John 11:25-26

"Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”"
Jesus is asking you:
DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?
But if you continue reading The Gospel, you will soon realize that Jesus rarely requires a response, instead He desires a walk.
As Jesus was asking Martha this question, He was making His way to the tomb of Lazarus to raise Him from the dead!
Jesus made a statement, asked a question & later proved the statement true in Martha's life, not because she merely responded to Him, but because she continued to walk with Him & eventually witnessed the miracle of resurrection!
DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?
"LET YOUR RESPONSE BE A CONTINUAL WALK!"
"EASTER IS ABOUT CELEBRATING JESUS' RESURRECTION!"
"BUT JESUS WANTS YOU TO WALK WITH HIM UNTIL YOU CELEBRATE YOURS!'
Happy Easter Everyone!

Jude 1-2

"Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance."
As we celebrate this Easter Season,
Let us remember its true purpose:
"MERCY, PEACE & LOVE BE YOURS IN ABUNDANCE!"
Jesus' Death secured forgiveness for whoever believes in Him!
Jesus' Resurrection secured eternity for whoever believes in Him!
"JESUS' LIFE IS EASTER'S TRADEMARK!"
Therefore, this Easter Season, don't turn the focus anywhere else.
"EASTER = THE DEATH & RESSURECTION OF JESUS CHRIST!"
The Focus behind Easter must be Eternity, or it will loose its value!
While it is perfectly fine to dress up for Easter,
It is more important that we understand:
"EASTER IS ABOUT CELEBRATING WHAT JESUS DID ON THE CROSS TO HEAL OUR INWARD CONDITION & NOT ABOUT HOW GOOD WE LOOK ON THE OUTSIDE!"
While it is perfectly fine to enjoy Easter Dinner,
It is more important that we understand:
"EASTER IS ABOUT MAKING JESUS THE GUEST OF HONOR AT OUR GATHERINGS & CELEBRATE HIS GREAT SACRIFICE & VICTORY!"
The purpose of Easter was for us to attain the unattainable through the impossible!
Jesus did that for us when He died & rose again!
"MERCY, PEACE & LOVE BE YOURS IN ABUNDANCE!"
God Bless You All!

Luke 23:32-43

"Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the Jews. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise.”
"IN GOD'S EYES, WE ARE ALL CRIMINALS BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL BROKEN HIS LAWS IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER!"
But the good thing about 'GOOD FRIDAY' is that it reminds us at least once a year of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus at Calvary!
"JESUS WILLINGLY CLIMBED UP ON THE CROSS FOR OUR SINS!"
"HE WILLINGLY TOOK OUR PUNISHMENT UPON HIMSELF!"
"HIS GOAL WAS TO RESTORE US TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER!"
The question today, as it is every other day of our life is:
"WILL WE BE THE CRIMINAL ON THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT?"
"WILL WE ACCEPT SUCH GREAT SALVATION OR REJECT IT?"
Don't make it a 'Good Friday', make it an 'Eternity' for your soul!

Psalm 21:6

"You have Endowed him with Eternal Blessings and given him the Joy of Your Presence."
"I LOVE YOUR PRESENCE, JESUS!"
WITHOUT AWARENESS OF GOD'S PRESENCE,
THERE CAN NOT BE OBEDIENCE!
Obedience is the result of Reverence!
But we can never truly attain Reverence without Awareness!
While others can tell you about His Grace & Mercy,
It is only in God's Presence that we can truly experience:
"HOW GREAT & HOW AWESOME HE TRULY IS!"
Descriptions can only take you so far!
"While the THOUGHT of a delicious meal is pleasing to the mind, the TASTE is what truly satisfies the belly!
Today, I want to encourage you to take some time to personally press into God's Presence & taste for yourself of His Goodness!
Then, you will soon discover that obeying God becomes that much easier because you don't feel like "YOU HAVE TO", instead you feel like "YOU WANT TO" out of respect for the One you love!
"I LOVE YOUR PRESENCE, JESUS!"
"Obedience results from a Deep Awareness of God's Presence in your life!"
"Fall in love with Jesus, then watch how easy it is to serve Him!"

Mark 11:25-26

FORGIVENESS & PRAYER
“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
I just sense that someone is in need of these Words at this very moment!

Psalm 27:14

"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."
"WAITING ON THE LORD DOES NOT MEAN: TO STAND AROUND IDLELY WHILE HE DOES ALL THE WORK!"
"INSTEAD IT REQUIRES US TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THE HE WILL PROVIDE FOR OUR EVERY NEED!"
"WHETHER STANDING STILL OR GOING AHEAD OF EVERYONE ELSE, WE MUST BELIEVE THAT GOD IS OUR SOLE PROVIDER!"
"WE MUST BELIEVE THAT GOD IS MORE THAN ENOUGH!"
We must believe that "God is Our Strength" because His Word says so!
We must "Move Forward" because He requires it of us!
DO YOU WANT TO SEE A MIRACLE TAKE PLACE IN YOUR LIFE?
THEN:
"WAIT on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart: WAIT, I say, on the LORD."
"WHEN ETERNITY CONSUMES YOUR MIND,
YOU NO LONGER FEEL THE NEED TO BE IN A HURRY!"

Surrender at Gethsemane

	Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch."

—Mark 14:34

Have you ever felt lonely? Have you ever felt as though your friends and family had abandoned you? Have you ever felt like you were misunderstood? Have you ever had a hard time understanding or submitting to the will of God for your life?

If so, then you have an idea of what the Lord Jesus went through as He agonized at Gethsemane.

Hebrews tells us, "This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it" (4:15–16 NLT).

The Bible tells us that Jesus was "a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief" (Isaiah 53:3 NLT). But the sorrow He experienced in Gethsemane on the night before His crucifixion seemed to be the culmination of all the sorrow He had ever known and would accelerate to a climax the following day. The ultimate triumph that was to take place at Calvary was first accomplished beneath the gnarled old olive trees of Gethsemane.

It is interesting that the very word Gethsemane means "olive press." Olives were pressed there to make oil, and truly, Jesus was being pressed from all sides that He might bring life to us. I don't think we can even begin to fathom what He was going through. 

But look at what it accomplished. It brought about your salvation and mine. Because of what Jesus went through at Gethsemane and ultimately at the cross, we can call upon His name. Though it was an unfathomably painful, horrific transition, it was necessary for the ultimate goal of what was accomplished.

Maybe you are at a crisis point in your life right now—a personal Gethsemane, if you will. You have your will; you know what you want. Yet you can sense that God's will is different.

Would you let the Lord choose for you? Would you be willing to say, "Lord, I am submitting my will to Yours. Not my will, but yours be done"? You will not regret making that decision.

Have Pastor Greg's devotions blessed you? Write and tell him!

Greg@harvest.org 

2 Kings 17:13-15

"The Lord warned Israel and Judah through all His prophets and seers: “Turn from your evil ways. Observe My commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your ancestors to obey and that I delivered to you through My servants the prophets.” But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their ancestors, who did not trust in the Lord their God. They rejected His decrees and the covenant He had made with their ancestors and the statutes He had warned them to keep. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the Lord had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.”"
"BUT THEY WOULD NOT LISTEN & WERE AS STIFFED-NECKED AS THEIR ANCESTORS, WHO DID NOT TRUST IN THE LORD THEIR GOD..."
Israel's greatest sin was not their disobedience, nor their idolatry!
In fact, those were just symptoms of their true error!
Their greatest sin was one that we commit many times ourselves, if in fact, we are truthful with ourselves!
THE FACT THAT THEY DID NOT TRUST THE LORD,
WAS THE TRUE SOURCE OF THEIR DISOBEDIENCE!
THE FACT THAT THEY DID NOT TRUST THE LORD AS THEIR GOD,
WAS THE TRUE SOURCE OF THEM SEEKING A HIGHER POWER ELSEWHERE!
Unless we TRUST that God will do what He promises,
WE WILL NEVER OBEY HIM!
Unless we TRUST that God is enough in our circumstances,
WE WILL NEVER ALLOW HIM TO BE OUR SOURCE OF POWER!
They imitated the nations around them although the Lord had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.”"
"Imitating this world will only make you a reflection of it!"
BUT AREN'T WE AS CHRISTIANS SUPPOSED TO IMITATE CHRIST?
"DO NOT DO AS THEY DO!"
"INSTEAD, DO AS CHRIST DID!"
"TRUST THE FATHER'S PLAN!"

Recall Notice!

Someone emailed me this and found it to be interesting and so I wanted to share with you. Here it is:

RECALL NOTICE:

The Maker of all human beings (GOD) is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart. This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units.

This defect has been identified as "Sub-sequential Internal Non-morality," more commonly known as S.I.N., as it is primarily expressed.

Some of the symptoms include:
1. Loss of direction
2. Foul vocal emissions
3. Amnesia of origin
4. Lack of peace and joy
5. Selfish or violent behavior
6. Depression or confusion
7. Fearfulness
8. Idolatry
9. Rebellion

The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory-authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this defect.

The Repair Technician, JESUS, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs. There is no additional fee required.

The number to call for repair in all areas is: P-R-A-Y-E-R.

Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure.

Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component.
No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, Jesus will replace it with:
1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self control
Please see the operating manual, the B.I.B.L.E. (BEST Instructions Before Leaving Earth) for further details on the use of these fixes.

WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction voids any manufacturer warranties, exposing the unit to dangers and problems too numerous to list, and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded. For free emergency service, call on Jesus.
DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven so as to prevent contamination of that facility. Thank you for your attention!
 GOD
P.S. Please assist where possible by notifying others of this important recall notice, and you may contact the Father any time by 'Knee mail'!
Because HE Lives!

The Power of God!

 

Luke 1:37  For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Nothing is impossible with God!  What a thought!  So many times we get too caught up in our daily lives that we fail to realize that we have a BIG God!  Praise the Lord that God is bigger than the situations we find ourselves in. He is bigger that our circumstances. Truly, God has a powerful destiny for your life. He has a beautiful plan. The thing is, that you cannot fulfill this plan without the planner.  WE NEED THE LORD ON OUR SIDE!

When the Lord is on our side then the impossible become the possible. In other words, the extraordinary becomes the ordinary with God.

Are you hungry for the impossible? Do you want to see God do miracles in your life and others? Then you are at a place for more of God!

Here is a prayer:

Jesus:

I am hungry for more of You in my life. Please fill me with your anointing. Fill me with your power today so the impossible becomes the possible with You.  For nothing is impossible for You! I believe your Word, I believe that you are the God that works miracles. Show yourself strong in my life that I may live a victorious life in you. Use me selfishly to further your kingdom here upon the earth. I receive your healing in my body today!  In Jesus name!

Event Cancelation Notice

Prayer and Worship at Bart's House on Friday March 29th has been cancelled due to having to go to Arizona. My father is in the hospital and in critical condition, please pray for him and our trip.

 

I have rescheduled this night to Friday April 12th from 7-9pm.

 

Thank you to everyone keeping us in your prayers.

 

In Christ, Bart Helmbreck 

2 Kings 15:9a

"He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as his predecessors had done."
"AS HIS PREDECESSORS HAD DONE!!!"
Sad!!! Sad!!! Sad!!!
Let there be a PAUSE when you read this!!!

"THERE IS NOTHING MORE TRAGIC, THAN FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF SOMEONE THAT IS HEADED FOR DESTRUCTION!"
Question:
If you knew that your peers were headed off a cliff, would you follow them?
The truth is that many of us are sadly mistaken about which road we are travelling!
WE DO WHAT EVERYONE ELSE DOES!
WE SAY WHAT EVERYONE ELSE SAYS!
WE BEHAVE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE BEHAVES!
WE EVEN PRAY LIKE EVERYONE ELSE PRAYS!
But the true question is:
"DO WE LIVE THE WAY GOD DESIRES FOR US TO LIVE?"
Dare to be different! Dare to live a Godly Life! Dare to be the example that others can actually look up to!
"DARE TO LIVE LIKE JESUS & NOT LIKE EVERYONE ELSE!"
"He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as his predecessors had done."
"AS HIS PREDECESSORS HAD DONE!!!"
This king did what everyone else did!
Please don't make the same tragic mistake of confusing Human Tradition with Godly Obedience!
GODLY OBEDIENCE COMES FROM DOING WHAT GOD REQUIRES!
BUT KNOWING WHAT GOD REQUIRES COMES FROM A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM, NOT A THIRD PARTY!
Let God's Word be your Navigational System & not man's ideals!

True Fasting

While in exile, Jews had fasted and mourned on certain days in memory of the siege and overthrow of Jerusalem. Now that they had returned to Jerusalem they wanted to know: should we keep fasting? Zechariah warned that all religious ceremonies, however proper, were meaningless unless peoples lives were controlled by God.

 

Zechariah 7:8-10 - And the word of the Lord came again to Zechariah: “This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’

We see the same thing in Micah and Isaiah...

 

Micah 6:8 - He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God

 

Isaiah 58:6-9 The message translation “This is the kind of fast day I’m after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed & cancel debts. What I’m interested in seeing you do is:

sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless & poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families. Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. Righteousness will pave your way. The God of glory will secure your passage. Then when you pray, God will answer.
You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, ‘Here I am.’

  

Hebrews 13:2

"Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it."
"GOD WORKS THROUGH THOSE WE DON'T EXPECT!"
Today, I would like to tell of the unsung heroes in my life that many do not know about!
I would like to begin with my cousin & her spouse, Eddie & Maritza, who in my youth took me in when my mistakes were more than I could number!
BUT THEY LOVED ME, HOUSED ME, FED ME & WERE A GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHAT A COUPLE SHOULD BE!
Next, I want to boast about my brother, Roman, who continually stuck his neck out for me throughout the years!
THE TRUTH IS THAT HE IS THE ONE WHO TAUGHT ME WHAT IT REALLY MEANT TO BE A MAN!
Now, I would like to tell you about a couple in the Lord, Johnny & Wendy Diaz, who decided many years ago to take a risk with a recently released inmate & opened the doors of their house to me showing me true unconditional love when no one else would even say so much as "Hello" to me!
I AM WHERE I AM TODAY BECAUSE YOUR ACTIONS SPOKE MORE TO ME THAN EVERYONE ELSE'S WORDS EVER COULD!
There are many more unsung like;
William Ross, my instructor in HUMILITY!
Leon Johnson, my instructor in GIVING!
Christian Thompson, my instructor in SERVICE & INTEGRITY!
He's also my closest friend!
Steve Nicholas, my instructor in the BUSINESS WORLD!
And if I keep mentioning, I will never be able to end!
The point is;
"GOD WORKS THROUGH THOSE WE DON'T EXPECT!"
These were to me, what God requires me to be to others!
I LOVE YOU ALL!
"IT IS NOT OUR WORDS, BUT OUR ACTIONS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE'S LIFE!"

Isaiah 40:28

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom."
GOD DOES AS HE CHOOSES!
WHO ARE WE TO QUESTION HIM!
When we think we have a right to stand up for ourselves before God, we fail to see the big picture!
"STANDING UP MEANS BOWING DOWN BEFORE A GREAT & AWESOME & ALL-KNOWING GOD!"
We can make our request known to God, but we can never demand anything!
God loves us & everything He does for us is out of grace, not obligation!
"REVERENCE IS REQUIRED IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD!"

2 Kings 11:11a

"The guards, each with weapon in hand, stationed themselves around the king..."
"WITH WEAPON IN HAND!"
Are you guarding your heart?
Are you guarding your family?
Are your guarding your pastor?
Here in this text, these guards were trained soldiers.
They were skilled in the Art of Warfare.
Therefore, they could successfully defend the king, because they were able to properly handle their weapons.
When confronted with a trial, how do you seek resolve?
When situations occur in your family, how do you respond?
Do you pray for your pastor or talk about them?
The point is:
Without skilled training in warfare,
Warfare simply becomes "NO FAIR!"
2 Corinthians 10:4 says,
"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds..."
SATAN WANTS TO KEEP YOU IN THE DARK!
If he can keep you battling to resolve your issues with the carnal mind, HE HAS ALREADY WON THAT ROUND!
BUT IT'S NOT OVER YET!
If you allow God to properly train you through His Word concerning your circumstances, YOU WILL GAIN THE UPPERHAND IN THIS BATTLE CALLED LIFE!
"Don't ever let your past hold your back!"
"Because your future is pulling you forward!"
Lastly, the guards stationed themselves around the king!
"WHEREVER YOU PLACE VALUE, PLACEMENT IS MADE FOR YOU!"
"PLACE JESUS FIRST IN YOUR LIFE!"

Profound Simplicity

 

	For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

—Romans 1:16

            My granddaughter Rylie heard a story in Sunday School about the boy that ran away from home. So I said, "Well, tell me the story."

So she told me the entire story of the prodigal son: "This boy ran away from his dad, and he did bad things. And then he realized what he did was wrong, and he came home to his dad."

"What did his dad do?" I asked. "Did his dad spank him?"

"No. No. His dad threw his arms around him and loved him and kissed him."

"That's right. So what do you think that story means? Who is the dad?"

"Well, the dad is like God."

She got it. Jesus told truths so profound that the greatest minds can spend hours, even years, discussing them, but so simple that a child can understand them.

A philosophical argument has its place. However, there is power in the message of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. And I have found that if I will just stand up and proclaim this message, that God will do amazing things—not because I am a great preacher, but because I have a great message and have confidence in it. I also believe that when I proclaim it, people will respond. And they do, because it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.

We all can proclaim this simple message—so simple that a child can understand it—because that is where the power is. That is what moves people.

The apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, "For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2: 2).

An effective evangelistic message will make a beeline to the cross

 

~ Pastor Greg Laurie ~

Friday March 29th - Prayer & Worship Night @ Bart's House. 7-9pm

Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”...You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares the LORD Almighty. "Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house. ~ Haggai 1:3-4, 9 ~

 

People are busy building careers, building educations, building relationships, building retirement nest eggs, building reputations, building status, position, power, and the list goes on...Matthew 6:33 tells us, "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well'

 

WE ARE NOT TO BUILD OUR OWN KINGDOM. We already belong to the kingdom of God, if He lives in you. 1 Corinthians 6:19 says, "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own"

The things we need to build are Love, Compassion, Forgiveness, and all things holy.

  

God says, "...My house remains a ruin,

while each of you is busy with your own house"

What good is it to fix up our house (the outside) when God's House (the inside) is a mess.

 

Together, Let's build God's House!

 

Prayer * Confession * Repentance * Obedience * Praise * Worship

Friday March 29th.  2562 N 124th st. Wauwatosa, WI 53226 (414) 678-8323



2 Samuel 6:14-15

"Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets."
"WEARING A LINEN EPHOD..."
An ephod was worn by the Israelite priests & was a representation of high position for Godly Duties before the Ark of the Lord!
In times past, pride caused Israel to turn their focus on the exterior appearance, forgetting that God was mainly interested with their inner devotion!
THEREFORE, THEY SACFRICED ANNOINTING FOR APPEARANCE!
They chose to LOOK GOOD, rather than LIVE GODLY!
David, as their leader, gave them a better example though!
"DAVID DANCED BEFORE THE LORD WITH ALL HIS MIGHT!"
David did not consider the clothing he was wearing, nor the title he possessed, nor the recognition he received of any stature before the presence of the Lord!
HE DANCED WITH ALL HE HAD!
NO PRIDE!
NO CARES OF WHO WAS AROUND!
NO CARES FOR WHAT ANYONE WOULD SAY!
He was soooo aware of God's Presence that he could not contain himself!
Therefore, he praised God & gave Him the Glory due His Name!
How was he able to do this, you may ask?
Simple:
"HE WAS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT BEING IN  GOD'S PRESENCE, THAN RECEIVING COMPLIMENTS!"
"He chose to LIVE GODLY, rather than LOOK GOOD!"
"DON'T SACRIFICE ANNOINTING FOR APPEARANCE!"

Matthew 5:14

"You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden."
"IF STANDING IN THE GAP IS WHO GOD CREATED US TO BE,
THEN LET US BECOME GATES & BRIDGES THAT OTHERS MAY USE TO REACH THE OTHER SIDE!"
We will never lack the presence of a person in need,
But we must always ensure that Hope is always present in us!
STAY CONNECTED TO THE TRUE SOURCE OF PROVISION & YOU WILL SOON BECOME A PROVIDER!
Jesus is The Way, The Truth & The Life!
If you truly want to help turn someone's life around,
MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE FACING JESUS,
Or your help will not be help, but hurt!

John 3:16-17

"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. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him."
"GOD GAVE HIS ONE & ONLY SON WITH AN INTENDED GOAL!"
"YOU WERE THE PRIZE THAT GOD INTENDED TO RECEIVE!"
"HIS MISSION AGAINST SIN WAS NOT IN VAIN!"
"HIS INTENDED GOAL OF VICTORY OVER SIN WAS GAINED!"
"JESUS DIED & JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD!"
"NOW WE CAN WALK WITH GOD THROUGH THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST!"
It is our faith in Christ that saves us, not our works!
Our works are just the result of our gratitude for Christ' Finished Work on the Cross!
During a funeral, a father made a statement about his son that truly moved & enlightened me!
He said:
"ALTHOUGH THE LOSE OF MY SON IS MY MOST TRAGEDIC EVENT, I CAN NOT DENY THE DEEP IMPACT HIS LIFE HAS HAD ON EVERYONE ELSE ATTENDING HIS FUNERAL. I WILL NOT ROB EVERYONE ELSE OF HIS LIFE BECAUSE IT BELONGS TO THEM, JUST AS MUCH AS IT BELONGS TO ME!"
Out of deep sorrow & pain this grieving father shared his son!
God did the same for us!
"GOD GAVE HIS ONE & ONLY SON WITH AN INTENDED GOAL!"
"YOU WERE THE PRIZE THAT GOD INTENDED TO RECEIVE!"
Believe on Jesus today & become God's Most Awaited Prize!

John 12:32

Jesus said, "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself."
"WHEN LOVE IS YOUR MOTIVATION, THERE IS NO LIMITATION!"
Today, I will not write a devotional.
During prayer, God placed upon my heart to challenge each one of you to:
"BECOME A DAILY DEVOTIONAL!"
How? It's simple!
TODAY, LET LOVE BE YOUR MOTIVATION & WATCH THE PAGES OF YOUR LIFE BE FILLED WITH PRAISE TO GOD!
Love will drive you further & faster than anything else ever will!
God Bless You All!
"WHEN LOVE IS YOUR MOTIVATION, THERE IS NO LIMITATION!"
Let the day end with you being God's Praise!

2 Kings 7:9a,b

Then they said to each other, "What we’re doing is not right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves."
"ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER TO SHARE THE GOSPEL!"
Being a Christian requires following in the footsteps of Jesus!
Saying a prayer does not institute Christianity!
It only declares Religion, but Religion is dead without Christ in the Center!
Jesus said,
"THE ONE WHO DOES WHAT I SAY, IS HE WHO LOVES ME!"
To be a disciple of Christ, one must dedicate themselves to His teachings & follow His instructions!
Can a person achieve their doctorate in medicine & then demand a position as a lawyer?
IT IS NOT LIKELY THAT THEY WILL SUCCEED!
Why?
Because their teachings were in another area!
It is the same with the Christian!
"THE ONLY WAY TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN OUR CHRISTIAN WALK IS TO DO WHAT CHRIST TAUGHT!"
Being a Christian requires following in the footsteps of Jesus!
Saying a prayer does not institute Christianity!
It only declares Religion, but Religion is dead without Christ in the Center!
Jesus gave us the greatest example of spreading glad tidings!
He also commanded,
"GO & PREACH THE GOSPEL TO ALL NATIONS!"
"TODAY, ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER TO SHARE THE GOSPEL!"
Our obedience will ultimately result in someone else's salvation!

Galatians 5:6b

"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."
"FAITH EXPRESSES ITSELF THROUGH LOVE!"
Works count for nothing, if they are not influenced by Love!
Love has to be the driving force behind your actions!
Or your actions become mere spectacles!
I knew a brother recently, that was very outspoken about his faith in Christ. For about a year, he was always seeking to involve himself in ministry due to his love for souls. He helped out wherever he could & whenever he was needed! He drove for hours to pick up furniture, Bibles, handbooks, tracts, reprogrammed computers for the church, he helped people with their financial needs never expecting anything in return!
Why, you may ask?
"FAITH EXPRESSES ITSELF THROUGH LOVE!"
This weekend, I had the awesome opportunity of ministering with this man & his wife at a nursing home for the elderly.
Once again, he poured himself out in a humble way among the elderly. He sang hymns & shared a brief testimony of how Jesus had transformed his life & how he would spend eternity with the Lord due to his faith in Christ.
Then, he encouraged the group to invite Jesus into their hearts!
Afterwards, he went around shaking everyone's hands & hugging them while he spoke encouraging words to them on a personal level.
Oh, did I mention that he had never been to a nursing home in his life, much less spoken publicly!
"FAITH EXPRESSES ITSELF THROUGH LOVE!"
Yesterday, the Lord decided to take our good brother home.
His name was George!
We can not understand God's reasoning, but we were blessed to have such a great example of:
"FAITH EXPRESSING ITSELF THROUGH LOVE!"
See you on the other side George! Please pray for his wife & fam.
ETERNITY IS BEFORE HIM NOW!

Galatians 5:14

"For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”"
"YOU CAN NOT LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR, UNLESS YOU FIRST GIVE OF YOURSELF UNCONDITIONALLY!"
LOVE IS NOT A WORD!
IT IS THE DEMONSTRATION OF YOUR PUREST MOTIVES TOWARD SOMEONE ELSE!
LOVING YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF IS THE FULFILMENT OF GOD'S LAW BECAUSE IT FULLY EXPRESSES EVERY ASPECT OF GOD'S CH...ARACTER!
WE ARE MADE IN GOD'S IMAGE!
THEREFORE,
WHEN WE GIVE OURSELVES AWAY UNCONDITIONALLY,
WE ARE, IN A SENSE, SHARING GOD WITHOUT LIMITATIONS!
TODAY,
DON'T BE AFRAID TO SHARE THE GIFT OF LOVE GOD HAS PLACED IN YOUR HEART!
YOU MAY BE THE ONLY GIFT SOMEONE ELSE RECEIVES!
"YOU CAN NOT LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR, UNLESS YOU FIRST GIVE OF YOURSELF UNCONDITIONALLY!"
"DARE TO LOVE AS GOD HAS LOVED YOU!"

1 Peter 2:1-5

"Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
"DESIRE THE PURE MILK OF THE WORD, THAT YOU MAY GROW THEREBY, IF INDEED YOU HAVE TASTED THAT THE LORD IS GRACIOUS!"
We as Christians, are not to remain the same!
There must be a desire & a willingness for change to take place in a persons life!
Saying a prayer to accept Jesus as Lord & Savior does not change our lifestyle, nor our circumstances!
Such a prayer only grants Jesus access into our hearts to begin a much needed transformation!
After said prayer, must come a desire to seek spiritual growth through God's Word!
(Don't misunderstand what is being said!)
"IT IS THE PURE MILK OF THE WORD THAT WILL CAUSE US TO GROW SPIRITUALLY, NOT MAN'S INTERPRETATION OF IT!"
Man's opinions or philosophies of God's Word do not edify!
ONLY GOD'S WORD EDIFIES!
Therefore, we must be willing to pick up God's Word & have intimate time & conversation with God in order to grow spiritually!
Our lifestyle & our circumstances will always remain the same if our hearts remain unchanged!
Point being: "WE MUST GROW!!!"
The world is not seeking another STORY TO BE HEARD!
They are seeking HOPE TO BE FOUND!
"Although our words can sometimes be enticing, ultimately it will be our lifestyle that does the convincing!"
"DESIRE THE PURE MILK OF THE WORD, THAT YOU MAY GROW THEREBY, IF INDEED YOU HAVE TASTED THAT THE LORD IS GRACIOUS!"

Galatians 5:22-23

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
Today, as I was praying, I felt an urgency to challenge you to examine yourself in the area of Faithfulness!
The word 'FAITHFUL' means:
1. strict or thorough in the performance of duty: a Faithful Worker. 
2. true to one's word, promises, vows, etc.
3. steady in allegiance or affection; loyal; constant: Faithful Friends. 
4. reliable, trusted, or believed.
5. adhering or true to fact, a standard, or an original; accurate: a Faithful account; a Faithful copy.
FAITHFUL WORKER:
Have you been thoroughly performing your God-Given duties, or have you been taking them lightly as of late?
FAITHFUL FRIEND:
Does your daily walk declare your Godly-Allegiance, or has it become difficult for someone to distinguish your Godly-Affection?
FAITHFUL ACCOUNT:
Are you adhering to the Godly-Facts concerning Salvation, or are you adding your own opinions & philosophies which stray from God's standard for Salvation through Faith in Christ?
FAITHFUL COPY:
Are you accurately displaying an Original Representation of Christ, or has your copy become tainted by ideas of Christ that are not Biblical.
HAVE YOU KEPT YOUR WORD? DO YOU FULFILL YOUR PROMISES? ARE YOU RELIABLE? CAN PEOPLE TRUST YOU?
Most importantly, CAN GOD USE YOU?
"Faithfulness allows God to use you!"
"Ability without Loyalty to God are just talents that can not be used for God's Kingdom!"

Please Forgive Me...

Hi Everyone,

 

I need to start by asking for your forgiveness.

 

 I have already confessed and repented before God. Let me explain. I came across the American Bible Challenge on T.V. and at first thought it was pretty cool. Then I had this sudden weight of conviction come over me that we have reduced God's Holy Sacred Word to a game show. Immediately Titus 2:7 came to mind "And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching" But that's not what I am confessing, that was just the begining of God's conviction on me. Next I was reading Hebrews and Hebrews 12:28 and 29 says this, "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”  Later in the day I was reading D. Martin Lloyd Jones "Preaching and Preachers" and he says in his book, and I quote "God is always supposed to be approached with reverence and with godly fear: for our God is a consuming fire. To discuss God in a casual manner, lounging in a chair, is something we should never allow. Certainly it should never be discussed in a light spirit and it should never be regarded as a matter of entertainment"

 

The Holy Spirit convicted me severely and I came to tears, you see I had scheduled Saturday the 16th of March as a "Christian Karaoke Night" sounds harmless and fun but the Lord showed me the danger lies in this...Songs of worship are just that, WORSHIP not entertainment. Acts 13:2 tells us. "As they ministered (worshiped)  to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them" Worship is Ministering directly unto the Lord and He seperates us or sets us apart for His service when we do.

The Word of God is supposed to be revered and approched as if we are approaching God Himself! I was deceived in thinking Christian Karaoke was harmless, I was wrong becuase it was approaching Worship in a casual, lighthearted, entertaining fashion. For this...Please forgive me!

 

The night has not been cancelled, but instead of Christian Karaoke it will now be a night of prayer and worship, with a holy fear and reverance for the One we are worshipping.

 

Saturday March 16th, 6-9pm. @ Evangel

 

Come worship the King with me!

In Christ Holy Name, Bart Helmbreck

Psalm 119:175a

"Let me live that I may praise You..."
What an awesome request!
The psalmist did not ask for riches!
Nor did he ask for fame!
He simply stated:
"LET ME LIVE THAT I MAY PRAISE YOU!"
Sometimes, we as a people, misunderstand the purpose of life.
Therefore, we tend to misuse our time here on Earth.
"WE ARE CREATED TO GLORIFY GOD!"
But we usually tend to focus on making a name for ourselves & hence, we rob God of His Glory!
Today, I would like to encourage everyone reading this to make an intentional effort to "LIVE OUT GOD'S PRAISE!"
"LIVE WITH THE SOLE PURPOSE OF GLORIFYING GOD!"
Today, don't seek to be recognized!
Instead, seek to make known the name of Christ!
As Christians, our identity is found in Christ!
Therefore, ask yourself:
"Why am I seeking to make another name for myself beside that of Christ?"
The psalmist did not ask for riches!
Nor did he ask for fame!
He simply stated:
"LET ME LIVE THAT I MAY PRAISE YOU!"

1 John 4:19

"We love Him, because He first loved us."
I CHOOSE JESUS, BECAUSE HE FIRST CHOSE ME!
How good to know that the Lord would rather suffer in hell, than be without us!
What Great Love He has for Us!
Don't ever take His sacrifice for granted!
Salvation is a free gift from God to us!
But it came a very high price to Him!
I NEED YOU JESUS!
I THANK GOD FOR MY SALVATION!
MAY MY LIFESTYLE BE MY GRATITUDE!

2 Kings 2:2a

Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to Bethel.”
"ELIJAH KNEW HIS DESTINATION BECAUSE HE SOUGHT THE LORD'S DIRECTION!"
Where are you headed?
Are you walking without direction?
Or are you being directed of God?
"KNOWING YOUR DESTINATION, MAKES IT ALL THE MORE INTENSE!"
"LIVING WITH INTENSITY, MAKES YOUR LIFE ALL THE MORE PRODUCTIVE!"
We are called to produce Godly Fruit!
But Godly Fruit can only be found in God's Will!
Therefore, SEEK GOD'S DIRECTION TODAY!
God bless & enjoy your day!

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation. — 2 Corinthians 7:10



Conviction of sin is one of the rarest things that ever strikes a man. It is the threshold of an understanding of God. Jesus Christ said that when the Holy Spirit came He would convict of sin, and when the Holy Spirit rouses a man’s conscience and brings him into the presence of God, it is not his relationship with men that bothers him, but his relationship with God – "against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight." The marvels of conviction of sin, forgiveness, and holiness are so interwoven that it is only the forgiven man who is the holy man, he proves he is forgiven by being the opposite to what he was, by God’s grace. Repentance always brings a man to this point: I have sinned. The surest sign that God is at work is when a man says that and means it. Anything less than this is remorse for having made blunders, the reflex action of disgust at himself.

 

The entrance into the Kingdom is through the panging pains of repentance crashing into a man’s respectable goodness; then the Holy Ghost, Who produces these agonies, begins the formation of the Son of God in the life. The new life will manifest itself in conscious repentance and unconscious holiness, never the other way about. The bedrock of Christianity is repentance. Strictly speaking, a man cannot repent when he chooses; repentance is a gift of God. The old Puritans used to pray for "the gift of tears." If ever you cease to know the virtue of repentance, you are in darkness. Examine yourself and see if you have forgotten how to be sorry.

 

From My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers

Isaiah 45:21-25

"Declare what is to be, present it— let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the Lord? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but Me. “Turn to Me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. By Myself I have sworn, My mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before Me every knee will bow; by Me every tongue will swear. They will say of me, ‘In the Lord alone are deliverance and strength.’” All who have raged against Him will come to Him and be put to shame. But all the descendants of Israel will find deliverance in the Lord and will make their boast in Him."
"WE ALL NEED JESUS & WE WILL ALL BOW BEFORE HIM!"

You don't need a new circumstance...You need the breath of Life!

Praise be to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Don't just let this be a cool, emotional video. Pray the Lord will truly open your heart to receive the breath of Life.

So I say, live by the Spirit, (the breath of Life) and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature ~ Galatians 5:16 ~

Be joyful always...........pray continually....... give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus ~  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ~

1 Kings 22:5

"But the king of Judah also said to the king of Israel, 'First seek the counsel of the Lord.'"
The king of Israel asked the king of Judah if he would go to war with him against the king of Aram.
Judah's reply was very simple & very direct:
"I WILL SUPPORT YOU, BUT MAKE SURE THAT THE LORD IS THE ONE LEADING YOU!"
He gave him the best advice possible!
While it is good to be supportive of people's endeavors,
You must be sure that God is the one leading them,
Or your support will only be a crutch!
"ALWAYS COUNSEL PEOPLE TO SEEK GOD'S COUNSEL FIRST!"
The counsel of the Lord will stand!
Everything else will eventually fade away!
Judah's reply was very simple & very direct:
"I WILL SUPPORT YOU, BUT MAKE SURE THAT THE LORD IS THE ONE LEADING YOU!"
The best advice you can offer a person, is to seek God's advice!
The best support you can give a person, is to agree with them in prayer!

1 Kings 17:2-6

"Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: "Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to supply you with food there." So he did what the LORD had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook."
"THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO ELIJAH..."
"SO HE DID WHAT THE LORD HAD TOLD HIM..."
Although the Lord's command to Elijah may not have made any sense to the carnal mind, he still obeyed!
"You will drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to supply you with food there..."
The part about drinking from the brook was easy to obey, but waiting on ravens to supply food required faith in God as the provider!
The raven's carnivorous habits, and especially his readiness to attack the eye's made the Lord's command a bit unusual & scary.
BUT NEVERTHELESS ELIJAH OBEYED!
Elijah's Faith brought about a Miraculous Relationship!
The fact that these wild creatures would actually give up their natural feeding habits at the Lord's Command & share with a human is amazing!
You would think that the ravens would have rather enjoyed the food, being they are scavengers, BUT INSTEAD THEY SHARED!
"FAITH CAN BRING ABOUT MIRACULOUS RELATIONSHIPS!"
Therefore, if you feel God tugging at your heart to do something strange today,
"DON'T QUESTION IT, JUST DO IT!"
You will be amazed at the results your obedience can bring!
"FAITH BREAKS NATURAL HABITS & FORMS NEW ONES!"

Psalm 103:1-13

Psalm 103:1-13
"Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him..."
"THE PERFECT REASON FOR US TO GATHER IN HIS NAME!"

1 Kings 15:5a

1 Kings 15:5a
"For David had done what was right in the eyes of the Lord..."
You may be asking yourself;
"How was David able to do what was right in the Lord's eyes?"
The answer is quite simple:
"HE HAD A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD!"
Simply put, "HE KNEW GOD!"
He knew what God required, because he spent time with Him!
He achieved success in his ventures, because he trusted in Him!
His accomplishments came through God's empowerment!
"GOD DESIRES RELATIONSHIP!!!"
God wants to enjoy your company & He wants you to enjoy His!
"DAVID WAS NOT PERFECT!" "DAVID JUST LOVED GOD!"
David just wanted to spend time with God & as he did he began to fall in love with His Creator & wanted to please Him in every way possible!
"How was David able to do what was right in the Lord's eyes?"
The answer is quite simple:
"HE HAD A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD!"
"GOD DESIRES RELATIONSHIP!!!"
God wants to enjoy your company & He wants you to enjoy His!
"DRAW NEAR TO GOD & HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU!"

Mark 9:50
“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”
Simple devotional for today.
"SALT IS GOOD..."
Salt is the seasoning that makes the difference.
Maturity is the result of a seasoned Christian.
Living peacefully reflects a Christian's maturity level.
"BUT IF SALT LOSES ITS SALTINESS..."
This does not mean that we won't have disagreements, it just suggests that as we mature in our Christian Walk, we will tend to desire a quicker resolve to our disputes for the sake of peace.
"HOW CAN YOU MAKE IT SALTY AGAIN?"
Just remember, in the same manner that we must go to the store to restock our cupboards when they are depleted, if we fall short in any area or become spiritually exhausted, we must go to Christ for replenishment.
"HAVE SALT AMONG YOURSELVES & BE AT PEACE WITH EACH OTHER!"
In other words, those who are seasoned should intentionally be seasoning their neighbors!
Everyone needs some extra seasoning at some point or another! Therefore, don't be surprised if they come knocking at your door!
"LET'S ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER AS WE SHARE OUR SALT!"
"SALT IS GOOD..."
Salt is the seasoning that makes the difference!