Christian Life Assembly - Maple Ridge

They want to see you - Pastor Antonio Nasser - Maple Ridge March, 28th, 2010

2010-03-29T21:31:00.000-07:00

John 12:1-111.
1. Be at the centre of God’s Will
Jesus was going to die.
He went to Bethany, around 2 miles from Jerusalem
He came back to the same place where He did raise Lazarus from the dead

2. Be with God’s people
a. JESUS taught and bless them
Luke 10:38-42 (NKJV)
38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me."
41 And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.
42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."

b. They blessed JESUS offering the best they had: “about one year’s wages of worker”

c. A fellowship was born between them: They received JESUS as a guest

3. Be prepared for the obstacles
Judas Iscariot: a thief
Judas Iscariot: a liar
Judas Iscariot: a hypocrite:

John 12:5 (NKJV) 5 "Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?"

4. Prioritize your life
a. JESUS comes first, always: in missions, in my family, in my job, in my church
b. Social work is important and the work never ends.
John 12:8 (NKJV) 8 For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always."

5. People want to see JESUS through YOU
John 12:9 (NKJV) 9 Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.

6. The testimony
a. JESUS’ miracles are always public. There is no “secret service”, or “secret teaching”, or “secret group”
b. People will come to see God’s miracle
c. Among the sincere are always those who want to destroy “the evidence”
John 12:9-11

Softening the Soil - Pr. Antonio Nasser - January 31st, 2010

2010-02-03T11:12:00.000-08:00

Read Luke 8:5-8,11,12
Examining the first part of the parable...(3 Gospels)
Matthew 13:19 (NKJV) 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. […]
Mark 4:15 (NKJV) 15 And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.
Luke 8:12 (NKJV) 12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
Definition:
The seed is the Word of God
The different soils are people
The “birds of the air” are the devil
The devil comes and takes away the Word out of their hearts,
The ultimate purpose of the devil is to keep people away from the faith and from the salvation.
Questions:
1. Why do peoples hearts go to the wayside?
2. How does the devil take the Word of God from people’s hearts?
3. How can we prevent it from happening?
HEART
In Ancient Hebrew means "authority inside". The consciousness of man is seen as coming from deep inside the chest, the heart.
1. The heart is the source of all sins
Matthew 15:19 (NKJV) For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

2. God wants us to have an obedient heart
Deuteronomy 5:29 (NKJV) Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!

3. God asks for our hearts
Proverbs 23:26 (NKJV) My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.

4. Jesus is the example of a soft heart
Matthew 11:28-29 (NKJV)28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

How does the devil work in a hardened heart?
1. He blinds people
2 Corinthians 4:4 (NLT) 4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

2. He binds people as slaves
Colossians 1:13 (NLT) 13 For he (GOD) has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,

3. He steals, kills and destroys people’s lives
John 10:10 (NKJV) 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

How can we prevent the devil to steal the Word of God from people’s heart?
1. The Power is in JESUS, the Savior
Colossians 2:15 (NIV)15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

2. The Church must be aware of this task
Acts 26:17-18 (NIV)
17 … I am sending you to them
18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'

3. We must fight with God’s weapons
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV)
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

4. We must submit ourselves to God and resist the devil…
James 4:7 (NIV) 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Soften your heart before the Lord
Trust in the Lord right now
Fight for people, in Jesus’ name!
Clean the air, and people will understand the Gospel.

The First and the Best II– The Anointing - Pastor Brent Cantelon - Jan, 10th, 2010

2010-01-11T18:18:00.000-08:00

Psalm 16:8 - Review
Psalm 92:10 - But my horn (strength), You have exalted like a wild ox; I have been anointed with fresh oil.
1. Strength
• Afraid of nothing, like a Cape Water Buffalo (Africa afraid of nothing not even lions).
• Unconquerable power.

2. Fresh oil
• Most pure, most valuable, most effective, most abundant.
• There are 2 results when we receive the anointing, that you receive by faith.

3. Refreshment - Cleansing
Instillation into office (Ministry). Receiving the “Go Ahead” from the Lord.
-How do we receive the anointing?
• Water Baptism – This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.
• Day of Pentecost – Being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Fresh anointing, fresh oil, for this time, this task, this challenge. I want this anointing!

-Receiving action:
-I need my strength exalted. My heart is stirred to some action, task or assignment in God. I need to be equipped in the Holy Spirit.
-I've been discouraged, heavy, and fearful I need refreshment.
-I'm willing to obey you Lord, willing to take that new step.
-Solemn installation to a splendid office: Calling of God unique to you.”
-Purity, cleansing, washing, and restoration.
-Desire to do something. Not just sit, not just feel, do more than talk.”

Ministry Time

1. Press into the Lord now and wait on God when each one feels they are ready that the Lord is about to anoint them with fresh oil have them stand to their feet with their hands open to receive. Pray together and receive the fresh oil anointing of the Lord.

2. Talk about areas that those in the small group need to look into.

3. Baptism, prayer, encounters , tithe info, financial help, alpha, CLA101, homeland missions, overseas missions, marriage help, other areas that God is speaking into their hearts.

4. Encourage each one of them to watch Pastor Brent's message on line from this past week.

The First and the Best - Pastor Brent Cantelon - January 3rd, 2010

2010-01-11T18:17:00.000-08:00

The Lord wants you to know:
• He see's your efforts to serve Him and that pleases Him.
• He knows the ruthlessness of the enemy and understands your flesh.
• He accepts your love. He loves and accepts you in return.
• He believes your intentions and is patient with your procrastinating.
• He knows the plans He has for you, He knows you and your name.
• Knows where you are at and knows where you want to be.

Psalm 16:8 – What does it mean to “set the Lord always before me?”
Ex 23:19 Prov 3:9,10 - What can we offer as the first and the best?

1) The first of the New Year - January 3-8th - Be involved in the opportunities this next week to pray and to gather together. Fast in whatever way God is asking of you. Attend the services. Come to all night prayer.

2) The first of the week (1 Cor. 16:1,2) - Devote the first day of the week to the Lord. “The Lord's Day” Worship, reading of the Word, fellowship with the saints. Decide that Sunday is a priority – be in church. Have no bondages in your life that keep you from the House of God. (2 Tim 2:21)

3) The first part of the day (Psalm 63:1, Mark 1:35)

• Before any other voice: “Your voice Lord,”
• Before any other pursuit: pursue You Lord
• Before any other advice: “your wisdom, Your will, Your word to my day”
• Before the news, sports, facebook, stock market, texts- YOU LORD

4) The first and the best of my strength (Matthew 6:33,34 Col 3:1-3)

• The first part of the year.
• The first part of the week.
• The first part of the day.
• The first of my strength.

WHY?? There is an enemy in the land. We are calling on the Lord in our distress. There is a battle brewing. We need the Lord's help. Other idols have stolen our affections. We have drifted from the Lord. It is time to return to the Lord with repentance and humility. Press into faith – expecting an answer, preparing for His blessing. (1 Thess 5:23)

Ministry Time:

1) Pray for one another that we will all begin again.
2) Hold each other accountable this year to complete what we have started.
3) John 17:17 - Read the Word.
4) Rom. 15:16 - Be filled with the Holy Spirit.
5) James 4:7 - Cleanse our hands, draw near to God.
6) 2 Tim. 2:22 - Commune with those who have pure hearts.

"Give Thanks" - Pastor Antonio Nasser - November 29th 2009

2009-11-30T20:10:00.000-08:00

Text: Psalm 116:1-19 Read through this text together as a group.

Is there suffering in our lives as Christians?
If we trust in the Lord, we will have no problems?
What does the Lord teach us about suffering?

Hope: “The Lord hears MY voice. “

• The Lord is gracious, merciful, righteous. (v.1,2)
• The Lord gives what we do not earn – grace.
• The Lord has the solution, He saves. (v.6,7,8)
Lamentations 3: 21-25: Keeping this one thing in mind: “The Lord's Mercy”

Gratitude

I will place the Word of the Lord in my mind and in my mouth. I will find hope through giving gratitude to the Lord for His benefits (v.12). What will I render to the Lord? Call upon His name.

Celebrate your salvation

• Lift up the cup of your salvation.
• Confess who you are in Jesus.
• Walk before the Lord (v.9). Have true commitment to the Lord, the church, and missions.
• Do not always be “too busy” for the Lord's work.

Have intimacy with God through prayer, the scripture, and relationship with Him.
• The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him and He will show them His covenant.

Offer sacrifice of thanksgiving
• It's not always easy to give thanks. Some days are difficult, but we are instructed to give thanks.
• Thanksgiving is the road to victory.
• If you want to win the battle in your life, family, ministry, give thanks to the Lord.

Ministry Time

Are there some who are suffering amongst you? Is there pain, disappointment, trouble?
Pray for one another. Lift up the cup of salvation together. Give thanks to the Lord. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. He will see you through.

God Looks on the Heart - Pr. Brent Cantelon - Nov, 15th, 2009

2009-11-18T22:17:00.001-08:00

The heart of God for every person alive? To bless.

- Every person is eternally valuable to God.
- The price has been paid through the shedding of Jesus' blood.
- The Father's heart is broken by the suffering caused by sin.

The human heart without God is filled with sin.
- All have sinned, fallen short of the mark.
- We are in a stand off with God – choosing our own way.

Consequences if the standoff is not reconciled?
- Separation from God – FOREVER.
- Won't see the kingdom of heaven without Jesus.
- Hell and damnation means torment, blackness, and separation.
- There is no ending to hell – it's permanent.

Romans 3:11 It's time to awaken from our slumber.

John 4 The woman at the well – everyone has a city. Look at the fields – white unto harvest.

What holds us back from inviting people? Fear or insecurity?

What is the solution? Love! Ask God for love for people.

Be prepared to talk to people – gospel tracts, production tickets, tell them about our website (www.clachurch.com), or give them Alpha information.

Prayer – 6:00am Tuesdays – fight for people in the spirit.
People need spiritual food – what have you been eating? "Jesus is the Bread of Life"

Ministry Time

Repent of self focus. Start to see people as eternal souls.
Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with God's love for people you meet.
Decide to begin a new prayer journey and pray for people.
Repent of going through the motions without having fire in your heart.
Repent of filling yourself with the wrong food.

Let's trust God for 2010 that it will be an amazing year and that the Lord will win many through your life and commitment to the gospel.

The Church: God’s Building - Pr. Antonio Nasser - Nov, 8th, 2009

2009-11-09T22:21:00.000-08:00

… you are God's building. 1 Corinthians 3:9 (NKJV)

The Builder
Matthew 16:16 (NKJV) 16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Matthew 16:18 (NKJV) 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Characteristics of this Building
1 Peter 2:5 (NKJV) 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1.Spiritual house
2.Holy priesthood,
3.Spiritual sacrifices
…Acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1. Spiritual House
a) House is the place where the family resides. House = Family
b)Spiritual
“The ‘wind’ of God and man is the ‘breath’, but from a Hebraic perspective, the breath is not just the exchange of air in the lungs, it is the person’s driving force, which directs and leads him on his journey through life”. (The Living Words, vol.1 – Jeff A. Benner)

This Family has a Father.
God is the Father of the House.
This special Family is led by the Father’s path, direction, will and journey of life.
… The Church is the Spiritual House, that is, the people led by God’s Will who relate to each other as family members do.

2. Holy Priesthood
- Priests were mediators.
- Their life was dedicated to God
- We, as a Holy Priesthood are people dedicated to God ready to lead others to the Lord.

3. To offer Spiritual Sacrifices
- Jesus is God’s Sacrifice
- We offer sacrifices in our journey as God’s Family.
- Priests offered gifts and sacrifices: “For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices”. Hebrews 8:3 (NKJV)

Sacrifices we offer today as priests:
a. Our Bodies
Romans 12:1 (NLT) 1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.
Purity/ Work/ Services/ Mission / Community
b. Our Words
Hebrews 13:15 (NIV) 15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name.

4. Acceptable to God through Jesus Christ
1. The Tabernacle was built by Moses’ leadership
Acts 7:44 (NKJV) 44 "Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as He appointed, instructing Moses to make it according to the pattern that he had seen,
2. The Temple was build by Salomon’s leadership
Acts 7:47 (NKJV) 47 But Solomon built Him a house.
3. Jesus builds His Church Himself
Matthew 16:18 (NKJV) … I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

God's Church
Ephesians 2:19-22 (NIV)
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

The Church: God's Zion. Pr. Antonio Nasser Nov. 1st, 2009

2009-11-02T11:19:00.000-08:00

Text: Isaiah 35:3-10

I. Church is for everyone:
Weak hands and feeble knees – v.3
Fearful-hearted – v.4
Blind and deaf – v.5
Lame and Dumb – v.6

II. Areas of healing
1. When you pass through Discipline
v.3 Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.
New Testament: Heb 12
11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.
13 "Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

2. When you are Under Pressure
4 Say to those who are fearful-hearted, "Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you."
New Testament: 2 Corinthians
8 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--
Romans 12:19 (NKJV) 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.

3. When you have no Hope
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
6 Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.
New Testament: John 7
37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.
38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."

III. The Highway of Holiness
8 And a great road will go through that once deserted land.
It will be named the Highway of Holiness.
Evil-minded people will never travel on it.
It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways; fools will never walk there.
New Testament: 2Corinthians 7
1 Since we have these promises, dear friends,
we need to cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit
and live a holy life in the fear of God.

IV. The Future of The Church
10 and the ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Revelation 22:1-5 (NIV)
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.
4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

The Invitation:

Revelations 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. Revelation 22:17 (NKJV)

God OR Money IV- MULTIPLYING YOUR SEED - Pr. Brent Cantelon October 25th, 2009

2009-10-26T10:50:00.000-07:00

Watch this message at http://www.clachurch.com/index.php?id=158

Text: 2 Corinthians 8 and 9

Tithe is established by the Lord and we have discussed that thoroughly in the past 3 weeks together. The offering is when we seek the Lord, in regard to the 90% left after we have returned the 10% to God. We then ask the Lord what He would want us to do with what is in our hands to make a difference in the lives around us. There are so many areas we can help in! Boxes of Love, Gateway of Hope, and the Village of Hope. There are missions all around the world.

What benefit is there in giving seed offerings to the Lord? What is the harvest?

Harvest of souls. The Kingdom of God expands.
Harvest of blessings. We are blessed to be a blessing.
Harvest of thankfulness. Thankfulness to God when we see what our offering has done.

It's not about money, it's about our hearts. Where your treasure is---

Sow few seeds, produce a small crop. The Lord wants to know “how would you like the blessings measured out?" Big blessings come with big offerings. It's not about the dollar amount it's about what is left over for us after we have given. Give and it shall be given unto you. Press down, shaken together and running over. God wants us to give cheerfully and willingly. The rich young ruler never learned to give and the condition of his heart was marked by his sadness as he walked away.

There are 3 people that God makes note of in the scripture for their giving:

The widow gave 2 pennies. She gave all that she had to the Lord. Luke 21:1-4
Mary gave costly oil. This was worth one year's salary. Mark 14:9
Zaccheus gave half of his wealth to the poor and 4 times back to those he had stolen from. Jesus said to Zaccheus in Luke 19: 8-9 "Salvation has come to this house." It was evident by his giving that he had been totally set free of his love of money.

Every dollar you give will be recycled on this earth into someone else's hand. You can take nothing with you. You must leave it here when you go. Why not sow it into the Kingdom of God.

Ministry Time

1. Today bring all your finances under God's authority. Is God the CEO or just a financial consultant? Perhaps you have just seen that this moment and would say “I have been treating God as a “Financial Consultant” I will make Him the CEO of my life and my finances from this point on.

2.God drawing your heart is the basis of giving. Why not respond and say “It's all yours Lord, I surrender it all.”

3. Pray for those who are in financial need. That the Lord would take control of their finances and give them freedom in giving and multiply blessings to their lives.

God and Money III - Making Things Right. Pr. Brent Cantelon, October 18th, 2009

2009-10-25T11:08:00.000-07:00

Watch this message at http://www.clachurch.com/id/78/fileid/288/vid/strServiceAddressBB/Archive.html

For some of you, your spiritual life has suffered by living far beneath the miraculous provision of God. You have ended up living in the natural when it comes to your finances. How we relate to money and how we handle it is one of the most important aspects of our spiritual growth and blessing. Without faithful, faith-filled giving and relationship with God in this area, finances remain locked.

Genesis 22:14 – Three foundational principles of God's financial plan for success.

I) The earth is the Lord's
God is the center of the universe – I am not.
God owns everything.
Psalm 24:1

II) Everything we have is a blessing from God
We are stewards of God's resources.
It is God who teaches us to profit.
Isaiah 48:17

III) If I am untrustworthy with worldly wealth, how can I be trusted with the true riches of heaven?
Who do we serve?
Do we serve God or do we serve money?
Luke 16:10-13

Giving begins with the tithe.

a) Jesus affirmed the tithe. Matt 23:23
b) Jesus affirmed the measure – that it would be measured back to us. Luke 6:38
c) The New Testament believers brought their tithes to the local church. Malachi 3:10 - that there might be food in the house.
d) The New Testament never removes the timeless principle of God's ownership of first fruits.
e) The tithe belongs to the Lord. It is HOLY. Lev. 27:30
f) The tithe is never lost. It is always resident in God's eternal bank.

We do not give the tithe. We return the tithe because it belongs to the Lord. It is not ours to give. To Withholdinging the tithe is to rob God. God does not need our money. If He did he would not be God.

Ministry Time

God's promise is to you, your family and the generations to come!

Is there a commitment you would be willing to make right now in returning the tithe back to God? The amount is not the issue. The issue is in being obedient and returning the tithe (10%) back to God. Start today, forget about yesterday!

Pray and read over the scriptures throughout the week. Choose to obey God in the matters of the tithe and see what God will do. Pray for those in need

Serve, Encourage, Reach - Pastor Brent Cantelon - September 27th, 2009

2009-09-28T15:00:00.000-07:00

There is a brochure that was handed out to the congregation this morning which everyone in your small group should receive for future reference. You can picked up copies at the church front office or Guest Services.

Our Calling:

To serve those in need – we must do this.
To encourage the church in Canada – other congregations.
To reach out to the world – all people groups.

Our Goals:

To expand our community of believers.
To build relationships across Canada.
To develop spiritual and biblical literacy.
To raise up Christian leaders.

We have a unique calling – not an organization, not a building, but who we are as a people. We should be defined by character, honesty, loyalty, kindness, courage, and behavior.Matt. 28 – Go into all the world and preach the Gospel.Acts 1:8 – Be FILLED with the Holy Spirit and with power.

Servanthood: Luke 4: 18, 19, Matt. 25: 34 – 40, Luke 22: 25, 26, Luke 10: 36, 37

Commissioned: Matt. 28: 18-20, Luke 19, 9,10, 2 Peter 3:9, John 17: 2,3, John 14:6

Filled with the Holy Spirit: John 15:26, Acts 1:8, Acts 2:4, Acts 11:15, Acts 15:8

Ministry Time

-Seek the Lord together.
-Pray into these things daily.
-What part of the Kingdom journey do you feel God wants you involved in?
-Pray for each other in the small group. Are there some in your group who are overwhelmed and need to be encouraged?
-Remember that when one is weak another is strong. Encourage one another with God's Word and with prayer.

Discipleship: a wonderful journey. Pr. Antonio Nasser - Sep, 20th, 2009

2009-09-21T10:14:00.000-07:00

Matthew 28:16-17 (GW)
16 The eleven disciples went to the mountain in Galilee where Jesus had told them to go.
17 When they saw him, they bowed down in worship, though some had doubts.
18 When Jesus came near, he spoke to them. He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
20 Teach them to do everything I have commanded you. “And remember that I am always with you until the end of time.”

FACTS:
1.Eleven disciples went to meet Jesus in Galilee
2.They worshiped Him
3.Some doubted
4.Jesus came near to teach
5.He gave them the mission to be accomplished
6.He gave them the assurance of His presence forever

Disciple
Greek: mathētēs = a learner
Luke 6:40 (NKJV) 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.

In the OT the “disciple” of the prophets were called “sons”:
2 Kings 2:3 (NKJV) 3 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?" And he said, "Yes, I know; keep silent!"
Son, in Hebrew is BEN. These 2 letters: B (house) and N (seed) is represented in ancient Hebrew as:

The disciple is much more than a student.
The disciple is the “continuation of the master’sministry”.
Jesus’ disciples must continue Jesus’ ministry!

--> How can we continue Jesus’ ministry?
--> How can we become effective Disciples?

Let's take a look at the text of Matthew 28:16-20
1) The Authority
18 When Jesus came near, he spoke to them. He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth
has been given to me.” (GW)
There is no discipleship without JESUS
John 15:5 (NIV) 5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

2) The Commandment
19 So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. (GW)
See that the Imperative in Greek is "make disciples" and not "Go".
So, wherever we go, we must MAKE DISCIPLES.

3) The Training
… make disciples of all nations:
§ Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
§ Teach them to do everything I have commanded you

Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Greek – “eis to onoma” = into the name
>> The beginning of the Christian Life

Teach them to do everything I have commanded you
Greek: didaskō = To hold discourse with others in order to instruct them, deliver didactic discourses.
Hebrew: yārâ = To point the way one is to walk in life
>> The continuation of Christian Life

4) Jesus’ Discipleship Training - John 17

a) Jesus revealed the Father to them - v6
6 "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world.

b) Jesus gave them God’s Words - v8
8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them.

c) Jesus prayed for them - v9
9 I pray for them.

d) Jesus taught about UNITY - v11
11 … Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one.

e) Jesus taught about Sanctification - v17
17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

f) Jesus sent them to the world - v18
18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.

Jesus’ Presence
"And remember that I am always with you until the end of the times".

Discussion Time
1. Are you a disciple (son) of Jesus Chrit? What are the consequences of being a disciple?
2. Are you making disciples? What should we teach them?

Keeping the Faith - Pr. Brent Cantelon - Sep. 13th, 2009

2009-09-14T14:51:00.000-07:00

Jude 1:3, 17
Encourage leaders to be aware that in the last days there will be mockers, those who will come to bring division amongst you.

1 Cor. 15: 1
- We stand in the gospel.
- What you were saved in, hang onto.
- Don't be deceived.

2 Cor. 11:2
- Don't be corrupted from the simplicity of Jesus.
- Don't fall for a different Gospel.

1 Cor 16:13
-Stand fast
-Be brave
-Be strong
-Keep the faith

Ephesians 6:11-16
Put on the whole armour of God. Don't leave anything out!

How do we keep the faith?
-Don't be ashamed of the gospel. The Gospel brought you salvation. (Romans 1:16)
-The cross is the only way. (Col 2:14)
-Believe in the Divinity of Christ:
• born of a virgin
• sinless life
• died on a cross
• arose from the dead
• triumphant at the right hand of God
• returning for us one day
• hold onto the inspiration of the Bible - not just a book
• Jesus IS coming back - hold on to this fact

2 Tim 3:16
Hold onto the Spirit filled interpretation of the scripture.Holy living. We have been called to a high standard of holiness. Keep the faith for your kids, your grandkids, and future generations. It's not just about us!

Ministry Time
Why not slip onto your knees in your group and pray. Ask the Lord to renew your faith. Maybe your faith has taken some hits lately. Maybe some darts have been getting through and you feel attacked in your faith. Pray for one another. Read over the scriptures we have talked about throughout the week and ask God to strengthen you. Have courage. Be strong.

Be Filled with the Holy Spirit - Pr. Antonio Nasser - September 9th, 2009

2009-09-08T17:01:00.001-07:00

Ephesians 5:17-21
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

1) Parallelism: verses 17 and 18

Therefore do not be unwise ==> And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation;

but understand what the will of the Lord is. ==> but be filled with the Spirit,

Greek “plērousthe”: be filled = Verb, Imperative, Present, Voice Passive, 2 Person Plural.
“The passive voice conveys the idea that the SUBJECT is being ACTED UPON by an OUTSIDE force or power. SUBJECT is the RECIPIENT or the RECEIVER of the verbal action or effect”.

The wine does not control. The person looses control under the influence of the wine.
The person should be filled (be ready to receive) with the Holy Spirit, gaining total control of his life under the influence (direction) of the Spirit of God.

2) The beginning of Christian life
Ephesians 1:13 (NKJV) 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
Greek: to pneumati = with the Spirit.

3) Water Baptism
Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV) 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Greek – “eis to onoma” = into the name

4) The Fullness with the Holy Spirit
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
Greek: eis pneumati = in the Spirit

5) New Way of Life
speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
submitting to one another in the fear of God.

Who am I in Christ. Pr. Antonio Nasser - August 30th, 09

2009-08-31T11:03:00.000-07:00

Read Ephesians 1:3-14
1. In Christ, we are blessed with every spiritual blessing
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
Spiritual: Gr. “pneumatikos” (from pneuma) = a current of air , wind, the breath (God’s or human’s).
“The ‘wind’ of God and man is the ‘breath’, but from a Hebraic perspective, the breath is not just the exchange of air in the lungs, it is the person’s driving force, which directs and leads him on his journey through life. (Benner, Jeff A. - The Living Words - Volume 1)

Blessing: Gr. “eulogia” = eu + logos = speak well
Blessing from Hebrew means “to bend the knee to present a gift.”
See the connection: to bend the knee to present a gift, a “well speech”.

To Speak to bless: Eph 5:25-27 (NKJV)
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

2. In Christ, we are Predestined to adoption as sons
5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
11 …being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,
We are family of God.
We can call Him our Father in Heaven
We belong to Him
We can come to Him through Jesus, our Savior
HIS will -
Romans 8:28-31 (NIV)
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?

3. In Christ, we are accepted!
6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.
Luke 1:26-28 (NIV) 26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

4. In Christ, we are redeemed through His Blood
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

Romans 3:23-24 (NKJV) 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus

“Redemption signifies, in Scripture, deliverance by price, as that of slaves, or prisoners, or persons condemned, then they are delivered from slavery, captivity, or death, by means of a ransom”. (Exposition of the Epistle to the Romans)

5. In Christ, we are Heirs
11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

1 Peter 1:3-5 (NIV) 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you,
5 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

6. In Christ we are sealed with the Holy Spirit
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

2 Corinthians 1:20-22 (NIV) 20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.
21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us,
22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

7. In Christ we are people of praises
6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.
12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
PRAISE HIM
In every second,
In everything,
In every place

Walk in Holiness - Pr. Antonio Nasser - August, 23rd, 2009

2009-08-24T11:17:00.000-07:00

Ephesians 1:3-4 (NKJV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love"

BLESSED IN CHRIST
1. Jesus Christ, the Holy Mediator
1 Timothy 2:5-6 (NKJV)
5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,

2. Jesus Christ, the Holy Savior
Acts 4:12 (NIV)
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

3. Jesus Christ, the Holy Heir
Hebrews 1:1-2 (NKJV)
1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,
2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

4. In Jesus we became heirs also…
Galatians 4:4-7 (NKJV)
4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"
7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

GOD'S WLL FOR HIS HEIRS: “…that we should be holy and without blame before Him”
1. God’s will for His heirs - Holy
Holy: Hebrew root is qādash
The ancient hebrew meaning is: to set aside for a special purpose.
Exodus 3:5 (NIV) 5 "Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground."
… the place where you are standing upon is ground set aside for a special purpose (qodesh).

a) God is set apart from all other gods.
1 Samuel 2:2 (NIV) 2 "There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.

b) God’s people is set apart from all other people
Leviticus 19:2 (NKJV) 2 "Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: 'You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.
…you shall be set apart for a special purpose, For I the Lord your God am “the special One”.
Exodus 19:6 (NKJV) 6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel."
… a kingdom of priests and a nation set aside for a special purpose (qadosh).

2. God’s will for His heirs - Blameless
In Greek the word is amōmos: from (a) (as a negative particle) and (momos); unblemished (literal or figurative) :- without blame (blemish, fault, spot), faultless, unblameable.
Greek Mythology… curiosity
MOMOS (or Momus) was the god of mockery, blame, ridicule, scorn, complaint and stinging criticism. He was expelled from heaven for ridiculing the gods.

a) NOAH
Genesis 6:9 (NIV) 9 This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.
Hebrew: tāmam
without blemish, perfect, upright, without spot, uprightly, whole, sincere, complete, full

b) JOB
Job 1:1 (NIV) 1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.

c) KING DAVID
Psalms 18:23 (NIV) 23 I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin.

d) GOD'S PEOPLE
Philippians 2:13-15 (NKJV) 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. 14 Do all things without complaining and disputing,
15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
Colossians 1:21-23
21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.
22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation--
23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven

Walk in Wisdom - Pr. Antonio Nasser - August 2nd, 2009

2009-08-04T11:23:00.000-07:00

Ephesians 5: 15-17
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

THE EVIL DAYS
1.Evil words against God’s people
Matthew 5:11-12 (NIV) 11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

2.Evil dissimulation
Matthew 5:37 (NIV) 37 Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

3.Evil thoughts
Mark 7:20-23 (NIV) 20 He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' 21 For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.'"

GOD’S WISDOM IS FROM ABOVE
James 3:13-17 (NKJV)
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.
16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

WALK IN WISDOM
1. Watch your step… How do you live?
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
Greek: akribōs
exactly :- circumspectly, diligently, perfect (-ly).

2. The Precious Time… How are you using it?
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil
Greek – exagorazō
The root is from (agora); properly to go to market, i.e. (by implication) to purchase; specially to redeem :- buy, redeem.

3. God’s Will… our Goal!
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Ephesians 3:10-12 (NKJV) 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

a) Jesus is the accomplishment of God’s Will

b) We have access to God, through Jesus, our Savior

c) We, the Church, through our life and testimony, must show God’s will to the world and to the principalities and powers.

d) We must be like Jesus! He is the Will of God for us!

Walk in Knoledge - Pr. Antonio Nasser - July 26th, 2009

2009-07-27T15:42:00.000-07:00

Text: Ephesians 4:11-16
1. Apostles
Greek = apostolos: a delegate; specially an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ [“apostle”] (with miraculous powers) :- apostle, messenger, he that is sent.
Romans 1:1 (NKJV) 1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God

2. Prophets
Greek = prophētēs: a foreteller (“prophet”); by analogy an inspired speaker.
<- In Ancient Hebrew (Jeff A. Benner - The Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible) 1 Corinthians 14:3 (NKJV) 3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

3. Evangelists
Greek = euangelistēs: a preacher, one who announces good news especially the gospel:- declare, bring (declare, show) glad (good) tidings, preach (the gospel).
Acts 21:8-9 (NKJV) 8 On the next day we who were Paul's companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.

4. Pastors
Greek = poimēn.: a shepherd
Matthew 9:36 (NKJV) 36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

5. Teachers
Greek = didaskalos (didasko); an instructor:- doctor, master, teacher.
Matthew 22:16 (NKJV) 16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men.

Ephesians 4:12 (NKJV)for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
Ephesians 4:12 (GW) 12 Their purpose is to prepare God's people, to serve, and to build up the body of Christ.

-Why is it so important to be trained to serve?

1. Children like fantasy. They can be deceived easily by the trickery of men.
Ephesians 4:14 …by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

2.Children are not consistent. They don’t have enough knowledge to stand firm in their beliefs.
4:14 …children, tossed to and fro…

3.Children cannot bear children. Children cannot teach children.
Ephesians 4:12 (GW) 12 Their purpose is to prepare God's people, to serve, and to build up the body of Christ.

- How can we grow up in Jesus, to become mature?
Ephesians 4:13 (NIV) 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
The Key word in this verse is UNITY
A) Unity in the faith
B) Unity in the knowledge of the Son of God

Back to Ephesians 4: 3-6
3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

There are doctrines called as FAITH. We must understand those principles and keep the Unity on it.
4: 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-- 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
UNITY IN DIVERSITY
One Body
One Head – Jesus Christ
Many members…

Maturity comes from the UNITY of the Body of Christ, in a life of Faith and Knowledge applied.
DECIDE TODAY

1.Decide to keep the Unity
2.Decide to know more about the faith
3.Decide to know more about Jesus
4.Decide to apply your faith in Jesus!

Walk in Good Works - Pr. Antonio Nasser - July 19th,2009

2009-07-19T18:29:00.000-07:00

Read: Ephesians 2:1-10
I – The Work of Sin
II – The Work of God
III – The Work of the Follower of Jesus Christ

I – The Work of Sin
1.Sin leads us to walk according to this world
2.Sin leads us to walk according to the devil
3.Sin leads us to walk according to our own desires
We have 3 enemies: The world, the devil and the flesh (desires)

1 John 2:15-17 (NKJV)
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world.
17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

II - The Work of God

Colossians 2:13-15 (NKJV)
13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

a) The New State: God made us alive together with Christ

b) The New Walk: God raided us up together with Christ

c) The New Authority: God made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus

Heavenly Places
The Greek word “epouranios” (heavenly places) appears 5 times in Ephesians. Let’s take a look in each one of the verses:
Ephesians 1:3 (NKJV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

Ephesians 1:19-20 (NKJV)

19 … His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,

Ephesians 2:6 (NKJV)
6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Ephesians 3:10 (NKJV)
10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,

Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV) 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

1.It is where Jesus is seated with power
2.It is where we are also, seated with Jesus
3.It is where we have all the blessings
4.It is where the Church manifests the manifold wisdom of God to the principalities and authorities
5. It is where we wrestle against our enemy.

III - The Work of the Follower of Jesus Christ

1.To walk according to the life given by Jesus
2.To walk according to the grace of God by faith
3.To walk in good works

GOOD WORKS
1.Do not save, but are the result of the new life in Christ
2.Are a powerful testimony of what Jesus has done in us and through us.
3.Are done by faith, waiting for only one kind of reward: one that comes from God.

Walk in Love - Pr. Antonio Nasser - July 12th, 2009

2009-07-13T10:47:00.000-07:00

Ephesians 5:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

The Greek word “peripateō = walk” appears 7 times in Ephesians.
In each of those verses, Paul shows us how we should or shouldn’t live, as children of God.

1. God's Plan for Humanity
Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

2. Life without Jesus is Empty and Nasty
Ephesians 2:1-3 (NKJV) 1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
Ephesians 4:17 (NKJV)
17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;

3. Through Jesus Christ, God made us Children of Light
Ephesians 5:8-10 (NKJV) 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

4. Watch your Step…
Ephesians 5:15-16 (NKJV) 15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Ephesians 5:15-16 (MSG) 15 So watch your step. Use your head. 16 Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!

5. Be Imitators of God: Love One Another
Ephesians 4:1-3 (NKJV) 1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 5:1-2 (NKJV) 1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

1. Love is a sacrifice
Ephesians 5:2 (NKJV)
2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

2. Love is a gentle manner to keep the unity of the Spirit
Ephesians 4:2-3 (NIV) 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

3. Love covers the “shame” of missing the mark
1 Peter 4:8 (NKJV) 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."
Proverbs 10:12 (MSG) 12 Hatred starts fights, but love pulls a quilt over the bickering.

What Will Bring Change? Pr. Vijay Manuel - July 5th, 2009

2009-07-06T10:00:00.000-07:00

Maple Ridge is a community of:
•73,969 residents / Fastest growth rate in GVRD (3.7%)
•30% under 19 years old (next biggest 30-49)

What is the purpose of the church in Maple Ridge?
THE CALL
Matthew 28:18-20
18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Our Purpose in Maple Ridge is to
•Share the Gospel
•Make disciples
•Baptize many
•Teach them to obey Jesus' commands

THE FOUNDATION WE OPERATE ON
We are His church: Matthew 16:18
"And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."

Let's be clear: We are Jesus' church
CLA Maple Ridge is a church that Jesus has built and is building; one that He has planted in this city to do His work, for the glory of God!

Q: How are we to fulfill the call to make disciples?
•Stuck in addictions: drugs, alcohol, pornography?
•Caught in selfish ambitions
•Hurt? Angry? Hopeless?
•Broken families?
•Suffered abuse?
•Don't need God?
•Don't believe in God?

It Has Been Said
"Life can either be accepted or changed. If it is not accepted, it must be changed. If it cannot be changed, then it must be accepted.”
I say to you that the circumstances you find yourself in today do not need to be 'accepted', because there is One who can bring change; change is possible because of Jesus Christ!

One Man Who Was Changed
John, son of Zebedee (The Apostle John)
•Had a fishing business with his brother James and with Peter & Andrew
•Called by Jesus to follow Him
•Wrote the Gospel of John, 1st, 2nd, & 3rd John, and Revelation
Started out with a selfish perspective

PROTECTIVE: OF HIS OWN INTERESTS
Luke 9:51-55
51As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" 55But Jesus turned and rebuked them, 56and they went to another village.

Interested in POSITION & POWER
Matthew 20:20-28
20Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 21"What is it you want?" he asked. She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom."
22"You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink? "We can," they answered. 23Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father."

PROUD --> Led to a lesson in humility
24When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Transformed to being PROTECTIVE: OF OTHERS' INTERESTS
1 John 3:16-18
16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees his
brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. (The only apostle who didn't die a violent death) In his last years as a pastor to the church in Ephesus, his disciples would carry him to the church for meetings where he would say no more that: "Little children, love one another!" The wearied disciples would ask why, and he would say: "It is the Lord's command, and if this alone be done, it is enough!"
What happened?
1 John 3:1
1"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him."
HE MET JESUS
•Not Religion
•Not Good People
•Not Intelligence
•Not a Cause
MET JESUS & LOVED HIM = LIFE CHANGE
Went From Protective of Own Interests, Proud, Position, Power ---> Protective of Others' Interests (full of grace & love)
Because he met Jesus

What will bring change to MR?
•Meet Jesus
ºNot religion
ºNot good people
ºNot intelligence
ºNot a cause
They will go from Protective of Own Interests, Proud, Position, Power ---> Protective of Others' Interests
Because they will meet Jesus And you will fulfill your call
•Make disciples
•Baptize many
•Teach them to obey Jesus’ commands

Does this compute?
MR won’t understand you until they know Jesus
•Prayer meetings, the love you share, forgiveness
Not the other way around: If they understand us, they
may get to know Him…
I love breakfast meetings. It Was John Who Recorded the Breakfast Meeting in which Jesus charged Peter with feeding His lambs --> His church.
John 21:15-19
15When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
The Question: DO YOU TRULY LOVE ME
NOT
Have you understood everything?
Do you have it all together personally?
Do you have a plan; a strategy?
Do you know all the laws & rules?
Are you 100% loyal & trustworthy?
BUT
Do you truly love me?

I ask you today
Q: Do you truly love Jesus? Have you stayed true to
that simple and singular focus? Has it become
complicated?
Q: Do you know Him? Is you heart's desire to know
Him more, or are you satisfied?
ºThe Word of God
ºTimes of worship in His presence
ºTimes of prayer

Pray for Canada in Jesus' name. Pr. Antonio Nasser - June 28th, 2009

2009-06-29T10:35:00.000-07:00

1 Chronicles 29:10-13,17 (NIV) -King David's Prayer
Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV) - The Lord's Prayer

Comparing the Two Prayers
I) HIS NAME IS HOLY
Matthew 6:9 “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
1 Chronicles 29:10 …"Praise be to you, O Lord,
God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. 11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
So...
1.His Name is Holy
2.He is the Lord and God
3.He is Eternal
4.His is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
5.Everything in heaven and earth belong to Him.
Question:
How can we take His name for granted?
John 1:18 (GW) 18 No one has ever seen God. God's only Son, the one who is closest to the Father's heart, has made him known.
JESUS is the Key here... In a pluralistic society Jesus is the Singular, the Unique. Many can talk about God, but only Christians can say: Jesus is the only way to God. To know God, we must know who Jesus is!

II) HIS KINGDOM
Matthew 6:10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread.
1 Chronicles 29: 11 Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. 12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.
So...

1.He is the King who has a Kingdom
2.He is the Provider of all good things: wealth and honor
3.His will must be done: He is the ruler
4.He has all the power and authority over all
5.He rewards his servants

Questions:
1. How does His will be done on earth?
2 Corinthians 5:15 (NIV) 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
2.How can a country be blessed with wealth and honor?
Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.

III) HIS FORGIVENESS
Matthew 6:12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'
1 Chronicles 29: 17 I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness

1.A pure heart pleases God
2.He forgives and I have to forgive
3.He is the deliverer! We can trust on Him.

Questions:
1.How can I be approved by God?
2 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV) 5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?
2 Corinthians 13:5 (MSG) 5 Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don't drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it.

2.Do I have always to forgive others?
Ephesians 4:32 (NIV) 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

When we enter in God's presence, we come to adore Him. Then we see ourselves as sinners and we come to confess our sins to Him. After His forgiveness, we will serve Him in a highest level, with a pure heart!.

Book of Acts Living! - Pastor Brent Cantelon - June 14, 2009

2009-06-16T16:23:00.000-07:00

The Book of Acts changes our view of what being a Christian looks like

Forced to leave home base, the Christians all became missionaries. Wherever they were scattered, they preached the Message about Jesus. Acts 8:4

It is possible for us today to live like they did in the Book of Acts?
• They were Born Again

• They were all filled with the Holy Spirit
• They continued to be filled with the Holy Spirit

• The Holy Spirit equipped them to do the work of spreading the gospel

• They were united in heart and soul – in one accord

• They were a practical, loving community sharing everything they had

• There were offerings, tithes, a community that loved and worked together

• There was a feeling of belonging, acceptance and care• Everyone was involved in ministry and mission

• They were outnumbered - so are we
• The DNA of the Book of Acts was to take the message everywhere and to do it together.

• Church planting, missions, evangelism – everyone was involved TOGETHER.

• Isolation from fellowship is the devil's device – Do NOT forsake the assembling of yourselves together.

We need one another, we can't do it alone.
We are not filled with the Holy Spirit if we don't go beyond self help and wellness. We must look beyond ourselves. The Holy Spirit came to help us. Help others.
Joy, peace, contentment in this life is found in doing God's work. If you wait until conditions are perfect to work, the work will never get done.
What hours of your work would you consider to be Book of Acts living hours?Everything in your life should be interconnected with Jesus. Maybe we have been focusing too much on home base and not looking outside our personal world. Jesus said to labor until He comes. Be missionaries for the Gospel.
Ministry Time:
1) Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus?2) Have you been baptized in water?3) Are you been filled with the Holy Spirit since you believed?4) Are you in need of a healing? Ask the group to pray for you?5) Do you realize that you are Jesus' plan for this world?6) What will change in your life because of this message?

The Power of Faith - Pr. Antonio Nasser - June 7th,09

2009-06-06T22:39:00.000-07:00

Texts: Matthew 15:21-28 & Mark 7:24-30 (NKJV)

Revisiting both texts - Characters: Woman, Disciples, Jesus, Daughter
THE WOMAN
Mark 7:26 The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter.
Matthew 15:22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed."
25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!"

1.She was Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth. From Canaan
2.Although she was not a Jew, she knew about King David and recognized Jesus as the “Son of David”
3.She believed that Jesus was LORD (Kyrios); someone divine, and worshiped HIM.
4. She had an understanding about the spiritual world: “My daughter is severely demon-possessed."

THE DISCIPLES
Matthew 15:23 But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, "Send her away, for she cries out after us."
1.They were bothered with the noise of the woman’s cry;
2.They showed no mercy for her;
3.They represented the Jewish people and their understanding about the Messiah’s mission:
"I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

JESUS
Mark 7:24 And He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be hidden. 25 For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet.
Mark 7:27 "Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs.“
Matthew 15:26 But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs."
1.“…and wanted no one to know it,…”. Although He had a mission beyond the ethnocentric vision of his disciples, he was going to teach them a terrific lesson.
2.“… but He could not be hidden”. He was famous for his deeds -blessing the poor and hurt people.
3.He brought into the conversation the way the Jews called the gentiles: “dogs”.
4. He was between two realities: his ethnocentric disciples and the foreign woman!

THE CHARADES
1. "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel”. Who am I?
2. "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel”. Are you lost?
3. "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs." What bread is this?
4. "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs." Who has the power to give the bread?

THE WOMAN'S FAITH
1. If the issue is “to eat the bread”… Little dogs eat as well.
2. If the issue is “the order that the bread is given”… little dogs can wait for the crumbs.
3. If the issue is “the difference between children and little dogs”… Little dogs are not children, but they are at the same place of the children.

THE RESULTS
Woman’s right answer --> Faith In Action
The “foreign-little dog” woman --> Welcomed Daughter (you can eat the bread)
The “demon possessed daughter” --> Completely free daughter!
The pagan people --> God’s people

Revival - Pr. Antonio Nasser - MR, May 31st,09

2009-06-01T09:19:00.000-07:00

REVIVAL

Joel 2:28,29 28 "And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. 29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days”.

DATE OF THE BOOK

Late preexilic date: 609-586 B.C § Joel chapter 2 seems to picture the Babylonians vividly enough that he did not need to specifically identify them in the chapter; their presence is imposing.

PURPOSES FOR THE BOOK:

A. To warn Judah of the coming Day of the Lord when judgment will get worse for Judah and the nations of the world

B. To urge Judah to repent of their sins

C. To proclaim a future time when complete restoration will come to the nation

Chapter 2: The nation is called from things below to things above

1. verses 1-14 - The priests should alarm the nation with the near approach of the Divine judgments, and the power of repentance.

2. verses 12-27 - God is ready to help his people; and he waits to be gracious.

3. verses 28-32 – The Promise of the Holy Spirit, and of the Future Mercies

"...I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions".

==>Pour out: Anointing. If people respond to God’s call (from below to above), then God responds by anointing them (from above to below).

1. Anointing in the Old Testament: Priests, Prophets, Judges and Kings (leaders of the nation)

Priests - Exodus 30:30 (NKJV) 30 And you shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister to Me as priests.

Kings and Prophets - 1 Kings 19:16 (NKJV) 16 Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.

Judges (before Kings) - Judges 3:10a (NKJV) 10 The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel.

Results of the Anointing

Numbers 11:25 (NIV) – Elders to help Moses
25 Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took of the Spirit that was on him and put the Spirit on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did not do so again.

1 Samuel 10:6 (NKJV) - Saul

6 Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.

1 Samuel 16:13 (NKJV) - David

13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

2. Anointing in the New Testament: all flesh.

JESUS’ water baptism - Matthew 3:16 (NKJV) 16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.

The Day of Pentecost - Acts 2:1-4 (NKJV) 1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. utterance. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Ephesians - Acts 19:5-6 (NKJV) 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. (from below to above = repentance) 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. (from above to below = Anointing)

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy

1. God is blessing the family 2. God is present 3. God cares about His people

Your old men shall dream dreams

1.God is bringing Hope 2.God transforms people 3.Nothing is impossible to God

Your young men shall see visions.

1.God shares His will 2.God is expecting the Commitment of the YOUTH

•Prophesy = God is present and He cares about us

•Dreams = Hope & transformation

•Visions = Commitment to Serve

Faithfulness - Pr. Antonio Nasser - May 24th, 09

2009-05-25T10:06:00.000-07:00

Luke 16:1-13
Characters of the text:
1. Rich man, steward & debtors
2. Jesus, sons of this world, sons of light, the disciples, friends
Understanding the Parable
1 "There was a certain rich man who had a steward… = Oikonomos (Greek) from (oikos) and the base of (nomos); a house-distributor (i.e. manager), or overseer, i.e. an employee in that capacity; by extension a fiscal agent (treasurer) (Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary).

…Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.'
As Paul says… 1 Corinthians 4:2 (NKJV) 2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
Accountability
Stewardship requires frequent accountability. The steward is managing what does not belong to him.
The unfaithful steward’s mind:
1. How he sees himself: with self commiseration
v.3 Then the steward said within himself, 'What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg.

2. His decision: to make debtors into friends
He gave discounts to every debtor in order to get their “goodness” back…
We will never be excused by God for transgressing His will, unless we:
a) Recognize the transgression
b) Ask forgiveness
c) Abandon the sin
This steward never did the first step to repentance. He thought how to continue in sin…

8 “So the master commended the unjust (unrighteous) steward because he had dealt shrewdly” (wisely).
1.The steward is called unjust (unrighteous)
2.The master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly (wisely), not because he did something right!
3.The parable doesn’t say that the steward recovered his job back, it means, there was no approval from the master.

JESUS’ teachings after the parable
1. Clever people
8 …For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.
Be aware of the sons of this world: they are cleverer. They deal with others in a smart way…

2. Make Friends
9 And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.
Who are these friends?
1. Friends in an everlasting home means that they were saved.
So, to make friends is to evangelize
2. To make a friend by unrighteous mammon… Means that:
a) Money is amoral
b) Money is important to be used to evangelize

3. Be faithful always…
10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.
The time to be faithful is now! In what is least or in what is much. Do not wait until you have money, time or willingness. Be faithful now!

4. Faithfulness before unjust money
11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own?
1.In this world mammon is unrighteous.
2.However we must be faithful using it
3.There is a connection between the natural world and the spiritual world
4.The believers’ mark: to be faithful to God and to men.

5. We must serve only one Master!
13 No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.“
Our God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is the Only One Master we have!

CONCLUSION
1. Stewardship requires: Faithfulness and Accountability
2. We must repent if we are sinning
3. We need wisdom to handle money
-To be faithful to God
-To be faithful to people
-To evangelize using it.
4. God is the only one who defines what is right or wrong. We must obey HIM.

Sorry everyone...

2009-05-21T08:53:00.000-07:00

I just posted this message about Ananias and Saphira in another Blog that I have, in Portuguese!! I just found out it today... So, enjoy this study.
Blessings
Pr. Antonio

The appearance of Piety - Pr. Antonio Nasser, May 17th,09

2009-05-21T08:35:00.000-07:00

Text: Acts 4:34-5:11
On 5:2 – He kept back (embezzle) … The same Greek word (nosphizō) is used by Paul in Titus 2:10
“9 Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back,10 not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things”.

In this world we find:
1.People who live by esthetic appearance: Their motivation is to follow world’s ideal of perfection 2.People who live by pious appearance: Their motivation is to follow the religious world’s idealof perfection.
Like in 2 Timothy 3:1-6 (NKJV)1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
“The appearance of piety is a fake spirituality that tries to please religious people - getting their approval”. "The only one approval, we really need, comes from GOD, not from men".

“Men love to gratify their own lusts, more than to please God and do their duty. When every man is eager for what he can get, and anxious to keep what he has, this makes men dangerous to one another. When men do not fear God, they will not regard man”. (Matthew Henry Concise Bible Commentary)

Ananias and Sapphira tried to:
- Imitate Barnabas’ acts of love, but had no love.
- Have Christian spirituality, but had no alive Spirit
- Be accepted by the apostles, but had no acceptance by GOD.

1.We cannot hide anything from the Holy Spirit
2.We cannot hide the results of our fake spirituality. Romans 6:23 (NKJV) 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.We all need a truthfull life.

1.Do not think that you are accepted by God because you are imitating the life of spiritual and holy people. Keep going on a real and holy relationship with God, according to HIS will.Transparency!
2. Do not think that what you’ve got spiritually until now is enough for the rest of your Christian life. Keep going on a real and holy disciple life. Obedience!
3. Do not think that you can do everything in Christian ministry without being anointed by the Holy Spirit. Keep going on a real and holy prayer life while you share the Gospel. Power!

Mother's Day - Pr. Brent Cantelon, May 10th,09

2009-05-11T16:46:00.000-07:00

MOTHERS OF THE BIBLE

Mother of Moses - Exodus Chapter 2
- Moses mother came up with a plan to spare her son from death
- Trusted God for the future of her son
- Great example of a mother who can “make things happen”

Shunammite Women - 2 Kings 4
- Was hospitable to the man of God, Elisha
- God granted her a son and he dies
- Went immediately to Elisha and insisted he come and heal her son
- Great example of a mother who interceded until she received that for which she came

Hannah - 1 Samuel Chapter 2
- Longed for a child and prayed for a long time for one
- Promised to dedicate her child back to God – and kept that promise
- Great example of a mother who knew how to press into God and keep her promiseMary the

Mother of Jesus - Luke 1:26-55
“Let it be to me according to your word”
- She treasured God's word in her heart
- Watched her son die on a cross
- Was in the upper room when the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost
- Made herself present in the early church
- Great example of a mother whose consistency and obedience gave her the title “Blessed” even when things did not always make sense and were difficult

Mother of Timothy, Eunice - 2 Timothy 1:5
- Paul's apprentice was Timothy
- Genuine faith was nurtured in Timothy
- Great heritage was established from grandmother (Lois) to mother, to son
- Great examples of mothers who were committed to God and raising children from generation to generation to serve Him

God's plan right from the beginning of creation has been for the blessing of woman.Live in God's ways and he will provide and fill your life with blessing

Ministry Time: Pray for the mothers represented in the small group:
- Those who have made mistakes
- Those who have low self-esteem
- Those who are barren

One in Heart and Mind - Pr. Brent Cantelon - May, 3rd,09

2009-05-04T11:24:00.000-07:00

Acts 4:32-33 (NIV)32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.

I) (vs. 32) All the believers were one in heart and mind
· Heart: center of affections and intellectual thought
· Mind: (soul) seat of life and will
· Center of personality that determines a person’s conduct.
. United in purpose and devotion
· No divisions
· So schisms
· No dissentions
- been with Jesus
- witnesses to the resurrection
- baptized with the Holy Spirit
- devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching, breaking of bread and fellowship
- worldview totally surrendered to Christ
· No longer Jewish worldview of the law
· No longer the Roman view of the Deity of Caesar

- Healings seem possible. Miracles seem possible in our time,
- this phrase seems like it is so difficult to imagine: one in heart and mind?

Our times are characterized by the polarization of opinions – this makes the economy go around, makes for controversy on TV and Radio talk shows – juicy press. The provincial election is a perfect example – whole system is built on official disagreement.

What would this have looked like, this one heart and mind? What would it have felt like to be part of this movement? All headed the same direction, not just because you have to, but genuinely, willingly – sincerely the same heart, the same mind! These followers of Jesus had these questions answered in their hearts and minds…

a) - who or what is the authority?
· Jesus established His authority, (all authority Matt 28:19) gave it to the apostles, those filled with the Holy Spirit
· There was a recognized spiritual authority that was evident, easily acknowledged,
b) - what is valued?
· The values of the kingdom
· Seek first the kingdom of God
· Go into all the world
· He who would be first must be the servant of all
c) - what is the purpose of this life? Where is it headed?
· To follow Jesus
· To please the Lord
· To live in obedience to His commands
d) – how will our personal needs be met?
· Food, shelter
· Safety
· Belonging, acceptance, love
· Respect, achievement
· Identity, spontaneity, creativity, decision making (identity and purpose)

II) (vs. 32b) Shared everything they had
No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.
· No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own?
o The god of material things is a powerful idol in our time. If we live for this world only then this (sharing) does not happen, our stuff is what we live for. Those believers lived in the moment, believing that Jesus would return at any time….
Galatians 6:10 (NIV) 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

III) (vs. 33a) Great power to testify
33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,
· Power of the Holy Spirit - signs miracles, testimony
· Resurrection of the Lord Jesus – continues to be the central theme of the message
· We are observing a church filled with the Holy Spirit - these are the marks of people who have come into this Holy Spirit fullness
·
IV) (vs. 33b) Much grace!
...and much grace was upon them all.
· Showered with rich blessings
· Evidence of the favor of the Lord upon them

- the evidence of the Holy Spirit working? – they cared about one another: vitally connected with others; visible through the connection with others; matures through the interaction with others; welcomed one another into their lives; loved being together (all who believed were welcomed into the fellowship)
· Open, not exclusive, or cliques,
· Ever expanding circles of care, acceptance
· New circles of care and acceptance

This description of the 1st church is immediately following the second filling of the Spirit: “all filled with the Spirit and spoke the word of God with Boldness”

The transformation of a life filled with the Spirit is shown in very practical ways: Kindness toward one another; generosity.

What divides us from our brothers and sisters? What causes dissention, quarreling, judgment? How do we view what we have?

Acts 2:42-47 (NIV) 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

1. How can I pursue more, be filled with more of the Spirit so that I can be one heart and mind with this body?
· Only comes by the Holy Spirit changing us from the inside out
· Re-ordering of my values
· Is my view of spiritual leadership Biblical or secular? (eph 4:11)
· Inner transformation that would change my view of this life
· Be willing to be “One in heart and mind”
· Flow from my heart – natural
· Seeking? First step
· Have I become a protector, selfish, closed hands?

2. What do I have that I can share?
· Actual stuff, (that I’m not using)
o Clothing, baby gear,
o Vehicle
o Food
o Electronics
· Don’t know people’s needs – get more involved with people
o Small groups
o Acts of kindness
o Food bank

3. Who is in need that I can care about?
· Sick?
· Hospital, prison,
· Discouraged,
· Visit to ease loneliness – Seniors
· Who haven’t I called in a long time
· Embrace of friendship (forgiveness)

The Christian Life's Paradox - Pr. Antonio Nasser - April 26th, 09

2009-04-27T09:09:00.000-07:00

2 Corinthians 8:1-5 (NKJV)
1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia:
2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.
3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing,
4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.

Affliction Times: Lack of confidence in the future, lack of Christian Ethic, Desperation, Financial problems, etc.
8:2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.
Affiction from the Greek: thlipsis:
pressure (literal or figurative): -afflicted (-tion), anguish, -burdened, persecution, -tribulation, trouble

We can find this same greek work in these texts below:
a) The parable of the seeds/soil
Matthew 13:21 (NKJV) 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.

b) The persecution and suffering of the disciples at the end
Matthew 24:9 (NIV) 9 "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.

c) The mother’s suffering before delivering a baby
John 16:21 (NIV) 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.

d) The suffering of Jesus’ followers
John 16:33 (NIV) 33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

THE PARADOX :
Great Trial of Affliction + Deep Poverty = Joy + Generosity
- Where did this paradox come from?

1.GOD gave grace to the Church.
8:1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of GOD bestowed on the churches of Macedonia:

Grace from Greek charis
graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude) :- acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy, liberality, pleasure, thanks.

2. They FIRST gave themselves to the LORD
5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, …
Total Commitment to the LORD = To Fear the LORD

3. They gave themselves to the Church
5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.
Total Commitment to the Church = True Love in Practice

What do we need today?
1. A true life depending on God's grace
2. An obedient life under the fear of the Lord
3. A life that loves like Jesus

Drops of Life from Habakkuk

2009-04-21T10:00:00.001-07:00

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will be joyful in GOD my Savior".

Habakkuk 3:17,18

Jesus is willing; are we? Pr. Antonio Nasser - april 20th, 09

2009-04-20T15:27:00.000-07:00

Matthew 8:1-4 (NKJV)
1 When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him.
2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."
3 Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
4 And Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."
Lepers & Multitude?
Leviticus 13:45,46 (NKJV)
45 Now the leper on whom the sore is, his clothes shall be torn and his head bare; and he shall cover his mustache, and cry, 'Unclean! Unclean!' 46 He shall be unclean. All the days he has the sore he shall be unclean. He is unclean, and he shall dwell alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.

To come to JESUS we all need to cross lines, like the leper did:
-Family
-Religion
-Prejudices
-Friends
-Etc.
"Lord, if You are willing, (desire, be disposed (forward), intend, please), You can (be able possible, could )make me clean.“

1. A CRUCIAL QUESTION:
Lord, do you want to cross all the lines before this multitude to heal a man like me?
2. A STATEMENT OF FAITH:
I know you have power to heal my body!

3 Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

JESUS TOUCHED PEOPLE:
Peter's mother-in-law:
Matthew 8:14-15 (NKJV) 14 Now when Jesus had come into Peter's house, He saw his wife's mother lying sick with a fever. 15 So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them.

Two Blind men:
Matthew 20:29-34 (NKJV) 29 Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!"
34 So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.

The deaf Man:
Mark 7:32-33 (NKJV) 32 Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him. 33 And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue.

The only one son of the widow:
Luke 7:12-14 (NKJV) … a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. […] 13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." 14 Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise."

Jesus said:

I am willing;
§Compassion
§Mercy
§Courage
§Determination

be cleansed
§Power and Authority
§Desire to see a new man
§Words that create life

1. Are we willing to CROSS LINES to meet JESUS?
2. Are we willing to believe in MIRACLES?
3. Are we willing to TOUCH PEOPLE with JESUS’ love?

Accepted. Easter Sunday Sermon - Pr. Antonio Nasser - April 12th, 09

2009-04-15T08:11:00.000-07:00

Romans 4:24-25 (NKJV)
24 … but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead,
25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.
Romans 5:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

God’s Plan for Humanity
Sacrifice -> Forgiveness -> Restoration of the Relationship.

People waited outside of the Temple was asking: Did God accept our sacrifices?
JUSTIFICATION
“The sinner's justification is confirmed by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Only by His resurrection can the believer have confidence that God was satisfied with the sacrifice Christ had made in his behalf. Indeed, the new birth is said to be accomplished because of His resurrection”. 1 Peter 1:3 (NKJV)
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”.
(Foundations of Pentecostal Theology)

REGENERATION AND JUSTIFICATION
“Regeneration has to do with the change of the believer's nature;

Justification, with the change of his standing before God.” (The Great Doctrines of the Bible)

JUSTIFICATION: THE MEANING
“It is a change in a man's relation or standing before God. It has to do with relations that have been disturbed by sin, and these relations are personal. It is a change from guilt and condemnation to acquittal and acceptance. (The Great Doctrines of the Bible)

In a simple way…
In Criminal Law we have: Guilty or Not Guilty (innocent)
But the Bible says that nobody is innocent…
Romans 3:10-18 (NKJV)
10 As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one;
11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.
12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one."
13 "Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit"; "The poison of asps is under their lips";
14 "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness."
15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways;
17 And the way of peace they have not known."
18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
Justification is forgiveness.
The person is guilty of sins… But God accepts him/her, after repentance, to have a new relationship with Him. We are guilty but forgiven!

IN THE WORLD
1.Rejection
2.Abandonment
3.Hopelessness
4.Desperation

JESUS CHRIST, OUR HOPE…
- Jesus’ parents were rejected by people of Bethlehem
- After Jesus’ birth, they fled to Egypt, becoming refugees
- Jesus was rejected by the priests, it means, by the God’s chosen people who serve Him.
- Jesus was arrested, beaten and crucified. Abandoned by his friends and disciples.
- At the cross, Jesus experienced the abandonment that the sin causes before God:
“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?“ Matthew 27:46 (NKJV)

HOWEVER…
When Jesus was raised from the dead, He continues to look after His disciples, showing them His love … Matthew 28:10 (NKJV)

10 Then Jesus said to them (the women), "Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me."

PETER’S RESTORATION John 21:15-17 (NKJV)

15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me (greek: agapaō) more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You (greek: phileō)." He said to him, "Feed My lambs."
16 He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me (greek: agapaō)?"
He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You (greek: phileō)." ." He said to him, "Tend My sheep." 17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me (greek: phileō)?"
Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me (greek: phileō)?" And he said to Him,
"Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You (greek: phileō)." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.
* greek: agapaō = to love. Unconditional love

* greek: phileō = to be a friend

Peter revealed his weakness, then Jesus accepted him back:
a) Restoring Peter’s relationship with Him
b) Calling Peter to a mission: Feed my sheep

Easter Service

2009-04-14T21:22:00.000-07:00

What a precious time we had on Sunday! God is awesome and our people are happy and serving HIM with gratitude.
Almost 400 people came to worship Jesus as the Risen One!
Praise His name.
We are waiting you this next Sunday.

Address changed

2009-04-14T20:48:00.001-07:00

We are changing again the URL of this Blog, just to give it the same pattern of our other campuses. So, enjoy it and share it... Blessings to you all.
clamapleridge.blogspot.com

The Eagle Has Landed

2009-04-11T20:36:00.001-07:00

Pastor Antonio is in Maple Ridge, Canada. Praise the Lord! Pastor Antonio will be preaching on Easter morning at the CLA Maple Ridge campus. May God bless you all!

Pastor Antonio Update

2009-04-08T16:28:00.000-07:00

Pastor Antonio Nasser has received his passport and is scheduled to return to Canada this weekend (April 11th, 2009). Happy Easter Maple Ridge! :) Please continue to pray that all will go well during the trip home.

Praise the Lord!

2009-04-05T23:25:00.000-07:00

Hello To All Of Our Friends In Canada!

This weekend I will preach in a city called Arcatuba because the church would like to say goodbye to us. Arcatuba is 200km from Marilia, where we are staying now. We will also be traveling to Sao Paolo (450 km from us) to pick up our passports: mine, Vera's, & Gabriel's. Daniel's case is being processed now and in the hands of Minister Kenney. Next week, God-willing, I'll have some news regarding our return dates to Canada.

Antonio Nasser

Message From Vijay Manuel

2009-04-03T13:55:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone. I wanted to let you know that we will be using this blog as a way of passing on updates regarding Pastor Antonio's highly anticipated return to Canada. Let's continue to hope & trust that the Lord has His hand in all of this and that any immigration-related concerns will be taken care of very soon!

PS - Pastor Brent will be visiting the MR Campus this Sunday, April 5th!

Growing toward Maturity - Pr. Antonio Nasser - MR Jan, 25th, 2009

2009-01-26T11:21:00.000-08:00

Hebrews 5:11-6:3(NIV)

Elementary Teachings? Are you familiar with those subjects?
Hebrews says that those are Basic in Christian Life.
1. Foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,
2. Faith in God,
3. Instruction about baptisms,
4. The laying on of hands,
5. The resurrection of the dead,
6. And eternal judgment.

I. Two Causes of Sluggishness
Hebrews 5:11 (NKJV) … since you have become dull of hearing.
Hebrews 6:12 (NKJV) 12 that you do not become sluggish but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
In Greek, we have the same word in both verses, meaning: laziness.

1. Following the easiest way: To obey the flesh
I Corinthians 3:1-3
"1 Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly--mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarrelling among you, are you not worldly?" "Are you not acting like mere men?
In greek, Paul uses the word "flesh" translated as "worldly".

2. Lacking of Practice: Must learn again…
Hebrews 5:14 (NIV)
"14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil".
Greek words: "constant use" = Hexis = to practice
"trained" = Gymnazo = prepared after training.

II. Relevant Statements about Maturity
1. Milk is not bad
We all need to start from somewhere. Elementary Teachings are extremely necessary for our spiritual growth.

2. Milk will not produce maturity
Milk is for kids… Kids are not mature people. Mature People eat solid food!

3. Maturity is a team work
Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV) 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

4. Maturity is moulded through suffering
James 1:2-4 (NIV) 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

5. Maturity comes through prayer
Colossians 4:12 (NIV) 12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.

Decisions:

I will obey the Lord Jesus Christ, my GOD,
I will practice the Bible everyday,
I will eat solid food, to grow spiritually,
I will receive training from God’s servants,
I will rejoice in every situation,
I will pray for others, that they may grow!

Hope in the Scriptures - Pr. Antonio Nasser - Maple Ridge, Jan, 18th, 09

2009-01-20T10:13:00.000-08:00

4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Romans 15:4 (NIV)

1. TEACH
“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, …”
Teach = (greek) Didaskalia = “teaching, instruction, doctrine, precepts”.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2. ENDURANCE
“…so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures…”
endurance = (greek) hypomone = a remaining behind, a patient enduring.
Romans 5:3 (NIV)
3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance (hypomone);

3. ENCOURAGEMENT
encouragement = (greek) paraklesis comfort, consolation, exhortation (to call near)
2 Corinthians 1:3 (NIV)
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort (paraklesis),
God is the Source of all Endurance and Encouragement
Romans 15:5 (NIV) 5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus,

4. HOPE
Rom 15:4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see”.
God is our Hope
Psalm 71:5 (NKJV) 5 For You are my hope, O Lord God; You are my trust from my youth.

God is the Hope of a Nation
Jeremiah 17:13 (NKJV) 13 O Lord, the hope of Israel, All who forsake You shall be ashamed. "Those who depart from Me Shall be written in the earth, Because they have forsaken the Lord, The fountain of living waters."

God's Word is our Hope
Psalm 130:5 (NKJV) 5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope.

Hope leads us to a strong life
Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV) 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.

YOU Shall Receive Power - Pr. Brent Cantelon - January 11th, 09

2009-01-12T13:17:00.000-08:00

Acts 1:8
The Holy Spirit:
• He is for TODAY
• Everyone who believes in Jesus is eligible to receive His power
• He transforms us – we experience His power
• He changes us – we become witnesses of His “mighty power”

YOU SHALL: Promise for everyone

RECEIVE: Take, get a hold of – active faith of receiving – requires an action.

POWER: Might, strength, ability, supernatural acts, force.
Mark 16: 17, 18, Acts 1:8, Acts 3:12, Acts 4:7, Acts 4:33, Acts 6:8

You shall receive power – as you obey the commission and commands of Jesus.We are given power to display the Glory of God to be His witnesses.
James 3 – the tongue is untamableThe Holy Spirit chose to bring the tongue under submission to God
Witness: Somebody who gives evidence after seeing or hearing something.Someone who testifies to his or her strong Christian beliefs.
Jesus' promise is to equip us to witness for Him.
Luke 24: Jesus will clothe you in powerMatthew 24:14 Preach in all the world
What keeps us from witnessing? Isaiah 44:8
• Fear
• Lack of knowledge
• Unworthiness – sin in our lives, our testimony is stained
• Outdated relationship with the person of the Holy Spirit
• Becoming religious, instead of powerful in the Holy Spirit

God wants a community that, like Jesus, get's caught up in the transformation of the worldThe Holy Spirit is for today, and for everyone who knows Jesus
Perhaps we have consumed the power on ourselves and missed the point? The power of the Holy Spirit is not so that we can feel good - it's for winning the world. “You shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth", this call is for out of the church, not in the church. The power of the Holy Spirit is not for successful living, it's to be a witness of Jesus. We have spent this power on ourselves.
We have received a measure of the Holy Spirit but we are not experiencing His power because

His power brings:
• Harvest of souls
• Healing of sick bodies
• Authority over powers and principalities
The day of Pentecost was a launching of the gospel!
Matt. 24:14, Luke 4:14, Isaiah 61:1

Ministry Time
1. Can you say I want His power in my life?
2. Cry out to God for new power.
3. Receive the power of the Holy Spirit.
4. Be His witness to this world in 2009.

The Holy Spirit's Series IV - Prayer Meeting January 2009

2009-01-12T11:03:00.000-08:00

The Spiritual Gifts: Serving the Lord with perfect tools

1 Corinthians 12:1-13
I. The Body of Christ
1.People Saved, People adopted! – v.3,13
3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.
13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

2. Unity and Diversity – v.12, 27
12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

3.One Spiritual Gift to each one (at least) – v. 7
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

II. Spiritual Gifts
1. Under direction of the Trinity – v. 4-6,11

Charismata = gifts - Spirit
Diakonia = ministry - Lord
Energemata = operations - God

2. For the common good of the Body – v.7
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

3. Must be eagerly desired – v.31
31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.

The Holy Spirit's Series III - Prayer Meeting January 2009

2009-01-12T10:22:00.000-08:00

Filled with the Holy Spirit: Living according God’s will

Ephesians 5:17-21

The will of the Lord is that everyone:

Be convinced by the Holy Spirit – Regarding sin, righteousness and judgment
Be saved – Marked with the seal of promise
Be baptized in water – Obedience
Be baptized with (in) the Holy Spirit – Power to serve
Be filled with the Holy Spirit – Way of life

1. The Power of the Words

Comparing drunk people and people filled with the Holy Spirit, according to Ephesians 5:18

Drunk People:

Speak foolishness
Speak despising people
Speak complaining
Speak with no respect or fear

People filled with the Holy Spirit

Speak wisely
Speak valuing people
Speak with a grateful heart
Speak with the Fear of the Lord

Read for the Power of the Words: Psalm 34:12,13; Proverbes 18:21

2. The Power of the Testimony - Boldness

Acts 4:29, 31 "... and they spoke the word of God with boldness".

3. The Power of Signs and Wonders

Acts 4:30 - “… by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus."
Romans 15:18-19 - 18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient--
19 in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the SPIRIT OF GOD, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

4. The Power of Joy

Acts 13:52 (NKJV) - 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

JOY– (ancient hebrew): “A uniting together in joy”.
We are ONE with GOD, through JESUS, sealed with the HOLY SPIRIT.

The Holy Spirit's Series II - Prayer Meeting January 2009

2009-01-11T10:06:00.000-08:00

THE BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

Acts 1:5
“For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Water Baptism = Repentance

Baptism with the Holy Spirit = Power to Serve

The process to receive the Baptism with the Holy Spirit
1.Repentance from sin
2.A definite experience of salvation
3.Water baptism
4.A deep conviction of need
5.A measure of consecration

“The baptism with the Holy Ghost is a definite experience subsequent to salvation whereby the third person of the Godhead comes upon the believer to anoint and energize him for special service. This experience is designated in the New Testament as the Spirit "falling upon," "coming upon," or being "poured out upon" the yielded believer in a sudden and supernatural manner”. (Foundations of Pentecostal Theology)

The Evidences

the first evidence is speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance (Acts 2:4)
praise to God (Acts 2:11; 2:47; 10:46),
an overflowing joy (Acts 2:46),
a deep burden and desire to preach or testify about Jesus (Acts 1:8; 2:14-18; 19:6).

Speaking in tongues

1."To speak" is more than simple communication. It is the expression of the bottom of our hearts.
Matthew 12:34 (NKJV) 34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

2.The tongue is a little member of the body, but can control the whole body.
James 3:5 (NKJV) 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!

3.No man can tame the tongue!
James 3:8 (NKJV) 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

4.If the tongue is controlled, so is the body.
James 3:2 (NKJV) 2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.

Holy Spirit's Power & To Speak: In many places we can see the connection between the Holy Spirit’s action and “the tongue” (speaking), as the evidence:
Ephesians 5:18-19 (NKJV) And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

1 Corinthians 2:4 (NKJV) 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

2 Corinthians 4:13 (NKJV) 13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak,

The Baptism with the Holy Spirit & Speaking in other tongues

Acts 2:4 (NKJV) 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 8:17-18 (NKJV) 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,
Acts 10:44, 46 (NKJV) 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered,
Acts 19:6 (NKJV) 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

The Holy Spirit's Series I - Prayer Meeting January 2009

2009-01-11T09:56:00.000-08:00

THE ASSURANCE

Ephesians 1:13-14

1. Hear the Word of Truth

“…after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation…”
a) Truth = alētheia
“a” (negative) + “lanthanō” = often used adverb unwittingly :- be hid, be ignorant of, unawares.
So, the “Word of Truth” opens minds, shines in the darkness of ignorance, enlightens us.

b) Gospel = euangelion
“eu” (good) + “angelo” = messenger
“angelo” = “ago” (to lead ) + “agelo” (herd, drove)
So, the Gospel leads us, as God’s flock, to a good pasture.

John 16:8 (NKJV)
8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Convict: confute (prove to be false), rebuke, reprove, convince

Sin: to miss the mark

Righteousness: (lit. to lift high), right, justice, holy

Judgment: (lit. A city that is covered over and made into a mound).
decision; by extension a tribunal; by implication justice (specially divine law) :- accusation, condemnation, damnation, judgment.

2. Believe, trust
To the ancient people, faith is not a “feeling” or a “systematic doctrine”.
"Faith comes from the root of “the blood continues”. Each species (kind) continues by passing its blood to the following generation, which comes from the parent. Also the idea of strength through the blood. To stand firm as a support". (The Ancient Hebrew Language and Alphabet)

We stand firm in the Word of God that opens our eyes, that leads us to a good pasture.
We stand firm in the Gospel, because we know that God is behind it.
It is God’s good news!
It is hope and solution!

Romans 1:16 (NIV)
16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
Back to Ephesians

Ephesians 1:14 “…you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise”
Sealed = ownership.
We belong to God!
“…who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory”.
Until coming to heaven, we have the guarantee of property in our hearts.
The Holy Spirit reveals that we no longer belong to us or to this world.
Therefore...

Ephesians 4:30-31 (NKJV) 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.

New Year, New Purposes - Pr. Antonio Nasser - MR - Dec 28th,08

2008-12-28T20:05:00.000-08:00

Read Isaiah 46:10,11
See the parallelism in each verse:

I make known the end from the beginning,
from ancient times, what is still to come.
(beginning) (end)

I say: My purpose will stand, and
I will do all that I please.
(will stand) (purpose)

From the east I summon a bird of prey;
from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.
(east) (bird of prey)

What I have said, that will I bring about;
what I have planned, that will I do.
(I have said) (I will bring about)

Two Statements:
I.He Makes Known the End from the Beginning
II.His Purpose (what pleases HIM) will be fulfilled

I.He Makes Known the End from the Beginning
The Scripture has God Himself as its anchor:
John 10:35 “…and (said Jesus) the Scripture cannot be broken…”
Matthew 22:29 "Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God".

a) To know the Scriptures
to know (Greek) = see, perceive, understand
1.Read the Bible = OBSERVE
2.Meditate on the verses = INTERPRET
3.Practice the Bible = APPLY

b) To know the power of God
power (Greek) = dynamis = ability, power, abundance, might
God is the Almighty – He will fulfill every word of the Scripture

II.His Purpose (what pleases HIM) will be fulfilled - Isaiah 46:11
...a bird of prey = CYRUS the King of Persia

The ensign of Cyrus was a golden eagle.

Isaiah 44:28 (NIV) "who says of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please; he will say of Jerusalem, "Let it be rebuilt," and of the temple, "Let its foundations be laid."'

Let’s listen the King Cyrus: Ezra 1:2-4

The Purpose of God is something that pleases HIM.

What does not please God

Romans 8:8 (NIV)
Galatians 1:10 (NIV)
Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

What does please God

1 Thessalonians 4:1-4 (NIV)
Colossians 1:10-14 (NIV)

So...

1.Do not be controlled by sinful nature
2.Do not try to please men to serve God
3.Do not be an unbeliever

Instead of this...

1.Be sanctified
2.Avoid sexual immorality
3.Control your body
4.Bear fruit in good work
5.Grow in the knowledge of God
6.Be strengthened in His Power
7.Be patience
8.Be happy in the Lord
9.Give thanks to the Father
10.Enjoy living without sin

The Promised Love - Pr. Antonio Nasser - MR - Dec, 21st,08

2008-12-25T16:09:00.000-08:00

“I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please”. Isaiah 46:10

Read: John 1:1-5; 9-14; 18

The end from the beginning
“In the beginning GOD (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth”. Genesis 1:1
“He also says, "In the beginning, O Lord (Kyrios), you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands”. Hebrews 1:10

Elohim presents the Trinity: The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit.
JESUS, the Son, is presented as the Kyrios in many texts of the NT. He is the LORD, it means, GOD!
Jesus is ONE with ELOHIM
18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known. John 1:18

Since the beginning God is presenting HIS Will... The power of the WORD of GOD - Ge 5
Meaning of the names of Adam's line:
ADAM - Man
SETH - Appointed/Set in place
ENOSH - mortal
KENAN - Dwelling place/Nest
MAHALEL - Praise of God/Light of God
JARED - Comes down
ENOCH - Dedicate
METHUSELAH - Man of a dart/Purpose
LAMECH - Despair/Powerful
NOAH - Comfort

Putting all together we have something like:
“Man set place as mortal, will dwell as light of God, will come down, dedicated, man of a dart (purpose), powerful, will comfort people”.
Clearly this statement is about Jesus! What a powerful message since the beginning...

JESUS THE WORD: CREATOR
John 1:1-3; Hebrews 1:1,2

JESUS THE WORD: LIGHT
John 1:4-5;9; John 8:12

JESUS THE WORD: TABERNACLE
John 1:14 - dwelled is (in Greek) tabernacled

JESUS THE WORD: A GIFT TO THE WORLD
John 1:11,12

Blood Covenant II - Pr. Antonio Nasser - Maple Ridge Dec, 14th,08

2008-12-16T10:01:00.000-08:00

Read Matthew 1:18-23

The Promise of a Descendant - Galatians 3:16 (just to memorize, remember John 3:16)

God promised a son to Abraham

God promised HIS son to the world

The promised son should be sacrificied

Ge 22:2,12-13

Leviticus 17:11 and Hebrew 9:22

Jesus talks about His sacrifice - John 6:53-57 - Memorial Meal

compare to 1 Corinthians 11:23-25

Jesus sacrificed - 1John 1:7,9

Exchanging Names

Jesus calls himself as the Son of Man - Matthew 16:13-17

We are called children of God! - 1John 3:1

Responsabilities

2Corinthians 5:14-15

Jesus part is: "he died for all"

Our part is: "no longer live for themselves but for him"

The people of the New Covenant (Church), overcome the devil: Revelation 12:10,11

Questions:

1. What does it mean to live for him? Jesus said he lived for the Father.

2. How can we improve our spiritual quality of life knowing about the New Covenant?

Blood Covenant I - Pr. Antonio Nasser, Dec, 7th,08- Maple Ridge

2008-12-08T10:07:00.000-08:00

Leviticus 17:11
“For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life”.
Hebrews 9:22
In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

THE BLOOD COVENANT WITH ABRAM - Genesis 15 & 17
Read Ge 15:1-18

“COVENANT is a contract or agreement between two parties. In the Old Testament the Hebrew word ‘berith’ is always thus translated.
‘Berith’ is derived from a root which means "to cut," and hence a covenant is a "cutting," with reference to the cutting or dividing of animals into two parts, and the contracting parties passing between them, in making a covenant”. (Easton’s Illustrated Dictionary)

Some Aspects of this Covenant
1.Promises
2.Responsibilities
3.Names
4.Protection
5.Obedience

1. PROMISES
Genesis 15:5
5 He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars-- if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be."
Genesis 17:4
17:4 "As for me, this is my COVENANT with you: You will be the father of many nations.
Genesis 17:7
7 He also said to him, "I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it."

2. RESPONSIBILITIES
BLESSINGS AND CURSES
Jeremiah 34:18
18 “The men who have violated my covenant and have not fulfilled the terms of the covenant they made before me, I will treat like the calf they cut in two and then walked between two pieces”.
GOD'S PART: Genesis 17.4,9
4 "As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations.
ABRAM'S PART
Genesis 17.4,9
9 "As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come.

3. NAMES
Ge 17:5-7
5 No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.
ELOHIM
“The word (El) was the name of the prominent Canaanite god, whose name was either derived of or became the common word for god in general. The plural of this word is ELIM = gods.
With the addition of the letter HEH , creating the word ELOHIM, the Hebrews not only stated essential monotheism (by naming a single God after the plural word "gods") but also marked their God as theirs: ELOHIM”. (Hoffman, Joel M., Ph.D. “In the Beginning: A Short History of the Hebrew Language”)

ELOHIM gave to Abram part of HIS own name (the letter heh). Also, we see the verb "brh" (Barah) emerging in the heart of the new name: ABRAHAM.
Barah is the root verb of BERITH: covenant.

Abraham is a "father of a multitude", but he has in his own name God’s covenant, bringing to everyone the heart of his new life: He belongs to God!

At the other side...
Ge 17:7 : I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

4. PROTECTION
Ge 15:1 “After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram.
I am your shield, your very great reward."

5. OBEDIENCE

Genesis 17:10,23
10 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised.
23 On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or bought with his money, every male in his household, and circumcised them, as God told him.

Read 1Peter 1:18-25 - The Precious Blood of Christ.

Pray for Me - Pr. Brent Cantelon - Nov, 30th, 08

2008-12-01T14:57:00.000-08:00

read Psalm 37: 1-8

1. Do not fret because of evil doers.
2. Trust in the Lord.
3. Delight yourself in the Lord – He will give you the desires of your heart.
4. Commit your way to the Lord – make a decision to go God’s way.
5. Rest in the Lord – wait patiently.
‘Do not fret’ – 3 times this is mentioned.

Change a Nation III – Pray for MeText: Ephesians 6: 10-20
We need to be aware of:
I) The wiles of the devil - cunning behavior meant to trick
Be strong in the Lord.Put on the whole armour of God.Read the following scriptures and identify the “wiles of the devil”.Mark 8:33 , Luke 4:6 , 1 Cor. 7:5, II Cor. 11:3 2 Thess. 2:9 , Rev. 12:9 , Rev. 20:7Note: one of the wiles is to corrupt us from the simplicity that is in Christ.

II) We need a spiritual reality check Ephes. 6: 12,13There is a spiritual enemy who is intent on destroying us

III) We must pray – pray always – all kinds of prayersand supplication in the Holy SpiritPrayer has been the beginning of every great moveof God so take hold of Heaven and prayIV) Pray for me too! The Apostle Paul says, 'pray that Imight be bold'. He not asking, “release me from prison”but for boldness to proclaim the Gospel. He knew therewould be consequences, so that’s why he asked for boldness.

MINISTRY TIME
1. Read Ephesians. 6:19,20b out loud together and hear your ownvoice asking for boldness and pray for me, that utterance maybe given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make knownthe mystery of the gospel, that in it I may speak BOLDLY,as I ought to speak.
2. Pray for one another that you might have boldness and be able tospeak the words that are within you and see people come to Christ.

Power to Serve - Pr. Antonio Nasser - Nov, 16th, 08 - Maple Ridge

2008-11-18T02:51:00.000-08:00

Read:
Luke 24:45-49
45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
46 He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,
47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48 You are witnesses of these things.
49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."

Acts 1:5; 2:1-4

1:5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

1. The Promise: Acts 1:5
2. God's will: Luke 24:47,48

How to preach the Gospel in all the world?
The Purpose of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit is to have Power to Serve: Acts 1:8
Power: Greek dynamis = force, strenght, miraculous power

JESUS CHRIST WAS ANOINTED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
Luke 4:18,19; Acts 10:38

THE DISCIPLES WERE ANOINTED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
See Peter in Acts 2:36-38

-> Jesus gave them power: Matthew 10:1

For whom is the Baptism with the Holy Spirit?

“The baptism with the Holy Spirit is for all, in all ages, who believe on Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and are children of God through Him. It is intended to be the normal divine provision for a fully adequate Christian work and witness, available to all believers of all stations, all times, all races, and all callings”.
Foundations of Pentecostal Theology.

John 7:37,38 - Are you thirsty?

Small Group

1. Pray and pray. Give to everybody opportunity to pray and receive the Baptism with the Holy Spirit

2. Have in your meeting room for prayer ...

Pursue God's Purpose - Pr. Antonio Nasser - Nov, 9th,2008 - Maple Ridge

2008-11-10T09:39:00.000-08:00

Read Isaiah 59:1,2,16,21
Introduction:

What is the Best Place in the World to live?
Is it Maple Ridge? Is it British Columbia? Is it Canada?

The best place in the world to live is where you have a purpose to accomplish!

I. Three Statements about God's Purpose
1. God wants me to see what is happening around me. = Attention!
2. God wants me to be appalled with the lack of good men intervening/interceding. = Indignation!
3. God wants me to work hard to change the situation, through HIS Power. = Action!

1. LOOK AROUND
In the way to accomplish what God wants me to do we find SINS...
-> Look Isaiah 59:1,2 then read all verses of the chapter 59

59:12 For our offenses are many in your sight, and our sins testify against us. Our offenses are ever with us, and we acknowledge our iniquities: 13 rebellion and treachery against the Lord, turning our backs on our God, fomenting oppression and revolt, uttering lies our hearts have conceived.

2. BE APPALLED
From a secular music:
“If you don't mind why don't you mind? Where is your sense of indignation?” (from "No One Will Ever Love You" - Magnectic Fields)
Indignation means: “strong displeasure at something considered unjust, offensive, insulting”. As verse 12 says: "For our offenses are many in your sight"

3. WORK HARD
a) With your Bible Reading.
It is not only to know some verses or stories of the Bible, but to apply each principle in your life and family. We will love what God loves. We will hate what God hates...
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (MSG)
4 Attention, Israel! God, our God! God the one and only!
5 Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that's in you, love him with all you've got! 6 Write these commandments that I've given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you 7 and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. 8 Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; 9 inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates.

b) With your Commitment - Small Groups
How can you survive with only 30 minutes of preaching a week (if you go to the Church...)?

Acts 20:20 “You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house”.

Acts 20:24 “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me –the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace”.

Conclusion
The God's promise: Isa 59:21

21 "As for me, this is my covenant with them, says the LORD; My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever, says the Lord”.

Questions:
1. Are you applying God's Principles in your life?
2. Are you a Christ centred person? Family?
3. How to improve your time with the Bible?

When There Is A Stirring” – Series - Part 4 “See That You Are Not Troubled” - Pr. Brent Cantelon - Nov, 2nd, 08

2008-11-05T16:57:00.000-08:00

Text: Matthew 24:4 – 14; Mark 13:10
Many times in history this passage of scripture, in which Jesus highlighted the conditions of the time of His second coming, has been relevant to that era. This scripture has a “now ... and not yet” sense about it. Therefore, these verses are very current to our day. We are living in an unusual time of turmoil and uncertainty. Usually people will respond with fear, anxiety, paralysis (stopping what they are doing), suspicion, and even blaming others. Jesus said that in the middle of all the turmoil “see that you are not troubled.”
In Luke 24:36 – 39 Jesus appeared to the disciples after He had risen from the dead. They were terrified. He questioned their fear when He was present with them. If we are fearful is it because we do not value His presence with us? Or maybe we fail to realize that Christians can experience trouble and even persecution. How is our “spiritual composure” during trying times? Spiritual composure comes from our confidence in God’s promises for us. We also realize that heaven will be better than this life. We are of great value to God. If we have been unwise in our decisions and actions (i.e. – motivated by greed) the pattern of scripture is to repent, turn to God, obey Him, and trust in Him. If we have financial trouble and are in a hole, stop digging. If we are filled with anxiety, we need to trust God and begin to worship Him.

Two principles for coping with difficult times:
1. See that you are not troubled.
2. Take the opportunities we have NOW.
Preach the Gospel of the Kingdom. We are in a season of spiritual opportunity brought about by instability and insecurity in the world. When the props of independence are removed, people often ask questions. It is time for “active cooperation with God in the redemption of society at every level.” (Michael Green)
2 Peter 3:1 – 14 states that the return of Jesus is being delayed because of God’s patience.
Return to the Lord and become pure and holy. We must examine ourselves.Reconcile marriages. Whenever a marriage fails there will be spiritual fall out.Live the faith principles of a disciple of Christ: being convinced of the truth by reading His Word, and surrendering our finances as we offer our tithes.Build healthy relationships with Christians by being in a small group.Invite people to hear our story, to join us at church, etc.

Discussion Points

Are you ready for the End Times?
How’s your prayer life?
Are you a witness of Jesus?
Do you regularly study the Word?
Do you walk in the Spirit daily?

After the Miracle - Pr. Antonio Nasser - Oct 26th, 08

2008-10-27T11:12:00.000-07:00

Read Luke 13:10-17

1. A woman clippled by a spirit was bent over for 18 years
2. She was at the Synagogue on a Sabbath
3. Jesus saw her
4. Jesus called her and set her free from her infirmity
5. She is now a new woman!

- What now, lady? How will you live your miracle, after being touched by God’s Power?
Now she had to adjust her life style and everything around her. She can now straights up but her things at home are adjusted for when she was bent over.

Ephesians 5:8-10

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.
9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness (agathōsynē), righteousness (dikaiosynē) and truth (alētheia) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord.

1. Goodness

Greek = agathōsynē (agathos – good) = uprightness of heart and life, goodness, kindness -

UPRIGHT - a. Being in a vertical position or direction; b. Erect in posture or carriage
Look, it is like the woman...

2. Righteousness

Greek = dikaiosynē
a) the doctrine concerning the way in which man may attain a state approved of God
b) integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking, feeling, and acting

3. Truth

Greek = alētheia = what is true in things appertaining to God and the duties of man, moral and religious truth

So... Get rid of all sin - Romans 13:11-13 (GW)
11 You know the times {in which we are living}. It's time for you to wake up. Our salvation is nearer now than when we first became believers. 12 The night is almost over, and the day is near. So we should get rid of the things that belong to the dark and take up the weapons that belong to the light. 13 We should live decently, as people who live in the light of day. Wild parties, drunkenness, sexual immorality, promiscuity, rivalry, and jealousy cannot be part of our lives.

Remember:

1. The invalid man (for 38 year...) John 5:14.
“Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.”

2. The adulterous woman - John 8:10,11
“Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
“No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

What does please the Lord our God?

HOLINESS!!

Suggestion for your small group

- Go deep in GOODNESS, RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUTH, and how do these values apply to our lives.

Passion for Souls - Pr. Antonio Nasser - Oct, 19th, 08

2008-10-20T15:17:00.000-07:00

Read: Romans 1:14-17
Introduction:
The Modern Church's Statements:
1.Evangelism is a specific ministry of the Church… It is not for everyone.
2.We are so busy nowadays that we became reluctant to spread the Gospel.
3.To be honest, we are ashamed of the Gospel. We don’t know people’s reaction if we confront them with the Good News.

Paul's Statement
1. I am obligated - v.14
2. I am eager - v. 15
3. I am not ashamed - v.17

The Gospel is a power to experience!

Once saved by Jesus Christ, we just know that there is power in God to save others through the Gospel

We are debtors to the world because Jesus Christ has entrusted us with the Gospel for them.

II- The Gospel is God’s power for salvation

The Gospel is a power to experience!

Once saved by Jesus Christ, we just know that there is power in God to save others through the Gospel

III - The Gospel reveals God’s righteousness

The reason the Gospel is God’s saving power is that in it God’s righteousness is revealed!

The Righteousness of God

1. God is a righteousness God - Divine Attribute
2. God comes to our rescue - Divine Activity
3. God gives us the new status – righteous! - Divine Achievement

“The righteous will live by faith.”

1. Rom 3:10 – “There is no one righteous, not even one”.
2. Rom3:23 - “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
3. Rom 3:22 – “The righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe”.

•God’s Righteousness is a gift – Ro 5:17
•Once reconciled to GOD, we became the Righteousness of GOD - 2Co 5:21

Questions
How can we hide this fantastic news from people around us?
How can we be ashamed of the Gospel, if it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes? Jesus died for us... What have we done for HIM?

1. Ask people of your smal group about ways to share the Gospel.

2. How can we invite more people to our small group and talk to them about the Gospel?

Series:“When There Is a Stirring” - Part III - Pastor Brent Cantelon

2008-10-19T18:30:00.000-07:00

The Soon Return of Christ
The Second Coming is mentioned repeatedly in the Scripture; over 50 times by Jesus Himself. It is important for us as believers to be reminded often of the Second Coming for a number of reasons:
1) Readiness – Jesus called His people to be ready for His return
Matt 24:17 and following
Luk 12:35 and following
He likens His return to the days of Noah – they were unaware of what was soon to come in the flood.
Luke 12 speaks of the servants watching for the Master’s return with their lamps burning.
There will be a reward from the Master if the servant has been faithful in this.
2) Motivation – Rev 22 says that He is coming quickly. It will be SUDDEN.

An understanding of the imminent Second Coming motivates us towards a sense of:
a) Holiness in our behavior – Titus 2:11-13
b) Urgency in sharing the Gospel

Near the time of the Second Coming the Bible speaks of a great ingathering of the harvest.
2 Tim 4:8 "Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing."
Many Christians have started to believe that this world is better than the next. Instead, let us long for His appearing.
What, therefore, should we do as we wait for His Coming?
a) ‘Take heed to yourselves lest your heart be weighed down by drunkenness, carousing, and the cares of this life”. Luke 21
b) Build yourselves up in your faith and WATCH and PRAY always.
c) Pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God. Jude 1:20
d) Do not isolate yourselves but encourage one another as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24
e) Abide in Him.1 John 2:28, John 15
f) Use your talents and gifts for His Kingdom. Luke 19: 15

Discussion:
1) Do you love His Coming?
2) What areas can you identify in your life that need to be consecrated to God in holiness?
3) Take inventory of how you are living today. What changes are you prepared to make?
5) How can you become more active in sharing the love of Jesus with others?
6) Watch and be ready.

What does the Lord your God ask of you? Pr. Antonio - Oct 12th, 2008

2008-10-16T12:05:00.000-07:00

Read Deut 10:11-22
1. Who is the Lord God?

1.He owns heavens and earth and everything in it. (14)
2.He loves His people (15)
3.He is God of gods and Lord of lords, almighty and awesome (17, 21)
4.He shows no partiality and He accepts no bribes (17).
5.He is the defender of the fatherless and the widow (18)
6.He loves the alien (18).

What does the Lord your God ask of you?

1) Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. (v.16)
“Pride goes before disaster, and a haughty spirit before a fall”. (Proverbs 16:18)

2) And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt. (v.19)
In 2006, over one-quarter of British Columbia’s population were immigrants, and the province continues to receive nearly 40,000 new immigrants each year. Accordingly, the proportion of B.C.’s population made up of immigrants has grown steadily over the past two decades, from 22.0% in 1986 to 27.2% in 2006. Today, immigration is a major component of population growth in B.C. http://www.welcomebc.ca/en/growing_your_community/trends/2006/pdf/regional_immigrant_settlement_in_bc.pdf)

3) Fear the Lord your God, … (v.12)
“Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil”. Proverbs 3:7
“To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech”. Proverbs 8:13

4) Walk in all his ways
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight". Proverbs 3:5,6

5) Love the Lord - Matthews 22:36-40

6) Serve the Lord

"Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing". Psalm 100:2

7) Observe the Lord's commands...

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word”. Psalm 119:9

To discuss with your group
1. In which areas of your life do you need to renew your passion, according to this study?
2. How can we, as a small group, be effective in inviting new people?

Series: “When There Is a Stirring” - FAITH - Pr. Brent Cantelon, Oct 12th, 2008

2008-10-13T13:42:00.000-07:00

In a time of stirring we should act out of faith and not in fear. Text: Mark 4:35 – 41
After calming the storm, when He was with the disciples in a boat, Jesus asked, “How is it that you have no faith?”
How is it that we have no faith? When faith leaves - fear enters. In Hebrews 3:19 we learn that fear and unrest come when we have no faith.
Faith does not mean there is no storm. Jesus spoke to the storm. Faith sees Jesus is with us and one way or another, He will take care of the storm. Faith is confidence that God will act.
A person of faith is not moved from the foundation of Jesus as our anchor. There are two parts to the anchor of faith:
1. Obey what Jesus tells us to do.
In Matthew 7:21 – 27 and in Luke 17: 7 - 10 Jesus emphasized that to increase our faith we must obey Jesus more. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Less of the Word and more of the world will rob us of faith. Jesus said that as we do what He asks, we can expect miraculous results. When there is a stirring we do the works of God – see John 6:28 – 29. We sow seeds of the Gospel Mark 4:26 – 32.We pray more Mark 11:22 – 24.
2. Believe everything will be alright.
The promise of Scripture is that God cares about us more than He cares about the sparrows and lilies. Faith is practical. We have confidence knowing that Jesus is right with us in our circumstance. Through every circumstance everything will be alright.
We must act in faith by obeying and having confidence in God.

Discussion
1) In what areas of my life do I lack faith? Are there areas of fear or uncertainty that I need to lay downbefore the Lord?
2) “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”
How can I strengthen my devotional time?
3) Practice declaring and confessing words of faith to one another
(sowing seeds of faith). Pray with one another in agreement.

Series: “When There Is a Stirring” Part One - Pastor Brent Cantelon - Oct, 5, 2008

2008-10-06T13:37:00.000-07:00

We live in a time of uncertainty. Some people feel we are in a crisis financially, politically, and in relationships. There is a spiritual stirring as well. People are asking spiritual questions. There is an increased desire in authentic worship of God.
The devil realizes there is this stirring and thus he stirs up wickedness. Jesus told us to be in a state of watchfulness. We must be ready because we don’t know when He will return as He promised.
We grow through cycles of spirituality. But when the spiritual embers start to burn brighter what should we do? God is calling us to a deeper, more intimate place of faith where we have a hunger for God, for His Word, and for His presence.
King Josiah’s story is one of spiritual stirring
He became king at 8 years of age. He surrounded himself with wise counsel.
At 16 years old he commissioned the restoration of the Temple. One of the priests found the Book of the Law. He read it and then took it to the King and read it to him.
The result was revival in Israel. Josiah is identified as the one king in Israel who completed the call to revival.Text: 2 Kings 23 Five steps that brought revival in King Josiah’s day that we can follow:
1. He removed from the house of God anything that did not belong – impurity, false worship, pride, and unforgiveness. When we come to the house of God we come to honor God and bring our lives as a sacrifice.
2. He removed idolatrous priests – the voice of the godless in our lives; those who mock God and blaspheme His Name. Whose voices are we listening to in the media, etc.?
3. He removed the high places – secret places that we indulge in our lives like the rich young ruler who wanted to hold onto his money. What is the one thing that keeps us from following Jesus? An ungodly relationship? A hurt? A 'harmless' sin?
4. He restored worship of God in a passionate, historic way – doing the things we once did in our hunger for God. “There was never a Passover like this before or since.”
5. He gave whole-hearted, total worship to God – worshipping God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:29 – 31)

Discussion Questions
Do I love the Lord?
Have I covenanted to be faithful to Him as my one and only?
Are we willing to follow King Josiah’s example?
Are you willing to come back to the Word and obey it like Josiah?

Forgiveness - Pr. Antonio Nasser - Sep, 21st, 2008

2008-09-22T09:16:00.000-07:00

To start our conversation about forgiveness, let's quote Mahatma Gandhi: “If we practice an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, soon the whole world will be blind and toothless”. And also:
“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong”.
JESUS CHRIST said: “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins”. Mark 11:25
Let's read also Matthew 6:9-15 and find what Jesus said about forgiveness.
The Greek = aphiēmi
1) to send away
2) to permit, allow, not to hinder, to give up a thing to a person
3) to leave, go way from one

1.God is the initiator of forgiveness (Col. 2:13,14)
13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,
14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.

2. God completely forgives sins. God remembers our sins no more (Heb. 10:16,17).
16 “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”
17 Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”

3. For man to receive forgiveness, repentance is necessary (Acts 2:37,38).
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

4. Forgiveness is based upon the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13)
Eph 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Col 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Honesty Before God - Pastor Brent Cantelon - September 14th 2008 - Langley

2008-09-15T15:27:00.000-07:00

What is truth? John 18:38 Philippians 4:8 & 9
Truth of God’s Word - Psalm 119: 9 & 105 God’s Word is our anchor – it has stood the test of timeJesus words in John 14:6 – Jesus is The TruthIf we know The Truth (Jesus) The Truth will set us freeJames 1:16-18, Romans 3: 3,4, 1 John 1:5
How the mighty have fallen – it is a processJames 1:13-15, Jeremiah 17: 9-10A sinful act is followed by a lie to cover up the sin.If we confess our sin – He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from “EVERY WRONG”
Honesty with one another Honesty with one another must be accompanied with the fruit of the Spirit – characterGalatians 5: 22.23 – Love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, kindnessLeviticus 19: 11-18, Ephesians 4:25, Philippians 4:7,8 Practice these statements together:
I was wrong
I’m sorry, it was my fault
I did it
I need help with this
I have made a mistake
I have sinnedWhat God says IS TRUE Other key passages: Psalm 15:3, 1 John 1:16, 1 John 2:3, 1 John 2:21

Ministry Time
1. Open your hearts and allow God to search them
2. Is there something you’ve been covering up?
3. Bring your sins to the light so that the bondage can be broken. There will be consequences,BUT the bleeding will stop.
4. The small group is here to help you through this time.
5. Pray for one another to be honest people.
6. Agree together to be honest and to be accountable to each other.

Spiritual Warfare - Pr. Antonio Nasser - Sep, 14th, 2008

2008-09-15T11:13:00.000-07:00

Read Ephesians 6:10-20
When Paul talks about "His mighty power" on verse 10, we can compare with Ephesians 1:19-21 and find: Jesus' power is far above rulers, authorities, powers, dominion, power of the dark world, spiritual forces of evil or every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come!

The devil's schemes (from Greek methodeia) mean: cunning arts, deceit, trickery. Every evil attack like lies, unrigteousness, blindness, incredulity, perdition, earthly and unspiritual wisdom.

So, we need the ARMOR OF GOD: our protection and hope in the battle.

1.Belt of truth

2.Breastplate of righteousness

3.Feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

4.Shield of faith

5.Helmet of salvation

6.Sword of the Spirit

1. TRUTH – John 14:6
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”.

2. RIGHTEOUSNESS - 1Corinthians 1:30
“It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God–that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption”.
Romans 3:21-22
“21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. …
Here an important teaching from the Bible to us: We must come to God in prayer through Jesus Christ. All our prayers must be in Jesus' Name. See John 14:12-14 & John 16:22-28

3. GOSPEL OF PEACE – Romans 1:1-3
“1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God–
2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures
3 regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David”.

4. FAITH – 1 Peter 5:8,9
“8 Be self‑controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings”.

5. SALVATION - 2 Timothy 2:10
“10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory”.

6. WORD OF GOD - Revelation 19:11-16

Questions for your SMALL GROUP
1. The armor of God is related to JESUS. How can we wear this armor every day?
2. What kind of attacks you are facing in your life?
3. Our prayer is in JESUS' NAME. So let's pray right now and resist to the devil!

Humility (Before God) – Pastor Brent Cantelon - Sep, 7th, 2008

2008-09-08T14:00:00.000-07:00

What do we need to do to change our lives? Pursue humility.Micah 6:8 , Prov. 16:18 ,
Isaiah 57:15 I refresh the humble and give new courage to those with repentant hearts.

Pride: leads to destruction 1Peter 5:5 , Prov. 16:18

Humility: God will exalt you – Prov. 22:4, 1 Peter 5:6
Define true humility – the core of it - a right view of ourselves before God
a) Humility is a grateful and authentic awareness that life is a gift, created by God and sustained by God’s grace. We can approach God because of Jesus and receive mercy, forgiveness and patience. We are accepted and loved by God – because we are His.
b) We define humility by being totally dependent on God – we cannot do it on our own.
c) We define humility by what we base our opinions, decisions and worldview on. It started in the Garden of Eden – Adam and Eve thought they had a better idea. We must base our opinions on God and His Word. How do we arrive at our opinion on: life after death, church, sexuality, money – where does the information come from that leads us to our conclusions? Humility is tangible – when you come to a place where your views and opinions are not formed apart from God and His Word, that is humility. Ps. 119:105
Psalm 119:9-16 Take inventory, let us examine ourselves before the Lord. To be humble means I have surrendered my thoughts to His for His thoughts are higher than mine.
Doing things to become more humble
1. Jesus took on the form of a servant Philippians 2:5-9
2. Do the will of the Father John 5:30
3. Be of the same mind Romans 12:16
4. Do not be wise in your own opinion Philippians 2: 5-9 (it’s worth reading again)
5. Do not demand your own rights
6. Take the humble position of a slave 1 Peter 5:5
7. Submit and serve one another. Repentance is always an indication of humility – to God and to others. James 4:10, 2Chronicles 7:14, 2Chronicles 34:27, 1Peter 5:6, Isaiah 57:15
Falling down at Jesus' feet is a perfect picture of humbling ourselves. There is no pride left when we are face down in the dirt. When we fall down in humility, HE lifts us up. Our only hope in this world is to have humility.

Ministry Time
Have each member of the group, as they feel comfortable, get down on their knees and just call out to the Lord, laying it all down again - surrendering to HIS Lordship.

SERIES - The authority of Jesus Christ - Mark 1:16-27

2008-08-27T16:11:00.001-07:00

Text: Mark 1:16-27

Jesus always has authority, whether it is calling disciples or releasing people from demons. Throughout His ministry, Jesus shows us that nobody is more powerful than Him!

1. Simon and Andrew, James and John
These men were fishermen called for a noble mission: to be fishers of men. Please pay attention to some aspects of this text:
a) Jesus saw these men. He always sees us: who we are, what we do, and where we are. He also sees our attitudes and work as well as our future.
b) Jesus called them with a definite objective: to become fishers of men. Jesus has a purpose for each one of us. We are not simply lost souls living a religious life! We are called to participate with HIM in His work.
c) They left their nets and followed him. This is immediate obedience! What can we learn from this kind of obedience?

2. Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.
a) Jesus always taught people because teaching is the basis for changing mindsets. Without Bible study we will be led astray by human feelings and worldly theories. Do we truly give value to biblical teaching?
b) The synagogue was the Jewish “church.” While Jesus was there he always changed lives by doing miracles. This is a truth: where Jesus is, there will always be miracles. We must learn to expect miracles in our church, cell groups and prayer meetings. When we pray in the name of Jesus, we will receive His power in and among us. Mark 5:36

3. “Have you come to destroy us?”
a) Praise the Lord! “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work” 1John 3:8
b) The devil cannot keep doing his work when Jesus comes in His power! This is why it is so important to continue to seek Jesus during our cell group meetings, church services, prayer meetings, and Bible readings, etc.
c) Remember: Jesus has all the authority (verses 22 and 27). Christ’s authority is over all things and therefore nothing and no one can win against Him! Matthew 10:1; 28:18

His Love Compels Us - Pastor Brent Cantelon

2008-08-20T09:09:00.000-07:00

All week the young men of our church and others have been praying during the 7 days of Hunger and this message has come out of that praying and seeking God.
2 Corinthian 5: 14 Whatever we do, it is because Christ's love controls us. (urges us on) Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live. (NLT) 15and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. (NKJV)
What does it mean to live for Him?
Before Jesus - I lived for me.
Now I live for Him - not for me.
Here is the thing that has to change - this is the crisis:
Not many people are coming to Jesus here in the Fraser Valley and in Canada - not enough for the spiritual climate to change.
The Bible says that we do not have life unless we are Born Again. 2 Cor. 5:14,15 Live no longer for myself but for Him. Live to please Him. 2 Cor. 5: 9, 10
We cannot add Jesus to our benefits in this life. Jesus compels us to live for Him.
Without Christ - We are NOT ALIVE, we are dead.
Rom 1: 16, 17 I am not ashamed of this gospel....
If our perspective is that it is all about us then we are going to be disappointed somewhere along the way and disillusioned with God because things are not always going to go our way.
Compelled - the love of Jesus has got a hold of me and it won't let me go. I cannot escape God's love. It's not about duty or guilt - but His love compels me.
What can we do about this - What is the call?
TODAY! I want to die to myself! God help me to die. I want to be crucified with Jesus.
Ministry Time
Go over 2 Cor. 5: 14, 15 Encourage your cell to break it down, to memorize it, to live it. Pray that God will help us to die today, and everyday, and live for God and for His purposes.

Satisfied - Pr. Brent Cantelon - August 10, 2008

2008-08-14T15:44:00.000-07:00

Is it possible to find a place in God where we are filled, full, not striving, not driven by desires and ambitions that have no end where we are at peace in God?
Ask yourself the question, "Am I truly satisfied?"
It's not a simple question. You might say... "I have enough to eat, I have a roof over my head, I have a good job....I'm satisfied...I guess"
Does your life show, you are satisfied? Does your speech say, "I am satisfied?"
What do you do with your time, what consumes you?
What fills your thought life? Phil. 4:11-13
What is the secret to complete satisfaction? Your reliance upon God. Christ strengthening you. God being your provision. Isaiah 31:1,3
The one who is helping (if it is not God) and the one who is being helped will both fall down. There is no satisfaction if God is not the one we seek
Where are you looking for your help?? With our mouths we may say "God" but our behavior is what needs to be evaluated. Ecc. 14:13,14
Living for yourself under the guise of Christianity, living for sin, living for the things of this world will never satisfy because it will never be enough. The more we obtain, the more we crave.
Steps to God's Satisfaction
A) Reconcile with God - the creator
B) Walk His way - obedience
C) Align with His purposes, His call on your life
As a result of doing things God's way I have the promise that the satisfaction of God WILL fill my life. Mathew 5:6 ,Prov. 14:14, Prov. 19:23
Ministry Time
Ask God to give you the strength to stop what is not satisfying you in your life (habits, routines)Repent - Live through Christ's promises John 6:35 and John 4: 13,14Are you satisfied? Is Jesus your everything? Is there evidence that this is true in your everyday life?God is on your side. God wants to satisfy your life.

JESUS: The Light of the World - Pr. Antonio Nasser - August 3rd, 2008

2008-08-06T07:57:00.000-07:00

John 8:12 & 12 Matthew 5:14-16
1. The general state of the world:
John 3:19-21 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
a.1) Evil deeds:
2 Timothy 3:1-5 - 1 "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be
lovers of themselves, lovers of money (greek - philarguros (arguros = silver), boastful (an empty pretender), proud (showing one's self above others), abusive (greek - blasphemos= speaking evil, slanderous, reproachful, railing, abusive), disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love (greek - astorgos = without natural affection, unsociable, inhuman), unforgiving, slanderous (greek -diabolos = prone to slander, slanderous, accusing falsely), without self-control, brutal (greek - anemeros = not tame, savage, fierce), not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous (greek - prodotes = a betrayer, traitor), rash, conceited ( greek - uphoo = to make proud, puff up with pride, render insolent; to be puffed up with haughtiness or pride), lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power.
Have nothing to do with them."

People live in darkness because:
1. They are sinners
2. They love to hide their sins
3. They love the philosophical relativism in this world.
As the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy[1] says: “Relativism is not a single doctrine but a family of views whose common theme is that some central aspect of experience, thought, evaluation, or even reality is somehow relative to something else. For example standards of justification, moral principles or truth are sometimes said to be relative to language, culture, or biological makeup.”

But the truth, in the Bible it is not a doctrine, but a person: John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

The real problem today is that many are not accepting anymore the Bible as the Absolute Word of God. They understand, like the philosophical Relativism preaches, that the truth depends on the culture or time.

a.2) But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." John 3:21
John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

A lot of people are seeking the TRUTH but they are not willing to hear from Jesus and to find the truth through Jesus, like Pilate for instance:

John 18:37-38 37 "You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." 38 "What is truth?" Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him.
Interesting. He didn’t hear from Jesus the answer. What is the truth is the most normal question in this world.

2. Jesus is the Light of the World
Jesus is the light that brings truth to our heart
Jesus is the light that illuminates our path to an abundant life
Jesus is the light that shines over darkness.

John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

3. We are called to be light of the world
Matthew 5:14-16 4 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

a) Light appears in darkness
Disciples are called to shine in this world. There are no hidden disciples. Someone said: "'There can be no such a thing as secret discipleship - for either the secrecy destroys the discipleship, or the discipleship destroys the secrecy'."
We cannot be like Joseph of Arimathea: John 19:38 8 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews.

b) Light reveals sins
Our life and our testimony proclaim the truth from the Word of God. People around us will feel uncomfortable because the holiness reveals sin.

Ephesians 5:6-11 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

c) Light presents good deeds: the right way to live
Without light we think that some path is correct, but it is not. It seems like it is right, but it is not right. There are no more grays in life when the light comes. There are no more evil deeds in us when JESUS is in our lives. People will see our light:

1 Timothy 5:24 - 6:1 24 The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. 25 In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.

Matthew 5:16 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Our answer today:
1. Do you accept the Bible as the Word of God? If so, you must obey it. We must obey it.
2. Are the people around you aware of your commitment to Jesus? Are you a public disciple?
3. Are you willing to do good deeds to praise the Lord, not to please you?
[1] http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/relativism/

Strong Foundation - Joel Reimer - Cambodia Missionary

2008-08-05T09:15:00.000-07:00

Joel shared that the desire of his heart was not to be a missionary but to be a basketball player and how God had to change his heart and desires toward God and His purposes for his life. Joel asked some pointed questions that we need to ask ourselves.

What is God calling me to do?

Is He changing the direction of my life?
Have I been resisting the Holy Spirit?
You qualify if you know Jesus as your Saviour.
What do you need? A strong foundation. Matthew 7:24-27
Hearing, listening and reading is not good enough. There are tough times in our Ministry walk and we need a strong foundation.

How do we get a strong foundation?

Be doers of the Word and not just hearers - James 1:22After we hear - it's time for action - James 2:26
Faith without works is dead - James 2:26Faith needs to lead to action.
Maybe it is time to re-evaluate the strength of your foundation.
Maybe you built a foundation 30 years ago but along the way stuff happened.
Perhaps there are cracks appearing because of sin. Isaiah 30:13
What is your life built upon? Go back to the basics of your Christian walk.

What steps will lead to a strong foundation?

Pray without ceasing
Pray in the Spirit
Read the Word of God
Obey what the Word of God says
Daily evaluate your foundation
Re-evaluate while the house still stands
It is all or nothing with God - lukewarm is not going to cut it
You have to choose the world or the Word - take your thoughts captive.
Jesus is the Cornerstone of our lives Acts 4:11, 1 Cor. 3:11
You cannot remove Jesus from the picture and expect the house to stand.
Our feelings will lie to us.

Ministry Time
As a group take time now to bow your heads and ask the Lord to re-build the foundation of your faith once again. Renew your commitment to read the scripture and to do what it says. To pray to the Lord and to obey His instruction. Perhaps the Lord is calling you to go on a short term Missions trip. Maybe call the Missions office and inquire about the trips coming up. Make a decision to keep your foundation built on the Lord Jesus - strong and unshakable.

SERIES - The Holy Spirit in Jesus’ life - Pr. Antonio Nasser

2008-08-02T09:46:00.000-07:00

Mark 1:9-15

The Holy Spirit is God! His manifested presence in the Bible began in Genesis 1:2. As soon as Jesus was baptized in water, He received the Anointing, the Holy Spirit’s Power in His life and ministry. This is why Jesus is called “The Christ”, which means, “The anointed One.”

1. Jesus was baptized in water by John.
Jesus was baptized in water so he could identify himself with us, as well as to obey God the Father perfectly. Jesus fulfilled God’s righteousness, which is God’s Will.

2. The Holy Spirit descended on Him
a) Descended... The Holy Spirit came from Heaven; from above! He filled the personhood of Jesus! In the same way, we need to receive His infilling in our lives. We need to think about the important reality of the Holy Spirit in our lives as well as in the Church today.
b) Appearing like a dove, The Holy Spirit was visible to everybody, which confirmed Jesus as the promised Messiah.
c) God’s voice: In this moment we see the Holy Trinity assembled together: The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit.

3. The Spirit sent him out into the desert
a) The Holy Spirit comes to help us fight life’s battles. We receive power to win when we are filled with the Holy Spirit.
b) Jesus was tempted in the desert, but he won! We will also win with Him on our side. John 16:33.
c) You are not alone once you have given your life to Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit will lead you in how to live and be a real Christian today. John 16:13-15.

4. Proclaiming the Good News of God
a) Jesus proclaimed (preached) the Gospel (Good News), and so do I.
b) Jesus announced the Kingdom of God, and so do I. - God’s Kingdom is bigger than the Church and He rules over all.
c) Repent and believe the Good News! This is the message we must take to the world!

JESUS CHRIST: The Obedient Son - Pr. Antonio Nasser July 27th, 2008

2008-07-29T08:51:00.000-07:00

1. Reading Texts
Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 5:8

The disobedience and fall of the Anointed Cherub
Disobedience is not acceptable in Heaven. There are two main texts in the Bible that explain to us about the fall of one cherub becoming the devil (which means accuser in Greek) or Satan (meaning adversary in Hebrew).
Isaiah 14:12-15 & Ezekiel 28:12-18

This enemy influenced the first couple (Adam and Eve) to sin against God and also to do the same he did: Genesis 3:4-5 4 "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. 5 "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

Then sin entered in the world, bringing separation, death!

When Jesus Christ came to Earth he brought exactly the opposite of this evil deed: he brought in His life the perfect OBEDIENCE.

1. JESUS was obedient when he was a child
a. Since his childhood, the boy Jesus was obedient. He demonstrated this being submit to his parents on earth (Joseph and Mary) Luke 2:51-52 1 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. […]. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
b. Also he was obedient to God. In the same text when the boy Jesus was among the teachers, he answered his parents saying: Luke 2:49 49 "Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?"

2. JESUS was obedient when he went to be baptized by John the Baptist.
a. Matthew 3:14-15 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 15 Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness."

3. JESUS was obedient when he was in the desert to be tempted by the devil
a. Obedient to the word of God: Matthew 4:3-4 3 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." 4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
b. Obedient to the Majesty and Authority of the Lord: Luke 4:5-8 5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 So if you worship me, it will all be yours." 8 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'"
c. Obedient to the Power of God and His Will: 9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; 11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" 12 Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

4. JESUS was obedient in His mission
a. He knew exactly what His mission was: John 4:31-35 1 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat something." 32 But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about." 33 Then his disciples said to each other, "Could someone have brought him food?" 34 "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.

5. JESUS was obedient at the Gethsemane Garden
a. Matthew 26:39-44 9 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." […] 42 He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done." […]44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

6. JESUS was obedient going to the cross
“Christ made improvement by his sufferings. By his passive obedience, he learned active obedience; that is, he practiced that great lesson, and made it appear that he was well and perfectly learned in it; though he never was disobedient, yet he never performed such an act of obedience as when he became obedient to death, even to the death of the cross. Here he has left us an example, that we should learn by all our afflictions a humble obedience to the will of God. We need affliction, to teach us submission.” Matthew Henry Commentary.
a. Obedience requires humbleness: Philippians 2.5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself

b. Obedience is to do exactly what God wants: v.8 and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!

c. Obedience brings reward: 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Life is Short II - Sowing and Reaping - Brent Cantelon

2008-07-28T08:57:00.000-07:00

James 4:13 - 17
There is no aspect of the work of God, more precious than the work of seeing people come to faith in Jesus - to be born again. Sadly a small percentage of those following Jesus today have ever, or will ever, participate in this work of sharing our faith.
If you have a desire to grow in God, increase in faith, experience the filling of the Holy Spirit, and to know the power of supernatural intervension, these 2 things must be active your life:
1. Actively participating in the work of the Harvest
2. Giving of our finances to God - faithfully, cheerfully and generously
____________________________
Women at the Well: John 4:1-30 *read the story together
Jesus quickly leads the conversation to Spiritual mattersNo person is impossible to reach
John 4:34-38Lift up your eyesLook at the fieldsAlready ripe for harvestI send you to reap where other's have labored
____________________________
Satisfaction and fulfillment in our Christian walk is found in?
•1. Doing the will of the Father
•2. Finishing His work
There is an urgency to the gospel Harvest time does pass and opportunities are missed
What are the reasons why people are not coming to Christ?
1. Unbelief
2. Sinful lifestyles
3. Lack of knowledge (never truly heard)
4. False doctrine
5. The feeling that they are a good person
6. Different cultures have their own faith
Jesus says: "The Harvest is ready now" Regardless of culture, race, obstacles; there is always a harvest
____________________________
Application
Ø How do we overcome all the restraining, limiting, forces that render the reapers inactive?
Ø How do we get past the thousands of reasons people do not respond to the gospel.
Ø Why don't we share a testimony, answer to prayer or invite someone
Ø How do we get over it? Get beyond the paralysis?
Be reminded of the Heart of God and the provision of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Word
Ø You will receive power to be witnesses
Ø Jesus did not leave us with just information - we have the person of the Holy Spirit
Ø Relationship with Him - He will guide us
Ø If we sow we will reap - we are in the harvest work
Ø If everyone is somehow in the process of sowing - then everyone should expect to also be in the reaping
Ø Many Christians have quit sowing and have no expectation to reap.
Ø Christian living digresses to the endless pursuit of my stuff, my life, my issues, - these things have no accompanying wages or rejoicing to sustain your faith
____________________________
Begin again:
A) Actively pray for people you know to come to Jesus
B) Build relationship with them out of the love that Jesus puts in your heart for the person
C) Open spiritual conversations: testimony, answered prayer, healing you've heard about
D) Invite them to church, to a cell group - to something!!!
E) Sow widely
Galatians 6: 7-10
Keep in mind when telling other's the good news:
G od created us to be with him
O ur sin separates us from God
S ins cannot be removed by good deeds
P aying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again
E veryone who trusts in him alone has eternal life.
L ife that's eternal means we will be with Jesus forever
Give to the work of bringing in the Harvest
Please read 2 Cor. 9:5-15
____________________________
Ministry Time:
Ø Pray for those who know people who do not know Jesus.
Ø Encourage your cell to Begin Again to witness
Ø Pray for opportunities to share the Gospel
Ø Pray for those in the group who are struggling financially and encourage everyone to be involved in giving to the work of bringing in the Harvest.

Life is Short I - Pastor Brent Cantelon - July 20th, 2008

2008-07-23T07:48:00.000-07:00

Have you ever made plans that didn't work out as you expected?
Ask someone in your cell to share briefly about a situation that relates to this question.

Read James 4:13-17
I) We make our plans and we have our expectations: James 4:13 & 14
When it will happen
Where it will happen
How long we will be involved
Results that will take place
II) If the Lord wills: James 4:15 & 16
Life is like a vapor - We should not live in the realm of presumption
All of life through the perspective of the will of God
Use wisdom
Develop disciplines
Grow as people
Daily sense of dependence and submission to God
Fellowship with God - God does not want to control you
God is interested in relationship
III) Do the right thing today : James 4:17
Knowing what is right to do and not doing it is the sin of omission
Putting things off often means they never happen
We may never have the chance - life is short
The assumption is that we have lots of time
Delayed obedience is disobedience
What right thing do I need to do today? When I want to do good scripture tells me I will experience opposition: Romans 7:21-25
The gift of starting today with a clean slate
God is able to restore - all things work together for good: Romans 8:28-39
Life is short when it comes to our failures. We find ourselves unable to move past them. God wants us to move past our failures. God wants us to be successful. Why should you be beaten anymore when Jesus has taken that beating on your behalf? Jesus is the only one who can carry your failures.

Repent of excuse making: Luke 14: 16-21
You have been invited to have relationship with God.
Make things right with God and your soul
Return to the Lord with a humble heart
Come to Jesus in full surrender
Reconcile with the people you love and know
Say the things that need to be said

Men - tell your wife why you love her, express your commitment to only her
Women - tell your husband why you respect him
Fathers and Mothers talk to your kids tell them you love them. Say your sorry for things that have not gone the way you had hoped.
Confess to God and to one another
Let there be truth and transparency
Everyday that you delay a confession makes it that much harder to come clean
Restitution - make it right
Do the right thing
Repentance
Fasting
Prayer
Bible Reading
Pressing into spiritual growth
Return to the Lord
____________________________________Ministry Time
Encourage people to pray, perhaps in two's, and to confess their sins one to another and to make a fresh start in the areas where we feel we have failed. Just say to one another "Here is what I know I ought to do, please pray with me." Ask the Holy Spirit for help. If restitution needs to be made then make it happen.
Encourage one another that the Lord is on their side.

New Clothes, New Life - Pr. Antonio Nasser - July 13th, 2008

2008-07-16T09:01:00.000-07:00

Text: Colossians 3.1-17

We can see in this text two kinds of people:
1.People who is not living Jesus’ life
2.People who is living Jesus’ life.

First, let's see the characteristics of people who are not living according to Jesus' life (Col 3.5,7)
a) Sexual immorality, Impurity, Lust, Evil desires = IMMORALITY
b) Greed, which is idolatry = LOVE OF MONEY
c) Anger, Rage, Malice, Slander, Filthy language, Lie = BAD RELATIONSHIP

Those characteristics belong to the EARTHLY NATURE
Results of this kind of life is = Ephesians 2.12 and Colossians 3.6

What to do with these EVIL characteristics?
A: Col 3.5 - “Put to death… ; 3.8 - “…now you must rid yourselves of all such things…

LIVING THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST
Col 3.12 - Clothe yourserlf with:

Compassion
Kindness
Humility
Gentleness
Patience
Bear with each other
Forgive
Love
Peace
Be thankful
Full of the Word of God
Wisdom
Do it in the name of the Lord Jesus

Remember that filthy clothes are SIN
Read please Zechariah 3.1-4 and find the filthy clothe and the new one...

QUESTIONS
1. Discuss with your group how to live Colossians 3.17 daily
2. Discuss ways to be thankful (Colossians 3.15)
3. Discuss forgiveness according to verse 13.

"What is the worst thing that could ever happen?" - Pr. Brent Cantelon July 6th

2008-07-07T14:03:00.000-07:00

'Pastor Brent gave a report on his trip to India and Ethiopia
He encouraged us to write the Government in reference to Dr. Henry Morgentaler receiving the Order of Canada.
Scripture reading
Romans 13:11,12
1 Corinthians 6: 9
John 9:4
2 Corinthians 6:1,2
There is only a window of opportunity for the gospel in Canada
We are not far from losing our opportunity
Religious freedom is under heavy attack
Our land is adrift morally
What can Canadians do??
What is the worst thing that could ever happen? In this life?
Answer: That a person in a free country dies without faith in Christ and goes to hell
A soul dies without Christ because I disobeyed Jesus
I don't take the opportunities that Jesus gives me
I don't want to offend
I don't want to be embarrassed
I could suffer rejection
What is the method to winning a soul for Jesus
I. Pray and fast
II. Be led by the Spirit
III. Live a lifestyle that is noticeably different - love, compassion and integrity
Ministry Time
Lead the cell in a prayer of surrender to the Lord and a commitment to win souls for Jesus. Who is in their circle? How will they go about talking to them about Jesus?
Letters of formal request for termination of Appointment to the Order of Canada of Dr. Henry Morgentaler can be sent to:
Ms. Emmanuelle Sajous,
Deputy Secretary,
Order of Canada Chancellery,
Rideau Hall, 1 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON.
K1A 0A1.

Be a Blessing for Everyone - Pr. Antonio Nasser - Sunday June 29th

2008-07-03T11:46:00.000-07:00

Ezequiel 16
Jerusalem was doing so many bad things. The Sovereign Lord said:
· V.5b – Jerusalem was like an abandoned baby
· V. 6b – God saw her and gave her LIFE
· V.8 – God made a covenant with her like a husband
· V. 13,14 –God provided everything she needed
BUT
· V. 15 - Jerusalem became like a prostitute
· V.17 – with the jewelry made idols
· V.20 – Jerusalem offered sons and daughters as sacrifice
· V.22 – Jerusalem forgot the LORD and His MERCY
· V.32 – Jerusalem has been seen as an adulterous wife by the LORD
· V.49 – Jerusalem became more depraved than Sodom and Samaria
JERUSALEM SIN WORST THAN SODOM
V. 49 – Arrogant, overfed and unconcerned, did not help the poor and needy, were haughty and did detestable things before the LORD.
Arrogance means (dictionary at http://www.thefreedictionary.com/arrogant)
1. Having or displaying a sense of overbearing self-worth or self-importance.
2. Marked by or arising from a feeling or assumption of one's superiority toward others

NIV Proverbs 8:13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

NIV Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

1. We became arrogant when we do not give thanks to the LORD for all blessings received.

NIV 1 Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

NIV Ezekiel 16:22 In all your detestable practices and your prostitution you did not remember the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, kicking about in your blood.

2. We became arrogant when we decide to be independent, never asking the LORD about our lives.
The key phrase used today is: That’s my life!!!
Dependence is the way the child lives. The paradigm is YOU
· You have to take care of me
· YOU are responsible for me
Independence is the way the teenager lives. The paradigm is I.
· I can do this
· I want to go
· I have the right to do this…
Interdependence is the way of maturity. The paradigm is WE.
· We can do this together
· We are responsible for this…
3. We became arrogant when we have no eyes to see the poor and needy
NIV Proverbs 19:17 He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.
NIV Proverbs 21:13 If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.
Jesus was poor
NIV 2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
The apostles were poor
NIV 2 Corinthians 6:10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

WHAT DOES GOD WANTS ME TO DO? Ez 16.59-63
1. He wants me to remember our ways and be ashamed v.61
2. He wants me to know HIM- v.62
3. He wants me to recognize and be thankful for HIS atonement through JESUS CHRIST our Savior v.63

The power of Prophecy - Antonio Nasser

2008-06-23T15:20:00.000-07:00

Isaiah 49.1-7

What do we see here? We see…

A man who knows Biblical Truths
· V.1 Called before he was born
· V.2 called to be a prophet
· V.3 called to be a servant of the Lord
· V.4 His reward is in God’s hand
· V.5 God formed him
· V.5 God is his strength
· V.6 His goal is to reach out his own people
A man who was tired after trying to reach his people
· V.4 Has labored to no purpose
· Has spent his strength in vain and for nothing
The Lord God who is in command! His plans are higher and wider!
Isaiah 55:8-9 8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. 9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts
· V.3 His splendor is displayed by people
· V.3 He is the Lord (you are my servant)
· V.6 All nations have to see His light through His church

Jews mindset
Jews + Gentiles (goyim) = the entire world

God has a greater purpose for Isaiah to accomplish
The power of Prophecy
This prophecy is related to:
Prophet
Israel
Jesus
Apostles
Church
Me
Personalizing this Message for us today
Acts 13:47-49 47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: "'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'" 48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. 49 The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.
The ultimate end of prophecy is you personally
Your personal responsibility
Each one of us has to be accountable to God

Ministry Time
Perhaps there are those who are tired and weary in the Lord's work. Especially during this summer break encourage them to again surrender to the Lord and ask Him what work He has for them yet to do. God is not asking us to do a small thing but a great work for Him in winning the nations of the world for Christ.
Pray for one another and for the neighbors that live around us. Perhaps this summer we will be able to win a neighbor to Jesus.

In the name of Jesus... - Pr. Antonio Nasser

2008-06-17T10:07:00.000-07:00

Text to be Read: Hebrews chapter 1 and John 14.6; 12-14

In a culture where there are so many religions actively being worshiped, talking about God is a huge challenge. Believers of other faiths ask Christians if we are talking about the same God that they believe in. After all, aren’t we using the same name: GOD? How can we as Christians give the right distinction in order to relay the Christian message properly?
In the Bible, God is described differently from any other god. There is no comparison.
One specific way to find the Christian God of the Bible is through His son Jesus Christ. The Son reveals the Father.
Hebrews 1 talks a lot about God’s Son. Read the passage again with your group and try to discover the many truths about his Son:
JESUS is:
The heir of all things
The creator: He made the Universe
The radiance of God’s glory
The exact representation of God’s being
Sustainer of all things by His powerful words
Also:
He provides purification and forgiveness of sins
He is sitting down at the right hand of the Majesty in Heaven
He is much more superior to the angels
All God’s angels must worship Him
MORE ABOUT JESUS

He is God
He has a throne
He is a king of a kingdom
He is eternal
He is righteous
He is the anointed one (which means “The Christ”)
He never changes
He is victorious over all his enemies

When reading John 14.6; 12-14 we see that Jesus is the ONLY WAY to reach God. This distinct fact is the most unique difference between Christianity and all other religions. Only Jesus Christ can lead us to God.
Jesus is described as our Intercessor. In Romans 8.34, Paul says:
NIV Romans 8:34 “Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died-- more than that, who was raised to life-- is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”

He is at the right hand of God interceding for us! What a great blessing this message is!
In living a Christian life we must understand this truth: that Jesus is the only mediator between God and man.

Jesus said:
NIV John 14:12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

This is about faith in God through Jesus!
Not faith in faith, or faith in the Church, but faith in God through Jesus Christ.

There can be no relationship between God and man without Jesus Christ. He wants us to have faith in Him and to live totally dependent on Him.

And, He adds:
NIV John 14:13-14 3 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Since any relationship with God can only be through Jesus, we need to remember that our prayers and petitions must be in His Name. He is the true Mediator between us and God!
Whenever you need to talk to God, you must go through his son Jesus Christ. Our prayers are always “IN THE NAME OF JESUS!”\

Talk to your cell group about this and live an abundant Christian life!

Faith - Ian Green

2008-06-16T14:45:00.000-07:00

Fathers Day - Ian talked about Abraham being the Father of our Faith
1. What does a faith filled life look like ?
2. What is faith?
3. How does it work out in our lives?

Faith is not believing in things that are not true. Faith is quantifiable.There is a level of faith inside each one of us - and we can get more.
Heb 11:1 - Confident assurance
Faith is an attitude - receive God's Word into our hearts.
Heb 4:6 - They refused to obey - disobedienceWe can refuse or we can receive faith
We have the faith to do what Jesus asks us to do.
Roman 12:3 - Everyone is given a measure of faith
We have faith but we can grow our faith. By using it daily we can increase ourmeasure of faith. It's always to our advantage to agree with God.You create an atmosphere of faith as you confess His Word.Dynamic faith with a negative mind-set does not mix.
Faith - use in action
1. Hear what God has said
2. Be obedient to what God has said
3. Continue on in what God has said

Unbelief is not coming up to what God has said and presumption is goingbeyond what God has said. There needs to be inner agreement in what God has said. We can do it! Sometimes faith in itself is not enough. Faith requires action such as fasting and praying. You have a word from the Lord - become obedient to that word - carry on in faith.Faith requires patience and endurance in order to receive the promise.
Heb. 6:12 - Faith will be challengedMatthew 18:9 - Faith is an agreement2 Cor. 1:20 - Yes, in Jesus
What you believe for is what you get.Faith works positively and negatively.Believe for nothing - Praise God when you get nothing.We are not made to stay where we are, we were created to go on.Faith is an assurance, an agreement with God.
Heb. 10:22 - Faith sabotages unbelief
Whatever you do that is not mixed with faith is sin - people are waiting for youto be obedient and go beyond.
Romans 4:19-21 - Back to Abraham
Give God the glory till you are fully persuaded He can do it.Declare what God has already done.
Ian finished his message by having everyone repeat the following words overand over again; YOU'VE GOT THE POWER GOD !!!!!!
___________________________________________________________________
Ministry Time
Are there people in your cell group who are wavering in their faith?
Encourage one another that the Word will build their faith
Perhaps they have believed for a long time and need reassurance once again
Pray for one another and encourage one another that GOD'S GOT THE POWER!

The Church of Today - Pr. Antonio Nasser

2008-06-09T11:39:00.000-07:00

Read: Mark 2:1-12

INTRODUCTION
Let’s think about the picture we have here. Who and what can we see in this picture?
· Jesus
· People gathered together to see and hear Him
· Jesus preaches the Word of God
· There are some men bringing a paralytic
· There is no place for them inside of the house or even outside the door
· They decided to approach the paralytic of Jesus through the roof
· Jesus sees their faith
· Jesus forgives the man’s sin
· The teachers of the law think Jesus is blaspheming
· Jesus answers the teachers of the law with a question
· Jesus heals the paralytic and
· People are amazed and praise the Lord.

What do I miss in the Church of today?
1. A perseverant and deep Bible study! The deep and systematic study of the word of God is necessary for our spiritual grow. See that every opportunity Jesus had he used to teach the Word of God. Just few texts:
a. NIV Mark 1:39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
b. Luke 4:43 - 5:1 43 But he said, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent." 44 And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
c. Luke 20:1 NIV Luke 20:1 One day as he was teaching the people in the temple courts and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him.
So, here we have 2 important areas:
a) We must find time to learn the Bible
b) We must preach the word of God in every opportunity we have. We are a Church!!!

2. People ready to help! People today come to the Church asking:
- What can this Church do for me?
Instead of:
- What can I do for this Church?
The Church of today is like a restaurant: It needs to get the attention of the people through promotions, combos, discounts…
The Church of today is trying to be an entertainment church, in order to have the people busy and happy. What will be the future of this “Church”?
Charles Sttud, (1860-1931) said:
Every true soldier is a hero! A SOLDIER WITHOUT HEROISM IS A CHOCOLATE SOLDIER! […]
EVERY TRUE CHRISTIAN IS A SOLDIER — of Christ — a hero "par excellence!" Braver than the bravest – scorning (disdaining) the soft seductions of peace and her oft (often) repeated warnings against hardship (suffering), disease, danger and death, whom he counts among his bosom friends.
THE OTHERWISE CHRISTIAN IS A Chocolate Christian, dissolving in water and melting at the smell of fire. Sweeties they are! Bonbons, lollipops! Living their lives in a glass dish or in a cardboard box, each clad (cover) in his soft clothing, a little frilled white paper to preserve his dear little delicate constitution.

3. An opened heart to receive whoever needs help! In many Churches we see closed doors. It must have room for everyone, but the “traditional religion” does not want to help sinners to get salvation, because they work only to reach natural needs. The rule is: “first come, first serve”. That is not the Church of Jesus. There is a place for everyone to be blessed, to be saved, to be healed!

4. The understanding about cause and effect!
As Matthew Henry Commentary says about this chapter:
- “ Sin is the procuring cause of all our pains and sicknesses. The word of Christ was to take his thoughts off from the disease, which was the effect, and to lead them to the sin, the cause, that he might be more concerned about that, to get that pardoned […] The way to remove the effect, is, to take away the cause”.

5. The theology of repentance! There are so many Churches where you will never hear the challenge to start the service asking forgiveness to God. This is a PROUDNESS behavior!

6. The power of forgiveness! When Jesus forgave the paralytic, he was removing the cause. Jesus was giving to the paralytic the opportunity to be free, more than only to be healed. So, when Jesus said: get up, take your mat and go home, HE was giving something visible to the people. After forgiving the paralytic (something invisible to be proved), striking the cause, Jesus solved the effect (visibly situation), healing the man.
- Isa. 38:17; Ps. 103:3

7. The authority of Jesus Christ! Jesus said: "10 but that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." He said to the paralytic, 11 "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home."
The word in Greek here is exousia: authority
When Jesus called the 12 disciples:

NIV Luke 9:1 "When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power (dunamis) and authority (exousia) to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick".

Jesus Christ, our Lord, has all POWER and all AUTHORITY. That’s why we can trust in Him for our completely salvation!
In many Churches today we see a weak Jesus, a poor savior. No, Jesus Christ is GOD and has all dunamis and all exousia! He rules over all and everything!

What kind of Church are we building?

Believing – Life in the Holy Spirit - Pr. Brent Cantelon

2008-06-08T12:13:00.000-07:00

4th message in this series on Life in the Holy Spirit

1. Something new in the Holy Spirit
· The power of one accord
· What happens to me when I’m filled with the Holy Spirit?

2. Yield:
Goal: – that you and I would have a life transforming Baptism/immersion in the person and power of the Holy Spirit. An increase of relationship with the Holy Spirit’s power.
“I yield to you Holy Spirit”
“Lord Jesus, you are the baptizer, you promised I would receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon me. I ask You to baptize me with the Holy Spirit now. I yield to you Holy Spirit, I will be immersed in Your power and fullness – You have complete control, I receive You by faith.”

“I am being filled with the Holy Spirit”

3. The Spirit of Revival:
I) First sign of the Spirit of Revival: The Bible is first of all!
II) Second Sign of the Spirit of Revival: Laborers in Kingdom work.
· Everyone can help
III) Third sign of the Spirit of Revival: Prayer that moves mountains
· Personal prayer
· Corporate prayer – new meetings springing up
IV) Fourth sign of the Spirit of Revival: Kingdom money
· Some begin
· Those already giving, increase their giving
V) Fifth Sign of the Spirit of Revival: Repentance from sin and a hunger for holiness.

4. Believing …
- read through Matt, Mark, Luke, John and Acts… so much said about believing
· Believe
· Believing
· Believed
· Believers

-226 times in the NT …

- identity as “believing”
John 20: 26 "And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

Holy Spirit – Spirit of Revival – moving to something new
Believing

Text: John 7: 37 "On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified".

I) answered prayer – speaking to mountains
Matt 21: 21 "So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. 22And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

II) believing results in joy and peace
· Abounding in hope !!!
Romans 15: 13 "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit".

III) - believing affects behavior…
Acts 24:14 "But this I confess to you, . . . believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. 15I have hope in God, . . .that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. 16This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men".
· Hope in God
· Resurrection
· Conscience without offense to God and men!

IV) Believing or to believe brings - “Life” – in Jesus’ Name!
John 20: 30 "And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name".

Mark 16: 14 "Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

John 3: 36 "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

John 6: 35 "And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. 36But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe".

John 8: 24 "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

John 11: 25 "Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this? 27She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God",

1 John 5: 10 "He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life".

- the salvation of your souls
1 Peter 1: 8 "whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls".

V) How ?
- help my unbelief
Mark 9: 24 "Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

1.) Testimony:
- eye witnesses and fulfilled prophecy:
John 19: 35 "And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. 36For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” 37And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”

- written that you may believe – the authority of the Bible as a reliable witness to God
John 20: 31 "but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name".

- believing and then speak – confess your faith verbalize it
· Articulation of faith increases faith
2 Cor 4: 13 "And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, 14knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you".

- rebuke from Jesus, because they wouldn’t believe the eye witnesses
Mark 16: 14 "Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen".

1 John 5: 13 "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life,and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God".
· Continuing to believe!!! – requires maintenance
· All manner of assaults to our faith
· Liars, unbelieving opponents, demonic interference …
· Reading the testimony provides continuing faith!!! (last weeks bible challenge)

2) faith comes from a desire to please God… and that He is good.
Heb 11: 6 "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".

3) - choosing to believe

Matt 9:28b “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”
· The ability of God – is He able?
· Then everything is possible if He is able.!
Mark 9: 23 "Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

- do not fear …
Mark 5:36 … “Do not be afraid; only believe.”

4) Repentance
Mark 1: 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

VI) Increased Believing:
1. Confession of Faith:
Romans 10: 9 "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

2. Identity? Who am I …. “believer” – “believing”
· Every attack on faith
· Every lie of hell
· Every bump in the road of life
· Tragedy – sorrow – persecution – sickness
· Expectantly living believing in God
· Every trouble, stress, anger,
· Disappointment

Today I am “believing”

30 Days of Bible Reading: June 1 -30, 2008

2008-06-02T14:17:00.000-07:00

June 1 - Sunday
o Genesis 1
o Matthew 1
o Ezra 1
o Acts 1

June 2 - Monday
o Genesis 2
o Matthew 2
o Ezra 2
o Acts 2

June 3 - Tuesday
o Genesis 3
o Matthew 3
o Ezra 3
o Acts 3

June 4 - Wednesday
o Genesis 4
o Matthew 4
o Ezra 4
o Acts 4

June 5 - Thursday
o Genesis 5
o Matthew 5
o Ezra 5
o Acts 5

June 6 - Friday
o Genesis 6
o Matthew 6
o Ezra 6
o Acts 6

June 7 - Saturday
o Genesis 7
o Matthew 7
o Ezra 7
o Acts 7

June 8 - Sunday
o Genesis 8
o Matthew 8
o Ezra 8
o Acts 8

June 9 - Monday
o Genesis 9-10
o Matthew 9
o Ezra 9
o Acts 9

June 10 - Tuesday
o Genesis 11
o Matthew 10
o Ezra 10
o Acts 10

June 11 – Wednesday
o Genesis 12
o Matthew 11
o Nehemiah 1
o Acts 11

June 12 – Thursday
o Genesis 13
o Matthew 12
o Nehemiah 2
o Acts 12

June 13 – Friday
o Genesis 14
o Matthew 13
o Nehemiah 3
o Acts 13

June 14 – Saturday
o Genesis 15
o Matthew 14
o Nehemiah 4
o Acts 14

June 15 – Sunday
o Genesis 16
o Matthew 15
o Nehemiah 5
o Acts 15

June 16 – Monday
o Genesis 17
o Matthew 16
o Nehemiah 6
o Acts 16

June 17 – Tuesday
o Genesis 18
o Matthew 17
o Nehemiah 7
o Acts 17

June 18 – Wednesday
o Genesis 19
o Matthew 18
o Nehemiah 8
o Acts 18

June 19 - Thursday
o Genesis 20
o Matthew 19
o Nehemiah 9
o Acts 19

June 20 – Friday
o Genesis 21
o Matthew 20
o Nehemiah 10
o Acts 20

June 21 – Saturday
o Genesis 22
o Matthew 21
o Nehemiah 11
o Acts 21

June 22 – Sunday
o Genesis 23
o Matthew 22
o Nehemiah 12
o Acts 22

June 23 – Monday
o Genesis 24
o Matthew 23
o Nehemiah 13
o Acts 23

June 24 – Tuesday
o Genesis 25
o Matthew 24
o Esther 1
o Acts 24

June 25 – Wednesday
o Genesis 26
o Matthew 25
o Esther 2
o Acts 25

June 26 – Thursday
o Genesis 27
o Matthew 26
o Esther 3
o Acts 26

June 27 – Friday
o Genesis 28
o Matthew 27
o Esther 4
o Acts 27

June 28 – Saturday
o Genesis 29
o Matthew 28
o Esther 5
o Acts 28

June 29 – Sunday
o Genesis 30
o Mark 1
o Esther 6
o Romans 1

June 30 – Monday
o Genesis 31
o Mark 2
o Esther 7
o Romans 2

The Spirit of Revival - Pr. Brent Cantelon

2008-06-02T14:02:00.000-07:00

I) How are we deciding what to believe and what is true?
2Timothy 3.1-17
Matthew 22.29
2Peter 1.19-21
Revelation 22.18,19

- all that the Holy Spirit wrote is perfectly right—nothing must be removed from the record—but He left nothing out that should have been written—nothing must be added to it.

- this was accomplished through more than forty (40) different authors,

- who lived over a span of more than 1,500 years;

- and many of them never saw nor conversed with each other, yet their writings in no way disagree.

Verbal, Plenary Inspiration .

This view holds that all the words written are God-breathed (2Tm. 3:16). “Verbal” signifies the words, and “plenary” means “full,” or “complete,” as opposed to partial.

Thus it is held that the words themselves, and all of them, are inspired. God gave full expression to His thoughts in the words of the biblical record.

He guided the very choice of the words used within the personality and culture of the writers; so that, in some inscrutable manner, the Bible is the Word of God, while being the words of men.

The means, or process, of inspiration is a mystery of the providence of God, but the results of this process is a verbal (the words), plenary (extending to all the parts equally), inerrant (errorless) and authoritative record.

I) First sign of the Spirit of Revival: The Bible is first of all!
· People who read the bible more than any other print media
· People who know their bible – know it’s sound, know it’s smell, know it’s fruit
· People who live based on the Bible – do what it says.
· The answer to every major current event and issue is in the Bible

Principles of truth

Tells us what to do when trouble comes
How to treat the environment - what the actual destiny of the planet is …. (new heaven and a new earth)
How to live under persecution
Where to find hope in financial crisis
How to resolve conflict
How to heal a marriage
How to deal with Civic authority

Challenge us as a church today:

We need more bible – not less in these perilous times, confusing times – who can we trust?
List your bible reading in your mind this past week…..
How many times
How much each time
30 day commitment to read your bible daily – more than a devotional verse, I mean read your bible (or listen), whole books at one sitting.
o OR if you don’t know where to start: Bible reading guide on our web site for each day for the next 30 days (also here in this Blog)
Increase daily amount – you choose, just increase.
Pentecostal outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Azuza street came from people reading the bible, believing it and then seeking all they saw happening in the word.

II) Second Sign of the Spirit of Revival: laborers in Kingdom work.

Acts 8: 4-8
- talents: contribute what you’ve been given by God – do not bury it.
- sowing and reaping: testimony, more sowing, more testimony – to speak words of truth
- light: honesty, servant hearted acts, kindness
- salt: injustice, selfishness
- come and see – inviting
- laborers, workers in the harvest – help out, get involved
· Re-ordering of life and time to make room for service to God

III) Third sign of the Spirit of Revival – Prayer that moves mountains
· Intercessory prayer, passionate prayer
· More than devotional prayer
· Increase of prayer, intensity of praying, desire for prayer
· Call upon the name of the Lord

IV) Tourth Sign of the Spirit of Revival: Kingdom money:
· Release of giving
· Those with holding begin to lay the proceeds at the apostles feet… do with it as you choose (Acts 4:36)
· Spiritual principle of releasing control to God and appointed spiritual authority.

V) Fifth Sign of the Spirit of Revival: Repentance from sin and a hunger for holiness.

1 Cor. 6: 9-12
1 Peter 1: 13-16

Discerning when God is doing something:

Does the Move of God line up with the plain sound of Scripture? Do Jesus and the Gospel have preeminence?
Is there evidence of genuine evangelism to the gatherings – souls being added daily – or is it another recycling of existing believers? The body of Christ with itching ears flocking to the new thing.
Who is the leadership accountable to? Is the accountability real? Can the leader be removed? Is there evidence that the leaders welcome accountability and submission to spiritual authority or to quote: “who does “big Name” talk to?”
o Character matters!
o Prophetic license – gift functioning, uncorrected character issues
Is the fruit of the move of God an increase in personal holiness and humility, are the people less like the world and more like Jesus outside of the meetings?
Is the reputation of the “revival” one where the fruit of the Spirit is evident in the neighborhood where it’s happening? Do the people being revived have a good reputation where they live? “Enjoying favor with all the people” (Acts 2:47)

How can I know these things…. Remind you of the first scripture we looked at today:

2 Tim 3: 10But you know what I teach, Timothy, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith and how long I have suffered. You know my love and my patient endurance. 11You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—but the Lord delivered me from all of it. . . . 13But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will go on deceiving others, and they themselves will be deceived.
14But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. 15You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.

CHURCH: Family of Families

2008-05-26T13:44:00.000-07:00

Read Ephesians 2.11-22

1. The Church of Christ is an Open Door Church

People from every nation come to Jesus and become ONE in Him. One body, one family, one building, one congregation!
This Church is a multicultural Church and it has to be like that!
This is the Jesus' Purpose :
“…His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility”. (15,16)

We came from different countries and cultures, languages and families. But in Jesus Christ we became ONE.
ONE in Mission
ONE in Love
ONE in fellowship
ONE in services, in ministries.
That is the Church of Jesus Christ on Earth!

2. The Church of Jesus Christ has HIS DNA
We now have the DNA of Jesus Christ which is Love. The love of Jesus on the cross brought us into a new reality: we are now children of God. We have the same FATHER, this is, ONE FAMILY.
See that the gentiles were
· Separated from Christ
· Excluded from citizenship in Israel
· Foreigners to the covenants of promise
· Without hope AND without God in the world
But after having an encounter with Jesus Christ, they became:
· Fellows citizens with God’s people – 19
· Members of God’s household 19
· Building built on the cornerstone who is Jesus -21
· Building built on the Word of God - 20
· Building as dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit - 22

3. The Church of Jesus Christ is where God lives by His Spirit
Eph 2.21,22
“In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit”.
The Church of Jesus Christ is not an organization.
The Church of Jesus Christ is not an company
The Church of Jesus Christ is itself the Temple of the Living God!
We are the Temple of the Holy Spirit! He lives in us!
There is no place for our will in this Church. There is no place for our desires!
This Church is a Tabernacle filled by the Holy Spirit and goes to the Holy Spirit wants us to go!

4. The Church of Jesus Christ is Family of Families.
Family is the way God leads us to fill this world. He made a man and a woman, just because they can have babies and be productive filling the world with God’s Glory!
So, let me try to show you how this House, this Family should be in this world to proclaim the
a) This house must to be built on Jesus Christ as the cornerstone
Jesus is the cornerstone, it means, He is the main part of this house. A family who wants to live in harmony has to serve Jesus. Jesus is the centre of our lives and motivations. There is no blessed marry without Jesus as the cornerstone.

b) This house must to be built with columns that are the Word of God
The Word of God, the Bible, will give to us wisdom. A family that wants to be successful has to learn from the Word of God. For instance: Ephesians 6.1-4

c) This house must to be built with a locked up garden
It means, a private garden or better a secure relationship. Protect your family from the garbage of this world.
Husband: protect your wife from evil hunters…
Wife: protect your husband from evil hunters…
Say like Salomon:

Song of Solomon 4:12 You are a garden locked up, my sister, my bride; you are a spring enclosed, a sealed fountain.

d) This house must to be built with a roof of spiritual protection
Parents are the roof of the house to protect children. We should be the defenders, the army against the enemy. We pray, we teach, we resist the devil.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

e) This house must to have the light of Jesus to proclaim Him to the world
The Energy of this house is Jesus himself that shines inside, cleaning us and shines outside through us, while we preach His Gospel.

f) This house must to have Communication among its members like the water system in a house.
The water is essential for a house. We cook and we clean, using it. The water system is the communication among members of this family. The Christian family has to be an example of communication! We have to be in the same page, speaking the same language, acting through the same love.

g) This house must to have Acts of Kindness like the heater in a house.
What an important device is the heater in our homes! It warms us and allows us to live comfortably. We become as more comfortable when we live with acts of kindness. Show love, show goodness, show the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5.22,23).

h) This house must to see the world like Jesus saw the multitudes as sheep without shepherd (Matthews 9.36)
The windows of this house are eyes that see the world like Jesus sees the world. This house understands what Jesus says in Matthews

Matthew 6:22-23 22 "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

and

Matthew 9.36-38 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

SERIES - Baptism of Repentance, baptism in the Holy Spirit- Pr. Antonio Nasser

2008-05-20T00:38:00.000-07:00

Read: Mark 1.1-7
John, the Baptist, first came to prepare the way for Jesus Christ. He showed to the world "who" would come after him. Now, we show Jesus to our world. Let’s learn from this text:

The Baptism of Repentance
Repentance has 3 essential steps:

To recognize our errors/faults. If anyone wants to grow, he/she must call sin as sin!
To ask for forgiveness. The forgiveness cancels the debt through love - God’s love. We are not innocent but forgiven sinners. Jesus died in our place to pay for our debts before God.
To abandon our sins. If we do not change, then sorrows will only come to us. To change our lives, we must have a willing and positive attitude. This is totally necessary after having been forgiven by God. We have become new people, HIS people.

“...One more powerful than I....”
Jesus has all power. Nothing is impossible for Him:

His birth was powerful: trouough a virgin: Mathews 1:18-21
His life was powerful: Mark 10:46-52
His teachings were powerful: Mark 1:22
His death was powerful: Mark 15:39
His resurrection was powerful: Mark 16:1-6

“I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

The disciples of Jesus Christ baptize with water (Matthew 28:19). Water baptism can only be administered to all those who have repented of their sins, who have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of their souls, and who give clear evidence of their salvation (Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12).
Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit è A powerful visitation of God in our lives. Let’s seek this powerful tool for our ministries.The baptism in the Holy Spirit is an experience in which the believer yields control of himself to the Holy Spirit.[1] Through this he comes to know Christ in a more intimate way,[2] and receives power to witness and grow spiritually.[3] Believers should earnestly seek the baptism in the Holy Spirit according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ.[4] The initial evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit is the speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance.[5] This experience is distinct from, and subsequent to, the experience of the new birth.[6]
[1] Matt. 3:11; Acts 1:5; Eph. 5:18
[2] John 16:13-15
[3] 2 Cor. 3:18; Acts 1:8
[4] Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4,8
[5] 2 Cor. 3:18; Acts 1:8
[6] Acts 8:12-17; 10:44-46