Category: Sermon

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

Hits
http://rcfny.net/wp-admin/admin.php?page=whtp-admin-menu
Hit Count
http://rcfny.net/wp-admin/admin.php?page=whtp-view-page-hits

Posted on

Empowered

Pray: Holy Spirit come. We acknowledge our dependence on You and rely on Your Empowering Presence as we walk in this newness of Life. “Not by might, not by power, but by Your Spirit.”

We are EMPOWERED as we walk in the reality that we are the body of Christ. This is our Identity – Infused by the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 119:117

The empowering comes from the Holy Spirit-  He comes into our hearts, our inner being, when we are born again, and is our Teacher.

John 14:26

1 John 2:27

Let the Holy Spirit embed the Truth about Jesus deep into your inner being. BE EMPOWERED.

Acts 1:8 “But you will receive POWER and ability when the Holy Spirit [the Spirit of holiness] comes upon you; and you will BE My witnesses  both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.”

We have received the POWER TO BECOME

 the Spirit is the DIVINE ENABLER

Come after Me… [Jesus said] And I will MAKE YOU TO BECOME… fishers of men. Mark 1:17

Galatians 2:20  TPT “My old identity has been co crucified with Messiah and no longer lives; for the nails of his cross crucified me with Him. and now the essence of this new life is no longer mine, for the Anointed One lives his life through me – we live in union as one! MY NEW LIFE IS EMPOWERED BY THE FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD WHO LOVES ME SO MUCH THAT HE GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME, AND DISPENSES HIS LIFE INTO MINE

Ephesians 5:14

We are to be imitators of God and live our life, EMPOWERED through the indwelling Spirit. We are to be filled with the Spirit,  walk in spirit and truth, live in unity with all the saints of God, and provide mutual encouragement to one another. We are to be spiritually alert and grow in grace.

Over the long haul, we gain spiritual perception developed by HABITUAL EXPERIENCE as we read and apply the Word of God in our daily lives, anointed by the Holy Spirit.

2 Timothy 1:13 -14

2 Timothy 3:17

2 different facets  of being empowered:

Empower – given the authority or power to do something,  qualify, equip  –  made stronger and more confident and able to control our lives through His Presence, displaying His fruit.

  We become Empowered as we are released, emancipated,  set free, from sin and from the pull of the world. Again, made stronger and more confident and able to control our lives through His Presence, displaying His fruit. 

2 Corinthians 3:16-17  “But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

Jesus is seen,  known,  received, and communed with, in the Spirit. The Spirit is the One in whom, and by whom , we receive the Lord.  If we are going to behold the glory of God, we will behold Him by the Spirit in the Son.

God’s Spirit danced over the waters on creation’s morning. God’s kingdom [ in which we live] operates according to the principle of an endless increase in power,  (Isa. 9:6–7) NOT  diminishing power. 

“The Lord your God is among you, a Warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will bring [you] [calm you down] quietness with His love. He will delight in you with shouts of joy.” Zephaniah” 3:17

Ephesians 4:13

Let us BECOME the Matured body WALKING IN AND WITH, THE HOLY SPIRIT, EMPOWERED  by Him as we continue to BE THE BODY of Christ- THIS IS OUR IDENTITY. 

Ephesians 2:20

Posted on

Plus/Minus: The Holy Exchange – 13-Mar-2022

by Pastor Roy Esposito

Matthew 28:18(AMP) – All power to rule in heaven and earth given to Jesus and imparted to His disciples for replication.

“You’ll know that you’ve been transformed when the impossible becomes natural.”
-Bill Johnson

Become like Jesus:

  1. Move in His authority
  2. Reflect His holiness

Living a holy life – The principal thing that separates a believer from the world.

Holiness – Possessing the right Orthocardia (right heart) while seeking purity in purpose and action: Consecration to God’s service.

God has called His kids to be HOLY: Leviticus 19:2; Leviticus 20:26; 1 Peter 1:15-16.

2 Corinthians 7:1(TPT) Remove from our lives everything that contaminates body and spirit.

Promises:

  1. Ephesians 1:6 – Accepted in the Beloved.
  2. John 14:17 – God in us and among us.
  3. John 14:18 – Never abandon us.
  4. 2 Corinthians 6:18 – God our Father.

Hebrews 4:2 – Works mixed with faith.

Hebrews 4:3(TPT) “…for those of us who believe, FAITH ACTIVATES the promises…”

Revelation 7:14 – An exchange of natural inclinations: “They washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.”

Ephesians 5:25b-27 – Jesus gave Himself so the church should be HOLY.

James 4:7-8(Message) – Let God do His work in you.

Plus/Minus:

  • Subtract natural inclinations
  • Add heavenly qualities

“All human nature vigorously resists grace because grace changes us, and change is painful.”
–Flannery O’Connor

We RESIST that which has SAVED us! –Ephesians 2:8

Holiness brings with it the Power to Discern TRUTH.

2 Timothy 3:1-5(Message) Please read this yourself. –PR

“Becoming TRUE and Spiritual Maturity is one and the same.” –PR

Proverbs 29:18 – ”Where there is no prophetic vision (DIVINE INSIGHT) the people cast off restraint.”

God has not stopped requiring holiness and Godly behavior from us.

“The moment we stop obeying God and start rationalizing our thoughts and actions is the moment we become False Christians.”
–PR

Galatians 2:20 – The New Creation.

Posted on

Lord, Where Am I?

by Pastor Roy Esposito

Pastor Roy Esposito

The church’s purpose: To BECOME the revelation of Jesus

“The Presence of the Lord should be clearly discernable in our attitudes, words, and actions.”  – basic, true Christianity.

Colossians 1:27 – “Christ within…”

– “If the vision of Christ living in you is not a truth burning in your heart, you may have accepted a false version of Christianity.”      – Frances Frangipane

1 John 4:17 “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”

Transformation = Spiritual Change.  

Some react to  change with —  Fear and Doubt

Transformation is not a Task but is a GIFT that only needs to be received.

Luke 1:38  – “Let it be unto me according to Your WORD.”

Before a Change, there is always a Preceding Word. Say YES!

Proverbs 13:12  – “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.”

Heart Sickness:   Disappointment and Discouragement >>> Doubt, Hopelessness, Fear, Anger, negative perspectives

1 Kings 19:4  -Elijah in a “cave of despair” b/c of a darkened perspective.

2 Corinthians 13:5  – Examine/test yourself to see what you’re putting your faith in/ who are you Trusting?

Psalm 46:10 – Be still to know!

1 Kings 19:9 – “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

“A still, small voice…”  (AMP)  “A sound of gentle stillness.”

Hebrews 11:27 – “… he endured as seeing Him, who is unseen.”

“To accept a gift from God is never an act of entitlement or of pride. It’s simply an act of humility.”  – Sister Josephine D’Sparo

Romans 4:20-21 – Abraham staggered not at the promise of God …”

Distrust of God –  The root of all despair and discouragement

–” From the Garden to the present, satan’s attacks have been on the character of God – specifically to undermine our trust in Him.”  – PR

“Only those who can see the invisible can accomplish the impossible.”

Posted on

Through Faith and Patience

Pastor Marie Esposito

Hebrews 6:12 – “so that you will not be [spiritually] sluggish, but [will instead be] imitators of those who through faith [lean on God with absolute trust and confidence in Him and His power] and by patient endurance [even when suffering] are [now] inheriting the promises.”

So how do we inherit the promises?

Through faith and patience [endurance]  we inherit the promises 

His mercies ENDURE FOREVER. 

Lean on Him. 

Tap into the One Who is 

Eternally patient and agree with His faith. 

Galatians 2:20

Mark 4:4

  1. Plant the Word of God 
  2. Tend to those crops.  add  “miracle grow”
  3. speak the Word, praying over the Word

praising and  worshiping  

the God Who is the Living Word… 

and giving thanks for them, 

you will reap a harvest! 

YOUR ‘ALTITUDE’ WILL DETERMINE YOUR PERSPECTIVE

    2 Corinthians 3:18 “And we all, with unveiled face, [having been unveiled in the face] and having the veil removed, contemplating His glory, can reflect His glory, as we are continually seeing  [beholding] as in a mirror His glory, are progressively being transformed [changed]  into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more intensifying] glory, which comes from the Lord, Who is the Spirit.

UNVEILED FAITH.

 Corinthians 1:22 -“and who has also put his seal on us [and He has identified us as His own] and given us His Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything He has promised us.” 

2 Cor 1:20 –  “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.”

Are you operating in Fear or faith?
Fear paralyzes – faith propels us forward. 

There is no failure in faith. If what you are believing for is not fully accomplished yet, WAIT FOR IT. Also realize that as you wait in faith, it opens the way for breakthrough for those walking behind you. 

Read Hebrews 11.

How do we increase our faith? “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” Romans 10:17 

Build and increase your faith by reading and studying the Word of God with the Holy Spirit. Meditating on it…Declare and decree what God says.

That faith which works by love will MAINTAIN HOPE in its full and due exercise.  Exercise the disciplines of faith. 

“The just shall live by his faith” Habakkuk 2:4

Romans 1:17 – Galatians 3:11 – Hebrews 10:

The Proclamations of God’s victory are powerful.

We confront the assault of the enemy with the Shield of faith, our Measure of faith, a heart filled with the Word of faith, and then out of the abundance of our heart our mouth proclaims words of faith. – James Goll

AGREEMENT WITH GOD RELEASES GOD TO ACCOMPLISH HIS PURPOSES IN AND THROUGH US TO THE WORLD AROUND US. BJ

Galatians 5:25

“The walk of faith is to live according to the revelation we have received in the midst of the mysteries we cannot explain.” BJ

Maintain Your Life with God Jude 20-21:20

Romans 15:4   

Matthew 4:4

I believe in the power of the prayer of agreement with God and His Word. He is the Great I Am. He is Who He says He is, and He does what He says He will do. How do we increase our faith? We spend time with the AUTHOR and FINISHER of our faith!

Job 22:21-30 “Now acquaint yourself with Him…

God’s will for each of us:

Ephesians 3:8 …to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made KNOWN BY THE CHURCH to the principalities and power in heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in CHRIST JESUS, our Lord, in WHOM WE HAVE BOLDNESS AND ACCESS WITH CONFIDENCE THROUGH FAITH IN HIM.

All the promises of God IN HIM, are yes and amen

Posted on

Changing the Atmosphere

Pastor Roy Esposito

The “Dove” IN us – We benefit.
The “Dove” ON us – Others benefit.

John 6:63 “The SPIRIT gives life…” – “The Words I speak to you are SPIRIT and life.”

Mark 1:15 – ”Repent, (Metanoia) and believe the Gospel…”

”Look beyond that which is apparent to you now and believe My words (Gospel) for they are LIFE.” –Jesus

John 1:14 – Jesus: The WORD made flesh.  When He speaks, His words become SPIRIT – the source of Life.

Romans 14:17 – The Kingdom of God is IN the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:17 – “Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.” – The Evidence of God’s presence is FREEDOM.

Jesus’ words stunned people not only because they contained profound ideas and intellectual challenges but because they caused an Atmospheric Shift whenever He spoke.

Acts 3:1-10 Lame man healed at the temple gate called Beautiful.

Habakkuk 3:3-4 – “Rays of power flashed from His hands.”

Matthew 10:1 – Jesus imparts power and authority to disciples.

Matthew 10:11-13 “Leave your Peace…” – Perfect well-being.

Matthew 10:13(AMP) Freedom from all distress experienced as the ill-effects of sin.

Acts 5:15-22 – Peter’s shadow heals the sick.
“Your shadow will always release that which overshadows you.” – The Lord

Posted on

Think Beyond

”Every viewpoint is a view from a point.” – Richard Rorh

Isaiah 55:8-9 – ”My thoughts are not your thoughts…”

Encouragement from PR

  1. Darkness creates the desire for light
  2. Chaos often precedes creativity3. Uncertainty is the doorway into Mystery
  3. Mystery is the doorway to Surrender
  4. Surrender is the pathway to God that Jesus called, “Faith”
  5. Faith precedes great leaps into new and enlightened knowledge

Ekklesia – “the Called Ones” –

Metanoia(Greek) – META = Beyond; NOEO = to Think ≈ “THINKING BEYOND”

”Thinking Beyond“ – A rewriting of Priorities, Thoughts, and Values to align with God’s

“Repentance” – Paenitentia(Latin Vulgate) Connotes penitence and contrition

Mark 1:15 – Repent and believe the Gospel

Romans 13:10-12,14(NKJ) Time to AWAKE out of sleep! – “Change your FOCUS”

John 16:12-15 – You cannot bear the weight of My words will release over you

Glory – SHEKINAH (Hebrew) – “Weightiness”

Habbakuk 3:3-4 “His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of His praise.  His brightness was like the LIGHT; He had rays flashing from His hand, and there His power was hidden.”

John 16:12-15 – Declared by the Holy Spirit

Declare — To disclose, Transmit, Impart

Make time daily to envision the “Dove” on you – LITERALLY – FOCUS!

“The moment you let a problem get bigger than God’s Presence in your life – the problem OBTAINS YOUR HONOR and you will yield to it BECAUSE you’ll see it as having more power than God.” –PR

Ephesians 4:27 – “Don’t give place to the devil.”

If you should error – Put on the Mind of Christ (Metanoia) and return to the LIGHT

1 John 3:8 “For this purpose was the Son of God manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”

When challenged — “THINK BEYOND”

  1. Light is more powerful than darkness
  2. Truth is stronger than error
  3. There is more Grace in God’s heart than there is Sin in the hearts of men.

-Jack Hayford

Posted on

The Obedience of One: Receive Jesus

Romans  5:19  through ONE MAN’S OBEDIENCE MANY WILL BE MADE RIGHTEOUS.
Run into the fire of God. 

I Corinthians 15:34

I Corinthians 15:58 – be strong, steadfast, and immovable 

Romans 5- Grace Reigns …through righteousness

We have access BY FAITH into this GRACE which reigns through His righteousness.

Philippians 3:12

“Night’s darkness is dissolving away as a new day of destiny dawns…” Romans 13:12   

It’s a new day

Lamentations 3:22-24  God’s love and mercies are new every morning.

Romans 12: 1-2 Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? To SURRENDER YOURSELVES TO GOD TO BE HIS SACRED, LIVING SACRIFICES. BE INWARDLY TRANSFORMED. THIS… will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.

Philippians 4:1b

God gives us access into the realm where HE reigns THROUGH JESUS.

Jesus opened the door into God’s realm for us through His blood shed on the Cross, through His obedience. 

He invites us to wait on Him, renew our strength, and to walk in the Spirit, not giving place to the flesh or natural life, listening for His Voice, cultivating His Expression in our lives, and BEING  that LIVING EXPRESSION every day. 

The River of God flows out of us.

His Presence displaces our old nature

His very living Being fortifies us, renews our minds, rejuvenates our bodies, and restores our souls-flooding our new nature with His very Essence,

giving us the mind of Christ.

Then the corporate worship, together, as we stand before Him and exalt Him, and then sit with Him in His throne, is the roaring sound of many waters in harmony with Him. PM  

(Matthew 11:12 TPT)

Proverbs 8:6

Isaiah 50:9

The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy.  Rev 19:10

The spirit of prophecy flows from the inner being from Jesus, through the Holy Spirit.

THE TESTIMONY OF WHAT HIS LIFE HAS ACCOMPLISHED IS POWERFUL.

WE ALIGN OURSELVES WITH HIM AND HIS TRUTH.

RECEIVE IT. BELIEVE IT. SOAK IN THE REALITY OF WHO HE IS.

HIS OBEDIENCE WON

THE OVERCOMING VICTORY

IN EVERY AREA OF OUR LIVES. JESUS.

LET US REJOICE… Romans 5:2

Romans 5:1-5  Enjoy true and lasting peace. Our faith guarantees us permanent access and cascading joy.

Corrie ten boom—” the wonderful thing about praying is that you leave a world of not being able to do something, and enter God’s realm where everything is possible. He specializes in the impossible. Nothing is too great for his almighty power. Nothing is too small for his love…”

2 Corinthians 2:14-17  TPT  GOD ALWAYS MAKES HIS GRACE VISIBLE IN CHRIST.

HE MAKES US PARTNERS OF HIS ENDLESS TRIUMPH

EMBRACE YOUR DESTINY.

Posted on

The Battle Over Reality

“Life is not stagnant. If you aren’t being renewed daily, you’re being given over to decay.”

“Our physical bodies are servants of our minds and obey the commands given them in the operations of daily life. 

Psalm 23:7 – “For as he thinks within himself, so is he.”

Frances Frangipane – Revelation 12:7-8 (AMP)   “…NO ROOM WAS FOUND FOR THEM in heaven any longer….”

“All spiritual warfare is waged over one essential question: Who will control REALITY on earth –   Heaven or Hell?    – Frances Frangipane

Revelation 12:7-8  – “No room..”   Dragon DISPLACED by Christ’ Reality:

  1. Truth
  2. Honor
  3. Virtue
  4. Love
  5. Humility
  6. Forgiveness
  7. ALL the Fruit of the Spirit

Romans 13:12 (TPT)  -” The ARMOR OF LIGHT”– displaces the Darkness

John 15:-16:1  – Holy Spirit – given to bear witness 

“Dark Thoughts” – KILL!

Job 3:25 –   ”…the things I greatly feared has come upon me….”

Anxiety – Will demoralize the whole body allowing disease to enter.

Impure Thoughts – Even when not acted out, they can shatter a nervous system.

Matthew 5:6 –  Get alone with God to pray.

Philippians 4:8-9 (TPT)  – Please meditate on this each day this week.   -PR

Philippians 4:8-9  (NKJ)  – “Good Report”  – Words that are –  Fair – Gracious – Auspicious – and Favorable

Meditation positions us to Receive the things we are meditating on; Noble, Pure, Good, etc.  – They will Displace Dark Thoughts –  We come into agreement with Jesus’ thoughts.

When we “FIX” our minds on these things, we will receive the “Perfect Peace” Jesus has promised. (Isa 26:3, Jn 14:27)

“Agreement with either heaven or hell will set the reality of life  lived,”  –PR 

Colossians 1:27  – The Mystery  – “Christ within, the hope of glory.”

Christian Mystic – One who has had this mystery unlocked, believes it, understands it and sees it as an actuality.

It’s having hell and its sickly effects DISPLACED through a personal revelation of “Christ Within”– the “Living Water.”

Let’s  Re-Hydrate today and let health and New Life flow to our entire beings.

Posted on

Street Corner Spirituality

Matthew 28:18-20 -The Great Commission  – ”Go and make disciples….”

“Spiritual empowerment comes through deeper communion with God.” – PR

Proverbs 8:17 – “I love those who love Me, and those who seek Me diligently will find Me.”

Supplications – Prayers of requests

Meditative Prayers – Prayers of Perspective

Teresa of Avila –  

              The Soul as a “Garden” – Prayers as “Water” that give life to the garden

Contemplative Prayer – Prayer of Calmness and Communion

Contemplation – is a Grace that is divinely produced, not initiated by men

Contemplative times – When we hear the Lord’s voice most clearly, which transforms the hearer to take on the image of Christ

“Street Corner Spirituality” –  The “highways and byways ministry.”


Matthew 22:9-10 (NLT) – “Now go to the Street Corners and invite everyone you see.”

Posted on

RCF – Year 26: A Year of Opportunity

by Pastor Roy Esposito

RCF – Year 26:

A Year of Opportunity

by Roy Esposito

Jan 9, 2022

1 Corinthians 13:11(TPT) – “…But the day came when I matured.”

Proverbs 25:2(TPT) – The honor of kings to seek a deeper meaning.

Genesis 1:2 – The earth lay in chaos, which overwhelmed it- its condition was universal ruin and darkness.

B. Simmons, “Darkness is a frequent metaphor for evil, misfortune, and death. It appears here that the darkness is more than the absence of light but a distinct entity.”

HOVERED – (Heb) to “incubate.”

John 10:10 – “Abundant life.”

John 6:63(NLT) – “The Spirit gives life.”

Psalm 16:8 – “I set the Lord before me – I shall not be moved.”

Psalm 16:11 – The path of life — Fullness of joy.