Monday, June 28, 2010

Walking With The Greats - The Life of Gideon

This week's service can be watched at

These things happened to them as examples for us.
1 Corinthians 10:11

Mighty Hero, The LORD Is With You! - Judges 6:1-14; 6:25-35

When man has a problem, God has the solution!

As we have been going through this great series called "Walking With The Greats" and sharing about these great men and women of God, it might be easy to think that they were superheros or people with greater faith and strength than you could ever have.  In fact, the opposite is true.  For example, here were some of the character traits of these 'greats' that we esteem so highly:
  • Noah got drunk
  • Abraham was too old
  • Isaac was a daydreamer
  • Jacob was a liar
  • Leah was just plain ugly
  • Joseph was abused
  • Moses couldn’t speak the language well
  • Samson was a womanizer
  • Rahab was a prostitute
  • Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
  • David had an affair and was a murderer
  • Isaiah preached naked
  • Jonah ran from God
  • Naomi was a widow
  • Job went bankrupt
  • John the Baptist ate bugs
  • Peter denied Christ
  • The disciples fell asleep while praying
  • Martha worried about everything
  • The Samaritan woman was divorced more than once
  • Zaccheus was too small
  • Paul was too religious
  • Timothy had an ulcer
  • Lazarus was dead – what could be worse than that!
What we need to realize is that God doesn't work through people's perfections.  The great men and women of faith in the bible had just as many obstacles to overcome as we do.  But God empowered them regardless.

LIFE LESSON #1: Man looks at our abilities, God looks at our possibilities.
You are more than a conqueror, but when God calls us, we can't leave things as they are.  There are things we have to do to get the victory.

LIFE LESSON #2: Tear Down the Idols in Our Lives - Judges 6:25-26
We need to identify any altars in our life that are set up to false gods and tear them down.  Gideon did it at night for fear of the people. The altar he destroyed was his father's altar.  What generational altars do you need to tear down?  We have relationship altars, habit altars, unforgiveness altars... put your faith in God and tear them down!  We must put first things first - God must be first in your life.  Tear down the altar and put God first and fear will be replaced with faith.  Fear holds us back but faith moves us forward.  We all have fear and doubt.  What will you do with those thoughts when they come to your mind?  What will your response be?  To get the victory, we must walk in faith, not fear.

LIFE LESSON #3: Don’t be Afraid of Impossible Odds - Judges 6:34-35
Gideon told God there are too many, when they were outnumbered 135,000 to one.  Take small faith steps first, then you will be able to take the bigger faith steps.  God will make your situation so that only He can get the glory!  Gideon was left with only 300 men in his army.  those odds are 450 to 1!  But God was on Gideon's side and He is on your side too.  Regardless of your situation, with God - a miracle is a miracle!  His power works best in your weakness! 2 Corinthians 12:9

LIFE LESSON #4: You've Still Got To Fight - Don’t Give Up Until the Job is Done!
You have a job to do, a part to play.  God requires you; you are part of His victory plan for your life.  Not just praying, but doing.  He will give you a plan of attack but you must trust God and follow the plan.  Most of the 135,000 who were against Gideon killed themselves without the 300 ever getting dirty.  But Gideon's men still had to draw their swords against the final 15,000!  We can't get excited over partial victory.  We can't give up until we have complete victory!  We need to pray, to hear from God - but we also have to fight!

“Keep Praying, Keep Fighting 'til the Victory is Won!”

Jeremiah 29:11
God's plan is for you to win, to overcome!


You need to know that you are a mighty person of valour!

CHALLENGET
ake the time to examine your life to see if there are any altars that need to be torn down.  Trust God as you honour Him and tear them down completely.  Don't be satisfied with partial victory.  Keep fighting until you have the entire victory.  Then, go forward and be encouraged by that small step to, take on the next challenge, the bigger challenge.  As you commit yourself to doing WHATEVER IT TAKES, God will get the glory by doing what only He can do!  He is waiting to get with you right now.  Go into your closet every day this week and watch God share His plans for you, with you; then go out and do what He told you to do and experience victory every day this week!  Then, blog your testimony of victory below!

Please log your comments on how this week's message has been a blessing to you!  Simply click on the comments link immediately below this week's blog. Any comments already submitted will appear and you can comment below them.
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Sunday, June 13, 2010

Pastor Dave Tunakitis - Is This All There Is?

This week's service can be watched at
Dave Tunakitis

The Way Things Are Is Not The Way They Should Be!
Before Jesus began His ministry he actually passed right by those going through things and He did nothing.  When Jesus eventually began His ministry, He dove-tailed directly off of John the Baptist's ministry. Matthew 3:1-2  His was a message of repentance, of restoration.  But if God is about restoration, it stands to reason that you would need to know what the original looked like.  Something was lost when Adam and Eve sinned.  Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost.

Genesis 1 & 2 is about God's design for the earth.  Everything after that is all about God getting us back to Genesis 1 & 2; back to His original intent, back to that which was lost.

'Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is Near!'
Jesus and John the baptist both preached repentance but repentance wasn't a new message.  The prophets of old also preached repentance.  What was new was that now the revelation of repentance was so much clearer because now the Kingdom of Heaven was near. Matthew 4:17

When Adam and Eve were in the garden, they didn't have to do anything to access the presence of God; but sin changed all that.  A whole process was introduced to gain access to God.  But when Jesus went to the cross, we once again had direct access to God, just like Adam & Eve had in the garden.

We never really saw healings in the old testament but when Jesus came into ministry, healing was everywhere He went. Matthew 9:35Demonic cleansing never happened in the old testament; people just accepted the condition... until Jesus arrived.  He cast out demons and those previously possessed were found clothed and in their right mind.  The people weren't used to this and became afraid. Mark 5:15

Unpack Your Bags - There's Still Work To Do!
Some believers think that what Jesus did on the Cross was only to get us to Heaven.  If that was the case, we'd have been taken to Heaven immediately after receiving Christ.  Just think what that would do to your church growth program!  But there is still a job to do... before you get to Heaven.  God's original intent (His will) is still not being done in the earth today.  Matthew 6:10  Jesus prayed that we wouldn't be taken from the earth, but rather protected from the evil one. John 17:15

'The Kingdom of Heaven is forcefully advancing...' Matthew 11:12-15  We as believers have a role to play in that advancement.  John declared the Kingdom of Heaven.  Jesus declared it and demonstrated it. John 1:29  We are called to continue in Jesus footsteps, declaring and demonstrating the Kingdom of Heaven.  In fact, Jesus told us, 'greater things will you do!' John 14:12, Luke 10:19, Mark 16Preach this message and demonstrate it! Matthew 10:7

You may think you can't do what Jesus did and you are absolutely right; you can't... in your own strength!  That's why God sent His Holy Spirit to empower you. Acts 1:8  That way, you won't be able to take credit for the results because only by His Spirit will you be able to demonstrate His Power.

2 Timothy 3:1 clarifies the condition of our world and proves there is still something to do so unpack your bags!  You have a job to do!

Do You Know Who You Are?
The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead is living in you!  You are no longer a slave but a son and an heir! Galatians 4:7  You are God's Ambassador 1 Corinthians 5:20 and you can do this!  As an Ambassador, all of your needs are met, everything is covered by the Kingdom. Matthew 6:25-34  You have been given everything you need 2 Peter 1:3 to do the work of helping people get back to the garden.  No more excuses!  Let's win the lost and get back to the garden!

CHALLENGEIf you feel like you have not been doing your part to forcefully advance the Kingdom of Heaven, take some time to review the scriptures in this week's message.  Pastor Dave really broke things down so that every believer can get a clear revelation of what God has done for them to equip them to advance the Kingdom.  It may be repentance or it may just be education but regardless of what has stopped you before, now you know.  Now you can play your part in seeing things return to how they are supposed to be!

Please log your comments on how this week's message has been a blessing to you!  Simply click on the comments link immediately below this week's blog. Any comments already submitted will appear and you can comment below them.
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Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Walking With The Greats - The Life of Joshua: PT 2

This week's service can be watched at
These things happened to them as examples for us.
Joshua 6:27; Joshua 7

With just a little bit of sin creeping in, Israel went from victory & fame to defeat & shame!

4 MYTHS ABOUT SIN:

MYTH #1 - I’m Not Hurting Anyone
Your sin can affect your whole household!

Life Lesson #1 - Our actions impact ourselves and others - Joshua 7:11; 1 Corinthians 12:26

Sin will destroy you and it will destroy others!  We need to be accountable if we are struggling in an area.  We need to pray for those who are going through things.

Your Success is Our Success!
MYTH #2 - It’s really NO Big Deal
There are no big or small sins.  No category for sins.

Life Lesson #2 - God sees sin as a big deal! - Joshua 7:13-14

How does this thing affect my relationship with God?
MYTH #3 - People Fall Into Sin
If you are standing far enough away from something, you can not fall into it!

 Life Lesson #3 - People’s Choices lead them into sin - Joshua 7:20-21

 The Progression of Sin is This:
    1. Looking turns into longing...
    2. And then you lay hold of it. 
You can avoid defeat by looking away and walking away!  Don't let your mind linger on that thing!
MYTH #4 - My Sin is Too Big for God to Forgive
Sin is serious but God's grace is greater!  Don't let your sin hold you back.  Confess and receive God's forgiveness!  He doesn't limit our future success based on our past failures.  Your confessing releases His blessing!

Life Lesson #4 - If you will CONFESS your sin - God will forgive - Joshua 7:26; 1 John 1:9
You may have been experiencing the agony of defeat but today God wants to give you the thrill of victory!  He will make old things pass away so all things can become new!

CHALLENGEReflect on the 4 myths discussed above and see if you have believed any of them.  If so, ask God to help you through the clarifications following the myths to establish a clear understanding of the truth.  Read each scripture to help you with this process.

Please log your comments on how this week's message has been a blessing to you!  Simply click on the comments link immediately below this week's blog. Any comments already submitted will appear and you can comment below them.
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