Mcpherson Free Methodist Church

Pastor David Kessler looks at Luke 2, Jesus began the greatest revival story ever told. Jesus called broken, messed up people to follow him and work with him to change the world as people knew it. He is still doing that today. God loves you no matter who you are or where you've been. God is calling us to work with Him to change the world right where we are. God says, "my power is made perfect in your weakness. My grace is sufficient."

Pastor Zach Fleming looks at Matthew 3:1-6 Repentance- acknowledge our sin, change our heart/mind and returning to Christ. There is a connection between repentance and confession. Confession forces us to repent, because I have to tell someone.

Superintendent Chuck Frankenfeld looks at John 11: 1-44. Do you believe? What do you believe? Jesus is told Lazarus is sick, He sends a message telling Mary & Martha, "this will not end in death". Do you believe? The one who believes in me will live, even though they die... Do you believe? Jesus could have kept Lazarus from dying, but he didn't, so they could believe- they could see! Without death there is no resurrection. Have you died to self, so you can be resurrected in Christ?

Bishop David Kendall looks over Matthew 24: 1-14 In verse 3 of the passage the disciples ask Jesus When will the last days happen? Jesus doesn't answer their question, but he tells them to 1) Be careful so that you are not deceived. 2) You'll hear alarming reports- Don't be afraid, Don't panic. 3) It's the beginning of labor - it's a good thing - You've been planning for this day! 4) You are my followers - what they did to me, they will do to you. In verse 12 Jesus says the love of most will grow cold. To love others will cost you something: Time, money, maybe even your life. Continue to love, the greatest commandment is to love. Those who stand firm to the end will be saved.

David asks the question - Have we ask Christ to join our life, instead of dying to self and Christ living in me? Gal. 2:20 I no longer live, Christ lives in me. The life I live, I live by faith in Christ. Matt. 16:24&25 Take up your cross and follow me. Whomever wants to save his life will lose it, but whomever loses their life for me will find it. What if the failure in my life is the result of I and not the work of satan? What happens when a basic biblical tenet of the faith becomes too much to ask? Have we ask the death of Christ to save us, but refuse to put our old life on the cross?

David shares his heart for prayer. In Revelation 5:8 we see they were holding golden bowls full of incense - which were the prayers of God's people= Prayers of intervention. In Numbers 6 they are standing between the living and the dead= Prayers for peoples souls. In Nehemiah he realizes there are more people against him than for him= Prayer of revival, I'm about to give up. In Acts Paul and Silas are in jail for doing what God told them to do. In Luke 11 we learn kingdom work need to be at the Top of our prayer list. Prayer is not a personality issue, prayer is not a gift. Prayer is a responsibility! We MUST reclaim the roll of prayer in our journey. We MUST start from where we are. We MUST renew our passion to be part of kingdom movement.

Jesus is the Good Shepard and He came to give us life to the fullest. What is Full? When you are less than full, you are more frustrated and less brokenhearted by what's going on around you. You are unable to love those who don't love you. As God becomes first in my life, I become less. Pastor David looks at Gideon in Judges 6, His identity was based on the premise that God had abandoned him. Never mistake silence for inactivity. God is always working behind the scenes.

What is revival? When the normal is interrupted by the Divine. We are to live a spirit led life, showing fruit of the Spirit in our lives, anytime we are not living there, we need revival. In Acts 3:1-19 We are told to repent and turn to God so times of refreshing might come. We need Spiritual Refreshing!

David looks at Elijah's life in 1 Kings 18 & 19 Revival is about the presence of God. Period. Set your sails to catch the wind of heaven.

David looks at Mark chapter 5; There will always be good well-meaning people who aren't ready for Jesus to move in their lives. Then there are those who are desperate for Jesus to move. Who are you in the story? Are you desperate for Jesus to move in your life? You don't care about anything else but the movement of Jesus.

In Luke 6: 12-49 Some people were following Jesus because they Have heard the call on their life to follow the teacher, others were in awe of the miracles, some were following because they were caught up with the crowd, and then there were the religious leaders who were there to keep an eye on this teacher. If I am going to be a follower of Christ, what is expected of me?

David looks at Revelation 3: 17-20 We see that we are a wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked people. Jesus says I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in. He wants to be with us. Then in Matthew 11:20-29 He tells us "Come to me, take my yoke upon you and learn from me. When I turn to the Lord - there's going to be things that have to be left behind, but God will always replace those things with better things. Working in tandem with Christ means my attitudes, actions, thoughts desires align with Jesus.

Pastor David Kessler looks at Revelation 3:14-20 My deeds/ attitudes/ actions are tied to my heart/ soul; the fruitfulness of the church. We are to be healing and refreshing to our community. If we are not willing to have God's rebuke and discipline - we cannot grow where he wants us to.

Dallas preaches on the presence of God. In Deuteronomy 8: 1-5, standing on God's promises means we also do our part. Do we live as though the by-products of God's presence is better than God's actual presence? We fill our lives with stuff, or we're hollow from not connecting with God. Have we forgotten God's presence and just believe we can do it ourselves? Everything we have is from God. As we acknowledge God's presence and we join our presence with Him, then what comes out of that union is our offering. We offer the results back to God.