Be Filled to Pour Out

By Tony V. Hammack

Abundant Life Today Media
	Podcast: Play in New Window | Download To watch the video, click here.

These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video.
The obvious purpose of being filled up is to be poured out.

We tend to focus a lot on the being filled part but not so much on the being poured out part. Today we’re going to look at both ideas with an emphasis on being obediently and joyfully poured out for Jesus.

Poured out like a drink offering.

Philippians 2:17 & 2 Timothy 4:6

A Drink offering is an offering that pre-dates the law and is to be accompanied by other offerings. It was to be strong wine (pure drink) and represents a type of joy at the finished work of Christ. I believe Paul is saying, in reference to being poured out like a drink offering, that his life is being poured out in obedience to God and it’s bringing God, Paul, and the people joy.

I just want to remind everyone, there are no hearses with trailer hitches. We have one life to live and it soon will pass. Only what’s done for Christ will last.

He is no fool who gives up what he can never keep to gain what he’ll never loose.

James 4:14 (Amplified)
Yet you do not know [the least thing] about what may happen tomorrow. What is the nature of your life? You are [really] but a wisp of vapor (a puff of smoke, a mist) that is visible for a little while and then disappears [into thin air].

Being poured out includes the idea of willing sacrifice. We see in 2 Timothy 4 that Paul has willingly laid down his life and the joy this gives God is now imparted to Paul. Willful and obedient sacrifice brings great joy to the individual carrying out this mission when God’s revealed the outcome of the sacrifice to the individual.

Hebrews 12:2
For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Bible tells us to be filled five times in the New Testament. Ephesians 3:19 is the passage we’re going to focus in on. This filling just isn’t for our benefit, it’s for the benefit of others.

In the context of Paul praying for the Ephesian Church, we see this verse as part of his prayer. He prays that they would know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. All the fullness of God is pretty full!!

There is also a relational positioning before God that could be described as “getting under the spout where the glory comes out”. Staying in that place until God touches you and does a work in you. This work in you is vital. It’s been my observation that hurt people hurt people, healed people heal people. We must receive what we need from the Lord in order to be effective for Him in the long term.

To get filled we must ask for the Holy Spirit to fill us. Implied in any infilling is also a pouring out. As we pray to be filled we should also pray for God to direct us as to where we are to pour out.

God is able to refill the poured out vessel but sin separates.

Isaiah 59:1,2
Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened at all, that it cannot save, nor His ear dull with deafness, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.

Luke 11:9-13
9 So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receives; and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; and to him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a loaf of bread, will give him a stone; or if he asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good gifts [gifts that are to their advantage] to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask and continue to ask Him!

Another way to understand this concept is, “you can’t give what you don’t have”.

Acts 3:6-10
6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

I want you to know that the messages I share on Sunday morning with you are generally the messages the Holy Spirit shares with me in my quiet time. So the Lord is calling me to a higher level of joyful sacrifice.  I want to challenge you to pray about how and where the Lord can pour you out. We must first be filled but then it’s time to pour out!

Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

You know, if you are weary in well doing, today is a great day to get filled. Get your spiritual battery recharged.

Other people today may be like the red sea. A flow coming in but nothing going out (except through evaporation) raising the salinity level in your soul so high that nothing can grow. You’re critical, grouchy, and very unhappy.

Other people may have a creek flowing out of their lives but they want a river. Others may praise you but you know God is calling you higher so you’re not satisfied.

Today is a day of increase. God will increase what he’s doing in and through you if you’ll ask Him to.
   

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) and Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) If you can't be with us in person please visit via internet video on Jubilee T.V. If you live in Batesville please tune into KBAP 88.1 FM to listen to contemporary worship music. 

Jubilee Family Church45 Thunderbird Dr. Batesville, AR 72501 (870) 793-9124
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Whatever Happened to the Polarizing Jesus?

By Tony V. Hammack

Abundant Life Today Media
To watch the video, click here.

These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video.
Matthew 10:34-39
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father,     a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— 36     a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’[c] 37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

Polarizing - to break up into opposing factions or groupings.

It would seem that many in the Church today, in an effort to keep or attract large crowds, would avoid polarizing truth due to it’s nature. However, Jesus, the one we’re all following embraced and dove head first into speaking and living a life that polarized people.

Do we polarize just for the sake of being polarizing? No, we have to be people of truth and honestly share the concepts of life from God’s word in love.

Ephesians 4:15
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

Relevance
An Example to Us

• Gaderene Demoniac
• Lazarus
• The Old Testament Prophets
• The Cross

I believe God’s called me to be a pastor but in the midst of this calling is maybe a higher calling to identify things in the Church that will keep her from stepping into her destiny.

Fullness in Christ.
I’m called to identify these issues and challenge individuals and leaders to become more Bible centric and Holy Spirit centric in a church that’s seemingly becoming more and more people centric and thus more and more ineffective at reaching multiple generations for Christ.

Reformation is my goal. If you’ve ever read the book of Acts and thought, “Wow, I don’t see that going on at my Church, but I’d sure love to!” Then you and I are in the same vein of thought. Unfortunately for the Church, it seems that many are content to develop systems that attract people at the expense of experiencing God’s power.

Why polarization? Well, if you want to see a stark contrast between something in the life of Jesus and the lives of many in Christian leadership today it’s this subject. Perhaps if we address this issue it will move the Church of Jesus Christ more closely to the original, Jesus himself, and thus bring about a portion of this reformation.

Many leaders today seem to fear polarizing subjects. Why? Well, by their very nature they divide people. When the goal is to attract as many people as possible to the Church speaking about polarizing truth tends to push against this modern Goal.

Did Jesus want a big Church? YES, YES, YES!!!!! However his methodology was radically different from most anything you and I have ever experienced. Jesus, in our modern Church systems would be considered revolutionary, however we must make every effort to follow his example.

Luke 9:23-26
23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? 26 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

Who polarizes people?

People who are principled. These people operate by a rule or code of conduct that governs their behavior.

People who are cameleon tend to not polarize. Politicians do not want to polarize the electorate because it will cost them votes. Leaders, who want to attract large crowds at the expense of polarizing truth, take on a political flavor that I find unChristlike.

Why would a leader in a Church not address polarizing issues?

• The crowd validates them as a leader
• How many are in your church?
• The money from the crowd is attractive
• The world and many in the Church judge a crowd as successful and with success comes influence / power.

Warning to the Teachers of the Law

Mark 12:38-40
38 As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”

So, in the Church, if we’re not principled but more driven by a motivation to be politically correct lest we offend the crowd will we ever be able to have integrity within ourselves? Will we ever be able to address difficult issues? Will we ever be able to say, this is the direction we’re going to go? We’d love you to come with us but if not we bless you to go a different direction?

Will you also go? Peter and the other disciples couldn’t go because they were on board with Jesus due to the revelation that He was “the Holy one of God”. John 6:53-69

There is no Church in our country that I’ve ever visited and thought, man they’ve got it! There are some very cool things in the Body of Christ in the U.S.A. yet one thing I’ve noticed we seem to be sweeping under the rug are the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. Jesus, built his ministry around manifestations of the Holy Spirit!

John 4:48
“Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”

Jesus Christ the Great Polarizer

The Gaderene Demoniac-
Luke 8:26-40

• For most of us we see this story and see a man who needed help and Jesus helped him and set him free.
• Jesus in this story, because of the supremacy of his Kingdom overturns the kingdoms of darkness.
• People attached to that kingdom will become angry with Jesus when he does this! The demoniac is free but the pigs are dead!!

Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead.
What we see is a great miracle but amazingly not everyone is excited about it.

The Pharisees have turned their hearts against Jesus and consequently the miracle only serves to further harden them against him.

They conclude that now they not only have to kill Jesus but they’ll have to kill Lazarus also because he represents the authority of the kingdom of God over their religious systems. John 12:10

The forefathers of the Pharisees also were guilty of killing the prophets. (Luke 11:47-48) Why would they kill them? Their message was true and polarizing so some people didn’t want to hear it. One way to silence a voice is by killing them.

The Cross

The Cross of Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of what happens to polarizing leaders. Everywhere Jesus went he pushed people into the worship column or the “I hate him” column. I can’t see many people seeing Jesus’ ministry and saying, “ho hum”.

In Conclusion: If any man would come after me, he must take up his cross, deny himself and follow me. What good would it be to gain the whole world and forfeit one’s soul or what can a man give in exchange for his soul.

Take up his cross… stand on principled truth that will polarize.

How about you? How about me? Does our life polarize people like Jesus did or have we conformed to a modern religious system where our main goal is fun and the comfort of people?

Jesus, help our generation get back to the roots of our founder.
   

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) and Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) If you can't be with us in person please visit via internet video on Jubilee T.V. If you live in Batesville please tune into KBAP 88.1 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church45 Thunderbird Dr. Batesville, AR 72501 (870) 793-9124
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The Importance of Miracles

By Tony V. Hammack

Abundant Life Today Media
	Podcast: Play in New Window | Download To watch the video, click here.

These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video.

What is a miracle?
A miracle is when perceived reality gets altered by God in order to demonstrate His supremacy over all things on the Earth. The outcome is repentance and the re-prioritization of people’s lives.

There are many miracles described in the Bible but I’d like to focus on the ministry of Jesus and the miracles he and his disciples were used to operate in. I believe that the same Holy Spirit that filled them is the same Holy Spirit that is promised to us today.

Many in the Body of Christ have re-defined miracles in order to make them a bigger part of their lives. I’m not trying to minimize some of these things just point out that when Jesus walked on the Earth he left us a pattern to follow.
*The miracle of Child Birth, yes this is amazing.
*All the lights turning green when you’re driving down the street.
*Getting the best parking place at Wal-Mart.

Jesus heals an official’s son.

John 4:48
“Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”

In reading this passage one has to interpret the attitude in Jesus' heart.

• Is he saying this is a bad thing?
• Is he saying this is just how it is?
• Is he saying this is a good thing?
• Is it wrong to Believe for Miracles?

Matthew 12:38
38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” 39 He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

The context here is different because the Pharisees were testing Jesus. They were not moved by compassion or love.

If this passage means exactly what it says in any and every situation, every person who asked Jesus to heal their child, servant, or loved one would be wrong and Jesus would be violating his own word here if he went and healed these people. So it’s obviously not an indictment against asking God to perform a miracle in all situations. It is an indictment to ask God to perform a miracle like some kind of show with love and compassion not at the heart of the asking.

Matthew 14:14
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

Galatians 5:6b
The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Is this passage literally referring to Miracles?

John 20:29
Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Well, if you want to make it refer to miracles, by implication perhaps, one could make that connection but I believe it’s literally speaking about seeing the physical Jesus which is a miracle because Jesus was raised from the dead. However, the point isn’t, “Seeing a miracle or wanting to see a miracle makes you less of a Christian.” The point is, there is a blessing for all who believe in the risen Christ but have not seen him in bodily form.

Can one believe in Jesus if they’ve never had any kind of experience? Can a person have no feelings whatsoever about something and still dedicate their lives to this cause? That truly would be strange. I’d have to argue that everyone who calls Jesus Lord has had some kind of experience with God, or they have little to no zeal for the Lord.

Miracles are really under attack in many ideological camps. It’s unfortunate that our circumstances can at times speak louder than our Bibles however this is a large component of the “Fight of Faith” we’re called to engage in.

God using people today to believe for and see miracles is under attack because of unbelief which can sometimes be rooted in trusting other natural solutions to our problems in life.

I thank God for the skills of people who can solve health, financial, family, or whatever problems with natural understanding! Sometimes we need to turn our trust to the Lord, especially if there is no natural solution. It’s unfortunate that people, me included, have an inclination to reach for a natural solution to our problems before we turn to God but this has been the nature of man for a long time. (Woman with the issue of blood Mark 5:26)

A Word on Cessationism

1 Cor. 13:8-12
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

People are afraid of miracles but the testing ground for the miraculous is found in Deuteronomy 13:1-3

Deuteronomy 13:1-3
If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder, 2 and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,” 3 you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Another testing ground for a miracle is in the fruit of the miracle. If someone says they have seen a miracle and then they turn away from God there is a possibility that the miracle was a false wonder. However, a house divided against itself can not stand. (Mark 3:25)
If a miracle is manifested and it causes people to look for Christ, it causes an increased hunger for the Word, it illuminates the importance of the Kingdom of God and thus causes people to re-arrange their priorities putting God first. You want to say the devil did that? That’s pushing foolishness!!

Matthew 12:25
Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.

Miracles can be a fore runner for repentance!

Luke 10:13
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

Now let’s talk about America. If miracles bring about repentance for some nations, don’t you think there’s a high likelihood God wants to manifest his miracles in our day and time?

We as God’s people have to embrace this reality and begin to hear from the Lord; pray, decree, and declare the will of God for our nation and over the lives of people we come into contact with.

Miracles can also harden hearts when the miracles push for an agenda other than the one in the individual who’s hardening their heart. You see this with Pharoah in Exodus 8:32 and you also see it with the Pharisees in many places in the New Testament.

John 20:30, 31
Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Our belief is in Jesus but it’s in Jesus because of the signs that God performed through him, culminating in the resurrection. People are the same today as they were then, they want to see a sign in order to believe. God wants to use you and I to be vessels of honor to release his glory into the lives of people we come into contact with.

   

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) and Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) If you can't be with us in person please visit via internet video on Jubilee T.V. If you live in Batesville please tune into KBAP 88.1 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church45 Thunderbird Dr. Batesville, AR 72501 (870) 793-9124
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You Can Never Fall

By Tony V. Hammack

Abundant Life Today Media
	Podcast: Play in New Window | Download To watch the video, click here.

These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video.

2 Peter 1:10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Thesis: There is grace available to the believer as the believer pursues God. This pursuit will release increasing virtue to the believer and prevent the believer from falling or stumbling away from God.

When I was a younger believer in Christ I can remember how strong the world would pull against my new faith. The things of my past would call to me and try and get me to go back to my old ways. When I came across this passage in 2 Peter 1:10, 11, I was very excited because I realized the only reason I could fall was if I walked away. No one and nothing could snatch me out of God’s hand or will. (John 10:29)

My own spiritual success or failure was not based on random chance or the will of the devil. God had made a way for me to overcome and be fruitful for him.

Victim Mentality:
People with a victim mentality, through their own limiting beliefs, have settled into becoming victims of their circumstances. They feel powerless to make changes in their lives because they think that the elements of their lives are out of their control. Having a victim mentality requires a giving up of most, if not all, personal responsibility. When we allow ourselves to be victims, we are letting the people and circumstances in our lives dictate how we will feel, and ultimately, who we will be.

What is attractive about the victim mentality is that things are not the victims responsibility and there is a certain kind of false security and peace in embracing the idea that, “things are not your fault.” However, this double edged sword will also prevent the person with the victim mentality from achieving and overcoming obstacles that they face.

OK, so we have to confirm our calling and election.

Confirm: to give new assurance of the validity of to make sure we’re called.

Calling: a strong inner impulse toward a particular course of action especially when accompanied by conviction of divine influence

Election: Chosen by God to have eternal life

I believe God doesn’t want anyone to perish and makes a way available for all people through Christ.

2 Peter 3:9b
(The Lord is) not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance

Matthew 18:14
In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

What are the other 8 things we must walk in?

Add to Faith – Goodness – Knowledge – Self-Control – Perseverance – Godliness – Mutual Affection – Love.

2 Peter 1:8
8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We must add to our faith-
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

The Disciples one day after Jesus was teaching on forgiveness specifically asked Jesus in Luke 17:5 to increase their faith!

Speak the Will of God
Jesus immediately started speaking about how to release faith.

Luke 17:6
He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

I believe we have not because we ask not (James 4:2b) or in this case we have not because we aren’t declaring things in faith.

Hear the Message about Christ

Romans 10:17
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

Pray in the Holy Spirit

Jude 1:20

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,

1 Corinthians 14:4a
4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, Prayer and Fasting

Matthew 17:17-21
17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” 21 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer *and fasting.

After adding to our faith we must add to goodness

Goodness - or as some versions put it ‘moral excellence’. It is the ability and desire to stand up for, and display that which is right to a country that is rapidly declining morally.

Knowledge - primarily, a seeking to know, an enquiry or investigation. Knowledge, especially of spiritual truth.

Proverbs 25:2
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.

1 Corinthians 2:7-10
7 No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen,     what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”[b]—     the things God has prepared for those who love him— 10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

Jeremiah 33:3
‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’

Add to your Knowledge Self-Control: restraint exercised over one's own impulses, emotions, or desires

It’s relatively obvious that not every impulse or desire should be acted on. Self-Control will help us to see the ultimate outcome of our choices and empower us to choose correctly. These choices governed by self-control will bring about God’s best for our lives. The list of people who have brought destruction to them selves because of a lack of self-control is immense.

Add to your self-control, perseverance-

Perseverance is a continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition : steadfastness

The best source of perseverance is knowing the will of God for your situation. If you don’t really know what the Lord’s direction, is circumstances will have a big influence in your decision making process. However, when the will of God is settled, the course of action, no matter how clouded with difficulties, will stay at the center of the mind of the person with perseverance.

Acts 5:40-42
His (Gamaliel’s) speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

Add to perseverance godliness-
Godliness, simply put, is having the character and nature of God expressed in and thus through our lives.

Jesus Christ is God

John 14:7-9 7 
If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Jesus Christ is perfect theology. The perfect representation of God. Jesus was perfectly godly, walking in full godliness.

Hebrews 1:3a
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being,

Ephesians 4:11-13
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Godliness is part of the covenant and available to the follower of Jesus Christ.

Add to your godliness mutual affection / brotherly kindness:

The emphasis here is human to human relationships. Feeling a tender attachment or fondness for one another. Being of a sympathetic or helpful nature toward one another. This is brotherly kindness / mutual affection.

Let’s face it, who doesn’t want people to behave this way toward them? The more challenging question is do we behave this way toward others? As Christ is forming in us, we will act more and more this way.

And to mutual affection love – The most excellent way.

We will perhaps visit this subject next Sunday. It’s really too large to do justice to and still be mindful of your time this week.

2 Peter 1:8-9
For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) and Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) If you can't be with us in person please visit via internet video on Jubilee T.V. If you live in Batesville please tune into KBAP 88.1 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church45 Thunderbird Dr. Batesville, AR 72501 (870) 793-9124
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The Power of God is Available

By Tony V. Hammack

Abundant Life Today Media
	Podcast: Play in New Window | Download To watch the video, click here.

These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video.   2 Peter 1:3,4
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a Godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

1. His divine power has been given
2. Everything we need for a Godly life is available
3. It comes through knowledge of Him
4. God has called us by his own glory and goodness
5. Through the promises of God we can participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires

1. His divine power has been given

In a spiritual battle, you on your own, are not equipped. You need God to equip you for this kind of thing. One of the ways God’s divine power has been given is through his word.

A. God has given his word
The Word of God that’s personalized and memorized is the Word of God that can be utilized. The    anointing is not on the chapter and verse but on the principle and precept.

One of the tactics of the enemy is to get you to believe a lie.

John 17:17
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

The Word of God has a sanctifying effect. Sanctify means to set apart to a sacred purpose or to free from sin. To progressively take on the image of Jesus Christ inwardly and thus outwardly with our thoughts, attitudes and actions.

Psalm 119:11
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Jesus wielding the word of God
   *The Lust of the Flesh, Hunger

Matthew 4:4
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Deuteronomy 8:3

The pride of life, arrogantly testing the Lord in regard to a satanic attempt to twist Psalm 91:11, 12

Matthew 4:7
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Deuteronomy 6:16

The lust of the eyes, all the splendor of the kingdoms of the world.

Matthew 4:10b
For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
Deuteronomy 6:13

B. Authority has been given

Matthew 28:18-20
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Authority over satan

Luke 10:18-20
18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

1 John 4:4
4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

2. Everything we need for a Godly life is available

God has made resources available through his Word and by his Spirit to allow you and I to live a Godly life.

There are two main points to living a Godly life.

• Not doing the sinful things you used to do.
• Start doing the Godly things you haven’t been doing.

To generate an exhaustive list of sinful and Godly behavior at this point would take the rest of the day. Allow the Word of God and the Holy Spirit speak to you about the sins you need to let go of and the Godliness you need to pick up. I believe he’s already spoken to you about these issues and he wants you to receive grace so you can become the person He wants you to be. The person you want to be.

3. All these resources come through our knowledge of Him

We must spend time in the presence of God if we’re to have “heavenly downloads” of knowledge.

Revelation knowledge is the foundation of the Church

4. God has called us by his own glory and goodness

We have been called out and chosen by God to be his son’s and daughters. What an incredible privilege and responsibility to be chosen by God!

Colossians 3:12
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Because we’re chosen by God and on the receiving end of perfect love, (1 John 4:18) we should manifest in our lives compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Galatians 4:6
Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”

5. Through the promises of God, we can participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires

We need to know what God has promised us individually. We can know these promises by the Word of God and they should be confirmed by the Spirit of God.  What has God promised you?

When something better is presented it’s easier to let go of what we have or what we’ve been clinging to that is sinful or a wrong way of thinking. When God’s promise for your life is real, a pursuit begins toward the promise and other things that are of a less noble nature tend to fall off or away from you as you start and continue in your pursuit of the heavenly promises God has given you.

Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

Galatians 5:16
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

In Conclusion:

1. His divine power has been given
2. Everything we need for a godly life is available
3. It comes through knowledge of Him
4. God Has called us by his own glory and goodness
5. Through the promises of God we can participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires

Our “job” is to get under the spout where the glory comes out. John 6:29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” Our pursuit of God is a faith pursuit. We are pursuing his heart and there we will find all the empowering knowledge we need in order to live upright and Godly lives!
   

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) and Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) If you can't be with us in person please visit via internet video on Jubilee T.V. If you live in Batesville please tune into KBAP 88.1 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church45 Thunderbird Dr. Batesville, AR 72501 (870) 793-9124
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Abounding in Every Good Work

By Tony V. Hammack

Abundant Life Today Media
	Podcast: Play in New Window | Download To watch the video, click here.

These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video.   2 Corinthians 9:8
8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Outline:
1. God is able
2. All grace abounds to you
3. In all things at all times
4. Having all that you need
5. Abounding in every good work

1. God is able

Now here’s where some of us struggle.

• Can he? Yes, we know he can.
• Would he? Well, not so sure but I suppose he might.
• Would he, for a person like me? (If Jesus knew what kind of a person I was…)
• Would he, for a person like me right now? Jesus might be busy doing something else or God moves in mysterious ways or whatever other story we come up with.

Mark 1:40-42
40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” 41 Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

Indignant - feeling or showing anger because of something unjust or unworthy.

I believe Jesus became angry because of the man’s lack of understanding regarding Jesus nature and mission. I believe Jesus was also angry at what this leprosy had done to this man’s life. He was willing and he was willing right then to do for the leper what he wanted to do or was willing to do.

Is Jesus willing to touch you? I say YES!!

2. All grace to abound to you

This portion of the passage states that there are various levels of Grace and when grace comes it comes in various forms.

Grace to serve others

1 Peter 4:10
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

Grace to operate in Holy Spirit manifestations

Romans 12:6
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;

Grace to overcome ungodliness

Titus 2:11-12
11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,

3. In all things at all times

Where are the limits here? There are none! In every situation and at any time the situations are happening, God is able to make all grace abound to you and me. Power is available for every situation I’m facing no matter when I’m facing it.

John 3:34b
for God gives the Spirit without limit.

4. Having all that you need

1 Timothy 6:6-10
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Godliness with contentment is great gain.

Philippians 4:12
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

We brought nothing into this world and we can take nothing out of it. Our contentment should rest in food and clothing. I believe it’s O.K. to have more than these things but I also believe that if this is all we have we should be content in our heart as we pursue God for the abundance he’s promised.

Having all that you need means you don’t have any lack. Sometimes we may have trouble with step #5 because we’re consuming more than we need and thus are unable to abound in every good work.

I believe sometimes people can have their identity in their accomplishments and things instead of hidden in Christ. When our identity is in our stuff, the stuff has way too much control over our lives.

Money is not evil, having money is not evil. Loving money is evil.

5. Abounding in every good work

Ok, so we have all that we need but if that’s all we have, can we give over and above that? Can we create something from nothing? I would make the point that in order to abound in every good work we must have an abundance above our needs.

Emotional abundance

That abundance can be in the area of our emotional ability to walk with someone through some difficulty.

Spiritual abundance

It can be in the Spiritual realm for healing.

Acts 3:6
Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”

Material abundance

I believe it also applies in the material realm. If you don’t have the resources, you can’t give them. In order to get you and I to abound in every good work, we are going to have to pursue God for these various abundances.

Review:

• God is Able
• All Grace Abounds to You
• In all Things at All Times
• Having all that you Need
• Abounding in Every Good Work

Conclusion:

2 Corinthians 9:8
8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
   

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) and Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) If you can't be with us in person please visit via internet video on Jubilee T.V. If you live in Batesville please tune into KBAP 88.1 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.
 Jubilee Family Church45 Thunderbird Dr. Batesville, AR 72501 (870) 793-9124
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Only One Thing is Needed

By Tony V. Hammack

Abundant Life Today Media
	Podcast: Play in New Window | Download

These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video.
 

God is looking for relationship with you and me. Sometimes we do many other things but this is where God stays. I believe more than anything else, everything Christ has done is to re-establish a relational connection between God and mankind. It’s personal, intimate, special, and established by the work of Christ on the cross.

Hebrews 4:15-16
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

I’ve been battling some kind of virus like symptoms and consequently I’ve been sleeping in weird patterns. I’ve come to have a recurring dream of being with God in a room. All he wants from me is my attention. When I walk out of the room I see all the things going on in the world and so many people who are not giving God their attention. I’ve had this dream 20 or so times since Friday.

From this relational connection all things from God flow to mankind.

James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Luke 10:38-42
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[f] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Martha being a home owner has to take responsibility for upkeep of the property, inside and out. Jesus pegs Martha by saying, “you are worried and upset about many things”. Jesus then praises Mary’s Choice by saying, “few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

God or distractions? How much time do we devote to the distractions? How much time do we devote to communal time with God? I believe the Spirit of the Lord is saying today that he wants us to come up to a higher level of relationship, a deeper level of intimacy.

Mark 4:19-20
19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”

Jeremiah 33:3
‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’

1 Corinthians 2:10
these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

Matthew 6:33
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Ecclesiastes 12:13
13 Now all has been heard;     here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.

Jeremiah 29:13
13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Deuteronomy 4:29 29 But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.

No one but you and God really knows if you’re giving all your heart. I encourage you to give God all of you. In this way he will sweep you off your feet, give you comfort, save, heal, and deliver you.

God can do more work in the heart of a person by his Spirit in seconds than 1000 sermon’s that only speak to a person’s mind. I want us today to dedicate some extra time to giving God our hearts, our whole hearts. Let’s commune with Him.

 

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) and Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) If you can't be with us in person please visit via internet video on Jubilee T.V. If you live in Batesville please tune into KBAP 88.1 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church45 Thunderbird Dr. Batesville, AR 72501 (870) 793-9124

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Releasing the Kingdom

By Tony V. Hammack

Abundant Life Today Media
	Podcast: Play in New Window | Download

Mark 5:36-43

36 Overhearing[a] what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” 37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

• Revelation
• Verbalization
• Manifestation
• Duplication

Spending Time with God/Communion Every expression of God’s Kingdom starts with communing with the Father. He is the source of life and only He has the ability to prompt you to move and empower you in the supernatural. Jesus was empowered with the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:38) and we must spend time with the Father in communion if we are to hear and know his heart.   Why Mary is commended by Jesus (Luke 10:38-42) This is why it’s so important to be a Mary over a Martha. Mary was poised for revelatory and thus supernatural works because of her position. Martha on the other hand was poised for only natural works.   Acts 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.   Jesus would get up very early and go to a solitary place to pray. I believe during this time, According to Hebrews 5:7, “[Jesus] offered up definite, special petitions [for that which He not only wanted [a]but needed]   From this base of communion with the Heavenly Father all other operations were flowing. While praying and studying God’s word, we train ourselves to recognize God’s voice so when he speaks again we don’t wonder if that’s him but we are trained to the frequency of heaven, having courage to step out into what seems irrational.   Revelation - Apokalupto

1. to uncover, lay open what has been veiled or covered up disclose, make bare
2. to make known, make manifest, disclose what before was unknown
 

The Rock of Revelation

 

Jesus is the Christ

 

Luke 2:28-32

28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss[d] your servant in peace. 30For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31which you have prepared in the sight of all people, 32a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

 

Jesus, Fully God and Fully Man

 

The revelation God gives you will often seem irrational to others or even yourself. This is a big test  and many fall away here.

• Are you really hearing the Lord?
• Am I crazy?
• What will people think?
• What if God doesn’t do what I think he’s telling me he’s going to do?

One of the biggest problems with moving out beyond revelation and getting to declaration is having a greater fear or respect for God than you do man. All this can be dealt with through communing with God.

 

Fear of the Lord

It can be taught and thus caught

 

Psalm 34:11

Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD .

 

Psalm 111:10

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.

 

Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools [ The Hebrew words rendered fool in Proverbs, and often elsewhere in the Old Testament, denote one who is morally deficient. ] despise wisdom and discipline.

 

Sin in the life of the believer will “clog” the communication lines between God and you. Sometimes this will make us want to hide in a Martha ministry; working but not wanting to give up sin, maybe even using the good works to justify the wrong position of our hearts.

 

Psalm 66:18

If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;

 

I believe this is one of the primary reasons God hates sin and Jesus told many to stop sinning. God wants a relationship and a clear line of communication with you so he can move you to do his will, even his supernatural will. Everything to God is natural. We are the one’s who separate the natural from the supernatural.

 

Revelation is a Key to Heaven

 

Peter's Confession of Christ

 

Matthew 16:13-20

13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”    14They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”    15“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ,[b] the Son of the living God.”    17Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter,[c] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[d] will not overcome it.[e] 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be[f] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[g] loosed in heaven.” 20Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.

 

Being able to clearly hear God’s voice is the foundation upon which all other kingdom activity must be built. If we are to be a church of power and relevance in a society of humanistic sin, tolerant, and lost people, we must be able to hear God’s voice.

 

Verbalization

 

Matthew 17: 19–20

19Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn't we drive it out?”    20He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

 

So we flow from communion to revelation to verbalization to manifestation.

 

Have you ever heard a referee say, “I call it like I see it?” I have. In life we have two concurrent realities going on. We have the circumstantial realities that most people can see, but then we also have heavenly realities that many don’t seem to see.

 

I believe these last three steps, revelation, verbalization, and manifestation, can happen all together in seconds.

 

God spoke to Jesus and told him by revelation that the Girl was not dead, she was asleep. A very irrational reality from the perspective of all the mourners. So irrational that they laughed at him. He sends them out perhaps because their thoughts, ideas, and feelings about the situation are affecting him.

 

But Jesus verbalized the revelation even though I’m sure his natural mind knew it was irrational. However, he heard the voice of the Father, which trumps rational thought. Jesus is not running his “own program”

 

John 5:19

Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.

 

The girl is raised from the dead when he tells her “Little Girl, I say to you, ‘Get Up!’” At the moment when heaven and earth intersect there is no communal prayer time. That has already happened earlier. There is not one single example of communal prayer in the New Testament that brings about a healing at the intersection of heaven and earth.

 

I’m 100% for prayer. I believe it’s foundational for us to know and recognize the voice and will of God. However, once this is known we should be declaring His plan and will over situations if we want to see the manifestation of Heaven. Not simply lip service but revelatory release. So many in the Body of Christ are not doing this but many are awakening to the supernatural components of the Christian life.

 

Conclusion:

• Communion
• Revelation
• Declaration
• Manifestation
• Duplication

Duplication

Jesus invites three men to be with him during this process. These three men will catch what is going on here to such an effective level they begin to do what Jesus did.

 

Acts 3:3-7

3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.

     

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) and Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) If you can't be with us in person please visit via internet video on Jubilee T.V.

 

If you live in Batesville please tune into KBAP 88.1 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church45 Thunderbird Dr. Batesville, AR 72501 (870) 793-9124

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