Port Orchard Church of the Nazarene

Guest speaker Eric Fisk, graduate of Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry and Assistant Children’s Pastor at Bethel Church in Redding, California, shared stories of working with the kids and in the mission field. He spoke about how Heaven is not only a location, but also the Person of Jesus Christ, and that eternal life is not only the length, but the quality of time. Eric also shared out of John Chapters 15 through 17 the idea that the best two words to describe God are ‘Love’ and ‘Light.’

Jesus knew He’d become a man, even before time began. We exist because God determined to be our Savior to unite us with Himself. Jesus expresses God’s desire to unite with Man. The good news is what happened to us in Jesus. Jesus encompasses and summarizes all that was, is, and will be in time. His story is ours!

Do we interpret Jesus’ life in light of His death, or do we interpret His death through His life? Ever since the days of the Pharisees, Man has misunderstood God. Jesus was “The Way, the Truth, and the Life,” and He came to put the Scriptures into proper context and to correct our misunderstandings about God. Jesus is God’s message regarding Himself, and He reveals God’s opinion about You!

What comes to mind when you hear the phrase, “Eternal Life?” Living forever, right? Then why do we have to physically die first? When Jesus died, He died for ALL. Pastor Jerry speaks about how maybe there is a different way to look at the idea of eternal life.

Our friend Michal Perkins brought us the word this week with an exploration of our past that equips us to explore our present and our future, discussing the Law of the Old Testament. Michael believes that maybe the law isn’t all it’s cracked up to be- if it were, why would it state in multiple places that the law brings death? The good news is that the law, which was originally part of the old covenant made with the sons of Israel, is no longer an issue now that Jesus has died to break it! Time to live in freedom!

The Bible talks about Joy more often than you’d realize- 214 times, to be exact! Why, then, do we have a hard time picturing Jesus with a smile? If the Bible talks so much about being filled with the fullness of Joy, wouldn’t it only make sense that Jesus would lead by example? And if Jesus is full of Joy, perhaps we should give it a shot ourselves!

Mankind’s association in Christ is God’s doing. In God’s mind, Christ represents to us what man could never achieve through personal discipline and will power as taught in every religion- God’s faith accomplished in Christ. We are in Christ, associated and one with Him, by God’s desire, design, and determination. Our righteousness and holiness originates in Him. Our holiness equals wholeness and harmony of our spirit, soul, and body redeemed and sanctified in Him. He redeemed our identity, our sanity, our health, our joy, our peace, our innocence and our complete well-being!

Many have asked, “What must I do to earn God’s favor,“ or, “What must I do to draw closer to God?” “What must I do…” It may be possible, however, that we’re asking the wrong question. After all, David himself said that “The Earth is filled with His Glory.”

Jonah’s story is Judah’s story, which may be our story. It’s also a story about our lives. God turns when people turn- God wants the whole creation, after all! Jesus Himself said, “Don’t just love your neighbor, but love your enemy too.” What unites us most is more important than what divides us. As the saying goes, “In essentials unity, in nonessentials liberty, but in all things charity.”

Some argue that through scripture is how we know God. Others, however, claim that it’s the experience of God- drunkenness in the Spirit, healings, and the likes- that lead us to the knowledge of the fullness of God. In this week’s message, Pastor Jerry explains that both the head-knowledge and the experience are equally important in truly knowing our Infinite God.