The Perfecting Church

Graduation is always a time to celebrate the accomplishment of completing a course of studies or a program. But just as graduation is about completion, graduation is about launching out for something new. With the certificate or degree or competencies that you come away with, you now have the capacity to make change in your community, in the society and in your own life. However, a piece of paper or even reading books or passing a test isn’t enough to enable and empower you to actually change the world. You will need a set of divine instructions to set you apart for actually changing the world once you graduate to launch out. This set of divine instructions come from none other than the divine architect that will help us build a structure that will stand long after we depart from our assignment.

In track and field, wind assistance is the benefit an athlete receives during a race as registered by a wind gauge. Due to a tailwind’s ability to enhance performance in certain events, there’s a limit to how much assisting wind an athlete may perform under if the performance is to establish a record. In life, we all need to run a wind-aided race, and there is nothing that pushes us forward like the tail-wind of a good father. The bible and empirical data prove that few things are a predictor of success in life like the presence of an active father – I would argue nothing aids in life like the wind-assistance of a present, active, godly father.

So much of our torment, anxiety, irrational fear, unresolved frustration and deep-seated anger is rooted in an unwillingness to accept our God given limits. We've not only been designed by God we've been limited by God. We can't embrace and find joy in who we are, if we're unwilling to embrace and find joy in who we are not. We have all been limited by design.

With all that is going on around us it seems normal to be fearful. The fear of mass shootings, personal phobias, car-jackings, racial unrest, economic turmoil, and even dying from a pandemic can overwhelm our hearts and minds and drive us to addictions and toxic behaviours. The truth is that our minds were not designed for fear but God can literally re-wire our brains so that we live the fearless abundant life he planned for us.

Bitter root judgements are the dead weight of the soul. They leave the heart full of darkness and we become shackled to the pain of the past. Only grace can loosen the grip of bitter root judgements.

Suffering and pain make-up 40% of all of the Psalms -- along with Job and Lamentations, they acknowledge the truth of pain and suffering in this fallen world. We’ve all experienced deep sadness and hard to shake gloom, due to trauma and overwhelming disappointment in this life. Depression or black & blues of the heart and mind can be deeper and more persistent for some of us. Major depressive disorder is the leading cause of disability in the US and the second leading cause of disability worldwide. But there is nothing we experience in this life, that Jesus hasn’t felt first hand and that He hasn’t promised to bring us through. He’s concerned about and present in our black and blues. Scripture(s): NKJVHebrews 4:15 Psalm 42:1-11

In Exodus 3, God Himself announced that not only had the cries of His people reached Him, but He personally had come down to deliver them. Yet, when Moses broadcast this message to those bond in Egypt in Exodus 6:7, scripture tells us that they couldn't hear nor believe him. This is the work of shame... a pervasive sense that even if you don't like where you are, you deserve to be there. Rather than embrace the deliverer in front of you, shame convinces you to accept the devils behind you. This healing message will dismantle the work of shame in the life of God's bride, liberating us from barrenness to be a blessing.

In Exodus 3, God Himself announced that not only had the cries of His people reached Him, but He personally had come down to deliver them. Yet, when Moses broadcast this message to those bond in Egypt in Exodus 6:7, scripture tells us that they couldn't hear nor believe him. This is the work of shame... a pervasive sense that even if you don't like where you are, you deserve to be there. Rather than embrace the deliverer in front of you, shame convinces you to accept the devils behind you. This healing message will dismantle the work of shame in the life of God's bride, liberating us from barrenness to be a blessing.Scriptures:Isaiah 54:1-8; 11-17 (NKJV)Psalm 139:5 (TPT)Psalm 139:23-24 (TPT)Takeaways:1. Sin is not satisfied with shaming our past; it seeks to stain our future.2. Shame tells us there's not only something wrong with what we've done, there's something wrong with who we are.3. God turns barrenness into blessings.

Introduction:According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness 50% of adults will develop anxiety, depression, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, PTSD or some other mental illness in their lifetime. Gen­er­a­tion Z (1995 and 2010 ) is grow­ing up in an age of increased anx­i­ety and stress. Approximately 70% of teens across gen­der, race and fam­i­ly-income lev­els say that anx­i­ety and depres­sion are sig­nif­i­cant prob­lems accord­ing to the Pew Research Cen­ter. And this is not altogether new, from the beginning all of creation was impacted by the fall, including humanities’ mental health. Whether it’s anxiety, depression, trauma or life dominating mental health challenges our minds matter to God. He’s concerned about our overall well-being and He has given His only begotten Son that we might be made whole. Scripture(s): NKJVPhilippians 4:4-84.24.2022 Message TakeawayGod loves to ask the impossible and then make all things possible.God is the source of every good and necessary thing.It’s not what happens that leaves a lasting impact but our thoughts and conclusions about what happened.

Holy Week:The Seven Last Words

Antonia was a fortress and military barrack built in Jerusalem by King Herod around 19 BC. At Antonia, three days before the resurrection of Jesus Christ the most famous public trial in human history took place. A trial with consequences reaching further than Marbury vs. Madison, Brown vs. Board of Education, or Roe vs. Wade. This was the Passover Trial of Jesus (and Barabbas). One was a notorious rebel and murderer, the other a rabbi, teacher and miracle worker, who called Himself God. This very public trial famously ends with one being released and the other sentenced to death by crucifixion. Barabbas was not released because of innocence. His crimes of murder and rebellion were more tolerable than the crime of claiming to be God -- Give Us Barabbas!

Jesus came during a time when the Roman empire was spreading throughout the world. Their military, political and social institutions dominated the Middle East, Northern Africa, Western Europe, Greece, and the Balkans. As he entered Jerusalem, Jesus was fulfilling prophecy and entering the hopes of a people who’d been waiting for over 500 years. Those present as He entered Jerusalem were looking for His Kingdom and the dismantling of Rome. But Jesus came to begin an inside job that is still going on today.

often believe we’ve placed our faith in Christ but ultimately discover it’s really in success, true-love, fame, fortune or the life we want to live. The culture teaches us to believe these pursuits hold the key to contentment and fulfillment in this life. It’s no surprise many of us feel lost, alone, disenchanted and even angry towards life and God. When we take good things and make them supreme things, they become idols that drive and control our lives. There’s only One who can wholly satisfy our deepest desire for contentment and true fulfillment and until we train our hearts to embrace that truth, we will be discontent.

For many of us, the way we define contentment is the very thing that makes us discontent. As long as we believe contentment is self-sufficiency based on having all the provision and protection we need – we will never be content. The enemy of our soul subtly deceives us into defining contentment in a way that makes us independent of our abiding need for Christ. The moment we learn our sufficiency and true contentment is in Christ and always will be -- we begin to grasp the secret of contentment.

We live in a world of discontentment – filled with people dissatisfied with their possessions, positions and conditions – convinced if I just had more, I would be content. But discontentment is an affections issue. Contentment is not found in possessions, positions and conditions. Contentment isn’t the result of having more of something or something different. Contentment is an enduring result, only when our affections are rooted in the right thing.