Kurt’s introduction before his sermon: The local church is the pillar and the ground of the Truth. It gives the foundation for us to stand on and is the pillar for us to remain strong. Pastors are a specific gift from the Lord. We need to be in church services. Pastor Kurt says that he would find out why someone is losing and not making it. He found that flaky people do not have a church that they are faithful to. Be faithful to your pastor and church. Sermon: Kurt got saved by believing that God had to keep His covenant, even if He did not want to. He turned to Jesus because he was dying of a disease and wanted what He had to offer, not because he believed God loved him. He believed that God responds to His Word by integrity. It is not enough toknow that God loves us, but according to 1 John 4:14-16, we need to believe that He does. Many people know He loves them, but they think that they have disqualified themselves because they messed up. Do we believe His love for us personally? Faith works by love, and when you understand how much God loves you, faith works easier. Kurt compared knowing and believing God to someone he hardly knows saying that he will buy him a suit. Kurt is not going to make any changes according to that. However, if Apostle Dale or Pastor Syd say that to him, he is going to be checking out suits, asking where to shop for them in this area, and making room for it in his suitcase. What is the difference? He knows and believes those two men; he did not really know the other one. Know and believe His love for you. He will keep His promises. He told a story of a man who spent huge amounts on long-distant phone bills to a “crazy” woman. When people asked him why he did it, he said, “Because I love her.” People do crazy things when they are in love. God is crazy in love with you! However, be watchful that you do not abuse His love. It does not mean that you don’t have to listen to Him. Don’t beat yourself up for what you have done, and don’t look more at yourself than at God. Don’t try to find out where you have opened the door to the enemy. If he is beating up you or someone you love, deal with him with your weapon! Cry out to God. If you opened the door, you can sort that out later. In Philippians 4:17 it says about the day of judgment. Don’t be afraid of that. It is a positive thing: He will declare you “not guilty!” Even when He corrects you if is for your own good. Kurt broke his ankle in Israel. It was a day of judgment for him. He was quoting healing Scriptures when it happened, but his mind was saying that he had not been meditating on healing Scriptures very much lately. God did mighty works for even evil places, like Sodom and Gomorrah. We love Him because He first loved us. Be more convinced of His love for you than your love for Him. I love Him, but He loves me all the more. A young man could not talk. Kurt told his father to speak of him as “Speaking Isaiah.” People do crazy things when they are in love. God loves you.
Pastor Syd had a word for Apostle Dale and Teri Armstrong about the Rebecca anointing, anticipation, and expectation. Cathy Ginder, Darryl Balmer, and Ann Borg shared financial and healing testimonies of God’s goodness. We are to rejoice in the Lord always, not worry, and look to the Source (Philippians 4:4-6, 13, 19). Keep your eyes on God as your source, not on your own resources, and don’t limit Him. [A book, The Secret Place of God’s Protection by Gloria Copeland was given to someone whose bulletin had a sticker on it.]