DATE: SUNDAY, MAY 15, 2022
SPEAKER: PASTOR STEVE
TITLE: UNLIMITED POWER
SCRIPTURE: JOEL 2:28-32

  
Intro: Imagine an unlimited source of clean and safe energy that is for everyone at no cost. No electric company charging you and no gas company gouging anyone. No unsafe environmental impact…just energy. Imagine how people would feel about the person who brought this to them.
 
 
Joel 2:28–32 (AMP)
 
²⁸ And afterward I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.
²⁹ Even upon the menservants and upon the maidservants in those days will I pour out My Spirit.
³⁰ And I will show signs and wonders in the heavens, and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke.
³¹ The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.
³² And whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered and saved, for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the remnant [of survivors] shall be those whom the Lord calls.
 

SUNDAY, APRIL 24, 2022
SPEAKER: PASTOR STEVE
TITLE: TWO BAPTISMS: WATER & THE HOLY SPIRIT


Scripture:
Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is The Son of God.”  (John 1:32–34, NIV)


 A Purification Rite
 The Jewish leadership expected the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, exclusively, to come baptizing.

Now the Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”  (John 1:24–25, NIV)

The Halakah 
… meaning “the path one walks”.

The writings included:
·       The Torah
·       Rabbinical Teaching
·       Revered Traditions
 
According to the Halakah, the “Mitzvah” was a ritual bath that was used initially for cleansing after a woman’s menstruation (called laws of Ridah).  It was all about purity (tumah) and impurity (tahorah).

Baptism came to be recognized as a Jewish Rite of Purification for other things as well. For example… 
·       someone beginning some new journey in their life would be cleansed in the Mitzvah.
·       burial ceremonies
·       before weddings
·       for conversions

The water must be stationary (not flowing) and have a percentage of water from a natural source like rain, stream, or lake.


A VOICE IN THE DESERT
John used baptism as a ritual of cleansing.
 
And so, John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  (Mark 1:4, NIV)

Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”  (Acts 19:4, NIV)

1.     John was sent by Father God (1:32)
2.     John fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy by being the voice crying out in the desert (1:23)
3.     John baptized in water (the Mitzvah).
4.     He baptized and paved the way for the Messiah to come (1:31)
5.     God told John how to recognize the baptizer. He gave John the sign.
 

THE SPIRIT CAME DOWN & REMAINED
John saw, recognized, & testified.
 
In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”  (Matthew 3:1–3, NIV) 

I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.  (Jesus)  (Luke 5:32, NIV)

In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.  (Luke 15:10, NIV)

1.     Father God revealed to John the sign of the Messiah, the Son of God: You will see the Holy Spirit come down from Heaven and remain on Him.
2.     John testified that he didn’t know who it would be until the Water Baptism of Jesus.
3.     John testified of what God had said AND that he saw it happen…on Jesus of Nazareth. The Spirit came down from Heaven LIKE a dove and rested on Jesus, the Lamb of God.
 
TWO BAPTISMS
I baptize you with water, the Messiah will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”  (Mark 1:7–8, NIV) 


1.     Reminder:  John’s parents were from the tribe of Levi (the priestly division of Abijah) and Aaron. That would make John from the priestly line. Repentance and Forgiveness would be in his job description.
2.     John the Baptist (and Jesus initially) came baptizing in water (Mitzvah) for repentance and forgiveness.
3.     Jesus Christ would come baptizing in the Holy Spirit to empower and give counsel.

It is correct to call the empowerment of the Holy Spirit a Baptism.

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.  (John 16:13–14, NIV)
 
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.  (Acts 1:8, NIV)
 

SUNDAY, APRIL 17, 2022
PASTOR STEVE

SERIES: THE ROAD TO RESURRECTION
TITLE: LIVING WITNESSESS

I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE

SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2022
PASTOR KEN LINDEN

SERIES: THE ROAD TO RESURRECTION
TITLE: THE AGONY IN GETHSEMANE
 
 
THE PLACE
Gethsemane
“Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane;”
Mark 14:32 a (NKJV)
 
THE PEOPLE
The Disciples
… and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” ³³ And He took Peter, James, and John with Him…
Mark 14:32b & 33a (NKJV)
 
The Angels
Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 
Luke 22:43 (NKJV)
 
Jesus
 
THE PLEA
Take this cup from, but not my will.
And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”
Mark 14:36 (NKJV)
 
THE PASSION
Overwhelmed with sorrow
And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.”
Mark 14:33-35 (NKJV)
 
Sweat drops of blood
And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Luke 22:44 (NKJV)
 
 
 

MARCH 27, 2022
PASTOR STEVE O’BRIEN

SERIES: THE ROAD TO THE RESURRECTION
TITLE: THE BETRAYAL
 
INTRODUCTION
 
BETRAYAL – a violation of trust; an act of disloyalty; desertion in time of need; disloyal, treasonous, infidelity, backstabbing, 30 pieces of silver, traitor…
 
Judas intentionally betrayed Jesus to those who wanted to kill him.
(For 30 silver coins – he identified Jesus with a kiss)
 
Peter’s fear betrayed his strong desire to show his loyalty.
(Even if all other forsake you, I will not.)
 
The Jewish Ruling Council betrayed God by turning him over to the Romans.
(This is not the messiah we wanted.)
 
The people in Jerusalem turned on Jesus by lying to the Jewish ruling council.
(Jesus spoke out against the temple and the council.)
 
Jesus warned the disciples of the coming betrayals when he departed.
(Parents, brothers, sisters, relatives, friends)
 
Have you ever been betrayed?
 
 
We value and desire loyalty from those we associate with. (Friends and family)
 
We do not trust our enemy, so betrayal is sometimes expected. (From political parties to sports teams that cheat or is that sports parties and politicians that cheat… to trust everyone is unwise and sometimes harmful.)
 
Jesus says, “Be wise as serpents and gentile as doves…”
 
The most painful betrayal comes from those you know and love.
 
Jesus was betrayed by those He loved.  He loved his disciples, He loved Jerusalem, He loved people, He even loved those who despitefully used Him
 
 
What DOES TRUTH AND LOYALTY TO JESUS LOOK LIKE?
 
If you love me, you must love your brother.
1 John 4:19–21 (NIV)
19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
 
You must obey my commands.
1 John 2:4 (NIV)
4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.
 
Sacrifice for our brothers and sisters.
1 John 3:16 (NIV)
16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
 
 
WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS, CHRIST LOVED THE UNGODLY.
 
The way back from betrayal is love. Jesus loved us before we were good people.
Love your neighbor, your family, your friends…even love your enemies.
 
The way back from the fear of betrayal is love.
1 John 4:18 (NIV)
18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
 
Jesus forgave Peter and if Judas would have come back, he would have forgiven him too.
 
I am loyal to HIM because he was loyal to me.
1 John 4:19 (NIV)
19 We love because he first loved us.
 
 

FEBRUARY 27, 2022
PASTOR STEVE O’BRIEN
 
SERIES:  WHO DOES JESUS SAY HE IS?
TITLE: “THIS SICKNESS WILL NOT END IN DEATH!”
SCRIPTURE: JOHN 11:4, 14, 25-226
 
 
 
John 11:4 (NIV)
This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.
 
John 11:14 (NIV)
Lazarus is dead. And for your sake, I am glad I was NOT there, so you may believe.
 
John 11:25-26 (NIV)
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
 
  
HE IS D – E – A – D !
 
1. Imagine the confusion.

2. This sickness will not end in death.
 
3.  He is not sleeping, he is dead! He is not taking a nap… not partly dead… not almost dead… not mostly dead.  Lazarus is laying in his tomb. By the time we get there he will stink-eth! 

4.  Shocking statement: I am glad that I was not there. 

5.  If Jesus was just talking about Lazarus, we would have no reason to hope. 

6.  Something must first be completely dead before it is resurrected. 


I AM THE RESURRECTION

1.  “For my FATHER’S will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” (John 6:40, NIV) 

2,  The resurrection is not just at the end of days. 

3.  Resurrection is anywhere Jesus is. 

4.  And what, exactly, is resurrected? This physical body? My Spirit? Part of the answer lies in the next part of the statement. 


I AM THE LIFE

1.  Life is something precious to us. We hold onto it. Protect it. 

2.  JESUS SAID, “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.””(John 6:40, NIV) 

3.  The person who receives life…especially after death…appreciates that life. 

4.  THE WOMAN AT THE WELL - “Indeed, the water I give him, will become in him, a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 3:14b, NIV) 

5.  This tells us that this life and our death, is not all there is. Jesus says, I will raise you up at the end of days. We are destined to live an eternal life. It is why the believer should not fear death.