Troy A. Brewer's Blog, page 185
April 8, 2021
FAITH IN ACTION
I delight in your trust in Me. Call on My Name and trust in My power to answer you in your time of need. Declare, decree and proclaim the Kingdom boldly. I have moved heaven and earth for you and will do so again.
FAITH IN ACTIONThere is power in prophetic acts. While many believe that kind of stuff was real in Bible times, I can testify from experience that the prophetic is alive and well today.
First, we need to believe that if we obey God with our natural bodies and do things as unto the Lord, it will initiate a supernatural response from heaven. If we make a confession, a declaration, or a proclamation, we believe our words – lined up with the Father’s – will open a window to heaven that changes things on earth.
Likewise, if we anoint folks with oil, have elders lay hands on them, and pray for healing, we need to believe we’re going to initiate a response of healing from heaven.
The Bible says the Spirit of the Lord responds to what we do in the natural. That’s what Jesus was talking about when He said,
“Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.” – Matthew 18:18-19
He is saying, “Heaven is looking at what you do, waiting to respond to what you do.” Think about how crazy that is. Heaven is activated by our faith in action!
Heaven responds to prophetic acts throughout the Word of God. Look at the intercession in 1 Kings 18, the act of healing 2 Kings 5, in the warfare of Exodus 17, and the warning in Ezekiel 4 & 5. In Acts 21:10-12, Agabus takes the belt of the apostle Paul and wraps his hands and feet in it. Look those up and see what I mean.
Do you believe Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever? Do you believe our God “changes not” and “there is no shadow of turning in Him”? If you do, you’ve got to believe the power of prophetic acts is just as real and available to believers today as it was in biblical times.
Put your faith into action. Do more than believe in the power of prophetic acts. Give the Lord the opportunity to open the heavens in response to your faith. I double dog dare you!
FROM MY SERMON SERIES EPIC
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ALLOCATION OF ACCELERATION
The Kingdom of heaven is at hand. My will and plan are being made manifest in both earthly and heavenly realms. Is it manifest in your life? Do you know your assignment? Awaken, oh sleeper! I will bring you into alignment and accelerate your destiny.
ALLOCATION OF ACCELERATIONIn these last days, it’s important that you and I are in alignment for our assignment. We need to line up with what heaven has planned for us because lives are depending on you.
Alignment is about conforming your life to Kingdom causes. Believers need to have a monster Kingdom cause that is not just their “union at work” or their passion to “play golf.” I’m not against those things. I’m not a religious person. I promise you can find King Jesus with a golf club. He can show up on the 9th hole with an awesome revelation the same as He can show up at church.
What I’m talking about here is purpose. Are you in alignment to feed the hungry, rescue the enslaved, spread the good news through coaching young kids, counsel the broken-hearted or addicted? What is that Kingdom thing that floats your boat? That’s your assignment.
Not only do you need to be in alignment with the Kingdom, you need accelerated timeframes because the faster you get there, the more prisoners of war you can rescue from behind enemy lines.
The more things speed up, the more encounters you have with King Jesus. The more encounters you have, the more transformation you get to walk in. Hallelujah.
With that said, we need to have some serious Kingdom causes and there needs to be some stuff within us that just stirs us up and we’re moved to action. That’s assignment. Do you need an assignment? Do you need accelerated timelines to position you for Kingdom advancement and victory?
Call out to the Lord. Listen to His voice in the word. See what breaks your heart. If it breaks His as well, you’re probably in alignment. Ask King Jesus for an allocation of acceleration and buckle up! It’s going to be an epic ride.
“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now, our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.” – Romans 13:11
FROM MY SERMON SERIES PRAY FOR RAIN – ALIGNMENT
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April 7, 2021
The Dividing of Soul and Spirit
Wednesday, April 7, 2021 – The Dividing of Soul and Spirit
Pastor Troy Brewer, OpenDoor Church, Burleson, TX
GENESIS CHAPTER 25
WE HAVE THE STORY OF THE INCREDIBLE AND MIRACULOUS LOVE AFFAIR BETWEEN
ISSAC AND REBECCA.
When we look at the personalities of Abraham Isaac and Jacob
Rebekah struggled with bareness for almost twenty years. This meant she was probably around
forty-years-old when she became pregnant for the first and only time. She had a difficult
pregnancy because we read that,
“the children struggled together within her (Genesis 25:22).”
INSIDE THIS WOMAN WAS A BATTLE. THERE WAS A FIGHT GOING ON INSIDE HER
BODY.
In Genesis 25:22 it says that she cried unto the Lord,
“If it be so, why am I thus?” Genesis 25:2
And then we read that she “went to enquire of the Lord.” It is a great testament to Rebekah’s
faith that when she had a question about her pregnancy she turned to the Lord for guidance
instead of relying on advice from other women or accepting predominant cultural explanations.
In reply to her prayer, the Lord gave her direct and personal revelation. It is one of the few
accounts in the Bible that we have of a woman speaking directly with God. He told her,
THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT NATIONS INSIDE OF YOU AND THEY WILL ALWAYS FIGHT
Genesis 25:23 PTV
IF I AM A MAN OF PEACE, WHY DO I HAVE SO MUCH ANGER?
IF I AM A MAN OF CONFIDENCE, WHY DO I HAVE SO MUCH ANXIETY?
IF I AM ANOINTED TO HAVE COURAGE, WHY DO I HAVE SO MUCH FEAR?
And if I am a man of joy and celebration, why do I deal with so much depression.
God wants in on the battle within us.
God wants in on my thinking (behold I stand at the door and I knock)
Jesus wants in on your emotions.
Your soul is that area of your mind your will and your emotions
SOUL V. SPIRIT
Pneuma: Spirit, THE BREATH
Psuché: Soul, the mind the will and the emotions
The soul is your Esau and your spirit is your Jacob.
Your soul, you mind your will and your emotions must submit to the spirit.
Sometimes, your body and your soul will team up together.
Adoration
A disciplined emotional response to the love of God.
Adoration involves joy, happiness, and laughter.
Intentional passion for Jesus
Psalms 122:1
I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul,
and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
WHEN YOU SUBMIT YOUR SOUL TO YOUR SPIRIT, IT DOESN’T DECLINE. IT ACTUALLY
BECOMES ALIVE, PROSPERS AND BECOMES WHAT A SOUL IS SUPPOSED TO BE.
3 John 1:2
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul
prospereth.
3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even
as thou walkest in the truth.
4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR YOUR PROSPERITY
God’s way of prospering you is to make your soul prosper.
Vs 2 says your life prospers when your soul prospers and vs 3 says your soul will prosper when
you walk in truth.
SO THE WAY God has set it up is like this:
As you progress in the mind of the spirit of God
As you let your mind get in agreement with what God almighty says you prosper. You advance
you go to the next level.
You are given more authority and more responsibility.
Facts v. Truth
If you want God to invade your life, you need to let him invade your soul.
KNOWING AND LIVING BY THE FACTS WILL PUT YOU IN TERRIBLE CHAINS OF FEAR,
ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION.
KNOWING AND LIVING BY THE TRUTH WILL MAKE YOU FREE.
JESUS WAS VERY AWARE OF THE DIFFERENCE OF SOULISH EMOTIONS AND
SPIRITUAL EMOTIONS
Listed below are all the direct gospel references to the soul and spirit of Jesus Christ.
(Matthew 26:38 NKJV) Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.
Stay here and watch with Me.”
(Mark 8:12 NKJV) But He sighed deeply in His spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek
a sign? Assuredly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.”
(Luke 10:21 NKJV) In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord
of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed
them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.
(John 11:33 NKJV) Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her
weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled.
(John 12:27 NKJV) “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this
hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.
(John 13:21 NKJV) When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified
and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.”
YOU NEED TOP BE ABLE TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR SOULISH
EMOTIONS AND YOUR SPIRITUAL EMOTIONS
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing
even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the
thoughts and intents of the heart. – Hebrews 4:12
You can talk to your soul from your spirit
Psalms 42:11
Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.
These ten basic declarations (confessions) are foundational to the building of MY faith. They will
increase your expectancy of God’s goodness; and, thus, will increase the manifestation of that
goodness in your life.
Jesus said, “According to your faith, so be it” (Matthew 8:13). Say these every day for a month
and see what happens to your life. It will be exciting!
My prayers are powerful and effective (2 Cor 5:21; James 5:16b).
16:30.31).I laugh when I hear a lie from the devil (Psalms 2:2-4).
on my prayer wall at home I have a list of PROPHETIC PHRASES AND SUBJECTS FOR
WARFARE DECLARATIONS AND PRAYER DECLARATIONS…I HAVE TYPED THEM UP
AND HANDED THEM OUT TO YOU WHEN YOU SIGNED UP FOR THE CONFERENCE.
MOMENTUM CONFERENCE 2015
Supernatural Sanity
Troy Brewer’s prophetic phrases and subjects of declarations from his spirit to his soul in 2015
The joy of the Lord
Encounter with Jesus
Psalms 91
The mind of Christ
Supernatural upgrade and advancement
A yielded and surrendered heart
Revelation and knowing the mysteries of the Kingdom
Signs miracles and wonders
Kingdom language
Accelerated time frames
An ongoing increase of the anointing on my life
My house, my name, my family
Supernatural abundance in all things financial
Amazing connections and relationships for kingdom purpose
Growing in the knowledge of God and in favor with God and man
Strategies, plans and accomplishing vision
Fruitful and full of wisdom
The light of the presence of God increasing expeditiously and all of my life!
Angelic visitation and assignment fulfilled
Everything I put my hand to prospers
Everyplace I put my foot is given to me
No weapon formed against me shall prosper
Continual fillings of the Holy Spirit
An ongoing new passion and love for the Lord
Supernatural and natural talents, abilities and skill sets
And anointing to deliver and rescue the afflicted
A great grace for influence because the Lord has made me to be a great voice for Jesus
Unification between my team staff and a myriad of supporters
Unprecedented effectiveness for ministry in the United States
The nations the nations the nations
When I pray for people they are healed when I speak to people they are transformed when I am
around people they want to believe in a much greater way!
When God is calling me away with him I hear his invitation and I always except it
When I seek after God I radically find him
I can be trusted with all of this because I will walk with God in faithfulness
Nothing can ruin my reputation and influence
I am known and loved as someone known and loved by God
My church, my ministry, my walk, my finances and all of my abilities grow and grow and grow in
2015 says the Lord!
John 8:32
“And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.”
As we declare biblical truths over our days we will see freedom in our lives.
Also, Romans 10:10 says, “For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies
on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he
confesses (DECLARES OPENLY and SPEAK OUT FREELY his faith) and confirms [his]
salvation.”
This passage encourages us in the latter half to declare openly the truth of His Word and
Christ’s work in our life.
Finally, Colossians 3:2 says, “And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the
higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.” Although our circumstances may look
one way, (This is the perception of our soul) if we can declare God’s truth over our lives from
our Spirit day by day, then I am confident we will see our mind’s transformed (Rom. 12:2) and
God’s kingdom come in our lives.
Holy emotions. Human emotions. Carnal emotions.
– those experienced by God such as compassion, joy, and holy indignation and those that
accompany life in the Spirit such as praise, worship and adoration. These emotions are derived
from the kingdom of light and the Sprit (Ephesians 5:18-21, Colossians 3:16-17, Galatians
5:22,23) and are in agreement with true wisdom (James 3:17,18) They are the emotions of
Christ in us. They are not necessarily religious or pious emotions. Admiring a flower or
delighting in beautiful music or focussing on the beautiful and the good can be just as holy as
going to church. (Philippians 4:8)
Human emotions
– based in our human situation and the created order and shared by Jesus during His time on
earth. This includes emotions such as grief, pain, fear, abandonment, sadness and sorrow,
anxiety, stress, anguish and vulnerability. These emotions are well chronicled in the Psalms. For
the Christian they are temporary and in eternity there shall be no more crying or sadness or pain
(Revelation 21:4). While these emotions may feel bad they are not evil or toxic. They can be
painful but they are not poisonous.
Carnal emotions
– are poisonous and destructive and include toxic emotions such as malice, envy, selfish
ambition, sensuality, bitterness, overpowering lusts and murderous hatred. They are closely tied
up with the works of the flesh and with evil deeds. Their outcome is spiritual death. These
emotions were not part of mankind at Creation and are not “natural human reactions” (For
instance grief is a natural human reaction but bitterness is fleshly. One can have “good grief”
without a trace of bitterness. Bitterness is not natural to the human condition.) Rather these
emotions are derived from the kingdom of darkness and have their source in a dark wisdom
(James 3:14-16). You carnal emotions are are always based on survival and selfishness
MERCY AND SELF-CONTROL
YOUR PROPHETIC WORD
A readiness to find His voice
I am ready to hear your voice no matter where you want to speak help me Lord to find you even
in my busy places, help me to hear the music and recognize your greatness in my life.
A READINESS TO HEED HIS VOICE
James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
1 Samuel 3:9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that
you must say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears.’
Be ready to heed His voice. Prepare your heart to do what He says.
The post The Dividing of Soul and Spirit appeared first on Troy Brewer Ministries.
WHILE BETHLEHEM SLEPT?
I have called you to be still and know that I Am God. When storms come, or when mayhem clouds your thinking, cry out to Me. I will give you My peace so you can get still again. Know Me and My love for you.
WHILE BETHLEHEM SLEPT?Folks think the people of Bethlehem were just too ignorant, self-absorbed, and busy to notice the baby Jesus being born. There’ve been many modern songs and sermons titled “While Bethlehem Slept,” but folks, let me tell you, I think it gets a raw deal in history.
Modern Bethlehem is a town of about 25,000 people. However, when Joseph and a very pregnant Mary were required to travel there over 2,000 years ago, it had only a few hundred residents. How do we know? By the size of the water well. That’s about how many people it could sustain.
Caesar decides to tax everybody’s wealth, so he calls a census. This is a huge deal. It means everyone in the bloodline of David has to go back there, with their wealth, so the Romans can tax it.
Now, people were not bringing bags of money. They were bringing flocks of goats, sheep, cows, chickens – you get the picture. The Jews were only allowed to have as much wealth as they had reported. If they were found to have more, they’d be killed.
Think about a town meant for a few hundred folks being invaded by 2,000 to 4,000 people and every living thing they owned. Bethlehem was a madhouse.
When they got there, of course, there was “no room at the inn.” My friends, the word for “inn” in the Greek literally means “guest room.” While many people stayed with relatives, I can imagine the scandal of Mary being pregnant kept Joseph from seeking, or maybe being offered, shelter with any family he had – we really don’t know. One thing is certain, that rude innkeeper that seems like a rat in all the movies is likely a myth.
What we do know is Caesar caused chaos. Chaos, disorder, confusion, turmoil – all will cause us to miss the truly important. Mayhem in our minds can cause us to ignore those who love us. Upheaval in one relationship can cause us to misjudge all our relationships. Confusion messes with our minds so depression, despair, and dependency begin to cloud our judgment.
We are a lot like Bethlehem. We so easily get overwhelmed. We want to see the miraculous thing God has set in our midst, but the enemy, or the in-a-me, brings havoc and that’s all we can focus on. It doesn’t have to be this way. Unlike Bethlehem, you and I have been given the mind of Christ. Let’s use it to see past the hell we’re going through and the pandemonium that’s been stirred up around us.
Be still and focus on Jesus. You don’t have to miss His blessings today or on Christmas.
“I will hear what God the LORD will say; For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones; But let them not turn back to folly.” – Psalms 85:8
FROM MY SERMON SERIES THE INDESCRIBABLE GIFT
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April 5, 2021
COMING INTO FOCUS
Let your problems melt away in My presence. Do you not know My character? Have I not proven Myself worthy? Let Me work all things for your good. Focus on that – My goodness – and leave your inadequacy where it belongs – at the foot of the cross.
COMING INTO FOCUSIntimacy is when you’re not just focusing on the problem you have, you decide to focus on how good God is, how real He is. You focus on the encounters you’ve had together, and you know He is pleased with you going after Him. You’re not wearing Him out.
This place of being focused on Him – His willingness and His adequacy in the midst of your terrible inadequacy – this place isn’t a religious relationship. It’s a real one. This is how you have victory and how you are an overcomer in every single part of your life.
People who seek God in a radical way, find God in a radical way. Don’t come before God telling Him how horrible you’ve been or what a bad sinner you are. That is the equivalent of an ugly woman saying, “Don’t you want me?” No!
What’s real is, Christ has made you beautiful and you need to go before Him and be beautiful to Him. What good is it for us to feed and love people, and minister to people if we don’t know how to minister to Jesus? We need to be ministers to the King and come before Him in a way that is pleasing to Him.
He has washed you white as snow. He calls you friend and family and has made you a joint heir to His eternal inheritance. He doesn’t want you coming before Him like a beggar or an orphan. You and I are told to be confident when we come before Him because He paid a great price for that.
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need – Hebrews 4:16
Focus on Jesus. Your problems pale in comparison to Him. Let His awesomeness remind you that He finds you worthy because you’re His and He sees His reflection in you. Be confident because He is.
FROM MY SERMON SERIES PRAY FOR RAIN – INTIMACY
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April 4, 2021
5 Easter Messages
Saturday 5:00 PM service
Enter the Dragon
Mark 14:3-11
And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came
having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it
on His head.
4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant
oil wasted? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the
poor.” And they criticized her sharply.
6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me.
7 For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but
Me you do not have always.
8 She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial.
9 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman
has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”
10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them.
11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money.
John 13:2
And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son,
to betray him.
The gospels mention the name of Judas’ dad 7 times.
He betrayed Jesus with a kiss.
GREEK WORDS
of throwing, thrusting, or injecting some- thing, such as the throwing of a ball or rock, or the
forward thrusting of a sharp knife
Judas was identified way before the time of Jesus’ ministry. Almost 1000 years before Judas
was born, he was prophesied by King Solomon, who called him “The Wicked Man.”
Proverbs 6:12-19
A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth; 13 He winks with his eyes, he
shuffles his feet, he points with his fingers; 14 Perversity is in his heart, he devises evil
continually, he sows discord. 15 Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; Suddenly he shall
be broken without remedy. 16 These six things the Lord hates. Yes, seven are an abomination
to Him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises
wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 a false witness who speaks lies, and one
who sows discord among brethren.
Matthew 27:3-5
Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought
back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by
betraying innocent blood.” And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!” 5 Then he threw
down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.
He felt bad about what he had done but he did not repent.
Regret and repentance are not the same thing.
You can feel bad, feel confused and hate the mess you are in but that is not the same as
repentance. Repentance literally means “turning away from” or “changing your direction 180
degrees.”
In Zechariah 11, there is this big prophetic act that the prophet does. He takes 30 pieces of
silver and throws them into the temple.
Matthew 27:4-8
…saying: “I have sinned in betraying innocent blood.” But they said: “What is that to us? Look
thou to it.” And casting down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed, and went and
hanged himself with a halter.
But the chief priests, having taken the pieces of silver, said: “It is not lawful to put them into the
corbona, because it is the price of blood.” And after they had consulted together, they bought
with them the potter’s field, to be a burying place for strangers. For this the field was called
Haceldama, that is, the field of blood, even to this day.
Acts 1:15-20
And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names
was about a hundred and twenty), and said, 16 “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be
fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who
became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; 17 for he was numbered with us and obtained a
part in this ministry.”
18 Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst
open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. 19 And it became known to all those dwelling
in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.
20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one
live in it’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’”
Jesus is a friend to you.
John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends
Be the friend of Jesus.
Saturday 7:00 PM
A Walk in the Park: A Study on What Happened in the Garden of Gethsemane
For three years, Jesus was readily available to His disciples. He provided all their needs,
protected them from every enemy, made them partners in ministry, and answered their
questions. There is no record in Scripture of Him ever needing their support, except for the night
He was betrayed.
Jesus knew what lay before Him — the beatings, the ridicule, the cross, and the grave. In His
humanity, He needed the emotional, mental, and spiritual support of His friends. So He took
Peter, James, and John — the three closest to Him — and pulled them away asking them to
pray. But they fell asleep on the job. When Jesus needed them most, He was left alone in great
agony.
Rick Renner
Unknown Facts About the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial:
Luke 22:31-38
And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as
wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned
to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.”
34 Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three
times that you know Me.”
“LET’S GEAR UP AND ROLL!”
35 And He said to them, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you
lack anything?”
So they said, “Nothing.”
36 Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a
knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. 37 For I say to you
that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the
transgressors.’ For the things concerning Me have an end.”
38 So they said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.”
And He said to them, “It is enough.”
There’s a time of going on faith and exploring God’s goodness. There is a another time of
arming to the teeth and going to fight battles.
A COMBINED READING OF JESUS IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE IN ALL
4 GOSPELS:
Matthew 26:36-42 NIV
(combined with Mark and Luke and John)
Then Jesus went out across the Kidron valley as usual to the Mount of Olives with his
disciples following Him to a place called Gethsemane where there was a garden, and he said to
them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray,” and “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”
He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, James and John, along with him and he began to
be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the
point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
Going a little farther, he withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them fell with his face to the
ground and prayed, “My Father Abba Father, everything is possible for you. If it is possible, may
this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.
And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to
the ground.
Then he rose from prayer and returned to his disciples and found them
sleeping. “Simon, Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch
and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
He went away a second time and prayed the same thing, “My Father, if it is not possible for this
cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did
not know what to say to him. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third
time, saying the same thing.
Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and
resting? Enough! Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of
sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the
place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples.
I don’t think Jesus took on sin at the cross. I think He took it on in the garden. He punished and
killed sin at the cross
Luke 22:41
“And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed.”
On the surface, this verse sounds like Jesus calmly and reverently kneeled down, and a “holy
hush” came over Him. But that is not what happened. In the original Greek, the verse says,
“He collapsed.” Jesus probably intended to go farther away from Peter, James, and John.
However, He was already feeling the pressure and weight of sin and what was about to take
place. Unable to take another step, He collapsed. He fell on His hands and knees and began to
cry out, “…Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but
thine, be done” (Luke 22:42).
Luke 22:44
And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of
blood falling down to the ground.
“agony” — α
γωνία (agonia): an intense conflict or contest; a strug- gle; a fight; great exertion or
effort; often used to convey the ideas of anguish, pain, distress, or conflict; comes from the word
α
γών (agon), which depicted the athletic conflicts and competitions that were so famous in the
ancient world; frequently pictured wrestlers in a match, with each wrestler struggling with all his
might to overcome his opponent in an effort to hurl him to the ground in a fight to the finish; used
figuratively to describe a struggle of the human will
“earnestly” — ε
κτενής (ektenes): extended or stretched out; a person in this kind of agony might
drop to the ground, writhing in pain, rolling this way and that way; pictures a person who is
pushed to the limit and can’t be stretched much more; a person on the brink of all he can
possibly endure “drops” — θρόμβος (thrombos): a medical word that points to blood that is
unusually thickly clotted
REPEATED FROM EARLIER IN THE SERMON. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO REPLACE IT
WITH??: For three years, Jesus was readily available to His disciples. He provided for all their
needs, protected them from every enemy, made them partners in ministry, and answered their
questions. There is no record in Scripture of Him ever needing their support, except for on the
night He was betrayed.
Jesus knew what lie before Him — the beatings, the ridicule, the cross, and the grave. In His
humanity, He needed the emotional, mental, and spiritual support of His friends. So He took
Peter, James, and John — the three closest to Him — and pulled away, asking them to pray.
But they fell asleep on the job. When Jesus needed them most, He was left alone in great
agony.
Our sin hurt King Jesus.
He was there for all of us and none of us were there for Him
He still chose not to be offended at our failure!
He is our greatest friend!
HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US NOR FORSAKE US.
JESUS IS A FRIEND TO YOU.
John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends
Be the friend of Jesus.
SUNDAY 9:00 AM SERVICE
SUPERNATURAL SOLDIER
Luke 22:39-53
Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also
followed Him. 40 When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter
into temptation.”
41 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed,
42 saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but
Yours, be done.” 43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 44 And
being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood
falling down to the ground.
45 When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from
sorrow. 46 Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into
temptation.”
Betrayal and Arrest in Gethsemane
47 And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of
the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. 48 But Jesus said to him,
“Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
49 When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, “Lord, shall we
strike with the sword?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his
right ear.
51 But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him.
52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to
Him, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was with you
daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of
darkness.”
(RICK RENNER)
Although the disciples didn’t understand what Jesus was going through, God did. And He
provided Him divine assistance right in the midst of His suffering.
As Jesus was crying out in agony to the Father, the Scripture says,
Luke 22:43
“And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.”
The word “strengthened” is the Greek word enischuo, which means to impart strength or to
empower someone. It signifies filling a person with hardiness, giving them a renewed vitality.
This person may have been feeling exhausted and depleted, but when he is “strengthened,” he
suddenly gets a blast of energy so robust that he is instantly recharged and ready to face the
test or assignment before him.
God the Father provided this kind of supernatural strength for Jesus in Gethsemane that night.
In Christ’s time of intense struggle, divine assistance was imparted, renewing His strength and
giving Him the energy and courage He needed to victoriously face the suffering that awaited
Him.
Immediately after Christ was strengthened by the angel, He got up from that place and woke up
the disciples and said:
Mark 14:42
“Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”
When you’re in the midst of severe trouble or temptation and you cry out to Jesus, He will
immediately come to your aid! He is the Soldier of all soldiers who knows what it feels like to be
abandoned in your hour of greatest need (see Hebrews 2:18).
Hebrews 2:18
For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
God may send an angel to strengthen you, or He may impart power to you through His Holy
Spirit. Whatever the case, once He touches you, you will have what you need to handle the task
in front of you!
God is for you, not against you. He is on your side! He stands ready to give you the divine
assistance you need to tackle the assignment He has asked you to do. If you ask Him, He will
energize you with His strength so that you can embrace the assignment victoriously. What He
did for Jesus, He will do for you!
God’s supernatural strength — His grace — is available to you. You have His Word on it.
Isaiah 40:28-31
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
31 But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
James 4:6
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:
“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
You may think, Well, that was Jesus. Surely God would strengthen Him. But how can I know
that He will strengthen me? God answers this question in Deuteronomy 10:17; Romans 2:11;
and Acts 10:34, 35. Carefully read these verses and write what He shows you.
SUNDAY 11:00 SERVICE
THE FIGHT OF YOUR LIFE
John 18:1-11
When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron,
where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. 2 And Judas, who betrayed
Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. 3 Then Judas, having
received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there
with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come
upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?”
5 They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. 6 Now
when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
7 Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?”
And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
8 Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their
way,” 9 that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have
lost none.”
10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off
his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My
Father has given Me?”
In Matthew 26:47, we are told that “a great multitude” of soldiers came with Judas. This phrase
is taken from the Greek words “ochlos polus,” which describe a huge or massive multitude.
Similarly,
Mark 14:43 also says “a great multitude” with swords accompanied Judas. The phrase “a great
multitude” is the Greek word “ochlos,” meaning a massive crowd. Once more, in Luke 22:47 it
says “a multitude” accompanied the betrayer, which again is the Greek word ochlos, indicating
that the band of soldiers who came that night was enormous.
Just how many soldiers were there?
We find the answer in John 18:3. It says, “Judas then, having received a band of men and
officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and
weapons.” The phrase “a band of men” is the Greek military word speira. It describes a military
cohort, which is one-tenth of a legion, or approximately 600 soldiers. These were well-trained
fighters who were equipped with the finest weaponry of the day and who reported to the chief
priest.
Exodus 3:13-14
And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto
them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his
name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said,
Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
Unknown Facts About the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ by RICK RENNER
John 8:58
Jesus said unto them, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am.”
What happened when Jesus answered “I AM” is astounding. In John 18:6, it says, “As soon
then as he had said unto them, ‘I am he,’ they went backward and fell to the ground.” The
phrase “went backward” is the Greek word “aperchomai,” which depicts the soldiers and temple
police staggering and stumbling backward, as if some force had hit them and was pushing them
back and down.
Not only does the Scripture say they “went backward,” it also says they “fell to the ground.” The
word “fell” is the Greek word “pipto,” which means to fall. However, this isn’t an ordinary fall.
This fall depicts a person who falls so hard that it appears he has fallen dead or has fallen like a
corpse. And the phrase “to the ground” is the Greek word “chamai,” which depicts falling
abruptly and hitting the ground hard.
When Jesus answered and said, “I am” (Ego eimi), there was a blast of supernatural power
released. It hit the hundreds of soldiers and temple police that were present, causing them to
stumble, stagger, and eventually fall to the ground as if they were dead. It was like an invisible
“bomb” had been detonated the instant Jesus uttered the words “I AM,” causing every- one
present to fall down hard, completely involuntarily and unexpectedly. (AT THE NAME OF
JESUS EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW ANY EVERY TONGUE CONFESS. – PHILIPPIANS 2:10)
Luke 22:49
When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we
smite with the sword?
John 18:10
“Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his
right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.”
The word “smote” is the Greek word “paio,” which means to strike, as a person who viciously
strikes someone with a dangerous tool, weapon, or instrument. It can also be translated to sting,
like a scorpion that injects its stinger into a victim or to beat with the fist. In this verse, it pictures
the full force of Peter’s swinging action.
HE IS TAKING ON 600 SOLDIERS!
BUT HE IS NOT A SWINGER OF A SWORD, HE IS A CATSER OF A NET. HE IS A
FISHERMAN NOT A SOLDIER.
Malchus was the servant of the high priest Caiaphas. He was his public spokesman. Caiaphas
was the leader of the Sadducees who didn’t believe in supernatural occurrences. They
dismissed all the miraculous events of the Old Testament as being myths or legends. They
didn’t believe in or embrace the idea of anything supernatural, including the resurrection.
Matthew 26:53
Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than
twelve legions of angels?
Jesus said He had “more than twelve legions of angels” available to Him instantly, in that
present moment. Since a legion of angels is at least 6,000, 12 legions would be 12 multiplied by
6,000. That’s 72,000 angels that were on standby ready to help the Master. At any moment,
Jesus could have prayed to the Father, and He would have dispatched all those angels to assist
Jesus in whatever way He needed.
Interestingly, at the beginning of Jesus’ life, there was a multitude of angels present at His birth
(see Luke 2:13, 14). They filled the sky and gave God glory and praise for His miraculous
incarnation. Angels were also present throughout Jesus’ ministry, and at the end of His life, a
multitude of angels were on call to assist Him — all He had to do was say the word.
What Was the Combined Power of Twelve Legions?
Angels are extremely powerful beings. The Bible records an account in Isaiah 37:36 in which
one angel killed 185,000 men in the enemy’s camp. Since one angel could destroy 185,000, the
combined strength in a legion of angels, which is 6,000, could wipe out 1,110,000,000 men (that
is, 1 bil- lion, 110 million men) — and that’s just the combined power of one legion of angels!
Since one legion of angels can destroy 1 billion, 110 million men, how many men can 12 legions
of angels kill? By doing the math, we see 72,000 angels multiplied by 185,000 equals
13,320,000,000 men! Therefore, the combined strength of 12 legions of angels (72,000 angels)
that were at Jesus’ disposal was enough to destroy at least 13 billion, 320 million men —
By healing Malchus, Jesus destroyed any incriminating evidence against Peter, effectively
freeing him from the consequences of his actions–WHICH WAS DEATH! He has done the
same for us! What mistakes in your life are you especially grateful Jesus took care of for you?
After Peter made a mess of things, he was a bruised and broken man. Yet even in the midst of
Peter’s brokenness, Jesus reached out in love and restored him — which is exactly what He
wants to do for us. Regardless of what you’ve done or how you feel, Jesus is waiting with arms
open wide for you. What has He promised to do for those who are broken?
Psalm 34:17-18
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. 18 The
Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.
Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds
Isaiah 66:2
“For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,” says the Lord. “But on this
one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.”
JESUS WILL CLEAN UP YOUR MESS AND REMOVE THE EVIDENCE OF WHAT YOU HAVE
DONE!
SUNDAY 1:00 PM SERVICE
“He’s Alive!”
The gift of realness.
I only want to believe what is true.
“Whatsoever things are true.”
Even the people who rose from the dead died again.
Not Jesus. It’s true that Jesus Christ defeated death.
WHY I BELIEVE THE RESURRECTION STORY
WHY DO I NEED TO DEFEND MY FAITH?
GOD COMMANDS IT
1 Peter 3:15
…and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope
that is in you.
The devil is always trying to build a case against Christ. It’s up to us–the people of God–to
always have a strong case for Christ ready.
YOUR CASE FOR CHRIST HAS TO DO WITH YOUR TESTIMONY
Psalms 119:46
I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.
If you know the facts you can defend your faith with confidence
Romans 1:16-17
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every
one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of
God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Seeing the evidence of God is a choice every person makes.
Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Since seeing the evidence of God is choice made in the heart of every living person,
IT IS A SINFUL AND POINTLESS EXERCISE OF FUTILITY TO ARGUE THE EXISTENCE OF
GOD. GOD UNDERSTANDS THAT FACT AND HE DOES NOT WASTE HIS BREATH
ARGUING HIS EXISTENCE. HIS VERY NAME IS “I AM THAT I AM.”
HE HAS PROGRAMMED YOUR HEART TO LONG FOR HIM.
HE HAS PROGRAMMED YOUR MIND TO SEARCH FOR HIM.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NKJV)
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that
no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
HE HAS PROGRAMMED YOUR BODY TO SENSE HIS PRESENCE.
HE HAS PROGRAMMED ALL CREATION AROUND YOU TO TESTIFY OF HIM.
That’s why out of 31,170 verses in the written testimony that He has given us called the Bible,
there is only one verse dedicated as explanation to the agnostic.
Psalm 53:1
The Fool has said in his heart there is no God!
31,169 verses are given as explanation to those who want to know who God is.
So, when you ask me why I believe in God, I tell you, “Because.” That’s the same answer as
those who don’t believe choose not to believe. I have chosen to see the evidence and know
THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES!
I can look around and, with barely enough sense to add two one-digit numbers, see the design
in the perfect order around us. From the complexity of our bodies, to the ecosystem–from the
seasons to the solar system–I don’t see the random chaos and decay that just happens when
you leave things alone. I see the super intelligent design in the systematic pattern of perfect
order.
IF THERE IS A DESIGN, THERE IS A DESIGNER.
IF THERE IS A THOUGHT, THERE IS A THINKER.
IF THERE IS PLAN, THERE IS A PLANNER.
And that not only tells me there is a God but that this God is a God of purpose–a God of
destiny–a God who wants to give His power for the benefit of others.
In the midst of all the gods imagined by man, there one GOD who fits this description and one
God who has been revealing a plan throughout the centuries–and it’s in print, written down for
anyone to read.
When Buddha came, there were no prophesies fulfilled that had been spoken for centuries
because Buddha was not a part of God’s plan.
Muhammad fulfilled no prophesies of old because there had never been a revelation from God
that he was part of His plan.
During their lifetimes, they didn’t prophecy about their own lives and deaths, and they never
fulfilled any prophecy made about or by them because, quite simply, they don’t know the future.
The reason they didn’t know the future is BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT GOD OR PART OF AN
ETERNAL PLAN.
THEY DID WHAT THEY DID OUT OF PERSONAL GAIN.
BUT JESUS CHRIST, WHEN HE CAME, HE FULFILLED 4,000 YEARS OF PROPHECY.
HE HIMSELF PROPHESIED EXACTLY HOW HE WOULD LIVE AND HOW HE WOULD DIE,
AND HE GAINED ABSOLUTELY NOTHING BUT GAVE AWAY EVERYTHING TO FULFILL
HIS PART OF AN ETERNAL PLAN.
AGAIN…
IF THERE IS A DESIGN, THERE IS A DESIGNER.
IF THERE IS A THOUGHT, THERE IS A THINKER.
IF THERE IS PLAN, THERE IS A PLANNER.
JESUS TOLD THE WORLD THAT HE DIDN’T COME TO REVEAL HIMSELF BUT HE CAME
TO REVEAL THE FATHER WHO SENT HIM.
HE CAME SAYING, “YOU HAVE SEEN THE DESIGN. LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO THE
DESIGNER.”
WHY I BELIEVE JESUS IS GOD AND IS SENT FROM GOD.
When you are asked to believe that Jesus is Christ, you are not asked to check your brain at the
door. You are asked to check your pride. You are asked to check your dignity. You are asked to
check your own prejudices and preconceived ideas at the door. That’s what the world is not able
to do.
God is looking for a people that will choose DEITY OVER DIGNITY.
The Plan
If Jesus is the messiah, the anointed one, God made to be a man sent here to complete a
perfect task, then the time and place of his appearing must show some evidence of intelligent
planning. People do not have any control over when they are born, to whom they are born to or
to the local, national or worldwide environment that they are born in. BUT JESUS IS THE
EXCEPTION.
The Timing of Jesus is perfect. The location of Jesus is perfect but…
About 350 years before Jesus was born, King Philip of Macedonia paced the corridors of his
castle as his young bride, Olympus, a princes of epirus gave birth to his first Son. Philip named
him Alexander and the world would later add “the great.”
In the spring of 334 BC, Alexander the Great took his army south and began to take over the
world one little war at a time. Now every country that Alexander conquered he “hellenized.” That
means he caused every civilized nation to learn to read and write in Greek.
He completed his final conquest and subdued the entire known world, then was himself
conquered and subdued by a single mosquito. He died of malaria in the spring of 323 BC.
There was a struggle for world power and this led to the rise of Rome. Not only did they take
over all of Alexander’s territory, they discovered new lands and pillaged them as well.
Alexander was used by a God he did not know to prepare the way for the messiah.
Romans legions were everywhere. They built roads between all the countries they conquered.
The Mediterranean Sea became a great big Roman lake for trade and transport.
Now communication was safe, fast and sure, and the legions kept peace through out the
empire.
By 5 BC, we have the world prepared for the messiah and for the deliverance of the Good
News throughout the world.
The whole world speaks the same language.
There are good roads and mapped territories.
There is world peace.
Had the timing of his appearance happened just a few years earlier, the world would have never
heard of this Jesus Christ.
Had the timing of His appearance happened just a few years later, Jerusalem was destroyed.
The people were slaughtered and scattered, and the world would have never heard of this
Jesus Christ.
He planned when he would be here and his timing was perfect.
Most people don’t have any control over when they are born.
Where the messiah would be born was strategic. Israel is the only natural land bridge in the
world that unites three continents: Europe, Asia and Africa.
From there, the news of the Gospel, the teachings of Jesus and the new and unusual message
of Christianity could be taken quickly to the uttermost parts of the earth.
The geographical location of where he appeared shows evidence of a plan, and I want to
remind you that most people don’t have any control over where they are born.
THERE IS A PLAN AND A FULFILLMENT OF THE PLAN THROUGH JESUS.
That’s not all of the evidence that we have of a plan.
JESUS FULFILLED 72 SPECIFIC BIBLE PROPHESIES
WHO HE WOULD BE
HOW HE WOULD LIVE
WHERE HE WOULD COME FROM
HOW HE WOULD BE BORN
HOW HE WOULD DIE
HEALING MINISTRY
A TEACHING MINISTRY
THAT HE WOULD BE CRUCIFIED
THAT HE WOULD BE CRUCIFIED WITH THIEVES
HIS CLOTHES WOULD BE GAMBLED OVER
HE WOULD BE BURIED WITH THE RICH
MANY OF THESE PROPHECIES SEEMED TO CONTRADICT ONE ANOTHER
HE WOULD BE BORN IN BETHLEHEM.
HE WOULD BE CALLED A NAZARENE.
HE WOULD “COME UP FROM OUT OF EGYPT.”
Though this was thought to be a type-o by the scribes or an ignorant contradiction by the
critics…
Though this was thought to be an impossibility for more than 1500 years, Jesus Christ fulfilled it
when his Mother gave birth to him in Bethlehem, his earthly father moved him to Egypt when
Herod sought to Kill him, and his family raised him in Nazareth where he became a man.
THOUGH THIS WAS IMPOSSIBLE, JESUS FULFILLED IT ALL.
Most Babies have no control over were his parents live
OTHER SEEMINGLY CONTRADICTIONS AND DISCREPANCIES:
HE WOULD BE HATED, DESPISED AND REJECTED
HE WOULD BE BURIED AND HONORED WITH THE RICH
HE WOULD BE COUNTED AMONG THIEVES AND MURDERERS
YET ANOTHER SAID HE WOULD BE HAILED AS A KING
THESE THINGS SEEM IMPOSSIBLE, BUT AS GABRIEL TOLD MARY WHEN HE
ANNOUNCED THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, “NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD.” – LUKE
1:37.
JESUS CAME TO PROVE THAT, WITH GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.
THAT’S NOT ALL.
IN PSALMS 22, THERE ARE 12 EXACT PROPHECIES CONCERNING HIS DEATH.
These things were written 1,000 years before Christ was hanging on the cross.
(SPECIFICALLY “IF HE TRUSTS GOD, LET’S SEE IF GOD WILL DELIVER HIM”)
A NORMAL PERSON DOES NOT HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER THE EVENTS OF HIS
DEATH.
A NORMAL PERSON IS NOT FULFILLING PROPHECY WHEN HE CRYS OUT FOR HELP.
A NORMAL PERSON DOES NOT HAVE ANY CONTROL WHAT THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM
ARE SAYING AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH.
BUT THIS WAS NO NORMAL DEATH. THIS WAS AN ETERNAL SACRIFICE PLANNED
BEFORE TIME BEGAN.
AND THIS WAS NO NORMAL MAN. THIS WAS GOD MADE FLESH.
PROVING ONCE AND FOR ALL THAT, YES THERE IS A GOD WHO SITS ON A VERY REAL
THRONE WHO KNOWS AND CONTROLS THE FUTURE
THATS NOT ALL the evidence we have:
IN THE EARLY PART OF THE LAST CENTURY, THERE WAS AN INCREDIBLE BASEBALL
PLAYER KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AS BABE RUTH.
BABE RUTH IS NOT JUST FAMOUS FOR PLAYING GREAT BASEBALL. HE’S FAMOUS
BECAUSE HE SAID HE COULD DO SOMETHING THAT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO
DO, AND HE SAID WHEN HE WOULD DO IT .
HE “CALLED THE SHOT”
PEOPLE WERE AMAZED AT THE CONCEPT OF A MAN BEING ABLE TO DECLARE HIS
ABILITY TO DO SOMETHING THAT WAS SO DIFFICULT TO DO.
JESUS CHRIST PREDICTED THAT HE WOULD DO SOMETHING IMPOSSIBLE TO DO. HE
PREDICTED THAT HE WOULD RAISE HIMSELF FROM THE DEAD AND HE CALLED THE
SHOT BY SAYING HE WOULD DO IT IN THREE DAYS.
So, what’s the big deal?
The fact that he became a man proves he is God.
The fact that he fulfilled the prophecy that everybody said could not be fulfilled proves that he is
God.
The fact of when he was born proves that he is God.
the fact of where he was born proves he was God.
The fact of what he did proved he was God.
The fact of what he said proves he was God.
The fact of how he died and the events surrounding his death proves he is God.
The fact that he rose from the dead absolutely proves he is God.
The fact of the matter is that he is real and he is the “fixer of the problem.”
He’s a deliverer, a savior, rescuer, emancipator, the ransom,
the Lamb that takes away the sins of the world!
A GOD OF POWE. A GOD OF PURPOSE. A GOD OF DESTINY!
IF THERE IS A DESIGN, THERE IS A DESIGNER.
IF THERE IS A THOUGHT, THERE IS A THINKER.
IF THERE IS PLAN, THERE IS A PLANNER.
AND YOU DON’T HAVE TO TRY AND GUESS WHAT HE’S LIKE. HE CAN BE SEEN IN THE
FACE OF MAN NAMED JESUS.
2 PETER 1:19 says the prophetic word was confirmed because they saw him:
2 Peter 1:16
For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power
and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
WHY SHOULD YOU BELIEVE PETER OR ANY OF THE DISCIPLES WHEN THEY SAY THEY
ARE EYEWITNESSES TO JESUS RESURRECTION?
WHY I BELIEVE THE DISCIPLES SAW JESUS RESURRECTED:
This dirty dozen that Jesus had picked up and chosen to carry his Gospel were men of no
notoriety before Jesus recruited them. They were all different ages from different walks of life.
Most were uneducated. They were only together in the ministry of Christ for three and half
years.
After Jesus was crucified, these guys did the only things they could do. First, they hid for a
couple of days until things died down. Then they went back home to their JOBS, disgraced and
feeling like the biggest failures in the world.
Thomas told John, “Unless I put my hand up in the wound of his side, I want nothing to do with
Jesus again.”
In John 21:3, Peter told everybody else, “I’m going fishing.”
But a month later, these same people were turning the world upside DOWN. A month later on
the day of Pentecost, the same Peter who had been too scared to let people know that he was
associated with Jesus, stood up and preached at a street outreach in downtown Jerusalem. He
was so convincing that 3,000 people were saved in one day!
And all 12 of these guys went throughout the whole world and there was nothing you could do to
stop them or to shut them up. Do you know what they were saying?
HE’S ALIVE.
HE’S RESURRECTED.
HE’S NOT JUST A MAN, HE’S GOD!
WE SAW HIM.
WE ATE WITH HIM.
WE SAW HIM ASCEND INTO HEAVEN.
EVERY ONE OF THEM–NOT JUST SOME OF THEM– STUCK TO THE STORY
THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES.
AND EVERY ONE OF THEM–NOT JUST SOME OF THEM–STUCK TO THEIR STORIES AS
THEY WERE BEING PUT TO DEATH COMPLETELY BY THEMSELVES, THOUSANDS OF
MILES APART FROM EACH OTHER, YEARS INTO THE FUTURE.
“HE’S ALIVE!”
James was beheaded by Herod in Jerusalem.
Peter went to Asia minor, the British isles and to Spain. He was crucified in Rome, upside down.
Andrew (Peter’s brother) went to Greece and southern Russia. He was also crucified on the
cross known as Andrew’s cross.
Philip went to Gaul, which is modern-day France. Stoned, drawn and quartered, his remains
were hung up in Hierapolis.
Bartholomew went to Armenia and was skinned alive.
Thomas went to Persia and to India. He was killed with a spear while he was preaching.
Matthew went to Ethiopia and was attacked and killed by sword wile visiting Egypt.
James the lesser, preached right there in Palestine and later went to Egypt where he was killed.
Jude preached in Assyria and in Persia. He was killed in Persia which is modern-day Iran.
Simon the Cananite went to Egypt, Africa and later went to Britain where he was crucified.
Mathias preached and was martyred in Ethiopia.
John lived to be very old, spending his latter years a prisoner on the island of Patmos. He died a
free man in Ephesus nearly 70 years after the resurrection of Christ.
Mark was dragged by horses through the streets of Alexandria, Egypt.
Luke was hanged in Greece.
James the just was thrown off of the pinnacle of the temple, the very same temple that the devil
took Jesus to in Matthew 4:5 (if your God, cast yourself down and the angels will catch you).
Jude, the half brother of Christ, was killed by arrows in Jerusalem.
Mathias, the apostle that took the place of Judas Iscariot, was stoned and then beheaded in
Jerusalem.
Paul was tortured and then behead by Nero in Rome.
HAD ANY OF THESE NOT SEEN JESUS RESURRECTED, THEY WOULD OF SAID
SO.
THAT’S WHY I BELIEVE THE DISCIPLES WHEN THEY SAY THEY SAW HIM
RESURRECTED.
John 20:29
Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who
have not seen and yet have believed.”
The conversion of Paul records the most drastically changed life in the Bible. As Saul of Tarsus,
he was an aggressive persecutor of the early church. When the risen Christ appeared to Paul
on the Damascus Road, Paul became Christianity’s most determined missionary. He endured
five floggings, three beatings, three shipwrecks, a stoning, poverty, and years of ridicule. Finally
the Roman emperor Nero had Paul beheaded because the apostle refused to deny his faith in
Jesus. What could make a person willingly accept—even welcome—such hardships? Christians
believe the conversion of Paul came about because he encountered Jesus Christ who had risen
from the dead.
1 Corinthians 15:17
And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; you are yet in your sins.
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April 3, 2021
YOU HAVE AUTHORITY
I have given you more authority than you believe. You play a major part in what happens in your life. Partner with Me through the Holy Spirit to make wise choices. Don’t be all willy-nilly about decisions. You have more control than you think.
YOU HAVE AUTHORITYGod is just so awesome. His goodness can show up in anything. This whole thing about “if it’s God, it will happen and if it’s not God, it’s not going to happen” is a trick the devil uses to make people reject God.
Let me tell you a cosmic secret: God does not always get His way. He will, once Jesus comes back, but right now He’s turned that over to us. Think about it. He wants people to love Him, but they don’t. He wants us to look to Him for provision, identity and destiny, but we want to do it ourselves, no matter how much it hurts us. We even try to work our way to heaven.
God doesn’t always get His way, but He does want to partner with us to bring heaven to earth. If we’re all in the bondage of trying to get to heaven, we won’t ever be Christians who bring heaven to earth. Check this out:
“Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. And he said to them: ‘Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men … So I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing, but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.’” – Acts 5:34-35, 38-39
People quote that say, “See, it’s in the Bible.” I say, “But it’s a Pharisee saying that.” You have to have some level of intelligence when you’re reading the Word of God. “But Pastor Troy, I quote it because it’s in the Bible.” You’re quoting the devil! You’re quoting the enemies of God! When Saul was under the authority of this man, he killed Christians. He honestly didn’t think he was doing anything wrong.
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28
God cares about every aspect of your life, even your junk. He will show up and get good out of a bad situation. You have been given free will, so take authority over that. When Saul met Christ on that Damascus road he made the choice to serve him and became Paul. Have you made that choice?
FROM MY SERMON SERIES BEGAT
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April 2, 2021
A WRONG WAY TO PRAY?
I Am yours and you are Mine. Through My Son, we have a relationship. You are precious to Me and I love to hear from you. I Am thrilled when you call out to Me. Whether in want or need, thanksgiving or complaint, boldly come.
A WRONG WAY TO PRAY?Now, I’ve been all over the world and seen different cultures pray. People in Africa don’t pray the same as people in America, and people in east Africa don’t pray the same as people in west Africa.
When it comes to you, the Lord and your prayer time, there are different approaches. All throughout the Bible, there are different ways to approach the Lord to get different responses. I want to show you something about Jesus and one of the ways He prayed.
Let me tell you, Jesus prayed like a Jew. Know why? Because He was Jewish. He’s not offended at being Jewish at all, so you best not be offended at Him being Jewish.
“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s and of the Holy Angels.” – Luke 9:26
The Word goes on to tell of the A-team – Peter, James and John – who walked up a mountain with Christ. They fall asleep up there and wake up to see Jesus, Moses and Elijah. The conversation they’re having is both legal – Moses represents the law – and prophetic – Elijah was a prophet.
It’s a big conversation and the brothers slept through most of this. They wake up and see the two men standing with Him. Do you notice that Jesus stands when He prays? He doesn’t sit or kneel, He stands.
There are many times a day I pray while driving. Eyes open, of course. So, are you understanding there is no formula? There is no wrong way to pray. The Lord just wants you to talk to Him, spend time with Him, and enjoy His presence.
“ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” – Philippians 4:6
Prayer is communication with the Father consisting of both talking and listening. It doesn’t matter if you sit or stand, fold your hands or raise them, shout or whisper. The only thing that matters is your heart. Jesus just wants your time and attention, not for His sake, but for yours.
FROM MY SERMON SEREIS PRAY FOR RAIN – REVIVAL
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Episode 77 – Revelation Report Episode 8
Revelation Report: LIVE and uncensored with Troy Brewer and Jamie Galloway! We are headed into Revelation Chapter 3 today. Join us as we take a deep dive and reveal what the Lord is saying to the churches! This can be found on my facebook page @pstroybrewer or on my youtube channel Troy Brewer.
The post Episode 77 – Revelation Report Episode 8 appeared first on Troy Brewer Ministries.
April 1, 2021
READY FOR THE PARTY?
I have made you and formed you in your mother’s womb to accomplish the plans I have for you. Don’t set limits on what I can do in you and through you. Expect Me to do the impossible in your life.
READY FOR THE PARTY?As Christians, we passed the first test God gives in Revelation 20 – the Great White Throne Judgment. How? Christ is our holiness. The second test is the Judgment Seat of Christ or the “Bema Seat” Judgment.
This test is for those who’ve been found in the Lamb’s Book of Life. It is after those who are dead, and have been judged unholy. In this second test, He judges the holy according to how they served. That judgment is not of punishment, but one of rewards. This test is a party!
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is; and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” – Hebrews 11:6
This is something you need to know: you will participate in this and it doesn’t need to blindside you. There will be a test. Here’s what will be on this test: Did you serve? Did you conform your life to the image of God’s plan?
Again, this is not a heaven or hell issue. This is a reward issue. It is about how you gave and served. Was your service man-made for your lifetime or was it Kingdom born for eternity?
The understanding of being rewarded is faith-based because it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. In 1 Corinthians 3, the Bible says, “Jesus Christ is the One who laid the foundation and you’re building on top of that foundation.” The fact that you’re saved is the foundation of how you live the rest of your life.
Will your works die with you or will you serve the Kingdom venture? Will you be about Kingdom business – rescuing the lost and hurting through redemption in Jesus? Are you demonstrating Jesus, making Him famous and people are getting saved?
There will be a test. The Lord Jesus Christ has given you the cheat sheet. If you have given your heart to Jesus, you can serve now and on that day when you stand before the Lord, you will be rewarded. It will be a good day to hear Him say, “well done good and faithful servant.”
FROM MY SERMON NOTES SERVOLUTION
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