Acts 1:3-11
But what does the ascension mean to us today? It means that...
1 Jesus returned to heaven like He promised
2 That the Holy Spirit is available to us NOW
3 That we have a representative in Heaven
4 That we will see Him again
Easter Sunday
Palm Sunday
Beautiful Things
Pastor Erica Silva
3/30/14
Genesis 2:7 Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man's nostrils, and the man became a living person.
Hope: As an Anchor
Hope As An Anchor
Pastor Fredi Vega
3/23/14
Hebrews 6:19
This confidence is like a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain of heaven into God's inner sanctuary.
Four reasons that we can have hope as an anchor of the soul...
#1.) Holy Spirit’s Presence
#2.) Obstacles Present Opportunities
#3.) Prayer Connects Us with God
#4.) Expected Future
2 Cor. 4:8-9, 17-18 says...(NLT)
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit.
We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going…
For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever!
So we don’t look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen.
For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.
And forever is a long, long time.
“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the presence behind the veil.”
Prayer:Breakfast of Champions
Prayer:Breakfast of Champions
Psalms 5:3-8,11&12 (NKJV)
Pastor Fredi Vega
3/16/2014
Psalms 5:3 My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up. 4 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, Nor shall evil dwell with You.
5 The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity. 6 You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
7 But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; In fear (awe) of You I will worship toward Your holy temple. 8 Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; Make Your way straight before my face.
11 But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You. 12 For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield.
5 Tips From Psalm 5 To Gain Nourishment Through Prayer...
1. ASK EARLY
Ephesians 3:16 says, “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being.”
C. S. Lewis wrote: “The moment you wake up each morning, all your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists in shoving it all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other, larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in.”
2. HATE EVIL
If God hates evil then what should we do or how should we feel about it?
Romans 12:9 says, “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”
3. SEEK MERCY
Matthew 5:7 says, “Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.” And if we don’t treat others right how can we expect God to treat us right AND answer our prayers?
4. LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY
And when you live in the presence of God in prayer how can you not WANT TO live right? It's a choice! We must pray to be right and to live right in this world.
5. FIND REFUGE
If we believe He's our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble, why would we not want to be constantly talking to Him and seeking His grace?
Hebrews 4:16 says, “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”
If God is our refuge and strength, let us pray, asking for mercy and grace constantly. WHY? Because we need Him!
My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up.
Prayer is the breakfast of champions...
The most important meal of the day! So let's eat!!!
Finding Peace
Pastor Fredi Vega
3/9/14
John 14:27
The Bible tells us how to find peace...And here are 5 ways...
(1) Receive God’s pardon.
“...Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)
When you read God’s word, have you ever noticed that Paul always started his letters with…”Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 1:3)?
Paul always ordered them as “grace” first and then “peace.” Never peace before grace. And that's NOT accidental -- The only way you’ll ever have God’s peace is to first receive God’s grace. We are saved by grace!
And Jesus Christ is the “Prince of Peace”!!!
(2) Trust God’s purposes.
“...Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.” (Colossians 3:15)
(3) Understand God’s perspective.
“...And the peace of God,which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:7)
(4) Focus on God’s presence.
“...You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3)
The choice is simple – will we focus on God or on our own problems?
What we focus on determines our level of personal peace. Someone once said, “If you look at the world you'll be impressed. If you look at yourself you'll be depressed. If you look at God, you'll be at rest.”
Keeping our mind focused on Christ is the key to peace!!!
God’s Word says, “As a man thinks, so he is.” So you are not what you think you are, but rather: what you think ----is what you are.
· 75% of the general population experiences some type of stress every two weeks.
· 75%-90% of all visits to the primary care physicians are stress-related complaints or disorders.
· Nearly half of all worker-related turnover in the market place is stress related.
The solution to anxiety and stress is to get your focus back on God…
Psalm 46:10 says…Be still and know that I am God.The word for</strong> “be still” in the Hebrew means, “to ease up” or “let go!”
(5) Ask for God’s peace.
Phil.4:6,7 says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Seasons and Times
Pastor Fredi Vega
Due to Microphone issues no sermon was recorded today we apologize!
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8,11
For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.
11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.
No matter what season you are in it is temporary!
It may be painful, but you must know from Gods word you are not there forever!
Finish The Race
Finish The Race
Pastor Fredi Vega
2/23/2014
Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith,
let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.
And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.
Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame.
Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne.
Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won't become weary and give up.
3 Things "Coach" Paul would share with us:
1.Be Inspired by those who have gone before us!
2.Be prepared for the struggles that will come!
3.Focus your attention on JESUS!
Overcoming Offenses
Do to technical difficulties, there is no audio for this week. But here are the notes for Pastor Fredi's sermon on Overcoming Offenses.
Overcoming Offenses Pastor Fredi Vega February 16, 2014
Main Text...Colossians 3:12-13
5 Basic reasons to confront someone that has offended you
Point 1. To resolve misunderstandings
Most offenses are the result of something that somebody said that was taken out of context or a rumor that develops out of a half truth...
If we would just take the time to go to the source and find out the facts...a lot of things would get cleared up before they got out of hand.
Instead we don't confront anyone, we stew on the offense silently, and we grow bitter & resentful...
Point 2. To maintain peace in the Body of Christ (Eph.4:1-3)
We need peace & unity in the church... and whenever there is friction and turmoil between believers it affects the whole body.
In fact it hinders people from entering into worship and receiving from God's Word.
Also it creates an uninviting atmosphere for visitors, it may hinder people from coming to Christ, and it can even grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph.4:30-32).
Point 3. So Satan can't have an advantage over us...(2 Cor.2:10-11)
Satan can hinder our spiritual life! And if we're not careful he can use an offense to deceive us into falling away by holding onto bitterness and unforgiveness.
So while you think you are justified in hating someone for what they did...Satan has you right where he wants you...
Point 4.
Hold the offender accountable... to not repeat his actions to harm the faith of others (Matt.18:6)
People who offend you may go on to offend somebody else if they're not stopped!!! So STOP them!!!!
Confronting their offensive behavior might cause them to think twice before hurting someone else.
Point 5.
To restore a fallen brother (Gal.6:1)
Christians must make EVERY effort to restore other believers that fall into sin!!!
We are our brother's keeper! And if it weren't for the grace of God we might be headed in the wrong direction too. So we confront in love in order to restore!!!
So that even if you think someone else MIGHT have something against you... your first inclination should be to seek restoration by confronting offenses...
And Jesus gave us these steps so that obedience to the Word of God would bind us together and grow us in love.
The Way of Love
I Corinthians 13:1-8
If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it;[a] but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages[b] and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!
Do you seriously think God can’t use you?
The Power of the Tongue
Renew Your Passion Part 2
Renew Your PASSION
Romans 12:11 says,
“Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the
Lord enthusiastically.”
Something New
Isaiah 43:18-19
“But forget all that—
it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
For I am about to do something new.
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
S - Stop making excuses
T - Take inventory of your life
A - Act in faith
R - Refocus
T - Trust God
New Year, New You!
Luke 12:13-21
The Parable of the rich fool
3 ways we make wise choices at new years and all year long
1. Give God your time
2.Remember all you have is a gift from God
3.Ask God how HE can use your gifts
Matthew 6:33
"Seek first HIS kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you."
The Virgin Birth
Luke 1:26-38
SOME FACTS ABOUT MARY...
And I don't mean on being disrespectful BUT we NEED to know the FACTS...
A.) Mary did not have sexual relations with GOD....God supernaturally “overshadowed” her...placing the baby in her womb...
IT WAS A MIRACLE FROM GOD!!!
B.) Mary had a normal DELIVERY.
Luke 2:6,7 says, “And while they were there(in Bethlehem), the time came for her baby to be born.
7 She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.”
C.) Mary was not a PERPETUAL virgin.
(She did NOT remain a virgin forever!)
Jesus is described as Mary’s “firstborn” child in Luke 2:7, which implies that she had additional children. The NT repeatedly makes this claim.
THE BIRTH of Jesus was unique; the birth of His brothers and sisters was ordinary.
D.) Mary was not SINLESS.
I used to think that the Immaculate Conception was the same as the “Virgin Birth”. I was wrong!!!
The Immaculate Conception is the idea that Mary was born without any stain of original sin. SO maybe this made her more worthy to give birth to Jesus...
This is false! And it is not found anywhere in the Bible... She was human...chosen by God BUT human...
And, Mary herself declared in Luke 1:47, “My spirit rejoices in God my Savior”. A sinless person does not need a Savior.
E.) Mary deserves our GRATITUDE, not our ADORATION.
So what's the BIG deal about the virgin birth???
I believe in a supernatural Christianity that presents a supernatural Christ...Who had a supernatural Birth, Who lived a supernatural Life,
Who died a supernatural Death, Who rose in a supernatural Resurrection, and Who is coming again in a supernatural WAY.
Therefore...
#1 The Virgin Birth of Christ is a BIG deal because it represents the very power of God!
Since the Bible clearly teaches the virgin birth of Jesus, you can’t consistently claim to believe anything else the Bible says and at the same time deny the virgin birth.
Matthew wrote in his gospel that the virgin birth of Jesus was the fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14.
If the Bible can't be believed on this point why should we believe anything else it says?
2 Tim.3:16,17 says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”
Believing in the Virgin Birth is part of agreeing that the whole Bible is inspired by God.
Therefore the Bible is THE TRUTH...And your faith in God's Word releases the Holy Spirit to work in your life!!
So the BIG deal is that the virgin birth is not a fairy tale. And if the Bible can be trusted then as you read it & apply it...your life will be transformed!!
#2 The Virgin Birth of Christ is a BIG deal because it reminds us that Jesus became human!
John 1:10 says that, “Jesus came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him.
John 1:14 says, “So the Word(Jesus) became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”
Did you know that God could have created Jesus as a complete human being without ANY human parent? He created Adam didn't He?
But then it would've been very hard for us to see how Jesus could be FULLY human as we are...
On the other hand, God could've created Jesus with two human parents, both a father and a mother, AND somehow miraculously attached a divine nature to Him at birth...
But then it would've been harder for us to understand how Jesus was FULLY God, since His origin was like ours in almost every way.
YET God, in his wisdom, ordained a combination of human and divine influence in the birth of Christ. (God-Man!)
So that his full humanity would be evident to us from the fact of his ordinary human birth from a human mother...
And his full deity would be evident from the fact of his conception in Mary’s womb by the powerful work of the Holy Spirit.”
# 3 The Virgin Birth of Christ is a BIG deal because it reminds us that Jesus was sinless!
If Jesus was born of 2 natural parents, then He was born a sinner like all other human beings, and He would have needed a Savior for Himself.
If He had sin of His own, He could not have died as the substitute for your sins. If He did not die as your substitute then you are lost, and without hope.
Christmas isn’t just a story to make us feel warm and fuzzy about family, friends, and peace on earth.
At the heart of the Christmas story is that the human race is lost, alienated from the holy God because of our sin.
#4 The Virgin Birth of Christ is a BIG deal because it reminds us that only Jesus could bring salvation!
The virgin birth of Christ is an unmistakable reminder that salvation can NEVER come through human effort, but MUST be the work of God Himself.
Our salvation only comes about through the supernatural work of God.
John1:12,13 says, “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.”
1 Peter 1:18-20 says, “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver.
19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 20 God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but he has now revealed him to you in these last days.
Does it really matter what I believe about the virgin birth? Yes!
Is it really a BIG deal? ABSOLUTELY YES!!!!
That's the Christmas Bonus! It's more than just a baby being born in a manger over 2000 years ago!
It's more than just singing holy night & away in a manger!!!
He was born to die for you & I...He shed His spotless precious blood to cleanse us of ALL our sins.
And He wants to be our Savior & Lord this Christmas season, today and every day!!!
The Star of Christmas
Matthew 2:1-11
The wise men saw that The STAR represented at least three things:
1 This star represented - Hope. And without (Jesus) the star of Christmas...there isn’t any hope!
II Thessalonians 2:16-17 says, “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope,
17 comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.”
Jesus gives us hope for all eternity, and that's an AMAZING gift!
2. I believe this star represented - Joy.
The Bible says, “When they saw the star, they were filled with joy.”
And that joy was expressed by worship & the giving of gifts...
3. This star represented – Guidance.
Jesus Christ is heaven's answer to the earth’s dilemma! Mankind was lost and the birth of the newborn king gave the wise men direction!!!
Matthew 2:12 says, “When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route (or way), for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.
And we need to understand (like the wise men) that it's impossible to meet Jesus Christ and go home the same way!
II Corinthians 5:17 says, “...anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
You see – it’s not enough to put a star on our trees this Christmas. That’s not going to lead you or anyone to Jesus.
Putting lights and decorations on a fir tree is nice... but that’s all superficial.
It’s only when we realize that the Star of Christmas represents hope, joy, and guidance that God begins to show thru.
Because like the wise men...you found Jesus...the king...
Listen Online to this and past sermons:
Gifts of The Holy Spirit
Now the Gifts of the Holy Spirit are divided into 3 Categories...
#1. The Manifestation Gifts found in 1Cor.12:4-11 (These are usually called the 9 Gifts of the Spirit & they point to the Holy Spirit as the source of the gifts)...
#2. The Ministerial Gifts found in Ephesians 4:11-14 (These refer to the leaders or offices of the church)...
#3. The Motivational Gifts found in Romans 12:6-8 (These gifts focus on how we use them to serve each other)...
