GOD’S WORD IS SO EXCITING! Reading this morning before work, there was a portion that just about jumped off the pages at me! Midway through Matthew chapter 16, I was listening in on Jesus’ conversation with His disciples when they were in Caesarea Philippi. And actually, He was questioning them. Jesus wanted to know what the people were saying about who He was. His disciples passed on the thoughts of others – that perhaps he was John the Baptist or Elijah or Jeremiah or one of the other prophets. Following that, I love what happens next in their dialogue. Jesus goes further. He goes to the core of their hearts – to what REALLY matters to Him. More important than what others were thinking, was what THEY were thinking. So Jesus asks, “And how about you? Who do you say I am?” It was Simon Peter who shot back an answer without having to pause to think … “You’re the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Then Jesus poured out His pleasure at Peter’s response, even going so far as to speak prophetically about His church! This is how He replied: “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books, or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God Himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.” INCREDIBLE!!! Did you get that??? If you didn’t realize it before, when you do, it will be life-changing! ELEVATION NORTH, IN GOD’S DESIGN, IS A CHURCH SO EXPANSIVE WITH ENERGY THAT NOT EVEN THE GATES OF HELL WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP IT OUT! Do we realize how powerful we are … just how powerful we can be? God has spoken that kind of energy and power into being so long ago – and now we just have to believe it and tap into it! How different our churches in America would be if all of us believed who we were! You see, in that chat between Jesus and His disciples, it wasn’t just about who they thought He was. Remember, He said, “And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are!” I believe that’s what’s missing in many of our churches. God’s people do not know who they are! And without that knowledge, the church becomes powerless and ineffective. The church forgets that we are an integral part of God’s Kingdom work here on earth. The church at that point doesn’t have what it takes to be actively engaged in what God wants to do through it. Let’s go back to the conversation again. Because Jesus pushes even further. He goes on, “And that’s not all. You will have compete and free access to God’s Kingdom, keys to open any and every door; no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven.” (verses 13-19) It’s literally breathtaking when you catch the impact of what Jesus was telling Peter. And because we are His church, these words are recorded for us to take as ours, as well. WE have complete and free access to God’s Kingdom. WE have keys to open any and every door. WE have no more barriers between heaven and earth. What we speak on earth is spoken in heaven. Dear ones, let’s grasp as much as we can, the magnitude of what Jesus was telling His disciples that day. For you see, it is His message to us today ~ especially for today! If we want to flourish as God’s church, then bottom-line, our choice must be to take God at His Word, and believe what He says to us! Someone has said, “Without the power of God, the church will wither into nothing – it will die!” Our heart’s cry at Elevation North is that God will infuse us with His divine power and remove any blinders so that we might see ourselves as God sees us. So that we may truly know who we are in Christ!!! So that we might stand strong, shining the light of Jesus into the darkness of this world, fulfilling the destiny He has planned for us as His disciples! Let’s BE who we are! There’s no more exciting life than that, precious people!
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
- THIS PAST SUNDAY we were so blessed to have ALL of you with us to lift up the Name of Jesus! We want to WELCOME Justin and Carianne and Isaiah, Elise, and Katelyn; Dennis and Jean and Lindsey and Britney, Frank and Louise and family, and each one of the family and friends of little Zaleigh who was dedicated to the Lord on Sunday morning! May God’s hand always be upon her life! And may God’s blessing rest upon each of you who joined us for worship for the first time ~ we hope to see you again soon!
- 21-DAY FAST – We are so excited that so many of our church families have made the commitment before God to fast and pray on behalf of Elevation North, for family needs, and many, many other needs. God is definitely at work and we are experiencing miraculous answers and divine favor! Let’s continue to be strong and diligent in our fasting and praying, and let’s uphold each other as we corporately seek God’s face and expect His best!
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
- THIS PAST SUNDAY we were so blessed to have ALL of you with us to lift up the Name of Jesus! We want to WELCOME Justin and Carianne and Isaiah, Elise, and Katelyn; Dennis and Jean and Lindsey and Britney, Frank and Louise and family, and each one of the family and friends of little Zaleigh who was dedicated to the Lord on Sunday morning! May God’s hand always be upon her life! And may God’s blessing rest upon each of you who joined us for worship for the first time ~ we hope to see you again soon!
- 21-DAY FAST – We are so excited that so many of our church families have made the commitment before God to fast and pray on behalf of Elevation North, for family needs, and many, many other needs. God is definitely at work and we are experiencing miraculous answers and divine favor! Let’s continue to be strong and diligent in our fasting and praying, and let’s uphold each other as we corporately seek God’s face and expect His best!
- LOOKING AHEAD . . .
- THIS SUNDAY, JANUARY 17th:
- 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE – Join us as we move into week three of this spiritual journey of our 21-day fast, listening to Pastor Doug’s message and learning from the godly examples of those who have gone on before us as recorded in God’s Word. When we see what God has done in the lives of others … that increases our faith to believe for His work in our own lives! And focusing on what a great God we love and serve, makes it as natural as breathing to worship with passion – so come prepared to pour your hearts out in song, in prayer, in taking in the Word, and in fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ!
- 11:15 A.M. – ALL CHURCH VISIONARY MEETING following worship, with an over-view report of our past year of ministry and outreach, the treasurer’s report, and a time for sharing the vision God is placing before us for the new year to come! We value your participation, so plan to stay after!
- 6:00-7:30 P.M. – YOUTH – RE: FUEL session for all of our junior and senior high at the home of Pastor Doug and Debbie with opportunity for an interesting time of learning from God’s Word, for lots of fun with friends, and of course, great snacks, as always! Make some phone calls and invite your friends to come along!
- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .
- There is never anything better we can do than to lift up the Lord Jesus Christ, and claim all that He has for us! And He loves hearing from us about things that concern us and that we care about. This week let’s be in prayer for Tina as she attends a Women of Faith conference in Texas in preparation for leading our group this fall! Let’s remember to lift up those who need prayer for healing and for breakthrough with unspoken requests – nothing is too large or too small for our God! Draw close to God, and He will draw close to you!
- THIS WEEK . . . Remember, “That we are alive today is proof positive that God has something for us to do today.” (Anna R.B. Lindsay) And … “Prayer is the key of the morning and the bolt on the door at night.” (unknown)
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
