Salt and Light Covenant Church in Tallahassee, FL with Pastor Omar Ellison

In "The Father's Voice - Part 3," Pastor Omar Ellison delves deeper into the pervasive issue of a hardened heart, a topic he revisits seven years after his initial sermon on it, suggesting its enduring relevance for all believers. He defines a hardened heart as one that is callous, unable to perceive spiritual truths, and resistant to divine penetration. Drawing from Hebrews 3:7-12, Pastor Ellison illustrates how a hardened heart grieves God, leading to error in thinking and a departure from His ways. He passionately distinguishes between sins of ignorance (Numbers 15:27) and presumptuous, premeditated sins (Numbers 15:30). Sins of ignorance, though still incurring consequences, can be met with mercy, as seen in Paul's life or the ignorance of those who crucified Jesus. However, presumptuous sin, characterized by knowingly defying God's word, ignoring consequences, and taking one's future for granted, leads to severe spiritual cutting off. Pastor Ellison warns against the deceitfulness of sin and the subtle infiltration of a "have it your way" mentality within the church. He stresses that God's holiness demands obedience, and true relationship isn't merely about being "used" by God, but about genuine intimacy and humble surrender. The sermon powerfully connects a hardened heart with a lack of true trust in God, contrasting it with the blessedness of those who genuinely trust in the Lord, like a tree planted by water, constantly producing fruit regardless of circumstances (Jeremiah 17:5-8). He concludes by reiterating that God examines the heart and the motivations behind our actions, urging believers to honestly confess their failings and align their thinking with His truth to experience healing and continuous divine provision. Scriptures for Further Study Hebrews 3:7-12 Numbers 15:27 Numbers 15:30 Jeremiah 17:5-10 ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"If you're hard in your heart, you can't perceive certain things. If you're hard in your heart, you can't even understand certain things. If you're hard in your heart, I can't even get to you what I want to get to you. I've got a whole warehouse with your name on it and you can't receive any of it because your heart is hardened." --Pastor Omar Ellison In "The Father's Voice - Part 2," Pastor Omar Ellison delivers a crucial message about the perils of a hardened heart, building on the foundation of Hebrews 3. He defines hardening as becoming callous, preventing us from perceiving, understanding, or receiving anything God desires to send our way—His voice, His blessings, His will. The sermon delves into how this hardening often stems from errors in our thinking, urging listeners to align their thoughts with God's Word rather than their feelings or external circumstances. Pastor Ellison highlights that unbelief is a choice and can lead to a slow departure from God (Hebrews 3:12), often undetected for years. He stresses the biblical mandate to exhort one another daily (Hebrews 3:13), keeping each other encouraged to prevent hearts from hardening through the deceitfulness of sin. This isn't just about mistakes, but a continuous, comfortable indulgence in known wrong, which ultimately dulls conviction and spiritual sensitivity. Through vivid examples from Mark's Gospel (Mark 3, Mark 6, Mark 8), Pastor Ellison illustrates how a hardened heart prevents recognition of God's power, even in the face of undeniable miracles. He shows how the Pharisees, witnessing Jesus' healing (Mark 3:2-6), were so hardened that they sought to destroy Him rather than receive the truth. He points out that being "amazed" or "struck with awe" at God's goodness can ironically indicate a hardened heart if it means we haven't been considering or meditating on His past works (Mark 6:51-52; Mark 8:14-21). The teaching powerfully calls believers to rehearse God's miracles daily, no matter how small, as a vital practice to maintain a soft, receptive heart, capable of perceiving, understanding, and applying His truth, even amidst life's storms. Failure to do so, he warns (Proverbs 29:1), leads to a sudden, remediless destruction in our spiritual lives. ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"If we don't address the hardened heart issue, they'll never be able to hear me fully. They'll never be able to hear me clearly because their hearts are hardened." --Pastor Omar Ellison Have you ever wondered why it feels so difficult to hear from God? Pastor Omar Ellison tackles this question head-on in "The Father's Voice - Part 1," a powerful message explaining that the issue isn't with God's ability to speak, but with our ability to hear. The primary culprit is a "hardened heart"—a condition caused by life's hurts, the world's counsel to "toughen up," and the deceitfulness of sin. Drawing from key passages in Hebrews and Proverbs, Pastor Ellison explains that a hardened heart leads to an inability to perceive, understand, or receive what God is trying to communicate. Using the powerful biblical example of Pharaoh, he illustrates how a hardened heart leads to a dangerous cycle of temporary repentance and repeated mistakes, ultimately resulting in destruction. The antidote? Not more self-effort, but radical honesty, humility, and the integrity to confess our struggles to God and trusted believers. This message is a vital spiritual check-up, calling every believer to examine their own heart and tear down the walls that prevent them from fully experiencing God's presence and guidance. ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

Join Pastor Omar Ellison of Salt and Light Covenant Church as he commences an in-depth exploration of the book of Romans, beginning with the foundational truths in chapter 1. In this powerful message, Pastor Omar unpacks Paul's declaration of being "separated unto the gospel of God," challenging believers to live lives that exemplify God's kingdom and love. He delves into the significance of Jesus Christ's sacrifice and resurrection, stressing that everything we do in the kingdom is "for His name's sake," not our own. A central theme is the power of belief, as the gospel's salvation is accessible to "everyone that believeth." Pastor Omar passionately articulates that "the just live by faith," defining faith as the substance of things hoped for, and powerfully asserting that time should not dictate the believer's reality, as faith operates in eternity. He then contrasts this with the "wrath of God" already revealed through Christ, and the consequences of those who, knowing God, failed to glorify Him or be thankful. This unthankfulness, he explains, leads to vain imaginations, darkened hearts, and a descent into unrighteousness and unnatural practices. Pastor Omar powerfully concludes by reminding listeners not to let the blessings in their lives speak louder than the Blesser, emphasizing that all glory belongs solely to the Creator. ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"The attack on your imagination is really an attack against your future. The enemy brings twisted images and lies to distort how you see yourself, but when you get submitted to God's Word, He will begin to clean, rearrange, and change your imagination to align with the future He has for you." --Pastor Omar Ellison Fear is an ancient enemy that has dominated mankind for generations. It's not just an uneasy feeling; it's a spiritual weapon used to sow doubt and unbelief. This episode dismantles the anatomy of fear, revealing it as a spirit that God has not given us (2 Timothy 1:7). Listen as we unpack a practical, three-step biblical battle plan to gain victory over fear: First, you must recognize it. Then, using your God-given authority, you must rebuke it. Finally, you must resist it by submitting wholly to God, which causes the enemy to flee (James 4:7). Discover how your faith always follows your focus, illustrated by Peter's momentary lapse on the water. We'll explore why attending to God's Word (Proverbs 4:20), setting your mind on things above (Colossians 3:1-2), and considering Jesus (Hebrews 12:3) are the keys to maintaining a faith-filled focus. Ultimately, the battle against fear is fought on the field of your imagination. Learn how the enemy tries to create spiritual blindness and project distorted images to attack your God-given future. This teaching will empower you to see with the eyes of your heart, harness your emotions, and allow the truth of Scripture to purify your imagination, securing the expected end God has planned for you. ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"Free will is the most powerful attribute that the Father has put into, given to mankind: the ability to choose." --Pastor Omar Ellison Welcome to "Fear Not - Part 10," where Pastor Omar Ellison delves deeper into the subtle yet pervasive nature of fear. Building on previous installments, Pastor Ellison defines fear as an "uneasiness of our thought life," stressing that all thoughts are spiritual and originate from either the kingdom of God or the kingdom of hell. He challenges listeners to critically examine the source of their thoughts, as what we dwell on eventually manifests in our speech and ultimately, our lives. A core revelation in this episode centers on the profound power of choice and the attribute of free will. Pastor Ellison asserts that free will is the most powerful gift God has given to mankind, enabling us to choose what we think on and what we allow into our lives. He passionately argues against the notion that we lack choice, explaining that while circumstances may be challenging, we always possess the autonomy to say "yes" or "no" to the influences seeking to enter our hearts. Drawing from his own life, Pastor Ellison illustrates how the sum total of his choices, particularly the choice to trust and submit to God, has guided him to his current position. He clarifies that our battle is never against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces that introduce negative thoughts. Therefore, addressing the spirit behind the thought, rather than the person, is crucial. The message culminates in the powerful truth that choosing God's way – by believing and trusting in what Jesus Christ has already done for us – unlocks the benefits of His perfect plan. While we all start with a "measure of faith" (like a mustard seed), it's through our experiences with God and our continuous choices to follow Him that this faith grows, enabling us to overcome fear and walk in the authority that Christ has already secured. Join Pastor Omar Ellison for this transformative teaching that empowers you to take control of your thought life and embrace the profound freedom of divine choice. ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

Welcome to today's episode with Pastor Omar Ellison, where we continue our series on fear—understanding it in a transformative way. Fear often thrives in the unknown, attacking our thoughts and imagination to keep us from stepping into our God-ordained future. Pastor Omar explains how fear is a tool of Satan, aiming to distort our thinking and prevent us from receiving God's peace and purpose. Through scripture and personal insight, he reveals that the battle for our lives is fought in our minds, where wrong thinking leads to wrong believing, wrong speaking, and ultimately wrong outcomes. But there is hope: by grounding ourselves in God's Word, His spoken truth, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we gain the knowledge and confidence needed to combat fear. Pastor Omar encourages listeners to submit their thoughts to God's higher perspective, to recognize the spiritual nature of this warfare, and to stand firm in the authority given to believers. This episode will inspire you to rethink how you approach fear, renew your mind, and step boldly toward the future God has prepared for you. ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

Are you constantly battling worries, insecurities, or that unsettling feeling of "what if"? In this compelling message, Pastor Omar Ellison tackles the pervasive topic of fear, dissecting its origins and offering a powerful antidote. He defines fear as an "uneasiness of mind," a mental state where we allow doubt, unbelief, worry, and stress to create a "movie" of future negativity that may never even happen. This is the essence of F.E.A.R.: False Evidence Appearing Real. Pastor Ellison reveals that Satan's primary strategy is to shift us from faith to fear by attacking our imagination, which he calls the "incubator" of our thinking and future. He explains how the enemy projects negative images and "what-ifs," aiming to derail God's good plans for us. However, our future is already God's "past" – He has already created us with purpose, destiny, and every blessing we need, much like a house is built on blueprints before it's physically manifested. The key to overcoming this spiritual assault, Pastor Ellison powerfully declares, is knowledge. Just as a strong dose of kryptonite renders Superman powerless, knowledge of God's word and His character is the ultimate weapon against fear. He illustrates how knowledge builds confidence, whether it's preparing for a job interview or facing life's challenges. Drawing from Psalm 27 and Isaiah 35 and 43, he reveals that God is our light, our salvation, our strength, our vindicator, and our compensator. He is with us through every "water" and "fire," ensuring we will not be overwhelmed or burned. This sermon is a powerful call to replace fear with foundational truth, trust in God's unwavering presence, and walk confidently into the victorious future He has already designed. ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"Fear is false evidence appearing real. Sometimes fear comes in through the door of your past." --Pastor Omar Ellison ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"God is always something working together for us, even if we don't see it, even if we don't feel it. This is only for believers in Jesus Christ, though. If you aren't a believer, it's time to join the team!" --Pastor Omar Ellison ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"God tells us to be of good cheer, but then comes fear, and usually the fear is about things that won't even come to pass!" --Pastor Omar Ellison ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"You have to believe that Jesus is the risen Son of God, and this is what fear attacks...what you believe in. Fear tries to rob you of your faith, your joy, your peace...but we must not lose our belief in God and His Word." --Pastor Omar Ellison ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"The Lord will always be with me and He will not fail me. He cannot fail. We will never be never left alone." --Pastor Omar Ellison ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"Any time God says something, hell is on the move. Hell is on the attack." --Pastor Omar Ellison Let's open our Bibles to Mark chapter 4. ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"What is fear? Fear is an unpleasant emotion. It is a feeling." --Pastor Omar Ellison ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"No man can come to the Father except through Jesus. All roads lead through Jesus Christ." --Pastor Omar Ellison ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"When we speak His name, when two or three are gathered together, Jesus Christ Himself is right there." --Pastor Omar Ellison ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"The way you have been thinking about things is wrong. We need to think how Jesus thinks. We need to allow our mind to be renewed by the Word of God." --Pastor Omar Ellison ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"Everything in the Old Testament was pointing to Jesus." --Pastor Omar Ellison ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

Let's begin by opening our Bibles to Isaiah chapter 7 verse 14. ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"We say we want to go deeper into the Lord. Well this is one of the main ways we do that, through fasting." --Pastor Omar Ellison ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"Fasting promotes humility." --Pastor Omar Ellison ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"Fasting is abstaining from earthly, worldly pleasures for a period of time for spiritual reasons." --Pastor Omar Ellison ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"Prayer and fasting is biblical. Consecration is the act of separating oneself from worldly pleasures to obtain spiritual growth. So this is going to be a month of consecration for us." --Pastor Omar Ellison ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"The name of Jesus is recognized in all three worlds...heaven, earth, and under the earth. All three systems recognize the name of Jesus." --Pastor Omar Ellison ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"The name of Jesus rings out, and things begin to shift in the spirit world when we speak that name!" --Pastor Omar Ellison ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

Let's open our Bibles to Hebrews, chapter 1. ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"I was discussing with the Lord how to start off this new year and He said two words to me: The Name." --Pastor Omar Ellison ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

It was to our advantage that Jesus left the earth because then He sent the Holy Spirit to us. --Pastor Omar Ellison ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"Hell doesn't want anything from God happening in your life, but hell can't MAKE you get out of alignment with God. Hell can only offer suggestions to get you out of alignment." --Pastor Omar Ellison Let's begin by opening our Bibles to John 16:7. ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"You have the right to sin if you want to, and it will breed corruption in your life, but the Lord wants to purge our conscience from all evil." --Pastor Omar Ellison Let's begin by opening our Bibles to John 16:7. ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"God said, 'I want all of my children to know is that what I did with my Son, Jesus Christ, is...I freed you.'" --Pastor Omar Ellison ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"God is trying to get us to a point where our conscience has been purified." --Pastor Omar Ellison We will begin in John 16:7 and Hebrews 9:9. ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"The enemy recognizes that God inhabits the praise of His people, so he is always going to try to get you off your praise." --Minister Shirley Albritton Let's begin in Psalm 22:3. ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"We are no longer bound by sin because the Lord has taken care of that for us." --Pastor Omar Ellison Let's begin in John chapter 16. ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"Jesus Christ and what He did has made everybody who believes on Him automatically holy. I'm holy because of Him, not because of my works and not because of what I do. I'm holy because of who I believe in, and the person that I believe in is holy, so therefore that constitutes me to be holy…WITH NO WORKS." --Pastor Omar Ellison ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

When you sin and then afterward you ask yourself, "Why did I do that?" - that is a good place to be because you are questioning. But if you sin and then afterward you are fine with it...that is a very bad place to be! --Pastor Omar Ellison ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"With your disappointment, the enemy will try to bring in a lot of other things with that disappointment." --Minister Bree ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"Having grace means receiving all the gifts of God. Grace is freely given by God. You can't earn it." --Minister Karla Robinson ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"We have to decide which ruling force we will submit to: the Kingdom of God or the kingdom of darkness." --Minister Shirley Albritton ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

Jesus said He would send us the Holy Spirit who would guide us into all truth. --Minister Gerald Cainion ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"The Lord is the Governor, but ultimately it is up to us to decide how much of our lives we are going to allow Him to govern." --Pastor Omar Ellison ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"The Lord is the Governor, but ultimately it is up to us to decide how much of our lives we are going to allow Him to govern." --Pastor Omar Ellison ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"Your birthplace may be in Jacksonville or New York or Chicago, but you are actually FROM heaven." --Pastor Omar Ellison ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

Heaven is a real place, just like your hometown is a real place. And heaven has a King and He is our King! --Pastor Omar Ellison ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"If we look like grasshoppers in God's sight, then what do our issues and problems look like in His eyesight?" --Pastor Omar Ellison ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

This subject is going to be one of the most important topics I have ever preached on. "We've been indoctrinated by being raised in a democracy, so we don't understand that being in a kingdom with a king is totally different. But as Christians we have a total shift because we have a King!" --Pastor Omar Ellison ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"Jesus never came preaching religion because religion tries to change you on the outside. But real change for the life of a believer starts on the inside and comes out." --Pastor Emmanuel Williams ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"We are co-laborers with God. So who is our partner? God is our partner, and He has already overcome this world!" --Pastor Omar Ellison ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"At the end of the trial I can stand and say, 'He is good! He is faithful!' And He walked me right through it...for His name's sake. His name is on the line for us!" --Pastor Omar Ellison ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

"Hell is forever trying to get you to live from that natural body, and that natural body operates by feelings, but your feelings will lie to you! You have to get beyond your feelings because Christ is beyond your feelings." ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/