Sermons

Do you have what it takes to go ten rounds with Jesus? Can you “lay hold” of God and make Him your own? Using the example of Jacob, a patriarch who wrestled with God and wouldn’t let go until he was blessed, Pastor Michael Petillo encouraged us to lay hold of the Word of God. Being in the Word of God will prepare the provision for the warfare that is ahead and will put a fight in you to continue going forward. Don’t run in the other direction today, press toward the goal! Get into the fight, don’t give up and lay hold of all the blessings God has for you!

As Christians we receive a variety of giftings and callings—pastors, missionaries, administration, hospitality, etc.—but there is one calling we all share. We're all called to be servants. Being a servant isn't about the tasks you do, but seeing and valuing people the way that God does. It's about pouring out your life for the betterment of others. When you have a Spirit-birthed servant heart you will begin to see God's anointing and power truly work through you life.

When God came to earth, in the form of His Son Jesus Christ, the veil was suddenly torn and Heaven came into view. The first veil was Heaven coming to us, the second veil was torn so that we are no longer separated from the presence of God. The third veil is that which separates us from the fullness of what we are called to be in Christ Jesus. God has won a victory that takes us out of every place of weakness and brings us into His redemptive power. May we find ourselves in a place of prayer, anticipating the power of the Holy Spirit so we can burst out of the veil of obscurity and step into the market place and begin to talk about the wonderful things that God is about to do.

How can you have joy in the middle of suffering and hurt? Pastor Gary Wilkerson preaches from Philippians and explains how the apostle Paul had joy in the midst of despair. Paul looked to Jesus instead of focusing on the hurt around him. Just like Paul, all of the circumstances you face can bring glory to God. It’s crucial to keep your eyes on Jesus and know that He will make everything work out for His good and your joy!

God’s ways are not always easy to understand and we may never get an explanation for some of the dark valleys we go through, but we can trust that God knows what is best for us. In times of trials and afflictions, God is teaching us to depend on Him. If we are going to represent God we must be prepared to partaker in His suffering. Through the process God is producing something inside of us to help us minister to others. The answer to your suffering is the simple fact that God is faithful and through it all He is planting  all we will need to get through every trial and storm.

When you accepted Christ, you became a new creation. There should be an obvious transformation in your life. One key area of transformation is racial prejudice. In Christ’s church there is no racial division—all are one in Christ! Another area is family structure. A wife should be submissive to her husband and he should lay down his life for her. Putting on your new self is vital to the Christian life as we are being prepared for Eternity and as a witness to those who do not yet know Jesus.

In order to be His disciple, Jesus said to deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Him. The cross is essential for the Christian, yet many churches hardly speak about it. The cross is not some burden we must bear in our own strength in order to prove how devout we are—not even Jesus carried His own cross. It is a place of humbling descent where we must rely fully on God and others. Like Jesus, you may feel forsaken at the cross, but fear not, God is with you. And you will need others, like Jesus needed Simon, to carry your cross with you.

What is the mark of a true Christian disciple? Is it someone who reads their Bible daily, prays dutifully and fast religiously? Not necessarily—many are dutiful and religious. A true disciple is one who falls deeply in love with Jesus and has a genuine concern for Christ’s church. Reading from 2 Timothy, Pastor Gary Wilkerson encourages the church that it is possible to be a true disciple. When we focus on Jesus, the true disciple-maker, He will fill us with a faith that is on fire and we will truly live for Him!

Sadly much of the church today doesn't talk about Eternity or even know much about it. Pastor Michael Petillo encourages the church to ask the Holy Spirit for an eternal focus. If we don't have our eyes fixed on Eternity we will struggle through the temporal difficulties that we face in this life. We may not see it here and now, but all that we go through will bring eternal glory to God.