Gary Wayne Bible Teaching

How to Share the Good News – Part 4 Your Personal Testimony Text: 1 John 5:11-13 What is a testimony? Something you have seen or heard for yourself. If you were called as a witness in a court room, you would not tell what you thought had happened, what you wished had happened, or what someone else said had happened, you simply tell what you knew had happened from your own experience. Ver.11 This is our testimony! (Google – The God Test) Salt Evangelism - Col.4:6 “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” S - Start a conversation – take the initiative. A - ask a question – “Are you a spiritual person?” etc. L - listen T - tell the story – “Can I share with you how I came to know Jesus?” I want to take the rest of this time to talk about our personal testimony. Our personal testimony is the best tool we have to talk to someone about God. People can argue the validity of the Bible, but they can’t argue with your experience of what God has done for you. Many Christians don’t witness simply because they don’t know how. 1 Peter 3:15 “…Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have….” Many haven’t prepared or organized what to say so their attempt is like trying to put a gig-saw puzzle together with no picture and they end up stumbling through the process that can leave them saying, “I’m never doing that again.” So I want to go through some step by step mechanics as to how to organize your testimony to be an effective tool. In organizing this, I believe it is important to write it out. By doing so, you mentally focus on your personal experience with a new perspective. It will also help you to organize the details into progressive, everyday language that leads to a conclusion. Not rambling on and on, going back to fill in forgotten points, then ending with “and why did you tell me all this?” Since the aim of our testimony is to share “How I came to know Jesus,” that’s the focus. Christian jargon is so hard to get away from that it takes effort. Unfortunately, the terms, “becoming a Christian”, “being saved”, “being born-again”, “trusting in Christ,” are words and phrases that mean different things to different people, so it’s best not use those terms. Here is a suggested outline to help you write your testimony. A. Before I came to know Jesus. B. Then I came to know Jesus. C. Now that I know Jesus. A. Before I came to know Jesus - In talking about your life B.C. the mistake some make is to spend too much time explaining in depth of sin in your life, or by almost glorying in the memory. The point you want to make is you came to realized you were lost, without hope and separated from God. B. Then I came to know Jesus – Not everyone who receives gives their life to Jesus has a deep emotional experience. Be pictorial in this part, but don’t leave the idea that “this” is how you will feel, or “this” is what you will experience. The goal is to share the turning point in your life. C. Now that I Know Jesus – Our tendency is to generalize our life now, such as, now life is wonderful, It’s been great… What does that mean? Be specific about the benefits life has for you now. For instance: I have a personal relationship with Jesus, I have peace in life, I am no longer afraid of death, I now have direction in my life…etc. However don’t leave the impression that you have “arrived” and have no problems. Now what? Why do we want this tool, our personal testimony, in our toolbox? To influence someone to want Christ. If by now you can see they are with you and want you to continue, you take the next step of leading them to Christ. (What we talked about last week.) If they are not there, don’t push them, but leave the door open for a future time.

How to Share the Good News – Part 3 Talking to Someone about Jesus By Pastor Gary Wayne Text: Colossians 4:5-6, Proverbs 11:30 Ver.30 A life lived loving God bears lasting fruit, for the one who is truly wise wins souls. (Passion Translation) Ver.5 NIV - make the most of every opportunity. When it comes to trying to explain how to become a Christian, there are a lot of different techniques you can use. While I was in Bible College, I took an in-depth course on this subject. It’s an effective method. The method you use is not as important as your heart behind your efforts. 1 Corinthians 13 says this must be from love. I do believe in learning different methods, but find what works for you. In the military, basic training teaches everybody the basics regardless of the job they will do. If a cook looks up one day to see an enemy taking over the base, they will have some basic idea of how to use a gun to defend the base instead of not knowing anything to do. Some use “tracks” or a handout to start a conversation. This morning it’s my intention not to teach a method, but just some practical do’s and don’ts when it comes to leading someone to Christ. Let me start out with some don’ts. There are some methods that just should not be used. Don’t center your message on Hell. Example: You’re a sinner and God hates sinners, and you’re going to Hell! We want people to respond to God out of love not fear. If in the course of conversation the person brings it up, you can respond that yes hell is a real place and something to fear, but the message of the Gospel is more on John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave…” Try your best to not use Christian jargon or clichés. – Have you been saved by the blood of the Lamb? They are thinking – “Bloody sheep??? Weird! Don’t leave the impression that all your problems have been solved since you became a Christian – life will become a bed of roses once they receive Christ. Don’t ask them: “Are you a Christian?” This means so many different things to different people. I like to start by asking some simple questions. But I think it’s important to ask permission to ask them spiritual questions. And if at any time I sense the door has closed, I simply back away because I don’t want to callas them to hearing this message. Here is a simple method using the Romans Road. May I ask you a spiritual question? Have you come to a place in your spiritual life where you know for sure that if you were to die you would go to Heaven? Suppose you were to die today and stand before God and He were to say to you, “Why should I let you into my Heaven? What would you say? Most people respond: “Well I’m a good person…” Did you know the Bible says that Rom. 3:10 No one is good and all have sinned and missed the glory of God? Romans 3:23 Write the reference for the next scripture beside the last one. That means that every one of us have missed the requirements to get to Heaven on our own. The word “sinned” is an old archery term that was used to describe when an archer shot at a target and missed, they sinned. We have all sinned and missed God’s requirements to go to Heaven. But the Bible also says that even though the wages of sin is death, God’s gift is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23) God loves us and demonstrated His love towards us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) All I have to do is ask God to forgive me of my sin and ask Jesus to be the leader of my life, and I receive eternal life. I can know for certain that when I die, I will go to Heaven. Not because I’m a good person, but because Jesus gave His life for me so I could go to Heaven. Is this something you would like to do? Would you like to pray with me right now to ask Jesus into your life? If they want to, then lead them in a simple prayer. Just repeat these words after me. Jesus I realize that I am a sinner. And I need you in my life. Please forgive me of my sin. Come into my life. In Jesus’ name Amen! Now here’s where the work begins – When you have a new baby, you don’t just say, ok, see you later. In a later message, I want to spend time on the next step – making disciples. ****** THE ROMANS ROAD This pathway leads from verse to verse in the book of Romans that will help you to understand the need for salvation. Romans 3:10 “As it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one. Romans 3:23 ”For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 10:13 ” For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:9-10 ” That if you confess with your mouth the lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Guest speaker Herb Ellis

How to Share the Good News – Part 2 Strategically Be Yourself By Pastor Gary Wayne Text: John 1:6-13, 19-42 Last week I talked about the call of God to us to be a witness for Him. If you witnessed an accident, you testify only to what you saw and heard. In our text, notice in v.34 that John told what he had seen, and he testified that Jesus was the “Son of God.” In ver.40 after Andrew experienced Jesus, what did he do? Ver.41 Last week I talked about the negative response some have when the topic of “evangelism” comes up. Often people think we must fit into a mold of evangelism that we know just won’t work for who they are. Today I want to revisit the understanding that how you evangelize will look different than how anyone else does it. It may look similar, but our greatest asset towards personal evangelism is to Strategically Be Yourself! A good definition of evangelism is when one beggar tells another beggar where to find food. Notice in scripture, no two people approached evangelism the same. Let’s look at some examples in the Bible. When Saul tried to equip David to fight Goliath with Saul’s armor, what happened? 1 Sam.17:39 “David said, "I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them." So David took them off.” David’s Strategy was - he had to be himself – I don’t think he had ever heard of this kind of strategy before, and we don’t see it used again.” The Apostle Paul often used an “intellectual” approach. Study his letters and you will see that he was a master at laying out a sound explanation concerning the truths of God. There are people who need an evangelist like Paul to hear the gospel not only declared but defined and defended. This is how Josh McDowell came to know Christ. But this may or may not fit who you are. Do you remember the blind man that Jesus healed? He used a “testimonial” approach. He simply spoke from experience and said, “One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” (John.9:25) Some people need someone to simply tell them, “I don’t understand how it all works, but this is what I know….” Remember the Samaritan woman at the well? She used an “invitational” approach. (John 4:39) When she experienced Jesus, she immediately went to town, “Come hear a man that told me all I ever did.” Her simple invitation brought salvation to her city. How many people have come to Christ simply become someone asked them to come with them and hear? Tabitha used a “service” approach – lifestyle evangelism. Ac 9:36 “At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha…. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did.” Because of simple acts of service to her community, she influenced people. I believe Tabitha’s approach can reach people nobody else can. Your greatest tool in evangelism is to strategically be yourself! As you study this topic for yourself, and as You spend time with Jesus, He will make you fishers of men, using who you are and what is in your hand. Start asking Him how. Our play call: Strategically Be Yourself!

How to Share the Good News – Part 1 Called as a Witness By Pastor Gary Wayne Text: Romans 10:13-15, Matthew 28:16-20 We have been called by God as a witness. What does a witness do? They tell what they have seen and heard. Most of us have heard all our church lives about our responsibility to share the “Good News,” but I think it happens on a small scale. I want to spend some time looking at this topic, How to Shair The Good News. Its amazing to me that God didn’t leave this task in the hands of angels, but to people like me and you – imperfect real people with real lives. Today our mission is still the same – build Church buildings & maintain them, have potlucks and on Sunday mornings – No! Our mission is to share the “gospel” with the world. Rom.10:13-15 To most, the word preach throws people off. The word preach = to herald, to proclaim. Living Translation – “unless someone tells them?” It is important for us to realize that Jesus has sent us to share God’s love with those around us, and to the world. But how do we do that? In Mat. 4 when Jesus called His disciples, in ver.19 “He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Note the pronouns - Jesus is promising His presence and power in us to help us share His truth. Like many of you I have been in church for a long time and heard many messages about the importance of telling others about Jesus. Yet I wonder if we haven’t been stymied by the misconceptions toward the dreaded “E” word? What image comes to mind when you think of the word “evangelism?” What happens inside your heart when you hear again that God wants you to be an evangelist? Does it cause enthusiasm and excitement, or carry negative connotations? Do we think evangelism means going door to door, or standing on the street corner loudly preaching to those “SINNERS” who are passing by? Our enemy has hindered the church by causing us to think we have to fit into a mold of evangelism that we know just won’t work for who we are. When I went to Bible College, one of my main goals was to learn how to do personal evangelism. I actually took a class called “Personal Evangelism” designed to teach you a method of evangelism. It was a great experience – and I learned a lot about evangelism and about me. One thing I learned is I’m not called to go door to door and witness. I found myself overwhelmed with anxiety while standing knocking on the door praying nobody would answer. I believe in learning a method of personal evangelism, but then adapting that method to fit who I am. How you evangelize will look different than how anyone else does it. It may look similar, but our greatest asset towards personal evangelism is to strategically be yourself! Notice in scripture, no two people approached evangelism the same. Peter was confrontational. Paul was intellectual. Barnabus was gentle. Jonah preached Hell, Fire & Damnation. Stephen waited tables. The blind man gave his testimony. Tabitha sowed clothes for the poor. This season, I want to share different tools to place in your tool box so we can be equipped to be followers of Christ, and be fishers of men. To know how to “Shair the Good News.”

Taking a Look Down the Road By Pastor Gary Wayne Text: Ephesians 4:11-12 “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry…” Jesus gave pastors to the church to equip / train church people to minister. Looking down the road for this year at our church, there is a simple mission statement that I want to use to identify the different purposes we have as a working body of people who are after the heart of God. Faith Chapel’s mission statement for 2024: Engage People Enrich Believes Empower the Called Engage People: - Becoming skilled at being a bridge to connect people with an incredible God - Personal evangelism - People who are lost, wounded, disconnected Enrich Believers: - Teaching people to feed themselves from the Word - Help each person to mature in their spiritual lives - To find healing for wounded places in their heart Empower the Called: - Help people to recognize / understand their calling - Equip people for ministry - Provide opportunities for people to minister in their giftings The main Engine that drives Faith Chapel to where we want to go needs to be Prayer. As a pastor, that is a major emphasis on my heart – prayer. Having events and activities for our church needs to be focused on our mission statement. We don’t need business, we want to fulfill the reason / purpose F.C. is in Seeley Lake.

I Must Be About My Father’s Business Text: Luke 2:40-52 Ver.44 people who went to Jerusalem for special festivals often traveled in caravans, with the women and children in the front and the men in the back. Sometimes the whole village would travel in groups together. We can assume that both parents thought Jesus was with the other parent. After about 4 days, even though Jesus was 12, can you imagine the fear games they would have wrestled with in their heads? Imagine for a bit the conversation they must have had when they went to bed for the night – wherever they might have slept – if they slept. - Joseph – “God is going to kill me, I lost His only Son!” Lu 2:46 “… after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.” After they found him, maybe in hindsight it might have been a logical place, but still - at the temple??? Ver.48 “So when they saw Him, they were amazed…” This was a surprise to them - he was sitting in the middle of the Hebrew teachers – listening & asking them questions. Ver.49 – the first recorded words of Jesus. “And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" Jesus in turn seems surprised that Joseph and Mary were surprised. Perhaps as Jesus was growing up, they had already discussed this – that is, His purpose. Ver. 51 “But they did not understand …” HUGE understatement. Even though Joseph and Mary knew Jesus was God’s son, their way of thinking was VERY different than how Jesus thought. They filtered what they knew about Jesus, and what God had shared with them through their human reasoning, understanding and perspectives. These first recorded words of Jesus are important because it shows that Jesus knew at age twelve what His purpose was all about. “I must be about My Father’s business.” The basis of this message is this: I am asking God to give to us today the same level of understanding / revelation / conviction Jesus had for the purpose of His life - that SAME understanding for our life. My understanding of God’s purpose for me should have the same revelation as to why I live. Too often like Joseph and Mary, we hear with our head, but not at a heart conviction. We grow up in a different culture of reality – especially in America, where I think of my life as my own, to do what I want with it, to set my own agenda for the day. But when I give my life to God, I take on the same purpose as Jesus had – “I must be about my Father’s business.” Theres a balance here somewhere – I believe God calls me to be a good husband, father, before I am a minister / pastor. But the understanding that my life is His, my purpose is from Him, my LIFE is His. This NEEDS to be from the same perspective as Jesus had. How I give myself to this revelation sets the tone for my everyday life. How I live life. How I treat my wife, my family, how I interact with people. I am not my own. (1 Cor.6:19-20) When I wake up in the morning, I start out asking, “God, what are we going to do today? What is on Your heart for me this morning?” As I drive to work, or to the post office, I’m communicating with Holy Spirit. Jesus had one focus – a singleness of mind / purpose. Everything He did, went through that filter. I want to live my daily life with this single-minded understanding that Jesus had. We see life thought the filters we have learned to live with. We hear truth, then filter it with my: experiences, understandings, questions, education, etc. Take a moment and simply ask: “Holy Spirit, what are You saying to me today? How do You want me to apply this message to my life?”

The Gift of God By Gary Wayne This Christmas season, as I have read and studied the Christmas story, I keep coming back to the basic topic of gifts and giving. Rom 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Eph 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God...”. Joh 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave…” Text: Isaiah 9:2, 6, Have you ever given gifts that needed to be opened in a specific order? For instance, the first gift you give are tools to put together the next gifts in line. The best way to beat the Christmas stress is to stress the things that are important - to emphasize this gift from God to you. Start by unwrapping the main gift that is designed to help me function with what is to come. Unwrap Jesus first. Why is it that this time of year can be overwhelming for many people? How many have received a gift that at the time, the “awe factor” wasn’t that great, so we set it aside to fixate on the shiny gadget type of gift that captured our attention. But at some point as we return the first gift, realizing it’s value over all the other things that grab our focus. There is an unrealistic expectation that the “magic of Christmas” will transport me into a state of happiness that fixes everything. Simply receive God’s gift of Jesus into your lives, and life will smooth out, and we can live like heaven on earth. The truth is that the stress of Christmas time is not new. Think with me the stress that the major players in this event LIVED with. Look at the stress Mary began to live with after the angel shard God’s news with her. What about Joseph before they were married. After they were married. After the Magi left. Talk about Christmas Stress! I thought Jesus was the “Prince of Peace?” The greatest gift is not just that we get to go to heaven when we die, but the presence of Jesus is God’s present to us. His presence is given so I can handle the stress of life – the stress of a holiday season with Jesus living inside me. Many times, He doesn’t calm the storm, but He calms the child. So in the middle of the presence this year – the presence of anxiety, of stress, of business, etc. take a moment to look inside for the gift from God of Jesus – He does life WITH us - His presences gives me the ability to deal with the reality life.

What Gift do You Give Jesus? By Pastor Gary Wayne In our culture, gift giving, and Christmas just go together. Max Lucado - Open letter to wives from Husbands. As we read our text for today, I want to ask you to think about the different gifts that were offered to Jesus on this first Christmas day. Text: Luke 2:1-20 What gift did Joseph give Jesus? What was the gift Mary gave? What about the shepherds – what did they give? How about the little drummer boy? Just kidding - I’m fairly certain he wasn’t there. We didn’t read this account which is in Matthew 2, what did the Magi give later when Jesus was a child? What about the Angels – what did they offer? This is one gift that is interesting to me. The Angles gave worship. Ver.13-14 On the surface their gift seems shallow considering how we think the King of Kings should be worshiped. Had humans orchestrated this angelic event, it would have lasted for way too long, and the main event would have been downplayed. "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" That’s it, they worshiped. Shouldn’t they have done something more SPECTULAR? More practical? Mary could have used a bed; Jesus could have used a decent place to be born with a crib. These were angels - couldn’t they have done better? But then again these were angels – they knew Jesus better than anyone on Earth. Those who knew Him best, gave Him worship! According to scripture, at this very moment, heaven is filled with the sound of worship. Surrounding the thrown of God, are angels who worship our 24/7. According to Isaiah 6, the very door posts shake with the sound. I wonder if the importance of worship is almost lost on our understanding. What offerings did Solomon give when dedicating the temple? 144,000 animals. 2Ch 7:5 And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand head of cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats. Just a question – do you think this impressed God? Maybe – we don’t know – but ponder with me the value God placed on the worship the angels gave. Now let’s turn the corner a bit and talk about us. Joh 4:23-24 "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." God is seeking worshipers. Note – this isn’t saying He is seeking worship, but worshipers. One of the meanings to the word worship – to ascribe worth or value. Any time you ascribe worth or value to God – you worship. Whey we say things like – “God You are worthy.” We are declaring His value. Whenever you schedule into your calendar time for prayer, you are declaring God’s value – worship. When you mentally tune into the Christian Radio and listen – to preaching / teaching, to worship music, you are ascribing value to God. When you sit down with the Word of God to read or memorize His words – you are worshiping. When you purpose to focus on God during different parts of your day – Worship. According to Biblical Hebrew explanation of worship, worship is how you live your life every day – every part put together, not just one moment caught on video for social media. Worship happens at home, on the job, driving down to the post office, etc. Sometimes it has been known to happen at churches on Sunday morning. What worship do you give that has God’s attention? Church attendance? How boisterous you are when you sing? How much you give in offerings – sacrificial giving? What is worship in God’s definition, not ours? What happens when the people of God have worship as their priority? What is the gift your life is giving to God this Christmas? Max Lucado - Open letter to wives from Husbands. Dear ladies, we know you mean well, we know you think you know best. But enough is enough. We have suffered in silence for too long. Having shared our pain with each other we husbands, hereby step out of the shadows and we open up our hearts. This year as you shop for our Christmas gift, please don’t buy us what we need. We know we need to smell better. And look nicer. We know you like us in warm pajamas and new underwear. But we do not know what to say when we open these gifts. How can you fake enthusiasm over house slippers? How can you look happy holding a nose hair trimmer? We’ve lied long enough for the sake of integrity on Christmas morning, we offer this guidance. As you look at any potential gift, ask yourself these questions. Can he play with it? Does it swing, bounce, shuffle, cast or roll? Can you find on it a trigger, grip, ripcord or stick shift? Does it consume oil or dog food? Does it have a big screen and remote control? If it does, buy it. It doesn’t matter if he already has one, this is not time to be practical. When considering an item of men’s apparel, ask yourself, is it brown and green and rain resistant? You can’t lose with any garment that is. But realizing that many women prefer to shop anywhere except the hunting department, we offer these two questions. Does it make him look cute? Does it make him look like a hunk? If the clothing makes him look cute, drop it immediately. If it makes him look like a hunk, buy two. When all else fails, ask this – can he eat it? Note: the question is not, would you eat it? Or do other humans eat it? Or is it edible? Don’t occupy yourself with trivialities. The question is: can he eat it? If the answer is yes, consider yourself on safe ground. In closing we extend this offer. If you will buy us what we want, we will do the same for you. And without revealing any details, we will tell you this – a large vacuum cleaner company has offered us a group discount. And you thought we were insensitive. No need to thank us, Your Husbands.

At Your Word Message by Bryce Smith

What is My Mission Field? By Pastor Gary Wayne I want to refresh our understanding of the Great Commission – the last instructions Jesus gave just before He ascended to the Father. According to George Barna, 51% of church people have never heard of the Great Commission. Text: Acts 1:8, Luke 24:45-53, Mark 16:14-20, Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus gave these instructions to us – NOT just clergy – but to believers. The instructions were: to go, make disciples, teach, and baptize. These signs will follow those who believe: cast out demons; speak with new tongues, supernatural protection from deadly things, lay hands on the sick." What have these instruction been boiled down to in our overall church society? I believe a majority in the American Church un-intentionally believe it’s mostly about going to church on Sunday morning and watching a few people or the pastor do their thing. It has created a consumer mentality. Acts 1:8 NIV – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Amplified – “But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.” What is the power for? MULTIPAL reasons and uses. Shair the good news with people, baptize them, disciple them, teaching them to follow the teachings of Jesus, do the signs and wonders Jesus did. Predominantly for us to be witnesses for Jesus to other people. What does a witness do? They tell what they have witnessed. What they have experienced, what they have seen and heard. OVERALL – the Good News. A question I want us to individually ask God: Is what I’m doing as a believer bearing this fruit? Today I am asking God to create a pardine shift in us. Pardine shift = a situation in which the usual and accepted way of doing or thinking about something changes completely. Pardine shift - think in terms of when I wake up to start my day, my first thought is “today my first priority is to fulfill the great commission.” When I start my day interacting with my family, I am representing Jesus. I NEED to be filled with the Spirit for this. When I start my drive to work, I leave 5-10 min early to do what Brenda instructed us as to how to do drive by prayers. “God what direction should I drive today?” Let’s say you feel a “glancing thought” or idea to drive by the Elementary. Since I gave myself plenty of time to minister, I drive by the elementary, then around the blocks by the elementary which happens to have lots of families with kids that NEED Jesus. With this God induced pardine shift in my thinking and action, I intercede for these people, these teachers, these kids who are in DESPERATE NEED of God. Would you like a list of topics or ideas on how to pray – talk to Brenda. Maybe you are retired and don’t drive to work every day. Then on your way to the post office, or bank, or store, you: leave 5-10 min early to: When you get where you are going, you are “on duty for God”, so before you open your car door and go in, you take a few minutes to ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to shift the atmosphere. As you walk into a store, your goal is to represent Him. WWJD He is why I live! There are so many ministry opportunities – we are limited by our thinking. Are there people and places in our city that NEED you and me to be full of the Holy Spirit and do drive intercession? Do we realize that God doesn’t need me to represent Him. He could speak to my neighbor way better than I can. If he wanted to, he could think a thought in every being on planet Earth could have that thought resonate through their being. He doesn’t NEED me, but He wants me to be a part of bringing people to the Kingdom. What does this question mean? “What is my mission field?” What are the issues that hold me back? Holy Spirit, create a pardine shift in us. Fan into flame our desires / our passion for You.

Thanksgiving is my Battle Cry By Pastor Gary Wayne In the Opening song “Again & Again” we sang: A song of thanksgiving is my battle cry With joy as my weapon, I'll stand and defy The lie of the dark with my hands lifted to the sky Text: Philippians 4:5-8, 1Peter 5:5-9 The Greek word for cares is translated as, anxiety, worry, to be troubled. It has the idea of dividing or separating. Worry and fear causes division in our mind through distraction. The condition in which someone is occupied or fixating upon something. This is exactly what anxiety does to most of us. Note the relationship between ver.7 & 8. The devil is seeking you. Satan is not looking to devour you physically, but spiritually and mentally. The mind is the battle ground. Dan.7:25 tells us the enemy will try to wear out the saints with mental fatigue. When we are in a mental war, we don’t fight thought with thought, but with the Word, Worship, and Praise (Thanksgiving). Phil.4:5-8 “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice!” Shift your mind. V.6 “with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; We are often given a choice as to how we respond to pressure. When I’m driving and find myself surrounded by idiots. God is giving me a choice how to respond. God is giving me a chance to see there are things in my heart that need dealt with – from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Mt 12:34 Lu 6:45 When I find in me anger and frustration coming to the surface, this is my God given opportunity to examine where that fruit is coming from and go after the roots. “God where is this coming from?” When I do that on a regular basis with normal everyday living, when real pressure comes, I have established in me a right response to a Living God. My un-renewed mind is hostile towards God. I become excellent at Rom.12:2 “…be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…” So… ver. 8 Think on these things.

Filled with the Holy Spirit ~ Part 4 His Power has a Purpose! By Pastor Gary Wayne Text: Acts 1:8 Power in the Greek is dunamis = force, miraculous power, ability, abundance. Dunamis is where we get the word dynamite from. What is the primary purpose of the power of God for us? I think it is to display God's compassion, love, and the nature to people. Book: Intimacy with God, by Randy Clark – How can we not have expectation for mighty things to happen through us when He is in us, and His Spirit is on us? We must believe that He is in us. We must believe that the living Christ lives in us. He is near, as close as our breath. I read testimonies of God working through people, and I cried out in prayer, “God, if this is possible today, if You still communicate with people like this, if it is possible to live this kind of Christian life – that is what I want.” We are called by Scripture, by the Living God, to take our belief, our doctrine and exercise something inside us. To obey what I know is God’s heart. Does faith or obedience activate the power of God? Yes! When I don't pray for someone's healing, what is active in me, fear, or faith? When I step out of the boat into the realm of the unknown – when I take a chance, and ask someone if I can pray for them, or give a word, I am exercising the theology I say I believe – I am living up to the expectations I think God has for me. I expect the Holy Spirit living in me to fulfill God’s heart for the situation. With or without the miracle I want to see. Lately, I am hungry to see God move. And as I typed this, my knee-jerk reaction was: Prove it! I don’t want this to just be words - statements designed to fire us up at ½ time just before we leave the locker room. “God, move on us to be hungry for Your move!” I am asking God to set me free from fear. From the wrong thinking that my actions, my faith is the source of God moving in signs and wonders. Whether I see the miracle or not – It’s not about me. When I don't step out and pray for people, is it because I want to save face? Definition of Loose Face = suffer a loss of respect; be humiliated. Am I protecting my flesh from embarrassment? At what cost? Who am I protecting by my reluctance? Who am I impressing? If I pray for someone and don't see anything happen, do I lose faith face with those people? It can feel like it. BUT ANYTIME I work out of obedience, I gain face with the father. I am my own worst enemy. It is highly probable when the Holy Spirit speaks to me to pray for someone, or tell someone about Jesus, the enemy doesn't even need to bather trying to stop me, because I do that on my own. We discount ourselves all the time. I have a God thought about something I could do, but then re- think it, talking myself out of it for "logical" reasons. Song “I'm no longer a slave to fear.” We are in this partnership with God for this. Why me? Why us? We have Jesus within us. In the OT, the Holy Spirit would rest on different leaders for a season, then lift. But today, Christ Lives Within us! The Holy Spirit is ALWAYSE on board. We have a partner that is REALLY in tune with Heaven. We are our own worst enemy. TOTALLY SHOCKED when the Holy Spirit speaks to us, and when we obey, miracles happen. We believe in our head – in our theology, but in our hearts??? We are qualified to “Walk in the Spirit” to be a part of signs and wonders. But pastor, you don’t understand what I have done…. Think about the majority of the people God used to write the Bible. Liars, murders, adulteries, doubters - Moses, Gideon, David, Paul, etc. They fought with God often for Him to use someone else. A lot of these guys had issues – it’s true they were murders, adulterers, etc. but they had hearts after God. But we have the opportunity to be “Filled With the Holy Spirit for today.” We are qualified by God Himself. It feels to me like we are coming into a season where we have never been before. And God WANTS to use His favorite people to demonstrate His character to the world. With or Without me, and most of that is my choice. Rom. 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Filled with the Holy Spirit - #2 Filled on Purpose! Text: Luke 3,4, Acts 1:4-8, Ephesians 5:15-19 What does this text say is the will of God for us? To be FILLED WITH the Spirit. Ver.18 The wording in the Greek implies this is not a one-time event, but an ongoing filling. Acts 1:4-8 Ver.8 “come upon” is the same Greek wording Gabriel used to explain to Mary how she would become pregnant. Lu 1:35 “And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.” The result of being filled with the Holy Spirit is an overflow of Jesus in my life. What does that mean? How do you know you are filled? Water Illustration. There is no question you are full when there is an overflow. “Fullness is measured by overflow not by what you contain.” – Quote by Bill Johnson. Part of the problem of the church is that many are living off the memory of what happened before. Nothing fresh. We just live off the memory of years gone by. In 2 Kin.6, there was a major famine in Samaria, and there was also an army surrounding the city, so people couldn’t go forage for food. Food was so scares, that ver.25 says: “..donkey's head was sold for 80 shekels of silver, and one-fourth of a kab (about 1 pint) of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver.” I think “dove’s dung” represents what you have left after the dove has left – after the Holy Spirit has moved on. Just a memory of a good time with God. Leviticus 6 God lit a fire for the altar, but it was the responsibility of the priests to keep the fire going. If the fire went out, was it God was it because of God or the Priests? Somebody needs to keep putting flammable material on the altar. That's one of the reasons why the Bible says we are a living sacrifice. What's the problem of a living sacrifice? I have a choice. I view the purposes of God for my life to be optional – it they fit into my already full and busy schedule. It is TOTALLY possible to do church without God being present. In 1Sam.4 when the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant? The whole time the Ark was gone from the tabernacle, the Priests kept the rituals going. Having church without the presence of God. Is Eph.5:18 “…be filled with the Spirit…” a command or an optional suggestion from God for me? Why do I NEED the Baptism in the Holy Spirit? To have great worship on Sunday mornings? To feel better about myself? Why did the 1st church need Him? Just a reminder – Jesus said, don’t go until….. You receive the Holy Spirit. Why? Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses…” It is interesting to me that even Jesus needed to be filled with the Holy Spirit before He started His ministry. Lk.3:21-22, 4:1, 14 Jesus’ ministry began after the Holy Spirit descended on Him. What does this have to do with you and me? If Jesus needed the Holy Spirit to come upon, or fill Him, how much more do I need the Holy Spirit to fill me? There is a GOD Purpose for me to be filled with the Holly Spirit. Live life on that Purpose. Don’t just life happen, but live life on purpose. Before next Sunday, study Acts 2,4,8,9,10,19. Look at the different ways the Bible gives for when people encountered the Holy Spirit’s filling.

Filled with the Holy Spirit – #1 – There’s More Text: John 20:22, Luke 24:49 What is the “Promise of the Father? The Holy Spirit. Endued = clothed – NIV “until you have been clothed with” I want to note here that Jesus didn’t say, “until you speak in tongues, or until you shake, look drunk, or fall down. Etc. But until you are “clothed with power.” Why make this point? Growing up in a Pentecostal church I was taught that the evidence of the infilling, or baptism in the Holy Spirit was tongues. If you spoke in tongues, you had it. If no tongues, keep seeking. At this season of life I don’t believe “tongues” is the defining evidence. Tongues can be evidence, but I have come to see scripture differently than when I grew up with that teaching. I believe God is a diverse God! And much like when you study the methods Jesus used when he healed people, how a person receives the Holy Spirit can be different every time. I think tongues is an evidence, but I don’t think Luke in writing the book of Acts was trying to pin that down for us. Jn. 20:22 When Jesus breathed on them, what did they receive? The Holy Spirit. But this wasn’t the baptism in the Holy Spirit – that took place in Acts 2. This is one of my supporting scriptures that says when you ask Jesus in your heart and are born again, you receive the Holy Spirit. But there is another receiving of the Holy Spirit that is more. There’s More! The people Jesus breathed on received the Holy Spirit that is clear, but not the baptism of the Holy Spirit until Acts 2. Acts 1:5 baptized = immerse, submerge (not question you are wet). Acts 2:1-4 In Acts 4, Peter & John were arrested and the Sanhedrin ordered them not to preach Jesus an more, they threatened them and let them go. When they went back to the group of Christians and told them what had happened. As a result, they began to pray. Acts 4:23-31 Note v.31 “they were all filled the with the Holy Spirit.” But I thought they had already been filled in Acts 2? THATS MY POINT? THERE’S MORE!!! Eph.5:15-18 What is the will of the Lord? Be filled with the Spirit. Ver.18 The wording in the Greek is saying this is not a one time happening, but an ongoing filling. If you could translate this in exact wording it would be something like, “be you being filled with….” I can and should be filled again and again. The people I believe are the hardest to get to be hungry for more of God are people who have been in church for years. People who have had incredible encounters with God. They already bought the T-shirt. Heidi Baker – baptized at age 16, after giving herself to being a missionary, and almost being burnt out, then went to Toronto and was baptized again with new manifestations, a year later, another encounter with more power…. THERES MORE! What you receive is not indicated by what you manifest after you receive. Don’t be sidelined, distracted by that being your focus. Whether you speak in tongues, or operate in healing others, or have a gift to win people to Jesus is not the point. Let’s remove the pressure, the distraction of getting what I expect, or want, and place my focus on the Giver – on God. Our God encounters usually changes our view, our belief in what God can and will do. Our experiences usually change our theology - about healing, about gifts, about the moving of the Spirit. If we already have a theology about healing, yet haven’t seen anything happen when we pray for people, what do we tend to do? Stop praying for healing. To me that says what? I believe in my head that God heals, but in my heart where I think faith begins, I don’t. We NEED and encounter with God – with the Holy Sirit – to awaken me to truth. If we don’t know there is more, what do we do with all this? We stay where you are and have good church on Sunday. I think until my shadow heals the sick, there’s more!

Defeating Freedom Thieves By Pastor Gary Wayne Text: Romans 85-9a, Galatians 5:1, 2 Timothy 2:4, Hebrews 12:1 “Lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us…” NIV -easily entangles us… What does this phrase imply? (Obvious Answer) 2Ti 2:4 Gal.5:1 Ver.16-17 v17 lusts = to set the heart upon, to long for. The word emphasizes the intensity of the desire rather than the object desired. Rom.8:5-9a V7 Passion T “… the mind-set focused on the flesh fights God’s plan and refuses to submit to His direction because it cannot!” Hosea 4:6 “My people are being destroyed for lack of knowledge.” What I want to ask myself is, “Are there things I am “willfully ignorant” of? There are several things God tells us not to have anything to do with because they will hurt you. For instance: Séance - talking to the dead, Ouija boards, fortune telling, magic, reading your horoscope. Wearing satanic or magic symbols in jewelry, tattoos, etc. Ps 101:3 “I will set nothing wicked before my eyes;” Song: “Be careful little eyes what you see…” There can be a bunch of little things that don’t seem to be a big deal. Song of Solomon 2:15 “The little foxes that spoil the vines…” These “foxes“ are the compromises that are hidden in our hearts. These areas where we have not yet allowed God to have access. “God hasn’t convicted me.” Could it be because I won’t ask His opinion? We don’t tune into what He is saying, because ignorance is bliss. Ignorance also brings bondage and death. Take a spiritual shower. If I slip and fall into the swamp, and quickly get out, I may be messy, but the leaches in the swamp probably haven’t had time to attach. But the next time I “accidently” fell in, probably stayed a bit longer, then I got out… Then the next time, I tread water for a bit. HIGHLY PROBABLE something attached to me. When I have been around a swamp environment, I ask the Holy Spirit to shower everything off of me. 1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1Jo 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. “God I apply the blood of Jesus to my whole being. My mind, will, emotions. My Body, Soul Spirit. Freedom thieves I didn’t realize I allowed into my life. I think it’s good to take a spiritual shower for not reason at all – it just feels good. “God, I ask your Word to purify my mind.” (Jas 4:8) Walk around your property. Pray over your house. Re-dedicate it to God. Creating atmosphere. Be a thermostat, not a thermometer. Just before you get out of your car to go shopping, take 1-2 min and ask the Holy Spirit to help you change the atmosphere in that store. Walk into the grocery store and create atmosphere. How?

Guest speaker from the congregation - Andy

Guest Speaker Joash Ligami in Seeley Lake, Montana

Ministry by Jimmy Martinez God is with us in Life's Struggles

Worship Text: 1 Kings 3:1-3, John 4:23-24 God is seeking worshipers. Notice it doesn’t say He is seeking worship, but people who will worship Him in Truth & Spirit. In this text, when Solomon was sacrificing an offering, at this time it was NOT to a pagan god, it was to Jehovah God. The problem was God had told them not to sacrifice in the “high places.” (Lev.17:3-4, Deu.12:13-14. Jer.7:31, Eze.6:3-4, Hos.10:8) “High places” were where pagans would set up their altars. Probably with the idea that men were closer to the deity they were worshiping. But when the Israelites started sacrificing to their God, they started doing things like the people that God told them not to have anything to do with. This was a fragile time for Israel – the change of Leadership, and the time with no established place for worship. David brought the ark to Jerusalem and put it in a tent, but it wasn’t established as a place to worship for Israel yet. It wasn’t until Solomon built the temple that there was an main place. And as you read through Second Kings, there were actually a number of Kings that it says something like: 2Kin.14:3-4 “he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like his father David… However the high places were not taken away…” Our text is an interesting chapter. At the beginning it opens with major evidence that Solomon was dabbling with compromise. Marrying Pharo’s Daughter was a compromise. Sacrificing to God in the “High Places” - the way others were doing it was a compromise. Yet ver.3 plainly says Solomon loved the Lord. In just a few verses we have the famous account of God asking Solomon what he wanted God to do for him. What stands out to me is I see a mixture of wanting to worship God and sacrifice to honor Him but doing it the way he wanted to do it instead of how God asked to be worshiped. Close, but not conformed to God’s way. Whenever I mix self-will in worship, it is no longer worship, but it becomes man’s method, flesh, self-will, doing things the way I want – this is good enough. I think that was at the heart of the problem in Genesis 4 where Cain and Abel brought an offering to God. 4:4b “God respected Able and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering…” Able brought of the first born of his flock (firstfruits) and Cain brought what he thought of as good enough. Close, but not conformed to God’s way. What did Jesus say God was seeking? The Father is seeking those who worship Him in spirit and truth. Do I worship loudly or quietly? With my hands held high or kneeling on the floor with bowed head? Dancing like David, or laying prostrate? I don’t believe I can tell by the outward expression of someone’s worship whether they are doing things by their will or God’s. When it comes to my worship, it is not what and how I do things as much as before God I lay down my will of doing things and worship is spirit and truth. Why do we worship Him? In collage, when I studied personal evangelism, - how to lead someone Jesus, an Important question was: “If you were to die tonight and God asked you “Why should I allow you into my heaven.” The right answer has nothing to do with what I have done, but what Jesus has done. You Tube video: Alistair Begg – “The Man on the Middle Cross.” Think about the thief on the cross. When he got to the gates, the angels must have asked him, “what are you doing here?” He didn’t know anything about church membership. He didn’t pass the doctrinal quiz. He didn’t have any church attendance record. Yet he made it. Imagine the angels interviewing him - “Do you understand at all the issue of being justified by faith? After a frustrating examination, they asked him, why are you here? I don’t know, but the man on the middle cross said I could come. That is why I worship. Because of Who He is, and for What He has done for me. That is why I serve Him – because He said I could be here.

Tim Dennison shares Sunday morning message.

The Bride Has Made Herself Ready By Pastor Gary Wayne Text: James 1:21-25, Ephesians 5:25-27, Rev.19:7 “Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready.” We pray more for our personal comfort than we do for our personal character. Jesus is making His bride ready using the Word. The Word of God is also a supernatural mirror. It shows me where I am, what needs to change, and what I should look like. Often I find myself more concerned with my theology – what I believe to be true about God – than how I treat people. I can be more consumed with the hearing / learning, than doing. Jam.1:21-25 Ver.21b “… with a sensitive spirit we absorb God’s Word, which has been implanted within our nature, for the Word of Life has power to continually deliver us.” (Passon Translation) Ver.24 “he observes himself…” in the mirror of God’s Word. PT “You perceive how Gods sees you in the mirror of the Word…” I believe how I treat people is far more important than what I believe to be true. If what God speaks to my heart doesn’t change my life style, that’s called religion, not relationship. There’s a balance here - 1 Corinthians 13 says how I treat people, how I love people is of far greater value than having all kinds of the gifts of the Spirit. Joh.13:35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." If I'm hard to live with, if I'm hard for people be around, maybe that's an indicator that I need a good dose of the love of God. Needing the water of the Word to wash me, for the Holy Spirit to highlight areas that need my attention. When I'm truly in love with someone, I don't demand they change to meet my expectations just the opposite I draw a circle on the floor and I change to meet their expectations. As a Christian if I say I love God yet I don't deal with my character flaws, what does that say about my love? Where's the evidence that I'm in love with Jesus? Is it because I go to church? Is it because I believe the right doctrine? The evidence is my interaction with Him. It’s my response to His heart. It’s my interaction with people. Especially with people I don’t like. My interaction with people who have done me wrong. What am I doing to develop intimacy with Jesus? Is Sunday morning church all that I do? One of the signs that I realized I loved Heatherann was I didn’t care how much money I spent on our dates. I wanted to spend time with her. Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. “His bride has made herself ready.”

Heart Issues – Part 8 How I See Me How you see yourself has a MAJOR impact on your life in Christ. The more you understand who God is, and the more time you spend in His presence, the more you realize who you really are. He created us, He knows who we really are, our true identity. How many here like to play “hide and seek? The problem is when we play hide and seek with God, but we don’t realize we are hiding. Text: Genesis 32:24-31, Genesis 3:8-10 Here in this scripture, we find God asking a question in ver.9 “Where are you?” I want to ask you the same question, because I believe God is still presenting Himself to be found, but too many times we end up hiding. Why did God ask this question? Was this question for God because He didn’t know where Adam was? This question is for us, to recognize where we are. Where are you with God? Most people get into trouble when they don’t know where they are, and or who they are. Adam had just fallen into sin, and the first thing sin does is to make us hide. Because sin makes us uncomfortable in the presence of God. Genesis 32:24-31 How long did the wrestling match go on with Jacob. All night long. Often people miss-quote this saying that Jacob wrestled with the angel. But in v.24 who wrestled with whom? The Angle was the aggressor. Ver.25 When “He” did not prevail against Jacob, He touched him in his hip and the socket of his hip went out of joint. In ver.27 God asked, “What is your name.” Was this question for God or Jacob? What does the name Jacob mean? Jacob = heel-catcher, supplanter, schemer, plotter, someone who gets ahead by deceiving others. Had Jacob lived up to the meaning of his name? Yes. God was saying, “Jacob, I want you do deal with who you are.” More specifically, who you think you are! And when He didn’t prevail, God caused a condition to take place to where Jacob was no longer wrestling but clinging. Now for the rest of his life, he couldn’t run from his problems. No longer could he rely on his scheming to get what he wanted – but now he had to rely on God to fulfill the promise God had placed in him. No longer could Jacob rely on Jacob to succeed. God touched him in his strength so no longer could Jacob stand in his strength. He had to rely on God in his weakness. Do I think I can manipulate God to fulfill His will in me? Do I think I can be smart enough? Disciplined enough? Good enough? Jacob said, “I’m not letting you go until you bless me.” He said OK and touched him in his hip and the socket of his hip went out of joint – for the rest of his life. What did you do – God said I blessed you. What does that mean? Now I’m crippled how am I to fulfill my destiny being a cripple? When do we have the most closeness of God in our lives? When we cling. Breakthrough comes through brokenness. But an exciting, powerful, major point is, it doesn’t have to take major trauma to have breakthrough. “Humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up.” James 4:10 We don’t have to be driven into God’s presence by trauma. “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jer 29:13 How did Jacob see Jacob? Heel-catcher, that is who they say I am. How did God see Jacob? Israel = “Prince with God!” In God’s original plan, where should we get our personal identity? From our Godly parents who having heard from God, tell us who we are as we grow up. But when sin entered into the picture, it had major effects in many areas – God’s plan for the family was damaged. Our earthly father should be the one to instill Godly identity. If that is missing, we will desperately seek someone to tell us who we are. We grow up seeking identity. If we are good at sports, if we are good at art, music, education, if we get involved with the wrong crowd, they will label us, give us identity, party animal, a drunk, an addict. You might have done the things they say you did, but that isn’t who you are. Only God can give you true identity and we learn that only from being in His presence, having Him speak into our lives.

Creating a Draft By Pastor Gary Wayne Text: Isaiah 9:1-2, 6, John 1:1-13, 43-51 John 13:12-17 As I was working at Youth camp this week, I was contemplating the atmosphere of our church services and was thinking about the kind of happening our young people NEED to go to church in. In racing, and on the highway, a draft is what happens behind the car or truck in front of you. They break the wind that would drag your speed down, and if you tuck yourself in behind that rig, it takes less energy to keep your speed. What I want to visit about is the importance of each of us when we come to church on any given Sunday, we create a draft for those who are hurting, tiered, beat up, etc. for them to tuck themselves behind the draft we make so it is easier for them to encounter God’s presence. How to Create A Draft: 1. Come to church already fired up. 2. Be an owner, not a visitor. 3. Realize that Church isn't about you. Recognize the people around you that may be in need of your draft. And then be sensitive of them. Ga 6:2 “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Think with me of a place in your area that seems dark. If ever there needed to be a move of God, it is there! What city do you think of? Jesus' ministry began in dark places!!! 2 Chr.6:1 Then Solomon spoke: "The LORD said He would dwell in the dark cloud. God is in the middle of your darkness. Ver.46 And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Nazareth was in the region of Galilea and was considered somewhat backward. Isaiah called that region the land of the gentile people those surrounded with great darkness. Yet this was where Jesus started His ministry. Isa.9:1-2, 6 In the place where devastation had robbed hope, Jesus came on that scene. He chooses the places in our lives where we have the most disgrace and shame, and where He shines His light. Past failures become prophecies of a future victory." “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” YES! Can anything good come out of the dark place in your life? YES! Pastor you don’t understand what I have done. You don’t understand the relationships I have messed up. The mistakes I have made – on purpose! Jesus comes into that dark place and Creates A Draft – and if I tuck myself into that draft, He bring healing, strength, and life to me and my family!

Heart Issues – Part 6b Inner Vows By Pastor Gary Wayne Text: Matt.5:33-37, James 4:13-17 What is an inner vow? A promise I make to myself, like a foundation in my mind and heart then forgotten. Our inner being retains inner vows, like programming, and even when life changes, that inner vow stays programmed into us to behave a certain way under certain circumstances. A distinctive mark of an inner vow is that it resists the normal maturation process. They resist change, and we don’t outgrow them. Inner vows usually don’t manifest themselves immediately in behavior. They rest forgotten and dormant, until triggered by the right person or situation. Having forgotten them, we are unaware they exist or have any effect. Yet over time, they begin to manifest outwardly in several ways. Impulsive anger, hatred, guilt, compulsive behavior, resisting responsibility – can point to inner vows. They are like the armor we wear in the hope it will protect and empower us. But they were forged from judgments, it chafes constantly and attracts more hurt and abuse. That armor binds and hinders us even when we want to be free. Let me illustrate - A common happening for men is they learn as small boys that girls are the ones who tell on them. Sometimes they learn that mom has a memory like an elephant – and whatever you say can and will be used against you. When they allow their soft emotions to show, mom will use these as a source of control. What are people’s response to a boy when he cries - Big baby! So boys learn to hide from their mothers, from girls – the less they know the better. Often, he makes an inner vow – “Never share what you really feel….” Later on, when he starts dating, he may actually find it easy to communicate until he is married. Something about marriage puts one in a position that trigger our inner vows. Now her complaint is “He won’t tell me anything anymore.” Unknown to them, an earlier defense programming has kicked into action. Many men are unaware that they are not sharing themselves, gradually becoming more estranged from their wife and family. Lacking him, she may be emotionally wilting and dying and may eventually find other places like church or a club – or worse - to find sharing and fulfillment. In women, the most common inner vows actually have some of the very same roots - don’t share who you are – but manifest themselves differently. Little girls want to be the apple of their daddy’s eye. They somehow know they are God’s gift to ravish their daddy’s heart. In God’s design a father should builds confidence in what it is to be a woman. Often a wife fulfills her husband from her own sense of beauty and desirability. If she knows she is a precious gift of God to him, she can bless him. If she doesn’t and therefore requires constant stated approval and affirmation it wears them out. Unfortunately, all too many fathers are unaware of their value to the family. Too many times little girls have run into their daddy’s presence only to be ignored or pushed away. “I’m Busy! What do you want?” “Do you like my new dress?” “What did that cost?” Many have seen their mother’s heart crushed again and again. From repeated neglects and slights, little girls vow, “Don’t share.” “Don’t let anyone close enough to hurt you.” “Don’t let him really have or know all of you.” In frustration they vow …”See if I ever”…. Then throw in cases of molestation by some trusted man – father, grandfather, stepfather, brother, uncle… etc. From the moment of molestation she may fear to let the beauty of what she is shine. She may become either frigid or promiscuous, but behind both clings the same root – an inability to giver herself fully to the man of her life. Inner vows come in all shapes and sizes. OVERHEAD While inner vows do lie at the root, seldom are they the sole factor. They work in tandem with bitter roots, hidden resentment, fear, and lies my heart believes. How do we break inner vows? It helps, but is not necessary, to remember our vow. If the fruit is there, the root is there. Ask the Lord to bring to your memory any vows you have made that harmed you and may have been forgotten. If you know the vow, - They can be broken by the authority given us by Jesus. “In Jesus name I break this inner vow.” I sever all connections with every evil power attached to this vow – In Jesus’ name I break their hold, their power and effect in my life. Jesus help me to change the way I think in this area. Forgive – both those who have hurt us, and ourselves. Confess and repent for sinful reactions that led to us making wrong vows. We need the Holy Spirit to help us. INNER VOWS THAT PEOPLE COMMONLY SAY / MAKE: I WILL NEVER ________________ …let anyone love me … be weak …trust anyone …allow myself to depend on someone else … let them take anything away from me …allow anyone to touch me … share what is mine … allow anyone to give me money … write, read, understand … allow myself to be hit … go out at night … let you see who I am … let anyone know I hurt … let a man control me … be responsible for actions of others … receive a compliment … participate in life … allow a woman in my heart … be anything worthwhile … be sick … be violent or abusive … grow up I WILL ALWAYS ____________ … remain aloof, separate … be logical … be in control of my life Inner vows imprison us to think and act as they have set the mold.