Dominion Fellowship Church - Welcome to Dominion Fellowship Church

Daily Prayer

Pastor Derrick Jackson — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 15:11:00 +0000

DAILY PRAYER

GREETING

Good New Day God! I rejoice that You have blessed me to experience (and not simply see or witness) another day in the Kingdom of God on Earth!

AFFIRMATION OF GOD OUR FATHER AND GOD THE SON

You are MY God.
You are MY Heavenly Father. (Matthew 6:9; John 1:12-14, 20:17)
Your Son, Jesus Christ, is MY Lord, MY Savior, MY Master, and MY King; He is MY High Priest. (Hebrews 4:14)
Your Holy Spirit, He is MY Guide, MY Intercessor, He is YOUR Righteousness in me, He is MY Teacher, He Is MY PARTNER. (Ephesians 5:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:7; John 7:37-39; Romans 8:26; Luke 12:8-12; John 14:16)

Thank you for giving ME your ultimate gift – the sacrifice of your only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who gave His life for mankind to be restored back into relationship with You, God the Father, through God the Son-Jesus Christ. (John 3:16-17; 3:35-36)

Thank you for raising Him from the dead on the third day with all power. (Matthew 28:18; Mark 9:31; Luke 24:1-7)

Thank you that upon salvation I was regenerated (revived/brought back to life), my soul being made alive with the same resurrection power that you raised Jesus from the dead. (John 5:25-27; Romans 8:9-11)

You have all power and all things (including all power) you have given to Your Son. (John 3:35-36)

AFFIRMATION OF THE SANCTITY OF GOD'S NAME

Your name, Jehovah, is worthy to be praised. (1 Chronicles 29:10–13; Psalm 150)

1 Chronicles 29 : 10 – 13
10 Therefore David blessed the LORD before all the assembly; and David said: “Blessed are You, LORD God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. 11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours;Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, And You are exalted as head over all. 12 Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all. 13 “Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name.

You are MY Covenant God, and You have never broken any of Your Promises to me. (2 Peter 3:9)

2 Peter 3 : 9
The Lord is not slack concerning [His] promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Thank You for being the ultimate Promise Keeper. (Deuteronomy 7: 9–10)

The name of Your Son, Jesus, is above every name (Philippians 2:1-11(10-11)); that at the name of Jesus Christ, every knee shall bow, every tongue confess, that He is Lord.

Affirmation of the Authority of God (Dominion of God – KINGDOM)

Thank you for creating me to help further build YOUR Kingdom. (Daniel 7:13-27; Matthew 6:10,13,33; 9:35; 13:1-52; 16:19)

I am a part of Your Kingdom; I am a citizen in YOUR Kingdom; I am YOUR son; You are MY King, and You Rule Over MY Life. (Exodus 19:6; 1 Peter 2:9-10)

1 Peter 2 : 9 - 10
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

You Have the Authority to do with my life whatsoever You choose to do at any given time. (Job 1:6-22; John 1:12-13)

John 1 : 12 - 13
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

You Have the Authority to do whatsoever You choose to do at any given time with anything or anyone on Earth or in Heaven (Daniel 4:33-35); And I submit today to your Rule, Dominion, and Power.

Your kingdom will spread and grow in influence and addition of souls today. (Matthew 6:10)

Your Church will increase in salinity as the “Salt of the Earth”, positively and spiritually influencing the world. (Matthew 5:13)

I affirm Your Will to destroy evil works and evildoers; I also pray for your mercy upon those for whom Christ gave His life a ransom (Psalm 109; Matthew 6:10; John 3:17, Romans 9:18-24 (22))

AFFIRMATION OF THE WILL OF GOD

Your Will, O God, is perfect and true. There is no fault (no imperfection) in Your Will and Your Order. (Romans 8:23-28(27); chap. 9 (all))

Romans 9 : 14 – 18
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! 15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” 16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” 18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.

EXPECTATIONS OF GOD AS MY SHEPHERD

Thank you for providing food, clothing, and shelter for me today.

Your Word tells me in I Timothy 6:8 to be content with food (a sufficient supply of food) and clothing.

Your Word tells me in Psalm 23:1 to affirm you as My Shepherd and have confidence in Your complete care of me.

AFFIRMATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS OF SIN

Thank you for your forgiveness of sin. I personally thank You for choosing to display your great and mighty power towards me through your longsuffering patience (forbearance) and not your wrath. (2 Peter 3:9)

2 Peter 3 : 9
The Lord is not slack concerning [His] promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

I ask for forgiveness of my sins, as Your Word has revealed that You have the power to forgive sin (Matthew 9:5-6). You alone, O God, are able to forgive the offense and penalty of sin. Humans are able to forgive themselves for the offense of THEIR sins committed personally against God, themselves and others and the offense of the sins of others committed against them.

Today I forgive those who sin against me, that I may be forgiven, as Your Word has revealed that I have the responsibility and right to forgive others for trespasses against me (Matthew 6:14-15)
I also forgive those who are my enemies and those people who are the enemies of the church
(Matthew 6:12)

More importantly, today I forgive myself for any sin against You, Your Word, others, and myself. It would be ridiculous to receive Your Forgiveness and not forgive myself. (Matthew 6:14-15)

AFFIRMATION OF GOD'S AUTHORITY OVER EVIL

Today I affirm the truth that You, Jehovah, are holy.
– You are infinitely above and separate from evil and sin. (Leviticus 19:2)
– You are the source of holiness. (Leviticus 19:2)

Your holiness complements your authority over evil.

Leviticus 19 : 2
"Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: 'You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God [am] holy."

You possess and You are the Supreme Authority over evil.
– You are the Supreme Judge of evil and sin. (Genesis 3:14-24; Psalm 109)
– You are infinitely above evil and sin. (Leviticus 19:2)
– All mankind, demons, satan, and death will be judged by You. (Revelation 20:11-14)
– All mankind and demonic spirits, satan, and death are subject to You. (Isaiah 14:12-14; Matthew 4:1-11, 8:29, 28:18-20; Romans 9:20-24; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; Philippians 2:10-11)

AFFIRMATION OF GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY

The Kingdom of Heaven belongs to YOU.

The Kingdom of Earth belongs to YOU.

ALL POWER belongs to YOU  (Revelation 4:11)
ALL GLORY belongs to YOU  (Revelation 4:11)
ALL HONOR belongs to YOU  (Revelation 4:11)
FOREVER.

DECLARATIONS

I profess your power in every area of my life and I profess my commitment to growth in these areas:

1) I will handle my afflictions in a godly way, knowing that Good Shepherd afflicts with purpose. (Job 5:17; 2 Corinthians 4:17; Hebrews 12:11)

2 Corinthians 4 : 17
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding [and] eternal weight of glory,

2) I will maturely manage moments and conquer my emotions. (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 6:45; Romans 8:12–17; Ephesians 4:26–31; James 1:19–27)

James 1 : 19 - 27
19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

3) I will consistently follow through with decisions and complete God-given objectives. (Genesis 41:45-57; Proverbs 16:9, 19:21, 24:30-34; Matthew 25:1-30, 26:39-44; Luke 14:25-33; 2 Timothy 4:7-8; James 1:2-8)

Proverbs 19 : 20 – 21
20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days. 21 There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—that will stand. (NKJV)

Proverbs 24 : 30 – 34
30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; 31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, [and] nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. 32 Then I saw, [and] considered [it] well: I looked upon [it, and] received instruction. 33 [Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 34 So shall thy poverty come [as] one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man. (KJV)

PRAYER

More than my doing, Your Word emphasizes my being. TODAY:

I am a TRUE BELIEVER in You, O God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 3:6,15,16; 4:5; 6:3; Luke 20:37)

I am holy (I Peter 1:1-25 (1:16); Leviticus 20:7)

I am righteous (Romans 1:16-32 (17); Revelation 22:11)

I am transformed (Romans 12:1-2)

I am Your son (Romans 8:13-19; **Galatians 4:1-8)

I am loving (Matthew 5:43, 22:37-40; Mark 12:31; Romans 13:10; Ephesians 5:25-33; James 2:8)

I am loyal (I Kings 19:18)

I am happily married (Proverbs 5:18-19; Ecclesiastes 9:9; Ephesians 5:22-28)

I am a wellspring of Your Love, O God (John 7:38-39)

John 7:38-39
38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing [fn7] in Him would receive; for the Holy [fn8] Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

I am Your yielded instrument/vessel--created to worship and praise YOU (James 4:7, 8)

I die daily (Luke 9:23-26; Galatians 2:20, 5:22-25)

Luke 9:23-26
23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.

I believe (Your Word & Works), therefore I speak Life, I speak Truth, which is Your Word, I speak Faith, I speak Affirmation of Your Word & Will, I speak Forgiveness, I speak Mercy, I speak Trust in You, O God. (Psalm 116:10; 2 Corinthians 4:13–14)

I am confident in You, O God, and in whom You are making me
I am confident in Your Word, O God, and in whom You are making me
(Confident in Your Word, which is the foundation of my life (I Corinthians 3:11; Romans 4:20–21))

I am an EXCELLENT Steward of all you have entrusted to me, O God (Matthew 25:20–21)

I am bold in Your Spirit, O God (Acts 2:14)

I am obedient (Joshua 11:15; 2 Kings 18:6; Acts 26:19)

I am merciful (Proverbs 11:17; Matthew 5:7; Luke 6:36)

I am forgiving (Matthew 6:14–15, 18:21-35)

I am non-judgmental (Matthew 7:1; Luke 6:37)

I am slow to wrath (anger), slow to speak (Proverbs 14:29, 16:32; James 1:19; Psalm 37:8; Proverbs 16:32) – PEACEFUL & WISE

I am fruitful in the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25)

Galatians 5:22-25
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness (kindness), goodness, faith (faithfulness), 23 meekness, temperance (self-control): Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

I am prosperous and in good health (3 John 1:2)(Deuteronomy 29:9; Nehemiah 2:20; Psalm 1:3)

I am spiritually SOBER (1 Peter 5:8-9)

I am a producer, and not just a consumer – industrious (Matthew 25:14-30; John 4:36)

I am a profitable servant leader and business owner – connecting with many people and earning significant profits in all endeavors (Matthew 25:20–21)

I am joyous, peaceful, (Galatians 5:22)

I am wealthy, wise, and prudent (Proverbs 3:5–10; Luke 21:15)

I am a godly decision-maker (Proverbs 3:5–10; Luke 21:15)

I am happy (Matthew 5:12; John 13:16–17)

I am content (Philippians 4:11–13; 1 Timothy 6:6–8; Hebrews 13:5–6)

I am discerning (1 Chronicles 12:32; Matthew 16:2, 3)

I am Your representative/agent in my home, in the marketplace, in the community, and in the church PUBLICLY & PRIVATELY (Genesis 39 – 41; Psalm 1:1–3, 91 (all), 127:5; Isaiah 6:1–8; Matthew 5:13–16, 6 (all))

I am a Statesman (Job 42:10-17; Psalm 78:5-7, 101:1-8(all); Daniel 1:17-20; Ephesians 5:15-21)

I am the leader of my home and a leader within the local church and Kingdom. (Ephesians 5:22–28, 6:4; 1 Timothy 3:1–7)

There are some things that God will do and there are some things we must do.

WORK - God's Expectations

Pastor Derrick Jackson — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 22:56:00 +0000

"WORK – God's Expectations "
Text: Matthew 25 : 14 – 30 NKJV

Matthew 25 : 14 – 30 NKJV | The Parable of the Talents
(see Luke 19:11–27 )
14 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

As a believer, You are in the construction business.

God has made you a partner in his Construction Firm.

As a partner, YOU ARE THE WORK and YOU ARE A WORKER.

Ephesians 2 : 10
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

The heart of God’s Work (His Workmanship) is HIS LOVE.

His LOVE is Unconditional – but God still has expectations of His Workmanship, US.

God Expects You to Work As A Servant          (v. 14)
Matthew 25 : 1 – 3 NKJV
14 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.

A Servant Works at the Command of His/Her King – They work TO SERVE at the pleasure of the King.

God Expects You to be a Competent Worker          (v. 14b – 15)
Matthew 25 : 14 – 15 NKJV
14 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.

We Receive His Treasure (The Gospel).

We Go into the Marketplace and Community and Be Fruitful with the Treasure He has Given Us.

God Expects You to Work By Faith          (v. 15 – 18)
Matthew 25 : 15 – 18 NKJV
15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money.

We Receive His Treasure (The Gospel).
God Expects Us to Go and Be Fruitful with the Treasure He has Given Us.

The Reward is Coming – The Master will return – and I will get my just reward.

God Expects You to be a Productive Worker          (v. 19)
Matthew 25 : 1 – 3 NKJV
14 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

The Master will return – and He is expecting a RETURN ON HIS INVESTMENT.

God has given much to those who believe in Him. Therefore, God expects much.

God Expects Our Work to be WORTH REWARDING          (v. 20 – 23)
Matthew 25 : 20 – 23 NKJV
20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

The Bible says all of our work on earth will be tried in the FIRE to see what sort it is.

1st Corinthians chapter 3, verses 12 thru 15
12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

God Expects Us to be MANAGERS          (v. 20 – 23)
Matthew 25 : 20 – 23 NKJV
20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

Our Perception of and Outlook on Ministry is that of a MANAGER.

It is impossible to MANAGE anything or anyone without doing some WORK.

Our Spiritual Identity is that of a son/daughter AND priest.

1 Peter chapter 2, verses 9 & 10
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

God Expects Us to be WORKING UNTIL He Returns          (v. 24 – 28)
Matthew 25 : 24 – 28 NKJV
24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

Our work in the spiritual marketplace indicates what we think about God.
- No work shows that we do not care what God says.
- No work shows that we have an unscriptural view of God's requirement of us to be productive disciples.
- No work shows that all we did with God's message of love was hid it in our minds. (it was buried in the dirt).

The Lord of the servant called him "WICKED" and "LAZY"
- The UNPROFITABLE servant is WICKED because of what he believes about his lord and because of what he FAILS TO OBEY.
- The UNPROFITABLE servant is LAZY because of what he believes about TIME and because of what he FAILS TO DO.

The Reward is Coming – The Master will return – and we will get OUR just reward.

God Expects Us to FOCUS ON OUR OWN REWARD         (v. 29 - 30)
Matthew 25 : 29 – 30 NKJV
29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

The Profitable Servants receive their reward, AND the treasure of the Unprofitable servants.

God's Expectations can be fulfilled in US, because WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP.

2 Corinthians 5 : 16 – 17 NKJV
Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

When God went to work, we became NEW – In our SPIRIT, In Our SOUL, and In Our BODY.

When God went to work, He put His treasure IN us, and put us to work in His vineyard.

2 Corinthians 4 : 6 – 7 NKJV
6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

WORSHIP - God Is Worth It All

Pastor Derrick Jackson — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 19:56:00 +0000

Worship - God Is Worth It All
Bible Text: Judges 6 : 11 – 24 (20 - 21) NKJV

Judges 6:20-21 NKJV
20 The Angel of God said to him, "Take the meat and the unleavened bread and lay [them] on this rock, and pour out the broth." And he did so.
21 Then the Angel of the LORD put out the end of the staff that [was] in His hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened bread; and fire rose out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. And the Angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.

God has CREATED US TO WORSHIP.

God has CALLED US TO WORSHIP HIM in every circumstance.

Judges 6:1-6 NKJV
1 Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD. So the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years, 2 and the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of the Midianites, the children of Israel made for themselves the dens, the caves, and the strongholds which are in the mountains. 3 So it was, whenever Israel had sown, Midianites would come up; also Amalekites and the people of the East would come up against them. 4 Then they would encamp against them and destroy the produce of the earth as far as Gaza, and leave no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep nor ox nor donkey. 5 For they would come up with their livestock and their tents, coming in as numerous as locusts; both they and their camels were without number; and they would enter the land to destroy it. 6 So Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites, and the children of Israel cried out to the LORD.

WORSHIP Requires A RECOGNITION OF GOD AT WORK. (Judges 6 : 17 – 22)

Judges 6:17-22 NKJV
17 Then he said to Him, “If now I have found favor in Your sight, then show me a sign that it is You who talk with me. 18 Do not depart from here, I pray, until I come to You and bring out my offering and set it before You.”
And He said, “I will wait until you come back.”
19 So Gideon went in and prepared a young goat, and unleavened bread from an ephah of flour. The meat he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot; and he brought them out to Him under the terebinth tree and presented them. 20 The Angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And he did so.
21 Then the Angel of the LORD put out the end of the staff that was in His hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened bread; and fire rose out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. And the Angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.
22 Now Gideon perceived that He was the Angel of the LORD. So Gideon said, “Alas, O Lord GOD! For I have seen the Angel of the LORD face to face.” (emphasis added v. 22)

WORSHIP Requires A RELEASE (of Something Valuable to You) TO GOD. (Judges 6 : 20 – 21)

There Was a LACK of Food.
There was a LACK of Offerings.

Yet Gideon RELEASES that which he has risked His life to possess.
Gideon RELEASES TO GOD that which will increase his possessions and sustain Him.

Judges 6:18-21 NKJV
18 Do not depart from here, I pray, until I come to You and bring out my offering and set it before You.” And He said, “I will wait until you come back.”
19 So Gideon went in and prepared a young goat, and unleavened bread from an ephah of flour. The meat he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot; and he brought them out to Him under the terebinth tree and presented them.
20 The Angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And he did so.
21 Then the Angel of the LORD put out the end of the staff that was in His hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened bread; and fire rose out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. And the Angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.

WORSHIP Requires AN ALTAR. (Judges 6 : 21)

Judges 6:21 NKJV
21 Then the Angel of the LORD put out the end of the staff that was in His hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened bread; and fire rose out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. And the Angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.

In Old Testament times, the animal or offering that was placed on an altar in worship of the True God was CONSUMED BY FIRE. God is calling us to place ourselves on His holy altar and allow His Holy Spirit to consume us - becoming pleasing to Him.

Romans 12:1-2 NKJV
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual [fn1] act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Give God what you know He is DUE and WORTHY OF!
Give Him you.

Your Life.
Your Will.
Your Heart.
Your Time.

We Are Not Alone

Pastor Derrick Jackson — Tue, 22 May 2012 01:12:41 +0000

Disciples of Jesus Christ are never alone.
We are not alone - our Heavenly Father gave the gift of His Holy Spirit to live within us as our Comforter. God loves us so much that He does not allow those who trust in Him to live this earthly life without His Divine Presence and empowerment.

John 14 : 15 - 31 NKJV

Jesus Promises Another Helper
15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

Indwelling of the Father and the Son
19 “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”
23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.

The Gift of His Peace
25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.
29 “And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.

Acts 1 : 4 - 14

The Holy Spirit Promised
4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Jesus Ascends to Heaven
(Mark 16:19, 20; Luke 24:50–53 )
9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

The Upper Room Prayer Meeting
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. 13 And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

The Promise of the Holy Spirit was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost.

Acts 2 : 1 - 4

Coming of the Holy Spirit
1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord [fn1] in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

We are not alone.

PNEUMATOLOGY | The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead.

The Holy Spirit is distinguished in name, form, and person from all other spirits.

- God is Spirit (John 4 : 24)
- Humans are spirit beings
- Angels are spirit beings
- Demons are spirit beings

HOWEVER, humans, demons, and angels are not THE Holy Spirit.

Jesus introduces God the Holy Spirit to His Disciples.

Jesus is so loving and meticulous in His care for you and me. He loving prepares His Disciples for the unimaginable loss of His presence by crucifixion and the miraculous re-emergence of His Presence through God the Father resurrecting Him and the Advent or Promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit. (John 14 : 26)

o 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

Jesus calls the Holy Spirit “the Helper”

- In the New King James Version of the Bible (NKJV), He is "Helper"
- In the King James Version of the Bible (KJV), He is Comforter (Gr. paraklētos (pä-rä'-klā-tos) G3875; Helper/Aider/Protector)

o in the widest sense, a helper, succourer, aider, assistant

 of the Holy Spirit destined to take the place of Christ with the apostles (after his ascension to the Father),

• to lead them to a deeper knowledge of the gospel truth, and
• to give them divine strength needed to enable them to undergo trials and persecutions on behalf of the divine kingdom

- HOLY SPIRIT

o Holy (Gr. hagios (hä'-gē-os) G40; Most Holy)
o Spirit (Gr. pneuma (pnyü'-mä) G4151; Third Person of the Godhead/Trinity; coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son)

The Holy Spirit is not just a New Testament Revelation.

The Spirit of God, God the Holy Spirit, existed before Creation.

The Hebrew writers, inspired by God, used the Word “ruach” (Hb. Ruwach (rü'•akh (note “short a”) H7307; breath, wind, spirit) when referring to the Holy Spirit.

In the Old Testament (Hebrew Tanakh (təˈnax)), the Holy Spirit is known as:

- The Spirit of God

o Genesis 1 : 2 Spirit (Ruach) of God (Elohim) << The Godhead at the beginning of Creation >>
o Genesis 6 : 3 My (Jehovah) Spirit (Ruach) << God’s decision to destroy humanity >>
o Genesis 41 : 38 Spirit (Ruach) of God (Elohim) << Pharaoh said God’s Spirit was in Joseph >>

- The Breath of Life (Hb. Nĕshamah (nesh•ä•mä') H5397; Breath of God)

o Genesis 2 : 7
 “And the LORD 3068 God 430 formed 3335 man 120 [of] the dust 6083 of 4480 the ground 127, and breathed 5301 into his nostrils 639 the breath5397 of life 2416; and man 120 became a living 2416 soul 5315.”

Job 33 : 4
 “The Spirit 7307 of God 410 hath made 6213 me, and the breath5397 of the Almighty 7706 hath given me life 2421 .”

o Psalm 33 : 6
 Ruwach (rü'•akh (note “short a”) H7307; breath, wind, spirit
 “By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.” (NKJV)
 “The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.” (NLT)

The Holy Spirit :

 He is – The Spirit of God
 He is – The Breath of Life
 He is – The Helper
 He is – The Comforter
 He is – God the Holy Spirit

He is not simply a “force”, impersonal and unfeeling.
He has a mind, a will, and emotions.

The Holy Spirit can be grieved (emotions).

- And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4 : 30)

The Holy Spirit decides (mind) who will receive spiritual gifting (will).

- The question is not can the Holy Spirit give someone a miraculous gift. Scripture affirms this truth. Even in the 21st century, we acknowledge that the Holy Spirit is free to dispense gifts according to His will (1 Corinthians 12 : 7 - 11).

That’s who and what the Holy Spirit is, He is God the Holy Spirit.

God the Holy Spirit, according to the words of God the Son (Jesus Christ), is:

- the One who teaches us ALL things

- the One who reminds of the Word of God everything that Jesus has spoken to us

John 14 : 26
o 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

A. When / How do we receive the Holy Spirit?

1. The receiving / indwelling of the Spirit occurs at the moment of salvation.

What is the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
The baptism of the Holy Spirit may be defined as that work whereby the Spirit of God places the believer into union with Christ and into union with other believers in the Body of Christ at the moment of salvation.

2. The filling of the Spirit is an ongoing process in the Christian life.

How can I be filled with the Spirit?
The permanent indwelling of the Spirit is not for a select few believers, but rather for all believers. This is in contrast to the commanded filling of the Spirit found in Ephesians 5 : 18.

Ephesians 5 : 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, (NKJV)

B. Why should I receive the Holy Spirit?

1. You Need Him

a. Jesus said He will teach us ALL things (what we need to know to live)
b. Jesus said He will remind us of His Word (what we need to have/possess to live)
c. Jesus said He will AID us (divinely) in life (as Helper/Comforter)

- Including the granting of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12 : 7 - 11)

2. He Wants to Connect With You – FOREVER

a. His Presence in our Hearts is a part of our Eternal Salvation (John 3 : 3)
b. He Regenerates Us; He Causes Us Upon Salvation to be BORN AGAIN (Breath of Life)

Many Christians have an unbiblical perception of the Holy Spirit.
Some understand the Holy Spirit as a power or force given to us from God – This is not Biblical.

Remember, Pneumatology teaches us that the Holy Spirit is a Person:

- with a mind,
- with emotions, and
- with a will.

The Holy Spirit is Jesus' "replacement" on earth (John 14:16-26; 15:26; 16:7).

The Holy Spirit is received at salvation (Romans 8:9) and is the permanent possession of every believer in Christ (Ephesians 1:13-14).

Pneumatology helps us to understand these issues and recognize the Biblical roles of the Holy Spirit in our lives today. Pneumatology is of immense benefit to the Christian.

- In the pages of Scripture, we come face to face with the third Person of the trinity, God himself in spirit, and we see His very personal and intimate ministry to us.

- Through Him, we come to know God’s love for us “because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5).

- To understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to find joy in His role as our Comforter (John 16:7; Acts 9:31) who not only helps and comforts us, but who comes to our rescue when our hearts are so burdened we cannot even pray for relief (Romans 8:26).

- When we pursue the knowledge of the Holy Spirit we find, to our great delight, that He not only lives within us, but He does so forever, never to leave or forsake us (John 14:16). All these truths are burned into our hearts when we study and embrace Pneumatology.

THE WORD . . . God Cannot Be Separated From His Word

Pastor Derrick Jackson — Sun, 06 May 2012 01:13:00 +0000

THE WORD – God Cannot Be Separated from His Word

2 Timothy 3 : 10 – 17 NKJV
10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The Bible is the Word of God.

There is an increasing move afoot to separate God from the Holy Bible.

In this move, a move involving unbelievers and some who profess to be Christians,

- They say that The Bible IS NOT the Word of God
- They say that The Bible CAN NOT BE the Word of God
- They say that The Bible, as a whole, promotes HATE, MURDER, CLASSISM, SEXISM, WAR, BIGOTRY

- They say that God, IF He is who they believe God to be as they understand the Scriptures, CAN NOT be connected to many of the ideas and doctrines found in the Bible.

- They say that God is LOVE, and love does not tell a people to go to war with another people.
- They say that God is TRANSCENDENT ONLY, and is completely uninvolved in the affairs of you and I.
- They say that God created all people, and would never require a person to change because of their gender preference or lifestyle, because after all, God made me that way.

THE BIBLE SAYS IT’S WORDS ARE FROM GOD (v. 16)

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,

The Word is God-Breathed (ruach = Holy Spirit)
God says I Cannot Be Separated from My Word because it came from me.
Scripture:       graphē pronounced " grä-fā' "     =          A Writing, Thing Written Down
Scripture:       The "All Scripture" referred to verse 16 AT THE TIME the Apostle Paulspoke was what we call the Old Testament

The WORD OF GOD is BREATHED by God and also BENEFICIAL.

THE BIBLE IS BENEFICIAL

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

Profitable (dōphelimos pronounced “ō-fe'-lē-mos” = PROFITABLE (NKJV))

We BENEFIT through FAITH in the Word of God and its consistent application to our daily living.

ALL that is spiritually beneficial to us HAS TO COME FROM GOD

God does not list anything of material benefit in this list.

Profitable (dōphelimos pronounced “ō-fe'-lē-mos” = PROFITABLE (NKJV))
For (pros pronounced “pro's”   =   communicates the idea that this fits with that)
Doctrine      fits with Profitable =   Teaching & instruction of the elders of the Faith
Reproof       fits with Profitable =   Conviction of One’s Sinfulness
Correction   fits with Profitable =   Correction, improvement of life or character
Instruction fits with Profitable =   Instruction which aims at increasing virtue in thinking,
in Righteousness                                feeling, and acting - by correcting mistakes and curbing passions as you walk with God.

The Bible is Beneficial AND It's Benefits Come from the God who is Sovereign, able to BE Judge and Savior of Our Souls. When we maximize the profitability of our connection with God's Word, we can become whole.

THE BIBLE ENABLES US TO BECOME WHOLE in GOD

17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

- COMPLETE  (dōphelimos pronounced “ō-fe'-lē-mos” = PROFITABLE (NKJV))
- Complete = Lacking Nothing
- Complete = Fully Equipped
- I can become COMPLETE through Faith in Jesus Christ

2 Timothy 3 : 10 – 15  NKJV
10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD.

It is LIKELY that someone who does not KNOW GOD would be capable in their mind and heart of separating God from His Word.

If You know Him, you know that the Bible is His Word TO US (humanity).

THE WORD . . . Impacts!

Pastor Derrick Jackson — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 00:49:00 +0000

THE WORD – The Word IMPACTS!
Genesis 1 : 1 – 13 KJV

Unlike humanity, THE WORD CREATES SOMETHING FROM NOTHING. And When the WORD GOES FORTH, it makes AN IMPACT!

There’s at least three (3) ways that THE WORD makes an impact:

1) THE WORD CONVERTS Chaos into Order (v. 2)
Genesis 1:2
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness [was] upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

2) THE WORD CREATES (v. 3 – 9)
Genesis 1:3
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Genesis 1:4
And God saw the light, that [it was] good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
Genesis 1:5
And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
Genesis 1:6
And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
Genesis 1:7
And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which [were] under the firmament from the waters which [were] above the firmament: and it was so.
Genesis 1:8
And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.
Genesis 1:9
And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry [land] appear: and it was so.

3) THE WORD SATISFIES (v. 10 – 13)
Genesis 1:10
And God called the dry [land] Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that [it was] good.
Genesis 1:11
And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, [and] the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed [is] in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
Genesis 1:12
And the earth brought forth grass, [and] herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed [was] in itself, after his kind: and God saw that [it was] good.
Genesis 1:13
And the evening and the morning were the third day.

THE WORD IMPACTS!

PSALM 139
God’s Perfect Knowledge of Man
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
2 You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.
3 You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
5 You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it.

7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall [fn1] on me,” Even the night shall be light about me;
12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; [fn2]
Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.

- Darkness is symbolic of evil.

- When the WORD GOES FORTH, it deals with the darkness!

4) THE WORD REVEALS That Which the Darkness Covers (v. 2)
Genesis 1:2
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness [was] upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

- Darkness (H2822 choshek (khō·shek') - "darkness")
- THE WORD EXPOSES that which already exists - it REVEALS it.
          - The Scripture says in verse 2: "And the earth was without form,
          and void; and darkness [was] upon the face of the deep.
          And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."

- Without Form (H8414 tohuw (tō'·hü) - "no form, no life, AN EMPTY PLACE")
                - Job 26 : 7
                         - He stretcheth out the north over the empty place,
                   [and] hangeth the earth upon nothing.
                - Jeremiah 4 : 23
                        - I beheld 7200 the earth 776, and, lo, [it was] without form 8414,
                   and void922; and the heavens 8064, and they [had] no light 216.

- And Void (H922 bohuw (bō'·hü) - "emptiness, NO ABUNDANCE")

- Let the WORD come in and expose that which already exists in your life, in your environment.
                - Let the Word expose your empty places
                - Jeremiah 4 : 23
                        - I beheld 7200 the earth 776, and, lo, [it was] without form 8414,
                   and void922; and the heavens 8064, and they [had] no light 216.
                   WHY? Because wherever the WORD SHOWS, the SPIRIT GOES.

- Face (H6440 paniym (pä·nēm') - "the face / presence")
                - Genesis 1 : 2
                   - And the earth 776 was 1961 without form 8414, and void 922;
                   and darkness 2822 [was] upon the face6440 of the deep 8415.
                   And the Spirit 7307 of God 430 moved 7363 upon 5921 the face6440
                   of the waters 4325.

- Deep (H8415 tĕhowm (teh·hōm') - "the DEEP")
                - Genesis 1 : 2
                   - And the earth 776 was 1961 without form 8414, and void 922;
                   and darkness 2822 [was] upon the face6440 of the deep 8415.
                   And the Spirit 7307 of God 430 moved 7363 upon 5921 the face6440
                   of the waters 4325.

- The WORD reveals that which the DARKNESS Covers.

- The WORD makes an IMPACT on our Knowledge of that which the DARKNESS Covers.

- The WORD makes an IMPACT on the DARKNESS itself.

5) THE WORD CONTROLS the Darkness (v. 3 - 5)
Genesis 1:3
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Genesis 1:4
And God saw the light, that [it was] good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
Genesis 1:5
And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

- Darkness could not remain where LIGHT appeared.

- Darkness had to be separated from the LIGHT in order to continue to exist. (read v. 4)

THE WORD IMPACTS!

THE WORD CONVERTS Chaos into Order.

THE WORD CREATES.

THE WORD SATISFIES.

THE WORD REVEALS That Which the Darkness Covers.

THE WORD CONTROLS the Darkness.

But we must LET THE WORD OF GOD IN - Read It, Revere It, and Run With It – FOR LIFE.

The Story of Palm Sunday

Pastor Derrick Jackson — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 22:13:00 +0000

The Triumphal Entry
Jesus Rides into Jerusalem

story found in the Holy Bible in Matthew 21 : 1 - 11 (Mark 11:1–10; Luke 19:28–40; John 12:12–19 )

Matthew 21 : 1 - 11 NKJV
1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. 3 And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”
4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:

5 “Tell the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your King is coming to you,
Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”

6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. 8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:

“Hosanna to the Son of David!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’
Hosanna in the highest!”

10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?”
11 So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

For every Christian community, Palm Sunday commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem - marking the commencement or the beginning of His faithful weeklong journey to the cross. Palm Sunday on the Christian calendar coincides with the week leading to the Passover celebration on the Jewish calendar. These days remind Christians of our connection with the Jewish faith and how both faith traditions look for God’s in-breaking in human affairs by the Messiah. Palm Sunday demonstrates how no amount of oppression can dash the hopes of a people who believe that their King will come.

The ministry of Jesus Christ and His Supernatural Power challenged and upset the powerful of His day. Jesus’ prophetic parade into Jerusalem was a celebratory critique of the status quo of the empire and the corruption of the sacred. At the time of Jesus' triumphal entry, the great political power of the day was the Roman Empire. The religious elite in Israel oversaw the Jewish system of worship. Jesus entered into Jerusalem triumphantly, yet humbly, to show the powers that be that He was AND IS the True King.

Pasted above, the Gospel writer Matthew tells us in Matthew Chapter 21 that as Jesus entered into Jerusalem, the people paved the streets with their clothing and cried out, “Hosanna” or “Save Now.” Jesus riding a donkey, symbolic of peace, and having his way paved with palm branches is a fulfillment of the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9. On Palm Sunday, millions of Christians from every corner of the globe enact this biblical moment in salvation history by distributing and waving palm branches in the air. Many preachers are found on this day encouraging the people to exclaim, “Ride on King Jesus, no man can a-hinder me.”

This is the Story of Palm Sunday.

God's Festivals & Today's Church

Pastor Derrick Jackson — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 01:27:00 +0000

SOURCE: God's Holy Day Plan. "Are God's Holy Days Relevant Today?" United Church of God. 22 May 2010. < http://www.ucg.org/booklets/HD/relevanttoday.asp >

Are God's Holy Days Relevant Today?

When God begins something in this present age of mankind, He nearly always starts small. In Matthew 13:33 Jesus Christ compared God's Kingdom to both a mustard seed and leaven. Both analogies start with something small that expands into something much larger. Similarly, God called only a relatively few people in Old Testament times who were willing to follow His ways.

The biblical record shows that, early in the account spoken of in the Bible, only a few people decided to obey God. However, early patriarchs including Abel, Enoch and Noah did respond to the revelation of God's plan of salvation (Matthew 23:35). After the great flood of Noah's time, God found He could work with Abraham and his wife, Sarah. Of God's obedient people of those times, Hebrews 11:13 says they "all died in faith" with the sure knowledge that they would gain eternal life (verse 40).

We should note that the plan for providing eternal life was already at work in the lives of these early people of God. The plan did not start with a covenant God made with ancient Israel; nor did it start with Jesus' earthly ministry.

God loved the world so much "that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). God's love in giving His Son continued His plan of salvation from the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:34; Revelation 13:8). The blueprint of the Holy Days would reveal in due time the plan God had designed from the very beginning. These festival observances were not just a cosmic afterthought.
With Abraham's family we see God beginning to reveal the good news about His plan of salvation (Galatians 3:8). Genesis 26:3-4 identifies specific blessings God promised to Abraham and Abraham's descendants. The Creator pledged to bestow them "because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws" (verse 5). Perhaps this is why the Bible calls Abraham "the friend of God" and "the father of all those who believe" (James 2:23; Romans 4:11; Genesis 18:17-19).

A nation singled out

Abraham's descendants grew into a mighty nation (Genesis 18:18). They were named after Jacob, the grandson of Abraham whose name was changed to Israel (Genesis 32:28). After settling in Egypt, before long they became slaves (Exodus 1). The story of God's deliverance from their bondage and His delivering of people today is part of the intricately woven fabric of God's festivals.

In due time the Creator set in motion a series of events that illustrated for the Israelites His plan as depicted in the Holy Day observances and led to their freedom from slavery in Egypt. When Moses and Aaron appeared before Pharaoh, they told the Egyptian ruler that the God of Israel commanded him to "let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness" (Exodus 5:1).
Moses and Aaron had earlier called for the elders of Israel to assemble and had explained to them God's plan to deliver them (Exodus 3:16-18). Then Moses and his brother, Aaron, performed a series of God-directed miracles in sight of the people (Exodus 4:29-30). As a result, the Israelites (although they later faltered) believed God would deliver them and fulfill His covenant with Abraham, as He had promised (Exodus 4:31; 6:4-8).

What followed was ancient Israel's first Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread. Much later the New Testament Church kept these same days as a reminder of Christians' deliverance through Jesus Christ. For instance, Paul told members of the Church at Corinth-both Jews and gentiles-that they should be "unleavened," or without sin, because "Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us" (1 Corinthians 5:7). In the next verse Paul said, "Therefore let us keep the feast," referring to the same festival God had instituted in ancient Israel many centuries before.

The Holy Days in the New Testament

From Jesus' earliest childhood years, He observed the Holy Days with His parents. "His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover," Luke 2:41 tells us. The following verses describe Jesus, at age 12, engaging the theologians of His day in a spirited discussion during this festival season (verses 42-48). Clearly, He astonished these religious leaders with His understanding and insight. John writes of Jesus continuing to observe the annual Holy Days as an adult during His ministry (John 2:23; 4:45).

In one of the most instructive examples, Jesus risked His personal safety to attend two of the festivals, the annual Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day (John 7:1-2, 7-10, 14). "On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.' But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, [which] those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified" (John 7:37-39).

Many churches believe that the apostle Paul fundamentally changed the way Christians are to worship. This notion assumes Paul taught gentiles that observance of the Holy Days was unnecessary. Although some of his writings were difficult to understand, even by his contemporaries (2 Peter 3:15-16), Paul's explicit statements and actions contradict any notion that he annulled or abolished Holy Day observance.

In 1 Corinthians 11:1-2, for example, Paul told his followers to "imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ," and "keep the traditions as I delivered them to you." A few verses later he explained: "For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me'" (verses 23-24).

If Paul's practice had not been to observe the Holy Days, his comments to the Jews and gentiles in Corinth would have been meaningless. Clearly, evidence is lacking that Paul ever discouraged anyone from keeping the annual festivals; such a notion would have been for him unthinkable (Acts 24:12-14; 25:7-8; 28:17).

On the contrary, the biblical record of Paul's ministry repeatedly depicts the Holy Days as important observances, milestones in his life. For example, he told the Ephesians that "I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem" (Acts 18:21). In Acts 20:16 and 1 Corinthians 16:8 we find Paul arranging his travel schedule to accommodate the Feast of Pentecost. In Acts 27:9 Luke, Paul's companion in his travels, referred to the time of year as after "the Fast," a reference to the Day of Atonement.

The Expositor's Bible Commentary, in a reference to Acts 20:6, notes that Paul, unable to arrive at Jerusalem for the Passover, "remained at Philippi to celebrate it and the week-long Feast of Unleavened Bread ..." (Richard N. Longenecker, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 1981, Vol. 9, p. 507). Regarding Acts 20:16, the same commentary notes that Paul "wanted, if at all possible, to get to Jerusalem for Pentecost on the fiftieth day after Passover ..." (p. 510).

Paul's ministry included observing the Holy Days with the Church. In defending the gospel he preached, Paul said he brought the same message the other apostles taught: "Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed" (1 Corinthians 15:11).

Paul and all the apostles taught a consistent message of the Christian's obligation to follow the example of Jesus Christ in all matters. The apostle John, who wrote near the close of the first century, summed up this message: "He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked" (1 John 2:6).

Jewish believers continued to uphold the Holy Days, as did gentile Christians (see "Colossians 2:16 Shows Gentile Christians Kept the Holy Days" ). From all these references we can conclude only that the practice of the early Church was to continue the observance of these God-given festivals, the first of which is the Passover.

WISDOM - Makes You Extraordinary

Pastor Derrick Jackson — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 23:44:00 +0000

Wisdom – Makes You Extraordinary

Luke 2 : 21, 25 – 32, 36 – 40, 41 – 52 (52) NKJV

Christ Born of Mary

The Birth and Childhood of Jesus
(Matt. 1:18–25 )
1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Glory in the Highest
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Circumcision of Jesus
21 And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

Jesus Presented in the Temple
22 Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD” ), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

Simeon Sees God’s Salvation
25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:

29 “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation
31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”

33 And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against 35 (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Anna Bears Witness to the Redeemer
36 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; 37 and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

The Family Returns to Nazareth
39 So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

The Boy Jesus Amazes the Scholars
41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 43 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; 44 but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. 46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”
49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” 50 But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.

Jesus Advances in Wisdom and Favor
51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Wisdom is not synonymous with age.

Wisdom is synonymous with possessing the Living Spirit of God on the inside.

Wisdom is synonymous with possessing the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Throughout this chapter, we see Jesus Christ as a baby then as One who has begun adolescence.

We see Jesus in verses 41 through 52 as the Boy who is now age 12, yet He is allowed to join the men in the temple.

One authority on Jewish culture (http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?menu=c10400&no=269777&rel_no=1) stated that boys during this time in antiquity, became adults at age 13. It's a tradition that dates before the time of Jesus Christ, more than 2,000 years ago, when life expectation was very short. In that time, people were expected to live only 30 or 35 years. That's why a generation is counted each 25 years today.

Then, at age 13, a boy had lived about half of his life, so he was expected to have children (procreate). Even among Jews in Brazil, girls were married at 14 and 15 years old until recently. For women, life was very short because many died during childbirth. Until 13 and 12 years old, boys and girls respectively, don't need to follow the orders of religion.

Girls are considered to come of age at 12 years old, although there is no ceremony to certify this. For Jewish boys, they must go through what is known as a Bar Mitzvah (Bar is "man" and "Mitzvah" means obligation to be a provider).

According Jewish tradition, a religious ceremony takes place marking the obligation of someone to be considered as adult. This happens on Saturdays, a day dedicated to reading of the scriptures in the Torah.

At a synagogue, the boy being honored reads a part of the Torah. The day doesn't have to be the boy's birthday, but it should be after he turns 13 years old. After reading the Torah, he can be considered an adult for religious purposes and be allowed to read the Torah at other times. A party usually follows the ceremony. The ritual is conducted by Jewish people from each country, not only Brazil.

For girls, there is an event -- not a religious ceremony -- called Bat Mitzvah ("Bat" means "girl"). It doesn't register with the Jewish liturgy, but it became popular in the last 30 years so that boys and girls can both have parties. During a Bat Mitzvah, girls from 12 to 14 years old perform music and Jewish dances.

The model was inspired by debutante parties, where girls are officially presented to society in the Occidental world. There isn't any obligation assumed by a girl at a Bat Mitzvah. The Jewish orthodox people don't promote Bat Mitzvahs, but liberal groups have embraced them.

For boys and girls, these events are prepared through lots of studying. To many children who study in the Jewish educational system, this is their first contact with Jewish religion and tradition.

The Bar Mitzvah is necessary to be considered Jewish. In the Talmud, the Jewish book of laws, it says age 13 is the ideal age to marry; between 16 and 24 years old is the age to work; and from 20 years old is the best age to sustain a family.T

The boy Jesus shows us how wisdom make us extraordinary.

1.     LISTEN - Listen to the People that Possess Wisdom (v. 46)

Wise People in God are Extraordinary.
Wise People "of the World" are Ordinary in God's Sight – they don’t possess the Mind of Christ .

2.     ASK QUESTIONS - Seek to Learn from the People that Know God (v. 46 )

RESULTS: Wisdom-filled understanding and answers (v. 47)

3.     SUBMIT (v. 49 – 51 (51))

Submit to Your Elders (parents, Christian mentors)
Submit to the Word of God

RESULTS
Growth in Wisdom (Sophia  so-fē'-ä (G4678); human wisdom) and
Stature (hēlikia  hā-lē-kē'-ä (G2244); physical height).

Application of the Wisdom of God results in Extraordinary Growth in BOTH Spiritual AND Physical Capacities.

WISDOM

Pastor Derrick Jackson — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 23:13:00 +0000

Proverbs 8 : 22 – 36 NKJV

22 “The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way,
Before His works of old.
23 I have been established from everlasting,
From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.
24 When there were no depths I was brought forth,
When there were no fountains abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills, I was brought forth;
26 While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields,
Or the primal dust of the world.
27 When He prepared the heavens, I was there,
When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,
28 When He established the clouds above,
When He strengthened the fountains of the deep,
29 When He assigned to the sea its limit,
So that the waters would not transgress His command,
When He marked out the foundations of the earth,
30 Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; [fn2]
And I was daily His delight,
Rejoicing always before Him,
31 Rejoicing in His inhabited world,
And my delight was with the sons of men.

32 “Now therefore, listen to me, my children,
For blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction and be wise,
And do not disdain it.
34 Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 For whoever finds me finds life,
And obtains favor from the LORD;
36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul;
All those who hate me love death.”

2012 DFC Theme: “The B.E.S.T.” (Growing in God, Fiscally Sound, Spiritually Stable)

WISDOM

God speaks to us today in His Written Word and He says,
I am the Source of Wisdom.
I AM Wisdom.
Wisdom = The Gospel = The Revelation that God has provided salvation for mankind through the expiatory death of the Messiah Yeshua, Jesus Christ.

God IS Wisdom,
Consequently, wisdom is found in God.
Moreover, wisdom is found in Jesus Christ.

As we embark upon our journey in the Wisdom of the Scriptures, God gives us the following tools to take with us on our journey:

1. Christ Jesus became to us wisdom from God.   1 Corinthians 1 : 30
2. All the treasures of wisdom are hidden in Jesus Christ.   Colossians 2 : 3
3. God can give us a divine gift to speak this wisdom.   1 Corinthians 12 : 8
4. This wisdom has opposition.   Colossians 2 : 4 – 10

1 Corinthians 1 : 30 NKJV
30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—

Colossians 2 : 1 – 3 KJV
Col 2:1
For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and [for] them at Laodicea, and [for] as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
Col 2:2
That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
Col 2:3
In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

1 Corinthians 12 : 8 KJV
1Cr 12:8
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

Colossians 2 : 4 – 10 NKJV
4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

Just like Christ, Wisdom is everlasting.

1. Wisdom is Jesus Christ

a. Wisdom, Jesus Christ, was BEFORE Creation. Proverbs 8 : 22 – 26

Wisdom, Jesus Christ, preceded everything that you can see and cannot see.

Wisdom, Jesus Christ, preceded everything that can and will affect your life.

Nothing is Superior to Wisdom.

b. Wisdom, Jesus Christ, was AT Creation. Proverbs 8 : 27 – 31

Wisdom, Jesus Christ, made everything that you can see and cannot see.
Proverbs 8 : 30

AS MASTER CRAFTSMAN,
Wisdom, Jesus Christ, made everything that can and will affect your life.
All the Laws of Universe and of Creation are IN GOD. Proverbs 8 : 27 – 29

AS GOD THE SON,
Wisdom, Jesus Christ, was filled with joy. Proverbs 8 : 30 – 31
God is overjoyed with mankind when we look like that which He originally created.

Because Wisdom is Jesus Christ, He says, “LISTEN TO ME.” Proverbs 8 : 32

2. We Follow Wisdom -> We Have Wisdom -> We Have Jesus -> We Have God’s Blessing

The Lord Jesus Christ, WISDOM, says to us:

OBSERVE/FOLLOW In My Course of Action Proverbs 8 : 32b

HOW?

BE A LISTENER and Not Just A Hearer Proverbs 8 : 33 -> “BE” WISE

WATCHING
Keep Watch/Stand Guard at the Thresholds Isaiah 6 : 4
- The Thresholds are our Ears, Eyes, Mouth.
- Our Bodies are His Temple, His Dwelling Place. 1 Corinthians 6 : 19

WAITING

Keep Watch/Stand Guard at the Doorposts
- The Doorposts are Our Hearts Matthew 12 : 34
- Jesus Stands at the Door and Knocks Revelation 3 : 20

Revelation 3 : 20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

EMBRACING

Those who follow the wisdom of God have his blessings.

His BLESSINGS = Our Possession
a. We have His Wisdom   Proverbs 8 : 34
b. We Have Life   Proverbs 8 : 35
c. We Have the Lord’s Favor   Proverbs 8 :35
d. We Have Peace   Proverbs 8 : 36

Jesus Christ is God’s Wisdom to Us.

'Tis the Season . . .

Pastor Derrick Jackson — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:44:53 +0000

Who Started Christmas?

Author unknown

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A woman was Christmas shopping with her two children.

After many hours of walking down row after row of toys and after hours of hearing both her children asking for everything they saw on those many shelves, she finally made it to the store elevator with her two children in hand.

She was feeling what so many of us feel during the holiday season time of the year, getting that perfect gift for every single person on our shopping list, overwhelming pressure to go to every party, every housewarming, taste all the holiday food and treats, making sure we don't forget anyone on our card list, and the pressure of making sure we respond to everyone who sent us a card.

Finally the elevator doors opened revealing a crowd in the car. She pushed her way in and dragged her two kids and all her bags of stuff in with her .

As the doors closed she couldn't take it anymore and blurted out, "Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be found, strung up, and shot."

From the back of the car, a quiet calm voice responded, "Don't worry, we've already crucified Him."

The rest of the trip down was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.

Don't forget this year to keep the One who started this whole Christmas thing in your every thought, deed, purchase, and word. If we all would, just think how much better this world would be.

Jesus is the reason for the season. Wise men still seek Him.

Christmas Links. "Who Started Christmas?" Kjos Ministries. 30 Nov 2011. < http://www.crossroad.to/Victory/stories/started-christmas.htm >

The Church

Pastor Derrick Jackson — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 02:47:00 +0000

Acts 2 : 36 - 47 (v. 42)

36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

A Vital Church Grows
40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.”
41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 Then fear came upon every soul, and mmany wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,
45 and sold their possessions and goods, and odivided them among all, as anyone had need.

46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And sthe Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

ECCLESIOLOGY

Much of what comes to life in this world comes to life via a seed.
- A seed is planted and a tree is born.
- A seed is planted and a stalk of corn grows tall.
- A seed is planted and a baby comes forth.
Seed planting is essentially to the circle of life.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Just like much of God’s Creation coming to life through a seed, the Body of Christ, THE CHURCH, was birthed through a seed. In Acts chapter 2, the Apostle Peter stands among the great crowd of multinational visitors to Jerusalem during the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) and boldly preaches the Gospel.
The Gospel, the SEED of the Word of God, God’s Message of Love, is preached.
This SEED, the SEED of the Word of God, is deposited into the rich soil of the hearts of unbelievers.
This SEED, the message of Love about the birth, life, death, and resurrection of The Lord Jesus Christ, falls deep into the rich soil of the hearts of unbelievers.
And the result is LIFE.
The Result is the BIRTH of the Church.

The Bible says in Acts chapter 2 verse 41,
41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

THE CHURCH IS BORN.

What is the Church?
The average person just thinks of the church as a “building” or an “institution”.
This view does not correlate with the biblical definition of the church.
The word “church” comes from the Greek word ekklesia which is defined as “an assembly” or “called-out ones.”
- The root meaning of “church” is not that of a building, but of people.
- It is ironic that when you ask people what church they attend, they usually identify a building. Romans 16:5 says “… greet the church that is in their house.” The Apostle Paul refers to the church in their house—not a church building, but a body of believers.

Ecclesiology is the Doctrine or the Study of the Church.
Ecclesiology is the Doctrine or the Study of Us – the called out ones.

One source says, “Ecclesiology helps us to understand the role of the church and our role in the church.” It teaches us about:
- the ordinances of the church,
- how church leadership is to be chosen and structured, and
- what the church is to be doing in regards to believers (worship and discipleship) and unbelievers (ministry and evangelism).

Acts 2:42 says, "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." – this is, in a nutshell, what Ecclesiology is all about.

Believers, we are the Body of Christ.

Ecclesiology, the Doctrine of Church, helps us understand who we are and what we supposed to be doing.

Ecclesiology points us to the Purpose of the Church.
How that Purpose is manifested before all is discovered within two (2) expressions of the church.

I. The Church – THE PERSON

The Church is the BODY OF CHRIST. The Body of Christ is a Living Spiritual Organism.
The Church is a Body that is alive.

Everything that makes US, the Body of Christ, function has been given by God.
<< Example: Offspring receiving their attributes from their parents. >>

According to God’s order, everything in Creation that is alive possesses the attributes of the source from which they came.

To Be the Body of Christ, God had to give us some of His Attributes.

- God has given us His Spirit. We are made alive in His Spirit.
- Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6 : 11)
- God has adopted us into His Family. We are sons and daughters of God.
- 3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places] in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, (Ephesians 1 : 3 – 5)
- God has made us to be one body. Just as God is One, we, the body of Christ, are one.
- 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. (Romans 12 : 4 – 5)
- God has given us Spiritual giftings.

1 Corinthians 12
- 12:1 With regard to spiritual gifts,* brothers and sisters,* I do not want you to be uninformed.* 12:2 You know that when you were pagans you were often led astray by speechless idols, however you were led. 12:3 So I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
- 12:4 Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 12:5 And there are different ministries, but the same Lord. 12:6 And there are different results, but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. 12:7 To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the benefit of all. 12:8 For one person is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, and another the message of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 12:9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 12:10 to another performance of miracles, to another prophecy, and to another discernment of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 12:11 It is one and the same Spirit, distributing as he decides to each person, who produces all these things.

Different Members in One Body
12:12 For just as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body – though many – are one body, so too is Christ. 12:13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Whether Jews or Greeks or slaves* or free, we were all made to drink of the one Spirit. 12:14 For in fact the body is not a single member, but many. 12:15 If the foot says, “Since I am not a hand, I am not part of the body,” it does not lose its membership in the body because of that. 12:16 And if the ear says, “Since I am not an eye, I am not part of the body,” it does not lose its membership in the body because of that. 12:17 If the whole body were an eye, what part would do the hearing? If the whole were an ear, what part would exercise the sense of smell? 12:18 But as a matter of fact, God has placed each of the members in the body just as he decided. 12:19 If they were all the same member, where would the body be? 12:20 So now there are many members, but one body. 12:21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you,” nor in turn can the head say to the foot, “I do not need you.” 12:22 On the contrary, those members that seem to be weaker are essential, 12:23 and those members we consider less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our unpresentable members are clothed with dignity,* 12:24 but our presentable members do not need this. Instead, God has blended together the body, giving greater honor to the lesser member, 12:25 so that there may be no division in the body, but the members may have mutual concern for one another. 12:26 If one member suffers, everyone suffers with it. If a* member is honored, all rejoice with it.
- 12:27 Now you are Christ’s body, and each of you is a member of it. 12:28 And God has placed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, gifts of healing, helps, gifts of leadership, different kinds of tongues. 12:29 Not all are apostles, are they? Not all are prophets, are they? Not all are teachers, are they? Not all perform miracles, do they? 12:30 Not all have gifts of healing, do they? Not all speak in tongues, do they? Not all interpret, do they?* 12:31 But you should be eager for the greater gifts.
- And now I will show you a way that is beyond comparison.*

These giftings have been given simply for the equipping of the Body.

Our Purpose is TO BE THE BODY OF CHRIST.

II. The Church – THE PLACE

The LOCAL Church is the place where the Community of Believers gather on a regular basis to live out the purpose of the Body of Christ.

The LOCAL Church is the place where the Community of Believers gather on a regular basis TO BE THE BODY OF CHRIST.

What do we DO when are BEING?
We DO Acts chapter 2 verse 42:
- (1) we teach Biblical doctrine,
- (2) we provide places of fellowship for believers,
- (3) we observe the Lord’s supper, and
- (4) we pray.

Acts chapter 2 verse 42 again says, 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

We DO these things wherever we are AND especially at the place we call church.

Acts chapter 2 verse 42 reveals that we are:

(1) Supposed to be teaching and following the Apostle’s doctrine,
- Where did the Apostles get their doctrine from?
- Who did the Apostle get their doctrine from? THEY RECEIVED THEIR BIBLICAL DOCTRINE FROM JESUS, GOD THE SON.
- Whatever Jesus taught, they taught.
- Whatever Jesus lived, they lived.

(2) Provide a place of fellowship for believers,
- That place is NOT just the church edifice, it is the Community, the community where the Church edifice stands as a visible beacon of Glory of The True and Living God.

(3) Observe the Lord’s Supper,
- We are to observe the ordinances of the church, this passage placing special emphasis upon the observance of the Lord’s Supper which we commonly call Holy Communion.

AND

(4) When we come together at church, we are supposed to PRAY
- It is a natural part of our supernatural nature to communicate with God in prayer.

"We are the Church, and this is what we do."

What does the Bible Call US?

Body of Christ - Ephesians 1 : 22, 23; Colossians 1 : 24
Bride of Christ - Revelations 21 : 9
(The) Church of God - Acts 20 : 28
Church of the Living God – 1 Timothy 3 : 15
Church of the first-born – Hebrews 12 : 23
Family in heaven and earth – Ephesians 3 : 15
Flock of God – 1 Peter 5 : 2
Fold of Christ – John 10 : 16
General assembly of the first-born – Hebrews 12 : 23
Golden candlestick – Revelation 1 : 20
God's building – 1 Corinthians 3 : 9
God's field (husbandry) – 1 Corinthians 3 : 9
God's heritage – 1 Peter 5 : 3
Habitation of God – Ephesians 2 : 22
Holy city – Revelation 21 : 2
House of God – 1 Timothy 3 : 15; Hebrews 10 : 21
House of Christ - Hebrews 3 : 6
Household of God – Ephesians 2 : 19
Israel of God – Galatians 6 : 16
The Lamb's wife – Revelation 19 : 7; 21 : 9
New Jerusalem – Revelation 21 : 2
(The) Pillar and Foundation of Truth – 1 Timothy 3 : 15
Spiritual house – 1 Peter 2 : 5
Temple of God – 1 Corinthians 3 : 16, 17
Temple of the Living God – 2 Corinthians 6 : 16
His Vineyard – Matthew 21:41

"We are the Church, We are the Body of Christ."

God the Holy Spirit

Pastor Derrick Jackson — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 23:29:00 +0000

Who / What is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity, God the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is received at salvation (Romans 8:9) and is the permanent possession of every believer in Christ (Ephesians 1:13-14).

The Holy Spirit is MORE than a power or force. He is a Person:
- with a mind,
- with emotions, and
- with a will.

The Holy Spirit can be grieved (emotions).
- And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4 : 30)

The Holy Spirit decides (mind) who will receive spiritual gifting (will).
- The question is not can the Holy Spirit give someone a miraculous gift. Scripture affirms this truth. Even in the 21st century, we acknowledge that the Holy Spirit is free to dispense gifts according to His will (1 Corinthians 12:7-11).

God the Holy Spirit, according to the words of God the Son (Jesus Christ), is:
- the One who teaches us ALL things
- the One who reminds of the Word of God everything that Jesus has spoken to us

John 14 : 26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you."

When / How do we receive the Holy Spirit?

1. The receiving / indwelling of the Spirit occurs at the moment of salvation.

1 Corinthians 3:16 "Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?"

What is the baptism of the Holy Spirit?

The baptism of the Holy Spirit may be defined as that work whereby the Spirit of God places the believer into union with Christ and into union with other believers in the Body of Christ at the moment of salvation.

1 Corinthians 12:13 "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit."

2. The filling of the Spirit is an ongoing process in the Christian life.

How can I be filled with the Spirit?

The permanent indwelling of the Spirit is not for a select few believers, but rather for all believers. However, the Word of God says that we should be "filled with the Spirit."

Ephesians 5:18 "And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit," (NKJV)

We must earnestly desire to be filled with the Spirit.

Matthew 5:6 "Blessed [are] those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled."

We must ask God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ to be filled with the Spirit.

1 John 5:14-15 "And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked of Him."

Why should I receive the Holy Spirit?

1. YOU NEED HIM

a. Jesus said He will teach us ALL things (what we need to know to live)
b. Jesus said He will remind us of His Word (what we need to have/possess to live)
c. Jesus said He will AID us (divinely) in life (as Helper/Comforter)
 Including the granting of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12 : 7 - 11)

1 Corinthians 12:7-11: "(7) But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: (8) for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, (9) to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, (10) to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. (11) But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills."

2. HE WANTS TO CONNECT WITH YOU – FOREVER

a. His Presence in our Hearts is a part of our Eternal Salvation (Galatians 4 : 4 - 7)
b. He Regenerates Us; He Causes Us Upon Salvation to be BORN AGAIN (Breath of Life) (John 3 : 3 - 8)

Galatians 4:4-7: "(4) But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born [fn1] of a woman, born under the law, (5) to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. (6) And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” (7) Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."

John 3:3-8: "(3) Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (4) Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” (5) Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ (8) The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

God the Son (Jesus Christ)

Pastor Derrick Jackson — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:48:00 +0000

Jesus Christ is God the Son.

The questions that lead us to the authentic Jesus are:

- Who is Jesus Christ according to God the Father?
- Who is Jesus Christ according to God the Son, the Messiah Himself?
- Who is Jesus Christ according to God the Spirit?

God the Father says at the public baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist,
“THIS IS MY BELOVED SON,” (Matthew 3 : 17)
And suddenly a voice [came] from heaven, saying,
"This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Two (2) years later,
The Father says at the Mount of Transfiguration, (Jesus with the disciples Peter, James, and John)
“THIS IS MY BELOVED SON,” (Matthew 17 : 5)
While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying,
"This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!"

The Father says at the Mount of Transfiguration, (Jesus with the disciples Peter, James, and John)
“THIS IS MY BELOVED SON,” (Mark 9 : 7)
And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying,
"This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!"

The Father says at the Mount of Transfiguration, (Jesus with the disciples Peter, James, and John)
“THIS IS MY BELOVED SON,” (Luke 9 : 35)
And a voice came out of the cloud, saying,
"This is My beloved Son. [fn] Hear Him!"

The Son says in the Temple (Treasury)
# 1 (John 8 : 18)
"I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me."

The Son says to the Jews angry about Him healing on the Sabbath
# 2 (John 5 : 17 - 18)
"17 But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.”
Jesus’ Equality with God
18 For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God."

The Spirit testifies in heaven
TESTIFY (martyreō G3140) (“to prove or confirm by testimony”)
(1 John 5 : 6 - 7)
"This is He who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth."

The Godhead (ALL 3) testify in heaven
(1 John 5 : 7)
"For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one."

Based upon the Word of God,
Jesus Christ is the Son of God AND God the Son according to God the Father
Jesus Christ is the Son of God AND God the Son according to God the Son
Jesus Christ is the Son of God AND God the Son according to God the Spirit

CHRISTOLOGY is the study or doctrine of Jesus Christ, His Nature, His Person, His Work.
CHRISTOLOGY says that Jesus is Divine, He is the Son of God, He is God the Son.

Jesus Christ knew who He was. It is this understanding of Himself that allows us the ability to ascertain (discover / find out) who Jesus is.

Jesus ACTED as one who possessed a unique authority. (author Robert Stein).
He acted like He was divine, forgiving sin and stating that he and God the Father are One. (Mark 2 : 5 – 7; Luke 7 : 48 – 49; John 10 : 30)

Jesus SPOKE as one who possessed a unique authority. (author Robert Stein)
Jesus said that He was greater than the patriarchs Abraham and Jacob (John 8 : 53; 4 : 12 – 14). Jesus also stated that He superceded the Temple and th Sabbath (Mathew 12 : 6 - 8)
Jesus' words revealed the dependence of the destiny of all people on how they respond to Him (Matthew 10 : 32 – 33; 11 : 6; Mark 8 : 34 – 38).

The encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan Woman gives us insight into how Jesus ACTED and SPOKE as One who possessed a unique authority.

John 4 : 19 – 26 NKJV: "19 The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.”
21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.”
26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.” "

Jesus claimed to be THE CHRIST (The Messiah) (Mark 8 : 27 – 30, 14 : 61 – 62)
Jesus claimed to be THE SON OF GOD (Matthew 11 : 25 – 27; Mark 12 : 1 – 9, 13 : 32)

The Term "Son of God" occurs 47 times in the King James New Testament. In reference to Jesus, it is a title as the heavenly, eternal Son who is equal to God the Father (John 5:18-24). It is Jesus who fully reveals the Father (Matt. 11:27). He is the exact representation of the Father (Heb. 1:1-3), He possesses all authority in heaven and earth (Matt. 28:18), and Jesus had glory with the Father before the world was made (John 17:5).

Jesus claimed to be The Son of Man (Daniel 7:13; underlying theme: Son of Man will judge the world) (Matthew 10:23, 19:28, 25:31; Mark 8:38, 13:26, 14:62)

Jesus is the REVELATION of GOD TO MAN.

The Doctrine of God the Son is meant to reveal Jesus Christ to us, resulting in us being pointed to and connected with God the Father. It is our new birth in God that makes us, the elect of God, sons and daughters of God, overcomers (ones who “nikao” G3528 (nē-kä'-ō)(ones who, as we hold fast to our faith unto our dying day, we are conquerors over the power of our foes, temptations, and persecutions.)

FINAL THOUGHTS

1 John 5 : 1 – 13 NKJV

1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

6 This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.
7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.
8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.

9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son.
10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.
11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

New Year, New Direction

Jaira — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 08:19:00 +0000

It's Back to School Time!
- New faces
- New classes
- New friends
- New challenges
- Another school year

To have a really successful school year, we need someone to help guide us through it. We need God.

To achieve school success God's way, one of the things that He makes available to us is WISDOM.
Wisdom = Good Judgment
As kids, we realize that among the many people we know, the people that know what's best for us is our parents.
~ As children, we tend to not want to listen to our parents.
~ As teens, we think adults are bothering us.
But, they know what they’re talking about - most of the time (smile) - ok, all of the time.
They have wisdom. Wisdom will help you have a successful school year.

To get wisdom you need your GPS.
G = Godly
P = Positioning
S = System
It's not your iPhone, Evo, or Blackberry; your GPS is the BIBLE.
This GPS takes us where God wants us to be.

God wants us to have a successful school year.

In the Bible, Proverbs 4 : 14 - 17 (NLT) says the following:
14 Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers.
15 Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way. Turn away and keep moving.
16 For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day. They can’t rest until they’ve caused someone to stumble.
17 They eat the food of wickedness and drink the wine of violence!

Verses 14 - 17 describe "NO GOD LAND". Not using the GPS needed for success may result in you being in "NO GOD LAND".
In "NO GOD LAND", kids skip class, we don't do our homework, we don't practice, we go over to our friend’s house when you weren’t supposed to go. In "NO GOD LAND", we will always experience negative consequences.

In the Bible, Proverbs 4 : 18 (NLT) says the following:
18 The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.

We will shine as students when we allow our GPS to take us to "GODville".
In "GODville", kids go to class.
In "GODville", kids believe in themselves.
In "GODville", kids study.
In "GODville", kids listen to their parents.
In "GODville", we know that God loves us and He’ll direct our paths.

Our GPS (The Bible) will always takes us to "GODville".
Let's read our Bible and allow the Lord to guide us this year with His wisdom.
As long as we do that we’ll have an awesome school year and we’ll always have our GPS for life.

Who is Jesus . . . to you?

Pastor Derrick Jackson — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 02:47:00 +0000

HOW DO WE VIEW JESUS ?

According to a Barna Group survey, two out of every three adults (67%) claim to have an active “personal relationship” with Jesus.

This same survey found that one out of every six Americans (17%) claim that Jesus speaks to them in multi-faceted ways. At least one out of every six adults contends that He communicates with them in the following manner:

• 52%: by influencing or connecting directly with their mind, emotions or feelings

• 41%: through the content of a Bible passage they read or which was read to them

• 36%: by providing a sign

• 34%: through sermon or teaching content concerning their immediate situation or need

• 31%: through miraculous or inexplicable circumstances or outcomes

• 31%: through words spoken to them by someone else who was speaking for God

• 18%: through a passage they read in a book other than the Bible

• 16%: through an audible voice or whisper that they could hear

In another Barna Group survey, the researchers found that Americans Continue to Wrestle with Truth (Biblical Truth).

The survey findings suggest that Americans are continuing to wrestle with the concept of truth, the nature of God, and the value of the Bible in personal decision-making.

Many people who do not embrace a literal interpretation of the scriptures nevertheless accept some of the Bible’s more sensational stories. "Not only do most Americans believe in the existence of God, but they believe in His power and in the miracles He performs," commented researcher George Barna, who directed the study. "Holding back the seas, walking on water, rising from the dead, surviving in a lion cage, and killing a skilled and armed warrior with a sling shot are examples of God doing extraordinary things in the lives of ordinary people.
Millions of Americans believe the Bible content is true, but are not willing to apply the truths of the Bible to their daily life. Sadly, for many people, the Bible has become a respected but impersonal religious history lesson that stays removed from their life."

Views on Spiritual Beings

The Barna survey asked questions about God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, Satan, and demons.
All 1,871 self-described Christians were asked about their perception of God. In total, three-quarters (78%) said he is the “all-powerful, all-knowing Creator of the universe who rules the world today.” The remaining one-quarter chose other descriptions of God – depictions that are not consistent with biblical teaching (e.g., everyone is god, god refers to the realization of human potential, etc.).

SATAN: Four out of ten Christians (40%) strongly agreed that Satan “is not a living being but is a symbol of evil.” An additional two out of ten Christians (19%) said they “agree somewhat” with that perspective. A minority of Christians indicated that they believe Satan is real by disagreeing with the statement: one-quarter (26%) disagreed strongly and about one-tenth (9%) disagreed somewhat. The remaining 8% were not sure what they believe about the existence of Satan.

JESUS: Although a core teaching of the Christian faith is the divinity and perfection of Jesus Christ, tens of millions of Christians do not accept that teaching. More than one-fifth (22%) strongly agreed that Jesus Christ sinned when He lived on earth, with an additional 17% agreeing somewhat. Holding the opposing view were 9% who disagreed somewhat and 46% who disagreed strongly. Six percent did not have an opinion on this matter.

HOLY SPIRIT: Much like their perceptions of Satan, most Christians do not believe that the Holy Spirit is a living force, either. Overall, 38% strongly agreed and 20% agreed somewhat that the Holy Spirit is “a symbol of God’s power or presence but is not a living entity.” Just one-third of Christians disagreed that the Holy Spirit is not a living force (9% disagreed somewhat, 25% disagreed strongly) while 9% were not sure.

Demons/Evil Spirits: A majority of Christians believe that a person can be under the influence of spiritual forces, such as demons or evil spirits. Two out of three Christians agreed that such influence is real (39% agreed strongly, 25% agreed somewhat), while just three out of ten rejected the influence of supernatural forces (18% disagreed strongly, 10% disagreed somewhat). The remaining 8% were undecided on this matter.

Another study examined how one segment of the Christian population – those whose beliefs about salvation categorize them as “born again” – differ from the beliefs of people who describe themselves as Christian but do not base their view of salvation solely on confession of sin and God’s grace received through Jesus Christ. (The Barna Group has labeled the latter group “notional Christians.”) For each of the 13 questions examined in the study, there were statistically significant differences between these two segments of the Christian population. Among the most significant gaps in belief were the following:

 Born again adults are at least twice as likely as notionals to strongly agree that the Bible is accurate in all the principles it teaches; that their life has been greatly transformed by their faith; that a person can be under the influence of spiritual forces such as demons; and to hold an unfavorable opinion of Wicca.

 Born again adults are more than twice as likely as notionals to strongly disagree that Satan is just a symbol of evil, and that Jesus sinned while He lived on earth.

 Born again adults are more than three times as likely as notionals to strongly disagree that the Holy Spirit is merely a symbol of God’s power or presence; that Mormons are Christians; and that the Bible, Koran and Book of Mormon teach the same truths.

 Born again adults are one-third more likely than notionals to possess a definition of God as the omniscient, omnipotent creator and ruler of the world; nearly 60% more likely to believe that you either side with God or Satan because there is no in-between position; and slightly more than 50% more likely to say their chief purpose in life is to love God with all their heart, mind, strength and soul.

During the time that Jesus walked the earth, there were also people who believed in the Word of God and the Power of God, but didn’t live it.

The Bible gives us an interesting glimpse into how people viewed the Lord Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry. Matthew chapter 8 offers the following accounts:

1 When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him.
2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
3 Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
4 And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
5 Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him,
6 saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”
7 And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”

23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.
24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep.
25 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
27 So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” (NKJV)

In the accounts listed above, Jesus is acknowledged as LORD & HEALER. The term Lord (Strong's # G2962 kyrios (kü'-rē-os)) means "A Man of Distinction". The term Lord was a title of honor expressive of respect and reverence, with which servants greeted their master. The leper, the Roman centurion/soldier, and the disciples all referred to Jesus as "Lord," but not God.

 in verse 2, the Leper says: LORD, You Are Greater Than Myself
 in verse 6, the Roman Centurion says: LORD, You Are Much Greater than Myself
 in verse 25, the Disciples say: LORD, You Are Greater Than Myself, but You are not God.

 The Leper who needs healing comes to Jesus as "a" Lord.
 The Roman Centurion who seeks healing for someone else comes to Jesus as a Lord
 The 12 Disciples who need saving from death (drowning) come to Jesus as a Lord.

However, there’s another group.

The leper, the Roman centurion, and the disciples ALL had a voice to say to Jesus who they believed He was and what they wanted from Him. They said in essence, Jesus is a Great Man and a Healer.

– BUT, there’s another group in whose voice appears to be silenced.

Matthew chapter 8 also states:

16 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick,
17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:
“He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.” (NKJV)

28 When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way.
29 And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?” (NKJV)

In verse 16, the demon-possessed are mentioned. In verse 28, the Gadarene Demoniacs are mentioned. What do the spirits have to say about who Jesus is? Unlike the leper, the Roman soldier, and the 12 disciples, the spirits IN VERSE 29 identify Jesus Christ as "Jesus, Son of God", a name reflecting His Divinity and His identity as the Messiah.

Fortunately, the those same disciples would finally BELIEVE that Jesus was both LORD and GOD.

After the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, according to Scripture, Jesus appears to His disciples. John chapter 20 verses 27 and 28 affirm:

27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. (NIV)

It is not sufficient enough to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord only.
 Is Jesus the Son of God to you?
 Is Jesus the Messiah to you?
 Is Jesus the Master of your life?
 Is Jesus YOUR Lord and Savior?
 Is Jesus YOUR God?

Jesus, in his instruction to the former Gadarene demoniac whom He had supernaturally delivered, refers to Himself as "the Lord" (kyrios).
Jesus speaks in Mark chapter 5:
19 But Jesus said, "No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been."
20 So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them. (NLT)

JESUS IS BOTH LORD AND GOD.

COURAGE

Pastor Derrick Jackson — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 23:41:00 +0000

Courage is defined as "the mental and spiritual fortitude that enables a person to address difficulty, opposition, danger, pain, and grief without fear." As humans, we have a natural inclination to fear or to avoid difficulty, opposition, danger, pain, and grief. This avoidance will not eliminate the occurence of hardship and unpleasant situations. Life is guaranteed to present each of us with challenges that include difficulty, opposition, danger, pain, and grief. To manage and/or rise above these challenges, we need courage.

Courage begins with God. God provides all that we need to obtain courage. Courage is found in His Word. God has designed life in such a way that the human experience can be fulfilled within the paradigm of His Word. King David speaks to us from the Word of God in Psalm 23. David, a man of war and courage, said, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You [are] with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4 NKJV) David's life is threatened; yet he finds courage in the divine counsel of the Great Shepherd. God's guidance (His staff) and God's loving protection (His rod) give David the assurance that He needs to be courageous while facing danger and opposition.

Godly courage is cultivated in us each time we exhibit belief and trust in God's Word in our response to hardship and unpleasant situations. The Word of God empowers us to confront and process the realities of life with real courage and godly assurance. We should continue to return to the place where courage begins - the Word of God.

BLESSED

Pastor Derrick Jackson — Sun, 15 May 2011 00:39:00 +0000

The term BLESSED is often misinterpreted. The definition of the term BLESSED in the Bible is "Happy". The Blessed Person is HAPPY: “Glad About Everything” and “Pleased With God”.

It is God's desire that everyone be blessed. Being blessed is so important to God that He specifically gave instructions to His Prophet Moses on how to bless His People, the Israelites. God's instructions to Moses are found in Numbers chapter 6:

22 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them:
24 “The LORD bless you and keep you;
25 The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
26 The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” ’
 27 “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.” (NKJV)

It is God who blesses people. It is God who makes us blessed. We are the recipients of His blessings. His blessings include His protection, His grace, His love, His instruction, His peace, and His presence.

The Word of God reveals to us that when we acknowledge and accept the Lordship of Jesus Christ (i.e. when we are not "offended" because of Him), we are blessed. Jesus speaks to us in Matthew chapter 11:

1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.
2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of [fn1] his disciples
3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:
5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” (NKJV)

The Word of God also gives us a complete description of the blessed person.

1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper. (NKJV)

The Blessed person seeks to practice right living (righteousness) according to the Bible.
The Blessed person chooses to accept God's Word as his standard for everyday living.
The Blessed person is connected - connected in a thriving relationship with God.
As a result, the Blessed person is stable in every situation and prospers in every season of life.

Trust

Pastor Derrick Jackson — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 01:32:00 +0000

Who deserves our trust?
It is the person that has consistently displayed an unwavering commitment to us.
It is the person that has consistently sought to "protect" us and to warn us concerning situations and people that are unhealthy for us.
It is the person that has sacrificed themselves (out of love) for us.

God has never "forsaken" us. He has never withheld His Love from us.
God provides a way of escape for all believers in every crisis of temptation.
God sacrificed His Son Jesus Christ to rescue humanity from a destiny separated from His Love.

The Bible declares,

38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. << Romans 8:38-39 NKJV >>

13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God [is] faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear [it]. << 1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV >>

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. << John 3:16 NKJV >>

We should trust God.

God's Word speaks to us about putting our trust in Him.
Psalm 9:10 says, "And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You."

Those who trust in God should always praise/testify of Him.

Psalm 118 : 1 - 4 says,
1 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
2 Let Israel now say, “His mercy endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron now say, “His mercy endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the LORD now say, “His mercy endures forever.”

God's Children should trust God.
1st - His Chosen People (Psalm 118:2)
2nd - His Priests (a subsection of his chosen people) (Psalm 118:3)
3rd - Everyone who believes in (fears / reverences) God (including the foreigner/non-Jew) (Psalm 118:4)

Believers in Jesus Christ are able to say by faith, "God has become my salvation," just like the Israelites sang when they were delivered from slavery and Pharoah's Army. (Exodus 15).
The Believer's relationship with God our Savior (Jesus Christ) is primarily based upon His activity and Person, not ours. (Psalm 118:21)

God's salvation and deliverance should lead to greater trust in Him.

Psalm 118:8-9 gives us timeless WISDOM:
8 It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in princes.

Those who receive God's salvation can confidently declare that God has not abandoned them to fate, which includes death.
Psalm 118:17-18 declares,
17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.
18 The LORD has chastened me severely, but He has not given me over to death.

This Messianic Psalm (Psalm 118) declares in verse 22:
22 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.
The Stone which the builders rejected (rejected by religion), has become the Chief Cornerstone (Jesus Christ).

The Religious Establishment of Jesus' day REJECTED Him
- RELIGION REJECTED WHAT WAS REAL - Emmanuel (God With Us/Jesus Christ) BUT
That Rejected Stone became the One they could not exist without
- IT ALL BEGINS WITH JESUS

The world will not be moved by religion: They will only RESPOND to that which is REAL.
We tend to trust that which is real.

What is REAL? It is the Word of God - Jesus Christ. We can trust Him!

The Sustainable Life - Pt. 2

Pastor Derrick Jackson — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 23:22:00 +0000

A life that is sustainable is a life committed to the Biblical paradigm of submission to the liberating nature and eternality of Jesus Christ.

The earthly ministry of Jesus Christ sought to reintroduce and reveal God's love to all humanity.
It has always been God's desire since the beginning of time to establish and sustain a thriving relationship with His greatest creation, human beings.

There are certain characteristics that must be incorporated into our daily living in order to "Live A Sustainable Life." These characteristics include:
Love
Teachability
Loyalty/Faithfulness
Equitability (Being Just / Being Principled)

The Sustainable Life is a life that glorifies God and positions future generations to be their best in God.

Who I Am and What I Do – can that be sustained BY GOD throughout the rest of my life and in the lives of those coming after me?

Who I Am and What I Do – can that be sustained BY ME throughout the rest of my life and in the lives of those coming after me?

Everyone, whether by accident or intentionally, is building a legacy. Our legacy is molded and shaped by "who we are" and "what we do". WE CAN CONTROL OUR LEGACY.

To build a life and a legacy that God can and will sustain, study the ANT – The Ant Leads A Life That is Sustainable Throughout His Generation/Season.

Proverbs 6 (NIV)
6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!
7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,
8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—
11 and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man. [fn1]

“Living An Unsustainable Life WILL LEAD TO POVERTY in our lives and in the lives of those generations that follow us.”
– Why is an impoverished life unsustainable?
answer: The impoverished have decereased control over their daily living or their destiny.

The Word of God instructs us to be INDUSTRIOUS. The resources needed to be industrious are granted to us by God. The ability to posses these resources (health, financial means, advanced education, ideas) are often granted us to in the form of opportunities that we must choose to accept or reject. We are encouraged and even commanded by God to share our resources/abundance with others. Our sharing with the impoverished will help them overcome their decreased ability to live sustainable lives.

The Sustainable Life - Pt. 1

Derrick Jackson — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 00:38:00 +0000

The Life that is sustainable results in personal and national freedom spiritually, emotionally, behaviorally, economically, financially, socially, and relationally. This continued freedom is sustained by the natural results of consistent and mass application of the Scriptures to daily living.

The life that is not sustainable leads to personal and national enslavement spiritually,
emotionally, behaviorally, economically, financially, socially, and relationally.

In simple terms, The Sustainable Life is a life that glorifies God and positions future generations to be their best in God.

Who I Am and What I Do – can that be sustained throughout the rest of my life and in the lives of those coming after me?

The idea of Sustainability within the context of human life requires a discourse about ourselves as human beings – who we are – more so than about life itself. The lives we live are the sum total of our decisions – how we act towards and respond to God, ourselves, others, and our environment.

The Life of Jesus Christ is our Example for Living “A Sustainable Life”

Jesus Christ, the God-Man, exemplified GOD'S LOVE, AGAPE, during His earthly ministry. The Scriptures recount His many acts of uncoditional, unselfish love towards humanity.

The Life of Jesus Christ revealed the following:

WE MUST POSSESS AND EXPRESS THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST

= "A Life Without the Revelation of God’s Relationship to Humanity is not Sustainable” (God’s Relationship with Humanity)

= “A Life Without the Acceptance of God’s Love is not Sustainable” (Our Relationship with God
)

= “A Life Without a Committed Relationship to another person is not Sustainable” (Our Relationship with Each Other)

WE MUST BE TEACHABLE

= Our lives are sustainable when we allow God and God-given persons to GUIDE the discovery process of our UNIQUE IDENTITY – “teachable “

= Jesus, through the Word of God, desires to teach us HOW to live and be sustained in Him ( Jesus Christ to humanity -> "Imitate my life style" )

<< end >>