Simplicity – 25-Apr-2021

Simplicity

  • St. Francis of Assisi – “The antidote for confusion and paralysis is always a return to SIMPLICITY”
  • Dark Ages >>> Age of Enlightenment / Age of Science and Reason / Modern Age
  • Science – the analysis of “small” parts became more important than a synthesis of the “whole.”
  • 1950 (approx.) – Atom Bomb – Annihilation of everything became possible hope waned – doubt established  — Post-Modern Mind
  • Relativism – nothing is truly knowable b/c everything is an intellectual or social construct that will soon change.  No patterns, cycles, or absolutes
  • Created beings that were both god-like (“I Know”) and utterly cynical (“I have to create my own truth because none really exists”)
  • Results: Increased suicide and clinical depression rates leaving most languishing
  • Languish – loss or lack of vitality. Grow feeble and weak – fail to progress.
  • Feels like stagnation and emptiness.  Looking at life as through a foggy windshield
  • The Church has not been exempted from this worldview
  • Thomas Aquinas – “People chose things that seem good to them.”
  • European and North American church – effort to follow Jesus through intellectualism
  • Follow by Knowing Him – His Heart and “Gut” – Attitudes and values that shape His choices.
  • Instead of trying to “get inside” the scriptures – Let the scriptures “get inside us” and gradually shape OUR attitudes and values to be like His
  • “The Way” is not a set of intellectually formed principles and formulas: “The Way” is a PERSON.
  • “Walking in Truth” is to follow that Person.
  • John 14:7-11 – “To know Me is to \know the Father.”
  • We must know “The Lord of the Book” and not just the “Book of the Lord”
  • Matthew 11:29 – ”Learn of Me…” (TPT) “Join your life to mine, there you will find rest.”
  • Rest – (Hebrew) Shalom – Peace, comfort, rest, balance, completeness
  • Post-Modern thinking in the Church – has resulted in rivalry, distrust, conflict, separation
  • Set aside time to “Playback” what actually happened during your day 
  • reflect how you felt and how you reacted.
  • Ask Jesus to show you your “hot spots” of the day and where He was during them.
  • Ask how HE felt about them.
  • Ask Him to share His Heart and approach to them with you
  • Take time to enter the shalom He offers.

The Spirit of Truth – 18-Apr-2021

The Spirit of Truth
by Pastor Roy

“God’s desire is to TRANSFORM us not just INFORM us.”

– F.Frangipane

— Truth is more than facts or doctrine.
—  It is possible to know the Truth and still not walk in it

—  Eph 4:15 (AMP)

— Truth is a “Living Spirit” that needs a life through which to express itself

— Jn 14:6 — “I am the TRUTH ….”  —   Jesus

“Jesus does more than take us to heaven — he brings us into the Father’s presence.”

B. Simmons

— Matt 25:13, Lk 12:37  “Awake from your slumber”  — Jesus
— “Born Again” — a dramatic metaphor describing an ascent from unconsciousness to awareness

— Col 1:26-27 (TPT)  — A Divine Mystery  —  Christ dwelling within us

— Christ within transforms every command of God to a promised fulfillment
— Jesus within  — the TRUTH within — makes transformation possible

— 2 Thess 2:10  – ”… men perish b/c they did not receive the love of the Truth.”

— Suffering when searching for the TRUTH;
1. Disillusionment
2. Doubt and uncertainty
3. Humiliation

— Good News! – All suffering can be avoided by LOVING the TRUTH!

— Rev 3: 19-21 (TPT) – “Those I dearly love, I UNMASK and train.” — Jesus

–” Fear Not!”  – Cowardness is a refusal to TRUST God who has called us to walk in Truth.

— Jn 4:24 – The Father is looking for those who will worship in SPIRIT and TRUTH.

— Pretenders worship without TRUTH

— Jn 8: 32 (TPT)– The Truth releases true freedom in our lives

— Gal 5:9 – Toss the “Leaven of Pretense” from our lives

— 1Jn 3:2-3  — We shall be like Him

–2Cor 3:18 — transformation– look in a mirror and see Christ looking back

— “The fruit of the Spirit must be an expression and extension of the trueness of one’s life if it’s to be effective.”  — PR

— Relativism — the core of worldly wisdom

— Relativism — is a doctrine that states that knowledge, truth, and morality exists only in relation to culture, society, and historical context and are not absolute

— Relativism hates THE TRUTH b/c it is anchored in GOD who never changes and IS absolute

— Jn 3: 19-21 — The Righteous are  characterized by their love of the “Light of Truth”

— The Righteous TRUST God

— Not sure if you’re righteous?  – Ask God‘s help. 

 — Heb 4:16  — Come confidently before the throne of grace and receive mercy and grace in your time of need.

…but I Call You Friend – 11-Apr-2021


The Fear of the Lord

by Pastor Marie

…but I Call You Friend

by Pastor Roy

  • John 3:16
  • John 15:9-17(TPT)
  • “Friends” – Aramaic – FAMILY
  • “Servants” (Greek – Doulos) – “Slaves” – We Serve but are not Servants because we serve willingly
  • 1 Corinthians 12: 27 – “Body of Christ.”
  • Revelation 19:7-9, 21:2, Isaiah 54:5 – Bride of Christ

A True Friend:

  1. Has a bond of affection
  2. Takes time to BE with us
  3. A benefactor, a backer, a supporter, a defender, and champion
  4. Trusts us
  5. Understands us and even when they do not – still tries to
  6. Is there for us when they can be but also sets boundaries
  7. An ally in a struggle or cause
  8. Stands up for you when others try to hurt you – physically or emotionally
  9. Forgives you no matter what you do
  10. Tells you when you are being stupid but does not make you feel stupid
  11. Does not care if you are ugly or boring and never thinks about it

Essay by C. Raymond Beran  –  “What Is A Friend?”

Because He Lives – 04-Apr-2021


The Cross – Personal Resurrection

by Pastor Marie

Because He Lives

  • Resurrection Day – A celebration and an affirmation of the hope we have for eternal life in Christ
  • 2 Kings 13:21 – Elisha’s bones touched by a corpse raised back to life
  • Ezekiel 37:9-10 – Valley of DRY BONES– reanimated army
  • 1 Kings 17:17-24 – Elijah lays on a widow’s dead son — brought back to life
  • John 11:17-26 – Lazarus – raised from his tomb after 4 days, ”…I am the RESURRECTION…”
  • 1 Corinthians 15:6 – 500 people witness Jesus’ resurrection – God wanted to leave us with no doubt it actually occurred to give us hope.
  • Because He lives, I have hope that I will also.
  • Because He lives, I can face tomorrow her on Earth with hope for victory.