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This is the podcast of Woodward First Assembly in Woodward, Oklahoma, where Brad Smith is the Lead Pastor.
Episodes
Thursday May 16, 2019
Thursday May 16, 2019
Tonight we continue our midweek series Mysteries Of The Kingdom.
This evening Pastor Brad teaches on The Parable Of The Mustard Seed.
Pastor's Notes:
Matthew 13:31-32(NKJV)
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 13:31-32 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, (32) which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches."
INTRODUCTION
Good evening, everybody!
I certainly hoped you enjoyed last week as we started this brand new series entitled “Mysteries Of The Kingdom”. We are going to look at what the Scriptures tell us about the Kingdom Jesus so often spoke about.
Last week, we looked at the parable of the spoil. This week, I will teach you on “The Parable of the Mustard Seed”.
Read the text with me one more time.
Matthew 13:31-32 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, (32) which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches."
1. THE MUSTARD SEED
- THE PLANT ITSELF...
1. The mustard plant is well known for its hot-flavored seeds
2. Among seeds sown in a garden it was generally the smallest
3. As a plant, it reaches ten, sometimes fifteen feet in height
4. In the fall of the year, its branches have become rigid, and the plant often serves as a shelter for birds of many kinds
- PROVERBIAL USES OF THE MUSTARD SEED...
1. The mustard seed was used frequently to describe anything that is small in its beginning
2. Jesus used it on another occasion to describe one's faith -cf. Mt 17:20
[With this understanding of the mustard plant and its seeds, perhaps we are better able to appreciate the meaning of the parable itself
2. THE MEANING OF THE PARABLE
- THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN WOULD HAVE A SMALL BEGINNING...
1. Old Testament prophecy foretold this:
a. Concerning the Messiah - cf. Isa 11:1; Isa 53:2-3
b. Concerning the kingdom - cf. Dan 2:35; Is 60:22(starting out as a stone, becoming a great mountain)
- BUT ITS TREMENDOUS GROWTH WOULD BE ITS HUMBLE BEGINNINGS...
1. Just as the "small stone" of Dan 2:35 "became a great mountain and filled the whole earth"
2. The growth of the church in the first century A.D. certainly confirmed the truth of Jesus' parable
a. The 120 disciples grew to over 3000 just in one day - Acts 2:41-42
b. It was soon about 5000 - Acts 4:4
c. The number of the disciples continued to "multiply"
1) In Jerusalem - Acts 6:7
2) Throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria – Acts 9:31
d. Years later, there were "myriads" of believers just in Jerusalem alone - Acts 21:20
3. Even today, we see the growth and influence of the kingdom of heaven in lives of believers around the world!
- IT'S GROWTH WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO THE WORLD...
1. In the parable, Jesus spoke of how "the birds of the air come and nest in its branches"
2. What did Jesus mean? He does not say, but the kingdom of God is certainly a blessing to all who take refuge in its "branches"
a. Ex. "for the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" - Rom 14:17
b. To those seeking rest for their weary souls, the King offers His tender invitation to come to Him and enter His kingdom of rest - Mt 11:28-30
What about today? The Kingdom of Heaven continues to grow and spread out its branches to those who will accept it, certainly. But can we ever expect growth similar to the first century?
Consider a few thoughts about...]
3. THE GROWTH OF THE KINGDOM TODAY
- THERE IS THE "MATHEMATICAL POSSIBILITY"...
1. Beginning with just twenty disciples, each converting just one
person a year, and their converts doing the same...
2. ...the growth would be like a mustard seed!
a. End of year 1 - 40
b. End of year 5 - 640
c. End of year 10 - 20,480
d. End of year 15 - 655,360
e. End of year 20 - 20,971,520
f. End of year 25 - 1,342,177,280
-- All it takes is for each person to bring one soul to Christ each and every year!
Look at the AG stats………
The Assemblies of God (AG), officially the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, is a group of over 140 autonomous but loosely associated national groupings of churches which together form the world's largest Pentecostal denomination.[2] With over 300,000 ministers and outstations in over 212 countries and territories serving approximately 57 to 60 million adherents worldwide,[3][4][5] it is the sixth largest international Christian group of denominations.[6]
That’s just AG……not Baptist, Methodist, etc.
- THERE IS CERTAINLY THE "SPIRITUAL POSSIBILITY"...
1. We have the same "seed" of the kingdom, the Word of God!
a. A "seed" which is incorruptible, that lives and abides forever - 1 Peter 1:23-25
b. A "seed" capable of producing what God intends - Isaiah 55:10-11
2. While the first two parables remind us that not all will accept the Word of God, this parable declares that the kingdom will grow!
CONCLUSION
Sunday May 12, 2019
Sunday May 12, 2019
This morning we continue our series with a self titled message called Driven By Eternity.
Pastors Notes:
TEXT
2 Corinthians 5:1-11 NKJV
For we know that if our earthly [a]house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our [b]habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as [c]a guarantee.
6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
INTRODUCTION
Good morning, everyone!
We’re so very glad that all of you are here today! If you missed last week, I preached a passionate message entitled “People Of The Spirit”. I shared with you the history of our church and movement, and endeavored to show you we have a long history of passionately proclaiming the Gospel.
Today, I want to talk with you from the title of our series, “Driven By Eternity”.
ILLUSTRATION
To full understand the concept of a people being “Driven By Eternity”, I feel like we need to understand the definition as a whole.
Look at what Websters Online says:
1. operated, moved, or controlled by a specified person or source of power."a chauffeur-driven limousine"motivated or determined by a specified factor or feeling."a market-driven response to customer needs"2. (of a person) relentlessly compelled by the need to accomplish a goal; very hard-working and ambitious.
Both of these words describe what it means to be driven. To have a drive toward something means to be passionate about something.
TRANSITION
I’d submit to you this morning that we need to have a passion for souls!
At the end of the day, all that really matters is reaching people for Jesus Christ.
It needs to drive us when we get up in the morning. It should drive us when we are about our day. It should consume our thoughts upon our laying down. BACKGROUND
This very thing is precisely what Paul gave his life for. After his conversion, Paul tried to right some wrongs that he had done in his previously life.
That’s why he made the statement in Romans 1:14 NKJV “I am a debtor…..”
In this particular passage, he is showing us that urgency in which we should share the good news.
Look with me and let’s study this together. APPLICATION
The Frailty of Life (vs. 1-3)
- In the context of this verse, Paul calls this earthy body a “tent”.
- A tent is a temporary structure that usually doesn’t have the appearance of something glorious.
- That’s the way our bodies are. They are meant to be temporal.
- It truly gives us the reality that death is imminent.
2. The Anticipation of Eternity (vs. 4-8)
- The book of Ecclesiastes says that God has placed eternity in our hearts.
- Some may deny it, but I truly believe we long for eternity!
- Paul writes and says “God has prepared us for this.”
- As believers for sure, this world is not our home. We are longing for Heaven!
- Whether we like it or not, we are leaving!
3. Certainty of Judgment (vs. 9-11)
- As a believer, we have an appearance to make!
- Where? It will be before the judgement seat of Christ!
- This my dear friends is why we persuade men!
- We must be driven by an eternity focus!
CONCLUSION
In light of this, how does that make you feel like? I’m telling you that we must get busy doing the Master’s work!
In the words of the late Leonard Ravenhill, “Are the things you’re living for worth Christ dying for?”
Friday May 10, 2019
Friday May 10, 2019
Tonight we start a new mid-week series that Pastor Brad has titled, "Mysteries Of The Kingdom." In This series he will be breaking down the parables the Jesus taught in regard to building the Kingdom of God. Tonight's parable is about The Soil found in Luke 8:4-15 (NKJV).
Monday May 06, 2019
Monday May 06, 2019
This morning Pastor Brad starts a new series he calls Driven By Eternity with a sermon titled People Of Spirit.
Pastor's Notes:
TEXT
Mark 16:14-20 NKJV
14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who [a]believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they[b] will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
INTRODUCTION
Good morning, everybody!
I’m so glad each and every one of you are here. This morning, we are going to start a brand new sermon series entitled “Driven By Eternity”.
Over the next three weeks, we’ll be looking at the mission of the church and what we are called to.
Last week, I preached about the necessity of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Today, I want to preach to you about “ People of The Spirit.
BACKGROUND
In our text, we see Jesus have a conversation with His disciples about the work they were to do. He accompanied that with soul willing, along with accompanying signs of supernatural power such as healing, deliverance, tongues, and casting out demons. All of these were to follow after the Holy Spirit would be poured out, which is what we learned about last week.
Yet, verse 20 is what I wanted to lock in on. It says:
“And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word through the accompanying signs. Amen”.
These people went out and preached the Gospel, believed God, and saw the world turned upside down.
The Book of Acts is actually a historical record of the formation and mission of the church.
In Acts, you see this brand new church that was formed in Jerusalem. They had received the power of the Holy Spirit.
They received opposition and persecution, but with God’s help, they pressed forward.
Souls were being saved, disciples were being baptized, and corrupted culture was being challenged. (We should still be doing this today!).
Acts records the very missionary journeys that the early Apostles did, spreading the Gospel to all of the known world at that time.
TRANSITION
Yet my friend, you and I have the same responsibility and are a part of the same mission: To share Jesus Christ and to warn people about eternity.
That’s what is truly great about our church.
Let me take you on a journey.
APPLICATION
Our Past
- Let’s look at our past.
- Denomination believers heard about a prayer meeting in California.
- Many went there and received the Baptism of the Spirit.
- In this revival, people were awakened to eternity and the soon coming of Jesus.
- Out of this revival formed many groups, but most notable is the one you’re a part of right now. In 1914, a group assembled in Hot Springs Arkansas to establish was we know is the Assemblies of God.
- From there, a doctrinal statement was formed and a passion for missions.
- Missionaries were sent all around the world with many going on faith, packing their belonging in coffins to be shipped overseas with no expectation of returning.
- Churches all over the USA were planted through revivals, prayer meetings, and brush arbor services.
- Such is how our church was started. In 1922, Gordon and Glen Miller came to Woodward to start a new work. In 1924, Woodward First Assembly of God was started.
- Throughout the years, many pastors have served, many leaders have came out of our church such as pastors and missionaries, and many people have been saved, healed, and filled with the Holy Spirit.
- Yet, He isn’t done.
Our Present
- Dear friends, God is doing something TODAY!
- Times have progressed. Methodist have updated. Scenery has changed. Yet, our mission is the same: SOULS
- Today, souls are being saved.
- Today, people are being healed.
- Today, marriages are being restored.
- Today, the Holy Spirit is still filling people.
- Today, we are still sending missionaries!
- The mission is still the same: To exalt Jesus and to preach this full gospel message across the land!
- Fun Fact: Did you know that our church sends out roughly $4,000 per month in missionary support to 42 different missionaries and missions outreaches? That's why we ask you to give. That’s why we need you to sacrifice!
Our Future
- While we honor the past, we live in the present. Yet while we live in the present, we plan for the future.
- We will see more people saved.
- More people healed.
- We will raise up more leaders.
- We will support more missionaries.
CONCLUSION
Friday May 03, 2019
Friday May 03, 2019
It's midweek and Pastor Brad continues the mid week study of prayer. Tonight he teaches us about Praying The Word.
Pastor's Notes:
TEXTS
James 3:1-6 NKJV
My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a [a]perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3 [b]Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.
See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of [c]iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of [d]nature; and it is set on fire by [e]hell.
Proverbs 18:21 NKJV
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
INTRODUCTION
Good evening, everybody!
We’re so glad that you’re here today. My hope and desire is that you’ve learned some principles of prayer of the last few months. Last week, we talked about praying in the Spirit and how doing so helps us pray in the will of God. Sunday, we also gave people the opportunity to be filled with the Spirit.
Today, I want to talk to you in this final installment about “Praying The Word”. Why is this important? It’s important because prayer is a guiding force in our lives. Since prayer is a guiding force in our lives, what we say and how we pray is vitally important.Why?
Read our scriptures again.
Our tongue is like the rudder on a ship.
Life and death are in it, and it produces fruit that we will eat.
TRANSITION
That’s why it’s so important that we are mindful what we say and how.
Prayer is a very spiritual thing. It can also be an emotional thing. How many of you know what I’m talking about?
So, one way to stay on track and to pray effectively is to pray the Scriptures.
Not only is it a good way to commit to memory the Word of the Living God, but it’s also a way to pray God’s will, which is revealed in His Word.
Let’s look at it and practice together a little.
APPLICATION
1. The Leadership Of Jesus
- Psalm 23
2. Peace and Protection
- Psalm 91
- 2 Timothy 1:7
3. Wisdom
- James 1:5
- 1 Corinthians 2:16 “The Mind Of Christ”
4. Finances
- Psalm 35:27-28 “He takes pleasure..”
- Malachi 3:11 “The rebuking of the devour-er”
- Philippians 4:19 “My God shall supply...”
CONCLUSION
Monday Apr 29, 2019
Monday Apr 29, 2019
This morning, Pastor Brad concludes his series Walking With Jesus with a message he calls The Promise.
Pastor's Notes:
TEXT Acts 1:1-9 NKJV
The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which [a]He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many [b]infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be [c]witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
INTRODUCTION
Good morning, everybody!
I’m so glad to see each and every one of you again. I want to give a special thanks to all of our staff, volunteers, and church family for praying, inviting, and serving to make it such a great weekend.
We had a total of 309 people in worship with us last weekend. If you came back today, we are glad to have you here and hope to have you join our family!
For our regulars, I want to remember how awesome it felt to have the house that full. This is what we are striving for every week. Thanks for continuing to help us reach this city for Christ!
This whole month, we’ve been walking in the footsteps of Jesus as He lived and died. Last Sunday, we celebrated the resurrection!
Today, I want to take you on a post resurrection journey, and share with you Jesus’ message to His disciples.
I’ve entitled this message, “The Promise”, as we look at the glory that Jesus promised to give to the church.
ILLUSTRATION
This last week, many of our brothers and sisters in Christ were killed in an act of terrorism as churches in Sri Lanka were bombed.
American politicians titled them “Easter worshipers”.
What an insult. Dear friends, I’m not an Easter worshiper. I am a worshiper of Jesus Christ!
And while there has been an attack on Christianity in America and across the world, Jesus promised to return for His church one day.
TRANSITION
Yet, before He left, He promised us power to live a victorious life to accomplish the assignment He gave us to fulfill.
BACKGROUND
In our passage, Luke gives us some insight. After the resurrection, Jesus walked the Earth for 40 days showing Himself alive to His people.
Yet before He would ascend again, He gave them specific instructions to go into Jerusalem to wait for the promise of the Father.
What was that promise?
APPLICATION
1. The Promise
- That promise was told by John Luke 3:16
- Jesus said in John 7:37-39 He would send the Spirit
- Jesus tells us in Mark 16:15-18 that it brings supernatural power.
2. The Purpose
- What is the purpose of this promise?
- You shall receive “power”.
- Why? To be a witness.
- A witness of what? That Jesus is alive and resurrected.
- Bottom line? The purpose of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is an empowerment of boldness to be a witness for Christ! It’s power to share your faith with others!
- Who wouldn’t want such a thing?
3. The Pattern
- In Acts 2, we see the disciples praying in the upper room. It was the day of Pentecost, also known as the Feast of Harvest.
- When this initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit happened, something interesting happened. Tongues of fire sat upon each of them, and they all began to speak in a language they had never learned. The Scripture is very emphatic that they “were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other tongues......”.
- History shows us this is a normative experience.
- Acts 2:4
- Acts 10:44-46
- Acts 19:6
- In all of these cases, along with others in church history, the accompanying SIGN of Spirit baptism is speaking in tongues?
- But why?
- Because Jesus wants to touch your mouth and make you a bold witness for Him.
- Someone asked me one time “Can I be filled with the Holy Spirit without speaking in tongues?”. to which I replied, “Why would you want to be?”
- Many people are afraid of this experience. Some have just been taught wrong. Let me close with this Scripture.
CONCLUSION
Luke 11:9-13
9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 If a son asks for [a]bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
Thursday Apr 25, 2019
Thursday Apr 25, 2019
Its mid-week and tonight Pastor Brad picks up his teaching about The Holy Spirit And Our Prayer Language Part 2.
Pastor's Notes:
Text: Jude 20
Conversation and communication is the key to every relationship/ including our relationship with God.
We are SELFISH by nature/ we pray the kind of prayers which God can’t answer.We often lack the UNDERSTANDING of God’s WORD to pray effectively. We pray our WILL versus God’s WILL.
We are INDEPENDENT and IMPULSIVE.We look to God as our last RESORT.We are IMPATIENT and fail to WAIT on God.We have LIMITED insight, knowledge, revelation, and understanding. We harbor UNFORGIVENESS and BITTERNESS in our hearts.
*Paul instructs us to pray in the Spirit and to pray in our understanding. What does it mean to pray in our understanding?
Pray the FACTS as you know them.Pray according to your UNDERSTANDING AND WISDOM.. Pray the amount of your personal REVELATION of the Word. Pray what you THINK should happen.Pray what you want to happen.Pray how you think GOD should make it happen.Pray according to the TIMETABLE you want it to happen.
Why it is crucial that your prayer life includes a prayer language?
Christ [acts 1:4,5] told his followers not to go back home, but to WAIT/TARRY in Jerusalem until they RECEIVE the Baptism of the Holy Spirit
James 4:2/ you have not because you ASK not [problem with offered prayer].
James 4:3/ you have not because you ask AMISS that you may please your selfish lusts. [problem with unacceptable prayer]
1 Cor. 14:2/ he that prays in an UNKNOWN tongue speaks not to men but to GOD; howbeit, in the Spirit he speaks MYSTERIES [when you pray in the Spirit, you pray things which agree with God’s will and purpose for your life/but unknown to man].
1 Cor. 2:7/ we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery...even the HIDDEN wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory. [When you pray in the Spirit, you are praying God’s plan and destiny for your future/ a plan which God ordained before you were ever born.]
1 Cor. 14:4/ he that prays in an unknown tongue EDIFIES himself 1 Cor. 14:14/ If I pray in an unknown tongue, my SPIRIT prays....
Jude vs. 20/ beloved, BUILD up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the HOLY SPIRIT.
1 Cor. 14:15/ I WILL pray with the Spirit, and I WILL pray with my understanding; [praying in the Spirit is an act of your WILL in the same way in which you pray in your understanding.]
1 Cor. 14:18/ the Apostle Paul said, I speak with TONGUES more than you all.
1 Cor. 14:39/ FORBID not to speak with tongues.
Acts 19:2/ Paul asked the Ephesians, Have you received the Holy Spirit since you BELIEVED? They said, we have not heard whether there be any Holy Spirit. Vs. 6. When Paul laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came upon them and they began to SPEAK with other tongues...
*How to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit
Accept Christ as your SAVIOR and be baptized.
Desire the promise which Christ said was important for the first century followers to WAIT for.
Receive the GIFT in faith. You don’t have to continue to wait for a gift that has already been given. Once something has been given, all that remains is for you to receive and use it.
Remember...God will not VIOLATE your will. He will not force you to do anything. He will not speak for you. He will intercede through the voice we give him. If you don’t give him a sound, he won’t speak.
It is a CHOICE whether you are going to pray in the Spirit or pray with your understanding. You must decide. You control which way you pray. Paul said, I will pray with the Spirit, and I will pray with my understanding.
It is impossible to pray in the SPIRIT while you are praying in your understanding/English. You must decide which.
English is INCAPABLE of praying God’s hidden wisdom/ will for your life. If I want to pray God’s will/ I must pray in the Spirit.
When you pray in English...you are asking God to AGREE with your will. When you pray in the Spirit...you are agreeing with GOD/HIS WILL.
9.I must give God a VOICE [sound]. It is up to God to give me a LANGUAGE. God will only use what I give Him. The more I use my prayer language...the more proficient my language will become.
10.When I pray in the Spirit, I CANNOT pray wrong because my Spirit is praying/ and God knows my heart.
11.To pray in the Spirit, I must truly believe that the Holy Spirit will do what God’s word says He will do/ that He will SPEAK through the voice/ SOUND I give Him, regardless how foolish it sounds.
12. To pray in the Spirit, I have to pray in FAITH. I must give God a sound/groan for Him to use. He will not force me to speak. As I yield to His leading, He will bring clarity, distinction, dialect, and direction to my prayers.
When I pray in the Spirit, I am...
...AGREEING with what God wants for my life
...agreeing with God that HIS WILL be done in the situations involving my life, that I may not be aware of
...praying God’s PLAN FOR MY FUTURE into existence for my family, future, church, ministry, nation, and friends
...doing spiritual WARFARE / praying in a language the enemy cannot interpret/ binding principalities and powers, breaking strongholds, exposing and pulling down the strategies of hell, and releasing supernatural provision and power for my situation
...releasing GOD to act on my behalf/ according to His divine wisdom/ and level of knowledge that supersedes my understanding
...inviting the Holy Spirit to accomplish His work/word/will through MY LIFE.
*Don’t over-complicate the baptism of the Holy Spirit
Realize...in the same way in which a parent understands the groans/ cries of their children, ...to learn to speak any language...you have to be willing to make a sound/ give the Holy Spirit a voice and He will give you a language.
Monday Apr 22, 2019
Monday Apr 22, 2019
This is Resurrection Sunday, and we are reminded that He Still Moves Stones.
Pastor's Notes:
TEXTJohn 20:1-10 NKJV
Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”
3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. 4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the [a]handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not [b]know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.10 Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.
INTRODUCTION
Good morning, everyone!
We want to welcome all of our guests that are joining us this morning. Our prayer is that if you don't have a church home, you’d come back next week and find First Assembly, “home”.
Today, we are celebrating the greatest holy day of our Christian faith: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
It is without a shadow of a doubt a bloody message.
BACKGROUND OF RESURRECTION
Because of the sinfulness of man and our separation from God, Jesus was sent from Heaven to be born of a virgin, that He might become the perfect, sacrificial lamb to take away our sin.
That is exactly what He did. He came down from Heaven teaching, gathering to Himself twelve disciples that would ultimately change the world.
Jesus’ message was different than any other teacher or Rabbi of His day, and He made some claims.
*He claimed Lordship
*He claimed precedence (before Abraham was, I Am).
*He claimed to be above the law.
*He claimed equality with God
*He claimed sinless
*He claimed to be able to rebuild the temple in three days
*He claimed to be able to forgive sin
*He claimed to be the only way to God
*He claimed He would die and resurrect again.
*He claimed He would come back and judge the world.
As you can see, any Jewish person or Pharisee would take offense at this. However, they didn’t know that their scriptures, the Old Testament, pointed to this coming Messiah. So they did the unfathomable.
They decided to kill him.
He was sentenced and stood before Pilate. Pilate’s wife was troubled by a dream, and warned her husband that this man was innocent, so Pilate did what was allowed, and as the customary law was, one person could be granted pardon, so they brought Jesus out with Barabbas, a murderer.
The hatred was so much toward Jesus, that they chose to let Barabbas go.
The crowd who one day shouted “Hosanna”, is now shouting “Crucify Him”.
Jesus marched up Golgotha’s hill with His cross, as they whipped Him, spat on Him, and scored Him.
They hung Him between two thieves that day. One which reviled Him, and another with recognized His innocence, while at the same time accepting His Lordship.
The soldiers shoved a crown of thorns on His head, and a mocking inscription above Him that said “King of the Jews”.
Every sort of insult you could think of, they did it.
The agony of a crucifixion was like no other. Because Jesus was taking too long to die, they went to break His legs. Yet because of the restraining of the Holy Spirit, they stopped. Psalms 34:20 says concerning His bones, “Not one of them will be broken.”
So they shoved a spear into His side, bursting His heart, causing both blood and water to pour out, with Jesus blood spilling onto the ground. With this, Jesus cried, “It is finished”.
They hurried to take His body off of the cross because of the Sabbath. They placed His body in a borrowed tomb.
TRANSITION
Yet, three days after, Something interesting was found. Any empty tomb.
Our text shows us some interesting things. But in it, Mary makes a statement. In the Mark 16 account, verse 3 tells us what Mary asks “Who will roll still stone away for us?”
What an interesting question!
Scholars tell us that this stone was approximately 1 1/2 to 2 tons! It probably took a whole group of of people to push this stone into place. After all, it was guarded and sealed by the Romans. They didn’t want anyone to steal Jesus body!
BACKGROUND
Yet, early on Sunday morning, they found that an angel had rolled the stone away!
Jesus came out of the grave!
I want to submit to you today that Jesus didn’t NEED to move the stone for Himself? Why? He slipped through crowds, walked through walls, and even walked on water.
I personally believe Jesus moved the stone not so He could get out, but so the disciples could see in.
Did you know that today, He still moves stones?I want to share with you three stones Jesus moved on this day.
APPLICATION
1. The Stone Of Discouragement
- Mary was discouraged- Peter went fishing
2. The Stone Of Doubt
- Thomas didn’t believe it.
3. The Stone Of Death
- The grave couldn’t hold Him!
CONCLUSION
Sunday Apr 14, 2019
Sunday Apr 14, 2019
This morning is Palm Sunday! Today, Pastor Brad continues his series "Walking With Jesus" with a message from the Garden of Gethsemane called "The Place Of Crushing."
Pastor's Notes:
The Place of Crushing
TEXT
Luke 22:39-53 NKJV
39 Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. 40 When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
41 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” 43 [a]Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
45 When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. 46 Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”
Betrayal and Arrest in Gethsemane
47 And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. 48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
49 When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.
51 But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him.
52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”
INTRODUCTION
Good morning, everyone!
I’m so excited to be here this morning! Before we get into our teaching this morning, I want to encourage each of you to do something for me: I want to encourage you to invite, invite, invite next week.
Resurrection morning, or Easter as many know it, is the one Sunday a year where people’s hearts seem to be open to coming to church.
It would be pretty awesome if we could have 380 plus this next Sunday. One other request: If you are able bodied, please park as far away as as you can as to leave room for first time guests to park, and sit as close as you can, as guests usually don’t feel as comfortable sitting in the front. Remember, no Sunday School or Growth Groups next Sunday.
That being said, I want to talk to you this morning about what happened leading up to the tomb. This morning, I want to talk to you about “The Place of Crushing”.
ILLUSTRATION
Two of the most precious commodities in the middle east is oil and wine. Grapes and olives are great, but they are the most valuable when crushed. They are crushed and also strained to remove that which isn’t useful.
Wine presses and olive presses are not an uncommon site in Israel. However, Gethsemane is the perfect place to set the scene for the events talking place before the crucifixion.
Why?
TRANSITION
Gethsemane means “The place of crushing”.
It is here where humanity collided with deity.
BACKGROUND
In the text, Jesus slipped away from the Mt. of Olives down to a place to pray. He knew that the time for His assignment to be fulfilled was drawing near.
Yet, in the story, we see a great tension: Humanity wrestling with deity.
We fail to forget that Jesus was both fully God, and fully man. That’s the only way He could die for us. He had to be a human, yet without sin.
It was in this place that he challenged His disciples to pray with Him. It was an intense moment. The weight of the pressure caused the capillaries under His skin to burst, giving the illusion of sweating blood.
Jesus cried out and asked God to please do this another way, if at all possible. Yet, He submitted Himself to the plan of the Father.
If that wasn’t enough, it was in this place that Judas, His disciple, chose to betray Him.
If there’s anything I’ve learned about Judas, it’s this: If you can be bought, the devil is willing to pay the price.
Yet, in the midst of this, what can we learn about the place of crushing?
APPLICATION
It’s the place I surrender to God.
- It’s in the tough places that we wrestle with the plan of God for our lives.
- It is here like when Jacob wrestled with the angel, that we say “Yes Lord”.
It’s the place the truth is revealed.
- It revealed the weakness of the flesh.
- It revealed the shadiness of people. -Judas
- NOTE: The true character of people will always come out when you’re in a tight place.
It’s the place that prepares me for greater.
- The oil only flows when the olive is crushed.
- Many people want the promise, but they don’t want the process.
- They want the anointing, but they don’t want the pain.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the place of crushing is not permanent. Jesus survived it. He passed the test. If He did, so you will be able to also!
His passing brought you to the place of being able to receive salvation!
Thursday Apr 11, 2019
Thursday Apr 11, 2019
Tonight, Pastor Brad continues his mid-week bible study on Prayer.
Pastors Notes:
What are the different aspects of prayer?
Petition. Meditation. Intercession. Supplication. Thanksgiving. Praise. Worship. Confession. Listening. Waiting. Praying the Word.
SCRIPTURAL SUPPORT
*Important scriptures which deal with the importance and purpose of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Is. 28:11/ With stammering lips and another TONGUE will He speak to this people. 12. To whom he said, This is the REST wherewith you may cause the weary to rest and this is the refreshing; yet they would not hear [some will not receive it].
Rom. 8:26/ The Spirit also helps our INFIRMITIES for we KNOW not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself makes INTERCESSION for us with groanings/groans which cannot be uttered/ understood. 27. And he that searches the heart knows what is the MIND of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the WILL of God.
Joel 2:28/ And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out of my Spirit upon ALL flesh; and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. 29. And also upon the servants and the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. He didn’t promise to pour out his Spirit only on church leadership or the apostles/it is a gift for EVERYONE.
Acts 1:8/ You shall receive POWER after that the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be WITNESSES unto me both in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth.
Matt. 5:8/ Your Father KNOWS what things you have need of before you ask Him.
John 14:16,17/ I will pray the Father and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may ABIDE with you forever...He dwells with you and shall be IN you.
John 16:7/ If I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart I will SEND Him unto you. [The outpouring of the Holy Spirit is the signal that Jesus Christ finished His earthly work, arrived in Heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God to make intercession for us.]
Acts 1:4,5/ TARRY/WAIT for the promise of the FATHER for John [the Baptist] truly baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the HOLY GHOST not many days hence. [The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a separate work from baptism in water.]
Acts 2:4/ and they were ALL filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other TONGUES, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:16/ Peter said, This is that which was spoken by the prophet JOEL 17. It shall come to pass in the last days saith God, I will pour out of my spirit upon ALL flesh. [reposting of Joel 2:28 prophecy]
Acts 2:38/ Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the GIFT of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:39/ The PROMISE is unto YOU, and to your CHILDREN, and to all that are AFAR off, even as many as the Lord our God shall CALL.
1 Cor. 2:11,12/ no man knows the things of GOD but the Spirit of God. We have received the SPIRIT of God that we may KNOW what has been freely given to us by God.
*Problems which hinder us from praying and receiving from God.
Conversation and communication is the key to every relationship/ including our relationship with God.
We are SELFISH by nature/ we pray the kind of prayers which God can’t answer.We often lack the UNDERSTANDING of God’s WORD to pray effectively. We pray our WILL versus God’s WILL.
We are INDEPENDENT and IMPULSIVE.We look to God as our last RESORT.We are IMPATIENT and fail to WAIT on God.We have LIMITED insight, knowledge, revelation, and understanding. We harbor UNFORGIVENESS and BITTERNESS in our hearts.
*Paul instructs us to pray in the Spirit and to pray in our understanding. What does it mean to pray in our understanding?
Pray the FACTS as you know them.Pray according to your UNDERSTANDING AND WISDOM.. Pray the amount of your personal REVELATION of the Word. Pray what you THINK should happen.Pray what you want to happen.Pray how you think GOD should make it happen.Pray according to the TIMETABLE you want it to happen.
Why it is crucial that your prayer life includes a prayer language?
Christ [acts 1:4,5] told his followers not to go back home, but to WAIT/TARRY in Jerusalem until they RECEIVE the Baptism of the Holy Spirit
James 4:2/ you have not because you ASK not [problem with unoffered prayer].
James 4:3/ you have not because you ask AMISS that you may please your selfish lusts. [problem with unacceptable prayer]
1 Cor. 14:2/ he that prays in an UNKNOWN tongue speaks not to men but to GOD; howbeit, in the Spirit he speaks MYSTERIES [when you pray in the Spirit, you pray things which agree with God’s will and purpose for your life/but unknown to man].
1 Cor. 2:7/ we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery...even the HIDDEN wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory. [When you pray in the Spirit, you are praying God’s plan and destiny for your future/ a plan which God ordained before you were ever born.]
1 Cor. 14:4/ he that prays in an unknown tongue EDIFIES himself 1 Cor. 14:14/ If I pray in an unknown tongue, my SPIRIT prays....
Jude vs. 20/ beloved, BUILD up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the HOLY SPIRIT.
1 Cor. 14:15/ I WILL pray with the Spirit, and I WILL pray with my understanding; [praying in the Spirit is an act of your WILL in the same way in which you pray in your understanding.]
1 Cor. 14:18/ the Apostle Paul said, I speak with TONGUES more than you all.
1 Cor. 14:39/ FORBID not to speak with tongues.
Acts 19:2/ Paul asked the Ephesians, Have you received the Holy Spirit since you BELIEVED? They said, we have not heard whether there be any Holy Spirit. Vs. 6. When Paul laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came upon them and they began to SPEAK with other tongues...
*How to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit
Accept Christ as your SAVIOR and be baptized.
Desire the promise which Christ said was important for the first century followers to WAIT for.
Receive the GIFT in faith. You don’t have to continue to wait for a gift that has already been given. Once something has been given, all that remains is for you to receive and use it.
Remember...God will not VIOLATE your will. He will not force you to do anything. He will not speak for you. He will intercede through the voice we give him. If you don’t give him a sound, he won’t speak.
It is a CHOICE whether you are going to pray in the Spirit or pray with your understanding. You must decide. You control which way you pray. Paul said, I will pray with the Spirit, and I will pray with my understanding.
It is impossible to pray in the SPIRIT while you are praying in your understanding/English. You must decide which.
English is INCAPABLE of praying God’s hidden wisdom/ will for your life. If I want to pray God’s will/ I must pray in the Spirit.
When you pray in English...you are asking God to AGREE with your will. When you pray in the Spirit...you are agreeing with GOD/HIS WILL.
9.I must give God a VOICE [sound]. It is up to God to give me a LANGUAGE. God will only use what I give Him. The more I use my prayer language...the more proficient my language will become.
10.When I pray in the Spirit, I CANNOT pray wrong because my Spirit is praying/ and God knows my heart.
11.To pray in the Spirit, I must truly believe that the Holy Spirit will do what God’s word says He will do/ that He will SPEAK through the voice/ SOUND I give Him, regardless how foolish it sounds.
12. To pray in the Spirit, I have to pray in FAITH. I must give God a sound/groan for Him to use. He will not force me to speak. As I yield to His leading, He will bring clarity, distinction, dialect, and direction to my prayers.
When I pray in the Spirit, I am...
...AGREEING with what God wants for my life
...agreeing with God that HIS WILL be done in the situations involving my life, that I may not be aware of...praying God’s PLAN FOR MY FUTURE into existence for my family, future, church, ministry, nation, and friends
...doing spiritual WARFARE / praying in a language the enemy cannot interpret/ binding principalities and powers, breaking strongholds, exposing and pulling down the strategies of hell, and releasing supernatural provision and power for my situation
...releasing GOD to act on my behalf/ according to His divine wisdom/ and level of knowledge that supersedes my understanding
...inviting the Holy Spirit to accomplish His work/word/will through MY LIFE.
*Don’t over-complicate the baptism of the Holy Spirit
Realize...in the same way in which a parent understands the groans/ cries of their children, ...to learn to speak any language...you have to be willing to make a sound/ give the Holy Spirit a voice and He will give you a language.