Tag: Encoragement

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Power to Overcome – 15-May-2022

Align by Pastor Marie Esposito
by Pastor Roy Esposito

“Born Again” – a new state of being

It begins with a personal decision with a commitment to that which will allow me to apprehend it.

I must come to the truth that there is no ME apart from my actual life.

I am not separate from my life – I can’t say “I believe” – and then act in a totally opposite manner.

Being Born Again can’t remain just a concept. 

It must translate into what I actually do in my daily interactions IF it is to be meaningful.

Because – if I don’t LIVE it, I will never EXPERIENCE the benefits of what it tangibly means for my life

Without experiencing God’s goodness, it will be hard to believe His promises and plans for me.

Experiencing the goodness that following Jesus affords is foundational to attaining the “Life More Abundant” that He spoke about.

When we receive Jesus as our Lord, we receive LIBERTY.

But without Experiencing His goodness, Liberty can soon devolve into License.

This is because there is a constant conflict within each of us—a battle for control of our minds.

Romans 8:7-9 – “The carnal mind is enmity with the Spirit.”

The solution lies in yielding to the Spirit of God.

Galatians 5:16-17(TPT) – ”As you yield freely and fully to the dynamic life and power of the Holy Spirit, you will abandon the cravings of your self-life.

“For your self-life craves the things that offend the Holy Spirit and hinder Him from living free within you!  And the Holy Spirit’s intense cravings hinder your old self-life from dominating you.  So then, the two incompatible and conflicting forces within you are your self-life of the flesh and the new creation life of the Spirit.”

It is important to understand and acknowledge that the battle we’re engaged in is not with some overpowering cosmic force from without; the battle is WITHIN.

We have to “see” that what seems invincible has ALREADY been defeated by Jesus’ cross. – and act as such.

If not, we will continue to convince ourselves that we are just helpless victims and not Victorious Conquerors.  [see Romans 8:32-39(TPT)]

If we believe we are helpless, we won’t continue to wrestle – we’ll just ‘let it happen to us” – We’re Only Human – right?

Ironically, these patterns of wrong thoughts that lead to wrong actions are not the invincible forces they masquerade as – they’re instead fragile!

They are a simple matter of old habits, feelings, and perceptions we carry about certain things and people.

They are remnants of the “Old Man” and the “Shadow Nature.”

They are typically activated without any reflection.

We probably would not have let them influence us if we had thought things through.

Often these actions of sin are actually contrary to who we really are.

They are rarely the result of deliberation and careful calculations.

Left unchecked, our routine unconscious behavior will manage to keep our deliberate will and conscious mind off-balance and on the defensive.

This causes us to do more wrong through denial, rationalization, the use of misleading words, or outright lies.

Romans 14:17 – “The Kingdom of God is Righteousness, Peace, and Joy in the Holy Spirit.” – Right?

These are INNER conditions of being.

Luke 17:21 – “…for indeed, the Kingdom of God is WITHIN you.”

This is why the battle is fought within:
It’s a matter of what’s IN us that will make the difference in the type of life we’ll live.

John 14:30 – Jesus told them, “…the ruler of this world is coming, but he has NOTHING IN ME.”

The struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane was a matter of Jesus’ inner man – His mind and emotions – being hammered, trying to get Him to Distrust the Father.

But it was what was NOT in Jesus that kept Him impervious to the attack of the enemy; ultimately, the ruler of this world had nothing in Him! – and He was aware of that!

Yielding to the Spirit and becoming Born Again allows the Spirit’s power to keep us from being deceived.

We are able to realize that nothing has the power to lead us into wrong thoughts or actions except that which we have given power by permitting it to remain in us.

And the most dangerous ones are the “little things” that we leave unattended to because we regard them as “normal.”

But we are no longer normal if we’re “Born Again.”  We are a new species(new creation) that hold heavenly characteristics.

Experiencing it will seal it as our “New Normal.”

Fortunately, God has equipped us for victory in the battle.

2 Corinthians 10:4-6(TPT) “…our spiritual weapons are energized with divine power to effectively dismantle the defenses behind which people hide.  We can demolish every deceptive fantasy that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude raised in defiance of God’s true knowledge.  Like prisoners of war, we capture every thought and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One.

Since we are armed with such dynamic weaponry, we stand ready to punish any trace of rebellion as soon as you CHOOSE COMPLETE OBEDIENCE.”

We will have victory when we choose, fully and freely, to surrender the old stuff to the Spirit.

It can be as simple as, “Yes, Lord, I want to be Born Again.”

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A Mother’s Influence – 5/8/2022

Mother’s Day Encouragement by Pastor Marie
A Mother’s Influence by Pastor Roy

5-8-22

Today is a day set aside to honor mothers.

Not everyone is a mother but all of us Have mothers.

There are many types of mothers: good ones, bad ones, biological, spiritual even DEN mothers  for the Cub Scouts among us

It’s been said that Mother’s Day is traditionally the day when children give something back to their mothers for all the Spit they produce while washing dirty faces, all the old gum they held in their hands, all the noses they wiped, and all the bloody knees they ‘made well’ with their kisses.

This is a day mothers are rewarded for washing sheets in the middle of the night, driving kids to school when they missed the bus, and enduring all those football and soccer games in the rain.

Mothers hold a very influential part in our lives.

I believe the greatest, most important job in the world is being a mother.

Mothers are teachers, disciplinarians, and cleaning ladies; some are gardeners and landscapers. Mothers are Doctors, Lawyers, Psychologists, and counselors– chauffeurs and coaches.

Mothers are peacemakers, Nurses, educators, accountants, and entertainers

Mothers are developers of personalities, and molders of attitudes.

Mothers are soft voices saying, ”I love you, it’s gonna be OK.”  

Mothers are a LINK to GOD – they are the first impression of God’s love for us.

For all this and much, much more – we celebrate moms today.

Mother’s Day began as an early Christian festival in Europe called “Mothering Sunday” – and the faithful were called back to their original Mothe Church

It was designated to be on the 4th Sunday of Lent.

In the USA two women were integral to the celebration of Mother’s Day: Ann Jarvis and Julia Howe

Just before the Civil War, and although she had no children of her own,  Ann Jarvis started “Mother’s Day Work Clubs to teach young mothers how to care for their children

These clubs became a unifying force in a region of the country still divided by the war.

In 1868, “Mother’s Friendship Day” began  and both union and confederate soldiers gathered to promote reconciliation

1870 – Julia Howe wrote the “Mother’s Day Proclamation” which was a call to mothers to unite for world peace.

1914 Pres. Woodrow Wilson established the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day, with no mention of reconciliation nor world peace.

Mothers are a conveyance of generational spiritual blessings and anointings: and a great catalyst in faith-building.

2 Timothy 1:4b-5 (TPT)  “I’m filled with joy as I think of your strong faith that passed down through your family line. It began with your grandmother, Lois, who passed it on to your dear mother, Eunice. And it’s clear that you too are following in the footsteps of their godly example.”

Today, we’re gathered to make a public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.  We love you moms!

End with a column written by Erma Bombeck:

On the Day Mothers Were Created
-Erma Bombeck

On the day God created mothers He had already worked overtime.

An angel said to Him, “Lord, you sure are spending a lot of time on this one.”

The Lord turned and said, ”Have you read the specs on this model? She is completely washable, but not plastic. She is to have 180 moving parts, all of them replaceable. She is to have a kiss that will heal everything from a broken leg to a broken heart.

She is to have a lap that disappears whenever she stands up.  She is to be able to function on black coffee and leftovers.  And she is supposed to have six pairs of hands.”

“Six pairs of hands!”, said the angel, “that’s impossible.”

“It’s not the six pairs of hands that’s the problem,” said the Lord, “It’s the three pairs of eyes.

She’s supposed to have one pair that sees through closed doors so that whenever she says, “What are you kids doing in there?” She already knows what they’re doing in there.

She has another pair in the back of her head to see all the things she’s not supposed to see.  And she has one right in front that can look at a child and who goofed and communicate love and understanding without saying a word.”

“That’s too much”, said the angel, “You can’t put that much into one model.  Why don’t you rest for a while and resume your creating tomorrow?”

“No, I can’t”, said the Lord, “I’m close to creating someone very much like myself.  I’ve already come up with a model who can heal herself when she’s sick – and who can feed a family of six with one pound of hamburger and who can persuade a nine-year-old to take a shower.”

Then the angel looked at the model more closely and said, ”She’s too soft.”

“Oh, but she’s tough”, said the Lord, “You’d be surprised at how much this mother can do.”

“Can she think?” asked the angel “Not only can she think”, said the Lord, “but she can reason and compromise and persuade.”

Then the angel reached over and touched her cheek. “This one has a leak,” he said. “I told you, that you couldn’t put that much in one model.”

“That’s not a leak”, said the Lord, “That’s a tear.”

“What’s a tear for?” asked the angel.

“Well, it’s for joy and sadness, disappointment and for pride.”

“You’re a genius,” said the angel.

And the Lord said, “Oh. I didn’t put that there, it’ comes as part of the package.”

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Pain Relief – 22-Aug-2021

Suffering and His Identity from Pastor Marie

Pain Relief

1 Corinthians 15:45-46 (TPT)

”The spiritual life is to be pursued as though NO spiritual life exists because it is not really a separate life — Only ONE Life exists, and that is from God which is given to us moment to moment.”

Christianity — Deconstruction and Reconstruction surrounding CHAOS

Chaos — a cause of instability and PAIN:  Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual

General Pain — 3 Types : 

  1. Burns, cuts, lacerations — damage to organs, muscles, bones, etc.
  2. Inflammation — swelling, throbbing, etc.
  3. Neuropathy — excessive and abnormal sensitivity: magnifies ordinary sensory outputs and converts them into pain

External Energy used for relief; Massage therapy, Sonic Heat, Hydro-thermal

Emotional and Spiritual Neuropathy  – constant emotional pain, lacking peace in their minds and hearts

John 14: 27 Jesus’ peace

  1. Restores to ONENES
  2. Single-minded focus
  3. Clears confusion
  4. Stability

“World’s” peace — lack of conflict

James 1:8 — “A double-minded man is UNSTABLE in all of his ways.”

Unstable Mind — yield Confusion — Doubt — Shakey Faith, causing “Spiritual Sensory Overload.”

S.S.O. — sends wrong signals to our minds and spirits that cause pain by magnifying untruthful messages

Pain is real — messages are NOT– “Nobody likes you.” — Too fat/ skinny/ tall/short. Etc

Negative messages – common goal: Pain, Sickness, and Death

Philippians 4:4-7 “Rejoice — communicate with God  — be Grateful.”

Philippians 4:7 “…and the Peace of God will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” — Because of your RELATIONSHIP with Him

Your Hearts — will receive inner peace

Your Minds  — will gain Clarity of thought

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Forsaking Pride – 8-Mar-2021

Holy Spirit’s Moods

by Pastor Marie

Forsaking Pride

by Pastor Roy

  • God saves us in order to transform us!
  • Transformation requires change = UNCOMFORTABLE.
  • Growing in God = becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable
  • Faith, Trust, and HUMILITY needed to move forward.
  • James 4:8 – As we acknowledge our sin, ask for forgiveness and turn from self-focus, we will “draw near to God.”
  • Only God has the power for transformation and holds our destiny in His hands.
  • Jeremiah 29:11
  • Humility is the key to enhanced SEEING.
  • God is not looking for talented or intellectual people – but for people who are YIELDED.
  • Matthew 11:25  “Learn of Me…”
  • We learn by LISTENING.  Stop TALKING, yield, “wake up!”
  • 1 Peter 5:5 “God gives grace to the HUMBLE…”
  • It is actually the proud who RESIST God’s grace because they do not ask for it. 
  • SIN is not overcome by Church rules of behavior nor through purging the sinner.
  • 1 Peter 4:8 – “Love COVERS a multitude of sin.”
  • 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 “Love’s” method  – “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in TRUTH – it always trusts, always hopes.”
  • Love considers UNTRUTH – Evil.
  • Remember: Jesus did not condemn sinners – he condemned HYPOCRITES.
  • Hypocrite – one who excuses his own sin while condemning the sins of others
  • Many times, a hypocrite does not discern his hypocrisy – he is not AWAKE enough to do so, and the corruption in his own heart is never confronted.
  • Not seeking mercy or grace, he receives NONE and therefore has none to offer others.
  • Since he is always under God’s judgment – judging is all he can offer others.
  • Confronting personal sin takes HUMILITY.
  • James 4:6 – God’s grace is drawn to the humble
  • Humility is the sub-structure of transformation.  It is the essence of ALL virtues.
  • All people at some point in life will be confronted with the impurities of their hearts.
  • Our response will determine our direction forward.
  • It is at these crossroads of life that both holy men and hypocrites are bred.
  • Mattew 24:14 – “Many are called…”
  • Sanctification starts not with rules but with forsaking PRIDE.
  • Purity begins with a determined refusal to hide from the condition of our hearts.
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Release The Power 17-Jan-2021

Inner Healing

Encouragement by Pastor Marie

Release the Power

Sermon by Pastor Roy
  • Prayer –
    • Petition
    • Meditative
    • Contemplative
    • Etc. …
  • Effective Intercession – Requires intimacy with God: knowledge of His ways, principles, and purposes.
  • Ephesians 3:19-21
  • Know (ginosko) – knowledge that has an Inception, a Progress, and an Attainment.
  • Fullness (play-row-mah) – a full measure and completion.
  • Exceeding/Abundant – (Huper-per-is-os) – “More than More”
  • Ephesians 3:20 (Wuest) – “in the measure of power which is operating in us.”
  • Measure – (Kata) – power that is distributed by us as it is measured in us.
  • James 5:16
  • Effectual – active operation or the working of and it is effectual results.
  • James 5:16 (Wuest) – “A prayer of a righteous person is able to do much as IT operates.”
  • It does not cause GOD to operate – IT operates!
  • Luke 17:21 – “The Kingdom of God is WITHIN you.”
  • Our job: RELEASE IT!
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RCF’s 25th Year -“Grace Upon Grace” – 03-Jan-2021

Identity

Identity – Pastor Marie

Encouraging word from
Pastor Marie

Word for RCF’s 25th Year
“Grace Upon Grace”

RCF’s 25th Year – “Grace Upon Grace” – by Pastor Roy

RCF’s 25th Year – “Grace Upon Grace”
from Pastor Roy

  • Isaiah 43:1-2 – “Through the waters”
  • Waters – The raging heathen, CHAOS – life, sustenance, fertility, blessings, refreshing
  • Zechariah 4:6 – “Not by might, nor by power, but  by My Spirit says the Lord of hosts.”
  • Might – Strength by FORCE – physical stamina
  • Power – Capacity or ability: physical, emotional, spiritual
  • Philippians 2:13 – “…for it is God who works in you, both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
  • All that is gained spiritually comes only from God’s inspiration and empowerment.
  • “2021 will be a year of greater spiritual understanding – greater revelations of Jesus.
  • It will be a year of the power of His love AMPLIFIED
    • words of insight that will render COMFORT to the COMFORTLESS
    • Works of a magnitude to alter the course of the lives.
  • Revelation 3:8, 10 – Word to encourage RCF, a Faithfull Church
  • Test – (Greek –Pie-Rad-Zoe) – The testing of one’s loyalty, strength, opinions, disposition, faith, patience, character, condition, – Determines the way one will proceed

– John 1:14, 16 – “Grace Upon Grace”

  • Ezekiel 40 – Vision of the prophetic Temple:
    1. Gates – Entrances
    2. Archways – Structural supports
    3. Windows – Prophetic insight
  • Kings – Spiritual authority
  • Elders – Spiritual Maturity
  • Mark 6:47-48, John 6:18-21
  • Capernaum – “Village of COMFORT”
  • From His fullness, we will receive a new perspective of life this year…

Grace Upon Grace

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Potentiality – 13-Dec-2020

The Road Not Taken

Encouragement by Pastor Roy

Potentiality

by Pastor Marie Esposito

Philippians 3:14

Potential generally refers to a currently unrealized ability to become something.

Romans 12:1-2  “1 I  beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” 2. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

By following this process of renewing our minds we are able to reinstate God’s original INTENTION for us which is the RECOVERY of many POTENTIALITIES  of the human mind and soul according to HIS DESIGN BEFORE THE FALL.

Because of His mercies and only by His power…the power of the redemption of His blood…can we do this.

‘Transformed’- (Greek: metamorphousthe) having a change of heart. A metamorphosis…

‘Conformed’ easily swayed “like a leaf blown about by the wind.”

REDEMPTION’S PROVISION OF POWER

This POWER TRANSFORMS OUR THOUGHTS… which lead to a change in our purposes… which leads to a change in our actions… which leads to changes in our habits… which sets the course for the future.

Jeremiah 29:11

Psalms 91:9,10

GOD IS GOOD.

“God of all comfort, Father of mercies, Who heals all my diseases.” has become a song that I sing in my spirit.

GOD’S INTENTION is to draw us into loving intimacy with Himself and to step into the realm of His glory where abundance and all good things are.

HIS POTENTIAL in us.

“The outline of His intention is the finishing line He intends us to reach.” G Cooke

God of all comfort, Father of mercies, who heals all our diseases, we love You.