Sermons

by Emily Wooten
1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
We are called to fight. Our fight is not with flesh and blood and it is not fought with our fist, guns or tanks.
Ephesians 6:12-14 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore…
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
If faith is the way to overcome the world and hearing the word is the way we get faith, it appears that our knowlege of God’s word and using it is essential to overcome.
Men and women who are in war do not train, learning how to fight, only to sit down and relax. On the contrary, even trained soldiers, who have passed basic training, continue to train, exercise and learn skills.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
First we need to recognize who we are in him and who he is in us.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
When we come to Jesus, Isaiah 43:25 says, God blots out our transgressions, and he will not remember our sins. The old man, who was sinful, is buried with Jesus in his death and the new man is raised with him in new life. We stand as ambassadors of Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:4-7 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.
So we can have faith in our place with God and learn to look at our situation from God’s perspective, taking his word and speaking it as his ambassadors, bringing life with us.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
Isaiah 1:18-19 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be (white) as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
2 Timothy 1:6-7 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

by Emily Wooten
Romans 6:2–4…How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
February 18th through April 2, 2026, some denominations will be observing Lent. What is Lent? Lent marks a six-week period in some Church calendars, starting with Ash Wednesday and concluding on Holy Saturday or Easter Sunday. People practice what they believe to be acts of submission and sacrifice, denying their flesh to try and endeavor to be closer to God.
Paul did tell us in Romans 3:23, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Thank God we are not left there. Verse 24 continues to qualify: “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”
Romans 6 continues in verses 7–12: For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. Knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
We aren’t made overcomers by works of the flesh. Revelations 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony;
2 Corinthians 10:3–5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
All year long we are instructed to cast down unruly thoughts. James 4:7: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Every temptation, addiction, or weakness can be overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony or agreeing with what God has said about us.
Fasting is one way to submit our flesh. How about Hebrews 13:15: By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. Worship can help to bring our fles into submission.
Romans 12:1–2 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. 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.
24/7, 365 days a year, we have the opportunity through the tools God has given us to keep our flesh under or in subjection.
Romans 8:13–14 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Romans 6:13-14 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

by Emily Wooten
In John 5, we see Jesus interacting with a man who had been crippled for 38 years. He was lying at the pool of Bethesda, waiting for a miracle. It was obvious why he was there. So why did Jesus ask him, “Wilt thou be made whole?”
Why did the man not answer with an emphatic YES? He had no clue who he was talking to.
In our lives, we have the opportunity to talk with the Creator every day. That same Jesus who raised up Lazarus from the dead, healed the lame man, and spoke to the winds and waves, “Peace Be Still,” is the same Jesus of whom Isaiah 53 says, “he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” When Jesus was beaten, He took every grief, sickness and disease and bore them for us so we don’t have to.
The man at the pool knew his story of what had happened every other year. Someone had always beaten him to the pool. He didn’t have anyone to help him, so previously he had left as broken as he came. This year was going to be different. Jesus was about to be his someone. Jesus saith unto him, “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.” This time the man’s answer came from a different place. The anointing of Jesus Christ took hold of the infirmity in his body and he was transformed. John 5:8 says, “…immediately the man was made whole.”
That is the same Jesus who purchased our salvation and, in the same work, purchased everything we need to have life and have it more abundantly.
We need to recognize just who it is with whom we are fellowshipping. In His ministry, Jesus didn’t make people beg Him. He never said, “No, you need to suffer some more so I can teach you something.” Jesus said things like, “I will; be thou clean” (Matthew 8:3). “Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee” (Matthew 8:13). “Thy faith hath made thee whole” (Mark 5:34).
It wasn’t enough that Jesus went about doing good. We see in Matthew 10:1, “And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.” He gave those who follow Him the resources to do the same. Matthew 28:18-19 says, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”
When Jesus was preparing His disciples for what was about to happen, He said in John 18:20, “Neither pray I for these alone, speaking of the disciples, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;” That is us. If we have believed in Jesus as the only begotten Son of God who redeemed us, we are included. Jesus said in John 14:12, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” Let’s be doers! James 1:22

by Emily Wooten

Divine Appointments
(From Genesis 29:1–20) Jacob had been traveling to his uncle’s house when he stopped at a well. This well was important because it was where all the shepherds brought their flocks for water. He saw some shepherds who were waiting to water their sheep. Jacob asked, “Do you know a man named Laban, the son of Nahor?” They told him yes, and that his uncle was doing well.
While they were still talking, Rachel arrived, leading her father’s sheep. When Jacob saw Rachel, he was excited. Jacob went up to her, kissed her, and suddenly burst into tears. He told her who he was, and Rachel was excited too. She ran as fast as she could to tell her father the news..
This is the story of how Israel and the twelve tribes of Israel began. A young girl who was faithful was in the right place at the right time. Because of her faithfulness, a nation was born.
(From Mark 14:13-14) Jesus told his disciples, “Go into the city. As soon as you enter, you will see a man carrying a jar of water. Follow him. When he goes into a house, speak to the owner and say, ‘The teacher asks where he may eat the Passover with his disciples.’”
The man showed the disciples where the upper room was, and they prepared for the Passover meal. The man obeyed and the disciples followed instruction.
(From 1 Kings 17:7-6) God had arranged for a widow woman to feed Elijah. When he came to the gate of the city, the widow was there gathering sticks. Elijah called to her and asked her to bring him water to drink and a little bread to eat. She explained that she was preparing the last of her oil and meal for herself and her son. Elijah told her not to worry. God had a plan of provision for both the widow woman and Elijah. They obeyed God’s instructions and ate well.
In all these stories, obedience was necessary for God to successfully arrange their divine appointments. We have a role to play in receiving God’s provision.
In Jacob’s case, both he and his future wife needed to be in the right place at the right time—and they were. With the man who helped the disciples find the place where Jesus would eat the Passover meal, something as simple as being in the city street with a pitcher of water made it possible for God to move.
The woman and her son trusted God and did what they were told. Obedience caused them to have provision when those around them suffered lack.
We need to listen to our inward witness and follow God’s plan for us. A simple act of obedience could facilitate a major move of God. Obedience is the key to receiving from God. Faithfulness is the key to being where and when we need to be.

by Emily Wooten
Matthew 6:14-18: For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face; That you appear not unto men to fast, but unto your Father which is in secret: and your Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward you openly.
He called us to be faithful. He warned us not to be like the Pharisees, making an outward appearance of fasting. He also warned us not to pray to be seen or heard of men.
Our fellowship with God in prayer and fasting is a private and holy act of submission. We see where Jesus was led into the wilderness, prayed and fasted for forty days. His fast wasn’t in front of the congregation at the temple. His labor in prayer wasn’t in their presence either. The battle with Satan happened while Jesus was alone in the wilderness, separating himself to seek God’s direction.
In Matthew 3 and 4 we see Jesus fresh from being baptized and anointed by the Holy Spirit, the first thing he did was to get away from the multitude of voices that would demand his attention and seek God’s instruction. That is our model for prayer and fasting. In Matthew 6 we see Jesus addressing giving, praying, forgiving and fasting. These are all acts of service and submission to God.
When Jesus was teaching the disciples to pray, he first told them to honor God. In verse 9 it is recorded, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”
That is the same attitude we approach God in for submitting our giving, forgiving, prayers and fasting. We know our Righteous, Holy, Father is worthy of our time, money, emotions and desires. As we learn to yield to him as Lord of our life we submit all these things and seek his kingdom first. Recorded in Matthew 7 Jesus said, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” We just need to make sure the things we are asking, seeking and knocking for are his desires for us.

by Emily Wooten

John 11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
Luke 5:20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
Whether Jesus was speaking to a dead man, calling him to life, or speaking health to the cripple, God thought it important to note Jesus saw their faith. How we receive from God has everything to do with how we believe.
Hebrews 11: 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Whether we come to God for forgiveness of sins, deliverance or healing for our body, it is essential that we know it is his will to forgive, deliver and heal. Without that confidence in God’s will, we don’t have the power to backup what we say.
It is useless to pretend or say we believe because someone told us.
Until we know it like we know our name, we haven’t believed.
Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
Mark 11:23-24 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore, I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
A steady diet of God’s word changes what we think to be true into what we know is true. That is what is described in Romans 12:2 as being transformed by renewing our minds. It pleases God when we bring his word to him, asking for help. God’s word prospers or produces results.

by Emily Wooten

In Acts 7, Stephen shares the story of Joseph’s betrayal and redemption, noting that Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him. Scripture shows that Joseph was chosen and anointed by God as a leader of His people. However, he did not begin his journey from a place of honor. On the contrary, he was mistreated and regarded as anything but a leader.

If we pick up the story in Genesis 37, we see a 17-year-old boy reporting his older brothers’ bad behavior to their father. Scripture also tells us that Joseph bragged to them about his dreams, repeatedly sharing his vision of them bowing down to him. When we hear the story of Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers, we should not overlook these details. Their resentment was fueled not only by jealousy, but also by Joseph’s lack of wisdom and his father’s obvious favoritism. While his brothers were wrong, there was plenty of wrongdoing to go around.

Genesis 37:3–5 states:

Now Israel (Jacob, Joseph’s father) loved Joseph more than all his children. When his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

The truth is that all of us are human. We share similar emotions and can suffer from diminished self-worth or exaggerated worth. Hebrews 4:15 reminds us that even Jesus was challenged by temptation: “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

In Matthew 26:41, Jesus tells His disciples, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” This moment illustrates that even those closest to Jesus struggled with human frailty.

Paul reminds us in Hebrews 12:1 …let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. And in Romans 12:3 …To every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think. 

It is up to us to regulate our behavior and not allow our thoughts to cause us to sin. 

by Emily Wooten

The bread symbolizes his body broken for us, and the wine his shed blood, reminding us of his life being poured out for us and the new life and relationship with God it offers.
Luke 22:19-20, Mark 14:22-24 and Matthew 26:26-28 are similar.
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
1 Corinthians 11:20-30 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? what shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
It is a call for personal introspection, confessing unrepentant sin, and ensuring one’s heart is right with God, and focusing on Christ. Failing to understand that the bread and wine represent Christ’s broken body and shed blood, can result in Christians not being able to receive the blessings God offers. We are to search our heart and submit any weakness or sin to God, asking for his forgiveness and taking our redemption.

by Emily Wooten

Matthew 27:50, 59-60 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
In Colossians 2:15 Paul said that Jesus spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
When Jesus body was laid in the tomb, that wasn’t the end of his ministry. In Revelation 1:18 Jesus told John, “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”
Jesus not only suffered in our place, taking our sins on him, he took away any right the devil had to torment us.
John 20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
In the past weeks, we have celebrated the birth of our savior and enjoyed the miraculous story of his deliverance from Herod and every enemy who tried to kill him before he could teach salvation. Jesus walked this earth teaching humans they can be saved from sin, addiction, sickness, mental torture, and all the works of the enemy. We can start the new year in faith, remembering what he has given us. Isaiah 53:4-5 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

by Emily Wooten

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. A savior, deliverer and preserver was born to provide safety, soundness, deliverance and share God’s love.
Luke 2: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
The next time someone says in your presence, “What kind of God would let that happen?” Too often people want to use the terrible things that are happening in the earth to portray our God as cruel and heartless. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Matthew 1:22-23 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Have you ever thought of the work God did to be able to dwell among us and live in us? Jesus being born in Bethlehem was not the beginning of the story. When Adam disobeyed God and surrendered his authority to the devil, God had to work to bring a savior into this world. Many throughout the years spoke and declared a child would be born who would take away the sins of the world.
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 7:14Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Isaiah 12:6 Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.