We Are LifeChurch: Recent Episodes
Micah Johnson
Founded in 1942, LifeChurch is dedicated to serving the San Gabriel Valley, expanding from Pasadena to Monrovia via the vision of Pastor Micah Johnson. We welcome you to view our sermons LIVE on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/wearelifechurch
Sunday Service - 11/12“I Will Still” - Guest Speaker: Jesse MartinezSubscribe to our YouTube Channel: We Are LifeChurch
Sunday Service - 10/08Treasure in Earthen VesselsSubscribe to our YouTube Channel: We Are LifeChurch
2022-03-20 Sunday Worship Service Pastor Micah Johnson - "The Church Revived: Christ Centered-Commission Driven"
2022-03-20 Sunday Worship Service Pastor Micah Johnson - "The Church Revived: This is Winning"
2022-03-06 Sunday Worship Service Pastor Micah Johnson - "Ruth - Loyalty, Love, & Family" Part 2
2022-03-06 Sunday Worship Service Pastor Micah Johnson - "Ruth - Loyalty, Love, & Family" Part 2
2022-02-27 Sunday Worship Service 2022-02-27 Pastor Micah Johnson - "Ruth: Loyalty, Love, and Family" Part 1
2021-09-05 Sunday Worship Service Pastor Micah Johnson - "I Will Build My Church" Sermon Series Pt: 1
2021-03-21 - Sunday Worship Service Pastor Micah Johnson - "The Road to Calvary Pt 3 - Forgiveness in Betrayal"
2021-03-14 - Sunday Worship Service Pastor Micah Johnson - "The Road to Calvary: The Lord's Supper" Sermon Series
2021-03-07 Sunday Worship Service Pastor Micah Johnson - "The Road to Calvary" Sermon Series: Pt 1
2021-02-28 Sunday Worship Service Pastor Micah Johnson - "Whatever We Do... We Can't Lose"
2021-02-14 Sunday Worship Service Pastor Micah Johnson - "What's So Special About Jabez?"
2020-08-16 Sunday Worship Service Pastor Richard Brown - "Your Peace and Your Power Comes From What You Know"
2020-02-16 Sunday Worship Service Josh Oseguera - "Passing The Test"
Remember when you were in school and the teacher would say "Surprise! Pop Quiz time!"? It wasn't meant to embarrass you, the purpose was to see if you remembered what you heard. God does the same thing in life. He is going to test us, doing so to keep us close to him.
2020-02-09 Sunday Worship Service Pastor Richard Brown - "Seeing the Unseen"
The biggest lie of the enemy is that God doesn't know what is happening to you, or worse, he doesn't care. He likes to leave you anxious, stressed, and on the edge of crashing. Faith is your key to confidence. Faith doesn't know what will happen, but believes that what will happen is in God's perfect timing.
2020-02-02 Sunday Worship Service Pastor Richard Brown - "Unleavened"
Before yeast to make bread rise, there was a process called leavening. It was essential to light, puffy bread. When the children of Israel left Egypt, God had them leave so quickly, they didn't have time to complete this process of bread making for their journey of deliverance, forcing them to take the unleavened bread. This example mirrors our own journey of deliverance, and how a little "leaven" can affect our walk with God.
2020-01-26 Sunday Worship Service Pastor Richard Brown - "Your Destiny is in Your Deference"
In this sermon Pastor Brown speaks on the importance of thinking of others before yourself. The Lord will honor your sacrifices for others to be in your favor.
2020-01-12 Sunday Worship Service Pastor Richard Brown - "A Time to Sow" When all is scarce, our temptation is to hold tight to what we have. God's word says the opposite: when things are scarce, it's time to sow now in tears, what you do have, to reap a multitude later in joy.
2020-01-05 Sunday Worship Service
Ron Brown - "The Rest of Your Time" We can rail and moan about the things we've lost to time, but in life, the beauty remains that we always have the rest of our time to dedicate to follow Jesus.
2019-12-29 Sunday Worship Service Pastor Richard Brown - "Packing For 2020"
In this sermon Pastor Brown speaks on the importance of giving your troubles and care unto God. To get rid of pride, we have to realize that God is in control of our lives and not us. When pride is let in our lives then stress can induce other unnecessary emotions will take over for the worst.
2019-12-22 Sunday Worship Service David Keller - "The Greatest Gift of All"
In this sermon David Keller speaks on the Jesus being the Lord and savior of this world.
2019-12-01 Sunday Worship Service Dilon Morgan - "Born to The Barren"
In this sermon Dillon Morgan speaks on the power of those and places which were barren but destined to bare something of greatness.
2019-11-10 Sunday Worship Service Pastor Richard Brown - "Put Your Calculators Away"
In this sermon Pastor Brown speaks on the importance of putting your calculations and numbers away to allow more faith and for God to work through you.
2019-10-20 Sunday Worship Service Pastor Richard Brown - "The Original Avenger" It's human nature to even the score against those we believe wronged us. The Word reminds us that the Lord is the final avenger against those who have harmed his children.
2019-10-13 Sunday Worship Service Tim Marshall - "The Power Of Now"
In Marshall's sermon, he speaks on the God being with you during the hard times and will fight for you at that moment. God will not forsake you because you are his child.
2019-09-01 Sunday Worship Service Spencer Jordan - "Human Frailty From Dust to Destiny"
2019-08-18 Sunday Worship Service Pastor Rich Brown - "Rise Above"
In this sermon Pastor Brown speaks on not conforming to the world around you but to rise above. Also that the church should not be a product of the worldly environment around it.
2019-08-25 Sunday Worship Service Spencer Jordan - "The Greater Light"
In this sermon, guest speaker Spencer Jordan speaks on shinning God's light in your daily life. We are empty without it. Our purpose in life is not to give glory to ourselves but unto God and to show his light to all.
2019-08-11 Sunday Worship Service Pastor Richard Brown - "The Original Metabolife"
In this message, Pastor Brown reminds us to be thankful of the Lord's provisions. A thankful attitude is the metabolizing factor to prevent blindness to spiritual opportunities.
2019-08-4 Sunday Worship Service Pastor Richard Brown - "Marked For A Mission"
In this sermon Pastor Brown speaks on the principle of being marked as one of God's people to do his mighty work. When we are marked, his glory can flow through us.
2019-05-19 Sunday Worship Service Pastor Richard Brown - "Let It Move You" In this sermon Pastor Brown speaks on the importance of allowing the life changing power of God's Holy Spirit to move on your life.
2019-05-12 Sunday Worship Service Tamara Brown - "So Shine" This Mother's Day, our Pastor's Wife speaks on the importance of the being a light to the world as mothers and mentors alike.
2019-04-21 Easter Sunday Service Pastor Richard Brown - "The Greatest Comeback Story Ever"
2019-04-14 Sunday Worship Service - Palm Sunday Pastor Richard Brown - "The Appointed Time"
2019-03-31 Sunday Worship Service David Gettys - "Broken With Purpose" In this sermon David Gettys speaks on the trials of your life and the experiences God lets you go through to create a purpose for your life.
2019-02-17 Sunday Worship Service Eli Hernandez - "The Creative Power of Dust and Ashes"
2019-02-10 Sunday Worship Service Pastor Richard Brown - "Unlocking The Power Of The Word" Sermon Series: 40 Days in the Word
2019-02-03 Sunday Worship Service Pastor Richard Brown - "Possessing God's Promises Through Praise" Sermon Series: Possessing God's Promises, Part 5/5
2019-01-30 Wednesday Night Service Pastor Richard Brown - "Spiritual Disciplines - Finances"
2019-01-27 Sunday Worship Service Pastor Richard Brown - "Possessing God's Promises Through Giving" Sermon Series: Possessing God's Promises, Part 4/5
2019-01-23 Wednesday Night Service Pastor Richard Brown - "Spiritual Discipline - Prayer"
2019-01-20 Sunday Worship Service Pastor Richard Brown - "Possessing God's Promises - Prayer" Sermon Series: Possessing God's Promises, Part 3/5
2019-01-13 Sunday Worship Service Pastor Richard Brown - "Possessing God's Promises - Fasting" Sermon Series: Possessing God's Promises, Part 2/5
2019-01-06 Sunday Worship Service Richard Brown - "Possessing God's Promises" Sermon Series: Possessing God's Promises, Part 1/5
2018-12-19 Wednesday Night Service Pastor Richard Brown discusses the mission of LifeChurch in 2019 with Simeon Costa
Wind creates a powerful sound, a hint of things to come. When you let the sound overwhelm you it creates fear. Remind yourself that the wind doesn’t hold things to be feared in your life, the wind is a preceder of the deliverance to come.
How do you know you're called, meant for something greater? Throughout scripture, in the stories of the called, we find signs of the call on their life.
Manipulate. A word that normally has a negative ring. For you, it's time to make it a positive ring. What you expect determines your direction, for expectancy is another way of explaining Faith.
Pastor Brown continues our study of the book of Acts with an in depth study of the conversion of Saul into the man we know as the Apostle Paul.
The enemy's strategy to claim victory hasn't changed since the beginning of time: to harass, oppress, wear out, and all in all break down the people of God. He wants you to get frustrated, irritated, and lashing out at your neighbor. But know this, your moment of victory isn't after the enemy is defeated, it's when you decide to fight back.
Pastor Brown continues our study of the book of Acts with 4 key, influencing figures of the early church: Saul the Persecutor, Philip the deacon, Simon the sorcerer, and the converted Ethiopian Eunuch.
Restlessness and longing are two universal traits of the human heart, placed in us by God to remind us that eternity is waiting. We try and sate them with temporary things, but nothing helps. The only way to be filled is to realize you are empty, and let your emptiness lead you to crave righteousness.
Why does the Bible matter? It's really old, a lot of people like it..a lot of people don't. What makes it so important? This book, ancient as it is and still thriving, is the ambassador of God to man. It connects us to him. No other book in history has come across so many attacks by its enemies and not only survived, but thrived. Proof of it's connection to a Living God.
Have you wondered, "If God is all powerful and wonderful, why does He need my praise?" The short answer is: He doesn't. Praise is for us.
Chapter 5 of our study of the book of Acts continues with the apostles being put on trial for daring to speak the truth of the gospel, and for showing up the religious leaders of the day, not knowingly through their talent, but unknowingly through the anointing of the holy spirit.
How did the crucifixion, the cross, become the most recognized symbol of victory when it was supposed to be a symbol of defeat? What should have solidified anger, resentment, shame, and revenge instead radiates nothing but peace, kindness, and compassion from its intended. This "victim" is our example, leading us to rise from the events of our circumstances to become greater than we are.
There is a great mystery given to Peter by Jesus, revealing to him that there are keys to the kingdom of heaven, keys to unlock. Unlock what? Keys to unlock the potential stored inside humanity.
Evangelist Simeon Costa continues his training of LifeStudies, a powerful outreach tool that draws it's effectiveness from the greatest tool of all, the living Word of God.
https://www.lifestudies.cc
Why do people not grow in a healthy church environment? They attend, they worship, they "amen," yet they are no further along in their walk with God than when they first began it. In fact, they may have regressed. The answer lies in examination. Spiritual growth is determined by your choices, not your environment.
Famine, we can agree, is a bad thing. Biblically it's a type of testing.It produces restlessness, wandering, uncertainty, and confusion. It will drive you to a place where you are unsure of who your Father is, and his role in your life. What purpose could something so drastic serve? It restores.
Evangelist Simeon Costa begins his training of LifeStudies. A powerful outreach tool that draws it's effectiveness from the greatest tool of all, the living Word of God.
https://www.lifestudies.cc
Acts chapter focuses on the boldness of the Apostles when faced with the Sadducee's persecution of their faith and their dismissal of the miracle that had taken place before their eyes. Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, pokes holes in their arguments to dismiss this event as false.
There's a special type of "forgetting" that the Bible encourages us to put into practice. Remembering something doesn't just mean calling to memory something that happened. It also means living inside those events and letting them shape you. The church is about forward motion. Letting yourself marinate in past hurts from others, or grievances with your brother or sister will do nothing but slow you to the point of a standstill.
Pastor Brown continues our study of the book of Acts with Chapter 3, following Peter and John as they go about their daily routine at the Gate Beautiful. The only difference between this day and all the others was they were filled with the gift of the Holy Ghost, and when it whispered instructions to minister, they listened.
Memorials and remembrances are a key part of Jewish culture that date back to creation. These memorials are for the very specific purposes of reminding the people of an important event, either a promise from God or a miraculous deliverance. Without them, the miraculous is easily forgotten.
There is no task, no position, no ability that is greater than another when it comes to serving in the kingdom of God. Nor is it the responsibility of one person to perform every task, every position, and have every ability. Our responsibility to the kingdom, and our greatest joy, is to perform our task to the best of our ability as the Spirit gives us the talent. Its our differences working together that move the kingdom forever forward in unity.
At the heart, at the center of the family is the mother, there for a specific purpose. She is the nurturer, the educator, and the protector of her children. She places seeds of character in her child, watches those seeds sprout, and anchors that sapling to the shape it must grow. She is the wall the enemy runs into, seeking to draw them away from their home.
The powerful are at the top of the food chain, the weak or down on their luck are at the bottom. We look out for number 1.That's how the world works, and that's the system we've always known. The kingdom of God is the exact opposite. Blessings come only when we reach out and serve others.
The process of sanctification is a long one, our whole lives in fact. Our spiritual journey is full of ups and downs. It's in those down times we must remember the journey isn't over yet. We may have been cut down, but we never stop growing. You will get back to who you were meant to be.
In order to get on mission, we must align our view of us with God’s view of us. When you look in the mirror, do you see Jesus or do you see your failures? The enemy knows if he can can get you to focus on your past, he can knock you out of alignment with God's purpose and plan for your life. Shame comes from the enemy, not from God. When you are redeemed, Jesus sees only a reflection of himself.
God's plan is not that we go off on our own, individually being a light of the gospel, but that we "strive together as one for the faith of the gospel," just as the apostle Paul writes to the church in Philippi. We are to be partners together, standing strong when trials come and reaching out with helping hands to the lost.
If the Bible says "the wages of sin is death," why are we not dead yet? The answer dates back to Adam and Eve, the original sinners, and the original redeemed. They were covered in sin, but God clothed them in sacrifice, as nothing corrupt can stand before a holy God.
What hope is there in this life if this is it? Is there anything to look forward to? Jesus made sure there was. His life ended so we could be saved. He rose again so we could live forever with him. There is hope for more. Find it with Jesus.
When Cain flippantly asked "Am I my brothers keeper?" God didn't bother to answer because the answer was obvious, "Yes, you are." Our mission is to multiply the church with God, but we can't do that if we are divided from our brother, with that we can only add. Strife, division, gossip, etc. do nothing but hurt the mission, hurt ourselves, and hurt our brother.
"Am I my brother's keeper?" Cain sneered a mockery of exactly what he was to God. His brothers keeper, as Abel was his. It's the keeper that God honors. The keeper that protects. The keeper that fights. The keeper who stands in the way of the enemy when their brother or sister is down, saying "No. You have to come through me first." The keeper after God's own heart.
The human body can’t last long without water. 3 days, maybe 4. To be without it is disastrous. Yet, after just a moment speaking with Jesus, the woman at the well forgot entirely her purpose for going to the well and she forgot her life sustaining vessel to carry that water. He spoke Living Water into her dry and parched soul. The same is for us today, just reach out and touch Him.
Bethesda. Mercy. Those that lay by the pool hung every hope they had on a moment of chance. IF the waters were troubled, IF someone could carry them, and IF they could get there first they would receive the answer to their problems. They spent all their time waiting. Then and now, it’s so easy to focus so much on searching for the answer that we don’t see it’s right in front of us.
The early church experienced an explosion of growth when it first came to be despite mockery and persecution all around them, the rate of increase even being astounding by todays standards. What then, did they have that we have not? Not technology, not gimmicks, nor advertisements. The answer is simple: they did to others what Jesus did to them. They taught, they fellowshipped, and they loved.
Egypt and Babylon. Captivity and slavery. Israel vastly outnumbered their conquerers in both situations yet still remained in bondage. How? The tried and true tactic of demoralization. Your enemy knows this. He will do anything to snuff out your fire. Beat him at his own game. He knows he can't stand when you rise with the Lord.
It's time to lift up your head.
Pastor Brown continues our study of Acts chapter 2, focusing on the power of the new covenant created when Jesus rose from the dead and the great message of hope it brings not just to the Jews and Gentiles of old, but to all mankind here and now, today.
They were devout, faithful, of sound doctrine, quick to service, but they had forgotten the love of their Lord and what he had given because of that love. Should they not remember, the church of Ephesus would no longer be remembered by Christ.
WWII, The Battle of the Bulge, also known as Hitler's Last Stand. It was a last ditch attempt to overwhelm the Allied forces while simultaneously splitting them apart. He knew the war was ending. He knew his time was short. So too is the realization dawning on our enemy. His time is short. He's throwing everything he has at you. He will fail to break you.
Pastor Rich Brown sits down with Simeon Costa, interview style, to find out a bit of background and how Simeon began his LifeStudy ministry.
There come moments when we ask God for healing and receive more brokenness, we ask for strength and receive weakness, for light and we receive darkness. In those moments, the best thing you can do is wait, wait for God to finish making your pathway out and into the light.
Before signatures became commonplace, a person would show their ownership of a document by dripping wax on paper and pressing their ring containing their crest, or seal, onto the wax. A kings seal, however, showed not only ownership, but authority over anything it was placed on. Evangelist Dillon Morgan speaks on what has happened to us once the Kings seal was placed on our lives.
Evangelist Dillon Morgan reminds us of the great power in staying unified against they enemy.
In this sermon, pastor Brown speaks about: in order to get far, we need to remind ourselves why we do what we do. As a church we need to be focused on the goals and the reasons why we do the works of God.
Founded in 1942, LifeChurch is dedicated to serving the San Gabriel Valley, expanding from Pasadena to Monrovia via the vision of Pastor Micah Johnson. We welcome you to view our sermons LIVE on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/wearelifechurch
Founded in 1942, LifeChurch is dedicated to serving the San Gabriel Valley, expanding from Pasadena to Monrovia via the vision of Pastor Micah Johnson. We welcome you to view our sermons LIVE on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/wearelifechurch
Founded in 1942, LifeChurch is dedicated to serving the San Gabriel Valley, expanding from Pasadena to Monrovia via the vision of Pastor Micah Johnson. We welcome you to view our sermons LIVE on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/wearelifechurch
In this message, Brother Denney reminds us to always expect the blessings after the rain. There is a famine that precedes the blessings, but the Bible reminds us that God's promises come, and to always expect in abundance.
In this message, Pastor Brown talks about changing our way of thinking, from unclean to clean, from negative to positive and from small to big.
This life is a desert, where we wander and search for water to quench our thirst. We try with substances, social media, relationships...but they all leave us even emptier than before. There is only once place to find hope and life, the well of Living Water.
Founded in 1942, LifeChurch is dedicated to serving the San Gabriel Valley, expanding from Pasadena to Monrovia via the vision of Pastor Micah Johnson. We welcome you to view our sermons LIVE on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/wearelifechurch
In this message, Pastor Brown talks about what a covenant means, and the importance of us maintaining a covenant with God, not settling with the world, and giving God a place in our lives.
In this message, Pastor Brown talks about the uncertainty that comes from being surrounded during time of uncertainty, but as the bible speaks, God is in the fog and we must walk with certainty knowing that God is at work, even in the fog.
In this sermon David Gettys speaks on how we should look at our lives and move up to God's greater expectations of us. We should not live by works, instead we should develop our relationship with God.
In this sermon Pastor Brown speaks about the getting into the will of God and his plans for you. Getting into God's will takes three steps; Quitting all sin, Being sensitive to the spirit, and having compassion for others.
In this Bible study Pastor Brown speaks about the prophecies in the Bible and how we need to be ready for the end times. To make it to heaven in the end we need to be rooted in the the word and practice of God's word.
The title of the message, "The Intimidator", highlights the fear that some people may face in their walk with God. However, like the story of Jesus being in the boat with His disciples, no matter how strong the storm may seem, Jesus is with you.
Founded in 1942, LifeChurch is dedicated to serving the San Gabriel Valley, expanding from Pasadena to Monrovia via the vision of Pastor Micah Johnson. We welcome you to view our sermons LIVE on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/wearelifechurch
In this sermon Missionary Joshua Moreno Speaks about putting faith in God-- trusting that he has a plan for you. Joshua Moreno also shares his testimony about how he trusted in God and to do his will.
Pastor Richard Brown - "Spiritual Survival For Dummies" In this message, Pastor Brown talks about four essential things that we as Christians need in order to not be vulnerable the attacks of the enemy.
In this sermon, Eli Hernandez speaks about how sometimes we are too focused on the storm that we are facing, that we can't see God trying to help us. We are too caught up in the storm we are in. We can't accept God's peace without letting go of the storm first. We can't hold onto both.
Founded in 1942, LifeChurch is dedicated to serving the San Gabriel Valley, expanding from Pasadena to Monrovia via the vision of Pastor Micah Johnson. We welcome you to view our sermons LIVE on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/wearelifechurch
In this sermon Josh McClain talks about how we should all give our burdens and worries unto the Lord. I doesn't matter how much we are going through we know that God can take our worries and turn it around to fit his plan for us.
In this sermon Carl McKeller speaks about the good and the evil in this world and how the two are being switched around. We need to have a strong voice against the evils in this world.
In this service, Missionary David Cutar preaches about how we need to have "Wet Prayers". When talking to God we can't be selfish-- we need to think bigger for the good of others around us.
Founded in 1942, LifeChurch is dedicated to serving the San Gabriel Valley, expanding from Pasadena to Monrovia via the vision of Pastor Micah Johnson. We welcome you to view our sermons LIVE on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/wearelifechurch
In this message, Brother Eli Hernandez talks to LifeChurch about waiting for the spoil.
In this message, Brother Eli Hernandez talks about the power of Angels, and the importance of making room, and setting the right environment in our personal lives to attract the proper angels.
In this bible study Pastor Brown teaches that we all must do away with actions that lead to sin. Actions that lead to sin usually oppress and keep people trapped.
In today's message, Pastor Brown goes back in time when the church was born, and relates the birth of Christianity as it's written in the book of Acts.
In this message, Pastor Brown teaches that we should control the way we think and not let our emotions take over. We, as God's children, should not be pessimists about our lives and expecting the worst of things. Joy is something that should not be taken away, something we need in our lives. God wants us to be happy and we should know that and have faith that He is in control.
In this bible study Pastor Brown shares the teaching of Jesus- lessons that are often misinterpreted. One example is in the way we pray.
When a person sins against God they can be forgiven by coming before the Lord and repenting. Although God forgives there are always repercussions to the actions done. We must make sure that the things we do are to the liking of God and do not go against his laws.
In this bible study exploring the book of Exodus we see that in our own lives we need to get away from the bad things in life that oppress us. After getting away from oppression we can except God and his bright future for us, but to get to that point we need to drink of the cups of Salvation, Deliverance, Redemption and Praise.
In this message, Brother David Keller talks about our actions are often led by "defining moments" in our lives.
In this message, Brother Ploch talks about finding our calling. We all have a ministry to fulfill within the body of Christ.
Our nature is to be reminded of the things we're guilty of; and even after repenting, the devil can remind us of our sins to hold us back from moving forward. In this message, Brother Turnbow explains the importance of letting God recondition our minds.
In this message, Brother Gettys reminds us that storms are expected in our walk in Christ. The storms are part of getting on to the other side, but don't give up, because just as Jesus shows control over the storms in the sea, He also has control over the storms in our minds.
In this message, Pastor Brown talks about receiving the power of the Holy Spirit, as evidenced by speaking in other tongues.
In this sermon, Pastor Brown talks about our spiritual vision. Like cataract, when our perspective is blurry, we must take action in order to improve our perspective in life. As with myopia (near-sightedness), it relates to our view of the world through carnal eyes: only seeing what's in front of us and not seeing the eternal implications of things.
In this message, Pastor Brown reminds us of our mission, not to get distracted, and to keep on track with God's calling.
Brother Wendell Elms shares with us that God can make a miracle regardless of our situations.
We may not know the purpose nor potential that we have in the kingdom of God, however, the devil knows. In this message, Pastor Brown reaches out to all of us, including our youth, to remain faithful during the attacks of the enemy.
Brother Beardsley reminds us in this message that no matter our title, "sheep", "shepherd", or "saint", God paid the same price for us all, and therefore we all have a responsibility and a job to do in the kingdom of God.
The bible tells us in Proverbs 3:13-14 that wisdom comes with merchandise. Brother Gettys speaks to us about pursuing wisdom and the rewards that will come with it.
This bible study comes from the book of James, chapter 5. As Pastor Brown explains, James wrote this book with the focus on spiritual maturity, which is achieved by having more than just knowledge of the Word. We must apply the word of God in our lives and let ourselves be transformed by God in order to mature spiritually.
In this Father's Day message, Pastor Brown reminds the fathers that the Devil's plan is to make us feel ashamed and move away from God when we make decisions that go against the will of God. However, this is the time when we must come to Jesus and worship him, that He may guide us back to the place where we belong.
In this bible study, Pastor Brown teaches on Romans Chapter 12, where he reminds us that our relationship with others directly reflects our relationship with God. He also talks about the importance of discovering each of our gifts and operating under the gifts that we have been given.
Fear is an emotion that can drive us away from God, but we must know that Jesus can change the atmosphere to drive away fear and restore the joy.
In this sermon, Pastor Brown shares that in order to seek transformation, we must have an encounter with God.
In this bible study, Pastor Brown teaches from the book of Psalms 42 & 43, and addresses the importance of moving the focus from our difficult situations to God, who can guide us through our difficult situations.
In this teaching, Pastor Brown talks about Luke Chapter 7 and how Jesus reacted to four different situations.
In this Memorial Day service, Pastor Brown talks about the different types of memorials as found in the bible.
In today's message, Brother Loammi Diaz shows us through this message that our afflictions aren't always the work of the devil, but at times the work of God, intended to show us where we stand in faith and spirit.
On this Mother's Day Sunday, Sister Tamara Brown speaks about parenting with heaven in mind.
In this Bible study, Pastor Brown teaches on the first chapter of John and the underlying theme of who Jesus is, and the seven titles that refer to Jesus.
Compared to todays ideals, true Christianity is 100% countercultural. We aren't saved to be served, but we are called to serve because we are saved. Jesus' mission has become our mission: Go. The harvest is plenty, but the laborers are few.
In this study , Pastor Richard Brown teaches us from the book of Galatians and how the Apostle Paul fought for freedom from the bondage of the law in order to understand the grace and love from God. Through the scripture, the apostle Paul tells us to fight to be liberated from feelings of fear, guilt, shame, and condemnation; and by removing these emotions, how we'll be able to realize and appreciate the love that God has for us.
Being lost is a terrible feeling, and in life, more often than not, we are lost. Lost in anxiety and pressure, but there is another way. There is another decision you can make to find peace: Find the way of the righteous.
In this sermon, Pastor Richard Brown reminds us that there is only one correct way to please God.
Pastor Richard Brown tells us about the importance of keeping fire of the Holy Spirit alive in us.
In this bible study, Pastor Richard Brown talks to us about the advantages of having the Holy Spirit as stated in Romans chapter 8.
In this message, Pastor Brown encourages us to use our mouth, to speak faith. Our words must be spoken with faith, for faith is what will save us, heal us, and deliver us.
In this sermon, Pastor Richard Brown answers the question "What is man?" in biblical terms and relays the importance of knowing our worth in Christ.
In this powerful story, Brother Harry shares with us the untold story about Barrabas. Jesus, being God, didn't have to die in place of a liar, a thief, and a murder; but He did. And in doing so, how could we think that He also did not die for us?
In this sermon, Brother Gettys talks to us about the importance of trials in order to strengthen our faith and please God.
In this sermon, Pastor Brown emphasizes the importance of "suffering" as part of being in fellowship with Christ, and the power that comes from it.
In this bible study, Pastor Brown shares the importance and the difference it makes in our outlook and actions of our everyday life, when we see things from heaven's point of view versus this world's point of view.
In this short, but powerful message, Pastor Brown shows us through scripture, that our faith is the qualification to go out into the world and make disciples, heal the sick, grow the kingdom of God, and bring change into this world.
In this bible study, Pastor Brown talks about the last words of Jesus across the Gospels and the book of Acts: The great commission.
In this bible study, Pastor Brown teaches us about the Holy Spirit: how the bible speaks of the Holy Spirit, the purpose of the Holy Spirit, and how to get the Holy Spirit.
Pastor Brown concludes this time of renewal with a reminder that through all the twists and turns that life has, we still have a choice in our actions and our faith.
In this message, Brother David Gettys shows us through biblical examples about the importance of choosing where and how we live our lives.
Pastor Brown teaches us on the benefits of abiding in Jesus. The signs, or the fruit, that comes from establishing and maintaining that relationship.
In this Sermon, Pastor Brown talks about the importance of prayer, with the focus on why we pray.
In this message, Pastor Richard Brown shares with us the biblical importance of fasting.
Pastor Brown continues his Sunday theme and goes in depth about why all of us, old Christians and new Christians need to take time to renew.
Through the story of David, and the story behind Pastor's computer, Pastor Brown tells us why we are all in need of a spiritual restoration. It's a time to renew.
The misunderstandings often lead to problems. In this sermon, Pastor Brown talks about having an understanding of our place in God's eyes.
In this message, Brother Doug Morgan reminds us that we can be controlled by sin, but when the Son sets us free, we are free, and we are free indeed!
Pastor Richard Brown shares the understanding that we all have different backgrounds, we are all at different stages in our walk with God, but none-the-less, we are all worth something valuable before the eyes of the Builder, and that is the foundation of LifeChurch. Listen attentively to this message, as Pastor Brown shares the 4 key points that make up our church:
- Release yourself from your own past
- Be patient and understanding of others when you come to a church with recycled materials
- Recognize the value of the broken
- Trust the Builder
When we are one with God, we are like an orchestra playing together. In order to be one with God, we must strive to get in the Spirit, live by perfect patters, love God and one another, and become one with God.
Evangelist Doug Morgan shares with us the importance of saving ourselves. We are in charge of of our own lives, and it's a personal decision to follow Jesus and save myself.
In this message, Brother Peter Bingley shares with us that no matter the circumstances, God's promise is delivered.
In this message, Brother Nelson Rivera talks to us about living a life that is led by Jesus Christ. God's calling is something we must claim and act accordingly.
In this Christmas service, Pastor Richard Brown shares with us how the birth of Jesus is how heaven was brought down to earth.
Brother David Gettys talks to us about the difference between following religious rituals versus the mission of Jesus.
In this sermon, Pastor Richard Brown tells us that we shouldn't be defined by our past, nor by what others say or think of us, but by what the Bible says and by what God says we are to Him.
In this study, Pastor Richard Brown focuses on what feed our soul in terms of media. What we expose our soul, from media, friends, situations, places, and even our thoughts, influences our soul; and so we must be intentional in our thoughts and what we watch and what we do, in order to keep our soul clean and honoring God.
Pastor David McGovern shares with us on this Mission's sermon the importance of having our heart with the King. It's difficult to carry out the mission without having our heart with the King.
In this continuation sermon from Sunday's theme on the imagination, Pastor Brown speaks on the importance of having "a disciplined imagination."
In this short, but powerful message, Pastor Richard Brown talks about the imagination, or as he refers to it today, the "magic chamber" which lies inside our mind. But Pastor Brown reminds us that the enemy can make use of our emotions to alter our imagination and destroy us. Temptation, thoughts that bring drama to our lives, emotions brought by our "thoughts" of what others think about us or situations, these all lie in our imagination; but the bible says that these ill feelings are part of our imagination taking us away from God. It is the will of God to control our mind and use it to praise God.
In this sermon, Brother Doug Morgan talks about God's willingness to help us, but we must turn to Him. His miracles and His mercy are for us to receive but we must take a stand and decide to go towards Him and accept His blessings.
In this sermon, Pastor Richard Brown talks about the only hold the enemy has on us is whatever we hold from within. Therefore we must let out the enemy from within in order to be free.
In this sermon, Brother Watts reminds us that the whole is not over when we face defeat. The enemy wants us on the sidelines watching the game and not doing anything, but we are still players, and thru God we overcome our downfalls and are able to live a better and stronger life for Jesus.
In this message, Brother Doug Morgan shares though his own testimony how God is always God, even when we don't have our act together. God is capable of using us as He works on us.
In this episode, our guest speaker, Jason Huckaby, starts by reminding us that we need a man of God to guide us and tell us right from wrong; but then, he proceeds to reminds us that thanks to that man of God, we are not forgotten but always have an opportunity to be saved. Like Abraham pleaded for Sodom, as much as we steer off course, through the people of God who plead for our well-being, we can rest assure that we can count on a Father who won't let go.
In this sermon, Pastor Richard Brown reminds us that sin is full of deceit and lies, but through the scripture, Pastor Brown shows us how we can be saved and be cleaned as new, just like the leper in the bible.
There are 2 definitive things that make up faith. 1. Belief that God exists, and 2. Belief that God cares.
In this sermon, Pastor Richard Brown reminds us that Satan puts our "faith on trial" by testing our belief that God exists and by trying to convince us that God doesn't care; however, every trial comes to an end, and upon surviving the trial, our faith is stronger.
When we were in the world, anything produced in our lives was crafted by our own hand, carried on our own backs, and limited by our own capacity. Once we gave our lives to the Lord, He brought us to a place where everything produced was from His own hand. He want's us to trust Him completely, in all things, and will allow as many trials as it takes to bring us to that place in Him.
Part 2: Values are traits or qualities that aren't just worthwhile to you. They are your deepest held beliefs and your fundamental driving force. They are non negotiable; your line in the sand. When you are born again, you have a new set of values that you have to embrace. Your old values won't set with your new identity and vice-versa. Until you make that decision, your life will be in a constant state of struggle.
There is a conflict in this world, and we the church are engaged in spiritual warfare encompassing two battlefields. The first is individual and is linked to our spiritual destiny. The second is in the corporate body of Christ and moving the kingdom forward. These two battlefields are linked together. Ground is constantly being gained or lost. The outcome determined by whichever side you decide to fuel.
Values are traits or qualities that aren't just worthwhile to you. They are your deepest held beliefs and your fundamental driving force. They are non negotiable; your line in the sand. When you are born again, you have a new set of values that you have to embrace. Your old values won't set with your new identity and vice-versa. Until you make that decision, your life will be in a constant state of struggle. This is part 1.
Aside from the Cross and Calvary, probably the most beautiful love story in the Bible is found in the book of Hosea. The man of God is commanded to wed a prostitute, to lift her up from her old life, and to fill her new life with unconditional love. The road is not an easy one for Gomer, and in her, we see a mirror of our own relationship with Jesus.
Probably our biggest challenge to overcome in life is in the area of relationships. It starts as a child, the "me" mentality, and continues on into adulthood. It's the fruit of our first identity. It takes a transformation of the holy spirit to change us into the exact opposite, someone who puts "you" before "me."
Humanity has a fascination with the dead coming back to life - zombies, Frankenstein, Dracula. History is full of examples as far back as it can record, and if we are honest with ourselves, so is our spiritual history. Things we have buried in our old life seem to pop up in our new life in Christ. How do we win against them? We fight back, and we knock them back in their place.
When we are born again we are created as a new creature. Old things are passed away and all things are become new. We have to embrace that new identity and avoid the old be changing the way we think. Each identity has its own master and we cannot serve them both.
There are times where God will ask you to do things that will make absolutely sense. And, even though you may ask, He may not answer. We all want the power of God, but not necessarily the submission to God. Obedience is the first step to receiving.
In life there are times when we may feel like we are just waiting for things to come our way (a relationship, a career, education), but there are some things we don't wait for. When it comes to the things of God, comes to beginning a relationship with Jesus, or when it comes to getting involved with the kingdom, those are the things we are called to go after! It's never too late. Things will never be perfect. You're not too _______ to be who God called you to be. Your time is now!
While good is the enemy of great, so is little faith the enemy of great faith. We have the faith for God to "just get us through this week," but He is waiting for us to have faith like he has faith, for entire lifetimes.
Some 800 years before it came to be, God spoke a promise, to be penned, by the prophet Joel. He promised that one day there will come a wind, that normally precludes destruction, but through anticipation will sweep in and restore what was and what will be.
Before any major event happens in the Bible, giants start popping up. They appear and begin to make trouble for the children of Israel, keeping them from where they need to go. Today, giants are still popping up. They are a sign that there is a reward waiting for you on the other side of your valley, and they are the only thing keeping you from your blessing.
Modern culture has created a modern god to fit inside the perspective it has created of him. He has become warped and shaped to emphasize His grace and love, with nothing said of his holiness. But the anthem of the angels is not "Love, love, love." It is "Holy, holy, holy." For in truth, His love and grace are stripped of their meaning if not seen in the light of His holiness.
The Bible is very clear on the subject of a "wagging tongue." Talebearing, or gossiping, is grouped in with not only envy and strife, but also murder, deceit, and malice. Its harmful to you and. and your brothers and sisters in the body of Christ. The enemy cannot affect what God is doing, but he can affect the vessels through which God works.
It's easy to have a good attitude when things are going perfectly, but not so much when things are on the not so perfect side. It's easy to lose passion when you're hurting, easy to sit on the sidelines, nursing your wounds, and not move forward. But it's time to get up. The enemy wants you out of the game and forgetting that there is a greater reward at its finish.
The battle for your soul begins in your mind. Our thoughts and feelings are housed there, and it is a constant battleground. The enemy will seek to to control and manipulate how you think. If he succeeds, he can control and manipulate your whole life. It's your thoughts that determine your outcome. Think about what you are thinking about.
It's human nature to want to be in control. When things go wrong, we get frustrated and we want to fix it, our way. What we really need is to learn how to stand still and let God be God. When you finally let go and let Him be, He will show up.
Following Jesus means many things to many people, but to Jesus it means one thing - stay close to me. In 2015, the biggest factor we face in our continuous walk with Christ is, still, proximity to Him. There are forces in this world that will stop at nothing to put distance between you and Jesus. We must stop at nothing to stay close to Him.
Our 3 day revival with Gordon Winslow concludes with a revelation of the weapons the enemy uses to come against the children of God, and the weapons the children of God have to fight back against our enemy.
Our 3 day revival continues with the special ministry of Rev. Gordon Winslow as he speaks the mind of God over the congregation of LifeChurch.
Today begins a 3-day miracle service with special speaker Gordon Winslow. Rev. Winslow operates in the Gifts of the Spirit and has seen many life changing miracles during his ministry. If you need a word from the Lord or an increase in your faith, we invite you to listen now and continue to do so over the next two days.
Our world is a broken world. Pain and suffering are a direct result of such brokenness, but, strangely, it has a place in our lives, for no thing can be remade into something stronger unless it is first broken
Every man is going to build a spiritual house. What you put into that house is what determines its stability. When the enemy comes against you in a trial by fire, your choices, your materials, will either let your house burn, or cause it to glow more resplendantly.
Adversity is going to come. You will be tried. The enemy will do anything to keep you down. But the turn is coming. Keep praying, keep fasting, and keep your attitude. They are the only things that can keep the turn from coming.
A self exalting culture is one where no one is happy until everyone bows down to their "idol," and a self exalting culture is one that we live in. If we don't bow, it seeks to bind us and destroy us. But, the fire of your situation is the thing that burns whats holding you. Praise through it, send up Judah.
Pastor Brown introduces a new sermon series about our Born Again Identities, after we are filled with the Holy Spirit and made a new creature in Christ. There is an internal war with who we were and who we are in Him. This series will focus on the attributes of this new life we need to embrace, and the importance of walking away from the old one.
At the core of the Bible is a promise of transformation through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which is Christ in you. It's how Christianity was born, and what sparked a torrent of revival in the book of Acts. This day nothing has changed. The Spirit is still being poured out and The Promise is still for you.
The key to avoiding regret is to know which paths to travel and which ones to avoid. If you're having problems (marriage, finances, health, etc.), it's not an immediate solution that you need, it's a change of direction. It's your direction, not your intention, that determines your destination.
Our Pastor's Wife, Tamara Brown, shares her thoughts on how to make the most of this opportunity that God has given and entrusted to mothers regarding motherhood.
Part 11 of our Genesis series continues our study of the Patriarchs of Israel with Josephs' story. Joseph’s life is described in such detail, that almost everything in his life typifies something in connection with Jesus.
Following what Psalm 81:10 says: "... open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it" This lesson focuses on the importance of not just opening our mouths, but opening them "wide", as the Bible says, in order to truly receive what we are meant to receive.
Part 10 of our Genesis series continues our study of the Patriarchs of Israel with Jacob's story. The life of Jacob, a man who's destiny was shaped by the favor of God, strongly reinforces a prevailing message of the Bible - you reap what you sow.
We were all created with physical and spiritual appetites. It's easy to feed one more than the other. It's even easier to feed the physical more than the spiritual. Your desire for the spiritual diminishes. You become content and lukewarm. Faith and spiritual hunger grow together. They rise and thrive together. It's time to be content with your physical life and discontent with your spiritual situation. It's time to grow.
Lesson 9 in our Genesis series continues with a Patriarch of Israel - Isaac. The story of Isaac shows one of the richest typologies in relation to Christ and the church, filled with layers of symbolism and foreshadowing of what was to come in the promise, birth and life of Jesus.
The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. It starts at a crossroad between sin and righteousness and ends at either a place you never intended, or a place you never imagined. The direction you choose will determine the destination of your life.
Marketing is everywhere. Buy this. Wear that. Go there. Stay here. Each object telling you that if only you had it, you would feel complete, whole. Most of us go through life thinking we are, because we have, but there is only one way to be complete, only Jesus.
Over 500 followers of Jesus saw him resurrected, but only 120 applied the information He gave and waited in the upper room for the Holy Spirit. Imagine if they all had only received his words, but done nothing with them. Unapplied information is powerless to produce change. You have the message of the Good News. Now it's time to use it.
The world we live in is a frustrating time in history. Sin abounds and is applauded, religious liberties slowly being taken away. The future look hollow. But, now is the time for the church to realize, we are being positioned for revival. The worse the world gets, the greater the grace of God is.
This week, Pastor Brown continues Genesis with the life of Abraham and how his story is an illustration or typology of the starting point of the life of faith for a believer.
God gave us our voices as a chief means of expression. It gives us power and the ability to influence. Our sin once attracted the wrath of God, but Jesus' sacrifice changed that. We are the redeemed and it is up to the redeemed to say so.
In a modern day setting, the word gospel has lost its significance. It's been softened, muted, and sanitized. Realistically, The Gospel is the most important term in the whole world. It is the central answer to life's most important questions - "What is the meaning of life?" and "Why am I here?"
Pastor Brown continues our Genesis study in Genesis 6 with a study of Noah, of the flood, and the typology relationship between the ark and the plan of salvation.
Pastor Brown continues his Genesis series with the different theories surrounding the sons of God mentioned in Genesis 6. He is followed by Pastor John Chandrakanth, from the country of India, here with Missionary Carl Keller.
Spiritual dominion and expansion of the kingdom has two "loosers" – the one who does the work in heaven and the one who does it on earth. You are the looser on earth. Take the initiative. Take the authority. He has given it, He's waiting for you to act in faith and speak it.
This week in the study of Genesis, Pastor Brown speaks on chapters 4 and 5, and shows what the difference was between Cain's sacrifice and Abel's that made one more pleasing to God, and what it was about Enoch that made him the first man that didn't die.
Today, Vani Marshall shares her powerful and life changing testimony. Raised in a Hindu household and trained from birth to take over the family duties in the temple, she one day heard the audible voice of God and since then has never looked back.
Precluded by the testimony of special speaker Kent Saline and his ministry of street evangelism, Pastor Brown continues his study in Genesis chapter 3 on the fall of man, and how it relates to mankind's current condition in this world.
A relationship boils down to one word - commitment. It's the difference between a follower and an admirer. The Kingdom will not move forward with contribution, but with commitment. It's time to commit, to lay it all on the altar, to become a living sacrifice of time, talent, and treasure to the Lord.
This week Pastor Brown continues his study of Genesis, with one of the most important chapters in the Word of God. Chapter 3 covers the fall of man from Eden, how the fall refutes Darwin's theory of evolution, and how it relates to mans current condition on the earth.
Marriage is a covenant, a joining. Two become one in marriage and any marriage not built on this principle is bound to fail. In our covenant with God, what's ours is His and He is Lord. He created tithing as His financial plan. By returning to Him what is already His, we ensures His blessing on our lives. Holding onto what's His, however, ensures the exact opposite.
Pastor Brown continues his study on Genesis with the Big Bang Theory and how it relates to Creation, and takes a look at where the Bible says man was created in God's image.
It's not enough for God to just be first in your life. He needs to be the only one. Anything less than all is unacceptable, because for you to be completely committed in your covenant with Him there needs to be a death of self in an old way of living.
Pastor Brown continues his series on Genesis and the basics of Christianity with a breakdown and analysis of the theory of evolution, and the relationship between science and theology.
That "in-love" feeling doesn't last forever. Once it fades, real love needs to take root, otherwise the relationship will wither and die. Real love takes work, time, and discipline. It needs pursuit and an act of will. Our relationship with Jesus is the same. Focus on what matters. Make time to spend with Him. Talk to Him. Keep your First Love alive.
Pastor Brown begins a 6-week series studying the book of Genesis and the creation of the world. Tonights lesson encompasses the the etymology of Genesis, it's authorship, and the different theories of the creation of the world and mankind.
We were created to have a relationship with God. We are His first love above all else, and He desires to be ours. Satan knows when our relationship is real. His favorite thing is to turn our relationship into a ritual. Stay vigilant. Talk to God. Keep your relationship with Him as your first priority.
Why? Why do you get up in the morning? What drives you? We were created, and hardwired, to have a purpose. Without one we feel empty, incomplete. Jesus was sent with a purpose. It was his meat. It sustained him. When He left, He sent, and equipped us for the same mission: "Go."
God deeply values communication. It's the key to our relationship with him. Prayer is that line of communication. It's time spent with Him, alone, with no hindrances around you. Get into that secret place, grow your faith and your relationship.
There is a hedge of protection, made of the supernatural, that you can place around your life to protect you from the attacks of the enemy. Seek after it, raise it, and watch your life flourish.
Does God care about our outward appearance? Does it matter how we dress or how we talk? Pastor Brown continues our Doctrine series with biblical answers to these questions and many others.
The greatest passion of God is to be believed. Stretch your faith. Expect that when you reach out to Him, He WILL answer.
The only way you can grab ahold of something new is to release the old from your hands. The season is shifting. A new year is coming and it's time to let go of the old.
When the fulness of time comes, God will show up. You may feel like your promise isn't going to come true, like you've waited for too long, or your moment has passed. Don't let where you're at name your promise. You name your promise. Project faith, and watch God work.
We are all under the illusion that we are in control, that we make our own choices. Sin has trapped us like that, with no hope of escape and an idea of wandering through life. Jesus came to break that illusion and offer hope through him. He came to liberate us from sin, not from the conditions caused by it.
Sanctification, holiness, standards..these are all things that are not instantaneous, but a process. They are also how we are to live our lives as Christians. We are called to be different, to strive towards holiness, to grow in Christ. We don't represent ourselves anymore, we represent Him and our lifestyle is a witness to that.
Hope. A sense that something good is about to happen, that all is not lost. Man can survive a lot, but he can't survive without hope. The enemy deals especially in hopelessness. He wants you to lay down and roll over. Shrug of the attitude he's trying to weigh you down with. Look up. Expect great things and they will come to you.
Salvation, and true freedom, only comes one way: through the water and the spirit, through baptism and the Holy Ghost. It's not enough just to believe in salvation, you have to take action. Noah wasn't saved by believing in an ark. He had to follow God's direction and build it himself.
It's normal to worry. Worry about the future, worry about money, worry about food..we're human. God knows we will worry, so He puts reminders throughout Scripture reminding us, "Do not worry."If He can take time to make sure the birds have food and the flowers are clothed, the time he will take for us is astronomical. He is our Father. He knows what we need.
There is a purpose to what you're going through. God wouldn't bring you to this place and leave you there. What you're going through is there to help you grow, and it's your attitude that causes you to begin doing so. Remember that trials are a process and that God will never desert you during them.
"Godhead." It's a biblical word that shows the mind and the nature of God. Jewish law teaches that there is one God and there is a promise of a Messiah, but it doesn't answer the question of who Jesus is and how he fits into the Godhead. This study will show, through Scripture, the relationship between God the Father and the Son of God (Jesus), and how they affect the Godhead.
Not all moments are created equal. There are little moments, like what you're going to wear, or what to eat for breakfast that don't really make a lasting impact on your life. But there are others that change your life. Critical moments or decisions that completely redirect the trajectory of ones life. It's time to make a decision now. Will you sit still and wait while your life fades around you, or will you go towards Jesus, redemption, and the cross.
Founded in 1942, LifeChurch is dedicated to serving the San Gabriel Valley, expanding from Pasadena to Monrovia via the vision of Pastor Micah Johnson. We welcome you to view our sermons LIVE on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/wearelifechurch
A yoke in the Bible is a type of harness used to bring a large animal, usually an ox, under your control. Even though you are much smaller than the animal, you control its direction..its destiny. A yoke today is anything that controls your future. The enemy has plenty of yokes he would see you fall under. The only way those yokes can be destroyed is through the power of the anointing.
Introduction by Sue Downs.
Faith is the evidence of things not seen. While there is a devil, there will be problems for you. You are a danger to his kingdom. You may feel like throwing in the towel, but don't. Have faith in God that He will see you through.
Church is not a social gathering. Jesus laid out the responsibility of the church when he said "Go ye into all the world." Salvation is for everybody and there is only one gospel. How will everyone hear about it if none of us will go?
Why is it so hard to believe that when we leave God and then come back, we are worth exactly the same amount to Him? Which is precious? Probably because the enemy knows you won't protect what you don't value. Low self-esteem opens you up to the void, and makes you settle for things that are beneath you.
The entirety of the Bible is about the cross, and the cross is about redemption. We as the church need to understand redemption so that we may become ambassadors of redemption. We aren't called just to be saved and then sit on it. The Holy Spirit came to restore us and recreate us in order to fulfill His purpose.
Unforgiveness only hurts ourselves. It festers and grows. Corrupts your mind. It gives the enemy a foothold on your life. It has to be let go. It's not the other persons job to ask forgiveness, it's your job to forgive them.
Our society is governed by the concept of justice. We get what we deserve. It's what we're used to. God, however, works on a system of Grace. It's Grace that delivers us from the judgment we deserve, and it's Grace that teaches us to walk in the Spirit. Never forget the Grace that was extended to you, and that you are called to extend Grace to those in need.
Regrets. Life is full of them. Plans fizzle, expectations come to nothing, people let us down, or maybe we let ourselves down. We feel like God has abandoned us and life is out of control. Thing is, control is an illusion and God has not abandoned you. Plan B is His plan to shape you in your time of regret, and break that cycle pulling you down. Don't give up 5 minutes before the miracle happens.
Identity. Who we are and how others see us. Modern culture is passionate about its image. We have to protect it. Always put our best face forward. But the truth is, preoccupation with our image can actually harm our self image. How you view yourself is much more important to your destiny than how other people view you.
Life is full of "stuff." Stuff that happens, stuff that we come across, and stuff that we leave behind. Stuff, though, needs to be dealt with if we expect to move forward into our God given destiny. Running won't get rid of it, and it will catch up with you. Face it head on. God will be with you every step of the way.
Tithing from an outside perspective, doesn't make sense. You give away a portion of your earnings, with no obvious fiscal return, because God tells you to. Sometimes He even asks you to give more than the tithe, but why? Because what we see as insignificant, God sees a multitude. He can't do anything with it until we release it to Him.
There is an old method of preparing grapes for wine that once came under scrutiny. This method involves purposely withholding water from the vine so that it looks almost dead. The question was presented: does this method still produce the best wine, or has modern technology surpassed it? The answer came through the wine. Those vines subject to torture, pushed their roots deep into the ground, to the source, producing a richer and fuller fruit.
Aside from the Kingdom of God, stewardship was Jesus favorite subject. He talked about it more than faith and prayer combined. Why? Because this issue of money and possessions has the power to consume our lives and spiritually derail us quicker than anything, for where our treasure is, our heart is also.
The devil is constantly on the prowl, seeking to sow discord and strife between anyone you come in contact with. A culture of honor is your guard against him. When we honor up, honor down, and honor all around it disarms him of his favorite tools - discord and division.
In part 1 of this two week lesson, Pastor Rich Brown teaches on the culture of honor that needs to be part of the church. With His laws, God Himself created one for the people of Israel in the Old Testament in order to shape their character and values as a people. The church is no different. Honor must be created in our culture, for all our benefit.
Samson, one of the most renowned judges in the history of Israel, was born in a barren situation. He was born in adversity and he was proven through adversity. Without it, he would not become what Israel needed him to be.
For a church to grow and be healthy, it has to operate in all dimensions of faith. An atmosphere has to be cultivated, solely by its members.
Pastor Rich Brown completes his lesson begun last week, and is followed by his wife, Tamara Brown, who teaches on the power and importance of prayer in the spiritual battle we fight daily.
Where does revival come from? Does it come from a particular evangelist, or activity? Revival comes from one thing: Your mouth. Your voice mixed with your faith will spark a revival in your life by catching the attention of God Himself.
For the next two weeks, LifeChurch will be focusing on prayer, on what it is, on why it's important, and what the Bible says about it. This lesson begins with the basis of prayer and how it is a key part to our relationship with God.
Salvation is a free gift, but discipleship will cost you everything. There will be tests, trials, and attacks of the enemy in your life. God wants to know if He can trust us to keep on steadfastly when things aren't going exactly the best way. Keep the faith and your conscience clear. The Lord will bring you out.
Most of us don't even know that we're in a war. We wonder why nothing is going well, why we suddenly don't feel like going to church, why you just don't quite agree with what the pastor is speaking over the pulpit. It's time to shake ourselves from sleep! We are in a war and it is time we remember how to fight.
Prayer is usually the least popular gathering in church. It's kind of like the Cinderella of church, yet without it we can neither survive nor thrive. It's what connects us to God and gets his attention. It's not something we should just think about doing; it's something we need to be.
Your mindset is important. It determines your happiness, your destination, and your decisions. Experiences, though, can shade your mindset, make you see things as they really aren't, and cause you to react negatively to life around you. Shake it off. See the world through clear eyes again.
The sword is mentioned numerous times in Scripture as the primary weapon with which to fight the enemy. Today, we also use a sword, though not a physical one, to fight our enemy. Our sword is made up of the Word of God, and our ability to use it comes from the Spirit of God. Without them, we are powerless in a spiritual battle.
When you are looking for something, you are on a mission. You won't stop, you won't rest, until you find it. It becomes your obsession. This is the attitude we need when it comes to the things of God. Not the prevalent one of spiritual "browsing." Our spirit naturally thirsts for Him, and without Him we won't survive.
Great change cannot happen without vision. Many times we focus on outward vision (accomplishments, recognition, success), but in God’s kingdom, outward vision can’t be accomplished without inward vision. It's easy to get distracted by things on the outside. True change though, comes through sanctification and the Word
Man became separated from God when he sinned in the garden. Adam and Eve were no longer able to fellowship with Him, their creator. They messed up, and the price was high. There was only one way for God to fellowship with His creation again, and his name is Jesus.
Society tells us that money, power, and things are what speak of success, and that without them we aren't truly living. Truth is, all you need is faith. Faith gives you purpose, and compassion is its fuel.
Victory can come down to one word: Maybe. Maybe comes when we are deep in a trial or in the hottest place of the fire. It's a belief that says, "I will press on no matter what, because, yes, it's possible that God won't show up, but it's also possible that just maybe, He will."
Praise is something that we do in times of victory and rejoicing, but often we forget how powerful and useful praise is as a tool, or a weapon. Judah himself was born in the midst of his own mothers adversity, and in the face of their own adversity, Judah became Israel's most powerful weapon against it's enemies.
God is an excellent God. He doesn't appreciate half hearted efforts, they don't get His attention, and they don't honor his majesty. Now, excellence is not perfection, but it is the pursuit of the best that we can do. It's our response to His majesty because He deserves our best!
A church may be able to function with only one spiritual hand, but it will be unable to minister as it should. Special speaker Gordon Winslow brings spiritual healing to LifeChurch and leads us to a new level of faith and the supernatural.
The local church is God's plan to save the world. The only way the church can do that is if it is in alignment with God and His vision. People are attracted by unity, and the impact of a church organization that is unified has the potential to be exponential.
Sometimes God will reach out and touch you, and then step back to see what you will do. Once He calls you to something, He's not going to keep yelling after you, He'll just step back and see what you're going to do. He placed the ball in your court. It's your turn to make a move.
What were we created for? The answer is found in Genesis. God came down from heaven and created man, but God didn't want man to be alone so He created woman. The same happened again when Jesus came down to earth and created His bride, the church. Our purpose is the same as Adam and Eve - be fruitful and multiply.
Everybody has scars. We fall off our bikes, we run into stuff, we antagonize our siblings...the list goes on and on. But, some scars go deeper than the skin, all the way to our heart. The neat thing though, is that all scars tell a story. There was one man, whose scars tell a story of redemption, love, and healing. His name is Jesus.
The call of God on a life brings with it a sense of purpose, a mission, a knowledge of something bigger than oneself. A called person will make a huge impact on the world, maybe even change history. The key though, is not letting your own ambition drive you, but to let that call pull you.
When God first made man, he gave him a set of rules and laws to live by, and these laws were sufficient, for a time. Just before the birth of Christ, these laws no longer seemed to work, not because they were bad, but because man's heart had changed. Jesus came to establish a new covenant through His blood. When He left, He promised a Comforter that would come soon after Him.
Change is that one thing that is necessary to growth. You can't have one thing without the other, and for the church to grow, there is a need for it to change it's methods in order to reach our changing world.
When times of change approach you in your life, you have to stop and ask yourself, "Is good enough, good enough?" In order to move forward into the destiny God has for you, it's time to shake off some old attitudes, to break old habits, and to step forward into a life of faith.
When a person is born again that’s been a sinner, transformation happens, but their mind still has to be renewed. They are a new creature in Christ, but they still have that old mindset and way of thinking that has been shaped by today's culture. Sanctification is that renewing of the mind. It's an ongoing process that takes us from where we were to where we are going.
God has a way of putting you in situations that you pray for, but not in the way you were expecting. Sometimes he waits until you're desperate, wholly seeking, and ready to hand your all to him. When that happens, we no longer limit God by our requests, and He is able to go beyond what we thought possible.
The whole of life can be geographically mapped in two places. The first being the secular culture, and the second being the end result of God's plan for your life. These two places are on either side of a great chasm and there is only one thing that can span them - the church of the Living God.
We are all natural worriers. We like to try to see down the road and figure out our future. Doing so just causes us to fret. Stop worrying. Let tomorrow be, it has its own worries. Not only that, all we are given is today, and today is in the hands of the Lord.
There are literally thousands of fears in the world: fear of the dark, fear of water, fear of spiders, and…the fear of being ridiculed or "looking foolish." Faith is kind of like looking foolish. To others your actions may seem strange, out of place, or crazy, but they aren't hearing what you and God hear. It doesn't matter what your faith looks like to others because it isn't for them, it's only for God.
We all make promises…and we all break promises. God doesn't, His word is proof. Sometimes it feels like there's a disconnect though, His Word was then and this is now. How do we receive our promise?
So many things in this life are vying for our attention that it's easy to take our eyes off the mark. Hold onto that vision that is heaven, hold onto that place and anchor it in your mind. When you're heaven minded, God can work wonders through you like you've never imagined.
We, all of us, cycle through life in different seasons, just the way God intended. The devil though, likes to mess with those seasons. He likes to keep you in the dry dusty summer, or maybe in the cold, barren winter. He wants to keep you from your harvest. Realize you fight this spiritual enemy. You have the authority. Tell the devil to take his hands off your season.
The word "covenant" is an old word, one that has become irrelevant in modern society. It's an unfortunate thing, because "covenant" is what the whole Bible is about. Revelation about the meaning of covenant helps us understand both our responsibilities and expectations, as well as our privileges in God.
"Up." It's a pretty important word in the English language. It takes up almost a quarter page in the dictionary. "Up." It's a pretty important word to God, too. His will is that we Rise Up, Look Up, and Stand Up. The Devil wants us to Stay Down, Look Down, and Stand Down. But God is telling us to change our perspective from what we see, to what He sees. He's calling us to be what He needs us to be.
Up until the birth of Jesus, there was only one type of law. One that demanded justice. His birth marked the end of that demand. Jesus was mercy personified, and His sacrifice began a plan of true salvation, instead of a postponed one.
Which way are you headed? Do you know? Are you sure? Jesus said He was the Way. Isaiah tells of a Messiah that will establish a highway to Zion full of gladness and joy. It won't be an easy road, though, or easy to find. You'll have to look for it and constantly focus on your destination.
God's favorite people to use in mighty ways aren't the wise, the noble, or the wealthy. No. His favorites are the sinners, the broken, and the beaten down. Why? Because at the very end of things, no one could ever say it was made by man. Everything is for His glory.
God has a plan and a purpose to our lives, but just being saved doesn't give us access to that plan. No, we have to change our attitude. We need to be in agreement with God's plan instead of murmuring and complaining about it. His is the right one, not ours.
It's the mission of God to release miracles. You don't have to beg Him. He wants to heal you and make you whole. Just reach for Him.
By design, some things that are meant to break us, will make us if we let God work. He doesn't measure our lives by our failures or successes, but by how we recover from them. Don't ever give up, get up! You are not who people say you are, you are who God says you are.
Everyone comes to a point where their faith is shaken. It can come from anywhere, poking holes in our faith container, and letting it all drain out of us. The key to keeping it is not finding greater and greater sources of faith, but repairing your personal faith reservoir. That way, your tank wont just be full, it'll be overflowing.
You are the only one that determines what your past becomes. Does it stay the past, or does it become your future? Forgiveness is the key to healing. Let go of the past and start rebuilding what you've lost.
One of the most difficult questions in life to answer is...what do you do if you fall? Now, you can also ask yourself, "Who tripped me?" or "Did I trip myself?"But the big question is, do you stay down and wallow in misery, or do you get back up and make your comeback?
When you go to your fathers house, you speak to him in his language, be it Spanish, English, or Chinese. So in church what do you do? You speak the Father's language. Healing, miracles, tongues...it's a cultural thing. Speak His language, become part of His culture, and receive your miracle.
Sin is what happens when people do what they want to do instead of what God commands. When you go your own way long enough, it leaves brokenness, and that brokenness becomes part of your identity. Will you be ready to give up that identity when God is standing ready to heal you?
More often than you think, you hear the voice of God. But more often than you think, you ignore the voice of God. Listen! Don't ignore it! There is no way it's the devil telling you to minister to someone.
This message is not for a certain group, nationality, or demographic. This message is intended solely for your ears.
How does a church "go viral?" The Bible says that the apostles "turned their world upside down." There are millions of us, yet we barely extend past our four walls. What was it that the apostles had, what was it that they knew, that we do not?
Some of us are running on empty. Our spiritual gas tank is kept just full enough to keep us going, mostly because it's easy. Sometimes you have to push in prayer past those outward prayers. Let the Spirit flow through you, let it fill you all the way to the top, and then watch how God can use you.
So many Christians live below their potential, walking on eggshells through the world around them. We are children of God, with access to the same supernatural power that Jesus did while walking on the earth. We should expect God's favor on us, not because of who we are, but because of whose we are.
Happiness is a choice. It's not something that we become automatically overcome with on a daily basis. True happiness, joy, is something we decide to carry with us wherever we go, and when we leave it behind, we leave our strength with it.
Regardless of social status, pedigree, "blue blood", every single person on this planet came from dirt. Now, this is the same God who made heaven from pearls, crystal, and gold. Why would he make his most prized possession out of dirt?
How do you know you're in love, truly in love, with Jesus? After you first fall in love, and the relationship wanes, how do you get back in love? How do you stay in love? Jesus wants to be first in our lives, our first love, but, the only way He can stay first is when we seek after Him with everything we are.
Just like in the natural realm, the spiritual realm goes through seasons. Those seasons are a necessity. They are a fulfillment of purpose, and without purpose, there is no living. The thing is, with this type of living, you have to die first.
The only way Satan can control you is through his deceptions. He presents tampered evidence and let's you draw your own conclusion from it, hoping you lead yourself into his trap. But they are only deceptions. They have no power over you unless you believe in them.
The enemy likes to pull skeletons out of your closet, and make you think on past sins, faults, and regretful actions. That way he has you trapped, thinking on everything, and everywhere but on God. But that is all over. Remember your reassurance in the blood of Jesus. You are clean because it is finished.
You can only talk about standing for righteousness for so long. Eventually you will have to step into battle, and that battle will be in a valley, but realize this: there will be no solitude to dark for God to not be there with you.
The devil will try his best to keep you bound to his present day version of Egypt. Even after you give your life to God, he will never stop striving to get you back. Put Egypt fully behind you and sever all connections. Give the devil no handhold to drag you back to him.
We are all of us given a choice: either we love God or we hate Him. We follow His ways out of our love for Him and receive the blessings his Word promises to us, or we ignore His will and try to forge our own blessings from costly moments of worldly happiness. These choices pave our walk through life, and through time, reveal our final destination.
A father's love is unconditional, all encompassing, and never ending. It never judges, and is always there when you reach for it. Our Heavenly Father is the same, seeking to love us and make us whole again. The key is, we have to want Him to.
We lie to ourselves saying alcohol, drugs, anger, and resentment are things we need to survive. In reality we are bound by our own addictions, in need of deliverance found only in the name of Jesus.
The greatest danger of forgotten deliverance is the potential of future bondage. It leads to a change in attitude, a lack of respect, and a feeling of entitlement. All of these things push for the church to link up arms with the world in order to create a watered down (and powerless) form of religion.
Jesus is not looking for "fans" of his teachings, those who like being around him, but don't want him to change them. He's looking for "followers;" for those who radically seek to become the definition of "Christ-like," loving Him to the point where everything else pales in comparison.
What does it mean to "bless" those that curse us? Does it mean we should shower them with gifts and promises? No, instead it means to let go of our instant reaction of anger or hatred by asking God to bless them and touch their lives. By doing that, you have laid down a poison that would harm only you, and picked up the love of Jesus for them.
God is a prayer answering God. Don't let anything you have in your past tell you what your future is going to be. Tell it to leave, dismiss it; the devil has no power in a spirit filled house for when God steps in, sin has to step out.
The Bible is full of stories of victims becoming victors in their situations. Through Christ, who was the ultimate victor, we have the same power over our situation. Disease, addiction, whatever we are facing, they all have to bow down to the name of Jesus.
How long you let your situation control you depends on your attitude. Do you hold onto it with your promise from God, or do you let it overwhelm you with the half truth the devil has contrived to go with it? Your worst day in church will always be greater than your best day in the world. Look toward what will be instead of staying in what is.
What is a called person? A called person is someone who finds fulfillment in their work, not matter what that work is. It's all about your attitude, because your attitude is what tells God that He can trust you with whatever job He gives you.
The Old Testament tabernacle was a shadow of things to come. Then, there was a physical curtain that separated man from the presence of God. Today, that barrier is our flesh. Through salvation, God has removed that barrier in an invitation to commune with him.
There are 3 ways to live: Good Enough, Pursuing Greatness, or Greater. It is God's will that we live Greater, that we live with the understanding that God is going to accomplish great things in our lives out of human capability.
It's so easy to get information today. FaceBook and Twitter are right at our fingertips. The problem is, those sources are secondhand information and they only contain a small portion of truth. We can't be that way with our beliefs. We need to go straight to the source and find that rock to hold onto when the storms of life come.
There are times in your life where you can feel less effective in ministry, almost like serving the Lord is an appointment on the calendar. Every believer goes through this. You've just lost your spiritual edge, and you need to sharpen it.
The revival of the spiritual man, the inner man, is something that God intended to happen again and again. Like an animal shedding its skin, we have to continually throw off that old man and old attitude that is hindering us from the new blessings of God and a new time of refreshing.
It seems that more and more today's society is looking back on what once was, on how things used to be. Now, especially, is not the time for the church to stop being the church. We can't dwell on what God did for us in the past. He did it before then, and He can do it again now.
We center our lives around Christmas. We save money, put up decorations; it's a time to look forward to. It's a beautiful season, but we need to move past Bethlehem. We need to take that Spirit past Christmas and out into the world. Think beyond this season and look toward the future.
Kamikaze's, the suicide bombers of WW2, were designed to sink warships more effectively than any bomb. They were dedicated, they had a mission, and they saw it through to the end. The church has a mission to "Go ye therefore into all the world..." and we must see it through to the end.
Most of the time, we know we need a miracle in our situation. When God tells us He will provide, we get all excited and we try to help God along with our miracle. We pull out the big guns, we plan and prepare, we give God the tools we want Him to use. The problem is, if He does things our way, it's no longer a miracle and it will not solve the problem. We need to get out of the way and let God work the miraculous.
Society today is caught up in treating the symptoms of your problems, in taking care of the superficial instead of digging deep into he cause of your issue. Jesus isn't like that. No matter what anyone else may think, he looks past the disease and into your heart. He digs deep in order to heal.
We are lucky, to be living in a world and a society today that accepts us as opposed to the world that the early church lived in, but that luck is also our danger. We become lax and lazy; no longer wholly believing that Christ could return at any moment.
Real Faith, True Faith, is so important that it cannot be lost. If a miracle has happened in your life, your kids need to hear about it. If there is a great revival in your time, your kids need to hear it from your lips. The values and anointing that comes from this Faith, needs to be transferred to the next generation, so that new leaders and ministers can rise up.
In the Old Testament, there was a special oil created for the sole purpose of consecrating, or anointing, an object or person to be set apart for God's holy purpose. Today, the Holy Spirit is that anointing that can come and consecrate you for His purpose.
Sometimes you have to approach Jesus as a king, not as a friend. There is a different protocol for reaching out to a king. You have to cry out, maybe go a little crazy, to get the kings attention, because when your need is that great sometimes only a king can help you.
Sometimes you have to approach Jesus as a king, not as a friend. There is a different protocol for reaching out to a king. You have to cry out, maybe go a little crazy, to get the kings attention, because when your need is that great sometimes only a king can help you.
Living for God is not a cakewalk. It is a war against spiritual darkness. The devil wants to steal your faith, the core of your forward motion in the kingdom of God, and he will use any means necessary to take it from you.
The Devil's plan is to trap you in your sin using guilt and shame to tie you to that old identity as a sinner. God's plan is to turn you into a new creature with a new identity by being born again in the water and the Spirit.
What is it about the role of a father that is so important? Do we even need a father figure in our lives? This role/figure has been downplayed and deemed passé in our society, leaving a people crying, "Show us the Father!"
The church has been set on a hill, not to isolate ourselves and to kind of "survive" in this world, but we have been set on this hill to be a bridge over the great chasm of hurts, betrayals, and bitterness between the island of the lost and the island of the saved.
The essence of a thing is defined as what that thing was intended to be. Pentecost was intended to be annointing and power and pure, not the watered down presentation of it that the world would have us believe is true.
The thing that makes us distinctive is not our dress code, it is the revelation of the power and the oneness of God. Unity in the Apostolic church is the key to our power. God is only attracted to churches that speak and do the same thing, together.
There was one mother who didn't get any written credit in Scripture, but you know she was there. Daniel would not be the man of prayer and honor that we read about if there wasn't a mother who cared about instilling morals and values into her son.
We are either sons or servants in the eyes of God. We either have power with God or we are nothing to him. We limit ourselves by the way we act. Servants have no power in the house of the Master, but the son is second only to Him.
As children of God, we are destined for greatness, and we have a path that's been set before us. Sometimes though, we can't see the end of our journey and start to wish for the things that God has already brought us out from.
After we take the time to dream up crazy, impossible dreams and begin to pray for them, sometimes it feels like it gets hard and we want to stop praying for them. We can’t see a change in our situation, or we don’t feel that we are making a difference. Sometimes it seems like it would be easier to just give up.
God loves to give us big dreams; the bigger the dreams that He gives us, the more we have to pray and step out in faith. We must commit to these dreams, and commit to Gods way. Otherwise, that dream turns into a nightmare.
People think there is a cut and dried formula for getting God's favor, that "a" plus "b" equals "divine intervention." The truth is that they are missing a variable, that all important "x" named faith.
Within each man, there is a God-given desire to always return to the things of God. You will be drawn, metaphysically, always Westward in your decisions. You may choose to go East, but there will always be a pull on you to return West.
We cannot hope to hold on to our faith by relying solely on emotion to tie us to Jesus. We must be devoted to Him, so much so that we will do anything to reach out and touch Him. Opening testimony by Amber Huizar.
The devil isn't going to take your spiritual forward motion lying down. He's going to torment you and throw everything in your way, but our God is waiting, with a breakthrough, for us to reach for Him.
Pastor Brown outlines, in Bible Study format, the plan of salvation through the four gospels and the book of Acts.
At the time of Jesus coming to the earth, religion was barren, dry, and burnt ground. The world said that life was impossible. Jesus said, "Stand back and watch what I can do."
Jesus did not intend for the church to be only on the defensive. We are to be like a lion protecting his pride, going out of our territory and roaring that this is our domain.
No matter what our background (pastor's kid, average joe, Drug addict), one truth remains: We Need God. This truth, once realized, poses a question to us: How bad do you want what you need?
Now is not the time to suffer through church services, ticking time until they end. Now is the time to muster every cell in our bodies to stand and worship God.
There is only one thing on this earth that can stop God from doing a work in our lives, and that thing is our own human spirit. WE are the ones that limit God.
Pastor Brown preaches on the power of personal and corporate vision. He also shares some important and exciting information regarding where God is leading LifeChurch in 2012.
Throughout the Bible, there are 4 images that represent the spiritual attributes of a Christian. Pastor Brown presents what each image means and how each one fits in our lives.
Sometimes the most faith filled thing you can do is stand still and wait on the Lord. Wait, and trust that God will work things out.
John the Baptist, whom Jesus called "the greatest of prophets," could have claimed that title with pride. Instead, he laid it on Jesus. Saying he had his own mantle to carry, Jesus was the Messiah, not him.
The devils that walk this earth, purposing to torture and oppress, are forever searching for a dry home to live in. Pastor Brown expounds on the three ways these devils attack us and how we can prevent them from finding a home in us.
Today is your day, your day to be healed, your day to get your answers. Have faith in prayer, and the Lord will hear you from heaven. Don't let your surroundings discourage you, never give up seeking your promise from God.
A slave, by earthly definition, serves his master not with love, but with bitterness and contempt. Why then would our loving God, call us to be servants to Him? Because serving God is nothing like serving any other master.
Because we are caught between two worlds, human beings today can become Spiritually dead, meaning they are disconnected from God's Spirit, led instead by fleshly desires and appetites. In that, they're faith becomes flatlined.
Just as the alabaster box that was broken for Jesus was an extravagant form of worship, so is our praise to Him simply because He's worthy. LifeChurch presents our second annual music concert with guest music directors, Mark & Ashley Waddle.
As Christians, God wishes us to bear fruit and grow. However we cannot do either until we have first plowed up the fallow ground of our hearts in order to make it fertile and rich enough to grow the seeds of life God wishes to plant there.
Our God is power incarnate, He is infinitely great, and He has called us to step out into an incredible journey of greatness with Him. He's just waiting for us to take that first step into the unseen so He can blow our minds.
We have an eternal element to us as human beings. When we try and fill that element with temporal things, we feel even more empty and restless. Jesus has commissioned us with the highest calling of bringing souls to Him and to heaven, to be fishers of men.
Sometimes we can pray and pray and pray to be delivered from our situation, not knowing that that hard place, that impossibility, is exactly where God wants us, so that He can produce safety and peace from chaos and fear.
Human nature is rebellious. We think we need to help God out with His plan, kind of tweak it to make it better, but all God wants from us is obedience. If we simply obey Him, the miracle we need begins to appear on the horizon.
Pastor Brown, Ric Perez, and Marvin Hinds all speak from what God has laid on their hearts in a special message that can only be described as Spirit lead.
Life is going to throw stuff at you. We can't avoid it, it will happen. The good news is, God's got a plan. No matter what you go through, no matter how deep your valley, God's got a plan. He WILL see you through.
Someone who has a different kind of spirit is someone who is outside the norm. They don't usually flow with the majority, and they listen for God in unusual places...and find Him. The need for this different kind of Spirit is greater now than ever before.
No matter where you are in your walk with God, He can still call you for a purpose. He called Gideon when Gideon himself was in the middle of doubting God's very existence, but because Gideon stayed true in his values, God honored him.
In modern culture, the word awesome has lost its meaning. In the modern church, God has lost a title that perfectly describes Him. To be Awesome is to inspire wonder, awe, and dread. Too many worship a cool God, instead of an Awesome one.
In this final chapter in the study of the book of James, we read that a mature believer is prayerful in times of troubles. He is patient in his trial, relying on his relationship with God to see him through.
As Christians, we are trees of life. And as trees, we need to continuously be growing, via our relationship with Christ, in order to bear fruit, for our fruit is what makes us attractive to the world.
Continuously there is a war trying to rage within us between our flesh and the Spirit of God. If these wars are allowed to wage, strife and discord will manifest within us, creating a wedge between us, God, and our church family.
Through prayer there is unity, and with unity there is power. God isn't looking for someone with the best tools and the perfect talents to complete his will, all He needs is someone to agree with it. When we agree with Him and submit completely to Him, therein lies His blessings and power.
The survival of the church of Christ is dependent on the unity of we as brothers and sisters in the body of Christ. When one is hurting, we all should comfort. When another is blessed, we all should rejoice. Through this unity we create a chord that the devil cannot break.
If there is anything we have learned about humanity in life is that, in some way or another, we will eventually betray each other. All throughout Scripture, God lays the foundation of a resounding promise: "Trust Me. No Matter what happens in your life or what storm you're going through, you can implicitly trust Me."
Do we have time for Jesus, or are our lives moving so fast we don't notice him outside of Sunday Service? To find their Savior, the Jews had entire books of Scripture telling where to find him and they never did. The three wise men read one single verse of scripture and uprooted their entire lives for three years to find the King of the Jews. Pause for a moment, if Jesus stopped by to say hello, would you recognize him?
Just like a child's merry-go-round, our spiritual lives gain force with little steps pushing us along. Once we get going, once we establish disciplines in our lives, we gain momentum, and eventually that momentum starts to push us along.
While we know that God is all powerful and can answer any prayer, present any miracle, and do a work in any situation, we still limit him from moving in our lives. Unconsciously we do this, never letting Him fully into our lives.
The worlds measure of greatness is measured by how high you are up on the ladder of success, the higher you are, the more you have "made it." Paul's instruction is counter intuitive to this. He presents the idea that to be great, you have to go down.
In the story of Cain and Abel, Abel's life is summed up in just seven short verses, yet Abel earned a place in Hebrews 11 with "those of great faith." Abel lived his whole life, did everything with excellence, for that one moment when he could give his life to the Lord if the Lord asked for it. He gave of himself as a most excellent sacrifice.
Chapter 3 of James likens the tongue to six objects, and shows, through the example of these objects, three powerful ways it can impact not only our lives, but also the lives of others around us. In this study, Pastor Brown presents the key to taming the tongue.
When glory starts to fade, we try to hide that fact with a figurative veil, so that others can't see or can't know that our glory is fading. That veil we use is called "things." We hide our lack of glory through a ministry, fancy presentations, or over the top productions. Things don't attract the world to the church, glory does, and the only way to keep the glory is to become fully alive through Christ.
In chapter 2, James states that there are three types of faith present in the world today, but only one can save you. Pastor Brown leads an in-depth study of these three types and presents, through Scripture, which one is true, saving faith.
Without God's mercy we cannot be saved, nor experience any miracles. Without mercy there is no hope and we will be judged. Hell is real, and the only thing keeping us from it is mercy. Pastor Brown speaks from Psalms 103, giving us the key to God's mercy and, essentially, salvation.
We are nothing without prayer. It is our connection to annointing, and it we aren't praying, we aren't going to make it.
Above all things, having the favor of God on our lives is something we must crave to obtain, and in our lives there is a specific aspect that brings about a special kind of favor. That aspect is your tithe. Your tithe is the first tenth of all your income and is considered holy to God. It is the trigger for all the blessings He is waiting to pour out on you.
Pastor Brown concludes Chapter 1 of James, with a warning from James of the danger of falling into hypocrisy in our salvation. As is our human nature, it's easy to justify our actions, making ourselves feel safe.
Everything we have in this world is given to us by God. We are only stewards, and not owners, of it all. After we realize this and apply it to our lives can God bless us and use us greatly, for one day we will have to give an account to Him of how we managed His belongings.
This week,Pastor Brown continues our character study of James, looking specifically at James 1:13-18, showing through this passage: How To Deal With Temptation.
Pastor Brown introduces a 6 week character study of the Apostle James and his book of the same name, and begin this study with chapter 1, verses 1-12: The Necessity of Trials.
In the cosmic pull, if you will, of good and evil in our lives, we are ultimately at a tie, a stalemate, and we are the deciding force of which way we are going to be pulled. It is our choice, our election, to either fall into the trap of depression and belittlement, or to be lifted through the plan of salvation to faith and victory. If you are right now at a fork in your road of life, it's time to choose.
As Noah was saved from the sin of the world by water, we are saved from the sin of the world by the fire of the Holy Ghost. Newness of life can be had for us, just like it was for Noah when the flood waters receded. Noah went through the open door of the ark, we have the open door of the tomb waiting for us with it's resurrection power just inside.
The power of a made up mind is exponential, but only if that mind is set can it reach its future. To move forward with all we have, we must make up our minds to burn the ships of our past, else they hold us back from our potential and our fervor.
God is everywhere. He is always with us and He is always near us. When life comes at us in a hard way and we push Him aside, trying to fix things on our own, He's still there. When we're ready all we have to do is reach for Him, to praise Him, and He will come to us, always, because He loves us.
Do you ever wonder why God would want to bless us? Why He would love to do things for us? The answer is found in Matthew 5, verse 16: for you to tell somebody. We are to be the light of the world and the word of our testimony makes that light shine brighter to those who are seeking it.
We as believers are called out by God to not be of this world. We cannot live in this world and in God's promises thinking we can balance them both. The pull of this world is strong and if we aren't grounded in Him it can drag us willingly away.
The Gospel message of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection is a powerful truth that can wreak the miraculous in our lives once we recognize that we need it. Only when this truth is realized and accepted does it become powerful as a witness in our lives.
Did God set man up for failure by putting the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the garden of Eden? This question begs itself in the Genesis account, but is answered in New Testament. God's plan was not for man's failure, but for his redemption.
For God to move in your life and to do a work, sometimes simply having faith (believing it will happen) is not enough. He is waiting for you to take the next step and reach out, putting your passion and intensity behind your faith to move God to move.
The Exodus account of Moses and the ten plagues of Egypt is shown as one of the clearest examples of Old Testament foreshadowing of New Testament Salvation.
Every path that we take is chosen by the decisions we make, leading to a destination. If suddenly we look up and don't like where our path is leading us, rather than pray for God to supernaturally intervene and change the destination, we have the ability to change it ourselves by making new decisions and forging a new pathway.
Instead of trying to control every aspect of your life on your own, put Jesus into those aspects and see the wonders God will work in your life.
Pastor Brown likens fasting to a sacrifice being laid on a biblical altar, noting that without the sacrifice, fire will not fall.
Pastor Brown explores the three main enemies that war with God's purpose in our lives and the three main weapons that we have to fight them with.
Dr. Jackson speaks on the importance of holding on to solid values in this wearying world. The closer you are to God, the easier it is to lean on Him in time of need.
To find revival through self-revelation you need to seek after God wholly and completely, for God will only reveal His secrets to His servants.
Sometimes we forget the importance of spiritual fitness. Godliness doesn't come naturally or just because we want it to. It takes discipline and motivation.
As this world draws closer to its end, now, more than ever, there is a need for the church to stand firm in righteousness and purity, to be unwavering in our lifestyle. When the Lord comes again, He will be looking for His spotless bride.
It can be maddening trying to figure out God and life, and we get so worried about things in life that seem so big to us, that we forget in both accounts that God has no limitations. He has a different perspective than we do and He holds everything in His hands.
Just like you need to have a passion for fishing to enjoy and love it, you also need to have a passion for soul winning to love it and be faithful to it.
Reverend Brown preaches a simple but all important fact: trust God for today and leave tomorrow in His hands.
Don't give up and don't give in. Hold on to your hope in the good, the bad, and the desperate times. Carry it with you wherever you go, for there is a better time coming.
There are some promises from God that to reach you yourself are the key to reaching them. Be steadfast, be positive, and push, push, push to the top of that promise no matter how long it takes.
We, as a church, are so close to seeing God's will in this coming revival, but in this revival, God is only going to use those who live solely for a living relationship with Him.
Pastor Brown begins a new sermon series centering on the culture of God's kingdom. This first lesson deals with "reprogramming" the mind to think from a spiritual standpoint rather than a carnal one.
You are a child of God, one of the called out ones. It's time for you to no longer believe the lies of the enemy keeping you in your open cage. It's time to come out and fly to where the will of God takes you!
Seven of LifeChurch's own speak a short word to the church about what God has laid on their hearts.
Without faith there is no hope, and no connection to God. The devil's constant goal is to destroy your faith in a never ending barrage, but this message is here to tell you You Can Make It!
Without faith there is no hope, and no connection to God. The devil's constant goal is to destroy your faith in a never ending barrage, but this message is here to tell you You Can Make It!
Even at 12 years old, Jesus knew His father's business and was intently focused on it. Can we as the church say the same? Pastor Brown speaks on the purpose of LifeChurch as we focus in on our Father's business.
LifeChurch brings to you a special concert designed solely for the worship and adoration of the Lord. He has called us to worship Him and so we shall with everything that we are.
In Acts 20:16 Paul was determined, by any means possible, to reach Jerusalem for the Day of Pentecost. Bro. Howard instills in LifeChurch that same grit and determination of Paul to keep a forward motion.
The Church is alive, it is a Spirit, and an entity. At the end of time the church will be as pure and as powerful as its beginning
Just because something is small, doesn't mean it is insignificant. Small can be strong, small can have backbone, and small can be the greatest addition to the Kingdom of God.
Just because something is small, doesn't mean it is insignificant. Small can be strong, small can have backbone, and small can be the greatest addition to the Kingdom of God.
Almost above all else, one of the greatest gifts the Holy Ghost has to offer is complete peace.
What is faith? Why is it so important? Bro. Howard dives into the mystery that is faith showing the importance of it and the reason we need to hold fast to it.
The Holy Ghost is for everybody. Race, age, gender, social situation, it doesn't matter because the Holy Ghost is for YOU.
Bro. Howard brings a special message to LifeChurch about the Lord's anointing. If anyone has felt a call on their lives, now is the time to step forward and receive it.
Pastor Brown dives once again into the subject of holiness, this time specifically on the subject of hair length in men and women.
Pastor Brown speaks on the power that is in our words, power for good and power for bad. What we speak, we give life to, and because of this, the power of life or death is in our tongue.
In a general overview, Pastor Brown addresses the questions of what being holy means and what it means to us as Christians in our present culture.
The world has so many things that are placed at a high value, diamonds, homes, antiques, history, but there is one thing that makes even these seem worthless.
The crux of the matter is that you need to stay working in the power of the spirit. Don't fade and start to work for the kingdom in the power of the flesh because you will fail. The power of the Spirit transforms you and the works you do into a blessing for God.
From the 8th Chapter of Crazy Love, Pastor Brown teaches us how to recognize someone who is obsessed with Jesus.
From Chapter 7 "Your Best Life...Later," Pastor Brown tells us that we as Christians were made to be on the move, on the loose. Our faith is an active one, our next life is going to be the best one, and because of it, we were made to be dangerous.
Pastor Brown speaks from the 6th chapter of Crazy Love. Just what is your love? Is your love obligatory and of the law, or is it a delight and a devotion like no other? Find out what it's like, when you're in love.
There are no surprises in the kingdom of God. God knows that you are sitting there listening to this message and He has chosen you to be part of His bloodline, and what a bloodline it is.
Evangelist Jeff Goodman speaks of the compassion of Christ even after the sun has "set" on your circumstance or need. Reach out to God day or night and He will hear you.
Pastor tells us of our need to listen to our mother. You can't have the blessings of the father without heeding the voice of the mother.
Pastor Brown teaches on living for the inward man gives life a sense of purpose, and stability in tough times.
Fifth in this Sermon Series, The Blessed Life - By looking into the Biblical approach to money, we find that God is able to multiply our money.
Fourth in this sermon series A Blessed Life: The First Fruits (tithe) must be offered first because it is the redemptive portion
Overcoming the Spirit of Mammon (riches) in your life. Relying on God instead of Mammon
A study in Ephesians chapter 4 part 2...taking off the old nature and putting on the new nature of Christ...
As Jochabed ruined Moses's chances of being a good Egyptian, ruin your kids to the world.
It is the will of our heavenly Father to walk in the blessings He has prepared for us...
These three principles are very vital in the lives of the Christian. We should never cease to do these things because they are pleasing in the sight of God.
Founded in 1942, LifeChurch is dedicated to serving the San Gabriel Valley, expanding from Pasadena to Monrovia via the vision of Pastor Micah Johnson. We welcome you to view our sermons LIVE on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/wearelifechurch
As Christians we have to set our affections on the things of heaven, and make the decision to live by the Holy Spirit or the carnal nature.
Desperation gets God's attention. Many healings were done by the hand of God as a result of the voice of desparate people.
The Book of John revealed Jesus as God manifested in the flesh. God is a living being with thoughts and purpose. When Jesus worked among men it was the invisible God at work.
Remodeling your family room-raising children in 2007 through the help of the Holy Spirit
Have faith and trust in God when others mistreat you. Because the Lord will bring justice to your life.
Founded in 1942, LifeChurch is dedicated to serving the San Gabriel Valley, expanding from Pasadena to Monrovia via the vision of Pastor Micah Johnson. We welcome you to view our sermons LIVE on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/wearelifechurch
In the atoning blood of Jesus there is power for healing. And in the last days the church of Jesus Christ needs to recognise the power we have through the Lord for miraculous healing.
Getting caught up in doing things that are good that we forget about the things that are needful.
Replacing this one thing in 2007. There is something better than religion. Need to replace religion in our lives.
When we are aware of Satan's devices, it affects our conduct, and changes our conduct because we are not ignorant of his devices.
God's plan for you life is to grow and mature spiritually to expand and advance in His kingdom.
That God would take you back to a place where you once were. That God would take you back to a place of purity, love, and holiness.
The Devil uses the same old weapons to discourage the child of God, to steal their faith and erode their confidences in living for God.