Sunday Main Service: Recent Episodes
Man O War Church
Visit our website at www.manowarchurch.org to learn more about the ministry of Man O War Church in Lexington, Kentucky.
Jesus warns that many people will miss heaven because they trust in their own goodness, live for the things of this world, or refuse to believe that He is the Son of God and the only way to salvation. True eternal life comes only through faith in Jesus Christ, whose death and resurrection fully paid the penalty for our sins.
The Bible describes freedom not just as the absence of rules, but as liberation from sin, fear, and spiritual bondage.
Jesus extends a powerful invitation to every thirsty soul, offering the living water of salvation that only He can provide through faith in Him.
The Bible describes freedom not just as the absence of rules, but as liberation from sin, fear, and spiritual bondage.
The fact that God will reward the righteous and punish the wicked has long been a matter of Biblical record
A sobering message from John 7 reminding us that knowing about Jesus is not the same as knowing Him—and that the opportunity to seek Him will not last forever.
When faith is tested in the fire, God's presence turns trials into favor, promotion, and purpose for those who refuse to bow.
Don’t miss the moment God has prepared for you by listening to fear and doubt. The Holy Spirit is calling you to step into promises greater than anything you’ve ever seen before.
This powerful Mother’s Day message calls women—especially mothers—to recognize their God-given spiritual authority and influence within their homes and families. Using the story of Jael in Judges 4, the message challenges women to reject complacency, confront spiritual battles through prayer and obedience, and embrace their role as God’s hidden but strategic weapon for transforming generations and even nations.
When life’s storms hit, don’t panic—Jesus is already in control, praying for you, and ready to bring peace the moment you let Him into your situation.
In Gospel of John 5, Jesus presents undeniable evidence that He is God—yet people still reject Him, not for lack of proof, but because of an unwilling heart that refuses to honor Christ, love God, and believe the truth. This message confronts us with a sobering reality: salvation is offered to all, but it is received only by those willing to turn from self and truly believe.
Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, 2 Corinthians 7:1
Now two weeks following the Resurrection all that has occurred still weighs heavy on their minds.
To close the 5th chapter we have one long discourse from Jesus as He declares His deity.
Jesus promised a "helper," which arrived as a rushing wind and tongues of fire, representing the Holy Spirit's arrival.
Jesus let the disciples see His hands last because He wanted them to see the Word first.
We are in message number 19 in our series on the Gospel of John. Tonight we have a message titled; The Resurrection.
Experience the story of Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection brought to life through a musical performance that reminds us just how deep God’s love truly is.
The Holy Spirit is available to all. He waits on us to awaken to His Presence. We get so used to doing life on our own that we forget that God has given us power, supernatural power through His Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is available to all. He waits on us to awaken to His Presence. We get so used to doing life on our own that we forget that God has given us power, supernatural power through His Spirit.
David was just a shepherd boy. He wasn’t special beyond you and me. But after he was anointed king, he went into that battle with that giant with something that he didn’t have before, and he came out a conqueror. And that power that he had is the same power that’s inside of you and me.
There’s a big difference between calling oneself a Christian and living life as a disciple, a follower of Jesus, a fisher of men.
Salvation for Nicodemus; this is a critical chapter in the Bible. This story sets the tone for our understanding of salvation.
In this message from John 2, we explore how Jesus’ confrontations with the crowds, religious leaders, and false believers reveal His divine authority, His power over life and death, and the difference between superficial faith and true, life-changing belief.
What does it really mean to believe that Jesus is precious, and how should that belief transform the way we live, worship, and share our faith with others?
We are in message number 8 in our series on the Gospel of John. With a message titled; The First Disciples.
Jesus declared, “I will build My church,” and two thousand years later He is still doing it.
Psalm 100 is very short and very straightforward. Understanding it doesn’t demand a lot from your brain, but embracing it demands a lot from your heart.
Join the Man O War Choir, Orchestra and Dancers as we celebrate the Prince of Peace, a musical celebration.
Please enjoy our annual children's Christmas production: The Secret Of Snowflake County.
As broken, as flawed and as scarred by the world the church may be, she is cherished by Jesus!
Psalm 100 is very short and very straightforward. Understanding it doesn’t demand a lot from your brain, but embracing it demands a lot from your heart.
Pentecost, God gave His church a Secret Weapon that would build and sustain His church (us) forever.
Our God is in love with remnants. God does not forget faithful saints that carry on in love.
Being an instrument of praise to the God of glory, the Christ of glory who has planned the day of eternity for you. This is how we live in the light of our glorious future.
This message from 2 Peter 3:4–10 reminds us that although scoffers doubt Jesus' return, God is not slow — He is patient, giving people time to repent. The world will one day face judgment by fire, but God's desire is for all to turn to Him and receive eternal life. His patience is not weakness, but a loving invitation to salvation before it's too late.
The end is near, even at the door… and for those who wonder why… why tribulation? Because God is righteous, and sin must be judged. Satan must be dealt with, and God will do it. He has decreed it, and he will bring it to pass.
The fact that people don’t believe there’s going to be a rapture is inconsequential. Nobody believed Noah’s message about a flood. The rapture is next.
In this week’s message, “The Hope of the Second Coming,” we look at Peter’s final words in 2 Peter 3, where he urges believers to stay rooted in God’s Word and live with expectancy for Christ’s return. In a world full of scoffers and spiritual distractions, we’re reminded to encourage one another, hold fast to our faith, and let the hope of His coming stir us to greater love, holiness, and purpose.
Join us as guest Speaker Dr. Phi Cook preaches as we honor our pastors on this Pastor's Appreciation Sunday.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:13-14
From fallen angels to the flood and fiery Sodom and Gomorrah, Peter gives us some powerful warnings—but also a huge dose of hope, reminding us that God knows exactly how to rescue those who are His.
“After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.” Luke 10:1
God calls us to courageously leave comfort, embrace disruption, and faithfully work what He gives us—because destiny is not given all at once, but revealed through obedience, service, and the willingness to cross over.
Peter affirms the Second Coming of Christ as true, based on eyewitness testimony and the divine authority of Scripture.
In this message, we see the apostle Peter nearing the end of his life, passionately urging believers to remember the greatness of their salvation and the truth of God’s Word. As he reflects on the gravity, spirit, task, and brevity of ministry, Peter reminds us that real ministry is rooted in repetition, encouragement, and steadfastness in the face of false teaching.
Becoming a Christian isn’t about self-improvement—it's about becoming a completely new person through the power of the Holy Spirit. God gives believers a new Lord (Jesus), a new nature, a new mind, new desires, and divine power to live a godly life, even through hardship.
We close our our study of 1st Peter tonight with message #15 - a message titled: Humility and Pride
The Bible makes extraordinary claims about itself, it is supernatural, eternal, a remedy for and against sin, a source of strength and a light to our path.
Today we are going to talk about service and we are going toward not an altar call this morning in the front of the building but one in the foyer where you commit not just your eternity to Jesus but your life also.
This week’s study in 1 Peter 5 focuses on godly leadership—especially in times of crisis—emphasizing that all believers are called to lead through humility, love, and example, not control or selfish ambition. Drawing from Peter’s personal failures and restoration by Jesus, the teaching highlights that even failed leaders can be restored and used powerfully when they follow the Chief Shepherd.
The Bible makes extraordinary claims about itself, it is supernatural, eternal, a remedy for and against sin, a source of strength and a light to our path.
We need an earth-shaking outpouring of the Holy Ghost...not because we are so bad, but because the need is so great.
The Bible makes extraordinary claims about itself, it is supernatural, eternal, a remedy for and against sin, a source of strength and a light to our path.
“Is Jesus precious to your soul or is He a stone of stumbling? Your answer reveals the condition of our heart.”
Jesus Christ is the most extraordinary person who ever lived. The most loved and the most hated. The most widely considered person in all of human history. Who do you say He is?
Christ’s second coming, which will bring a millennial reign of righteousness, peace, prosperity, and joy, fulfilling biblical prophecy and God’s promise to reward His faithful, culminating in Satan's ultimate defeat and eternal judgment.
God’s people can have such patience because they know that their eternal reward will abundantly surpass any temporal troubles.
You are made for another Kingdom, therefore, the things of this world will never satisfy.
We continue in our new message series called; The Coming Kingdom this morning will be the Son of the Widow of Nain.
“Two mighty miracles mark the Kingdom of God: Salvation for whosoever will, and healing for those who believe.”
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." Acts 1:8:Jesus tells his disciples that they will receive power to be his witnesses "in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." - Matthew 28:19-20
Loving God is loving Him for all eternity. Loving God strengthens our love for our spouse, our children and others. Loving God will cause us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Loving God will cause us to love the lost.
"And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness." - Acts 4:31
It's possible to be saved and filled with the Holy Spirit and still sometimes struggle while in worship.
All places, all times, all moments are not equal... Tonight, We are literally and figuratively at the turning of a page as we enter this new year.
There's nothing I enjoy more than studying the Bible. Yet it has not always been that way. My real passion for studying Scripture began when as a college student, I made a commitment to explore the Bible in earnest. I found that the more I studied, the more my hunger for Scripture grew. Here are three simple guidelines that have helped me to make the most of my study time.
Our mission requires unity. Satan will do everything he can to keep us divided. It’s that simple.
After almost six months with God’s grace we will finish this great little letter tonight with a message titled simply; "The End."
We continue in the Book of Ephesians. We are in the 6th chapter with a lesson titled The Weapons of Our Warfare.
We continue in the Book of Ephesians. We are in the 6th chapter with a lesson titled Everything is Spiritual.
We continue in the Book of Ephesians. We are in the 6th chapter with a lesson titled Bondservants.
The psalmist called for joyful worship to be sent up to Heaven in praise to the Lord. He called for people to serve the Lord with gladness.
We return to our study of the Book of Ephesians, with today's message focus being on fathers.
"Thanksgiving" is more than just a name for a holiday, it’s a vital element for spiritual health and vitality.
We return to our study of the Book of Ephesians, with today's message titled; Family Ties.
This morning I want you to think about your life and your life's testimony. Because ultimately your testimony will encourage other Christians and be a witness to unbelievers.
We continue in our study of the Book of Ephesians, with a message titled; Do’s and Don'ts.
When you stand before Him at the judgment seat of Christ, you will be judged and rewarded for everything you have done.
Our job is to faithfully sow the seed of the gospel and leave the spiritual harvest to the Lord.
When we are unable or unwilling to listen to God, He takes steps to get our attention and sometimes, those steps are radical.
Christ did not go to the cross to give us the opportunity to be saved – He died to save us.
As we continue in our series in the Book of Ephesians we now go to chapter 4:17 where we will take a look at the "old you."
“Good is the enemy of great. And that is one of the key reasons why we have so little that becomes great. We don't have great schools, principally because we have good schools. We don't have great government, principally because we have good government. Few people attain great lives, in large part because it is just so
easy to settle for a good life.”
We welcome special guest Pastor Samuel Rodriguez, lead pastor of New Season Church in Sacramento, CA and president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.
We are in our 12th message in our study of the Book of Ephesians... with a message titled...Giving Gifts
"On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." - Matthew 16:18
Therefore, whatever you say, I'll do; wherever you lead, I'll follow. Whatever you command, I will do.
“Even though we will never fully comprehend the many glorious attributes and untold greatnesses of our God, we should try. Right? We should try."
There is no such thing as a faithful Christian church without a praying Christian people.
Prophetic voices all across the Globe agree that we are in the last days before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The earth groans to be set free.
This morning we are going to mark a memorial to two great things. #1. What God has done. #2. What God is going to do.
Tonight we talk about divisions. We fight against those divisions. We fight against our lack of unity.
You can see two people doing the same thing, and God sees the heart and sees that there are very different motives between serving and performing.
This is life lived in light of our identity in Christ, and that means that we get the joy, and He gets the glory, and others get the good.
We are in our third message the Book of Ephesians; tonight
is a message titled... I AM BLESSED
If life is “a little time” and “birth and death are its boundaries,” we must ask, “Is there any critical thing I must do before I’m swept away?"
Jesus’s life is not one just to be observed, but to be experienced and His life was lived by the Holy Spirit’s power.
The city shined like a polished jewel, a priceless gem like clear jasper and the city inside was pure gold – like glass.
The writer of Hebrews asks, “How then shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” The answer: “We won't.”
Jesus’ life is not one just to be observed, but to be experienced and His life was lived by the Holy Spirit’s power.
Point Number one; dreaming will cost you! Point Number two; don't try to do God’s work for Him. Point number three; dream anyway it's worth it! Point number four; you are creating an environment. Point number five; everyone isn’t gonna root for you.
Get yourself into this Word over your life... from God through the Apostle Paul. Get the idea of this powerful Word of God into you. In Christ...
So there is a battle that is up close and far away. As John is closing his life out and we find that both 2nd and 3rd John emphasize the centrality of the truth.
In this brief letter, the Apostle John writes to an unnamed lady. The purpose is clearly to call her and all who read this letter live in the truth.
You don’t just know the truth and believe the truth, if you’re a Christian you live the truth.
I’ve titled this first message simply; In Defense of the Truth Anybody who knows our church very well knows that it is a body that is driven by the truth.
Pentecost Sunday although it doesn't get the attention Resurrection Sunday gets is also an important day for the church and God’s people. It's on Pentecost Sunday that the church is born.
In the middle of Judgment... we find grace...on the way to hell we find the words of heaven. Salvation.
“God will not allow us to see with our eyes what we refused to believe with our hearts”
So we enter this week into the second conversation where Habakkuk asks God some questions, and God answers them.
God begins to cause me to hunger and thirst for righteousness so that, like Habakkuk, I’m frustrated and sick of sin.
In the early days of the Church Christians determined that the
symbol for our faith would be a cross.
We return one last time to the Book of 1st John to the last section and it's full of promises.
With great certainties as to your standing and as to your future.
We continue in the Books of Acts to the 5th chapter this morning. The five key ideas in the book of Acts are the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, the growth of the early church, the conversion of Paul, the spread of the gospel to the Gentiles, and the persecution faced by early Christians.
All testimony to Christ comes from God as the source, even if it’s the testimony of a person.
While you’re sitting around waiting on a move of God, it could be that God is waiting on a move of you.
Tonight's message is about witnesses; our theme is the testimony of God concerning Jesus
Christ.
We continue in the Books of Acts to the 4th chapter this morning. These events are the continuation of the story that started in Acts 3.
John repeats himself and cycles back through the same themes over and over; and in doing so he broadens and widens our understanding of those themes. Tonight, is about, John, the overcomer.
We continue our series in the book of Acts. This morning we witness Peter and John going into the temple in the name of Jesus.
Of all the subjects which the Apostle John has touched on in this epistle by far the one most frequently mentioned is love.
We continue our series in the book of Acts. This morning we look at the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.
Sometimes we all have Selective Hearing. The message can be clearly spoken yet; you can listen and not really hear what is being said at all.
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8
For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 1 John 3:11
Acts is a historical account of how the resurrection of Jesus changes everything through the birth of the early church.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16
We will never know what it means to have “exceedingly, abundantly above all we can ask or think” until we allow God to strengthen our inner man.
We will start tonight with a profound truth. The God who one day will call us to give an account to Him is the God who loves us like a father loves His children.
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." - Matthew 28:19
"Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour." - 1 John 2:18
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." - John 14:6
I’m praying that you will have everything it takes to withstand hardship, conquer in battle, overcome the enemy, and endure to the end.
"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever." - Ephesians 3:20-21
Where there’s life, there’s growth. Where there’s growth, there’s life. God gave us spiritual life in Christ and He intends for that life to grow.
Join us for our annual Christmas tradition with our pastor's reading of the Christmas story.
Tonight we will finish chapter two... of this great little book. First we look at John’s loving purpose in writing.
Join Man O War Choir and Orchestra for "The Gift" a musical celebration of the Savior of the World!
Before we can fully understand Jesus as our advocate. We understand Jesus as our atonement. We must understand that He is the propitiation for our sins.
Though we remember Christmas, could it be that we have we forgotten the Holy Child, Jesus?
We can joyfully proclaim the welcome of Jesus: Through God’s grace to us in the gospel, we who are spiritually far off are invited to come near—and in the Second Advent, Jesus will fully demonstrate God’s heart for the weak, lowly, and despised as he rights the wrongs of our world and makes all things new.
Christians, John says, don’t walk in darkness. That is, believers don’t live lives the way the dark world does.
We start a new series on the Book of 1 John. Tonight we will focus on John, the author.
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. - Luke 10:27
We continue in our series in the Gospel of Luke today to the 9th chapter where Jesus teaches us about the Kingdom of God.
“God opens a door and resistance suddenly appears. Opposition almost always accompanies opportunity.”
We are in our seventh message and sixth church; the Church at Philadelphia found in the third chapter of Revelation.
Depending on how you evaluate, the Good Book contains somewhere between 40 and 60 parables. Most of them are in the New Testament and are found in the four Gospels, but you can find nearly a dozen of them in the Old Testament, as well: a pair of them in 2nd Samuel and 1st and 2nd Kings, respectfully, and a half dozen of them in the major prophet book of Ezekiel.
"He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. " - Revelation 3:5
Although faith, what you believe, is not visible, the response of Faith is. You can’t hide real faith.
We continue tonight in our series; The Seven Churches of Revelation we are in our fifth message and fourth church for those counting at home. The City of Thyatira tonight; above this section in my Bible
is says; The Corrupt Church.
We continue tonight in our series; The Seven Churches of Revelation we are in our fourth message and third church. The third city mentioned in the second chapter of Revelation is the City of Pergamos.
Satan uses the spirit of fear to steal your faith. If he can steal your faith, he can destroy you.
"Ye shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you." - Deuteronomy 5:33
The second city mentioned here in the second chapter of Revelation is the City of Smyrna.
“When warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear, Noah built an ark to save his family. What if every father did that?”
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" - 1 Peter 2:9
"When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting." - Acts 2:1-2
"As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches." - Revelation 1:20
We are in message #17 of our series on the Book of Esther; tonight is titled... Jesus is a better Shalom or Jesus is a better Peace.
Can any revival leave a lasting effect that does not first affect the families of the church?
What is temptation? Temptation is the seduction to do evil. The account of Jesus being tempted by Satan underscores the fact of Jesus’ humanity. Jesus was 100% human as well as 100% divine.
We will explore the 9th chapter tonight with a message titled; Jesus can turn it around.
Today as we continue in our series of Luke, we are in the third chapter of Luke where John the Baptist baptizes Jesus.
When GOD promised to bless Abraham he said, “get up and go to a place that I will show you…” and He promptly sent Him to the desert.
We continue in our series of Luke this morning. Today we are in the 2nd chapter with the birth of Jesus.
“When we are saved, it is more than just our ticket to heaven. We have been saved to save others.”
In our last time together Xerxes noticed after a sleepless night that although Mordicai saved his life he had done nothing for him and he decided to make up for that with a robe, a horse and a parade.
We all know the story about the good shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to save the one. What are we as the ninety-nine to do?
"As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any
other gospel unto you than that you have received, let him be accursed." Galatians 1:9
We continue tonight in the Book of Esther. At this point Esther has come into her own faith and she is starting to walk out her faith.
He is actively at work for good in the lives of all of His people. One of the ways that we see this is through prophetic promises. In these promises we see where God who is sovereign over and controlling of the future in advance through His servants the prophets He predicts the future; He determines the future.
Jesus is perfect; we are in progress. For those of you that are making progress, don’t get discouraged by judging yourself on the standard of perfection, but look at yourself through the eyes of progress.
That God would go to such great lengths to actually have one
book of the Bible given to one person is an indication that God
is very loving and He knows us all and doesn’t deal with us as a
herd but He deals with us individually as His image-bearers.
Jesus forgives all the sins. Jesus works out all the mistakes. Jesus takes the worst tragedy in human history and turns it into the greatest moment of all eternity. Jesus takes this mess and makes it into the greatest glory. And this whole Book is about Him. Jesus Death Redeemed
Luke begins by tracing the linage of Jesus back to Adam. He quotes Jesus own words identifying Himself 26 times as “the Son of Man".
At its core this parable is the story of two sons; a rebellious son and the religious son.
The most powerful man in the known world called his wife, Queen Vashti, to show her off in front of a large drunk crowd of partiers. Her husband is the king...and they are in a loveless relationship. This is a difficult situation.
You cannot understand the person and work of Jesus Christ apart
from two things; His suffering and His glory.
The first character that the Holy Spirit introduces in this epic story is none other than a king called Xerxes the Great.
Happy Mother's Day. Whenever our Abba Father got ready to release another dimension of the Kingdom of God He would begin with the announcement of one word; Woman.
"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:24-25
There are only two books in the Bible that never mention God by name in its pages; the Song of Solomon and Esther.
That is my assignment this morning: to toss you hope for a vision greater than what you might have before you came in this morning.
This is God’s final Word for four hundred years. After this there will be silence for generations. It's not only God’s final Word for a period of time. It is also God's final word for fathers and children.
Today, I am going to talk with you about what I will refer to as ‘The Silent Servant’ and after this section we will look at the idea of ‘The Sovereign Servant’.
So God, in this final chapter, starts with a discussion of heaven and hell. He then proceeds to talk about the law and the prophets. Again, this is God’s final word for four hundred years.
We continue our series in the 53rd chapter of Isaiah. Today, we dig deep into the "One" versus the "many".
God is a God of pattern, of process, of plan and intentionality. Tonight, as we continue in our series on Malachi, we will go through five principles about wise living and giving.
The last few weeks we have talked about singleness, marriage, divorce, talking, and now tonight - money.
Jesus began His triumphant journey from Jericho (Lk. 18:35 – 19:40) to Jerusalem as the Children of Israel did many years before. Joshua (O.T. name for Jesus “deliverer”) began with Jericho and David completed the journey with his triumphant entry into Jerusalem with the Ark of the Covenant. Palm Sunday is the beginning of what the Church has called Holy Week or Passion Week. Heretofore, Jesus avoided any public announcement.
The words of Isaiah 53, all the way down till the last verse, are the words of a future generation of Jewish people, the nation Israel, who will make this confession and say; we didn’t believe it.
Questions are a part of every relationship. In a healthy relationship there is an exchange of ideas and the questioning of those ideas.
the lessons we learn from the life of Samson teach us that the greatest enemy we have is self. If we can learn to conquer self, we can walk in this life with spiritual victory.
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." - Timothy 3:16
Tonight we talk about marriage, where God says; I was there too, and I was the most important witness. I heard you exchange your vows.
This chapter as we have come to understand in our first three studies is about Israel’s repentance. These verses are Israel’s broken-hearted lament. This morning we discuss the moment of Israel’s confession.
Tonight we will discuss the three questions God asks in Malachi 2:10: "(1) Have we not all one Father? (2) Has not one God created us? (3) Why do we deal treacherously with one another by profaning the covenant of the fathers?"
The 53 chapter is a bottomless well of biblical truth and reality. We will complete a rather broad introduction of the chapter today.
We are going to look at Jesus' life here as the Jewish people see it completely differently than they ever saw it through their entire history.
This morning we will examine the characters at the cross. Three that rejected Jesus at the cross. Three that accepted Jesus.
"For… our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears." - 2 Corinthians 7:5
But God has a standard and it seems like that standard has been lowered and in this season of grace He is calling a church to raise the standard.
Jesus is unrelenting. Like the good Shepherd on a stormy night, He comes seeking us and calling our name.
John Maxwell has famously stated; ‘everything rises and falls on leadership.’ Everything begins and ends with the quality of a leader.
“I boast only one thing; the simple, wooden cross that represents the vast and glorious things Jesus did for us at Calvary. I will glory in the cross!”
For the next few weeks we will look at what I believe could be the greatest section of true prophecy in a great book full of prophecy - Isaiah the 53rd chapter.
In the time of Malachi the people of God are disappointed and they are disillusioned and even worse despairing; they're beginning to ask, was returning from excite even worth it? It's in this space that God speaks through His prophet. He begins to speak about the ideas of legacy and lineage. He speaks to their importance as links in the gospel chain and the future He has for all humanity.
Salvation was accomplished at the cross but Holy Ghost Baptism for global evangelism was sent at Pentecost.
We say we have trusted Jesus with our salvation, but have we fully settled in our hearts that He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God?
Pastor James’ big idea throughout this book is simply; establish your heart. There are times in life when the effort is; I want to hurry up the process in them, in me, or in us.
This message is deeply important because it is the first Christian sermon ever preached.
In the middle of this teaching on prayer James uses the illustration of the Prophet Elijah. Elijah was just as sinful as you and righteous because of the grace of God.
Who do you call when you are sick? When you are troubled? Who do you call when the world is seemingly collapsing all around you? James says; You call on the elders of the church.
Join us for this historic service where we will burn the note for our mortgage and step into the new year debt free.
How can God simply forgive sinners and be just? How can God both love sinners and desire their salvation and at the same time burn with perfect hatred and wrath toward their sin?
This morning I would like in our time together to go to the book of Luke and explore the life of Mary. The Kindness of Mary
The attributes of God help us think rightly about Him so that we can worship Him rightly.
“A church full of people with screwed up priorities and misplaced love is in no condition to save the world.”
Tonight James will talk about Godly conflict, which is an entirely different path. Worldly conflict is natural; Godly conflict is supernatural.
In a study on the attributes of God two questions become so vital...1) Who is God? 2) What is our response to this God?
“Are we expected to continue what Jesus began in the gospels and continued through the Apostles in Acts?”
Prayer and Faith go together. "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him." - James 5:15
"But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy." - James 3:17
"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom." - James 3:13
“Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; Save me and I will be saved, For You are my praise.” – Jeremiah 17:14
"For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man." - James 3:2
This morning we are going to be looking at the life of John the Beloved. First before he was anything John was a friend; or as he called himself “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”
“God wants you to be saved and not lost. He also wants you to be well and not sick, strong and not weak, free and not bound!”
God is a Father, and He’s made us one big family, and how we communicate with one another will honor or dishonor Him. How we teach and how we lead will help or hinder the well-being of our family.
Prayer is and has always been God’s prescribed way to work in the church and the world.
So this morning we will continue in the 2nd chapter as James divides faith into three categories. This morning we talk about the third type - dynamic faith.
Turn with us to the Book of James the 2nd chapter as James divides faith into three categories.
“Christ will establish His throne upon the earth and rule the planet earth for a thousand glorious years”
Jesus is many things. He is Lord. He is God. He is Savior. He is King and Christ. He is a teacher. But first and foremost He is LOVE.
So in this journey called life James says "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only."
So in this journey called life James says "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only."
“The opportunity presented to us in tithing and giving is the method God has chosen to bless His children - abundantly”
“In three short verses, the Psalmist provides a path to ultimate success as defined by God and presented in scripture.”
Christians who are unruly like to point out that we live in the age of grace and mercy (and greatly prefer it to discipline and obedience).
The message of the Bible is unparalleled, its record of the past is unchallengeable, its insights into the future are astonishing and the hope it offers all peoples is without equal.
You serve a God who thinks in terms of legacy. You serve a God who thinks in terms of generations. And our God is a God of LEGACY!
A legacy’s greatest opposition most days is the satisfaction of the moment we find ourselves in.
“It’s good to encourage young people to excel in school, in sports and in life but it is better to lead them to serve God with a loyal heart and with a willing mind.”
We can leave either a legacy that propels or a legacy that destroys. But we will leave a legacy.
“Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end. 34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. 35 Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. 36 Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! - Psalms 119:33-40
This morning we are going to look at the life and legacy of King Hezekiah. We are going to be reading in 2 Kings 18.
“They [Christians] cling to a hope in Christ, and even enter the ministry, overlooking the admonition to wait until they are endued with power from on high.”
The absolute unshakableness of these words, “all authority in heaven and earth…” is meant to transform and mobilize you and me.
“To our graduates and to the rest of us, this is the message: GOD is with us in the transition.”
Fighting Toward the Kingdom of Heaven, Mother's Day Message by Pastor Michelle Davenport
Jesus was executed by crucifixion, but did He raise from the dead? Is He alive or just missing?
“Our manner of life shines a bright light in the shadows as darkness deepens all around us.”
We continue in our series on these perilous times, focusing this morning on the first 7 verses of 2 Timothy Chapter 3. This is Paul's last letter and he knows it.
“We are living prophecy every single day of our lives. We are a prophesied generation.”
Tonight we continue our series on the Book of Ruth. The story of Ruth is one of compassion, courage, boldness, and integrity.
We hope you'll enjoy this special message by the General Overseer for the Church of God, Bishop Tim Hill.
“God chooses people, one by one, just like he chose Cyrus and then he says, ‘You’re going to do something great for me.’”
Tonight, we are talking once again about the basics of Spiritual Warfare. To be a Christian is to be at war.
When God chooses you, winning is not a matter of ability, experience, age, IQ, or innate goodness. It’s a matter of faith in God.
This passage is simply about the grace to go on when disappointed. The strength to continue to fight 'When God says NO'.
When pastors are shut out of hospitals and church folks shut out of church, there must be an antidote: Encouragement is good medicine.
This morning we are in Luke 14:12–24 as we continue with our series “The Parables of Jesus” with “The Parable of the Great Banquet”
What to do while you wait: the story of Rebecca's service that would unfold her destiny.
Instead of seeking miracles we should seek to be near Jesus. Perhaps then we could experience the miraculous effect of His presence and power.
Every farmer knows and lives by this truth: “When it’s harvest time, you must reap today because tomorrow will be too late.”
“Against all odds, one solitary man rebuilt the altar of the Lord that had been torn down!”
“Against all odds, one solitary man rebuilt the altar of the Lord that had been torn down!”
In a place of misfit isolation, far from anything that resembled the dream of milk and honey he held in his heart… The Lord appeared to Abram.
“God plans to bless you and muzzle the devourer. He will not allow him to touch what belongs to you.”
The “If-then” principle of scripture teaches us that God’s promise to do His part is tied irrevocably to us doing our part. We dig a hole – he provides the miracle of fruitfulness.”
“The critical connection between giving and receiving: God’s plan and process for blessing His children here on earth.”
Once you believe the flood was mythical, It’s easier to believe there is no second coming, no judgment, and no hell.
Today we to discuss the thought of “Stolen Valor”. Valor in this context is an unwavering devotion to duty reflecting in lasting glory bestowed upon an individual that upholds the noble traditions of the military service.
“God’s word is like the flowering branch on an almond tree, a picture of promises and harvests yet to come.”
“There are times when God manifests His presence in visible ways allowing seekers of all kinds to see and learn of Him”
Today we look at the connection between the hope of the resurrection and the hope of revival together.
Today we look at the connection between the hope of the resurrection and the hope of revival together.
“After resurrection, Jesus set out on His final earthly mission. Part of that was to settle, once and for all, the place and position of women in ministry.”
“After resurrection, Jesus set out on His final earthly mission. Part of that was to settle, once and for all, the place and position of women in ministry.”
“There is something we should notice in the after-resurrection narrative: Jesus does not appear to everyone.”
“Nothing has ever happened, or will ever happen, that God did not purpose to happen. That is true in the best and the worst of times.”
“Satan wants you to be so constantly afraid of losing out with God that you’re unable to enjoy the love that he lavishes over you day after wonderful day.”
“In the Old Testament we see people searching for grace. In the New Testament we see grace searching for people.”
“You are His child, made in His image and as such you bear a family resemblance. You are royalty, seated in a heavenly place, rich beyond measure and beloved by your Father in heaven!”
In Psalms 3 we find King David in a time of trouble. David would write this beautiful Psalm during one of the darkest seasons of his life.
After Pentecost, the church poured into the streets and turned their world upside down. Can we?
This morning on the 20th of December, we consider together the wonderful reality that is Christmas.
The Lord's love toward us was so great that while we were still sinners, Jesus Christ died for us.
“Showing kindness is just a matter of treating others like you would want to be treated if you were in their place.”
“Kindness does far more than meet the immediate need; it has a way of bringing healing and restoration.”
I'd rather have what I’ve got with the anointing of the Holy Spirit on it than to have all the wealth of this world without it!”
This idea of fire as a description of God is not new. The Bible in Hebrews 12:29 describes the Lord God this way; 29 For our God is a consuming fire.
The Holy Ghost came once, and He is here forever. We should expect His mighty works to remain active in His church to this very day.
Imagine what it could mean if the church would just be filled, endued, clothed, baptized, bathed, and cleansed by the Holy Ghost and fire.
Find out which direction the Wind of the Spirit is blowing, let the wind fill your sails and go with God.
“We cannot confine the Spirit of God to a denominational box any more than we can catch wind in a bottle.”
“Our enemy knows that prayerless believers are powerless believers, so his goal is simple: Fill the old wells and let them die of thirst.”
“It was the lack of water that provoked Isaac to move quickly to unstop the wells and restore the flow of water.”
“Dig a well. It will sustain you and provide fresh spiritual, life-giving water to your family for generations to come.”
“The act or process of beginning is charged with possibility, full of faith, and teeming with promise.”
“If we spend our time and energy seeking comfort and security, safety and well-being, every other achievement will be meaningless.”
“Walking with God is about believing God so completely that you change your schedule, develop new habits and rearrange your whole life…”
Like Daniel, we are living in a strange land… we are remnant in a specific time and place.
The remnant is so potent that even when there’s only two or three, they are undefeatable.
In Matthew 6:6, there is this open revelation of a secret place. A special place of safety and wonder.
The strength to carry on in the face of adversity springs to life as we take our first step of faith and understanding.
Faith lets us to see what others cannot see and makes us eyewitness to things others can’t even imagine!
Our lives and our faith need an element of edginess, a bit of danger to wake it up; an atmosphere that leaves room for the miraculous.
Crossing Jordan is about giving up one thing in order to get something better – not just different.
Gather everything you’ll need to live in the place where you're going because it’s nothing like the place you just left.
There is nothing, no prison, no circumstance, no fortress that can keep our God from bringing us out!
If we don’t pay attention to God, if we don’t stay on the path He has chosen, we will end up in a place we never intended to go.
When we are unable or unwilling to listen to God, He takes steps to get our attention and sometimes, those steps are radical.
On a stormy night, in a small boat, isolated from the rest of the world, they experienced something that changed them forever.
Are you afraid? Do you feel overwhelmed? Hold on. In every setback, every circumstance, every crisis, God is already moving on your behalf.
“If I were your enemy, I would paralyze you with fear, intimidate you until you valued safety over destiny, until stepping out in faith was, in your mind, an unacceptable risk.”
“If I were your enemy, I would lure you away from your Father, steal your innocence, cover you with the sour smell of sin and make you believe that impure living is normal”
“If I were your enemy… I would tear apart your family and destroy every member of it. I would wreck your so-called ‘Christian home’ so completely that the world would look at you and say, ‘Isn’t that sad? And they were Christians.’”
If I were your enemy, I would steal your identity, magnify your insecurities, cripple you with self-doubt and leave you confused about who you really are.
If I were your enemy, I would misdirect your focus and gradually, erode your will to fight.
Everything that’s happened in your life, both the good and the bad, has started with a decision.
Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around, all at the same time.
This morning on the 22nd of December, we consider together the wonderful reality that is Christmas.
When you honor, you literally make certain items or people of more value or more influence or more impact in your life.
Prayer is human activity with supernatural results. Little wonder Jesus said we ought always to pray…
In the words of the prophet Jeremiah "This is the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon."
If the devil is not rebuked, restrained, confined, held back then he will steal our increase, rob our advantage, and undo our success.
Because of the cross, death has lost its sting. It can leave no scars, no smell, no hint of the grave at all.
The preaching of the cross includes forgiveness of sin and releases the power of God for healing in the church.
Giving His own life as a ransom, presenting His own blood as the sacrifice, when it is done, He cries, “It is finished!"
Humans in every culture have always most admired the most selfless, the most self-sacrificial expressions of love far more than desperate acts of self-preservation. Jesus died showing us selfless love, it is a profound example of how we are to live.
Those who believe in obtaining salvation by personal strength and contribution are insulted by the message of the cross.
Why did Jesus come? To step down from the perfection of glory. To step down from the radiance of heaven. To live in the filth and frailty of the human form. The cross in Jesus own words.
Do not allow yourself to be influenced by the opinions and reports of the do-nothing crowd.
God has healed, provided and delivered in ages past and He will do these things again but, there is one thing God will never do again.
Today will take a look at how we respond when our faith has been weak, how we respond when everything goes wrong, how we respond in the middle of failure, and just as important, how we can expect Jesus to respond to us when we have walked away.
When an entertainer repeats himself, it might be entertaining but, when God repeats Himself, it is thrilling.
The repeated miracle of the fishes and loaves, the touching and retouching of the blind man in the gospel of Mark are all about the Master’s “redoing” until we get it.
His voice invaded the stillness and said, "Let there be..." At that moment, light invaded darkness as God Almighty stepped center stage and so began the performance of the ages.
The power that moved on Peter on Pentecost and turned a coward into a mighty warrior is still moving still today.
When we look through Scripture, we see both our value predetermined and God choosing us again and again.
Not all healing in the Bible were instantaneous. Be willing to maintain an obedient, steadfast faith even as you go on your way. God may require it of you.
Jesus places healing into the context of the normal, open-handed provision of God the Father.
Because they didn’t steward the authentic they got stuck with an imitation. They lost what was valuable in exchange for that which was functional. They lost what was pure in exchange for that which was cheap and flimsy.
When any generation becomes so absorbed in making a living that they don’t make time to teach their children all the Lord has done for them, then they will never know.
We will no longer sit here, the command has been to go! But between the stepping out of something and the stepping into something, there is always the hallway.
Before God ever deals with your future He deals with our past! Get ready God is doing a new thing!
"God wants us to build arks, level the walls of Jericho, shut the mouths of lions, subdue nations, and obtain promises! He has big plans for us!"
Moving from the breaking point to a breakthrough requires effort, determination, resolve, fortitude and old fashioned grit.
The tipping point defined by the book of the same title is "the moment of critical mass, the threshold, the boiling point." It's the moment something changes to the point that the most unobservant individual can tell. Its the moment the collective proverbial light bulb goes off.
This morning on the 23rd of December, we consider together the wonderful reality that is Christmas.
Making it through the storm is all about who is beside you, who's with you in the storm.
Jesus is coming soon and we can know the season of His return. How can we know? There are signs.
Hell is a place where God will be present in His wrath but absent in His mercy. You don’t have to go there.
Change is inevitable. Growing spiritually requires us to build a strong relationship with Jesus Christ.
If we are not “contending for the faith” what in the world are we doing? We either contend or concede. There is no such thing as a spiritual no-fly zone.
If we fail to see the true nature and effect of sin, everything in our pursuit of Holy faith is tragically distorted.
Sin cannot ravage the land, decade after decade, without affecting us. It's like being on an airplane that is going down. The impending calamity affects us all.
So, why do you worry? Birds don’t worry. Day after day, storm after storm, season after season, birds trust and God provides.
God asks the question, "What are you doing here?" Finding direction during hard moments.
When God came to the Garden of Eden that day, He came on business and with a question for Adam and Eve, "Who told you?
What do you think? Is the church of our age “a sleeping giant,” disengaged, unresponsive and unaware of the hour.
What is God teaching you in the pain of grief? What is God allowing in your life to bring you to your knees?
This is the great issue in the world today. It affects everybody, everywhere, without exception. If the soul is lost, the whole person is lost.
God asked Adam and He is asking us today, “Where are you?” This is not a question of geography but of destiny. Ponder deeply. Answer well.
Our spiritual lives can be more easily measured by what we do with money than any other single indicator.
It’s not just simply that as a body and as individuals we must do the right thing, we must do the right thing in the right way and with the right attitude for God to bless it.
Stewardship is about the things God entrusts us with such as our time, our talent, our treasure, the totality of our life and how we invest it to God’s glory and to others’ good.
Taking the time to examine our personal stewardship is good for us because it reveals our heart.
Living and giving God's way. It is important for us to realize that if we are careless stewards of the things God has entrusted to us, He will treat us harshly.
Not so the wicked: The other side of Berakah. The wicked are not like a tree planted; nor are they like a living stalk of corn. They are like chaff – a dried up cornstalk long after life is gone.
An if-then promise. These are the lessons, the warnings and the promises of the 1st chapter of Psalm. May they each be fulfilled in your life.
The Best Choice. Perhaps the most common human aspiration is the desire to succeed. And, I guess the most common barrier to success is the fear of trying.
The 1st chapter of Psalms tells us there are two pathways in life open to us: the way of the Godly that leads to blessedness, happiness, and fruitfulness and the way of the ungodly that leads to misery, failure and judgment. Which will you choose?
John sees Jesus going out to war as a glorious prince upon a mighty war-horse with a blood-dipped robe and many crowns.
As the Lion-like-lamb He is able and as the Lamb-like-lion worthy to open and execute the scroll in Revelation 5.
On this special day, I have a word for graduates and for you; something to help you go on from here. It comes to you in the form of “good counsel – sound advice.” Nothing will impact your life as much as the quality of the council you receive and the completeness with which you do it.
“How terrible it would be for families to be together in church on Mother’s Day yet not be together in eternity.”
Jesus didn't just tell people how they could find everlasting life, He said that He is the source and giver of everlasting life!
Jesus didn't just tell people how they could find everlasting life, He said that He is the source and giver of everlasting life!
Whatever we may learn or come to know in our lifetimes, nothing is more important than knowing Jesus.
Other religions have their temples and their creeds and holy books but as Christians, we have Christ. Do you know Him?
Jesus is the ruler of the universe, the maker of all things - visible and invisible - and, He is the center of all scripture. Jesus is the answer to everything that concerns us.
God made us in His image and gave us everything including a world of our own. He set us up for success in every possible way.
The blood of Jesus cries out for the desperate, the forgotten, the broken and despised. Jesus pleaded for the thief upon the cross and he is interceding for you. The blood will never lose its power!
If we do not announce the horrors of the cross and tell others of the certainty of hell then we have failed the one who saved us by His blood.
Great leaders have a sense of mission that expands beyond their own life. They are not driven by ambition, they are driven by mission. They are not driven by their own sense of success. Their own need to attain. They are consumed by the bigger picture. Great leaders see their words as powerful beyond their own life time. Their words matter.
"I want you to see the unseeable, possess what you cannot buy, hold what you cannot touch and imagine what you can never really know... the width and length and depth and height of the love of God!”
A convenient time means, “I will do it when I can fit it into my schedule; when I have nothing else to do; when it will require no effort or sacrifice on my part; when every other priority has been dealt with… then, then, then Paul, I will send for you.”
The Apostle Paul, who started as one of Christianity's most zealous enemies, was hand-picked by Jesus Christ to become the gospel's most ardent messenger.
Paul looked for and found an opportunity in the midst of an absolutely terrible situation. To do it, he used what he had.
During Paul's shipwreck, we see a man who is suffering and yet is still faithful and a leader.
There are solid, irrefutable, Biblical reasons for believing that signs and wonders will continue until Jesus comes again.
When sinners hear praying, the unredeemed hear singing, the faithless feel the earthquake, the prisoners see the doors rattle open, and people in bondage see their chains fall off - That’s Revival.
An encounter with Jesus will change your heart, change your life, change your attitude, change the crowd you run with and change your destiny. Transformation is the mark of true conversion.
Somewhere, on life’s journey, you will run right into Jesus. That’s how salvation happens.
Before Jacob could prevail, he had to come clean, acknowledge his character, reveal his true identity and stand fully exposed. We hate that.
God’s promises are not just “exceeding great and precious,” they are also specific, clear and personal.
Storms come. Don't be afraid. Have faith, declare things as they will be, not as they are.
One of the most radical, counter-cultural things you can do is become a deeply involved, contributing member of a local church.
In the next part of our series, Pastor MJ Tolle discusses the leadership lessons we learn from Noah and the ark.
Go ahead. Listen to your heart. You don’t have to be afraid to do what you were made to do.
When Jesus said he came to give abundant life, to Him, abundant life included everything that life includes.
The Story of Two Builders: Your seemingly stable life can come crashing down if you do not obey the word of God.
I have this unexplainable, renewed sense of expectation, a deep, inward awareness that something has shifted out there and soon, very soon, Jesus is coming back.
The Spirit of the Builder: A builder doesn’t just build something new that never before existed. He often gives Himself completely to repairing something that has fallen; to renovation and restoration.
Perhaps it is not the miracle, but the world around us with all its death, decay, and disease that is the strange and unnatural thing.
God is the Way Maker. We learn so much about God while going through impossible situations.
The Maker of the family. Family matters to God and in a culture that is quick to dismiss family as outdated and old-fashioned, it is time for us to see the why behind the what when God made the family.
God brought this world into being and since the moment of its arrival, it has not ceased to declare the glory of its Maker.
Few things will ever impact our lives like our view of God. Today, we are going to look at stars in order to get a better picture of the One who made them.
We are all marked by the passing of time, and today marks the 10th anniversary of service of Pastor and Linda Tolle at Man O' War Church. We honor and celebrate this loving couple for their sacrificial giving and leadership while in service to the Lord.
Dr. Paul Conn tells us eight stories without giving their meaning, each showing how someone heard from God and received "hints from heaven".
Guest Pastor Chris Moody shares an uplifting message from the book of John. Do not allow the plots of the enemy to usurp the plans of God in your life. Rise up and walk in the victory of who you are in Christ.
The journey of David and these five cities and what they represent! Prophetic parallels between the life of David and the life of the believer.
Satan never goes to battle where there are no spoils...The Wall of Faith is not the fencing in of faith, although that would be good, but it's faith that empowers you to take back.
Two different stories tell the radical and unfailing love God has for His people - the story of Hosea and Gomer, and the story of the prodigal son.
A special message by Guest Pastor, Bishop William Lee...Coming out of the cursed place and living in the place of healing and blessings through Jesus Christ.
Graduation and commencement ought to be celebrated. Together, they are the setting of the sun and the dawning of a new and glorious day.
Revival is not about satisfying our ego or proving which church group has it right. Revival is about restoring God’s life-giving Kingdom purposes.
Can you picture an entire family working together to hide a three month old baby from Egypt’s FBI? Hoping for life in the face of death? Can you see them praying, working and believing God for a miracle?
There is a megas – that is - a great, surprisingly large door open for effective work here in this modern day Ephesus but Satan has plans to limit us.
Be encouraged that God's work for you is not limited to what you can understand and express with words.
We have a hard time seeing any value in suffering. To the modern church, suffering for any cause is a thing to be avoided. God doesn't see it that way.
How would you worship if you were one worship away from breakthrough? How would you worship if you were one worship away from your prayers being answered?
"The Lifter." There is an unexplainable incompatibility when the sad a countenance tries to wear the garment of joy. Cosmetics do nothing for the fettered soul.
The best thing you can do on the worst day of your life is to get in the presence of the Lord. David wept, spent time with God to ask questions, and then he spent time worshiping the Lord. But he finally went to war and God was with him. Because we may have to face it, but we don't have to fight it because God has gone on before us to fight it.
The promise of blessing and increase does not exist in isolation from the command to “Rise! Pick up! and Go!”
Elijah was sent to a place by God whose name meant to separate the precious from the worthless by applying heat.
The trials we’ve come through have positioned us for increase. It’s time to gather the pots. Close the door. Pour the oil.
"Could it be that God intends to multiply the seeds of our generosity in the same way he multiplied the fishes and loaves?"
"The quality of our life today is the direct result of the seeds we have sown in days gone by."
According to the law of the harvest, you can decide what seeds to plant, but when you do, you have at that moment, determined the harvest to be inevitable.
Many who live in poverty, are not just poor – that is deficient in money - they have an even deeper poverty in their hearts.
God expects us to be in forward motion He expects us to grow, build, plant harvest, to be fruitful, to multiply. God expects us to increase.
"Increase. That is the theme of the sermon series that God will use to guide our faith and direct our steps over the next few weeks and onward into the New Year. "
Whether it's living among the dead or sharing dinner with hogs, the wilderness is not where you want to live and it is most certainly not where you want to die.
If your situation is hopeless and your faith is low, Jesus is moved with compassion because you are suffering.
We are not very good at hoping in God and Wishful thinking has nothing to do with hope defined in scripture.
God gives us faith. But he tests, refines, and strengthens it in the face of distraction and in the fires of difficulty.
When we allow our idols to come near Him, the difference our God and all other gods is stunning.
The miracle of Jesus healing the blind man is more than just a miracle. It was a process to show that sometimes we accept what is better than what we had before instead of waiting for the full power of Jesus to heal us completely.
He is standing, pounding at your heart’s door. Warning, knocking, pleading. Your part is to hear and open the door.
There’s something wonderful in your gift of faith that enables you see the greatness in small things.
It is not enough to simply be “believers”. We must believe truth. 2 Thessalonians makes it plain that some people will believe lies and be lost because they “Do not love the truth.”
Every thing we do... every sermon, every song, every service and every single dollar given is about one thing – helping you be ready to meet Him on that day!
“’Thy Kingdom Come’ cannot be separated from ‘Thy will be done.’ Why waste energy rebelling against the methods God uses to bring [His will] to pass?” – Betty Shaver
There is nothing more helpful when you are overwhelmed by life’s problems than knowing “Our God is a great God!
In the deep, the River surrounds us, covers us, permeates us and controls us. That’s what it means to be truly filled with the Spirit.
There is so much going on here at Man Oʼ War Church. We have, as we said we would, moved from the training field onto the battlefield and the fight is on. However, forward momentum in the Kingdom has not been without consequence.
A lot of people who like church and even go to church don’t think church music is important. But is it? What does God think of our music and singing?
What do we do when we are in a period of transition and the waiting seems to be never ending?
Crossing over could be the most terrifying and liberating moment of your life. It was for the Hebrew slaves.
The deliverance of Israel from Egypt is a great testimony to the power of God and the futility of idolatry.
Today in our second EPIC story, we meet Noah and learn about the flood. The flood lasted one year and a month and gave us the second earth - the earth that surrounds us now. God sent a flood and destroyed the entire world.
Many respected scientists say we have evolved by natural selection. The Bible says that we were created. Which is true?
Today we say goodbye to this wonderful book - the Book of Revelation. All of the purposes of God ordained from before the foundation of the world have now been accomplished.
As we come to the 22nd chapter of Revelations - the end of the book of the unveiling - we sense the urgency of the message. "Blessed is he who heeds the word of the prophecy of this book."
Heaven is the fulfillment of our hope, the place of our treasure. Heaven is our eternal home and I want to go there.
The Bible opens in Genesis with the creation of all things natural and temporal and closes in Revelation with a breathtaking unveiling of heaven and all things eternal.
Today, we come to the closing two chapters of the book of Revelation. For nearly a year, we have been studying this exciting and thought provoking book. And, now at last, we come to the subject of heaven.
The Great White Throne is the setting for the final judgment where God will judge every thought, word, and deed of every unredeemed human being.
It is sobering to see how swiftly and completely the dominion of Satan, the rule of the AntiChrist, the false prophet and all that is ungodly comes suddenly to an end. An un-named angel - not Michael or Gabriel - just another angel locks Satan away, fire consumes the enemies of our God, Earth, and heaven are uncreated in an instant. And it is done.
When Jesus comes again, He is not on a donkey but a white horse. He comes in fiery vengeance with a sword of judgment and with blood-splattered garments.
There is a better world coming - a world ruled by One Person whose mind, will, wisdom, judgment, and justice are perfect.
Revelation Chapters 19 and 20 have one overriding theme: the appearance of the Son of Man. In this vision, we also see the response of the people when they see Him, His appearance at the marriage supper of the Lamb, the authority with which He reigns, and His righteous judgment at the Great White Throne.
Nowhere in the Bible is it more clearly revealed that God will judge the world than in the book of Revelations. Terrifying judgment is coming. This judgment will happen over a seven-year period and it will increase in intensity each year.
Don't align with, trust in, stand alongside or commit to the systems of this world. They will fail. They will be destroyed.
Satan's final empire will be a literal global, material, earthly kingdom. But, it will be spiritual and religious.
If we do not worship the One True God, then we will worship someone, something, somewhere...
All throughout the New Testament, the wrath of God is a recurring theme. In the book of Revelation, is takes center stage.
The judgments of Revelation 16 are swift and severe. They tell us clearly how God feels about sin and rebellion. We like to think that God is grace, mercy, and love. But, here we are going to see His fury and wrath.
God is long suffering. Yet, when all His love is refused, all that remains is His final inescapable wrath.
The first time Jesus came to earth, He came as a humble servant. When He comes again, He will come as Sovereign King. The Book of Revelation gives us a clear understanding of the second coming of Christ. There is no reason to be confused. Jesus is coming and this time will be very different from the first.
Angels are very involved in the Kingdom of God and they will be involved in a major way in executing God's final judgement upon the earth.
If 144,000 can emerge from the Great Tribulation standing in victory, we must see what we can learn from them that can help us to live overcoming lives now. What are the characteristics of a Triumphant Saint?
In Revelation Chapter 13, Satan releases his most awesome, deceptive lies upon mankind; the beast rising up out of the earth.
John's introduction to Revelation does a wonderful job telling us what to expect as we begin our journey through the last book of the Bible. Today, we see the beast rising out of the sea in Chapter 13.
The kingdoms of this world - the nations, their rulers, and kings and presidents - have become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ!
Since the fall of Lucifer, the son of the morning, the highest of the angelic, there has been a constant war between Satan and his demons and God and His angels. Today, as we continue our study of Revelation, we come to the great and final culmination of this war of the ages.
God will never turn His back on Israel. His promises to them are as sure as the laws that govern the universe. That truth is the central theme of Chapter 11 of Revelation.