Knowing that God is with you means that all heaven is backing you. God in you is power and victory. Rom. 8:31 asks if God is for us, who can be against us? Samson was a man who did great things when the Spirit of the Lord moved upon him (Judges 13-16). God’s strength was on him when he killed the lion and when he killed 30 men and when he killed 1,000 mighty men with a donkey jawbone. He allowed himself to be vulnerable when he was sinfully involved with Delilah and didn’t realize that the Lord had departed from him. His strength was from the Lord; it was not his own strength. At the end of his life God strengthened him to bring down the temple of a false god and to kill more of the enemy then than he had in his life. Remember, God is in you. What you can’t do, God can and will do, if it’s what He has called you to do. Also remember that the Greater One is in you (1 John 4:4).
Is God With You?
Share Your Testimony
Offering Message: We are like living stones being built into a spiritual house … to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:5). God doesn’t accept all offerings. We give to the Lord in faith our best first-fruits (Heb. 13:16; Gen. 4:1; Heb. 11:4). God is our Source. Sermon Message: The woman with the bleeding problem for twelve years pushed her way to Jesus by faith. How did she have faith? She heard testimonies of what Jesus had done (Mark 5:22-36). She knew she could be stoned for being around people in her time of uncleanness. Jairus, a synagogue leader, was right there with Jesus, going to his sick daughter. He could have been a threat to the woman with the bleeding problem. Her fear and her sacrifice concerned the testifying of what Jesus had done for her. While she was getting ready to testify, Jairus didn’t know that his daughter was already dead. Although the woman looked like an obstacle to his daughter’s healing, she was actually a source of faith for Jairus to believe that his dead daughter would be all right. [A friend from Titusville, Cindy, shared a testimony of Jesus’ healing her of leukemia, and her interceding for Pastor Dale’s son who was being operated on for appendicitis.] Sharing a testimony can be a basis for faith for someone in a test. Heb. 13:15 tells us to continually offer the sacrifice of praise and thanks to God. Make testifying a part of your daily life. TESTIFY AND GIVE THANKS TO GOD. When you identify yourself as who you are in Christ, fear goes. Testify and praise God. (Remember to pray for the team going to Honduras.)
Submission to God Part 4 – Suffering
Main texts: James 4:6-10 and 1 Peter 5. God resists the proud but gives His ability (grace) to the humble. If we submit ourselves to God, we can resist the devil, and he must flee. Submission is not easy. It includes suffering. Submission is not agreement. You submit when you don’t agree. Submission is not weakness. It is strength of character. Submission is not forced. No one can make you as an adult submit. Submission comes before authority. Submit means to rank or arrange under. Jesus suffered because He chose to pay the price for our sin and to submit to the Father’s will (Heb. 2:8-10, 14-18; Heb. 5:5-10, Matt. 26:36-44). We are to humble ourselves, which includes the suffering of not getting our own way. 1 Peter 2:18 tells us to submit to those over us (employers, etc.), regardless of how they treat us. First Peter 5:9-10 tells you that God will restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered. Keep rank in God’s kingdom. This is especially important in spiritual warfare.
School of Miracles Part 3
Listen to Pastor Sydney’s testimonies of miracles that God did for him, Jen, and his family. Rom. 1 and 1 Cor. 1 tell us that the Gospel, the Word of God, is power. What has Pastor Sydney noticed about the miracles of God in his life? #1 There was a desperation, a knowing that God was his/their only source. Desperation creates a cry in your heart. Go to God’s throne-room, and God will grant justice swiftly. God’s time is now, and you’ll see the manifestation at the appointed time. First get the victory in your heart and take your case to the Almighty. #2 Find the Word concerning your situation and stand on it and speak it. The Word is the will of God, so then you know how to pray. Is. 55:7-9 says about the wicked, that they don’t have the thoughts of God. But God has revealed His thoughts to those who have the Spirit of God. The command of God always carries the grace to do it. #3 Release your faith by speaking and acting on the Word. The Word only does something for you when you act on it. Remember, the Gospel is the power of God. Make the Word yours.
How to Escape Part 3
A young lady name Anatasia testified to Jesus healing her back while she was in her seat during a CWI healing service. (It was the same service that another man’s back was healed.) Sermon message: The Body of Christ should be more positive than the world and should magnify the Lord, because He is bigger than any problem. There is a way out. Pastor Dale shared about the way the Lord took him out of extreme depression/suicide. Lighten up. Job, the first book of the Bible to be written, records Job saying that “at famine and destruction I will laugh.” God is faithful, and He won’t give up on you. Talk about Jesus. Look at Jesus. He knows how He is going to come through for you. How do you escape? #1 Praise Him with joy. #2 Have a prayer life. Every failure in a Christian endeavor is a prayer failure. Spiritual problems require spiritual solutions. In Luke 22:39-43 Jesus was saying that if you have a prayer life, you won’t have a sin problem. You can say, “Not my will, but Your will be done” only if you have a prayer life. Heb. 4:15 Jesus was tempted but was without sin. Boldness comes before grace. You are going to make it.
School of Miracles Part 2
(Tongues and interpretation were given about God’s love, joy, and peace in us.) Be a magnet for blessings. They should overtake you like your dog greeting you when you come home. John 5:1-4 There were multitudes of sick and needy people, but Jesus ministered to certain ones and mainly those who came to Him. There are seasons for miracles. When the Spirit moves, move with Him. Get yourself ready for God to move. In Mark 6:1-7 the people were offended because of a spirit of familiarity. Jesus taught the people to build up their faith when they didn’t believe in Him. If the gift of the Spirit (the supernatural) isn’t in operation, healings can happen based on faith in the Word. Don’t be offended at the Word. It is Jesus. Mark 5:25-34 tells about the woman who was healed of the issue of blood because she heard of Jesus. Whatever she heard was enough to cause her to press in for her healing. Desperate people take drastic moves to get dramatic results. Press in. Pastor Dale told of Norvel Hayes commanding a woman, who didn’t know how to play the piano, to do just that for worship in a service.
School of Miracles Part 1
John 2:1-11 is the account of Jesus’ first miracle of changing the water to wine. Mary, Jesus’ mother, expected a miracle, which brought glory to God and caused His disciples to believe in Him. How do you receive a miracle? Pastor Dale shares his and others’ experiences of God’s miracles in his/their life/lives. #1 Learn to expect miracles. Look for them and expect the impossible from God. There’s always victory and deliverance. #2 Respect God’s timing. Don’t let defeat destroy you and keep you from seeing the miracle. #3 Instantly obey God. #4 Exactly obey God. John 5:3-8 tells of the healing at the pool of Bethesda. You have a choice to respond or to rationalize when the Spirit is moving. Respond and don’t wait until the anointing has passed. #5 Prepare for your miracle. There’s something you can do to prepare for your miracle. Act on your faith. It causes your mind to be creative. Dream again and get ready to receive. #6 Act on your miracle. Faith is an action. Take a step of faith. PRAISE GOD FOR YOUR MIRACLE!
How to Escape Part 2
Communion: Taking the cup means that we are baptized with the baptism that Jesus was baptized with, the baptism of death (Matt. 20:20-28). Sermon: In 1 Cor. 10:13 God tells us that no temptation has overtaken you (personally) except what is common to man, and that God is faithful to make a way for you to escape what you are not able to handle. Jesus has already been through whatever you’re going through (Heb. 4:14). Pastor Dale tells of a man who God delivered from cocaine, but the same man couldn’t overcome his nicotine addictions. God knew he couldn’t handle the cocaine addiction, so he gave him an instant deliverance, but he could win over cigarettes. Every test has a way of escape. Obedience is more than victory, which can be based in self. We are incapable of fighting sin. Our fight is that of faith. You don’t resist sexual sin. You flee from it! You don’t need victory over it; you need to escape from it. You aren’t strong enough to overcome. So how do you get out? The number one way is to praise the Lord as a lifestyle, and number 2 is to have a prayer life. Luke 22:40 tells you to pray that you do not enter into temptation. The way of escape is to realize that you need a prayer life. Heb. 5:7-8. Jesus was tempted to not go to the cross. He didn’t try to be strong. He asked for prayer. Let the trials of life take you to your knees. Pray for yourself (James 5:13). Don’t pray for people who don’t want it or who aren’t believing in faith. The presence of temptation is the call to pray.
Pray for Repentance, Revival, and Reaping
God loved us first and gave us His Son Jesus (Eph. 2; John 3:16-21). He is worthy of glory (Rev. 4-5:14). Ps. 2:8 tells us to ask for the heathen for our inheritance. We must ask and pray for the lost, here in Lancaster and beyond. How should we pray? 1) Pray for boldness (Eph. 6:19; Mark 16:15-20; Acts 4:29-31). 2) Pray for a door into their lives (Col. 4:2). 3) Pray that the Word will find good soil. 4) Pray that God would grant them repentance (Acts 11; John 16:8-11). 5) Pray for workers to be sent to them (Matt. 9:35-38; John 4:34-38). Pastor Brian: 1 Peter 4:17 says that judgment begins at the House of God. We must prepare our hearts for revival. We must humble ourselves and pray. Jesus said it is finished. He bought our redemption. Prayer is the ultimate action. Ask God to put His heart into yours. (There was time for prayer for the lost.)
How to Escape Part 1
Text: 1 Cor. 10:13. God wants you to escape temptation. Learn how to get out of what you’re in. Satan wants to isolate you, so he lies to make you think your situation is unique, and you’re the only one experiencing what you are. Temptation can mean to solicit to do evil, but it also means a trial or test. Faith doesn’t mean that you won’t have problems, but that you’ll get through them. So, how do you escape temptation? The #1 way is praise/joy. James 1:2 tells us to count it all joy when you experience trials/temptations. Your response to a temptation will be your first step out. Joy is a spiritual force and belongs to believers. Neh. 8:10 says that the joy of the Lord is our strength, and it’s there for those who choose it. Temptation reveals that the devil is at work. Whatever is out of line will draw you like a magnet bringing Satan, trying to keep you depressed, etc. What’s the cure? Praise! (Ps. 33:1-2; 33:1; 8:1-2). Hit Satan with praise to God. Stop looking for answers. Praise – that is the answer. Praising God has a mirror effect so that whatever God is, we participate in. Praise is the weapon that shuts up the devil and is our declaration of God’s worthiness. Paul and Silas praised God when they were in prison and were delivered overnight. (Acts 16:22). Give thanks to the Father for He has delivered us and translated us into the kingdom of God (Col. 1:12). Instead of spending your energy fighting, praise! God is faithful. If you have a big problem, magnify God and choose to praise Him.
Submission to God Part 3 – God’s Choice
James 4:6-8. When we are humbled and submitted to God, then we can resist the devil, and he will flee. We are double-minded when we are in pride and then try to resist the devil, whose sin was pride. Submit means to arrange under. When we are under God, then the devil is under us. 1 Cor. 15:20-28 tells us that Jesus submitted to God. Respect God’s order. There is rank in God’s kingdom. When we keep rank, it brings unity. When someone is out of place, the rest have to work twice as hard, such as if a person is blind, then the other senses have to work much harder. DON’T TRY TO MAKE OTHERS SUBMIT. Children must be trained to submit (Prov. 22:6), so that they will be trained to be led by their conscience and the Spirit. When the wife submits to her husband, she is submitting to God. Pastor Sydney explained about submitting to government authority (Rom. 13:1-17; 1 Thess. 5:12-13). We must respect the place and the work of the leaders over us. Their position is their qualification. Aaron and Miriam learned this the hard way in Numbers 12. Paul corrected himself in Acts 23:1-5 for not submitting to the high priest. YOU HAVE TO SUBMIT TO YOUR LEADERS, but the enemy will tell you otherwise. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram came against Moses and bred rebellion in the whole Israelite community and experienced God’s judgment (Numbers 16). When the glory of God shows up, there is immediate judgment. Remember: God places priority on His choices. The centurion and his servant understood authority in Matt. 8:5-10. If you are submitted to your leaders, they have a right to stand with you for what you’re believing.
His Power Part 2
Offering message texts: Luke 6:38; Matt. 6:1-4, 19-25; Gen. 8:15-20. Sermon: God wants all men to be saved (2 Peter 3:9). His power is still available, and He needs His representatives (us) to take His power to show His goodness and signs and wonders to people. How does God work through men? One way He works is through miracles and the gifts of the Spirit, but these are not daily happenings. The second way is through divine healing. Read these Scriptures, and you’ll see how these people received healing: Mark 2:1-5; 3:7-8, 10; 5:21-28; 7:31-37; 9:14-22; 10:46-52. How did they get healed? They were healed through their own faith. Jesus did not pursue anyone who was sick, but they sick came and aggressively pursued Him. It’s not our prayer or our faith that makes people well. You can’t push your faith or anointing on someone who is sick. A person can be healed when that person draws on the healing anointing. We release God’s healing power that’s in us. People must seek Jesus; IT’S THEIR OWN FAITH THAT HEALS THEM. Don’t have altar calls for the sick, but allow the sick person to come to you. If people know the anointing, the Holy Spirit, and the Gospel are in you, they can expect to receive. Ed shares several testimonies of healing miracles that people received by their own faith. Expect and anticipate in faith (Acts 1:8-9 and Heb. 11:6). Rethink how you present the Gospel: I have the goods, but they must make the request. People are not healed by your faith, but by their own faith.
His Power Part 1
All other religions fear what we have. Pharaoh finally had to bless the Israelites because he experienced God’s power. The prophets of Baal saw that the true God answers by fire when Elijah called on God’s power. Paul said that the Gospel is God’s power for salvation for everyone who believes. The cross is the symbol of the power of God. We are authorized dealers of God’s power through the Holy Spirit. Why is the power needed? Jesus changed water to wine, and His disciples believed in Him. Nicodemus believed in Him because of the signs. Other Scriptures witnessing God’s power and causing people to believe in Him are: John 6:1, 4; 7:30-31; 10:24, 3; 11:47 (Lazarus raised from the dead); John 12:9; 20:30-31. Ed shared of a lumberman who died and was completely healed. Jesus’ signs demonstrated His love and compassion for people. He is the door and the way. Other religions are trying to get to heaven and to find the answer, but Jesus is the only way, the only answer. Why aren’t more coming in? Satan has blinded the eyes of most of the church so that it denies the power of God. There will be opposition even with signs and wonders. When God’s power is demonstrated, people will come. Believe God to use you to demonstrate His power to one person. The Holy Spirit is the sign of the power of God. Ed challenged us to print Acts 1:8 on index cards and stand in front of the mirror and read it aloud and pray in tongues. Keep refreshing yourself. God wants to use you to do signs and wonders.
Walking Boldly in the Darkness
A young lady received salvation. Bruce explained CWI’s call. The apostle governs the Word, the prophet guides, the evangelist gathers souls, and the teacher grows the Word. The word for CWI is REVIVAL IS NOW! God is waiting on us. It will be a sustained move of God. Are we ready? We need to be a warrior church of love. Revival is a new beginning of obedience to God. Bruce told of staying with an African warrior who intimidated a lion. The warriors went into the darkness to go after lions. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us that the devil walks about like a roaring lion. DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DEVIL, BUT GO INTO THE DARKNESS AND BRING PEOPLE OUT OF IT! We must rise up in fierceness and intimidate the enemy. The world needs us to be warriors. Step into your call. Do whatever you’re called to do. You carry the light that overcomes the darkness by walking as children of light (Eph. 5:8). Pray that our eyes and hearts are open to understand God. Be bold. Share the faith and don’t fear rejection. We must compel them to come in. Quit being judgmental and love people into the kingdom. Be filled with love and the power of God (2 Tim. 1:7). There was a time of ministry and impartation. (Bruce will be ministering the School of Miracles at CWI in early April.)
Shaking in His Presence
We are to worship God by worshiping Him with holy fear and awe (Heb. 12:25-29). We must live in His presence. His joy is our strength. The kingdom of God is within us, and everything else will shake and go away. Those who despise the Word will be destroyed, but those who fear it will be rewarded (Prov. 13:13). The church must be strong in the power of the Lord. We need to hear the Word and to do it. Only you can allow the Word to renew your mind. Put action to what you believe, and do what you’re called to do. Do we put importance on the Word, especially what we’ve heard over and over again? Ps. 19:7-11 says that we have been warned. There is danger ahead, and we need to know how to go forward. James 1:19-25 is a compelling and needed teaching for us to apply. The Word is powerful (Heb. 4:23). We can make a change in this nation, if we are doers, and if we don’t put up with what the devil is doing. Are you participating in what God has told you to do? Are you waiting for God to move when it’s your move? It is critical for us to live by the Spirit. There is a Miracle-Worker (Jesus Christ) inside of you. If we aren’t doing the Word we know, we are self-deceived. Walk in truth. Examine yourself to see if you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruit of it (2 Cor. 13:5). If we live in the present, He will constantly change us. Are you walking in the faith?
Preparation for His Presence Part 2
Prophet Bob ministered an impartation to those who have an evangelistic call on their lives. Text: 1 Peter 4:12-19. We are blessed if we suffer reproach for the name of Christ. Verse 18 says “…the righteous one is saved with difficulty”. We must make a change in the compromising church in America. Judgment begins in the house of the Lord. We need to know Jesus Christ (Phil. 3:10). There are many who go by the broad way, but few take the narrow and difficult way to life (Matthew 7:13-20). There are many false prophets, and we need to know them by what they produce. The Word strongly states that every tree not bearing good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. Even people who have done wonders won’t be with Him, because they didn’t know Jesus Christ. We need to know God in order to know how to love others. Pray that the wicked things in you would be exposed. Let Him operate on you and know Him.
Preparation for His Presence Part 1: Being a Carrier of His Presence
Prophet Bob gave words for the church, and there was a tongue and interpretation with a song given. Sermon: 2 Tim. 3:1-5 tells of the danger of the last days. Sin is the problem, and we’re in a war against the powers of darkness. We should be wearing God’s armor, and Satan is under our feet. We need to allow God to search us intimately each day (Ps. 139:23-24), so that we can be in intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit. Live a lifestyle of being saturated with His presence. We are to fear God; God will bring every work into judgment (Eccl. 12:13). The fight is our “crucifying ourselves”, judging ourselves, and getting rid of the judgment against others. God is preparing us to carry His presence to the nations, so we will have layers of our inner man peeled off as we have #1 the fear of the Lord, #2 walk in His love, and #3 walk in the Holy Spirit and power. We also have to judge ourselves whether we are in faith or not, if we are bearing proper fruits, and not disqualifying ourselves at the end (2 Cor. 13:5). Ask yourself: What am I doing? What are my thoughts and attitudes? What are my emotions, body, and mind doing? Examine yourself. Remember, you are a missionary wherever you go.
Two Years to Repentance
2 Chron. 7:14 tells the Body of Christ to humble themselves, seek God, and pray. God needs men to stand in the gap and pray (Ezekiel 22:23-31). Daniel prayed a prayer of repentance in Daniel 9:1-19. Repentance should start in the Church, not just for the wrong we’ve done, but for what we should do and don’t. God wants our obedience. When we come to worship and together, we must come with expectation in our spirits to give to God, to meet with Him, and with thanksgiving. Religion is anything that takes from or adds to the truth of the Word. We must believe the truth. In 2 Chron. 7:1-16 the glory of God filled the temple on its dedication day. Intercede for your family and this land. We have access to the throne of God and are kings and priests because of Jesus’ sacrifice. We need both the fear of God and the love of our Heavenly Father. There was a time of corporate and personal worship, repentance, and prayer.
Submission to Authority Part 2 – Training Your Children
(Steve Broich shared a testimony of forgiveness, and there was ministry for salvation and baptism in the Holy Spirit.) God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Submission is voluntarily done by the person himself. Humility is submission under God’s authority. Do not talk like the devil, saying things like, “I am proud of …”, but talk like God: “I admire …, or “I honor …”, or “I am pleased with …”. Submit yourself to God in obedience. How do you make your children submit? Prov. 22:6; 13:24; 23:13-14; 22:15; Eph. 6:4 instruct how to train up children in the Lord. Training is not teaching and starts at infancy. When a child is able to crawl, he can learn “no”. The adult must be disciplined in order to discipline a child. The child is to submit to you, not the other way around. The child’s will is to be broken in order for him to be submitted. DON’T ABUSE! Do not tolerate lying and rebellion. Pastor Sydney goes through the order for discipline from making clear rules to restoring everyone involved after an incident. Training helps a child know there is a higher authority and to be led by the Holy Spirit, so they can be used in the Kingdom.
The Kingdom of God Part 9 (The Keys To The Kingdom)
Matt. 16:13-19 When Jesus told Peter that God revealed to him that Jesus is the Messiah, He said that Peter was a rock (like a piece of rock) and on the rock (the bedrock) He would build His Church. The bedrock is that Jesus is the Messiah. (Pastor Syd referred to Daniel 2:31-35, 44-46. God will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed.) Jesus gave us the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Keys are authority, and authority was given to Jesus and He gave it to us to go and make disciples. The keys are that we can bind and loose. In fact, it’s our responsibility to bind and to loose on earth (Matt. 16:18). Don’t pray for what you need to speak to. Jesus lived totally by faith, which is seeing things in the spiritual realm that you can’t see in the natural realm. Jesus used the keys of speaking, loosing, and binding. He did great works as a man by the anointing of God. Speak to the mountain. Declare what you need to declare, rather than asking the Father in prayer for what He has given you the authority to do. Use your authority. Operate with the keys. We are authorized to do even greater works than He did (John 14:12-13). Use His authority to do His will. Speak to your problem. Declare what should be in your body and circumstances.