Category: Sermon

Recordings; notes; and/or scripture references from the weekly sermons from the RCF pulpit.

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The Living Bride

By Pastor Marie Esposito

[Holy Spirit and Restoration]

Humility is one of the main keys to healing the Holy Spirit. 

We bow down low.

I am sharing these truths about the  Holy Spirit to sharpen your vision and to  increase your faith in the Holy Spirit and the heavenly realm. 

HOLY SPIRIT IS summoning us from within, to surrender to Him; empowering us: BRINGING CHANGE FROM THE INNER COURTS: AWAKENING US TO BECOME HIS LIVING BRIDE.

He is the DIVINE HOPE as He works to bring restoration to each of us individually and corporately. 

At Pentecost, the reality of the prophetic word in Joel 2:25 came forth.  

“ I will restore…the years the locusts have eaten…I will pour out My Spirit…”  

GOD sent the locusts 4 times to Israel, 4 different locusts: cutting, swarming, hopping, and destroying…because the children of Israel did not repent. Finally they did. 

The devastation was so severe that the nation was brought to ruin. The end result after they repented was,  

RESTORATION:  “And my people shall never again be put to shame. You shall know that I AM IN THE MIDST OF ISRAEL, and that I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD AND THERE IS  NONE ELSE. and my people shall never again be put to shame.” Joel 2:26-27

Joel 2:22-23

Both physical and spiritual restoration: “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied. You will praise the name of the Lord Who has dealt wondrously with you.” Joel 2:26 

****There is a promise for a total recovery during the age of the Holy Spirit which is now, in the Kingdom age…*****

Restoration traditionally means to bring something back to its original form.

BIBLICAL RESTORATION is a bit different. When something is restored in Scripture, it always grows, multiplies or improves, so that its final condition is superior to its original state (see Joel 2:21-26).

When we turn back to God in repentance, His restoration is miraculous: multiplied and added. God restores everything down to the minute detail. He makes a way for complete restoration; even back to the life we lived before Christ.

God spoke to me the other day about “Meadows:

MEADOWS of Grace.” 

As I sat with Him in contemplation, He opened my vision of a vast meadow that was filled with a multitude of flowers. There was a beautiful river and rich green grass, and mountains in the distance.

He then reminded me of a poem that I had found many years ago and read to my husband early in our relationship: my heart filled with love for him.         That poem had been lost, but I remember the first few lines. 

At our 40th vow renewal service, I rewrote that poem; re-finishing it and read it to my husband.

It was restored, and improved as well, since so much time had passed, it made it more precious and since I rewrote it, it was totally from my heart instead of another author’s words.

It starts like this “I love you like a million little kids rolling down hills laughing. Like 50 bees in a field of two million flowers, and they visit each one…”    As I sat there considering the vision I realized that…It was THE MEADOW OF GRACE.  I connected with God.

I sat there sobbing, filled and grateful to God for the restoration of my life and the love I have in my heart for my husband has been multiplied and added to and completely restored..BETTER.

Restoration Christian Fellowship was formed on the reality of God’s Word as truth speaking from Isaiah 58:12: “Those from among you shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, the Restorer of Streets to dwell in.” 

Restoration Christian Fellowship began as three of us joined together in unison, in worship, in prayer, and in intimate fellowship with the Holy Spirit and then listening to Him and following His leading. Pastor Roy and I met with Pastor Gary and I sat at the piano and we worshipped together. The Holy Spirit fell on the three of us in power. It started there.

The vision of the church is for all of us to be restored fully: individually and corporately and to bring others into the fullness of this same restoration as we continue to grow in wisdom and in the knowledge of the Lord. We worship, we pray, WE STAND.

The final restoration in time is NOW: the maturity of the Church, the LIVING BRIDE of Christ, to stand as His Body in the fullness of His power as Kings and Priests. The year of the Mouth 5780.

 Remember:  EXPONENTIAL

The RESTORATION OF THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID embraces the intimacy between God and man; receiving grace and mercy and forgiveness [new covenant] and the discarding of formality, condemnation and  legalism. [ the old order of things: old covenant] WE EMBRACE THIS TRUTH.

We ask Him to come in full measure, displaying the ever expanding dimensions of His Presence. The Holy Spirit dwells in us, we pray in agreement with His will, as we gather together and praise and worship Him acknowledging Him as the supreme Creator Who is everywhere: Omniscient, Omnipotent, and Omnipresent. WE STAND TOGETHER.

  THIS RESTORATION FOR US IS “CHRIST IS OUR LIFE” Col 3:4

Romans 8:10-11

Phil 2:13

Col 1:27

Phil 2:10

Phil 2:12b

 “We must live in the Holy Spirit and follow after Him”  Gal 5:25

RISE UP LIVING BRIDE!

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Eternity is Planted in the Hearts of Men

ETERNITY IS PLANTED IN THE HEARTS OF MEN

by Pastor Marie Esposito

Ecc 3:11

 “He has planted eternity [ a sense of divine purpose] in the human heart [ a mysterious longing which nothing under the sun can satisfy, except God]...”

GOD placed within every human being a desire for Him.

So there is always a draw BY GOD, inside of us, TOWARDS GOD.

   Holy Spirit came at Pentecost. He is still here. He empowered the disciples and He empowers us. He is the Spirit of Grace and mercy: a Teacher, a Comforter, a Helper.

 Romans 8:14 tpt - nkjv

      Pray: I ASK YOU TO COME, HOLY SPIRIT OF TRUTH.  

                            Rain over us.

If He’s already here in us, around us and over us, why ask for Him to

come?

Because there are different measures and dimensions of God’s Presence.

Even when He comes, there is always more to come. We can invite the increase. INCREASE IS COMING.

Isaiah filled and continually filled.

Here are some keys about the God we serve and worship.

First, GOD INHABITS EVERYTHING and holds all things together Col 1:17 He is everywhere, the glue that holds His creation in place.

A Second dimension of God’s Presence is HIS INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT INHABITS those who have been born again. He specifically comes to make us His Home: His Tabernacle. US.

A third dimension is seen WHEN BELIEVERS GATHER IN HIS NAME. As He promised, He is ‘there in their midst” Matt 18:20 /Zeph 3:17

This is where the principle of EXPONENTIAL INCREASE comes into play.

EXPONENTIAL-AN INCREASE. RISING OR EXPANDING AT A STEADY RAPID RATE. in agreement with His Kingdom

A fourth measure or dimension occurs WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE PRAISE HIM, for He says He “inhabits the praises of His people.” Ps 22:3

A fifth measure is seen when the Temple of Solomon was dedicated: GOD CAME SO PROFOUNDLY that the priests were incapacitated. I Kings 8:10-1 They were completely UNDONE AT THE MEASURE of His Presence.

On the day of Pentecost, THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME to the disciples as they waited in obedience for FATHER’S PROMISE, and they were EMPOWERED through TONGUES OF FIRE, and a HOLY ROAR OF RUSHING VIOLENT WIND FROM FATHER’S MOUTH CAME: a SOUND OF HEAVEN’S BREATH… It was heard throughout Jerusalem.

The Holy Spirit descending on the waiting disciples illustrates ALL OF THESE 5 PRINCIPLES relating to GOD COMBINED: BRINGING RESTORATION TO HUMANKIND FOR HIS PURPOSE. Acts 2

THEN the DISCIPLES carried Him with them wherever they went.

.

It is the YEAR OF THE MOUTH- from the hebrew calendar 5780. The prophetic meaning of this timeframe is all about speaking GOD’S KINGDOM. It is a year of the BRIDE OF CHRIST TAKING HER POSITION AS A KING/PRIEST of the Most High God and DECLARING HEAVEN’S WILL INTO THE EARTH REALM.

The responsibility for the measure of God’s Presence that we carry lies with us.  How much of God do you want?

TRUE BELIEVERS GATHERING IN HIS NAME

TOGETHER IN AGREEMENT EMPOWERED.

RISE UP-RELEASE YOUR VOICE IN PRAISE TO YESHUA.

    THERE IS A SHIFT COMING

The kingdom has a King and

The kingdom of God is within the Presence of the Holy Spirit of God.

‘FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS...IN THE HOLY SPIRIT’

Rom 14:17

God’s desire is:
“to create a people suited to carry the fullness of God on earth.” Eph 3:19 US

 His love.

The inferior realm of darkness gives way to the superior nature of His kingdom. COME SPIRIT OF TRUTH

HIS KINGDOM ALWAYS OVERCOMES

           God was summoning His people then and

He is now summoning a people. YOU

When we change an atmosphere we change a destiny.

It is a display of our harmony with the Holy One.

                 HOLY SPIRIT OF TRUTH,  come.

“ASK FOR RAIN IN THE TIME OF THE LATTER RAIN” Zech 10:1

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Spiritual Insight

Spiritual Insight

by Pastor Roy Esposito

— As Christians we are not called to worry or wonder about our future —

                               We are called to CREATE it!

— Eph 1:17-19 (Passion)  A greater impartation of the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation  resulting in deepening intimacy with God

— Matt 6:10 –  Create Heaven’s atmosphere in this realm

— “Discerning the Times”  – Requires stepping back and LISTENING for the Spirit’s instruction

— The Lord’s Prayer  – A prayer for God’s discerning light to illuminate the darkness and make us free to create a change to the reality we live in.

— Our enemy will contort and contaminate the current moment but can not force us to do evil  — It’s always our choice!

— “Sophisticated Spiritual Awareness” – the ability to “see” what the enemy is doing and so reject his efforts

— Contemplative Prayer — allows the INFLOW of God which can only be received PASSIVELY, in HUMILITY

–– Eph 6:12-13 (NKJV) — We’re dealing with an INVISIBLE world — fighting an INVISIBLE foe.

— Phil 1:9-11 (NKJV) Abounding LOVE >>  Knowledge >> ALL Discernment

Phil 1:9-11 (Passion) “ I continue to pray for your Love to Grow and Increase beyond measure, bringing you into the rich revelation of SPIRITUAL INSIGHT in all things.

This will enable you to CHOOSE the most excellent way of all – becoming pure and without offense until the unveiling of Christ.”

— Insight (Grk) aisthesis— a practical understanding of things linked to life; walking out the truth that insight reveals — to experience the reality of something and apply it to life.

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Goliath Had A Brother

Goliath Had A Family

by Pastor Roy Esposito

  • Proverbs 13:12 – “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.”
  • Heartsickness can cripple your walk with God because it undermines FAITH
  • Hebrews 11:1 – “Faith is the substance of things HOPED for…”
  • 2 Samuel 21:15-21 – David became “faint-”
  • Goliath’s family made the attack look like the same battle David had already won.
  • Ephesians 6 – Take up your spiritual armor and STAND! Stand to Withstand the NEW challenge to your faith.
  • 1 John 5:4 (Passion) – “…for our FAITH is the victorious power that triumphs over the world.”
  • Sukkot – “The Feast of Tabernacles” – celebrated by remembering what God has done on the journey through the wilderness.  Symbolizes the Restoration Process.
  • “Feast of Booths” – the ingathering of God’s people and the beginning of the Harvest season.
  • Leviticus 23:40 – “Lulav” – slender palm branch held together with 2 willow branches and 3 branches from the Myrtle tree — waved with Citron as a Mitzvah (blessing)
  • Myrtle – God with them in the mountains of the desert. (Hard situations with few resources)
  • Palm – His Presence in the plains
  • Willow – the brooks that refreshed them with water
  • “Promised Land” – symbolic of Heaven for Christians
  • If we embrace our lives as symbolic of the journey it takes to get to the Promised Land we will hold the wilderness as sacred b/c it leads to the Promised Land.
  • The hard trek becomes a Heavenly Road because it’s ending is Heaven.
  • We offer thanksgiving because our journey will lead us to God.

PRAY TOGETHER:

“Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the universe who has sanctified us with Your commandments and has commanded us concerning the waving of the Lulav.”

“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe who has granted us life, sustenance, and have permitted us to reach this season of life.”

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His lovingkindness endures forever.”

“We implore You, O Lord, save us. Save our country.  Heal our president – in his body – in his mind – and have mercy on his soul.

“Spare all those who have been afflicted by this plague.”

We make our appeal to You today in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

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God’s Kingdom Within

A word of encouragement from Pastor Marie and
a timely message for the body from Pastor Roy.

God’s Kingdom Within

–– Luke 17:20      “The Kingdom of God is within.”

— Romans 8:14-16 (Passion)–  God’s Spirit will bear witness with our spirit

— “Know Yourself”—  Get in touch with you’re  personal elan; unique strengths, style, motivations, and deep desires

—  The inner sense that, “This is right for me.”  — and let God “bear witness” to it: Yea or Nay through the Holy Spirit living within you.

— Isaiah 30:21-22a  — “This is the right path; follow it!”

— Jeremiah 20:9  — “His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not.”

— The “seeds” of His will have been placed deep within you at the time of your creation. They are found in the same place that your personal elan exists. They will interact with the environment you live in and develop God’s purpose IN you.

— As they are allowed to grow they will bring you into the fullness of your potential; Spiritual Maturity.

— Carl Jung — “The purpose of our lives is to become fully the person we are.”

— Discover the “seeds”  — Task

   Nurture the “seeds”  — Responsibility

— Listen to all parts of yourself: Conscious and Unconscious (dreams and visions), physical senses, spiritual senses (inner voice of God)

— Hebrews 4:9-11 (Passion)  — Don’t force it — REST in His peace

— Proverbs 3:5  — TRUST in God

–– Psalm 46:10 (Passion) —  Surrender you anxiety– stop striving!

— Psalm 131:1-2  — David’s approach and positioning

— Psalm 131:3  — Word for RCF –: “O, people of God, your time has come to quietly TRUST.”

— Romans 8:28  (Passion)

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The Language of the Spirit(pt 3):The Faith Factor

God of all Comfort

by Pastor Marie Esposito

The Language of the Spirit(pt 3):
The Faith Factor

by Pastor Roy Esposito

— Jesus IS the Word of God. it is reasonable to assume He Has something to say!

— To hear His prompts, encouragement, and direction takes a new level of Faith: “Upgraded” Faith

— Upgraded faith — is a gift from God to those who diligently and passionately seek Him.

— Upgraded faith is the FRUIT of action taken in obedience to Him.

— Hebrews 11:6  –-”– He rewards the faith of those who passionately and diligently seek Him.”

— Passionate/Diligent seeking is the result that comes from LISTENING with OPEN Hearts —  by- passing the mind.

— Listening exclusively with our minds subjects what we hear to agreement or disagreement.

— Agreement/Disagreement have to do with words, concepts, perceptions and theories which have little to do with  the TRUTH.

— TRUTH is always a matter of the HEART and is never expressed in words.

— TRUTH can be sighted when the attitude of my heart is one of readiness,openness, and a willingness to discover something NEW  — something BEYOND what my mind already understands.

— It is only discovered by those who are seeking God with all their heart.

— TRUTH is illuminated only by revelation given as a gift through the Holy Spirit: The Spirit Of Truth.

— John 16:12-16 (Passion)

— Prophetic Illumination causes us to “Wake Up” to the Truth.

— Prophetic Illumination — Points out obstacles to finding the TRUTH.

— When received, the falsehoods we live become illuminated so we are free to choose to  DROP THEM.

— “Dropping” our present  Belief Systems” or UNLEARNING all that  we’ve been taught.

— A willingness to”unlearn” is a willingness to LISTEN.

— Observe your present reaction to what I’ve just said:

  1. Are you listening only to confirm what you already believe?
  2. Are you feeling confused by it? Startled? Frustrated? Offended?
  3. Or are you curious? Interested and wondering what the heck I’m talking about?
  4. Are you willing to chance discovery of something NEW?

— Jesus was rejected when speaking the “Good News” not because it was Good but because it was something NEW.

— Generally, people HATE NEW!

— New means something might change.

— I believe God has released a “New Sound” from heaven that will be mis-interpeted if we refuse to “Wake Up”

— Faith — is an openness to hear the voice of Truth:

  1. No matter what the consequences to our comfort may be.
  2. Having a willingness to follow it even when it’s not yet clear where you’ll end up.
  3. Faith is about hearing and following the Holy Spirit promptings

.

— Belief — you get Security

— Faith– can embrace the insecurity of the mind  because it’s secure in its TRUST in God.

— Faith is about openness to God  — a willingness to follow Him, and a readiness to “WAKE UP”

— Don’t be gullible though! Challenge everything from an attitude of openness but never an attitude of stubbornness or contention.

—  ‘Listen’ to learn afresh– “Listen” to discover the “new”.

—The  present  pandemic — a time

1. for reappraisal of who we think we are.

2 to reset who we want to become.

— Ephesians 5:13-21 (Passion)

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The Language of the Spirit – Part 2

God’s Imprint

by Pastor Marie Esposito

The Language of the Spirit – Part 2

by Pastor Roy Esposito

–– Ps 118:24-”This is the day that the Lord has made. I WILL rejoice and be glad in it.”

–-Jn 12:38-29 — The Father speaks — not perceived as such

— Unbelief >> Religion >> FORM over SUBSTANCE

— 1Cor 13:7 -”Love believes all things.” –  God’s love will help us with our unbelief.

—The “Table” of Public Opinion— At first sweet to the taste but soon sours in the stomach.

— The “Table” of Personal Achievement — a “power meal” – very exhilarating but with an equally hard and swift crash. (Champ to Chump!!)

— Jn 4;34-  God’s “Table” — “My food is to do the WILL of Him who sent me.”  –  Supernatural benefits 

— To Do His will we must first be able to HEAR what His will is.

— When I hear Him, I’m strengthened by His Voice and nourished through my obedience to His directions.

–Matt 5:6 – “ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.”

—Matt 4:4 -”For man does not live by bread alone but by every WORD that precedes from the mouth of God.”

—We LIVE b/c of His WORD –– His VOICE is our LIFE!

— Our  Choice: Student or Disciple?

— He hides things b/c it causes disciples to SEEK Him.

— Scripture should inspire REVELATION of that which God has hidden.

— Scripture without revelation leads only to RELIGION.

— Religion >> A Form of Godliness but without the functioning POWER of the Holy Spirit.

— Letico Devina – ”Divine Reading”– guided by the HS — allows anticipation and expectation of God’s intervention in our perceptions of life.

— God will never violate His Word but He will violate our perception of it.

— Scripture’s purpose — to REVEAL God to us.

—Logos -The written Word that teaches the principles of God and gives practical instruction for life: Helps us to recognize His voice by establishing TRUTH in our inner being (hearts).   (Ps 119:11)

—Rhema – a freshly spoken Word for RIGHT NOW.

— By a Rhema Word God speaks what He’s ALREADY written on our hearts through His Logos and calls it forth to be established in our lives.

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Language of the Spirit

God of All Comfort

by Pastor Marie Esposito

Language of the Spirit

by Pastor Roy Esposito

— Proverbs 3:5 — Trust in God, not our understanding

— Our minds are fine with God if they are sanctified.

— Micah 6:6-8 — to do the “right thing” takes thinking

— Sanctified — to set apart for God’s use

— Imaginations — Sanctified Imaginations are how we become proficient in the languages of the Spirit.

— Sanctified minds and imaginations (yielded to Him) are a “clean canvas” on which God is free to paint HIS IMPRESSIONS.

— Unsanctified minds —  preoccupied with SELF  –  can’t utilize the benefits of being IN CHRIST.

— “In Christ” — not a religious state of being but a transformative and restorative state of being.

— “In Christ”  – positions us at the “Door” of unlimited access to the power behind the mysteries of God.

— God’s language is not primarily ENGLISH or any other earthly language.

— God is Spirit   — His language is Spiritual.

— Jesus is the WORD.  It would follow that He would have something to say!

— Matthew 7:7 –   “Seek–Ask– Knock”  = “Find– Receive–DOOR opened”

— Hebrews 11:6 – reward for passion and diligence in seeking God

— Proverbs 8:17 — promise that He will be found.

— John 12:28-29— the Father speaks audibly but it was not understood as such:

  1. Thought it was an impersonal act of nature: Thunder
  2. Spiritual but not personally meant for them.

— John 12:30 — Jesus addresses their UNBELIEF.

— Unbelief – causes hearts to not perceive His voice or make it chaotic and unintelligible.

— The Solution:   Press Into God 

     1. By FAITH — Expect God to interact with you.

     2. Anticipate God’s response through study of His Word and daily personal time in His presence.

    3. Experience a deeper encounter with His LOVE.

— 1 Corinthians 13:7 –      ”Love never fails!”

— Matthew 23:23 —The “weightier matters of the law.”

  1. Carry God’s love with you wherever you go
  2. Display Kindness in all you do
  3. Walk humbly before God

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Be-Coming-Becoming the Beloved

The Weightier Matters of The Law

by Pastor Roy Esposito

Be-Coming-Becoming the Beloved

by Pastor Marie Esposito

Be -COMING
Being and Coming -the Beloved
COME COME COME
To become filled with Holy Spirit. 
He sent Holy Spirit to teach us and show us 
Who They are so  we can walk in the mysteries of Graces and the knowledge of Jesus This is what He wants. 
Matthew 11:6
Matthew 11:28 -30 

“Simply join your life with mine.” 
Chaos bursts into harmony in His Presence 

The place where you feel pressed to change is the place where God wants to reveal His power to you. It’s your next victory place.

The prophetic word about the coming Messiah–

Isaiah 61:1 – The mighty Spirit of Lord Yahweh is wrapped around me because Yahweh has anointed me…

Luke 4: 18–19 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, and he has anointed me to be hope for the poor…

JESUS PAID IT ALL WITH HIS LIFE.

Matthew 11:25

Bow down low, ask for help with every area of unrest.
He will guide you out of the tunnels filled with lies into the breakthrough – the breaking out 

Open vision of the Cross.
Whatever you need can be found there.
He wants us to be ambassadors of His kingdom 
Are you ready to accept His gift?

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The Blessing In Seeking, The Joy In Discovery

Your Life Song
Encouragement from Pastor Marie

The Blessing In Seeking,
The Joy In Discovery

by Pastor Roy Esposito

Proverbs 3:5 — Trust in the Lord  — lean NOT to your understanding

Matthew 6:33 – “SEEK first the kingdom–” – not just-  “ and all these things shall be added.”

Matthew 7:7  — “Seek and you shall find–”     KEEP on SEEKING –  KEEP on ASKING– KEEP on KNOCKING!!

Proverbs 25:2 – ”It is the glory of God to CONCEAL a matter, but the glory of kings is to SEARCH OUT a matter.”

Kings are illuminated and enlightened by what they discover  — PR

Revelation 1:6  — kings and priests  — not interlopers or trespassers

Matthew 13 — Jesus explains why He speaks in parables

Revelation carries with it RESPONSIBILITY!

Ephesians 1:3  — He has stored up EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING for us to uncover.

Matthew 13: 10 –– please read this in the Passion Version which makes Jesus’ purpose for speaking in parables very clear.

Some things to remember in times of pressure:

  1. God is FOR us as well as WITH us — we are NEVER ALONE!
  2. He really wants us to succeed.
  3. Jesus paved the way already — He’s defeated EVERY FOE!
  4. We have the Holy Spirit as a guarantee as well as a guide.
  5. God cannot LIE!

2 Corinthians 1:20 – “It is Christ who speaks through us the AMEN of FAITH.” B. Simmons

“Don’t try to MAKE IT HAPPEN.  Just say “so be it” (Amen) to whatever Jesus says. 

Most times the answers won’t come quick or easy–but stay with it, BELIEVING”- PR

Proverbs 20:21 –” An inheritance gained hurriedly at the beginning will not be blessed in the end.”

  1. Trust God and be led by the Holy Spirit
  2. Submit to the PROCESS.
  3. Embrace MYSTERY
  4. Don’t give in to FEAR.

1 John 4:18 — ”There is no FEAR in LOVE.  Perfect Love casts out fear.”

  1. Keep your eyes on Jesus — You CANNOT FAIL!
  2. Keep moving AHEAD by Faith  and UP through DISCOVERY!