God’s Love is One of Kind – week 2 – Pastor Dan (notes/video)
One of a Kind – Series on the Love of God
Week 2 – Love Your Neighbor
Matt 25:35-36 NIV
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
Matt 25:40 NIV
Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
1 John 4:11 NKJ
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 Cor 13:4-7 NIV
4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.
6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.
7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Matt 22:37-39 NIV
“Love the Lord Your God” …and “Love your neighbor as yourself”.
Kidney healed testimony
I was diagnosed with kidney stones a few months ago. One of the stones was almost a half inch long and the doctor told me it would not pass. She said we could wait and see if it moved and started to cause pain before we dealt with it, so I didn’t think about it for quite a while. About a month ago, I started to feel pain again. If you’ve ever had kidney stones, you know what I mean about PAIN! I had this pain in my right side for about 3 weeks and it was getting pretty severe. I was about to make an appointment to have the large kidney stone blasted and broken into small enough pieces to be able to pass them, or possible surgery if that didn’t work or was no longer an option. On a Thursday at the church office, one of the ladies prayed over me for the stone to dissolve. I felt a little better, but there was still pain. At dress rehearsal for Easter, two women prayed over me again because the pain was getting worse again. Easter morning in the service Pastor Tracy said to stand if you needed a healing. I stood up. She said there was someone with a kidney issue that they had been praying for. I knew it was me! She saw me raise my hand and said to me that I was completely healed in Jesus’ name. By the time I went outside to the event we had that day, I realized that the pain was completely gone. Thank you Jesus! I have experienced many healings since coming to Life Christian. I know now that it is because I know God does not want me to be sick, but in excellent health (John 10:10). I was not taught that in previous churches. I thank God for this church and for being taught the truth that is in the Word!
God’s Love is One of a Kind – week 1 – by: Pastor Tracy (notes/video)
One of a Kind – Part 1: Loving God
Sunday May 5, 2013
(Ephesians 3: 19 NIV) “ … to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
(1 John 2:15-16 NLT) ”Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.”
Four kinds of Love
- ________ is sacrificial love.
- ________ is brotherly love.
- ________ is erotic or sensual love.
- ________ is affectionate love.
This is Love:
(1 John 4:10 NLT) “This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.”
- The Love of God is _________.
(Romans 5:5 NIV) “And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
- Love _________.
(1 John 2:13-15 NLT) “I am writing to you who are God’s children because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus. I am writing to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning. I am writing to you who are young in the faith because you have won your battle with the evil one.”
- Love inspires ______________.
(1 John 2:3 NLT) “And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments.
- Love drives out _____________.
(1 John 4:18 NIV) “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.”
- Be __________with His Love.
(Ephesians 3:17-19 NIV) “And I pray that you, being rootedand established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God”
(Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV) ”Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
- Spend ________ with Love.
Mother’s Day invite 2013
Invite your mom’s to come out with you for church on Mother’s Day. We’re going to make it very special for her that day, plus a give away that will really bless the winner! See you there on May 12th!
Neck healed testimony
On Wednesday, I was in a car accident and I was sent to the Hospital, they took 2 ex-ray of my neck cause I was having lots of pain there. It came out on the results that I had a fractured bone on my neck, so I was told it will take 6-8 weeks to heal so I had to meet with a doctor to see if I needed surgery. That moment at the hospital I didn’t care what the doctor had to say, because I believed that I was healed in the name of Jesus. I remember telling my friends and family that on Easter Sunday I was going to be heal. On Easter Sunday, I walked in service with pains in my neck and my back, but I still was believing that I was healed. After service, Pastor Tracy had said to stand up if we had any problems with our body so I stand up believing that I’m healed and I felt a strong spirit. I started to feel a strong heat over my neck and body; the good thing is I walked out of service with no pain. I haven’t taken any medication, but still I had to wear the cast till I met with doctor with proof! Some people would tell me that I’m going to need surgery and others were saying, “I thought you were going to be healed on Easter Sunday?” My response to them was that on Thursday, I will come to youth group with no cast, because I am healed in the Name of Jesus! That Thursday, I had an appointment before going to youth group. The doctor had told me that my results came in. I have No Fracture, I no longer need to wear the cast so I went to youth group with no cast, praise The Lord! God is awesome!!!
BFF series week 4 – by: Pastor Tracy (notes/video)
Holy Spirit: My Best Friend Part 4: Living with the Holy Spirit
Sunday April 21, 2013
(John 14:16 NKJ) “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— “
(John16: 7 NKJ) “It is to your advantage that I go away… “
Living in His Strength
(Matthew 11:28-30 NLT) “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
- To live overcoming ________________.
(Romans 8:12-13 NLT) Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.
- To live doing the __________________.
(Colossians 1:28-29 NIV) “He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuouslycontendwith all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.”
Living hearing His voice
- ____________ will.
- ____________ will.
(John 10:4-5 NLT) “… and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”
Living with His friendship
- He is always _____________.
(John 14:18 NIV) “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”
- He can get _______________.
(Ephesians 4: 30-32 NIV) “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealedfor the day of redemption.Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another,forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
- He hungers for our _____________.
- ____________________ Him.
(Proverbs 3:6 NKJ) “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
- ____________ His presence.
(Acts 4:31 NIV) “ After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken.And they were all filled with the Holy Spiritand spoke the word of Godboldly.”
What is the Holy Spirit saying to me?
Addicted to Jesus testimony
A friend came into small group all beat up over his daughter’s current addictive situation with drugs and alcohol. He was feeling unworthy of the Love of God and that his mistakes in the past had created this mess. We started off the small group by talking to him and everyone chipped in to help. We ended this portion of small group with the prayer of agreement over him and his daughter. We prayed for her to accept the challenges of rehab that were ahead and that God would open opportunities for her dad to speak into her life, since she was avoiding that prior. We prayed over him to really know that he is “the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.” He had also mentioned that he was experiencing such fear at night when he would go to sleep that it was actually the spirit of fear coming on him as if choking him. We prayed that that spirit would be released from him since he is a “temple of the Holy Spirit” and no other spirit is able to come against God the Holy Spirit. He was refreshed and we ended small group that night. He went home and his daughter came over. He was surprised by this, since she was avoiding him prior. She asked him for help and she told him that she knew that she needed it. This was an answer to our prayer just a couple of hours prior to this. God is good. His daughter is more open than he has ever seen her. There is still a long road of decisions or her ahead, but this was nothing short of a miracle. We will continue to pray, but we know God is in this and it will all work out. He was more excited than words could describe. This was the biggest opening that he had seen in his daughter. God is amazing!
BFF series week 3 – Pastor Dan (notes/video)
BFF series week 3
Part 3: Be Filled with the Spirit by: Pastor Dan
Sunday April 21, 2013
(Ephesians 5:18 NLT) – “…be filled with the Holy Spirit”
The Holy Spirit helps us to…
- Be effective in _________. (Romans 8:26-27)
- Have _______to overcome obstacles. (Galatians 5:22)
- Have a deeper understanding of God’s _____. (Revelation 2:29)
- Have __________ to witness. (Acts 1:8)
- Overcome _________. (Galatians 5:16)
- Have greater demonstration of spiritual _________.
(1 Corinthians 12:7-10)
(Acts 10:38 NKJ) “…how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.”
Three Baptisms
First Baptism – ________________– baptized into the Body of Christ.
(1 Corinthians 12:13 NLT) “We have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit…”
Second Baptism – ____________ Baptism.
(Matthew 28:19 NIV) “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…”
Third Baptism – Baptism in the _________ __________.
(Acts 1:4-5 NLT) “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
We receive the promise of the Spirit through _________.
(Galatians 3:14 NKJ) …that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
(Acts 1:8 NLT) “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
(Acts 2:1-4 NLT) “On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.”
Be _________with the Holy Spirit.
(Ephesians 5:18 NLT) “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit…”
(Ephesians 5:18-19 NKJ) “…but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord…”
God’s in this
I was prompted by the Spirit to pass this along. I left my wife and the boys in Canada and returned to the USA after we agreed that we were going to move to the USA. Longer story, but I came back first so I could make some money and its how God had opened a door. Anyway it was very difficult for me, my son was just 3 months old and it broke my heart to be apart. It ended up taking 4 months from them to come here . Also, before I came to Canada, my wife was there for 4 months. So, there was some time that we were apart and during this time a lot happened.
My wife would call me, 7-8 months pregnant and tell me she was out and lost the keys to the car!!! It was horrible, I was so far away and felt so helpless in the situation. I knew to pray, and I did but we are men and men, hold on…we are real Christian men! And we run to our family in a times like this. But this time my wife is in Canada freezing, pregnant, and outside locked out of the car with no keys and I’m as far south as you can get, I’m south east USA and she is north west Canada!
Here’s what happened: my wife called the tow truck, they said the key had a chip and it would cost more money to fix and take time and blah, blah, blah… I’m back and fourth on the phone while working and stressed as could be. Next thing you know a guy recognizes her , he works at the church that was across the street, he came over and started talking and she tells him what happened. He calls his friend who has a tow truck, this guy comes by, sees that it is a key with a chip, so he tows the car to the dealer which was closed till Monday, and then drives her home.
Anyway, Monday, she had the car back, and through this moment God spoke to me, God took care of my family when they were in Canada, when there wasn’t anything I could do. There were many times God put me at ease, one time she was in a food court and some lady brought her and our son 2 muffins and drinks, then a pizza guy walks up and ask if they will try his new pizza…God takes care of our family’s when we can’t and when we can. Sometimes we don’t give Him the credit.
