The Most Rejected Man in History

Our society is plagued with rejection. We have a Heavenly Father who can identify with us.

Looking Back

You will never move forward, so long as you keep looking back.

 

Faith That Works the Impossible

He 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.” –Matthew 17:2-21

            This powerful statement made by Jesus follows a very dramatic event. After coming down the mountain, Jesus casts the “deaf and dumb spirit” out of a child. It is interesting that the reason Jesus gives the disciples for their inability to cast this demon out is “because you have so little faith”. Earlier in Matthew 10, the Bible records that Jesus gave His disciples power and authority to cast out demons which they did in the various towns and villages in the region.

            The disciples had seen Jesus cast out many demons and had no doubt cast out several themselves. So why were they lacking in faith to cast out this demon? Perhaps it was because this particular case caused them to ask many questions. This was a child after all. Did they question whether or not it was possible for a child to be demon possessed? Did they have difficulty discerning whether or not this was a spiritual or neurological problem? Was the kid just suicidal?

            Asking questions is good and important. Sometimes however, questions can so seeds of doubt effectively killing our faith. Sometimes, we have to simply trust the Lord with child like faith. That is why Jesus said unless we become like children we would never enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt 18:3).

            Jesus goes on to say that if we had enough faith, “Nothing would be impossible.” Now that is interesting. In Luke 1:37 when the angel Gabriel is talking with Mary he says that “nothing is impossible with God”. Yet here in Matthew, Jesus says nothing will be impossible for us, if we have faith just as small as a mustard seed!

            The God of the impossible lives inside every born again believer. His power is released and worked by faith. Jesus says that the impossible is achievable if you will only activate the faith necessary to use it. How do we activate that faith? Jesus gives the answer when He says, “if you have faith… you can say ….” To activate this faith that works the impossible, you have to declare it. Declare what? Declare God’s Word over your circumstance.

            For sickness, declare God’s promises about healing. For financial trouble, declare God’s promises about provision. For times of uncertainty, declare God’s promises about His sovereignty and plans for your life. Here’s how God’s Word stirs up that faith.

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

 –Romans 10:17

            God’s promises concerning your circumstance will activate the faith you need to work the impossible. So for whatever “impossible mountain” stands in your way today, go see what God’s Word has to say about it. Then let that Word stir up your faith, so that you can work the impossible by declaring God’s promises.

Call to Action

Please listen to this very important message from our Sunday night service. There are far more people in our community who need Christ than you think... We need to engage and reach them. Christ commands us to, and our future depends on whether or not we obey His command...

Messages of Hope from our Sunday Morning Services

I hope you will be blessed, inspired, and empowered through these messages from our Sunday morning services at The Assembly of Praise.

Our mission is to RESORE HOPE to each person by helping them Know God, Find Community, Discovery Their Purpose, and Make a Difference.

We would be honored for you to be our guest on Sunday @ 11am. We are located in Columbia NC right of Exit 562 on Hwy 64. Our physical address is 3138 Travis Rd. Columbia NC, 27925. You may contact us at 252-766-0021 or email us at theassemblyofpraise@agchurches.org


God's Anger and Sadness Toward Your Sin: Mark 3:1-6
The Sabbath: Mark 2:23-28
People Don't Like Change: Mark 2:21-22
These are the "Days of Elijah"?

The Work of the Holy Spirit

The REAL Power

Hannah and Peninnah

Bind Up the StrongMan




What's so "Amazing" about Grace?




Breaking the Curse of Poverty

Taking the Promise Land

Don't Like Organized Religion? Try Christianity

People who are disenfranchised by organized religion should be flocking to Christianity. I hear people say this all the time; "It isn't that I don't believe in God, I just don't like organized religion." Well then we are the perfect community for you! Christianity, especially the Church is anything but organized religion. The church is not an organization, it is an organism. Always growing, changing and adapting.

    We are not an corporation, we are a community. The church is a community where life transformation and restoration takes place. It is a community we marriages are restored, wounds are healed, and lives rebuilt. It is a community where those who are held captive by destructive lifestyles are not only set free, but who also regain a sense of identity that grounds them. The church is a community where those struggling financially are empowered to no longer be a victim to debt, unemployment numbers, or a struggling economy. We are agents of life change.

    We do crazy things like leave the comforts of home and go to another country to help strangers. We share the Gospel in countries where admitting to being a follower of Christ can cost you your life. We speak out against slavery. We do weird things like draw a red x on our hands to let people know that slavery and human trafficking still happens in our world. We feed the hungry, clothe the poor. We drill wells in Africa and ship vaccines oversees. We build schools, hospitals, and orphanages.

    We do much more than worship together for an hour or two on Sundays. We spend time with each other in our homes. We hang out at Starbucks, we go out to eat. We go with one another to the gym. We embrace one another when our children are born or our friends do something crazy like get married, and we cling to one another when we loose a loved one or when life is spinning out of control. We laugh with each other when the times are good and cry with each other when times are bad. We create drama, stop talking when a spat arises, but we're always ready to drop everything and be there for one another at a moment's notice. We share life together. Were a family.

    Call Christianity whatever you want, but don't call it organized religion. Perhaps the reason we are not an organized religion is because our foundation is not an organization, system, or structure. Our foundation is a person; Jesus Christ. The most "alive" person that ever walked the earth. So alive in fact that He came back from death! His life is in us, and we are alive in Him. And that life permeates our entire community bringing about the dynamic transformation this world has come to marvel. So I say to all of you who do not like organized religion, why not try Christianity?

The Purpose of a Lighthouse: To Guide, and to Warn

It has been prophesied that The Assembly of Praise will be a lighthouse.  But what does that mean exactly? If God wants us to be a lighthouse, then it would be helpful to understand what a lighthouse does.

In the dark confusion of the night, a lighthouse guides the way to safety for ships by warning them to avoid the jagged rocks near the shore. Least the ships sink and all on board perish. If we are to be a lighthouse, then we must both guide and warn. Sure, a lighthouse has other purposes, but to guide and warn is it's most important and primary purpose.

We must guide people to safety and the solid ground of Christ while warning them of getting to close to the jagged rocks of sin, least they perish. As lighthouse keepers, this is our primary responsibility and we must not neglect it for other things.

They may seem important to us, and even great beneficial ministries, but we neglect our primary task by giving too much attention to them.

Consider the following story from the "Way of the Master Minute" devotional: A lighthouse keeper, being compassionate and giving, regularly gave free fuel to ships that miscalculated how much they needed. One night during a storm, lightning struck his lighthouse and put out his light.

He immediately turned on his generator, but it soon ran out of fuel because he had given his reserves to passing ships in need. During the dark night, with no light to warn them, a ship struck the jagged rocks and everyone on board perished.

At his trial, the judge knew the lighthouse keeper was a kind and compassionate man, and he wept as he gave the sentence. He accused him of neglecting his primary responsibility-to keep the light shining, to guide and to warn...

The Church can so often get caught up in legitimate acts of kindness-standing for political righteousness, other programs and ministries, etc., but our primary task is to keep the light of the Gospel shining so that sinners can avoid the jagged rocks of sin and see the way to safety. Go shine the light saints. Go guide and warn.

"You Did Not do for Me..."

As I scroll through my news feed and watch CNN, the images of a dead child washed up on a beach as his family fled Syria are burned into my head. I read about dozens of dead refugees being found on a train, hundreds dying at sea as they try to escape a war torn Middle East.

There are thousands lost, wandering, and stranded as they wait to enter Europe. Even in our own country, thousands of children are coming over the border escaping poverty, human trafficking, and the drug lords.

When I see the image of that child, and hear the stories of these people I can't help but think about my grandmother; Zenaida Teresita Castro, and my great grandmother Laudalina Castillo who braved the sea to come here from Cuba as refugees. I think of my aunt and uncle who came with them as children. They too fled cruelty, poverty, and tyranny for a better life.

I think of the first Christians who became refugees in Acts 8 as they were scattered abroad when persecution came to the church in Jerusalem. I think of the Israelites who became refugees when they fled Egypt in search of a better home, a home of freedom.

I think of Jesus, who when He was born became a refugee when His family had to flee to Egypt out of fear of Herod. These "illegals" crossing over our borders, these "Muslims" who are pouring into Europe have more in common with the first Christians, the Israelites, and our Lord Jesus Christ then we might care to admit.

And I have a lot in common with them. For I am the grandson of a someone just like them; a refugee....

What should be the Church's response? I believe God has a special place in His heart for these "illegals". His children were once refugees, so was His only begotten Son... Our response is clear. He tells us in Matthew 25:42-45,

For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

Thought for today:

Next time you look into the eyes of a refugee, you are looking into the eyes of Jesus. Treat them accordingly.

Assembly of Praise! I Release You!

Yesterday morning, was a powerful time in God's presence at The Assembly of Praise. As I think over all that God did during our Sunday morning service, I recall how this awesome move of the Spirit started when I released the people to "abandon the pew" and come to the front to praise and worship God as they felt led.

I felt as though some of us felt like we needed to be "released" to do that; released to come to the altar. Forgive me for using a worldly analogy. But it's kind of like a middle school dance... Everyone stands around awkwardly because no one quite knows "the rules" or if they are "released" to swarm the dance floor and get their groove on. Then that one person steps out and next thing you know the dance floor is flooded and everyone has a great time and no one wants to leave.

Corny analogy I know, sorry. But that's kind of what it felt like yesterday.

We just needed to be released to leave the pew, stand at the front, kneel at the front, dance at the front, march around the sanctuary, etc. And as soon as we were "released" to do that, what happened...? The Spirit broke out in a mighty way. Praise God! God wants us to do the same thing this Sunday.

So, Assembly of Praise, I release you! Not only do I release you to leave your pew and worship or just praise God right where you are at during the music, I release you even before service! Read that last sentence again! Why wait until the Praise and Worship team takes the platform? Have you ever got to church and thought, "I can't wait until church starts so I can just worship and spend time in His presence!"?

You can! Feel free, feel released to approach the front, to come to the altar to pray and worship before the music starts, before the welcome video starts playing, even before the Praise and Worship team starts praying. You are released to step into His presence and begin worshiping as soon as you walk through the door! Don't wait for me, don't wait for us. Just enter in! Don't let the worship team lead you into worship this Sunday, let us join you as you already are in His presence

The Scars Remain for a Reason

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!   -John 21:27

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the event that changed history forever. The Son of God not only bore the full brunt of God's wrath for our sin, He also triumphed over death thus giving forgiveness and new life to all who believe. The interesting thing about the resurrection is that all though Jesus was fully resurrected with a healthy body, He still retained the scars from His crucifixion.

Why is that? I mean, if God was going to bring Jesus back to life, why not make His body completely whole? Why leave holes in His hands and feet, and a gash in His side? Jesus kept the scars of His crucifixion so He could show the world that He truly had come back from the dead. He wanted the world to know that He was not ghost or a resurrected Spirit of some kind. He didn't want people to think that He had turned into an angelic being of some sort.

He wanted people to know that He had faced trials, hardship, and even death, but came back victorious with the battle scars to prove it. As Christians, we claim that we have been born again. That we have been raised with Christ as a new creature. Even after Christ makes into a new creature, He sometimes allows the scars of what He brought us through remain. The world wants to see the proof of our resurrection just like Thomas did. They say to us, "You claim you have been through something and have come back victorious, let me see your scars."

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
You may have scars from your past. Don't be ashamed of them, for they are evidence that you TRULY have come back from the dead.

Full of Grace and Truth

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  -John 1:14

People say that Jesus was all loving and never condemned anyone.

Jesus did indeed condemn some people for their sin. In Matthew 23 He called the religious leaders "hypocrites". He told them that they were "blind fools," children of hell, full of hypocrisy and sin. He rebuked them by saying, "You serpents, you generation of vipers, how shall you escape the damnation of hell?" (v. 33). He then warned that He would say to sinners, "Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41). He showed just how sinful sin truly is. He said, "Don't think that just because you have been faithful to your spouse that you haven't committed adultery, looking with lust is adultery too."

Jesus was also full of Grace. Take for example the woman guilty of adultery. Not only was she guilty, she was caught in the act! The Bible however, tells us nothing about this woman's heart concerning her sin. We do not even know if she was sorry for what she did. For all we know, she could have been thinking to herself, "This is ridiculous! I'm no more guilty than these religious phonies. This is a joke." Yet, Jesus didn't even bother to make sure she was truly repentant. He simply said, "So, who has condemned you? No one? Then neither do I. You are free to go, and don't do that again." Just like that, she was free to go, pardoned, and with no questions asked. At that moment, our Lord was full of Grace.

Jesus was not a hell fire preacher half of time, then a feel good preacher the other half. John tells us that He was full of Grace and Truth 100% of time. How do we walk the balance between making sure we are living right before the Lord, and resting in the fact that God approves of us just as we are solely based on the sacrifice of Jesus whether we are living right or not? We don't. We look to the cross. In the cross we see the fullness of truth; the truth that we are exceedingly sinful without hope. In the cross we see the fullness of grace; the grace that has made us perfectly righteous in God's eyes without flaw or fault.

Truth without grace would be legalism, and grace without truth would be chaos. We must have the fullness of both in our lives. That is your hope for today. Now go restore hope to others.

Are You Standing Under an Eclipse?

Most of us know what happens during a solar eclipse. The moon passes between the sun and the earth blotting out the suns light. All that is left is a black disk in the sky with a bright ring around it depending on where you are during the event. I remember the first time I saw one, it was amazing. I quickly understood why an eclipse rattled civilizations centuries ago.

For us, an eclipse is fascinating but not a big deal because we know how it works. Could you imagine what an eclipse would be like if you had no idea what it was or how it happened? Think about it. Everyday you feel the warmth of the sun, you see its light brighten everything giving life to the world around you. Then suddenly out of the middle of nowhere, this dark, thing covers up the sun. Not only are you afraid, your also confused. It was bright outside, now it's dark... but it's only two o'clock in the afternoon!

Maybe that's what life is like for you. Things were going great, everything was the way it was supposed to be and everyone you wanted in your life was there. Then something happened and blotted out the sunshine in you life. Now your standing confused and afraid in the dark and it's only two o'clock in the afternoon.

Notice that during an eclipse, the moon only covers up the sun, but the sun is still there. Don't be afraid. God wants you to know that even though things are kind of dark right now, He is getting ready to move this thing out of the way so the "Sonshine" can light up your life again. Have faith and trust in Jesus the Son. He will bring light to your life again.