In today’s service, we delved deep into the essence of worship, understanding it not as a mere suggestion but as a vital necessity in our spiritual journey. Just as daily medications are essential for our physical health, so too are worship, prayer, Bible reading, and fellowship crucial for our spiritual well-being. Worship is not optional; it is critical for our connection with God and our overall spiritual nourishment. Neglecting worship can lead to spiritual malnutrition, impacting every facet of our being. Therefore, we must engage wholeheartedly in worship, allowing God to be in control and experiencing His transformative power in our lives. Worship is not passive; it is a profound connection with God that refreshes us spiritually, physically, and emotionally, akin to hooking a hose to a faucet for life-giving water to flow freely. Let’s not forsake true worship but embrace it as a joyful privilege and a vital part of our Christian walk, enriching our lives and deepening our intimate connection with our Creator.
The message revolves around the profound significance of forgiveness in our spiritual journey. Starting with Jesus’ teachings on forgiveness in Matthew 6:14-15, the text emphasizes the pivotal role forgiveness plays in our relationship with God and others. It delves into the consequences of unforgiveness, likening it to a barren desert that hinders spiritual growth and God’s blessings. The message then shifts to the toxic nature of unforgiveness, drawing parallels to a poisonous substance that corrupts our souls and relationships. Through biblical references and reflections, it highlights God’s model of forgiveness characterized by grace, kindness, and reconciliation. Practical steps to forgiveness are outlined, emphasizing acknowledgment of hurts, letting go of bitterness, prayer, seeking reconciliation, and imitating God’s forgiveness. The conclusion underscores forgiveness as a commandment, a pathway to freedom, and a means to experience the fullness of life in Christ, urging us to embrace forgiveness wholeheartedly for spiritual restoration and abundant blessings.
Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart
Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
A believer’s greatest need is to get into the Word of God regularly and to go to the Lord day by day, especially in the mornings.
Open up to the Lord and begin to pray over the verses.
Reading the Bible must be more to us than a routine or academic pursuit.
We need to actually contact God while we are in the Word.
By getting into the Word in this way, we find it is “living and powerful.”
It begins to operate; it begins to speak.
A word will stand out, a verse will stand out, or a phrase will stand out, and then you begin to pray with what touches you.
That word entering into your heart clears you up inwardly.
“The entrance of Your words gives light” (Psa. 119:130).
You begin to see that you have been in your self–in your emotions, in your reactions, in your pride and hardness.
You have been in your hurt feelings or in your reasoning mind about someone.
You have chosen your own will.
Light begins to dawn upon you, and you become inwardly clear about where you have been.
You get divided.
You begin to see how you have sinned, how you have lived in your soulish life, how you have lived out of your impulses, or how your motive for saying something was altogether impure.
The word divides your soul and spirit, and discerns the thoughts and intents of your heart.
With this dividing and discerning, you begin to repent and confess to the Lord your lack of living out from Him.
As you confess, your spirit rises to the surface of your being (cf. Eph. 5:18-19 with Col. 3:16), and everything becomes crystal clear.
What originates from your soul is exposed to you, and what originates from your spirit is manifested.
There is the realm of the soul and there is the realm of the spirit, and it is the living and active word of God that discovers for us which realm we are living in.
Until Tomorrow
With A Shepherd’s Love,
Pastor Jackson
TUESDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS
Pam Adams Is Passing Of Her Husband
Junior Stephens Family
Tom Graham (Sandra’s Husband)
John McClain’s Mother
Amy Garner
Amy Garner’s Mom & Dad
Andrew Halevi & Daughter
Ashely Burn’s Sisters
Coly/Connor – Allison’s G’sons
Dan Haines
Darlene Wiggins
David Burnette
David Harrison – Riverside
Deanna Fowler
Denise Hulsey – Jordan’s G’mother
Donnie Butler’s Dad
Doris Loyd
Dr. and Mrs. Davis
Drew
Easton Fielder
Ed Mays
Eric Magnusson’s Mother
Eric Ward
Faith Burnette
Freddie May’s Mom
George & Linda Alexander
James Burnette
James Garner’s Friend
Joanie/Jeanie Mom
Jodi Bateman
John Austin
June Cronan’s Sister
Junior Stephens
Kailey Bateman
Kim McClain’s Mother
Krista Hilscher
Larry Barker
Lee Cronan
Lillanna Magnusson’s Mom
Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah
Linda Hodges’ Sister
Lonzo Christin
Lori Blount’s Mother
Mary Sims
Marynell Ford
Maureen Brown
Michael Stanley
Miles Bradshaw
Nora Allison
Pastor & Mrs. Driskell
Ricky Gipson
Rose Fuller – Pruitt-Monroe Nursing Home, Forsyth GA
Roseleigh Osborn
Sandra Graham
Scott Lanier
Soso Nzolo – 17 Yr. Old South African Pastor’s Daughter
Susan & Alexis Tesone
Susan Mosley
Tom Witcher