Today we begin a new message series called “Live Out God’s Purpose.” In this series, we’re going to be studying the book of Ephesians. The theme of Ephesians is God’s Purpose for every believer and for the church. What is God’s purpose? God’s purpose is really God’s plan for your life. The first three chapters of Ephesians show us powerful principles about believer’s salvation. The last three chapters contain practical instruction for living out those principles.

Last Sunday, we studied in Acts 2, how Jesus began to pour out the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Peter preached a powerful message on that day culminating in his call to action in

Acts 2:38 (ESV) And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

These instructions tell us of three essential experiences for every believer. First is salvation by faith alone, second is believer’s baptism and thirdly is Spirit baptism. At the end of Peter’s message, 3000 people were saved, baptized in water and in the Spirit. The church experienced exponential growth throughout the book of Acts.

Yet over the next 300 years, the church became apostate, it fell away from the truth. Salvation was taught as coming by good works, not by faith alone. Believer’s baptism was replaced with infant baptism. Finally, Spirit baptism was neither taught nor experienced, so spiritual gifts died out. The falling away of the church led to the period of the Dark Ages for over 1200 years. But God had a purpose and plan for His church and He began to restore the truth.

In 1517, Martin Luther rediscovered salvation by faith alone and the Reformation began. In the 1700’s, the Baptists rediscovered believer’s baptism by immersion. And finally, in 1901, Spirit baptism was rediscovered, and the Assemblies of God was founded in 1914.

So, you and are privileged to live in a wonderful time in history, when New Testament Christianity is being restored. With the restoration of the three-fold foundation of the church, we are on our way to fulfilling the Great Commission. Spreading the Gospel to every nation in the world through the power of the Spirit. Once the Gospel is proclaimed to every nation, Jesus Christ will return.

Today’s message is entitled “Find Blessing.” We’re going to learn about the importance of this three-fold foundation in the start of the church at Ephesus. Then we’re going to learn more about the blessings that God has prepared for us as His children.

Today, we complete our series Jesus the Messiah. Let’s remember that Messiah means Anointed One in the original languages. Jesus was anointed with the fullness of the Holy Spirit at His water baptism. When the power of the Holy Spirit came on Him, He began His public ministry. As Jesus needed the power of the Spirit for His ministry, so we need that same power for our lives. Today, we’re going to talk about how we can live in the power of the Spirit on a daily basis. 

My message today is entitled “Resurrected Lord.” The last couple of weeks in this series, we’ve talked about Jesus suffering and death on the cross that we might be forgiven. If you missed any of the messages, you can watch the videos on our website. The wonderful fact that we’re going to talk about today is that Jesus did not stay dead. He rose from the grave and is alive forever more. After His resurrection, Jesus met with His disciples and gave them instructions.

Acts 1:4-5 (ESV) … he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Jesus had already given His disciples the Great Commission, to make disciples of all nations. Now, He commands them to not start on that command because they were not prepared. They needed to wait for the promise of the Father, which He had told them about before. The promise of the Father was to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Although the disciples were born again and had the Spirit living inside, they had not experienced Spirit baptism. Why did they have to wait? What was the purpose of Spirit baptism?

Acts 1:8 (ESV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

The purpose of Spirit baptism was to receive supernatural power to be His witnesses and carry out the Great Commission. Without it they could never fulfill God’s purpose for their lives. As we’ll see today, the commands of Jesus to His disciples were not just for the apostles, but for every believer. So, the apostles and many other believers obeyed Jesus and waited for the Holy Spirit. They didn’t just wait, they prayed together asking God for His Spirit, as Jesus had previously instructed them. Then the Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost as described in Acts 2

Acts 2:4 (ESV) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

All one hundred and twenty that were praying together were baptized with the Holy Spirit. The outward evidence was that the Holy Spirit gave them the ability to speak in other tongues. To speak in other tongues is to speak in a language that you have never learned. We don’t have time today to explain the great importance of speaking in tongues. However, suffice it to say that speaking in tongues releases the power of the Holy Spirit into a person’s life. Tongues are a prayer language that is meant to be used daily for every believer. Peter then preached a sermon explaining what had just happened and inviting the listeners to experience the same thing.

Acts 2:17 (ESV) “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;

Peter quotes from the prophet Joel to explain Spirit baptism. Spirit baptism had never happened before, it had been saved by God for the last days. The last days are time between the resurrection of Jesus until His second coming. The outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost was not a one-time occurrence. God is and will continue to pour out the Spirit until Jesus returns again.

Today, we’re going to look more closely at Peter’s anointed message about Jesus’ resurrection. His message has great implications for us today. We’re going to learn how to be followers of Jesus and how to be Jesus’ witnesses in the power of the Spirit. So, let’s get started with the importance of …

Today, we continue our series Jesus the Messiah. In this New Year, I believe that it is important to focus our lives and our thoughts on Jesus as never before.

Today’s message is entitled “Dying Savior.” In this message, we’re going to look at the prophetic psalm, Psalm 22, which prophesies about the death of the Messiah in remarkable detail. Jesus’ crucifixion was undoubtedly the greatest trial that any human being has ever faced. Many men had been crucified before Jesus and many after. Yet none of these men had carried the weight of the sin of the entire world, From Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden into the future when Jesus returns. Yet, Jesus faced His death with a resolve and hope in God to bring Him through.

Today, we’re going to learn from Jesus how we can face trials in our own lives. We’re going to learn how we can gain the victory as Jesus did. Let’s take some time to look at what the Bible has to say about trials before look at Jesus.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV) No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

In other translation, the Greek word for temptation is translated as trial or test. Of course, a temptation is a trial and implicit in every trial is a temptation. This verse tells us that whenever you face a trial or temptation, it will not be beyond your ability to endure or to escape. 

Why can God make that promise? Because you will never face a trial or temptation in your life that God has not allowed to happen. God, as it were, screens your temptations and trials, so that they are not too difficult or powerful for you to face. Whatever trial or temptation that you face in life, you can have the victory over or within through the power of the Holy Spirit. That promise can give us hope, no matter what difficulty we are facing in life.

James 1:2-3 (ESV)  Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,  for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

The word translated trials here is the same Greek word that was translated temptation in the previous verse we just looked at. God’s Word now tells us what our response should be when we meet trials. Our natural response is to complain, worry, get depressed or some other negative reaction. God’s Word does not just suggest how we are to respond, it commands us to count every trial as all joy.

How can we rejoice in the midst of a trial? We can rejoice because we know that God has permitted the trial for a reason. And the reason is so that our faith in God may become stronger. Now let’s think about one particular kind of trial that I believe is going to become much more common in the near future in America. That kind of trial is persecution. Persecution is when you suffer some type of abuse due to being a believer.

Matthew 5:11-12 (ESV)  “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

When we are insulted, persecuted or lied about, Jesus said that we are blessed. We are blessed when we suffer on account of our faith in Jesus. If we are blessed, then we should rejoice and be glad. Why? Because we have a great reward in heaven for following Jesus and remaining true to Him.

With that background about facing trials, today, we’re going to learn how Jesus responded to the greatest trial in human history. As we meditate on Jesus’ trial, it will help our love and commitment to Him to grow. And it will prepare us for the trials that we will face in 2021. Remember, God allows trials in our lives not to hurt us but to strengthen us.

Happy New Year! We’re thankful to God for this New Year of 2021 to live for Him. Today, we’re continuing in our message series “Jesus the Messiah.” Last Sunday we talked about how God desires for us to focus on Jesus in this New Year. There are many things that we could focus on. And a lot of those things could discourage us. But if we focus on Jesus, it will encourage and motivate us.

Colossians 3:1 (ESV) If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

As believers, we have been raised with Christ into a new life, an eternal life. As believers, we are to seek the things which are above, which is where Jesus is. Another translation of this verse says “set your hearts on things above.” The things above are the things that are eternal, that will last forever. To seek the things that are above is the opposite of seeking the things that are below in our world. So, in this new year, we are to set our goals in life in keeping with the things above. The things below, the things in this world are to be used by us to reach our eternal goals, that things above. To seek the things above, to set our hearts on things above, we must discipline our thought life.

Philippians 4:8 (ESV) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

The things that we are to think about according to this verse are things above. In fact, when we think about what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely and commendable, who alone fits all these character traits? The answer is Jesus, the living Word of God. The Holy Spirit can help us discipline our thought life as we immerse ourselves in God’s Word on a daily basis. What happens to us as we seek things above and think about those things? As we focus on Jesus, it motivates us to worship and to pray. Keeping our thoughts on things above helps us to resist temptation. Seeking the things above by studying God’s Word builds our faith. Setting our hearts on eternal things help us to prioritize our lives.

Matthew 6:33 (ESV) But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

This command of Jesus instructs us to prioritize two things in our lives. First of all, we are to seek first God’s kingdom. That means that everything we do in life should be to advance God’s kingdom. Secondly, we are to seek first His righteousness in our lives. We are to seek to become more and more like Jesus. When we do, according to Matthew 6, we don’t need to worry or be anxious about any else that we need in this world. Why? Because God promises to give to us all that we need as we seek His kingdom and righteousness first.

Today’s message is entitled “Suffering Servant.” In the remaining messages in this series, we’re going to continue focusing on Jesus and the most important aspects of His life. We’re going to learn that the principles of the kingdom of God are the opposite of the principles of this world. Worldly success consists of the accumulation of wealth, power and fame in this life. The Bible describes this as laying up treasure on earth. Kingdom success consists of laying up treasure in heaven, living for eternity, not for this life. As we seek God’s kingdom first, we will experience joy and fulfillment in this life as we walk with Jesus, along with suffering. And in eternity, we will experience glory with Jesus forever. Those who live only for this life may enjoy momentary pleasure, but live life without Jesus and will spend eternity apart from God in hell. So, as we continue our series, let’s choose to focus on and learn from Jesus’ life how we are to live for Him.

Happy New Year! This coming week on Friday, our calendar turns from 2020 to 2021. Last year on January 1, 2020, we had no idea what 2020 was going to be like, did we. So, this year, let’s be humble and simply admit that we don’t know what 2021 holds. Yet, we know someone, Jesus, who knows about 2021 and holds us in His hands.

Oftentimes in the New Year, we make New Year’s resolutions. Goals that we set to accomplish in the New Year. Now there’s nothing wrong with making resolutions, provided that they are in keeping with God’s will for our lives. However, we all know from our past experience that most resolutions don’t last very long.

So, what should we focus on in 2021? Let’s watch a short video called “This is a New Year.” I believe that we should choose to focus on Jesus in 2021 more than we ever have before. Jesus knows what the year has in store, so He can guide us through it, no matter what happens.

Hebrews 12:1 (ESV)  Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

This verse likens life or for our application this morning, the New Year to a race. God wants you and me to be winners in the race of this next year. To do that, we must lay aside every sin, every hindrance that keeps us from running with Jesus. Secondly,  must run with endurance. This race is not a sprint, it’s a long distance race. We must keep going with Jesus even though we may feel like quitting. What should motivate us in running the race of 2021?

Hebrews 12:2 (ESV)  looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

We are to fix our eyes on Jesus. He is the one that our faith is focused on. Jesus ran the race of life for us and it was the most difficult race of all time. Jesus’ race included death on the cross and bearing the shame and sins of all mankind of all history. And yet Jesus finished the race without sin, rose from the dead and is seated in heaven. God wants us to follow Jesus in our race of life in the New Year and subsequent years. When we fix our eyes on Jesus and follow Him, He will help us be overcomers. One day, we will join Jesus in glory, see Him face to face and celebrate winning the race of life.

Today’s message is entitled “Images of the Messiah.” God often uses picture or images to teach us about Jesus and how He can help us. Today, we’re going to look at three stories which will give us three images of Jesus. These images will help us keep our focus on Jesus in the New Year 2021.

Merry Christmas! This week on Friday, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. A birth that divided history into BC and AD. A birth that changed our world and our eternity forever. Our current message series, Jesus the Messiah, is all about the baby that was born 2000 years ago. But the baby Jesus was not an ordinary baby by any means.

Today, our message is entitled Jesus the God-Man. We’re going to be talking about who Jesus is and how He brought hope into our world. Let’s watch a short video about the hope that Jesus brings called Bethlehem Hope. We commonly think of hope as something that we wish for. For example, I hope that it snows on Christmas. But when the Bible uses the word hope, it means something quite different than simply wishing for something in the future. Hope in the Bible is the confident expectation of what God has promised. Biblical hope is not wishful thinking, it is based on faith.

Hebrews 11:1 (ESV) Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Here we see how hope and faith work together. It takes faith to have the assurance or confidence that the things we hope for will ultimately come to pass. For, hope and faith have to do with the future, we put our hope and faith in the promises of God. What is in the future, the future that we hope for cannot be seen with our eyes, because it has not yet come to pass. Yet with faith and hope, we can have a firm conviction in things that are unseen. The Bible is filled with verses about the hope God wants to bring us.

Psalm 42:5 (ESV) Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation

When we don’t have hope, what do we have? Without hope, we are depressed, we are anxious, in turmoil about the future. With hope in God, we have faith that we will praise God again in the future. Where does Jesus come into the picture with hope?

Colossians 1:27 (ESV) … God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Let’s focus on the last phrase of this verse, Christ in you, the hope of glory. Jesus Christ came to this earth, so that He could live within each and every believer. When Jesus lives within us, He is our hope of glory. What is this glory talking about? It is spending eternity with Jesus in glory, in heaven coming down to earth, filled with the glory of God. No matter what happens on this earth, no matter how bad things may get, we can have hope through Jesus of eternal glory with Him.

So, this morning, we’re going to look more closely at how the coming of Jesus brings hope. We’re going to learn more about who Jesus is from His closest disciple, the apostle John in the very first chapter of the Gospel of John.