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Pastor’s Blog Post 6.13.18

#FOLLOW

An excerpt from a chapter in my latest book #FOLLLOW…

You will always have to believe God for something. You will not come to a place in your Christian walk where your faith is not on the line for something. My faith is just as much on the line right now as the day I came into the kingdom. It will always be a walk of faith. As long as you are on the earth, you have to believe in what you cannot see, believe that you possess something you have not been given. He says that for many of these things, we will die in faith without receiving.

Hebrews 11:13 “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them,[a] embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”

But the important point to realize about this is that Pharaoh will come to take you back. You may think you are free and clear, but the devil always tries to come and take you back.

Matthew 12:43-45 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 44 Then he says, “I will return to my house from which I came.” And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”

Even after your deliverance from an ungodly situation, and/or demonic oppression or deliverance into salvation, Satan will not give up. He will fight you to the death. He will stay after you until the day you leave this earth because if you are breathing, there is a chance for him to pull you away from God. And while he may try, if we stand firm on the Word of God, and use the weapons that He has provided for us, we will prevail! Jesus came to give us life, an abundant life! A life with peace, even with opposition, far outweighs a life of sin. This is why it is important to remember our adversary never gives up and neither can we.

FACT: YOU CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS!

In the book of Exodus, we can read about the plagues. The plague of the death of the firstborn children is a type and shadow of the blood of Jesus, because they used the blood of a lamb to paint their doorposts as a sign to protect them from the plague and Jesus is referred to in the New Testament as the Lamb of God. (A type and shadow is an example in the Old Testament, that is repeated in the New Testament.) John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Exodus 12:13 “Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.”

The same blood, the blood of Jesus, is on us today, to deliver us from the power of this earth, and the power of the judgment of this earth. The judgment of this earth is coming. Do not be deceived. You have the same blood to protect you as Israel did. Just as the angel of death had to pass over the doors that were stained with the blood, when you are stained with His blood, God will bring you out and God will keep you out of that judgment. If the blood of animals, a type and shadow of the blood of Jesus prevailed for Israel, how much more the Blood of Jesus today!

We have a few of the first shipment left in stock for $10. Remember, you can also purchase “Flying High” at the same time for an additional $5. These books partner well together. All monies go right back to the church! See Alex Murray or Pastor Dennis. Thanks!

Love ya!
Pastor Dave

Pastor’s Blog 6.6.18

Have you read your Bible lately? The answer of coarse should be, “well of course I have.” But for many believers that is not the case.

Every time I begin to prepare for a message or even write this blog, I start to pull a scripture reference and it never ceases to amaze me at how I can’t stop at a verse! Before I know it I am copying the chapter and then the book! God’s word is a treasure indeed if you have eyes to see and ears to hear.

Matthew 13:10-17

10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; 15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.’ 16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. NKJV

If we continue in the word of God we will remain sensitive to his voice and the voice of His Word. Did you ever notice in verse 15 it says “they closed their eyes” this removes the “victim card” for not being able to perceive the word of God.

That’s why Jesus told us in John 8:31-32

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed . 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” NKJV

I will not settle for any form of Christian religion that does not set me free! “If I’m not free, it’s on me!” That’s a motto I want to live by. Jesus already did the work so if I have not entered into His rest, it’s on us not him. The word and the Holy Spirit are here as the gold mine and our will and discipline are the pick and shovel to dig down deep and find the treasure of absolute freedom!

“Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God!” I want to hear don’t you! If I want to hear someone I have to move into a proximity of their voice. Remember what the Lord told Joshua:

Joshua 1:8-9

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” NKJV

I am in Los Angeles for a couple of days for the memorial service of my Mother-n-law. As I drive around this area, I see a sea of lost souls. The sidewalks of downtown LA are tent cities for the homeless. I absolutely realize how blessed I am – my ears have heard and because of this I have a heart that can understand the ways of God. I am sitting in a Starbucks writing this and there is a homeless man ten feet from me talking to himself.

We who know the Lord and have a sound mind are so blessed indeed!

“Count your many blessings name them one by one” and you’ll feel better for sure!

Love ya!
Pastor Dave

Pastor’s Blog Post 5.31.18

My latest book #FOLLOW is here! I will be doing a book signing this Sunday after church in Parkersburg. For those of you outside the Mid Ohio Valley, the book is also available on Amazon.com (*see link and info at end)

I wrote this book because of a dream I had. In this dream, I walked into a room and saw two young men laying on the floor staring at the blank pages of a book, along with two angels standing there. I asked what they were doing and one of the angels answered “They are waiting for the book you are to write.” After the dream I received further instruction on the topic for #FOLLOW.

See, I have now lived as a Spirit-filled believer for nearly 36 years. Of those 36 years, I have served as a Senior Pastor, and planted Churches for the last 32 years. I have learned that there are principles in the Word of God that are proven and cannot be violated without consequence. I have watched thousands of people come and go in the Church, and today, I can truly bear witness to the fact: “There is a way that seems right unto man but the end thereof is death.” (Proverbs 14:12, Proverbs 16:25) Every year that I live, I stand amazed at the faithfulness of God and the unfaithfulness of man. I learned a long time ago, that while we hope for the best in men, we are to put our faith in God alone.

This short book reveals the reality, through the scriptures, of how easily we can be deceived by the enemy- and even be self-deceived by our own desires. It is not about starting the race, but finishing the race. I live in the blessing as well as the curses of the decisions I have made in my life. My intent is to save everyone I can from making wrong decisions and having to live with the consequences of those decisions. I hate re-inventing wheels and I want to learn everything I can from everyone I can, to avoid pitfalls in my life.

Life is too short to have to learn everything the hard way, because the hard way will usually be the long way. I have echoed a statement of truth daily that I heard many years ago. “Wisdom is the anticipation of consequences”.

Here is an excerpt:

Following the leader is a principle we should have learned playing as children. There is a reason someone is appointed leader. It is because they have either been granted authority by another, or their experience, wisdom, or strength has given them an authority to lead. Moses represents one who was granted authority by God to lead. He was chosen.

I learned long ago to stay in my measure of delegated or assumed authority. We truly will end up in the place of a fool if we cannot discern our measure of rule. Many cannot wait for their time of appointment from another so they go about trying to appoint themselves. The Bible stipulates such behavior as rebellion. Some think so highly of themselves they cannot submit under the authority of a leader.

Let’s look at the Apostle Paul’s declaration about staying in his own limit of authority:(read 2 Cor. 10:12-18)

So we should understand that we will learn and grow through leaders, and if we could have gotten further in our life without a leader, we would have already done it. There is an old saying around the camp of attorneys, “A man who represents himself has a fool for a client.” I follow Jesus first, but I have found He chooses to lead me through others a lot of the time. However, rebellion in the church says, “Jesus is my leader. I don’t need a man.”

Who led Israel out of Egypt? God or man? Who was Israel really following? God chose to bring Israel out of Egypt, but He called a man named Moses and told him to go lead his people out of Egypt and into the Promised Land.

I have many files in my desk, but the file I use the most frequent is a file called, “We won’t do that again!” Insight can give us foresight and deliver us from the mistakes we sometimes only see in hindsight. Cause and effect are revealed in the purest form by God’s word. If I cannot realize cause and effect, then I will not be able to control impulsivity or govern myself toward the reward of the blessing of God.
I would rather read a book on “what I should do” than write a book on “what I should have done” wouldn’t you?

See ya Sunday!
Pastor Dave

Order #FOLLOW

*For those of you who will purchase at church on Sunday, we are offering “Flying High” – Unlocking the Power of Effective Leadership for ONLY $5 when you purchase #Follow for $10. 2 for $15 – GREAT investment!