Sunday, October 1st, 2006

“How Much More of Me Can You Stand? ” (Part 2)

(Exodus 33: 11a, 13, 17-18)

God is up to something magnificent and He wants to prove Himself to us. God wants us to fly higher and the struggles we go through in life are due to our stagnation. God is trying to get our attention with a deep word that falls on our heart. We can't afford to miss what God is saying to us.

Senior Pastor George Dix Jr. continued his series "How Much More of Me Can You Stand?" by reminding us that it's not "How much more of God do you want?" or "How much more of God do you need?" Our God is a true LIVING God. For it is written:

• "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." - (Isaiah 55:11)

If God said it, that settles it! "Just because God said it, it's gotta be right!". God's word is:

• inerrant - never wrong
• infallible - doesn't fail
• immutable - unchanging (ie. it doesn't change to suit your needs or agenda.)

Why is this so? Because God is God all by Himself and He is sovereign. He has already spoken victory in our lives, yet the Devil continues to tell us lies. He deceives us by pointing out our current circumstances. We need to wake up and walk in the dominion authority that God has given us!

"You're not waiting on God. God is waiting on you!"

Pastor Dix used an analogy where the interior of the main sanctuary represented everything that God has for us. Prosperity in our health, our finances, our spiritual wholeness, etc. However, some of us are standing on the outside, although the door is open before us, but we're unable to enter because we're bound by the things in life we won't give up. The Devil continues to lie to us to keep us out of the presence of God, because if we were to get a taste of God's glory, we would see the Devil's lies for what they truly are. We need to tell the Devil, "NO MORE!"

The answer to your current problem/situation (your way up and your way out), is in the Word of God.

• Do you honestly take God seriously?
• Do you believe God is who He says He is?

El Shaddai - The Almighty
Adonai - Our Master
El Elyon - The Most High
Jehovah Tsidkenu - Our Righteousness
Jehovah Sabboath - Commander of the Angelic Hosts

The Devil laughs in our face when we believe his lies. Remember, God "has our back". We need to stop battling God's ability to deliver us and do it HIS way. The next time we're faced with a situation, we need to walk in obedience and confidence. Then, when we make it to the other side of our trial, we won't forget who our God is.

Pastor Dix then asked us another series of questions:

• Is God worthy of more than your praise?
• Is God worthy of your worship?
• Do you know God by more than His name?

As God told Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name."

• Do you have a personal relationship with God?
• Is He worth pursuing or just following?

God wants us to have a craving for Him. We should want to experience God on the Next Dimension (an ever expanding realm of abundant power, glory and provision!).

Our answer to the above questions is embodied in our daily actions. God knows if we're serious or not. Do the people you encounter everyday (at work, at school, at home) know that you love and fear God? If you're tired of going around the same old "mountain", the same old challenges, the same old frustrations, then you have to take God seriously.

In conclusion, Pastor Dix reiterated that God wants to show us His glory, but some of us are not ready. However, when we take Him seriously we put ourselves in a position to see Him.

Quotes of the sermon:

"You're not waiting on God. God is waiting on you!"
“Any good you do in your own name doesn't mean doodily-squat!” - Pastor George Dix, Jr.

Scripture References:

 

Sunday, October 1st, 2006

• Matthew 6:19-21 - Prayer & Scripture (Associate Pastor Alvin Gaither)
• Exodus 33: 11a, 13, 17-18 - "...And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend..."
• Isaiah 55:11 - "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void..."

Sunday, October 8th, 2006

“How Much More of Me Can You Stand? ” (Part 3)

(Exodus 33: 11a, 13, 17-18)

It is often said that we can fool some of the people some of the time, but we can’t fool God at all!  God is all-knowing and He knows when we are real and when we are faking, which is why it is imperative for us to remember who our God is and what His Word stands for.  Pastor Dix reminded the congregation about the status of our God by saying “The same God that delivered the three Hebrew boys from the fiery furnace is the same exact God that we worship today!”

As recruiters for Christ we must know that God’s Word is:  infallible (doesn’t fail), inerrant (never wrong) and immutable (unchanging).

 Pastor’s sermon targeted three groups of believers:

• Those who believe the message would be good news about what God is preparing to do in our lives.
• Those who believe the Word is a divinely inspired commentary about what God wishes to do in our lives.
• Those who believe that the Word served as a testimony about why we’re not experiencing God the way He intended, or the way we desire to experience Him.

Pastor said God is ready to unveil something that we have never seen or experienced. Regardless of what we think ---God is God, whether we believe it or not.  There is a secret in the Word that God wants to unveil.  The secret that must be revealed is something that will transform our lives forever.  However, before unlocking the secret we should ask ourselves a couple of questions. Who are you?  What is your true zeal?

Pastor revealed two secrets that God wants to share with believers:

1. Rest and Tranquility
2. The Answer

God is saying as long as we are in chaos we cannot receive that Word designed to penetrate the pillar of darkness that is purposed to keep us from receiving our answers from God, who stands on the opposite side of the pillar with His arms out stretched.  Pastor Dix reminded us that every time we have a worship experience, read the Word or pray, God is penetrating the pillar of darkness.

In closing, Pastor George posed three thought-provoking questions:

• How much more of God can you stand?
• Will you wait for Me?
• Will you still worship Me when I give you the answer?

Quotes of the sermon:

"God is God whether you believe it or not !” - Pastor George Dix, Jr.

Scripture References:

 

Sunday, October 8th, 2006

• Ephesians 3:20 - Prayer & Scripture (Associate Pastor Sheila Baker-Bell)
• Exodus 33: 11a, 13, 17-18 - "...And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend..."
• Lamentations 3:22 - "It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not...."

Sunday, October 15th, 2006

“How Much More of Me Can You Stand? ” (Part 4)

(Exodus 33: 11a, 13, 17-18)

God wants us to have an experience with Him that is so powerful, that we are forever changed. He is speaking a Word into our lives and we have to have an attentive and eager ear. God wants us to sense Him like never before, so that there is substance behind our worship.

Pastor Dix began this final part of his teaching series by targeting three groups of believers:

• Those who believe the message would be good news about what God is preparing to do in our lives.
• Those who believe the Word is a divinely inspired commentary about what God wishes to do in our lives.
• Those who believe that the Word serves as a testimony about why we’re not experiencing God the way He intended, or the way we desire to experience Him.

There is something about God that He wants to unveil to us. he's greater and more awesome than we know. The more Satan keeps us in the darkness, the less of God we can experience. Satan wants us to have a narrower view of God, and he wants us to live in fear, doubt and disbelief. But again, the Devil IS a liar! For it is written that:

"In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." - (2 Corinthians 4:4)

When Paul wrote to the Romans, he boldly proclaimed :

"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." - (Romans 1:16)

We all need to know the secret God wants to reveal to us and He needs to know that we're serious. Everything changes when we get a fuller view of God.

God Has The Answer

In Pastor George's analogy from last week, where God is standing with the secret in his outstretched hand, we are separated from God by a pillar of darkness, which can only be penetrated by God's word. If we turn an ear toward God, we can receive the answer he has for us.

The secret God has for us is two-fold:

1. God wants to give you rest & tranquility.

If we let the confusion and hectic pace of life consume us, we cannot receive the fullness of God and hear His word. God offers us rest so that we may receive and experience His glory. For it is written:

"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" - (Phillipians 4:7)

Some of us can't sleep at night because we're thinking about all the stuff that we have to endure this coming week. We need to trust in God and He will give us rest, and only by resting in God's peace can we clearly hear God.

2. God wants to give you The Answer to your situation.

Many of us have been struggling a long time, trying to find the answer to our troubles and situations. But only through God can we receive a divine revelation about the answer to our situation, and we can only receive that revelation if we have an attentive ear and apply God's word in our lives.

Pastor George warned us to be careful who we listen to. God is a jealous God. It is the height of audacity to turn our backs to God when He's speaking to us. The Word is being spoken clearly and audibly. We need a "awaken from our sleep" and apply His word. We need "The Answer" from God, that divine revelation that will solve our problems. We can't solve those problems on our own.

God says to us, "I'm trying to give you rest and I'm trying to give you the answer."

For it is written:

"The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law." - (Deuteronomy 29:29)

There is something about God, the secrets of God, an intimacy with God that we must understand. Remember that God reveals Himself to us on His terms, not ours. God reveals himself to us:

• through His Word.
• through His commands.
• through His promises.
• through His acts.
• through His Judgements on the wicked
• through His Deliverance of the faithful

Moses Beholds God's Glory

Moses wanted intimacy with God. He wasn't satisfied with just surface knowledge. God was very upset with the Israelites at this point in their journey (Exodus 33:1-6), but because Moses fervently sought God's glory and reminded God of the relationship they both had, God revealed Himself to him and agreed to be with them during the journey. (Exodus 33:12-23, NIV)

"Lord, I have seen you in your shekinah presence, but I want more of your glory!"

God wants us to have a burning deisre to experience Him. Not just to have the power, but to experience Who the power is. We need to ask less about what we want, and ask more about what God wants. For as long as there is a cloud between us and God, our view is obscured. We may not get our rest and the answer the way God wants us to.

If we are truly honest about wanting to experience God, about wanting a fuller view of Him, if we want to experience His splendor and majesty... if we want a divine revelation of God, here is what we must do:

• become true worshippers (worshipping God for who He is and not just praising him for what He's done.)
• we must know God, and God must know us. God knows us through our actions and how we live our lives.
• we must serve, fear, trust and worship Him.
• we must ask God to show us His way. We need to park everything we are pursuing long enough so that we can ask God what His way is.

God saw Moses' sincerity and although Moses didn't fully know what he was asking of God, God revealed Himself to Moses. He only showed Moses a little of His glory, because to experience God's full glory would be beyond what Moses could tolerate (and still live). God warned Moses that His glory is so powerful that no one can look upon the face of God and live. So God said to Moses:

"There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock.When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by.Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen." - (Exodus 33:21-23, NIV)

In other words...

"If I were to show you my full glory, it would kill you. But if you want to experience more of Me, more than just the smoke and fire, but rather the full splendor and majesty, come stand by Me. I'll show you where to stand. Wherever I say stand, you stand. I will take you to a place where you can experience my glory. I will make it so that you can bear it, and I will be with you all the way."

In closing, Pastor George Dix Jr., reminded us that God wants to show Himself to us and it is through his son Jesus Christ, for Jesus is our 'rock' and our salvation. Call God by His name. God is revealing Himself to us, we just have to ask Him of His will and His way. As with Jeremiah's experience in the potter house (Jeremiah 18:1-6), God wants to reshape us so that we can stand by Him and He can reveal His glory to us. And when we seek God with all our heart, we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13)

Quote of the sermon:

"As long there is a cloud between us and God, our view is obscured.” - Pastor George Dix, Jr.

Scripture References:

 

Sunday, October 15th, 2006

• Exodus 33: 11a, 13, 17-18 - "...And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend..."
• Exodus 33:12-23, NIV - "Moses Beholds God's Glory "
• Jeremiah 18:1-6 - "Jeremiah at the Potter's House"

Sunday, October 22nd, 2006

"Will You Rescue Me?"

(Matthew 25:31-40, Mark 16:15)

Pastor George Dix Jr. began this week's message by reminding us that the Lord has commissioned us to share the Good News and to love one another. Someone is depending on us to be the representative of Christ for them. People have a void in their lives that can only be filled by the love of God. God wants us to be the burning flame for someone who is in serious trouble. The light that shines brightly in a dim dark world. Not everyone who's smiling has joy.

Consider that someone you know, possibly the next stranger you meet, needs "the answer", and your light may be what that person needs. We often get caught up in our own little world. We have forgotten that we are here "only for a moment" and because of that, we sometimes don't put things in perspective. We must be sure that during these "few more days" that we answer God's call when He knocks on our door. For it is written:

"Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me." - (Isaiah 6:8)

Not one of us can afford to ignore Jesus when He calls. Don't get caught up and distracted by the "groove of the day". We need to be on our Father's business.

Why are some of us working so hard to impress others? Jesus came to Earth and was mistreated by his own people. Even some of His closest friends denied and betrayed Him. When the Lord comes back, He's not going to return in obscurity like the first time. His return will be obvious and He will come back in Glory! The only thing that will matter is that we were about our Father's business. Contrary to what you might think, no matter what you have, people will still talk badly about you. Only the things we do for God will last. So if you're in pursuit of "stuff", you'll be in for a rude awakening, because when it all comes down to it, the "pursuit of stuff" doesn't matter.

There are two "Greats" that God gave us:

The Great Commandment

1. "And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might". - (Deuteronomy 6:5, Matthew 22:37)
2. "Love your neighbor as yourself" - (Matthew 22:39)

The Great Commission

• "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" - (Matthew 28:19)

When Jesus returns, we will be judged on how we followed the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.

• Did we love God?
• Did we love our neighbor?
• Did we share the Good News?

Jesus said in Matthew 25:31-40 how he would return and what would matter. When you encounter those in need, minister unto them and help them, and you will have done it for Jesus.

"When I return those who helped others will inherit the Kingdom."

In closing, Pastor George recognized the first group of PASSAGE Partners who are traveling this week to Lousiana to assist in the recovery efforts from Hurricane Katrina. Pastor concluded that PASSAGE is about "Global Kingdom Work", and we are called to be representatives of Christ in the world. Jesus has rescued us time and time again. It's now time for us to return the favor. Will we rescue Him?

Quotes of the sermon:

"The Lord says 'When my children are hurting and suffering, so am I. Will you rescue Me?'" - Pastor George Dix, Jr.

Scripture References:

 

Sunday, October 22nd, 2006

• Psalm 100:5 - Prayer & Scripture (Associate Pastor Eugene "Billy" Phillips)
• Matthew 25:31-40 - "...For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink..."
• Mark 16:15 - "...And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature..."
• Deuteronomy 6:5 - "And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."
• Matthew 22:37-40 - "The Great Commandment"
• Matthew 28:19 - "The Great Commission "
• Isaiah 6:8 - "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me."

Sunday, October 29th, 2006

"Will You Rescue Me?" (Part 2)

(Matthew 9:37-38 , Mark 16:15)

From hunger to homelessness the voice of Jesus crying out “Help Me, please.”

The Jesus that people see in us is often the only Jesus they will see.  Pastor Dix reassured the congregation of God’s desire for us to be a burning flame for the entire world to see!

It is no coincidence that we sit on a certain pew during Sunday morning worship or we end up in a particular line at the grocery store.  It is because God has divinely orchestrated us to be in a certain area so that our lives become living testimonies of God’s power!  

Pastor clearly stated that since planet earth is not our final destination, what matters most is the lives that we touch during this "pit stop".  When our doorbell rings, be it the UPS carrier, a Girl Scout or a family member, depending on how we feel we may choose not to answer the call, but when the other person is Jesus knocking, we must answer!

As we search for things to fill voids in our lives we must remember that the only true answer to filling the void is Jesus.  Sometimes the things that we choose lead to spiritual bondage.  The Devil who is a clandestine (meaning sneaky) operator whispers to us that if we only had two things (sometime more):

1. Money
2. a certain relationship

...that everything we’re going through would disappear.  But the Devil is a liar!  He wants to play the substitution game by getting us and the ones we love hooked on pornography, drugs or even gambling--as long as the distraction is something to get our minds off Jesus.  The clandestine operator does not want us to pray and he surely doesn’t want us to fast or read the Word.  Sometimes that rascal gets us so entangled that when we are ready to come out of bondage we can’t.  It is the enemy’s plan to keep us far away from God as Africa is from Gainesville! Nevertheless we must realize the importance of The Great Commission, by seeing the drug dealers, prostitutes and people in despair as Jesus crying out for help.

Quote of the sermon:

“What you see around you is the voice of Jesus crying help me.” - Pastor George Dix, Jr.

Scripture References:

 

Sunday, October 29th, 2006

• Titus 2:6-8 - Prayer & Scripture (Minister Theresa Gaither)
• Matthew 9:37-38 - "...The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few..."
• Mark 16:15 - "...And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature..."
• Proverbs 4:23 - "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."
• 2 Peter 3:9 - "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise..., not willing that any should perish"
• John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son..."