06-26-22 “God has YOU on His heart!”

Scripture                                                       1 Peter 5:7
          1 Peter 5:7   Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Anxiety is a feeling of fear, dread, and uneasiness. It might cause you to sweat, feel restless and tense, and have a rapid heartbeat. It can be a normal reaction to stress. For example, you might feel anxious when faced with a difficult problem at work, before taking a test, or before making an important decision.
Anxiety    Webster’s Dictionary
1 apprehensive uneasiness or nervousness usually over an impending or anticipated ill.
2 medical: an abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physical signs (such as tension, sweating, and increased pulse rate), by doubt concerning the reality and nature of a threat, and by self-doubt about one's capacity to cope with it.
          1928 Webster’s Dictionary – ANXIETY = concern or solicitude respecting some event, future or uncertain, which disturbs the mind, and keeps it in a state of painful uneasiness. it expresses more than uneasiness or disturbance, and even more than trouble or solicitude. it usually springs from fear or serious apprehension of evil, and involves a suspense respecting an event, and often, a perplexity of mind, to know how to shape our conduct.
TOP 10 ILLUSTRATION TITLES ON ANXIETY:
Rising Levels of Youth Anxiety and Expectations
Anxiety Is Now Our Most Common Mental Health Issue
Mothers Feel Increasing Anxiety About Parenting
Increasingly Teenagers Report 'Overwhelming Anxiety'
We Have Entered the New Age of Anxiety
In Uncertain Times U.S. Anxiety at All Time High
Author Tries to Find a "Cure" for His Anxiety
The New Social Anxiety—Fear of Missing Out
Precipitous Rise in Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders in the U.S.
Study Shows Cell Phone Separation Anxiety
          Gary glad when he saw me in his review mirror on his way taking Gideon to the hospital because he had forgotten his phone and needed to communicate with Gretchen what was taking place at the hospital.
 
ILLUSTRATION
“The head of the Nevada Highway Patrol says that, ‘At 100 mph you’re not driving a car, you’re aiming it.’" 
APPLICATION
We live in a world that's changing at a high rate of speed. We don't drive our life at a 100 mph, we aim it.  At that speed, we don't have control over anything which creates a great amount of anxiety. Make sure that your spirit is pointed in the right direction and God will take care of the rest.
Author Tries to Find a "Cure" for His Anxiety
In an article in The Atlantic magazine, Scott Stossel shares openly about his lifelong attempts to deal with the anguish of anxiety. From an early age he's been what he calls "a twitchy bundle of phobias, fears, and neuroses." Stossel writes: "Even when not actively afflicted by acute episodes [of anxiety], I am buffeted by worry." Stossel adds, "Here's what I've tried [to deal with my anxiety]:
individual psychotherapy (three decades of it), family therapy, group therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, rational emotive behavior therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, hypnosis, meditation, role-playing, interoceptive exposure therapy, in vivo exposure therapy, self-help workbooks, massage therapy, prayer, acupuncture, yoga, Stoic philosophy, and audiotapes I ordered off a late-night TV infomercial.
And medication. Lots of medication. Thorazine. Imipramine. Desipramine. Chlorpheniramine. Nardil. BuSpar. Prozac. Zoloft. Paxil. Wellbutrin. Effexor. Celexa. Lexapro. Cymbalta. Luvox. Trazodone. Levoxyl. Inderal. Tranxene. Serax. Centrax. St. John's wort. Zolpidem. Valium. Librium. Ativan. Xanax. Klonopin. Also: beer, wine, gin, bourbon, vodka, and scotch.
Here's what's worked: nothing.
 
TRANSITION FROM DESCRIPTION TO ILLUSTRATIONS
          Two things are important here. We are not talking about a full-blown anxiety disorder that requires counseling and medication – although these things still apply as part of your treatment. Secondly, doing what the scripture suggest will not necessarily remove all your anxiety, it can remove it, or lessen it, or help you live through it in a more victorious way that you cannot do without this biblical prescription. The bible often writes prescriptions for us, but if we don’t go to the pharmacy (the bible) and pick them up and follow the directions and actually take them – they do us WHAT? No good!
 
BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING
epiriyantes  =  Cast – to throw something upon something else. (the sense of the word is not out of frustration, anger or indifference, rather in humility and trust.)
 
melei  =  Care – present active indicative – to have concern – to have care – to have constant concern and care for the other.
 
Greek word order = “all the anxiety of you casting on him, because to him it matters concerning you.”
 
When we focus on Jesus, our anxiety becomes less. It is when we lose focus that our anxiety causes us to do nothing, or to do wrong.
 
 
BIBLICAL ILLUSTRATIONS
Peter walking on water – Anxiety because of the wind and waves. Jesus reached out his hand as if to say – “Hey, just keep your focus on me”.

Disciples in the boat during a storm

Feeding of the 5000

Martha worried about the details.

Hebrews worried about the plague of death – covered by the blood

People at the cross worried about their sin – covered by the blood

Luke 12:22-32   (The MSG)
Jesus continued talking with his disciples. Don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or if the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your inner life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the ravens, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, carefree in the care of God. And you count far more.
          25 Has anyone by fussing before the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? If fussing can't even do that, why fuss at all? Walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don't fuss with their appearance — but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, most of them never even seen, don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?
          29 What I'm trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don't be afraid of missing out. You're my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.
 
Hebrews 12:2  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.
 
CONCLUSION/BENEDICITON
1 Peter 5:7-11
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
          Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
 
          If you missed this message – let me rephrase briefly.
Read the KJV with which some of you are familiar - 1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
          Cast your (anxiety) CARES on Jesus, because Jesus CARES for you!
How we care for ourselves is a distraction from what gives us anxiety. No matter what joy or pleasure or pain we give ourselves to escape anxiety – it is never sufficient – only His grace is sufficient. God’s care for us is divine care that only God can provide. It is most like a mother with her first child who does not find caring a distraction (difficult yes) but not a distraction because she would do anything and everything to care for that child to make sure it is fed, clothed, sheltered, embrased, sung too, rocked, held, and loved.
          God’s care is like that and even more – Jesus has no distraction in His care for you. All of heaven is centered on you. It is not divided as our care is for many people and therefore inadequate. God caring for someone else does not remove any ability or focus on His part to care for you, because God has you on His heart!
Jeremiah 29:11-13  For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

06-12-22 “Welcome to the ‘All In’ Hall of Faith”

Scripture                                              Hebrews 11:1-12:3
          They all were all in for Jesus who would be crucified and risen from the dead for their sakes as well as ours! They were all in for Jesus who would be the truth of God revealed to the world! They were all in for Jesus Christ who would hold on to their promise so that they might receive it with us as a means to encourage us to be all in for Jesus and receive the promise together with those already in the “ALL IN” Hall of Faith!

          What is faith? There are two realities – a physical world and a spiritual world. Just as we have the sense of sight (how we predominantly interact with the world) faith is how we predominantly interact with the spiritual world. It is having a certain belief that something exist that you cannot know with the senses of the physical world (sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste). Faith can manifest itself in the physical world (Meshach, Shadrach & Abednego – not burned by fire – by faith they believed the unseen God would save them, but if God did not save them would not change the reality of His existence). Faith is manifested physically but is not a product of the physical world, its entire existence is in the spiritual/unseen world. Let me prove it. Does love exist? Of course but it too does not exist in the physical world. A hug or kiss is not love. Love manifests itself through those physical acts or by feeding the hungry but love itself is a reality in the unseen spiritual world that merely manifests itself in the physical world – just like faith. In fact, Paul said – all aspects of the physical world are finite – they will disappear but there are 3 things (in the eternal-unseen-spiritual world that will remain: FAITH, HOPE, and LOVE).                                                       

          There are things in the physical world that are unseen but still exist– like GRAVITY. So being unseen isn’t enough to prove that there is a spiritual world. Gravity is a good example to show us the reality of faith in a spiritual world. If you step off a 10-story building, what will happen to you? FALL – how do you know? Have you ever stepped off a 10-story building? NO! You have had experiences stepping off smaller things that cause you to “be sure of what you hope for and certain of what we do not see”. That is faith – it is real and though it can manifest itself in the physical world it exists in the spiritual world which is the same place you experience God who is unseen and who also manifests Himself in the physical world even though He is not a part of the physical world that will one day pass away.  

Hebrews 11:1-12:3

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
ABLE
4 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
 
 
ENOCH
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Genesis 5:21-24     Jared (father of Enoch) lived 962 years, and then he died.
When Enoch was 65, he became the father of Methuselah [who ended up living 969 years–7 more than grandpa Jared and the longest of any human]. After Enoch became the father of Methuselah, he walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.
          1/3 time of father and son and God said – well done – just come on up to heaven early. Apparently, compared to others, Enoch must have been living well – how? BY FAITH!
 
NOAH
7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
ABRAHAM
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11 By faith Abraham, even though he was past age — and Sarah herself was barren — was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
 
COMMENTARY INTERLUDE
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country — a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
ABRAHAM continued
17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned."  19 Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.
FAITH WAS CREDITED AS RIGHTEOUSNESS = 1x in Genesis, 4xs in Romans, 1x in Galatians and also 1x in James - James 2:21-23  Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.
ISAAC
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.
JACOB
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
JOSEPH
22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.
MOSES’S PARENTS (Amram & Jochebed)
Jochebed was Amram’s Aunt – his father’s sister
23 By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.
MOSES
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
PRE-PROMISED LAND JEWS
29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
FIRST PROMISED LAND JEWS
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.
RAHAB
31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
James 2:25-26     In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?
 
 
MANY OTHERS
32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37 They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.                  CLOUD OF WITNESSES
12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
 
CONCLUSION
One afternoon author Patsy Clairmont found herself on an airplane, sitting next to a young man. She writes, "I had already observed something about this young man when I was being seated. He called me "Ma'am." At the time I thought, 'Either he thinks I'm ancient, or he's from the South where they still teach manners, or he's in the service.' I decided the latter was the most likely, so I asked, "You in the service?" "Yes, Ma'am, I am." "What branch?" "Marines." 
"Hey, Marine, where are you coming from?" "Operation Desert Storm, Ma'am." 
"No kidding? Desert Storm! How long were you there?" I asked. "A year and a half. I'm on my way home. My family will be at the airport." I then commented that he must have thought about returning to his family and home many times while he was in the Middle East. "Oh, no, Ma'am," he replied. "We were taught never to think of what might never be, but to be fully available right where we were." 
 
          That is a great philosophy for this world. But for a person to live by faith in the spiritual world that will affect this physical world til the return of Christ, it is the exact opposite. You should look ahead to what will be when Jesus does return and calls us home to glory. That will allow you to live a righteous productive life by faith in this world till that day you join…
Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses' parents, Moses,
Pre-Promised Land Jews, First Promised land Jews, Rahab, Many others…and
Add your name to the cloud of witnesses for those who would follow after you.
And you hear Jesus say, Welcome to the “ALL IN” Hall of Faith!

06-05-22 “A Pentecostal Sermon”

Scripture                                                     Acts 2:1-42
What is the Origin of Pentecost?

Pentecost was the celebration of the beginning of the early weeks of harvest. In Palestine, there were two harvests each year. The early harvest came during the months of May and June; the final harvest came in the Fall. Pentecost was the celebration of the beginning of the early wheat harvest, which meant that Pentecost always fell sometime during the middle of the month of May or sometimes in early June.

There were several festivals, celebrations, or observances that took place before Pentecost. There was Passover, there was Unleavened Bread, and there was the Feast of Firstfruits. The Feast of Firstfruits was the celebration of the beginning of the barley harvest. Here's the way you figured out the date of Pentecost. 

According to the Old Testament, you would go to the day of the celebration of Firstfruits, and beginning with that day, you would count off 50 days. The fiftieth day would be the Day of Pentecost. So Firstfruits is the beginning of the barley harvest and Pentecost the celebration of the beginning of the wheat harvest. 

Since it was always 50 days after Firstfruits, and since 50 days equals seven weeks, it always came a "week of weeks" later. Therefore, they either called it the Feast of Harvest or the Feast of Weeks.

 

          Therefore, when the Holy Spirit was poured out – in place of Jesus presence – it was a means of providing Pentecost Wheat = Bread. Jesus was born in Bethlehem = “House of Bread”  and he said of himself, John 6:47-51 I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

 

Acts 2

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs — we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"

Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine."

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

"'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'

"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. David said about him:

"'I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.'

"Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,

"'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your   footstool for your feet." '

"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off — for all whom the Lord our God will call."

40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. (dismiss the crowd)

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

COMMUNION

Partake at any point while singing “Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place”

 

Now, we know what the original festival of Pentecost was about – the wheat harvest, we know it is 50 days after the barley harvest and after Easter. We know it is the day the Holy Spirit empowered the disciples. We know it was the Holy Spirit that empowered Peter to preach and that 3000 people were saved that day – the birthday of the church. We have received communion and are cleansed of our sins.

 

          Now what? Well - 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. That all has to do with personal and corporate study, worship, fellowship, and prayer. There is something else that is not specifically listed but is just assumed.  How did those 3000 come to faith in Jesus? 40 With many other words Peter warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

          I have devoted my life to preaching – 36+ years of preaching, a doctorate degree in preaching. Why? Why is preaching so important? One young man told his father-in-law he thought the sermon should be done away with because there are enough study tools available for everyone to do their own study. What is wrong with that argument? That suggests that preaching is just an intellectual exercise. Someone could argue that there are already enough really great sermons online to last you 100 lifetimes. What is wrong with that argument? That is like suggesting Jesus could have saved the world through a zoom meeting. God knew His word had to become incarnate. Likewise, there is something about incarnational preaching – coming from a living, breathing real human being – not from someone on a screen whose illustrations and stories may become quickly out of date and unrelatable.

          The sermon preached in person to those in person (BTW I am thankful for online streaming for those who are not able, for one reason or another, to be present. But those who primarily watch online will tell you it is not the same as being there). Why? Because personal bible reading goes only as far as your knowledge and attention span can go? Why, because Bible study is a conversation between you and the teacher and the class. Why? Because the sermon, and only the sermon, is a conversation between you and the Holy Spirit facilitated by the preacher.

          There are two things happening during every sermon. There is a collaborative or corporate experience – you receive the word in the midst of community – coming in and being with others who share the same core beliefs you have and so you receive the same message together. Secondly, you are not in a group discussion with people giving opinions, you are hearing the scripture preached by a person set apart for that specific task because they have proven their ability to accurately handle the word of truth and they are, therefore, assisting you in having that conversation with the Holy Spirit. And when that happens, you can each week experience a Pentecostal Sermon.

          3 things you must do to have that happen regularly.

1)    Pray for the preacher as they are preparing and delivering the sermon.

2)    Pray for yourself to come expectantly – ready to hear a word from God for your life.

3)    Be fully present during the sermon in the midst of the gathered body of believers who are doing the same as you.

Once you have done those 3 things and practice them regularly, all of a sudden, your life will become a sermon to others because you will not be able to help going out and…

Shout it! Go on and scream it from the mountains!

Go on and tell it to the masses, That Jesus is God!