Overcome

Excerpt below written by Pastor David for July church bulletin;

 “for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” John 5:4,5  A true Christian is someone who believes Jesus is the Son of God! To believe in Jesus divinity (equality with God) means one has been born of God. This kind of faith is supernatural and victorious. Because of eternal life in Christ Jesus we overcome. The world will end but we will live on in worship, wonder and awe in His glorious presence.    

 “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God boldly.” Acts 4:31  Without question the first century church overcame many challenges to their faith. An obvious correlation to their effectiveness was prayer, united prayer; “they” prayed where “they” met and “they” were filled and spoke boldly. Jesus and the early church exemplify the key to an overcoming life.

Finally, “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.” John 16:33  Jesus is our peace. He is the reason we can overcome the world. He is the reason we can handle any trouble that comes our way. Let’s be obedient to His Word. He tells us to abide in Him. He tells us to follow Him. Let us be true and faithful to our Lord this summer. Because He lives, we live also! Because He is victorious, so are we! May the month of July be a time for you and I to grow as “overcomers”.

Not Psychoanalysis, Pharmaceuticals or Self-Help Programs

It’s another great day in the neighborhood!

Waking up to beautiful Florida weather is not nearly as satisfying as waking up to the beautiful Savior’s words,

“Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me, 

In my Fathers house are many mansions; if it were not so, 

I would have told you . I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:1-2

A troubled heart left unchecked will give rise to a troubled life, a troubled home, a troubled world. The answer is not in more psychoanalysis, pharmaceuticals, or self-help programs. The answer is in the One and Only Prince of Peace.

Jesus said, “Let not...” These two words point to the responsibility we have for allowing things into our hearts and the conditions they produce. You and I have a choice to let trouble come and cling to us or to let God in Christ come and calm us. Trouble comes in various ways. Often it has to do with “news we do not understand or agree with” such as was the case with His disciples.

What is the news you have heard that troubles you? Does it have something to do with health,employment, family, marriage, finances, or church? Is it spiritual because you don’t seem to be in the place that others in Christ are enjoying? Whatever the case may be “Let not...”. Once the Lord offers us a choice and the authority to make that choice then it is up to us to “Let not...” and then to “Believe also...”

Believe in Jesus! I guarantee you any trouble in your heart will disappear faster than a shooting star when you put your trust in God, in God’s Son and in God’s solemn Word. Jesus does not want you to think on disappointments or discouraging news. He immediately directs the thoughts of His disciples on their future. “I go to prepare a place for you”.

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth, 

For you died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 

When Christ who is our life appears, 

then you also will appear with Him in glory.” 

Colossians 3:1-3

God’s will for us is to have a healthy heart! Be glad you are in the place where He has you on earth. Be even more glad that He is preparing a far better place for you in heaven. Give Him glory and sing aloud! Jesus Christ is Lord!

It’s another great day in the neighborhood because great is the Love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord!


With All Love & Joy ~ Pastor David

Don't Be Limited to the Here & Now

What does faith have to do with joy? Everything!

The man Paul, whom God used to write almost half the New Testament, was
known for singing and leading a cruel Roman guard to Salvation while chained
to a wall in a cold, damp jail in Philippi. There is no question of his
faith in Christ and the obvious joy he exuded in the most strenuous of
circumstances. Paul made the bold comment, "follow me as I follow Christ".

It was Paul who wrote to the church in Philippi, while imprisoned in a cold,
lonely cell, these amazing words,
             "Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say, rejoice" (4:4)
Paul was able to rejoice and call others to rejoice because Christ was more
precious and more powerful to him than having comfortable circumstances.
Rejoicing in Christ the Lord takes faith. Without it, our tendency is to
focus on the negative and rely on ourselves. This tendency limits us to the
here and now instead of the eternal glory of God and future reward that
awaits those who trust Him.

Jesus promised us a divine joy that is full and complete. The personal
condition for the realization of that kind of joy is simply to abide in Him.
That is, be in Him, in union, in submission, in obedience, in love.

If you are hearing the Word of Christ in your heart saying, "abide in Me",
"remain in Me", then take a moment to seek Him.

He is the perfect One and does not need to change, I do. I ask Him all the
time to change me, conform me, and make me more Christ-like.

O how He loves you and me. He is worthy!

~ From, Pastor David ~

The Only Thing That Counts

My wife reminded me, for the 7th or 8th time, that I had better get started this year on my Faith Thoughts of theDay. I deliberately waited until after prayer week I was involved in because I wanted to hear from the Lord and receive fresh faith thoughts from Him. I have to say the reading of Psalms and Proverbs to begin 2013 was a huge lift to my spirit and an adrenaline rush to my worship life.

To begin the first faith thought of the year, I choose Galatians 5:5,6 “But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. THE ONLY THING THAT COUNTS IS FAITH EXPRESSING ITSELF THROUGH LOVE.” (capital letters used for emphasis only). Christ is our righteousness! Our faith in Christ saves us but life does not stop there. As long as we live, Christ’s command is to love one another.

Love is patient. To love is great gain, to diminish love brings darkness and strife."If we understand love, we will see it’s general absence today and understand the social conditions which are the result of it’s absence. Without love we lose the will to live. Our mental and physical vitality is impaired, our resistance is lowered, and we succumb to illness.” Dave Grant
God’s family is a love family. If you love someone you will not gossip about them; you will not steal from them; you will not covet what they have. If you love someone you will rejoice in their success and mourn with them in times of loss. Love is the fulfillment of the whole law.

If we step in love we will not step in sin. One step out of love is a step into sin. Since faith expresses itself through love then faith must be carefully fed and cultivated. We feed our faith through the Word and prayer. Love is the outworking of a a healthy, God-revering, Spirit-anointed faith. There is not a more excellent way than that of faith, hope and love! The greatest of these is love because God is Love.

“Lord turn our gaze upon thy cross, counting all else not gain but loss; For this we pray, this is our plea – Lord keep our eyes on Calvary.” Amy Carmichael (1867-1951) We see the horror of man's sin and the holiness of God’s love revealed in the Cross of Christ. “God made Him who who had no sin become sin for us that we may in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” II Corinthians 5:21
So apply it. Take time to worship Jesus and to reflect on His cross. The cross is the place we die to sin and live a new and holy destiny. Thank Him for His salvation. Go out and do the "love thing" now. Show someone the kind of love Christ has shown you and the purity of God's love given to you.

Pastor David

Because of Whose I Am

Despite the constant bombardment of bad news from around the world,
God is still God! The Lord Reigns now and forever!

In fact, all that is occurring in our world at this very moment was foretold long ago and given to the apostle John in a vision on the isle of Patmos. This vision is called the Revelation of Jesus Christ because it is meant to inform Gods people and prepare them for what must soon take place! In fact, all that is occurring in our world at this very moment was foretold long ago and given to the apostle John in a vision on the isle of Patmos. This vision is called the Revelation of Jesus Christ because it is meant to inform Gods people and prepare them for what must soon take place! Have faith in the Revelation of Jesus Christ!

Though there will be much devastation in the world in the years to come, especially during the great tribulation, we know at the same time exceedingly great and precious promises of God for the church will be fulfilled.

Have faith in the Redeemer, Christ the Lord!

Like the song goes:
“It’s not because of who I am, It’s not because of what I’ve done;
But because of whose I am.”

As you go about purchasing items for Christmas exchanges, household repairs and decorations, or the usual food supply you need to live on , remember who purchased you with His own life!

God is God, especially for those who call on Him in faith, hope and love!
Pastor David

Switched On

Switched On

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden:” Matthew 5:14

This is a remarkable affirming word Jesus gives to His followers. It has to do with purity, authority and influence.
You are a light in your world. Together, we are a light to the whole world.

Marcia and I were walking through our neighborhood last night. The properties which caught our immediate attention were those which had Christmas lights shining on them. 

I wanted to see the lights up close. We were drawn to them instead of the homes which 

had no lights at all. One home had soft Christmas music playing from one of the 

motorized reindeer. Pretty clever.

Here are a few thoughts about “light” you can carry with you through the day.

1. A single sunbeam is able to drive away many shadows.

2. Light, even though it passes through pollution is not polluted.

3. I don’t have to light all the world, just my part.

 

You are what Jesus says you are!
He is the Light of Life in you!

No need to force a light to shine, just turn the switch “on”. 

By faith in Christ we shine as lights in the darkness!

Be blessed!

Pastor David DiPietro Jr.