Blog Posts

Resurrection, Newness & Life

3/29/2016

Hello Church,
   Sunday was “Resurrection” Sunday, the day that Jesus rose from the dead and defeated death once and for all. Many of us have heard countless of messages on the cross of Christ – sometimes I think what more can we, as just mere men say – BUT what we can say is that the CROSS MADE THE DIFFERENCE FOR ME.
   This is a day of rejoicing and celebration, BUT not everyone is happy. Not everyone is smiling. Not everyone shares our joy this day – some don’t care, some don’t believe, some don’t know what to believe. Then there are those who are upset and angry at the thought of a man rising from the dead because it challenges what they think about the world.
   What are the results of the resurrection? The resurrection has consequences not just for eternal life, BUT also for our everyday life. Because of the resurrection there is justification, that you and I are justified. Justification has to do with “newness” of life. Without newness of life you and I remain in an unchanging cycle of sin and forgiveness, sin and forgiveness, sin and forgiveness. Let’s ask a question, “Is it enough to be forgiven of sins?” That’s where the verse in Romans, chapter 4, verse 25 comes in saying that Jesus “was raised because of our justification.” We are justified, meaning that our sins are forgiven and it’s as though we have never committed those sins. The Word of God says that you and I are a delight in God’s eyes – you can say that you are resurrected into newness of life every day. The Prophet Isaiah said, “Great is Your faithfulness, morning by morning new mercies I see.”
   Church – Because of the resurrection we now have a “BLESSED HOPE.” (Titus 2:13-14) A “Blessed Hope” is that thing that we look forward to, it’s what we’re anticipating. Jesus breathes into us His life and empowers us as witnesses for Him. You and I have the privilege of bringing the “BLESSED HOPE” to all who are lost and fearful.
   This is the results of the resurrection. Be blessed.

P. Tom

RECLAIM WHAT IS YOURS

3/22/2016

Hello Church,
   The encouragement I would like to bring to you today is, "RECLAIM WHAT IS YOURS." Last Sunday here at Hosanna was our "Dominion, Reclaiming What is Yours" service. Dominion means to rule or power to rule; sovereign authority; jurisdiction and dominance. I Genesis the Lord made you and me to have "DOMINION" over all the earth. God is King over everything whether invisible or visible. God reigns from His Throne in heaven over the invisible spirit realm, BUT His reign over the visible takes a different direction - God chose to exercise and demonstrate His Kingdom authority on earth through mankind, you and me as His representation on earth.
   Now we are to know who our enemy is - our enemy is principalities, powers, rulers of darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places - so how do we fight this enemy - KNOW YOU'RE AUTHORITY IN CHRIST. Jesus has given you and me power to tread upon serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy. Jesus has given us, the Church "delegated authority." It's not my authority, BUT it by Jesus' authority that we bind the strongman and plunder (spoil, seize, take back) his goods.
   Church - we're not to roll over and giver up when the enemy attacks us - WE'RE TO FIGHT. The Word of God says that if you fail in the day of adversity, you're strength was weak.
   You might say your faith is weak or that it's not to strong - Jesus said that where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am in the midst. Jesus don't show up just to have perfect attendance, He shows up to glorify His Father in heaven through you and me.
   Joel, chapter 2, verse 25 says, "So I will restore (make amends, give again, make restitution) to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locusts."
   Church - take your stand, feed your faith, surround yourself with warriors and RECLAIM WHAT IS YOURS.

P. Tom

EZRA GENERATION

3/14/2016

Hello Church,
   Are you part of an "EZRA GENERATION?" God chose Ezra to be an instrument of good to the nation of Israel - that he might bring honor back in the priesthood. Ezra was a man of great learning - he knew the writings of the law of Moses - not only knew the words, BUT he knew the meaning of them.
   Who was Ezra? Ezra was of the main leaders that left Babylon, along with Nehemiah, to rebuild Jerusalem, which at this time was in ruins. Ezra responsibility and his purpose was to bring a spiritual revival to God's people by restoring a reverent fear of the Word of God and a heartfelt worship for the One true and living God.
   What Ezra Did - Ezra taught the people of God the Word of God. Ezra prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord - not only to seek it,BUT to do it. and then teach it to all Israel (Ezra 7:6). Let's ask a question - how do you know when someone really hears the Word of God?1. They hear it. 2. They retain it. 3. They act on it. Notice how it says that Ezra prepared his heart to seek the Lord. You can say that Ezra was someone who just didn't want to get up and say anything, BUT he wanted to say what was the heart of God.
   The Ezra Generation will be a generation of men and women who would call a people and a nation back to repentance and to establish a covenant with God.
   Than God there are multitudes of people (young & old) that are waking up, rising up and realizing that the way things have been going doesn't make sense and they're saying "NO MORE." This generation realizes that we, the CHURCH, the true CHURCH, can be restored.
   II Chron. 7:14 "If My people who are called by My name shall humble themselves, pray, seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, I WILL HEAL THEIR LAND."

P. Tom

God's Merciful Patience with Us

3/8/2016

Hello Church,
   In chapter 42 of Isaiah there is a prophecy concerning Jesus that says, "A bruised reed he will not break, And a smoking flax He will not quench." This speaks of the tenderness character of Jesus. Have you ever wondered why hasn't God turned America over to judgment? Why He hasn't dealt with us according to our sins? God gave Noah's generation 120 years of warnings, BUT after that God said, "ENOUGH" and brought the flood. Why haven't we seen God's righteous judgment on us? There only really one answer - It's because of the tenderness and longsuffering of Jesus. We can find proof of this in Isaiah's prophecy, "A bruised reed he will not break, And a smoking flax He will not quench."
   A reed is a tall stalk or plant with a hollow stem, usually found inn marshy areas or near a water supply. It's a tender plant so that it bends easily when strong winds blow or swift waters rush along, BUT the reed can only bend so far before it will break and float away with the flood.
   Like a reed in calm weather America once stood strong, full of purpose and promise. Society as a whole honored God and the Bible was held up as the standard for our laws and judicial system - BUT something happen, in our national and personal prosperity we became proud and unthankful. God has been pushed out of our court system, pushed out of our schools and sadly, pushed out of many churches. Society has lost its moral compass and the result is that the America that once stood tall is now crippled like a "BRUISED REED."
   Here's the good part - The Word of the Lord also says, "and the smoking flax he will not quench." Thank God there are still places in America where God sees a spark of devotion left. There is still a people who remember the Lord and are willing to take a stand for His name. Church, do you hear what God is saying? God is saying that if He sees a wick (people) that are still smoldering, He will not snuff it out, He will blow on it the wind of the Holy Spirit. GOD HAS NOT GIVEN UP ON US YET.
   There may be some of you who feel like you're bend, BUT you're not broken - you may feel like you're pressed, BUT you're not crushed - persecuted, BUT not abandoned. Rise up and trust the Lord. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy (Ps. 103:8).

P. Tom.

A Dedicated Walk

2/29/2016

Hello Church,
   In the Bible there is a man whose name was Enoch. Enoch is mentioned in the Book of Hebrews where it says that he had this testimony, "that he pleased God." In Genesis, chapter 5, it says of Enoch that "he walked with God." There's not a lot said of Enoch, BUT there is always something we can learn.
   Enoch's name means DEDICATED. By faith Enoch was taken from this life - he did not experience death - he could not be found because God had taken him away. In Hebrews it says that Enoch "PLEASED" God. Please means that he gratified God entirely and wholeheartedly. Enoch is kind of a mystery man, a man that can excite our imaginations with WHAT IS NOT SAID, THAN WHAT IS SAID. God had taken Enoch directly to heaven (he didn't have to pass GOD).
   Enoch, it says, that HE WALKED WITH GOD. Walking with God is a phrase that we hear a lot of and we might not think that it has a whole lot of meaning. Walking with God is more than a synonym for being religious - it encompasses more than trying to keep the 10 Commandments or living a good life. The Word of God uses the word "WALK" to describe a persons lifestyle. Many can talk a good talk,BUT Enoch walked the walk. Everything in Enoch's life was summed up in the short phrase, "HE WALKED WITH GOD." Walk with God meaning that he was dedicated, devoted, single-minded, unwavering and consecrated to the Lord.
   Walking with God means that you spend time with the Lord, you have an intimacy with the Lord. Church, God still actively seeks those who will dedicate their lives to Him and walk with Him. Intimacy with the Lord is one relationship that will last forever and ever. The way you and I enter this kind of relationship has not changed since the beginning of time - IT'S BY FAITH.
   Let this be our prayer - "Lord, strip away everything that stands in the way of my dedication to You. Tear away the barriers so that I might know You intimately and personally."

P. Tom

Righteousness and Commission

2/23/2016

Hello Church,
   In the year that King Uzziah died, Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up (Is. 6:1). While Uzziah was king, the nation Israel prospered and flourished. They were the envy of all the other nations, BUT what happened to Uzziah that all that is said of him at the end of his life is that HE DIED A LEPER. We see that Uzziah allowed pride to come into his life by going into the Temple to offer incense on the altar. This act that Uzziah did is a type of a society and its leadership becoming their own judge of what is right and what is wrong.
   Can we ask a question – Where did America get the idea that we are as God – that we can declare what is good and what is evil? Why do we think we can transgress (go beyond the bounds of a moral standard) the Word of God, which was once America’s foundation and not pay a price for it? Much of society and sadly much of the church have suppressed the truth we once knew, and as a result, we have subjected ourselves to living in an illusion and opened ourselves up to a diseased mind.
   How does God respond to a nation that finds itself in this condition? God always looks for a man or a woman that He can bring into His presence. When we are drawn into God’s presence we not only have a revelation of His majesty, power, holiness and glory, BUT we also see ourselves as UNDONE as a person of UNCLEAN LIPS. It’s when we see ourselves like this that we realize that there is nothing you and I can do of our self – no sacrifice we can make – no good thing we can do that will ever give us the right to stand in the presence of a holy God.
   CHURCH – it’s God’s heart to use those who have been humbled in the sight of the Lord because they have a tendency to have compassion for people in society who are indulging in all sorts of behavior. These people will speak of the truth of the Lord – they have a message and that message is, “God is good and His mercy endures forever.”
   This is not a time to be quiet and silent. The ungodliness of this generation will not go away on its own – it has to be conquered by you and me, the lights of the world – WE ARE THE HOPE OF THIS GENERATION.
   Be like Isaiah and say, “Here am I Lord, send me.”

Trust in the Word of Christ

2/9/2016

Hello Church,
   In the Gospel of John, chapter 5 is a story of a man, who for 38 years was lying  by the pool waiting for someone help in get in when the water was stirred. The pool of Bethesda became a shrine to the Jews. The tradition was that an angel would come down at times and stirred the waters and whoever got in first was healed of whatever disease they had.
   These people that were at the pool were waiting on the wrong thing. They were waiting on an angel when the Word of God tells us to wait upon the Lord. Waiting on the Lord is expecting God to do something - it's looking for the Lord with an expectation (that's why you'll hear us say here at Hosanna, "Did you come expecting?")
   Jesus goes to this man that has been there for 38 years. Think of that - 38 years of dashed hopes, crushed dreams, false prophesies, struggles, sufferings and loneliness. Too many Christians, God's people today are lying on a bed of despair or depression. They've allowed a root of bitterness to take root in their lives, while all along they're hoping for a miracle to happen in their lives. They're looking for someone to come along and "stir up things" and make things happen. They drag themselves to service after service, meeting after meeting, go to counseling, seminars, conferences, follows this person, follows that person - and they retell the same old story of pain and woe is me - BUT NOTHING HAPPENS.
   Jesus asked the man, "Do you want to be made well?" I believe that Jesus' question implied that maybe this man wasn't really ready to face the responsibility that goes with being healed - when you get healed, you have to have a new attitude, a responsibility. Sad to say, but for some people, their misery is their personality.
   Church, Jesus is speaking to each of us today. We have to do like this man did. This man was made whole because he heard the Word and obeyed the Word. All Jesus wants you to do is believe His Word and act on that Word. If this man refused to obey Jesus Word, he would be still lying at that pool today - life would just pass him by.
   What has Jesus spoken to you? Are you acting on that Word? Are you running with that Word? Is that Word sustaining you through difficult times? In the times that we live in we have to pick up our bed and go on - to keep pressing in to the things of God. The Lord spoke to Paul and said, "My grace is sufficient for you.
   Be blessed in all you do.

P. Tom

Double Portion

1/12/2016

Hello Church,
   In Romans, the Word of God says that you and I are "joint-heirs" with Jesus Christ. It says in Hebrews, chapter 1, verse 2 it tells how Jesus is heir to all things, and we, as Believers, by virtue of our union with Jesus, shall inherit all things.
   We started our series, "Life Of Double Portion" this past Sunday with what the Word of God says about double portion. In Deut. 21:17 is double inheritance; In I Samuel 1:4-5 is double love; In II Kings 2:9 is double anointing; In Revelation 18:4-6 is the double portion you and don't want, that is double judgment; and the last one is Isaiah 61:7 which is double blessing.
   Church - get ready, it's not coming, it's already here. You and I already have the double portion because of the day we live in (for where sin abounds, grace abounds more). In the last days "perilous times" will come. You and I have the double portion in our lives so that we can be able to be charitable to the poor, so that our abundance can help supply their need. We're not to keep it to ourselves - to show them the goodness of God.
   This Sunday (17th) will part two of "Life of Double Portion; The Search." May the Lord bless you in all you do for His Kingdom.
   Also this Sunday starts "Staying the Course" Discipleship classes at 9:00AM. Level 1 - New Life; Level 2- Build the House and Level 3- Timothy Company. Look forward to seeing you with us in God's presence.

Double Portion and the Mind of Christ

1/7/2016

Hello Church,
   The "Double Portion" that God has given to us is to be an "outflow" of that which is inside of us. The outflow of the "Double Life" should be evident in our lives. We should possess all that Jesus has for us. BEARING FRUIT is an outflow of a "Double Portion," having the MIND of Christ is evidence of the "Double Portion," along with helping MEETING the NEEDS of others. There use to be an old saying that said, "We are filled to spill." Think about that, what we have or possess is so that we can demonstrate the wonder of God to people. We are to be people of mercy and compassion in reaching out to those is some type of need.
   Church - we have to ask ourselves a question, "Are our lives in Christ, our Double Portion, impacting those around us?" We, the Body of Christ shouldn't be sitting around moaning and watching each other fall apart until the Lord comes,BUT we are to be conquering, we're to be victorious, making a difference in this generation. You and I can stand and look defeatism in the eye and say, "NO MORE, I'm not walking in defeat, I'm not listening to false voices - I have the life of Christ inside of me, and by God's grace and the power of the Holy Spirit I have the "Double Portion" flowing out of me."
   Join us this Sunday as we continue the series, "Life Of Double Portion." Also this Wednesday (27th) we'll be showing the movie "WAR ROOM" in the sanctuary at 7:00PM.

P. Tom.

Joseph a hero of the faith

1/7/2016

Hello Church,

In Genesis, chapter 45 is when Joseph revealed himself to his brothers who years before stripped him of his coat, threw him in a pit and then sold him into slavery, BUT now Joseph is second in charge of all Egypt. Joseph is one character in the Bible that when he is mention, there is never anything derogatory, disparaging or belittling. Joseph is one of God's greats. We see in Joseph a life that is lived for God even though he was terribly mistreated, he lived high above the reactions of rage, resentment and revenge. Joseph is one who deliberately chose to overlook unfair offenses, he chose to overcome enormous obstacles and demonstrated a virtue that far too many don't have today, and that virtue is "forgiveness."
   When you read the life of Joseph, the one things that stands out is that no matter where he was "GOD WAS WITH HIM." When Joseph's brothers stood before him he told them, "don't be afraid for God had sent me before you to preserve life - it was not you who sent me here, IT WAS GOD."
   Joseph send his brothers back to get their father and the words that Joseph spoke to them before they left were, "See that you do not become troubled along the way." (Gen. 45:24)
   Church, you and I are on a journey. God is the Author and the Finisher of our faith. Nothing catches God off guard. The very hairs of yours and mine heads are numbered. Think of that - not only does God know how many hairs we have, He has each one of them numbered (Mark10:30). God gives more than enough for the journey - His grace is sufficient for you and me. Thank God for that.

P. Tom

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Resurrection, Newness & Life

RECLAIM WHAT IS YOURS

EZRA GENERATION

God's Merciful Patience with Us

A Dedicated Walk

Righteousness and Commission

Trust in the Word of Christ

Double Portion

Double Portion and the Mind of Christ

Joseph a hero of the faith

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