Wonderfully Made, Psalm 139 | Home Album Series | August 11, 2019

Psalm 139:1 - 6
1You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. 2You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. 5You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. 6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

GOD MADE MY HIGH PLACES vs. 8 
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: 

GOD MADE MY HELLISH PLACES vs. 8
if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

“Make My Bed” – (Hebrew: yatsa'; to strew as a surface, to spread it out.)
“Hell” – (Hebrew: she'owl; hades or the world of the dead - grave, pit.)
 
Sin Always Causes Pain.    
Pain Always Seeks Pleasure.
Pain Makes Truth Seem Irrelevant. 

GOD MADE MY HIDDEN PLACES vss. 9-10   [Hidden Brick Story]
9If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 
10Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. 

You’re Only As Sick As Your Secrets. [Learned To Hide Things, Jen Testimony]

“Wings” - means the edge or the extremity. “Uttermost” means the last or the end.
“Lead”  – Hebrew: nachah; to guide; by implication it means to transport (into exile, or as colonists).
“Right Hand” – Speaks of the place of favor.
“Hold” – Hebrew: achaz; to seize or hold in possession.

Psalm 139: 13-16 
13For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. 14I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.a
Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15Nothing about me is hidden from you! I was secretly woven together
out of human sight, 16but with your own eyes you saw my body being formed. Even before I was born, you had written in your book
everything about me.

HOME | Home Album Series | August 4, 2019
Jerry Mercer - The Homeless Mayor Of Columbus. 

My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest. Isaiah 32:18 

I Can Know A Lot About Someone And Even Know Them Extremely Well; 
But, I Don’t Really Know Them Until I Know What They Call Home. 

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, 
and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 

The Lens Through Which We View Home:
The Performance-Oriented Home
The Passive (Distant) Home
The Absentee Home
The Authoritarian Home
The Abusive Home
The Good Home

(Illus. Orphan 
Adoption 
Story.)
What Is A Good Home?
Receiving Unconditional Expressed Love.
Feeling Secure And Comforted.
Being Praised and Affirmed.
The need for purpose, a sense of value.




The Home Doesn’t Make The People, The People Make The Home.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 
1 Corinthians 6:19
Psalm 23                     (Uncle Story After Aunt Died)
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

(Illus. Farm Boy In Iowa.) (Illus. Dog Re-Homed) (Broke Down RiverStory) (Girl left home - Dad No Work With)

Heaven Is My “Real” Home   
John 14:1-3 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 
3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

John 14:18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”     
(Illus. Train Station)

COME | Home Album Series | July 26, 2019

Matthew 6:6 Message Translation
“Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.

Psalm 73:28 “But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works.”
Psalm 16:8 “I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”
Psalm 119:151 “You are near, O LORD, And all Your commandments are truth.”
Jeremiah 23:23 “‘Am I a God who is near,’ declares the LORD, ‘And not a God far off?’”
Acts 17:27 “...that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;”
Hebrews 10:22 “let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
James 4:8 “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
John 1:14 "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."

WHEN JESUS COMES HOME WITH YOU:  Jesus And Zacchaeus - Luke 19:1-10 NLT
1Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 2There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. 3He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. 5When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” 6Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. 
8Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” 9Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

1. Nothing Matters Except Jesus's Opinion Of You. 
You Stop Caring What Other People Think. You're Free!
2. You Can Invite A Sinner To Dinner.
If Jesus Wants To Come Home With ME... Then He'll Go Home With Anybody.
Every Sinner is Welcome In My Home And At My Table.
3. You're No Longer Satisfied With What You Can Get From People.  
You Want To Give More Than You Get... And You Don't Keep Score.
4. You Admit That You Really Do Need To Be In God's Family.
5. Coming Down From Your Tree, Lifts You To Up Where You Want To Be.

John 11: 17-26
17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. 21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Psalm 37
1 Do not fret because of those who are evil
    or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
    like green plants they will soon die away.

3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
    dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
    your vindication like the noonday sun.

The Graves Are Opening - Ezekiel 37:1-13 NIV

1The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Sovereign Lord, y  ou alone know.”

4Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. 6I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’ ”

7So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.

9Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lordsays: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’ ” 10So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.

11Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ 12Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’ ”

Matthew 27:51-54 
51Then the curtain hanging in the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split apart, 52the graves broke open, and many of God's people who had died were raised to life. 53They left the graves, and after Jesus rose from death, they went into the Holy City, where many people saw them. 54When the army officer and the soldiers with him who were watching Jesus saw the earthquake and everything else that happened, they were terrified and said, “He really was the Son of God!”

GRAVE CLOTHES & GRACE CLOTHES

Romans 6 New Life Version (NLV)
What does this mean? Are we to keep on sinning so that God will give us more of His grace? 2No, not at all! We are dead to sin. How then can we keep on living in sin? 3All of us were baptized to show we belong to Christ. We were baptized first of all to show His death. 4We were buried in baptism as Christ was buried in death. As Christ was raised from the dead by the great power of God, so we will have new life also. 5If we have become one with Christ in His death, we will be one with Him in being raised from the dead to new life.

MY LIGHT         
Romans 13:12 - “The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”

Ephesians 5:8-14
8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10and find out what pleases the Lord. 11Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Awakening Lyrics:
“As night surrenders to morning, Mercy wash over me. As I sit in the sun with the one who spoke it to be. I am waking up to His love.
I am waking up to His peace. I am waking up to His faithfulness to me”

MY SIGHT   
Psalm 119:18
“Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”
Ephesians. 1:18
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you.”
Acts 26:18 
“to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God.” 
Revelation 3:18
”I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich, and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see.”
(Understand Shame? Naked Dream Wake Up.King no Clothes)
MY MOVE
The Great Awakening, 1734-43.
Jonathan Edwards & George Whitfield
The Revivals of 1905-1906. 
Welsh Revivals Spread,  Billy Sunday
The Second Great Awakening, 1800-1840.
James McGready & Charles Finney
The Azusa Street Revival, 1906. 
William J. Seymour, Started Pentecostal Movement & later Charismatic Movement.
The Businessmen’s Prayer Revival of 1857-1858.
Jeremiah Lanphier
The Post-World War II Awakening.
Billy Graham, Bill Bright, The Christian Businessmen’s Committee, College Revivals
The Civil War Revival, 1861-1865. 
Estimated 300,000 soldiers converted North & South
The Charismatic Renewal, 1960s & 70s 
Jesus Movement. Charismatic Renewal, college campuses, Catholics, Main Denoms.
The Urban Revivals, 1875-1885. 
Dwight L. Moody
The Mid-1990s Revivals. 
The Toronto Blessing, Modesto Revival, Brownsville Revival, The Promise Keepers Revival, Henry Blackaby Experiencing God Howard Payne University 

Acts 3:19-21“Repent therefore… that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”

Revelation 3:15-16 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. 
Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

This is War!!
What Are You Made Of?
Mathew Cotner
06.30.2019

Your Identity and Integrity is in Christ Jesus

Acts 9:1-2
“But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.â€

Acts 9:3-4
Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?â€

Acts 9:5
And he said, “Who are you, Lord?†And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.â€

Philippians 3:4-5
Though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;

Philippians 3:6-8a
As to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

Philippians 3:8b-9
For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith

Philippians 3:10-11
that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Romans 12:1-2
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.


1 Peter 5:8
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.


Ephesians 6:12
For we do not fight against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:13
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Ephesians 6:14-17
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6:18
praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,



Your Identity and Integrity is in Christ Jesus

Ephesians 6:14-17
...the belt of truth,
...the breastplate of rig

This is War!!
Who's in Charge Here?
Mathew Cotner
06.23.2019

Christians referred to as soldiers (Phil. 2:25; Philemon 1:2; 2 Tim. 2:3-4).
Christians engage in warfare (1 Tim. 1:18; 6:12; 2 Cor. 10:3-5).
Christians are told to wear spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:10, 11, 13-17; Romans 13:12).
Weapons welded:  (2 Cor. 10:3-5, see also Rom. 6:13; 13:12; 2 Cor.6:7; 1 Tim. 1:18).
Paul referred to his own ministry in military terms: (2 Tim. 4:7).
The Christian life is a military conflict or struggle: (Eph. 6:12; Col. 1:29; 2:1; Heb 12:4; Jude 1:3). 


Military references for Christianity in the New Testament

Luke 4:18
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

If You Don't Place God in Charge of Your Life, then You are Fighting Against Him
If You are Not for God, You are Against Him

Ephesians 6:12
For we do not fight against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Mother Teresa Patron Saint of the Gutters
"Jesus has a very special love for you, as for me, the silence and the emptiness is so great, that I look and do not see,--Listen and do not hear--the tongue moves but does not speak.

Who is in Charge Here?

Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me.

Matthew 28:19a
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..

Matthew 28:20
Behold I am with you always, to the end of the age.

John 16:33
I have told you these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart I have overcome the world.

If You Don't Place God in Charge of Your Life, then You are Fighting Against Him

Fatherhood:The Gift of God 
Pastor Cantrell Holt Sr
6-16-19
Two types of Fatherhood 

1. Fatherhood on the fly

Genesis 13:10-13
10 And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, and that it was watered everywhere before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other. 12 Abram dwelt in the land Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plainamd pitched his tent even as far as Sodom. 13 but the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord. 

2 Peter 2:8-9
8 For that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds. 9 Then the Lord knows how to deliver the Godly outer temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgement. 

Immature decisions lead to destruction.

Always “YES” = Chaos.


Genesis 19:29
29 And it came to past, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the mist of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt. 

Second Type of Fatherhood 
2. Upgraded Fatherhood 


Genesis 5:21-24
21 Enoch lived 65 years, and had Methuselah. 22 After he begot Methuselah, Wnoch walked with God 300 years and had sons and daughters. 23 So all the days of Enoch were 365 years. 24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

Hebrew 11:5
5 By faith Enoch was taken away so he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”, for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he please God.

Enoch
The best way to love your family is to lead by actions.

Hebrews 11:7
7 By faith Noah, being devinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with Godly fear, prepares a ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of righteousness which is according to faith. 

Noah
The best way to protect your family is to lead by obedience.

Hebrews 11:8
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance and he went out not knowing where he was going. 
Genesis 18:19
19 For I have not known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, thy the Lord may bring to Abraham what he had spoken to him. 

Abraham 
The best way to lead your family in salvation is to train them in faith. 

Your fatherhood will never rise higher than your personal relationship with Father God.

Upgrades in your relationship with God will create upgrades in your Fatherhood.

Sermon series and outline courtesy of open.church, Life Church TV, Pastor Craig Groschel

The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.” 2 Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.” 2 Kings 4:1-2
WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE WHAT YOU REALLY WANT, GOD IS WHAT YOU REALLY NEED. 
2 Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Your servant has nothing there at all…” 
All she can think about is what she doesn’t have.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE MUCH?
STOP WAITING FOR WHAT YOU WANT AND START WORKING WITH WHAT YOU HAVE.
“Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.” 2 Kings 4:2

INSTEAD OF SAYING, “ONCE I HAVE IT, I WILL WORK IT.” YOU GOTTA WORK IT BEFORE YOU HAVE IT!
OFFER GOD WHAT YOU HAVE AND TRUST HIM TO GIVE YOU WHAT YOU NEED.
3 Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. 4 Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.” 5 She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.” But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing. 7 She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.” 2 Kings 4:3-7

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 2 Corinthians 4:7 NKJV
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
STOP GRIEVING WHAT YOU DON’T HAVE AND BE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT YOU DO HAVE. 
So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15 NLT