Select Your Language

February 6, 2011

Cruizin' with Pastor Tony - Forgiveness

Enjoy this weeks "Cruizin' with PT" as I discuss the new world wide internet radio station www.kccjfm.org 106.9 LPFM as well as discussing the subject of forgiveness and bitterness.



If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Christian please click here and watch all four videos on the page. Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or via internet video on Jubilee T.V. If you live in Batesville please tune into KCCJ - 106.9 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.
Jubilee Family Church 45 Thunderbird Dr. Batesville, AR 72501
(870) 793-9124

View Larger Map

February 2, 2011

Ashamed of Jesus and His Words?

By Tony V. Hammack



Abundant Life Today Media
Abundant Life Today Podcast

Podcast: Play in New Window | Download
To watch the video, click here.
Abundant Life Today Video
These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video. 
 

Our Key Scripture

Mark 8:31-38
31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.   33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”  34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

Expository Introduction

I. The Suffering Messiah
v. 31,32 Jesus speaks plainly about the suffering and rejection he was to endure including death and his resurrection after 3 days. Peter decides he’s going to rebuke Jesus about this. The following scriptures have to do, I believe, with Jesus correcting what he sees in Peter's heart.

II. Peter’s Biggest Problem
v. 33 He has a Satanic agenda for Jesus’ life in his heart and declares it out of his mouth. This Satanic agenda is compared to the things of men.

III.   Peter has Misdirected Ambition
v. 34 Peter is being challenged here for not denying himself. It’s relatively easy to see that Peter is seeing himself as Jesus’ right hand man. A suffering and dead messiah didn’t fit with his personal ambition to rule over the Roman empire with Jesus. Peter sees the messiah as fulfilling his complete mandate in Jesus. However we know that Jesus came as the Lamb of God, he will return as the conquering King at his second advent.

IV.  The Paradox of Death to Self
v. 35 You save your (spiritual or eternal) life by losing your (natural) life. Submitting your human will to the will of God. Jesus then states the same thing using the opposite wording. Whoever loses his (natural) life for me and the gospel will save (his spiritual or eternal life) it.

V.   Jesus Reasons with his Hearers
v. 36,37 Jesus now begins to reason with his audience. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his Soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
Again, he’s most likely talking about Peter here. Peter, trying to “gain the world” was going about it in his own way. If we are to gain the world we must seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness, his way.

VI.  Shame of Jesus Identifies us with Adultery and Sin
v. 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
Peter was ashamed to identify himself with a suffering Messiah. He much rather wanted to identify himself with a “winner”.

Application

I. Sometimes God’s ways and Man’s ways are in direct opposition. Even when in the mind of man it convincingly seems good and right.

II. Sometimes this human agenda rooted in selfishness, logic and personal promotion is completely in line with the plans and agenda of Satan himself.

III. The Christian life is a life of self denial. When the Lord tells us to “take up our cross” he’s creating an image of a man, already condemned, required to carry the cross beam of his own cross to the place of execution. Cross-bearing is a willingness to suffer and die for the Lord’s sake.

IV. By dying to ourselves we get to take on the life of God that is truly life. With this dying comes eternal life and God’s purposes being expressed through our lives on the Earth. If we live unto ourselves we will show that we’re not kingdom people and our eternal destiny comes into question.

V. The highest priority in your life should be your soul. What is worth losing your soul over?

VI. We must not allow our own plans and agendas based on human wisdom to cause us to be ashamed of Jesus and his words.

Conclusion

Now because I’m a Trinitarian I believe that Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit are one. So when Jesus says, “ashamed of me and my words” (Mark 8:38), I believe he’s not just talking about the red type in the Bible but he’s speaking about the entire counsel of God’s word as well as the Godhead. Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

A.  How could a person be ashamed of Jesus?
B.  How could a person be ashamed of the Holy Spirit?

A.  Ashamed of Jesus
Our shame of Jesus today would be very similar to the feelings that Peter had. Which one of us wants to suffer and die? It’s not an easy pill to swallow.

So we may gravitate toward teaching that focuses more on (from a human perspective) good things. Subjects like
  • Positive thinking for blessings
  • Becoming the best you
  • Achieving your Dreams
  • How to Increase God’s Favor in your life to get what you want
Now I believe all these things are available to the believer but the overshadowing reality here is that we have to be willing to suffer for Christ. That message isn’t popular however it’s central to the life of Jesus and his Gospel. If we’re ashamed to identify ourselves with a suffering messiah we will find ourselves out of proper relationship with Jesus when he comes back.

When Jesus comes back I don’t want him to be ashamed of me. I want him to say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” “You have been faithful with a few things, now become master over much.” “Come into my rest.”

However according to the Lord’s own words in Mark 8:34 there is no such thing as cross-less Christianity. Cross-less Christianity is a Satanic philosophy that will lead many astray. (2 Tim 4:3)

B.  Ashamed of the Holy Spirit
Many churches today prefer to control what happens in services. They will use scriptures like
1 Cor. 14:40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.
To say everything should be controlled.

In using that scripture they tend to forget the entire chapter proceeding it. Even the verse before it, v. 39 says, “39 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.”

Have you ever been in a meeting where you hoped no one gave a message in tongues and an interpretation or a prophetic utterance because someone might be there who would think this was weird and potentially be offended?

If you have then you were ashamed of the Holy Spirit.
God’s plan is to use these gifts to manifest himself. When we squelch these gifts we are saying, “Yes God I know you have a plan but I think I’m a little smarter than you. We’re going to do it my way.”

God help any ministry that doesn’t encourage the manifestations of Holy Spirit when the body of Christ is gathered together in his name. The Holy Spirit is God.

Tongues need to be interpreted. If you are going to pray out loud in a meeting in tongues where unbelievers are present you have a responsibility to interpret what you say. If you don’t have an interpretation pray in tongues in your mind or so quietly no one can hear you.

1 Corinthians 14:23,28 23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.

2 Timothy 1:8
So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.
Revelation 19:10b
For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”

If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Christian please click here and watch all four videos on the page.

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or via internet video on Jubilee T.V.

If you live in Batesville please tune into KCCJ - 106.9 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501

(870) 793-9124

View Larger Map

January 28, 2011

Cruizin' with Pastor Tony (January 27th, 2011) - Can a Christian have a Demon?

By Tony V. Hammack

To watch this short video please click here.




If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Christian please click here and watch all four videos on the page.

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or via internet video on Jubilee T.V.

If you live in Batesville please tune into KCCJ - 106.9 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501

(870) 793-9124

View Larger Map

January 26, 2011

The Church will Rise

The Valley of Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37:1-14)

By Tony V. Hammack

These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video. To listen to the audio message "The Church will Rise" (podcast), Click Here. To visit the Abundant Life Today You Tube Chanel Click Here.

Ezekiel 37:1-14
1 The hand of the LORD was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3 He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”    I said, “Sovereign LORD, you alone know.”  4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! 5 This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath[a] enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’” 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone.  8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.  11 Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel.  13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.’”

Introduction

Ezekiel lived during a time of international upheaval. The Assyrian empire began to crumble under a resurgent Babylon. In 612 B.C. the great Assyrian city of Ninevah fell to a combined force of Babylonians and Medes. Ezekiel was among the Jews exiled to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar in 597 B.C. Ezekiel was of a priestly family. More than any other prophet he was directed to involve himself personally in the prophetic utterances.

For the first 7 years of his ministry 593 – 586 B.C. Ezekiel faithfully relayed to his fellow Jews the harsh, heart-rending, hope-crushing word of divine judgment: Jerusalem would fall (Chapters 1-24) Once news was received that Jerusalem had fallen, Ezekiel’s message turned to the Lord’s consoling word of hope for his people – they would experience revival, restoration and a glorious future as the redeemed and perfected kingdom of God in the world. (Chapters 33-48)

The Book of Ezekiel centers around the unfolding of God’s saving purposes in the history of the world –from the time in which he must withdraw from the defilement of his covenant people to the culmination of God’s grand design of redemption.

What did Ezekiel 37 mean to the original listeners?

I. v. 1 The Hand of the Lord. This phrase is repeated six times in the book of Ezekiel and indicates an overpowering experience of divine revelation. It’s probable that this is a vision the Lord is showing Ezekiel “by the Spirit of the Lord”.

   A.  Ezekiel has turned a corner in his ministry and has begun to deliver a message of hope, where he had previously heard God’s word of punitive judgment.  The Dry Bones symbolizes Israel’s feeling of hopelessness and ultimately lifelessness due to them being in exile in Babylon.

II. v. 2 “A great many bones” would symbolize the whole community that was in exile. Ezekiel describes them as “very dry”. The drier the deader.

III. v. 3 The question from the Lord “can these bones live again?” and Ezekiel’s answer. “O sovereign Lord, you alone know.” Good answer!

IV. v. 4-6 Ezekiel had a history of prophesying to inanimate objects. (Mountains in 6:2; 36:1 forests, 20:47) Now he’s instructed to prophecy to the dry bones and he does by saying “I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.” The conclusion the bones will draw after the life comes into them is, “you will know that I am the Lord.”

V. v. 7,8 Ezekiel is obedient to prophecy to the dry bones and in response God causes a rattling sound as the bones came together, bone to bone. This is followed up by tendons and flesh appearing on them and skin covering them, however there was no breath in them. This vision of God re-creating God’s people recalls the two-step creation of man in Genesis 2:7.
Formed from dust then the
breath of life.

VI. v. 9,10 Ezekiel is now instructed to prophesy to the breath. The Hebrew word interpreted breath can also be interpreted wind or spirit. Ezekiel calls the four winds to bring the spirit. The number four stands for completeness and is used over 40 times in the book of Ezekiel. This prophetic act is to make the once dry bones live. The bones are now alive and considered “a vast army.”

VII. v. 11 The bones are the whole house of Israel. The house of Israel has been saying something about itself.
  1. Our bones are dried up
  2. Our hope is gone
  3. We are cut off
VIII. v. 12-14 The imagery shifts from a scattering of bones on a battlefield to a cemetery with sealed graves. The Lord will bring the people back to the land of Israel, and the people will then again know that “I am the Lord” because he’s opened up their grave like situation and given them their land back.

What Ezekiel 37 Means to us Today

I. When the hand of the Lord comes upon us we see reality the way God sees it, not merely based on circumstances.

   A.  There are generally two responses to life’s circumstances. We can amplify what we see with the words  of our mouth or we can declare the Word of the Lord. How we respond determines the outcome.
  1. Mark 11:23 - “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.
   B.  Peter saw who Jesus was and declared it out of his mouth in Matthew 16:18. Jesus turned to him and declared, “I will build my Church on this kind of knowing”.
   C.  This knowing is further explained as a way to “build up the church” in 1 Corinthians 14:12. Prophecy as well as tongues with interpretation are listed as gifts that build up the church.
  1. Prophecy is forth telling and foretelling the will of God. Speaking the plans and purposes of God.
  2. The Word of the Lord has the power to create life and hope in a place of death and hopelessness.
II. Nothing is too hard for God. (Is. 59:1, Mark 10:27)Even if everyone is going the wrong direction, or if everyone has lost hope, if everything is religious and dead, a prophetic voice raised in obedience to God will cause everyone to respond, finding their proper place in the Body of Christ.

According to recent surveys1, 83 percent of Americans claim to belong to a religious denomination, 40 percent claim to attend services nearly every week or more, and 59 percent claim to pray at least weekly.

1Robert D. Putnam and David E. Campbell; American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us. (2010) Ch. 1 at note 5

However…
When asked 9 questions
  1. Is your faith very important to you today?
  2. Is there a literal devil?
  3. Is Salvation based on grace not works?
  4. Do you have a personal responsibility to share your religious beliefs?
  5. Is God the top priority of your life?
  6. Do you believe that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth?
  7. Do you believe the Bible is totally accurate in all of it’s teachings?
  8. Has your life been greatly transformed by your faith?
  9. Is God the all-knowing, all-powerful, perfect deity who created the universe and still rules it today?
Baby Boomers (Born 1946-1964) – 34 % Evangelical
Generation X (Born 1965-1984) 16 % Evangelical
Generation Y (Born 1985 to 2005) 8 % Evangelical
The Next Generation (Born 2006 – 2025) ? % Evangelical

III. There is something powerful about prophesying Godly things. However it’s best to prophecy the spoken, specific word of the Lord. Ezekiel could’ve wanted the bones to live and thus began to speak to them. However when asked, “will the bones live?” Ezekiel responds with “you alone know the answer”.
  • Dr. Kenneth E. Hagin once said, "Faith begins where the will of God is known.“ In essence Ezekiel is saying, “tell me your will regarding these bones”.
What this shows is that we should declare the word of the Lord not the word of _____________ (insert your name).

Good can be the enemy of God. A religiously minded person will have a hard time with that statement.

Matthew 7:21-23
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

1 John 5:14,15
14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

James 4:3
3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

IV.  The Lord will have us declare prophetically and He will move accordingly so people will draw a conclusion about Him; That he is the Lord.

   A.  Timothy 2:3b,4 God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

   B.  1 Corinthians 14:24,25 24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 25 as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”

V. When we declare the word of the Lord, God will keep his word and do what he said he’d do. We are responsible to declare the Word, but God does the supernatural work. Sometimes it may happen in stages.

   A.  Mark 8:22-25
22 They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”  24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” 25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.

When Oral Roberts is used of God to heal this boy with Polio notice the healing is progressive.  It takes a little time






VI. Our obedience to prophetically and with persistence declare the Word of God about situations has the potential through God’s power to turn the worst of random death like situations around to life and organized purpose.

A.  The foolishly reinforced meditation of peoples circumstances can be completely undone by a prophetic word declared under the unction of the Holy Spirit. The people were saying…
  1. We are lifeless
  2. We are always going to be this way
  3. There is no solution, no one can help us, it’s bad
VIII. The Lord will bring the people back to the promised land, God will again reform the Church and make her the glory of the Earth, the expression of his presence,(Acts 2:3) a place that people fear (Acts 5:11-13)and love again. This work of God will cause people to again know that “I am the Lord” because he’s opened up their grave like situation and given them their purpose and thus their destiny back.

The Lord wants to shift the Church in America from being people centered and visitor friendly to being Christ centered and Holy Spirit friendly.

When this happens the Church will stop being a club designed to attract people and start being a force for change in the country that will literally renovate every component of society.
  1. Arts & Entertainment
  2. Business
  3. Education
  4. Family
  5. Government
  6. Media
  7. Religion
If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Christian please click here and watch all four videos on the page.

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or via internet video on Jubilee T.V.

If you live in Batesville please tune into KCCJ - 106.9 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.


Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501

(870) 793-9124

View Larger Map

January 21, 2011

Cruizin' with Pastor Tony (January 21, 2011)

By Tony V. Hammack



Watch this weeks video blog by clicking here.

If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Christian please click here and watch all four videos on the page.

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or via internet video on Jubilee T.V.
If you live in Batesville please tune into KCCJ - 106.9 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church 45 Thunderbird Dr. Batesville, AR 72501

(870) 793-9124

View Larger Map

January 20, 2011

Spiritual Fathers

By Tony V. Hammack

These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video. To listen to the audio (podcast), click here.

Chuck Pierce prophecy over 2011

Leaders now will know how to father and mother a whole new generation that is coming in. This is a time to be healed of your fatherlessness. The lord can heal you sovereignty. God can bring you into an understanding. One is also linked with a new type of strength.





Things a good father will do
  • Rough house
  • Provide
  • Protect
  • Empower
  • Love tenderly and truthfully
  • Discipline to build the child up
  • Correct with the child's best interest in mind
Scripture on Spiritual Fathers

When addressing his disciples, with the Pharisees present, (who were full of hypocrisy) Jesus said,
Matthew 23:8-12
8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

The concept that there shouldn’t be any human authority in the church is not substantiated by Matthew 23:8-12. To me the scripture is speaking to the heart of hypocritical leaders who want to have certain titles of honor because of ungodly pride.

Hebrews 13:17
17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

The issue of honoring people in authority is NOT FOR THE AUTHORITY FIGURE it’s for the person extending the honor.
Matthew 10:41
41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.

Spiritual Fathers
1 Corinthians 4:14-17
14 I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children. 15 Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.
16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

We see the relationship between Paul and Timothy and Paul and the Corinthian Church as a father and son relationship. Paul address them as “My dear children” and specifically calls Timothy his son.

Because of this special fatherly relationship that Paul has with the church he urges them to imitate him. So Paul sends Timothy ??  It’s obvious that when you’ve seen Paul you’ve seen Timothy. Timothy has been fathered by Paul and has his “spirit” in him. His way of doing things, his patterns.

My definition of a Spiritual Father
When you or I esteem a minister very highly and lovingly place them into our heart we are making them into a type of spiritual father.

Levels of Influence
There are different levels of influence a spiritual father can have. The more influence the more the Spiritual Father can help and direct the spiritual son. There is also more risk to the son of being “taken advantage of” by the father.

Consider Jacob and Laban.

What happens when we esteem a spiritual father is everything we hear in Christendom gets “filtered” through the teaching of this father. If something doesn’t line up with what we’ve heard from this esteemed ministry we can become unsettled, argumentative, or turned off.

We will begin to wrestle with what’s being said. Now this wrestling can be very healthy if we will see it through like the Berean’s in
Acts 17: 11
Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true..

Now when you honor and respect a media ministry more than a ministry where you have a working relationship, it creates conflict in the spiritual realm for that subordinate minister. He or she has to contend against the spiritual father when he or she is trying to minister or convey a scriptural idea. Sometimes there’s agreement between your spiritual fathers sometimes there is not.

There is nothing wrong in some ways with having a spiritual father or mother you really don’t have any relationship with. However…
  • There’s no accountability
  • There’s no correction
  • This allows us to be in control of the relationship
  • Unfortunately there’s no tangible inheritance.
These media ministry based “father” son, “father” daughter relationships are very comfortable for those of us who didn’t have an Earthly father, or our Earthly father didn’t play a very big nurturing role in our lives.

Testimony established by 2 or 3 witnesses. I understand the dynamics of God speaking something fresh into the body of Christ and many ministers prophetically hearing the same message. This can give tremendous confidence that this is what God is saying right now.

However the way it’s always been presented to me is. “Hey did you listen to Joyce Meyer the other day? You were saying the same thing she was you must be hearing from the Lord pastor.” Sounds flattering at first however the person has more esteem for Joyce Meyer than her pastor. Because the church member uses Joyce Meyer to validate the pastor instead of the pastor validating Joyce Meyer.

I like to turn that around on people saying something jokingly like, “Yes, I’m glad she’s hearing from the Lord.”

Why is it that we esteem ministries that are on Television or the radio more than the local pastor? I suppose we are impressed with the number of people that may represent fruitfulness from the Lord. Maybe it’s the charisma of the minister or the appeal of his/her message. Maybe the large media budgets represent spiritual depth. Maybe it’s the polished image media can create. Do large #’s of people validate truth?

There are 1 Billion Muslims who make a pilgrimage to Mecca to kiss a rock that they think takes their sins away?

This issue with different spiritual fathers has going on for a long time.
1 Corinthians 1:10-12
10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11 My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.”

Now in our time nobody would say “I follow anyone” accept Christ but they would be lying. It doesn’t sound very spiritual coming from an American minded person born and bred with independence running through their veins to say they follow anyone. However when we elevate people in our heart (nothing wrong with that) we are following them.

Instead of Paul, Apollos, Cephas, and Christ, we could substitute some of these names perhaps.
  • Billi Brim
  • Kenneth Hagain
  • Jimmy Swaggart (and son)
  • Perry Stone
  • John Hagge
  • Joyce Meyer
  • Joel Osteen
  • Insert your favorite media ministry
Of course we have to understand that spiritual fathers, we have a working relationship with, are fallible. So we follow the Christ in them and eat the meat while spitting out the bones (in love). By doing this we retain our personality and add to it the person we are esteeming in Christ. It only adds to the Christ in you.

Enemies of Spiritual Fathers
  • Lack of Trust from previous relational injuries
  • Fear of hurt
  • Lack of honor
  • Old Age (not always)
  • Lack of a father pattern from upbringing
  • A spiritual father that’s perceived as unimpressive (2 Cor. 10:10)
    • Did any of you go through a stage in your life where you became unimpressed with your Earthly parents? Familiarity can make it hard to honor a spiritual Father.
One of the biggest problems for having a spiritual father that you have no working relationship with is that you can’t be sent by that father into your destiny or ministry.

Consider Keith Moore and Kenneth Hagain. Now think of yourself and Kenneth Hagain
They may be great people with powerful ministries, however because they don’t know you there is no inheritance for you in many ways.

The teaching may be great, it may bring freedom and revelation etc. However when that teaching brings you into conflict with “real people” in your life it may cost you a future you could’ve had.

Conclusion:
By having spiritual fathers that don’t know us personally it sterilizes us spiritually. We don’t know how to birth spiritual sons because we ourselves are illegitimate, never having a spiritual father we don’t know how to raise up a son in the faith ourselves.

Do you have a spiritual son or daughter you can name?


NIV
Matthew 28:19-20
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.”

The Message
Matthew 28:18-20
"God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."

If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Christian please click here and watch all four videos on the page. Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or via internet video on Jubilee T.V. If you live in Batesville please tune into KCCJ - 106.9 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501

(870) 793-9124

View Larger Map

January 17, 2011

Cruizin with Pastor Tony (January 14, 2011)



If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Christian please click here and watch all four videos on the page.

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or via internet video on Jubilee T.V.

If you live in Batesville please tune into KCCJ - 106.9 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501

(870) 793-9124




View Larger Map

January 12, 2011

Getting Under an Open Heaven


By Tony V. Hammack

These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video. To listen to the audio (podcast), click here.

The Third Heaven
2 Corinthians 12:2-4
2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4was caught up to paradise.

The Second Heaven
Daniel 10:12,13
12 Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. 13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.

A Peek into the Second Heaven
2 Kings 6:17 And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

It’s generally accepted, considering first century Jewish thought, that the second heaven was a place of chaos. Some believe this is the realm between the dwelling place of God and the dwelling place of man. It’s possibly the place where the Prince of the Persian kingdoms resisted the heavenly messenger.

The First Heaven
It’s also generally accepted that the first heaven is the visible world or cosmos. Revelation 21:1 talks about the first Heaven and the first Earth passing away.

A Literal Portal into the Third heaven

Malachi 3:10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.


Jacob’s Dream
Genesis 28:10-15
10 Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. 11 When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. 12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.  13 There above it stood the LORD, and he said: “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. 14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

Mark 1:10
Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

John 1:51
He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.” (see also Gen 28:12)

Acts 7:56
“Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”


Mark 7:33-35
33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. 34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). 35 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.

Our Lives as a Portal into the Third Heaven

Matthew 6:9,10
9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

54 of 65 references to the “Kingdom of God” refer to a present or relative to our time, past kingdom. 11 times when the term Kingdom of God is used in the New Testament it’s referring to a future or coming kingdom.

Luke 11:20
But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Luke 17:21
`21 nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”[a]
Footnotes: Luke 17:21 Or is within you

2 Corinthians 4:6,7
6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.  7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

Matthew 5:13-16
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.    14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.


2 Corinthians 3:3,18
You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

2 Timothy 2:20,21
20Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. 21Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

Conclusion:

I’m believing for an open heaven over my life and over the members of our church. We will be able, by faith to declare third heaven realities and “bring them down” into the 1st heaven or realm of the Earth. Whether it happens in the Spiritual realm and or in the lives of individuals I’m believing for it. Let’s pray.

If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Christian please click here and watch all four videos.

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:00 AM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or via internet video on Jubilee T.V.

If you live in Batesville please tune into KCCJ - 106.9 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501

(870) 793-9124


View Larger Map

December 29, 2010

God's Dream

By Tony V. Hammack

These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video. To listen to the audio (podcast), click here. To watch the video, click here.  



God’s Redemptive Plan
From the very fall of mankind, God has been preparing a way to redeem him. From Genesis to Revelation we see the jealous, loving heart of God unfolding his redemptive plan. God desires to have a people that are His people and He is their God.

The Abrahamic Covenant
Genesis 17:8 The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.”

God’s Heart is Redemptive
God does not rejoice in the destruction of the wicked.
God’s Heart is Redemptive
While Judah is in Babylonian Captivity

Jeremiah 24:7
7 I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.

Several reasons for the captivity but one was that the Israelis didn’t observe the sabbatical year for 490 years.
2 Chronicles 36:21 The land enjoyed its sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 31:33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. (Jer. 32:38)

They will be my people in Ezekiel
Ezekiel 11:20 Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.

Ezekiel 14:11 Then the people of Israel will no longer stray from me, nor will they defile themselves anymore with all their sins. They will be my people, and I will be their God, declares the Sovereign LORD.’”

Ezekiel 37:23 They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.

Ezekiel 37:27 My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.

Zechariah 8:8 I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.”

A glimpse into the Redemptive Plan
Genesis 3:15 (The protovangelim – the first prophetic utterance in the Bible)
15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”


Isaiah 7:14
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Matthew 1:23
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

God throughout the Biblical record has desired to have a relationship with people!

God’s plan is to redeem whosoever will receive God’s son by faith (adhering to, clinging to, and trusting in) Jesus Christ for eternal life.

A sacrifice for sin had to be made. God desiring to buy back fallen man from the enemy unfolds his plan of redemption throughout the ages.

God made a covenant with himself in Christ, fulfilling the law and making a way for the Jew and Gentile alike to become reconciled to God. The righteous requirements of the law are met by Jesus. We are required to believe God which becomes credit for righteousness.

Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

What part of the redemption story can you take out and it still has it’s power to redeem?
Can you take out the virgin birth?
Can you take out the teachings of Jesus?
Can you take out the scourging?
Can you take out the death on the cross?
Can you take out the resurrection?

Would you rather live without your brain, your heart or your liver?

Jesus Christ said that there is only one way to the Father, he called this a narrow way. He said that he was the sheep gate.

Luke the Apostle said it this way in Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Is it God’s will to be in a relationship with you?
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Yes.

Is now the right time?
2 Corinthians 6:2
For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
Yes

Are you the right type of person?
God is interested in saving sinners. The Bible teaches that all have sinned and have fallen short of God’s glory.
Yes

If you were to stand before a Holy God and he were to ask you, “Why should I let you into heaven what would you tell him?” Do you know, that you know, that you know, that you are in right standing with God?

2 Timothy 1:12
That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.

The Gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. We inherit Eternal life and a relationship with God by confessing with our mouths Jesus is Lord and by believing that Jesus was raised from the dead.

Revelation 21:3,7
v. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
v. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.

If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Christian please click here.
Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or via internet video on Jubilee T.V.
If you live in Batesville please tune into KCCJ - 106.9 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church

45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501

(870) 793-9124


View Larger Map

December 15, 2010

The "W" in Christmas

By Tony V. Hammack (copied from an e-mail)

Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. I had cut back on nonessential obligations -- extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending. Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas.

My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six-year-old. For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's "Winter Pageant."

I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then. Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise.

So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song.

Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as Christmas," I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment - songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer. So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love," I was slightly taken aback by its bold title. Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads. Those in the front row-center stage -- held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song. As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love."

The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down -- totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W." The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one's mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her "W." Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together. A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen. In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities. For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear:

"C H R I S T W A S L O V E"

And, I believe, He still is.

Amazed in His presence...

Humbled by His love.

May each of you have a Merry Christmas as you reflect on His Amazing Love

for us...

Have a blessed day! Happy Birthday Jesus !!!!!!!!

If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Christian please click here and watch all 4 videos.

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:00 AM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or via internet video on Jubilee T.V. If you live in Batesville please tune into KCCJ - 106.9 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501

(870) 793-9124


View Larger Map

November 28, 2010

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

by Malcom

Dear Friends,

I wanted to share this video of my son Malcom singing his own version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. I hope it blesses you!

Pastor Tony




Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501

870.793.9124

View Larger Map

November 16, 2010

You were Redeemed to Overcome

Your Destiny is to Kill Giants and take Ground for God’s Kingdom

By Tony V. Hammack



These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video. To listen to the audio (podcast), click here. To watch the video, click here.


Philippians 4:10-13
10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 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. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.


Philippians 4:13 (Amplified)
13I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].

This passage is about being infused with power from Christ to overcome any and every circumstance that the flesh, the world system or the enemy may throw at you. Specifically a lack of resources to fulfill your calling.

Don’t have a wait until things are a certain way attitude.  God is saying, “What’s that in your hand?” what can you do now with what you’ve got. Will you give it to me so I can use it.
God’s more concerned about your availability than your ability. He’s got enough ability for both of you.
We’re called to be faithful where we are.

Overcoming Inadequacy
What do you have now?
Often the Lord will use whatever we have to accomplish his purposes. God will ask you for what you have and then anoint it or make it effective and very useful for his purposes.

Consider Moses
Exodus 4:1-5,17
1 Moses answered, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, 'The LORD did not appear to you'?" 2 Then the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" "A staff," he replied. 3 The LORD said, "Throw it on the ground." Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. 4 Then the LORD said to him, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail." So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand. 5 "This," said the LORD, "is so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you."  17 But take this staff in your hand so you can perform miraculous signs with it."

You just be Natural let God be Super

Moses feelings of inadequacy drive him to say, what if they say, “The Lord did not appear to you”. Here God chooses to use something that’s already present in the life of the man of God, his staff, to perform miraculous signs.

God can and wants to use something that’s already present in your life to demonstrate Himself to this generation.

The Widows Oil
2 Kings 4:1-7
1 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the LORD. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves."  2 Elisha replied to her, "How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?" "Your servant has nothing there at all," she said, "except a little oil." 3 Elisha said, "Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don't ask for just a few. 4 Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side." 5 She left him and afterward shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another one."       But he replied, "There is not a jar left." Then the oil stopped flowing. 7 She went and told the man of God, and he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left."

What do you have in your house?
  1. Sometimes a bad attitude will disqualify us from a blessing. She corrects herself and says, just a little oil after saying she had nothing at all.
  2. The only limitation is the number of jars that they got. Elisha told her to get more than just a few implying he knew what was going to happen and what was going to cause the flow to stop.
  3. Elisha had her shut the door for privacy.
  4. When the oil is flowing the statement, bring me another one, is a good statement. In the midst of a move of God the widow has more faith.
  5. When the widow ran out of jars the oil stopped flowing.
  6. I bet she wished she’d had more jars!
  7. There was more than enough to pay the debt.
Matthew 9:29b
"According to your faith will it be done to you";

The 5 Loaves and 2 Fish
Mark 6:35-44
35By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. "This is a remote place," they said, "and it's already very late. 36Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat." 37But he answered, "You give them something to eat." They said to him, "That would take eight months of a man's wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?" 38"How many loaves do you have?" he asked. "Go and see."       When they found out, they said, "Five—and two fish." 39Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42They all ate and were satisfied, 43and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 44The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

You give them something to eat. Again God puts the demand on the person to act.
The disciples see the solution to the problem in a normal and natural way.
When they give all they have to the Lord He brings the increase.

God is the Source of Life
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.


1 Corinthians 4:7
For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

We must be faithful with what we have.
Matthew 25:21a
"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.

He sometimes chooses to use us in an area that's not necessarily our strength so He gets the Glory.
2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

Giant Killer Attitude
1 Samuel 17
  1. David obeys his Earthly father
  2. David gets the compensation package clear
    1. Great Wealth (1 Samuel 17:25)
    2. Marry the King’s daughter
    3. Exempt family from taxes
  3. David stands on the covenant he has with God
  4. He gets the compensation package clear again v. 27
  5. David has to overcome family objections
  6. He gets the compensation package spelled out to him again in v.30
  7. David resolves to go fight. Saul objects saying, you are only a boy or in other terms you are inadequate. V. 32 and v. 33
  8. David is going to use “what’s in his hand”. A sling and a staff that he’s used to kill lions and bears. v. 34-37
  9. David declares out of his mouth what is going to happen and why in v.’s 45-47
  10. David runs to the battle. v. 48


How do we kill giants and take ground for God’s kingdom?
We have to allow God to take “our Kingdom”. The kingdom of our heart. He wants all our heart.
Mark 12:30
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

When Jesus is taking Lordship of our hearts and lives we then move ourselves into a position to reach and help others.  Helping others become children of God through evangelism and discipleship.

If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Christian please click here.

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:00 AM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or via internet video on Jubilee T.V.
 
If you live in Batesville please tune into KCCJ - 106.9 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501

(870) 793-9124


View Larger Map

November 12, 2010

Danger in Dallas, Nov. 2010

Dallas Cowboys football practice was delayed 2 hours after a player found an unknown white powdery substance on the field. Coach Garrett immediately suspended practice and called the police. After...analysis, FBI experts determined that the white substance unknown to players was the GOAL LINE. Practice resumed after the FBI agents said the team was unlikely to encounter the substance again.

I had to share this :)

November 5, 2010

Jeff Markin: Back from the Dead



If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Christian please click here to watch some videos.

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:00 AM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or via internet video on Jubilee T.V. If you live in Batesville please tune into KCCJ - 106.9 FM to listen to contemporary worship music. Jubilee Family Church 45 Thunderbird Dr. Batesville, AR 72501 (870) 793-9124
View Larger Map

November 4, 2010

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit

By Tony V. Hammack

These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video. To listen to the audio (podcast), click here. To watch the video, click here.

Outline
     I.    The Origin of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit
     II.   The Fulfillment of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit
     III.  The Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit
     IV.  The Purpose for the Baptism in the Holy Spirit
     V.   What Modern Science has to Say
     VI.  The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is available for all believers.

I. The origin of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Luke 3:16 John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Acts 1:5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

II. The Fulfillment of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Acts 2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Acts 11:16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'

III. The Evidence for the Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Tongues
In the New Testament when people are filled with the spirit or baptized with the Holy Spirit they speak in tongues.

Mark 16:17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;

Acts 10:44-46
44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.
How did Peter know and conclude that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out? (See verse 46)
46For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

Acts 19:6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

Acts 19:1-7
1While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."  3So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" "John's baptism," they replied. 4Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." 5On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7There were about twelve men in all.

IV. The Purpose for the Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.“
Power and Empowerment to witness

It builds you up
Jude 1:20 But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.
Exercise your spirit’s dominance over your soul.

V. What science has to say about Glossolalia

1 Corinthians 14:14,15
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have discovered decreased activity in the frontal lobes, an area of the brain associated with being in control of one's self. This pioneering study, involving functional imaging of the brain while subjects were speaking in tongues, is in the November issue of Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, the official publication of the International Society for Neuroimaging in Psychiatry.

"Our finding of decreased activity in the frontal lobes during the practice of speaking in tongues is fascinating because these subjects truly believe that the spirit of God is moving through them and controlling their language. Our brain imaging research shows us that these subjects are not in control of the usual language centers during this activity, which is consistent with their description of a lack of intentional control while speaking in tongues.“

To learn more, go on-line to: http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/radiology/CSM/index.html%20

VI. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is available for all believers.

All believers are entitled to, and should expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church. With it comes the endowment of power for life and service (specifically being a witness), the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry.

Luke 24:49
49I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."

Acts 1:8
8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

A Cucumber and a Pickle
The effect of the juice on the cucumber changes it so much it gets a new name: the pickle. It has a new taste, a new texture, even a new feel. This happens because the juice changes the characteristics of the cucumber. Like the pickling juices work from the outside in, the Holy Spirit works from the inside out.

How Do you Receive?
The same way you receive anything from God.
Ask (Luke 11:11-13) 11"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for[f] a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
Believe you are going to receive
Speak in faith

Laying on of Hands
Acts 19:6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

Receive the Filling of the Holy Spirit Today.

If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Christian please click here.

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:00 AM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or via internet video on Jubilee T.V.
If you live in Batesville please tune into KCCJ - 106.9 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501

(870) 793-9124


View Larger Map