Tag: Lord Jesus Christ

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Bible Preaching

The Fruitful Bough

Apostolic Life Cathedral | April 14, 2024 | 6:30 PM

Genesis 49:22-26

(22)  Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:

(23)  The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:

(24)  But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)

(25)  Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:

(26)  The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.

Truly, we are living in the last days.

No doubt, the attack of Iran – biblical Persia – against Israel these last 2 days signals to us that the while the end of the world is not yet…it is edging closer.

Gog & Magog are on a prophetic collision course to that final showdown known as Armageddon when all the nations of the earth come to a little hill in Israel and to fight Israel, that’s when Jesus comes with His saints and fights for Israel delivering a final victory for His people.

The Church need not worry about that event because we will be the ones arriving with Jesus when He collects us in what many call The Rapture, and what a mysterious day that is for:

“…We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

Paul wrote about it to the Thessalonians:

“…The Lord himself [that’s Jesus] shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

That moment is nearer now than ever before.

After the church goes up to be with the Lord: seven years of tribulation begin, the Temple is rebuilt, the sacrificial system begins again, the antichrist comes to power, the Jews see that they were tricked by this antichrist, the last half of those seven years become a time of Great Tribulation, and the culminating event is Armageddon.

The Lord is coming for His Bride. A fruitful Bride. Daughters that are bearing fruit and spreading out across the world.

A glorious church, a holy bride:

“Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones” (Ephesians 5:24-30).

Colossians 2:16-17, “(16)  Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: (17)  Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”

Jesus Christ is in the Old Testament concealed and in the New Testament Revealed.

Joseph is an Old Testament type and shadow of Jesus Christ. In fact, there are at least 75 instances where Joseph’s life parallels that of Jesus Christ:[1]

  • Miraculous birth: Jacob was 90 years old, Rachel was barren – Mary was a virgin
  • Both spoke truth in exposing sinful behavior of others knowing he would be hated and ostracized
  • Both were shepherds
  • Both were beloved sons of their fathers
  • Both were hated by their brothers without a cause
  • Both prophesied and foretold the future
  • Both were betrayed for silver and stripped of their clothes
  • Both became servants
  • Both were tempted but did not sin – no sin of Joseph is recorded, and Jesus was truly sinless
  • Both were falsely accused
  • They both suffered for others’ sins and false accusations
  • Both sentenced with 2 criminals: 1 saved and 1 lost
  • Both wept for the wicked
  • Both forgave those who wronged them
  • Both became saviors: Joseph to his family, and Jesus to the whole world
  • Substitutionary atonement: Innocent Joseph/Christ suffered for guilty brethren
  • Evil turned into blessing
  • Comforted those who betrayed him. Disciples were comforted after abandoning Jesus at the cross
  • Both married a Gentile bride
  • …and the lost goes one…[2]

Back to our text: Genesis 49:22-26

(22)  Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:

  • Bough (bau) = “a son (as a builder of the family name)”[3]
    • “…I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named…” (Eph. 3:14-15).
  • Branches = “a daughter”[4]
    • The branches are the Jewish and Gentile bride that make up the Church.
    • Ephesians 2:11-17, “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;  (12)  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:  (13)  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.  (14)  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;  (15)  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;  (16)  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:  (17)  And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
  • Branches run over the wall:
    • The wall is the world
    • The Church will cover the whole world

(23)  The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:

(24)  But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)

  • Jesus Christ was persecuted, hated, and killed, but the Hand of God raised Him from the dead and He is our:
    • Shepherd
      • 1 Peter 2:25, “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”
    • Stone
      • Ephesians 2:19-22, “(19) Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;  (20)  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;  (21)  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:  (22)  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

(25)  Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:

  • Our God is an all sufficient God
    • JEHOVAH ROHI – THE LORD MY SHEPHERD
    • JEHOVAH JIREH – THE LORD MY PROVIDER (He sees and provides)
    • JEHOVAH RAPHA – THE LORD MY HEALER
    • JEHOVAH SHALOM – THE LORD MY PEACE
    • JEHOVAH NISSI – THE LORD MY BANNER
    • JEHOVAH TSIDKENU – THE LORD MY RIGHTEOUSNESS
    • JEHOVAH SHAMMAH – THE LORD IS THERE FOR ME (He is present)[5]

(26)  The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.

  • The Blessing of God, the promise of God is on you, your children, your children’s children…
  • The kingdom of God is an ever growing and enlarging body that will one day fill the whole earth
  • 40 million apostolics world-wide, according to Dr. Talmadge French.

You have no need to fear.

You are part of The Fruitful Bough

Jesus Christ is The Fruitful Bough

He is the root and the offspring of David

He is the bright and morning star

The Fruitful Bough is by a well…a water source

Psalm 1 – “Blessed is the man…like a tree planted by the rivers of water…”

You can draw joy out of the well salvation – the Lord Jesus Christ

[1] SOURCE: https://www.bible.ca/d-bible-archeology-maps-timeline-chronology-Joseph-types-Christ-Shadows-Antitypes-similarities-comparisons-2166-1876BC.htm#full

[2] Ibid.

[3] Strong’s. H1121.

[4] Strong’s. H1323.

[5] SOIURCE: https://glennarekion.org/article/7-redemptive-names-god

Categories
Bible Teaching

Jesus: The Prince of Peace

Apostolic Life Cathedral | April 14, 2024 | 10:00 AM

Categories
Bible Teaching

All Prayer

Apostolic Life Cathedral | March 19, 2024 | 7:00 PM

Call for UPCI Ministers – International Day of Prayer and Fasting – March 23-24

Call to Repentance: Pray for nation, the world and world-wide revival

Esther – a time when God worked through shadows. God’s name isn’t mentioned in Esther. He chose to work through men and women.

Prepare for the greatest revival and harvest of this generation.

Joel 2:15-21

(15)  Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:

(16)  Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.

(17)  Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?

(18)  Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.

(19)  Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:

(20)  But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.

(21)  Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.

Bobby Wade

To turn God’s favor to the Church as we repent for our mediocrity.

If we do, we will see Signs, Miracles and Harvest like we have never seen.

This International Day of Prayer and Fasting can turn tide in the favor of the Church and dislodge principalities.

If we do not heed pray, He will turn the Harvest to another.

James 5:16b, “The effectual [energetic] fervent prayer of a righteous [pure] man availeth much.”

Righteous men and women, pure in their spirit and motives, know that effectiveness in prayer has more to do with God and less to do with them.

It is God responding to the power, the energy, the life that is in the prayer of the righteous…

Prayer that is full of the Holy Spirit, understanding, heartfelt and full of passionate, fervent, zealous faith.

Ephesians 6:10-20

(10)  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

(11)  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

(12)  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

(13)  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

(14)  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

(15)  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

(16)  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

(17)  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

(18)  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

(19)  And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

(20)  For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

“All Prayer” = With all kinds of prayer; prayer in the closet, with the family, the social meeting, the church service;

prayer at the usual hours, emergency prayer, prayers when you are tempted, or when you just feel like praying;

prayers of supplication for ourselves, or prayers of intercession for others.

All Prayer is the great weapon of our spiritual armor, and by this we may hope to prevail[1] – against our true enemy.

“…when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly” (Matt. 6:6).

“Pray, don’t pose.” –Mark F. Kuntzman

Old Song: “Prayer is the key to heaven, but faith unlocks the door…”

In January I was in a prayer meeting and saw a gold string/cord that attached to everyone in the room.

It was a prayer connection. We are all connected by prayer.

All Prayer will Elevate, Change and Shift your life into areas you didn’t know existed.

Some people will be intimidated by a truly righteous man or woman  of prayer and faith. They will be try to drag you back down to their level of mediocrity.

They are satisfied with the common, the average, plain vanilla

But God’s Church was born of the Spirit and will stay in the Spirit…

We are Spirit born and Spirit led

The people of Nazareth event tried to drag Jesus down when they said, “isn’t this the carpenter’s son?”

He had just come from a 40 day fast and prayer – All Prayer – has supercharged Him for ministry that made him unrecognizable to those who had seen Him grow up.

Don’t allow the enemy to drag you down to his level. He’s a surface traveler, slithering on his belly, feeding on the dust of the earth.

The Word of the Lord came to me and said:

You have been content to let others fight openly while you quietly fight behind the scenes, but now is the time to step up and lead on the battlefield as I begin to call my faithful officers to higher roles.

You may not think you are up to the task of this endtime revival and harvest, the enemy tries to remind you of past failures and weaknesses, but I want to remind you:

Ro. 8:32-39, “…Christ…maketh intercession for us.”

When Jesus places His intercession between you and your past nothing can pass through, reach around, or bypass His prayer for you and you are thoroughly freed from your past.

So, pray with All Prayer.

And while your praying, maintain a Pure God-Centered Motive.

Staying in a constant state of prayer, a constant God consciousness, can far outweigh what the natural eye can see.

It’ll allow you to navigate with spiritual eyes of understanding amd see ahead.

This is what Paul & Silas learned in Philippi:

Acts 16:16-21

(16)  And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:

(17)  The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

(18)  And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

(19)  And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,

(20)  And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,

(21)  And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.

Eli Hernandez on Pure Motives

Your motive is key to success both in spiritual maturity and in prayer.

The damsel with the spirit of divination was trying to appeal to any signs of pride and arrogance still attached to Paul and Silas

If they had fallen for her words and allowed the vexation to take root their covering of humility would have been pulled off making them vulnerable to satan’s attack.

Since God resists the proud, if Paul and Silas had given in to impure motives a jailer and his family would not have been saved.

Pure motives must be maintained in prayer, if not, pride and arrogance will come in and get in the way and change pure motives into impure motives over time.

We must humble ourselves to avoid becoming a target of impure motives.

David’s prayer should you mantra “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”

David knew what it was like for his motives to go off course.

Because he knew how to repent he could make a course correction.

A pure motive will discern spirits, and we are told to “try the spirits.”

So, if what someone tells you doesn’t line up with the written Word of God, no matter how exciting, appealing or emotionally fulfilling it may be, don’t let it into your spirit.

If you listen to that false voice, you may miss your own Philippian jailhouse conversion story.

Try the spirits – don’t judge them – with the Word of God.

There is a difference. There are those who judge, reject, criticize, then go out to eat and talk about how wrong that person was.

And then, there are those who try the spirit, reject it because it contradicts the Word of God, but then go on and pray to God for that person to come in alignment with the Word of God.

Which one are you?

Lord, search our hearts…remove those tendencies in us to judge and criticize others.

Help us to try the spirits based on the unity of The Holy Ghost and the Word of God.

As we go into this International Day of Prayer and Fasting on March 23rd and 24th (from 6 pm – 6 pm)

Let us repent.

Pray for our nation, our world,

Seek God’s face for revival and growth

Pray for a fresh outpouring of the supernatural

Check our motive.

All Prayer is Motivated Prayer – What motivates your prayers?

[1] Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible. Ephesians 6:18.

Categories
Bible Preaching

A Bottle In the Smoke

Apostolic Life Cathedral | March 10, 2024 | 6:30 PM

Text: Psalms 119:83

(83) For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.

Job 32:19-20

(19)  Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles.

(20)  I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.

Bottles in that day were made of sheep or goat skins.

Jesus told us that you don’t put new wine into old wineskins.

So, they would put the new wine in the fresh new skins to ferment the wine on the inside.

Many homes in that day didn’t have chimneys and so the smoke would fill the air above their heads

The bottle was hung high and there the soot from the smoke and fire would cover it…even begin to dry out the skin and make it tough at times.

In addition, the smoke mellowed the wine.

As the wine fermented on the inside it would stretch the bottle of skin.

It the skin dried too quickly the bottle would burst and its contents would be spilled.

So, every so often, the bottle would be opened to allow the gases created by the chemical reaction of the fermentation process to escape and make room for the wine to continue to ferment.

Additionally, some of the wine inside would be spilled and rubbed onto the outside of the drying skin to keep it flexible enough to stretch appropriately.[1]

You have faced a similar situation and some of what God is bringing to perfection inside of you needs to be relieved and allowed to vent and spill out onto the outside.

Daily pressures and spiritual warfare can sometimes ferment inside you to the point where you are about to burst because you are becoming hardened like an old eastern wine bottle and need to be renewed in the power of the Holy Ghost.

It is a process, the psalmist wrote, “I am become like a bottle in the smoke.”

Your growth and maturity in God doesn’t just happen. Knowing Him isn’t a passive thing.

You must remain pliable and workable in the Hand of the wine skin master. Let Him renew you and allow the healing touch of the Spirit to soften your rough places.

It takes both the inner and outer experiences, the internal and external pressures of life, to perfect you. Otherwise, you will crack and break under stress, heat, and pressure.

It takes what is on the inside being released and rubbed onto the outside that brings balance and enables you to mature.

The new wine that is inside must also be allowed to saturate the outside in order for you to be perfected

I’ve come to tell you that God is not just in the fire…He is also in the smoke.

“He [Jesus] shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.”

Exodus 19:18, “And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.”

Fire represents the power of God.

Smoke represents the glory of God.

Revelation 15:8, “And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.”

Isaiah 4:5, “And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.

Isaiah 6:4, “And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.”

It is the weight of Gory that I now address:

The sufferings, the pressures, the trials, the turbulent battle in your spirit, soul and body,

The attempt of satan – your adversary the devil – to try to get you to burst and explode and come to ruin because you have allowed present circumstances to DISTRACT you from eternal reward.

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor. 4:17-18).

Philippians 3:10, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings…”

Power of His resurrection = Holy Ghost fire

Fellowship of His sufferings (plural) = The glory of God.

Why plural? “…In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33).

You may feel like David of old today. His was a pressure cooker of life’s troubles, but he knew how to get relief.

He would enter the presence of the Lord in praise and worship.

He would sing a song, pray a prayer, write a psalm, and then the sweet balm of the Lord’s Spirit would come to him.

That was why he could cry out with such passion:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit” (Psalms 51:10-12)

Saint of God, if you need that relief tonight then you simply need to be renewed in the Holy Ghost:

  • Acts 3:19, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;”
    • Let’s all repent together.
  • Ephesians 4:23, “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;”

Perhaps you are here tonight and you want that Holy Ghost. You have repented and are now a new wine skin ready to be filled and made …A Bottle In the Smoke:

  • Close your eyes and think about Jesus and how much He loves you. Right now all that matters is talking to Jesus. This is time just for Jesus. Just think about Him and begin to talk to Him like you would talk to your best friend. Use simple words that tell Him how much you love Him.
  • Pray out loud, because Jesus likes to hear your voice.
  • Now, lift your hands and reach to Jesus. Show Him you want Him to fill your heart by raising your hands to Him and showing Him you are open to Him.
  • Keep talking to Jesus and telling Him what you want. If you want the Holy Ghost, ask Him for it. It’s like asking someone for a gift. Jesus wants to give you His gift.
  • Talk to Jesus in your outside voice. As you talk to Him, you may feel something very special start to happen. You may begin to feel like you are saying words you can’t understand. That is OK, because those words are Jesus talking with your voice. Just let those words pour out of your mouth as you let Jesus come live in your heart.

[1] SOURCE (paraphrased Dr. Fred Childs. http://www.wordshare.us/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=35157. Accessed: 1-13-10

Categories
Bible Preaching

God’s Extraction Plan

Apostolic Life Cathedral | March 17, 2024 | 6:30 PM

Jesus has an initial extraction plan to “seek and to save that which was lost,” and then to extract those He initially extracted (called out) from the sinful world to rise up and be with Him in Heaven.

Text: Acts 2:46-47

(46)  And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

(47)  Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

The word “Church” (ekklesia) means “a calling out.”

The Church then is an assembly of people who have been called out of the sinful world.

We have in this assembly tonight men and women who were responded to the call of Jesus and were extracted and brought into a place of safety – the Church.

80 times “Church” is mentioned in the New Testament

The Church is universal – international. In fact, the last 7 times “Church” is mentioned in the New Testament Jesus is speaking to multiple churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea (Rev. 2-3).

Then we read this passage from John in Revelation 4:1, “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.”

“Come up hither” is when the church is called out the second time to be with Jesus in Heaven.

Called out to be called up!

1 Corinthians 15:50-58

(50)  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

(51)  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

(52)  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

(53)  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

(54)  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

(55)  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

(56)  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

(57)  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

(58)  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Called out and called up!

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

(13)  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

(14)  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

(15)  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

(16)  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

(17)  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

(18)  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Called out of the sinful world

Jude 1:21-23, “(21) Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.  (22)  And of some have compassion, making a difference:  (23)  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”

  • Some have questions and need to be  convinced by the Spirit and the Word.
  • Others we snatch from Hell’s flames as God delivers them from sin.
  • There are those to whom we show compassion and in a less aggressive manner we see them call out to God and they are saved from Hell as well.
  • You don’t have to be stained by sin to love a sinner to Jesus.
  • Just be intentional in God’s Extraction Plan.

God is intentional in His daily work to save people: “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

  • Intentionality of daily life – don’t become a robot
  • Hebrews 12:1-2, “(1) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  (2)  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
  • 1 Jn. 3:8b, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
  • Out intentionality is necessary:
    • Psalms 100:1-5, “(1) Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.  (2)  Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.  (3)  Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.  (4)  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.  (5)  For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
    • Isaiah 12:2-3, “(2) Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.  (3)  Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

God’s Extraction Plan involves ALL of member of the CHURCH working together:

Kelly Doss:

  1. Homeless man in need of a place to sleep last night.
  2. Ebony let him stay with her.
  3. Anita picked up Ebony and Kelly this morning for Sunday School.
  4. He wept in the car saying he needed a change and family.
  5. Anita told him, “We (ALC) can be your family.”
  6. Bro. Robbins read a verse about being free. Kelly related to it because of his own run-ins with the law.
  7. Bro. Daniel sang a song about being free.
  8. Before she went to teach her class she told him, “Jesus wants to do something for you today. Be willing to lean into that.”
  9. He came to the front and Gary Keesee prayed with him as he repented.
  10. Gary then went to his pew and talked with him about baptism, then took him to the baptistery.
  11. Bishop Harper prayed over Kelly.
  12. I baptized Kelly in the name of the Jesus Christ.
  13. Kelly came out of the water speaking in tongues as he was filled with the Holy Ghost.
  14. Everyone had a separate but necessary part to play in God’s Extraction Plan.

Are you ready?

Luke 12:40, “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.”

John 14:18, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”

Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Categories
Bible Teaching

Jesus Is Alive Today

Apostolic Life Cathedral | March 3, 2024 | 10:00 AM

John 4:1-43
(1)  When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,
(2)  (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)
(3)  He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.
(4)  And he must needs go through Samaria.
(5)  Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
(6)  Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
(7)  There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.
(8)  (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)
(9)  Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
(10)  Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
(11)  The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
(12)  Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
(13)  Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
(14)  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
(15)  The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
(16)  Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.
(17)  The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:
(18)  For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.
(19)  The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
(20)  Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
(21)  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
(22)  Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
(23)  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
(24)  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
(25)  The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
(26)  Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
(27)  And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?
(28)  The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,
(29)  Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
(30)  Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
(31)  In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.
(32)  But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.
(33)  Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?
(34)  Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
(35)  Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
(36)  And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
(37)  And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
(38)  I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
(39)  And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.
(40)  So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.
(41)  And many more believed because of his own word;
(42)  And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
(43)  Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee.

Categories
Bible Teaching

Faith’s Report

Text: Hebrews 10:35-11:2

“(35) Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.  (36)  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.  (37)  For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.  (38)  Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.  (39)  But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. (11:1) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  (2)  For by it the elders obtained a good report.” 

 There is a repayment of the faith invested in the things of God.

 Patience is faith waiting in the hallway of the hospital to hear the good report that the promised child has been born.

 A great amount of faith is tested in the waiting room of life. A promise is given and now we watch and pray, but that is sometimes a mistake.  

 You see, while we wait for the promise to come, we are also preparing our home and ourselves for the due date.

 This is why Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, Target, and Amazon sell so much baby items. 

 People are not just waiting around twiddling their thumbs: 

• They are painting the nursery room either blue or pink – male or female

• They are shopping for rockers, baby beds, basinets, diaper bags, bottles, car seats, etc.

• They are deciding if they should breast feed the promise, or feed it a bottle

• They are worrying about cost and hoping two nickels can somehow make 50 cents.

• But, most importantly, they are preparing for the day when the promise arrives.

 It time to make a plan for arrival time. 

Faith’s Report is that everyone who lives by faith will receive a good report.

 Good Report = “to be a witness, that is, testify (literally or figuratively): – charge, give [evidence], bear record, have (obtain, of) good (honest) report, be well reported of, testify, give (have) testimony, (be, bear, give, obtain) witness.”

 The just who live by faith overcome the accuser by: 

Revelation 12:10-11, “(10) And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.  (11)  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

There is much power in faith. In fact, faith is involved in our justification:

Romans 5:1-2, “(1) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:  (2)  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

Peace with God starts with faith in God.

Jeff Arnold said, “Faith is focus on God, fear is focus on your problems.”

Faith’s Report is the the obtaining of a good report through trust in God’s promise that propels an action on our part…an active faith. If observed from that point-of-view, trust can be seen as a step beyond faith.

 Hebrews 11:39-12:2, “(39) And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:  (40)  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (12:1) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  (2)  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Categories
Bible Teaching

Lunch Time

Apostolic Life Cathedral | 2/11/2024 | 10:00 AM
Categories
Bible Preaching

No Time to Waste, Get It Done – Bishop Edwin S. Harper

Apostolic Life Cathedral | 1/4/2024 | 6:30 pm
Categories
Bible Teaching

Standing Tall On Your Knees

Apostolic Life Cathedral | 1/21/2024 | 10 am

Daniel 6:1-28
(1)  It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
(2)  And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
(3)  Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
(4)  Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
(5)  Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
(6)  Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.
(7)  All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
(8)  Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
(9)  Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
(10)  Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
(11)  Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
(12)  Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
(13)  Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
(14)  Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
(15)  Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.
(16)  Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
(17)  And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.
(18)  Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
(19)  Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
(20)  And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
(21)  Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
(22)  My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
(23)  Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
(24)  And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
(25)  Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
(26)  I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.
(27)  He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
(28)  So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.