Mcpherson Free Methodist Church

Am I ready to set my kingdom aside, so God's Kingdom can rule and reign in ALL areas of my life? I am called to be a follower and a servant! If I do this then God's Kingdom is active in my work, my home, my relationships. In 2 Kings 5:1-8 Pastor David looks at a young girls life, when she looks around and everything in her life has changed. There are 2 types of "If only" people, people of blame or people of hope. This young girl is a person of hope.

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near. The kingdom of God is a lifestyle of repentance and faith. Repentance is a call into the kingdom of God. Jesus reign in our lives is more important than we realize, this kingdom is about Jesus dominion, reign, authority and presence. I am to be a servant of submission, surrender, obedience and responsiveness.

Pastor David Kessler looks at Mark 9:30-37 and Mark 10:13 -16 where Jesus is blessing the little children. In the midst of teaching, rebuking, foretelling of future events, parents are bringing their children to Jesus to be blessed. The disciples try to put a stop to it and Jesus rebukes them. Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. What is it about little children that we are to come to God like a child? 1) Profound dependence. 2) Receive without reservation. 3) Image bearers.

Joy that releases your soul: 1) Finds its source in Jesus, 2) Joy is within your reach, 3) Joy is highly relational, 4) Joy listens closely for the Lord, 5) Joy keeps me pliable in the hands of the Lord, 6) Joy that releases your soul leaks out, 7) Joy introduces others to Jesus. How is your joy in your journey?

Pastor David Kessler looks at Psalm 85 written by the Sons of Korah. This family line was known for rebellion, but someone along the line made a turn and they became door-keepers to the temple and part of the Worship-team. We all have turns that happen in our lives, what turn is God asking you to take? Whatever is in your background/ past; God will relentlessly pursue you. He will go ahead of you and pursue you to turn in His direction.

Pastor Zach Fleming looks over Matthew 7: 15-20 Where we see false teachers and prophets seem trustworthy and nice however they will lead you astray. We can know them by their fruit: love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, joy, gentleness, self-control. By keeping our eyes on Jesus we will have good fruit. Witnessing to family and people in church with us is hard - it is easy to hide in plain sight. We assume age or the length of attendance in church or the verbage they use means someone has accepted Jesus as their Savior. Are you hiding in plain sight?

Pastor Dallas looks at the threads between 2 Timothy 1:1-14 and 2:1-10, (1st) It is God's will that Paul be an apostle, teacher and church planter - So are we. (2nd) Paul was entrusting others what he had heard and seen by the laying on of hands, recruiting and teaching - So are we. (3rd) Spiritual truths are passed on through families, whether blood family or spiritual family. Revival brings multiplication. Revival keeps the gospel alive even when institutions and programs cease to exist.

1 Corinthians 15:33 says Do not be misled; Bad company corrupts good character. If we surround ourselves with others of good character to encourage and build up one another won't that have an impact as well? We can be unified in the basics: Virgin birth, Crucified for our sins, Resurrection, Sits at the right hand of God.

John 4:1-42 Jesus is speaking with the Samaritan woman. She is dusty woman from a dusty town. Temporal issues seem to frustrate up more than eternal issues. God didn't give his son to dust us off - He gave him to clean us from the inside out. If you know the gift of God, are you investing in the next generation? Have you picked out someone that is too dusty for God to clean up? There is no one too dusty for God!

If my normal is interrupted by the Divine, what are the side effects? We grow to our environment, we put up boundaries and grow to our boundaries. What if we let God remove the boundaries and we grow into God's environment! In 2 Kings 6: 8-17 Elisha, the prophet and his servant are surrounded. What are their options? What are your options when you feel surrounded? Unless I look to God for His help, I make choices based on myself. God wants us to respond based on His environment. God longs to grow us beyond our boundaries, beyond our vision. He will always EXTRA our ordinary. In Ephesians 3:14 we hear, "Filled to the measure of all the fullness of God".

Pastor David looks at Joshua 1: 5-9 "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid, do not be discouraged." Why is this message repeated over and over? 1) Because God knows what's coming; We often find ourselves in a place of discouragement- situations we don't like, distractions, people, news reports. 2) God knew what was hidden in Joshua's heart - selfishness. "for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." When I lose sight of God with me - self takes over. John 14:15-17 "The Spirit of God lives in you" Acts 2 Pentecost happens - the Holy Spirit came and filled them. The presence of God has always been the key. The presence has always been to lead you, prepare you and to empower you. He wants to fill you with his presence to remove what doesn't belong.

Pastor David looks at 1 Samuel 16:13 the words "from that day on" -- The spirit of God fell and everything changed. We need to have an atmosphere of prayer, to see God move. So we will have a day to say from this day on. Let me make some I believe statements: We have an active role in the eternal kingdom of God. God longs to revive His people and it's relational. The Methodist message is needed in the world today. God moves in the midst of desperation.

Pastor David looks at what Isaiah said in Chapter 57: 15, For this is what the high and exalted one says; God speaks and things happen. He who lives forever and whose name is holy: I live in a high and holy place; We are so far from God and we can't reach him. but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit; God made a way to get to us and wants to be with us in our mess. to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite; To breath life back into you, so you can start over. Every single person that responds in faith - God will lift you up, and empower you to help lift others up.

Pastor Zach Fleming explains that commencement is closing one chapter and opening another. In Matthew 28: 16-20 Jesus has joined eleven disciples on a mountaintop. Jesus tells them that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him and that they are to go and make disciples, baptizing and teaching them everything they have been taught. Everyone is go and make disciples - Shepherds don't make sheep, sheep make sheep.

Pastor David takes us through 2 Kings 7:3-11. To go from profound need (a place of desperation) to having every need met (plenty). What happens in my heart at that moment? Gluttony - something that I desire more than God. Tendency is to hide it or protect it. 3 questions to ask yourself: 1) Am I honoring God? 2) Is it growing me? 3) Is my behavior revealing God's grace to others? Give away what God has given you.

Pastor David takes us through the beginning of 1 Peter, Praise be to God - Praising God because His plan is being fulfilled. In his great mercy - not my performance. He has given us new birth into a living hope - my past is not impacting me any longer, no matter what happens I have a future.In all of this you greatly rejoice - Are we greatly rejoicing? What is getting in the way?? Experience joy in the midst of whatever's going on. God is worthy of our praise!

God works in the most unique ways. God could start a revival that changes the nation in a place no one expects. John 1:43-46 Nazareth was an insignificant place. Can anything good come from an insignificant place? YES - Jesus can! Can anything good come from my life? YES - Jesus can!

Pastor David looks at Matthew 27:62 - 28:15 He looks at the choices the Roman Soldier made and the choice the woman who came to the tomb made.Everyone is living one of two stories: the disciples took the body OR Jesus is resurrected! The resurrection is suppose to impact my life today - How I live today.

Is there something missing in your life? Throughout scripture, every generation has been told to live with it... It's the result of knowing Jesus.....and it brings triumph and joy to your life. What is it? ANTICIPATION. Anticipation gives my life power. The opposite of anticipation is dread, which shows itself as anger, sharpness, criticism.