When Samson relied on his own strength, he found himself defeated. The Bible says our strength comes from the LORD! But Samson was so blinded by his pride that he didn’t realize the source of his power. Pastor Eric will encourage us today with the story of this great man, who in the end FINALLY surrenders to the Lord – and receives His GRACE.
As we learn the story of Samson, Pastor Eric will point out today all the results of Samson’s sin, and the choice that WE also have to either fall into temptation and the desires of our flesh, OR to surrender to God - give HIM control of our lives and give HIM all the glory. Samson took pride of his strength, took glory to himself, and ended up in destruction.
The gates of hell shall not prevail against the children of God! Today we will learn with Pastor Eric that Samson was LOCKED IN the city of Gaza, about to be captured and KILLED, but instead, he SCAPED carrying the city GATES upon his own shoulders!! It’s the UNDESERVED grace of God that gives FREEDOM to Samson and to each of us today!!
Samson was a VERY strong man PHYSICALLY, but not spiritually! Pastor Eric will be teaching that in the battle against sin, Samson kept loosing! Jesus tells us to WATCH and PRAY, so that we are READY for the battles to come. Samson, instead, leaned upon his FLESHLY desires and took advantage of the GRACE of God.
If you’ve ever tried to sit down and just pray you know how difficult it can be, and that’s because it’s the most effective tool we have. It’s the most powerful weapon we have as a Christian. The bible tells us that through prayer we can pull down strongholds, and Pastor Eric reminds us that we’re in a war for peoples souls, to save them from the pits of hell.
God gives each of us a choice. In the book of judges we read that every man did what was right in their own eyes. They didn’t make the right choice; they followed some other way that wasn’t the way God has laid out for them. Pastor Eric will go into detail and show us how dangerous it is to go our own way and not obey God.
God will repay the wicked. This may not sound like the God of love that we hear about in our society today, but problem is that a lot of people want God to compromise, they want God to conform to their thinking, but that’s not who God is. As pastor Eric said, God gives us a choice. His way is life, and every other way leads to death.
This passage shows us that God is sovereign, that God is active, and that God is just. Pastor Eric will take us through judges chapter nine and help us to understand how God is using different people to accomplish His purposes. May our life be more than a disaster, may it be used by God for His glory.
In Judges 8, we hear that Gideon, a man victorious on the battlefield, was not met with the support that he should have received upon his return. Pastor Eric instructs us today to remember to be supportive of ministry by whatever means possible: by financial means, volunteerism, prayer, or an encouraging word.
When Gideon returned victorious after defeating the Midianites, the Ephriamites were jealous of his success. Pastor Eric teaches us today that we cannot be happy and contented if we are envious of others. The Bible is clear that the things of this world are fading away, so we waste our time if we focus on them.
Pastor Eric teaches us today that Jesus is an encouraging God that cheers us on when we are feeling down and discouraged. As the Lord lifts our spirits and puts the wind back in our sails, He gets the glory for the impossible things He does through us and in our lives, for everything is possible with God.
Pastor Eric teaches us that as Gideon goes to fight the Midianites in Judges 7, the Lord made sure that all would know that it was the God of Abraham that brought Israel the victory. Through a series of events, Gideon’s army is cut down to only 300 men. It is with this small number that God delivered Israel.
When the Lord called Gideon to do a seemingly impossible task, Gideon asked God for signs to prove that the Lord was indeed with him. Pastor Eric teaches us that while it is okay to ask the Lord for confirmation, as Believers we do not need signs because we have both the Holy Spirit and the Word to guide us.
Pastor Eric teaches from Judges 6 today. We will hear the Lord give Gideon an astounding promise: that Gideon would defeat Israelites’ oppressors, the Midianites. We can learn from Gideon’s story that God is not a man that He should lie, so when Jesus makes a promise, we can be sure that He will keep it.
If you’ve ever tried to sit down and just pray you know how difficult it can be, and that’s because it’s the most effective tool we have. It’s the most powerful weapon we have as a Christian. The bible tells us that through prayer we can pull down strongholds, and Pastor Eric reminds us that we’re in a war for peoples souls, to save them from the pits of hell.
The Lord called Gideon to be bold and cut down idols in his own household to cleanse the country of Israel. As Gideon obeyed, he grew stronger and became the man of God the Lord promised he would be. Pastor Eric teaches us today that just as in Gideon’s life, our faith needs to be more than mere words.
God will repay the wicked. This may not sound like the God of love that we hear about in our society today, but problem is that a lot of people want God to compromise, they want God to conform to their thinking, but that’s not who God is. As pastor Eric said, God gives us a choice. His way is life, and every other way leads to death.
This passage shows us that God is sovereign, that God is active, and that God is just. Pastor Eric will take us through judges chapter nine and help us to understand how God is using different people to accomplish His purposes. May our life be more than a disaster, may it be used by God for His glory.
In Judges 8, we hear that Gideon, a man victorious on the battlefield, was not met with the support that he should have received upon his return. Pastor Eric instructs us today to remember to be supportive of ministry by whatever means possible: by financial means, volunteerism, prayer, or an encouraging word.
For a season, you’re excited about God, eager to live out the truth that you’ve learned...in obedience. Then, you begin to drift away…and once again come back to Him. Today, Pastor Eric will examine this vicious cycle that the Israelites were caught up in, and see how we can adjust our own patterns as we seek to obey the Lord.
Most people who join a sport don’t want to sit on the bench. They want to be a part of the action, a part of something… working towards a common goal. So, why sit on the bench as a Christian? You can’t do much from the sidelines, but you can join the team of believers working to bring Jesus to the world.
What happens to an orchestra without a conductor? The musicians can’t all hear or see each other, and they lose their way. Just as an orchestra needs someone who can see everything and guide their way, a church needs to be unified under the Creator…so they can work harmoniously for His good.
Whatever you’re going through today, the struggles, the fears, the stresses, God sees you and is building you up. Pastor Eric will remind you today that you cannot go where God wants you to go without being stretched. It is tiring. It is painful. But you can rejoice and have joy because it still means God is moving you to where He wants you and He knows you can do it.
For a season, you’re excited about God, eager to live out the truth that you’ve learned...in obedience. Then, you begin to drift away…and once again come back to Him. Today, Pastor Eric will examine this vicious cycle that the Israelites were caught up in, and see how we can adjust our own patterns as we seek to obey the Lord.
Most people who join a sport don’t want to sit on the bench. They want to be a part of the action, a part of something… working towards a common goal. So, why sit on the bench as a Christian? You can’t do much from the sidelines, but you can join the team of believers working to bring Jesus to the world.
What happens to an orchestra without a conductor? The musicians can’t all hear or see each other, and they lose their way. Just as an orchestra needs someone who can see everything and guide their way, a church needs to be unified under the Creator…so they can work harmoniously for His good.
No matter who you are, what your skills or resources are…God is calling to you something. And, as a believer, you can’t ignore it. As Pastor Eric tells us today, it’s easy to get caught up in self-doubt, but God knows what He can do with each of us. He can clear away the fear and doubt so you can start serving for Him.
Pastor Eric asks us “How do you find joy in the middle of a struggle?” When your world is caving in one all sides, is it possible to still have peace and strength? Yes, it is. Happiness is dependent on circumstances. Joy is not. It is something that lives in us and gives us strength to move on when you don’t have the strength on your own.
Whatever you’re going through today, the struggles, the fears, the stresses, God sees you and is building you up. Pastor Eric will remind you today that you cannot go where God wants you to go without being stretched. It is tiring. It is painful. But you can rejoice and have joy because it still means God is moving you to where He wants you and He knows you can do it.
In today’s message from Mark chapter 12, we’ll hear Pastor Terry describe the high intensity scene when the Sadducees attempt to try to trick Jesus with an absurd question. As Jesus answers the religious leaders’ inquiry, He quickly reveals their lack of faith and their ignorance of God’s power. The Lord publically declared that the prideful teachers of the law were wrong about the resurrection. In so doing, He showed that Yahweh is the God of the living and the God of all hope.
