Why is church boring? The early church in the book of Acts was anything but boring. Pastor Michael Petillo challenges the church to seek Jesus daily—all of the church, not just the pastors and elders. When you commune with Christ everyday, He will begin to open up divine opportunities and stir up the gifts of the Holy Spirit in your life. You'll come to church prepared, and it will be anything but boring. It will be full of God's presence and power!
With all that is going on in the world today, it is tempting to complain and argue. Sadly, much of the church seems ignorant and lacking in knowledge. Most of us are thankful for our salvation and forgiveness of sins, but there is so much more to our faith. Pastor Nick Cassidy exhorts the church to ask God for a supernatural outpouring of His Spirit. There is a darkness in the world today that cannot be overcome by the natural mind and mere doctrine. It requires a people operating in the power of the Holy Spirit!
What is this grand conspiracy forming in the world today? What is the source of this agitation? Satan has succeeded in sowing his character in humanity that says we can be our own judge and determine for ourselves what is good and what is evil. The only impediment to this misguided journey in this society is now on God and His people who stand in stark contrast showing the world there is a God, and there is something called sin. Sin separates us from God, not just in time but for eternity. There is only one King in this world and Jesus is the only King that can show mercy to a sinner and declare them forgiven and cleansed. If you are a casual Christian living in compromise the Holy Spirit will help you escape the boundaries of your own stubbornness and empower you to live in the boundaries of God's kingdom.
In between asking God for something and receiving what we asked for, there is a gap of time where we can become angry, confused, and hopeless waiting for God to answer our prayer. Because God is a loving Father, He will never give us a position or possession that our immaturity could sabotage. When you ask God for something, you won’t get the thing you asked for right away, instead you will get a journey to get you ready for the thing you’re asking for. Tim Dilena powerfully shares that while you’re waiting, ask God to grow you and trust that God’s timing is the best timing for you.
There may come times in your Christian walk when it feels like your faith is slipping away. You see the hardships in your own life and the evil in the world around you and wonder if God is truly good. You ask yourself, “Have I followed Jesus for nothing?” In Psalm 73, Asaph faced a similar crisis of faith. It wasn’t until he “entered the sanctuary of the Lord” that his hope was restored. God compassionately heals the brokenhearted by revealing his glory and majesty. This doesn’t happen in a church service or during flashes of intimacy with him, but when we make a choice to continually seek him.
Every culture has its heroes. And the world is full of people looking for a hero. Did you know that you’re called to be a hero to someone? You may not feel very heroic, but Pastor Rick Hagans reminds us that God chooses unlikely heroes. They aren’t always popular, and — apart from Jesus, the ultimate hero— they are far from perfect. David committed adultery. Noah got drunk. Peter denied Christ. We are all broken people, but with a little faith, God can make you a hero.
How much do you esteem God’s purpose for your life? When the American Church abdicated their purpose; when we lost the fervency to preach the Gospel and the passion to save the lost, we opened the door for deception and imposters. In our slumber, swindlers crept into the church and they grabbed pulpits by deceit which were not rightfully theirs. There is something that is coming to this society that is God induced and Spirit inspired. If you are restless and tired of pretending your living in victory, don’t be ashamed to lift up your voice and call out to God, He will break the yoke of bondage off your neck, bless you and make you a blessing.
What does waiting look like for a Christian? Pastor Gary Wilkerson focuses on how the disciples waited. They waited with joy, continued in their daily life and spent time together with God. They saw their impossible situation, and rather than acting in their own strength they waited on God. They moved from self-sufficiency to Holy Spirit dependency. When you wait on God, He will move in your life. You will be clothed with power to face your impossible situation.
We are living in a moment of history where we must understand the largeness of God’s heart. When we pray, what would it be like if we stopped asking God to do something, and simply agreed with Him for what He has already determined to do? As we learn to obey the Lord’s promptings, we will spend more time in prayer saying “Yes Lord” than asking Him to do something. The future of this nation will always be connected with the prayers of God’s people. God is initiating a moment in history where He desires to be merciful, when we begin to pray “Yes Lord” and become fully engaged with the work of God, those around us will bow their heads and begin to worship Him.
In 2 Timothy, 2 Peter and Revelation we see three different authors (Paul, Peter and John) all share one message—you must grow in the grace of Jesus Christ. Pastor Michael Petillo looks at what that means. Grace teaches you to say no to ungodliness and gives you a deeper desire to look upon Jesus. As God's grace increases in your life you will start to see Him bring breakthroughs.