“MyChurch” notes & video – Pastor James – 02/05/12
February 5th – Vision Casting
“MyChurch”
Opening:
This church doesn’t want something from you, but for you. We want something for you. We do church, because the whole New Testament was written about the church, and it’s an outlet of Jesus love to people. We teach the Word, and we do things to allow you an outlet to do the gospel and be the church.
(KJV) Matthew 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
- Important point: they were already “fishers”. He is saying to them that He can use them in what they are already good at. He wants to use their gifts that they were naturally gifted and already trained in.
- It’s going to take some work
- Gotta throw out the net
- There will be some days that don’t seem productive
- You can’t catch fish without throwing out the net
Skip down a paragraph
(KJV) Matthew 4:23-25 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
- Kingdom: referring to the reign of the Messiah. A new ruler. A new kingdom than they’ve ever seen so far. He’s inviting them into a new order. One that will last through them, because He is coming to live in them. Training first, however.
- This church teaches about this kingdom. You’ll notice if you hang out long enough at Life Christian, that we focus on this new kingdom on earth. It’s filled with grace, the entire benefit package of salvation, healing, goodness, favor, love, etc.
24: And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
- Do you see that Jesus defines the kingdom by actions in verse :24? All bad stuff has to flee and get lost, because it doesn’t belong in the new kingdom on earth.
25: And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and [from] Decapolis, and [from] Jerusalem, and [from] Judaea, and [from] beyond Jordan.
- Naples, Bonita, Golden Gate, Marco Island, etc.
Overview of last year – August thru January
- Started with 57 people in Aug – 158 people were in this building on Jan 22nd
- We had to get another space for the students and Spanish Ministry
- We are breaking down walls of divide in the church. Divide is this – denominational and language…we are working on language barriers
- Salvations, healing, breakthroughs, families coming back together that were doomed for divorce – read the blog.
- Healed – lifted off the floor and back straightened
- Restored – marriage restoration
- Financial breakthrough – had need, started giving and God stepped in
- Salvations – people were saved and moving forward in getting to know Jesus
There will be more people trusting God than themselves this year than we’ve ever seen! Last year was nothing in comparison!
How many have lost their keys before? How bout your phone? How bout your kid? Or even your car?
- Irresponsible.
I wouldn’t continue trusting you more than God this year, if I were you. - “I’m just going to do it this way.” Instead, this year, what about I’m going to find out what God says and do it that way.
- If you are in the Word a bit, you might not know what God exactly says about your issue. However, that Word is inspired and you’ll know what God would do. You put time in the Word, you will find peace in the choice that God would make and you’ll follow that.
How do we do this?
- (KJV) 1 Corinthians 11:1Be ye followers of me, even as I also [am] of Christ.
- 1Cor 4:16; 1Thes 1:6; 1Thes 2:14; Heb 6:12; 1Pet 3:13
- Followers of good; followers of the church; followers of Jesus in them
- Paul is saying this: I’m staying in the “red” as much as I can, with God’s help. So, follow me, as I follow Jesus.
- In the “red”
- Matthew 5, 6, 7
- Business folks don’t like this term. “In the red“, usually means negative numbers. We’re going to flip the lid on this term. Jesus is the red in scripture, if you’ve got a Bible with red being His words.
- 1Cor 4:16; 1Thes 1:6; 1Thes 2:14; Heb 6:12; 1Pet 3:13
- Pastor Sarah Marie has made it her life’s work to help us do this.
- I always say, “Thank God for Jesus,” but also need to say “thank Jesus for Pastor Sarah Marie.”
- She has made it her life’s work to state the same as the Apostle Paul. Without words, this is what she’s done.
- Her call to 1 over 5
- God didn’t call Pastor Sarah Marie to do His mission by herself…that would be too easy. You ever think, “this would be so much easier without this other person?” sometimes it stinks to work with people. Honestly. How do you think Jesus felt?
- Jesus could have done so much more without these guys, but if we would have He would have had to stay here. The explosion of salvations happened when He rose from the dead, baptized these guys, and sent them out.
- I’m so glad that Pastor Sarah Marie allowed me to get involved in her call with her. If not, I don’t know where I would be.
- God didn’t call Pastor Sarah Marie to do His mission by herself…that would be too easy. You ever think, “this would be so much easier without this other person?” sometimes it stinks to work with people. Honestly. How do you think Jesus felt?
- I always say, “Thank God for Jesus,” but also need to say “thank Jesus for Pastor Sarah Marie.”
Behind a video camera at Life…God met me there.
- “oh, they need help“…that’s what I thought. I needed help, and got it behind a camera.
- Serving and being around the Word being preached as much as possible changed my life. God will take what you do for His kingdom here and use it for your good.
If you want to grow, you’re in the right spot.
- I do a lot with social media, and I had to write a description on all the networks…the one thing I came up with was “a place where you will grow“, that basically sums it up completely.
- I’m looking at the best year that has ever happened to me. Not sure how you’re feeling about it, but that’s how mines gonna be. It is strictly up to you though.
(KJV) Mark 6:34 – And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
- Jesus had compassion for the sheep without a shepherd
- There has been some shepherding that hasn’t taken place. There has been some wandering and wondering. There has been some misleading.
- I’m asking you to jump back in. To trust the God in this church. To turn your trust to the God in this leadership team…you will never be the same. This church will never be the same. The biggest impact is yet to come.
From this church to you:
- We will help you be the church
- We will help you serve the people that God called you to serve
- We will help you grow in your gifts and use them affectively for the kingdom here on earth
- We will do what God called this church to do through you. 1 over 5 style.
- Here’s how you can get to thinking this way:
- I’m not asking that you follow blindly, I’m asking that you make a new commitment to get into that Bible.
- If every time you opened your Bible there was a fifty dollar bill in there, you’d open it more frequently. If there was a sticky note with your answer on it on the page that you open to each time, you’d open it more frequently. If there was a picture of the man or woman that you’re looking for with their twitter handle on it, you’d open it more frequently.
- Knowing His will
- (KJV) Mark 3:35 – For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
- Jesus wouldn’t say this in the scriptures if it wasn’t possible to know His Father’s will for you.
- Very interesting, He then asks them to feed the 5000. They ask Him about spending. They check the budget. This shows that they had it in the bank, but Jesus says in basics, “I’m not asking you to spend, I’m asking you to serve out of my abundance that I’ve already provided. You may not see it yet, but I’ve provided it already.
- If you recall they go back to count what they have. 5 loaves and 2 fish
- 5 is the number of grace
- 2 is a number of dividing up
- He’s saying, “my grace is sufficient for you. Take the 5 (grace) and divide it up. Distribute my grace, and you’ll see what you have here on earth.
- (KJV) Mark 6:43And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.
- The number 12 means – “anointed to serve” – anointed to serve my grace, and there will be leftovers!
- I’m not asking that you follow blindly, I’m asking that you make a new commitment to get into that Bible.
You are anointed to serve!
- You haven’t yet seen your true potential. This is your year.
- I believe that this year is the best year you’ve ever seen. If you don’t want it, I’m taking it no matter what. Let’s partake together this year and see what the Lord has in store.
My time at Life Christian
I have been attending this church since Life Christian (LCC) took over. I was part of the Fisherman’s Home Church congregation prior as well. God has blessed me financially and personally since my salvation.The one blessing that stands above any personal or financial blessing is how God is building a relationship with me. The message at LCC is grounded in building a personal relationship with God. My early training in “religion” taught me about a judgmental God. My earthly father continued to be a judgmental dictator who was critical of most everything I did. I learned to tune out fathers.
I now look forward to starting my day in God’s presence. Praising and asking for His guidance to perform His will in my life. My days start happier, I am more receptive to what is given to me and I do not dread another day on the job.
I am grateful to LCC for introducing me to a father who not only says He loves me, but also acts like He loves me. I can feel His love, and I look forward to each day so that I can grow in that relationship with Him.
2012 at Life Christian Church – CTWG Testimony
Our family has been so bless with the CTWG, specially on the beginning of this year 2012. GOD has spoke so clear to our hearts that we truly believed he has a great plan for us and our blessings will be pour out on us as we seek him and put him first in our lives. We look forward to get more CTWG journals for the rest of the year 2012….
CTWG Naples Campus Testimony – my son is changed!
Our kids couldn’t wait to do CTWG (Consistent Time With God) so… on the way home from church we let them complete day one. Something had been bothering our youngest son. It was something that was inconsequential to us but a really big deal to him that left him very confused that we never would have known was bothering him. CTWG, from our first entries has improved our communication. We are only on day three, and I’m buying it for other families that need this! Thanks so much Life!
jobs are raining in
As you know I have been out of work for the past 2 and a half years…
The two places I would have always thought I would love to work at is U of M Hospital or Chrysler. Obviously, Chrysler because that is the engineering customer that I have been working with for the past 8 years, and who wouldn’t want to work for the hospital since it is the best of any other by far
Today, I had an interview with both organizations. The interview at U of M went very well when I met with the administrator, and I believe I will be called back for the 2nd interview next Wednesday.
Last night, I tried looking for an email address or telephone number to contact my past customer who taught me all my technical skills to ask her to be a reference for me since she works at Chrysler. I never did find the number, but when I showed up for the interview she met me at one of the offices where the meeting was to take place. She gave me a hug and I told her I was going to ask her to be a reference. She said she saw my resume and she already spoke on my behalf. She said she herself was a hiring manager and is hiring for a few positions in Chrysler. She was going to stay in the meeting and participate.
As they were talking to me the manager mentioned there were four areas of work they needed to fill and what did I WANT. We talked a little more and I told them I was a little overwhelmed by the wonderful response, all the positions sounded great, and I was going to leave and have a wonderful ride home. PRAISE THE LORD. I was in my car a few minutes and the contract person called to say he went to the meeting room to quickly ask them how it all went and they were in the room talking, and giggling. They said I could fill any one of the positions wonderfully, and they were trying to duke it out where I would go since they all three wanted me. My friend told her boss “I TOLD YOU SO.” So I have been told….I am verbally hired.
I could not believe that I was at Chrysler again and that so many people came up hugging me and saying such nice things….God is GREAT! And I was and have been feeling physically GREAT!!! How many people would have an interview at their favorite places on the same day and have wonderful experiences as well….and get hired on the spot with WHAT DO YOU LIKE AND WHAT DO YOU WANT!!!!
I have another interview at a different company tomorrow that is scheduled so I will attend it. But what I really want is the job at U of M hospital. It might be less money…much less money, I don’t know…but who wouldn’t want to work there and it’s close to home — direct hire with benefits. We’ll see about the 2nd interview. I’ll let the Lord work it all out.
I thought you would appreciate another answer to prayer….the Lord does have a sense of humor
The contract manager that called me with the great news said he thought the interview would go well….but he had NO IDEA HOW WELL IT WOULD GO!!! I told him, I did, since I have been going to serious Bible study the past 6 months….he said he was currently on the way to one and he totally agreed with me. How wonderful.
All my love to you and your wonderful family
Tithing changed my life
My husband and I have been tithing for eight years now together. I have tithed off and on during the years that I had been attending church. I had seen some things in the very beginning of my tithing years as far as blessings go, but as the years passed there was a stagnancy that I had about tithing. I think that a lot of the blessings from tithing were not there due to lack of improper teachings about tithing and therefore, I had not been confessing the word over my life. When my husband and I began tithing, we saw the supernatural provision, but nothing much past provision. We were not living debt free, or seeing other blessings, in fact, it just felt like a job or a duty and something we had to do to keep the “locusts away”.
I was at a point that I just didn’t want to give my hard earned money away any more. My husband didn’t agree with me, but in order to be on the same page and avoid an argument, we stopped giving. When the Life Christian Pastors began to teach us what an honor it is to give and how to speak the word over our lives and declare the blessings of Abraham over our lives, something ignited in my spirit. I wanted to start to give again.
We had gotten ourselves into quite a bit of debt and made very difficult for us to give, because we were barely paying our bills. After paying our bills, sometimes, we had no money for the grocery store, just basic milk and eggs kind of shopping. There was definitely lack!! When Pastor Tracy said that lack is a curse, something inside of me got angry at the enemy, and I realized the lies that I had been listening to and I chose to change my thinking and take action. My husband and I agreed to start to tithe again and to speak over our finances, our marriage, our children, our jobs, and our entire lives. Pastor Sarah said that if we said over and over that “Jesus redeemed me from the curse of the law and the blessings of Abraham are mine”, we would see the blessings. The first month that we started to tithe, we could only give very small amounts and even those amounts were on faith alone. We were faithful in doing so until the tithe actually became a tithe equaling the ten percent. The first month my business increased almost double!!!
Since then, it has increased the following month by an extra ten percent and the following an additional 40%!! We gave him ten and he gave us back 40!! He is amazing!! I had a credit card credit my card back almost $500 and we received a rebate check for $1300. My air conditioner went out on my car and was supposed to cost over $1500. The company paid $850 toward fixing the car and we paid the remaining $650 of which was paid from the rebate check, so really we paid nothing and came out ahead $650!!! This is just the big stuff, but on a daily basis, I am finding the favor of God on my life even at the grocery store or when out shopping for clothes. I have customers who now give me things every week that I take care of them. My children, even in their errors are finding favor with their authority figures. My husband and I, who always were fighting, are now getting along so much better and there is a new love kindled between us.
I honestly felt very little good feelings toward him, and I’m sure he was very discouraged about how I treated him due to those feelings being absent and he in turn, felt very bad toward me. I wasn’t too sure that we were even going to make it, BUT GOD! Every time I come to church and hear the teachings, I am reminded of who I am in Christ and of the authority that he has given to me and I am reminded to use it.
We are definitely experiencing Deuteronomy 28:2 where the blessings overtake you and come upon you if you obey the voice of the Lord. There are so many things that have happened recently that I don’t even have time to tell about. I knew the law of tithing and obeying God, but his grace and mercy and knowing that even if you don’t tithe or even obey for that matter, he still loves us and that makes me WANT to give for the purpose of souls coming into the kingdom to receive the things that he is giving to me and my family!!!
LifeNaples.com – a place where you will grow!
God at work from a man’s point of view
Life Christian Church Naples Campus testimony
“God at work from a man’s point of view”
On Friday I was preparing to embark on a four- hundred mile trip with the family in our van. As I was walking to the drivers side door to start the vehicle up, I was told/urged to look down at the left rear tire where I made a important discovery. The tread from the tire had begun to separate at the side wall. A space some four inches long on the side of the tire was present and a cavity had opened up inside the tire itself. Knowing that the tire would surely fail, we opted to take our other vehicle on the trip.
As if the blessing of finding the failed tire is not enough, when I returned home and started to remove the tire so it could be replaced one of the lug bolts broke off under the torque of the wrench. When I started on the second lug bolt it too was ruined.
I immediately stopped and gave Thanks to God for his covering on my family. I am certain that if we had left on our journey, the tire would have failed and then we would have been stranded, unable to fix the problem. Learning to listen FOR and TO the voice of our Heavenly Father in our everday life has proven its reward again in my life. Giving thanks to the Almighty Lord for his timing on our behalf.
The heart of a miracle
Last February, when I saw the Cardiologist, he explained to me that he would want a test done in May to see if there has been any improvement in my heart function. He said he hoped to see 100% improvement and then went on to explain that what that means is….” The left side of your heart is only working at 30% function. If we see it go up to 60% function that is considered 100% improvement. So, last week I went and had my echo-cardiogram done like he asked, and today I find out that not only did I have 100% improvement, but my heart is functioning absolutely normally!!
AS IF NOTHING EVER HAPPENED!!
God is so good!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you all for your prayers!
believe and receive
I have been struggling with cysts on my ovaries for years and they caused pain and discomfort. One night at church Pastor Mike was teaching on healing and he had an alter call for those who needed healing in their bodies and I knew he was talking to me. I went up there believing the word of God and ready to receive my healing. He prayed over me as well as the congregation and I felt this wave of energy go through my body and I knew right then I was healed.
I had my physical the next day and my doctor ordered the ultrasound as normal and when he got the results back my cysts on my ovaries were gone they were no longer there. In the middle of the doctors office I said thank you Jesus and praise you God for my healing and called Pastor Yvonne right away to tell her.
Well my husband and I have been trying to have a baby so I asked my doctor to point me in the right direction because it has been two years and we still weren’t pregnant. So my doctor referred me to a woman’s health care specialist to take a look at my labs and tests to see what he thought. When I went for my appointment he told me that the endometrial ling of my uterus was measuring larger than what it was supposed to and he wanted to do a biopsy on the tissue to see if there are any red flags we should be concerned with.
At this point I was getting nervous and scared and I called my pastors and told her what was going on, and they asked to me, “what are you believing for?” I told her that this is going to help me, so I can have a baby and she said that is what we are going to pray for, and we did. So a week later I went back for my biopsy and he got the sample he needed to be tested and said it would be a week for my results to come back but he was speaking the worst and told me he was testing it for endometrial and uterine cancer. I was like “ok so that’s the way you tell me”, but I told him that I prayed on it and I know i’m alright. So a week later, I went in for my results and he told me that my tissue came back with complex hyperplasia with a typia. I didn’t know what that meant…good or bad, what?! He had this concerned look on his face and drew me out a time line and said that this is the phase right before cancer. I only took it from one spot so that doesn’t mean that it is not in another spot of your uterus, he said. I started crying and he said he wanted me in for surgery on that Tuesday. I was nervous and said are you sure that I have to have surgery and he said do you want to see your son turn ten and I said yeah. He said then you have to have this surgery or you won’t make it until then.
I called the pastors right away and they started praying with me on my way home. I asked her if they would come and be my support and they did. Then, I let my husband know when he got home from work and then my family. Finally, it was surgery day and everyone came to support me. I was scared and nervous but after we prayed I was really calm and ready to get this over and done with. After surgery when I woke up the doctor told me that he found a polyp on my uterus and he said the texture of it was a sure sign of cancer. We would know more in a week. I told him that I believe that I am healed and that it was not cancer and he looked at me and then smiled and walked away. When I finally got the results in it was not cancer! My God is an AWESOME GOD!!!! I received a supernatural healing and I just wanted to share that with you.
We all need a church that will stand with us in faith…Life Christian Church does that!
