Mark 14 Jesus goes to the house of Simon the Leper…where there is a lingering stench of death. But food is served there, which brings an aroma of fellowship. Finally, a woman anoints the head and feet of Jesus, releasing the fragrance of extravagant worship. This is what happens when we offer time and fellowship with the Master. He doesn't come as a spectator. Hunger draws Him to you. Make room for intimacy and a fresh encounter with JESUS!
We are not alone in this world. We have a God who is our Lord and Savior. One day we’ll all face Him. And give an answer to our life. We must make the choices to do that which is pleasing to God, over and over. Your choice to serve God consistently gives you consistent peace. It gives you consistent confidence before God. Grace is great, but let us not just depend on grace. Let us depend on our consistent relationship with God. Our choice to keep on keeping on being faithful is making a difference, and only eternity will bring the full picture of the results.
Limitless Youth Listen as the youth of Limitless Youth Group describe their encounters with God at YSOR youth retreat.
The goodness of God is found in relationship with Him and is at the center of faith in Him. We are responsible to protect our purpose from Jesus so that we can experience all of His goodness. There's no looking back!
Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe;
We have received, and are receiving the revelation of all that it means to be a part of His kingdom that is unshakable. A key to the Kingdom is to acknowledge all that He is with all that we are in an attitude of worship and praise. His manifest presence will give us keys to the Kingdom. And we will be disciples who know Him differently, because of intimate relationship that comes during praise and worship. And adoration for who He is draws heaven’s will to earth.
God is involved in all aspects of our lives. He is good, He is kind, and He is watching over us. Even when we make mistakes, He is bigger than our mistakes. One of the things I love about ABBA is that He gets personally involved in our mess to even save us from our mistakes. He sees us beyond our shortcomings. In His eyes, we are good, because He looks at what He knows we can be for Him and with Him and He find the good in us, even when good is not around. When we were created, we were in Him from the beginning. You can be like Him, act like Him, think like Him. You can see others through His eyes of love, and show them love because you have received love. When you are confident in His love for you, you will realize that no one is beyond the compassion and mercy of God.
“Pray the Lord of the harvest send laborers” - I believe that Jesus was getting His disciples to pray so that THEY would burn with the same kind of compassion so they could be the laborers sent to get the harvest! There is so much fun when Christians are burning with anticipation of being utilized by their groom. There is joy in the journey. These are followers of Jesus who desire to know every part of Him. They want to continually communicate with Him, so they will always have more to give out. They keep the oil of the Spirit going simply by being aware of Him and His heart and sharing it with the ONE. The ones that use the key of compassion, following in Jesus’ footsteps. These are those who will be given more keys. When you give what is in your heart, you will release what you have in your hand. And God will bless it and multiply it.
Part of the reason for the feast called Pentecost was for believers to have the opportunity to celebrate and rejoice in God's miraculous intervention within history. In other words, it was about worship. The beauty of this is that remembering the testimony (a declaring of what God has done) of Jesus prophesies (declaring what God is going to do) into what He will do among us. Worshiping God for what He has done creates an atmosphere for miracles.
As believers, we are challenged by Scripture to allow Jesus Christ to shape our thoughts - "let this mind be in you which was also in Christ" - honor, humility, and serving are all tied to faith in God! There are times when we will need to obey God even through the most difficult circumstances. We can always go to Him for strength to lead us through those times.
The Church has a purpose - we are to rise and cause others to arise out of the dead places. We are to cooperate with God and in our surrender to Him. We are built to be an extension of God’s thoughts and abilities, so that others can BELIEVE. In the account of Lazarus being raised from the dead, Pastor Dawn highlights the strategy of Jesus. He wanted active participants in this miracle. Because He knew the ones who move beyond being observers, into participants, won’t just see a miracle, they will be a part of one. God always has a bigger picture, and that bigger picture is YOU.