Psalm 67:1-2
¹ God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, Selah  ² That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.

1 Timothy 2:3-4
^3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ^4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

2 Peter 3:9
^9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Genisis 39:2-5
^2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. ^3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. ^4 So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. ^5 So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field.

Genisis 39:20-21
^20 Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. ^21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

Numbers 6:24-25
²⁴ “The Lord bless you and keep you;  ²⁵ The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;  ²⁶ The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” ’
 

 John 15:7
^7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

1 John 2:14
¹⁴  I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.  I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you,  And you have overcome the wicked one.

2 Chronicles 29:1-10
Hezekiah became king when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abijah the daughter of Zechariah. ^2 And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done. ^3 In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them. ^4 Then he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them in the East Square, ^5 and said to them: “Hear me, Levites! Now sanctify yourselves, sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry out the rubbish from the holy place. ^6 For our fathers have trespassed and done evil in the eyes of the Lord our God; they have forsaken Him, have turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the Lord, and turned their backs on Him. ^7 They have also shut up the doors of the vestibule, put out the lamps, and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel. ^8 Therefore the wrath of the Lord fell upon Judah and Jerusalem, and He has given them up to trouble, to desolation, and to jeering, as you see with your eyes. ^9 For indeed, because of this our fathers have fallen by the sword; and our sons, our daughters, and our wives are in captivity. ^10 “Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that His fierce wrath may turn away from us.

2 Chronicles 7:13-14
^13 When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, ^14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

2 Chronicles 29:20
^20 Then King Hezekiah rose early, gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the Lord.

2 Chronicles 29:25-30
^25 And he stationed the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, with stringed instruments, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet; for thus was the commandment of the Lord by his prophets. ^26 The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets. ^27 Then Hezekiah commanded them to offer the burnt offering on the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the Lord also began, with the trumpets and with the instruments of David king of Israel. ^28 So all the assembly worshiped, the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded; all this continued until the burnt offering was finished. ^29 And when they had finished offering, the king and all who were present with him bowed and worshiped. ^30 Moreover King Hezekiah and the leaders commanded the Levites to sing praise to the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshiped.

2 Chronicles 30:9
^9 For if you return to the Lord, your brethren and your children will be treated with compassion by those who lead them captive, so that they may come back to this land; for the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn His face from you if you return to Him.”
 

2 Timothy 3:1-5
¹But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: ^2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ^3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, ^4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ^5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

2 Timothy 2:22-26
^22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ^23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. ^24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, ^25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, ^26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

Guest Speaker:   Dwight Hayes

Author of the book "Banished from Jehovah's Witneses"

http://pocahontaspress.com/banished/

The Purpose

John 15:7-15
^7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. ^8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.   ^9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. ^10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.   ^11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.   ^12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ^13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. ^14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. ^15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

Ephesians 3:8-12
^8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, ^9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; ^10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, ^11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, ^12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

1 John 3:8
^8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

Ephesians 6:12
^12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

1 Corinthians 12:7
^7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: ^8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, ^9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, ^10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. ^11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

Part 2: Misconceptions

1 Corinthians 14:1
¹Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

1 Corinthians 12:1-11
¹Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: ^2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. ^3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. ^4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. ^5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. ^6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. ^7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: ^8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, ^9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, ^10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. ^11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

Luke 3:6
^16 John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

John 1:32-34
^32 And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. ^33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ ^34 And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”

1 Corinthians 12:11
^11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

1 Corinthians 14:1
¹Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. ^2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.

John 14:12
^12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.

Mark 16:15-16
^15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. ^16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. ^17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;

1 Corinthians 12:1-11
¹Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: ^2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. ^3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. ^4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. ^5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. ^6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. ^7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: ^8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, ^9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, ^10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. ^11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

2 Timothy 1:6
^6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

Job 38
¹ Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:  
²  “Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge?
³   Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.
⁴  “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?  Tell Me, if you have understanding.
⁵   Who determined its measurements?  Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?
⁶   To what were its foundations fastened?  Or who laid its cornerstone,
⁷   When the morning stars sang together,  And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
⁸ “Or who shut in the sea with doors, When it burst forth and issued from the womb;
⁹   When I made the clouds its garment, And thick darkness its swaddling band;
¹⁰  When I fixed My limit for it, And set bars and doors;
¹¹  When I said, ‘This far you may come, but no farther, And here your proud waves must stop!’
¹²  “Have you commanded the morning since your days began,  And caused the dawn to know its place,
¹³  That it might take hold of the ends of the earth,  And the wicked be shaken out of it?
¹⁴  It takes on form like clay under a seal,  And stands out like a garment.
¹⁵  From the wicked their light is withheld,  And the upraised arm is broken.

Isaiah 44:24
²⁴  Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer,  And He who formed you from the womb:  “I am the Lord, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself;

2 Corinthians 12:10
^10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Hebrews 13:5
^5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Psalm 27:1
¹ The Lord is my light and my salvation;  Whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 56:11
¹¹  In God I have put my trust;  I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Psalm 118:6
⁶ The Lord is on my side;  I will not fear. What can man do to me?

Deuteronomy 20:8
^8 “The officers shall speak further to the people, and say, ‘What man is there who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go and return to his house, lest the heart of his brethren faint like his heart.’ 

1 Samuel 30:1-6
¹Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, ^2 and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way. ^3 So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. ^4 Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. ^5 And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. ^6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

1 Corinthians 16:13
^13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. ^14 Let all that you do be done with love.

Mark 11_:22-24
^22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. ^23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. ^24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

James 1:5-8
^5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ^6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. ^7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ^8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Matthew 13:57-58
^57 So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.” ^58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Mark 6:5-6
^5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. ^6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.

1 Corinthians 11:27-34
^27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. ^28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. ^29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. ^30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. ^31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. ^32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.   ^33 Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. ^34 But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.

2 Corinthians 13:5
^5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. ^6 But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.

Ephesians 4:20-24
^20 But you have not so learned Christ, ^21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: ^22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, ^23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ^24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Philippians 3:13
^13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,laid hold of it.
 

Romans 5:20
^20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,

2 Chronicles 32:7-15
^7 “Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. ^8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. ^9 After this Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem (but he and all the forces with him laid siege against Lachish), to Hezekiah king of Judah, and to all Judah who were in Jerusalem, saying, ^10 “Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria: ‘In what do you trust, that you remain under siege in Jerusalem? ^11 Does not Hezekiah persuade you to give yourselves over to die by famine and by thirst, saying, “The Lord our God will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria”? ^12 Has not the same Hezekiah taken away His high places and His altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, “You shall worship before one altar and burn incense on it”? ^13 Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of other lands? Were the gods of the nations of those lands in any way able to deliver their lands out of my hand? ^14 Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed that could deliver his people from my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you from my hand? ^15 Now therefore, do not let Hezekiah deceive you or persuade you like this, and do not believe him; for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people from my hand or the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you from my hand?’ ”

Ephesians 3:20
^20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

Matthew 6:30
^30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Matthew 7:11
^11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Romans 8:32
^32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

 

Psalm 31:19-20
¹⁹  Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You,  Which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men!  ²⁰  You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

Psalm 90:1
¹ Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.

John 15:4-10
^4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. ^5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. ^6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. ^7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. ^8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. ^9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. ^10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

2 Samuel 22:2-3
^2 And he said:  “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;   ³ The God of my strength, in whom I will trust;  My shield and the horn of my salvation,  My stronghold and my refuge;  My Savior, You save me from violence.

Psalm 91:1-10
¹ He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  ²  I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;  My God, in Him I will trust.”    ³  Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.  ⁴  He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge;  His truth shall be your shield and buckler. ⁵  You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, ⁶ nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. ⁷ A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. ⁸  Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. ⁹ Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place,  ¹⁰ No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;

John 14:27
^27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Matthew 13:44
^44 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Luke 12:33-34
^33 Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. ^34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 12:33-34
^33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. ^34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. ^35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.

Luke 12:39-40
^39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. ^40 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Luke 21:36
 ^36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Acts 6:4
^4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
^16 Rejoice always, ^17 pray without ceasing, ^18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  ^19 Do not quench the Spirit.
 

James 2:19
^19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

Matthew 7:13-15
^13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. ^14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Romans 3:23
^23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Matthew 5:22^
22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

Matthew 18:9
^9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.

Mark 9:43-47
^43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— ^44 where ‘Their worm does not die  And the fire is not quenched.’    ^45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— ^46 where  ‘Their worm does not die  And the fire is not quenched.’     ^47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire— ^48 where ‘Their worm does not die  And the fire is not quenched.’

Matthew 18:3
^3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Mark 8:34-35
^34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. ^35For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.

Luke 14:33
^33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

John 1:12
^12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: ^13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 3:36
^36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

Acts 3:19
^19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

Acts 16:31
^31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Ephesians 2:8
^8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ^9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Romans 10:9
^9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Matthew 13:44
^44 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
 

Matthew 4:3-4
^3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” ^4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”

Revelation 2:1-5
¹“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: ^2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; ^3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. ^4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. ^5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.

Psalm 51.10
¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

2 Corinthians 4:16
^6 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

Ephesians 4:20-24
^20 But you have not so learned Christ, ^21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: ^22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, ^23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ^24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Matthew 19:20-23
^20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”   ^21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”   ^22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.  ^23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 15:21-28
^21 Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. ^22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”  ^23 But He answered her not a word.  And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.”  ^24 But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” ^25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” ^26 But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”   ^27 And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”  ^28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Luke 5:1-8
¹So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, ^2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. ^3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land.  And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. ^4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”   ^5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” ^6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. ^7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. ^8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”

John 21:3-7
^3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. ^4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. ^5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.”  ^6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.  ^7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.
 

Guest Speaker:  Barry Pilson  (Our lead guitarist)

Isaiah 55:8-9
⁸  “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. ⁹ “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways,  And My thoughts than your thoughts. ¹⁰ “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth,  and make it bring forth and bud,  that it may give seed to the sower  and bread to the eater,   ¹¹ So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;  It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please,  And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

1 Corinthians 2:9-16
^9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”  ^10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. ^11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. ^12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.  ^13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. ^14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. ^15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. ^16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

John 14:26
^26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

John 16:13
^13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

1 Timothy 4:7-9
^7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. ^8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. ^9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.

Hebrews 5:11-14
^11 of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.  ^12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. ^13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. ^14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
 

Matthew 9:27-30
^27 When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!”   ^28 And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”   They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”   ^29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” ^30 And their eyes were opened.

Acts 19:1-7
¹And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples ^2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”  So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”   ^3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?”   So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”  ^4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”  ^5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ^6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. ^7 Now the men were about twelve in all.

John 16:7
^7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

Acts 2:1-4
¹When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ^2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ^3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. ^4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

John 1:33
^33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’

Acts 1:4-5
^4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; ^5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

John 20:19-22
^19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” ^20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.  ^21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” ^22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:6-8
^6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” ^7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. ^8 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.”

Mark 16:17
^17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;

1 Corinthians 14:14
^14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

Romans 8:26
^26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Jude 20
^20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,

1 Corinthians 12:1-11
¹Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: ^2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. ^3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.  ^4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. ^5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. ^6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. ^7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: ^8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, ^9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, ^10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. ^11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills

1 Corinthians 14:1-9
¹Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. ^2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. ^3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. ^4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. ^5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.  ^6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? ^7 Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? ^8 For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? ^9 So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. ^10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. ^11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. ^12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.   ^13 Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. ^14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. ^15 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. ^16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? ^17 For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.  ^18 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; ^19 yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

1 Corinthians 14:31-33
^31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. ^32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. ^33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

1 Corinthians 14:26-29
^26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. ^27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. ^28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. ^29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.

Guest Speaker Darren Wray

Romans 15:18-19
^18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient— ^19 in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

Mark 6:1-5
Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. ^2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! ^3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him. ^4 But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” ^5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.

1 Corinthians 14:1
Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. ^2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. ^3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

Mark 16:16-18
^16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. ^17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; ^18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 
 

Mattthew 11:29-30
^29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ^30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

1 Timothy 6:12
^12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

2 Chronicles 20:15-22
^15 And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.  ^16 Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. ^17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.”   ^18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. ^19 Then the Levites of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with voices loud and high.  ^20 So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.” ^21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying:     “Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever.” ^22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.

John 15:5
^5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 
 

Deuteronomy 1:6-8
^6 “The Lord our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying: ‘You have dwelt long enough at this mountain. ^7 Turn and take your journey, and go to the mountains of the Amorites, to all the neighboring places in the plain, in the mountains and in the lowland, in the South and on the seacoast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the River Euphrates. ^8 See, I have set the land before you; go in and possess the land which the Lord swore to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—to give to them and their descendants after them.’

Deuteronomy 1:19-45
^19 “So we departed from Horeb, and went through all that great and terrible wilderness which you saw on the way to the mountains of the Amorites, as the Lord our God had commanded us. Then we came to Kadesh Barnea. ^20 And I said to you, ‘You have come to the mountains of the Amorites, which the Lord our God is giving us. ^21 Look, the Lord your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the Lord God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged.’ ^22 “And every one of you came near to me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, and let them search out the land for us, and bring back word to us of the way by which we should go up, and of the cities into which we shall come.’  ^23 “The plan pleased me well; so I took twelve of your men, one man from each tribe. ^24 And they departed and went up into the mountains, and came to the Valley of Eshcol, and spied it out. ^25 They also took some of the fruit of the land in their hands and brought it down to us; and they brought back word to us, saying, ‘It is a good land which the Lord our God is giving us.’  ^26 “Nevertheless you would not go up, but rebelled against the command of the Lord your God; ^27 and you complained in your tents, and said, ‘Because the Lord hates us, He has brought us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us. ^28 Where can we go up? Our brethren have discouraged our hearts, saying, “The people are greater and taller than we; the cities are great and fortified up to heaven; moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.” ’ ^29 “Then I said to you, ‘Do not be terrified, or afraid of them. ^30 The Lord your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, ^31 and in the wilderness where you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.’ ^32 Yet, for all that, you did not believe the Lord your God, ^33 who went in the way before you to search out a place for you to pitch your tents, to show you the way you should go, in the fire by night and in the cloud by day.  ^34 “And the Lord heard the sound of your words, and was angry, and took an oath, saying, ^35 ‘Surely not one of these men of this evil generation shall see that good land of which I swore to give to your fathers, ^36 except Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him and his children I am giving the land on which he walked, because he wholly followed the Lord.’ ^37 The Lord was also angry with me for your sakes, saying, ‘Even you shall not go in there. ^38 Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall go in there. Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it. ^39 ‘Moreover your little ones and your children, who you say will be victims, who today have no knowledge of good and evil, they shall go in there; to them I will give it, and they shall possess it. ^40 But as for you, turn and take your journey into the wilderness by the Way of the Red Sea.’  ^41 “Then you answered and said to me, ‘We have sinned against the Lord; we will go up and fight, just as the Lord our God commanded us.’ And when everyone of you had girded on his weapons of war, you were ready to go up into the mountain.  ^42 “And the Lord said to me, ‘Tell them, “Do not go up nor fight, for I am not among you; lest you be defeated before your enemies.” ’ ^43 So I spoke to you; yet you would not listen, but rebelled against the command of the Lord, and presumptuously went up into the mountain. ^44 And the Amorites who dwelt in that mountain came out against you and chased you as bees do, and drove you back from Seir to Hormah. ^45 Then you returned and wept before the Lord, but the Lord would not listen to your voice nor give ear to you. 
 

Matthew 11:27
^27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

Matthew 6:9-13
^9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. ¹⁰Your kingdom come.   Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹Give us this dayour daily bread. ¹²And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. ¹³And do not lead us into
temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.  For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Matthew 7:9-11
^9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ^10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? ^11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Luke 12:32
^32 “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Ephesians
^19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, ^20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, ^21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, ^22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

1 Timothy 5:8
^8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

John 14:6-7
^6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 
 

Psalm 23
¹  The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  ²  He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.  ³ He restores my soul;  He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.   ⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,  I will fear no evil;  for You are with me;  Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.   ⁵  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;   You anoint my head with oil;   My cup runs over.  ⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;  and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

John 10:1-19
¹“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. ^2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. ^3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ^4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. ^5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” ^6 Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.  ^7 Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. ^8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. ^9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. ^10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. ^11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. ^12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. ^13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. ^14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. ^15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. ^16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. ^17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. ^18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”
 

1:3-4
^3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ^4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

2 Corinthians 7:6
^6 Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus,

Isaiah 66:13
¹³  As one whom his mother comforts, So I will comfort you;

John 14:27
^27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
 

Proverbs 1:33
³³  But whoever listens to me will dwell safely,  And will be secure, without fear of evil.”

John 20:29-31
²⁹ Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. ³⁰ And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: ³¹ But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Exodus 3:11-14
¹¹ And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? ¹² And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain. ¹³ And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? ¹⁴ And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

John 8:19
¹⁹ Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

John 10:30
³⁰I and my Father are one.

John 14:6-11
⁶ Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. ⁷ If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. ⁸ Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. ⁹ Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? ¹⁰ Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. ¹¹ Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.

John 8:26-30
²⁶ I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. ²⁷ They understood not that he spake to them of the Father. ²⁸ Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. ²⁹ And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. ³⁰ As he spake these words, many believed on him.

King James Version
 

John 10:10
^10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

1 Samuel 17:31-47
^31 Now when the words which David spoke were heard, they reported them to Saul; and he sent for him. ^32 Then David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”   ^33 And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.”   ^34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, ^35 I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. ^36 Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” ^37 Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”  And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”   ^38 So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. ^39 David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off.  ^40 Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine. ^41 So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him. ^42 And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking. ^43 So the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. ^44 And the Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!”  ^45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. ^46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. ^47 Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”

Hebrews 12:1-2
¹Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ^2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

2 Chronicals 20:1-25
¹It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat. ^2 Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar” (which is En Gedi). ^3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. ^4 So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.   ^5 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, ^6 and said: “O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? ^7 Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? ^8 And they dwell in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying, ^9 ‘If disaster comes upon us—sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.’ ^10 And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir—whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them— ^11 here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit. ^12 O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”   ^13 Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the Lord.   ^14 Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. ^15 And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. ^16 Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. ^17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.”   ^18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. ^19 Then the Levites of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with voices loud and high.  ^20 So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.” ^21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying:   “Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever.”   ^22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. ^23 For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.   ^24 So when Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude; and there were their dead bodies, fallen on the earth. No one had escaped.  ^25 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away their spoil, they found among them an abundance of valuables on the dead bodies, and precious jewelry, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away; and they were three days gathering the spoil because there was so much.

1 Corinthians 12:31
^31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

1 Corinthians 13:1-8
¹Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. ^2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ^3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. ^4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; ^5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; ^6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ^7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. ^8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

1 Corinthians 14:1
¹Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

John 13:34
^34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

John 15:12-14
^12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ^13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. ^14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.

John 3:15-16
^15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. ^16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 21:1-17
¹ After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: ^2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. ^3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”  They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. ^4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. ^5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.”   ^6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. ^7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. ^8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. ^9 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. ^10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.” ^11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. ^12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord. ^13 Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.  ^14 This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.   ^15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”  He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” ^16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”   He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”   He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”   ^17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you ⁷love Me?”   And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I ⁷love You.”   Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

Luke 5:3-8
^3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. ^4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”   ^5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” ^6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. ^7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. ^8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”

1 John 3:16
^16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
 

 
Apostle Tulsie
Guest Speaker, Sunday May 1, 2011

1 Corinthians 5:1-13
¹ It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife! ^2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. ^3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. ^4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. ^6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? ^7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. ^8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. ^9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. ^10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. ^11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner— not even to eat with such a person. ^12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? ^13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”

1 Corinthians 11:31
^31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.

Galatians 6:1
¹ Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.

Matthew 18:15-17
^15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. ^16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ ^17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

Romans 16:17
^17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. ^18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

2 Thessalonians 3:6
⁶ Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us.

Titus 3:10-11
¹⁰ Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, ¹¹ knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.

Matthew 5:43-48
^43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ^44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, ^45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. ^46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ^47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? ^48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Romans 3:10
^10 As it is written:  “There is none righteous, no, not one;

Matthew 23:13
^13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.

1 Corinthians 5:9-13
^9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. ^10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. ^11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner— not even to eat with such a person. ^12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? ^13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”

John 3:16-20
^16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ^17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. ^18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ^19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. ^20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

John 12:44-48
^44 Then Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. ^45 And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. ^46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. ^47 And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. ^48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him— the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.

Acts 17:30-31
^30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, ^31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

Jude  6
^6 And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day;

1 John 4:16-18
^16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. ^17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. ^18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

1 John 4:8
^8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
 

Luke 24:13-35  (NASB)
¹³  And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem.  ¹⁴  And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place.   ¹⁵ While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them.  ¹⁶ But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.  ¹⁷ And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad.   ¹⁸  One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?”    ¹⁹  And He said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people,    ²⁰  and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him.    ²¹  “But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened.    ²² “But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning,   ²³ and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive.    ²⁴  “Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.”    ²⁵ And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!    ²⁶  "Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?”    ²⁷  Then beginning with Moses and ¹with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.    ²⁸  And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther.     ²⁹  But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them.     ³⁰  When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them.    ³¹ Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.    ³²  They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?”    ³³  And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them,    ³⁴  saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.”    ³⁵  They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.

Hebrews 11:1
^17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 
Guest Speaker:  Howard Austin

Matthew 13:3-9
^3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. ^4 And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. ^5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. ^6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. ^7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. ^8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. ^9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

Matthew 13:18-23
^18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: ^19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. ^20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; ^21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. ^22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. ^23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” 
 

Proverbs 13:10
¹⁰ Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

1 Peter 5:5-7
⁵ Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. ⁶ Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: ⁷ Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Romans 12:1-2
¹ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. ² And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
 

Nehemiah 5:1-19   (NLT Version)
About this time some of the men and their wives raised a cry of protest against their fellow Jews. ² They were saying, “We have such large families. We need more food to survive.”  ³ Others said, “We have mortgaged our fields, vineyards, and homes to get food during the famine.”  ⁴ And others said, “We have had to borrow money on our fields and vineyards to pay our taxes. ⁵ We belong to the same family as those who are wealthy, and our children are just like theirs. Yet we must sell our children into slavery just to get enough money to live. We have already sold some of our daughters, and we are helpless to do anything about it, for our fields and vineyards are already mortgaged to others.”  ⁶ When I heard their complaints, I was very angry. ⁷ After thinking it over, I spoke out against these nobles and officials. I told them, “You are hurting your own relatives by charging interest when they borrow money!” Then I called a public meeting to deal with the problem.  ⁸ At the meeting I said to them, “We are doing all we can to redeem our Jewish relatives who have had to sell themselves to pagan foreigners, but you are selling them back into slavery again. How often must we redeem them?” And they had nothing to say in their defense.  ⁹ Then I pressed further, “What you are doing is not right! Should you not walk in the fear of our God in order to avoid being mocked by enemy nations? ¹⁰ I myself, as well as my brothers and my workers, have been lending the people money and grain, but now let us stop this business of charging interest. ¹¹ You must restore their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and homes to them this very day. And repay the interest you charged when you lent them money, grain, new wine, and olive oil.”  ¹² They replied, “We will give back everything and demand nothing more from the people. We will do as you say.” Then I called the priests and made the nobles and officials swear to do what they had promised.  ¹³ I shook out the folds of my robe and said, “If you fail to keep your promise, may God shake you like this from your homes and from your property!”  The whole assembly responded, “Amen,” and they praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised. 

¹⁴ For the entire twelve years that I was governor of Judah—from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of the reign of King Artaxerxes neither I nor my officials drew on our official food allowance. ¹⁵ The former governors, in contrast, had laid heavy burdens on the people, demanding a daily ration of food and wine, besides forty pieces of silver. Even their assistants took advantage of the people. But because I feared God, I did not act that way.  ¹⁶ I also devoted myself to working on the wall and refused to acquire any land. And I required all my servants to spend time working on the wall. ¹⁷ I asked for nothing, even though I regularly fed 150 Jewish officials at my table, besides all the visitors from other lands! ¹⁸ The provisions I paid for each day included one ox, six choice sheep or goats, and a large number of poultry. And every ten days we needed a large supply of all kinds of wine. Yet I refused to claim the governor’s food allowance because the people already carried a heavy burden.  ¹⁹ Remember, O my God, all that I have done for these people, and bless me for it.   (NLT Version)

Proverbs 20:4
⁴  The lazy man will not plow because of winter;  He will beg during harvest and have nothing.

Proverbs 20:13
¹³ Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty;  Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.

Proverbs 28:19
¹⁹  He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,  But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough!

2 Thessalonians 3:10
^10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.

Luke 6:38
^38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-8
^6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap ⁴bountifully. ^7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. ^8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Malachi 3:10-12
¹⁰  Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,”  Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.    ¹¹  “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” says the Lord of hosts;   ¹²  And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,”  says the Lord of hosts.

Philippians 4:19
^19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. ^20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
 

Psalm 24:1
¹  The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness,  The world and those who dwell therein.

Psalm 127:1
¹  Unless the Lord builds the house,  They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city,  The watchman stays awake in vain.

Matthew 23:23
^23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.

Luke 16:10-12
^10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. ^11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? ^12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?

Luke 6:37-38^
37 “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. ^38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Malachi 3:6-12
⁶ “For I am the Lord, I do not  change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.   ⁷  Yet from the days of your fathers you have gone away from My ordinances and have not kept them.  return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts.  “But you said,  ‘In what way shall we return?’  ⁸ “Will a man rob God?  Yet you have robbed Me!   But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’   In tithes and offerings.  ⁹ You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation.   ¹⁰ Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,”  says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. ¹¹ “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,”  says the Lord of hosts;   ¹²And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” says the Lord of hosts.
 

Matthew 6:22-23
^22  “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. ^23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Mathew 7:3-5
^3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? ^4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? ^5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Ephesians 1:18-21
^18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, ^19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power ^20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, ^21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

Matthew 23:13
^13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.

John 12:47
^47 And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.

Speaker:   Allen Saul, Youth Director

John 5:1-13
After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ^2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. ^3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. ^4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. ^5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. ^6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”  ^7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”  ^8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” ^9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath. ^10 The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.” ^11 He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’ ”  ^12 Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” ^13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. ^14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”

1 John 5:1-5
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. ^2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. ^3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. ^4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. ^5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Psalm 95
¹Oh come, let us sing to the Lord!  Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.   ² Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;  Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.  ³ For the Lord is the great God, And the great King above all gods. ⁴ In His hand are the deep places of the earth;   The heights of the hills are His also.   ⁵ The sea is His, for He made it; And His hands formed the dry land.  ⁶ Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.  ⁷ For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand.   Today, if you will hear His voice:  ⁸ “Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, As in the day of trial in the wilderness,   ⁹ When your fathers tested Me;  They tried Me, though they saw My work. ¹⁰For forty years I was grieved with that generation,  And said, ‘It is a people who go astray in their hearts,  And they do not know My ways.’  ¹¹So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ”

Psalm 56:8-11
⁸ You number my wanderings;  Put my tears into Your bottle;  Are they not in Your book?  ⁹ When I cry out to You, Then my enemies will turn back;  This I know, because God is for me. ¹⁰ In God (I will praise His word), In the Lord (I will praise His word),  ¹¹ In God I have put my trust;  I will not be afraid.  What can man do to me?

Psalm 126:5
⁵ Those who sow in tears, Shall reap in joy.  ⁶ He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing,  Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him.

2 Kings 20:1-11
¹In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.’ ”   ^2 Then he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying, ^3 “Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.   ^4 And it happened, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying, ^5 “Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord. ^6 And I will add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake, and for the sake of My servant David.” ’ ”   ^7 Then Isaiah said, “Take a lump of figs.” So they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.   ^8 And Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What is the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that I shall go up to the house of the Lord the third day?”   ^9 Then Isaiah said, “This is the sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will do the thing which He has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees or go backward ten degrees?”   ^10 And Hezekiah answered, “It is an easy thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees; no, but let the shadow go backward ten degrees.”   ^11 So Isaiah the prophet cried out to the Lord, and He brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down on the sundial of Ahaz.

No recording of the service for this date.

Matthew 10:40-42
^40 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. ^41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. ^42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

1 Peter 2:4-5
^4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, ^5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:9-10
^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; ^10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

Exodus 20:12
¹² “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

Luke 14:7-11
^7 So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: ^8 “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; ^9 and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. ^10 But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. ^11 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
 

Judges 14:6
^6 And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion apart as one would have torn apart a young goat, though he had nothing in his hand. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.

Judges 13:3-5
^3And the Angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. ^4 Now therefore, please be careful not to drink wine or similar drink, and not to eat anything unclean. ^5 For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.”

Judges 16:19
^19 Then she lulled him to sleep on her knees, and called for a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him.

Judges 16:6
^6 So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and with what you may be bound to afflict you.”

Judges 16:15
^15 Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and have not told me where your great strength lies.”

Judges 15:19
^19 So God split the hollow place that is in Lehi, and water came out, and he drank; and his spirit returned, and he revived. Therefore he called its name En Hakkore, which is in Lehi to this day. ^20 And he judged Israel twenty years in the days of the Philistines.

Judges 14:5-6
^5 So Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother, and came to the vineyards of Timnah. Now to his surprise, a young lion came roaring against him. ^6 And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion apart as one would have torn apart a young goat, though he had nothing in his hand. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.

Judges 15:14
^14 When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting against him. Then the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him; and the ropes that were on his arms became like flax that is burned with fire, and his bonds broke loose from his hands.

Judges 16:20
^20 And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” So he awoke from his sleep, and said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him.

1 Corinthians 10:12
^12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
 

2 Timothy 2:14
^14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.

James 2:4
^4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

2 Timothy 2:8-13
^8 Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, ^9 for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. ^10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.   ^11 This is a faithful saying:  For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him.   ¹² If we endure, We shall also reign with Him.   If we deny Him, He also will deny us.    ¹³ If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.

James 2:1-13
My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. ^2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, ^3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” ^4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?  ^5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? ^6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? ^7 Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?   ^8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; ^9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. ^10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. ^11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. ^12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. ^13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. ^14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.
 

Guest Speaker:  Apostle Tim Manning

Luke 2:1-20
¹And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ^2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. ^3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.   ^4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, ^5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. ^6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. ^7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.  ^8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ^9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. ^10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ^11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ^12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”   ^13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” ^{ 15} So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” ^16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. ^17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. ^18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. ^19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. ^20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Mark 6:1-6
Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. ^2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! ^3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him. ^4 But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” ^5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. ^6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.