"WHAT DO YOU WANT?" They are the very first words of Jesus recorded in the gospel of John.

And the disciples John and Andrew answered with the question - "Where are you staying?"

They knew that spending time with Jesus was the most important thing. It changed their priorities, it moved them to follow the Teacher, to share their testimony and bring people to Jesus.

EVERYTHING CHANGES WHEN WE MEET and ABIDE WITH JESUS!

HIS PRESENCE IS EVERYTHING!!!

John 1:35-42 NIV

The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).

https://theroads.church/

Pastor Matt Scott of The Gathering Place Church in Moody, AL shares his testimony of pastoring a church that was big but wasn't deep, and a two year process of getting to know God as a person.

God gave Matt a phrase - "There is more." It was an invitation to get to know and receive more of God, if Matt was interested.

It's also an invitation for you.

Matt discovered four things that allowed him to experience more of God.

1) Develop Hunger

2) Create Space

3) Remove Barriers

4) Capitalize on Opportunities.

It's not about a formula, but it is about experiencing more of God as a person, who is interested in developing a relationship with you. Will you accept the invitation?

https://theroads.church/

Has God ever told you something, and yet there were still things He didn't let you know?

Many times, our faith in God can be measured by how much detail we require BEFORE we do what He tells us.

Is what God said to you enough? Or are the details you don't know too much for you to obey? Do you require confirmation from people to validate what you've heard from the creator of the universe?

Which moves you the most?

WHAT GOD SAYS VS WHAT HE LETS US KNOW

Exodus 33:12, Deuteronomy 30:11–14, John 21:17–22, Isaiah 45:3–4, Matthew 7:21–23

SERMON NOTES: https://www.bible.com/events/49084219

Website: https://theroads.church/

WHY are we coming to the tabernacle?

Are we coming to seek the Lord, or are we coming to check a box? There is a difference.

When we are coming to church to check a box, the focus is on 3 things:

PEOPLE.

PERFORMANCE.

PREFERENCES.

When we come seeking the Lord, the focus is on 1 thing:

PRESENCE OF GOD.

EVERYONE who SOUGHT the Lord went out to the tabernacle of meeting!

SERMON NOTES: https://www.bible.com/events/49080797

Exodus 33:7-11 NKJV

7 Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting. And it came to pass that everyone who sought the Lord went out to the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp. 8 So it was, whenever Moses went out to the tabernacle, that all the people rose, and each man stood at his tent door and watched Moses until he had gone into the tabernacle. 9 And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses. 10 All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshiped, each man in his tent door. 11 So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle.

https://theroads.church/

The enemy is getting in the gate, and we need to take him out at the gate.

God is training mothers & fathers to train sons & daughters to fight . . .

. . . THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH.

Women - you play a major role in the earth, a mighty weapon in God's hands.

We are created "Ezer Kenegdo."

We are just like our Dad. A Warrior. A Helper Suitable.

Standing side-by-side, shoulder-to-shoulder, face-to-face with those we are in relationship with to check them.

Genesis 2 : 18

Deuteronomy 33 : 29

Psalm 115 : 9

Judges 5 : 6 - 8

Ps 68 : 11

https://theroads.church/

We are ordained to bear much fruit worthy of the Kingdom. We must not stop abiding. Jesus was passionate about being connected to His Father, and we must be passionate about being connected with Jesus, who is the true vine, and as the branches, allow the Father to be the vinedresser - pruning and perfecting in us what He desires to perfect. God is preparing and perfecting His Holy Vineyard.

“ I am the true Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that continues to bear fruit, He [repeatedly] prunes, so that it will bear more fruit [even richer and finer fruit]. You are already clean because of the word which I have given you [the teachings which I have discussed with you]. Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken off] branch, and withers and dies; and they gather such branches and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified and honored by this, when you bear much fruit, and prove yourselves to be My [true] disciples." John 15 : 1 - 8

God determines the purpose of our gathering. What if He asks us to . . . shout and dance and sound the trumpets? What if God shows up and it's unfamiliar - but is still God? Will we choose the unfamiliar, even if it costs us some familiar? Or will we reject the unfamiliar and go back to the familiar?

Exodus 33:7-11

2 Corinthians 5:1

Matthew 14 : 23

I Corinthians 6 : 19 - 20

Ephesians 2:19-22

YouVersion Notes: https://www.bible.com/events/49071930

Website: https://theroads.church/

We've created tabernacles of meetings called churches - the original purpose of the Tabernacle of Meeting was to be a dwelling place, a habitation at a particular time for a purpose designated by an authority. A place for people to encounter God, but became a place for people to meet people and merely talk about God.

Who's the authority that designates the purpose for why we gather? NOT US!

We gather to meet with God, and HE designates the purpose of why we gather.

SERMON NOTES: https://www.bible.com/events/49067280

Hopelessness is a result of discouragement unchecked that develops into depression. Depression has moved in and settled into people in record numbers. According to the World Health Organization an estimated 3.8% of the entire population experience depression. Approximately 280,000,000 people in the world have some form of depression.

We need HOPE in our lives! The world needs HOPE! There is no long-term hope without God!

3 Essential Keys to establishing and maintaining a life filled with HOPE:

1) Peace with God

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," Romans 5 : 1

2) Access into Grace

"through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Romans 5 : 2

3) Glory in Tribulations

"And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;" Romans 5 : 3

SERMON NOTES: https://www.bible.com/events/49063462

Website: https://theroads.church

JESUS did everything for us that He can do! And now, the question is - What will we do for Him?

Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. It's uncontestable. BUT knowing that will not get me to Heaven. I must BELIEVE that He is the Resurrection and the Life. That's what gets me into His presence.

Is what Jesus did enough to give your life to Jesus?

5 "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2 : 5 - 11

SERMON NOTES: https://www.bible.com/events/49061302

https://theroads.church