What Am I Becoming?

by Pastor Roy Esposito

Romans 6:23
Sin — The expectation of death.
Death — The concept of taking life; a wasting away

John 1:4 – “In Him was LIFE –” ZOE
Zoe — The principal of Life

Galatians 4:19 — Christ FORMED
Formed — 1. Mor-fah-oo– an inner change of reality 2. Schema — a semblance of the original

Mark 1:16-17 (Passion) — “— I will transform you into men who catch people –“

How to Identify a Disciple of Christ

1. John 13:35 (Passion) — love demonstrated
2. Put s faith into action — Galatians 6:1-9 (Passion)
3. Fulfills the duties of a Minister of Reconciliation — 2 Corinthians 5:18-20

Ephesians 4:26-27 — ” Be angry and sin not!”
Proverbs 4:4

Romans 5:12 — Sin: a doorway to death

“When you get down in the mud to wrestle a pig, you both get dirty but the pig likes it!” — LBJ

1 Corinthians 5:6 — leaven
Luke 6:14-16
John 12:16 – Judas: a thief
Acts 7:60 — Stephen stoned

2 Timothy 3:5 — Christian Pharisees
Love — the power of godliness

Godly Judgment -- a balance of Ethics and Wisdom. 

Questions: "What Am I Becoming?"
          "Do I carry the sweet fragrance of the Savior or the acrid stench of hell?"

The Gift of “Night Vision”
by Pastor Roy Esposito

1 Cor 12:10 — The Gift of Discerning of Spirits — The ability to detect the true source of circumstances or motives of people.

1. Desire and ask God for it. 2. Allow by yielding to God

Allowing/Yielding — 1. Trusting in God’s good intentions for hope and a future of blessings — Jer 29:11-13
2. Staying attentive to the Holy Spirit’s leading.

Rapid change >> Uncertainty >> Anxiety >> Stress >> Irrational Thiunking >> Irrational Actions

2Cor 10:5 — Taking irrationality captive to the Truth of Christ

1 Cor 2:6-16 (Passion) — God’s revealing the keys to “mysteries” He’s prepared and ordained for this time.

“God doesn’t hide things from us but for us.” — Rick Joyner

“Pitfalls can occur through the tedium of daily life wherein the Holy Things become Common and thereby lose their power for transformation. So stay alert !!” — PR

The Gift of Discerning of Spirits — the ability to perceive the obscure and concealed things of God: To see the hidden things (Oscura) in order to not be blinded by (Tinieblas) evil.

Darkness — Oscura — hidden
Tinieblas — Blindness

1 Cor 2:16 – The “Mind of Christ” — Knows fully the things of God. It perceives God’s instructions and “sees” clearly through life’s obscurity.

Golgatha — The Place of the Skull — 1. Where Jesus was crucified. 2. Where our old mindsets must be crucified.

Mindsets — Attitudes, thought patterns, random external thoughts

2Cor 10:5-6 — ” Every thought that enters our mind is alive and wants to remain so. We must put them to death to become alive.” — PR

1 Cor 2:15 — Spirit man discerns “all things.” — The good wolf from the evil one!

Rom 14:23b (Passion) — anything not springing from faith is sin!

Rom 5:12 (Passion) — Death is the result of sin.

“Unsurrendered sin creates in us the capacity to absorb death.” — PR

People learn to adjust to the world they live in.

Old Nature — learns to live with the expectation of death. — the concept of “taking life.”

Jn 1:4 — In Jesus — ” Zoe” — The principle or concept of life — the reality of being alive in God.

Eternal Life — Not just in duration of time but in the quality of the life lived.

The Sacrament of the Present Moment — Jean-Pierre Caussade

God’s Joy: Our Strength

Nehemiah 8:5-12_(NKJV) – The people greatly rejoiced because they understood.

Nehemiah rebuilt the wall

Ezra rebuilt the people.

The Watergate – The Source of Truth

Dis– Courage – to be separated from our courage

Nehemiah 8:3 – “…and all the ears of the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.”

Rapid Change >>> Uncertainty >>> Anxiety >>> Irrational Thinking and Actions

2 Kings 2:3,5 – School of the prophets

1 Kings 19:21 – Elijah’s prophetic mantle was costly

“God has called us not to wonder about the future but to help create it!” – PR

Matthew 6:9-10

Where Is This Storm Coming From?

by Pastor Roy Esposito

“GOD DOESN’T USE OUR SUFFERINGS TO TEACH US LESSONS!”

Acts 17:28

“God is always WITH us and suffers with us when we suffer” – PR

Gerald May – “Union with God is never acquired nor received; it is realized by revelation.”

Colossians 4:6_(Passion) – Drenched by grace – tempered by truth and clarity.

Darkness:

1. Oscura – things that are hidden.
2. Tinieblas – things that are blind.

“It is that very blindness – the slavery to our idols and attachments – that God’s hiddenness is working to heal.” – Gerald May

Hebrews 12:11-12 _(Passion) – “Trained” — _(NKJV)

Hosea 2:14 – “Trouble to Hope” – “Servants to Betrothed”

Psalm 84: 5-7_(Passion)

Two Storms – Two Purposes

1. Mark 4:35-41_(NKJV)          2. Jonah 1:4-6_(NKJV)

Please hear and believe:

God will not allow a storm to arise in your life without first providing you with the tools to calm it.

“The spiritual tools to calm the storm are already in the boat!” – PR

Ephesians 6 – “Shield of Faith” – Quenches the fiery darts –

Quench – to cool suddenly by the immersion in water as in the tempering process of steel or glass giving added strength through the process.

PRESS to Re-Set

by Pastor Roy Esposito

Luke 16:16_(NKJV)
John 1:17 – Moses -> Law – Jesus Christ -> Grace and Truth
John 1:17_(NLT) – “Grace and truth” -> God’s unfailing love and faithfulness
Luke 16:16_(Passion)
John 1:29 – the Lamb who takes away sin!

How to “Press In”

1. Pray with passion, belief, and anticipation
2. Willingness to face the truth
3. Willingness to confront evil head on
4. Expect to participate in the miraculous

“Pressing In” – is embarking on the journey of faith;
a story written by God where YOU are the main protagonist who clings to the “Superior Truth” – God’s unfailing love and faithfulness

Mark 9:24 – “Lord, I BELIEVE, HELP ME IN MY UNBELIEF.”

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit – The divine empowerment to provide a demonstration of the reality of God to a world yet in darkness.

“Evil is not some outside, irresistible cosmic force that overcomes us and compels us to wrongdoing.” – PR

“Nothing has the power to make me do wrong EXCEPT that to which I have GIVEN power by permitting to remain in me.” – PR

“THE DEVIL DIDN’T MAKE YOU DO IT!!”

Romans 3:20
John 3:21_(Passion)
John 11:12_(Passion)

The Power and Purpose of Pentecost

by Pastor Roy Esposito

John 1:14
Revelation 19:13  — “His name is called The Word of God“
Word — Logos  —   a transmission of thought and explanation; a declaration that reveals God Himself.
Psalm 119:89 (Passion)
Matthew 24:35
John 20:19-23 (Passion)
Genesis 2;7
Matthew 16:19

Mark 5:25-34 “Made Well” — Sozo —

1. Physically  —  Healed
2. Spiritually — Saved

James 5:16  — Effective Prayer — Power to bind the Strongman

PR version — ” The power to bind the Strongman who causes a person to “miss the mark” (sin) is available to all those in the Body of Christ who will intentionally and passionately release the Divinely infused Word of God (Logos) towards that end.”

Matthew 16:15-18
Matthew 12:40, Ephesians 4:7-10, 1 Peter 3:18-20a  — Jesus descended to proclaim the victory of the Cross!

“Skin In The Game”

by Pastor Roy Esposito

James 5:16b
1 Corinthians 12:16 – Prayer of Faith – Gift of Faith
Ephesians 3:20 – (Wuest Trans.) “…according to the power which is operative…” The “measure of faith” – Kata – amount and distribution.  – Faith requires action!
Matthew 7:7 – “Ask–Seek–Knock!”
The Incarnation:  En-carne – “in flesh” – God put “skin in the game!”
The Incarnation of God through Christ began with Jesus and is on-going through His body of believers!

The Body of Christ
1. The person of Jesus
2. God’s presence in the Eucharist at Holy Communion
3. The body of believers still on Earth  —  1 Corinthians 12:27, 1 Corinthians 6:15
Romans 8:29 — Jesus:  “– the first of many sons.
“Theist — one who believes in a transcendent God
Christian — believes in a transcendent God who is still physically present on Earth through Christ’s Body.

“To pray as a Christian requires intentional and concrete involvement in bringing about whatever is being asked for by being willing to give
“incarnational skin” to the prayer.  -PR

Revelations 5:8 – golden bowls filled with the prayers of the saints
Revelations 8:3-5 (NKJV)
1. Coals of fire from the altar —  the release of God’s mighty power
2. Voices  —  carry the Word of God
3. Lightning Strikes  —  illuminate Divine truth  (Psalm 97:4)
4. Thunder  — the manifestation of power (Job 26:14, Psalm 29:3-4)
5. Earthquake  — the shaking of the kingdoms of man
6. Not acts of judgment but of purification.  (Isaiah 6:6-7, Luke 12:49)

Victory in prayer will go to the persistent not the angry!  -PR

Praying Effectively

by Pastor Roy Esposito

• Ephesians 1:17-18 (Passion)
• Luke 11: 5-13
• Hebrews 4:16 (Passion)

James 5:16b
Effective Prayer – is a prayer that possesses the strength to bind the “Strongman”
Strength – given by God to all that ask.
Fervent – to display passion and intensity; (Syn) = Blazing -> Glowing -> Torrid

A “Visio Divina” – a blazing hot fireball of Faith, filled with divine power directed at a problem!

Romans 12:3 – We each have been given a measure of faith.
Hebrews 11:1 – a substance that can be applied to a problem.
Romans 3:21-22 – made righteous b/c of the Christ within.
1 Corinthians 3:16 – Temples of God

Temple (Greek) – Naos – Holy of Holies

John 7:38 – “innermost being” – (Greek) – Kolia – Womb – from which flows fountains of living water.

Revelation 22:1 – Water flowing continuously from the Throne and the Lamb.

Effective Prayer – Opens the spigot for the Water of Life to flow out.
Trusting Faith – The viaduct through which it’s dispersed.

Psalm 115:16 – Co-laboring aspect for prayer to be effective.

Ezekiel 47:1-12 – Ankles – Knees – Waist – SWIM!!!

Each angelic measurement is symbolic of another MEASURE of Faith being layered in. -PR

Ezk 47:9

Valley – dry and waterless areas of life.
Sea = People
2 Rivers – Co-labor

Ephesians 3:20-21 – “according to the power that works IN us – the Church -“

“Exceedingly, Abundantly” – (Greek) – Huperperisis – add more to abundant!
Romans 5:20

Matthew 7:7 – “Ask, Seek, Knock”
Ephesians 3:20 (Wuest Translation) – “… in the measure of power which is operative in us.”

Measure – (Greek) Kata – not only the amount of power but also the dispersion and distribution of that power.

Faith – requires ACTION
Distribution – is an ACTION.

“— if we do not lose heart”

by Pastor Roy Esposito

“Ideas don’t change people on a deep level – only encounters with God do.” – PR

Strength – Is given by God – Nehemiah 8:10, Psalm 8:2, Psalm 29:11

Courage – Is a decision of the heart to take action.   It must be taken!

Mark 15:43 (NKJV) – Joseph of Arimathea

Dis-couragement – “Anti-Courage”

Jeremiah 29:10 (NKJV)

Ezra 4:4-5 (NKJV) – KJV – “– weakened the hands of the people of Judah.”

Proverbs 12:25 (Passion) 

Life-Giving Words

1. God is always good in His thoughts and intentions toward us.

2. He is FOR our success.

3. His power and authority are unaffected by earthly circumstances, therefore,

4. He is not hindered by our limitations.

“We must stay aware of the difficulties which resist our faith assignments but not directed by them.” – PR

Romans 4:19-21 (KJV) – Abraham “staggered NOT in unbelief”

Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:3 – Abraham believed God – accounted as righteousness

“Discouragement can only affect us when we look at our circumstances without considering the faithfulness and integrity of God’s promises to help us through them.” – PR

Luke 18:1 – “— pray at all times and not lose heart.”

“Our faith is a viaduct through which God’s graces flo Perfection – Maturation

“In order for faith to mature, situations, where our faith alone can sustain us, are required.”

“Faith arises within the context of resistance.” – PR

Hebrews 11:1-3 (Passion)

Romans 1:17 – God is revealed faith to faith.

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

“Shall live” – (Heb– chayah) – be animated – to breathe-

Faith is not a method or belief system.  It is an action that’s lived!

Enemy’s purpose – to remove courage from our hearts; to depress us and cause us to embrace unbelief.

Hebrews 10:35-29 (Passion)

Receive Strength / Take Courage
by Pastor Roy Esposito

Genesis 2:16-17 – Two trees in the Garden

Tree of Choice — represents human autonomy or self-rule

Tree of Choice — puts God in a category of having to mentally choose to receive Him.

Luke 10:38-42 (Passion)
KJV — “Why are you troubled and worried ?”

Worry — Suggests a preoccupation with things that can cause anxiety, stress, and pressure.
A-S & P — causes Sorrow which when sustained creates a Depressed Viewing Platform

Proverbs 15:15
“How you do anything is how you’ll do everything.” — PR

Acts 10:38
Luke 4:18
Ephesians 2:10

Beliefs — Depend on perceptions, past experiences and circumstances.
They are a product of the choices our minds make.

Faith — Is a gift given by God. — 1 Corinthians 12:9
It is a fruit of the Spirit of God’s love. — Galatians 5:22-23 – “Faith that prevails.”

Fear — the main blocking agent to Faith

“If there’s an area of your life where you are particularly fearful you probably have a calling there!” — PR

Exodus 4:10
Exodus 3:10-12

Receiving Faith depends on two things: 1. Strength 2. Courage

Deuteronomy 31:6
Joshua 1:6-7

“Be Strong” — (Heb) — also means — “Receive Strength !” — God’s Proclamation for strength.

Matthew 28: 19-20
Ephesians 1:3

Ephesians 6:16 — “The Shield of Faith” will quench EVERY fiery dart of the enemy!
Ephesians 6:10-18 (Passion)
John 16:33 (AMP) — “Take Courage!”

Strength comes from God but Courage must be taken! — PR