Pastor Shane Lehman read out of 1 Corinthians 15:58, Ezekiel 3:7, Isaiah 50:7, and Luke 9:51. Pastor Shane questioned what moves people away from fulfilling God’s promise in their lives? First distraction is people. The Lord wants one hundred percent obedience and He knows that we can’t do it on our own. The anointing is for a purpose, we need to guard our hearts The second distraction is pleasure. The third distraction are opportunities. Don’t try to fill someone else’s shoes and don’t expect anyone to step in and fill anyone else’s shoe. Don’t believe something you hear without verifying it. How do you remain unmoved? By conviction meaning fixed or firm belief. Pastor Shane read our Matthew 5:3 and 1 Timothy 2:4, John 6, Romans 1:16, and Acts 2.

There is a common thread in the Christmas story. Mary (Luke 1:26-38), Joseph (Matthew 1:20-23), the shepherds (Luke 2:15), Simeon (Luke 2:25-29), Anna, and the wise men (Matthew 2:2-6) all received a word from the Lord, either through an angel or through a prophet’s word in Scripture. It is only the Word of the Lord that leads people to the Savior. We all need to be willing to follow after the Word of the Lord. What are we following after? Do we know what is word of the Lord? If we gain everything, but lose our soul, what does it profit us (Mark 8:36)? Think about what you are doing: How is it fulfilling the will of God for my life? Shane testified to his brother’s life and how his premature death on Christmas Eve 2011 was due to what he was following after. All that God has provided for, His promises, protection, and provision, are available for us when we are in His will. Where do we look for help when we are in pain? We will be subject to whatever we yield to and follow. Repent and move from whatever you are subject to. Take an inventory of what you eat, speak, read, etc. We must be willing to judge ourselves. In Matthew 16:21-24 Peter did not look at what Jesus was saying would happen to Him from the perspective of His following God’s will. God’s will for your life is your cross to bear. Jesus is our life source. Because Jesus has the words of life, where else shall we go? If we follow another road, we are subject to whatever is on that road. Examine your life. Is there anything in your life that keeps you from being sold out to Jesus? Follow the Word of God for your life, the unique word for you. A key of understanding everything about a great relationship with God is what it means to have a covenant relationship. Develop your covenant relationship.

What did Jesus begin, end, and preach throughout His ministry? It was repentance- repent for the kingdom of God is at hand. Christ knew that something new was about to be released through Him. God made provision for sin under the Old Covenant through patiently waiting to give judgment and through atonement (to cover) by animal sacrifice. The sins of the people were only covered, but not removed. All sin needs to be judged. Are today’s churches dealing with sin? You determine whether you will go to heaven. Jesus knew that remission (to release the sinner from his sins), not just covering, was coming through Him. Christ purchased us with His redemption. He is now in us. Now we have a reconciled (fixed) relationship, and we can call on the sacrificed Jesus Christ. When people repent, they can be reconciled to God. It is impossible to walk in God’s blessings without repentance and reconciliation. God wants us to repent of sins. Matthew9:13 says that Jesus came to call sinners to repentance. God wants all men and women to be saved. In Luke 15:7, the parable of the lost sheep, God rejoices over one sinner who repents. This should bring us more joy than anything, because this is God’s heart. God’s plan has been to reconcile the world to Himself. We are reconciled through God only (2 Corinthians 5:17-20). We all have the ministry of reconciliation. Each of us must do what we are called to do. We are all part of the same body. Do what you are called to do. The ministry of reconciliation is for us wherever we are, and we do it with the Word of God. The Gospel is good news, worthy to be declared. Romans 1:16 tells us that the Gospel is the power of God. The Word in me is powerful. How do we lead others to repent? We do it by showing the goodness of the Lord (Romans 2:4). People must understand that relationship with God is good. They must see His goodness in us. We are God’s magnets to pull them to God. We draw near to Him first. (Shane shared an experience of this at his job.) Is what I am doing showing God’s love and who God is? We always have to be ready for the hope that is in us. What have I done with the ministry of reconciliation? Lead people to repentance by exposing them to the goodness of God. Guard your heart with all diligence.

David was restored to God when he repented. There always is a consequence for every sin. Christ paid the price for our sin, and if we sin, we should be reminded of that price. What did Jesus begin, end, and preach throughout His ministry? It was repentance- repent for the kingdom of God is at hand. In Luke 24 His last words were repentance and remission of sins should be preached in all nations in His name. God’s perspective of us when we repent and ask for forgiveness is that of joy. He loves when we repent. When your children disobey, do not bless them until they repent. God made provision for sin under the Old Covenant through the priesthood and through atonement (to cover) by animal sacrifice. The sins of the people were only covered, but not removed. All sin needs to be judged. Jesus Christ paid for our redemption, so that now when people repent, there is remission (removal) of sins from their hearts. Then there is reconciliation with God. In other words, it’s redemption, repentance, remission, and reconciliation with God. You are restored to a personal relationship with God. He told us to preach repentance of sins. In Matthew 9:13 He said that He came to call the sinners to repentance. Only one-third to one-half of the pastors believes that the Bible is inspired by God and that it is infallible. People need to hear the truth to even know they need to repent. First John 1:9 tells us to confess our sin. In Luke 15:7, the parable of the lost sheep, God rejoices over one sinner who repents. This should bring us more joy than anything, because this is God’s heart. There has to be repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 says that God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Do we have a sense of urgency to see people repent? We have access to what Jesus did for us. God wants to reconcile the world to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:17-20). We have the ministry of reconciliation. Ministry (work, service, calling) is done by us through the word of reconciliation, but first it must be strong in us. Ed Cole in his teaching told of an eight-year old who received a ten-year old’s heart. The younger girl had a dream of the image of the man who killed the older girl that was retained in the heart of the dead child, which was used to arrest the man. We are not to be ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power to salvation (Romans 1:16). What are you doing with that word of reconciliation? The best thing we can do is fulfill what God has for us to do. The Gospel is good news! Take the Gospel and talk about it with love, so others can hear about God’s goodness. How do you lead people to repentance? Lead people to repentance by exposing them to the goodness of God (Romans 2:4). People need to see the God’s goodness by seeing the goodness of our relationship with God. Romans 10:13-15 says that the Word needs to be preached and shared. Come back to God’s presence. It is the truth that will change peoples’ lives. Sin is ugly and will not go away without repentance. It is easy to submit to love. (Shane shared an experience of this at his job.) Is being right worth compromising the integrity of Christ? (Shane shared how his son asked what sin is and as a result, he received Jesus Christ into his heart.) Small kindnesses open doors to the Gospel. Are you ready to share it? Are you like the ten spies or the two spies? Too often we get our eyes on what we are going through and not on what we are going to. You will have challenges, but God has made a way through it. God promises victory. How would others report on your life? People have the right desires but are looking at the wrong places and ways to get them. God can use you where you are. (Shane told God’s revelation to Shane of his anger at Him after his wife had two miscarriages. At the same time his wife was being ministered to at the Landmark. Three months later she was pregnant. God showed him that it is not by might, not by power, but by His Spirit.) We have experiences that hurt, but He shows us the way to victory. People must repent and see the value of a relationship with God and a life overcome by the goodness of God. If you have a lack of appreciation of what God has done for you, go to God and tell Him your heart. He wants to bring restoration and joy to you.

Offering message by Karen Burrows: Malachi 3:10-12 tells us that if we bring in all the tithes into the storehouse, we can prove God that He will 1) open the windows of heaven, 2) pour you out a blessing, and 3) rebuke the devourer for your sake. Both 2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Corinthians 9 build on that. When you give, give to the Father, because every good gift comes from Him.