Come Alive (Audio)

When the Philistines had possession of the Ark of the Covenant, they showed that they revered God by the way they treated this holy treasure. However, because of their limited knowledge, the Lord did not hold them to the same standards of the Israelites. When the Jews finally took back possession of the Ark, a man was killed because he did not obey God’s instructions on how to transport it. In today’s message, Pastor Mark teaches us that the Lord holds us responsible for what we have heard. This is a sobering thought because it does not matter if we believe. What matters is that when we hear truth, we are fully responsible for that truth and will be judged accordingly.

When the Philistines had possession of the Ark of the Covenant, they showed that they revered God by the way they treated this holy treasure. However, because of their limited knowledge, the Lord did not hold them to the same standards of the Israelites. When the Jews finally took back possession of the Ark, a man was killed because he did not obey God’s instructions on how to transport it. In today’s message, Pastor Mark teaches us that the Lord holds us responsible for what we have heard. This is a sobering thought because it does not matter if we believe. What matters is that when we hear truth, we are fully responsible for that truth and will be judged accordingly.

Do you believe in God? The Bible says that even the demons believe in His existence and shutter. In today’s message, Pastor Mark challenges us to examine ourselves to see if we really are in the Christian faith. The Greatest Commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, body, mind, and strength. Pastor Mark asks, “Are we trying to fulfill this commandment?”, and, “Are we trying to obey the Lord, or are we still in the driver’s seat by making our own decisions without Jesus’s daily input and guidance?” Christ needs to not just be our Savior, but He also need to be our Lord. A true sign of conversion is obedience to His Word.

Do you believe in God? The Bible says that even the demons believe in His existence and shutter. In today’s message, Pastor Mark challenges us to examine ourselves to see if we really are in the Christian faith. The Greatest Commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, body, mind, and strength. Pastor Mark asks, “Are we trying to fulfill this commandment?”, and, “Are we trying to obey the Lord, or are we still in the driver’s seat by making our own decisions without Jesus’s daily input and guidance?” Christ needs to not just be our Savior, but He also need to be our Lord. A true sign of conversion is obedience to His Word.

The Bible says that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. In today’s message, Pastor Mark teaches us that sometimes when we have walked away from God to do our own thing, pride gets in the way of us returning to Him. Other times when an idol of work, money, or other worldly thing does not fulfill or sustain us, we have a hard time admitting it. Pastor Mark points out that men’s pride can be the single biggest stumbling block to restoration. We don’t want to admit we are wrong. We don’t want to say we are sorry. However, to approach Jesus, we must humbly admit that we are sinners and bow low in contrition.

The Bible says that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. In today’s message, Pastor Mark teaches us that sometimes when we have walked away from God to do our own thing, pride gets in the way of us returning to Him. Other times when an idol of work, money, or other worldly thing does not fulfill or sustain us, we have a hard time admitting it. Pastor Mark points out that men’s pride can be the single biggest stumbling block to restoration. We don’t want to admit we are wrong. We don’t want to say we are sorry. However, to approach Jesus, we must humbly admit that we are sinners and bow low in contrition.

Are you struggling today? Do you feel far away from God? Is your life a seemingly unending stream of messes, or are constantly putting out fires? In today’s message, Pastor Mark teaches us that sometimes when we do not give God the priority He deserves, He allows hardship and turmoil to enter our lives to get our attention. If we have unconfessed sin in our hearts, Jesus uses pain and suffering to get our attention and to draw us back to Himself. In fact, if we do not turn to Him in repentance and sorrow, God will turn up the heat even hotter with natural consequences. Jesus does this out of deep love for us, for it is in His presence that we find healing and peace.

Are you struggling today? Do you feel far away from God? Is your life a seemingly unending stream of messes, or are constantly putting out fires? In today’s message, Pastor Mark teaches us that sometimes when we do not give God the priority He deserves, He allows hardship and turmoil to enter our lives to get our attention. If we have unconfessed sin in our hearts, Jesus uses pain and suffering to get our attention and to draw us back to Himself. In fact, if we do not turn to Him in repentance and sorrow, God will turn up the heat even hotter with natural consequences. Jesus does this out of deep love for us, for it is in His presence that we find healing and peace.

In 1 Samuel chapter 5, the Philistines had possession of the Arc of the Covenant after winning a battle with the Israelites. They took the Arc and put it in their temple and set it next to their god Dagon. The next day, Dagon had fallen on his face. Confused yet undeterred, the Philistines re-erected Dagon. However, they were utterly dismayed when they found Dagon broken into pieces the very next morning. In today’s message, Pastor Mark teaches us that whenever we have idols in our lives, we must work to keep them propped up because they do not sustain us or provide for us. Only the One True God, Jesus, is worthy of our worship. Only He can provide and protect.

In 1 Samuel chapter 5, the Philistines had possession of the Arc of the Covenant after winning a battle with the Israelites. They took the Arc and put it in their temple and set it next to their god Dagon. The next day, Dagon had fallen on his face. Confused yet undeterred, the Philistines re-erected Dagon. However, they were utterly dismayed when they found Dagon broken into pieces the very next morning. In today’s message, Pastor Mark teaches us that whenever we have idols in our lives, we must work to keep them propped up because they do not sustain us or provide for us. Only the One True God, Jesus, is worthy of our worship. Only He can provide and protect.