Thirsty Souls

August 23, 2016

August 23, 2015
Amazing Life Church
“Thirsty Souls”
Greet People
I have really enjoyed the series the last few weeks as I
have focused on dominion and vision. I pray that
something said has stuck in your heart and mind like a
seed and will grow into a powerful walk with Christ. I
pray that you will be stirred in your heart and soul to see
the supernatural take place. I will never leave the theme
for I believe it is the destiny of the body of Christ and
the hope for a dying world. The church must return to
the Gospel of Christ and proving it with signs and
wonders. It is who we are.
With that said there must occur what I call an attitude
adjustment. To move forward in the supernatural you
have to become willing to take risks. Risking your pride
so that God can do great things in you and through you.
Remember that repentance not only means turning away
from your sins and your past. It means changing the
way you think.Page 2
As I get into todays message titled, “Thirsty Souls” it
will not be the path everyone will take. Be clear if you
are one who becomes willing to risk all to see the
supernatural happen. We can not do it without others in
the church holding us up in prayer and support. It takes
every single person in the Body of Christ to be what the
church should be.
Preach
The first thing that will materialize in people who are
willing to risk everything is thirst. Not a thirst like the
one you had before you met Christ. This is a thirst for
more of Him. More revelation, more power to confirm
Him in our world. Let me state emphatically that He
will satisfy that thirst, but it often comes with a cost.
The sons of Korah wrote a very significant Psalm to this
message.
Psalms 42:1-3 NASB
1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul
pants for You, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When
shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night, While
they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”Page 3
Psalms 42:1-3 Message
1-3 A white-tailed deer drinks from the creek; I want to
drink God, deep draughts of God. I’m thirsty for God-
alive. I wonder, “Will I ever make it— arrive and drink
in God’s presence?” I’m on a diet of tears— tears for
breakfast, tears for supper. All day long people knock at
my door, Pestering, “Where is this God of yours?”
The Psalms goes on sharing failure, loneliness,
rejection. It seems they shook themselves in verse 5 by
saying, “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why
have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God,
for I shall again praise Him For the help of His
presence.”
They went on to talk about being in despair and rolled
over by life. They finished this way.
Psalms 42:11 Message
Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are
you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God—soon I’ll be
praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my
God.
Preach-thirsting for HimPage 4
Access to the supernatural can begin with a lonely path.
There is a lot of praying, crying, believing, and
wondering why. It is as it always has been. People
wonder why you are so serious. Why you pray or read
so much. In your life moments they will wonder where
this God is you talk so much about.
Your victories and your dreams will be difficult to
explain and even more difficult for others to understand.
For all of us there is a constant call to make God 1 st in
our lives. I want to take you to Matthew the 6 th chapter.
Please read the whole chapter when you can. Jesus is
doing some amazing teaching. Explaining how to be
real with your faith and your prayers. Revealing the
traps of life and how to avoid them. Within chapter 6 is
the Lord’s prayer that I hope you have been praying
every day. He explains the eye being the light of the
body and how we should be careful what we cast our
eyes upon. He talks about food, drink, and shelter and
shares how the Father takes care of all of His creation.
We should not worry for ourselves because the Father
will provide. Then He makes this remarkable statement
in light of our natural desire to provide for ourselves as
best as we can.Page 5
A passage you are probably very familiar with.
Matthew 6:33 NASB
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and
all these things will be added to you.
Amplified
But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His
kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and
being right), and then all these things taken together will
be given you besides.
I have shared this passage many times so I will not
spend a lot of time with it as there are 2 very important
points I have to make. Just to say this.
“To seek Him first is to pursue God’s dominion in
every aspect of life. The supernatural is all about the
dominion of God and the character of Christ.”
In Mark the 9 th chapter verses 14-29 we find the story of
the young boy who was tormented by demons. His
father had petitioned the disciples to cast them out and
they could not. He came to Jesus and our Lord did some
teaching and reinforcing the power of believing.
Jesus then commanded the spirits to leave and the boy
was made whole again.Page 6
Mark 9:28-29 NASB
28 When He came into the house, His disciples began
questioning Him privately, “Why could we not drive it
out?”
29 And He said to them, “This kind cannot come out by
anything but prayer.”
Now many of us have prayed prayers that have not been
answered but I want you to consider this from these two
passages.
When you pray a prayer that is founded in Biblical faith,
supported with Biblical promises and is relevant to the
Kingdom authority that Christ has transferred to His
church. If your prayer goes unanswered; “It is ok to ask
why.”
Christ will use your desire to grow to teach you how to
be successful in prayer the next time.
Hebrews 4:16 NASB
Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne
of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to
help in time of need.
One more thing.
PreachPage 7
Matthew 11 verses 7-15 record the tribute to John the
Baptist by Jesus. It is verse 12 that interests me today.
Matthew 11:12 NASB
From the days of John the Baptist until now the
kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men
take it by force.
Amplified
And from the days of John the Baptist until the present
time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent
assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious
prize—a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with
most ardent zeal and intense exertion].
In Matthew 21 Jesus is sharing the story of the Father
who sent his 2 sons to the vineyard to work. One said I
won’t go but later went. One said I will go but didn’t.
Matthew 21:31-32 NASB
31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They
said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you
that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the
kingdom of God before you.
32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness
and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and
prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not
even feel remorse afterward so as to believe him.Page 8
Luke 16:16 NASB
“The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John;
since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has
been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
These scriptures are the revelation of Matthew 11:12.
They are showing how the message of Christ was first
to the Jews. It was for the 12 tribes that John came to
awaken and Jesus came to save. They had very little
response to the Kingdom message unlike the worst of
the worst who forced their way past the entitled and and
entered into the kingdom by faith in the message they
heard.
Something about the message that will change lives
and give hope to the hopeless.
Preach

Freshening Up Part 2

August 21, 2016

Freshened Up Pt 2 8 21 16

August 21, 2016
Amazing Life Church
“Freshened Up Pt 2”
“Healed”
Greet People
This week has been sort of a roller coaster week. They
come that way from time to time and I always find God
in them. Even when the days fly by so fast and furious.
It has been the consistent honor for Betty and I to serve
this amazing group of people. I say this all the time. “I
love this church, the local church, and the worldwide
church.” It is the most important institution on the face
of the earth. The hope of the world and the hope of
mankind.
I began a two part series last week. It was not my
intention to do so but information came forth in
abundance. I could actually do a spin off from today’s
message that would take several weeks to finish. I don’t
feel to do that, so I am going to do my best to finish
these thoughts today so I can address another subject.
Bear with me as I share today, ““Freshened Up Pt 2”
“Healed”Page 2
Th Bible has a beautiful way of interpreting itself. I
want to connect some dots this morning that point to my
favorite subject. They begin from words by the prophet
Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 47:1-5 NASB
1 Then he brought me back to the door of the house; and
behold, water was flowing from under the threshold of
the house toward the east, for the house faced east. And
the water was flowing down from under, from the right
side of the house, from south of the altar.
2 He brought me out by way of the north gate and led
me around on the outside to the outer gate by way of the
gate that faces east. And behold, water was trickling
from the south side.
3 When the man went out toward the east with a line in
his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he led me
through the water, water reaching the ankles.
4 Again he measured a thousand and led me through the
water, water reaching the knees. Again he measured a
thousand and led me through the water, water reaching
the loins.
5 Again he measured a thousand; and it was a river that
I could not ford, for the water had risen, enough water
to swim in, a river that could not be forded.Page 3
God is giving Ezekiel a vision of a world changing
event that would take place in the future. This chapter
was written approx. 573 BC. This vision has an
enormous amount of spiritual significance.
Ezekiel is sharing a vision of the beginning of the
church. The water flowing is signifying the Gospel of
Christ.
Zechariah spoke of this water.
Zechariah 14:8 NASB
And in that day living waters will flow out of Jerusalem,
half of them toward the eastern sea and the other half
toward the western sea; it will be in summer as well as
in winter.
St. John in his Revelation saw it.
Revelation 22:1 NASB
Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as
crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the
Lamb.
Ezekiel saw this water spreading forth from Jerusalem
into the surrounding areas. Let’s connect some dots.Page 4
Jesus confirmed this.
Luke 24:47 NASB
and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be
proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning
from Jerusalem.
It was in Jerusalem that the 120 were empowered by the
Holy Spirit to carry the Gospel to all nations of the
world. It’s beginning was confirmed again when the
Apostles were imprisoned in Acts 5. An angel released
them and issued this charge.
Acts 5:20 NASB
“Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the
whole message of this Life.”
The Temple in this form doesn’t exist today. Christ is
the temple with the flowing water. He declared it to the
woman at the well.
John 4:14 NASB
“but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him
shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will
become in him a well of water springing up to eternal
life.”Page 5
Christ has made us a conduit for the continued
channeling of this flowing water.
John 7:38 NASB
He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his
innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’
Ezekiel 47:3-5 speak of the growth of this movement.
From shallow to a river flowing that can not be crossed
for it’s depth and speed. The sons of Korah saw it this
way.
Psalms 46:4 NASB
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of
God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
Where is the temple, the dwelling place of God. Paul
described it this way.
1 Corinthians 3:16 NASB
Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that
the Spirit of God dwells in you?
Amplified
Do you not know and understand that you the church
are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells
permanently in you collectively and individually?
Preach-The Water flows from us!!!Page 6
Ezekiel 47:6-9 NASB
6 He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?”
Then he brought me back to the bank of the river.
7 Now when I had returned, behold, on the bank of the
river there were very many trees on the one side and on
the other.
8 Then he said to me, “These waters go out toward the
eastern region and go down into the Arabah; then they
go toward the sea, being made to flow into the sea, and
the waters of the sea become fresh.
9 It will come about that every living creature which
swarms in every place where the river goes, will live.
And there will be very many fish, for these waters go
there and the others become fresh; so everything will
live where the river goes.
The word fresh comes from the Hebrew word, “rapha.”
It means, “to heal, or to be healed.”
There is something awesome taking place in this vision.
It is declaring the grace of God. Healing the lands, the
people, the waters, the fish, the animals that drink. All
of this is a vision of a thriving Gospel preaching and
believing church. One that is connected to the same
fountain flowing from our Lord.Page 7
Grace is still pressing forward. Grace is an active
principle that heals the broken and the hurting. Forgives
the past and ever moves us towards our destiny.
As the waters increase so do the gifts increase. The
water rises and widens as the Gospel is shared. The gifts
increase as you use them.
Preach-The more you pray, praise, love, and so on.
Let me close with the last 8 words of verse 9.
“so everything will live where the river goes.”
Preach

Living Water

August 16, 2016

8EIGHT

August 16, 2015
Amazing Life Church
“Living Water”
Greet people
I want to thank everyone for your prayers for Betty and
I on our recent trip. It was extremely tiring but it was
also a wonderful blessing.
In studying this week I was reminded with some
insistence about the promises of God. Specifically about
their relevance for today. Promises that define and
activate Kingdom Living in individuals as well as the
local church.
I am talking about Jesus again today. I want to begin by
sharing this. “Jesus became the model for all who
would embrace the invitation to invade the impossible
in His Name.”
In the eyes of His earthly followers it appeared that
Jesus was often taking risk. One such occurrence is
found in the Gospel of John chapter 7.
I want to share some thoughts titled, “Living Water”Page 2
At the beginning of John 7 Jesus is in Galilee and it was
the time of the feast of booths. Or the feast of
tabernacles. This Jewish feast was also called the feast
of in gatherings and it was celebrated after the harvest
time.
It was important because the feast was one of the three
Pilgrimage festivals in which the Israelites would make
long journeys to the Temple in Jerusalem.
At first He was not going because the Jews were
looking to kill Him if He showed up. He sent His
followers and then later went Himself but He did so
secretly.
Around verse 14 He couldn’t resist anymore so He went
into the temple and began to teach. As expected it
caused quite a few passionate responses from the people
in attendance. The feast lasted 7 days.
John 7:37-39 NASB
37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood
and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to
Me and drink.
38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his
innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”
39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed
in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given,
because Jesus was not yet glorified.Page 3
As usual I have some words that need attention. Thirsty,
those who painfully feel their want and long for refreshing,
support, and strength. Drink, to receive into the soul to
refresh and strengthen. Innermost Being or Belly, from the
Greek it is also defined as the place where the fetus is
conceived and nourished until birth.
Preach Preach-New creature
Rivers, means torrent or flood. Living, to be among the
living, blessed endless in the Kingdom of God, to be full
vigor, to be fresh, strong, and efficient. Water, has a figurative
meaning, out of and through which the world was created.
Preach WOW
In John’s Gospel this living water stuff had occurred before
chapter 7 In chapter 4 you will find the story we know as the
woman at the well.
John 4:7-10 NASB
7 There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus
said to her, “Give Me a drink.”
8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy
food.
9 Therefore the Samaritan woman said to Him, “How is
it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a
Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with
Samaritans.)Page 4
10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of
God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you
would have asked Him, and He would have given you living
water.”
Just to remind you from the Greek living and water means
this. “Living, to be among the living, blessed endless in the
Kingdom of God, to be full vigor, to be fresh, strong, and
efficient. Water, has a figurative meaning, out of and through
which the world was created.”
Explain skipping
John 4:19-26 NASB
19 The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a
prophet.
20 Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say
that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.”
21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming
when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship
the Father.
22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we
know, for salvation is from the Jews.
23 But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers
will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the
Father seeks to be His worshipers.
24 God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in
spirit and truth.”
25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He
who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all
things to us.”
26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”Page 5
There are several things I want to share about this lady
beyond the obvious that is commonly shared.
1 st . This conversation with the woman at the well is the
longest recorded private conversation that Jesus had
with anyone.
3 Things He did that He was not supposed to do.
He spoke to her being a woman. She was a Samaritan.
And He asked for water which would have made Him
ceremonially unclean if He had drank from a vessel she
touched.
This woman had five husbands and was living with a
man not her husband.
Let me share some things from church history. Tradition
relates that the Apostles baptized her with the name
“Photine” meaning “enlightened one. She repented after
a very gentle and wise conversation with Christ and
went and told her townspeople that she had met the
Christ. For this, she is sometimes claimed as the first to
proclaim the Gospel of Christ. She converted her 5
sisters and 2 sons and they all became tireless
Evangelists. They were all Martyred together in 66AD
under the persecution of the Emperor Nero.Page 6
She won so many people to the Lord that she was
referred to as “equal to the Apostles.”
I want to read 2 verses again.
John 4:25-26 NASB
25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is
coming (He who is called Christ); when that One
comes, He will declare all things to us.”
26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”
This is a rare time recorded in the Gospels prior to the
death of Christ that He plainly acknowledged He was
the Messiah.
This story has become even more relevant to me than
ever before.
He spent so much time with her, even revealing Himself
to her.
A woman who in the eyes of the world around her had
no value.
It was not value that took her from her tragic life to a
life of greatness in the Kingdom of God.
It Was An Encounter-Preach Preach

Freshenening Up Part 1

August 14, 2016

Freshening 8 14 16

August 14, 2016
Amazing Life Church
“Freshening Up-Part 1”
Greet People
I am continually amazed at the awesome presence and
plan of God. As I look around life and see His face in
people and His grace on their lives I rejoice. It is
amazing what you will see when you walk through life.
Particularly when you see with His eyes of love and
grace.
As a Christian I believe in the blessed hope. The
encouragement that Paul wrote to Titus in Titus 2:13.
“looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the
glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.”
Jesus described this eternal life with Him to the woman
at the well. He used water symbolically to explain.
John 4:14 NASB “but whoever drinks of the water that
I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I
will give him will become in him a well of water
springing up to eternal life.”Page 2
I want to share some thoughts today titled, “Freshening
Up Part 1”
Psalms 92 is an awesome Psalm with an unknown
author. It is titled, “A song for the Sabbath Day” and it
is the only Psalm in the Hebrew text that is designated a
Sabbath Psalm. The Psalm has a focus on worship.
There is a word that came to me as I was asking what to
share this week. The word is , “fresh.” Read the entire
Psalm when you can but there is one verse I want to
begin with today.
Psalms 92:10 NASB
But You have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox;
I have been anointed with fresh oil.
The word fresh from the Hebrew word means, to be or
grow luxuriant. Luxuriant means, rich or profuse in
growth.
The phrase fresh oil Biblically means, fresh
confirmation of abundance of plenty. “Could involve
different things.” EXA.Page 3
Fresh oil was most likely referred to as green oil. Fresh
or green oil direct from the source would have the most
efficient effect. The Bible most often refers to the olive
for the making of oil. Important
Fresh oil was not boiled from the source, it was
squeezed.
Preach Preach-There is no shortcut to the good stuff.
It is accepted by most, myself included, that Song of
Solomon chapter 4, Titled Solomon’s Love Expressed, is
a prophetic account of Jesus and His love for the
church.
Song of Solomon 4:15 NASB
“You are a garden spring, A well of fresh water, And
streams flowing from Lebanon.”
Amplified
“You are a fountain in a garden, A well of fresh and
living water, And streams flowing from Lebanon.”
The word fresh in this passage means, “living, alive.”
PreachPage 4
There have been two basic characteristics that have
dominated the church for generations. Both were told
prophetically in the OT.
Psalms 87:7 NASB
Then those who sing as well as those who play the
flutes shall say, “All my springs of joy are in you.”
“The church has maintained it’s presence in the world
by trusting in the Living Water of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ.” Preach
Secondly
Jeremiah 2:13 NASB
“For My people have committed two evils: They have
forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, To hew for
themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns That can hold no
water.
David wrote;
Psalms 36:9 NASB
For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see
light.
The people of God tend to forsake His principles for
their own.Page 5
Jeremiah 17:13 NASB
O L ORD , the hope of Israel, All who forsake You will be
put to shame. Those who turn away on earth will be
written down, Because they have forsaken the fountain
of living water, even the L ORD .
Fountains are considered to be an inexhaustible supply.
The church has been endowed with a never ending
supply of the freedom and anointing of God.
Yet we build cisterns. Boxes, By its very nature a
cistern, or box, will only hold a limited amount. They
were used to collect water from clay roofs or a clay and
shell soil mixture.
Who would want to drink this tainted water when they
can drink from a flowing fountain.
But wait; even these cisterns will break. They won’t
even contain the tainted water.
Preach-Explanation
This is the very nature of religion.Page 6
I want to close part 1 with an awesome testimony from
the Apostle Paul to the Philippians.
Philippians 4:12-13 Amplified
12 I know how to get along and live humbly [in difficult
times], and I also know how to enjoy abundance and
live in prosperity. In any and every circumstance I have
learned the secret of facing life, whether well-fed or
going hungry, whether having an abundance or being in
need.
13 I can do all things which He has called me to do
through Him who strengthens and empowers me to
fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s
sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to
anything through Him who infuses me with inner
strength and confident peace.
Verse 13 Message
Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through
anything in the One who makes me who I am.
How could Paul say this with such confidence.
“He was drinking Living Water”

I Will I Am

August 9, 2016

7SEVEN

August 9, 2015
Amazing Life Church
Dominion and Vision Series part 7
“I Will I Am”
Greet People
Here I go again trying to fit Jesus in 25 minutes or so. I
am certain that I will have 1 or 2 more messages simply
about our Lord. In our consideration of Kingdom living
and Dominion in our lives we must be clear about the
mission, and enlightened in the Way. Way meaning, “a
course of conduct, thinking, feeling, and deciding.”
I want to share some thoughts today titled, “I Will I
Am”
The phrase I Will is used 1753 times in the OT and 244
in the NT. Obviously not every time was it God or Jesus
speaking. The phrase covered many people and
situations. How ever I want to quickly share a few times
the words I Will were used by Jesus.
In Matthew 8:7 He said, I Will come and heal. Matthew
11:28, I Will give you rest. Matthew 16:18, I Will build
my church. Mark 1:17, I Will make you fishers of men.
John 14:3, I will come again.Page 2
John 14:21, I Will love. Finally John 15:26, I will send
the Helper.
It is comforting to know that the words, I will are so
common in the language of Christ.
Preach
Matthew 8:5-8 NASB
5 And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came
to Him, imploring Him,
6 and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at
home, fearfully tormented.”
7 Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
8 But the centurion said, “Lord, I am not worthy for You
to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my
servant will be healed.
He went on to share his understanding of authority and
it so impressed Christ that He acknowledged his intense
faith.
The word I simply means Me, and the word will means,
“intend, to take delight in, to have pleasure, and
desire.”
Then Jesus said this.Page 3
Matthew 8:13 NASB
And Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; it shall be done for
you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed
that very moment.
I will never understand why people have a problem
believing that God takes delight in doing good things
for those who believe in Him. It is His good pleasure to
say, I Will.
Preach-I Will
Now let’s talk about I am. The phrase I Am is used 742
times in the OT and 271 times in the NT. Again they
were used by different people in different situations
throughout the Word of God.
Jesus said in John 14:6 I Am the Way the Truth and the
Life. Way being, “a course of conduct, thinking,
feeling, and deciding.” Matthew 28:20 I Am with you
always, Matthew 11:29 I Am gentle and humble, John
8:12 I am the Light of the world. John 10:7 I Am the
door of the sheep and John 10:9 I Am the door.
The phrase I Am is defined this way. I means Me or My.
Am means; to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.Page 4
John 6:35-38 NASB
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who
comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in
Me will never thirst.
36 But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do
not believe.
37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and
the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.
38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My
own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
Bread is used symbolically. The Israelites made it in the
form of an oblong or round cake. It was as thick as a
thumb and as large as a plate. The loaves as they were
called were consecrated to the Lord.
I find this interesting about the bread. It was never to be
cut. It was always broken.
This is a picture of Jesus and His death for when what
we call the Lord’s supper took place He said this.
Luke 22:19 NASB
And when He had taken some bread and given thanks,
He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My
body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of
Me.”Page 5
The word hunger is translated to mean, to crave
ardently, to seek with eager desire. The word thirst is
used figuratively to mean, painfully feel their want of,
for things by which the soul is refreshed, supported, and
strengthened.
I want to close with the story of the death and
resurrection of Lazarus form John 11. I will skip
through it to save time but the entire chapter is a must
read when you can.
Jesus and Martha were having a conversation on
Lazarus rising from the dead. Then this occurred.
John 11:24-27 NASB
24 Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again
in the resurrection on the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life;
he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,
26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will
never die. Do you believe this?”
27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that
You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes
into the world.”
I want to spend a minute on the word Resurrection.Page 6
“I Am the Resurrection”
The word resurrection is translated from the Greek word
an-as’-tas-is, and it means, a rising up, rising from a
seat. The root word for resurrection, an-is’-tay-mee,
means, to cause to rise up, raise up, raise up from lying
down. To raise up, to cause to appear, bring forward.
To rise up of those who prepare themselves for a
journey. To arise, appear, stand forth.
He used this term with a much broader meaning than
simply raising Lazarus from the dead. He could do that
because of the power invested in Him by the Father.
What He was telling Martha, and telling us was that He
is right now. I am present, here, available. I will
resurrect you right now. Raise you up, cause to rise,
move you forward, prepare you for the journey. I will
arise, appear, and stand forth in your life right now. You
don’t have to die to be resurrected. Simply die to that
old way of life.
PreachPage 7
On down these words were spoken.
John 11:41-44
41 So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His
eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard
Me.
42 I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the
people standing around I said it, so that they may
believe that You sent Me.”
43 When He had said these things, He cried out with a
loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.”
44 The man who had died came forth, bound hand and
foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around
with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let
him go.”
I found something interesting in verse 44. He came alive
from the dead. Resurrected, but he was still bound.
Preach Resurrected but Still Bound
Lazarus was alive but bound. Have you been saved but
remain bound by your past or addiction.

What Shall We Do

August 7, 2016

What Shall We Do 8 7 16

August 7, 2016
Amazing Life Church
“What Shall We Do?”
Greet People
I love the Lord. His awesome presence. His mercy, and
His grace is not only unconditional but it is humbling. I
love His word. I love the Holy Spirit and His purpose to
reveal Jesus. Revealing Jesus and Kingdom living, as
we read, pray, and listen to that still small voice.
What a plan that God initiated when sin entered the
heart of man. A plan that would redeem, and restore us
to that place in His heart before sin entered ours. Over
thousands of years His plan materialized. Showing up in
some measure from time to time in the lives of Holy
men and women of old.
Then one day,when the time was right the Father’s plan
came to life. In the life of Jesus. Who we are. What the
church is to the world. All of it is measured by our life
in Him. Not measured by our raising, our doctrine or
theology. Not measured by our sins or our failures. Not
measured by our perceived perfection.Page 2
I suspect everyone in here has done something they
wish they had done differently. Something you wish you
had never done. Something that never happened. That
you never had to experience. A word you should never
have spoken. A failure you wish would go away. You
have experienced loss and pain. Lived in guilt and
regret. “We embrace this stuff like it belongs to us.
Like we will never be free from it.”
All too often we neglect that incredibly awesome plan
of God, that is Jesus.
Preach
“Jesus is bigger than………”
I want to share some thoughts today titled, “What Shall
We Do?”
The 10 th chapter of Acts records the story of the
Centurion Cornelius. His vision to send for Peter.
Peter’s subsequent vision to go to meet with him. After
Peter arrived and heard the vision of Cornelius he said
this.
Acts 10:34-35 NASB
34 Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly
understand now that God is not one to show partiality,
35 but in every nation the man who fears Him and does
what is right is welcome to Him.Page 3
Acts 10:34-35 Message
34 Peter fairly exploded with his good news: “It’s God’s
own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no
favorites!
35 It makes no difference who you are or where you’re
from – if you want God and are ready to do as he says,
the door is open.
In my introduction and in this passage there is a
common theme. I call it, “The Right Time”
I love the Greek word that explains these events. It is
spelled, Kairos and pronounced, kahee-ros’. It is used
throughout the NT to describe a period of time. It is
defined this way, “due measure, a measure of time, an
opportune or seasonal time. The right time”
Preach-Jesus revealed at the right time
Preach Jesus revealed to the Gentiles at the right time.
Preach-we are entering on opportune or seasonal
time.
We must not be defined by our need, but by our faithPage 4
John chapter 6 is awesome. Read it when you can.
Within it is this story and exchange with Jesus. He fed
5000 and then left to be alone because of the crowd.
The disciples boarded a boat and headed to Capernaum.
It got dark, a storm blew in and Jesus came walking on
the water. He stepped into the boat and it immediately
reached the shore at Capernaum. Crowds met Him there
and knew He didn’t leave the other shore in a boat.
John 6:25 NASB
When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they
said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?”
Preach-I really believe that if we would open our eyes
of faith in Him, in the midst of life events. Storms,
failures, tragedies, and loss, we would see Jesus. I
speak of the answer we need!!!
John 6:26-27 NASB
26 Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to
you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but
because you ate of the loaves and were filled.
27 Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the
food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of
Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has
set His seal.”Page 5
The word seal is translated from a Greek word which
means, “in order to prove, confirm, or attest a thing.
To confirm, authenticate, place beyond doubt.”
Preach-Jesus
John 6:28 NASB
28 Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so
that we may work the works of God?”
Preach-this was a reasonable question due to the way
these people had been raised. They did the work of God
by observing feasts and festivals. Methods of
purification, forms of service and of abstinence, and so
on.
Christ was teaching on a level that they hod no
foundation to understand. This is why they asked Him,
“What shall we do, so that we may work the works of
God?”
I wonder today has the church regressed backwards.
Have we become institutionalized?
It is defined this way today.Page 6
“to incorporate into a structured and often highly
formalized system” “established in practice or custom.
to make into or treat as an institution.”
Let me preach for a minute. Has our relationship
become about the chair we sit in, the songs we sing, the
time we start, or the time we finish.
Maybe it is time to cry out to God with the same
question recorded in John. “What shall we do, so that
we may work the works of God?”
As always Jesus answered.
John 6:29 NASB
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of
God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
Amplified
Jesus answered, “This is the work of God: that you
believe adhere to, trust in, rely on, and have faith in the
One whom He has sent.”
Work, “that which one undertakes to do.”
There is a work that we must do and it is an effort of the
will. PreachPage 7
The Apostle Thomas said, “To “believe on him,” to
habitually entrust one’s self to the power and grace of
Christ, to make a full moral surrender of the soul to the
Lord, includes in itself all other work, and is in itself the
great work of God. ”
Hebrews 11:6 NASB
And 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 seek Him.
Preach-“What shall we do, so that we may work the
works of God?”

The Way-The Truth-The Life

August 2, 2016

6SIX

August 2, 2015
Amazing Life Church
Domain and Vision part 6
“The Way, the Truth, the Life”
Greet People
I can not tell you how difficult it is to comprise a
message about Jesus that will fit a 25 minute or so time
frame. Where do you start? There are so many places
beginning in the OT. Is He the Shepherd that David
spoke of. The 4 th Man in the fire. Did He step into the
Lion’s den and close their mouths to save Daniel. On
and on we can go and never even get to the New. Isaiah
spoke often of Him.
Isaiah 53:4-6 NASB
4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows
He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for
our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we
are healed.
6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has
turned to his own way; But the L ORD has caused the
iniquity of us all To fall on Him. Preach PreachPage 2
Sharing thoughts titled, “The Way, the Truth, the Life”
John 15:1-11 NASB
1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away;
and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may
bear more fruit.
3 You are already clean because of the word which I have
spoken to you.
4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit
of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless
you abide in Me.
5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me
and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can
do nothing.
6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a
branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into
the fire and they are burned.
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask
whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and
so prove to be My disciples.
9 Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you;
abide in My love.
10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My
love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and
abide in His love.
11 These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be
in you, and that your joy may be made full.Page 3
There are some words in these 11 verses that need some
attention. It is my goal each week to share with you
what God has revealed to me. As always I will do my
best to make it relevant for today. Living is often
difficult. Jesus died to make living a success.
The first word is in verse 1. The word true comes from
the Greek word, al-ay-thee-nos’, and it means, “that
which has not only the name and resemblance, but the
real nature corresponding to the name.”
Jesus said, I am the true vine. The word vine is referring
to the grape vine and the Lord chose this example to
show the Spiritual union which subsists between
Himself and His followers.
The branch is the tender flexible sprout that grows from
the vine and bears the grapes.
Let’s get this picture up to now. The Father owns the
vineyard, the world. Jesus is the vine in the vineyard
and we, His followers, are the branches.
The word fruit is mentioned 6 times in these passages. It
means literally fruit from the vine. Figuratively it refers
to that which originates or comes from something.Page 4
The word abide appears 10 times in this text. It comes
from the Greek word, men’-o, and it means, “to remain,
to continue to be present, to be held or kept, to last or
endure, to survive, to remain as one.”
Preach our union with Christ and bearing fruit as we
remain with Him.
Let me read verse 7 again from the Amplified Bible
John 15:7 Amplified
If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My
words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts,
ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.
When you read this verse you see a covenant
relationship in Christ. God says I will do something as
you do something.
Abide in Him. Keep His words in your heart. When you
do this you will be connected to His thoughts. His
righteousness. You will not ask for things for the wrong
reasons.
James 4:3 NASB
You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong
motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.
In covenant you will ask according to His purpose.Page 5
Let me read verse 11 Again.
John 15:11 NASB
These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may
be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
The root word for joy means, to rejoice exceedingly, to
be well, thrive.
You are gonna love the Greek word translated full. It is
play-ro’-o. It means, “to make full, to fill up, to cause to
abound, to furnish or supply liberally, to complete to fill
to the top: so that nothing shall be wanting to full
measure, fill to the brim to consummate.”
Sometimes depth is found in the most simplistic things.
The deep things of God are not found by reading
between the lines. They are found by listening in prayer.
They are found in covenant with Jesus. The author and
finisher of our faith.
Religion, and the world looks for an explanation.
The simple truth of dominion and kingdom authority is
found in abiding in Christ.
I am not through talking about Jesus. There is more to
come next week but I will close with this.Page 6
John 14:1-6 NASB
1 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God,
believe also in Me.
2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it
were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a
place for you.
3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again
and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you
may be also.
4 And you know the way where I am going.”
5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where
You are going, how do we know the way?”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the
life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
From verse 6 truth is, what is true, and life is, absolute
fulness of life.
The word way deserves some attention. It means
literally, the road. It is used by Christ metaphorically to
say this. “A course of conduct, thinking, feeling, and
deciding.”
WOW
Preach Preach

Normal Redefined Part 2

July 31, 2016

Normal Redefined 2

July 31, 2016
Amazing Life Church
“Normal Redefined-Part 2”
Greet people
What a great week it has been. God’s presence and His
revelation continues to humble and amaze me. Along
with others I feel that God is moving in our midst with a
specific purpose for us, as a unified body.
As powerful and necessary that prayer is the same can
be said for unity. When we learn to pray and join our
prayers together with a unified purpose. There is a huge
wow coming.
I love what God is doing in people. The inner healing
taking place. The prayers for loved ones being
answered. Purpose and destiny being realized. Even for
those who are refusing to admit it.
I say this prophetically. In your mind the doubts and
fears you have are being wiped away one by one. You
are beginning to believe you can do it. You are
beginning to see yourself fulfilling the purpose of God.
“I love this stuff”Page 2
I want to share some thoughts today titled, “Normal
Redefined-Part 2” I had to get some men in this, But
before I do I want to share a passage by the Apostle Paul
to the Corinthian church.
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 NASB
26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were
not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty,
not many noble;
27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to
shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of
the world to shame the things which are strong,
28 and the base things of the world and the despised
God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may
nullify the things that are,
29 so that no man may boast before God.
God has picked a bunch of ordinary people so when the
opportunity comes to redefine normal He will get all the
Glory. Not many very smart, not very strong. Not very
many with exceptional noble birth.
Why? He will use us to shame the wise, shame the
strong, and shame the things that the world deems
important. Preach Normal RedefinedPage 3
In the 1 st 4 books of Acts the church was formed.
Thousands had been saved in 2 sermons. The 2 nd sermon
resulting from the 1 st miracle. The healing of the lame
man on the way to prayer. Peter and John had been
arrested but they reasoned convincingly with the Jews
who had taken them into custody.
Acts 4:13-14 NASB
13 Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and
John and understood that they were uneducated and
untrained men, they were amazed, and began to
recognize them as having been with Jesus.
14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing
with them, they had nothing to say in reply.
Acts 4:13 Amplified
Now when the men of the Sanhedrin (Jewish High
Court) saw the confidence and boldness of Peter and
John, and grasped the fact that they were uneducated
and untrained ordinary men, they were astounded, and
began to recognize that they had been with Jesus.
Preach-Peter and John Redefined Normal
Normal would have been to give the guy a coin or some
bread. With the anointing of the Holy Spirit they
redefined normal. Giving us a goal to strive for. Taking
an ordinary life and doing extraordinary things.Page 4
I want to share some high points in the lives of 3
different Bible characters
Gideon-Judges 6-7 Called to deliver Israel from
Midian. Made every excuse possible. Took 32,000.
22,000 were afraid. 10,000 left. Confronted Midian with
300 carrying pitchers with a lamp inside and a trumpet
for the other hand.
Daniel-6 th chapter Petition other than the king.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego-Daniel 3 rd chapter
There are so many stories in the Bible of ordinary men
and women doing extraordinary things.
Hebrews 11:32-38 NASB
32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I
tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and
Samuel and the prophets,
33 who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of
righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of
lions.Page 5
34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the
sword, from weakness were made strong, became
mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
35 Women received back their dead by resurrection; and
others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that
they might obtain a better resurrection;
36 and others experienced mockings and scourgings,
yes, also chains and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were
tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they
went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute,
afflicted, ill-treated
38 (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering
in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the
ground.
WHY-Because they would not accept normal. In every
instance it was redefined by courage or decree.
Preach Preach
Before I close I want to quickly share one of my
favorites.Page 6
Satan asked permission and received it to test Job. He
lost everything. His kids, livestock, servants,
everything. This is how he responded.
Job 1:20 NASB
20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his
head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped.
Far from a normal response.
Because of His humble response he allowed God to
redefine normal for his life.
Preach-Trust in God
So what happened?
Job 42:10, 12-13 NASB
10 The L ORD restored the fortunes of Job when he
prayed for his friends, and the L ORD increased all that
Job had twofold.
12The L ORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his
beginning; and he had 14,000 sheep and 6,000 camels
and 1,000 yoke of oxen and 1,000 female donkeys.
13 He had seven sons and three daughters.
Preach Normal Redefined

Activate and Pursue

July 26, 2016

5FIVE

July 26, 2015
Amazing Life Church
Dominion and Vision Series Five
“Activate and Pursue”
Greet people
This week when I began to study for this message I
found myself having difficulty narrowing down the
passages needed to continue on in this series. I have so
many places to go and points to make as we move
forward. In four messages I have done my best to relate
the Kingdom of God and it’s importance in our daily
lives. It’s importance to us is crucial in being what we
have been created to be.
As I prayed the Holy Spirit shared with me two words
and one course to follow. The two words are activate
and pursue. The course to follow Is Jesus.
I believe that God wants us to begin to put some
Kingdom Principles into action in our lives.
If you will remember I likened following Jesus with
getting a gift that needs assembly. You have the gift in
it’s entirety but it is not effective when unassembled.Page 2
We have had four weeks of instruction. The knowledge
is there and the purpose is defined. Now it is time to
activate the gifts.
The word activate is defined this way, “to make
something active or operative, to set in motion.”
The key to activate your gifts and your Kingdom
authority is found in one word. Faith
There are a lot of modern definitions of faith and I
found one I loved.
“a conviction of the truth of certain doctrines of
religion, esp when this is not based on reason.”
Hebrews 11:1-2 Amplified
1 Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title
deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of
things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality
[faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the
senses].
2 For by [faith—trust and holy fervor born of faith] the
men of old had divine testimony borne to them and
obtained a good report.
This is a very simple process that has a distinct
beginning in our lives.Page 3
To save time I want to read again from the Amplified
Bible.
John 1:12-13 Amplified
12 But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He
gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become
the children of God, that is, to those who believe in
(adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name—
13 Who owe their birth neither to bloods nor to the will
of the flesh [that of physical impulse] nor to the will of
man [that of a natural father], but to God. [They are
born of God!]
Paul confirmed this again.
2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature;
the old things passed away; behold, new things have
come.
The word creature is amazing. It implies a new species
which would seem to be what the passages in John are
describing. The word from the Greek actually means,
the act of creating. It implies process. The root word
means to completely change or transform.
Preach-Now that you are activatedPage 4
Now that the Kingdom principles are activated in our
hearts there comes the second word God spoke to me.
Pursue.
Once faith is activated then we must pursue. Pursue
today means, to follow in an effort to overtake or
capture.
Psalms 34:13-14 NASB
13 Keep your tongue from evil And your lips from
speaking deceit.
14 Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and
pursue it.
Peace comes from the Hebrew word, shaw-lome’. It has
a very broad meaning which includes, “completeness,
soundness, safety, welfare, health, prosperity, quiet
tranquility, and contentment.”
The word seek comes from a Hebrew word which
means, “require and desire.” The word pursue
translated means, “to pursue ardently and aim eagerly
to secure.”
Preach Preach PreachPage 5
Peter echoed this same charge in his first letter.
1 Peter 3:10-11 NASB
10 For, “T HE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE , TO LOVE AND SEE
GOOD DAYS ,
M UST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM
SPEAKING DECEIT .
11 “H E MUST TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD ;
H E MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT .
Seek, strive after, to crave. Pursue, “to pursue, to seek
after eagerly, earnestly, and endeavor to acquire.”
I love the word peace. It is translated from the Greek
word, i-ray’-nay, and it means, harmony, security,
safety, and prosperity. It also implies this regarding
Christianity. “So sure of your salvation that you fear
nothing from God!!!”
Preach Preach-relationship, gifts, callings, destiny,
purpose, is still all for His glory and honor.
In Matthew the 6 th chapter Jesus is preaching a short
sermon. It is all about the things we worry about every
day. Food, water, clothes, and how God loves us and
wants to supply our every need.Page 6
He then says this.
Matthew 6:32-33 NASB
32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for
your heavenly Father knows that you need all these
things.
33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness,
and all these things will be added to you.
Seek, strive after, to crave. Kingdom, royal power,
kingship, dominion, and rule. the royal power and
dignity conferred on Christians in the Messiah’s
kingdom.
So what about the word righteousness? It comes from
the Greek word, dik-ah-yos-oo’-nay, and it means
broadly, “the state of him who is as he ought to be.”
It also has a more expansive meaning. It means, “virtue,
purity of life, correctness in thinking, feeling, and
acting.”
Like Him Like Him
Preach-”thinking, feeling, and acting.” Like Him
Pray for gifts and dreams. Next week all about Jesus!

Normal Redefined

July 24, 2016

Normal Redefined 7 24 16

July 24, 2016
Amazing Life Church
“Normal-Redefined”
Greet People
I love the church. God’s amazing plan and purpose for
the world generation after generation. I love this church.
Amazing Life Church has been given a huge
responsibility in His Kingdom. The call and anointing to
pray is paramount, “chief in importance or impact” to
changing the world we live in and enjoying the
supernatural presence of God. Moving us beyond our
perceived limitations and believing for what appears
impossible.
For several weeks I have felt challenged by the Holy
Spirit to move beyond our limitations and begin, at least
prayerfully, to challenge the status quo. Beginning to get
our thoughts and our prayers aligned with His will and
His greatness. I may not be speaking to everyone, and
that’s ok. It has always been a call for the few yet even
the few need the prayers and support of all.
Preach
I want to share some thoughts today titled,
Normal-Redefined.Page 2
I need to share this before I begin. As I was preparing
this message I asked Betty what her favorite Biblical
story was. She replied with 3 names. Betty being a
romantic all 3 fit that bill. Yet they are also the very
essence of redefining normal. Let me quickly share a
thumbnail of these 3 incredible women of God.
Abigail-husband Nabal “1 Samuel 25”
Esther-saved her people
Ruth-Great Grandmother of David
Today normal is defined as, “conforming to a standard,
usual, typical, or expected”
2 antonym’s of normal are exceptional and
extraordinary.
Preach-moving from the normal to the exceptional,
the extraordinary
The word normal is only mentioned twice in the NASB.
So I will be using relevant examples of instances where
people moved beyond normal into the extraordinary, the
exceptional. First JesusPage 3
Matthew 12:9-14 NASB
9 Departing from there, He went into their synagogue.
10 And a man was there whose hand was withered. And
they questioned Jesus, asking, “Is it lawful to heal on
the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse Him.
11 And He said to them, “What man is there among you
who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath,
will he not take hold of it and lift it out?
12 How much more valuable then is a man than a
sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
13 Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand!”
He stretched it out, and it was restored to normal, like
the other.
14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against
Him, as to how they might destroy Him.
The word translated normal in verse 13 has an
interesting meaning from the Greek word, “hoog-ee-
ace” Initially it means, “to make one whole,to make one
sound in body.” That would seem to fit this event. The
same Greek word is used metaphorically this way,
“teaching which does not deviate from the truth.”
Taking it a little further, and I love this. It is translated
from the Greek root word, owx-an’-o.Page 4
It means, “to increase, become greater, to grow or
increase of a multitude, or of inward Christian
growth.”
Let me read verse 14 again.
“But the Pharisees went out and conspired against
Him, as to how they might destroy Him.”
Religion doesn’t like deviating from normal. Religion
will contain you in a box and discourage you from
having an exceptional, or extraordinary, relationship
with Christ.
Preach Preach
Luke 7:36-39 NASB
36 Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to
dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and
reclined at the table.
37 And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner;
and when she learned that He was reclining at the table
in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of
perfume,Page 5
38 and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she
began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping
them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and
anointing them with the perfume.
39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw
this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He
would know who and what sort of person this woman is
who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.”
You know this story. Jesus told the story of the two
debtors and forgave this woman. This was not a normal
response. Her humility was exceptional and her faith
extraordinary.
Preach-“Religion has no room for sinners.”
I love the story of the Syrophoenician Woman found in
Matthew 15 and Mark 7. You know it well, I have
mentioned it often. Jesus had a plan, a commission, a
time line and this woman was interrupting it.
Matthew’s version records this after her passionate pleas
for her daughter.Page 6
Matthew 15:25-28 NASB
25 But she came and began to bow down before Him,
saying, “Lord, help me!”
26 And He answered and said, “It is not good to take the
children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
27 But she said, “Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on
the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”
28 Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, your faith is
great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her
daughter was healed at once.
Her passion ignored the rejection. It would have been
normal to walk away. She ignored the normal protocols
and gave an extraordinary response to Jesus and His
refusal to help.
Mark 14:3-9 the story of the woman and the alabaster
vial of very costly perfume.
Preach
You know my love for John the 4 th chapter and the
woman at the well.
Preach Preach-Exceptional and extraordinary

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