We Are.......Pray-ers

WE ARE……PRAY-ERS Isaiah 62

 

We are pray-ers because it is commanded

Taught/emphasize each year:

PRAY, fasting, citizenship

. schools . baby dedications . missions . special events .

Congregational efforts:

intercessory prayers,

Lifegroups, Aaron-Hurr

 

Recently:

 

·       Prayer emphasis

·       Pastors event -spiritual awakening

·       Senior adults Sept/Oct

·       Student prayer meeting; planning for statewide event

 

We are pray-ers to encourage our faith.

   "Remembrances"

 

We are pray-ers because we believe God is a God of redemption

·       "Till He..."

·       "Shall" used 8 times

 

Prayer challenge:

·       Be obedient

·       Be committed

·       Be passionate

 

WE ARE……..PRAY-ERS

WE ARE .... Families

WE ARE………..Families         Ephesians 5

 

Struggles in culture:

·       Breakdown of the family

·       Divorce rate

·       Fatherless children

·       Lack of evangelism of children/students

 

Marriage is a picture of salvation

 

Family is the first plan of salvation

 

Family is the best church strategy

·       For salvation/baptisms

·       For strengthening the home

·       For raising spiritual champions

·       For reaching the community

 

WE ARE………..Families

WE ARE.........Witnesses

WE ARE……..Witnesses    Acts 3

 

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me    in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Acts 1:8

 

Our focus must be:

WE ARE WITNESSES OF JESUS

 

·       "ninth hour"- hour of public prayer

·       "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth"

 

ALL WE HAVE TO GIVE IS JESUS

 

"What I do have I give you"

 

when we witness of Jesus, incredible things happen

 

·       "Walking, leaping"

·       Praising God - trusted Jesus

·       "All the people saw"

·       Wonder/amazement

 

WE ARE……..Witnesses

How to love your next Pastor

Continue to be a Bible church - 2 Timothy 2:2-4

 

Do not compare us! 1 Cor. 3:1-6

 

Tithe – It affects him more than anyone else. 2 Cor. 8:1-7

 

Men – Continue to lead, serve, and support. 2 Timothy 2:1-2 See in ALL Paul’s letters

 

Love his family. John 13:34-35

 

Own your faith and church commitment. Ephesians 1:15-19 August series “We are …”

 

Pray for him. Ephesians 6:17-20

 

His Current Prayer List:

·       Softening his grip on current church

·       Prepare his family

·       Strengthen his quiet time to hear God’s voice

·       Open his eyes to FBC’s opportunities

Understanding Freedom

Understanding Freedom      2 Corinthians 3: 17-18

 

Misconceptions About Freedom

·       freedom is granted by government

 

“There is not a truth to be gathered from history more certain, or more momentous, than this: that civil liberty cannot long be separated from religious liberty without danger, and ultimately without destruction to both. Wherever religious liberty exists, it will first or last, bring in and establish political liberty. It yet remains a problem to be solved in human affairs, whether any free government can be permanent, where public worship of God, and the support of religion, constitute no part of the policy or duty of the state in any assignable shape.” Joseph Story

 

Misconceptions About Freedom

·       freedom is granted by government

·       freedom means I am more important than…

·       I can do anything I want

 

Truths About Freedom

·       freedom only exists in Jesus Christ

“Where the Spirit of the Lord is”

·       freedom creates transformation

“Transformed into the same image”

·       freedom creates real understanding

“Unveiled/ beholding”

·       freedom costs everything

“the glory of the Lord” is Jesus

Steadfast

BE STEADFAST - 1 Corinthians 15:58

 

BE STEADFAST IN LOVE

·       for God

·       for one another (1 Cor 13; Eph 4)

·       for the lost

 

BE STEADFAST IN OBEDIENCE

John 14:15

 

BE STEADFAST IN SERVICE & MINISTRY

Col 3:17

 

BE STEADFAST IN PURITY

Phil 4:8; Col 3:2-5

 

BE STEADFAST IN PRAYER

·       priority of it

·       persistence in it (Luke 11:5ff)

·       power of it

presence of God

promises of God

Sermon by Pastor Dick Avey

Man, Milk, or Meat?

MAN, MILK OR MEAT?

Man, Milk, or Meat?

·       The Natural man

·       The Carnal man

·       The spiritual man

 Rated by the ability to live by the spirit!

·       The Natural man (2:14) – No spirit at all

·       The Carnal man (3:1-2) – Not living by the spirit

      ·       The spiritual man (2:15) – living by the spirit

Progressive order

·       Divine revelation given

 
      ·       Only the spirit can understand

      ·       Believers have the spirit

      ·       Only believers can understand

·       Natural man – no spirit nor understanding

·       Carnal man – still clinging to the world

·       Spiritual man – spiritual discernment!

Worldly vs. godly wisdom

Are you walking in the spirit?

 

Sermon by: Pastor Ron Pierce