Sunday, March 4th, 2007 - 5th Anniversary Celebration - (11:30 AM, Morning Glory Service)

“Tenacity That Takes The Throne ”

Ruth 1:16-18

PASSAGE celebrated its 5th Anniversary today with a special guest, Dr. Alphonso Boone of Breakthrough Church of God by Faith (Memphis, TN).

Dr. Boone pointed out to us that our 5th year arrived in 2007. Isn't it amazing that God gave us grace and favor in the 'Year of the Open Door"? He reminded us that if we're going to 'walk through anything', do it THIS year!

As citizens of the Kingdom, we don't have to fight (as soldiers do). We can petition the King himself by going to the throne. However it's going to take tenacity to get there.

PASSAGE as it is today, was a vision just 5 years ago. Now the vision is "the Throne". Dr. Boone retold the story of Ruth and Naomi and how Ruth's persistence and tenacity were ultimately rewarded by God.

"Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons...." - Ruth 1:1-22

In his message "Tenacity That Takes The Throne", Dr. Boone encouraged us to be tenacious in seeking God. It took tenacity for Pastor George to bring the vision for PASSAGE to fruition. Some people interpret tenacity for arrogance, but when it comes to doing work for God's Kingdom, you can't sit still on a dream or a vision. What does PASSAGE mean? Among other things, it means "to pass through, a journey". To complete a journey, it takes persistence, and steadfastness. People will try to push you away from your vision. If Pastor George had not followed God's call, many of us at PASSAGE who've been saved, may have been saved through another channel. However God works in divine order and our salvation was destined to occur in this ministry.

Not everybody is ready to go to the throne. Ruth followed Naomi and stayed with her, despite the fact that all seemed hopeless. Ruth saw how God moved, and she vowed to follow Naomi as there had to be a purpose to what God was doing. Ruth partnered with Naomi, and partners have a spirit of "can do and will do"! Partners are committed. At PASSAGE, we too have "Partners" and we're committed to the work of the Kingdom.

Emotions don't necessarily move God, but tenacity does. If you believe the vision of God, it will soar you into the blessing, but it will take tenacity to stay there. Ruth's friendship turned into faith. In closing, Dr. Boone asked us this question: "Have you ever waited so long for something that it was too late to leave or there was no reason to quit now, so you might as well wait?". We need to be persistent and tenacious. Tell the Devil to 'hit the road, Jack'.

It's at our darkest point that we can see God. God will be with you when you're weary. So be encouraged. Be tenacious and go to the throne!

Quote of the sermon:

"If you believe the vision of God, it will soar you into the blessing, but it will take tenacity to stay there. " - Dr. Alphonso M. Boone

Scripture References:

 

Sunday, March 4th, 2007

• Psalm 34:1,3 - Prayer & Scripture (Pastor Sheila Baker-Bell)
• Ruth 1:16-18 - ""Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. ..."

Sunday, March 11th, 2007 - (11:30 AM, Morning Glory Service)

“Confess Me or Deny Me"

Matthew 5:14-16 , 10:32-33

The Bible says that the Son of Man will return in Glory. He rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey to demonstrate his humility. The Bible declares that when He returns, it will be majestically, with angels. Although a person cannot be saved based on his/her works, at Jesus' return, we will be rewarded for our good works for the Kingdom.

Pastor George Dix Jr. encouraged us to "let our light shine", so that God's Word, which is alive in us, can be seen by others. Like a city on a hill which cannot be hidden, or a candle on a candlestick, our life should be an example to others. A life which exemplifies our creator and shows sincerity toward the things of God. When it's dark all around, others should see the light of God eminating from us. People should be able to look at us and see that we are moved by something bigger than ourselves. For at the judgement seat of Christ, everything done in Jesus' name is counted. We need to weigh our work for the Kingdom.

Pastor told us a poignant story about how when he was a young man, he worked on a farm gathering peanuts and placing them in a basket. He had to collect a predetermined amount, and at the end of the day, the amount he collected would be weighed. The work was long and hard, so in an attempt to abbreviate his 'suffering', he hid rocks in the basket, so that it would weigh more and he could go home early. Needless to say, his trick was discovered immediately. Pastor's point was this;

We're here for a purpose. We need to be 'about our Father's business', doing good works in the name of Jesus. We need to put ourselves in check and consider how much we have in our 'basket'. Would your basket be full if God were to check your days work? Do our lives confess our love and devotion to God? If God weighed the work we've done for Him vs. the work we've done for ourselves on a scale, which would weigh more?

Pastor then had us ask ourselves this question: Does the way we live reflect God's call on our lives? We should always ask God, "Lord, I want to know what you're calling me to do."

When we obey God in what we do, it shows that we honor and revere Him. If someone observed the efforts you've made, the places you've gone and the things you've done, would they see work done mostly for God, or work mostly for yourself? Remember, only the things for Christ will last. When the lights in the sanctuary are off and the church doors are locked, our daily actions need to reflect our conviction to God.

We need to let our light shine, so much so that when we enter a room, we make a difference. The light of God within you is dazzling and it can make you stand out in the middle of a crowd.

So confess the Lord, don't deny Him. In closing Pastor George reminded us of what Jesus told the Church of Laodicea:

"I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." - Revelation 3:15-16

We can't come to church and confess God on Sunday, but deny Him all the other days of the week. It's time we confess him with our very life! To deny God is to disown Him, to reject Him, to refuse and give up on Him. Don't give up on God. He won't give up on you, for He is always at our side, and will never leave us nor forsake us.

Quote of the sermon:

"Let your light shine in the middle of a crowd! Not just in your quiet time, or in the choir stand, or in the church pew!" - Pastor George Dix

Scripture References:

 

Sunday, March 11th, 2007

• Ephesians 5:15-17 - Prayer & Scripture (Minister Theresa Gaither)
• Matthew 5:14-16 - "You are the light of World ... May your light shine before men... "
• Matthew 10:32-33 - "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven..."
• Revelation 3:15-16 - "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. .."

Sunday, March 18th, 2007 - (11:30 AM, Morning Glory Service)

“Easy Street is not all that it's chalked up to be... Take the High Road "

James 1:2-4,12

Often times when the fire (testing of our faith) gets hot we run, but the Word is loaded with promises and benefits reassuring us that God won’t let our cake burn.  He is the master chef who will take us out of the oven just in time.  So would you rather have cake batter or a fully cooked cake with icing? Pastor George encouraged the congregation by reminding everyone that walking with God isn’t a cake walk  and it’s absolutely nothing like strolling through a bed of roses.  As witnesses for Christ, we must deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Him.  As we lift our crosses, and head down the high road, which is the road of obedience and doing as God calls us to do, we should remember that there is a light at the end of the tunnel accompanied by an eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17). 

We should know without a doubt that God sees what we are going through as LIGHT and TEMPORARY! In today’s terms… a minute! 

Regardless of our imperfections, we must surrender to God as limp clay and allow Him to begin His perfect work in us on the Potter’s wheel  (Jeremiah 18:1-6). As the wheel spins we should begin to believe that the work God is doing in and through us won’t always make sense, but we can rest assured that God’s plan and structure for our lives are ordered by Him.

Quote of the Sermon: “Crying is not going to stop the surgery.”    - Pastor George Dix Jr.  

Scripture References:

 

Sunday, March 18th, 2007

• Matthew 4:18-20 - Prayer & Scripture (Pastor Sheila Baker-Bell)
• James 1:2-4,12 - "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations...Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience..."
• 2 Corinthians 4:17 - "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory"
• Jeremiah 18:1-6 - "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand..."