About Mount Hope Church

We Are Family. Mount Hope Church is a community of people who love God and others—and that includes YOU! As a church family, it’s exciting to grow alongside others of all ages and backgrounds, coming together to experience the hope that is found only in Jesus. It is our desire that as you encounter God’s love and amazing grace at Mount Hope Church, you will truly feel a part of the family as we say, “Welcome Home!”

The Good News of Romans

Sunday, February 17, 2019

Series Title: Romans: Good News for You 

Kevin Berry | February 17, 2019  

Good News: Everybody could use some. How about you?  

In the headlines: “’One of my worst fears,’ says man who choked mountain lion.”  

On February 4, 2019, Travis Kauffman was running in the mountains of Colorado when a mountain lion lunged at him, latching onto his wrist and clawing his face and legs. As Travis tumbled to the ground, he grabbed sticks, rocks, anything to defend himself with, but nothing worked. 

At that moment, he said his fear response turned into a fight. Some things are worth fighting for! He fought for his life, his future, his family. Though the lion refused to let him go, he was able to get his foot on the lion’s neck and choke it to death. Twenty-eight stitches later and grateful to be alive, he said, “The story is bigger than my puny form.“ 

Some of you have been in a fight. I see it in some of your eyes… you’re tired of the fight. The bad news has been so fatiguing, and you could use some good news.

Peace be to you!

Good news: The story is bigger than you.  The story of God’s grace—the good news of God’s grace applied to your story—is bigger than anything you could pull off.

The Romans needed some good news, so the Apostle Paul wrote the letter we know as Romans. The book of Romans is known for bringing about transformation. This message of grace through Jesus is transformational for you. Martin Luther called Romans, “The chief book of the New Testament.”  As we go through Romans together, let’s ask God to transform us! 

The goal of God’s Word is not to inform you, but to transform you. 

What is the gospel? What do we know about the gospel?   

Gospel means “good news.” The book of Romans unpacks the gospel, this good news about Jesus! 

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, (Romans 1:1-6) 

Paul described himself as a servant – one who served his master to the disregard of his own interests, one whose will was swallowed up in the will of his master. Furthermore, Paul was called to be an apostle, something entirely different than what he was. He was a terrorist… but called to be an apostle. 

Paul relates to real people; he knew what he was, and where he had come from. Maybe that is why he could say with such confidence those words, “Such WERE some of you!” He knew what he was once like.

Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor. 6:11)

Read that again. Some of you were like that, but you were cleansed, made holy, right with God. He can make you what you could never be on your own. Truth be told, this is what the church is made of – people that used to be one thing that are now something else. Everybody has a story; what’s yours?

Lastly, Paul was set apart for THE GOSPEL OF GOD – the good news.

What makes the gospel good news for you?

#1 – The gospel has always been God’s plan to adopt you.

“…set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through the prophets…” (Rom. 1:1)

The gospel was not an afterthought; it was His plan before the creation of the world. You may wonder if God even knows you are around, if He cares. YES! He is the God who sees! In Gen. 16:13, Hagar said, “You are the Lord who sees me and cares for me.” 

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. (Eph. 1:4-5 NLT)

The gospel is the good news of God’s plan to adopt you into His family.

# 2 – The gospel is about Jesus and what He did for you.

“…concerning His Son… Jesus…” (Rom. 1:3-5)

If we don’t remind ourselves the good news of what Jesus did for us, we beat ourselves up and fight a battle against sin that we could never win. Some live their entire lives feeling defeated, like they are not enough and don’t measure up. If that’s you – STOP and listen to the gospel. Remind yourself what Jesus did for you! He stepped out of Heaven, took on human skin, lived a sinless life, and willingly allowed Himself to be crucified. All of your sins were nailed to that cross so that you could be free from the penalty of sin. Jesus died so you could really live! When Jesus rose from the dead, He proved He really was the Son of God. Oh, what a joy to know that in Christ your sins are forgiven! 

What does the resurrection mean? What has been purchased?

I keep a simple reminder in my office – a fishing lure. Out of the six hooks it had, five remain. The sixth hook was stuck in my hand, a hook that I could not get out by myself. That situation reminds me of when I was stuck in sin, and I could not get myself out until Jesus came and did for me what I could never do on my own. He gave His life for me and now the rest of my life is all His. Oh,  how we need to be reminded of the gospel today!

#3 – The gospel transforms you.

To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom. 1:7)

In Rome, where the Christians were thought to be substandard, where they were treated more like animals than humans, Paul called them ‘loved by God, saints, children of the Lord.’  This is who you are! 

We see Paul’s transformation moment in Acts 9 – he went from terrorist to apostleship. See how Paul spoke to the Roman church that he had never visited before; hear his heart and see the transformation that took place!

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. (Rom. 1:8-12)

The transformed Paul was thanking instead of killing; praying non-stop instead of hunting them down non-stop. He longed to see them as a father sees his kids—with a desire to impart, encourage, strengthen—not destroy them as he did before.

Paul was changed by God’s grace, radically transformed. How about you? Have you been changed by God’s grace?

#4 – The gospel is for everyone.

I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. (Rom. 1: 13-15)

The gospel breaks all barriers; there is no “us” and “them.” Why do you think that there is this “us and them” attitude in our society? What keeps that from creeping into our lives?

The gospel obligates you to think of everyone – from the person across the street to the one across the sea. The gospel obligates us to go global. This otherworldly love compels us to include everyone.

#5 – The gospel gives you the only way to be right with God, by faith ALONE.

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes – the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” (Rom. 1:16-17 NLT)

The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. (1 Cor. 1:18)

The gospel affects everyone. It is our response to the gospel that puts us on a path that is either “headed for destruction” or “being saved.” The problem today is that people are caught by a roaring lion, and many struggle their whole lives to accomplish what they never could on their own – freedom! 

Your story is bigger than your ability. 

It is bigger than what you can make happen. Your future is bigger than your past.

The gospel: God took our sin, put it on Jesus and treated Him as our sins deserves. So now through faith in Jesus, God treats you like Jesus deserves to be treated. That is why the gospel is such good news for you!

Song: “So Will I” by Hillsong United spotify:track4sB4BfFmlQeG7tM6GLvN5j

Watch The Full Message

Prayer Focus: Global Missions

T.A.L.K Prayer Guide

It is time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you. (Hos. 10:12b)

Abiding in the Secret Place

I will do as Jesus did, abide in the “Secret Place” and Pray (John 15:4)

Thank God (Ps. 100:4) 

  • Thank you, we are not disappointed when we pray. We know you will carry out your plans upon this earth.
    (Jer. 1:4-12)
  • Thank you, for sparking a flame of revival among the churches in our community. We reunite our faith together to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to earth. (Mt. 6:10) 
  • Thank you, God, for more! More power as the Holy Spirit comes upon us. (Acts 1:8)
  • Thank you, God, for the faithful givers who support our missionaries
    world-wide. 
  • Thank you, God, for the new missionaries you are raising up from Mount Hope Church to go and preach the Gospel with signs and wonders following. (Mark 16:20)

Ask God (Jn. 14:13-14)

Ask and you shall receive….

  • God, we are asking for “greater works,” supernatural demonstrations of signs and wonders. (Jn. 14:12)
  • God, we are asking for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit over this region, the 50-mile radius around Mount Hope. 
  • This outpouring releases more!
    • More of God’s love 
    • More of God’s healing and
      deliverance 
    • More awareness of God our Father and His love for us 
    • More of God in our families 
    • More Power in the Holy Spirit 
    • More unity among believers 
  • Lord, we pray for more of your love in the hearts of the families in our community. (John 13:34-35)
  • Lord we pray that You would open our understanding, aligning ourselves with Your truths, causing the “rain of righteousness” to fall upon us and our families. (Ex. 33:13) 
  • Lord, we pray this year we would see more missionaries launched from Mount Hope Church in the world than any other year. We pray our missionary connections would bear great fruit, especially in our own city and at the MSU and LCC campuses. 
  • Lord, we pray for a bountiful harvest—for all those who have sown seeds in 2018 and who are pledging new seeds into the mission field in 2019. We declare a great harvest of returns on every seed sown. 
  • Lord, we pray that you would guide Pastor Geoff and his team all through 2019 as they connect with new missionaries and continue to align our selves with the 2019 goal to double. Double our given to missionaries and outreach from $1.5 million to $3 million, and to double our intercessors from 250 to 500 intercessors. 
  • Lord, we pray for more of your presence in the churches of our community. 

Listen to God (James 1:19) 

  • Pray and declare as you hear God speak to you in the “secret place.”
  • Lord, I declare more unity in the Body of Christ. Lord, I declare more of your presence, more miracles.
  • Lord, I declare 2019 will be the year of open doors. Miracle, signs, and wonder doors, healing doors, salvations doors, the door to heaven and God’s divine presence and glory. 
  • Lord, I declare more believers are being added to the family of God in 2019.
  • As a flame hits a dry piece of wood and becomes inflamed, so the fire of God will move across this land and into the hearts of His people, transforming lives. 
  • Lord, I believe that you are making a way in dry places. The rain of righteousness is cutting away through rocks and boulders—clearing a path for Jesus and His Kingdom to come on this earth as it is in Heaven. 
  • God is raising spiritual moms and dads to mentor the children of this city. 
  • God is breaking traditions and comfortable places. We will listen to the Holy Spirit and give Him permission to move more freely among us.

Know who God is. (Romans 8:28) 

  • “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
  • We ask in faith, and know you always watch over your words to perform them. (James 1:6; Jer. 1:12)
  • We know that you said you would never leave us or forsake us; therefore we are confident that You will lead us into all truth. (Heb. 13:5; John 16:13)
  • I know that you are a great and awesome rewarder. We take this time to seek you in faith and prayer for wisdom from above for all things pertaining to life and godliness. (Heb. 11:6)

At Mount Hope Church, our goal is to see prayer happening 24/7 through the Global Prayer Center. View prayer times here!

2018 Mission Highlights

Thank you! In 2018, as a church family, we gave nearly 1.5 million dollars to local and foreign missions—that includes support for 310 missionaries in 120 countries. This also includes:

  • We invested over $40,000 into prison ministries. Every week, over 1,500 inmates across Michigan heard the gospel of Jesus!
  • We gave over $25,000 for food and hygiene items for local refugees.
  • We invested over $10,000 into substance abuse ministries in Michigan.
  • We gave over $30,000 to support ministries that serve victims of human trafficking, both locally and overseas.
  • We’ve invested over $200,000 into targeted grants, scholarships, and pastoral education so church leaders across the US and internationally can be equipped to lead with excellence. Local kid’s ministries like Pontiac Kids Power Company and foreign missions like the church in eastern Europe, were among those that received these grants.
  • We invested over $75,000 in state-side church planting.
  • We responded to multiple fires, storms, and disasters here in America and abroad, with over $35,000 in disaster relief.
  • We planted a church in the jungles of Ecuador with a $10,000 investment! Now that church is ministering to hundreds of new Christians.
  • In Europe, we renovated three children’s ministry rooms with a generous gift of $7,500.
  • In Africa, you and I together have given over $10,000, where we distributed over 500 “Fire Bibles” to pastors that would have otherwise not had access to them.
  • We took another $10,000 and built eight classrooms in West Africa to be part of stopping the poverty cycle and see the gospel advanced.
  • We saw hundreds healed and tens of thousands hear about
    Jesus through a $25,000 investment in events and outreaches in Africa, Thailand, and India through Christopher Alam.
  • We we able to invest over $40,000 in university ministries and missionaries across Michigan.

When I hear Pastor Kevin paint Heaven’s vision and say, “In 2019, we are going to experience more, miracles, and multiplication,” I can’t help but think that multiplication means at least double.

In 2019, our Mount Hope Church goal is to double our giving and invest 3 million dollars to missions and local outreach—this includes Spyn Student Ministries’ goal of $80,000 and Kidz Connect’s BGMC goal of $15,000.

We need to raise, train, and equip 500 individual missions and outreach intercessors who will weekly release protection, wisdom, and favor to the Soul Zone and beyond. We need to see 1,000 volunteers and short-term missionaries being sent out on at least 12 local and foreign serving trips. Lives will forever be changed because of you and your faithfulness to pray, love, and serve.

Here’s my humble request—pray with me for our missions giving capacity to double, that our prayer capacity would double, and that our sending capacity would double.

My wife and I have committed to give more to missions in 2019 than we have ever given before. We have strategically decided to give those funds through Mount Hope Church toward the projects laid out in this book. I ask you to pray about coming on this adventure with Mount Hope and committing to do the same.

Thank you,

Geoff Bassett

Missions Director

September Prayer Emphasis

T.A.L.K Prayer Guide

Psalm 27:8

Thank God (Ps. 100:4)

  • Thank you, God, for the Presence of God saturating our city and surrounding the “Soul Zone.”
  • Thank you, God, for all the children and families returning to school.
  • Thank you, God, for the message of Jesus Christ and salvation becoming the fiber of our school system. 
  • Thank you, God, that the foster children of our community are finding homes and families who love them and will care for them. 
  • Thank you, God, for godly teachers to fill all of our schools. 
  • Thank you, God—Revival is released into all our schools in Lansing and the “Soul Zone!”
  • Thank you, God, for the students of MSU this 2018-19 school year—that each student would have an encounter with God and receive salvation. 
  • Thank you, God, for families of our “Soul Zone”—financial breakthroughs and windfall of blessings for each home. 
  • Thank you, God, for surrounding all the single parents of the “Soul Zone”—for satisfying their desires with good things and granting them protection and provision!
  • Thank you, God, for a harvest of souls coming into Your Kingdom.

Ask God (Jn. 14:13-14)
Ask and you shall receive….

  • God, we ask for protection around each student in our “Soul Zone.” 
  • God, we ask for godly leaders to be placed on our school boards & PTAs, and for godly volunteers and teachers. 
  • God, we ask for godly leaders to be elected in our city councils.
  • God, we ask for a godly leader to be elected in all branches of Gov. 
  • God, we ask that the financial stewards of our school systems make godly spending decisions.
  • God, we ask that the material taught in our schools have the aroma of Heaven!
  • We pray that those making the education decisions in our schools will be led by God. 
  • God, we pray that this school year each student would have an abundant provision: healthy eating habits, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Not one student in our community would go hungry!

Listen to God (Matt. 10:27)

What is God saying for our  “Soul Zone” and school systems?

He is saying… 

  • I declare a fire of revival coming to our schools.
  • I declare a hunger for God’s Word will ignite a passion for purity and holiness. 
  • I declare that this passion will ignite a boldness to heal the sick, cast out demons, save the lost, and walk in grace, love, and forgiveness. 
  • I declare the essence and presence of God will infiltrate every fiber of our “Soul Zone.” 
  • I declare godly leaders in all branches of governmental offices in Lansing and surrounding areas. 
  • I declare all the foster care children are placed in Godly homes.
  • I declare families are praying together. 
  • I declare revival among all of our campuses. 
  • I declare MSU will become a Godly equipping college: that those coming to MSU will experience God and salvation and return to their communities and countries with a new message of HOPE in Jesus. 
  • I declare revival will spread like fire from MSU and UofM and all other Michigan colleges to the outer regions of the world. 

Take a few minutes and pray as you hear God speak. Declare His will to be done in our community. 

Know who God is. (Ps 46:10, Ps 4:3)

  • Proverbs 22:6: Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
  • Psalm 127:3: Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
  • The fruit of the womb is a reward.
  • Genesis 8:22: While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.
  • Matthew 9:38: Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
  • John 3:16: 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.
  • 2 Corinthians 1:20: For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

View Prayer Opportunities and Prayer Times

Missions in 2017

We are honored to have such a rich heritage of supporting missions over many decades, from right here in our own backyard to nations around the globe. We are so grateful for your contributions which will help spread the Good News of Jesus Christ well into the future—in our community and beyond the Soul Zone—as we partner with 290 missionaries and ministries in over 100 countries.

In 2017, thank you for helping us:

  • Provide 1,400 Arabic Bibles in the Middle East.
  • Provide monthly support to St. Vincent’s Home for Children.
  • Add over 25 missionaries and ministries to our monthly support. This includes missionaries in countries like Afghanistan, Senegal, Iraq, China, Montenegro,
    Comoros, Israel, Botswana, Guinea, Turkey, Yemen, Morocco, Ecuador, Moldova, Oman, Nicaragua, Amman, Lybia, Cuba, Indonesia and Algeria. In Michigan, this includes campus ministry Michigan State University and Central Michigan University, Cristo Rey in Lansing, and the Student Statesmanship Institute.
  • Send a team of students to Detroit for outreach ministry with Courage Church.
  • Support church planting initiatives in the Middle East including Libya, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Oman, Tunisia, and Morocco.
  • Partner with our own Amanda Miller, ministering to the deaf in Mexico.
  • Minister to children through schools in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and the Gaza Strip.
  • Provide the funds to launch a church planting ministry in the greater Tibet region of China.
  • Send a Mount Hope healing team to Haiti.
  • Partner with Soundsgood Ministries as they reach students through music and God’s word.
  • Help reach Muslims in Dearborn, Michigan.
  • Feed a community of orphans in the Philippines.
  • Partner with the Pregnancy Services of Greater Lansing, giving pregnant teens options other than abortion.
  • Reach disadvantaged children in Detroit and Pontiac through the Power Company ministry.
  • Care for orphans in Asia, Latin America, Africa, and Europe.
  • Construct a ministry training center in Poland.
  • Reach the Jewish people of our country through Rock of Israel Ministries.
  • Plant underground churches in China.
  • Partner with Dave Roever Ministries as he reaches out to wounded veterans.
  • Provide aid to hurricane victims in Texas, Florida, and the Caribbean.
  • Provide tons of food to the Lansing Rescue Mission during Bless the City.
  • Provide Bible School curriculum in Africa.
  • Renovate a children’s ministry program in Thailand.
  • …and so much more!

We’re so excited about what we get to do together in 2018! You are invited to be part of changing people’s lives—both with your prayers and financial partnership.

See how you are bringing hope to our community and globally in 2018.

Breakthrough Prayer Emphasis

So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. Acts 12:5

Throughout history, game changing moments for individuals, cities, and nations have been linked to these words: “But earnest prayer was made to God by the church.”

Thank you for joining your praise and prayers with the Church throughout our community!

Pastor Kev

 

 

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! (Psa. 100:4) 

  • Thank you for setting the captive free in our community! People are coming to their senses, they are recognizing what You have done for them, and are now experiencing salvation in Christ. – Acts 12:11, Luke 15:17
  • Thank you for protecting our civil service workers and leaders. Send angels to guard and protect those who protect and care for the people of this city and surrounding communities. – Psa. 34:7
  • Thank you for all of the churches in Lansing and across the state of Michigan who are working together in unity and harmony.  – Psa. 133:1
  • Thank you, Lord, for blessing Lansing and the surrounding communitities with prosperity and growth. – Pro. 11:11
  • Thank you that Your hand is on Your Church in this region, and the result is a great number of people are believing in and turning to You. – Acts 11:21

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb. 4:16)

  • Father, I ask that the civil leaders of Lansing; fire fighters, police officers, EMT, and government officials would be strong and courageous with divine protection surrounding them. – Rom. 13:1, Deut. 31:6 
  • I ask you to prosper Lansing, the surrounding communities and the state of Michigan. I pray God that Lansing would be marked as a lighthouse for spiritual awakening.  – Matt. 5:14
  • I ask that You bless the community outreaches of St. Vincent’s Home for Children, Cristo Rey Community Center, City Rescue Mission, Teen Challenge, and many more. May they be empowered by the Holy Spirit to show the love of Jesus as they meet the needs of the people. – Jas. 2:15-16
  • I pray that every child in Lansing and throughout the state of Michigan, who does not have a family to love, would be adopted into a God-fearing home where the love and peace of Christ abounds. – Psa. 68:5, Jas. 1:27 
  • I ask You to increase the laborers in Lansing that are winning souls and adding to God’s family. – Matt. 9:37-38
  • I ask that I would always honor and please you; that the body of Christ would grow as we learn to know You better.  – Col. 1:10
  • I know You desire that all men come to salvation. I pray for those who do not know You. I pray that the lost would respond to the Holy Spirit calling them to salvation. – 2 Pet. 3:9
  • Lord, we ask You to guard, protect, and strengthen our brothers and sisters in the faith that are being persecuted around the world. – 2 Thess. 1:4
  • I pray for families across our community. May relationships be healed, marriages restored, and may Your great name be honored in our homes. Yes, may Your friendship be felt in our homes. – Job 29:4
  • I ask that You teach our children and impact our youth for Jesus. Bring a revival to our city, state, schools, and colleges. – Isa. 54:13, Psa. 78:6-7 

In an interview, Mother Theresa was once asked: “When you talk to God, what do you talk about?” To which she replied: “I listen.”

When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. – John 10:4

During this season of prayer and fasting—what are you hearing the Lord say about the current circumstances in your life?

What are three things the Lord is asking you to do?

Will you join me for 21 days of prayer and fasting?  

I believe God answers prayer and that God has great things planned for this city! I believe that there is a spiritual awakening coming to Lansing, Michigan. I believe that it’s harvest time! I believe things are about to speed up around here. I believe it’s Divine Acceleration time! I believe that God has invited us to be part of what He is doing in this region.

Why set aside 21 days for prayer and fasting? 

  • Throughout scripture, a corporate fast was called when God’s people were desperately in need of God’s help. There was always an element of crisis to the moment.
  • We too are in a crisis. The world has the crisis of ISIS. America has the crisis of racial tension, violence, moral rot, and injustice. Yet, the biggest crisis of them all is the crisis of our need for spiritual awakening. People must be born again while they can, lest they perish!

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: (Ps. 122:6)

I pray for the nation and people of Israel, that You will protect them from the enemies that surround them. Cause her enemies to have an encounter with You. I pray for the people of Israel, that their spiritual eyes and ears will come open. Thank you for perfecting righteousness and praise throughout the nation of Israel.

He is SO Good!

Today’s reading from The One Year Bible:

“Yes, joyful are those who live like this! Joyful indeed are those whose God is the Lord!”  – Psalm 144:15

Yes, joyful are those who live like this… who live like what? Joyful are those who live as children of God! We have access to grace and lavish favor from the One who made the heavens and the earth. As followers of Jesus Christ we are forgiven, highly favored, healed, fruitful, successful, prosperous, blessed, chosen, loved, and in relationship with the King of Kings!

As we begin a new series today about JOY, my heart is filled with this thought—while we were still sinners, far from God—He sent His son Jesus to be born as a baby so that He would later die on the cross for our sins. Wow… God is so good! What joy it brings to my heart that God was good to us, when we were not even good! He didn’t wait for us to get better before He would be good to us!

Yet there are many followers of Christ who somehow believe that God requires us to be good in order for Him to be good to us. I’ve got news for you, my friend… God’s goodness is not based on your goodness. He is good all of the time – even when you are not. We don’t start out with grace and then graduate to something better.

We continue to rely on God’s grace, on how good He is, not how good we are! Does that mean we don’t have to be good or obey the Lord? No, obedience still matters to God. It’s out of His goodness that God has given us a new heart, a heart to know Him, a heart to obey, and a heart with both the right desires and power to back up those desires! He doesn’t just tell us to obey… He gives us the heart to walk in obedience. God wants you blessed so much that He gave you the ability to obey!

I pray today that as you walk in obedience and rely on His grace, His goodness would cause your heart to overflow with JOY!

Blessings to you,
Pastor Kevin
Prayer: “Father, I thank you that you are good! You are always good. You are for me, not against me. Thank you for giving me ears that hear your voice and a heart that obeys! You are good when I’m at my best… and you are good when I’m at my worst. Work in me more today a heart that honors you, that obeys you so that I can walk in all the joy and blessings you have provided for me. Thank you, Amen!”

Would You Like Some More?

Today’s reading from The One Year Bible:

“To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”  – Matthew 13:12

I was thinking about family gatherings around Christmas. It seems that regardless how full my plate was with food, my grandmother would always say, “Would you like some more?” I love her heart that always wanted to give me more.

The Lord looks at you the same way… He desires more for you! He has some more fruit of the Holy Spirit for you to grow in throughout this coming year! He has some more understanding and revelation to give you! He has some more gifts of the Holy Spirit for you to walk in. He has some more leadership and anointing for you to step into. He has some more peace to be in your family. He has some more strategies for reaching this community as we show His love and compassion this Christmas season and beyond.

The question is not IF the Lord desires more for you. The question is – what are you doing to position yourself to receive more? What are you becoming that will attract more to you? Jesus made it clear that those who use what knowledge they have—those who will take hold of and seize what the Lord has given them—will be given more!

I encourage you to think about what the Holy Spirit been teaching you this year. How have you used what the Lord has already given you? The more you take hold of—the more you go after what the Lord has entrusted to you—the more He will bestow upon you!

My friend, the Lord looks at you today, much like my grandmother looked at me years ago, and asks you, “Would you like some more? I would like to give you some more. It’s my heart to bless you with more… to move you to a place of abundance. I want to give you so much that you will overflow with more and be a blessing to every person you come in contact with.”

Wanting More,
Pastor Kevin
Prayer:  “Father, thank you for your extravagant heart of generosity toward me. You have given me life, hope, peace, and joy! You have given me understanding of your nature, revelation from your Word. Lord, may you continue to cause your face to shine on me, be gracious to me. Yes, bless me with more… so that I can be a blessing to every person I come in contact with. Grant me the wisdom to use well what you entrust to me! Amen.”

God With Us

Today’s reading from The One Year Bible:

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means God is with us.”  – Matthew 1:23

Immanuel… God with us! I pray that as this Christmas season begins, your heart will be filled with the wonder and majesty of those words—God with us. It can be so easy, in this time of busy-ness, to miss this simple, yet powerful message that God Himself is sending to you.

Imagine what it must have been like when Jesus was born as a baby. The King of Kings stripped himself of His robe of light and wrapped Himself in human skin…. God with us! Angels celebrated, wise men traveled 800 miles to worship, Mary believed… but the religious leaders of the day totally missed it. They missed the most important person that had ever come to visit them—God’s son, Jesus!

Years later, Jesus wept as a man because they had missed their day of visitation. Jesus—God in the flesh—had come to visit them and they missed it! During a time of worship, my heart was filled with this thought: I don’t want to miss one day, one moment that the Lord comes to visit me. I don’t want to miss out on the majesty of experiencing God because I was too “busy” for Him.

I long to hear the whispers of His voice to my heart. I long to have eyes that can see what He is doing. I take delight in every moment with the Lord.

My friend, be encouraged today—the Lord has a day of visitation for you. He delights to visit you, to be with you, to help you. He has a prophetic word for you, some promises for you. God is with you… God is for you! If the Lord had a Facebook page, He would send you a friend request and then plaster your page with encouraging words. If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it, along with pictures of all the cool stuff you made.

May the Lord visit you this Christmas season and lavish you with His love and grace… His presence and peace wrapped around you!

God is with you!
Pastor Kevin
Prayer:  “Father, I thank you for your promise to be with me—always! Today, I celebrate the day you stripped yourself from your robe of light and wrapped yourself in human skin, coming to earth as a baby. God is with me! I don’t want to miss one day… one moment that you visit me. May everything that you have spoken about me come true! Thank you, Lord. Amen.”
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