How would you answer the question, “What  is the church?”
 
If you were to say that your church is located on River Ranch Road in Estero, you would be talking about a building.
 
If you were to say that your church runs about 300 in average attendance, you would be talking about a congregation.

If you were to ask somebody if they were in church last Sunday, you would really be talking about a worship service.   
But if you were to say that the church is that living organism made up of all true believers in Jesus Christ, then you would be talking about the true biblical meaning of the church.
 
Many people today don’t see the importance of the church.  Even some professing Christians consider the church irrelevant and archaic in today’s culture.  But the church is very important to Jesus. He loves it (Galatians 5:25), died for it (Galatians 5:25), is building it (Matthew 16:18), and is coming back for it (Galatians 5:27).
 
Over the next several Sundays we are going to be talking about the church – 
·   What it is
·   What it does
·   Why it’s here
·   Where it’s going
 
The question we all need to consider today is this: Am I a part of the church Jesus is building?  Why does it matter? 
It matters because the church is the only thing that’s going to make it through the gathering storm of God’s judgment intact.  
  
Nations will crumble.  Governments will fall.  The universe itself will be shaken.  But the church of Jesus Christ will endure throughout eternity!  Thank God for the church!
 
Pastor Todd 


 

The OT book of Esther is an exciting read. It’s a book full of intrigue, drama, and suspense.  Esther, a member of a conquered and enslaved nation, was miraculously chosen as queen of the Persian empire.  Like Joseph in Egypt and Daniel in Babylon, Esther was suddenly promoted to a position of influence in Persia.
 
Shortly after her appointment, a conspiracy against the Jewish people was revealed to her.  The mastermind behind the conspiracy was the king’s right-hand man, Haman.  Because of a perceived insult by Esther’s uncle Mordecai, Haman determined to exterminate the Jewish people.  Of course, Haman was not aware of Esther’s nationality or her relationship to Mordecai.

The plot thickens when Esther is made to realize she must risk her life to save her people.  The risk was real.  In Persia, people didn’t just walk into the throne room of the king.  To approach the throne without being summoned could result in death.  Oriental kings were very arrogant and finicky.  If they chose to hold out the golden scepter, the life of the uninvited visitor would be spared.  But if not, the intruder would be executed on the spot.  To make matters worse, Esther had not been called to the throne in a month. 
  
Finally, in a desperate attempt to save the Jews from annihilation, Esther approached the throne in fear and trepidation saying, “If I perish, I perish.”  The story has a happy ending.  Grace was extended.  The plot was uncovered.  The Jews were saved.  And Haman was hanged on the gallows he had built for Mordecai.

Even though she was the Queen, Esther was afraid because she didn’t have confidence of access.  She didn’t have confidence to approach the king. But we do!  Hebrews 4:16 is our standing invitation to approach God’s throne of grace with confidence to obtain mercy in time of need.  And Hebrews 10:19-22 extends the invitation again to draw near to the throne of grace with hearts full of confidence!
 
You never have to go before God’s throne in fear and trepidation saying, “If I perish, I perish.”  The golden scepter
of grace is always extended to those who approach God’s throne.  So don’t linger in the outer courts another moment.  Enter in, past the torn veil, into the very throne room of God. Through Jesus Christ, we have access!
 
Pastor Todd

If you read the financial section of the paper or listen to the experts, it appears the economy is slowing down. Stocks are down.  Values of existing homes are down.  Gas prices are up.  So is unemployment.  Everything I’ve read recently tells me the outlook is more of the same.  In the midst of this so-called recovery, the economy doesn’t appear to be recovering.
 
So we turn from the financial reports to the Word of God for some good news.  And we find it in Proverbs 3:10, “So your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.”  That is Solomon’s way of saying your bank account is going to be full and your investments are going to perform well. What a wonderful promise!
 
But before the promise of v10 is the command of v9, “Honor the LORD with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase.”  A problem arises when we want the blessing of the promise, but are not willing to obey the command.  If you want the blessing of v10, you have to obey the command of v9.
 
The command is to give to God first.  Notice, the writer did not say we should wait until our barns are filled with plenty and then give to God.  He said we should give to God first and then our barns would be filled with plenty.  The act of obedience is what triggers the blessing.
 
Honoring God with the firstfruits of all your increase is called tithing.  Why is tithing important?  It’s the primary way we acknowledge that God is first.  Tithing requires faith because it means not just giving to God, but giving to God first before you see if there’s going to be enough money left to cover your financial obligations.  God honors faith,
and He honors obedience.  When we give to God first, He blesses the 90% left so that it actually goes farther than
the 100% would have gone!
 
I honestly believe the way to survive the financial crisis that has hit our nation is to honor God with your money.  Do you want to see a turn-around in your finances?  Then start tithing now.  But Pastor Todd, I cannot afford to tithe.  All the more reason to start.  Along with exercising biblical money principles, tithing is the way out of your personal financial crisis.  Put God to the test on this one (Malachi 3:10).  He will not fail you.  

Pastor Todd

Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the prophet Zechariah uttered this immortal statement in Zechariah 4:6, “’Not
by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts.”  In that chapter the people of God were facing the monumental task of rebuilding the Temple that had been destroyed by the Babylonian army.  Intimidated by the size of the job, the people were paralyzed in a state of inactivity.  They didn’t even know where to begin.

Have you ever faced a task so big, so daunting, and so overwhelming that you didn’t even know where to start?  We look at our limited resources compared to the massive challenge and we wonder how we’re ever going to get through it.  God’s Word tells us how we are going to get through, “’Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts.”  
  
The Sunday Night Prayer Meeting on June 5th was based on this great OT scripture.  Since then, some amazing things have happened:
 
     - $4,000 in increased monthly giving has been pledged to date
    - An additional $15,000 in cash has been received in Generosity offerings
    - Personal testimonies of God’s blessings and provision are coming in
    - Things are moving forward with our lender (Assemblies of God Financial Services)
    - A very healthy dialogue has begun with First Assembly of God, Fort Myers
 
The mountain is moving (Mark 11:23).  Cracks are beginning to appear in the walls of the stronghold (Joshua 6:20).  The Spirit of the Lord is moving in response to the prayers of His people.  
 
When we see the miracle begin to happen, we must not assume the work is done and stop praying.  Now is the time to pray even harder.  We don’t want to repeat the mistake of the OT king, Joash, who settled for a partial victory when God wanted to give him a complete victory (see 2 Kings 13:14-19).  
  
We must not settle for an incomplete victory. As we sense the momentum of the Spirit picking up, let that motivate us
to pray harder and believe even more that God is at work.  If God is able to “make a way in the wilderness, and
rivers in the desert,” He is able to make a way for us.  And He will!    

Pastor Todd

It’s been called one of the best known sentences in the English language. I’m sure you will recognize it:  “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their  Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

The Declaration of Independence talks about the pursuit of happiness, which is important.  The Bible talks about the pursuit of holiness, which is more important still!  Hebrews 12:14 gives this clear direction, “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.”

Just recently millions around the world watched as twenty-two year old Rory McIlroy pursued and captured the coveted U.S. Open title with laser-like precision golf.  McIlroy’s pursuit won him a trophy, a large paycheck, and potentially millions of dollars in endorsements.  Not bad for four days work!
 
But the pursuit of holiness has a much larger prize!  Everlasting life, heaven, eternal rewards, a glorified body, forever spent in the presence of God, and more.  As a matter of fact, the Bible says we cannot even begin to imagine the wonderful things God has prepared for those who love and serve Him in this life.
 
So in your mad dash to accomplish and achieve, don’t forget the most important pursuit of all.  Pursue holiness. The rewards are literally out of this world!

Pastor Todd

In Mark 11 Jesus and His disciples are standing around a dead fig tree.  The day before the tree was alive and well.  Twenty-four hours later it was deader than a doornail and withered up from the roots.  We’re talking dead!  Peter
pointed it out, and Jesus used the occasion to talk about praying with faith.
 
He basically said, “If you think what has happened to this fig tree is amazing, consider this!”  He then points to a nearby mountain and says, ”Whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says” (Mark 11:23).

Two words catch my attention in that verse – whoever & whatever.  The word whoever tells me this promise is good  for any believer who exercises faith. The word whatever tells me that with God all things are possible.
 
The seminal word here is faith.  But it isn’t just faith.  It’s faith in God.  Do we really believe that God can do anything, or do the mountains of life cause us to wonder?  
 
Let’s be honest.  Adversity shakes us.  Troubles cause us to question.  Difficulties result in doubt.  We are made to wonder – Is God really there?  Does prayer really work?  Jesus wants us to exercise mountain-moving faith in God that continues to believe no matter what.
 
To pray with faith we must continually feed our faith.  Faith still comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God Romans 10:17).  When we neglect the Word of God, faith grows weak. But when we regularly feed on the Word, faith grows strong.  
  
As a result, we pray with greater confidence. We persevere and prevail in the place of prayer because we know that God is pleased with those who come to Him in faith, and rewards those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).
 
The next time you are face-to-face with a mountain of impossibility, remember the withered fig tree and the omnipotent Lord standing there using it as an object lesson.  Pray.  Pray with faith.  Pray with expectation.  Because our God can do anything!
 
Pastor Todd 

“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the LORD will not hear.”  That’s what David said in Psalm 66:18.  Even though access has been provided to the throne of grace, sin blocks the way and shuts down the lines of communication.

The word “if” tells me this doesn’t have to happen.  The word “regard” distinguishes between sin that is occasional and sin that is hidden and ongoing.  Sin that is allowed to come in and remain will destroy a person’s prayer life.  A praying man will stop sinning.  A sinning man will stop praying.

What’s the answer?  Confession!  Genuine, heartfelt confession is like spiritual drano!  It cleanses the heart and reopens the lines of communication with God.  So learn the prayer of David in Psalm 19:12, “Cleanse me from secret faults.”  Then you can pray with confidence knowing that God will hear and answer.

Pastor Todd