Victory Life KY

By Pastor Gary ToneyReligion & Spirituality Christianity

Victory Life KY episodes

March 15, 2021Commissioned IV
Commissioned- Committing or entrusting someone with supervisory authority for a specific action.
Matthew 28:16-20,NKJV- Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.
When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

This assignment isn’t just about telling people that Jesus offers humanity eternal life, but extending His Lordship through us, His Spirit empowered church.

It’s creating disciples that openly acknowledge our allegiance to Christ.
Embracing the fact that all the commands Jesus gave His first disciples are just as much a reality for us today.

Remember, Jesus said, anyone who believes in Me and the works I do, they will do also.

Then Paul adds to that by making this statement in Corinthians, “imitate me as I imitate Christ.”

It’s important that we understand we’ve been commissioned by the Lord to carry on His mission, to do the things He did, to follow His example, to imitate Him.

Now, as with everything pertaining to God, Heaven, eternity, etc... the principle that governs this new world of Christianity, is faith.

And the foundation it all has to be established on is God’s word.

In Acts 17, there’s a group of believers that received the word of God with all readiness, and search the scriptures daily to make sure what Paul was teaching was truth.

2 Peter 1, God has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them we may participate in the divine nature...

One of the most foundational truths about the Bible is that it is a living, continual unfolding of the revelation of Christ to His redeemed.

God knew that without inspired revelation directly from Him to His people, we would be left with just human intelligence.

But if we'll allow it, His word will transform our soul. How we think.

Change the way a person thinks, change the way they believe, change the way a person believes, changes their life. That’s what repentance really is. We have to yielding to His Divine guidance.

And one of the most amazing things about God's plan is that He chose from the beginning to use everyday people like you and me to advance His Kingdom. He commissioned us, supervisory authority.

When we're open to His guidance, never underestimate what He'll do through someone who will dare to believe Him. So don't underestimate yourself.

God knew that because of free will, humanity would have to have a point of reference that truth stems from. Living Word, written word.

And because we've been created to live by faith, faith is the only way the bible, a spiritual book can ever be comprehended by a human.

Hebrews makes an interesting statement, the word they heard didn’t profit them, not being mixed with faith.

Remember when Jesus appeared to His first disciples giving them final instructions, commissioning them? Some worshiped, but some doubted.
I believe this is God’s point in Hebrews, we’ve got to add our God given faith to the things Jesus tells us.

Let’s go back to His instructions in Matthew, teach them to observe all things that I have commanded you. It’s very important that we approach our discipleship with this kind of faith filled attitude, “all things are possible to him that believes.”

So as we go back to the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, one of the first things we see is Him getting baptized, showing every follower the way. Remember, He’s the first born.
Luke tells us that Jesus grew in wisdom, stature, and favor with God. He’s the first born.

Matthew 3:16,NKJV- When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.

Here’s the thing, why would Jesus have to have the Spirit come upon Him? Think about it, He’s the first human born of the Spirit. And just like He had to have the Spirit on Him to do the things of the Kingdom, so does everyone else born of the Spirit.

And in chapter 4, right away the enemy comes to tempt Jesus. Hey, if satan tempted Jesus, don’t think for a second you’ll be exempt.

Matthew 4:4,NLT- But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

A key point here is to understand Jesus didn’t start His ministry until after the Holy Spirit came on Him. And the first thing he says is, “repent because the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Change what you’re doing.

Then He starts His recruiting plan for His first disciples at the same time that He’s establishing Kingdom realities.

Matthew 4:23-25,NLKV- And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.
Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.
Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

Chapters 5-7 is what’s called the sermon on the mount. He covers beatitudes, that we’re salt and light, that He’s the fulfillment of the OT law, deals with issues of the heart, love your enemies, don’t worry, don’t judge, put the Kingdom first, and lastly, build your life on everything He says.

And the first thing He does when He finishes preaching is start healing people.

Matthew 8:1-3,NKJV- When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I AM WILLING; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Here’s something I want all of us to take a closer look at as part of His body here and now; we’re good at teaching and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, but what’s up with the healing part?
Teaching, preaching, and healing is one of the first thing He shows His disciples. Wonder what they’re suppose to do with that example?

Matthew 8:7,NKJV- And Jesus said to him, “I WILL come and heal him.”

We’ve got to understand that repeatedly God reminds us that He shows favoritism or partiality to no one. The scripture also makes it clear that Jesus and His word doesn’t change.

Matthew 8:14-17,NKJV- Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever.
So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them.
When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick,
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.

Remember, we’ve been commissioned, entrusted with supervisory authority for a specific action.

And that action is to go and make disciples, teaching them to observe all things Jesus commanded.

So why would He train His first disciples to live and minister a certain way,
Then command them to train everyone they discipled to live the same way,
Then He move back to Heaven and expect us to live a different way and not even say anything about it to His closest followers, not to mention something in His Word?

When we follow the life of Jesus, why do you think He healed everywhere He went?

John 6:38,NKJV- For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

He even said, "if you've seen Me, you've seen the Father."

This assignment isn’t just about telling people that Jesus offers humanity eternal life, but extending His Lordship to all of humanity through the Spirit empowered church.

Creating disciples that openly acknowledges our allegiance to Christ.

I think it’s important we have talks like this because there are so many different views on the life and ministry of Jesus, especially healing. And unfortunately to the degree that we leave it out of the gospel message.

Matthew 4:23,NLKV- And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.

Matthew 8:7, Jesus responding to the centurion said, “I WILL come and heal him.”

v.13, Jesus tells the centurion, “As you have believed, so let it be down for you.”

Heres a very important point, God repeatedly reminds us that He shows favoritism or partiality to no one. The scripture also makes it clear that neither Jesus or His word change.

Remember, Jesus told us, "if you've seen Me, you've seen the Father." So the whole if it be God’s will thing is out.

I believe that everything Jesus did with His life here was not only pointing to what He was about to accomplish for all on the cross, but showing what humanity, anointed by the Holy Spirit is supposed to look like.

Remember Matthew, You go and teach them to observe all things I’ve commanded you.”

Matthew 8:23-26,NKJV- Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.
And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep.
Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

Then they land in the region of the Gadarenes and some demon possessed men met Jesus and said, “have you come to torture us before our time?”

In Matthew 9, Jesus goes back to His home town and right away, guess what’s the first thing He does? I like Marks version of this passage.

Mark 2:1-12,NKJV- And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them.
Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.
When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘ Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’?
But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” —He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

Then He calls Matthew to be a disciple and immediately goes to hang out with Matthew’s sinner friends, where He makes this radical statement from the prophet Hosea in v.13, “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

In v. 17 Jairus comes to Jesus about his daughter and is interrupted by the women with the issue of blood.

Once again Mark gives us much more detail. Jesus tells Jairus, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.”
Then he tells two blind men, “According to your faith, let it be done to you.”

Matthew 9:35-38,NLT- Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness.
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few.
So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

Matthew 10:1,NKJV- And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.
44 min
March 11, 2021What's My Prayer Life Look Like II
Luke 6:47-48,NKJV- “Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.”

Everything pertaining to the Kingdom of God has to be established and supported by God’s word. It is the believers source of truth. And when it comes to an effective prayer life, it is our play book.

And the longer I walk with the Lord, I am convinced that the most important reality of prayer is how we experience a divine relationship with our Father. It’s an avenue of fellowship with our King, it’s also a direct line of communication with the Holy Spirit living in each born-again believer.

In its simplest form, prayer is fellowship with the Almighty, our Father. At the end of the day, it’s how a human, born of His world navigates that world.

And by design, faith has to be a central part of the born again life. Hebrews actually tells us its how we’re to come to God.

Until we get the faith part of our new life settled, when it comes to the things of the Spirit, which prayer is, we will constantly question it’s realities.

A clearer understanding of a healthy prayer life is embracing that reality that it’s simply how a born again human navigates the Spirit world.

Remember last week, we talked about Adam, what did he need as far as provision? So what do you think his prayer life was about? What if God’s main thing He’s looking for is exactly what He lost with Adam, and that is simply a relationship with His creation.

The Apostle Paul takes us a little further by giving us some excellent insight into a better perspective on prayer. Think about it, he’s actually praying that we’ll be able to recognize things God has already ready done for us in the spirit.

Ephesians 1, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who HAS BLESSEDus with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ...

2 Peter 1, His divine power HAS GIVEN to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which HAVE BEENgiven to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature.

This is where faith plays it’s most significant role in the life of a believer. Bottom line, we have to believe the things God tells us in His word, before we see anything happen.

I cannot over emphasis maintaining a confident faith attitude in our prayer life.

And make no mistake, our enemy knows this, and will be relentless at distracting us. This is why is is absolutely vital we have a clear understanding of the Love our Father has for us.

Seriously, His love for each of us is so incredible, think about it, He took ALL SIN!!!

God only sees us in our spirit, not in our sin, not even in our humanity.

We need to become more Son conscious than sin conscious.

We are the righteousness of God in Christ. The righteous are as bold as a lion, and we are to come boldly into His throne of grace. And sometimes for nothing more than to just fellowship.

What if we put fellowship with our Father right in the middle of our daily routine?

I can promise you this, the more we practice fellowship, the more His nature, His personality, His attitude becomes ours.

But if we’re always looking to our intellectual, human nature, not to mention, this fallen world to confirm something that makes no sense to our humanity,
then faith and prayer will always be that mysterious, if it be God’s will kind of thing we’re always a little unsure of.

Remember, Jesus told us that as we practice putting the things of the Kingdom first, many of these worldly things we want will simply come our way.

Here’s another key Kingdom principle concerning prayer:
1 Thessalonians 5:16,NKJV- REJOICE always, PRAY without ceasing, in everything GIVE THANKS, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Rejoice, Pray, Be Thankful— This is the will of God.

Even though all three of these are all very significant qualities of the Christian life, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the Holy Spirit put prayer between rejoicing and thanksgiving.

Think about it, if our prayer life is established on faith, then we should be rejoicing because faith already has the answer. And if we know we’ve already got the answer, then why wouldn’t we be thankful?

I personally believe Paul is simply establishing the proper faith attitude for an effective prayer life.

Going back to Matthew, I want us to take a closer look at Jesus’ response to His disciples about prayer.

Now the very first, most important truth around this passage is that we have to read it, think on it, interpret it in light of our new covenant.

Second, Jesus was giving us a model for prayer, not something that was to be recited from some religious practice.

Matthew 6:9-13,NKJV- “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. (Holy is His name. Reverence & honor)
Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (What’s first in your life?)
Give us this day our daily bread. (Our needs are met day to day. We don’t need it till we need it. Faith pleases God.)
And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. (Unforgiveness stops faith.)
And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. (Let me see it, strengthen me not to yield to it.)
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

Remember, this as a model for prayer, not something that was to be recited from some religious practice.

Jesus knew exactly how humanity would be, He knew that whatever captured our focus would be the thing we magnify in our lives.

And this was exactly His point in setting up an example of how to pray.

First, we start with an attitude of worship, magnifying God.

Second, we bring our request and intercession, in love, to Him.

Then finish up with another level of praise and worship.

Praise blesses our Father and strengthens us. This is why we start with services with worship.

Psalm 22 says, “You are holy Lord, dwelling in the holy place where the praises of Your people are offered.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16,NKJV- REJOICE always, PRAY without ceasing, in everything GIVE THANKS, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Now just like this natural world exists according to natural law, the spirit world exists according to spiritual law, God’s divinely instituted order.

Romans actually tells us that the works of the law are excluded by the law of faith.

And when it comes to a healthy, successful prayer life, faith is the only way!

Mark 11:22-25,NKJV- “So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.
For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.”

Remember, unforgiveness stops faith.

Unfortunately, out of habit and religious tradition, instead of accepting our God ordained instructions, too many of us continue going to God about things He told us to deal with.

v.23, For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

“Believe you receive it” this is faith, a heartfelt conviction based on the fact that we trust what God says.

v.24, Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Now I’m not talking about some kind of mind game where we’re pretending to believe something’s real that isn’t.

I’m talking about functioning in a world beyond our natural one. The just shall live by faith.

Hebrews makes it very clear, “those who come to God must believe...”

1 John 5:14-15,NKJV- “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”

The moment the born again actually choose to believe, we have divine access to God’s world, with the ability to bring its realities into our world.

Believing connects us to God’s ever existing power. This is faith.

Faith is the bridge between the two worlds. According to Hebrews, faith is substance of things, hoped for.

But because God only has imperfect people to work through, many times His power is hindered because of our unbelief.

Truth is, we honestly haven’t accepted the fact that it’s really this simple, “Only Believe”

Fact is, as we’re transformed, our believing starts overriding doubt and we start seeing greater results.

And this is why ultimately, an effective prayer life has to be built around our personal fellowship with our Father.

John 15:7,MSG- If you make yourselves at home with Me and My words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon.

Everything pertaining to the Kingdom of God has to be established and supported by God’s word. It is the believers source of truth. And when it comes to an effective prayer life, it is our play book.

And the longer I walk with the Lord, I am convinced that the most important reality of prayer is how we experience a divine relationship with our Father. It’s an avenue of fellowship with our King, it’s also a direct line of communication with the Holy Spirit living in each born-again believer. At the end of the day, it’s how a human, born of His world navigates that world.
49 min
March 08, 2021Commissioned III
Commissioned- Committing or entrusting someone with supervisory authority for a specific action.

Matthew 28:16-20,NKJV- Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.
When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

This assignment isn’t just about telling people that Jesus offers humanity eternal life, but extending His Lordship through the Spirit empowered church.

It’s creating disciples that openly acknowledge our allegiance to Christ.
Embracing the fact that all the commands Jesus gave His first disciples are just as much a reality for us today.

In John’s gospel Jesus actually tells us that we can do the things He did.

Then Paul adds to that by making this statement in Corinthians, “imitate me as I imitate Christ.”

It’s important that we understand we’ve been commissioned by the Lord to carry on His mission, to do the things He did, to follow His example, to imitate Him.

And for every believer, the word of God has to be our only source of truth. It’s a light for our path. It’s flawless and forever settled. Jesus tells us His word is Spirit and truth.

Paul tells us the word shows us the difference between natural and spiritual. And will transform our soul.

2 Timothy 3:16-17,NKJV- All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Here’s the first thing, even though it may be hard to accept, the Bible was written for the people of God.

Yes, anyone can read the Bible and get information, but revelation (a line upon line uncovering) only comes to the born again. Something else to remember, the Bible is 100% a spiritual book.

1 Corinthians 2:12-14,NLT- “And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.
When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.
But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.”

The scriptures tell us the word is alive, flawless, perfect, forever settled, the word will enlighten our path, it framed the worlds. The written word reveals the living word.

In the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses, Mt of transfiguration, “hear Him”

The number one confirmation of the OT is how much Jesus quoted it.

What we know as the NT started as letters being circulated from church to church. But was over 200 years before a complete collection of what we call the NT was compiled.

Something we have to keep in mind is that at the birth of the church, they had the luxury of having eye witness accounts from those that walked the planet with Jesus.

They had first hand, anointed information from those who walked with the Living Word.

And as local churches were being launched around the world; God inspired holy men, by the Holy Spirit to write these prophetic letters that would become, the Lord’s Written Word to His creation.

2 Peter 1:19-21,NKJV- “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;
knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,
for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

Keep in mind, every writer of one of these letters except Paul walked with Jesus on the planet. Paul was actually taken to Heaven and was taught by Jesus Himself.

Now as these letters began to be circulated, copies had to be made which are known as manuscripts.

A manuscript is an exact copy of an original.
Not one word could be written from memory.
Every word had to be referenced to exact placement of an original.
Each writing had to be checked forward and backward.
From these manuscripts a NT was compiled.

From there we moved to a translation, which is taking the scriptures from one language to another.

Which finally resulted in the versions we have today. A version is primarily translated thought.

Here's one example of the thoroughness of detail to accuracy.

KJV, completed in 1611. Ordered be King James of England.
Took 54 men, 7 years.

Now that Jesus (living word) lives in Heaven, by His Holy Spirit, He has left us His written word to build our lives on.

John 1:1,14,NLT- “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
So the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”

As a matter of fact He made it very clear that anyone accepting a life in Him must embrace the reality that His words are life and truth. Spiritual reality. “It is written.”

Matthew 4:4,MSG- “Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.”

Until a person is born of the Spirit, everything about God and His Word will remain a mystery. It’s still in seed form.

Something every Christian needs to be aware of is that by design, the Bible is progressive in its revelation. It’s a living, continual unfolding of God’s nature, character and world. “With the same measure.”

This is why Jesus needs every one of us practicing these instructions in Timothy.

2 Timothy 2:15,NIV- “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

He’s counting on us representing Him and His Word in such a way that an unbeliever will be willing to listen. That we’re able to have confident, intelligent conversation concerning His word.

Remember, we’ve been commissioned by Jesus Himself.

Commissioned- Committing or entrusting someone with supervisory authority for a specific action.

Once a human becomes a Christian, God’s Word becomes the foundation we build our new life in Christ on.

One of the most foundational truths about the Bible is that it is a living, continual unfolding of the revelation of Christ to His redeemed.

God knew that without inspired revelation directly from Him to His people, we would be left with just human intelligence.

What Christians have to recognize is that learning how to live our new lives in Christ actually hinge on is yielding to His Divine guidance.

And one of the most amazing things about God's plan is that He chose from the beginning to use everyday people like you and me to advance His Kingdom.

So don't ever make the mistake of thinking you've got to have it all together for God to use you. Look at the people God used to write the Bible are a perfect example.

Kings- David & Solomon
Priests- Jeremiah & Ezekiel
Shepherds- Moses & Amos
Physician- Luke
Pharisee- Paul
Tax Collector- Matthew
Scribe- Ezra
Fishermen- Peter
Soldier- Joshua
Butler- Nehemiah
Politician- Daniel

When we're open to His Divine guidance, never underestimate what He'll do through someone who will dare to believe Him. So don't underestimate yourself.

When a person yields to the written word, it becomes living word in their heart, transforming them more into His image.

God knew that because of free will, humanity would have to have a point of reference that truth stems from.

So please be humble enough to realize that it's only by God's grace that we even have the opportunity to discover the Living Word through His written word.

That we can discover the awesome honor of the Lord Himself asking us to be part of His eternal plan.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.

Remember, we have been commissioned.
52 min
March 01, 2021Focus- Andy Sebastian
So as I was asking God what to share with you I always want it to be inspiring, uplifting, and exciting. So I was putting this talk together and well, I’m not so sure this talk is those things. I believe it’s definitely needed, but it felt more like one of those “Pastoral” messages than a fun one. I mean I hope it inspires and challenges you to make some positive change because it sure has in my own life. So ask the Holy Spirit to open your hearts this morning and receive what He wants to speak to you!
Intro – Phil. 1:6 - And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Is Jesus back yet? Then we are not done, it is not over, we still have God, his promises, and hope.
Things may not look good right now. Let’s be completely honest our world is a wreck, but we don’t walk by what we see, we walk by faith.
This is not the end, the way things are cannot stay this way, because God is not done with us.
Nehemiah is a real life reminder to never believe in your circumstances more than your Heavenly Father.
God’s people (that’s us) were scattered (alone), broken, and felt helpless because the walls of their city were down, no protection from the outside world. Today many feel helpless and alone due to covid, fear, financial loss, burdens, life, etc.
Anyone that wanted to could attack them, steal from them, and hurt them. Often how we feel like it’s one thing after another in life– not looking good for God’s people.
Aren’t you glad that God doesn’t give up, aren’t’ you glad that God wasn’t done with them and He is never done with us.
Their situation was about to change and so is yours because God WILL continue until His work in you is done! (pray)
I’ve heard the story of Nehemiah told a several times. Great story. The walls of Jerusalem were destroyed for 152 years. God’s temple destroyed, city in ruins for 152 years. Nehemiah, not even there, hears about his people and how broken their lives are and in 52 days, unites a divided people and rebuilds the wall. He changes a world that was broken for 152 years in 52 days!
I have heard this story preached several times, but I have never heard anyone talk about how they got there.
Funny right – it’s what we do. We talk about our issues, our problems, our impossible and unfair circumstances, but we never talk about how we got there.
We talk about how it makes us feel, we update our social medias, post a pic of how hurt or stressed we are, but never think about why we are facing what we are.
We even ask God, why are you letting this happen to me, why aren’t you fixing this?
Preachers talk about the brokenness of God’s people and how tragic it is
Like God is letting better yet causing all of the bad happen to teach us a lesson?! NO
There is a reason we are going through what we are and its not because of God, the majority of the time it’s because of us. Ouch right!
God’s people, as we have a bad habit of doing, find other things to worship instead of God.
God is good, but this God is more fun (they were worshipping idols and neglecting all of God’s instruction)
Sound familiar?? Our world today!
Worship music is cool, but listening to morgan wallen is more fun.
Honesty is cool, but lying gets me there faster.
Having an amazing marriage is awesome, but sneaking around online or flirting with others makes me feel alive.
Loving my neighbor is nice, but telling them how I truly feel is just easier
All things other than God
God’s plan was and is protection – The wall that was destroyed – that means God had told them to build a wall, God showed them how to protect what was valuable.
God’s plan is always for good – we just think we know better.
Jer. 29:11 “ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – this was written to these exact people and us.
They were slipping and God tried to warn them, tried to keep them safe, but they did it their way. Anyone ever do it your way?? Yeah we all do
The walls came down and the city fell. Not because God let it happen, but because God’s people made it happen by their choices. There are and will always be choices and consequences.
This is the place we often find ourselves – broken, hurt, not sure how to move forward because our walls have crumbled and cities fallen(the situations we are in).
For 152 years they just allowed bad things to continue happening to them.
Pretty dumb right – why didn’t they just ask God to forgive them, change and make better decisions? – Why don’t you? I know we don’t really want to hear that because that puts the responsibility on us
Many times we don’t change because we think we messed up to bad for God to use us!
I don’t deserve someone or something amazing so ill just settle for average. We are good at settling for whatever life throws at us. This isn’t my passion, but it’s a paycheck so it’ll do, we don’t really get along but I don’t want to be alone so it’ll do, Settling is easy, Settling is just a cop out, God has greater things in store for you but requires faith and action on our part to experience it, not just settling for average!
God is not done, even when you let the walls burn down, even when you are broken, hurt, confused and have no idea how to start or keep going - God WILL restore his plan for your life.
One of the most frustrating things in the world is feeling like nothing is going to change. – We try everything we can think of, and when it doesn’t work, when the answer is beyond us, we want to give up on the Good Plan God has for us. You don’t need to give up, you need to fix your focus.
Fix your focus - We are where we are because of what we are focused on! Many times our focus is away from God and that’s when problems start and multiply! You go the direction of your most dominant thoughts!!
Hebrews 12:1-2 – “let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.
We go where our focus is – you drive where you look.

3 Ways to Refocus

Focus on your heart – Proverbs 4:23 - Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.—Guard It! How by watching what goes in your eyes and ears!! What are you feeding on?
Everything starts with your heart, so it should be the first thing you fix.
God sent Ezra to fix the Temple before the wall. The Temple, Gods dwelling place, instruction, was the HEART of the city.
God will always fix the heart before the walls.
When we are hurt we want to fix the wall first. Guard yourself from getting even more hurt, lost, broken by putting up a wall.
Walls can keep things out, but also in.
Don’t trap brokenness, bitterness, unforgiveness, etc. in your heart. Don’t build a wall before your heart is fixed.
Our hearts need truth, not facts – facts change, the truth doesn’t.
Weather – fact, its raining, wait sunny, wait, 20 degrees, wait, 80 degrees, wait, its snowing. – facts change.
I’m doing good, wait I messed up, I’m going to do better, wait I’m struggling again.
The fact is, I messed up, the truth is God covered it.
The fact is, I don’t deserve God, the truth is God doesn’t even care about that, He loves you. Period
We keep running facts through our heart when we should be focused on Truth. Truth Changes facts, facts never change the truth.
The truth is only good when you are holding onto it, and know how to use it. It does no good collecting dust in your nightstand, or on an app you never open(bible).
Focus on the Future – You cant move forward by looking behind you. Things will never be like they were. You can’t drive straight by looking in your rear view mirror!
“I wish I could go back” – to who I was, to how I was, to how things were.
God doesn’t move in your past so why are you trying to live there?
If your focus is on where you have been, you will never see where God is taking you.
John 8 – A woman caught in adultery is brought to Jesus.
Everyone except Jesus was focused on her past, and believing her past should determine her future. Even her.
John 8:10 - Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
Jesus didn’t say, lets talk about your past, lets evaluate it, lets see how you can pay back for what you have done.
I am not done with you, Focus on your future - GO
Focus on your future, focus on your heart before the wall.
Focus on Moving – You can’t stay here. Don’t sit and cry for 152 years because you lack the discipline to move for 52 days.
We sometimes go hiking with the youth, Thanks Billy and Annie! I absolutely love it!! Nope! But when we go I see where I have to go. Every time I question should I do it, can I do it, or will I do it.
The car was on the other side, so I should – smart thing to do.
I know that I can, its about the first step. – moving forward is the only thing that makes the mountain look possible.
The big question is always, Will I? Will I put my flesh down to experience what God has for me, will I love that coworker I can’t stand, will I use my time, talents, and treasure for God, Will I????
This is your life we are talking about – are you done? God isn’t, but you have to be the one to start moving. Will you?
Change is a decision not an emotion!! You’re rarely going to feel like doing something that goes against your carnal nature. So if you wait until you feel like it you’ll be wating for years just like they waited to rebuild the wall!!

So the biggest decision you can make is to decide on having a relationship with Jesus! So if you do and want to be baptized then say this prayer with us and proceed to the back!
51 min
February 25, 2021What's My Prayer Life Look Like
Prayer is a subject of great debate among Christians, driven by opinion, religious tradition, experiences, and emotion. Way to often considered an optional, or something we turn to in difficult situations.

But what is it, really? Bottom line, as with every other reality concerning the realities of God’s world, there’s only one true source to go to and that’s His word.

Luke 6:47-48,NKJV- “Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.”

And the longer I walk with the Lord, I am convinced that the most important reality of prayer is how we experience a divine relationship with our Father. It’s an avenue of fellowship with our King, and a direct line of communication with the Holy Spirit living in each born-again believer.

In its simplest form, prayer is fellowship with our creator, the Almighty, our Father. At the end of the day, it’s how a human, born of His world navigates that world.

Let’s start with this, the word prayer is used a number of ways in the Hebrew and Greek language: intercede, petition, fellowship, worship, meditate, communion.

And by design, if faith isn’t part of our life, when it comes to the things of the Spirit, which prayer is, it will be an area we’ll stay uncomfortable with as long as we constantly question it’s realities, and refuse to make it a part of your life.

Let’s look at prayer from a natural perspective for a second, maybe from the viewpoint of a parent and a child;

When children are young and immature, their primary communication is getting their needs met.

But as they grow and mature, the relationship dynamic changes to one more of fellowship.

Seriously, just like our natural communication has to be developed, spiritual communication is no different.

1 Corinthians 13:11,NKJV- When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

A clearer understanding of a healthy prayer life is embracing the reality that it’s simply how a born again human navigates the Spirit world.

And as I said earlier, the most significant aspect of quality prayer is centered around our relationship with our Father.

In Jesus’ sermon on the mount He begins laying out Kingdom realities, and prayer is one of those realities He highlights. And one of His most challenging statements is when He tells us to pray, “God’s will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”

Matthew 6:31-33,NKJV- Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Keep in mind, a big part of this conversation is in response to His disciples asking Him to teach them how to pray.

According to Jesus, if we’re seeking His Kingdom, the things will simply be added to us.

For example, if we look at what Jesus is saying through the book of Genesis, it becomes very clear that God’s intention from the beginning is to be El Shaddai for all His people.

Think about Adam, what did he need as far as provision? So what do you think his prayer life was about? What if God’s main thing He’s looking for is exactly what He lost with Adam, and that is simply a relationship with His creation.

The Apostle Paul takes us a little further in Ephesians by giving us some excellent insight into some of the things we should be praying about.

That God give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.
That you may know what is the hope of His calling.
That you walk in the riches of the glory of His inheritance.
That you operate in the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe.

Ephesians 1:20-23,NKJV- ...according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

Notice the Holy Spirit led Paul to pray that they would be able to recognize what He’s already done.

In that same chapter He also says this, The Lord Jesus Christ, HAS BLESSED us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ...

Peter adds that God has given usexceedingly great and precious promises, that through these we may be partakers of His divine nature.

In order for this to happen we’ve got to be more God inside minded. Consistently practicing His presence. Make it a lifestyle founded on the things God’s word tells us.

Don’t kid yourself, operating in this world only happens by faith. In others words, we’ve gotta believe this stuff.

Hebrews 11:6,NLT- “It’s impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.”

Get this settled in your spirit, we will never operate in God’s world without believing in it. Remember, “It’s impossible to please Gods without faith.”

Think about it, if you’re needing to see it to believe it, how can you honestly pray to a God you can’t see? “Anyone who come to God must believe that He is...”

So a healthy prayer life, a lifestyle if you will, is believing in God enough to be able to fellowship with Him right in the middle of our daily routine.

The thing is, too many of God’s kids never get to this place because it’s just too far outside their reality.

Remember, faith only works through love. So for us to have an effective prayer life, one of the main things we’ll have to trust. God with is our love walk.

Something else everyone of us have to acknowledge is the fact that human nature will constantly pull against the things of the Spirit.

So if we’re always looking to our intellectual, carnal world to confirm a world that makes no sense to our humanity, then faith and prayer will always be that mysterious thing we’re always a little unsure of.

Proverbs 3:5-6,MSG- Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for GOD’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to GOD!

There is a Kingdom of Heaven principle, a divine, supernatural life connected with simply hanging out with our Father.

Our challenge is growing in this kind of relationship. Remember, more things are caught than taught.

So the more time we simply fellowship with God, the more His nature, personality, His attitude becomes ours.

Proverbs 3 actually becomes part of who we are and this world no longer has the same influence.

Think about this way, can you honestly have a Proverbs 3 kind of trust in someone you don’t know?
In Timothy, Paul really sums it up perfectly, “I know the one in whom I trust.”

Here’s the deal, this kind of knowing, fellowship, trust, expectation, faith, has to be built on the foundation of God’s word. Remember what Peter tells us, God has given usexceedingly great and precious promises, that through them we may be partakers of His divine nature.

Here’s a little food for thought, God and His word never change, so anytime you get to feeling like God isn’t there, guess who moved?

Or if His word seems old and routine, there’s a good chance our fellowship could be the same.

This is why the Holy Spirit instructs us in Ephesians to not live so carelessly and unthinking, but to make sure we comprehend what Jesus actually did for us.

And the longer I walk with the Lord, I am convinced that the most important reality of prayer is how we experience a Devine relationship with our Father. It’s an avenue of fellowship with our King, and a direct line of communication with the Holy Spirit living in each born-again believer.

In its simplest form, prayer is fellowship with our creator, the Almighty, our Father. At the end of the day, it’s how a human, born of His world navigates that world.
51 min
February 22, 2021Love is a BATTLEFIELD II
1 Corinthians 13:4-8,NLT-
Love is patient and kind.
Love is not jealous, boastful, proud or rude.
Love does not demand its own way.
Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.
Love does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

According to the New Testament, “love always wins” but if you think for even a second that our carnal, un-renewed human nature is simply going to walk in love because Jesus tells us to, make no mistake, there’s going to be a battle.

Last week we talked about how human nature wars against our born-again nature. You see, the good fight of faith, many times is that war that wages in our soul.

2 Corinthians 10, We do not wage war as the world does.
The weapons we fight with are not worldly. We have divine power to demolish strongholds, and take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ.

Galatians tells us that for the born again, the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
Remember our faith confession from last week?

“Lord, I commit to living a life of love. To be passionate and surrender excuses. I refuse to do nothing!”

Ultimately, love has to be expressed. This is why we’re always saying, love is a decision, not an emotion.

Unfortunately, a decision to do nothing is still a decision. And deciding to do nothing only make our influence weaker.

1 John 4, The person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is love.”

John 13:34-35,NLT- “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

Would God lead you to someone that He knows needs a touch of His unconditional love, specifically from you?

What if it’s the one you’ve concluded doesn’t deserve it? You know, the one that did something specifically to you... Tell me love isn’t a battlefield!

1 Peter 4:8,AMP- Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins, it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others.

MSG- Most of all love each other as if your life depends on it.

Jesus didn’t wait for us to measure up, He didn’t wait until we got our lives straightened out, He refused to hold all our sins and failures against us. He started with love.

This is why we repeatedly see commands throughout the NT telling us, above all things put on love.

Remember, love isn’t an emotion, it’s a decision.

At some point, those of us that confess to belong to Jesus have to stop assuming someone else will make sure the world encounters God’s love.

God’s plan for every member of His body is for each of us to be an expression of Him with those He sends our way, or He sends us to them. And it starts with each of us, right inside these four walls.

John 13:35,MSG- This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.

Thunk about it, it was Jesus who said, we would know a tree by its fruit.

Psalm 15 says, He honors the Lord who holds to his own hurt and doesn’t change. In other words, keeps his word even when it hurts.

He wants His love, His mercy, His nature, flowing through us. And He will grace us to be the person He knows we can be.

John 17:21,NLT- I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

At the end of the day, there's always going to be someone He's leading us to, that's away from Him. Someone hurting or maybe confused about Him.

Just like when Jesus showed up in people's life and said, "I've come that you may have life"

This is why God graces us, gifts us, anoints us to introduce someone else to this new life in Him.

Listen to how Paul encouraged, even challenged Timothy to embrace those gifts.

1 Timothy 4:14-15,AMP- Do not neglect the gift which is in you, that special inward endowment which was directly imparted to you by the Holy Spirit... Practice and cultivate, meditate upon these duties; throw yourself wholly into them as your ministry so that your progress may be evident to everybody.

I believe he’s saying? "God, use me to be an expression of You every where I go."

I truly believe that any of us willing to walk closer with Jesus, acknowledge His nature in us, embrace our giftings, it’s going to evident toward other people.

Listen to Paul’s instructions in Ephesians 4, Now that you’re learning the truth about Jesus, it’s time to let go of your old nature. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God, righteous and holy.

As Christians, as part of His body, Jesus is counting on us influencing those along our journey. Thing about it, someone has to take the high road. Someone has to go first.

This is why God says that we're to keep company with Him and learn a life of love.

You ready for this, when it comes to a life of love, it’s a pretty simple concept, Love In, Love Out.

Colossians tells us since we’ve been chosen by God for this new life of love. A life of compassion, humility, and kindness, willing to forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave us. So regardless of what else we put on, wear love.

And I realize that this is a big ask from Jesus; but do you really think Jesus would ever ask us to do something we couldn’t do?

Think about this for a second, since we’re willing to accept His unconditional love for ourselves, shouldn’t we be just as willing to extend it to others as He was to us?

He didn’t wait for any of us to get it all right, to meet certain legal expectations, He didn’t wait for us to come and say I’m sorry, He didn’t say, get your life right first, He started with love.

Ephesians 5:1-2,MSG- Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with Him and learn a life of love...

Think about it, a life of faith is really the only way we’ll be able to honestly look past peoples failures, mistakes, rejection, disloyalties, their sin and love them like Jesus.

Seriously, those of us that get up everyday and embrace God’s love, do you honestly think we’re always that lovable?

Ultimately, Love is our greatest witness. It’s what wins the world. Love is spiritual, it’s supernatural, it’s who Jesus is.

Remember, Love In, Love Out!

Here’s the thing, He deliberately plants the righteous among the ungodly.

The Bible says, Jesus was moved with compassion when He saw the multitudes; not just the nice ones, the good ones, the regular church goers; but the multitudes.

You really want to be an expression of Jesus, show somebody some mercy.

Whether they want to admit it or not, the world is watching.

Galatians 6:1,AMP- Brothers, if anyone is caught in any sin, you who are spiritual, that is, you who are responsive to the guidance of the Spirit are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness, not with a sense of superiority or self-righteousness, keeping a watchful eye on yourself, so that you are not tempted as well.

MSG- Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out.

I know I hammer this truth all the time, but it’s a fact, the closer we follow Jesus, the more He's going to lead us to love people.

You see, if love is the driving force behind what we do, the more “otherly” we’ll be, not to mention, our influence will always be attractive and effective.

JOHN MAXWELL says: "It's impossible to add value to others if we continually put ourselves in front of them."

Hebrews 10:24,MSG- Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out.

“Lord, I commit to living a life of love. To be passionate and surrender excuses. I refuse to do nothing!”
42 min
February 17, 2021Love is a BATTLEFIELD
“We are strong, no one can tell us we are wrong. Searching our hearts for so long, knowing, love is a battlefield.”

According to the NT, “love always wins” but if you think for even a second that our carnal, un-renewed human nature is simply going to walk in love because Jesus tells us to, make no mistake, there’s going to be a battle.

Human nature in and of itself is selfish. Think about it, we think self preservation first, until what? Someone comes into our life that matters. Until love shows up.

Paul actually tells us that human nature wars against our born-again nature. You see, fighting the good fight of faith, that war that wages in our soul is where the battle is won or lost.

According to John, God is love. This is why love always wins, but it’s also why our enemy is relentless against us understanding these truths.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5,NIV- For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Peter reinforces the truth, reminding us that this world isn’t our home. And human nature constantly wages war against the soul of the born again.

James 4:1,MSG- Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again.
They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don’t have and are willing to kill to get it.
You want what isn’t yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it. Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen?
Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves.

Galatians tells us, the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. So I’ve got us a confession of faith that hopefully will help us become better stewards of a little God inspired love.

“Lord, I commit to living a life of love. To be passionate and surrender excuses. I refuse to do nothing!”

Knowing that love can be battle. Let’s ask ourselves this, am I willing to be part of the solution?

Remember what Jesus told us, if we see Him, we see the Father. And the Father is love, so if we keep our eyes on Jesus, following Him, what do you think you’re going to see?

And for those that don’t think love is a battlefield, that sometimes, it’s literally a war in our soul, you try and stop judging the one you’ve already concluded that their failures are way worse than yours.

I’m not talking about any of this, sooth our conscious with this, love’m from a distance junk. On purpose, extend some God love to that person.

This might mean that we’ve got to let Jesus set us free from ourselves.
Make no mistake about this subject, love is costly. Just ask Jesus.

John 3:16,CEV- “God loved the people of this world so much that he gave His only Son, so that everyone who has faith in Him will have eternal life and never really die.”

Remember, we’re made in His image and likeness. And His likeness is love.

In our last series we talked about being light, but in that same story in Matthew, Jesus said this, “We are the salt of the earth, but if it loses it’s flavor, it’s good for nothing.”

Loving people adds a little seasoning, a little flavor to their life. Something Tracy has told me before is, “It’s easy to love the lovable.”

But what about the one you know that you’ve concluded doesn’t deserve it? You know, the one that did something specifically to you... right? Tell me love isn’t a battlefield!!

1 Corinthians 3:4-8,NLT-
Love is patient and kind.
Love is not jealous, boastful, proud or rude.
Love does not demand its own way.
Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.
Love does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Love always wins! Are you ready for this? When we show love, we’re showing others who God really is.

1 John 4:8,MSG- “My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is love.”

Would God lead you to someone that He knows needs a touch of His unconditional love, specifically from you?

And you don’t think love is a battlefield? You really want to find our where your faith is? Let’s make this our prayer today, “God use me to be an expression of You.”

I want you to listen to these prophetic words from Jesus that I personally believes should be part of the great commission.

Luke 4:18-19,NKJV- “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”

Love wins when someone decides to act. Ultimately, love has to be expressed. You see, faith expressing itself through love only happens on purpose.

Truth is, at the end of the day, a decision to do nothing is still a decision. Unfortunately, deciding to do nothing only make our influence weaker.

Studies have proven that the more a person does nothing, the more they’ll do nothing, and be okay with it.

There was an important job to be done and EVERYBODY was sure SOMEBODY would do it. ANYBODY could have done it, but NOBODY did it. EVERYBODY thought ANYBODY could do it, but NOBODY realized that EVERYBODY wouldn’t do it. In the end, EVERYBODY blamed SOMEBODY when NOBODY did what ANYBODY could have done.

John 13:34-35,NLT- “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
For the born-again, we have to come to terms with this reality, love is supernatural because it’s God’s nature, and He is without a doubt, supernatural!

So if we’ll intentionally, aggressively think about extending love to others, there’ll be no room in our thinking for the wrong someone has done.

And I realize some of you think you’ve got to be the church police...
Remember, intentionally, aggressively think about extending love.

Make no mistake, the enemy is relentlessly looking for an un-renewed, inactive thought life to pounce on.

This is why Ephesians 4 tells is to give no place to the devil. Peter says, resist him. Remember where the battle is.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5,NIV- For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

As ambassadors for Jesus, it’s our responsibility to make sure God’s love doesn’t disappear on our watch.

We are strong, no one can tell us we are wrong. Searching our hearts for so long, knowing, love is a battlefield.”

John 13:34-35,NLT- “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
48 min
February 08, 2021Light/Hope III
Matthew 5:13-16,MSG- Let me tell you why you are here... You’re here to be light... God is not a secret to be kept...
If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—SHINE!!

Here’s the thing, being light comes from an assurance that God will be exactly who and what He told us He would. So if he says, shine, shine.

What every believer has to come to terms with is the fact that God is absolutely sending each of us into this broken, corrupt, confused, deceived world for one reason!!

Don’t think I’m going to hide you under something, I’m putting your out there to shine.

Daniel is one of my favorite example of this. Especially right now, with the climate of our world.

Daniel 1:6-7,NKJV- “Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.”

Babylon wanted to erase all trace of God from the earth.

This is where God inspired hope comes in. Remember, hope is this fixed, confident expectation. And according to Romans, we are to be bubbling over with this kind hope.

This is why the book of Hebrews reinforces the reality that our faith is substance, assurance, the confirmation of the things we HOPE for.

Here’s one thing for certain, the more we allow the Holy Spirit to inspire us, the brighter our hope, our confidence in Him shines.

Understand, God is sending each of us into the world, but we will never change the world being conformed to it. Paul quoting the prophet Isaiah says, “Come out from among them a be separate” (Remember Moses)

Daniel 6, King Darius places Daniel over all the nations affairs because God gave Daniel an excellent spirit.

But all the corrupt politicians tried setting a trap for Daniel. They changed the laws of the land. Please understand, satan hasn’t changed, he still wants desperately to erase all trace of God.

And in the natural it all looked like their plan worked. They threw Daniel in with the lions. Everybody say, “But God!”

There’s not one time in scripture where there’s great victory without great challenge. So, hold fast your confession of hope! Because we are light!

The enemy knows all he’s got to do is shake our feelings just a little, so lets prove him wrong.

2 Corinthians 3:4-5,CEV- “We are sure about all this. Christ makes us sure in the very presence of God. We don't have the right to claim that we have done anything on our own. God gives us what it takes to do all we do.”

Zechariah 4:6,NKJV- So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts.”

Stop worrying about what’s going on around you. Stop looking at the things that are seen, and get focused on the things that are unseen.

Hebrews 2, paraphrase, It’s crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we’ve heard so that we don’t drift off. God didn’t put angels in charge of this business of salvation that we’re dealing with here.
He made us like Him with the brightness of Eden; Then He put us in charge of His entire handcrafted world.

Ephesians 2, Because of His great love for us He made us alive together with Christ and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

2 Peter 1:3-4,NKJV- His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature.

Until we embrace this revelation concerning who we are, this world we’ve been born into and the realities of it will remain some mysterious, out of reach idea that’s really not for us to understand.

From the beginning, God’s original assignment to Adam is still His plan; “I’ve given you dominion over all the earth.”

Understand, we’re not just citizens of Heaven, we’re heirs to the Kingdom, appointed ambassadors of our King, assigned here to establish the very same dominion our Father gave to Adam.

Empowered by the Holy Spirit. This is why Peter tells us in the book of Acts, when the Holy Spirit shows up and infills the believers, “This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel.”

Joel, The day of the Lord is upon you. Ahead of you lies a land as beautiful as Eden.
The Lord says, Turn to Me, give Me your hearts, for I am merciful and compassionate, filled with unfailing love. Look, I’m sending you new wine and oil, enough to satisfy. Don’t be afraid. Instead be glad and rejoice in your God!
I will restore all that was lost, stolen, or destroyed. And you will know that I am the Lord you God.

Isaiah 43, paraphrase, Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: “For your sake I will send to Babylon, and bring your enemies down as fugitives.
I am the LORD, your Holy One, The Creator of Israel, your King.
And just like I called forth the mighty army of Egypt with all its chariots and horses and drowned them beneath the waves, I snuffed them out like a smoldering candlewick.
That’s nothing compared to what I am going to do. I am about to do something new. Look it’s already! Can’t you see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”

Remember what Peter says, what you see here today is the start of what was prophecied by the prophet Joel. God empowered His church to establish His Kingdom on this earth.

Make no mistake, God is returning for a glorious church, without spot or blemish.

Ephesians 5,25-27,32,NKJV- “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”

God is without a doubt preparing His bride, the church for His return. So until He does, lets be about His work. Let’s shine with a fixed, confident, expectation, with some God inspired hope.

It’s interesting Peter quotes Joel at the birth of the church. Joel actually means, “Yahweh is God”

We have to see spiritually, what Joel was, to a deceived, rebellious, confused people of Israel, the church of Jesus Christ is to the world today.

Both Joel and the church called for repentance of the people, both were vessels of revelation, inspired expressions of hope, and both prophetic voices to the people.

Listen to Jesus’ words again in Matthew 5, You’re here to be light, if I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there—SHINE!!
44 min
January 25, 2021Light/Hope
Matthew 5:13-16,MSG- Let me tell you why you are here... You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.
If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—SHINE!!

Jesus says this in John’s gospel, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me walks in that light."

I don't know if you've ever thought about it, but light never tries to be light.

If I make you light-bearers, you didn't think I would hide you under a bucket, did you? This is why our hope has to stay fixed on Him.

Here’s the thing, if you're born again, you are light, and people will be drawn to it.

God designed it this way because He created humanity. He knows that in the heart of every human lies the desire to be connected to Jesus, even if they don't realize it yet.

And regardless of your style, or personality, the power of the gospel will work through anyone who will trust in it more than their own abilities.

So be light. And I really think the fire that keeps our light burning is God inspired hope.

Vines dictionary, HOPE- a favorable, fixed, confident expectation. The happy anticipation of good.

Think about it, what if you were overflowing with hope? I know I would much rather hang around those kind of people.

Hebrews 10:23-25,NKJV- Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Remember, hope is this fixed, confident, expectation. But I can’t help but wonder of there are some who may have lost their hope, either in the middle of the storm, or for some because things have gotten nice and comfortable.

Maybe this is why in v.35 the writer reminds us to hold fast our confidence. Why God? Because your My light in this dark world. And your hope in Me keeps your light burning.

Remember what Jesus told us in Matthew, If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—SHINE!!

For the born again, this kind of hope, or should we say expectation, allows us to see into God’s world. After all, He is the God of hope.

Romans 15:13,AMP- May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing, through the experience of your faith, that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.

Story about a survivor of a shipwreck. He found himself stranded on some small island.
After several weeks, discouragement set in. Heaven seemed silent and he was on the verge of giving up.
As he set there distraught and broken, seemingly hopeless, a small thunderstorm rolled through and lightening struck the roof of his thatch hut and it caught fire.
As he sat on the beach crying a coast guard boat pulled on to the beach.
"How did you find me?"
"We saw the smoke from the fire you built signaling for help.”

Here’s the thing, even when it looks its worst, never forfeit your hope. This is why it’s so important to have people around you that will encourage you.

God asked Abraham, is anything to hard for the Lord?

Let this truth settle into your thinking, we are people of God. And of all people, we should be the ones overflowing with a confident anticipation of good. Bubbling over with God inspired hope.

What if we were a little more intentional about helping one another stir up a little confident anticipation that God is still the Almighty.

Here’s one thing for certain, the more we allow the Holy Spirit to inspire us, the brighter our hope, our confidence in Him shines.

A major key to keeping this kind of God inspired hope up in our lives is by allowing the Holy Spirit to inspire our thinking.

Remember what Jesus told us, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me walks in that light."

In Matthew and Luke, Jesus said, “The light of the body is the eye, and if the eye is single, the whole body will be full of light.”

Our challenge today is that we’re so double, triple, minded. Seriously, who knows how bombarded our minds really are with everything but Him.

This is why Paul reminds us in Ephesians 4, “Stop going along with the empty-headed, mindless crowd.”

We have to make room in our thinking for some God inspired hope.

After all, it’s only God inspired hope that faith can actually be the substance of according to Hebrews 11.

Romans 4 reminds us that when everything was hopeless, Abraham believed God anyway, choosing to live his life solely on what God told him.

This is why He inspire us to be transformed. To get our expectations up.

Seriously, today’s the day the Lord has given us, so why not start right now getting our hopes up?

Remember hope, a favorable, fixed, confident expectation. The happy anticipation of good.

The Bible is full of inspiring stories of how to tap into this kind of hope, right in the middle of very challenging circumstances.

Acts 16:25-26,NIV- About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.

This is why Paul instructed us to cast down every though that tries to exalt itself above who we are in Christ. And help each other stir up hope.

Right now we should be expecting the God of the Bible to be exactly that?

Let me ask you this, would you say you’re overflowing with expectation right now?

Do you have a happy anticipation of good in this current situation?

In other words, you got any hope?

One certainty that God has shown me as I grow closer to Him is that He wants us in total expectation and dependency on Him.

One of my favorite statements from King David is, “I will pitch my tent in the land of hope.”

Here’s thing, it takes absolutely no faith to be negative, discouraged, unbelieving, critical and judgemental, but that’s not who we are! Let’s stop allowing the things around us dictate who and what we are!!

Psalm 37:1-6,NKJV- Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb.
Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.
He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.”

We’re the light of the world. This is why God tells us, IfI make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—SHINE!!
47 min
January 21, 2021Commissioned II
Matthew 28:16-20,NKJV- Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.
When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Commissioned- Committing or entrusting someone with supervisory authority for a specific action.

This assignment isn’t just about telling people that Jesus offers humanity eternal life, but extending His Lordship to all of humanity through the Spirit empowered church.

Creating disciples that openly acknowledges our allegiance to Christ.

Matthew 4:23-25,NLKV- And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.
Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.
Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

Chapters 5-7 is what’s called the sermon on the mount. He covers beatitudes, that we’re salt and light, that He’s the fulfillment of the OT law, deals with issues of the heart, love your enemies, don’t worry, don’t judge, put the Kingdom first, and lastly, build your life on everything He says.

And what’s the first thing He does when He finishes preaching again? He start healing people.

Matthew 8:1-3,NKJV- When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I AM WILLING; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

I think it’s important we have talks like this because there are so many different views on the subject of healing, unfortunately to the degree that we leave it out of the gospel message.

Matthew 4:23,NLKV- And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.

Matthew 8:7, Jesus responding to the centurion said, “I WILL come and heal him.”

v.13, Jesus tells the centurion, “As you have believed, so let it be down for you.”

Heres a very important point, God repeatedly reminds us that He shows favoritism or partiality to no one. The scripture also makes it clear that neither Jesus or His word change.

Matthew 8:14-17,NKJV- Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever.
So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them.
When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick,
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.

Commissioned- Committing or entrusting someone with supervisory authority for a specific action.

All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Therefore go make disciples of all the nations, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.

So why would Jesus train His first disciples to live and minister a certain way,
Then command them to train everyone they discipled to live the same way,
Then move back to Heaven and expect us to live a different way and not even say anything about it to His closest followers, not to mention something in His Word?

When we study the life and ministry of Jesus, why do you think He healed everywhere He went?

John 6:38,NKJV- For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

He even said, "if you've seen Me, you've seen the Father."

I believe that everything Jesus did with His life here was not only pointing to what He was about to accomplish for all on the cross, but showing what humanity, anointed by the Holy Spirit is supposed to look like.
Remember Matthew, You go and teach them to observe all things I’ve commanded you.”

Matthew 8:23-26,NKJV- Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.
And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep.
Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

Then they land in the region of the Gadarenes and some demon possess men met Jesus and said, “have you come to torture us before our time?”

In Matthew 9, Jesus goes back to His home town and right away, guess what’s the first thing He does?

Mark 2:1-12,NKJV- And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them.
Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.
When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘ Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’?
But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” —He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

Then He calls Matthew to be a disciple and immediately goes to hang out with Matthew’s sinner friends, where He makes this radical statement from the prophet Hosea in v.13, “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

In v. 17 Jairus comes to Jesus about his daughter and is interrupted by the women with the issue of blood.

Once again Mark gives us much more detail. Jesus tells Jairus, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.”
Then he tells two blind men, “According to your faith, let it be done to you.”

Matthew 9:35-38,NLT- Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness.
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few.
So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

Matthew 10:1,NKJV- And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.
49 min

About Victory Life KY

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Join us each week on the Victory Life KY podcast. You will hear teaching from our senior Pastor Gary Toney. Our Purpose Is Helping People Discover and Develop A Life In Christ. Visit us at…

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