Church of the Word Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Psalm 1:2 tells of a person who delights in the law of the Lord. Look at the Word, and you will delight in it. If you delight yourself in the Lord, He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). God gives you desires in your heart. Sometimes desire comes masked as anger at injustice. Anger at a situation is actually a desire for justice. The Lord told Apostle Dale, "I have called you to be Harry Hopkins." Harry Hopkins saved western civilization and England by stopping Hitler. He was a failed social worker, went through a divorce, and was literally homeless when Roosevelt took him into the White House. Kennedy was ambassador to England and was trying to sabotage the communication between Churchill and Roosevelt, because he believed Hitler was going to win. Roosevelt became suspicious that he was not being told the truth, so he sent Harry Hopkins to Churchill and asked him to accommodate Harry. Harry responded to Roosevelt that Churchill had the situation handled and that we should fight this war and maintain a trusting relationship between Churchill and the United States. Harry had trust. The Lord said that Apostle Dale is Harry Hopkins. Do not ever underestimate what God will do in your life, the value of a child, or the investment of your time and tears. Have fun with God. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him, and He will act to bring it to pass. Andrew Wommack came to their church in Corey, Pennsylvania in 1993. Andrew told Dale that he needs to dream bigger. Apostle Dale thought that what their church did by having Andrew there was big. Now, if he could change anything, he would dream bigger. When he was dreaming about playing football, it did not seem like a sacrifice to run his trap-line in heavy leather boots or to lift weights. He was obsessed with football and winning. It is not wrong to dream bigger. Of course, we are talking about righteous things. Dream bigger about your business, children, or vacation. The things that perk in you are there because God put them there. Many millionaires did wonderful things with their money. Do not be afraid to follow your dreams. When Proverbs 18:1 is translated rightly, desire is a positive thing. Desire allows you to make choices of priority so you end up with what you desire. Apostle Dale shared about his desire to play football and his focused work to fulfill that dream, even though he had obstacles. Desire takes over and will purify your intentions and priorities. Let God's desires grow in you. You get rid of the impediments, and you find yourself with people of similar dreams and read books about your desire. Offering:  God is a giver. We give from a heart of love. Austin and Cathy Ginder shared about becoming involved in foster care - what it entails, why it is needed, how it works, and how you can help.

Prophet Tim ministered prophetically in song. There are many seasons that we go through. We need to understand the season we are in. In the times of expectancy, between the sowing and the reaping, there is a time when fear tries to arise, like a couple right before they are getting married. Tim shared about the seasons in the church his parents pastored and then he pastored. There were waves of people coming and going. In the new season that we are in, we need to walk through with the same trust in God that got us to where we are. Using a box of tissues, Tim demonstrated how he took the prophetic words given to him and allowed himself to package the picture of his life, which was not really God's package. Because of it, he missed God's desire for him. Decide to align with His desire for the next season. We are here with purpose. Can I go forward in the purposes of God? May we not get weary.

Prophet Tim Byler prophesied in song and taught prophetically to the CWI congregation about the coming harvest. We are responsible for the atmosphere for the coming harvest. When Joshua went to Jericho, as the first conquest after the years in the wilderness, God told the Israelites to burn everything but to take the metals that were the gods of the people of Jericho and to spare the household of the harlot, Rahab. The metals were consecrated for the tabernacle, and Rahab let go of her past life. The way we used to reach people does not work now. We need to not touch their sin, but love the people, and let God bring the conviction. We cannot treat the coming harvest by "burning their houses" and "confiscating their idols." We need to see what God sees in the people who will be coming. The enemy will try to use what we see, so we must see what God sees and values in them. There is a caution: Because we judge what we see, our atmosphere internally goes to warfare against what is not to our standard. Harvesting and working with the people who are coming will be hard work. Sinners see the church as their opposition. We are not going to address their sin, but to love them, love justice, and walk humbly before our God. We need to open our hearts. Most have been abused at a very young age. We need to see God in the situation, rather than just seeing the situation. We can be the church that loves the unloved. Oswald Smith said that no one has the right to hear the gospel twice until everyone has heard it once. Tim shared how he just talks to people and shows love. Twelve guys came to Jesus as a result of his talking to one man. Do not let someone's sin offend you. We are commanded to love. Let God work out the requirements. God is putting in front of us people no one wants. Everyday you can change the atmosphere for those unloved people. Ask for compassion for the lost and to see the beauty inside each person. God will send the desperate, hurting, and unloved. We will show them who God is and the value, hope, and beauty in them. Show mercy and grace. You have no right to a harvest that you have judged. There was a time of repentance and commitment to see the people who are coming as Jesus sees them. Let us hear the cry of the hurting, sense their desperation, and move with compassion. God, set us free so we can set others free. The spirit of the evangelist is rising in us. He had prophetic words for Pastor Demeke and Pastor Syd and Jen. Count the ones who walk in. Do not judge when someone shifts. Some will not be able to walk with the pastor through this.

Our challenge is to see beyond what we can see, do, and understand. The body of Christ goes through seasons. We know about sowing and reaping, but it is in the in-between seasons that we can get hit with all kinds of things that could bring on fear. There are other seasons: preparation for sowing, the season between the sowing and the harvesting, the time after the reaping that requires dealing with the harvest so it does not go bad. Prophet Tim prophesied over the CWI congregation, Pastor Syd and Jen Ropp and various other church members. He prophesied a re-awakening and a remnant of those who fear God's name. He spoke that we are to go after those no one wants and that CWI is going to be a drawing place of needy people. It is going to be a house of healing, mercy, and love.

Text: Joel 1:14; 2:1-3:21. What was for the Jews is for us, since we are grafted in. We are to call for repentance. Pray for the bigger picture, God's picture, to be developed. Real change comes when it comes to our hearts. Even though we have sinned, the Lord restores us. Keep a long-term perspective. Pastor Syd and Jen had missionaries from Ephesus, Turkey visiting them this week. They shared about the many Muslims who experienced dreams of Jesus appearing to them, and then they, the missionaries, lead them to Jesus. A neighboring land-and-shop-owner had a dream of Jesus ten years ago, and he gave his life to Jesus through the missionaries. A student at the university in the city got saved, and when the missionaries asked what his father would do when he told his about his conversion, the student said he did not know. In the meantime, the father had a dream about Jesus' saying to him, "Follow Me." He said he would, but that He had to tell his wife. The same night his wife had a dream about Jesus' saying to her, "Follow Me." She said she would, but that He had to tell her husband. In the morning they struggled with how they were going to tell the other, and after doing so, they prayed, "You will have to tell our son." God is so good! Pray for your neighbors to have dreams of Jesus. The Lord told Pastor Syd in June that in three months he would be going to Ephesus at the end of September. Pray for hearts to be prepared. We are to be witnesses here at home, in our region, in similar cultures, AND to the uttermost places in the earth. (We spent time in corporate prayer.)

(Tongues and an interpretation were given: God's heart is for us. He raised us up to be His warriors. Will you take up the challenge to do His Word? Will you take up the challenge to speak to others about Him?) (Levi Lapp shared about an upcoming mission trip to Guatemala in December.) Sermon: There is really one race, the human race, but there are many ethnicities. The problem of racism cannot be fixed by government or other natural means. There is currently more focus on racism, which brings fear and makes it more of an issue. [What you fear, you empower.] Racism is a sin issue. People need the love of Christ. We are made new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). God set apart the race of Jews to be priests, but Jesus made us one in Him. Galatians 3:28 says that there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, or male nor female. All have equal rights to the kingdom of God. Prejudice can be based on ethnicity, race, or income. The problem is based on sin. It must be addressed at the root. Jesus died for each person. We need to focus on bringing the Word. See people as God sees them. Our instruction on how to walk in these times is found in Philippians 2:3,4 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.God is not a respecter of persons but a respecter of faith. Prejudice is also a result of selfishness. We are to honor everyone (1 Peter 2:17), forgive those who have wronged us with words and attitudes of prejudice, love others without hypocrisy, detest evil, cling to what is good, look for truth, serve the Lord, and overcome evil with good (Romans 12:9-21).

Psalm 127:1 tells us that unless the Lord builds the house, they who build it labor in vain. The same principles for a godly government apply to a godly individual, home, family, and business. People must ask for God's aid. It is both an individual and corporate choosing God's help and doing His will (Joshua 24:15). Those who were composing the constitution could not agree on it until Ben Franklin reminded them that they depended on prayer to God to give them the Declaration of Independence and to win the war. After praying, the Constitution was written. Apostle Dale is working right now on helping the Ukrainian government draft a constitution based on Biblical principles. Our nation's government was founded on Biblical principles. William Penn, for whom Pennsylvania is named, had a frame of government. A government of integrity is one that is whole and morally complete. Only a small percentage of pastors preach and actually believe the Word. People have to want a government of integrity. The essential first steps are to establish the vision (a nation that looks like what wants it to be), the goal (a self-government requires that people live by God's ways), and the authority. We answer as individuals, families, civil governments, and church governments. The existence of government is God's idea and plan. God works through nations. The empowerment of government is from and of God through Jesus Christ. The effectiveness of government and the blessings of the nation are linked to the degree of our obedience to God's commands. We understand the nature and role of God from Revelation 21:6; Colossians 1:16; Psalm 103:19. The nature of God is that He is sovereign, the Creator of all things, the sustainer of all life, and the supreme authority. He has created and delegated man's authority over the earth and equipped man with skills. The nature of man is that he is sinful from birth, depraved, and does not naturally do what is right, except the Spirit of God moves in him. The purpose of government is to enact justice, to praise those who do good, and to punish those who do evil. The purpose of the law (1 Timothy 1:9) is to establish the framework for those things having to do with justice and was made for law-breakers, those who think they are above God's law. The natural tendency of government is to consolidate control and power to violate God's purpose (Genesis 9:1; 11:1-9) and to replace God. The components of Biblical justice (Isaiah 59:14) are truth and mercy. The requirements for maintaining a republic are responsible citizens and integrity in office. There is a need to build in safeguards (Isaiah 33:22) because the nature of man is selfish and greedy and because of the concept of accountability is God's idea. There is a need to biblically educate (Proverbs 22:6; Joshua 4:19-24). Parents must biblically train up their children, and fathers must continually affirm God's blessing and His role in their lives. We must understand the need for prayer (Psalm 127:1; 1 Kings 8:54-60; 2 Chronicles 7:14). It is the Lord who raises up a nation, a family, a business, and an individual. The building and maintaining of a government of integrity is spiritually-achieved. How intently do we desire a government of integrity? It is all about the focus on the souls of men. Satan tries to get us away from doing the work of God. Change can come when we repent of and confess our sins. Then we can have lives of integrity.

Texts: Colossians 3:1-4; 1 Corinthians 12. Seek and set your minds on what is above. You have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Keep the perspective of what is important. The heavenly things are the real things. Do not be unaware of spiritual gifts. Speaking by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, no one can call Jesus Christ accursed. The Holy Spirit gives the gift, the person ministers it, and the Lord completes the work. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one to produce what is beneficial to all. We are to earnestly desire the best gifts. The Holy Spirit comes in you when you receive Jesus as your Lord. The Holy Spirit comes upon you for you to minister to others. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is for you to minister to others and for you to be a witness. The word of wisdom is for the future. The Holy Spirit tells you something you do not know in the natural when He operates the word of knowledge. The gift of special faith, God's faith, goes beyond your own faith, which you have by the hearing of the Word. There are the gift of healings, workings of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, different kinds of tongues (not the same as your prayer tongues), and interpretation of tongues. The gifts of the Spirit are not activated by peoples' wills but by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit works these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. Other than different tongues and interpretation of tongues, the other seven gifts operated in the Old Testament. The gifts of the Spirit are grouped into the revelation gifts, the power gifts, and the speaking gifts.

Pre-sermon notes: There is a spirit of man, and the inspiration of the Almighty gives him understanding. We have authority to bind and loose and have the spirit of seeing and of knowledge. Why was it necessary for not one bone of Jesus' body to be broken? 1) Jesus had to be fully dead when the Roman soldiers checked Him. 2) It would have violated the Word. 3) The Word had to be fully fulfilled.

Sermon: Contentment in the Spirit is not wanting anything but God. Seek God first, and then other things will be added to you. The lack of contentment in the body of Christ gives Satan a great opening into our lives. God wants our lives full and joyful. Unforgiveness and sin are other doors for Satan, but discontentment is a big one. Discontentment is unrest, apathy, a loss of passion for God, an unbalanced focus, and a critical, judgmental, and fault-finding spirit. Let God inspire (being God-breathed) and teach you. Enjoy Him. Proverbs 11:1 tells about the abomination of false balances. Contentment affects everything in you, such as your attitude. Do not look to the world for confirmation. Balance is very important. Learn how to combine the spiritual and the natural. Adam was operating in both the spiritual and natural realms simultaneously. There is redemption for animals. They were innocent in the curse brought on by Adam. Jesus is the last Adam, and He will redeem the creatures. Discontentment comes through people and situations to show you what you do not have. Contentment shows you what you do have. There is no such thing as blind faith. Walk by faith, seeing faith. Discontentment is a task-master and is ungrateful. It makes you a slave. Contentment is grateful and appreciative. Be spiritually-minded. Would to God that we had been content (Joshua 7:7). Possessions do not make you godly. Gaining is not godliness. Godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:1-6). Paul said that whatever state he was in, he was content (Philippians 4:11). It is not the things that you have that produce contentment. Possessions do not equal contentment. God is the source of our joy, not possessions. To be content is to be satisfied- sufficient, raise a barrier (archeo). Put up a barrier of contentment. Discontentment is self-serving and is about me. Our joy is because of God, and then we bring it to other people. Joy is spiritual. We cannot expect others to make us happy. Godly contentment serves God and others and brings you into the rest of God. Prepare your life for God. Jesus is your source (Philippians 4:19). Discontentment drives you to long for something else. Contentment keeps you on course and will ensure the growth and maturity of the fruit of the Spirit. God is our Shepherd, and He has already supplied all things. He daily loads us with good things (Psalm 68:19). He took the weight of sin, guilt, and darkness off of us. Now we can carry the weights of the benefits of God that lift us up. There is no lack in heaven. He is our provider (Matthew 6:9).

God wants the Body of Christ to be in unity. We need to be built up by reading the Word and Christian books and listening to teachings and sermons. Chapter two of Zephaniah is a call to repentance, seeking God, seeking righteousness, and seeking humility. It may be that we will be hidden in the day of the Lord's anger. [We watched Kenneth Copeland ministering at the 2016 Southwest Believers' Convention. He spoke about a great outpouring, great reconciliation between God's people and between nations, a great move of God, and great change coming to North America. There will be changes in the people and in the mechanical structure of this planet. God has heard the heartfelt prayers of His people. We are to rest in Him, pray, hold fast before Him, pay attention to the Spirit, and pray in the Spirit. God is moving now, and things will not look like it looks now. The awakening is here. There will be change between now and the political conventions. God's people who harken and follow Him can walk in the most prosperous times. For those who refuse Him, it will get worse and worse. More is coming that is disastrous. Walk by faith and the disaster will go around and over you. Stay in the Word. Stay in love. Stay in faith. He loves us. Walk in His love. Do not allow strife in your house. It is the most dangerous serpent. Serve God with gladness of heart for the abundance of all things, and you will walk free. The angels get excited when they can work for the Creator, but they only do what we have faith for. Stay in the love of God. Prayer changes things.] The United States is the only country started by people who loved God. Pastor Syd read Isaiah 58-60:5, which tells about the restorer of the wall and building up foundations and fasting and praying. We should be fasting for our nation, for the church, and for the unbelief to be driven out. Be real in your fasting and do it without strife. Prayer and fasting is for today. Paul told the Gentile churches to do it. Joel said that the result of prayer and fasting would be His pouring out His Spirit on all flesh. It was what was happening in the upper room before Pentecost. It is a time of putting God before yourself.