08-23-09 PM - H.O.P.E. for the Future

Here is the link for the file H.O.P.E. for the Future

H - Having
O - Only
P - Positive
E - Expectations

1. DON’T BOAST ABOUT TOMORROW:Seek God’s will.

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. Prov. 27:1

Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.“ As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil - James 4:13-16

2. DON’ T WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW

• Matt. 6:26-27; 33-34
• Worry calls God a Liar.
• Worry is stewing without doing.

3. DON’T PROCRASTINATE UNTIL TOMORROW

08-23-09 AM - From Friction to Fellowship

Here is link for the file "From Friction to Fellowship"

1 Cor. 1:10

There is an old saying that says: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
It is better to speak wisdom in peace than correction in hostility.

1. THE REALITY OF FRICTION

1. 1. God has a design for the church.
2. 2. Division in the church.

2. THE REMEDY FOR FRICTION

1. 1. The realization of unity.
2. 2. The rededication to harmony.

• A. Walk in Humility. Lowliness of mind 1Peter 5:5
• B. Walk in Gentleness. Power under control Mt. 26:53
• C. We are to be patient with others. Long-tempered
• D. We are to Forebear others in love. Mutual tolerance Col.3:13

07-22-09 - Series: Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough

Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough

This lesson was taught over 3 different Wednesdays.

Here is the link for Part 1



Here is the link for Part 2



Here is the link for Part 3



An Introduction To Fasting

1 Timothy 4:7-8
But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.

1. Introduction

A hunger for God is the single most important thing that we can have.
1. Introduction

• Through fasting, we allow the “things” of this world to be replaced by the treasures of the Kingdom.
• It is because you have nibbled so long at the table of the world. Your soul is stuffed with small things and there is no room for great. God did not create you for this.

2. Why Most Do Not Fast.

• We fast to move us in a greater position with God.
• The second danger with fasting is not so much spiritual as it is physical.

3. Why Fast?

• Because of the perilous times that surround the Church in our society.
• Because the Church needs a divine empowerment as it has never needed before.
• Because of our own personal needs particularly in a devotion to God and overcoming disobedience and carnality.
• Because the world in general and the Church in particular are crying out for people of character and integrity and such traits can be fostered with fasting as it assists us in overcoming the pull of this world and carnality
• Because we have allowed the “American Dream” to overwhelm our spiritual lives with distractions and the pursuit of many things instead of one thing
• Because we need the will of God to manifest itself in our lives.
• Because our physical bodies could benefit from the poor nutritional habits. We have an abundance of food and medical care but we are not necessarily more healthy
• Because fasting helps us to fight two wars.

4. Jesus Christ and Fasting

Deuteronomy 8:3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.

Deuteronomy 6:16 Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.

Deuteronomy 6:13 Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.

Deuteronomy 8:2-3 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness
(NOTE: As Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit),
to humble thee, and to prove thee
(NOTE: As Jesus was tested or proved),
to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. [3] And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger
(NOTE: As Jesus was made hungry by his own fasting),
and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live
(NOTE: Just as Jesus says to Satan).

The hard lesson in this is that we must hunger for the will of God more than the wonders of God.

5. Conclusion

• It will strengthen prayer.
• It assists us in seeking God’s guidance.
• It sometimes can be an expression of grief.
• It helps to gain deliverance or protection.
• One may fast to express repentance and the return to God.
• It is used to humble ourselves before God.
• It is used to express concern and facilitate the work of the Kingdom of God.

08-16-09 PM - Honor Brings the House Down

Here is the link for the audio of this file: Honor Brings the House Down

Matthew 9:23-26
Matthew 13:53-58

• It all starts with honor.
• What do we honor more than God?

1. Creating a culture that honors Christ.

• Men: Are we honoring Christ with our lives?
  

2. Creating a culture that honors other people.

• Loving those who don't look like us.
• Treating others with the Love of Christ
  

08-16-09 PM - What if You've Been Missing the Key to Life?

Here is the link for the audio of this file: What if You've Been Missing the Key to Life?

OUR NEED
1. SEE WHY JESUS CAME
Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

2. SEE WHAT JESUS SAW
Matthew 9:36 When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd.

Matthew 20:34 Some blind people told Jesus they wanted to see: Deeply moved, Jesus touched their eyes. They had their sight back that very instant, and joined the procession.

Matthew 23:37 Jesus looked out over the city of Jerusalem: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God's messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn't let me.”

3. SEE HOW JESUS LIVED
Matthew 8:20 Jesus said, "Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but I, the Son of Man, have no home of my own, not even a place to lay my head."

4. SEE HOW JESUS DIED


OUR GOAL
Mark 10:43-44 Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all.

1. WHY AM I HERE?

2. WHAT DO I SEE?

3. HOW DO I LIVE?
Mark 8:34-35 "If any of you wants to be my follower," he told them, "you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me. If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will find true life.”

4. HOW WILL I DIE?

08-12-09 - 3 Steps to Healing Prayer

Here is the link for the sermon 3 Steps to Healing Prayer

Rev. Denny Finnegan

I. Getting Grounded in Christ!
Matthew 9:35-38
A. Getting Grounded in Christ’s Heart: He had compassion on them ... (Vs.36)
B. Getting Grounded in Prayer: Ask the Lord of the harvest ...
C. Three-Step Healing Prayer Model: Diagnosis - Prescription - Prognosis
Step #1: Diagnosis - Learning to Listen
Step #2: Prescription - Learning to Discern
Step #3: Prognosis - Completing the Healing

II. Step #1: Diagnosis - Learning to Listen
Definition of Diagnosis: literally means, by or through knowledge or knowing
A basic dictionary definition is, the identification of the nature and cause of something.
A. Three good reasons Why it is important to Listen!
1. James 1:19
2. 1 Kings 19:12
3. Acts 16:16-18
B. What Are We Listening for? Johari Window - four areas of a person’s life:
1) What everyone sees
2) What only they see
3) What they don=t see
4) What no one sees (except God!).

III. Step #2: Prescription - Learning to Discern
Definition of Prescription: In its most basic sense, it means, a written order.

There are two basic questions we will ask:
1. How does the Holy Spirit want us to proceed in ministering to this person.
2. What style of prayer are we to pray?

Let's look at two examples of how Jesus did this ...
Mark 7:32-35
Mark 8:22-25

IV. Step #3: Prognosis - Completing the Healing
Definition of Prognosis: In Greek, it literally means, foreknowledge, perceiving beforehand, prediction. In medicine, it can mean the forecast of the future.

A. Here are just four possibilities:
1) The choices they did not make
2) The choices they did make
3) Actions made accidentally or intentionally that affect us
4) God decides we don’t need to know, but we are still called to minister healing prayer to them

Three specific questions we might ask of the Lord:
1) What comes next?
2) What will maintain healing, or move toward greater healing?
3) What kind of follow-up might the Lord lead to be done?

08-02-09 PM - Unveiled

Here is the link for the audio of this file: Unveiled

2 COR. 3:6-18 8/2/09 PM
1. THE LETTER KILLS: You’ll die under rules.
The law was given to show man that they are sinners and their need for a God.

A. He gave the law to point people to faith.

B. Many today are still in bondage to legalism.
Living under that kind of scrutiny and weight will catch up to you eventually.
It comes out in several ways.

1. One would be a mental break down under the strain of trying to keep all the plates of perfection spinning.
2. Another would be a moral melt down that would cause the individual to stray far from all they knows to be right and true.

2. THE SPIRIT GIVES LIFE: Grace brings freedom!
A. Grace immediately sets you free!
Vs 17 “Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom”.

• Legalism says “Try your hardest” Grace says “Trust in God”.
• Legalism emphasizes “What you do” Grace emphasizes “What God does”.
• Legalism depends on “Your resources” Grace depends on “God’s resources”
• Leg/ focuses on “external rules and regulations” Grace focuses on “Your inner heart and attitude”.
• Leg/ is motivated by a “sense of duty or obligation” Grace is motivated by “A desire to please God because you love Him”.
• Leg/ creates “Bondage, guilt, and frustration” Grace creates “Freedom and joy”.
• Leg/ says “try again, work more, give the maximum effort” Grace says “Receive, trust, abide in Christ, rest”.

The main difference is Legalism say “I resolve to become pleasing to God”.
What do you suppose Grace says? “I rejoice because I am pleasing to God”.
Grace sets you free!

B. Grace continually causes you to reflect God’s glory.
The word glory appears nine times in these few verses.
And it means “shining”

Challenge: Some time this week;
Send a note or personally tell someone who you see the glory of Christ in that you appreciate them reflecting Christ so well.

C. Grace eventually transforms you to be like Jesus.

08-02-09 AM - The Perfect Storm

Here is the link for the audio of this file: The Perfect Storm

There are no sermon notes available.

Prophecy talked about in sermon: