Should you attend church?
5 Bible verses to help you answer that.

1 - MEET TOGETHER.
Hebrews 10:24-25 - And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

2 - HAVE FELLOWSHIP.
1 John 1:7 - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
 
3 – WORSHIP TOGETHER.
Psalm 150:1-6 - Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!

4 – GATHER WITH INTENTION.
Matthew 18:20 - For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.
 
5 – BE BLESSED.
Psalm 84:4 - Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Selah
 
Objection: I can profit as much by staying at home and reading the Scripture or some good book; it is the word of God which they preach, and it is that which I read at home. The books that are written by learned men are better than the sermons that are preached by our ministers.
Answer: What foolish pretences are these against the plain command of God and our own necessary duty! When God hath appointed you your duty, will He allow you to forsake it upon your own reason, as if you were wiser than God, and knew what will profit you better than He? Richard Baxter (12 November 1615 – 8 December 1691)
 
No more excuses, go back to Church.
​

​KNOW IT IN YOUR KNOWER.

 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” – Jesus (Matthew 7:21)

YOU CAN’T EARN IT:
Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not of works, so that no one may boast.

Titus 3:5  He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

OWN WAY vs ONE WAY:
Acts 4:12  And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

TAKE THE FIRST STEP:
Romans 10:8-10  But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.




 

​Going through a difficult time?
“Do not fear, for I am with you” - God

Isaiah 41:10 (KJV)
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.
1st - FEAR NOT
Hebrew Word: ‏yārēʾ  (Ya-Ray) To frighten, affright, be (make) afraid, dread.

WHY? God said “I am with Thee”
2nd - He is God.
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. Isaiah 40:28
3rd – He supplies Strength.
I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
4th – He has Help
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
5th – He Upholds us (Gives Support)
Hebrew: tāmak. (Ta-Mawk) to sustain; by implication to obtain, keep fast; figurative to help, follow close :- (take, up-) hold (up), maintain, retain, stay (up).

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10
 

WHO ARE YOU LISTENING TO?
1 Corinthians 15:33 (KJV)
33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
 
WHO ARE YOU FELLOWSHING WITH?
1- Proverbs 13:20 (KJV)
20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

2- Psalm 1:1-3 (KJV)
1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
 
NOW FOR AN ALTERNATIVE…
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
 
…AND THE BENEFIT
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 
​

HOW CAN I GET VICTORY?
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 
BIBLE VERSIONS.
Some have said that the second half of this verse was added by a scribe. Some say it was a mistake. The same thing is said also in verse 4, so it fits the way that Paul would speak. But that’s not the point, don’t get hung up on part of the verse and discredit the whole verse. We as Christians should not be fulfilling the lust of out flesh and walking in a worldly manner. We are the light of the world. My sins are covered in the blood that Jesus shed, so there is NO condemnation. Walk in victory not defeat.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 
WE HAVE FREEDOM
Do you want true freedom? We are free from the shackles that bind us and the weight that burdens us. Sin carries a heavy cost and we have been delivered from its curse.
3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 

Same as verse one. Jesus was our example and he gives up the power needed to walk away from temptation. Unfortunately we too often choose to indulge in sin rather then distance our self from it. If God convicts you of something he will give you what you need to walk away. Don’t buddy up to sin, it will kill you.
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
DEATH vs LIFE and PEACE
The choice is yours. You only have yourself to blame for most of the mess you get into. I choose life in Christ.  Why is this hard to do? Verse 7…
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
WHAT IS CARNEL?
σάρξ sárx, sarx; probably from the base of G4563; flesh (as stripped of the skin), i.e. (strictly) the meat of an animal (as food), or (by extension) the body (as opposed to the soul (or spirit), or as the symbol of what is external, or as the means of kindred), or (by implication) human nature (with its frailties (physically or morally)

Is there any hope then? Yes there is look at verse 9:
9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

IT ALL COMES DOWN TO JESUS.
KNOW JESUS/KNOW LIFE
NO JESUS/NO LIFE
 
FAMILY OF THE DEVIL <VS> THE FAMILY OF GOD.
Romans 8:12-17
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 
DON’T LIVE ACCORDING TO THE FLESH.
13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 
BECAUSE YOU WILL DIE! The reward for being part of the devils family.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 
I AM A CHILD OF GOD.
15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 
BECOME PART OF A FAMILY.
16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
WE HAVE AN INHERITANCE. The reward for being part of God’s family.


From Suffering to Glory
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of [f]corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession [g]for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
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. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
God’s Everlasting Love
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
 

Sometimes we just need to look at things from a new point of view. If you were faceing a problem and Jesus came down and set his hand on your back it would change your attitude. He always has your back. Paul lays out a classic example of if you understand this, then let me show you something else teaching. 

Romans 7:1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
REMEMBER WHO PAUL WAS.
WHO IS HE TALKING TO?
2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
THIS WAS THE LAW, PAUL IS MAKING A POINT.
4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
DON’T BE MARRIED TO THE LAW.
5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
NEWNESS OF SPIRIT.
6 But now we are DELIVERED from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should SERVE in NEWNESS OF SPIRIT, and not in the oldness of the letter.

It is God who can give you a fresh start and when he is on your side, everything will work out. Trust him today and you will see, He is a good good God.

​Romans Chapter 1... This chapter has us all missing the mark. So glad for the grace of God, we need it. The list of things Paul lays out is pretty extencive and covers a multitude of sins. There is something else that can wash away sin, find out in today message.

WHAT ARE WE TO DO WITH SIN?
Ignore it. “Like” It’s not wrong. This leads to - Declare it with No shame.
Abhor it. Because, "it is wrong." This leads to Repair it, In Jesus name.

How can we find repair?
1st, Realize we all have to deal with our own sins.
2nd, Realize only through Jesus can we find forgiveness.
3rd, Share what Jesus did for us.

And before you jump up on a stump shaking you finger at someone else make sure you check out chapter 2.
Romans 2:1
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

Remember where you were and what you have been through, Jesus loves people enought to give his life so that they might be saved. Pray for people with the zeal and compassion. I needed it, you needed it, and they need it.
See Less

There is a lot of talk about hate in the news of recent. It seams that if anyone disagrees with a point of view they are labeled a "Hater". When you have real love for people it will show it self in a scriptural and Godly manner. It will also not turn a blind eye when a person is being destructive to themselves. Real love would never leave someone in a pit of despair. When someone turns away from the scripture and lives without care to God's will for their life, it brings sadness and suffering. The devil comes to kill and destroy, but Jesus came to give us life. It is true love to show people how to find a way to live out their faith according to the scriptures that the faith of Christianity is based on.  For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that who ever believes on him wont perish with out God, but have eternal life. Our eternal destiny is contingent on the greatest act of love ever. Jesus died on the cross so that we could have life. When we understand that, it changes the way we act toward others. If we say we have love then it is time we show it. How can YOU show the love of God to others? Here is a few things to get you started: 

Love is patient and kind. 
Love does not envy or boast.
Love is not arrogant  or rude.
Love is not self-serving.
Love is not easily angered,
nor does it keep a count of wrongs. 
Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness.
Instead, it rejoices in the truth.
Love bears all things,
Love believes all things,
Love hopes all things,
and Love endures all things. 
​Love NEVER fails.

A CHURCH SHOULD BE:
A people who hunger for God, experience the presence of God, and stand in awe of His holiness as He changes believers into conformity with Christ.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6
 
HUNGER:
Hunger for God.
Do you have a hunger for the things of God?
Good food produces a good smell, a good smell can make you hungry. Ahhh the smell of good cooking. It’s like when you drive past a good restaurant and can smell the food all the way out in the street. It can make you want to eat. Hunger for God can be like this too, if you surround yourself with garbage you will have a hard time getting hungry for the things of God. You don’t get an appetite by smelling trash.
Q: Is there trash in your life that needs to be cleaned up?

PRESENCE:
Hunger brings Presence.
The presence of the Lord is like no other experience in life.
What happens when the presence of God comes on people?
The children of Israel were afraid.

God is here:
Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.

God is there:
Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
 
God is everywhere:
Joshua 1:9 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
But…
Sin hinders everything now, especially man’s experience of God’s presence.
 
HOLINESS:
Presence brings Holiness.
Hebrews 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
Q: What happened to Holiness?
Q: What is Holiness?
Greek Holiness= English Words used in KJV:
holiness 5 times
sanctification 5 times
from <G37> (hagiazo); properly purification, i.e. (the state) purity; concrete (by Hebrew) a purifier :- holiness, sanctification.

Holiness brings Change.
CHANGE brings CONFOMITY:
If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. - Jesus

God does not change, so we must.
What has changed since we believed?
We must be born again.
Are we still the same?
Are we acting like Jesus?

John 14:17 The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and He will be in you.

How is your relationship with God?
Do you know in your knower that you are going to heaven?
How can you know?
If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
​Romans 10:9-10

THINGS TO LOOK FOR IN A CHURCH:
A body that is directed by the Spirit, fully understanding that baptism in the Holy Spirit is both a personal blessing and endowment of power for witness and service in fulfilling the Great Commission.
Looking for a church to call home? Been out and about but you still have not found a place that is the perfect church? Well if you ever find the perfect church, don’t go there; it won’t be perfect any more. The best way to is to be a part of the team. Simply put it is about being more than just a hearer, but also a doer. I can tell you that churches we have gone to and found things lacking in are the places we volunteered. Why would we feel compelled to get involved? What makes some Christians take the next step. How can people just sit in the same seat Sunday after Sunday and never do something? No job in the church is a small thing. Greeting people, cleaning, ushering, praying, landscaping, vacuuming, it is about service. Some are called, some are sent, some just packed up and went. Here are three things that can motivate you into being more of a part on the inside than looking in through the windows. We need workers, singers, sound techs, and even tithers to make the church effective. It is US we are the team. Are you ready to take the next step?

DIRECTION
STEP ONE: BE LEAD
God wants to lead you; he wants to show you how to serve Him. That is why we have the Word. It is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. If we don’t ask for directions we tend to get lost. Have you ever felt that you just don’t need to go in a certain direction of place only to find that if you had, you would have been in the middle of a mess? That’s the leading. The more you follow the better you get at listening. Jesus said ”My sheep know my voice” That means he speaks to us, are you listening?

Romans 8 13
For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Romans 8:5
Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 
Q: How can I be a better follower?

BAPTISM
STEP TWO: BE FILLED.
You prayed and accepted what Jesus did for you on the cross and believe he rose from the dead. You confessed with your mouth what you believed in your heart. But your life still is stuck in the same old same old. Still living without a feeling of victory?  Becoming a Christian does not end all your troubles in life, it just means we win in the end. We can have abundant life and live in victory. Wouldn’t it be great if like a superhero we had some kind of dynamo power inside that would turn us from just getting by in this walk to having a power that made us stronger in the Lord? There is, the Holy spirit wants to fill you to overflowing like he did the apostles and early saints of the church. Look at this passage about some believers that Paul ministered to.
 
Acts 19:1-6
And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples 2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Here are some scriptures where people were filled with the Spirit and what happened:

Luke 1:41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
Acts 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.
Now what?

INFUSION
STEP THREE: WITNESS AND SERVE.
(The introduction of a new element or quality into something.) Is it time for you to have a new element infused into you walk with God?  Take some time and ask God to fill you to the brim with his presence and then stay there till you are overflowing with the goodness of God. When this happens it will spill over into all areas of your life. It will be strength to see you through. It will give you boldness, joy, and repair. Trust God, he will help you in your prayer time and when the flowing starts it will be pure power.

Matthew 28:16-20
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:20 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.
Acts 1:8 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 2:38 -39 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

If you are spending week after week just attending church and not feeling like you have the motivation to get involved, then please take some time to pray for God to fill you with this same power found in the book of Acts. God still pours out his Spirit on the church today. He still does miracles, He still answers prayers and YOU will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.
 
Church of God Intercession City would love to have you visit. Sundays at 10am.