For many people it is natural to see the negative side of situations. It is easy to get caught up in what life had done to us rather than focusing on what is happening in our life. Many people are so focused on the things that have been lost in life that they forget to look at the blessings they still enjoy. Bro Hughes believes we need to get over what is not here. Often our life is defined by what is missing. If we just get over by what we have lost and focus on what is still here, God can do something with that. Some of us have been thru a war and we only see what has been taken out. Sometimes we limit our life by what we have or don’t have. Life has changed for a lot of us because of what we have lost or don’t have. What are you focused on today? We must quit defining life by what has been lost.

The Komodo dragon is capable of killing a cape buffalo. They don’t do this by a direct attack. They do this by biting the buffalo on the leg. The bite will become infected and eventually the buffalo will die. It is a horrible and tortuous way to die. The Cape buffalo is one of the most feared and most powerful animals in the world. It is know as Black Death, but this wound can bring down this huge dangerous animal. During the Vietnam War, the enemy would set traps that would not kill the American soldier, but that would inflict wounds that would cause the advancing troops to slow down in order to deal with the wounded man.

In our spirit, there are things that cause wounds. If these wounds are left untended, they can cause us great harm. Some people will try to manage these wounds rather than taking them to God for Him to heal. The enemy has set traps that can wound us. These wounds that we encounter in our life can fester and can eventually kill spiritually. We must have faith for spiritual healing.

The Komodo dragon is capable of killing a cape buffalo. They don’t do this by a direct attack. They do this by biting the buffalo on the leg. The bite will become infected and eventually the buffalo will die. It is a horrible and tortuous way to die. The Cape buffalo is one of the most feared and most powerful animals in the world. It is know as Black Death, but this wound can bring down this huge dangerous animal. During the Vietnam War, the enemy would set traps that would not kill the American soldier, but that would inflict wounds that would cause the advancing troops to slow down in order to deal with the wounded man.

In our spirit, there are things that cause wounds. If these wounds are left untended, they can cause us great harm. Some people will try to manage these wounds rather than taking them to God for Him to heal. The enemy has set traps that can wound us. These wounds that we encounter in our life can fester and can eventually kill spiritually. We must have faith for spiritual healing.

The port of Shanghai China is some 20 miles inland from the sea and is accessed via the Yangtze River. The large river deposits slit as the waters begin to slow their flow as it approaches the sea. This threatens to choke off access to the port by filling up the channel so that the large ships cannot come in and out. To combat this, the port officials continually dredge the river to remove all the buildup and junk. Life can be like that. As the flow of life slows, the dirt and debris that have been carried along begin to clog up the flow and threaten to block passage. Bro. Hughes observes that we need a transformational flow of the spirit to clean out our life of all the silt. In our text Ezekiel has been taken on a journey that brings him back to the temple where he is shown the headwaters of what will become a mighty river that originates at the throne of God. What God showed Ezekiel was that when the spirit of God begins to flow, it will totally transform the landscape and will result in something so different than what he had known. It ran out of the city, down into the desert area and ultimately to the Dead Sea. This flowing water literally transformed everything it touched. Bro. Hughes tells us that if we find ourselves burdened down with the debris of life, that we need to get with the flow of God’s sprit to cleanse our life. The bible says that the water flowed out into their world and wherever it flowed, it healed. That is the transforming power of the spirit.

The port of Shanghai China is some 20 miles inland from the sea and is accessed via the Yangtze River. The large river deposits slit as the waters begin to slow their flow as it approaches the sea. This threatens to choke off access to the port by filling up the channel so that the large ships cannot come in and out. To combat this, the port officials continually dredge the river to remove all the buildup and junk. Life can be like that. As the flow of life slows, the dirt and debris that have been carried along begin to clog up the flow and threaten to block passage. Bro. Hughes observes that we need a transformational flow of the spirit to clean out our life of all the silt. In our text Ezekiel has been taken on a journey that brings him back to the temple where he is shown the headwaters of what will become a mighty river that originates at the throne of God. What God showed Ezekiel was that when the spirit of God begins to flow, it will totally transform the landscape and will result in something so different than what he had known. It ran out of the city, down into the desert area and ultimately to the Dead Sea. This flowing water literally transformed everything it touched. Bro. Hughes tells us that if we find ourselves burdened down with the debris of life, that we need to get with the flow of God’s sprit to cleanse our life. The bible says that the water flowed out into their world and wherever it flowed, it healed. That is the transforming power of the spirit.

Where would we be with out the faithfulness of the Pastor? In a world of turmoil, chaos, confusion God has placed a great man in our life to turn to. How many times have things seemed impossible, when God gave us a promise and victory because God blessed the feet of the Pastor? When the children of Israel came to the river the Red Sea, God parted the waters and provided safe passage because of a promise made to Moses. At the river Jordan, when the feet of the priests entered the water, God caused the river to stop flowing and allowed safe passage for His people. At Jericho God crumbled the walls because the man of God marched His people around the city as he had been directed. The bible directs that we have a pastor over us to lead us. Like a shepherd, the pastor looks over his flock and cares for them. Greater Life church has been blessed for 20 years with a loving, compassionate and caring pastor and pastor’s wife. Bro. and Sis. Hughes have labored, prayed, sacrificed and followed God’s vision for our church. They, and we have been blessed for 20 years. Bro. Clark shares his heart today about the need for a pastor in our life and brings an anointed word of God to GLC today on the celebration of the Hughes 20th pastoral anniversary.

Where would we be with out the faithfulness of the Pastor? In a world of turmoil, chaos, confusion God has placed a great man in our life to turn to. How many times have things seemed impossible, when God gave us a promise and victory because God blessed the feet of the Pastor? When the children of Israel came to the river the Red Sea, God parted the waters and provided safe passage because of a promise made to Moses. At the river Jordan, when the feet of the priests entered the water, God caused the river to stop flowing and allowed safe passage for His people. At Jericho God crumbled the walls because the man of God marched His people around the city as he had been directed. The bible directs that we have a pastor over us to lead us. Like a shepherd, the pastor looks over his flock and cares for them. Greater Life church has been blessed for 20 years with a loving, compassionate and caring pastor and pastor’s wife. Bro. and Sis. Hughes have labored, prayed, sacrificed and followed God’s vision for our church. They, and we have been blessed for 20 years. Bro. Clark shares his heart today about the need for a pastor in our life and brings an anointed word of God to GLC today on the celebration of the Hughes 20th pastoral anniversary.

There are some things about life that when we get them right, everything else works like it is supposed to. Conversely, if we get them wrong, nothing falls into place. Bro. Hughes shares a story about how he assembled something. He had in his mind how is should work, but he decided to follow the instructions provided. While doing this, he discovered that there was a process that the manufacturer had laid out. Had he followed his intuition, he may have gotten the piece assembled, but by following the instructions the assembly was easier and worked better than if he had done it without following the directions. Our scripture text is one of the keys to life. There is a principle here that if we get it right will make a lot of other things right. Salvation should be everyone’s goal. There are dangers and obstacles along this earthly journey that can cause us to get off track and to miss out on that salvation. Paul outlines three things that we must do to avoid falling short and not see the Lord. Our text begins with following peace. In the Greek, the word peace means to pursue; to diligently strive after peace with all men. This means that we must work at getting along with people. The second part of verse 14 involves holiness. Holiness describes a relationship with God. It will affect every part of life. It is not an outdated way of living. It is a relationship between God and us. God is clean and pure, and that if we are going to have a relationship with Him, we must also be clean and pure in everything we do. Holiness is a spirit. For far too many, holiness is something that they wear, not something that they are. In verses 15-16, Paul talks about missing grace’s work. The only way for this to happen is for a person to become disconnected or distracted. If we do not get the holiness and peace part right, we may become distracted or disconnected and risk missing out on the grace that God offers. Paul mentions bitterness. If we don’t get the holiness and peace part, it is easy to become bitter. There are a lot of broken relationships due to bitterness. Finally Paul says we must be aware of the possibility of falling into an immoral or un-holy life. Most of us hear that and say no way. Bro. Hughes offers the example of Abraham. Abraham was called a friend of God, but even this great man of faith struggled with an unconsecrated life.

There are some things about life that when we get them right, everything else works like it is supposed to. Conversely, if we get them wrong, nothing falls into place. Bro. Hughes shares a story about how he assembled something. He had in his mind how is should work, but he decided to follow the instructions provided. While doing this, he discovered that there was a process that the manufacturer had laid out. Had he followed his intuition, he may have gotten the piece assembled, but by following the instructions the assembly was easier and worked better than if he had done it without following the directions. Our scripture text is one of the keys to life. There is a principle here that if we get it right will make a lot of other things right. Salvation should be everyone’s goal. There are dangers and obstacles along this earthly journey that can cause us to get off track and to miss out on that salvation. Paul outlines three things that we must do to avoid falling short and not see the Lord. Our text begins with following peace. In the Greek, the word peace means to pursue; to diligently strive after peace with all men. This means that we must work at getting along with people. The second part of verse 14 involves holiness. Holiness describes a relationship with God. It will affect every part of life. It is not an outdated way of living. It is a relationship between God and us. God is clean and pure, and that if we are going to have a relationship with Him, we must also be clean and pure in everything we do. Holiness is a spirit. For far too many, holiness is something that they wear, not something that they are. In verses 15-16, Paul talks about missing grace’s work. The only way for this to happen is for a person to become disconnected or distracted. If we do not get the holiness and peace part right, we may become distracted or disconnected and risk missing out on the grace that God offers. Paul mentions bitterness. If we don’t get the holiness and peace part, it is easy to become bitter. There are a lot of broken relationships due to bitterness. Finally Paul says we must be aware of the possibility of falling into an immoral or un-holy life. Most of us hear that and say no way. Bro. Hughes offers the example of Abraham. Abraham was called a friend of God, but even this great man of faith struggled with an unconsecrated life.

We are creatures of habit. We easily fall into a routine of doing things. It is more difficult to get out of a routine than it is to get into one. We have gotten into the routine of singing and expecting good preaching. Good preaching and wonderful singing do not save people. It doesn’t matter if the music is just right or if the preacher says the right thing, we have to communicate the glory and goodness of God to a lost world.

There is no limit to what God can do. He cannot fail. He can do exceeding and abundantly above all we can do or think. He can do all this, and He deserves all the glory. Faith is contagious especially to those that are faithful. Bro. Custer observes that usually the manifestation of God’s power happens outside of the house of God. The prayer or the promise may happen in the house of God, but the result of that usually happens elsewhere. In the bible, healings didn’t happen in the temple or the tabernacle. This gives us an opportunity to praise God to those who are outside our four walls. The people that we want to reach don’t believe what we believe. The world needs to hear of the goodness of God and the story of salvation.