PASTORS NOTES

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬ The next covenant name is in the first part of verse four. It tells us even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil, for God is with us.  He is revealing Himself as the  Jehovah Shammah —the Lord ever-present. He says, "I will never leave you; I will never forsake you." In some Bible versions, the "valley of the shadow of death" is translated as the "valley of deep darkness."  We've all had times when we felt alone—that there was no one else there with us. However, God made a covenant with us.  He has promised to always be with us, always near us, never to leave us, nor forsake us—even when we are going through the deep darkness. The next part of verse four says,  "You will fear no evil."  In Deuteronomy 31, we are reminded not to fear nor be disma...

TEXT: MATTHEW 18:21-35 The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant 21  Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22  Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23  “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.  24  As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him.  25  Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 26  “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’  27  The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 28  “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who ...

  Text:   Matthew 6: 1-4 AS I preach about this subject today, I hope it makes you hungry to plan a time for fasting and prayer. It is not starving or a diet. It is to bring you into a deeper uncluttered intimacy with GOD.             JESUS taught HIS followers about 3 disciplines for kingdom living in Mathew 6 which are giving, praying, and fasting. HE made it clear that it would be a normal part of following JESUS by saying, “When you give”, “when you pray”, “when you fast”, not if. These 3 disciplines are like a 3-cord strand that is not easily broken. “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12             Could it be that we are missing our greatest breakthroughs because we fail to live like JESUS told us HE...

  Seven (7) Signs and Symptoms of Cain Syndrome Scripture: Genesis 4:9-12 (NIV) 9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don’t know," he replied. "AM I MY BROTHER’S KEEPER?" 10 The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. 11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless WANDERER on earth." WANDERER= Living w/o Purpose/Mission. The Cain Syndrome 1. He was half-hearted towards God He knew God, but the problem was he never took the time to cultivate his relationship with his heavenly Father. He never diligently desired to look after GOD’S OWN HEART & never tried to find out what GOD WANTS HIM TO DO. -“O God! Let your WILL be done.” 2. His Decision was based on His own wisdom. He did things that he tho...

  EPHESIANS 4:29-32 – Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. BEWARE OF A BITTER AND UNFORGIVING HEART.  It must be one of the most grievous things to the heart of God. It damages the witness of individuals and churches for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It produces hypocrisy.  It robs us of joy, peace, and contentment. It makes Christians more Pharisees than followers of Christ. Simply stated, “It is the ugliest thing to be in the life of a Christian and church – a bitter and unforgiving heart”. And it is extremely serious. Jesus stated this warning,  “For if yo...