Church of the Word Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Jesus was a teacher, preacher, and healer. He kept on teaching the blessings that are in Matthew 5:1-12. He repeated these blessings, and He brought people into the blessings. You can identify with the people described in this passage. There is a progression of one blessing into another. The poor in spirit mourn for their sin, and as a result they are marked by meekness, so they hunger and thirst unto righteousness and are filled, and having received such mercy became merciful themselves. He starts in the kingdom of heaven and ends up inheriting the earth.

(Matthew 5:1) Jesus sat when He was teaching, which was a declaration that He was the Messiah. In Genesis 26:3-4 God said He would bless Abraham. Isaac sowed in famine and reaped one hundred fold, and the LORD blessed him. Paul preached the Christ would bring a blessing. "Blessed" is contrary to the word, "happy." The root of happiness is "chance." Happiness is fickle. Joy and blessings are here to stay. No man can take them from you. Blessed is a self-contained position put upon you. It is a victorious-consciousness. Say, "I am blessed of God." Matthew 5 belongs to you. Poverty in spirit creates a detachment from things. No matter what you have, you need God. You live in the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn means mourning over a death. The second beatitude is an attachment to people.

In Matthew 6 Jesus was trying to get Philip to see that Jesus Christ was his source. He wanted him to think kingdom thoughts, to think in the supernatural. James 2:5 …"Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?" If you cannot give something away, you are tied to the flesh. Look to the supernatural where God has already blessed you. Get over into the kingdom of heaven, where all things are possible because you are doing it for God's sake. In the beginning of Acts, they were united and did not own anything because it belonged to the Lord. It is about your heart. You can claim the hundredfold because you forsake your will. Know you are blessed.

Trust in the Lord, and do what is good (Psalm 37:3-7). Dwell in the land and live securely. Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart's desires. Commit your ways to Him. What are you looking at? What brings you joy? Have faith in God (Mark 11:12-14, 20-26). Jesus lived by faith and laid aside His divine nature. He was tempted. He took on our sin nature, and was baptized by the Holy Spirit. Unforgiveness causes the Father to not hear us. Forgive others, then release them and pray for them. Romans says the goodness of the Lord brings people to repentance. Jesus spoke directly to the problem and spoke the desire result. He cursed the tree. He taught His disciples that nature listens to you. Have the faith of God. Speak to the mountain, and your faith will work for you. A rich Assyrian leper named Naaman was told to dip in the Jordan River by an Israeli prophet. Naaman tried to buy favor with his good works and money, but it was not until he humbled himself and acted in faith that he received his healing. STOP DISQUALFIYING YOURSELF! You have to speak God's Word to the mountain. Do not say what you have. Your words will wait to ambush you. The tongue is like a bridle or a rudder. Put them to work for you. They turn the situation around slowly. Speak specifically the end result (Isaiah 53:4, 5; Psalm 103:3, 4; Isaiah 26:3). Believe. Have endurance and receive. Faith comes by hearing.

Expect Miracles: The Rock, Part 2

Doug and Kirsten Ruhl testified of their thankfulness for blessings of the church while they have been going through ministry school. Pastor Syd shared of the multiple miracles from his birthday blessing. Isaiah 51 tells us to look expectantly to the Rock from which you were cut. Jesus Christ is the Rock. Jesus and we are the living stones (1 Peter 2:4-7). Honor comes to those who believe in Jesus, and they will never be put to shame. This is the year of miracles, and it starts in the house of the Lord with honoring Him. (Jesus as the stone: Isaiah 28:16; Romans 9:33) Pastor Syd presented an analogy of his trying to split resistant logs with the persistence sometimes needed for miracles to happen suddenly. Do not question why your faith did not work, but study the times it did work. His Word will accomplish what it was sent to do. Luke 6:46 tells us to come, hear, and act. King Nebuchadnezzar's dream showed that a rock struck the statue's feet. The rock became a mountain. The Lord will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed. Jesus told His disciples to tell the people that His kingdom is at hand. Luke 6:48 relates about the man who dug deep into the rock with effort to build an unshakable house. Pastor Syd told of digging a trench in shifting soil. Concerning the trench, the Lord did a miracle of his behalf. God delights in us. David declared God as his rock, fortress, and stronghold in Psalm 18. This was after his sins. He cried to the Lord for help. It was prophetic of Jesus. Look for the spirit working in people, rather than the person. The Lord lives. Blessed be my rock. We are anointed, and He is faithful to His anointed. He is my rock and salvation (Psalm 62). Make declarations of who God is and pray and sing in the middle of persecution.

Come up hither. We have to set our minds on the things above and look at the things that cannot be seen. Jesus is still on the throne. It’s the question as to who you praise will refine you. Count it all joy. Your praise changes you.

Revelations 4:1-2

Hebrews 13:5-6

Genesis 22:1-2

John 6:5-610

Proverbs 27:21

Psalms 22:3

Psalms 100:1

Psalms 8:1-2

Proverbs 3:9-10 (tithe message)

Isaiah 29:13 (tithe message)

The Word came first. Don’t focus on what is not seen. Our spiritual eyes need to be open. Desperation, find the word of God concerning this situation, speak the Word of God and release your faith. Faith begins where the Will of God is. Key to miracles, do whatever He says.

Mark 16:9-16

Luke 10:17-19

John 20:24-31

John 21:25

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Luke 18:1-8

1 John 5:14-15

1 John 5:3-5

Acts 14:9-10

Believe God for the miracle. Believe Him for the fullness. Those who fear Him will lack nothing.

Isaiah 40:1-31

Psalms 27:13-14

Psalms 34:1-10, vs.19

Hebrews 11:1

2 Corinthians 4:16-18, vs.8

2 Corinthians 5:7

Deuteronomy 8:6-18 (tithe message)

Deuteronomy 26:9-10 (tithe message)

Jesus means God saved. Jesus chided to be saved. What are you doing while you are waiting? His birth brought God to us. Repentance comes first. Then there’s belief.  Baptized in water and the Holy Spirit are important.

John 1:1      Isaiah 7:14      Philippians 2:5      Acts1:9       John 6:38      John 3:16      2 Peter 3:4      John 3:3      Acts 2:38      Matthew 4:17      Romans 10:9-10      Ephesians 5:18      John 1:12      Acts 10:38

Wisdom is having insight. Part of wisdom is discernment. Put the proper value on things. Wisdom is supreme because of discovering the will of God. Despise means not valuable to pick up. You are as valuable as Jesus Christ himself. What do you value?  To be filled is a continuous action. Wisdom is better than gold. Skill is another word for wisdom.

Proverbs 4:7      Philippians 1:9- 11      Philippians 3:7-9      Mark 14:3-9      1 Samuel 2:12-17, vs.27-30      1 Samuel 1:3      1 Peter 2:4-6      1 Peter 1:18      Daniel 12:2-3      Ephesians 5:15-18

Wisdom means skillful. Wisdom is supreme. That being God’s will for you. There is a Godly reason for being wealthy. Don’t do things to be seen. There are qualifications as to who receives help. If you’re not willing to work you shouldn’t eat. It’s important to stay in your calling. Love is an action.

Proverbs 4:5     Proverbs 3:13     Proverbs 8:17     Proverbs 28:19     Proverbs 13:23     Proverbs 10:4     Proverbs 28:7     Psalms 41:1-3     Proverbs 22:9     Psalms 112:1-3, vs. 5     Matthew 6:1     Galatians 6:9-10     Romans 12:13     Matthew 25:31-36     1 Timothy 5:3-13     Acts 4:34-35     Acts 6:1-6     Acts 11:28     1 Corinthians 16:1-2     Proverbs 28:27

Robin gave his testimony about how God healed him from COVID and also still being whole and complete after having a stroke. Pastor Sydney asked what is our response to sickness. It’s going to take faith. Power of prayer. This is our time to pray. Pastor Sydney talked about the case currently in court about abortion. Pastor Sydney talked about Santa Claus. What is the purpose for Christmas? We aren’t sure of the exact date of when Christ was born. We give gifts at Christmas because, Jesus was the ultimate gift. The evergreen tree is the symbol of the covenant. Hope means confident expectation.

Galatians 3:13     Galatians 8:16     Psalms 34:19     Isaiah 53:4-5     Psalms 91:1-16     Psalms 103:1-5     Mark 16:16-18      James 5:14-16     Mark 11:24     Matthew 18:18-19     John 16:23     Exodus 20:13     Proverbs 6:16     Isaiah 59:2-3, vs.7     Psalms 139:13      Jeremiah 1:4-5     Luke 1:15, vs.34, vs.41-44     Colossians 1:27