Recent Sermon Notes
Mark Hankins, delivered a message entitled, “The Gift of Righteousness or System of Truth.” He explained that everywhere the Apostle Paul preached and in all of his letters to the churches, Paul consistently taught a “form of doctrine.” The Weymouth translation called it a “system of truth.” This system of truth was designed to create champions, those who would reign in life like a king!
we were blessed to have as our special guest minister, Dr. James Tan. 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.” He cautioned that there were far too many believers who have never grown up and are still drinking milk when they should be eating solid food. A mature believer is someone who is able to discern the manifestations of Holy Spirit and the anointing. Dr. James went on to teach that there are primarily three manifestations of the anointing.
Pastor Mac was back this past weekend! He continued his series, “Thy Kingdom Come.” His text was out of Hebrews 12:26, “Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.” He reminded us that things are going to get shaken… not only on earth but in the unseen realm in the heavenlies! How you respond to the shaking will determine your quality of life. You’ll either be removed or transformed. Which one will be your future?
Pastor Jim taught the 23rd installment of his teaching series on the book of Romans entitled, “Grace Unveiled.” In this message, he taught how, through the salvation process, the spirit of a person comes alive, or is “born again.” The Bible says he becomes a “new creature in Christ.” And because he is a new creature, Paul teaches us in Romans chapter six, that he now has the ability to deprive sin of its power over him. He has the power to resist sin. And that’s good news!
we had our long-time friend of the ministry, Dr. Billye Brim, as our guest minister. She taught us about covenant and a very special word tied to it—chesed! God is a covenant-keeping God and He wants to enter covenant with us. She reminded us that He has a glorious plan for all His children. Because He is a covenant-keeping God, He will honor His plan for our lives as long as we honor and live under His demands for our lives.
The Road to Bethlehem #2: Great Things in You | Pastor Mac Hammond | December 18, 2022
Recap:
This past Sunday, Pastor Mac continued his Christmas series talking about The Road to Bethlehem. Mary’s pregnancy was more than a path to bring Jesus to earth in human form. It was an example of what it looks like to bring God’s supernatural promise from seed form in our hearts into the world around us. The road to seeing these things manifest will be filled with God at work, doing great things on the inside of us, which include increasing our capacity to receive and give the love of Jesus to others, the peace of God brought about because of the residence of the Prince of Peace on the inside of us, and the joy of our salvation.
Dive Deeper:
Mary is a prototype of how God’s promise starts in our hearts and is birthed into this natural realm. The first step she took was saying, “Be it unto me according to Your will.” That’s a great place to start! That’s when we welcome God as Lord of our lives.
What happens next is that the joy of salvation begins to be birthed on the inside of us. God begins to reveal to us the joy that provides strength through every moment of adversity that we face. Then, as we begin to grow in God, we realize that God is the Prince of Peace. He resides on the inside of us, which means that we don’t need to live in fear. We can walk through life with the immeasurable peace that comes from knowing God is with us. This peace comes in greater and greater measure as we learn to guard and control our thought lives.
Then as God works in our heart, we will begin to see other people through a different lens. The unconditional love of God will become a revelation in our hearts, and we will begin to see others from a perspective of love rather than revenge or comparison. We’ll see them as God sees them. Compassion and grace will take priority in our relationships.
All of these things will prepare us to bring God’s promises into the world around us, for what God does through us has to happen on the inside of us first. Eventually, the day will come when what is in us will burst forth from us into the world around us.
Read About It:
Luke 1:26–38 KJV
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Luke 1:49 KJV
For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
Luke 2:1–7 KJV
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
Philippians 4:8–9 KJV
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Discussion Questions:
1. Have you ever experienced God’s unexplainable peace in your life?
2. How does managing our thought life connect with the level of peace in our heart?
3. Why does God use us to bring His promise into the world?