God really showed up Sunday at church. It was by far the most incredible display of God's power I have ever seen during my time at Apopka Assembly.. The incredible part is He did it and we went along for the ride. It started with an incredible time of prophetic worship. Kelsi ushered us into the throne room of God. God stirred a message in me I wasn't planning on preaching. Then miracles just began to take place. By the end of the 2nd service, though it was more like 1 long service, we had more than 20 people testify to instant healing.
We saw with our own eyes Harold's back be healed and he ran and jumped all around the church for over an hour with no pain. For more than 20 years he could not walk more than 10 steps with out pain.
We saw God reverse the effects of a stroke and give a man movement back in his arm and leg. This happened in front of our eyes and no one touched him.
We saw God heal Clyde's hand and his family testified that he could not bend it and was scheduled for surgery this coming week. No surgery necessary. The list of miracles is to long to document in one article.
I asked God about the events of yesterday and about those that were touched by Him. HE responded by telling me to turn to 2 Corinthians 10:2-5- "some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
We can't live by the world's standard. We need to fight the things that stand against us with God's weapons, because God's weapons demolish strongholds. Not just one little sin but whole areas of sin and even the reasons the chain or bondage got into our life to begin with.
PRAYER, WORSHIP, SACRIFICE, LOVE , FORGIVENESS. JUST SOME OF GOD'S WEAPONS.
Using His weapons,
Pastor Kevin
Monday, July 28, 2008
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Humility
An old godly writer named Flavel gave some wise words concerning humility, "When God intends to fill a soul, He first makes it empty; when He intends to enrich a soul, He first makes it poor; when He intends to exalt a soul, He first makes it sensible of its own miseries, wants, and nothingness."
In 2 Corinthians 4:7, Paul wrote, "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us." The term "earthen vessels" is a reference to the pottery used in those days. It was very brittle, and a slight blow would break it into pieces. It was generally crude, unattractive, but very serviceable. Paul is saying that the "treasure" of the indwelling Spirit is "in clay pots." Someone asked about Saint Francis of Assisi how he could accomplish so much. "This may be why," he said. "The Lord looked down from Heaven and questioned, ‘Where can I find the weakest, smallest, meanest man on earth?’ Then He saw me, and remarked, ‘I’ve found him; he won’t be proud of it; he’ll see that I am using him because of his insignificance’."
Christ said of John the Baptist, "He was the burning and shining lamp." The lamp of John’s day was a simple affair – an earthen container for oil, wick and flame. A lamp had no inherent light of its own. Also, it had to be carried by another. Further, he himself was neither oil nor the flame, only a wick. The wick is neither seen, nor noticed, until it fails to function satisfactorily. Its service is essentially a hidden one. It is the light which catches the eye.
John Bunyan wrote:
"He that is down need fear no fall.
He that is low no pride;
He that is humble ever shall
Have God to be his guide.
In John 5:1, we read, "Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place." Arthur W. Pink remarks on this verse, "He ministered without ostentation. He never sought to be the popular idol of the hour, or the center of an admiring crowd. Instead of courting popularity, He shunned it. Instead of advertising Himself, He ‘received not honor from men’."
Winston Churchill was stopped by a woman and asked, "Doesn’t it thrill you, Mr. Churchill, that every time you make a speech, the entire hall is filled with people?" "It is quite flattering," Churchill said, "but I always remember that if I was being hanged instead of making a speech, the crowd would be twice as big."
1 Peter 5:5, "And be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." (David Arnold)
Humbly,
Pastor Kevin
In 2 Corinthians 4:7, Paul wrote, "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us." The term "earthen vessels" is a reference to the pottery used in those days. It was very brittle, and a slight blow would break it into pieces. It was generally crude, unattractive, but very serviceable. Paul is saying that the "treasure" of the indwelling Spirit is "in clay pots." Someone asked about Saint Francis of Assisi how he could accomplish so much. "This may be why," he said. "The Lord looked down from Heaven and questioned, ‘Where can I find the weakest, smallest, meanest man on earth?’ Then He saw me, and remarked, ‘I’ve found him; he won’t be proud of it; he’ll see that I am using him because of his insignificance’."
Christ said of John the Baptist, "He was the burning and shining lamp." The lamp of John’s day was a simple affair – an earthen container for oil, wick and flame. A lamp had no inherent light of its own. Also, it had to be carried by another. Further, he himself was neither oil nor the flame, only a wick. The wick is neither seen, nor noticed, until it fails to function satisfactorily. Its service is essentially a hidden one. It is the light which catches the eye.
John Bunyan wrote:
"He that is down need fear no fall.
He that is low no pride;
He that is humble ever shall
Have God to be his guide.
In John 5:1, we read, "Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place." Arthur W. Pink remarks on this verse, "He ministered without ostentation. He never sought to be the popular idol of the hour, or the center of an admiring crowd. Instead of courting popularity, He shunned it. Instead of advertising Himself, He ‘received not honor from men’."
Winston Churchill was stopped by a woman and asked, "Doesn’t it thrill you, Mr. Churchill, that every time you make a speech, the entire hall is filled with people?" "It is quite flattering," Churchill said, "but I always remember that if I was being hanged instead of making a speech, the crowd would be twice as big."
1 Peter 5:5, "And be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." (David Arnold)
Humbly,
Pastor Kevin
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
GETTING CLEAN
Charles Spurgeon was an incredible man and a powerful communicator of the good news. I found this thought in one of his books about the power of forgiveness and the blood of Jesus. Far to many of us still struggle with how God can forgive us and it have nothing what so ever to do with our effort. I thought this scripture and explanation would encourage us to remember that there is nothing to difficult for God. Remember His Blood cleanses us from ALL SIN!!!!
"The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." --1 John 1:7
"Cleanseth," says the text--not "shall cleanse." There are multitudes who think that as a dying hope they may look forward to pardon. Oh! how infinitely better to have cleansing now than to depend on the bare possibility of forgiveness when I come to die. Some imagine that a sense of pardon is an attainment only obtainable after many years of Christian experience. But forgiveness of sin is a present thing--a privilege for this day, a joy for this very hour. The moment a sinner trusts Jesus he is fully forgiven. The text, being written in the present tense, also indicates continuance; it was "cleanseth" yesterday, it is "cleanseth" to-day, it will be "cleanseth" tomorrow: it will be always so with you, Christian, until you cross the river; every hour you may come to this fountain, for it cleanseth still. Notice, likewise, the completeness of the cleansing, "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin"--not only from sin, but "from all sin." Reader, I cannot tell you the exceeding sweetness of this word, but I pray God the Holy Ghost to give you a taste of it. Manifold are our sins against God. Whether the bill be little or great, the same receipt can discharge one as the other. The blood of Jesus Christ is as blessed and divine a payment for the transgressions of blaspheming Peter as for the shortcomings of loving John; our iniquity is gone, all gone at once, and all gone for ever. Blessed completeness! What a sweet theme to dwell upon as one gives himself to sleep.
"Sins against a holy God;
Sins against His righteous laws;
Sins against His love, His blood;
Sins against His name and cause;
Sins immense as is the sea-
From them all He cleanseth me."
In other words, because of the blood of Jesus, he throws them in the sea of forgetfulness and puts out a no fishing sign. Have a great day. See you for prayer on Wednesday and another great service on Sunday.
Pastor Kevin
"The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." --1 John 1:7
"Cleanseth," says the text--not "shall cleanse." There are multitudes who think that as a dying hope they may look forward to pardon. Oh! how infinitely better to have cleansing now than to depend on the bare possibility of forgiveness when I come to die. Some imagine that a sense of pardon is an attainment only obtainable after many years of Christian experience. But forgiveness of sin is a present thing--a privilege for this day, a joy for this very hour. The moment a sinner trusts Jesus he is fully forgiven. The text, being written in the present tense, also indicates continuance; it was "cleanseth" yesterday, it is "cleanseth" to-day, it will be "cleanseth" tomorrow: it will be always so with you, Christian, until you cross the river; every hour you may come to this fountain, for it cleanseth still. Notice, likewise, the completeness of the cleansing, "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin"--not only from sin, but "from all sin." Reader, I cannot tell you the exceeding sweetness of this word, but I pray God the Holy Ghost to give you a taste of it. Manifold are our sins against God. Whether the bill be little or great, the same receipt can discharge one as the other. The blood of Jesus Christ is as blessed and divine a payment for the transgressions of blaspheming Peter as for the shortcomings of loving John; our iniquity is gone, all gone at once, and all gone for ever. Blessed completeness! What a sweet theme to dwell upon as one gives himself to sleep.
"Sins against a holy God;
Sins against His righteous laws;
Sins against His love, His blood;
Sins against His name and cause;
Sins immense as is the sea-
From them all He cleanseth me."
In other words, because of the blood of Jesus, he throws them in the sea of forgetfulness and puts out a no fishing sign. Have a great day. See you for prayer on Wednesday and another great service on Sunday.
Pastor Kevin
Monday, July 21, 2008
Prayer and Stress Relief
What relationship do prayer and stress have? Jesus made the connection. He often went away to pray. Not just His spare change time either. He pulled away at some pretty crucial times and had detailed, intense prayer. While many crowded around to receive a miracle, when others wanted to make him king, during a storm, Jesus PRAYED!!!! When he was most busy and others needed answers or help, he prayed. I don't mean to be redundant but do we get the point? Prayer was a vital part of His life. His disciples grew up praying, but realized that there was something different about his prayer life. They said our prayers don't end up like your prayers, please teach us to pray.
Paul used this principle when he wrote to the church at Philippi. He is in prison and the church is struggling under the conditions of poverty and persecution. He says to them, don't worry about anything but in everything by prayer (much emphasis, intense) with thanksgiving (rehearse God's faithfulness) make your requests known to God AND the peace of God will guard your hearts.
Instead of stressing out and worrying over things in the future that God has in His hands, PRAY intensely. Make time, get alone, give God your undivided attention and pray, then peace that humans can't explain or understand will guard your hearts. STRESS RELIEF!!!
Having a stress free day,
Pastor Kevin
Paul used this principle when he wrote to the church at Philippi. He is in prison and the church is struggling under the conditions of poverty and persecution. He says to them, don't worry about anything but in everything by prayer (much emphasis, intense) with thanksgiving (rehearse God's faithfulness) make your requests known to God AND the peace of God will guard your hearts.
Instead of stressing out and worrying over things in the future that God has in His hands, PRAY intensely. Make time, get alone, give God your undivided attention and pray, then peace that humans can't explain or understand will guard your hearts. STRESS RELIEF!!!
Having a stress free day,
Pastor Kevin
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Treasure in Strange Places
If we have something valuable, we try to keep it in a place of safety. Safe deposit boxes, safes, bank accounts, garages, and so on. The goal is, protect the valuable. In 2 Corinthians 4:7, the apostle Paul says that the treasure of God is placed in a dirt container. Imagine that, God"s blessing, power, love, resources, all that heaven has is put in a place that is hardly able to contain it or keep it safe. Wow!! What a strange principle.
God does this so that his power is clearly evident to all. It's Him and not us. It is so amazing that God would willing risk His treasure, His reputation and His name even if to demonstrate His power to the world. I guess that really describes His love for us and His confidence in His son.
The passage goes on to describe the difficulties that come to bear on the believer, I believe because of the treasure. Hard pressed, crushed, perplexed, persecuted and struck down. In each case, one small word continues to appear. The word, "but". This is the word of faith based on this great power of God deposited in us. This word of faith defies all things contrary to God's promise. It reminds me of King David saying to Goliath, "who is it that would defy the armies of the living God". No matter what the devil has to throw at us, we have a "but" for him. That word of faith lets us defeat all the devices of the devil.
Whatever we face today, lets give the devil the, "but of faith". Verse 12 says it works every time. I think God knew after all what He was doing when he put His treasure in this strange place.
Pressing forward,
Pastor Kevin
p.s. Remember we finish up talking about stress this coming Sunday. We examine where Jesus had stress and how He dealt with it. We pray tonight.
God does this so that his power is clearly evident to all. It's Him and not us. It is so amazing that God would willing risk His treasure, His reputation and His name even if to demonstrate His power to the world. I guess that really describes His love for us and His confidence in His son.
The passage goes on to describe the difficulties that come to bear on the believer, I believe because of the treasure. Hard pressed, crushed, perplexed, persecuted and struck down. In each case, one small word continues to appear. The word, "but". This is the word of faith based on this great power of God deposited in us. This word of faith defies all things contrary to God's promise. It reminds me of King David saying to Goliath, "who is it that would defy the armies of the living God". No matter what the devil has to throw at us, we have a "but" for him. That word of faith lets us defeat all the devices of the devil.
Whatever we face today, lets give the devil the, "but of faith". Verse 12 says it works every time. I think God knew after all what He was doing when he put His treasure in this strange place.
Pressing forward,
Pastor Kevin
p.s. Remember we finish up talking about stress this coming Sunday. We examine where Jesus had stress and how He dealt with it. We pray tonight.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Stress Relief
The words, "Stressed Out" are terms we all have used to say things like, I am over my limit, I have had enough or leave me alone!!! We have discovered over the last several Sunday's that stress is a major enemy to intimacy of any kind. With God, first of all and with others as well. Stress will make us feel out of control. It will rob our peace and in some create sickness and disease. God has a lot to say about stress relief in his word.
1 Peter 5:6 directs us to humble ourselves under God's hand and He will exalt us in His time. Humble means to obey because I trust you. In other words, put ourselves in God's spiritual boundaries. When I do this there are two wonderful results. One, God gives me a promotion in his time. Two, I get to make my stress God's responsibility. Casting is a participle connected to humble. The casting is tied to trust. A Big Stress Relief!!!
When Stress gets heavy, running becomes an option. We learned from Elijah in 1 Kings 19 that stress has to be looked at from God's perspective. God reminded the prophet that He could move mountains and shake circumstances. He is faithful. God also was busy anointing a successor to wicked King Ahab, even though Elijah couldn't see anything. Just because God is silent, it doesn't mean He is still. God always has a plan . His future Intervention is secured in our hearts by His past faithfulness. Get proper perspective on the stress that is overwhelming you.
Next Sunday, we will conclude this series on stress relief. I believe this will be the best yet.
God Bless You,
Pastor Kevin
P.S. Remember Friday night is the ladies night out. It will be awesome. We are almost completely full, please contact Ashley at ext-110 if you still want to attend. Also the dream lab is meeting in room 113.
1 Peter 5:6 directs us to humble ourselves under God's hand and He will exalt us in His time. Humble means to obey because I trust you. In other words, put ourselves in God's spiritual boundaries. When I do this there are two wonderful results. One, God gives me a promotion in his time. Two, I get to make my stress God's responsibility. Casting is a participle connected to humble. The casting is tied to trust. A Big Stress Relief!!!
When Stress gets heavy, running becomes an option. We learned from Elijah in 1 Kings 19 that stress has to be looked at from God's perspective. God reminded the prophet that He could move mountains and shake circumstances. He is faithful. God also was busy anointing a successor to wicked King Ahab, even though Elijah couldn't see anything. Just because God is silent, it doesn't mean He is still. God always has a plan . His future Intervention is secured in our hearts by His past faithfulness. Get proper perspective on the stress that is overwhelming you.
Next Sunday, we will conclude this series on stress relief. I believe this will be the best yet.
God Bless You,
Pastor Kevin
P.S. Remember Friday night is the ladies night out. It will be awesome. We are almost completely full, please contact Ashley at ext-110 if you still want to attend. Also the dream lab is meeting in room 113.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
3 Kinds of Storms... 3 Incredible Answers!!!
Every storm has a way out. We are promised this in scripture. Sometimes the circumstances can be to difficult to bear but God will always make a way out of the storm. In the New testament I found 3 storms and 3 strikingly different escape routes.
Matthew 8, tells the story of Jesus and his disciples getting into a boat and suddenly a tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. Jesus was sleeping soundly in the boat. They awoke Jesus, begging for help. Jesus rebuked the winds and the sea and there was a great calm. He simply rebuked the storm and it was silent.
In Mark chapter 6, right after feeding 5000, Jesus sent the disciples ahead of him to the other side of the sea. When they reached the middle they began to struggle rowing because of the storm. All of a sudden they saw what they thought was a ghost walking toward them. When they heard him speak they realized it was Jesus. Peter immediately asked to walk on the water. He took his eyes off Jesus and began to sink but Jesus rescued him. They stepped into the boat and the storm was calmed. Jesus and Peter walked on the Storm.
Acts 27, tells us the story of Paul's journey to Rome. He warned the ships captain that if they sailed there would be disaster. His warnings were ignored and they sailed straight into danger. After 3 days of fighting the sea, the sailors emptied the ship of everything. Paul has a visit by an angel telling him what to do and to not be afraid. He comforts the crew but tells them that the boat will be lost. Indeed, the boat was destroyed. Verse 44 says that they rested on the boards from the ship and all escaped safely to land. Grab the nearest board.
Some storms can be rebuked. Others you get to walk on top of the water and wind. Sometimes though, you just have to hold on to the cross and go through. Regardless you will reach the shore safely, it is guaranteed.
See ya in church Sunday,
Pastor Kevin
P.S.- This Sunday July 13th. Part 2 of, "Dealing with Stress".
Matthew 8, tells the story of Jesus and his disciples getting into a boat and suddenly a tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. Jesus was sleeping soundly in the boat. They awoke Jesus, begging for help. Jesus rebuked the winds and the sea and there was a great calm. He simply rebuked the storm and it was silent.
In Mark chapter 6, right after feeding 5000, Jesus sent the disciples ahead of him to the other side of the sea. When they reached the middle they began to struggle rowing because of the storm. All of a sudden they saw what they thought was a ghost walking toward them. When they heard him speak they realized it was Jesus. Peter immediately asked to walk on the water. He took his eyes off Jesus and began to sink but Jesus rescued him. They stepped into the boat and the storm was calmed. Jesus and Peter walked on the Storm.
Acts 27, tells us the story of Paul's journey to Rome. He warned the ships captain that if they sailed there would be disaster. His warnings were ignored and they sailed straight into danger. After 3 days of fighting the sea, the sailors emptied the ship of everything. Paul has a visit by an angel telling him what to do and to not be afraid. He comforts the crew but tells them that the boat will be lost. Indeed, the boat was destroyed. Verse 44 says that they rested on the boards from the ship and all escaped safely to land. Grab the nearest board.
Some storms can be rebuked. Others you get to walk on top of the water and wind. Sometimes though, you just have to hold on to the cross and go through. Regardless you will reach the shore safely, it is guaranteed.
See ya in church Sunday,
Pastor Kevin
P.S.- This Sunday July 13th. Part 2 of, "Dealing with Stress".
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