In this fourth message, we consider the critical role of attention in seeing and seizing opportunities. In consideration of Palm Sunday, we take the events of Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, as described in John 12:12-19, and pose 3 distinct challenges Jesus faced and learn from the Master how to handle them. 

While it’s easy to look at the moments leading up to and following this historic day with eyes of praise for the King and songs of joy, there is a very different and very powerful narrative underlying this time as experienced from the perspective of Christ as He started the clock 

counting down to His ultimate trial and crucifixion. We will dive into the 3 traps that could have caused Jesus to miss His own opportunity, and why that is very relevant for us today. 

In the third message of this series, we will look at the need for restoration.

All of us miss the wave from time to time. Some waves are bigger and stronger than others. Wipeouts are not only possible, but if you surf long enough, they are also probable. Some wipeouts have an easy recovery, while other wipeouts can destroy your confidence and courage.
If Peter was a surfer, he would be known for the extremes. He had some major wipeouts, but he also had some wild rides. In John 21:1-17, we’ll look at Peter’s three denials, but also his three affirmations. This passage is one of the greatest stories in the pages of scripture. It’s extremely important to tune into this message because all of us make decisions in life we regret, but not all of us recover from those decisions. This message is about one of the greatest comeback stories in history. 

In the second message of this series, we will look at the timing elements of God’s vision for the Israelites in Habakkuk 2:1-4. “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.”

Do you see the roller coaster in those verses? The visions waits, but yet the vision hastens to the end. There are times it feels slow, but it will not delay. Tune in as we aim to make sense of God’s timing.

Time is tricky. In some seasons, it moves too fast, and in other seasons, it moves too slowly. In the hard seasons, we might accidentally believe we are wasting our time. 

In week one of Timing: Don’t Miss Your Opportunity, we will examine Joshua's life and learn how to use the time God has given us and how timing is even more important than time. Get ready to learn how to catch the waves of God’s activity. His waves will take us further and faster than we could ever go in our own strength. 

In the eighth message of this series, we look at the famous passage from Ezekiel 37 about the valley of dry bones. This chapter is an amazing picture of the promised fulfilled of the restoration of God’s people to Israel.

The exiled people were dead in their idolatry. Here’s the amazing thing about the dead people; dead people can’t help dead people not be dead. They were completely helpless and hopeless apart from God’s intervention. 

Once again in this chapter we see God’s amazing commitment to restoring His holy name and holy promises. However, it is important for us to remember that we’re the recipient of His commitment. God never quits. His character won’t allow Him to quit or give up on His love because He is love. He can’t stop being who He is. 

When you listen to this message, please prioritize the following questions:

·      What do you do as you were commanded?
·      Where do you obey without compromise?
·      What is the last prompting of the Spirit you obeyed?
·      What is the last prompting of the Spirit you delayed?
·      What looks alive in your life but isn’t truly alive?
·      Where are you going through the motions?
·      What do you do with your God ideas?

God’s people have a dire history of crying out to the Lord, being rescued, lapsing into sin, and falling back into punishment. But what if God had a solution that broke the pattern? What if we didn’t have to live doomed to repeat our own history of unfaithfulness? In this message, William explores all of the promises of Ezekiel 36, and the one pivotal promise that trumps them all. This message will not only challenge your view of God’s behavior, it will call you to a higher level of living only possible through the faithfulness of our loving Father. 

In the sixth message of this series, we look at God’s extraordinary promises. Here’s the interesting thing with this chapter, it starts with great disappointment and judgment because the people were defiling God’s name. Most of the time we don’t associate disobedience to God, with extraordinary promises from God.

However, we learn in this chapter that God is committed to His holy name. In this context, God acts based upon His mercy and grace, not based upon our obedience or disobedience. There comes a point in time when God judges, but there’s also a point in time when God moves us toward repentance with His kindness. 

 Consider these questions:

·      What if God is great at restoration?

·      What if God doesn’t restrain His goodness and generosity?

·      What if God doesn’t restrain His joy?

Regardless of disobedience, God is committed to our best and still has amazing promises for us. If you need to be encouraged and believe again about God’s promises and plans, then this message is a timely message for you. 

In the fifth message of this series, we look at the issue of leadership. In many respects the job description of a Shepherd was determined by the weaknesses of sheep. Leadership is many things, but in a bottom line kind of way, leadership is problem solving. 

In Ezekiel 34, there was an abundance of problems with the Shepherds. Most of the time when you have a problem with followers; there’s a problem with leadership. God uses Ezekiel to address this problem and announce His provision of a new Shepherd who will usher in a new covenant. 

Learn what it means to receive and live into the fullness of God's promised peace. The Hebrew word for peace is Shalom and it is one of the richest and most important words throughout Scripture. Peace is much more than the absence of problems; peace begins with and is sustained by an abiding relationship with the Prince of Peace. 

In the fourth message of this series, we look at this statement, “But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned.” This statement is repeated four times in this chapter and many times throughout scripture. 

More times than not, we see history repeat itself because sin remains the same throughout history. Unfortunately, sin is accelerating and multiplying today at warp speed. Given our condition, what is your confidence in the ability of God’s people to return? 

I’ve got bad news and good news. The bad news is that my confidence in God’s people and His church is low at times; however, the good news is that my confidence level is high in God acting for the sake of His holy name. 

Our confidence is that God will secure His own honor. Jesus never quits on us nor on His purpose and plan for us. Our first response must be gratitude, but our second response should be a new commitment to live for His name. Listen and learn the secrets to living for His glory and goodness. 

Today, we look at judgment, and all the ways people misrepresent who God is, how He judges, and why He judges. Unfortunately, most people respond to God in extremes instead of understanding God’s balance of love and justice. This message is designed to help respect and honor who God is as the Judge so that we’ll heed the warnings and not experience the consequences. 

This message is especially important and unpopular today given the  culture’s emphasis on tolerance. It’s important for us to understand what tolerance is from God’s perspective and definition. He is merciful and gracious in countless ways, but He does not tolerate sin. 

Why? He hates what hurts us. He’s against sin because our sin separates us from the One who is love and gives us the ability to love. Listen and learn to walk the tightrope of elevating holiness and respecting justice, so that we will live a lifestyle of repentance.