The church is referred to in many ways in scripture. The bride of Christ, the temple of God, the people of God. More than a building, the Church is God's representatives in this world. In our text, the church is described as being birthed in the fire of the Holy Ghost. It was a Holy Ghost eruption that literally shook the place they in which they were meeting and affected the lives of many thousands. This was some of the finest hours for the church. They did not have a program, but they had a purpose: Go out and preach the word to the world. In a few short years, much of the known world had been converted to Christianity. They did not have the modern technology and comfort we have. All they had was a hungry heart and a desire to do preach God's word. Bro. Hughes asks how can a church with no resources could have such reach but we, with all we have available to us, cannot accomplish the same? Our text highlights the church in some of her finest hours. We see her in her glory doing what God commanded her to do. What is necessary for the church to be at her finest? She is at her best when operating in the Holy Ghost. None of us are talented enough to change people's lives, but when follow the lead of the Holy Ghost, we can. The church in it's finest expects Great things from God. When faith dies so does breakthrough. The same power that can open the blind eyes in biblical times, still exists today. The church is at her best when she is bold. Our text says after they prayed, the building shook and that they spoke with boldness. They were not intimidated by the government or the religious leaders of the day. There are too many people who are afraid to be Pentecostal because of the way the world thinks of us. The truth is the truth no matter what the world thinks. The world needs to hear what we have to say. The church is at her best when there is a quest to learn more. Daily, they would come back and ask for more. They persisted in listening to the apostles as they taught and there was a hunger for more. What God has done, is nothing in comparison to what He will do. The greatest peril to the church is when we become stagnate and only look back to what was. We must look forward and desire for more. When the church is at her best, there is a sense of excitement. Our text says "they gladly received the word." They heard the word in their own language. They saw miracles. it stirred their curiosity. There was an excitement about going to church. There was such excitement that they did not want to miss anything. When we get excited about God, He will do exciting things among us. The church is at her best when there are certain sounds. The sound of praise and adoration; When talent is not promoted, but Jesus is. She is at her best when there is the sound of prayer. When the church is at her best, she is impacting her community. The bible says that they had favor with all the people. When people are drawn to the church, she is at her best. We must show our selves friendly so that people are attracted to us. The church is at her best when she is providing a sanctuary for all. She is at her best when there is ministry to the needs of the people. They found a need and they filled it. That means that people have to be willing ot get involved and look for those needs. Opportunities for ministry are all around us. The church is at her best when she resembles Jesus and Jesus went to the uttermost.

The church is referred to in many ways in scripture. The bride of Christ, the temple of God, the people of God. More than a building, the Church is God's representatives in this world. In our text, the church is described as being birthed in the fire of the Holy Ghost. It was a Holy Ghost eruption that literally shook the place they in which they were meeting and affected the lives of many thousands. This was some of the finest hours for the church. They did not have a program, but they had a purpose: Go out and preach the word to the world. In a few short years, much of the known world had been converted to Christianity. They did not have the modern technology and comfort we have. All they had was a hungry heart and a desire to do preach God's word. Bro. Hughes asks how can a church with no resources could have such reach but we, with all we have available to us, cannot accomplish the same? Our text highlights the church in some of her finest hours. We see her in her glory doing what God commanded her to do. What is necessary for the church to be at her finest? She is at her best when operating in the Holy Ghost. None of us are talented enough to change people's lives, but when follow the lead of the Holy Ghost, we can. The church in it's finest expects Great things from God. When faith dies so does breakthrough. The same power that can open the blind eyes in biblical times, still exists today. The church is at her best when she is bold. Our text says after they prayed, the building shook and that they spoke with boldness. They were not intimidated by the government or the religious leaders of the day. There are too many people who are afraid to be Pentecostal because of the way the world thinks of us. The truth is the truth no matter what the world thinks. The world needs to hear what we have to say. The church is at her best when there is a quest to learn more. Daily, they would come back and ask for more. They persisted in listening to the apostles as they taught and there was a hunger for more. What God has done, is nothing in comparison to what He will do. The greatest peril to the church is when we become stagnate and only look back to what was. We must look forward and desire for more. When the church is at her best, there is a sense of excitement. Our text says "they gladly received the word." They heard the word in their own language. They saw miracles. it stirred their curiosity. There was an excitement about going to church. There was such excitement that they did not want to miss anything. When we get excited about God, He will do exciting things among us. The church is at her best when there are certain sounds. The sound of praise and adoration; When talent is not promoted, but Jesus is. She is at her best when there is the sound of prayer. When the church is at her best, she is impacting her community. The bible says that they had favor with all the people. When people are drawn to the church, she is at her best. We must show our selves friendly so that people are attracted to us. The church is at her best when she is providing a sanctuary for all. She is at her best when there is ministry to the needs of the people. They found a need and they filled it. That means that people have to be willing ot get involved and look for those needs. Opportunities for ministry are all around us. The church is at her best when she resembles Jesus and Jesus went to the uttermost.

Greater Life Church

Greater Life Church

Bro. Hughes brings a message from Paul's letter to the Philippine Church.

Bro. Hughes brings a message from Paul's letter to the Philippine Church.

Men are very important to God's plan. Statistics show that children of homes without fathers are significantly more likely to be at risk than those who are in two parent homes. The importance of a father in a child's life cannot be over stated. Simply put, we need good Men. We as men, have a purpose for being and existing. We are not just an accident, God has a purpose for each of us. The powerful influence of a man with a purpose is significant. There is nothing more tragic than a man who wastes his life by not pursuing his divine purpose. As men, we must take a stand and protect what God has created. God is looking for men who will stand for righteousness, Godliness, families and for their homes. Our world tears down manhood. The entertainment industry portrays men as as dumb and incompetent. God needs men who will stand for what is right and will stand against this assault. It does not take much talent to tear something down, but it takes a man with skills and determination to build a home, a church, or a life. God is looking for not only a builder, but for a man who can repair that which has been torn down. The enemy will attack and tear down. A man of God must be prepared to stand in the gap and repair what has been destroyed. The mending of relationship begins with a strong, Godly man. God is seeking for a man who will protect. Our world is full of predators. God is looking for men who will protect his family from these predators. Paul admonished Timothy to guard his hands, his heart and his spirit. God is looking for men. Are there any men willing to answer the call?

Men are very important to God's plan. Statistics show that children of homes without fathers are significantly more likely to be at risk than those who are in two parent homes. The importance of a father in a child's life cannot be over stated. Simply put, we need good Men. We as men, have a purpose for being and existing. We are not just an accident, God has a purpose for each of us. The powerful influence of a man with a purpose is significant. There is nothing more tragic than a man who wastes his life by not pursuing his divine purpose. As men, we must take a stand and protect what God has created. God is looking for men who will stand for righteousness, Godliness, families and for their homes. Our world tears down manhood. The entertainment industry portrays men as as dumb and incompetent. God needs men who will stand for what is right and will stand against this assault. It does not take much talent to tear something down, but it takes a man with skills and determination to build a home, a church, or a life. God is looking for not only a builder, but for a man who can repair that which has been torn down. The enemy will attack and tear down. A man of God must be prepared to stand in the gap and repair what has been destroyed. The mending of relationship begins with a strong, Godly man. God is seeking for a man who will protect. Our world is full of predators. God is looking for men who will protect his family from these predators. Paul admonished Timothy to guard his hands, his heart and his spirit. God is looking for men. Are there any men willing to answer the call?

We we were born again, we entered into a fellowship and into the possession of an assurance of eternal things. This journey also brings with it a fight. We are in an eternal war with the enemy. God has equipped us to rise to this fight and to be victorious. In our text, Paul identifies himself with the struggle that all of us endure in this battle of life. Paul tells us that the enemy we will fight will come at us from all angles and directions. His comparison of God's gifts to implements of war illustrate just how real the battle is. He begins with a command: Be strong. A command, not a suggestion or an offer. We must above all things be strong for this battle. We must consider all that is in the balance in this battle to fully appreciate how real this is. Failure is not an option. We do not want to be lost. We must not ignore the command. When Paul gives us the command, he is telling us that we can become what the scripture declares that we can become.

Paul tells us how to dress for success using the armor of God. Bro. Hughes asks what is that the armor designed to protect. The answer to that explains where the devil will attack. In each of Paul's examples, he cites a piece or armor or a weapon and tells us what area that items is to protect. No matter how long we live for God, we will be vulnerable to the devil in these areas. There are six of items.

The first piece is the girding our loins with truth. The first area of attack is our purpose for living. The devil knows that if he can strike at who we are and who God designed us to be, then we are vulnerable to any other attack that he can bring. The devil wants to undermine God's design for our life. If he can do that, we will begin to question God's way and purpose. The armor that is necessary to keep us against this attack, is the girdle of truth. The truth will keep us from becoming tripped up and becoming vulnerable to the enemy. The truth reveals God's purpose for our life. If the devil can get us to question why God made us, he can easily get us to question many other things about our relationship with God.

We we were born again, we entered into a fellowship and into the possession of an assurance of eternal things. This journey also brings with it a fight. We are in an eternal war with the enemy. God has equipped us to rise to this fight and to be victorious. In our text, Paul identifies himself with the struggle that all of us endure in this battle of life. Paul tells us that the enemy we will fight will come at us from all angles and directions. His comparison of God's gifts to implements of war illustrate just how real the battle is. He begins with a command: Be strong. A command, not a suggestion or an offer. We must above all things be strong for this battle. We must consider all that is in the balance in this battle to fully appreciate how real this is. Failure is not an option. We do not want to be lost. We must not ignore the command. When Paul gives us the command, he is telling us that we can become what the scripture declares that we can become.

Paul tells us how to dress for success using the armor of God. Bro. Hughes asks what is that the armor designed to protect. The answer to that explains where the devil will attack. In each of Paul's examples, he cites a piece or armor or a weapon and tells us what area that items is to protect. No matter how long we live for God, we will be vulnerable to the devil in these areas. There are six of items.

The first piece is the girding our loins with truth. The first area of attack is our purpose for living. The devil knows that if he can strike at who we are and who God designed us to be, then we are vulnerable to any other attack that he can bring. The devil wants to undermine God's design for our life. If he can do that, we will begin to question God's way and purpose. The armor that is necessary to keep us against this attack, is the girdle of truth. The truth will keep us from becoming tripped up and becoming vulnerable to the enemy. The truth reveals God's purpose for our life. If the devil can get us to question why God made us, he can easily get us to question many other things about our relationship with God.