Recent Sermon Notes
Pastor Mac taught a message entitled, “The Accuser of Brethren.” “This message is important,” he said, “because it encapsulates our challenge in this life and summarizes things in a significant way.” His subject? How to avoid deception! The basic truth of this message is this: If the enemy can’t deceive you, he can’t defeat you!
Pastor Jim preached a message subtitled, “The Holy Spirit Leads You Out of the Dominion of Sin.” This is his 33rd message in his teaching series on the book of Romans called “Unveiled Grace.” The message was based on Romans 8:13, “For if you live according to [the dictates of] the flesh, you will surely die. But if through the power of the [Holy] Spirit you are [habitually] putting to death (making extinct, deadening) the [evil] deeds prompted by the body, you shall [really and genuinely] live forever.” (Amp.) This verse tells us that through the Holy Spirit, we have the power to put to death the evil deeds of the body.
Pastor Mac taught a message on the celebration of Easter. He said, “The kingdom of God is based upon the Word of God. In fact, the kingdom of God is a manifestation of the Word of God and His purposes on the earth.” The celebration of Easter is a centerpiece of all that He’s done to enable humanity to rise to the level only possible in Him—and to escape the realm of death!
Pastor Jim taught the 31st message in his series on Romans: “Unveiling Grace.” The Bible is clear, under the New Covenant, there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Yet many believers are walking around under the weight of condemnation. Pastor Jim explains these believers are trying to absolve themselves of their sins through their own self-effort, which is another way of saying “through their flesh.” What they’re trying to do is live under Old Covenant laws. There’s a word for Christians like that—miserable!
We welcomed back to the pulpit Dr. Heidi Baker to be our guest speaker. Dr. Heidi is a powerful minister and co-founder of Iris Global, a ministry in Mozambique, located in southeastern Africa. She and her husband, Rolland, led a revival that has transformed countless lives. Also, their ministry cares for orphans, trains leaders, and brings healing to the broken. Pastor Mac said, “They’re truly changing that part of the world.”
Your Vision | Pastor Mac Hammond | January 15, 2023
This past weekend, Pastor Hammond taught on a subject that should interest every believer: your own personal vision. He talked about how to set vision as an individual and then how to set a vision for your family. Pastor Mac shared why he wanted to teach about setting your own personal vision by saying, “The truth is that our ability to achieve the corporate vision is really dependent to a degree on you making the vision God has for your life, which will involve the ability to supply what you are required to supply to the vision of God through this ministry.”
Dive Deeper:
Pastor Hammond made it clear that in order to have an effective vision, it first has to be based on the Word of God. Your vision will be shaped by your choices; therefore, your choices need to be shaped by the Word of God. God says that He’s set before us life and blessing, death and cursing. Therefore, choose life. We are to make choices based on choosing life and blessing.
A vision must always include steps or marks in which you can press toward. If your vision doesn’t have steps and goals, then your Christianity will become stagnant because you’re not moving forward.
It is wise that all people, whether single or married, create a personal vision, i.e. personal goals with objectives like fitness or eating issues. However, if married, the couple should come together to discuss and agree on creating goals and objectives for the family. Pastor Hammond stressed that it is not just the husband’s duty to create a vision for the family. The husband and wife must do it together.
Then Pastor went on to discuss how commitment is vital to anyone’s success in achieving the goals in his or her success.
All of us should have physical and relational goals, but the most important goal is the financial aspect, what we do with our money. Pastor Hammond quoted Luke 16:11 that says your management of money is the least in which you’re required to be faithful. If you’re not faithful in that which is least, you won’t be faithful in that which is much. He said, for that reason, it’s important to start with money in the personal goal-setting process.
With regard to money-setting goals, you must distinguish between what is a “need” and what is a “want.” This involves being honest with yourself. Don’t buy a boat when you don’t have enough money to purchase groceries for your family. Also, don’t set a vision that is too lofty, where you know you don’t have the faith to believe for it.
Pastor Hammond also discussed the role of tithing in your vision setting.
Read About It:
Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”
Luke 16:11–12 “If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?”
Discussion Questions: