc.●  Social laws - on property, inheritance, marriage, and divorce,●  Food laws - on what is ​clean and unclean​, on cooking and storing food.●  Purity laws - on ​menstruation​, ​skin disease​, etc.●  Feasts - the ​Day of Atonement​, ​Passover​, ​Feast of Tabernacles​, ​Feast of UnleavenedBread​, etc.●  Sacrifices and offerings - the ​sin offering​, ​burnt offering​, ​whole offering​, ​Passoversacrifice​, ​wave offering​, ​peace offering​, ​drink offering​, ​dough offering​, ​incenseoffering​, ​red heifer​, ​scapegoat​, ​first fruits​, etc.●  Instructions for the ​priesthood​ and the ​high priest​ including ​tithes​.●  Instructions and for the construction of ​various altars​.●  Instructions regarding the ​Tabernacle​, and which were later applied to the ​Temple in Jerusalem​, including those concerning the ​Holy of Holies​ containing the ​Ark of the Covenant​ (in which were the tablets of the law, ​Aaron's rod​, the ​manna​).JESUS PROVED TO HUMANITY JUST HOW MUCH WE NEED HIM. As well as his willingness to save us from ourselves.Conclusion​: The Christmas story reveals the picture of a new functioning way of life that was not realistic without the power of Almighty God.Action Plan​: Set your affection on things above and not on this earth. This earth is not reliable.

I am Not Afraid                                                                                                 Finale “Fearless” A Life of Conviction”Esther 4: 13 - 17 NLT  Conviction:  Being convinced that your life is worth the discomfort that your beliefs may bring! - Bruce C. Davis The world needs people with conviction; you don’t need to be a public figure to have a life that is governed by convictions. The majority of mankind live their entire lives without having any conviction. The conviction that the Holy Spirit brings to our hearts is that He reminds us of what we should be doing with our lives.  The Holy Spirit establishes God’s divine Will in our hearts. He is the alarm that goes off when we go outside of our conviction.  There are NO great men and women in recorded history that didn’t possess the unique quality of conviction.  There is a cause worth your very life; find it and you will begin living fearlessly! -  Bruce C Davis Jesus lived fearlessly because He discovered His purpose before the age of 12. Once your purpose is revealed, pursuing it with all your heart will cause your destiny to be fulfilled.                                                                                         I must do the work of Him who has sent me…                                                                             John 9: 4 NIV Death is not at all a bad thing, it simply means put your pencils down and turn your paper over (Time’s Up!) Most people wait for death to find conviction, some may wait for old age to have conviction.A life of conviction raises your standard; you are not like those who have no conviction.    Jesus was never focused on building a religion; His primary focus was passing on the convictions concerning the Kingdom of God. Matthew 5: 21 – 22 NLT Conclusion:   What is the source of your conviction?Luke 12:13 - 21 NIV Action Plan:  Ask God to help you find something worth dying for! 

I am Not Afraid                                                                                                          Part 4 “Unshaken”                                                                                                    Daniel 3:8-18 (NIV)Any part of your life that has allegiance to this world or the systems of this world, will be shaken!  What are your options to God? Will you choose God’s way or the way of this world?                                (God is a Jealous God) Exodus 20:5 NIV Modern Idols in our lives  (What are you putting first)?  BusinessCareerRelationshipsMarriageChildrenMinistry   The three Hebrew men were not the only Jews who were brought to Babylon; but they had conviction!  Conviction:  The standard of God and His Kingdom is opposed by the standard of the Kingdom of this world!  There are two kingdoms, the Kingdom of Darkness and the Kingdom of Light and never the twain shall meet. The Spirit of Timidity:  The world doesn’t want you to oppose its views/standards, but simply go along with the program.  You cannot be driven by fearfulness, but you must be courageous!  Joshua 1: 6 – 9 NIV   Your conviction doesn’t come from what you believe, but in whom you believe said it. The integrity of the person that makes the promise brings conviction.  God is Not a Man!  What has God’s Word promised you?  God is not going to promise you something new, His promises are enduring and they stand firm.  The Sovereign God:  If you don’t receive healing in your body, don’t get the job you wanted, get divorced, or if your business collapses; will you bow?  God can allow it to work out well for your friend and not for you. Is your allegiance to God based on His performance or His presence? Psalms 51: 10 -13 NIV  Conclusion:  “God honors and elevates people with Godly convictions”  Daniel 3: 24 – 30 NIV   Action Plan:  Don’t put a person or thing in the front of God!

I am Not Afraid Part 3 “Facing Insurmountable Odds” 1Samuel 17: 32 -37 NLT  Matthew 21:18 - 22 NLT  Recognize when you’re faced with Mountains that are bigger, taller and stronger than your personal abilities or earthy resources.  Rely on the resource of your faith (Your faith is a reservoir that holds the resources you need) The odds are only against you in this natural realm; in the unseen world, you are always over resourced!  How do Face Insurmountable Odds? See the solution, not the problem 1Cor 10: 9 – 13 ESV If it’s too hard for you to see it, it will be too hard for you to do it; you have to respond to your mountains with the unlimited resources of God’s kingdom.  You have your limits, this world has its limits but the Kingdom of God knows No limit!   Remember your prior victories no matter how small they are compared to your current challenges  David used his victory over a bear and lion to build his faith to defeat his giant  Victory is progressive (little by little God brings us into our promised land blessing). Don’t allow the “Do Nothing” people to influence your act of faith!    People who are afraid of failing don’t want someone to prove them wrong and show it’s possible.  The spirit (MINDSET) of Eliab is usually connected to people who are related or familiar to you.  Conclusion:  Conquer your Mt. Everest “You can Out Grow your Fear”  “As M. Dunham wrote, "Sir Edmund Hilary was the first person to conquer Mt. Everest. The first time he tried, he failed. He was knighted by the Queen of England, and at the gala occasion, on the wall behind the head table, was a huge picture of Mt. Everest. The people gave him a standing ovation for even daring to attempt the climb. When they ceased applauding, Hilary turned his back to the audience, faced that picture and said, "Mt. Everest, you have defeated me once and you might defeat me again. But I'm coming back again and again, and I'm going to win because you can't get any bigger, Mt. Everest, and I can."Faith is not the absence of fear (your heart can be filled with faith while your mind is filled with fear)  Don’t let fear win! Action Plan:  Out Grow your fear “Speak to your Fears”  Get into 2020 Mood (How many mountains you plan to conquer in 2020)

Sermon Series: “I am Not Afraid”                                                                                     Part 2: Facing the Fear of Lack                                                                                           1Kings 17: 7 – 16 NIV You won’t die in this God is sending Help (You can be at your last but God wouldn’t let you die) This Widow probably didn’t know what you know; her know helps you to make a faith declaration “I Will Not Die in this season of Lack”  God Supplies Through People (You cannot receive from whom you don’t respect) The Widow was willing to listen to Prophet Elijah (even though he seemed to be depending on her to sustained)  This is Your season of going the extra mile (she was willing to give up her water but God required more, she had to give up her food also).  PUT GOD FIRST (Learn how to prioritize the Lord, His Leaders and His Work) Seek His Kingdom Not your empire:  Don’t forget God in this season of your Life! Haggai 1: 3 – 10 NIV  “Don’t Be Afraid” Fare will Delay and Dismiss your obedience; this woman had more than most but God had Much more for her, don’t be driven by how much you have God want you to have more.She knew exactly what she had left and she knew that what the Prophet was asking was impossible in the natural. You must overcome the notion of what you have is all you got; you have access to far more than you have! Conclusion:  Whose Words are you Standing On? The Word of the Lord was released to this Widow   When you face the Fear of Lack God will make you to a sustainer (God will bless you to be a blessing)  Action Plan:   Put God First