“God gives or God is?”

Here’s a VERY important truth for all Christ followers: (perhaps the most important truth of my life)

THE CONTRAST BETWEEN “GOD GIVES” AND “GOD IS”:
•The Lord doesn’t GIVE me strength, He IS my Strength!
•The Lord doesn’t GIVE me peace, He IS my Peace!
•The Lord doesn’t GIVE me confidence, He IS my Confidence!
•The Lord doesn’t GIVE me purpose, He IS my Purpose!
•The Lord doesn’t GIVE me joy, He IS my Joy!
•The Lord doesn’t GIVE me provisions, He IS my Provision!
•The Lord doesn’t GIVE me protection, He IS my Protection!
•The Lord doesn’t GIVE me anointing, He IS my Anointing!
•The Lord doesn’t give me ____________, He is my ____________!

“GOD GIVES” or “GOD IS”?
Understanding the difference between the two is to understand what it means to have your mind “renewed.”
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2 NIV)

My Prayer:
“Spirit of The Living God, empty me of self will & feelings and fill me with You so that You can be what I need. From here on out, in me, You Are…!”

Worship Preview 11.9.2014

We hope you are blessed by the worship selections this week.

Say So by Israel Houghton

Alive Forever Amen by Praise Gathering Music Group


Revelation Song by Kari Jobe

 Glorify Your Name by Israel Houghton

 All Hail King Jesus by Diversity Christian Fellowship

Moving Day

So much to say, so I’m going to say it in 3 points… (much like a good preacher’s sermon should be… lol!).
I’m titling this post…”Moving Day

1. GOD MOVED

First of all, I’ve got to give the Lord the glory for what He did in our service at Hope Assembly Church on October 19th. The Spirit of God was so powerful that halfway through the service, I felt impressed by the Lord to have all the sound and lights in the sanctuary shut down (you know, the “fluff”), and from there, we worshiped The Lord in a very basic, stripped-down setting; no mics, no anything! It was so anointed and awesome!!! We sang a-capella songs like, “Let Him Breathe On Me,” “Oh, How I Love Jesus,” “He Touched Me,” “Heart of Worship,” and many others; and I’m telling you, the Holy Spirit moved in a way I hadn’t seen in a long time. When we turned everything off, I believe The Lord was showing all of us that we need to depend less on the “stuff” to move us and depend a whole lot more on Him! The great sounding worship, cool lighting, padded seats, quality sound, perfect room temperature, and state-of-the-art media equipment, should never be the driving force that leads us into the presence of God. I have no problem using these things (because we do and will continue to); however, if these things become the primary driving force that takes us into “The Presence of God” each week, then frankly, we’re missing it!

In fact, here’s a good question for all churches…

Is your congregation set up in way that if the sound was taken away, or the instruments were taken away, or the building was taken away, would you still exist as a healthy, well-rounded church? If not, maybe it’s time to prepare it in such a way.

“Signs shall follow all those that believe”

On another note, the Lord began healing people in the altars during this service. And as far as I know, we had 4 confirmed healings of back problems. Praise the Lord!

2. I WAS MOVED

Tammy and I would like to thank everyone for the great Pastor’s Appreciation presentation and offering yesterday. We love and appreciate all of you too. There really is no better place we’d rather be right now than with the people of Hope Assembly Church in Fayetteville! You have truly become part of our family!

3. ROBERT CLARK MOVED

On October 19th, we celebrated the home-going of Robert Clark to his new home in Heaven. In the funeral service I said that Robert was “a man of God,” and I meant it. He loved the Lord with all his heart and I have no doubt that He’s in Heaven worshiping at the Throne of God right now! Robert was a interior trim carpenter by trade, and I’m sure even now, he’s working a deal with God to remodel the throne room of Heaven! At Hope Assembly Church, where Robert was a member and board member for many years, he had a part in building many of the fixtures and things around the facilities: things like the beautiful sound booth in the back of the sanctuary, the cross that hangs behind the podium, and he even built the altars that are still situated in the front of the sanctuary. In fact, these are the exact same altars that were right in the center of the move of God in this service. The day truly had made a full-circle back into itself. We love and will miss our dear brother Robert! In fact, the song at his funeral said, “Thank you for giving to the Lord, I am a life that was changed.” Even in this service and after church at his funeral, Robert’s contribution helped in changing the lives of those who came to those altars. Thank you Robert Clark for giving to the Lord!

Divine Healing

Do you Still Believe?

I went with a group from my church to a homeless ministry, Under The Bridge Ministry in Nashville to helpout. They have worship, prayer, hot food, and pass out clothing to all those who may need it. So I waited in line for my turn to help with the food and minister to one of the homeless waiting to find a seat. Up came Charlie. I must say I am very persistent and do not give up no matter what when trying to share the love of God and encourage those around me. I already was feeling some of the pain he was going through and was glad he wanted me to sit with him to talk. So in talking I began getting Words of Knowledge dealing with some of his hurt, however he was very reluctant to embrace it at all.

Never Give Up

So I pressed forward and I saw he kept coughing periodically. I inquired if he was sick or what was going on. He simply said I get shortness of breath. I knew then why God had set this appointment up! Backtracking, Charlie had not been to this particular ministry in over 2 years till this night and it happend to be my first night going with my church. Talk about Divine Appointments! So I told him well you can be healed tonight and get rid of that pain. I told him that is how much God loves you. He said I don’t really believe in laying on of hands and healing, that sort of thing. I recogonized immediately the enemy trying to creep in and take away his joy and the healing God had for him to come. So sharing with him some scripture and testimonies of what I have personally encountered myself, witnessed and experienced firsthand, Charlie said pointblank, do you really believe God can heal me? I said yes 100% without a doubt. So we prayed and I released healing into his body. I asked does it feel better now? He said well I won’t know till I go walking. I said ok, then does anywhere else on your body hurt? He said yes actually my sciatic nerve in my lower back hurts. I said well God can heal that now also. He did not at first want that prayed for because he felt he had to hold onto something to remind himself of the past. I told him God loves him too much and wants to take all the pain away. I told him that He is his comforter and will lead him along the way. Finally Charlie agreed for me to pray for his back. I asked him to stand up, so we could pray. We prayed and I released healing into his body, and while praying I could feel his back straighten up. I knew God just touched him. I asked after praying how does your back feel? He said the pain is gone! I said Hallelujah, God just healed you!

The Time Is Now

Jesus said, “Open your eyes and look, for the fields are white for harvest now.” (John 4:35)  “Pray ye that the Lord of the harvest would send forth labourers into His field.” (Matthew 9:38)

What are we waiting for? The time is now to step out of our comfort zone. Step outside of our box or bubble we have built up, forget being complacent anymore. That’s what God is calling this church to do, break forth from tradition, what we are so used to doing in our everyday life; just being comfortable. Tradition will not get us through. (2 Timothy 1:9) tells us we have a Holy calling. Not according to our works, but to His own Purpose and Grace. (Romans 8:28) says we are Called according to His purpose. (This is His purpose and not our purpose.)

The time is now to stop limiting God to what He can and wants to do in our lives. The you that You know and the You that God knows are two different people. All we have to do is see our calling and except it, then lay the things down of this world that we think are so important.

That is what Jesus wants us to do. Things of this world are only getting worse. People need Jesus now more than ever. That answer is, “The same yesterday, today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) Jesus our Lord, our Savior, My God.

Malachi told us some 2,024 years ago that just prior to the coming of the Lord that, “the Sun of righteousness would arise with healing in His wings.” (Malachi 4:2) The question is are we awake, are we slumber some with the luxuries of everyday life, cumbersome and content with what we have? The question is, are you looking for a, “city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God almighty.” (Hebrews 11:10)

I can tell you this now; the answer is the same as it has been since the beginning of time, Jesus Christ. We have been commissioned by God to go reap this harvest. (Mark 16:15) “Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.” That means Preach Jesus; Jesus Saves, Jesus Heals, Jesus Baptizes in the Holy Ghost and Jesus is coming again.

Maybe you feel inadequate to live up to that calling, but with God behind you and being a willing vessel, great and mighty things will take place. Just think about Joseph, David, or Daniel. God throughout the Bible will take people and use them from all walks of life that are ordinary to do extraordinary events in the history of the Bible. Whatever may be holding you back, if you will surrender it all, lay it down at the Altar, be a willing vessel, God can use you mightily.

The time is now for us as a whole to rise up. See another Great Awakening in America. (Haggai 2:7) tells us we can shake the nations, and the desires of all nations shall come: and the glory of the Lord will fill this house. It is time to allow God to launch us out into the deep for the fields are white for harvest.