*First sermon in Faith Christian Center's 40 Days of Impact campaign!!
(8:30 am service, September 25, 2011)
Luke 6:27-
- It's no big deal to love someone who loves you back; help those who help you; give to those in which you expect to receive something in return, etc.
Question: Is there a group of people that you've self-consciously labeled "unlovable" or placed on a "hard-to-love" list? [of course, no one says this verbally, but in the back of your mind you've placed these individuals in a pile of "unlovables" because of your personal feelings about them, etc.]
*In order for us to be effective in ministry, we have to love people. -->John 3:16 "For God so loved the WORLD..." it doesn't say "For God so loved the Christian.." Yes, God is pleased with the walk or life the Christian lives, but his love for them is not greater than his love for the sinner. Therefore as followers of Christ, OUR love for people shouldn't be greater towards someone who loves us back or makes us feel good. That drug dealer or prostitute you pass by on the side of the road is loved just as much as the elderly woman you see praising God in her Sunday's best every week. You don't know how good your "love walk" is until you encounter someone who is different from you.
4 Roots to Why We're Unable to Really Love People:
#1: Prejudice- an unfavorable feeling or opinion formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought or reason; without personal knowledge of a person yet generalizing based on a collective group of individuals.
*Prejudice goes far beyond a racial barrier.
When you prejudge, you get to a place where you're unwilling to ask God to help you go that extra mile to minister to that person because you feel like you already have them figured out based on what you see. [It's okay to totally loathe and detest the actions of a person, but NEVER to actually hate the person!]
--> Luke 5:12
#2: A Selfish Focus
- Evangelism is not just going out cold turkey and asking people if they want to be born again.
-We live in such a humanistic world...a selfish focus will keep us TALKING about the needs of those around us, but too prideful or self-consumed to act on those needs. A selfish focus will keep you focused only on how YOU are blessed, etc.
--> ex: after 6 months, that fancy car or new house you bought will be just another house.
*Most of the emotional stress people deal with have to do with the result of living a selfish life. We have the most stuff out of any generation, yet we are also the most depressed generation. Why? Because stuff can't satisfy you.
--> Matthew 6:36 [ref scripture]
--> Matthew 9: 36-39
--> Matthew 14: 10-16
*compassion came over Jesus and he heard those sick people in the crowds EVEN while he tried to grieve over the murder of John the Baptist
--> Matthew 15:32 - when you have compassion for people and allow your desires to match God's, He will make sure you have all the resources available to you that you need to be effective in ministry.
--> Matthew 20:30
Compassion: a genuine love for those in need, combined with a Godly desire to end their suffering.
*it might be someone's LAST day on Earth, and they ran into you! They interacted with you! You must have compassion to love them enough to get them to Jesus!
*We're not blessed so that we can sit and live a life of luxury but that when God gives us an opportunity to minister to His people, you can do it and do it well.
#3: personal insecurity
-requires looking past a person's actions to see their needs.
--> Matthew 9:10
*you cant reach a sinner if you're unwilling to engage with them!
-> Luke 7:36-
#4: Pride and Arrogance
- if it wasn't for the grace of God, you could be that homeless guy or that girl with the baby at 14. Don't think for a second that you didn't make enough mistakes in your life to end up where they are or worse! Your life is by the grace of God alone. It's not because you made all the right choices and that's why you're successful. No.
--> Romans 5:8 [ref scripture]
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Lifted Youth Group
-September 15, 2011 Thursday night service by Pastor Brandon Davis
* your protection is where God tells you to be, and in his presence.
-Living in perfect peace has nothing to do with your situation, but everything to do with fearing God
-it's impossible to be joyous, peaceful, etc while simultaneously NOT fearing God
*joy has absolutely nothing to do with happiness! --> happiness = a temporary feeling.
-->Proverbs 8:13-
*whatever God says goes. Period. The minute this isn't our mindset, we're in sin.
God says to hate evil, therefore we should hate evil. Evil isn't just all the obvious sins. It's all sin. That includes gossiping --> The only opinion that matters is God's and he said he created all people to be beautiful. Who are you to talk about someone else?
*Fear the Lord or you will not be with him.
- He will not be mocked!! Do you really think God is going to sit up in heaven and be mocked by someone who wants to receive His grace and gift of salvation but didn't do anything on Earth to deserve it? Salvation is a free gift; we can't do anything to earn it. However, as a born-again believer, you are still held liable to the law if God which he gives to those who believe in him.
*fearing God leads to knowing God; He's the beginning of knowledge. Therefore, you won't know him until you fear him. God doesn't operate like the other things in this world. You don't see him first. God says, "you fear me, THEN you will see me." The problem with this is that we don't allow ourselves to look past our circumstances.
*It's hard to talk about someone you don't know!
*If you don't know the bible you'll never know/ understand how to defend it!
--> rap: the majority, if not all of rap/hip hop music today talks about pride, arrogance, money, success, revenge, murder, drugs, etc. The very things God despises. All the rappers, singers, actors, entertainers, etc. are speaking into existence the very things God says he HATES and He tells us to hate it as well. [Goes back to the fearing God thing] One component of fearing God is being obedient to his will. If he HATES these things, yet they are still a part of your life [and you're making no effort to remove them from your life], God might not think too fondly of you right now.
Peace can only be obtained through fearing God
--> Deuteronomy 30:19
obedience is better than sacrifice!
Q: How can I be expected to fear the Lord with everything going on in my life?
A: that's why God sent the holy spirit!
- some people look at fearing God like children look at their parents forcing them to eat vegetables! [maybe not through their mouth, but through their actions]
--> But Jesus sent us a comforter! (vs 16)
"comforter" - counselor; helper, intercessor; etc.
*Holy Spirit is living on the inside of you [if you're born again]. You're not happy, or you're depressed because you have God living on the inside of you, restraining your joy because you refuse to serve, love or fear Him. You're trying to do the things of this world, and you can't seem to get happy because the Holy Spirit is also an intercessor-> He is praying to God AGAINST the very things you're trying to do!
Also, so many people say they're confused, or insecure,etc. You have every answer you ever needed because you have the Holy Spirit on the inside of you while simultaneously dwelling in the mind of God [and God is all knowing] --> With someone like that on the inside of you, you can't (or shouldn't) ever feel insecure, depressed, inferior, stupid, etc.
* your protection is where God tells you to be, and in his presence.
-Living in perfect peace has nothing to do with your situation, but everything to do with fearing God
-it's impossible to be joyous, peaceful, etc while simultaneously NOT fearing God
*joy has absolutely nothing to do with happiness! --> happiness = a temporary feeling.
-->Proverbs 8:13-
*whatever God says goes. Period. The minute this isn't our mindset, we're in sin.
God says to hate evil, therefore we should hate evil. Evil isn't just all the obvious sins. It's all sin. That includes gossiping --> The only opinion that matters is God's and he said he created all people to be beautiful. Who are you to talk about someone else?
*Fear the Lord or you will not be with him.
- He will not be mocked!! Do you really think God is going to sit up in heaven and be mocked by someone who wants to receive His grace and gift of salvation but didn't do anything on Earth to deserve it? Salvation is a free gift; we can't do anything to earn it. However, as a born-again believer, you are still held liable to the law if God which he gives to those who believe in him.
*fearing God leads to knowing God; He's the beginning of knowledge. Therefore, you won't know him until you fear him. God doesn't operate like the other things in this world. You don't see him first. God says, "you fear me, THEN you will see me." The problem with this is that we don't allow ourselves to look past our circumstances.
*It's hard to talk about someone you don't know!
*If you don't know the bible you'll never know/ understand how to defend it!
--> rap: the majority, if not all of rap/hip hop music today talks about pride, arrogance, money, success, revenge, murder, drugs, etc. The very things God despises. All the rappers, singers, actors, entertainers, etc. are speaking into existence the very things God says he HATES and He tells us to hate it as well. [Goes back to the fearing God thing] One component of fearing God is being obedient to his will. If he HATES these things, yet they are still a part of your life [and you're making no effort to remove them from your life], God might not think too fondly of you right now.
Peace can only be obtained through fearing God
--> Deuteronomy 30:19
obedience is better than sacrifice!
Q: How can I be expected to fear the Lord with everything going on in my life?
A: that's why God sent the holy spirit!
- some people look at fearing God like children look at their parents forcing them to eat vegetables! [maybe not through their mouth, but through their actions]
--> But Jesus sent us a comforter! (vs 16)
"comforter" - counselor; helper, intercessor; etc.
*Holy Spirit is living on the inside of you [if you're born again]. You're not happy, or you're depressed because you have God living on the inside of you, restraining your joy because you refuse to serve, love or fear Him. You're trying to do the things of this world, and you can't seem to get happy because the Holy Spirit is also an intercessor-> He is praying to God AGAINST the very things you're trying to do!
Also, so many people say they're confused, or insecure,etc. You have every answer you ever needed because you have the Holy Spirit on the inside of you while simultaneously dwelling in the mind of God [and God is all knowing] --> With someone like that on the inside of you, you can't (or shouldn't) ever feel insecure, depressed, inferior, stupid, etc.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
just thinking..
With the first three weeks of senior year under my belt, I feel more confident than ever that God has a purpose waiting for me. I'm growing closer to him, and that's great! I feel like I can hear him so much more clearly now than I did 4 months ago. He has also placed great friends in my life that are striving to be closer to Him as well and that's exactly what I needed. As more and more people that i felt I "needed" in my life began to show their true colors, God showed me that he has someone better in store for me that not only will encourage me to continue in my walk, but won't hinder me from my purpose. I'm so incredibly grateful for this new church family- they truly are a blessing to me, whether they realize it or not. I pray that I never turn back to how I used to be.. living for Christ is so much more rewarding!
Understanding the Laws of Life and Death [part III]
Bishop George Davis, 8:30 am service September 11,2011
Before I share these notes with you, I'd like to take a moment to remember those who lost their lives in 9/11. May God bless and comfort the family, friends and cities they left behind.
--> Deuteronomy 30:19
--> John 10:10 ["The enemy only comes to steal kill and destroy..." ]
-Jesus says he came so that you may have life and have it more abundantly - meaning that the idea of god taking you through hardships to "teach you a lesson" is absolutely contradictory to the Word of God.
- We shouldn't have a problem with the enemy throwing challenges our way because we already have the answer!! [Jesus] Just like you don't have a problem with your teacher giving you a pop quiz if you know every answer.
* Learn to make choices that align with the Word of God so that it becomes habits that align with the Word of God. Those habits become a character that aligns with the Word of God and having a character that aligns with the Word of God leads to living a life that aligns with the Word of God.
--> Colossians 3:1 -set your priorities on what's a priority in Heaven. Your heart should be wrapped around what's important to Heaven
- when you do this, your mindset will be in line with God's, and when situations come it won't be so hard for you to make the righteous choice.
ex: swimming upstream. It's hard to swim upstream when the current is flowing in the opposite direction. In your walk, everyone around you might not be walking in the law of life, but you don't turn around and follow them. Keep pressing forward!
--> Proverbs 31:19- *the fear of the Lord ignites the law of life- if i want to live this life that John 10:10 talks about, the bible says that fear of the Lord LEADS to it!
-->Psalm 128:1-6 [all of psalm 128]
--> Psalm 31:19-
--> Proverbs 14:26-27
--> Psalm 145: 18-19
[Notice a recurring theme? If you fear the Lord, he will bless you]
|--> 2 reasons why:
a) because He's a good God
b) because the more you have the fear of God on the inside of you, your priorities/desires start to change to line up with His.
--> Psalm25:12
- He'll teach you how to walk in His way! Your soul will be at ease [ you can have a lot of bad things going on around you yet you can till praise God]
a lot of people don't totally understand what it means to fear the Lord.
*The fear of the Lord = an attitude (3 components)
1) reverence for God- an expression of deep respect, love and admiration for God. Ex: Like someone utters the name of Jesus and immediately you get excited..
--> 1 Peter 3:15* God has his own private place in your heart that no one else can enter.
*God's word is not a suggestion! IT"S A COMMANDMENT!
*Going to church every week is NOT just about receiving a good word. It's about doing what you've been doing alone all week, now in a public setting! Praising God. Corporate worship with your fellow brothers and sisters! When you realize that it's a time for you to praise God publically, maybe you won't have as many excuses for not going. It's disrespectful! If God is showing up, it's disrespectful for you to be absent because you are supposed to be there giving him the praise He deserves. You should come to church always ready to give God something.
--> exodus 23
2) obedience to God - John 14:15
3) hatred for evil
--> Proverbs 8: 4-8
Having a hatred for evil means NO exceptions! If God hates it [i.e. homosexuality, lust, gossip, etc] then we as his children and followers should hate it as well. Some people confuse holiness with simply abstaining from immorality and sin, or dressing nicely. Holiness is simply "at one with God." Meaning, if you are at one with God, you will make the godly decision, you won't tolerate the things that upset him, and you will follow his commandments.
*"Salvation is ONLY in the name of Jesus because he was and still is the only one qualified to represent mankind." ~ Bishop George Davis
Before I share these notes with you, I'd like to take a moment to remember those who lost their lives in 9/11. May God bless and comfort the family, friends and cities they left behind.
--> Deuteronomy 30:19
--> John 10:10 ["The enemy only comes to steal kill and destroy..." ]
-Jesus says he came so that you may have life and have it more abundantly - meaning that the idea of god taking you through hardships to "teach you a lesson" is absolutely contradictory to the Word of God.
- We shouldn't have a problem with the enemy throwing challenges our way because we already have the answer!! [Jesus] Just like you don't have a problem with your teacher giving you a pop quiz if you know every answer.
* Learn to make choices that align with the Word of God so that it becomes habits that align with the Word of God. Those habits become a character that aligns with the Word of God and having a character that aligns with the Word of God leads to living a life that aligns with the Word of God.
--> Colossians 3:1 -set your priorities on what's a priority in Heaven. Your heart should be wrapped around what's important to Heaven
- when you do this, your mindset will be in line with God's, and when situations come it won't be so hard for you to make the righteous choice.
ex: swimming upstream. It's hard to swim upstream when the current is flowing in the opposite direction. In your walk, everyone around you might not be walking in the law of life, but you don't turn around and follow them. Keep pressing forward!
--> Proverbs 31:19- *the fear of the Lord ignites the law of life- if i want to live this life that John 10:10 talks about, the bible says that fear of the Lord LEADS to it!
-->Psalm 128:1-6 [all of psalm 128]
--> Psalm 31:19-
--> Proverbs 14:26-27
--> Psalm 145: 18-19
[Notice a recurring theme? If you fear the Lord, he will bless you]
|--> 2 reasons why:
a) because He's a good God
b) because the more you have the fear of God on the inside of you, your priorities/desires start to change to line up with His.
--> Psalm25:12
- He'll teach you how to walk in His way! Your soul will be at ease [ you can have a lot of bad things going on around you yet you can till praise God]
a lot of people don't totally understand what it means to fear the Lord.
*The fear of the Lord = an attitude (3 components)
1) reverence for God- an expression of deep respect, love and admiration for God. Ex: Like someone utters the name of Jesus and immediately you get excited..
--> 1 Peter 3:15* God has his own private place in your heart that no one else can enter.
*God's word is not a suggestion! IT"S A COMMANDMENT!
*Going to church every week is NOT just about receiving a good word. It's about doing what you've been doing alone all week, now in a public setting! Praising God. Corporate worship with your fellow brothers and sisters! When you realize that it's a time for you to praise God publically, maybe you won't have as many excuses for not going. It's disrespectful! If God is showing up, it's disrespectful for you to be absent because you are supposed to be there giving him the praise He deserves. You should come to church always ready to give God something.
--> exodus 23
2) obedience to God - John 14:15
3) hatred for evil
--> Proverbs 8: 4-8
Having a hatred for evil means NO exceptions! If God hates it [i.e. homosexuality, lust, gossip, etc] then we as his children and followers should hate it as well. Some people confuse holiness with simply abstaining from immorality and sin, or dressing nicely. Holiness is simply "at one with God." Meaning, if you are at one with God, you will make the godly decision, you won't tolerate the things that upset him, and you will follow his commandments.
*"Salvation is ONLY in the name of Jesus because he was and still is the only one qualified to represent mankind." ~ Bishop George Davis
"Walk"
September 08, 2011
Given by Pastor Brandon Davis; Thursday youth service
- we should not live defeated lives [Matthew 16:24-26]
- every day we must die to flesh
- what you "plan" to do should never be bigger than what God wants you to do
- don't live for the moment, live for eternity
--> Joshua 1:8
--> Acts 9:20-25
- The more you walk with your cross the stronger God will make you
- God is all powerful, I am not
- Lord means master
- 2 things in order to walk
1) be courageous [Joshua 1:8]
2) rely on Godly relationships to keep you going
--> Acts 14:19- 22
- Life is not about you
- I set my mind to do what God wants me to do
- nobody is perfect including you
"forbearance" - bear with one another
Given by Pastor Brandon Davis; Thursday youth service
- we should not live defeated lives [Matthew 16:24-26]
- every day we must die to flesh
- what you "plan" to do should never be bigger than what God wants you to do
- don't live for the moment, live for eternity
--> Joshua 1:8
--> Acts 9:20-25
- The more you walk with your cross the stronger God will make you
- God is all powerful, I am not
- Lord means master
- 2 things in order to walk
1) be courageous [Joshua 1:8]
2) rely on Godly relationships to keep you going
--> Acts 14:19- 22
- Life is not about you
- I set my mind to do what God wants me to do
- nobody is perfect including you
"forbearance" - bear with one another
Saturday, September 3, 2011
The Brand of a True Friend
Lifted Youth Group- Thursday night service
preacher: Minister Keia Perry-Farr
-"Brand" -> a particular characteristic that identifies something placed forever in memory; distinctive; distinguished from common qualities. [definition in terms os friendship]
--> Basically, "true" friends are hard to find!
Q: what brand of friend are you?
--> Mark 2:3- 12
- you need to be committed as a friend. See the need(s) of your firends. Press as a friend! P.U.S.H [pray until something happens] Don't take no for an answer!
- "fellowship" -> the brand of a true friend
--> Acts 2:42-45 Impossible to have a good, coherent friendship without fellowship.
-Friends pray with friends (*prayer helps to answer problems)
-dying to self, living for Christ and spreading the gospel all over!
3 traits that brand true friendship: care, joy, transparent love
in our friendships, we should do all of the following:
1) exercise Godly character
2) share the same heart [2 Cor. 6:14]
3) give friends time + attention b/c you have to help your friends meet their needs to the best of you ability
4) be honest
5) protect your friends
--> Acts 5:32-35 [ foundation scripture for the night] Protecting is not always about fighting. You can protect your friend's character; integrity; protect them from going down the wrong path, etc.
6) give Godly advice to encourage your friends
7) challenge one another to be better by pointing them in the right direction
--> Proverbs 27:17 You should be sharper with your friends! Every time you are with them, you should grow!
*Keep each other accountable! Pray and read the word with them! Last but not least, disciple one another!
- to disciple means to teach; to prepare for survival. In essence, you are teaching your friends how to survive! [b/c we're at spiritual warfare! Equip them with knowledge!]
Friends help friends hold on to their salvation.
preacher: Minister Keia Perry-Farr
-"Brand" -> a particular characteristic that identifies something placed forever in memory; distinctive; distinguished from common qualities. [definition in terms os friendship]
--> Basically, "true" friends are hard to find!
Q: what brand of friend are you?
--> Mark 2:3- 12
- you need to be committed as a friend. See the need(s) of your firends. Press as a friend! P.U.S.H [pray until something happens] Don't take no for an answer!
- "fellowship" -> the brand of a true friend
--> Acts 2:42-45 Impossible to have a good, coherent friendship without fellowship.
-Friends pray with friends (*prayer helps to answer problems)
-dying to self, living for Christ and spreading the gospel all over!
3 traits that brand true friendship: care, joy, transparent love
in our friendships, we should do all of the following:
1) exercise Godly character
2) share the same heart [2 Cor. 6:14]
3) give friends time + attention b/c you have to help your friends meet their needs to the best of you ability
4) be honest
5) protect your friends
--> Acts 5:32-35 [ foundation scripture for the night] Protecting is not always about fighting. You can protect your friend's character; integrity; protect them from going down the wrong path, etc.
6) give Godly advice to encourage your friends
7) challenge one another to be better by pointing them in the right direction
--> Proverbs 27:17 You should be sharper with your friends! Every time you are with them, you should grow!
*Keep each other accountable! Pray and read the word with them! Last but not least, disciple one another!
- to disciple means to teach; to prepare for survival. In essence, you are teaching your friends how to survive! [b/c we're at spiritual warfare! Equip them with knowledge!]
Friends help friends hold on to their salvation.
Understanding the Laws of Life & Death
- beginning of a new series by Bishop George Davis
Romans 7:15- Romans 8:2
-in my flesh there is no good thing. However, through Christ JesuI live by the law of the spirit, not the law of man
-2 master laws that exist on earth and they are polar opposites:
1) law of life
2) law of death
-There are things that we do, sometimes ignorantly, that enacts the law of death to work against us when God designed for the law of life to be operating in our lives each and every day.
-Called laws because they're always working either for or against you for your entire life.
*Important to know about these laws because if we don't, we may end up blaming God when things go wrong in our lives and get mad at God.
- You can't expect to live out the law of life in your life if you're continually enacting the law of death
- *Death is always trying to work against you, but because you're in Christ Jesus, the law of life supersedes the law of death because it's more powerful
--> Psalm 115:12-
-God will bless you on credit! (he knows your heart)
--> Genesis 2:7-9; Genesis 1:26
*It's a powerless place to be in when everyone else is responsible for your mess because that means you can't get out of this prison/ bondage you're in unless they decide to change their ways. But when you take responsibility for it, you have dominion over it.
[reference scripture: John 6:63, 1Tim 3:16]
--> Romans 5
From Adam to Moses, the people of the earth were being dominated by the law of death until God gave Moses the law --> now they know what's right and what's wrong so they (we're) without excuse.
--> John 3:36-
-He that believeth on the son of God has eternal life. The law of life is the dominating force in the life of a born-again believer so you no longer have to bow a knee to the law of sin.
- God has put himself in us! (supernatural) he's trying to get us to a place where we're in this world but not of this world --> it's a daily fight to live in this world, but not be contaminated by this world
John 17:13-
- Stand up and show the world what God looks like!
*Don't tiptoe around the devil! Why? Because Jesus has made me free from the law of sin! I don't have to try and impress you, be afraid of you, fearful, cowardly, etc. Because God has set me free to be me in Him.
* assignment for the week: overflow in the word of God this week. You can do that by - CD, meditation, of key scriptures, etc.
Romans 7:15- Romans 8:2
-in my flesh there is no good thing. However, through Christ JesuI live by the law of the spirit, not the law of man
-2 master laws that exist on earth and they are polar opposites:
1) law of life
2) law of death
-There are things that we do, sometimes ignorantly, that enacts the law of death to work against us when God designed for the law of life to be operating in our lives each and every day.
-Called laws because they're always working either for or against you for your entire life.
*Important to know about these laws because if we don't, we may end up blaming God when things go wrong in our lives and get mad at God.
- You can't expect to live out the law of life in your life if you're continually enacting the law of death
- *Death is always trying to work against you, but because you're in Christ Jesus, the law of life supersedes the law of death because it's more powerful
--> Psalm 115:12-
-God will bless you on credit! (he knows your heart)
--> Genesis 2:7-9; Genesis 1:26
*It's a powerless place to be in when everyone else is responsible for your mess because that means you can't get out of this prison/ bondage you're in unless they decide to change their ways. But when you take responsibility for it, you have dominion over it.
[reference scripture: John 6:63, 1Tim 3:16]
--> Romans 5
From Adam to Moses, the people of the earth were being dominated by the law of death until God gave Moses the law --> now they know what's right and what's wrong so they (we're) without excuse.
--> John 3:36-
-He that believeth on the son of God has eternal life. The law of life is the dominating force in the life of a born-again believer so you no longer have to bow a knee to the law of sin.
- God has put himself in us! (supernatural) he's trying to get us to a place where we're in this world but not of this world --> it's a daily fight to live in this world, but not be contaminated by this world
John 17:13-
- Stand up and show the world what God looks like!
*Don't tiptoe around the devil! Why? Because Jesus has made me free from the law of sin! I don't have to try and impress you, be afraid of you, fearful, cowardly, etc. Because God has set me free to be me in Him.
* assignment for the week: overflow in the word of God this week. You can do that by - CD, meditation, of key scriptures, etc.
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