VictoryGP

Christians are called to be salt in a bitter world, but many have become contaminated, diluted, or divided, losing their effectiveness. True salt brings flavor, preservation, cleansing, and healing rather than the bitter saltiness that dominates today's culture. We lose our saltiness through syncretism (mixing worldly views with biblical truth), watering down the gospel to avoid offense, and allowing division within the church. Romans 12:9-21 shows us what pure salt looks like: genuine love, clear moral boundaries, patience, prayer, blessing those who persecute us, and overcoming evil with good. The key question is not what's happening to you, but what's happening because of you when people encounter your life.

The condition of your heart serves as spiritual soil that determines whether God's word takes root and produces fruit in your life. Just as farmers test soil conditions to maximize their harvest, we need to examine our hearts to understand what prevents us from experiencing God's fullness. Your words and actions are like fruit that reveals your true heart condition - what comes out when you're under pressure shows what's really inside. Jesus taught about four types of spiritual soil through the parable of the sower. The wayside represents a hard heart that cannot receive God's word due to consistent resistance to His conviction. The stony places represent a shallow heart that receives the word with joy but lacks depth because stones of unforgiveness, bitterness, and offense prevent deep roots. The thorny places represent a distracted heart where worldly concerns, career obsession, constant worry, and pursuit of wealth choke out spiritual growth. Finally, good ground represents a healthy heart that hears, understands, and produces abundant spiritual fruit. The encouraging truth is that soil conditions aren't permanent. You can move from one type to another based on your choices. To maintain healthy spiritual soil, you must deal with hardness through repentance, remove stones of bitterness and unforgiveness, and pull weeds of distraction and worldly cares. This requires intentional heart maintenance - giving attention to God's words, guarding your speech, keeping your focus on His path, and removing yourself from evil influences.

Beginning a new year often brings a desire for direction and stability, but instead of looking to external sources for prophetic words or guidance, we need to learn how to hear from God ourselves and secure our spiritual anchor. An anchor provides the stable foundation that holds everything else steady, and Jesus serves as our ultimate anchor of hope - not wishful thinking, but an earnest expectation of good based on God's character and faithfulness.We need our spiritual anchor in various seasons of life. During storms and difficulties, when we face low visibility and can't see God's plan clearly, while waiting on His perfect timing, during busy and fruitful periods when our guard might be down, and even when we need rest and restoration. The key is securing this anchor before we need it, not discovering its absence during a crisis.To properly secure our anchor, we must know God's Word deeply, understanding what Scripture says about every area of life including marriage, parenting, finances, health, and relationships. We also need to engage God's presence regularly, following Jesus who has gone before us as our forerunner into the holy place. The ultimate goal is to be so anchored in Christ that we become a source of stability for others, helping them find their own secure foundation in an uncertain world.

Beginning a new year often brings a desire for direction and stability, but instead of looking to external sources for prophetic words or guidance, we need to learn how to hear from God ourselves and secure our spiritual anchor. An anchor provides the stable foundation that holds everything else steady, and Jesus serves as our ultimate anchor of hope - not wishful thinking, but an earnest expectation of good based on God's character and faithfulness. We need our spiritual anchor in various seasons of life. During storms and difficulties, when we face low visibility and can't see God's plan clearly, while waiting on His perfect timing, during busy and fruitful periods when our guard might be down, and even when we need rest and restoration. The key is securing this anchor before we need it, not discovering its absence during a crisis. To properly secure our anchor, we must know God's Word deeply, understanding what Scripture says about every area of life including marriage, parenting, finances, health, and relationships. We also need to engage God's presence regularly, following Jesus who has gone before us as our forerunner into the holy place. The ultimate goal is to be so anchored in Christ that we become a source of stability for others, helping them find their own secure foundation in an uncertain world.

As Christmas approaches, it's easy to get caught up in preparations, family gatherings, and the stress of making everything perfect. However, Christmas is fundamentally about Jesus - God becoming man, dwelling among us, and creating a way for relationship with Him. The foundation begins with believing and receiving Christ, as described in John 3:16-17, where God demonstrates His love by giving His Son for our salvation. This transaction has already been completed; we simply need to believe and receive what God has freely offered. While salvation is a one-time decision, our relationship with Jesus is ongoing and requires daily cultivation. The question becomes whether we're making Jesus feel welcome in our daily lives. The hymn Joy to the World, written by Isaac Watts in 1719, captures this beautifully with the line Let every heart prepare Him room. This isn't about earning God's presence, but about creating a welcoming atmosphere where He can move freely in our lives. There are ten practical ways to welcome God's presence: receiving Him daily with gratitude, spending quality time in His presence, loving Him completely with heart, soul, and mind, loving others as ourselves, serving with humility, choosing forgiveness, going the extra mile even when tired, loving our enemies, following His daily guidance, and living our faith openly. This Christmas season offers an opportunity to move beyond just celebrating Jesus to actually making Him feel at home in our hearts and lives.

This sermon focuses on the profound truth of God's love as expressed in the simple children's song 'Jesus Loves Me.' Pastor Charlotte explores how this seemingly basic truth is actually the foundation of our faith and the source of hope, peace, and joy. She emphasizes that God's love is not just an intellectual concept but a personal, transformative reality that changes how we live. The message traces the history of the song 'Jesus Loves Me' and connects it to the Christmas story, showing how God's love motivated Him to send Jesus. Pastor Charlotte  challenges listeners to move beyond just knowing about God's love to actually believing and receiving it personally, allowing it to transform their lives from selfishness to selfless service.

The Advent season invites us into a journey of hope, beginning with understanding what biblical hope truly means. Unlike cultural definitions that suggest wishful thinking, biblical hope represents earnest expectation of good based on God's character and faithfulness. Simeon's story from Luke 2 demonstrates this perfectly - he had received a promise from the Holy Spirit that he wouldn't die before seeing the Messiah, and he waited with confident anticipation rather than passive resignation. Waiting is inherently difficult for humans, especially in our fast-paced world where multitasking has become the norm. However, our brains aren't designed for multitasking - they rapidly switch between tasks, causing mental fatigue and making stillness feel uncomfortable. Yet waiting is the very thing that transforms us when we approach it correctly. Simeon wasn't passive in his waiting; he was actively led by the Holy Spirit and positioned to recognize God's movement. Three essential truths emerge about hope: it's a choice we make rather than a feeling, it must be anchored on something unchanging (Jesus rather than circumstances), and it's fundamentally a relationship with the faithful God who keeps His promises. Like Abraham, who didn't consider his physical limitations but trusted God's supernatural ability to fulfill promises, we must shift our focus from natural circumstances to our supernatural God. This Advent season challenges us to choose the one thing that matters most - Jesus Himself - making this Christmas centered on Him rather than the busyness and distractions that typically consume December.

In our comfortable world, many believers find themselves drifting into spiritual lukewarmness despite witnessing God's powerful movement through healings, salvations, and miracles. Studies reveal that younger generations now attend church more frequently than older believers, raising the question of why passion for God often diminishes over time rather than grows stronger. The answer lies in what we sow into our lives—whether we feed our flesh or our spirit.Jesus warned the Laodicean church about the danger of being lukewarm, neither hot nor cold. Their problem wasn't being bad people, but rather their self-sufficient attitude of needing nothing while being spiritually wretched and poor. Several factors can block our spiritual hunger: physical comforts and rigid patterns that prevent availability for God's work, possessions that possess us rather than serve us, religious activity without genuine relationship, and worry-driven distractions that keep us busy instead of sitting at Jesus' feet.To cultivate spiritual hunger, we must choose the one thing needed—intimate time with Jesus—and be willing to taste and see that the Lord is good. This requires breaking comfortable patterns and stepping outside our comfort zones for spiritual growth. Rather than being merely a spark, we're called to be a burning blaze, especially as we witness young people coming to faith in large numbers. The goal isn't to pray for hardship but to cultivate hunger amid abundance, becoming passionate pursuers of God despite having comfort and plenty.

The enemy whispers: You're too ordinary, too old, too flawed for God to use you. But what if the real target isn't limiting you - it's limiting God? Warriors arise when they stop asking Who am I? and start declaring Here am I, God. What lie has been keeping you from stepping into your calling?

Many believers find themselves cycling through the same challenges because they have knowledge about God but lack true understanding of His ways. The story of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 illustrates this gap between information and illumination. While knowledge provides information and wisdom builds things in our lives, understanding establishes and sustains what God has given us. We can bridge this understanding gap through God's Word, the Holy Spirit, prayer, support from other believers, and patience. When we humble ourselves to receive spiritual understanding, we move from religious routine to genuine relationship with Jesus, experiencing transformation that impacts not only our lives but also advances God's kingdom.

Prayer transforms when we understand the true power behind praying in Jesus' name. This isn't simply a religious phrase to end our prayers, but access to the full authority and character of God Himself. When Jesus introduced this concept to His disciples in John 16, He was revealing a revolutionary new way to connect with the Father - not through personal sacrifice and law-keeping, but through His name that carries authority over every situation. The key difference lies in knowing God's ways versus just His acts. Moses understood God's character as a provider before seeing the provision, while the Israelites needed to witness miracles before believing. This distinction changes how we approach prayer and faith. When we understand the covenant names of God - Jehovah Jireh (Provider), Jehovah Rapha (Healer), Jehovah Nissi (Banner of Victory), Jehovah Shalom (Peace), and others - we can pray specifically according to His revealed character rather than hoping He might act. Each situation in life has a name, but Jesus has been given a name above every name. Medical diagnoses, financial struggles, and family problems all have names, but God's name supersedes them all. The practical application involves identifying specific areas where we need God's intervention, researching the corresponding name of God, and praying with understanding rather than just familiar words. This approach moves us from fear-based prayers asking 'what if' to faith-filled declarations of 'even if,' knowing that God's character remains constant regardless of circumstances.

In a world filled with uncertainty and spiritual darkness, believers often struggle with feeling powerless despite knowing that God is all-powerful. The key to accessing divine authority lies not in simply knowing about Jesus, but in truly understanding what it means to live under His supreme authority. The name of Jesus is the name above every name - at His name, every knee will bow in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. This isn't a future reality but a present truth that believers can walk in today. However, using Jesus' name without genuine relationship is powerless, as demonstrated by the sons of Sceva in Acts 19 who attempted to use His name without knowing Him personally. True authority comes through four essential principles: understanding the supreme power of His name, recognizing our citizenship in heaven rather than earth, practicing submission to His authority, and praying in alignment with His will rather than our own desires. Living under Jesus' authority means we don't make decisions about careers, relationships, or daily situations independently. Instead, we partner with God first, asking for His perspective and aligning our actions with His purposes. This transforms us from passive believers into active ambassadors of His kingdom, capable of shifting spiritual atmospheres and accessing His power to transform both our lives and the lives of those around us. The challenge is to surrender our own authority and truly live as citizens of heaven, operating under the ultimate authority of the name above every name.

This sermon explores the power and authority found in the name of Jesus, emphasizing that being baptized into Christ means having access to all that He is. Pastor Charlotte teaches that calling on the name of the Lord is not merely asking for help, but rather appealing to the supreme authority of the universe and submitting to His lordship. The message highlights that Jesus is not just Savior but Lord - meaning supreme authority and master - and that true faith requires complete submission to His authority. Using the example of the centurion who recognized Jesus's authority, the pastor explains that we cannot access God's power without submission, and that many struggles in life stem from trying to maintain control rather than surrendering fully to God's Lordship.

In our fast-paced society, we're trapped in an endless cycle of tasks, worries, and responsibilities that keep our minds in perpetual fight-or-flight mode. Our brains are naturally designed to scan for danger - a survival mechanism that once protected us from real threats but now registers everything from difficult emails to traffic jams as danger, creating constant stress and anxiety. Medical research reveals that gratitude isn't just a pleasant sentiment but actual therapeutic medicine for our minds and bodies. Studies show that practicing gratitude enhances emotional regulation, builds stress resilience, improves social connections, boosts immunity, reduces chronic pain, and improves sleep quality. It's remarkable that when God commands us over 200 times in Scripture to be grateful, He's not just seeking what He deserves but giving us instructions for optimal functioning since He designed our bodies and minds. The danger comes when we forget God's goodness and begin worshiping created things instead of the Creator - whether through workaholism, materialism, or self-reliance. These become hard taskmasters that are never satisfied and ultimately harmful to our wellbeing. The solution lies in the four A's of gratitude: Attention (deliberately focusing on daily blessings), Acknowledgment (recognizing that blessings come from God and others), Appreciation (truly feeling grateful rather than just thinking about it), and Action (expressing gratitude relationally through prayer, worship, or service). When we practice these steps daily, we break free from life's exhausting race and find genuine peace grounded in the reality of God's faithfulness.

The name of Jesus represents far more than just a word we say during prayer or baptism—it embodies His complete character, authority, and nature as the supreme Lord of all creation. When we are baptized in Jesus' name, we aren't merely joining a church or denomination; we're dying to our old selves and rising to new life in Christ. Calling on the name of the Lord means entering a relationship with Jesus through repentance and baptism. Understanding the true power in Jesus' name transforms how we approach spiritual warfare, prayer, and daily living. As believers baptized into Christ, we have access to the authority of the King of Kings, enabling us to live in victory rather than defeat.

Baptism represents a profound spiritual transformation where believers symbolically die to their old selves and rise to new life in Christ. Through full immersion, we physically enact the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. While not required for salvation, baptism follows a consistent biblical pattern where people first believe in Jesus and then are baptized as an act of obedience. This ordinance marks a significant shift in identity, empowering Christians to reckon themselves dead to sin and alive to God. Though challenges remain after baptism, believers now possess the spiritual authority to resist sin and live in their new identity.

Who is Jesus to You?   The Simple Gospel: What Christianity Is Really About In today's world of information overload and constant distractions, it's easy to lose sight of what Christianity is truly about. With so many churches, denominations, and varying expressions of faith, people often wonder what makes one church different from another or what Christianity actually stands for at its core. The truth is, beneath all the different expressions and styles of worship, there is a simple, pure gospel that unites all true believers.

Devoted: A Life of Significance and Surrender In a world that seems increasingly chaotic and divided, there's a call rising for believers to move beyond casual Christianity. This call isn't just about attending church or identifying as Christian—it's about living a life fully surrendered and devoted to God. What Does It Mean to Be Devoted? Devotion means steadfast perseverance, total commitment, being set apart, consecrated, and constantly diligent. It means adhering closely to something or someone. It's an all-in kind of word. The opposite of devotion includes being disengaged, detached, disconnected, withdrawn, disentangled, neglectful, and disregarding. These are the things we want to avoid in our spiritual lives.

Set Up for Success: Embracing God's Path for Your Life As we enter this season of new beginnings, there's a natural pull toward fresh starts. Whether you're starting school, a new job, or simply feeling the need for change, September often feels like a second New Year—a chance to reset and begin again. But how do we ensure these new beginnings lead to success? How do we position ourselves to experience the fullness of what God has for us?

Esau sold his birthright as the firstborn of Isaac to his brother Jacob for a bowl of stew.   This story helps us see the difference between someone who COVETS the inheritance so much they would risk anything to have and keep it, and someone who disregards the value of that inheritance when faced with pressure.   In Jacob we see someone who was willing to risk it all to have the inheritance of the first born, and while he went about obtaining his brother's blessing in underhanded ways, he was finally confronted by God Himself, Who commended him for wrestling with God and with man, and for being so tenacious about the promise of God to his father and grandfather, Isaac and Abraham.   On the other hand we see Esau. When faced with hunger and pressure from the outside, he lost sight of the unmatched value of his birthright in the lineage and the promise of God. The promised Messiah came through Jacob rather than Esau, and it was JACOB who now bears the name of Israel forever because he persevered in his wrestle with God and man.   We can learn so much about our inheritance in Christ Jesus from this story and example in scripture, and we learn from THE WAY OF ESAU what we should NOT DO and how we can guard our hearts against the things that come to steal that glorious inheritance as we are united with Christ Jesus, the First Born from heaven.

Family is designed by God to reflect His love and security. There is no greater legacy and inversely no greater failure than what is established or neglected in our homes. When children have the security of a healthy family the statistics prove unequivocally that they are afforded high likelihood of reproducing stability and living an effectual life in society. When the security of a healthy home is not given to children, they often reproduce instability and brokenness in their own lives and in society. We have FAMILY set before us and modeled for us through Jesus Christ, who embodied God and exercised His great love.   Ex 3:14-15   Intention   Prov 22:6 amp   Judges 13:8 and 13:12   Inheritance

 Bold for battle   1) We can't lead others if we don't lead ourselves well - Others are depending on us!    “A great danger to good leadership is the temptation to try to change others without first making changes to yourself” John C. Maxwell      Joshua 1:1-5    Acts 16:25-35    2) We can't lead ourselves well if we aren't being led    Joshua 1:5   Judges 6:16   Mt 28:18-20   3) There will be resistance    Heb 13:5&6   Acts 4:18-20   Acts 4:23&29   4) There is victory in Jesus      Eph 6:10-13    2Cor 2:14 

The Lord called Joshua to lead Israel after the death of Moses, exhorting him over and over "be strong and very courageous."   Our calling in Christ is a mirror image of this transition, where the deliverer sent to us by God is "taken away" and the SPIRIT that empowered the ministry given to Moses/Jesus has now come to empower Joshua/us to walk in the way God has prepared for us, to INHERIT the promise.

Come Boldly   “Our beliefs about God - about His character, His attitude toward us, His value system, His desires - shape the premises for our prayers. In other words, the way we see God determines the way we approach Him?” Chad Veach    James 1:17   Matt 7:7-11   Heb 4:15-16    1) Jesus prayed as a discipline    Mark 1:35   Luke 5:15-16   2) Jesus prayed before He made decisions   Luke 6:12   3) Jesus prayed for direction   Jn 12:49   4) Jesus prayed for others   Luke 23:31-32   Heb 4:16    Psalm 91 

 In Him - From Him - For Him    ~Our revelation of our position IN Him - affects our experienced relationship WITH Him~   Mt 6:25-33   Joshua 21:43-45   Judges 2: 7-13   Jn 4:20-21   Rom 8:14-16   “Our beliefs about God - about His character, His attitude toward us, His value system, His desires - shape the premises for our prayers. In other words, the way we see God determines the way we approach Him” Chad Veach       “Prayer reminds us of the sufficiency of Christ. It helps us realize who we are in Him. It assures us that the blessings of Heaven are ours. It reaffirms that God has brought us this far and isn't giving up on us” Chad Veach     Truth to pray from:   1) I am a child of God   2) I am loved   3) I am redeemed and forgiven   4) I am accepted   5) I have full access to help from God    6) I live by faith and I live in Christ    7) I am blessed   8) I am at peace    9) I can hear God's voice   10) I am more than a conqueror   

 Citizens and Sons    Luke 15:11-32   Phil 3:20   Jn 1:12-13   Rom 8:14-17   Orphan Spirit says: DO something > HAVE something > BE something   “You are an image bearer with work to do, not a work doer with an image to maintain” Ian Simkins   Who you ARE and what you DO are not the same thing   We can live FOR God or FROM God   2Cor 5:17   Spirit of Adoption says: I AM > I HAVE > I DO    Eph 3:14-15   “Orphans live in an atmosphere of fear - but sons learn to find their place at the family table” Leif Hetland   

Heart Smart   Pr 4:23   Prov 16:1-9   1) Preparing the heart is man's job    Preparations: the arrangement, disposition, to array, to set in a row   “Suddenly happens one day at a time on repeat…day after day” Al Purvis    “You haven't failed if you haven't failed in your heart” Al Purvis   Suddenlies land on a heart that is prepared to handle them   2) The heart plans the way   Pr 16:9 NKJV & MSG   Pr16:3   MY Heart is MY responsibility!   Ps 27:8   “Wherever you go - there you are” Confucius   3) When the way pleases God - there is peace   Pr 16:7 NKJV & TPT   PR 16:2       4) A prepared heart can be directed by God   Vs 9 again   Pr 19:21   Ps 90:12  

Drawing on the story of David and Goliath, Sheldon Oakes shares how faithful stewardship of the small things entrusted, and incredible discipline had much more to do with God's preparation of His chosen King in SECRET than we often give credit and recognition for. When reflecting on the young anointed one and his destined battle with the giant, we sometimes fall into the erroneous thinking that David's preparation was an instantaneous deposit of faith and display of miraculous power, when in reality this climactic fight between David and Goliath only served to reveal what God had formed in the young man over the course of years of faithfulness. What a revelation and exhortation! Faithfulness and anointing begins NOW, not Infront of the masses, but in the secret place with God.

Follow Me?   Our Mouth - luke 6:45   Our Money - Mt 6:21   Our Time - Eph 5:15-17   1) What is the greatest love in my life?   “Show me where you spend your time, money, and energy, and I will show you what you worship” John Wimber   2) What is the greatest message of my life?   Phil 4:9   3) Who am I influencing with my life?   1 Cor 10:32 - 11:1     4) Who is influencing my life?   Jn 15:25-26   Isa 40:28-31

Made For Mission “Acts of true compassion are more than just good deeds - they are expressions of love to God” Passion and compassion come from the place where the heart has been impacted Mk 16:15-18 Matt 28:19-20 RELATIONSHIP gives birth to ACTION! Mt 10:7-8

Family Fruit Ps 1:1-3 Jer: 17:7-8 Eph 2:19 Gal 4:4-7 1) Embrace the process 2 Cor 3:18 2) Choose you conditions Jn 15:5 “ There are periods we forget that in the the pursuit of fruit, that if we just abide in Him, then fruitfulness is a guarantee” Francis Chan   3) Live by the Spirit Mt 7:20 Gal 5:22-25 “All fruitfulness flows from intimacy” Heidi Baker

Rom 12:15 Eph 2:19 NKJV & NLT Gal 4:4-7 1) Family is God's idea 4 Key aspects of God's design for family 1- Marriage as a sacred union 2- Procreation and raising children 3- Learning and spiritual development 4-Foundation for society “Strong families are the building blocks of strong communities, nations, governments, and churches. All these other institutions flourish and prosper when the family unit is strong and healthy” Audrey McCracken 2) The family of God applies everywhere & all the time Ps 67:4-6 3) The family of God mist be anchored on God Psalm 145:1-4 “Legacy is not about what you have achieved - but what you set in motion” Bishop Bronner Rom 8:14-15

 Victory Within: The Pathway to an Overcoming Life   Victorious Christian Living is meant to be the norm for every true believer in Christ.       Revelation 2:7 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God."   Revelation 2:11 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death."   Revelation 2:17 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it."   Revelation 2:26 "And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—"   Revelation 3:5 "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels."   Revelation 3:12 "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name."   Revelation 3:21 "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne."   God actually expects us to overcome. To live victoriously.      #1 It starts with Intimacy.      THIS is eternal life that they might KNOWHim! (John 17:3)   Philippians 3:10 “that I may know Him and the power of His resur- rection, & the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,”    John 15:5  “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.”     If you will get this part of the Christian life right. if you will prioritize this above all, then will be well on your way to victorious Christian living!     Christians who prioritize their relationship w/ Christ through a consistent devotional life tend to live victoriously.   2 Peter 1:2-4 says “Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of Godand of Jesus our Lord.  3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. 4 Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”     As you spend time with Him you will become like Him.     The law, legalism, is contrary to faith.    The Righteous live by faith   I Jn 5:4 - “for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”   And without faith it is impossible to please God!   This is the victory that overcomes the world even our faith.   3 Simple Steps to the Victorious Christian Life -  #1 Intimacy with Christ.  #2 Christlike character #3 Faith in the Word  

Eph 2:8-9 Salvation 1 Jn 1:12-13 Adoption 1Jn 4:16-17 Perfect Love God in me Boldness Phil 1:6 Seven Mountains of Influence: Religion Family Education Government Media Arts & Entertainment Business 1) Our Confidence 2) Our Peace Rom 5:1-5 3) Our Joy “One day in God's presence is equivalent to a thousand days striving by your own efforts” Joseph Prince 4) Our Tenacity James 1:2-4 5) Our Character Phil 2:22 6) Our Hope Ps 42:5 Heb 11:1

Join us in celebrating the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and His triumph over sin and death, once and for all!

Jesus enters Jerusalem as the long awaited Messiah the Saviour King of Israel, but His plan for redeeming Israel looks nothing like what the people have in mind and maybe nothing like what they actually want. He is on His way to the cross to suffer and die for sin, and His plan for redemption transcends all the Kingdoms of this world. Jesus is ushering in the reign of an everlasting Kingdom who's King has triumphed not just over Israel's natural enemys, but over sin and death itself. 

Celebrating 30 Years of Ministry - Founding Pastors Paul and Jan Juss   Pastor Paul, founding Pastor of Victory Church Grande Prairie, delivers a powerful message on identity and the calling of God for you, who are made in His image to be exactly who you are, unlike anyone else. 

First Love - Coming Back To Where You Started With Jesus   

World Changers  - The Way I See It   Rom 12:2   Mt 22:19-21    Image of the worldview circle   Success on earth is best understood as consistent obedience to God - in thoughts, words, and actions   “Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever”    Jn 17:3-6   Gen 1:28 Gen 2:2 Gen 2:15 Gen 3:17-19   Gal 3:13   Eph 2:10   2Thess 3:10   Harold Moody picture    “As one of Christ's followers, I must impact to each man, no matter how degraded he may be at the moment… the fact that he was created in the image of God” Harold Moody    “Money is an excellent gift of God, answering the  noblest ends. In the hands of His children it is food for the hungry, drink for the thirsty, raiment for the naked” John Wesley   

Recession Proof – Faithfulness, Focus, & Financial Freedom   Pr 3:9-10   Mal 3:10-11   Tithing: 1)God opens the windows of Heaven 2)Pours blessing out on us 3)Rebukes the devourer 4)Brings increase   2 Cor 9:5-13     1) Faithfulness   Luke 16:13 Mt 6:21   “The only way you can replace the love of money is with a higher love” Ian Harper   “What a serene and quiet life might you lead if you would leave providing to the god of providence! With a little oil in the cruse, and a handful of meal in the barrel, Elijah outlived the famine, and you will do the same. If God cares for you, why need you care to? Can you trust Him for your soul and not for your body? He has never refused to bear your burdens, He has never fainted under their weight. Come, Then, soul! Have done with fretful care, and leave all thy concerns in the hands of a gracious God”                                                                                                                                    Charles Spurgeon   2)Focus   1 Kings17:8-16   Gal 6:7 Mt 13:7 Gen 8:22 Pr 19:17       3) Financial Freedom   Duet 8:18   2 Cor 9:10-11   -Seed for sowing -Bread for eating -Enough to give

1) Worry    Mt 24:7-8   Jn 14:27   Jn 16:33   Mt 6:31-34   Ps 37:25   Pr 3:9-10    2) Worship    Mt 23:23   Gen 14:18-24   Gen28:22   Gen 4:4   3) Wealth   Deut 8:17-18   Mt 6:21   4) Warfare   Malachi 3:8-12   Luke 16:13   Gen 11:3&4   2Cor 9:7-8

Living Love Pt. 2 (The Way I See It series) 7 Cornerstones of restoring a Biblical worldview: #5 - What is right and good is what is right and good in the eyes of God #6 - We are designed by God and for God #7 - When we live in obedience to God we experience success Rom 14:10-12 Mt 22:36-39 Jn 13:34 1) Sin ( lack of love) separates Gen 4:1-11   2) Sin ( lack of love) plugs the pipe Eph 5:30-33 1 Pet 3:1&7 Mt 5:23-24 “Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than they love the Christian community itself, become destroyers of that Christian community, even though their personal intentions may be ever so honest, earnest, and sacrificial” Dietrich Bonhoeffer Jn14: 34-35 3) Sin ( lack of love) causes hardening of the heart Ezek 36: 26-27 Heb 12:24 “Although my memory is fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Saviour” John Newton

Rom 12:2 Cornerstones of a Biblical worldview: An orthodox, biblical understanding of God. All human beings are sinful by nature; every choice we make has moral considerations and consequences. Knowing Jesus Christ is the only means to salvation, through our confession of sin and reliance on His forgiveness. The entire Bible is true, reliable, and relevant, making it the best moral guide for every person, in all situations. Absolute moral truth exists—and those truths are defined by God, described in the Bible, and are unchanging across time and cultures. The ultimate purpose of human life is to know, love, and serve God with all your heart, mind, strength, and soul. Success on earth is best understood as consistent obedience to God—in thoughts, words, and actions. “Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever” Westminster shorter Catechism 1) From the heart Pr 4:23 Mt 22:36-39 Jn 13:34 2) Loving God means loving others 1 Jn 4:19-21 3) Relationship is our natural state Gen 2:15-25 4) Fallen man fails at love SIN - separates/divides/damages Mt 19:4-8 5  Salvation secured a solution Romans 5:17-21

Origins and Outcomes   Isa 44:6   (Circle image here)   Theism: God is the infinite and absolute creator and ground of everything and everyone: the source and destination of all life, being, knowledge, and action   Rom 12:2   1Pet2:11   Heb 13:14 NLT   “Christ is either Lord of all, or He is not Lord at all” Hudson Taylor   Key elements of any world view: 1) Origin - Where do we cone from? 2) Meaning - Is there meaning or value to life? 3) Morality - Is there such a thing as absolute moral truth? 4) Destiny - Where is this going?   Questions answered by worldview: 1) Origin - Identity. Who am I? 2) Meaning - What is my purpose? 3) Morality - How should I live? 4) Destiny - What happens when I die?   1) Origin Jn 1:1-3   2) Meaning Isa 43:7   Col3:17   “It's not so much about God's wonderful plan for our lives - it's about our lives for God's wonderful plan” Greg Koukl   3) Morality   2 Tim 3:16   Jn 10:10   4) Destiny   2 Cor 5:10   Rom 6:23   Jn 3:16

The Way I See It (Developing a stable, Biblical worldview) Today will be our introduction week - so lots of scripture. Genesis 1 all John 1:1-5 Rev 22:12-14, 17, 20 “Biblical principles require more than casual assent. The Worldview research indicates that an individual must have both an understanding of the principles and a passionate, thoughtful ownership of them in order to build a Biblical worldview” Barna Group “When one creates truth, truth becomes a fabrication and ceases to be truth” Jonathan Cahn “Since worldview is our decision-making filter, a person who has a weak foundation will be characterized by a life that is a constant struggle” Barna Group. 7 Core Worldviews Materialism Pantheism Deism Existentialism Nihilism Postmodernism Theism DRIFT D - disappointment & disillusionment R - relationships I - information F - faith T - time Rom 12:2

Pastor Paul and the team of men who served on the missions trip to Kenya, Africa share about how God did the impossible as they committed to helping the community there and partnering with the heart of God to bless them. They share their personal experiences of how true Jesus' words are when He said, "it is more blessed to give then to receive."

Ps 139:16 Ps 23:1-3 Ps 57:2 Acts 2:14-16,38-47 1) Peter's first encounter with Jesus Jn 1:35-37, 40-42 Purpose and destiny do not start with “What am I supposed to DO?” - They start with “Who do you say I AM?” 2) Peter's second encounter with Jesus Mt 4:18-20 “Peter was not called to be an evangelist before he was called to be a follower….You must first be called yourselves into Christ before you may dare to even so much think about being called into ministry or into the service of Christ. You cannot serve Him until first of all you have learned to sit at His feet. Before you serve God you must have a new heart and a right spirit” Charles Spurgeon 3) Peter's third encounter with Jesus Luke 5:1-11 4) Peter's BIG encounter with Jesus Mt 16:13-19 5) Peter's big learning curve Mt 16:21-23 Luke 22:31-32 Acts 4:13

Prophetic Word 2025: STEWARDING Heaven's Resources | Pastor George Sarkodie Jesus tells a parable to teach us about STEWARDING what GOD put in us and the accountability that comes with what heaven has entrusted to us in this life. In this prophetic message from Pastor George Sarkodie, and exhortation starting into 2025, God is calling us to faithful stewardship of heaven's resources, of faith, hope, love, forgiveness, and even how to be a master of mammon, an not be mastered BY mammon. Jesus instructed us to USE our mammon to "make friends for ourselves," for eternity. When we are faithful or Unfaithful with the things of THIS WORLD which will all be taken away from us at the end of our stewardship, and at the end of our natural lives, we will stand before God and give account either way. God wants to EMPOWER us through this prophetic word for 2025 to grow in our capacity as stewards of heavenly resources, and to multiply the talent that has been entrusted to us to bring glory to the name of God and the name of His Son, Jesus Christ.

2025 - ADVANCE Pr 24:3-4 Isa 54:2-4 Advancement requires/describes MOVEMENT Advancement serves a GREATER PURPOSE Phil 1:12-13 AMP Advancement is WARFARE 2Tim 2:4 Ps 18:1,2,29,30 NIV Advancement is STRATEGIC TIMING 2 Sam 5:24-25 Advancement requires ALL-IN COMMITMENT 1Kings 19:16-18 1Kings 19:19-2

Prepare The Vessel Ps 31:14-16 WE are Vessels 2 Cor 4:5-7 Col 1:27 A Revelation of vessels helps ORDER our lives Rom 9:20-21 Vessels are created uniquely for PURPOSE 2 Tim 2:20 2 Tim2:21 Vessels must be MAINTAINED DIRTY 1 Thess 4:4,5&7 TARNISHED 2 Tim 2:22-23 James 1:27 DRY Eccl 9:8 Ps 23:5