Our first Wednesday of the month of April is here and we kicked it off with an amazing worship night that broke off the shackles of sin from many people. It was so great to see hearts get on fire for Jesus!

Get This Messages Grow Notes Here

The Same Power

People fear missing out.

Story of not wanting to die before kids were old enough to remember me

Psychologists tell us that our fear of death is based on the pain we have experienced when losing a loved one

The Power of the Cross

On The Cross – Son of Man

Borrowed from OT

Psalm 8:4

What is man that You are mindful of him,

And the son of man that You visit[a] him?

Psalm 80:17

Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand,

Upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself

The word Son of Man has to do with his humanity. God becoming a man. He is truly a man. 

But distinguished from all other men. He is the perfect man. He is the one who represent his people to the Father. 

The second Adam. The God-man. God manifest in the flesh.

In The Grave – Son of God

Psalm 2:7

The king proclaims the Lord’s decree:

“The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son. Today I have become your Father.

The word Son of God has to do with the deity of Christ.  He is truly God.

The Power 

Romans 8:11

Yes, God raised Jesus to life! And since God’s Spirit of Resurrection lives in you, he will also raise your dying body to life by the same Spirit that breathes life into you!

The Power is knowing that you have power and authority over your flesh. Its a fight, its a battle, its a struggle  ut you have authority…

Not only do you have the power to bring your flesh, emotions an d feelings into line, but you have a promise of an eternal future. 

When you combine power over your life now with the hope of an eternal future – you get to be,  not just any conqueror, but you become more than a conqueror.

Gives you the right to conquer…

Jesus on the cross takes care of our sins

The grave takes care of our desire to sin.

No longer running around…

Death where is thy sting?

Pastor Joey, Craig, and Smee discuss in-depth about communion and how powerful the prayers that we pray surrounding this holy moment are.

Twenty-Four

Purpose Through the Pain

We now enter into the last few hours of Jesus’ Life. We start where we left off, in the garden. Jesus is betrayed and arrested in a whirlwind! The final stretch of Jesus’s journey has begun. The Via Dolorosa – the way of sorrow.

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The Via Dolorosa

After Jesus is arrested, He is quickly taken to the religious leaders, the High priest, Chief priest and elders.

After no fault can be found, He is sent to Pilate. Again, no fault can be found. Pilate then sends Him to Herod with the same results: no fault can be found.

Herod sends Jesus back to Pilate for the last time. The people demand that Barabbas be released and Jesus be crucified.

Pilate gives the people what they want and immediately prepares Jesus for crucifixion by having him flogged (whipped).

Before we even realize what is happening, Jesus is having nails driven through His hands and feet as He is lifted up on the cross. In a matter of a few hours, the Lord of Life breathed His last, and he was dead.

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How did Jesus walk the “way of suffering” without losing His focus?

Jesus never lost sight of His Identity, the Promise, and the Blessing!

Identity

Luke 2:49 NKJV – I must be about my Father’s business.Matthew 3:17 NKJV (Baptism) – This is MY SON!Matthew 17:5 NKJV (Mount of Transfiguration)– This is MY SON!

Promise

Isaiah 53:3-12 NKJV “He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.”Isaiah 61:1-3 NKJVLuke 19:10 NKJVJeremiah 31:33-34 NKJV “No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”Ezekiel 36:26Hebrews 8:7-13Hebrews 10:16-17350 + prophecies about Jesus

Jesus fulfills the promise so we can receive the promise!

The Blessing

Matthew 3:17 NKJV – … in whom I am well PLEASED!Matthew 15:5 NKJV – … in whom I am well PLEASED!Hebrews 10:11-12 – One sacrifice for all sins, forever!

Jesus discovered His purpose by discovering His identity, the promise, and the blessing.

Luke 2:52 NIV – Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.350+ prophecies about Jesus.

As Jesus read the word, the Holy Spirit confirmed that these scriptures were about Him!!!

Isaiah 61:1-2 NKJV Luke 4:18-19 NKJV “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”

As Jesus heads to the cross, His purpose keeps Him on the mission!

John 18:37 “Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

Jesus had to push through the pain to fulfill His Purpose!

Luke 19:10 NKJV – to seek and to save that which was lost! (Man’s Identity)1 John 3:8 NKJV – to destroy the works of the devil!

Fulfilling your purpose will have moments of pain.

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Purpose Breakers

When trouble comes, people with no purpose give up. “What’s the point?”

Adam was a purpose breaker (Romans 5:19 by one man’s disobedience)

when he sinned, he broke a

Pastor Joey Bishop, Pastor Frankie Valencia, and Pastor Craig Smee were on the panel discussing the question “Can I Trust God?”. It led to some good answers and insights from the community of Brownwood, TX.

24 – Worshiping Through Worry

Intro Recap:

“Do this in remembrance of me” does not put Jesus in the past.When things look out of control you better know who is in charge.Jesus knew about Judas, Peter’s denial and the rest of the team deserting him.

Mark 14:26 (TPT)

Then they sang a psalm and afterward left for the Mount of Olives

Leading up to Jesus’ most difficult time in life he responded with Worship!

Matthew 26:36 (TPT)

36 Then Jesus led his disciples to an orchard called “The Oil Press.”[ He told them, “Sit here while I go and pray nearby.” 37 He took Peter, Jacob, and John with him. However, an intense feeling of great sorrow plunged his soul into agony. 38 And he said to them, “My heart is overwhelmed and crushed with grief. It feels as though I’m dying. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

Jesus knew what was coming. He was in agony, great sorrow and overcome with grief. I think at times we forget his humanity!

Jesus did not hide the worry. He was fully honest with God and with His disciples. The people he loved and trusted the most. Although He was fully divine the redemption of man could only be accomplished as a man and He knew that!

39 Then he walked a short distance away, and overcome with grief, he threw himself facedown on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if there is any way you can deliver me from this suffering, please take it from me. Yet what I want is not important, for I only desire to fulfill your plan for me.” Then an angel from heaven appeared to strengthen him.

Jesus responded to the worry with prayer!

40 Later, he came back to his three disciples and found them all sound asleep. He awakened Peter and said to him, “Could you not stay awake with me for even one hour? 41 Keep alert and pray that you’ll be spared from this time of testing. Your spirit is eager enough, but your humanity is weak.”42 Then he left them for a second time to pray in solitude. He said to God, “My Father, if there is not a way that you can deliver me from this suffering,  then your will must be done.”43 He came back to the disciples and found them sound asleep, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open. 44 So he left them and went away to pray the same prayer for the third time.45 When he returned again to his disciples, he awoke them, saying, “Are you still sleeping? Don’t you know the hour has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to the authority of sinful men? 46 Get up and let’s go, for the betrayer has arrived.”

John 18:1-6 (TPT)

18 After Jesus finished this prayer; he left with his disciples and went across the Kidron Valley to a place where there was a garden. 2 Judas, the traitor, knew where this place was, for Jesus had gone there often with his disciples. 3 The Pharisees and the leading priests had given Judas a large detachment of Roman soldiers and temple police to seize Jesus. Judas guided them to the garden, all of them carrying torches and lanterns and armed with swords and spears.4 Jesus, knowing full well what was about to happen, went out to the garden entrance to meet them. Stepping forward, he asked, “Who are you looking for?”5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. (Now Judas, the traitor, was among them.)

He replied, “I am he.”6 And the moment Jesus spoke the words, “I am he,” the mob fell backward to the ground!

The power of God is released when you declare the name of God.

The soldiers with their worldly weapons and authority were expecting Jesus to cower in fear. But instead the Lord fearlessly stepped forward and proclaimed I am He, flipping the advantage to Him.

Practicals

There are times in life where we don’t know what’s coming so we have to prepare right to respond right.

Jesus prayed during the tough seasons because He knew His position!

1 Samuel 30:6-8 (NKJV)

6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David streng

Last Supper: MEDIA COPY BROWNWOOD

THE END IS JUST THE BEGINNING!

Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, Beginning and the End, the Author and the Finisher of our faith. 

It is not “out with the old and in with the new,” but the connection between the two!

“And the four living creatures . . . never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!””  (Revelation 4:8, ESV)

“This do in remembrance of me” . . . does not put Jesus in the past!!!

“Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover? And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.”  (Matthew 26:17-19, KJV)

TWO THINGS GOING ON AT ONCE:

Time exists within the frame of eternity. 

Festival of Unleavened Bread and Passover

“Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?”  

(Matthew 26:17, KJV)

JESUS WAS IN THE WORLD BUT NOT OF THIS WORLD

OUT OF BONDAGE AND INTO THE PROMISED LAND.

THE LAST SUPPER WAS THE FIRST OF COMMUNION:

“In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”  

(1 Corinthians 11:25-26, ESV)

“Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,”  (John 13:1-2, ESV)

WHEN THINGS LOOK OUT OF CONTROL YOU BETTER KNOW WHO IS IN CHARGE

“This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” 

Psalm 118:24, ESV

THE LAST 24 – He knew about Judas, Peter’s denial, the rest of the team deserting: 

AND HE CHOOSES TO HAVE A MEAL & TO SET AN EXAMPLE

“When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”  (John 13:12-14, ESV)

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”  (Philippians 2:5-7, ESV)

“BEING IN THE FORM OF GOD . . . TOO UPON HIM THE FORM OF A SERVANT”

HE BOWED TO WASH THEIR FEET AND AT HIS NAME EVERY KNEE WILL BOW

YOU WILL NEVER SERVE IF YOU ARE NOT SECURE IN WHO YOU ARE

The Most Important Moments are often Last Things:

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?”  (Psalms 22:1, ESV)

THE PSALM BEGINS WITH “WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME” BUT ENDS WITH THE HEBREW WORD — “IT IS FINISHED”

TWO THINGS GOING ON AT ONE TIME: THE END IS JUST THE BEGINNING

DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE! 

BECAUSE SALVATION IS NOT THE END — IT IS THE BEGINNING

Last Supper: MEDIA COPY BROWNWOOD

THE END IS JUST THE BEGINNING!

Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, Beginning and the End, the Author and the Finisher of our faith. 

It is not “out with the old and in with the new,” but the connection between the two!

“And the four living creatures . . . never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!””  (Revelation 4:8, ESV)

“This do in remembrance of me” . . . does not put Jesus in the past!!!

“Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover? And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.”  (Matthew 26:17-19, KJV)

TWO THINGS GOING ON AT ONCE:

Time exists within the frame of eternity. 

Festival of Unleavened Bread and Passover

“Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?”  

(Matthew 26:17, KJV)

JESUS WAS IN THE WORLD BUT NOT OF THIS WORLD

OUT OF BONDAGE AND INTO THE PROMISED LAND.

THE LAST SUPPER WAS THE FIRST OF COMMUNION:

“In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”  

(1 Corinthians 11:25-26, ESV)

“Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,”  (John 13:1-2, ESV)

WHEN THINGS LOOK OUT OF CONTROL YOU BETTER KNOW WHO IS IN CHARGE

“This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” 

Psalm 118:24, ESV

THE LAST 24 – He knew about Judas, Peter’s denial, the rest of the team deserting: 

AND HE CHOOSES TO HAVE A MEAL & TO SET AN EXAMPLE

“When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”  (John 13:12-14, ESV)

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”  (Philippians 2:5-7, ESV)

“BEING IN THE FORM OF GOD . . . TOO UPON HIM THE FORM OF A SERVANT”

HE BOWED TO WASH THEIR FEET AND AT HIS NAME EVERY KNEE WILL BOW

YOU WILL NEVER SERVE IF YOU ARE NOT SECURE IN WHO YOU ARE

The Most Important Moments are often Last Things:

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?”  (Psalms 22:1, ESV)

THE PSALM BEGINS WITH “WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME” BUT ENDS WITH THE HEBREW WORD — “IT IS FINISHED”

TWO THINGS GOING ON AT ONE TIME: THE END IS JUST THE BEGINNING

DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE! 

BECAUSE SALVATION IS NOT THE END — IT IS THE BEGINNING

Wednesday Night Live | Things That Make You Doubt

What are some things in life that make you doubt?

Pastor Craig Smee lead the discussion on that topic this evening. The rest of the panel included Pastor Frankie Valencia, Brian Vogt, and Tonya Vogt.

It’s important to have one person in your life you can be vulnerable with because if we don’t humble ourselves, we cannot grow fully in what God has in store for us.

Twenty Four

Prepare The Way of The Lord

The characters of the final 24 hours of Jesus life begin to present themselves.

All were desiring something.

Some were expectant, some were indignant, others were complaining. While yet others were making plans of their own. And those that should have been ready to identify Him as the Son of GOD, were gaining great pleasure in planning His demise.

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The Characters

John 12:2-11

A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him.

Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard,

and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.

But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said,

“That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.”

Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.

Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial.

You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead.

Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.

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In the craziness of a King arriving, a king that had been prophesied since before the scrolls, people were responding in very different ways.

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PREPARE

As we begin to discover the teachings and actions of Jesus during His final hours, we need to ready ourselves. We need to be expectant and eager to find anything we can learn and grow from. 

Preparing Our Hearts to Receive The Greatest and Most Painful Gift Ever Given

These are Jesus’ worst hours but they result in our finest.

Prepare To Join In With The Wonder of Jesus this easter

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1. Your response demonstrates your preparation.

John 12:37

But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him.

John 12:42

Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue.

For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.

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We come expectant not complacent

WE ARE READY FOR THE MIRACLE AND NOT THE MUNDANE

Pride – selfishness

Complacent – lack of hope

Offended – religious

Wonder – faith

Thanksgiving – prayer

Worship – humility

How we prepare for Jesus is how we respond to Jesus.

How we prepare our conscience is readying our response.

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2. Your response is one of faith (unknown) not of understanding (control).

Judas’ response was one of self preservation. One of making sure he was taken care of. 

Never putting himself at risk in the event that he would get hurt.

We have quite a bit of Judas in us!

Mary’s response demonstrated her preparation – always ready to serve, always ready to worship. Not knowing what was about to happen but ready to respond in any way possible.

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The Illusion of Control

The cognitive bias that leads us to believe we have control over the outcome when in reality we don’t. 

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We prepare so that we can control not so that we can respond in faith.

Preparing for the wonder of Jesus is giving up control

Your past has been taken care of so that it no longer needs to be part of your preparation.

Past makes us respond to Jesus in very prepared way.