Strangers? Not in God's House!

God's House

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands ~ Acts 17:24 ~

Many people act differently at church compared to when at home, school, or work because they think of church as God's house. But God says's He does not live in temples built by hands. God cannot be contained in a building, He is everywhere. As a Christ follower God also lives in your heart. Jesus said "Worship in Spirit and Truth" If you truly love Jesus and want to worship Him, be honest, sing songs of praise, act justly, love mercy, be kind, love people, if you truly want to worship God, don't worship only at church, worship everywhere, all the time, worship Him with your life!



Men's Ministry Dinner

FOOD  *  FUN  *  FELLOWSHIP

Men, come on out for a taste of India Friday November 11th from 6-10pm

$10.00 per person to cover the cost of the food - R.S.V.P. required.

(please pay in advance - tickets available from Frank Woods or myself - Bart Helmbreck)

Menu

Tandoori Murgh (Chicken)

West Indian Rice and Beans

Shrimp Tikka with Fresh Mango Chutney

Crispy Okra Salad

Chilled Banana and Pistachio Rice Pudding

 Normandy Village Apartments

2562 N 124th St. #404, Wauwautosa, WI 53226 

Friday November 11th from 6-10pm

Bart Helmbreck (414-678-8323)

R.S.V.P. at healingwatersofmarah@gmail.com      

Bitter Sweet

Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water when they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. ~ Exodus 15:22-25 ~

A human can only last about 3 days without water before they die. For the Israelites, it had been 3 days. The Israelites looked to a man for help and saw no way of escape, but Moses looked to God. Psalm 121:2 tells us "My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth" God will always provide what we need, exactly when we need it, if we just call on him, obey Him, and trust Him. So if there is something bitter (or bad) in your life, call on the Lord, trust Him with all your heart and at exactly the right time, in exactly the right way, God will make it sweet (or good) The scriptures tell us in Romans 8:28 "All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose" Remember the help or blessing will be according to His purpose and His plans, not ours, for it is all for His glory. This scripture is why my email address is what it is "HealingWatersof Marah" When I cried out to Jesus, turned my life over to Him and surrendered my will to His will, God took some really bitter (bad) things in my life and made something good out of it (He made it sweet and healing) My email is a daily reminder that Jesus saved me, for me to trust God, obey His commands, and the sacrifice Jesus made for me, to God be the glory! 



In His Humiliation - Study Verses for Week 10/16/11 - 10/22/11

Philippians 2:3-8 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature^b of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross!

Philippians 2:9 - And all is crowned by His glorious exaltation: "God has highly exalted Him"

We must be like Christ in self -emptying and self-humiliation. Christ teaches us it is not sin that must humble us like many Christians think, No, it is grace we need and not sin to make and keep us humble.

Luke 4;11

Matthew 16:25

Galatians 5:24

Romans 8:13

We must trust ourselves fully to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He will guide us, for it is His work, and he will glorify Christ in us.

The blessedness of a Christ like humility is unspeakable. it is of great worth in the sight of God. "He gives grace to the humble"

Proverbs 3:34

James 4:6

The faith that with His atonement, accepts His example too, is alone true faith.

Humility is always ready to praise God for the least of His mercies.

Matthew 8:8

Matthew 15:26-28

What a glorious calling for the followers of Christ! To be sent into the world by God to prove that there is nothing more divine than self-humiliation. The humble glorifies God, he leads others to glorify God, and he will at last be glorified with Him.

 Who doesn't want to be humble like Jesus?

Via Dolorosa - The Path of Suffering

Jesus was humiliated, suffered and lay down His life for you and for me. Are we willing to be humiliated, suffer and lay down our lives for others to see Christ in us? Think about this the next time someone offends you, takes advantage of you, or says something hurtful to you.

Are you willing to lay your life down for Jesus?

  "When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world"
 ~ 1 Corinthians 4:12-13 ~

Lyrical Theology & Holy Hip Hop

Pastor Thabiti Anyabwile on Holy Hip Hop and the Reformed Resurgence

Captive Project - An Urban Arts Ministry

Proud to call these guys my brothers in Christ!

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” ~ Luke 4:18-19 ~

This is Discipling

Sword of the Spirit Memory Verse

1 Peter 13:16 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;

 When tempted with sin today from anger to lying, stealing, cheating, lust and anything else, use the sword of the Spirit against the enemy. Speak the Word of God aloud and then stand firm. When tempted today say...

it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

Kingdom Come - by Frank Woods

Your presence in the tabernacle, middle of the camp
guidance in the day and night, You are the lamp
stamped and sealed with the law, at the mountain
hearts revealed we dirty, need a fountain
reign over Your people, set the standard for You kingdom
tell em' there's a place of blessing, only You can bring em'
only You can clean em', show us all purpose
true meaning of love, that is deeper than surface

Let Your rain, rain, rain, rain, come down, down, down
let Your reign, reign, reign, come down, down, down
You wear the crown, crown, crown
Cleanse the ground, ground, ground

show us that Your good, seperate us from your wrath
some say it's many roads, to heaven -ONE PATH
there is one truth, there is one life
all wrapped in Jesus, hope that cuts you like a knife
He is the light, Lord and Savior
provision and substanance, answer to your prayers
we choose in life, in death where we go
Satan's greatest weapon, is deception,  you don't know, you don't know

Hear Him speakin' harden not your heart
He really cares, before your life depart
you deny His grace, inherit no part
for you when the time, of refreshin' start

Let Your rain, rain, rain, rain, come down, down, down
let Your reign, reign, reign, come down, down, down
You wear the crown, crown, crown
Cleanse the ground, ground, ground

O' What a Happy Soul am I

Today I wish to share a poem. This poem was written about a hundred and fifty years ago by a 8 year old blind girl by the name of Fannie Crosby. 

"O' what a happy soul am I.  Although I cannot see, I am resolved that in this world, contented I will be. How many blessings I enjoy that other people don't. To weep and sigh because I'm blind, I cannot, I wont."

To be content means to be satisfied with what you have. Paul was beaten, stripped, run out of town, homeless, and hungry more often than not and he says's in Philippians 4:11 "...I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances" It's OK to have desires and dreams, and it's OK to achieve them, we just do not put them above God, and regardless of whether we achieve them or not, we praise God in spite of our circumstances because we know our real blessing is not found in material things but in abiding in Jesus and being reunited with God. Jesus tells us in Luke 11:28 "Blessed are those who hear God's word and obey it" Fanny Crosby went on to write over a thousand poems, many which are used as hymns even today, she had multiple books published and at least 4 biography's written about her. And don't forget she started it all as a little blind girl.

Pray and Be Alone with God

Drunkeness, Bars, Nightclubs, Disc Jockey's & Bands

Woe to those who rise early in the morning to run after their drinks (work so they can go to the bar) who stay up late at night till they are inflamed with wine (drunk) They have harps and lyres at their banquets, tambourines and flutes (Disc Jockeys or Bands) and wine, but they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord,, no respect for the work of His hands. (harps were made for godly celebrations & to worship God - music is to honor and worship God, most of today's secular music does not honor God & is often used in perverted ways, especially in bars and nightclubs) Therefore the grave enlarges it's appetite and opens it's mouth without limit; and into it will descend nobles and masses with all the brawlers and revelers. Woe to those who call evil good and good evil (don't fool yourself or anyone else that this is acceptable) Woe to those who are hero's at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks (bartenders, power drinkers, people referred to being able to "drink people under the table", people who "hold their own" excessive drinkers) Therefore the Lord's anger burns against His people: His hand is raised and He strikes them down. The mountains shake, and the dead bodies are like refuse in the streets.
 ~ Isaiah 6:11,12,14,22,25 ~

Study Verses for Week 10/09/11 - 10/15/11

 There is a world, with it's needs entirely dependant on and waiting to be help by intercession. There is a God in heaven waiting to be asked.

 1. For what specific purpose does God seek intercessors, people who will pour out their hearts and offer their requests on behalf of others, in the Church today?

2. For what specific needs is God calling you to be an intercessor today? How can we know that he has called you to pray for those needs?

3. Why can't and won't God take the work of intercession out of the hands of His people today?

Isaiah 62:6-7

Isaiah 59:16

Isaiah 63:5

Isaiah 64:7

Ezekiel 22:30

John 15:16

Luke 18:7

Romans 15:30

Men's Ministry Open House

Stop by and say hi, introduce yourself, or stay for some food, fun, and fellowship. No agenda, no cost, no need to call or confirm, just building friendships and community. You never know who you might meet, make an effort to stop by.

Friday Night (Oct 7th) 7:00pm - 10pm

Saturday (Oct 8th) Noon - 10pm

Bart Helmbreck - 414-678-8323
2562 n 124th St #404
Wauwatosa, WI 53226
Normandy Village Apts (in the same building as the office, just follow signs)

Is Sin Dead?

Sin is not dead, No, sin is alive and working against the flesh but WE as Christians are dead to it! Amen. Throw a ball to a dead person and he is not going to catch it, he's dead! Throw temptation of sin at a Christian and he will not catch it, he's dead! We died on the cross with Jesus! The only way a Christian sins is when either by being unaware, off-guard or purposefully, he permits it. We need to start speaking the Word as the Sword of the Spirit to temptation like Jesus did, For example when men are tempted with lust they can say aloud "It is written, treat young woman as sisters with absolute purity" then do it! We not only speak the Word to Satan but we speak aloud God's command to ourselves and then stand in victory! We cannot bind Satan from tempting us but we can through the blood of Christ bind the POWER of sin over us and loose the POWER of Jesus in us.

 (James 4:7)  (Ephesians 6:11).  (Romans 8:11) 

Small group verses for week 10/02/11 – 10/08/11

In the Likeness of His Death

It is to the death of Christ we owe our salvation. The better we understand the meaning of that death, the richer will be our experience of its power.

o    Romans 6:5, 10-11

Christ had a double work to accomplish in His death. The one part was to work out righteousness for us, the other to obtain life for us. When scripture speaks of the  first part of this work, it uses the expression “Christ died for our sin”

o    1 Corinthians 15:3

When scripture speaks of the second part of this work, it uses the expression “He died to sin”

o    Romans 6:10

 Through our first birth we become partakers in Adam’s death, but through the second birth we become partakers in the death of the second Adam. Every believer who accepts of Christ is partaker of the power of His death and is dead to sin. The Christian who does not understand this always imagines that sin is to strong for him, that sin still has power over him, and that he must sometimes obey it.

 The new life that is in me is the life of Christ from the dead, a life that has begotten through death, a life that is entirely dead to sin. The believer as a new creature in Christ Jesus can glory and say: “Like Christ I am dead to sin. Sin has no right or power over me whatsoever. I am freed from it, and therefore I do not need to sin.”

 If the believer still sins, it is because he does not use his privilege to live as one who is dead to sin. Through ignorance or unwatchfulness or unbelief, he forgets the meaning and power of this likeness of Christ’s death, and so he sins. But if he holds firmly what his participation with Christ signifies, he has the power to overcome sin.

 It is not said “Sin is dead” No, sin is not dead! Sin lives and works in the flesh. But the Christian himself is dead to sin and alive to God, and so sin cannot for a single moment, without his consent, have dominion over him. If he sins, it is because he allows it to reign and submits himself to obey it.

Endeavor to understand more deeply what it says to live/dead to sin.

o    Romans 6:2-3

If there be one thing you need more than and above all else, it is this; to know that exceeding greatness of God’s power that works in you. It was the power of eternity that Christ in His death wrestled with and conquered the powers of hell. You have part with Christ in His death, so you have part in all the powers by which He conquered. Yield yourself joyfully and believingly to be led more deeply into the conformity to Christ’s death. Then you cannot but become like Him!

Fencing Lesson #1

 When tempted with sin use the SWORD of the Spirit as your weapon of choice as it is commanded.

When the enemy tempts you with lust speak God's Word back and with authority!

Say aloud..."It is written, Treat...younger women as sisters, with absolute purity." 1 Timothy 5:1-2 Take the time to dig into God's Word, find other commands, memorize them, and use them as you would a sword to cut down the enemy when he speaks temptations to you. Remember though, this is not just something you say to the enemy, God is also speaking it to you. The power is not so much in what is being said but who is saying it! Humble yourself before your Lord and you will do well.

Where's God when I need Him?

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. ~ Jeremiah 29:13 ~ My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom,and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. ~Proverbs 2:1-11 Now, read this again but pray the Holy Spirit will reveal the hidden things to you. 7 is the number of completion, there are 7 things here God tells us to do. Read each one slowly and meditate upon what God is saying and how to apply it to your life.