Weekly Word: Nov. 11, 2019

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Until Christ be formed in You ~ Galatians 4:19

The way Pearls are made is fascinating. The oster takes the grain of sand that causes the irritation & pain, and wraps it in layer after layer of “mother of pearl.” Instead of trying to escape the pain, it works with it until a pearl is produced. The worthless piece of sand is now a precious stone that has great value.

So what’s been irritating you lately? What about the problem you asked God to take away but He hasn’t? God has given you an opportunity to take that thing and cover it with a layer of grace, a layer patience, a layer of faith, and a layer of compassion. It takes years for a grain of sand to become a pearl. Unfortunately, the work God is doing in you will not be accomplished over night.

Paul promised the Christians in Galatia that he would pray until “Christ be formed in you.” That is it! God’s goal for us is to have the world look at us and see the character of Christ. The pearl of great price. What a high calling!

~ Pastor Turner

Weekly Word: Nov. 4, 2019

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And let the Peace of God Rule in your Hearts ~ Col. 3:5

Have you noticed that when your in doubt, your easily swayed by the opinions of others. The circumstances around you & the fears the devil will bring to your mind can impact your actions. Indecision can be deadly. Someone has sad, “the most dangerous place to be is in the middle of the road.

The challenge for us today is to be decisive. Most of the time we don’t have all the facts available about any given situation. However, we usually do have all the facts we need to make a decision. This is when we need to rely on what God said to Paul, “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts.” The greek word for rule means umpire. We need to umpire to call the close ones.

Listen to what God said to Joshua when he told him to take the Israelites into the promised land in just 3 days. “Have I not commanded thee? Be not afraid, neither be dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 The Lord is speaking those same words to you today so listen, and let His peace be your guide.

~ Pastor Turner

Weekly Word: Oct. 28, 2019

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But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.

Have you been absorbed with the very things that Jesus told you not to? Things like not having enough to eat, or having clothes to wear, or having a home to live in. Your heavenly father knows exactly what you need, and He has promised that if you put His kingdom first, all these things will be added unto you.

But listen to Hebrews 11:3, “Through faith we understand.” “Without faith it is impossible to please Him,” Heb. 11:6. Then again in Heb. 11:33 it says, “who through faith, subdued kingdoms.” If language means anything, then these verses mean that God didn’t just give us faith for temporal things. He gave it to us to first obtain understanding, then to please Him, then subdue kingdoms. Fortunately when we place the needs of God’s Kingdom first, He makes sure we have everything we need.

~ Pastor Turner

Weekly Word: Oct. 21 2019

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We’ll Get Through This!

In all these things we are more than conquerors ~ Romans 8:37

Have you heard the story of the old farmer who’s mule fell into a well? Since there was no way to get him out the farmer decided to bury him there. But the mule had a different idea. Initially when the shovels of dirt began landing on him the mule became hysterical. Then this thought came; just shake it off and step on it. So that’s what the mule begin to do. Hours after the dirt kept falling on him, he kept at it, shaking it off and stepping on it. No matter how much dirt they threw on him, the mule determined not to stay under it. Finally, he stepped out of the well triumphantly.

Life will either bless you or bury you; the difference lies in have the right attitude. When they throw the dirt on you, and they will, just shake it off and step on it. Use it as fertilizer and grow stronger. What’s important is not what other people say about you, it’s what you’re saying about yourself.

In Luke 17:1 after they get done talking Jesus says offence will come, so expect it. People will take without giving back. They’ll criticize you for simply rising above your beginnings. When you decide to seize the moment and move ahead, you’ll leave others behind.

~ Pastor Turner

Weekly Word: Oct 14, 2019

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Before and After

But you shall have power, after the Holy Spirit is come upon you ~ Acts 1:8

The best argument for the spirit filled life is those who live it. No illustration is more powerful than the life of Peter. Before Pentecost, he denied the Lord in weakness. After Pentecost, he faced a crowd with boldness and proclaimed that Jesus is Lord. That day, 3,000 were born into God’s family. That’s the power of the Holy Spirit.

Before Pentecost, Jesus gave Peter one of the harshest rebukes in the word of God, “get behind me Satan for you care more about the affairs of men than the things of God.” Peter was opinionated, critical, and often spoke without thinking. But what a difference we find in Peter after Pentecost! Now he is filled, broken, and channeled. It’s Peter 2.0, the new Spirit filled model, and he’s the example of what God wants to do today.

So let’s get into God’s presence today and ask Him to fill you again with His Spirit!

~ Pastor Turner

Weekly Word: Oct 7, 2019

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James 1:23 ~ Let’s act on what we hear

Charles Spurgeon said that for every ten men who would die for the bible, he could only find one who would read it. I doubt much has changed! You’ll find ten people who’ll fight for prayer in public schools, to every one that prays for their children at home. Sadly, for every ten men & women who complain about sex and violence on tv, and find only one who refuses to watch it. This must change! Power to be salt and light in this world doesn’t depend on what we applaud, but what we apply.

Unfortunately, you can go to church enjoy great preaching and a service, yet leave and do nothing about it. God help us get our doctrine off the shelf and into daily practice, that people will be drawn to Jesus. It’s time to start acting on what we hear.

~ Pastor Turner

Weekly Word: Sept 30, 2019

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Matt. 18:2 ~ Except you become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven.

What did Jesus mean when He said, “Become as little children?” He meant a child is teachable! If you’re teachable, you’re reachable. If you are hungry for God’s word, you have a future. A child is dependent! Jesus said in John 15:5, without me you can do nothing. The truth is you couldn’t even get out of bed in the morning without him, right.

Furthermore, notice also children are trusting! It never occurs to them to wonder if their needs will be met. They’ve learned to trust. Sadly, it’s only after we have exhausted our own efforts that we turn in desperation to God. Someone said, “if we use God as a first resort, we wouldn’t have to use Him as a last resort!”

~ Pastor Turner

Weekly Word: Sept 23, 2019

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John 1:11 ~ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

How many of us would spend our last night with someone if we knew they were going to betray us the next day? Jesus did! He was faithful even when they were not. There is no greater opportunity for you to grow in Christian love than when you are rejected and abused. Jesus ask the Father to forgive those who crucified Him.

How we handle rejection reveals whether we have truly died to self and to the world. It’s impossible for a dead  man to feel rejection. On the other hand, being rejected without being offended is one of the greatest demonstrations of spiritual maturity.

In the old testament a priest was not allowed to minister if he had scabs – Lev. 21:20. A scab is an unhealed wound. As a result, when you have an unhealed spiritual wound, you are touchy & can’t function the way God wants you to. Consequently it will reflect in the things you say. We need to be healed, for it’s only when you pass the rejection test that you can reach out in love and make others whole.

Let’s ask God to help us live that way ~ Pastor Turner

Weekly Word: Sept 16, 2019

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Listening Prayer

Be still and know that I am God ~ Ps. 46:10

Jesus did a lot of praying. On more than one occasion He prayed all night, yet few of His words were recorded. Could it be that He did more listening than talking? Remember when His words were recorded, what did He say? Luke 22:42 “Father, not my will but yours be done.” When Jesus prayed He surrendered totally to the will of God. From then on He believed He would automatically be given two things that we all ask for; direction and the ability to deal with things.

Thank God for the revelation of who we are in Christ, and our authority as believers before God and men. However, recently God has been letting us know there’s more to prayer than to “come boldly to the throne” like it says in Hebrews 4:16. That kind of prayer is about what you want, but the kind we are talking about today is about what the Lord wants. Since He sees the whole picture clearly, and He designed the plan, don’t you think it’s time to get quiet before God so He can tell us all about it?

The word for us today is “be still” and let God be God in your life.

~ Pastor Turner

Weekly Word: Sept. 9, 2019

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Jesus Understands…

Hebrews 4:15 –  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

Well intentioned friends say, “I know how you feel,” but deep down we think, NO – you really don’t. However, Jesus truly does! He was tempted in all things as we are. Therefore, Jesus can present our feelings to God, and He does on our behalf.

When we pray in Jesus’ name, pouring out our heart to God, Jesus acts as our attorney and says to the Father; “I know what they are feeling. I know what it’s like to be under pressure to sing. I stand with this child of yours who needs your help Father.” Sometimes it’s easy to think; Jesus was without sin, so how can He really feel my sin the way I do? In fact, because of His purity, Jesus can feel it even more. Because He is separated from sin, His sensitivity to sin actually increases. All the more, Jesus’ ability to sympathize with us is greater as well.

Bottom line ~ Jesus understands what you struggle with.