Nuggets of Truth
- April 2007Each week we will archive the synopses of the message presented by our Senior Pastor George Dix, Jr. At the beginning of the following month, we will archive this page and a new page will be presented in its place.
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Last updated: Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Matthew 26: 36-39, 42
As we enter the season that we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Pastor George highlighted the mental and emotional anguish that Jesus experienced prior to gaining victory over death, hell and the grave. Pastor Dix reminded us that Jesus was a mortal man on a divine mission; who was 100 percent man (as you and I are today) yet 100 percent God!
Jesus identifies with our emotions, whether they are feelings of anger, hurt, or disappointment. And although Jesus knew His fate, nothing could prepare Him for the spiritual separation from His Father as He faced death. He knew that the cup mentioned in Matthew 26: 39, 42 was a cup filled with agony, suffering and spiritual separation. This separation was the ultimate storm in Jesus’ life. Even though, he performed many miracles (healed the sick, made the blind see, cast out devils and raised the dead), He had to perform one last major miracle for the sake of saving humanity.
When Jesus took Peter, James and John with him to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray (Matthew 26:36) and they were found sleeping twice, Jesus was quite disappointed; however, it didn’t keep him from stealing away and praying on His face before the storm. The key verse in Jesus’ prayer prior to experiencing separatio from God and being crucified and was: “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will but as thou wilt" (Matthew 26:39).
Quote of the sermon:
“We need to pray before the storm.” - Pastor George Dix Jr.
Below is a streaming MP3 of the first CD recording of Pastor George Dix Jr.'s message. May you be blessed in the hearing of this powerful Resurrection Sunday message.
Mozilla Firefox users: Click here to download/play the MP3 stream of Pastor's Message.
Quote of the Sermon:
"I'm delivered! I'm not broken! I'm together! I have JESUS!" - Pastor George Dix Jr.
Revelation 1:8,18
Whenever we enter into the House of God we must remember that the Devil is counting on us leave church without hearing a Word! It is through this act of deception that he sets us up for snares that often meet us as soon as we leave the sanctuary. Pastor Dix reminded us that as believers we must ask ourselves, exactly how we are impacting the world around us to make a positive difference. It is through the Word that we receive fuel to keep our spiritual tanks full, to go that extra mile to share the gospel. When we speak it, expect it and experience it we are moving to our MANIFESTED VICTORY (when God reveals, discloses and illustrates) His purpose for our lives! The first principle of manifested victory is our unlimited praise, which does not allow our circumstances to determine how or when we praise God!
Manifested Victory!
1. Unlimited Praise - Praise God at all times, through all things and situations 1 Thessalonians 5:16 rejoice evermore Matthew 21:9
2. Pray His Word (Daily) - Research scripture for your given situation Mark 11:24 (finances) Philippians 4:19
3. Obey What You Know - Repent, Forgive, Fast, Giving, and put on your spiritual armor (and anything else that you know to do that is in line with God’s word)
4. Let My LIFE Manifest HIS Rightful Placement as #1 Put NO one else before GOD Matthew 22:37
5. Take Up Your Cross as Jesus Did (kingdom work) Kill all things in your life that create an obstacle that prevent you from doing kingdom work. Philippians 2: 7-8
6. Read and Meditate on HIS Word (Daily). Be sincere. God and HIS word are one
7. DON’T WAIVER
Do these things for the next 90 days and see God MOVE!
As we reflect on resurrection Sunday, we must not forget that the white cloth draped around the cross represents Jesus’ empty tomb! Furthermore, Jesus didn’t leave His promise for anyone else to fulfill. He returned to make good on His promise, and like Arnold Schwarzenegger (The Terminator)… He came back! Forty days after his resurrection there were 12 appearances of our beloved Jesus. He showed himself to prove that He had indeed gained VICTORY over death, hell and the grave! 1 Corinthians 15:55 reads: "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" In closing, Pastor Dix reminded us that death was swallowed up by VICTORY!
Quotes of the sermon:
Isaiah 54:17
Pastor George Dix began his sermon with a moment of silence in honor of the victims and the families of the Monday, April 16th, 2007 tragedy at Virginia Tech. Pastor George also compelled PASSAGE partners to "become our brother's keeper" by praying for them and the trials that they face. When we position ourselves to hear a Word from God, we become sensitive to the needs of others. Therefore when we stand on the Word of God, we're standing on a solid foundation. The converse of that is, if we're not standing on the Word of God, we're not standing on much at all.
God's word is settled (established and sure) in Heaven, and when we apply the word in our daily lives, we discover that God NEVER fails! His word is infallible (never fails), immutable (never changes), inerrant (always true).
As believers we must remember,
As we prepare for battle, we must be aware that there two weapons (tools) that Satan uses against us:
We must never forget that God's word is our Sword, and that God's Word stands by itself.
In closing, Pastor Dix shared three key reasons not to worry:
Lastly, Pastor George reminded the congregation that God has never lost a battle. (Psalm 46:1-5)
Quotes of the sermon:
Hebrews 4:16
Luke 18:1
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Pastor Dix asked the congregation to reminisce on a time when we were infants, toddlers, pre-teens or even adolescents, on the time when we would not accept any old thing. We just didn't surrender or throw in the towel. We went after the thing we wanted.
Pastor said it's now time for us to develop a Holy Indignation (a righteous anger) because:
"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force." - Matthew 11:12
The enemy is on the attack. He's stealing our children, taking our finances, cripping our bodies and we must ask ourselves these questions:
As soldiers in combat, we must remember that "greater is He who is within us, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4) and "...thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57).
If you are going to have God's promises, the only way to get them is through a personal relationship with Jesus! We must engage Heaven in our earthly affairs, and pray His Word. For in the "Our Father" Jesus tells us to pray that "God's will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven" (Matthew 6:10). Nothing in Heaven looks like lack, death, or desperation and that's how it should be here on earth.
In closing, Pastor reminded us that we are already healed:
"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." - 1 Peter 2:24
When we pray in Jesus' name, we need to understand why. Jesus gives us access to the Father. Our healing, finances and deliverance have Jesus' name on it!
Quote of the sermon:
“Sometimes we wallow and cry, but that won't get us out of the pit."
"We must stop flying with the chickens and start soaring with the eagles.” - Pastor George Dix Jr.
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