Monday, December 14, 2015

New Wave of Leaders!

Text:  Jeremiah 3:15  And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.   (KJV)
Jeremiah - the 24th book; 52 chapters; 1,364 verses; 42,659 words); Jesus is portrayed in this book as “Our Branch of Righteousness”!
God wants us to know that He will always have “leaders” who carry His heart and His messages.  We can all become disappointed from time to time with leaders, preachers, and even fellow Christians for various reasons.  However, be assured that God always has a remnant who will not compromise the true message of God or their righteousness.
I believe that God is about to raise up and is releasing a people who will not only maintain their purity but maintain their anointing as well.
God said “power and authority” will produce a miracle!  He told us we are anointed for purpose. Now is the time for us to come together in unity - as an army - to tear Satan’s kingdom down and to divide and conquer.  He wants us to rightly divide the word of truth which we can use to defeat and conquer the enemy!  John 8:32  Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Monday, November 30, 2015

PUMP IT UP FOR JESUS!

TEXT:  MATTHEW 5:14-16 (KJV):  [Matthew shows Christ as our King]!
SUBTOPIC:  “CHILDREN OF GOD” PRIME THE PUMP!
MATTHEW 5:14-16  Ye are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Verse 14  Ye are the “light (to shine, make manifest, to appear, evident, to give light as seen by the eye) of the world (orderly arrangement of men; the false church system).
Verse 15  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. (collectively as your household or individually, your temple, the abode of God which consist of the total man:  mind, soul, heart, and body).
First of all let’s take a look at the word “pump”.  When you think of “pump”, it can be described in several different illustrations.  There’s the athlete or body-builder who uses weight to build up and tone his or her muscles with heavy bar bells to develop the body for competition.  In this performance, there are three power lifts: (1) Bench press; (2) Deep knee bends or squats; and (3) Dead weight lifts.
Secondly, let’s take a look at another kind of “pump”, light or electric current”.  This “pump” is any medium or device used for raising atoms to an excited state, and it provides lasers with the energy to raise atoms in its active medium or excited state.  More simply said, “Lasers” are pumped by a light source or electric current to raise atoms to an excited state.  If a light source or an electric current can raise an atom to an excited state to move it from one orbit to another orbit, how much more the “light” of God’s glory moving us from victory to victory and from glory to glory?  He can move us from a dead state into a place of life and victory!!
Children of God, know that you are the tribe of Christ, which is a tribe of “light”!  We’re the ones encamped toward the direction of the rising of the “sun”, which is the beginning or the dawning of a new day in Christ Jesus!!!

Monday, November 16, 2015

The Possibilities Are Endless!!!!!

The Possibilities are Endless!


Scripture for today is from the 43rd book of the Bible; it has 21 chapters; 879 verses, 19,099 words; 15 OT prophecies fulfilled; 44 new prophecies; 85 verses of fulfilled and 7 verses of unfulfilled prophecy.


John 6:53  Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, ye have no life in you.


“Man can not live by bread alone; with a bottle of wine the possibilities are endless.”  Anonymous


I look at this plaque every morning when I am eating breakfast, and the more I have looked at it, the more I have been intrigued by its meanings in the natural and the spiritual.  I’m referring to the bread and the wine, which are the elements used in Communion.  


Communion is a celebration and a time of remembrance for Christians.  We celebrate and remember what Christ did on the cross for us when he conquered sin and death and then got up! When we celebrate the selfless act, we “come into union” with God by consuming the bread (or the “bread of life”, which is Jesus’s body or the Word), and the wine or grape juice as symbols of Jesus’s blood.


John 6:53  Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, ye have no life in you.


The word “life” here is that zoe life.  It means to live, to have vitality.  Andrew Wommack said it is life in the absolute sense, life as God intended it to be”.  With this zoe life in us, I would say that the possibilities are endless for what God can do in and through us!  Thus the title of this message is The Possibilities are Endless!

Monday, November 2, 2015

WHO IS JESUS?

TEXT:  COLOSSIANS 1:18
And he is the head of the body, the church:  who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead:  that in all things he might have preeminence.
“Preeminence” is from the root word proteu’o, meaning to be first (in rank or influence).  It’s from another Greek word pro’tos, meaning foremost (in time, place, order or importance); chief, first day, former, before, beginning, best.
So, “WHO IS JESUS”?
Actually the answer to this question is limitless.  Because He (Jesus) is everything!!!  There aren’t enough words in our vocabulary to describe Him.  Even now, today, many people still wonder “who He is”!  
If I asked some of you now, “Who is Jesus”, your answers would vary because He presents Himself to many people in different ways.  Some may say, “I know Him as a friend, a Savior, a Deliverer”!  The answers would go on and on and on.  And with every answer He is “all that”!
But, just, “Who is He”?

Monday, October 19, 2015

YOU HAVE A FUTURE!

Prophetic Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11    (KJV)
“For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end”.
Jeremiah is the 24th book of the Bible. It has 52 chapters, 1,364 verses, and contains 42, 659 words.    
  It typifies Christ as “The Branch of Righteousness.”
  1. For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the LORD,
“For I know the plans I have for you”
  1. Thoughts of peace, and not of evil,
“Plans to prosper you and not to harm you”
  1. To give you an expected end.
“Plans to give you hope and a future”
The Word of God to the people of God is for you to know the devil cannot take you out early if you see yourself in your future. One of the biggest lies of the devil is to make people think they either don’t have a good future or that they may not have one at all. Whatever your hopes and dreams might be, you need to see yourself fulfilling them. God has already detailed a good outcome for you, but you need to come into agreement with it.
We will never realize a good future if we complain and say things like, “I am just not sure how or when it will work out,” or “Am I ever going to make anything good of myself?” John 1:46  Can anything good come out of Nazareth?  Did not Jesus come out of Nazareth?

Monday, October 5, 2015

Getting into the Right Location!

(New King James Version Bible is used for this message.)


Nearly four years ago, God directed me to explain that “Location Matters”.  Our worth is not defined or bound by a physical location.  Instead, our worth is defined on how best we tend to the Holy Spirit and builds upon the location that lies within each of us.  “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)  Therefore, it is the present location of the believer that has worth!


But what if you are NOT in the right location?  Life has a way of minimizing ourselves. Hostile work environments.  Difficult homes.  Troubled children.  Abuse - physical and mental.  The Enemy is working overtime to destroy ourselves. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8)  


I had such an attack on myself.   I was working for a large corporation and had been for over 15 years.  It was a comfortable, safe, and secure place. I knew my job duties and had been working with the same colleagues for years.  I was respected, had good to excellent employee reviews, and performed superior work.  Approximately 3 years ago, the division I worked for was purchased by another company.  Luckily, I still had my job, but I was working for a different manager.  


In a short period of time, I came to learn that my manager was irrational, unpredictable, had her own agenda, and clearly had no clue how to manage her team. My work relationship with my manager spiraled downward rapidly. Suddenly, in her eyes, I lost all respect and she gave me poor to terrible employee reviews, but I continued to produce excellent work.  I did not understand why this was happening to me?  I was doing "all the right things" at work - producing quality work, teaming with colleagues, managing my projects so they came in on budget and on time.  But it was not enough in her eyes.  I went to my manager.  When that got me nowhere, I went to her boss.  When that got me nowhere, I went to HR.  When that got me nowhere, I contacted a lawyer.  But nothing worked. All this time, I was stressed, not sleeping well and suffered from digestive issues.  I was emotionally spent and all I wanted was to get out.  Again, I did not understand why this was happening to me? I was doing "all the right things", but nothing seemed to be working for me.


But, there is a happy ending or should I say a happy beginning to my situation!  I thank God that he brought Rachel into my life, who is a strong woman of God, and He led us to our church family.  When God wants to deal with you - and I mean He wants some "God and you time" - He will close all the earthly doors.  He will remove people from your life.  He will show you "your mountain."  He will show you that tall peak and those awful steep slopes.  


  • He will tell you that only with His help will you be able to remove that mountain.  "So Jesus said to them, Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if  you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain,  Move from here to there, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:20)  
  • He will command you to be silent "Be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10).  
  • And then He will instruct you in His ways, and He will show you what you need to see and comprehend.  "Out of heaven He let you hear His voice, that He might instruct you; on earth He showed you His great fire, and you heard His words out of the midst of the fire. (Deuteronomy 4:36).


For my instruction, it took 2 years.  I was in that Hellish work situation with an unbalanced manager for exactly 2 years and 2 months.  Each day I had to drag myself into work, fight the urge to run away or hide - do anything to avoid my torment.  And during this time, God performed a work within me.


He taught me to love myself.  I learned that I do have worth.  I do matter. I am loved - by Him, my family, my wife and our church family.  And that God has a plan for me - a wonderful and marvelous one!


God gives us clear and concise instructions in His Word on how we are to live our lives. God commands us to love one another. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)
We must care for the poor and needy.  “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27)
We must not fall into sinful behaviors like those who do not know God.  “You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.” (1 Thessalonians 5:6-8)
Jesus summoned up a life lived for God when addressing a teacher of the law.  “Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other greater commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12: 29-31)
     
I will tell you that when you are going through the fire, it is not pleasant. It is very uncomfortable, and it can even be painful.  It hurts because God is burning out of you all that is not of Him and making you more pure and more precious - like a rare metal .  We know gold as a valuable and precious commodity.   But an interesting quality about gold is that it can be both beaten and purified!  Gold can be beaten and molded into different shapes and sizes, according to its designed purpose.  And at the same instance, when gold is heated to high temperatures, all the impurities are burned and scorched out of its elements – leaving a substance that is both pure and priceless.


So I know that during this "trial by fire" that God was testing me while at the same time He was purifying me!  God was molding me into an instrument that He may use for His purpose, and I was undergoing a purifying and sanctifying cleansing by an all-consuming fire!  Thank you, Jesus!


And when that terrible and beautiful "trial by fire" was complete, God delivered me from that Hellish work environment and an unstable boss.  He rewarded me with a better job, a boss who respects me, and supportive and friendly colleagues.  I spoke to my mountain. "But also if you say to this mountain, Be removed and be cast into the sea, it will be done." (Matthew 21:21).  And my mountain was cast into the sea.   


Location matters, but I had to get into the right location.  So, as we pray, read the Word and preach the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, a beating and purifying process of our spiritual man is taking place, and God is putting us in the right location!

~ Deacon Mike West

Monday, September 21, 2015

ALL YOU NEED IS A PROMISE!

TEXT:  2 PETER 1:3-4  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:  whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises:  that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
We MUST obtain knowledge of Christ through His Word!  We can see very well in the “light” because His Word generates light to show us the way.  Psalm 119:105  Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Promises! Promises! Promises!  Have you ever made any to anyone?  Did you follow through on them or were they just words?  Has anyone made promise to you and didn’t follow through?  Those words flow easily!
Many “promises” are made today, but it seems too few are kept.  Look at the divorce rate.  There are many not keeping their “promise”!  Quite an indictment, don’t you think?
That word “promise” has become “cheap” in many people’s vocabulary.  There’s nothing more aggravating than a broken “promise”.  It brings feelings of disappointment and betrayal when someone promises to do something, and then doesn’t do it.  They promise to be somewhere or take you somewhere and don’t show up.
It’s one thing when people try their hardest to fulfill their promise, but situations beyond their control prevent them from doing so.  It’s quite another when they blow you off, and act like they forgot without explanations or letting you know that they couldn’t or wouldn’t!
It’s hard to trust someone who repeatedly issues out broken “promises” or doesn’t fulfill their commitment!

Monday, September 7, 2015

“WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT”!

TEXT:  ST. JOHN 19:26-27
When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son.  Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother!  And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
Now there stood by the Cross, the Jews – satisfying their fiendish craving for His death.  Roman soldiers were there for duty, but Jesus noticed a small company of five who were “trophies of divine favor”.  He knew they were there because of their affection or love for Him.
This small company was composed of four women and one man.  Five is the number of “grace”.
  • There was Mary, the Savior’s mother – now experiencing the flashback of a prophecy spoken thirty years before by Simeon in Luke 2:35  (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
  • Mary the wife of Cleophas; Mary’s sister.
  • Mary Magdalene:  one from whom Christ cast out seven devils; the one he appeared to first when he arose from the dead.
  • Mary, Lazarus’ sister.
  • John, the disciple whom Jesus loved.
Here Jesus is hanging naked on the Cross.  His clothing stripped from Him by Roman soldiers, who greedily played games for His garments.  They threw dice to divide the four articles of clothing among themselves.
Keep in mind, His mother has been there all along.  Her own safety, sadness or insults of the crowd couldn’t keep her from performing her last duty and office and tenderness toward her Divine Son on the Cross.  In the supreme hour of agony when the world has cast out the child of her womb, she stands there baffled and paralyzed at his suffering but yet bound by the golden chains of love to the dying one.

Monday, August 24, 2015

Rejoice Evermore!


TEXT: 1 Thessalonians 5:16
(Portrays Christ as “GOD PRESENT WITH US”)
1 Thessalonians 5:16 is one of the shortest verses in the Bible, but it really packs a big punch.  It’s telling us to keep a cheerful attitude all the time.  In fact, the word “rejoice” in the Greek means “cheerful”.
God wants us to have a cheerful demeanor in all circumstances.
This first letter to the Thessalonians is one of Paul’s first writings we have in scripture.  “Rejoice always”, he says.  “Rejoice always” – whether washing dishes, folding laundry, cleaning the bathroom, sitting in traffic. Does Paul really mean it?  “Rejoice always”?  How can we rejoice always?  Bad things, evil things, terrible things happen all around us.  There are little things, big things, tragic things, annoying things.  How can we rejoice?  Let me make this clear:  Paul is not suggesting that everyone should go around with a forced smile on their face, acting as if everything is okay.
He is not saying that suffering does not come to those who are faithful believers in Christ.  Paul himself faced suffering, persecution, health difficulties. It would be unrealistic for Paul to suggest that Christians ought to forget every difficult moment or trial in their lives, acting as if they didn’t exist.

Monday, August 10, 2015

THE WORRIED CHRISTIAN!

TEXT:  Matthew 6:25-31  
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.  Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?  Behold the fowls of the air:  for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.  Are ye not much better than they?  Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?  And why take ye thought for raiment?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink?  or, wherewithal shall we be clothed?
SUBTOPIC: “ANTIDOTE:  GOD FIRST”!
Medical Doctors estimate that more than 25% of their patients are what they call the “worried well”.  They spend a lot of time examining people who are not sick.  They are only “worried”.
It seems like worry is the diet of our day.  Many are plagued by problems.  What if?  What if I don’t get this job?  What if my check doesn’t come?  What if?  Are you plagued by “what if” problems?  Are you in the “worried well” class?
I think it’s safe to say all of us have experienced worry to some degree.

Monday, July 27, 2015

BUT, GOD!

TEXT:  Luke 8:22-26
The Book of Luke portrays Christ as “The Perfect Savior”— “The Son of Man”
Luke is the 42nd book of the bible; 24 Chapters; 1,151 verses; and 25,944 words.
22. Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.
23. But as they sailed he fell asleep:  and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.
24. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water:  and they ceased, and there was a calm.
25. And he said unto them, “Where is your faith”? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, “What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.”  How Many Know!!!!! BUT GOD!!!!


In our text, the disciples find themselves in a terrible storm.  Now many times storms catch us when we're not expecting them.  This was probably true for the disciples, as this storm came even when Jesus was with them in the ship!
But in this story, Jesus reveals Himself as the God who is bigger that our storms.  And I think our view of God is very important because how we view God will determine how we view ourselves. And this very moment, I'm sure that all of us know that God is bigger than our storms, but if you're like me, you just sometimes need to be reminded.  One thing is for sure in this story:  The storm was not as big to Jesus as it was to the disciples!  And even though the storm was above their head, it was still under His feet!

Monday, July 13, 2015

A Place Called "There"!

TEXT:  ST. JOHN 12:26:  If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be:  if any man serve me, him will my Father honor.
Jesus was and is the “Son of God”!  And as “Son of God”, He is above all relationships!
In the Man Jesus, there was a life in perfect harmony with God but because of the condition of those He came to save, He had to lay His life down.  And He has left us an example that we should follow His steps.
Faith in Jesus involves a personal commitment to follow Him and keep His teachings.  It includes self-denial and taking up one’s cross.
How many know there’s no something for nothing.  And when we have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, there is a transition that takes place.  There is a growing process, a learning process, and there will be a metamorphosis that will occur which brings me to my “TOPIC” lifted from St. John 12:26 called, A PLACE CALLED THERE”!