Gary Wayne Bible Teaching

Motivational Gifts – Part 1 By Pastor Gary Wayne Text: Romans 12:4-8, 1 Peter 4:10 1Ti 4:14 “Do not neglect the gift that is in you…” I want to talk about gifts God has given us for today. In the NT, there are three lists of gifts that fall into three different categories. Last year, I did a 7-part series on the Manifestation gifts the Holy Spirit gives to believers listed in 1 Cor.12:8-10 In Eph.4:11 we have a list of gifts Jesus gave the church. Then in Romans 12, there is a list of gifts I want to spend time on, called Motivational gifts. This gift from God is the motivation behind my actions in life. Our motivational gift was woven into us when God formed us. It is the underlying driving force that causes you to do the things you do the way you do them. Some have referred to them as personality gifts. Everything I do is colored by my primary motivational gift. It explains SO MUCH about my personality when I understand my giftings. Everyone here as heard the sermons about how each one of us has been called to full time ministry. But a huge problem is too often ministry is associated with what happens at church. And many don’t understand that your every day life is often your ministry. Ministry simply mean “service as unto the Lord.” But that also can be cloaked in “churchey” understanding. “Christianese.” I love how practical the illustrations Paul uses explain spiritual things. Ver.4. We all look different, and we all have different functions, yet God causes us to fit together in one body. Every part of the body has a function, every part is IMPORTANT. So the body as a whole “functions”, as each part operates in their personal “function.” So where do I fit? What is my part, my function? Being part of the body means being attached and functioning in your purpose. Of the 7motivational gifts, one is the most dominate in you. It’s kind of like someone throwing you a tennis ball and your knee jerk reaction is to catch it with your dominate hand. Left or right. You are dominate with one of these 7, but you can also relate and be strong with one of the other gifts, and maybe 3 of them. Your motivations towards life. Seven Motivational Gifts: Perceiver – are the eyes of the body. Service – the hands of the body. Teacher – the mind of the body. Giving – the arms of the body. Exhortation – the mouth. Leading – the head of the body. Mercy – the heart of the body of Christ. Let me explain them using a story I got from Charles Stanley. Seven friends, each of whom jus happen to have different motivational gifts are at a friends home for dinner. After dinner the hostess is bringing the cake to the table when she trips, and cake goes everywhere. Here is how each of the seven respond based on their different gifting. Perceiver = This is what happens when you are not careful. You should have paid better attention. They give their opinion, speak their mind. Their motivation is to help correct the problem. Teacher = The reason she fell is the tray was off balanced. One must always maintain balance. Servant = doesn’t say anything, they just hop up and find cleaning supplies to help fix the mess. They don’t care that they don’t get cake now. Exhortation = next time, we could just serve ourselves. But you know what, looking at us, we don’t really need dessert. It’s ok, we don’t need cake. Giver = doesn’t say anything, just grabs their keys and runs to the store to buy a new cake. They want to help fix the problem. Leader = starts organizing the people to help fix the problem. They start communicating to the others what they should do to solve the problem. Mercy = They get on the floor in the middle of the cake mess and hug the lady, making sure she was ok. “Are you all right? It’s not your fault.” They don’t care about the cake; they care about the person. Each motivational gift causes a different knee-jerk reaction to help fix the problem. As they work together as a group – as the body - the problem is quickly and efficiently solved. Ro 12:6 “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them…” Our gathering here will function better when we all work together. Your gift is not just for you, it is more for others.

PREPARING FOR A MOVE OF GOD ~ Part 2 Being River People By Pastor Gary Wayne Text: Jeremiah 9:23-26 Ver.24 What does the Lord delight in? 26b“For all these nations are uncircumcised” = they have no covenant with God. “and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.” They were physically circumcised, but their heart was no different than the other nations who did not know God. They had all the right steps down for the religious dance, they knew all the right moves, but it didn’t involve relationship from their heart. This clearly says God wants my actions to come from my heart, not learned response. Ver. 26b in Message bible - “All these nations are big on performance religion – including Israel, who is no better.” What does God delight in? Delight = to take pleasure in, to be bent or inclined toward. Ps 51:16-17 “For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart - These, O God, You will not despise.” NKJV One of the points I see here is that God delights in the heart of those who do these good things, not in the things they do. Some get it backwards – thinking God delights in the things, so they do the things to earn the benefit of His delight. That is performance religion. But He is not after the things, He delights in my heart when I focus on Him, not the cookie in His hand. Passion Translation – “For the source of your pleasure is not in my performance or the sacrifices I might offer to you. The fountain of your pleasure is found in the sacrifice of my shattered heart before you. You will not despise my tenderness as I bow down humbly at your feet.” Message Bible – “Going through the motions doesn’t please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you. I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered….” Story about Petit Gulf 1798 renamed Rodney Mississippi. Long before it became a town, it was a favorite place for Native Americans to cross the Mississippi river. Rodney became the busiest port on the river between New Orleans, and St. Louis, MO. It was so popular, it nearly became the state’s first capitol city. It flourished as an important river community. Business and motels sprang up. But something unique began to happen without notice by the inhabitants. When different storms and floods took place, debris began to build up and the river began to change its course. Within 20 years, it had shifted 2 miles away. Little by little, business died and moved away, and the once enjoyed beauty of the river was lost from sight because of brush and trees. Today, reading about this place – now a ghost town – it’s very hard to find. If we disconnect from the river, then little by little our life will dry up. The town did not realize that their prosperity was attached to the life of the river. The river that brings us life is the Holy Spirit, it is the Word of God. This town gradually become disconnected from the source of their life. Here is what is on my heart for me – us this morning. In preparing for a move of God, I HAVE to take notice of the debris that can build up in my life. I HAVE to stay connected to the life of the river. What is the debris that blocks our access to the river? * Offense – many of the revivals in America have come to an end because people being easily offended by others – debris left behind. How many have had an opportunity to be offended by someone lately? * Pride – Pride turns me into a Pharisee. Pride not dealt with in Christians = religion, void of relationship. – confident in my doctrine but shielded from intimacy with Him. When you don’t know you have pride issues, where does it pop up? Jas 4:6 “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud…” Jas 4:10 “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. But gives grace to the humble." Unforgiveness is based in pride. Religious spirit is based in pride. Fear of what others think. Da 10:12 “Then he said to me, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.”

Preparing for a Move of God By Pastor Gary Wayne Text: Mark 13:5-8, Luke 12:35-48 Before we get into our text, I want to share some random thoughts that ran through my heart as I pondered the title of this message. In Gen.35, right after Jacob had returned home from the Uncle Laban ordeal. God told him to go to Bethel, to dwell there and build an altar to God. So in preparing for this move, Jacob told his household to put away any foreign gods, purify themselves and change their garments. In Ex.19:10, 14 Moses was up on the mountain with God and God instructed Moses to go down and consecrate the people today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes. In Josh.3, the people of Israel were going into the promised land the next day. And Joshua spent that day instructing the people how to prepare for the promise of God. Ver.5 Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” In Mat 25:1-13 in the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, when a cry was heard, “behold the bridegroom is coming…” ver.7 “they trimmed their lamps.” Basically they lit their lamps and put things in order for his coming. It was here the separation took place – the wise had prepared extra oil. The foolish hadn’t prepared and their oil was not enough. Last week we looked at how Daniel responded when it was time for God to fulfill His promise. I asked us to begin praying Dan.9:17-19 “Hear our prayer, fulfill Your promise.” Like Daniel, put into our daily routine prayer concerning God’s will being done “on earth as it is in heaven.” This kind of prayer should move from routine to expectant prayer. A Heart Shift. When / How do couples prepare when they find out she is pregnant? How do we prepare for a move of God? Luke 12 - This section of Jesus’ teaching, along with parallel verses found in Mark 13:33-37 and Matthew 24:42 are often used to teach about the second coming of Christ. But the focus in Luke12 is broader than teaching eschatology (end time events). The focus and emphasis are on faith and trust. The Scripture frequently involves different layers and angels, so it is important to not use a Scripture just for my favorite meaning. In reading these scriptures, I want to point out the teaching of Jesus to His servants to “be ready to minister to Him.” Lk.12: 35-48 All the way through this section, a major point is: “what is important in the Kingdom is obedience and preparedness.” Mark 13:5-8 ver.8 These are the beginning of birth pains. NIV It is interesting that Jesus didn’t describe these events as death throws, but as birth pains. When my life seems to be falling apart, could it be that God is actually putting it back together? Is it death I’m experiencing or new life? What is God birthing in what seems an ending? What are the promises we sing? He makes old things new! He brings dead things to life! He restores – He breaths life into dry bones – into dry places. Where do we say Jesus lives? Deep in my heart. So I need to look at the deep areas of my life to see life. I turn my attention to Jesus within me – I’m not trying to fix things, just linger with Him. You can’t have birth without intimacy. Take Away Points: What am I doing to prepare for a move of God? Are there things in my life that I have allowed that are offensive to God? Places I have compromised that I (like Jacob’s family) need to get rid of? Am I consecrating, sanctifying myself (setting myself apart) for God? Or do I divide priorities in my life between what I know He wants, and what I want? What do I allow to cloth me that needs to be changed / washed? What ministry am I embracing – am I involved in? If not why? As a servant of God, do I live in a state of readiness to hear and fulfill my master’s will? What is God wanting to breath life into for my life?

Understanding What Time It Is By Pastor Gary Wayne There are a couple of things I want to talk about before we get into some scripture time. Last year, I came across something I have been VERY impressed with. “The Pause” Created by John Eldredge’s Team is an app that allows you to set up daily popup reminders to take a break reconnect with God. Part of that program is called 30 days to Resilient. I loved this whole thing. But when my 30 days were up, I checked out another app John Eldredge talks about towards the end of the 30 days. AND I LOVE IT AS WELL! Lecto 365 is a Christian daily devotional resource that helps you interact with God by praying the Bible twice a day. Like “The Pause” app, you set a reminder on your phone, then find a quiet place to get alone with God. Another resource I came across is called “The Bible Recap.” I use it on my phone as a podcast. It is intended to be used in their plan to read the bible through in one year. After you read a few chapters in their reading plan, then you listen to the “recap” of what you read. I personally am not on their reading plan, but I really enjoy scrolling through their podcasts to listen to the places I have been reading. You can also listen to “The Bible Recap” on their cannel on YouTube. Text:Daniel 9:2-5,18-19, 1Ch 12:32 “… the sons of Issachar… had understanding of the times, to know what …to do…” I am asking God to give that same understanding to everyone here today! I want to share with you from a recent James Goll podcast. I want to take the next few minutes to tell you what James covered in that podcast. In 1983 Prophet Bob Jones prophesied about a billion-soul revival that would sweep the world. And he gave 3 signs that would let us know the great harvest has begun. 1. 1983 Abortion would be perfected by a pill. Mike Bickle turned to Bob and asked him if he even knew what the word abortion meant. Around 2020, the FDA first approved an abortion pill. If you go online, you can find various places you can call and acquire the abortion pill for about $300. Currently in the state of Montana, Medicaid pays for an abortion. If you are 16 or older, you can get an abortion without parental involvement. Not yet over the counter. This 40 year-old prophecy had been fulfilled. 2. Homosexual marriage would be legalized and openly promoted in the United States. I know this has been happening for quite a few years, but just 3 months ago, the “Respect For Marriage Act” became law on 12-13-22. Signed By President Joe Biden, it requires the US Federal Government and all US states to recognize the validity of same sex union. This 40 year-old prophecy had been fulfilled. 3. Workers in the rice fields in Asia would be watching 24/7 worship and prayer on unplugged television sets on their wrists. In 1983 this invention did not exist. Again this 40 year-old prophecy has been fulfilled. So a question comes to my mind, when will this billion soul prophesy come to past? I think it is going on now. Asbury University in Kentucky hour-long chapel service on Feb.8 turned into a continuous worship time that has lasted over 10 days. Daniel 9:2-5 Daniel was reading and meditating on the prophesies from Jeremiah. He realized the prophesies said Israel would be in captivity in Babylon for 70 years, and they were at that timeline. So what did he do? He DIDN’T say, yea, this is it, God is going fulfill His promise to bring us back to Jerusalem. I love that Daniel got proactive with God. He started fasting and praying and asking God to fulfill the prophesies God gave. He spent time repenting. Ver.5 “we” had sinned… “we” have rebelled… Skip to ver.20-23, “…give you skill to understand.” What does all this have to do with us here today? I am asking God to give us understanding to know what time it is. To know what season it is. To know what to do. Pray this: Ver.17-19

Things Are Not as They Appear By Pastor Gary Wayne Text: Philippians 1:12-20 Instead of describing the problems he was facing, or how bad his circumstances were, Paul starts declaring God’s purpose in his life. Philippians is considered the book of joy in the Bible, and Paul didn’t write it while sitting in his favorite bed and breakfast. How can Paul write a letter about joy while being in an ugly place? I think Paul is saying here, “It may look like I’m in prison, but you don’t see what I see.” Things are not as they appear. “I’m not chained to a Roman guard; he’s chained to me. Paul took advantage of having a “captive audience.” History tells us that they had to keep changing the guards around Paul daily because he kept converting them to Jesus. What kind of prisoner does it take to get the attention of “the whole palace guard”? (v.13) If I am so focused on the situation, and how bad I have it, I can miss the grace God wants to release into that situation. Some of us are way more proficient at explaining our problems than we are at seeing and declaring God’s promise. If I looked up your social media feed, would I come away from what you posted hearing about your problem, or about your God? Phil.1:20 “earnest expectation” = the sense of watching, intense anticipation. This word can be translated “with deepest and intense yearnings,” or “the concentrated desire that abandons all other interests with outstretched hands in expectation.” Its a compound word – Apo-kara-dokia. Apo = to turn away, ignoring other interests. Not comparing yourself to those around you. kara = head dokia = to stretch forward. I’m turning my head away from other things that might interest me, and I am stretching it forward. Reminds me of my message, “I Press.” 1-1-23 I think there can be circumstances I’m in, that God won’t take away until I have an attitude change. Gary, you need to quit pouting about how it was, how it is, and begin to give your attention to the God who gives destiny to life. When I get my eyes on the revelation of who He is, I realize I am not stuck in my circumstances. While I’m here, I am going to worship, I’m going to dig a well in this desert place for those coming after me. I am not a hostage – I’m a weapon in the hands of God to demolish strongholds. Paul recognized that he was “put here by God for a purpose.” I relate to the attention-grabbing problems that I face. I can be so caught up in the problem that I can’t even fathom that God can and will use where I am right now. My heart wrongly believes where I am and who I am is a product of my environment, and that trying to see this life from God’s perspective seems irrational. In the middle of what you are going through – ESPECIALLY when it is hard and you don’t like it and it doesn’t make sense: God offers you a choice & the enemy offers me a choice – I can glorify God in this place. Or I can glorify the problem. Last week’s message – When the enemy can’t change the way you think about God, his next step is to try and change the way you think about yourself. He will try and get you to view your situation as hopeless. But things are not as they appear. Philippians 3:12-15 How can you “press” when you are in prison, chained to a guard? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What are the actins points I want to communicate? Stop living with the fantasy that if your life was better, you could … Set down with Jesus and see your life from His perspective. See Him for who He is. Use your Faith Based Imagination. Recognize that He can and will “work all things for good” - RIGHT WHERE YOUR ARE RIGHT NOW.”

God Wants to Reveal Himself to You By Pastor Gary Wayne Text: 1 Samuel 16:6-7, 13, Exodus 6:3, Jeremiah 29:11-14a God likes to play hide and seek. He loves to be found. But I think He hides various aspects of Himself for me to find only when I truly seek Him. Exo.6:3 I find this verse interesting in that God wanted to reveal to Moses a part of Himself that He had not shown the founding fathers. The main point I want you to take away from this time in the word is that God reveals Himself to those who WANT Him. You have probably heard this in different ways – you were not made to be normal, to fit in, to be like other people. You were created by God to be exceptional! TRUTH – You have been hand fashioned by God for this exact time in history. Strategically placed where you are “for such a time as this” – You were built by design. He wants you to listen to His truth about you and respond to His voice. But the desire to fit in is so strong that when we don’t – which most don’t – we often feel rejected instead of called. And instead of having the identity God is trying to communicate to us, we pick up a false identity by the things around us. When the enemy can’t change the way you think about God, his next step is to try and change the way you think about yourself. Did you know that most people when they look in a mirror are not looking for what is right, but what is wrong. What’s wrong with my hair that I can fix? Is there a new pimple? Etc. Most of the time, when I begin to ponder who I am, I come out discouraged. UNLESS it is in light of God’s truth. When the spies came back from looking at the land of promise, their problem wasn’t the giants in the land, it was the grasshoppers in their head! Nu 13:33 "There we saw the giants and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight." The giants didn’t call the spies grasshoppers, they called themselves that. Many of the people God called in scripture had a wrong view of themselves. Moses – I can’t because I studder. After all, he was 80 years old! Gideon – I can’t because I’m the weakest tribe. Jeremiah – I can’t because I’m too young and inexperienced. They didn’t think they could because they were comparing themselves to other people. They didn’t agree or understand or believe what God said about them – based on their experience or understanding. When Samuel went to Jesse’s house to anointed David to be king, what was Samuel looking at? 1Sa 16:6-7, 13 Then what happened in David’s life? Even though David was now anointed to be king, Samuel left him behind to live in the mundane. To go back out into the field and tend sheep. I think it was during that time that God wanted to work in David what it was like to carry the anointing of God in an everyday life. The anointing wasn't just for the big things. That anointing was for everyday life as well. Sometimes when we don't see big things happen, we questioned whether or not we were actually called. Hath God said? It was in the mundane lifestyle the David learned how to worship. When his parents were not treating him special, … like he was the future king. Living mundane life herding sheep sleeping out in the field uncomfortable situations while the whole time he was called to be a king. David learned in those times to worship. David learned in those times to sing unto the lord. David learned in those times have a confidence in God so that when he faced Goliath, he wasn't intimidated by what everybody else saw. It was in that time in his life that God revealed to David parts of Himself. Mt 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. {From where? Right where you are at NOW.} De 4:29 "But from there… you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. Jer 29:13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, says the LORD.

Fresh Oil By Pastor Gary Wayne Since last week at youth hub, I have been pondering the message Bryce brought to our young people. Every map has a datum – a fixed or specific point that is used as a reference to know precisely where you are, and where you are going. Datums tell us where to measure from. Without that datum, you can believe all you want that you are going in the right direction, but without that exact point of reference, a datum, you will go off course. Pro.14:12 “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” We are living in a pluralistic post church age. Pluralistic = a system where two or more sources of authority coexist. Post Church = the church is no longer the source of what people believe to be a place of truth. I feel the main doctrine people hold to today is relativism = truth and morality is relative to each individual and their point of reference. Not only in the world but unfortunately in the church as well. Text: Acts 10:38, Isaiah 10:27, Acts 3:19-20 The lame man was healed, and people began to discuss what the healing meant. V.19 repent – metanoeo = change your thinking. Today there is a major need for our society to repent – to change the way we think about truth. The society in our text were a people steeped in the study of God – yet their truth was relative to their point of reference. Today, people can be raised in the church, even know scripture, but until we know Jesus personally, it’s religion. I want to look at the phrase “…so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” Refreshing = recovering of breath, to revive, or revival. Today we need that revival to bring a fixed point of reference – Jesus Christ! David said, “… I have been anointed with fresh oil.” Ps 92:10 Fresh Oil – not something from the past. Isaiah 10:27 This verse says the anointing is a burden-removing, yoke-destroying power of God. The anointing delivers God's people and sets the captives free. It is God's super added to our natural. The anointing is literally God on flesh doing what flesh can't do. Throughout the Bible, oil represents the Holy Spirit. Peter is just starting to preach Jesus to the Gentiles in the house of Cornelius. Acts 10:38 What is the next event in this chapter, and in history? Ver.44 Why did God anoint Jesus with the Holy Spirit? Wasn’t being the Son of God enough? He was the Messiah, the chosen. Anointing is a partnership with God working with Him to fulfill His heart. The point I want us to take away from this message – We NEED the fresh oil of the Holy Spirit for our lives, and for the work God has for us. We NEED that anointing to break every yoke of bondage. That fresh oil – fresh anointing – sets Christians free, and the people around us that we have been called by God to minister to. Going to church is not enough. Memorizing scripture is not enough. We need the Holy Spirit’s anointing just like Jesus did.

Praying Scripture by Pastor Gary Wayne Text: 1John 5:14-15 Paying Scripture is repeating His promised, anointed, supernatural Word back to Him – but for you to hear with your ears. There are Soooooooooo many reasons why this is good. Praying Scripture puts us in a position of asking according to His will. It gives us confidence that He hears us and will answer. When I pray out of my mind, my language, my perception, my perspective, my prayers pass through filters that are in place in my belief system. Often those filters are put in place based on my experience. I try to pray in faith, but sometimes even thought I say the right words, my heart can have a different attitude. But praying Scripture has no filter. Just like praying in tongues, it is not filtered by my intellect, heart, etc. It takes me beyond asking for what I think I want. One of God's blessings to us is that He doesn't answer my prayers the way I want Him to answer. If it were up to me, I would ask for every hard place to be removed. Every trial to be taken away. But it is the trials He brings into my life that strengthen me, and has often taught me to pray. He allows me to go through things that strengthen me so I can handle His blessings – because without that strength, I couldn’t handle the blessings of God that I want. In those times, I learn to know God better, and trust Him more. Praying Scripture is so simple. You may be reading a verse, and it grabs you. All of a sudden, your attention is more intense. "God that's what I want - what I want my heart to want." Simply pray the verse. Use that translation's words. Rephrase it in your own words capturing the principle. Wrap your words around that thought and pray it back to God. Some Scriptures are already prayers - pray those. A couple years ago, I started by Googling “Prayers of Paul.” I picked my favorite ones that seem to speak to my heart. Then I put them together into one prayer that I would pray over myself before I started my bible reading time every morning. Some of the verses I put in Gary Wayne translation. Eph.1:17-19 - I ask that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of my understanding being enlightened, that I may know the hope to which You have called me, what are the riches of the glory of Your inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of Your power made available to me as I believe, according to the working of Your mighty power. Eph.3:16-19"That You would grant me, according to the riches of Your glory, to be strengthened with might through Your Spirit in my the inner man, that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith; that I, being rooted and grounded in love, that I may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height – that I might know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that I may be filled with all the fullness of God." Lk.24:45 "Jesus supernaturally unlocked my understanding to receive the revelation of the Scriptures." Phil.1:9 I ask "that my love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that I may approve the things that are excellent, that I may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." Col.1:9-11 I ask …that I would be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that I may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy…" Eph. 1:17-19, 3:16-19 Lk.24:45, Phil.1:9, Col.1:9-11 Read your verse out of the Amplified, or Passion translation. These versions purposely use different ways of saying the principal involved in the verse. Pray go-to verses in different seasons you are in or go through. Worry - Phil 4:6-7 anxious for nothing, Direction - Ps.25:4-5 show me Your ways, teach me Your paths. Ps.23:1-3 Sin - Rom 6:11-14 do not let sin reign, Rom.8:5-6 set your minds on God Spiritual Warfare - Eph 6:10-13 Spiritual armor, 2Cor.10:3-5 capture thoughts. MAYBE: Put them on your phone to read. Make a list and write them on the front or back of your Bible so you can find them easily. Write the prayer that is on your heart on a 3x5 card and pack it around through your day until you memorize that Word. Write it on your bathroom mirror. On your refrigerator.

I Press By Pastor Gary Wayne Text: Philippians 3:7-14 NIV {ver.13-14, 12, 8} Ver.13-14 “…one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Ver.12 “…I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.” Ver.8 “…for the excellence of the knowledge (intimacy) of Christ …” God is the strength of my being – my heart, soul, and mind. Psa.73:25-26 “Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” He is the reason I thrive wherever I am planted. One of my life goals is to be good at loving Him – knowing Him. But this close relationship we seek with God is reserved for those who treasure God above all things. We can’t dabble in God and live mostly for ourselves. The treasures of God, intimacy with Him, the riches of His kingdom are available only to those who treasure Him above all things. Paul of all people could have stood on his own religious efforts – his efforts in pursuing God through O.T. methods were impressive. He had the respect and prestige of the Hebrew leaders. In the first part of this chapter Paul said if anyone had a right to boast, he did, but it wasn’t enough. As impressive as his life was, he had a glimpse of who God was and what Paul could have in relationship with Him so in ver. 8 “…I count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ…” When Jesus cleans me up, and I see the beauty He makes in me, we can sometimes be impressed at the image in the mirror. 2Co 10:12 “ For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” I think one of the strong tools our enemy uses for those who are passionately in love with Jesus is to use little distractions that turn our attention away from what Paul is saying. Distraction takes me away from the intimacy my soul longs for, NEEDS. One of the missionaries killed in South America Jim Elliot, said: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Communion: 1Cor.11:23-26 What an excellent way to start a new year. We gather at Church and take communion together. Paul said in Phi.3:13 there are things to forget – Then here in 1Co.11 he says that we eat and drink to remember.

Far As the Curse is Found By Pastor Gary Wayne At the end of the video, the mouse said: “You got it all wrong!” What do people get wrong about Christmas? What do people get right about Christmas? Text: Ephesians 3:16-20, Galatians 4:4-6 Fullness = full complement, full measure, abundance, completion. The fullness of time was God’s perfect timing for Jesus to be born. For over 300 years there was no fresh word from God. People were hungry. The world conditions were just right. Rome had built roads allowing the spread of the gospel. A common language was used. But even after Jesus came, there was a huge problem. A curse against us. Gal.3:13 “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law…” These Hebrew people were practicing what God had instruction, but it was about religion, not relationship. If all we do is go to church, but don’t get to know the Jesus God gave, we get it all wrong. CLOSE, but still WRONG! Billy Sunday said: “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you a car.” Song Joy To The World. Ver.3 “He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found, far as, far as the curse is found.” Paul prayed this for us - Eph.3:16-20 Ver.19 “…that you may be filled with the fullness of God.” What’s the difference between knowing about someone and knowing them? Knowing Jesus breaks the curse against me. TODAY WE PRAY Eph.3:16-20 “…that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-- 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Soul Maintenance ~ Part 2 By Pastor Gary Wayne We were created by God with a body, a soul, and a spirit. Our soul is that inward part of us where our mind, will and emotions reside. That is where our personality comes from. Our memories and our feelings. We need to make sure my soul gets a checkup, so I would like to spend some time on the topic of soul maintenance. 3Jo 1:2 “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” God wants your “soul” to prosper, to thrive! Ps 23 “The LORD is my shepherd; …. He restores my soul…” A MAJOR point I tried to make last week is how “PRESENT” Jesus is with us. He LIVES right inside me – I don’t have to call and make an appointment, but in nanoseconds I can have a private consultation with my creator. When my soul starts making a “punkety, punkety” sound, I just visit with Him. Text: Lam.3:19-25, Ephesians 3:14-21 Ver. 16 “…strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man…” Ver. 17 “…that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith…” Memories have a powerful effect on our attitude and outlook. Often our memories that cause us problems are made up of pain, mistrust, miss-understanding, wrong believe and flat out believing a lie. In dealing with “Soul Maintenance” I want to talk about our memories. Let’s start by looking at 2 myths about remembering. 1. Memory is like a file cabinet you go to and find a memory stored in its order. But it doesn’t work that way - memory is all about associations, and some memories come to the surface when they are triggered. Sometimes by good things, a song, a smell, etc, but often a series of events can trigger a memory that creates problems. Memory of events from the past influences us in the present. But usually we can’t just retrieve them in the order of events. 2. Memory is like a photocopy machine. Accurate reproductions of what took place in the past. Whenever you retrieve a memory, you alter it. What you recall may be close to what happened, but the very act of recalling it changes it, even though it feels like you are being accurate. When you talk to your siblings or parents after you tell a story, they say “that’s not how it happened.” Your state of mind when you encoded the memory, and the state of mind you are in when you recall the memory influence and change the memory itself. Often we believe what we tell our self. That’s why a few weeks ago (11-6-22) when I preached on consecrating our mind, - based on “The Pause” - I had us pray together: I give you my memory and recall, my understanding and imagination. I consecrate to you, Lord, my interpretation of events in my life. 2 Types of memories. Memory is implicit = (hidden) and explicit = (open). Implicit memory = is gained and used unconsciously but can affect thoughts and behaviors without you knowing it. Babies in the womb are building a data base of implicit memories without knowing it. Implicit memories can cause major chaos with us and we don’t know why. Explicit memory = intentional recollection of information previously experienced. Usually when we talk about memory, and remembering, we are talking about explicit memory. But understanding about how our memory works, can help us with soul maintenance and helps us gain healing over past problems we don’t consciously know about. So what do we do about this? I believe it is imperative we ask the Holy Spirit to help us in this area. Lam.3:19-25 In this verse, it speaks about what you choose to remember. If I dwell on painful events, it perpetuates that pain. A choice to remember God’s goodness, ver.21 restores hope. We ask the Holy Spirit to help us be aware of those implicit memories, making them explicit so we can pray through them, dealing with them intentionally. Sometimes the method of dealing with painful things is we simply bury them and try to forget, but “Soul Maintenance” is bring them into the light of God’s presence for healing – “Shalom!” If you know you have buried painful memories, it’s good to have someone with you to help you pray through them. Lets pray together: Lord I give everyone and everything to You God. (Repeat.) Jesus I ask You to restore my soul. I give You my memory and recall, my understanding and imagination. I consecrate to You, Lord, my interpretation of events in my life. Bring healing - wholeness – “sozo” to my body, my soul and my spirit.

Soul Maintenance ~ Part 3 By Pastor Gary Wayne We were created by God with a body, a soul, and a spirit. Our soul is that inward part of us where our mind, will and emotions reside. That is where our personality comes from. Our memories and our feelings. Our souls need a checkup, let’s spend some time on the topic of soul maintenance. 3Jo 1:2 “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” God wants your “soul” to prosper, to thrive! Ps 23 “The LORD is my shepherd; …. He restores my soul…” Eph 3:16-17 “…that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith…” Text: Luke 4:14-21 I want you to notice the inner healing Jesus said He was to do. Not just the outside physical, but to heal the brokenhearted, to set at liberty those who are oppressed. Much of this healing has to do with the wounds of my soul. One of my favorite Christmas scriptures is: Mt 4:16 “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned." I want to pray about 3 different types of memories that can cause me problems. 1. Painful memories I have of traumatic events I know cause me problems. 2. Memories I have where I did wrong things, sometimes on purpose, that I am ashamed I did – I have asked God to forgive me, but too often those memories of my actions bring me shame and identity. 3. Implicit memories I don’t realize are causing me problems. This morning I want to invite Jesus into those memories. For the first two memory types, I intentionally recall various details about those events and then ask Jesus to step into the middle of the event and I ask Him for healing. This isn’t a formula, but a principal I use to invite Jesus into my memories. 1. Painful memories of traumatic events. (You don’t have to, but I like to close my eyes.) Lord I give everyone and everything to You God. (Repeat.) Jesus I ask You to restore my soul. I give You my memory and recall, my understanding and imagination. I consecrate to You, Lord, my interpretation of events in my life. Bring healing - wholeness – “sozo” to my body, my soul and my spirit. Jesus I invite you to come into the middle of my memories. When you settle on a specific memory, try and identify the main feeling and invite Jesus into the memory. Give Jesus permission to go anywhere He knows needs healing. What is the main feelings attached to this part of the memory? Lets ask Jesus to heal that part of my heart / soul / memory. Jesus I ask You to heal that part of me that has been damaged. Restore my soul. [This is a place to use faith based imagination.] In your mind’s eye, What do you see Jesus doing? Is He holding you? Is He placing His hands on those painful areas? If things just seem blank, ask Holy Spirit to open my eyes to what Jesus wants to do. If I don't see Jesus doing anything - ask "Can you imagine Jesus speaking healing into you? Can You imagine Jesus laying His hand on you? Arms around you? Can you imagine Jesus saying He did not want you to be betrayed / abandoned / abused? What happened was wrong and brought pain that He wants to heal? Are there people I should forgive, but my heart doesn’t want to? Jesus I forgive ______. I simply give my will to obey what You ask. 2. Memories I have where I did wrong things. Most likely, you have already asked God to forgive and cleanse you. AND HE HAS! If not, just ask – say: God forgive me for ____. But even though I have been forgiven, and the Bible says God NEVER sees me in light of those wrong choices, I see me in that light – our enemy, the accuser steps in and reminds me of what I have done. Shame, disappointment, wrong identity can be attached to those painful memories. Jesus I invite you to come into the middle of my memory. Heal my heart, my memories. Remove any shame, disappointment I carry. Remove wrong identity my heart holds onto. Are there people I should forgive, but my heart doesn’t want to? Jesus I forgive myself. Holy Spirit, what lie has my heart believed? Become aggressive with renewing your mind with God’s word, His identity. We are not our temptations, or the wrong things I have done. Find scripture that pertains to those areas and “renew your mind” with God’s Word. 3. Implicit memories. Jesus I invite you to come into the middle of my memories. Are there memories that are creating problems in my life that have been buried that You want to deal with? Questions I ask the Holy Spirit: Where is this coming from? What lie has my heart believed? Do I have bitter root expectations? Are there people I need to forgive, but I have repressed those memories?

Thanksgiving Fruit By Pastor Gary Wayne Text: Hebrews 13:15, Psalms 116:17 What is a sacrifice? Something that costs you something. God values a sacrifice of thanksgiving. When in the middle of conflict, in a wilderness experience, when I bow my heart / my will to Him in worship, something comes from that, that God values. Your worship is never more precious to God than in the middle of a wilderness. It is only in those places and time that I can offer this kind of sacrifice. When nothing makes sense, and I turn my focus to God’s goodness. Once I get to Haven, there will be no opportunity to give this as a sacrifice. “Fruit of our lips…” Often the praise that comes from my mouth can be just words – I don’t mean to, but when this becomes routine, those words can be just words. But when I offer a sacrifice of praise, it goes way past words. That fruit comes from my soul. Mt 12:33 “… a tree is known by its fruit.” When Eve was explaining to God why she ate the forbidden fruit, she said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." Gen.3:13 One of the meanings for the word “deceived” is “caused me to forget.” One of the enemy’s tactics to get me to slip into an unbelieving, complaining heart is cause me to forget the goodness of God. What does complaining empower? What does thanksgiving empower? Let’s take a moment and talk about what we are thankful for. 1. Let’s give thanks to God for our nation. 2. Let’s give thanks to God for our city, our area. 3. Let’s give thanks for those who have blessed our lives. 4. Let’s give thanks for ourGod. Ps 69:30 “I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.” Ps 107:22 “Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare His works with rejoicing.” Php 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God…” Re 7:11 “All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen."

Soul Maintenance ~ Part 1 By Pastor Gary Wayne We were created by God with a body, a soul, and a spirit. The body is easy to understand because that is what we can see and touch. Our soul is that inward part of us where our mind, will and emotions reside. That is where our personality comes from. Our memories and our feelings. Our spirit is that part of that comes alive when we are born again. That part of us that interacts with God. We understand the need to keep our bodies in health by exercise and eating right. We see the need to go to a doctor for regular physicals. But often we don’t understand the need to make sure my soul gets a checkup. So I would like to spend some time on the topic of soul maintenance. Text: 3 John 1:2 God wants your “soul” to prosper, to thrive! There are a lot of areas that affect prosperity, the health and the maintenance of my soul. The more I interact with Jesus, the easier it is to navigate the places that cause me “soul problems.” The more I “do it myself,” build my own armor to protect myself, the more those “soul problems” affect me and those around me. While I believe there are certain steps to correct some of the soul damage that occurs as I go through life, I believe the more I stay in His presence, that damage is taken care of without me even knowing about it. Ps 23:1-3 “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul…” There are OBVIOUS ways / things to do soul maintenance. Read our Bible. Memorize Scripture. Godly mediation. Attend Church. Be a part of a small group bible study. When my car starts making a “punkety, punkety” sound, what do I do? I call “Glen’s Automotive” and have them do “car maintenance.” THERE IS NO EMBARISIMENT involved with this – just the opposite. When my soul starts making some “punkety, punkety” sounds, I find spiritual people who know how to do “soul maintenance.” Sometimes the maintenance is stuff I can do myself. Sometimes it is cheaper and better to take it to Glen’s Automotive. In the next couple of weeks, I want to focus on ways you can work with Holy Spirit to do “soul maintenance.” I want to strongly suggest a personal prayer / mediation App. that I have talked about recently. “The Pause” app. The One Minute Pause is a simple way to reconnect with God in the midst of your very busy day. Created by John Eldredge’s Team, the app allows you to set up daily popup reminders to take a break and give your worries and essentially your heart over to God. 30 Days to Resilient – twice a day for about 10 min. Today we are going to listen to “Day 16 – Morning. What I hope we take away from this is how “PRESENT” Jesus is with us. He LIVES right inside me – I don’t have to call and make an appointment, but in nanoseconds I can have a private consultation with my creator. When my soul starts making a “punkety, punkety” sound, I just visit with Him. Jer 33:3 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'

The Salt of the Earth By Pastor Gary Wayne We have spent time recently talking about the need for us to find the heart of the Father. In the last two studies we have done on Sunday afternoons, - Revival Breakthrough - something that has highlighted itself to me is the need to intercede for people with tears in my eyes. Not just praying from my head, but from my heart – His heart. Too many times a church, a group of people have an “us and them” attitude towards people in our community. Text: Matthew 5:13-16, John 13:12-17 What is the HUGE point Jesus was making? We serve with the heart of the Father. Matthew 5:13-16 Most of my life, I interpreted ver.13 as salt is a preservative. In biblical days salt was used to preserve meat. So believers are to preserve moral values and that kind of things in culture. And while this is a truth, it’s not the main truth from this passage. You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor… its good for nothing… Jesus didn’t talk about preserving anything, He talked about adding flavor. I love to cook, and salt enhances the flavor of food. Growing up with the “preservative idea” is like, dumping the saltshaker onto the plate. Which has done nothing to enhance the flavor of the food. You only enhance the flavor when you are lightly, or evenly sprinkled into community. When God sprinkles His people into the mix of a community, it is to enhance the community. They don’t make it salty. That’s hard for anyone to swallow. Different people – churches with this mindset think that we have to become the leader, to kind of to take over. Thinking we have to be the top person to bring influence to the community. But look at different biblical examples where people in servant positions influenced communities. Joseph, Easter, Daniel, RADICALLY shaped history. They served the one in charge. If the only way we bring influence is to be in charge, then we misunderstood the role of salt. Salt is not the substance of the meal, it enhances what is already there. God doesn’t need us to be in charge of our city, but evenly sprinkled into the culture to enhance what God has already placed there to fulfill His purpose for the city. I don’t have to be the chairman of the school board to make a difference. I make a difference by “serving with my heart towards God.” Loaded question – How do you do church when you are not in this room? Church is not what we do here, but after we leave and go home where God has sprinkled us into a community to minister to Him. Ministry is to Him first, then to others. If I get this backwards, then I represent to God those “stinking rotten people.” If I don’t have the heart of the Father towards people, then I represent a distant angry God to people who just don’t deserve to be saved. “Turn or burn you scum bag!” In God’s kingdom principles, “the towel is stronger than the sword.”

A Consecrated Mind By Pastor Gary Wayne We have spent at least 3 weeks talking about repentance – changing the way we think. “How do you do that?” Last week I looked at some “How to’s.” Col 3:2 “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” We looked at “setting our minds” on Jesus. “Polar bear alerts.” Today I would like to continue with practical steps to “Changing the way you think” by consecrating our mind. Text: Matthew 11:28-30, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 Mat.11:28-30 “…find rest for your souls.” Most of us carry a heavy soul. Our soul is where we store our memories. We carry stress, fear, frustration, disappointment and often anger. The evil one uses the pain and confusion we go through to question, and cast a shadow of doubt over God’s goodness. “If God love you, He would…” In Eph.3, Paul prayed that they would “be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man.” Rom.12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,…” Our society, the atmosphere we live in, assaults our minds every day. Every time we check the news, social media, we are bombarded with information that fights against renewing my mind to be like Jesus. There is a battle to conform our thinking to be like this society. We live in a battle for the truth. Let God Transform you by changing the way think. In our text - we take control of our thought life – purposely setting how my mind deals with God’s truth to be what my heart focuses on. What about me needs transformed? What part of my thinking? Attitudes? Thought patterns? What my mind dwells on? What fears do I give my faith to? Where I go when my mind wanders? Ro 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. NKJV For the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set controlled by the Spirit finds life and peace. PT “For to be carnally minded is death, the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace…” NIV Focusing on myself, is opposite of focusing on God – it opposes God. I want to spend time on “Consecrating Our Minds.” Allowing the Holy Spirit to control my mind leads to life and peace. We are seeking alliance, agreement, union with God in our mental life. I consecrate my mental life to Jesus. Lev 11:44 'For I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy. Neither shall you defile yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth. To consecrate something means to give it to God, to present it to Him to be especially His. To set it aside for His use, to sanctify. When we consecrate something to Jesus, it allows those things to come under His protection and provision. This is beautiful when we think about consecrating our mental life to Him. We don’t want our thoughts to just wander here and there. We want our mental life to be under the influence of the Spirit of God, governed by the Spirit, not governed by my flesh. Let’s pray this right now! Father, I consecrate my mind to you. All of my mental life. I give you my thoughts, my focus, and attention. I give you my memory and recall, my understand and imagination. I consecrate to you, Lord, my interpretation of events in my life. I dedicate the life of my mind to You, and to you ALONE. There is a truth about memory recall I want to visit about. We believe the story – facts - events - we tell ourselves. OFTEN our memory of events are totally different then the other people that were there. Usually my NEED to be right drives me to hold onto my interpretation of events. Jesus, where have my thoughts begun to wander? Where have I been worrying or speculating about the future? Forgive me Lord, I consecrate my mind to you – I renounce speculation. I surrender the future to you Lord. Teach me to rein in my wondering thoughts. You can keep Jesus at the forefront of your mind with one simple prayer, and one simple word. “Jesus!” As you go through your day, simply use the name Jesus as a prayer to turn your thoughts back towards Him. Let’s practice that before we go. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.

Faith Chapel message by Bill Campbell

Repent, The Kingdom of God is at Hand! ~ Part 3 Change The Way You Think, For The Kingdom of God Is Here Now! By Pastor Gary Wayne I have been using as a text Mat. 3:1-2, 4:17 where at the beginning of John’s ministry, then at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, they preached, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." The word Repent = To change your mind. Not merely an intellectual change, but a spiritual, supernatural change. Repent – change your mind. Text: John 5:2-9, Colossians 3:2 This man had been sick for a LONG TIME. In ver.6, when Jesus asked him: "Do you want to be made well?" Instead of saying an obvious “yes,” he answered Jesus out of his identity and disappointment. This man explained why he couldn’t be healed. His environment had shaped his outlook. His environment had shaped his mindset. This wasn’t a character flaw, it is just how it is. He had taken on identity that had to do with his illness and surroundings. Our environment usually shapes our thinking to be like minded. Some of the hardest people to have faith in what God says are those of us who have been raised in church. It’s the weirdest thing – people come to Christ, and as new Christians, they are winning people to Jesus, praying and seeing miracles happen, but the longer they blend into an church environment, the less passionate they seem to become. Does God want my neighbor to be saved? Instead of saying yes, I explain why he is an impossible case. Does God want to move in my city? Let me tell you how dark it is here. Does God want to have revival in America? Let me tell you about how bad sin has gripped our nation. Does God want to flow through me with signs and wonders? Let me tell you why it doesn’t happen. Ask God to reveal to you what mindsets you need to REPENT – change the way you think about? I believe our enemy does kind of dive-by drop off of different demonic harassments to see if any of them stick. Sometimes the symptoms are so close to what we think is ours that we allow them to stay. “My family has always had fibromyalgia, so this is just the way life is for me. The Dr. said…” We start to speak of it as “my carpal tunnel, my high blood pressure, my arthritis, my cancer, etc.” It’s not mine, don’t claim it as mine. REPENT! Similarly we do this with our emotions as well. I feel so alone, I feel so hopeless, I feel so rejected. These emotions can be projected on us from our enemy because he is alone, hopeless, rejected. But they feel so close to how we feel we accept them as our own. That’s the time to “repent – change the way you think.” BUT HOW? Col 3:2 “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” This is not mind over matter, - or a psychological method to deal with mental wellness. I’m referring to a supernatural weapons God gives us to overcome strongholds. 2Cor.10:4-5 “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (YouTube: Faith Chapel Seeley Lake MT This is a good place for a “Polar Bear Alert.” Issues of the heart part 3 1-30-22) We don’t fight thought with thought. We fight thoughts with the Word of God. Ps 119:11 “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!” Memorize scripture so you have a pink elephant to replace the polar bears with. Memorize any scripture – but for more affective warfare, memorize scripture for the topic you deal with. Ro 12:2 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. “The Pause” app. The One Minute Pause is a simple to reconnect with God in the midst of your very busy day. Created by John Eldredge’s Team, the app allows you to set up daily popup reminders to take a break and give your worries and essentially your heart over to God. 30 Days to Resilient – twice a day for about 10 min.

Repent, the Kingdom of God is at Hand ~ Part 2 By Pastor Gary Wayne Change The Way You Think, For The Kingdom of God Is Here Now! Text: Matthew 13:3-9, 19-23, Matthew 3:1-2 Right after Jesus came out of the wilderness experience where He was tested by the enemy, Mat.4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." The church has used the message of repentance to be like: You had better watch out, Jesus is coming back, He is making a list and checking it twice, He is coming back – get right or get left. The word Repent = met-a-noeo = To change your mind. Not merely an intellectual change, but a transformation of your goals and attitude toward life. It implies turning from sin with a HUGE emphasis on submission to God – your New LORD of your New Life. Ro 2:4 “…the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” When I have an encounter with God’s goodness, it causes me to change the way I think. Today I want to challenge us to: Change The Way You Think About Serving God! Change your mind about your part in the Kingdom. We have an opportunity to partner with God to fulfill His dreams about the Kingdom of God being here now. Bill Johnson quote - "If God is your servant, He will always frustrate you, if you are His servant, you will always be amazed." Every one of us have been called to full time ministry. But we usually think ministry is: preaching, teaching, - upfront pulpit ministry. Ministry – Greek word diakonia = service given in the name of Jesus 1Co 16:15 “I urge you, brethren--you know the household of Stephanas, … that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints.” The people I get excited to see embracing ministry are those in the “market place” – where they realize God has placed them in their job to minister. God has placed them in a neighborhood, on a volunteer committee, etc. Yes we need people to minister at church, but I think as important are people to minister at the saw mill, at the grocery store, ministers to teach at school, to teach tennis, to coach soccer, etc. We can partner with God to build His Kingdom. Recently, I have felt the invitation for us to build God’s Kingdom here in this valley with prayer. I have been given two different books on prayer, and what captured my attention is in Acts, where the Disciples in Acts 6 said v.2, “we shouldn’t leave the word of God and serve tables,” but they found “Spirit Filled” men to minister in that area, but as leaders their responsibility was to v.4 give themselves to facilitate corporate prayer. There is something unlocked in the heavenlies as we get together and pray. When you pray by yourself at home, you are a force to be reckoned with. I believe that’s why the enemy works so hard to convince us that prayer isn’t that important. We don’t actually say that with our words, but actions speak louder than words. I think when believes get together and come into agreement with the heart of God, then we touch each other in agreement, the spiritual world is shaken. I want to ask you, when opportunities make it available for you to gather and pray with other believers, why do we find something more important to do? Why is this not a HUGE priority for us? I think in part because our enemy steals God’s Word on this topic from our hearts to where it falls into our “optional - mild in importance box.” Mat.13: 3-9, 19-23 Ver.19 – the “kingdom word” can be stolen from our hearts. The last thing I want as Pastor of this church is for you to go to a prayer meeting out of obligation – that actually affects the atmosphere in a negative way. But I LONG FOR the day when people gather out of passion to “minister to God, to serve” God in prayer. We actually have this happening here on our Sunday afternoon prayer time. Can I repeat the title of this message? Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand. Allow supernatural revelation to Change The Way You Think About Serving God!

Repent, the Kingdom of God is at Hand By Pastor Gary Wayne Text: Matthew 3:1-2 Mat.4:17, Mat.10:5-8 Most of the time when we hear the word repent, and how it is used in sermons it seems to mean something like, turn away from your sin and turn towards God. When a person repents, that does happen – that’s in its meaning. The word repent = metanoeo, two words put together. Meta – “after,” and Noeo – “to think” = think differently or reconsider – Change the way you think. John, Jesus, and the Disciples were telling the people: Change the way you think because the Kingdom of God is close at hand, or is here now. That generation had grown up knowing that someday Messiah would come but when he finally arrived the majority couldn't see it because of their mindset was stuck on religious activity. When I change the way I think to match what God says it true, my life changes and becomes the way God intended. Are there warnings for us about problems that would be in the church in the last days? 2Ti 3:1 “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:…” 2. “For men will be lovers of themselves,…” 4. “… traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,…” 5. “… having a form of godliness but denying its power.” Unfortunately, this describes much of the church world in America - stuck on religious activity. I feel God speaking this message to us today - Repent - change the way you think about the times and the seasons we are in, because the Kingdom of God is at hand. There's seems to be a mental dullness, a lethargy, narcissism that causes people to be moved away from Kingdom thinking. We should be like the sons of Issachar in 1Chr.13:32 “..the sons of Issachar … had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do…” – They understood public affairs, the atmosphere of the nation, and the importance of the present events. How focused are we on the reality that the Kingdom of God is now? How does that affect how we live? A while back Bishop Don Johnson preached a message about growing up on a ranch / farm. The harvest was ALWAYSE in the back of their minds for why they were doing every job they did. If you lose sight of that, what you are doing in this season loses its significance. I feel God prompting us to be awake to the season we are in. To use a band analogy, even though you know the music, in this season, understanding the warnings given to the church, TODAY is the time to watch the conductor as He is orchestrating events and it is imperative I’m awake to His promptings. Last year from 4-11-21 to 6-6-21 I talked about the feasts God instructed Israel to observe. The Hebrew, calendar is a lunar/solar calendar (months are based on lunar months but years are based on solar years) and is the official calendar in Israel. It’s fascinating that most of the significant events in history fall on the Hebrew calendar. That's a huge point of interest. Pay attention to where we're at. On September 25th (two weeks ago) we just entered a new year on the Hebrew calendar. I believe signs and wonders are designed to get our attention so I can sharpen my focus on the Heart of the Father. {Today} Two Hebrew Holidays this month: Yom Kippur, (Day of Atonement) Began sunset Tuesday, October 4, 2022 Sukkot, (The Feast of Tabernacles) Begins sunset Sunday, October 9, 2022 The Feast of Tabernacles summed up in one statement – This feast anticipates the time when God will dwell with us. Isn’t that what the whole of scripture points to? What is God up to in this season? What is God up to in our community? What is God up to in your life? Change the way you think, for the Kingdom of God is here now.

Find Out What Pleases the Lord ~ Part 4 Keep Your Head in the Game By Pastor Gary Wayne We have been emphasizing the month of September as transition month where we re-focus on the priorities of our relationship with God Spiritual Emphasis Month. And even though this is the first of October, I want to take one more crack at emphasizing the need to have our focus on the Heart of the Father. Eph.5:8c,10 “…Live as children of light and - find out what pleases the Lord.” NIV Text: Galatians 5:1,7 Yesterday, I was one of the speakers to talk about Norm & Rose Baier. I talked about a recent experience I had while working at the cemetery. Recently I needed to write down the information of the Headstones to compare with the records we have. As I spent that time reading names and dates, what impacted me was how much of the importance of those lives were represented by the dash between the date of birth, and the date of death. So much of what that person had accomplished could not be recorded. The date we are born and the date we die are in the hands of God, but what we do in between – the dash between the dates – are for us to fill in. And if we lose sight of why we live our life, we get distracted and live for ourselves. Christianity is not actually a religion – it has been classified as that, but it is a relationship, not religious activity. Although it can become mere religious activity instead of a relationship. Gal.5:1,7 They had started out in their Christian walk in a relationship with Jesus, but as time went by, life at church began to be about church religious traditions and not about relationship. Ro 13:11 “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” Is this speaking about Christians being asleep or people who don’t know God? So it is possible to be a follower of Jesus, yet asleep. 1Th 5:1 Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, [What others? Is this speaking about Christians being asleep or people who don’t know God?] but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 1Co 6:19-20 “… do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.” In a message I preached a back in June I asked: In any sport, how critical is the 4th quarter? What happens when players get distracted in a game? How does the enemy want to distract us from emphasizing the spiritual? If he can distract me for why and how I live, he may not cause me to go to hell, but what about people around me I might influence as I live my life focused on what pleases the Lord? Eph.5:8c,10 “…Live as children of light and - find out what pleases the Lord.” NIV

Guest Speaker Kelly Lineberry at Faith Chapel

By Pastor Gary Wayne We have been emphasizing that this month of September is a transition month where we need to re-focus on the priorities of our relationship with God Spiritual Emphasis Month. Text: Luke 18:1-8, Ephesians 5:8-10 Ver.10 “…and find out what pleases the Lord. NIV I want to emphasize the importance of prayer. Luk.18:1-8 “..they should always pray and not give up.…” NIV Is it important that every one of us pray? Not just over the meal, but is it important we know how to spend quality time with God in prayer? I doubt anyone would answer no; it’s not that big of a deal. But the truth is our actions answer that question rather then what we say with my words this morning as Pastor asks a loaded question. What is the #1 reason our prayers are not answered? We don’t pray. Why do we quit praying? A lot of reasons, but I believe often it is because we start to view what we believe about prayer from our experience rather than God’s truth. For example, the times people press into prayer, and spend time, but in the end, they can be left with a feeling it was a waste of time. It didn’t seem anything happened, so….. I want us to view the importance of prayer from God’s perspective. From His view do you think He thinks your prayers are important? Jer 33:3 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.' 1Ti 2:1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; If our enemy understands the value of prayer, how would he keep us from praying? If he could get us to believe wrong things about prayer. - Its value - its purpose - its effectiveness - What is intercession? The act of intervening on behalf of another. What is intercession prayer? Praying on behalf of others. Ezekiel 22:30 “So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.” What a sad scripture. I want each one of us to pause for a moment and ask ourselves: How do I measure up to this scripture? If God is looking for His people to stand in the gap for Seeley Lake, am I available to pray His heart for my city? S.D. Gordon quote: “You can do more for God and for man than pray, but you can’t do more than pray until you’ve prayed.” James Goll quote: “Declaration is like a light switch that releases the power to begin to flow where it has been directed.” God is looking for people to go between, to go from the natural to the supernatural, and paint targets that give Him an invitation to act. In Seeley Lake, where should we paint targets? What people groups do you feel the Holy Spirit asking you to paint a target on? Read : Intercessory Declaration for Seeley Lake Valley We declare a new embedded operating system for Seeley Lake. A system created, ordained & controlled by the Holy Spirit of God. Written in the book of destiny. A system that operates under the banner of God’s love & our testimony causing this land to be of that Love. A place of Reconciliation. A place of Refreshing. A place of Restoration. A place of Unity & Community. A place of Healing. A place that Nurtures Families. A place where the broken are made whole and the spiritually dead are brought to life. where the weak are made strong. A place of creative provision, A place that is a seed bed of life springing up, A place of passion for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Find Out What Pleases the Lord ~ Part 2 By Pastor Gary Wayne Times of transition are important for me to sharpen my focus on the things of God. September has seemed for me to be a month of transition, of season change. So I see this month as Spiritual Emphasis Month. As we transition from summer to fall, I think this is a good time to re-focus on the priorities of my relationship with God. Text: Mathew 25:1-13, 1 Samuel 2:35, Ephesians 5:8-10 Ver.10 “…and find out what pleases the Lord. NIV Ver.10 “…trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. NASB Ver.10 “…trying to learn [by experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [and letting your lifestyles be examples of what is most acceptable to Him…”. Amplified I believe that requires a single focus. Sole purpose. The center of my attention. 1Sam.2:35 1Pe 2:9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…” God calls us to be His royal priests – not for just pastors or preachers, but His followers to represent who He is to those around us. Putting these two scriptures together – God is raising up faithful priests who have their priority on following what is in His heart, not just priestly duties. What happens when His royal priests trade intimacy for routine? What happens when the very ones who have been called by God to represent His heart to those around them continue to do “good God things”, religious activity, but don’t maintain an intimate heart connection with the one they gave themselves to serve? What happens when the people appointed by God, His royal priests, lose sight of His heart and begin to live their lives in view of their heart? Not giving into sinful living, still going to church, but their Christianity is for their benefit. Living in Godly principals just makes sense. I’m not opening the door for the demonic to mess with my life. I live inside the blessings of God. I get to go to heaven when I die. But if I don’t pursue His heart, my Christianity is about me. Do you remember in the OT the different times the ark of God that represented His presences was taken away? What happened at the tent of meeting while the ark was gone? The priests continued to do their worship routine – without the presence of God. Is it possible to do church without the oil of the Holy Spirit? Mat.24:3, 25:1-13. The things that I want to point out is that 5 of them had the oil they needed. And Jesus called them “wise” because they had maintained preparedness. We need the fire of God in our lives. Everyone wants to experience signs and wonders, the fire of God manifest where we see EVIDENCE of His presence. But if we have fire without oil, it is just a flash, a happening, not a lifestyle. In order to have His fire on a regular basis, we have to have the oil of the Holy Spirit filling our lives on a regular basis to sustain God’s fire. Where do we get that oil? From the Holy Spirit – submitting, presenting ourselves to His presence on a regular basis. The problem is we are like a vessel with holes. We are filled, but we leak. So we have to present ourselves frequently to be filled. Eph.5:15-21 “…be filled with the Spirit…” This is not a onetime thing, but on going. If you read this in the Greek, it would read something like: “be you being filled…” This more than a Sunday morning church thing. God is raising up faithful priests who out of relationship with Him, seek His heart and “…and find out what pleases the Lord.” What is the Holy Spirit speaking to your heart this morning? What is He saying to you personally?

Find Out What Pleases the Lord (Part 1) By Pastor Gary Wayne Text: 1 Samuel 2:12,35 Ephesians 5:8-10 Ver. 10 “…and find out what pleases the Lord.” NIV 1Th 5:5 “You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.” I want to do some follow up after last week’s service. When it comes to talking about our enemy the devil and his demons, I don’t like to give much time about him because we are not children of the dark but of the light. If we focus on the dark, we crash. But as we focus on the light, we can navigate though dark places. But Paul says: 2Cor.2:11 “…for we are not ignorant of his devices.” So we do need to understand some of how he works. There are two out of balance ways to deal with this topic. 1. Ignore demonic activity – often where the church in America lives. 2. Become demon focused – a demon behind every negative event. Demons don’t need more focus and credit than they deserve. I believe that over various regions and cities there is a demonic entity assigned over that area and it has an agenda. (Mr. 5:10) Often that agenda opposes the purpose of God for that area. That agenda against a city has different aspects to it. In other words, it is different depending on the city. Across our nation, different cities are known for their specific darkness. Greed, murder, witchcraft, drug abuse, etc. - places of specific bondage. And inside that agenda, the enemy targets certain groups of people. What does that have to do with us and this area? It is imperative that our focus in on the heart of the Father, not the strong man over this area. As we peruse the heart of God, He will direct how to navigate through any darkness and find those fields that are ripe for harvest. He will direct when and how to tear down the enemy’s territory. My heart asks questions like: What is God’s purpose for Seeley Lake? Why has there been no city wide revival in Seeley Lake? Why are the young adults in our area not serving God? Why for the last 5-10 years had there been no spiritual influence to High School students? “God, how do we win our city for Jesus?” “God what are the needs of our area that You want us to be involved in?” Pray with me: “God put an ache in our heat to want more of You. God open our eyes to see You. Put a fire in my soul, in my heart, make me passionate for Your Heart. Help me know in this season what Your heart longs for.” September is a transitional month – a season change. In those times of transitions, I see it vital, critical, essential to re-establish the emphasis of God’s priority for my life. To make sure I’m not just being religious, but Spirit led. We want the fire of God, but fire is just a flash moment without the oil of the Spirit to sustain that fire. WE NEED THE HOLY SPIRIT!!! In 1Sam.2 There was a problem going at church. 1Sam.2:12, 35. Explain what Eli’s sons wore doing – They were demanding the people give the sacrificial meet before it was cooked that had the fat in it. The fat parts belonged. (13-17) They demanded the part that belonged to God. They wanted what belonged to God. They had all this going on in their lives yet they served as priests. You can go to church, even serve in leadership without making God your Lord. Am I doing that with my life? Am I wanting for myself what God says is His? What am I giving my time and energy to as I live here in SL? Even if I have a God experience that rocks my world, unless it changes the way I live, it was just a religious experience. Doesn’t the NT tell us we are the priests of God? 1Pe 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; Ver.35 What is the cry of God’s heart? What is the cry of God’s heart for Seeley Lake? God was longing for His priests to honor Him, to stand before people and represent Him, represent His heart.