Hearing Gods Voice

Our lives can sometimes feel like constant noise. There are voices from every side—influencing the way we think and feel. But, in the midst of everything, there is One Voice we need to hear and that’s The Voice Of God.

When you are seeking the answer to life’s challenges it is so important to hear God’s voice.

Maybe you are at a place in your life right now where you are praying for the right direction.

There isgood news— It’s the nature of God to speak to His children. He wants to have fellowship with you, and He wants you to hear His voice all the time.

God has promised to lead His children by His Spirit and enable them to know His voice. That means you can know exactly what the Spirit of God is saying to you about every situation.You don’t have to go through life blindly making decisions or relying on your own abilities.

When you learn to tune in to God’s voice, it won’t be an occasional event but an everyday part of life. That’s why, in the New Testament, Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear,” 15 different times.

You can learn to hear God!

If you’re longing for certainty in your fellowship with God, here are four ways to know if you’re hearing God’s voice:

First of all Check Your Receiver

“And you will seek for Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” –Jeremiah 29:13 (NKJV)

Have you ever tried to watch television or listen to the radio without turning it on? Of course not! You already know that if you don’t turn on the receiver, you’re not going to hear or see a thing. When you do turn them on, you fully expect to hear and see something!

So, how do you check your spiritual receiver? The one way to know if your spiritual receiver is turned on is to answer this question:

Do you expect to hear from God?

Some people say, Well, God just doesn’t talk to me.But, here is an important truth: even if you don’t “feel” like God speaks to you—He does. In fact, He’s speaking to you right now. But, if you aren’t expecting to hear from Him, you haven’t even turned on the receiver!

The scripture tells us God speaks in “a still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12, NKJV).So to hear Him, you have to tune in and listen carefully. Another way to describe the way we hear God’s voice is through an inward witness.

What is an inward witness?

God doesn’t communicate with us the way we communicate with one another.

When you came to Christ your dead spirit was Born Again and made alive by The Holy Spirit Of God. God’s Spirit now dwells in you and communicates The Word Of God to your soul (mind).

That is called an inward witness.

It is very similar to a thought or a prompting. It’s very subtle and requires a closeness with God and regular practice to hear more quickly and clearly.

That’s why the more time you spend with the Lord dwelling in your New Nature and the more you practice tuning in to His voice, the more it will become a voice that “thunders in marvelous ways” (Job 37:5).

Knowing that you are hearing God’s voice comes when you are united with Him (1 Corinthians 6:17) Unitedmeans “joined,” or “in union.” It applies to seeking God first in our daily lives.

A receiver who is intact and ready to tune in to the voice of God is one who is expecting to hear from Him, and is willing to learn to know His voice.

Secondly you need to Find His Frequency. Jesus Said; “My sheep know my voice-

John 10:4

There was once a time when you had to work to tune in to a program on the radio or television set. You had to find the right frequency. You never questioned if it was broadcasting—you knew it was—but you had to do your part to find the frequency and tune in.

How do you locate the frequency God uses to speak to you?

Most often, we miss His frequency because we’re tuned in to hear some huge revelation; when, in fact, He is giving simple instructions. That’s what He will do when you first begin to hear from Him—and He will continue to do this for the rest of your life here on earth.

Believing and receiving in the simple things is very important to God—it reveals the willingness of you heart.

Think of it; you have a direction connection with The Creator Of The Universe and He speaks to you directly by the His Spirit- He will talk to you about the small things in your life that need adjustments, change and He gives you the power to do it- He will begin to help you where you are, which most often involves helping you walk in God’s best by getting rid of things that are holding you back.

God wants liberty and freedom for our lives, and that begins with training. He teaches us how to be led by the Spirit.

To reach a level of intimacy with God where we hear His voice and are launched into new places in the Spirit, Believing, receiving and acting upon must become a non-negotiable in our lives.

That’s why Matthew 18 tells us to become like little children—which means not to be high-minded and think we’re all-knowing. To find God’s frequency, you must be willing to hear His voice in the small things.

Thirdly Learn to Discern His Voice-

“My sheep hear my voice.” –John 10:27

If your spouse or closest friend calls you on the telephone, do you know it’s them before they tell you? Most likely you do! But how? Because you’ve spent so much time with them, the sound of their voice and their way of saying things has become well-known to you—easy to recognize.

The same is true when it comes to our relationship with God.

If you want to get to a place where you don’t have to wonder whose voice you’re hearing—yours, the devil’s or God’s—you need to spend time with the Lord and know His Word. When you keep your mind and your heart full of the things of this world, it will be difficult for you to differentiate between the Spirit of God and your own thoughts.

The more time you spend with Him, the more certain you’ll become about hearing God’s voice. It isn’t just time talking to Him but learning His voice and listening. That’s why in Matthew 17:5 God said, “This is My beloved Son…listento Him!”

Fourthly His Voice will always Line Up With His Word—the Bible

“All Scripture is inspired by God.” –2 Timothy 3:16

One sure way to know if you’re hearing God’s voice is to line up what you hear against the Word of God. God will never tell you to do, think or say anything contrary to His Word. If you have a thought and you don’t know if it’s God or not—you can look it up in the Bible and settle it right away.

The Spirit of God will only tell you to do things that will give you a more abundant life. Every change He tells you to make is designed to bring blessing into your life and minister grace to you. So, He isn’t going to tell you to refuse to forgive someone or spend money frivolously, or anything else that doesn’t match His Word.

God always agrees with His written Word, and His Word always agrees with Him. In fact, Psalm 138:2 says He has magnified His Word even above His Name. That means God has put His Name on His written Word the way we would put our name at the bottom of a contract. He has given us His Word as a covenant and signed it in the Name of Jesus, by the blood of Jesus. Since God cannot lie, there is no way He will ever do or say anything contrary to that Word. He has absolutely joined Himself to it forever.

God trains us to recognize His voice through His written Word. He uses it to tune our spiritual ears to what is real so that we can easily recognize a counterfeit.

When you’re trained to hear God’s voice in His Word, the devil won’t be able to sneak deceptions in on you. When he tries to confuse you with some religious-sounding voice that says, “I love you, my son. But it’s just not my will to heal you at this time,” you won’t buy it. You’ll rise up and say, “That’s not the voice of God. That’s a lie from the enemy because it doesn’t agree with the Word that says, ‘By His stripes we are healed’” (Isaiah 53:5)

To live in confidence that you are hearing from Him, you need to have a knowledge of His Word continually in your heart. And you do this by drawing near to God (James 4:8). That’s your part—to seek Him. God’s not going to run you down. Your part is to diligently seek Him. That involves spending time in the Word and in prayer. And whatever place you give Him in your life, the Spirit of God will fill it up for you.

The best part about hearing God’s voice-

You won’t just avoid counterfeit voices—you’ll be given access to secrets and revelation knowledge that will make you the head and not the tail (Deuteronomy 28:13). In Jeremiah 33:3, He says, “Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know”. All you have to do is pursue a life in which you hear the voice of God, heed it and walk into a victory you never thought possible.

When you check your receiver, find His frequency, learn to discern His voice, and line up what you hear with His Word—hearing God’s voice won’t be an occasional event, but a lifestyle. And when someone asks you, “What is the Spirit of God telling you today?” you won’t hesitate for a moment. You’ll know exactly what to say.

Love in His Grace, Pastor Joe-

Baptism

Why Get Baptized- 

In order to understand the reason for being water baptised, it is important to carefully consider what the Bible says about it… 

Jesus Himself was baptised. He was not a sinner, yet He was Baptized to keep all the Father gave Him to display how He would go into the Grave and Resurrect a New Creation.

That’s what happens when we are baptized- 

Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised by John in the Jordan. The moment he came out of the water, he saw the sky split open and God’s Spirit, looking like a dove, come down on Him. 

Along with the Spirit, a voice: “You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love.” Mark 1:9

Water baptism is an act of faith and believing the commands of Christ.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to believe, receive and follow everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

Baptism declares that you are a follower of Jesus Christ. It is a public confession of your faith in, and commitment to, Jesus Christ. "Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in Heaven- Matt:10:31

It is the next step after salvation through faith and is an important foundation for following Christ.

Then He said, “Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the Message of God’s good news to one and all. Whoever believes and is baptized is saved; whoever refuses to believe is damned.” Mark 16:16

What is the meaning and significance of baptism?

A Move From Death to Life:

Baptism is a symbol of Christ’s burial and resurrection. Our entrance into the water during baptism identifies us with Christ’s death on the cross, His burial in the tomb, and His resurrection from the dead.

“Going under the water was a burial of your old life; coming up out of it was a resurrection, God raising you from the dead as he did Christ. 

When you were stuck in your old sin-dead life, you were incapable of responding to God- 

God brought you alive—right along with Christ! Think of it! All sins forgiven, the slate wiped clean, that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ’s cross.” Colossians 2:12-14 

It is a symbol of your new life as a Christian. We bury the ‘old life’ and we rise to walk in a ‘new life’. 

Here is one simple way to explain baptism:

Baptism is a symbol.  It’s meant to show the world that that you love, trust, and have put your hope in Christ. 

Baptism is a statement to everyone who sees it that I have trusted Christ for my salvation and I’m committed to living for Him.

The Bible says;

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

“We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Romans 6:4

Baptism does not make you a believer; it shows that you already are one! 

Baptism does not ‘save’ you; only your faith in Christ does that.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9

The Bible tells us to baptise believers “… into the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit”, Matthew 28:19.

Baptism confirms our position ‘in Christ’ and affirms the blessings of the Father on us as his children.

Baptism also connects us to the ‘body of Christ’, his people in the earth. In baptism there is a real sense of being joined with other believers, not just participating in an individual act of our own spiritual journey.

“…For we were all baptised by one Spirit into one body…” 1 Corinthians 12:12-13

How are we to be baptised?

As per the example of Jesus – by being immersed in water. The word “baptise” comes from the Greek word “baptise” which means “to immerse or dip under water”.

“As soon as Jesus was baptised, he went up out of the water.” Matthew 3:16.

Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion under water. The book of Acts shows us that this was the norm for every believer.

“…then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water….” Acts 8:38,39.

Who should be baptised?

Every person who has made the decision to believe in Christ. When Paul writes to the believers in Rome, he assumes that all of them have been baptized (Romans 6). 

The one requirement for baptism is belief in Christ!

“Those who accepted his message were baptised….” Acts 2:41.

“But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptised, both men and women.” Acts 8:12.

We believe in baptising children when they are old enough to understand what it means and make a personal declaration of belief.

 As soon as a person decides to believe in Christ, he can be, and is encouraged to be baptised.

“Those who accepted his message were baptised….” Acts 2:41.

“Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they travelled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.” Acts 8:35-39.

So, now that you have accepted Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for your sin as a born again Child Of God make the next step in being Baptized.  

Love in Christ, Pastor Joe

Watch highlights-from our last Baptism by taping on this link below-

https://youtu.be/qE-fgyRmLvA

Three Ways to Overcome Adversity

A Child Of God does not have to lie down and let life run over them. We all experience tests and trials at one time or another. But we serve a great God Who has made provision for us to overcome them. We simply need it know how to cooperate with Him so He can deliver us from whatever might affect us negatively.

That is where many fail to receive the blessings of God. They don’t know how to cooperate with Him and allow Him to move by His power on their behalf. They become weary in their faith and often give up short of receiving victory.

Weariness in faith sets the stage for defeat.

God wants us to stay positive in the tests and trials of life. He doesn’t want us to become worn out by circumstances. Yes, circumstances are real, and they can be big.

But Your God is bigger!

Don’t Forget That God Is There!

The Bible tells of an Old Testament patriarch who became weary in his faith.

GENESIS 42:36, 3

36 Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!”

38 . . . “My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow.”

Jacob said, “Everything is against me.” I’m sure each of us has experienced problems that came in twos, threes, and fours! But let’s look more closely at Jacob’s situation.

Jacob was advanced in age and was experiencing multiplied family problems. He’d lost his wife and favorite son, and another son was imprisoned in Egypt. And, there was a famine in the land. Jacob was tired, lonely, hungry, and defeated.

Overwhelmed by his circumstances, he took a “beat-up” attitude. He said, “Everything is against me.”

This is the same man who had wrestled with the Angel of the Lord all night and then said, “I’m not going to let You go until You bless me” (Gen. 32:26).

Jacob was a great patriarch, yet he had become distressed and defeated in his mind.

Our attitude today would be like Jacob’s if we gave in to negativity and defeat, saying, “What am I going to do?”

Many of us have had a “beat-up” attitude. No one physically laid a hand on us, yet we felt as if we’d been “run through the wringer.” We’ve felt worn out and defeated!

In the midst of his trouble, Jacob forgot one thing, at least temporarily. He forgot about his God, El Shaddai, the One Who is more than enough! He forgot about Jehovah Jireh, the God Who provides!

We need to remind ourselves that God is greater than any circumstance.

He will deliver us and show us the way out of trials and adversity if we will look to Him and His Overcoming Victorious Power!

You’ve heard the saying, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” That’s not just a cliché—that’s what God wants to do in our lives.

He wants to turn bitter things into something sweet. But if we allow a “beat-up” attitude to control our thinking, God won’t be able to move on our behalf. If we wring our hands and cry, “Oh Lord, why me?” we hinder the power of God to turn our situation around for good.

A “beat-up” attitude is exactly what the enemy wants us to have. The enemy of your soul wants you to consider your circumstances and allow them to make you feel defeated. Once you become “beat-up,” he can dominate you- Not let that happen to you!

God Cares

It’s understandable why Jacob had a “beatup” attitude. He said, “Everything is against me!” And looking at his circumstances from the natural, that was a reasonable exclamation! But with God, those words become unreasonable, because when we have a “beatup” attitude, we underestimate not only God’s abilities but His love for us.

God cares deeply for His children and doesn’t want us to succumb to the devil’s tactics. He wants to turn our negative circumstances around.

The Bible says, “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). God does not want us to go through life “beat-up.” He wants us to cast our cares, worries, and concerns on Him, then straighten our shoulders, hold our head high, and rely on El Shaddai, the God Who is more than enough! We can depend on Jehovah Jireh, the God Who will provide for us!

Jacob would soon find out his son (Joseph) he thought was dead was Second in Command In all of Egypt- and was coming to save not only him but all of Israel- God was there the whole time- You must not become weary-

Three Ways to Overcome Adversity

No matter what adverse circumstances arise, we can experience the victory God intends for us to have.

Here are three steps to follow when adversity strikes.

Praise God-

When life’s trials come, don’t dread. Praise instead.

Consider What You Have-

People often focus on life’s imperfections. Instead of dwelling on what you don’t have, concentrate on what you do have.

Don’t Be a Pessimist-

You can’t keep looking at God and expect the worst! When you focus on God, His Word, His power, and His goodness, your outlook will change.

Love in His Grace, Pastor Joe

www.NewCreation.TV

Happy Independence Day

During the month of July, we in the United States celebrate Independence Day. All across the country, people enjoy parades, picnics, flag waving, and fireworks to commemorate the day. But these things only serve to remind us that we live in a country where we have the privilege of being free.

I’m thankful that I’m an American. I thank God for the freedom we have in this great land. But our freedom didn’t come without a cost. The price for our freedom was the shedding of precious American blood.

Just as America has sent her sons and daughters around the world to fight for our freedom and, if necessary, to shed their blood for us, God sent His Son, Jesus, to Golgotha’s hill where He shed His blood that you and I might be spiritually free. John 8:36 says, “If the Son [Jesus] therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

No man, woman, young person, or child, is truly free unless they know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. But if we have Jesus in our hearts, we can be free, no matter what the political climate, the condition of the economy, or any other circumstance.

As “freedom rings” across America this month, may spiritual freedom also ring in our hearts. When we enjoy the fireworks, picnics, and parades, and when we pay tribute to the Stars and Stripes, may we also pay tribute to the blood-stained banner of the Lord Jesus Christ!

And as we celebrate our natural and spiritual freedom, let us also take this opportunity to show those around us the way to Heaven. We hold the keys; not only to our spiritual freedom, but to the spiritual freedom of those we come in contact with each day. We have the awesome privilege of telling them the Good News, that they can be born again and “let freedom ring” in their hearts. Then they can enjoy with us the wonderful freedom that God has made available through His Son, Jesus Christ!

Love in His Grace,

Pastor Joe

https://newcreation.tv/give

Start Talking & Never Settle

When the early American settlers reached The Rocky Mountains, they wouldn't go any farther.

Crossing those mountains just seemed impossible to them.

They became dismayed at the extreme scale of the heights. The challenge was overwhelming.

Some settled on the eastern slope of the Rockies, and many turned around and headed back home in discouragement.

Everyone Encounters Mountains

Just as these settlers faced physical mountains, people today are confronted with figurative mountains: problems, difficulties, hardships, and what seem to be impossibilities.

Encountering mountains, or difficulties in life are unavoidable. We all come across them. No one is problem free. Some of our "mountains" are big like the Rockies, and some are small like the Ozarks.

Hardships, like mountains, can seem permanent.

They try to tell us that they have been around a long time and we can't do anything about them.

Like mountains, they can seem intimidating.

But we must not allow any difficulty or hardship to intimidate us.

No matter the size of anything we face, Jesus told us how to conquer it.

Mark 11:22-24

22 "Have faith in God," Jesus answered.

23 "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.

24 "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

In these verses, Jesus used a mountain to show how powerful our faith in God can be.

The way to move any mountain is to believe in our heart and say with our mouth.

In fact, anything that rises up against us can be conquered by speaking to it!

Never Stop Speaking The Word-

We must never face our mountains with our mouth shut.

We have to tell our mountains, or whatever else is threatening in front of us, what to do.

When a child of God dares to speak Words of Faith, mountains must obey.

The secret to seeing our words move mountains is to never become separated from our statement of faith.

The devil will do everything he can to try to make us stop talking. He knows that if he can do this, he will succeed in keeping the promises of God from manifesting in our lives.

We need to outtalk the devil. We have to talk louder than he does and always get the last word. When we do this, the mountains will obey us.

God has already given us everything we need to conquer any mountain. There are verses in the Word Of God that cover whatever we encounter. We just have to find passages that pertain to our needs, meditate on these verses, and then start talking.

Some people learn to live with their mountain, or difficulty.

But we must never do that. Instead, let's dare to conquer it. Take the Word of God and begin speaking to the mountain of debt. Speak to the mountain of sickness or the mountain of condemnation and guilt.

If you're having family trouble, take the verses you've found and speak to it. If you're unemployed, call in a new and better-paying job. Just keep talking!

And remember, as long as we keep our words connected to His Word by faith We Will See His Power Manifested, The Mountain Moved and The Victory come to Pass-

Love in His Grace, Pastor Joe  

www.NewCreation.TV

This Sunday Is Pentecost Sunday!

2 Corinthians 3:6

…for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

This Sunday at New Creation Church we celebrate Pentecost!  It’s the Powerful Day when The Church was Birthed!

As the Pastor Of New Creation Church my commission is given in Acts 20:28  "Be on guard for yourself and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you the overseer, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 

Christ purchased His Church with His Own Blood! The first day of the week is The Lords Day-  We come together to celebrate as Christ commissioned us to do- We Worship, We Pray, We Give, Receive His Holy Communion and Instruction from His Word- When We Worship it is Christ Centered Worship- We Pray In Spirit and in Truth- When we give we don’t ask how much of our money we are going to give, we ask ourselves how much of God’s money are we going to give back to Him- Yes; If you desire to walk in blessings you realize God gave you everything you possess and He Gave You His Best-  1 Cor. 15:23 But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first fruit of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised following...

God gave His first fruit (Jesus) and as a result we give our first to God before we give to ourselves- God declares, “When you come into the land which I give you and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest” (Leviticus 23:10 ). -- This divine establishment of God’s order is actually the root, the foundation that governs the rest.

“For if the firstfruit is holy, (Jesus) the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches” (Romans 11:16 ). The first represents the total. All firsts belong to God!

“Honor the LORD with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow…” (Proverbs 3:9–10

God promises to give seed to the sower- 2 Cor.9:10.

To understand Pentecost you must understand as  believers in Jesus (Yeshua), Pentecost (Shavuot in the Hebrew) becomes a prototype of what happened seven weeks after the crucifixion and resurrection of Yeshua. Because of the great power displayed in the upper room at Pentecost, this is the day celebrating the advent of the Holy Spirit. But understand We read in John 20:22 that the risen Christ breathed on each of the disciples and filled them with the Holy Spirit weeks before Pentecost!

The event of Pentecost was the “birthday” of the Church as The Holy Spirit came upon the Church—the welding together of Spirit-filled disciples into one organism—the living body of Christ.  You are apart of the Body Of Christ! At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit moved upon each of the disciples to bring about the united Unity of the Church. Just as the giving of the Law at Sinai formed the constitution of the spiritual commonwealth of Israel, so the visible manifestation of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples signaled the constitution of the spiritual community of faith and salvation by Grace in Christ. In the first case, Israel was brought together by the law (rules of constitution), in the latter, believers in Christ were bonded together not by rules, but by the Holy Spirit within them.

Today, Pentecost should speak to us of the sowing of gospel seed and the harvest or ingathering of saved souls—redeemed people to become part of the Body of Christ.

God wants such a harvest from every kindred, tribe and nation. As we celebrate the birthday of the Church, we would do well to contemplate the fact that our primary purpose is to proclaim the gospel. As we, God’s people, remain faithful to this task, the harvest will grow and blessings will increase as we come together in Unity on The First Day Of the Week- In the Old covenant we gathered on Shabbat or Saturday but in the New we gather together on Sunday! The First Day Of The Week! I’m praying you are getting a glimpse of the picture here? 

To the Jews, the feast of Pentecost is a celebration of the giving of God’s law. It takes place 50 days after the Passover feast. When God gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai, it was 50 days after they had celebrated their first Passover and come out of slavery in Egypt.

But what happened after God gave them the law on the first Pentecost? Three thousand people died (see Exodus 32:28)! Contrast this with another Pentecost in the New Testament. In the book of Acts, it says that when Pentecost had fully come, God gave not the law but the Holy Spirit, and what happened? Three thousand people got saved (see Acts 2:41), which goes to show that “the letter [the law] kills, but the Spirit gives life!”

The law, which was “written and engraved on stones,” ministered death. It killed 3,000 people. That is why the apostle Paul calls it “the ministry of death” and “the ministry of condemnation” (2 Corinthians 3:7–9). On the other hand, the Spirit ministered life—3,000 people got saved.

Remember when you come under the law by trying to keep God’s commandments in order to be blessed, it will lead to death. There will be deadness in your marriage, ministry, health, career…in your life. But when you depend on the Spirit of grace, it will lead to life. You will see breakthroughs and miracles (see Galatians 3:5), and manifest the fruit of the Spirit.

So if you want to be blessed, make sure that you are on the right mountain. The law was given on Mount Sinai, but the Spirit on Mount Zion. That is why the Bible says that “you have not come to the mountain [Sinai] that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest…But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels” (Hebrews 12:18, 22). The Lord blesses you out of Zion (Psalm 128:5), and not Sinai!

By grace you have been saved through faith (see Ephesians 2:8). Now, continue in the Spirit of grace. Remain on the right mountain and He will continue to supply miracles in your life! Seek first His Kingdom (MATT 6:33)

So, Come Just As You Are this Pentecost Sunday to Worship, to Pray in Unity In One accord to give of your first fruits as God Gave to you and receive His Abundance and receive Holy Communion- 

Love in His Grace, Pastor Joe

 https://newcreation.tv/give

Marriage

When people need advice in any area of life, they can turn to the Bible for God inspired answers. What does the Bible say about marriage? Plenty, beginning with the successes and failures of the first husband and wife, Adam and Eve.  If you are looking for the perfect marriage it starts with you!

There are no perfect marriages in the bible only in the lives of those who hear the Word, believe and do it! The Word of God along with the Holy Spirit will give you insight you need to have a successful marriage. But as you go forward remember it’s up to you.

God created the institution of marriage in His creation of the first man and woman, Adam and Eve. God has the wisdom you need in His Word to have a successful marriage.  Having a great marriage begins with how we accept, receive, and act on what is in God’s Word about this holy institution.

Understand, our personal relationship with God must be strong for our marriage relationship to be strong. In order to develop and maintain a godly marriage, we must develop and maintain a close relationship with God Himself. His Word must be the final authority in our lives if we are to enjoy the success that He intends for us.

What does God say about marriage? We’ll start with one of the most famous marriages and learn a few lessons from Adam and Eve.

GENESIS 2:18,22–24
18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him . . . .” 

22 Then the Lord God made a Woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.”

24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

From this passage of Scripture, we see that God originally created man with the ability and the need for relationships. First, man had a relationship with God Himself. But God said that wasn’t enough for man. Man was also designed to have a marriage relationship. Marriage is between a Man and a Woman according to God’s Word.

Man had an ideal environment in the Garden of Eden. His every material need was supplied. He was secure and protected. Yet in the midst of his ideal environment, Adam needed help. God created woman to dwell alongside man and be his helper, companion, partner and counterpart.

We can learn some things about marriage if we’ll study the account of Adam and Eve and see how they related to each other as husband and wife. One area in which we can gain knowledge from Adam and Eve is the area of communication. Adam and Eve didn’t always effectively communicate with each other. Eve didn’t bother to talk to Adam before she ate the forbidden fruit. She didn’t talk to Adam and ask what he thought about Satan’s ideas and suggestions concerning God’s command and Adam being right next to her did not step up to the plate and communicate to Eve what God spoke to them.

Adam was irresponsible in that he failed to communicate to Eve when she was tempted. He didn’t tell her, “No, don’t eat of the tree. Let’s believe God.” And Adam obviously didn’t communicate much with Eve when she gave him the fruit, because he ate it too!

Open and loving communication is the key to a healthy marriage. A healthy marriage relationship is one in which you are both able to be truthful with each other without the other becoming offended. That means that in certain situations, you are able to look at yourself and say, “My spouse is right, and I am wrong.” When you get to the place where you can receive what your spouse has to say and then honestly look at yourself and admit you need to change, you’re on the way to having a great marriage relationship!

God gave us a spouse to help us make good decisions and to give us godly counsel. That’s why Adam and Eve should have communicated better with each other. If we’re to learn from their mistakes, we must learn how to effectively communicate with our spouse.

Another thing we can learn from Adam and Eve is the importance of guarding our affections and keeping them directed toward our spouse. We can also learn how to help guard our spouse from others affections.  Your spouse is your best friend, your lover and your team mate. No one else takes that place or you are inviting trouble at the very core of your relationship.  But once again this is something that you do.  Your spouse will follow your example eventually. It stats with you.

You must bind together with your mate to protect your union against anything that tries to come against it. Just as the serpent tempted Eve, there may be people who will try to entice you or your spouse, but if you have good, honest communication, you can talk to each other about it and handle the situation together.

Another lesson we can learn from Adam and Eve is in the area of shifting the blame. It will help our marriage greatly if when we make a mistake, we admit it and take responsibility for it.

When God asked Adam if he had eaten from the tree, Adam told God, “It’s not my fault. It’s my wife’s fault. It was the woman You gave me” (Gen. 3:12). But it was Adam’s own fault! He didn’t have to eat from that tree nor did he say anything to Eve.

Adam blamed Eve for getting them kicked out of the Garden, and Eve may have resented Adam for blaming her. But I really believe that if they had communicated properly with one another, they would have come up with a better idea than that of eating the fruit and then shifting the blame.

We are not without help in developing and maintaining a godly marriage. God created the institution of marriage, and His Word gives us ample instructions for the marriage relationship.

EPHESIANS 5:21–33

21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Notice to one another)

22 Wives, submit (line yourself up with) to your husbands as to the Lord.

23 For the husband is the head of the wife (Spiritual influence) as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Saviour.

24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her (Notice it says Love her as Christ Loves His Church)

26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,

27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

29 After all, no-one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church—

30 for we are members of his body.

31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and the two shall become one.

32 This is a profound mystery—but I am actually talking about Christ and the church.

33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

This passage shows the proper marriage relationship—one in which both husband and wife are submitted to God and to each other.

I hear some husbands saying. “ She is supposed to submit…”!  If you are a husband reading this- lose that statement!  It’s also a good indication that you still have the focus on her problems and not your own. We never have any room to condemn any one as a child of God.   

Though it is partially true that the wife is to submit, or actually give respect, to her own husband as the Church is respectful to Christ; It is also true that the husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the Church. How much does Christ love the Church? Christ loved the Church so much that He gave His life for her.  Jesus prepared his disciples food, washed their feet, served them and laid down His life for His Church.

In the marriage relationship, there must be a head, or a leader. God has designated the man, the husband, to be the leader of the marriage relationship and the family. So, the husband must lead through his example of love.  The husband is not to dominate as a dictator over the household. Submission or respect isn’t forced—it’s voluntary. Christ never demands submission from the Church. The Church has always been allowed to make a voluntary choice whether or not to submit to Jesus. Christ has never forced us to submit to him.  Likewise, a husband isn’t to force his wife into submission; rather, he is to lead her in such a way that submission or respect becomes a choice she gladly makes.

Although I’ve only scratched the surface in talking about marriage, I believe these simple keys will help keep our marriage strong. We can learn from the mistakes Adam and Eve made in the areas of communication and shifting the blame. And we can follow the very specific instructions God gave us in the Bible concerning marriage. As husbands and wives work together in Unity and Harmony with God, marriages will be the “Heaven on earth” they were meant to be.

Love In His Grace, Pastor Joe. 

www.NewCreation.TV

See You At Church- Sunday 10AM Thursday 7PM

 1 Cor. 13: 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered,it keeps no record of wrongs.

6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth of God’s love. 

7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails.

Seek My Righteousness

Romans 14:17

…the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit...

Are you troubled by anything today?  God says to you, “Don’t focus on that!” Instead, seek first My kingdom, which is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Be conscious of the righteousness you have as a gift from what Christ accomplished on the Cross. God’s Word says to you, “Keep the inner You flowing with My peace and joy, and I will take care of the rest.”

We tend to think that the people around us are the problem. When we don’t get the promotion we want, we blame our bosses and colleagues. When we lose our temper, we blame our wives, husbands and kids. However, God wants us to stop looking outside and start looking within because His kingdom is within us (see Luke 17:21).

The abundance of the kingdom of God is already inside you.  As you seek first God’s kingdom, and follow in  His righteousness, peace and joy, the abundance within you will flow out and become a reality in your circumstances (see Matthew 6:33). You will find that God has not only taken care of what is troubling you, but has also added blessings to you, be it a promotion, well-behaved kids or a loving wife.

“So how do You keep that inner You flowing with righteousness, peace and joy?”

Be conscious of your righteousness in Christ. Don’t focus on what is weighing you down- Listen to The Holy Spirit that dwells in you- dwell on how righteous you are because of the perfect sacrifice of Christ. Peace and joy flow when you know that all your sins have been forgiven because of Jesus’ finished work.

So, the next time something troubles you, don’t just make your focus on correcting the problem. Instead, seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness. Make it a priority to have that new inner you that has been redeemed by the Blood Of Jesus flow in  His peace and joy, and He will take care of that problem for you!

Love in Christ;

Pastor Joe-

See You At Church-  

Sunday @10AM Thursday 7PM 

Calling Forth Seeds of Greatness In Your Life

Calling Forth Seeds of Greatness In Your Life

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.”Jer. 17:7

TODAY’S WORD:

Today, I want to pronounce words of blessing over you. I want to call forth your seeds of greatness. Someone may have told you what you can’t become, but I’m here to tell you what you can become. As a believer in Christ, all of the blessings in His Word belong to you! That’s God’s Promise to you- 2 Corinthians 1:20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 

Receive it by faith today!

You are a person of destiny- (Jer. 29:11)

You are equipped-

2 Peter 1:3 divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence-

You are talented.

Romans 11:29 For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn-

You are creative.

1 Corinthians 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

You were designed for a purpose. You are loved, chosen and accepted by Almighty God. There is nothing you can do to make Him love you more and nothing you can do to make Him love you less. His grace is more than enough for you. His angels have charge over you. You are blessed coming in and blessed going out. You have uncommon wisdom. You have uncommon joy. You have uncommon peace. He is your vindicator, and He will fight for you! No weapon formed against you shall prosper as you serve Him all the days of your life!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Father, thank You for blessing me- I put my trust in You and Your Promises today, I set my heart and mind on You. I praise You for Your goodness and faithfulness. I receive Your blessing upon every area of my life in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Love in His Grace-

Pastor Joe.

The spirit of heaviness

There are times in life when we can become weighted  down with the things we are dealing with or have gone through. This heaviness we experience can start out as a little care or a concern or you are dwelling on a past painful event or things in the future.

Another scenario is what can begin as a small burden grows and grow. Then, you start taking on responsibilities that aren't yours. You start thinking that you have to keep everyone around you happy. All of this piled on becomes very heavy on your heart and mind.

There is something as a believer you must be aware of-

The Bible says that heaviness is actually a spirit.

The objectives of the demonic realm is torment and torcher.  The enemy of your soul works to keep you from knowing Christ and to keep you from ministering your gifts effectively!

The goal of this spirit of heaviness is to distract you and get you off track. Heaviness tries to keep your head down so that you can't even look up to the heavens—the place from where your help comes.  (Ps. 121:1) This spirit of Heaviness tries to wear you out and take the place of God's Spirit of Love, Joy and Peace.

But do you know what chases that spirit of heaviness away?
Here is the Overcoming Power you are called to do to cast off this spirit of heaviness.  Because the spirit of heaviness is not from you neither is it you!  It’s a demonic spirit that you need to take authority over.  How? By Praise and Thanksgiving. Scripture says that God inhabits the praises of His people. He literally comes into our praise and works! When you start praising, God shows up in your midst and every negative spirit has to flee!

If you have heaviness on you today, if you feel trapped, overwhelmed, discouraged, frustrated or anxious, there is only one thing you need to do, and that is to open your mouth and praise Almighty God! Even if it's difficult, even if you don't feel like it, just open your mouth and begin to declare His goodness. Sometimes we have to stir ourselves up in the things of God. Sometimes we have to get our flesh to obey the Word of God so we can see the breakthrough in the supernatural realm.

Today, God calls you to put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3). That’s what The Word says- Set your heart and mind on the Father. Instead of focusing on your problems, focus on your God. Don't let that spirit of heaviness get you stuck, but let praise get you through! Enter His gates with thanksgiving, shake off heaviness and embrace the peace, joy and victory God has prepared for you! 

In Jesus Name, Love in His Grace, Pastor Joe.

Listen it my message on Victory Over Depression and Anxiety...
Tap on this link to listen-
https://newcreation.tv/sermons/2019/4/25/victory-over-depression-and-anxiety

See You Sunday 10AM
Thursdays 7PM

Meditating On God's Word

Meditating on God's Word

Life is often noisy and full of distractions, concerns and problems that flood our minds.

There is always so much to do! But, God wants the very best for you but you have to know how to recognize it and receive it.

If you’ve ever said to yourself, “I don’t even have time to think,” then you know how hard it is to concentrate when you’re being bombarded from all sides.  The enemies objective is to get you sidetracked with things that you can’t do a thing about- Thus worry, fear and confusion comes in and you are perplexed and become unproductive.

This can make it hard to focus on God’s purposes in our lives- We must take time to renew our minds and refresh our spirit.

1 Kings 19:12-tells is God doesn’t often shout to get our attention. Instead, He usually speaks to us in “a still small voice”

So, what can we do to put ourselves in a position to hear God’s voice?

We have to make time in our daily lives to get quiet.

David said of the Lord in Psalm 23:2, “He leads me beside quiet waters.”

Right now I want to encourage you to find those quiet waters where you can get alone with the Lord. It may be a room in your house, outside under the trees, or some other place where you can shut out the noise and distractions of the world for just a few precious minutes.

The key to renewing your mind, body and spirit is to develop the habit and discipline of meditating on the Word of God every day — even if it is for just a moment.

To meditate simply means to reflect on the same thing over and over again, visualize it and let the meaning of it sink deep down into your heart.

Meditation is a spiritual practice that’s encouraged throughout Scripture. The key is to draw on God’s wisdom found in the Scriptures. In fact, the Bible is filled with the blessings and benefits of meditating on its principles. I have four of these benefits that I want to share with you-

First, Meditating on God’s Word will give you spiritual success.

God told Joshua, “Study this Book of the Word continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to receive, believe and trust all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed” Joshua 1:8.  God’s definition of success in life is to know Him better. One way we do that is to read and understand His Word!

Secondly,  Meditating on God’s Word will help you keep your heart focused on Him.

“The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” Hebrews 4:12.

We need to evaluate our thoughts, deeds and motives each day and examine ourselves to see if we are lined up with God’s Word and not just our own thoughts.  The Bible gives us clear direction on how to live. It is a mirror that accurately shows us where our hearts really are.

Thirdly,  Meditating on God’s Word will give you insights and wisdom that will guide you at every turn in your life.

“I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes” Psalm 119:99.

There is supernatural wisdom that comes from meditating on God’s Word. It will strengthen you, guide you and give you hope and victory in every situation!

Fourth and last, Meditating on Scripture will help you fill your mind with the things of God.

“Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about” Philippians 4:8.

Since we can only think about one thing at a time, meditating on God’s love and goodness leaves no room for wrong thinking.

There are incredible riches available when we invest in our relationship with The Lord Jesus by spending time in His life-giving Word.

We have God’s promise that, “No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly” Psalm 84:11.  The Good News is that we have been made upright by the Blood and Body Of Jesus.  But we still must believe His Word and That releases the promise-

This Scripture tells us that the Lord has good things waiting for you, but you have to do your part ... believe and receive- We walk uprightly when we chose to live in the New Creation person we now are in Christ that are according to the these principles of His Word.

Let me encourage you to find a quiet place where you can be still, hear the voice of the Lord and gain the strength you need to fight the good fight of faith.

Take time every day in God’s presence, praying and filling your mind with Scripture.

The exciting thing about meditating on God’s Word is that even when you leave your quiet place and start another busy day, your mind and spirit are still processing what you read — which means the benefits of meditating on Scripture influence your whole day!

As we walk this life of faith together, we need to remember how many have yet to experience the peace that comes from having a personal relationship with the living Savior.

Be uplifted today. I believe that your very best days are ahead. Romans 8:28.

Days filled with more joy, peace, encouragement, healing, restoration and hope.

Love in His Grace.

Pastor Joe

His Last Dying Words

Take some time and reflect what Jesus did for you at the Cross- 

The Gospels record that during the six hours Jesus was hanging on the cross He made seven statements.

These statements are of tremendous significance because they are the last words of Jesus before His death. They demonstrate that Jesus was consistent in His life and in His message until the end.

1. "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 24:34).

This first of seven sayings of Jesus shows that He was thinking of others until the end of His life.

Even while experiencing the horrible pain of crucifixion, He was praying for the very people who caused His suffering. He came to earth for the purpose of forgiving sinners and He loved them and forgave them up until the end. It was because of our sin that He was on the cross-suffering on behalf of that sin.

2. "Today you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43).

Not only did Jesus forgive those who crucified Him, He also forgave one of the thieves crucified next to Him. When the thieves were put on the cross both of them cursed Jesus but, as time elapsed, one of the thieves had a change of heart.

Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed him, saying, 'If you are the Christ, save yourself and us.' But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, 'Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.' Then he said to Jesus, 'Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom' (Luke 23:39-42).

It was at this juncture that Jesus made His second statement from the cross promising to forgive a dying thief who asked Jesus to remember Him.  Again we see Jesus' concern for others. His example later led the Apostle Paul to exhort the Philippian church,

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself (Philippians 2:3).

3. "Woman, behold your Son" (John 19:26).

As Jesus continued to suffer on the cross His mind was still upon others. He saw His mother standing near the Apostle John and said, "Woman, behold your son." He then looked at John and said, "Behold your mother!" By doing this He was entrusting the care of His mother to John. The law required the firstborn son to take care of his parents, and Jesus was obeying the law of God on our behalf up until the end. Early in His ministry Jesus emphasized His respect for the law:

Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the prophets. I did not come to destroy but to complete and fulfill it.(Matthew 5:17).

He kept the Law throughout His life without sin on our behalf, so we could receive His righteousness as our perfect sacrifice- (Galatians 3:13-15)

4. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46).

The fourth saying of Jesus from the cross is probably the most difficult for us to understand. The sinless Son of God who had been, from all eternity, in an intimate relationship with His Father, is now spiritually separated from Him. When the sins of the world were put upon Jesus there was, for the first time, a separation between the Father and the Son as you and I were separated from God before we came to Christ- The Bible records something happened between them that we can only understand through the eyes of faith.

That is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:19).

The Father was placing the sins of the world upon the Son in order that everything in the universe that had been affected by sin could again be made right with God. Jesus was suffering the pain and separation that we deserve:

For he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him (2 Corinthians 5:21).

In order for this to occur, the Father had to forsake the Son and punish Him on our behalf.

5. "I thirst" (John 19:28).

The fifth statement that Jesus made from the cross reminds us again that He suffered as a human being. The Bible says,

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, 'I thirst' (John 19:28).

In John 8 Jesus said He was the Living Water- He took all of life’s thirst upon himself at the cross as He tasted death of every person so you could experience the living water of God Himself.

He lived as a man and suffered as a man in order that He could identify with suffering humanity. From this statement we observe that Jesus suffered the full physical effect of crucifixion. There was no easing up, for the weight of our sins was placed upon Him.

6. "It is finished" (John 19:30).

The sixth statement from Jesus while on the cross was a cry of victory. The Greek text reads tetelestai, "It is finished." What was finished? The separation of humanity from God! As we consider the life and ministry of Jesus we can think of several things that His death made complete.

Jesus Finished The Job That The Father Gave Him To Do

First, Jesus had to finish the task the Father had sent Him to earth to accomplish, namely to provide salvation for humankind. By living His entire life without sin, Jesus was able to become the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. The way of salvation had now been made complete. No more animal sacrifices were necessary for they had only pointed to the ultimate sacrifice Jesus had now offered. His was the supreme sacrifice which satisfied the righteous demands of a holy God.

Jesus Fulfilled Prophecy

The second thing that was accomplished by Jesus on the cross was a fulfillment of prophecy. The predicted Messiah had come as God promised He would. Prophecies of the Word of God, which are always accurate, had again come to pass. The Savior was promised; now Christ the Savior had come and accomplished the promised salvation.

Jesus Achieved Victory Over The Devil

A third matter that was accomplished by Jesus' death on the cross was the victory over the devil. The Scripture says that one of the purposes for Jesus' coming was to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). The death of Christ finished that task. The dominion over the earth that man, through his sin, had handed over to the devil was now won back. The authority of Satan had been vanquished - the victory had been won.  (Phil 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death-- even death on a cross!) He kept and fulfilled all the righteous requirements of the Law for you and me- It’s His obedience that makes us Righteous before God not ours-

Jesus’ Suffering Was Finished

A fourth and final reason that Jesus said, "It is finished" is with regard to His own suffering. Jesus spent over thirty years upon the earth living among humanity suffering from the self-imposed limitations of that existence in a human body. He had now endured the final six hours of that suffering on a cross. This was now finished. He would no longer have to suffer the limits of space and time. It was finished!

7. "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit" (Luke 23:46).

This is the final statement that we have from Jesus before His death. Everything had been completed and now it was time to dismiss His Spirit. Jesus had previously made the statement that He would willingly lay down His life for His sheep.

Therefore my Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from my Father (John 10:17,18).

From this we realize that Jesus had to purposely dismiss His spirit; it could not be taken from Him. Unless He desired to die, He would not have had to. Because He was a willing victim, however, He chose to die. Upon making His final statement, Jesus died.

The seven statements Jesus made from the cross are so relevant for us today. They once again remind us that His death, besides being a fact of history, was much more than that. It was the supreme sacrifice that secured our salvation. His final words show us that we can have the utmost confidence in Him as our Savior The Lord Jesus Christ! 

Love in His Grace, Pastor Joe

See You Thursday at 7PM, Good Friday at 12 Noon & Resurrection Sunday! 

Slam The Door On Fear

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:

“and do not give the devil an opportunity to work.” Ephesians 4:27

TODAY’S WORD:

Are you living with less than God’s best because you’ve  allowed the fear of something to creep in and take root in your life?  It might be the fear of a person, a place or a thing! Regardless of who or what it is; Fear is the greatest weapon the enemy uses to try to hold us back. Fear is not from God. Scripture tells us that fear brings torment. It’s designed to paralyze us and keep us from God’s blessings.

The good news is that God is greater than fear. His power in you is greater than any power that comes against you. But in order to walk in His power, you have to make a firm stand to close the door on the enemy once and for all. The enemy can’t have access to your life unless you open a door and give him access. That’s why we have to be careful about what we watch, what we listen to, who we let in our lives, what we read, what critics are saying and what we say. When we open ourselves to fear, we give the enemy opportunity.

If you’ve allowed fear to steal from you in any area of life, today you can be free—you can be finished with fear. Conquering the enemy starts by making the choice in your mind to close the door on fear, and instead, meditate on God’s promises. We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony! Let God’s truth and Power sink down into your heart. Declare it out of your mouth. Let Him set you free and lead you into victory as you close the door on fear!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Father, I come to You today declaring that I am finished with this fear. Thank You for giving me Power, Love and a Sound mind. You are my protector, my healer and my restorer. I choose to Stand on Your promises. I Receive Your Peace and Joy today as I move forward in Victory with You in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Rest & Let God Work

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:

“Cease striving and know that I am God…”

Psalm 46:10

TODAY’S WORD:

We all have to make numerous decisions throughout the week. When you face a difficult decision, did you know you can ask God to lead you in the right direction? Just like what we learned in that Amazing Word Thursday night in the Book Of James- 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

You’ll be amazed at the insight you get from relying on God’s Promises (His Word To You) instead of striving to find the answers on your own.

If you’re constantly trying to figure things out and make things happen instead of waiting for God’s timing and leading, you’ll wear yourself out. Instead, why don’t you come back to a place of rest and simply trust and know that God has given you power over any situation you might be facing. His ways are higher than ours. If you’ll trust Him to do things His way, you’ll see His best plan for your life unfold. When you feel worried or uptight, that’s the time to say, “God, give me Your wisdom to make good decisions. I refuse to worry. I’m staying in peace, knowing that You are in control. I’m going to Rest In You”

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, thank You for remaining in control even when I’m worried or stressed.I receive Your Peace right now! I receive Your supernatural wisdom to make decisions that honor You and are for my good.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Love in His Grace, Pastor Joe

See you Sunday!

Today’s Devotion- El Shaddai

“El Shaddai”- The God That Is More Than Enough-

The All-Sufficient One, Lord God Almighty

In the Old Testament El Shaddai occurs 7 times. Let’s see a great New Testament fulfillment in Christ-

Today’s Scripture:

“After everyone was FULL, Jesus told his disciples, ‘Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.” – John 6:12

The Scripture here tells of a time when Jesus fed a crowd of five thousand with only five loaves. That day, everyone had “more than enough” to eat and there were still twelve baskets full of bread. That’s because we serve a God of abundance! I love that Jesus told the disciples to collect all the leftovers “so that nothing is wasted.” With God, nothing is ever wasted. He’ll never waste an experience; He’ll never waste a hurt; He’ll never waste a dream; He’ll never waste even a single piece of bread.

God is still in the miracle-working business. He is still our Creator, and He is a Restorer. His Name is El Shaddai not El Cheap-O!  If you’ve felt like you’ve wasted years of your life in the wrong job, hanging around the wrong people, doing the wrong things, God will gather those years and restore them back to you. He’ll take those experiences that the enemy meant for your harm and turn them around for your good. He’ll make you stronger, wiser and better off than you were before. He can launch you further into your destiny than before. Be encouraged today because with God, all things are possible and nothing is ever wasted!

A Prayer for Today: “Father, I give You every bit of my life – my past, my present and my future. Thank You for being more than enough and for taking every experience in my life and turning it around for my good in Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

Love in His Grace, Pastor Joe

Come Just As You Are

Come just as you are

Hear The Spirit call

Come just as you are

Come and see

Come receive

Come and live forever

Life Everlasting

Strength for today

Taste the living water

And never thirst again

Words and music by Joe Sabolick

Jesus Said; Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”(John 7:37-38)

Receive His Living Water and refresh your life with His Love and Mercy simply by Believing and trusting Him.

He will give you strength for today and you’ll never thirst for again- That means He will satisfy the spiritual part of your life and provide healing in every area of your life-

The Bible says, “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, [Jesus Christ], that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Jesus said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly”—a complete life full of purpose (John 10:10)

We come to Him to step out of sin consciousness into Son Consciousness-

From failure into Success, From prison to Praise, From hate to Love, Form disappointment to Expectancy, From sinner to Saint, From separated from God to Joint heir to Christ, From disturbed to Peace, From Anxiety to Comfort , From slave to Free, From cursed to Blessed . From incapability to More That Able, From unrighteousness to Righteousness, From unhappy to Joyful and the list goes on to the amazing Joy Give us~

 Listen and sing for all these reasons…

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/53463aace4b0b2e29e33e51b/t/5c08a6de40ec9a67bf39f4ff/1544070891588/Come+Just+As+You+Are+LIVE.mp3/original/Come+Just+As+You+Are+LIVE.mp3

Forget What’s Behind

 Forget What‘s Behind!

TODAY’S  SCRIPTURE:

…But one thing I do: forgetting those things which are behind and pushing forward to what is ahead.

Philippians 3:13,

TODAY’S WORD:

Many people don’t fully understand what it means to forget the past. One definition of the word “forget” is “to disregard intentionally, or to overlook.” You have to intentionally disregard your past so that it doesn’t keep you from moving forward. That means the good and the bad. If we’re not careful, even our past victories can keep us from rising higher if we get too comfortable where we are. God wants to take us from glory to glory, but if we don’t let go of the old, we’ll never be able to embrace the new. It’s time to forget what lies behind. Put it away once and for all. When you release it, it’s an act of your faith. Focus all your faith on moving forward. Trust that God has new levels of victory, peace and favor. Trust that He’s working all around you on your behalf. As you forget what lies behind and press forward, you will see the abundant life Our God has in store for you!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Father, thank you that you have made all things New in my life- I choose to forget the past today. I don’t want anything to hold me back from the future You have prepared for me. I choose forgiveness and thank You that You are helping me in every area of my life!  By Your Spirit I am pressing forward.

In Jesus Name. Amen!

Love in His Grace, Pastor Joe.

https://newcreation.tv/give 

Sabbath Rest

Are You Resting Today? Be diligent to enter that rest Heb.4:7-11. Enter right now into His Rest. Enjoy being seated together in Christ in the heavenly places, then you will run and not be weary.

See You Sunday @10AM

Read about Your Rest This Sabbath Day- 

Hebrews 4:10–11

…he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest...

A baby learns to sit first before he starts to stand and walk. The Christian life also begins with sitting. God “raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6). How well we walk after that depends on how well we sit and rest in the finished work of Christ.

The promised land was a land of rest where God promised His people “large and beautiful cities which you did not build, houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant” (Deuteronomy 6:10–11).

But for 40 years, God’s people wandered in the wilderness because they refused to believe that God had given them a land where everything had been prepared—the work was finished. They could not believe that God had given them a land full of good things to enjoy, a land which just flowed with His abundant supply.

Today, there are believers who still cannot believe that the work of Jesus is truly complete and finished. They are trying to complete a completed work, finish a finished work and defeat a defeated devil.

There are believers today who are always working and trying to produce their healing, success and victory. God wants us to stop striving  and start trusting in His love for us.

He wants us to stop working and struggling, and start resting and believing in His grace toward us.

The only “work” left for us to do today is to enter His rest.

We are to labor every day to enter His rest. We are to rest inwardly and believe that the work is done because it is a finished work, and trust in God’s undeserved favor toward us. We are to rest in Jesus our true ark, who will carry us through the storms of Life!

So today, “if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts…be diligent to enter that rest” (Hebrews 4:7, 11). Let’s enter His rest. Let’s enjoy sitting together with Christ in the heavenly places, then we will run and not be weary (see Isaiah 40:31)!

Love in Christ, Pastor Joe- 

See You Sunday- The Lord’s Day

Jehovah-Rapha

You can learn a lot from a name, and that’s especially true of our Creator.

Throughout the Bible, God presents Himself with different names that describe who and what He does. Each name reveals something important about Himself. One of the names of God is Jehovah-Rapha, “the Lord who heals.” (Ex. 15)

God is the one who Heals!

It is written, “He healed all that came to him” multitudes of people came to him, not only from Israel but also from surrounding nations and they brought all their sick to Jesus to be healed.

The Name that He revealed to the Israelites after they came out of Egypt was Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who heals you-  It was as if He was telling them, as they began their new life with Him, that He had already healed them of all the diseases and pains they suffered when they were in bondage in Egypt. When He brought them out of Egypt, the scripture says “there was none feeble among them” (Psalm 105:37).

Today, just as the Israelites were delivered from their bondage in Egypt and from slavery to Pharaoh, you have also been delivered from the bondage of sin and sickness, and from slavery to the devil, by the body of Jesus and His blood. And the Lord, who is the same yesterday, today and forever, still says to you, “I am the Lord who heals you.”

A family recently came to church desiring their daughter to be healed of epileptic seizures- she was diagnosed with having the beginning stages of epilepsy. As I called her forward to be prayed for, we laid hands on her and believed God’s promise that she was healed in The Name Of Jesus.  They came back the next week telling us the Doctors were amazed as they were doing follow up tests that there were no longer any traces of epilepsy whatsoever! Glory to God!

Child of God, If the doctor has given you a bad report regarding your health, don’t despair. Look to Jesus and expect healing for your body. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is still Jehovah Rapha—the Lord who heals you!

You need to know what God’s Word says about your healing-

For yourself and those you know that need healing-

Listen to my audio on “The Healing Scriptures-

Tap on the link below and let them minister to you.

Love in His Grace, Pastor Joe.

https://newcreation.tv/sermons/2016/10/26/the-healing-scriptures

Love Is...

 "Love . . . is patient and kind. . . .

Love (God's love in us) . . . is ever ready

to believe the best of every person."

—1 Corinthians 13:4–5, 7 (Amplified)

It is so important that we learn to practice love in our lives on a daily basis. Many people refer to First Corinthians 13 as "the love chapter." Too often, we want to skip over reading that part of the Bible.  Let’s Read It Together~

1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-7 (Amplified)

4 Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.

5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].

6 It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth of Love prevail.

7 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

If we would practice this passage daily, we could live peaceful, productive lives. The problem is, we give power to our old nature and allow it to get in our way. Instead of ignoring injustices that are done to us, we want to get even; instead of walking in love, we want to repay evil for evil.

Life is too short to live in constant turmoil in your home, work or in The Church. This holds true regarding your relationships with friends as well. When strife arises in our relationships, we can deal wisely with it and keep First Corinthians 13:4-7 as our foundation.

We can learn something about this from the Apostle Paul. The church at Corinth was suffering from such strife within it that he had to remind the members, "Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you" (2 Cor. 13:11). "Be of one mind. Live in peace." This is God’s will for you to maintain a healthy mental, spiritual and physical life.

In order to live out that instruction from the Word of God, we must learn to communicate effectively with others, beginning with our spouses and children. Communication is often the most difficult skill to master, because we can experience so many different emotions when we are sharing our thoughts and feelings. Paul wrote about this in Ephesians 4:26-27: "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil." "Be angry and sin not" sounds like a contradictory statement, but it isn't. The Lord knows that anger is one of the emotions we experience in life, yet He tells us, "Although you may be feeling angry, do not sin." What exactly does that mean?

You may experience angry feelings, but don't use those feelings to get even. In the midst of anger, you might say words that you may not really mean, but those cutting words can forever ring in the ears of the recipient.

When we choose to love, it causes peace to reign in our relationships and in our lives.

It's important to express your love and appreciation for your family and friends on a continual basis. We all need to be reassured of the love others have for us, and we need to reassure others of our love for them.

You may not have heard anyone say to you, "I love you," and you may find it awkward to say those words yourself. But I encourage you that if you'll start saying, "I love you," to people you care about, each time you repeat those words, they will become easier to say and more natural to you. Remember our God is Love- (1John 4:7&8)

You can begin right now by determining that every day, not just on special occasions, you will walk in love and express words of love to your family and friends.

Love in His Grace, Pastor Joe.

www.NewCreation.TV