Messages at CalvaryOKC

Today's message starts with Pastor Jason Sharp relaying humorous story about his intense hunger, leading to a comical food adventure with his kids. This segues into a discussion on spiritual hunger and its importance.

Pastor Sharp emphasizes the value of community and collective worship, reflecting on a biblical story from John chapter 4 where Jesus reveals himself as the Messiah to a Samaritan woman at a well. This story illustrates the significance of fulfilling spiritual needs over physical ones.

The central theme is doing God's will, with Pastor Sharp stressing that true joy comes from following God's instructions rather than the results of our actions. He encourages finding fulfillment in the effort and obedience to God's will, despite potential rejection from others.

In this message, Pastor Jason Sharp explores the significance of church growth and its impact on individual lives and communities. Drawing inspiration from Matthew 16:18, where Jesus declares to Peter, "Upon this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it," Pastor Sharp emphasizes that a thriving church can solve personal and communal problems. He shares illustrations on how the growth of a church leads to blessings and victories. Pastor Sharp challenges listeners to recognize their crucial role in the church's growth, stressing that spiritual vitality and unity are essential for overcoming adversities and advancing God's kingdom.

Today's message from Pastor Jason Sharp focused on the parable of the prodigal son from Luke 15:11-32, emphasizing the heart of a father and the nature of our Heavenly Father. The story of the prodigal son illustrates the unconditional love, forgiveness, and desire for reconciliation that a father has for his children. The younger son, who squandered his inheritance on riotous living, found himself in dire straits and decided to return to his father, not expecting to be reinstated as a son but hoping to be accepted as a servant. However, the father welcomed him back with open arms, reinstating his status as a son and celebrating his return.
This parable highlights several key aspects of a father's heart: the desire for reconciliation, the willingness to provide, and the readiness to forgive and restore. The father in the story represents God, who is always ready to forgive and restore us when we turn back to Him, no matter how far we have strayed. The message also touched on the importance of earthly fathers and their role in providing security, guidance, and love to their children. Fathers are called to reflect the heart of God by being providers, protectors, and sources of wisdom and encouragement.
The sermon also addressed the societal issue of fatherlessness and the importance of father figures. It emphasized that even if one lacks an earthly father, they have a Heavenly Father who is always present and willing to guide and support them. The message concluded with a call to recognize and appreciate the role of fathers and to seek a deeper relationship with our Heavenly Father, who desires to fix our brokenness and restore us to our rightful place as His children.

In today's message, Pastor Jason Sharp delved into the book of Ezekiel, focusing on God's profound frustration with Israel's idolatry. God used vivid imagery to describe Israel's spiritual state, likening them to an abandoned baby whom He nurtured and adorned, only for them to turn His blessings into idols. This idolatry was not just a betrayal but a perversion of God's gifts, leading to severe consequences. God showed Ezekiel visions of the elders secretly worshiping idols, thinking they could hide their actions from Him. This hidden idolatry was a stark contrast to the public worship they were supposed to offer to God.
God's anger was so intense that He was ready to wipe out Israel, sparing only those who were genuinely grieved by the abominations around them. This highlights the importance of maintaining a pure heart and being sensitive to sin. Ezekiel's own purity and separation from idolatry allowed him to remain close to God and receive His messages. The sermon also drew parallels between ancient Israel and modern society, emphasizing how exposure to sin and idolatry can desensitize us, making us less repulsed by what offends God.
We were reminded that blessings can become curses if they lead us away from God. The sermon called for a return to holiness, urging us to detox our minds from worldly influences and fill them with God's Word. It was a call to remember that everything we have is from God and should be used for His glory, not for self-promotion or idolatry. The message concluded with a challenge to purify our minds and hearts, to be like Ezekiel, undefiled and close to God, ready to be used for His purposes.

Today, Bishop Paul Sharp explored the profound theme of unbelief and its impact on our spiritual journey. First, we begin with acknowledging that God's actions are always purposeful, even when they seem confusing to us. Drawing from Hebrews 3:12, Bishop Sharp discussed the danger of an "evil heart of unbelief" and how it can lead us away from God. This isn't just about doubting; it's about a deep-seated, diabolical unbelief that can harden our hearts and make us resistant to God's ways.
Next, Bishop Sharp encourages us to reflect on our initial experiences with God, those moments of revelation that transformed our lives. It's crucial to hold on to that initial faith and confidence, remaining steadfast until the end. He also examines the subtlety of fear and how it often disguises itself as caution or wisdom. Fear, at its root, is a branch of unbelief. To overcome fear, we must address the underlying unbelief and cultivate a deep understanding of God's ways.
The sermon emphasized the importance of worship as a means to align ourselves with God's ways. Worship shifts our focus from our circumstances to God, allowing us to move from the natural to the supernatural. This alignment with God's ways is essential for experiencing His works and miracles in our lives.
Bishop Sharp also discussed the dangers of a hard heart, which is often a result of prolonged unbelief. A hard heart is resistant, callous, and not easily moved by God's Spirit. It's crucial to remain tender and sensitive to God's leading, avoiding the pitfalls of doubt and unbelief.
Finally, we were encouraged to seek alignment with God's ways rather than just His works. This involves a deep, intimate relationship with God, characterized by faith, humility, and a willingness to follow His lead, even when it doesn't make sense to us.

Pastor Jason Sharp brings to light the eternal struggle between the flesh and the spirit and the importance of nurturing a spiritual appetite and making choices that align with godly principles. From the battles of daily temptations to the broader societal influences driven by the love of money, we see how our senses and desires can lead us astray and the ways to counteract these pulls. Listen as we hear how to pursue righteousness, overcome worldly distractions, and cultivate a deeper relationship with God. Whether you're wrestling with personal struggles or seeking a stronger spiritual path, this episode offers insightful guidance and encouragement.

When we have faith and press through in spiritual warfare, our prayers can pierce through the darkness with the light of God's promise. Rev. Michael Anderson reminds us of the power God has to heal, deliver, and save.

Pastor Jason Sharp shows us in Judges 21 how we can become distracted by things we want to accomplish that we lose sight of what God wants for us. This message touches on unwavering faith, the power of prayer, and the importance of drawing close to God in all aspects of life. Push past the distractions and chase after your calling.

Rev. Kurt Green, visiting minister from Austin, Texas, teaches from the book of 1 Corinthians and reminds us that when we are weak God can do great things.

Rev. Larry Schoonover delves into how to persevere with prayer. Using various personal testimonies, Rev. Schoonover's shares the remarkable, often surprising, ways in which God can work through each of us. Join us for this inspiring episode that speaks to the transformative power of faith and prayer.