Leif Hetland, Joseph Harris, and Heidi Baker | April 22-24, 2022

Recap:
The Prayer and Presence conference just wrapped up this Sunday, and it was an important weekend that marked our church for the future. Guest speakers Leif Hetland, Joseph Harris, and Heidi Baker taught us how to move from laboring for God to living in a place with God that enables the supernatural to become a natural part of our lives.

God wants us to become more aware of His work than anything else on this earth so we don’t miss what He is doing. All we have to do is welcome Him and turn our hearts in His direction. His presence is what we need!

Dive Deeper:
This weekend, we received language for what God wants to do in our lives! So often we pray for the fire of God, but God wants to do so much more than send fire. He wants to prepare us to be a good fireplace to receive His fire!

One way God does this is by overwhelming us with His love. When we understand and are enveloped by His love, we rest in His love. We see His face and know His voice. We operate as a son or daughter of God, not an orphan. Throughout the weekend, we saw the example of three chairs being used. The first chair is the place where we will see God’s face and know His voice. We will be focused on Him. The second chair is where we are focused on our voice. The third chair is where we are focused on the world.

Put it this way: When you are in chair #1, you are operating in your covenant, an intimate relationship with your Heavenly Father. When you are in chair #2, you’re focused on fear, attempting to control everything. You operate more as an orphan rather than a son or daughter of God.

God wants you in chair #1, shining instead of whining, and we do that by spending time with Him. His presence is what we need to remain rooted in love. It is in that place we encounter God and find our identity in Him. You become an ambassador of God’s love when you are in this place, knowing that His burden is easy and His yoke is light. Your testimony will be found in God.

That’s just the beginning of what was taught this past weekend, but more importantly, what was caught during time spent worshipping and waiting and praying in God’s presence. It’s well worth your time to listen to these services more than once!

Read About It:
Ephesians 1:3–23 KJV
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own 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 world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Discussion Questions:
1. What ministered to you this past weekend?
2. What keeps us from living in chair #1?
3. How can we make God’s presence a priority in our lives?

Rewatch or catch up on the full sermon with the link below!

Recent Sermon Notes

The Impossible Dream | Mac Hammond

Pastor Mac taught the first message in his new series entitled, “The Impossible Dream.” He said “the impossible dream” is a good message for the outset of a new year. However, it’s a good message for all to hear at any time during the year. He began the message by asking a rhetorical question: “Do your dreams fall only within the realm of logical possibility. Or do your dreams require the element of the miraculous in order to be realized?” He went on to explain how God-given dreams will always necessitate the supernatural power of God in order for them to be fulfilled.

GRACE UNVEILED, “Dominion of Grace” #25 | Jim Hammond

This past Sunday, Pastor Jim gave the 25th installment to his teaching series entitled, “Grace Unveiled.” In the past messages, we’ve been studying Romans 3, 4, 5, and 6. Before teaching on chapter 7, Pastor Jim wanted to break down these chapters again in a way we have not heard them before. He said, “You’re going to hear these chapters taught in a different way.” So far, we focused on the gift of righteousness. And we focused on justification. But there is a third subject that Pastor Jim wanted to focus on before we moved on to the next chapter.   

GRACE UNVEILED, #24, “The Dominion of Grace” | Jim Hammond

Pastor Jim was back and gave his 24th installment of his study on the book of Romans called “Unveiled Grace: The Dominion of Grace.” By now, the congregants that have been following Pastor Jim’s teaching on Romans should have a clear understanding of what justification is and what it means to the believer. There are many benefits to this justification. It’s a gift of New Testament righteousness. But this righteousness is something you must be established in. And fortunately, by the time this study on Romans has been completed, you absolutely will have been established in it. Because, as Pastor Jim said, “I’ve been hammering it and hammering it and hammering it!” 

How to Finish the Year Strong 1 | Mac Hammond

Pastor Mac gave a message entitled, “How to Finish the Year Strong.” We’re at the end of the year and many use this time as an occasion to pray about what the Lord would have them do in the coming year…to set their sail in Christ, so to speak. They want the Lord to help them identify the marks they are to press toward in order to finish their race. To that end, Pastor Mac spoke to us about “finishing strong.”

Releasing the Anointing | Releasing the Anointing

Special guest Dr. James Tan continued his message entitled, “Releasing the Anointing.” He used Hebrews 5:14 as his text: “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Dr. James said, “This tells us there is solid food available, but it only belongs to those who are full age.” If there is full age, then that means these is a half age, or partial age, or young age. God’s goal for us is that we grow and mature into “full age.”