Challengs For The Church (continued)

Bro. Winstead
Date: August 28, 2011 (Sunday night)
Scripture Text: Acts 9:5-6, Revelation 2:5
Title: Challenges For The Church
Notes taken by: Dawn H.


Acts 9:5-6vs. 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord: And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
vs. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.



Revelation 2:1-5Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.


If the love of Christ does not motivate us then nothing will.



When things change we see how important people are.



We need to remember who our worship is for! It is for JESUS!



It is about our eyes on Jesus Christ.



We are to worship whereever we are, but God wants us to worship publically too.



We are to keep planting the seed. We have nothing to do with what kind of soil we plant on.



We plant, another waters, and God gives the increase.



I CORINTHIANS 3:7So then neither is he that plantest any thin, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.



The devil would rather cause more turmoil in the church because it causes more harm.



We need to quit murmuring, complaining, and fighting with one another and start fighting the real war which is against the devil!



I PETER 5:8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:



The devil will mess with you.



Do not spend your time with warring against flesh and blood.



We need to remember a transformed life is the best witness, a "changed" life.



It is more about what you say, people want to see some evidence.



Good works is a product of Salvation. A changed life is the greatest witness.



PHILIPPIANS 2:10-14vs. 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heave, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
vs. 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
vs. 12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
vs. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
vs. 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:


EPHESIANS 2:8-9vs. 8 For by grace are ye saved through fath; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
vs. 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.



Once you plant a garden that is the easy part.



Once planted you are going to see other things come up (weeds, thistles, & briers).


There are going to be some things that sprout up that should not, but the flesh shows up and we have to cultivate.
- work out your salvation -



We need to have the right attitude and action.



PHILIPPIANS 2:14Do all things without murmurings and disputings:


Let God Work It Out!



God did not call us out of the world; but He called us to be a Light in this world!


If He wanted to call us out of the world then He would just call us out and take us to Heaven when we get Saved; but no He wants us to be the salt of the earth and the lighto f the world that we might shine as lights in this world.



A transformed life is the best witness!



Regardless of what goes your way or does not go your way JESUS IS STILL THE WAY!


Jesus will make a way when there seems no way to be made.



He parted the sea.
He turned the water into wine.
He took a corrupt sinner and Saved him.
He is the Way the ONLY WAY!



When we recognize Jesus is the way we have peace.



JOHN 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansion; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to preapre a place for you.



Jesus has prepared a place for you.
Do we have a place for Him?

LET'S BE A BRIGHT AND SHINING LIGHT!

Challenges To The Church

Bro. Winstead
Date: August 28, 2011 (Sunday morning)
Scripture Text: Acts 9:5-6 & Revelation 2:1-5
Title: Challenges to the Church
Notes taken by: Dawn H.

Acts 9:5-6 vs. 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord: And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
vs. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Revelation 2:1-5 vs. 1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven goldn candlesticks;
vs. 2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patients, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast triedthem which say they are apostles, and are note, and hast found them liars:
vs. 3 And hast borne, and hast patient, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
vs. 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
vs. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

What Would You Have Me To Do God?

Remember who our worship is for and who we are doing it for, JESUS!

Too often we go through the motions.

We have to worship Him in Spirit and Truth!

John 4:19-24 vs. 19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
vs. 20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in JErusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
vs. 21 Jesus saith unto hert, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
vs. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
vs. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
vs. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

There are some hinderances to worship:
- bitterness
- problems
- disagreement

A tension, strife, coldness hinders your worship and another's worship to God.

We have got to man up and woman up and say, "I'm not going to let you or this hinder me from true worship."

Paul said in I Corinthians 13:11 "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things."

GROW UP!!!

Worship is a personal thing!

I can worship and praise Him everywhere I am.

God seeks true worshipers.

We have got to know Him and it has got to be personal.

Luke 4:14-16 vs. 14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.
vs. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.
vs. 16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for the read.

We are to worship Him not only privately, but publicaly.

We should worship Him with every breath we've got.

You can worship God anywhere, but JESUS even went into the synaggue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read, see Luke 4:14-16.

We are to Worship.

We are often wanting to be "force-fed!" We come determined we are not going to get anything.

We ought to come in wanting SOMETHING!

Come in praying already for the service, the teachers, the preacher....come in READY TO RECEIVE!

It's public - we need to participate.

What Is Our Work To Do?
1. To evangalize.
- to see people come in and get Saved!
- to preach God's word
- to plant the seed
2. To equip. This comes by the preaching and teaching God's Word.
3. To encourage.

Without the shedding of Blood there is no remission of sins! (That is why JESUS died for us.)

Hebrews 9:22 says, "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without sheeding of blood is no remission."

When God's word is not taught and preached you lose the foundation.

Ephesians 4:11-12, 15-16 vs. 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets. and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
vs. 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
vs. 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
vs. 16 From whomthe whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measureof every part, making increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

You cannot just get in to get enough to do you and get out again.

People, we, seem to say, "Give me something, give me something, give me something."

Read God's word daily!

Pray daily!

You are going to have disagreements, but we have got to learn how to handle them. Do not allow them to cause discord between you and another.

Philippians 2:1-5 vs 1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
vs 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
vs 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vaingloryl but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
vs 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
vs 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Our war is not against the sinner or the saint.

Remember who are war is with. It is with Satan; but most of the time we spend our time fighting with one another.

Our war is not with others, but it is against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of the world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

We run around trying to be involved in the things we shouldn't and the things we should be involved with we are not.

God loves the sinner not your, mine, or the world's sin.

Ephesians 6:10-12 vs. 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
vs. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
vs. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rules of the darnkess of this world, against spiritual wicknedness in high places.

I Peter 5:8 says, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"

Take up the sword and go into Battle!

Proverbs 24:16

Bro. Winstead
Date: August 24, 2011 Wednesday night (Prayer Meeting)
Scripture Text: Proverbs 24:16
Notes taken by: Dawn H.

Proverbs 24:16For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

A godly person does fall, but they get back up.

You have got to keep getting up!

Just like when the prodigal son came to himself he was willing to come back as a servant, but he was accepted as a son!

KEEP GETTING BACK UP!

Saul Went From Persecuting to Preaching

Bro. Winstead
Date: August 21, 2011 (Sunday morning)
Scripture Text: Acts 9:1-9
Title: Saul Went From Persecuting to Preaching.
Notes taken by: Dawn H.

If there is a change in your life there is a difference!

ACTS 9:1-9
vs. 1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
vs. 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women , he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
vs. 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus : and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
vs. 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
vs. 5 And he said, Who are thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
vs. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thouh have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Airse, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
vs. 7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
vs. 8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
vs. 9 And he was there three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

Saul's manner of life...
Acts 23:6 shows that he was a Pharisee. He was a religious person. He knew about the way.
Acts 8:3 shows he persecuted the Church.
Acts 26:12 shows he was powereful.

ACTS 23:6But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethern, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee:
of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

ACTS 8:3As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

ACTS 26:12Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commision from the chief priests,
Saul met the Lord and oh what a difference there was.
A lot of people know religion today and know about God yet, they do not have a relationship with Him.

It is not about good intentions it is about indication.
[indicate: 1. To show the way to or the direction of; point out:]

Too often we get too comfortable instead of doing what we could be doing for the glory of God.

Use your skills in a POSITIVE way.

Often we miss the mark because we do not allow God to work.

Just as Saul was on a mission to prevent the spreading of Christianity is just as the devil works everyday to prevent the movement of God.

We have weed as we go, the things in our lives.
Things grow up, grow up, grow up until it starts to take over and we keep backing away from it because we do not want to get off our comfort to deal with it.

Persecution will either strengthen you or destroy you.

There is to be a DIFFERENCE in the life of anyone that the Lord touches!

ACTS 26:13At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about meand them which journeyed with me.

ACTS 9:4And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Jesus is the Word!

Are we listening? GOD SPEAKS!

Is it just going in an out or are we being doers?

Saul asked two questions:
1. Who art thou Lord.
2. Lord, what will thou have me to do?

Once we have heard we are responsible for what we do from then!

If we are not for Jesus we are against Him.

Would we rather be comfortable than correct in the Lord?

Ask God what would thou have me to do?
This is not about me, what I can do; but it is about what He can do through me!
The Lord is not going to mislead you or misguide you!

- Unity & Love -

It is not about being comfortable and satisfied.

It is about to benefit God and to help our brother and our sister.

Get in the Right Place, YOUR PLACE IN GOD!

Arise and Go!

Keep Listening!

Proverbs 17:27-28

Bro. Winstead
Date: August 17, 2011 - Wednesday night (Prayer Meeting)
Scripture Text: Proverbs 17:27-28
Notes taken by: Dawn H.

Proverbs 17:27-28vs. 27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
vs. 28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

So often we feel we have to say something to others when we hear they are going through things.
Sometimes there is no need to say anything; to just be there for them is enough at times.

Put On The Whole Armor of God

August 14, 2011
Sunday Evening
- Youth Program -

Sis. Dink

Everyday is a gift and a challenge.
You are a missionary every day.

Bro. Winstead

God never called us to give the increase. He called us to plant.

It is our responsibility to not overlook the Spiritual aspects of our child's life.

[PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD]

Ephesians 6:11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Our children as they are growing and learning they need to know what the Armor of God is!

PLANT THE SEED.

THE CHURCH IS TO WATER.
- to continue the work
- increase the effort
- set the example

GOD GIVES THE INCREASE!

The Right Attitude In The Church

Bro. Winstead
Date: August 14, 2011 (Sunday morning)
Scripture Text: I Corinthians 10:31
Title: The Right Attitude In The Church
Notes taken by: Dawn H.

I CORINTHIANS 10:31Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

When we have the wrong attitude it hurts us and those we come in contact with.
What we do we should do it to glorify God.

1 - We Should Have The Right Attitude For The Lord.
Too often you see others not helping and you begin to say they are not helping; but when you are doing something are you doing it for them or for the Lord?
Think of this... Who are you doing it for?

MATTHEW 22:37-40vs. 37 Jesus said unto him, THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL THY HEART, AND WITH ALL THY SOULD, AND WITH ALL THY MIND.
vs. 38 This is the first and great commandment.
vs. 39 And the second is like unto it. THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF.
vs. 40 O these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
We love God; but how much do we love Him?

MATTHEW 19:16-22vs. 16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
vs. 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
vs. 18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, THOU SHALT DO NO MURDER, THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, THOU SHALT NOTE STEAL, THOU SHALT NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS,
vs. 19 HONOUR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER: and, THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF.
vs. 20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
vs. 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
vs. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful; for he had great possesions.
We are to love God more than just with lip service!

2 - We Should Have The Right Attitude In Living For God.
JOHN 21:15-17vs. 15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
vs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
vs. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Where is your focus?

Do we have an attitude for Love for our Lord and living for Him?

3 - We Need To Have The Right Attitude About Ourself.
We need to have the attitude of humility.

ROMANS 12:3For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

JOHN 13:14-15vs. 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
vs. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

I PETER 5:6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

PROVERBS 15:31-32vs. 31 The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.
vs. 32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.

We need to have the right attitude to be teachable.

Are we willing to be be taught?

When you don't want to be taught you have lost the area of your life for growth in that you die to that.

We need a willingness to be taught. Too often, we think we know it all.

4 - We Need The Attitude of Dependability In The Church.
I CORINTHIANS 4:2Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

5 - We Need To Have The Right Attitude Of Loving Others.
JOHN 13:34A new commandment I give unto you, THat ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

I PETER 1:22Seeing ye have purifed your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently;
What if God looked at us as we look at others?
Too often we want to nitpick (to find fault in) others.
We are to love and forgive others as God loves and forgives us.

6 - We Need To have The Right Attitude In Living Peacable With Others.
SELF causes the most problems. We live with self all the time.

ROMANS 12:18If it is possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

7 - We Need To Have The Right Attitude To Work.
God gives us the day as a gift. Our gift to Him is what we do in our day for Him.

Attitudes toward work
- it is a privelage
- we need to be persistent to work

It is a privelage to work, live for God and to serve Him. Don't take it lightly.

We are always quicker to tell others what they need to be doing whereas we have a beam in our own eye.

I TIMOTHY 1:12And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.

II CORINTHIANS 1:7-9vs. 7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
vs. 8 FOr we would not, brethre, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we desparied even of life:
vs. 9 Be we have the senence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

It is a pleasure to serve God!

PHILIPPIANS 2:14Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

How is our attitude?

We need to talk to God about our attitudes.

We need to have godly attitudes.

GET SELF OUT OF THE WAY

"When we get self out of the way and focus our eyes on
our Savior, the Love of Our Life, then we humble ourselves
before Him and reach out to others with hands of love and
hands that touch the heart, leaving traces of God's love all
over the place!" -Dawn H.