Sermons

by Emily Wooten

Matthew 21: 12-16 (ESV) And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.” And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, “‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?”
When we talk about Jesus overturning the money changer’s tables, we don’t often say the first thing he did was to teach. He didn’t throw a fit and storm off at all. His actions were one of cleaning house. He told them what God expected of them and where their error was. The results were miracles happening. They were given opportunity to correct their behavior. God wants us to be a house of praise. It is our privilege and opportunity to share his love everywhere we go. Forget pomp and circumstance of pageants and programs. What God really desires is a people who will consider him every morning, noon and evening: to see what he wants to do with our day.
In 2 Corinthians 6:2 we are reminded today is the acceptable day; now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
There is nothing more important than sharing the good news in our speech, in our demeanor, in our lifestyle.
Hunting Easter eggs does not glorify God or point anyone to Christ. What you do 365 days a year is more weighty than any program on a holiday.
Remember 1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
Let’s practice considering God in all our ways and make every day an expression of his will in us. Then we can have all the programs we want knowing we have put God first and pleased the Lord with our whole life.

by Emily Wooten
Malachi 3:10-12 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.
From the New English Translation it reads “Bring the entire tithe into the storehouse so that there may be food in my temple. Test me in this matter,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “to see if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out blessing for you until there is no room for it all. Then I will stop the plagues from ruining your crops, and the vine will not lose its fruit before harvest,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “All nations will call you blessed, for you indeed will live in a delightful land,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
What a wonderful promise and hope. God asks of us that we honor him with 1/10 of our increase.
God left a message for us in Leviticus 27:30-32 And all the tithe (the tenth part) of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s: it is holy unto the Lord. And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof. And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord.
When we start talking about our money, sometimes it is easy to disconnect. If we believe Malachi 3, God’s promises compel us to connect with him and honor him so he can honor us.
Remember Proverbs 3:5-10 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear (respect and honor) the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

by Emily Wooten

Ephesians 6:18-19 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel…
Paul requested they ask God that he would be given utterance to boldly make known the mystery of the gospel of Jesus Christ. If Paul who was highly educated and well traveled needed prayer for God to help him speak the truth in love, how much more do we need to pray for our preachers and teachers today? Before Pastor Ron gets up to speak we should approach God, coming boldly to the throne of grace and ask him to help our Pastor have liberty to speak without hindrances.
Melissa spoke last week about corporate prayer. It is true there is power in numbers. Consider what Jesus said.
Matthew 18:18-20 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Here Jesus tells us to agree together touching a subject in Jesus name. What does that mean to “come together touching”?
1 Corinthians 12:18-20 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body.
A few, or many, acting as one is powerful. One mind, in one accord, these statements encourage us to join our faith in God while approaching him as concerning a thought or subject. We request the same thing expecting God to act on our behalf.
Philippians 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Acts 2: 1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Let’s approach God today in one mind and in accord asking God to give the preachers and teachers words that will change our hearts. Ask him to give us grace to receive the truth with understanding, discerning what his will for us is. We bind every distracting force in Jesus name and loose the Spirit of the Living God to speak to us, move is and amongst us. Get glory to yourself God and be blessed in your children acting in obedience to your word.

by Emily Wooten

Ephesians 6:10-11 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
God clearly intended for us to stand against the works of the enemy and everything about him.
Colossians 1:10-14 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
You might be surprised at the things in your life that were sent to you, not by God but the enemy. Things we simply don’t deal with and actually allow to work in our lives. One of the wonderful works of the Holy Spirit in the church is to help us recognize the enemy and his attacks.
Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
The world system operates under the course of this world, according to the devil.
Look at Daniel when he was praying for 21 days. He did not comprehend he was praying against: principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12)
If we aren’t going against it, we are flowing with it. One of our favorite champions from the Old Testament is King David. He said in Psalm 101: 1-3 I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O Lord, will I sing. I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
Scripture tells us to study to show ourselves approved, a workman that doesn’t need to be ashamed. This week, let’s study Ephesian 6: 12-18 and practice doing what it says.
We are to arm ourselves with truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation and praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Paul set the example to pray for our teachers and preachers that they would be enabled to open their mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel.

by Emily Wooten

Have you considered there are several types of prayer? A prayer of submission is one where the individual approaches the throne of grace to submit their will to God. Surrendering and repenting is what happens when a person is born again. We can learn from Daniel, that we need to surrender to God every day.
Daniel not only prayed prayers of submission, he also prayed prayers of supplication. In Daniel 10 we read where Daniel had been praying and fasting for three weeks. The angel Gabriel appeared to him and showed him how God had ordered the answer of his prayer before he asked.
Daniel 10: 12-14 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.
Daniel was praying or supplicating for Jerusalem. Supplicating is an humble request to God for you, your family or others. So we can submit in prayer and we can supplicate in prayer.
Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
For those of you who have received the infilling of the Holy Spirit and pray in an unknown tongue as the Spirit gives you utterance, Paul is telling us to pray in the Spirit. What we find is, as we submit our physical being to prayer in the Spirit, God causes our understanding to increase so that we know how to pray for that person or situation in words we recognize.
It is reasonable to see that we would not of our own knowledge or understanding be equipped to pray for all saints intelligently. Without the Holy Spirit to guide us we are clueless as to the needs of others. Our heavenly father knows what they need and he can through a word of wisdom, word of knowledge or interpretation show us what to ask for.
Scripture tells us we have not because we ask not. [James 4:2]
Matthew 7:7-8 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.
Every day we should be asking God to help our government leaders, pastors, teachers, family and friends. Daniel didn’t pray once daily and be done. He found it necessary to go to God in prayer morning afternoon and night. We see the same example from Jesus. He often removed himself from the crowds and took time to refresh his spirit by praying. Fellowshipping with God is the best way to stay informed and know what God has intended for our lives and his people. Reach out to God today for wisdom and understanding how you can be a vital part of the body of Christ in prayer.

by Emily Wooten

God sent his son and Jesus the only begotten son of God too our griefs, sorrows, sickness and sin on himself in our place.
1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
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.
Luke 9:1-2 :Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
Matthew 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
If it is Jesus will that we rest in the health he provided 2000 years ago we have every right to ask God for his healing virtue to be manifest in our bodies.
Luke 8:43-44. 46-48 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stopped.
And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.
Matthew 11:28-29 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
If you haven’t seen the results you’ve been looking for, don’t give up or quit. In Ephesians 6 Paul told us when we’ve done all to stand to stand therefore: making sure that our loins girt about with truth, the breastplate of righteousness, our feet ready to go and tell the gospel of peace, taking the shield of faith and the shield of faith. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching. The woman with the issue of blood came to Jesus looking for results. We can follow her example. Scripture tells us she pressed in to get near to the savior. When obstacles try to distract or sidetrack us we can keep our minds stayed on God and what he said!
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous human availeth much.

Proverbs 4:20-23 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
3 John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
1 John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
Hebrews 12:12-13 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Romans 8:31-32 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Deuteronomy 7:15 And the Lord will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee.
Exodus 15:26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.
Jeremiah 30:17 For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD;
Jeremiah 33:6 Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days:

God is waiting on us to make the move toward demonstrating his word.

by Emily Wooten

We know that God is love. He is also a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:28-29 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.
White fire is a very intense and efficient burn with temperatures exceeding 2,700 degrees. It would be perfect for incinerating hazardous materials and contaminants.
Revelation 1:14-15 Jesus is described: His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
Malachi 3:2-3 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
Speaking of Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration: Mark 9:3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.
2 Corinthians 5:21: For He hath made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
1 Peter 1:15-16 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
That was a quote from Leviticus 11:44 For I am the Lord your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy:
2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
The fierce God David knew and trusted to give the enemy Goliath into his hand is that same God who loved us so that he sent his son Jesus to die in our place for our sins, so we can be THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD in Christ Jesus.
We take his righteousness the same way we took salvation. We believe it. We confess it. When we repent, scripture tells us that we are washed white as snow.
Isaiah 1:18 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 as wool.
If you have sinned, get over yourself and stop holding on to sin consciousness. Our God the Creator, Almighty God has provided sin exhalation. Repent and take it as your own, rejecting the devil’s reminders of all you’re not.
Psalm 103:11-12 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

by Emily Wooten

While studying on the word refresh, I ran across this definition: an act or function of updating the display on a screen. Websters also defines refresh as revise or update, to restore strength, revive or rejuvenate.
We may need to refresh our view and update our operating system.
Isaiah 2 :11-12 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
Strong’s says that word refreshing means to rest or a place to rest but it was taken from a root word that means to stir up, act in an instant. Let’s not be numbered among the ones who would not hear sound doctrine! God offers to his children, refreshing.
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 6:1-2 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
Now! Today! Why wait?
Humans need to know that there is a time where salvation is offered and rejecting or ignoring God’s call could result in eternal dis rest and torture. Let’s not candy coat the message of salvation.
Matthew 11:28-29 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Romans 6:22-23 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
There is rest and times of refreshing available. God encourages us to take part!
Humans can get tired to the bone. We can be worn down and exhausted sometimes by struggling at our own hand. We should take this opportunity to take stock and examine our lives.
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, 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…
Paul had just finished explaining how men and women of faith held out for God’s best.
Hebrews 11:33-35 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
God offers to us the sustaining power of rest and refreshing. Let’s be among the ones who say with all our being, Yes! I choose to enter into your rest and do more than I have ever done before! By your grace and favor I receive to myself times of refreshing. Replenish my strength and renew my knowledge of your will. Teach me to rest in your strength and perceive your plan in and through me. Father, get glory to yourself, in Jesus name.

by Emily Wooten

To bring back to life. . .
In order to bring something back to life it has to have once been alive. What happens in the human spirit when that person asks Jesus to forgive their sins and confesses Jesus is Lord is a miracle.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
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.
That person’s human spirit is reborn. Scripture warns us time and time again to nurture our relationship with God and put his word first place in all we do.
Romans 12:2 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.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
When a human believes Jesus is the son of God and confesses him as Lord of all, the journey to eternal life has just begun. Every moment we are offered opportunity to grow, mature and produce good fruit.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
What does the Bible say about the fruits of a newborn spirit?
2 Peter 1:4-8 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The first step to intimate fellowship with God is turning our attention to him. Paul prayed for the young church that God would help them. We can ask him for that too.
Ephesians 1: 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Colossians 1: 9-10 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Sowing the word of God in our spirit daily is the way to daily bring to life his promises in us. Things that are alive produce fruit. We are to daily resurrect his word in us. Paul told Timothy to, “…stir up the gift of God in you…” Resurrect your hope in eternal life by sharing God’s promises with someone today!