PSM Attendance Update
Here is Sunday’s (11/4/2012) attendance at all our campuses:
Main 9am: 375
Main 11am: 376
Internet: 50
Prison: 75 (men’s unit)
Waco: 85
Gary: 40
Total: 1001 (our biggest non-Easter Sunday ever)
Response to the 2012 Election
This morning, I woke up to the results of yesterday’s elections. Several of the people I voted for were elected. Several were not.
I was really hoping a miracle would happen and Susan Narvaiz would win against Lloyd Doggett. She is a personal friend and would be a great in the US Congress. As my video stated, I voted Republican in the Presidential race. It was so very close.
My thoughts on where we go from here:
1. Whether your candidate won or lost, relax in the fact that God is in control. Probably one of the most dangerous things for a Christian is for their candidate to win. Makes it easy to put faith in the wrong spot.
2. Humble ourselves. Pray for our leaders.
3. Speak out on issues that are important to you. Get involved where necessary.
4. BE the change that we often want others to be. Live the gospel.
5. Study this text
Romans 13:1 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 3 For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. 4 The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. 5 So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.
6 Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. 7Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.
Hunger For the Moment | Sermon Notes
11/4/2012
Disclaimer: my sermon notes are a rough outline. Not intended for grammar perfection. If you have questions about certain parts, please comment and I will respond.
Hunger for the “Moment”
Based on last week: ‘at that moment’ God and Man connected and great things happened.
Why do so many believers have a shallow relationship with God? Why don’t they dive into a deeper, more consistent relationship with Him? What holds them back? What would ignite and cause them to respond to His call to draw near?
Revelation 3- shows us a letter to a church that is very similar to the American church of 2012. It was in a town called Laodicea. On the outside, they looked very successful. On the inside, they were wishy-washy.
1. GOD IS INTERESTED IN ME
Sermon Notes 10/28/12
These were the notes I used on Sunday. As you can tell by reading them, they are not intended to be example of great grammar or editing. 🙂
They are spotty and have some elements missing. I usually fill those in from my mind. Also, I leave some of this content out of the sermon when it is not necessary to the particular audience.
2 Chronicles 5: 13 The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to praise and give thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices and praised the Lord with these words: “He is good! His faithful love endures forever!” At that moment a thick cloud filled the Temple of the Lord. 14 The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple of God.
Surverys show the: Reasons for not going to church: Boring, Not relevant, people feel judged
Surveys have recorded: What would make you come to church? “If I knew I could experience the presence of God or know what he we like.”
Relevant is a means to an end. All churches were relevant at one time. Today’s relevance is tomorrow’s religion.
What makes a church grow and have life is a transformational environment.
All the cool stuff, musicians, style, practical teaching, list goes on and on…Is not the power.
Solomon knew that all the pomp and circumstance is not the power. The priests were purified. We are all purified/royal priesthood.
1 Peter 2:9 … You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession…for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
Everyone is gathered together. 120 in both this covenant and the upper room. Harps, cymbals, stringed instruments, forgiven people, finished works, sacrifice of sins. Singing, dancing, celebration, focus on God… Corporate Worship to God.
There is something powerful about people gathering together and worshipping God in one place.
For those of us who have been around a while, we forget and take for granted what it is like in the presence of God on Sunday morning. For those who are new to church, you might be struggling to figure out what the big deal is about gathering every single week, and reshaping our weekend to make sure that we don’t miss Sunday. We shouldn’t do it just to do it. That is laborious.
We forget the effect of the power of God on the lost.
Worshipping together as a group is different than missions, and social fellowship, and classes, All those are important and have a place in our discipleship.
However, we can not forget the power of getting together as a group and having an “At that moment” Experience.
‘At that moment’ – No flesh could stand or function in that moment. We are now the temple of the Holy Spirit. When we engage God in sincere worship, it is the only time this side of heaven, every part of our sinful flesh brokenness, sin, pain, has to be paused! The only time this side of heaven. When we are in the moment.
1 Corinthians 1:29 …no flesh should glory in his presence.
Your flesh – that which is prone to sin and opposed to God, the animal nature with cravings which incite to sin. It is not a process or a part of growth. It is not like serving or discipleship. The world fades away and there is a reprieve of the flesh. We spiritually kiss in that moment the face of God. We get a tiny drop of what heaven will be like. There will be like no more sickness and no more pain forever!!
We learn to surrender to the presence of God. At that moment it is impossible to sin.
John 4:24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.
Jesus teaches at the well the lowest of the low. Half breed, woman, her only connection to power was 7 broken men, it was this woman that God brought this revelation of worship to. I will give you living water. She needed a release from the pain. She needed to experience the reprieve.
2 Chronicles 20: 21 After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: “Give thanks to the Lord; his faithful love endures forever!” 22 At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves. …not a single one of the enemy escaped.
Jehoshaphat king leading people. Singing the same song as earlier. Something had been taught to them. How to worship. At that very moment.
No flesh or enemy of god could stand in the glory of God. Worshippers set the atmosphere for the evil to perish.
Took three days to gather all the stud foreshadowing of resurrection.
Psalm 84: 5 What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. 6 When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings. 7 They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.
turn your mourning into dancing
Valley of blessing.
God wants to turn your valley of battle/mourning into a valley of blessing. He inhabits the praises of his people. Stop fighting your battles and start worshipping god. Keep coming to church and start letting loose a little bit.
walking through the valley of weeping it will become a place of refreshing springs
You will remember places of blessing forever. You will want to return to physical places because if the deliverances
The only way for trials to become triumphs is through worship.
3 simple principles for “at that moments”
What is the most important commandment?
Mark 12:29 Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. 30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’
We can love him with all our heart soul and mind, strength “at that moment”
1. Engage God Physically. Strength You start with all these issues. Get your body moving. Your mind follows your body. Start clapping. Start dancing. Move something. Raise hands. Sign of surrender.
Our church is the big messy mix of humanity. We have all shades Of all kinds of cultures and issues.
We know the power of the presence of God. We have to carry the banner!
2. Encounter God Mentally– Mind- encounter God. Mind follows spiritually minded is life and peace. You focus on Him
3. Experience God – soul
Robin Steele 