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Rise Up
by Pastor Marie Esposito
In His Shadow
by Pastor Marie Esposito
Worship from Pastor Marie
by Pastor Marie Esposito
by Pastor Marie Esposito
by Pastor Marie Esposito
by Pastor Marie Esposito
Awake, You Who Sleep!
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A Word from Pastor Marie Esposito
Awake, You Who Sleep!
by Pastor Roy Esposito
“Every act of compassion no matter how small or seemingly insignificant holds the potential to help many to the victory .of an abundant life found in Christ Jesus.” – PR
Our “toys”/idols – rock us to sleep and cause us to stay asleep by offering us temporary relief from reality’s sufferings.
An old saying – “The nature of rain is the same, but it makes thorns grow in marshes and flowers in gardens.”
“I was born asleep, I live asleep, and I will die asleep if not inspired to wake up.” – Anthony De Mello”
It’s only when we become sick of being sick will we seek the “cure” in earnest and wake up!
1 Peter 1:3-9 (NKJV)
Renewed minds in Christ can conquer fear, panic, rage, and greed.
Emotional Disarmament – not denying but laying aside our emotions in order to “see through” problems and not have to “wrestle” with them.
Warriors – sacrifice self-interest for the sake of the greater common good.
Children – demand that their desires be met.
Galatians 6:2 – “Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
The Principal of Impermanence – all things eventually come to an end.
Questions: In what state will I be in when this pandemic ends?
How strong will my faith be?
What will I have faith in?
What will be the depth of my love for others?
Ephesians 6: 8-17
A Spiritual Vaccine (cont)
Worship
Rise Up
In The Shadow
Encouragement
Sermon
A Spiritual Vaccine (cont)
by Pastor Roy Esposito
Isaiah 55:11 – God’s Word doesn’t return to Him empty and without fruit.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 – His plan for us gives us HOPE for a future that’s fruitful.
Proverbs 3:5 – Trust in Him with all you HEART
Levels of Truth:
Inferior Truth – Is informed by our own understanding – no real answers just speculations
Speculations are uncertainties
Uncertainties cause anxieties
Anxiety is a precursor to FEAR
FEAR is the opposite of FAITH
Faith gives us confident expectation
Superior Truth – God loves us – Is with us – Is in us!
Psalm 23:4 – “I will fear no evil, for You are with me.”
Joshua 1:5-9
The Superior Truth doesn’t cancel the Inferior –It over-rides it!
The Spiritual Vaccine is not just the belief that God is with us. It is also the belief that we are with God – ONE with Him and partners with Him in this world and in this life,
Thank you to Rabbi Marc Gellman for his inspiration.
Look Up and Lift Your Heads
Rise Up!
by Marie Esposito
I rise up, rise up, rise up, I rise up and give You praise
I rise up, rise up, rise up, I rise up Jesus, You’re amazing
I rise up Jesus, You’re amazing
We rise up, rise up, rise up, We rise up, and give You praise
We rise up, rise up, rise up, We rise up, Jesus You’re amazing
We sing praises as we rise in the Spirit
Every breath is filled with Light
New life springs up deep inside us
New strength, new hope, new heights
We give You praise, voices raised, Hallelujah
We join with heaven’s song
We lift Your Name, voices raised, Hallelujah
We worship around the throne
Singing “Holy Holy Lord God Almighty
Heaven and earth are filled with Your glory
Holy Holy Lord God Almighty
Heaven and earth are filled with Your glory!!!
Look Up and Lift Your Heads
Psalm 23
Proverbs 3:5 – Put your Trust in God!
Psalm 121: 1-2 – Lift up your eyes!
The 15 Songs of Ascent – Psalms 120-134
Psalm 120 – A cry of distress to the Lord for help in great suffering
Psalm 121 – Song of praise to God who shields us from all the schemes of the enemy
Psalm 122 – Song of joy as we enter the holy city of God: OT – Jerusalem — NT — “New Jerusalem”
Psalm 123 – A cry to God for mercy
Psalm 124 – A ballad of how God saved His people from destruction
Psalm 125 – Dwelling in God’s peace
Psalm 126 – A song of restoration as God’s people gather in Jerusalem:
vs. 5 ” Those who sow their tears as seeds will reap a harvest with joyful glee.”
Psalm 127 – A reminder that without God we can do nothing.
Psalm 128 – The importance of reverence toward God.
Psalm 129 – A song of victory
Psalm 130 – Our hope in the Lord
Psalm 131 – A reminder to wait on the Lord with confident hope.
Psalm 132 – The importance of Jerusalem as God’s resting place.
Psalm 133 – A song of joy of the certainty we have in God and the power of His word.
Psalm 134 – A song of worship to God regarding the certainty we have in Him and the power of His word.
These 15 Psalms offer us a condensed version of the emotions we experience as God’s people as we “set our hearts on a pilgrimage.”
They are songs of praise, worship, lament, hope, defeat, and victory and especially trust in God.
Ps 146:6
Ps 84:5-7 – “Baca” – weeping
a spring – life – rain – symbolic of the H.S. – pools – blessings
Luke 21:25-28 – “Look up and lift your heads.”
Romans 8:32 – He will freely give us all things!
Hebrews 4:16 – Access to His Throne of Grace where we will find HOPE and MERCY!
Rest in the Resurrection
Holy Water
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REMEMBER and COME
Father has been reminding me of many times over the years that He has touched me and changed my life.
He spoke to me in my heart and said Come to Me.
He woke me up in the wee hours a few nights ago with the word “Come”. over and over.
Two present words from the Lord. Remember and Come.
Come to Him and remember what He has done for you.
REST IN THE RESURRECTION.
REST IN WHAT HE HAS DONE.
Remember: Bring to mind an awareness of someone or something. recall, recollect
Come: to move or travel towards someone or something.
Life can often be difficult and hard. All over the world, people are sick and dying, losing jobs, and suffering. At times in our lives the painful hits can come so quickly, like the sudden downpour of a torrential rain. The battery of raindrops comes in fast and hard, one hit after another, making it hard to recover from one before another strikes. We find ourselves knocked to our knees, down for the count. Although the position may not feel good, being on our knees may be the best place to experience the protection and victory of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
God wants us to move closer to Him. He is calling us. COME AND REMEMBER.
It’s Resurrection Sunday! We celebrate Jesus’ resurrection from death, sin and sickness! HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN! HALLELUJAH! We celebrate His resurrection in our hearts every day as we continually feast in His reviving Presence and LOVE.
Father spoke to me of Rest this week to share with you.
And to you who are troubled- rest 2 Thessalonians 1:7, NIV:
Remember, He is coming back and His parousia is happening every moment as He gets closer and closer to each of us.
Psalm 37:7 Be still [Rest] before the LORD and wait patiently for Him.
We rest in His promises and we wait for Him to speak in our secret place. Continue to contemplate and meditate on His Word. His grace and comfort and assurance seeps into our hearts as we wait in His Presence.
Strive to enter into rest Heb 4:1-
Be still [ rest] and know that I am God. Ps 46:10 He is ALL POWERFUL!
Faith is the connection to all the glory of God and the kingdom of God. What have you put your faith in? JESUS IS THE ROCK OF OUR SALVATION, SURE AND STEADFAST.
The Creator of the Universe loves us and has given us access to His very nature, and His kingdom, No power in the Universe (all of space and time, and their contents) can separate us from Him and His love.
Truth is a Person Who lives in our hearts. His name is Jesus.
HALLELUJAH! HE’S ALIVE!
Faith is built over time as we continually turn to Him when we need help, thanking, praising and worshiping Him during the storms. Remember, in the middle of the tempest in the boat, the disciples cried out for help! Jesus was in the boat with them, sleeping and resting. They woke Him up and cried out to Him How can you sleep? He got up and said… no faith, huh? PEACE BE STILL and the storm ended.
Holy Spirit whispered that to me last week as I sat at the beach and watched the quiet waves inching their way towards the rocky shore. The sun was shining brightly outside and the Son was shining inside, in my heart. PEACE BE STILL. He spoke to me, and my heart was quieted. I had cast all my cares onto His back, and had come into a place of peaceful trust and rest.
I REST IN THE RESURRECTION. I COME TO HIM AND REMEMBER WHO HE AND WHAT HE HAS DONE.
Ephesians 3:17-19 (TPT)
17 Then, by CONSTANTLY USING YOUR FAITH, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting place of his love will become the very source and root of your life.
18–19 Then you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences—the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding—this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God.
Psalm 103:4
Colossians 1:13-14
Job 19:25 MY REDEEMER LIVES!!
“My Redeemer Lives and I will see His glory
as He works all things together for my good.
Whatever things occur, if this I can be sure,
I KNOW MY REDEEMER LIVES.
Even though I walk through the valley,
I will fear no evil, HE IS WITH ME
and on the battlefield, although the pain is real,
Our struggles soon will fade as His glory is revealed!
My Redeemer lives!”
– Eugene Greco
A Spiritual Vaccine: The 23rd Psalm
Encouragement from Pastor Marie
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A Spiritual Vaccine: The 23rd Psalm
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By Pastor Roy Esposito
Isaiah 45: 7 (Passion) Yahweh, creator of all things – even adversity!
Shalom – peace, health, safety, soundness, harmony and an absence of agitation or discord.
Calamity/adversity – disaster, affliction, distress, misery, trouble, and woe.
“Embracing the fact that God, has created ALL things, allows for the development of spiritual maturity founded in the faith that God IS good and has a GOOD plan for our well-being.” – PR
Evil can exist as a result of mismanaged free will, which in itself is created by God.
Free will is given to us so we can choose life!
Psalm 23:1 – “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want.”
Shepherd – (Hebrew) – Ra’ah – Shepherd guide and best friend.
Hebrew – Echsar – “Lack” not “want“
A more accurate translation – ” The Lord is my shepherd/best friend, I shall not lack anything.”
Philippians 4:19 – “And my God shall supply all your NEED according to His riches and glory by Christ Jesus.“
NEED not “needs” – As the need arises – He’ll supply it!
“Embracing the assurance of this promise puts the breaks on the incessant desire to accumulate “things.” –PR
Psalm 23:4 – I don’t have to be afraid of evil because I don’t have to face it alone: HE is With me!
Because God is with me ALWAYS I will always have what I NEED for Shalom, Salvation, and Life.
May the Lord bless you this week, May His peace hide you in the secret place of His love. – PR
Trust In The Lord With All Your Heart
Pastor Marie’s Encouragement
Worship Songs
The Blessing
Throne Room Song
Trust in the Lord with All your Heart
by Pastor Roy Esposito
Prov. 5-6. (NKJ). “Direct”. — Straighten out
Isa 45:2. — Crooked paths be made straight
1. How do I trust God and not use understanding?
Vector — a guide that issues direction.
An agent that acts as a carrier to infect a cell and change it at the DNA level.
The Holy Spirit — Our spiritual vector.
Through His direction we can trust God without first understanding
Why? How?
2. What does —- All my “Heart” mean anyway?
Heart — the deepest part of our inner selves.
Jer 17:9 — hearts are deceitful and wicked
Ezk 36: 26-27 – a new heart and spirit within.
“I will put My Spirit within you—-“
The Holy Spirit is a gift from God to do what would be humanly
impossible.
He is a gift that must be nurtured.
How well He is nurtured will determine the depth of our ability to trust God.
Matt 6:19-21 (Passion)– “stockpile heavenly treasures”
Heavenly Treasures — eternal realities such as loving others and doing good; revealing Christ.
“We will become what we constantly behold and create the reality we live.” – – P.R.
Neg. — become negative people subject to gloom and defeat.
Pos. — “Heavenly treasures”. — Become “Vectors” for others; reflections of God’s light, love and victory.
Phil 4: 4-9. (Passion)
Gentleness. — (Greek)— Fairness
(Aramaic). — Humility
Vs 6. — “God’s wonderful peace that transcends understanding will make the answers known to you.”
N.K.J. — “God’s peace will guard your Heart and keep your Mind- –“
Fix your thoughts on the heavenly treasures of truth, things that are noble, just, pure, lovely, holy, of a positive report, graciousness, honor, and fairness.
Avoid words of I’ll omen.
Prov. 16:24 — “Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. “Passion
If you nurture the Gift of the Holy Spirit in this way you will be able to “Trust God” with a sanctified heart that is whole.
Your mind will not be anxious and will feel safe and at peace even in perilous times.
Trust
A Word of Encouragement from Pastor Roy
Worship Songs
The Blessing
Throne Room Song
Trust
by Pastor Marie Esposito
Trust- To believe in the reliability, truth, the ability or strength of, to put confidence in one’s integrity.
Who are we trusting in? The Holy Living God.
He is all powerful and all loving. His Word and His promises are secure and true.
Our heart must completely trust in Him; there is no room for anything else.
He has a rightful claim to the throne of our lives. And, we have a rightful claim to all that Jesus has purchased for us and rules over in His throne room in heaven. This is where we rest.
Ephesians 2:6
Hebrews 4:16
When we give thanks, praise, and worship our God, speaking His Word, our focus shifts to Him and off of us. We enter His realm.
Complete surrender in every moment connects us
intimately with God. If we have given ourselves over completely to God, we can be assured that He will completely take care of us.
Psalm 56:3
Proverbs 3:5-8
There is a man after God’s own heart [David] who had many trials in the progression of his life, and came through every one of them in victory. We can read Davids’ story in First and 2nd Samuel.
David learned to worship and trust God as a shepherd on the hillside. He was anointed by Samuel the prophet on the hillside to become king. That was his destiny. There were many steps that led up to his coronation. Within the process of his life, he learned to trust His God and to inquire, prayerfully, every step of his life and then obeying the direction and counsel of God. He was intimate with the Lord and heard His voice clearly as God led him to victory over his enemies. God was His Champion.
Briefly, I can share two times that David inquired counsel and had victory.
Ziglag – Restoration
Hebron – Coronation
Here are his words when he was completely delivered from his enemies and from Saul.
Psalm 18:1-2 reads “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer: My God, My strength in whom I will trust. My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.
We can be encouraged by this life, and by the Word of God as it instructs us to seek Him for answers in this time of our lives.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.” Proverbs 3:5-8
Isaiah 52:12 “Your God, Yahweh, will go before you. He will lead you each step and be your rear guard.”
“Honor All People, Love the Brotherhood, Reverence God, Honor the King” – 1 Peter 2:17
“Honor All People, Love the Brotherhood, Reverence God, Honor the King” – 1 Peter 2:17
by Pastor Roy Esposito
Nephesh (Hebrew) – Soul
Ruach (Hebrew) – Spirit
Both speak of an inner life where thinking, reason, and emotion occur.
Both are used interchangeably in the OT to speak of the “totality” of God. – Dr. Michael Heiser
Both are used to describe the source of our inner life.
Shema Yisrael – Deuteronomy 6:4 – God is ONE
Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:29-30 – Love God Totally
Philippians 4:4-9 (Passion)
1 Peter 2:15-17 (NKJV)
HONOR IS AN ATTITUDE!
Gadsden Flag – A Coiled Snake with the inscription, “Don’t Tread on Me”
Luke 10:19 – “Tread on serpents” – Jesus
“We should be able to voice our point of view without demonizing those who disagree.” – PR
Matthew 22:37 – “Love one another…” – Jesus
Romans 15:7 – “Receive one another…”
“We don’t honor the sinful actions of people, but we are to honor the humanity of sinful people.” – PR
Honor church elders – 1 Timothy 5:17
Employers – 1 Timothy 6:1
Widows – 1 Timothy 5:3
Spouses – 1 Peter 3:7, Ephesians 5:33 (AMP)
The Aged – Leviticus 19: 32
1 Peter 2:17 – All people
John 12:26
Psalm 91: 14-15
Matthew 13:52-58
Exodus 20:12, Ephesians 6:2
Genesis 9:18-27 – Noah dishonored by Ham
Genesis 6:9
Matthew 18:21-35
Psalm 107:10-13 (Passion)
Peace: Our Weapon and Shield
Peace: Our Weapon and Shield
by Pastor Roy Esposito
Ephesians 6:12 – Wrestling in the heavenly places
Ephesians 1:3 – Blessed in the heavenly places
Peace – Not extreme indifference and detachment from the world but the fruit of confidence in God’s love for us – personally.
1 John 4:4 – “Greater is HE who is in me…”
“True spiritual authority over fear will only arise in the areas of our being where God’s peace has replaced our inner conflict and oppression.” – PR
Philippians 4:8-9,11-13(NKJV) – “—to be content in whatever state we’re in.”
Content -(GRK – Autarkes) – sufficient in oneself; undisturbed – NOT necessarily HAPPY.
Peace (Strongs) – To set at ONE again
“Where you are not at Peace – you’re at WAR!” – PR
John 14:27 (Passion) & (Ampified)
“We will never fully know Christ’s victory until we stop reacting humanly to our circumstances and look it straight in the eye without fear or intimidation.” – PR
Mark 4:35-41 – Jesus expressed His perfect peace over the storm and it stilled.
Isaiah 26:3 (Passion)
Imagination – (Hebrew – Yetser) – to form and frame-up
Isaiah 26:3(Amp) – commit to – lean on – hope in
2 Timothy 1:12 – “He is able to keep that which I commit to Him – ”
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NKJV) & (Passion)
- Truth
- Righteousness
- Faith
- Salvation
- The WORD spoken
- Communion through prayer
- Alert and Watchful (present, focused, undistracted)
Galatians 5:22 – Peace is a fruit and an attribute of the Spirit
“Whenever we walk in peace, we walk in the power of a Peacemaker.”
Matthew 5:9 – “Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they shall be called Sons of God.”
Philippians 1:28(Amp) – Peace: a clears sign – a proof – and a seal of our deliverance
Psalms 37:7-9, 11
Meek – not weak but a gentleness of spirit that connotes remarkable strength. – Jack Hayford
Ephesians 2:19 (Passion)
Revelation 4:6 – The crystal sea, like glass, before the Throne – no waves – no ripples
Throne – the symbol of authority – Peace surrounds His authority!
John 3:1-8 (Amplified)
Heb 4:11 — The real struggle: entering the rest of God.
“Rest precedes rule. Peace precedes power!” – Frances Frangapanni
Philippeans 4:4-9 (Passion)
Romans 16:20