Listen with us as we receive a special message from General Superintendent Dr. David Busic.

Pastor David Morrison

John 17

Jesus concludes these topics (betrayal, eternity, God as our source and how to have true joy) with a powerful prayer, one that has implications for our faith and also models how to pray.

These are red letter words:

John 17:11-26

There are five things I noticed that Jesus prays for his followers:

(1)   Protection (17:11,15)

(2)   Joy (17:13)

(3)   Holiness (17: 17-19)

(4)   Future Generations (17:20)

(5)   Oneness With Him and each other (17:23,26)

Our Prayer of Protection: Father, give us strong faith to stand against the attacks of the evil one.

Our Prayer for Joy: Father, fill us with your joy and help us live in such a way that others experience your joy.

Our Prayer for Holiness: Father, set us apart by your truth and transform us according to your purpose.

Our Prayer for the Future: Father, may my future family believe in you.

Our Prayer for Oneness: Father, as You are in Jesus, and Jesus as You are in the Father, may we abide in You, completely one.

Pastor Dale Benson

John 16

Sadness to joy, or exposed - in a good way!

convict = elegxai =expose

Quite often when we hear this word “conviction,” we hear condemnation.

That is not at all what the word means.

The Holy Spirit will shine light on Righteousness (Justice)

Righteousness

Judgement

To be in Christ is to be found in his love and light. . . abiding in him.

Pastor John Keating

John 15

Everything in life has an option for an even greater opportunity. Even more of what he offers.

John 15:1-2 (NLT)

Church plant: Jesus compares our life with him and relationship to God, to that of a plant.

Leaves at the end of every branch – Jesus is the vine. Every branch then produces fruit (or leaves).

When God is glorified, the devil will be horrified.

Pastor Dale Benson

John 14

“There have been men before who got so interested in proving the existence of God that they came to care nothing for God himself… as if the good Lord had nothing to do but to exist.” -C.S. Lewis – The Great Divorce

When we ponder heaven as an extra-terrestrial adult Disney World where all of our dreams can come true, to this extent, we have missed the very point of heaven, which is the place where our hearts can return their true home in God.  Imagine the moments in life where you experienced the deepest joy, and the deepest peace.  To know and be fully known.  Imagine living in that place for eternity. . . that place is in the very heart of God.  The word Jesus uses is monai = abode or dwelling place.

It means, abode, or dwelling place.  In verb from it means to live somewhere- to make your home there.

How do we get there? Jesus said, “and you know the way to where I am going.”

Menei = Lives, abides, dwells à He is with you where you are.

Monen = The place where someone lives, abides, dwells à Home. 

You can live in eternity and eternity can touch your life right now, right where you are. God wants us to live in His peace right now.

Pastor David Morrison

John 13

The Word has power to transform your life.

We are going to be speaking about some very special words in Scripture, words straight from Jesus.

We call them red letter words – moments in the bible where Jesus is quoted in many translations are written red.

A few key principles that are central to being a follower of Jesus:

(1) MY LIFE IS A MESS, JESUS IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN CLEAN IT UP.

(2) AS JESUS HAS SERVED, SO I THEN MUST SERVE OTHERS.

- YOU AND I WILL ALL BETRAY JESUS. HE FORGIVES YOU ANYWAYS.

- YOU AND I WILL BE HURT BY PEOPLE WHO CLAIM TO FOLLOW JESUS. FORGIVE THEM ANYWAYS.

How will you respond to them? That’s it…True love receives and requires forgiveness.

Our ability to Love (as shown through our ability to ask for, accept, or give forgiveness) is what shows the world who we follow.

So what makes a Christian different – it’s our ability to love and to forgive.

Pastor Dale Benson

Ezra 3/Nehemiah 8

Restoration is a process that contains both mourning and celebration – often at the same time. Things that can cause CELEBRATION and MOURNING at the same time: our Past, our Present, our Future.

OUR PAST

Ezra 3:10-13 (NLT)

OUR PRESENT

Nehemiah 7:73-8:10 (NLT) (Edited)

Our lives are defined by God and the plan He has for our lives.

Pastor John Keating

Nehemiah 6:1-16

We face obstacles throughout our entire life.

In those times, we must be reminded of our purpose.

Nehemiah 6:8-9 (NLT)

No matter what you’re facing, be reminded that you can’t do it alone.

You are not called to do life alone.

Opposition we face is an opportunity for you to grow your faith.

When you face opposition, it’s an opportunity to praise.

Pastor Dale Benson

“To be grateful is to recognize the love of God in everything he has given us – and he has given us everything.” -Thomas Merton

God can move on our behalf.

Through the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, we find three leaders with very specific needs for very specific tasks God has for them.

Zerubbabel– Rebuilding the Temple

Ezra– Rebuilding the Community

Nehemiah– Rebuilding the Well

God can provide the resources you need.

Is there a resource God needs, wants or desires?

God doesn’t need or want your wallet or your talents.

God doesn’t need or want your Sundays plus additional time during the week.

God desires the obedience of our hearts.

Pastor David Morrison

How many of us know that when you are trying to build something, you can expect to face opposition? Expect it - it’s pretty much guaranteed! What you see isn’t always the only thing happening.

I’m talking about the collision of the physical and spiritual world.

The Bible says that “…we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” – Ephesians 6:12 NLT

The mission of God always prevails, but it doesn’t happen without major prayer support. There is a spiritual battle happening that we have to open our eyes to see – or at very least not hide from its existence.

We must Pray and Watch