Emmanuel Church

"No pain, no gain" may be a quote coined by gym enthusiasts, but it can certainly bring perspective to perseverance in our spiritual life.

What comes to mind when you hear the word perseverance? Maybe you think about hanging in there when the job seems too hard or the financial pressures are mounting, or the marriage is difficult?

These are just some of the trials we encounter in this fallen world, but thankfully the living Word of God is full of encouragment to help us persevere through these difficult times.

The book of James for instance offers great encouragment regarding such trials "Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." JAMES 1:4 (NIV)

This point may be better understood in the previous two verses...

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance" JAMES 1:2-3 (NIV)

Life's trials are both the training ground and the testing ground for our faith. It’s where we work out our spiritual muscles. To use the analogy of the physical fitness enthusist "No pain, no gain"

Amid the pain of life's trials, be encouraged that our God is sovereign and wise, choose the perspective of faith, and through this you will yield the gain of spiritual maturity and strength.

A passion for God’s house-
“Because zeal for your house has consumed me.” - Psalm 69:9(CSB)

The house of the Lord is a sanctuary, reserved for God and the gathering of God’s people.

It is where the broken-hearted can find their Comforter and the oppressed their Deliverer. Where the lonely can meet their Friend, the sinner can find Mercy, and the troubled can find Peace. It is also where the Creator of the universe can meet His beloved people and receive His rightful worship.

King David is a great example of someone who truly had a passion for the house of the Lord.

The Psalms reveal David’s experience and observations in God’s house were of favor and mercy(Psalm 5:7), security and strength(Psalm 27:4-6), abundant provision(Psalm 36:7-8), fellowship and friendship(Psalm 55:12-14), long, healthy and productive lives(Psalm 92:12-15), among many other blessings.

David loved the house of God because it was God’s Home – “a resting place for God”(Psalm 132) – a place where His name was revered, where He could receive the worship due to Him. A place where people could meet him away from the busyness of everyday life. David knew that “the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof” (Psalm 24:1), and that God fills the whole expanse with His presence. But, although God is omnipresent, His House is the place that is set aside for Him – a place that is sanctified for Him and His worship. “God’s name is blasphemed among the nations” (Romans 2:24), yet in his House, among His people, He is revered. It is His “resting place.”

Amidst the busyness of life, the terrors of our time, and every distraction this world has to offer, may we have the same passion for God’s house as the Psalmist did. A passion that takes us into the house of the Lord with a fiery desire to just be in God’s presence, with God’s people, giving Him the reverence and worship He deserves.

“How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” -Psalm 84:1-4, 10(ESV)

“Trusting” in God means we must be “willing to believe” what He says is true.

Proverbs 3:5-6 say to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight".
This verse instructs us to put our trust in the Lord and not in our own knowledge or strength. Allowing God to be a guide requires a full commitment to TRUST. It means believing in His reliability, in His strength, in His ability, and in His Word. It's more than just a feeling, it is a choice to have faith in what He says, even when circumstances or feelings suggest otherwise.

Isaiah 55:8-9 says “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts”

God's Word is trustworthy, His very nature is faithful and true, and His plans for us are perfect and purposeful.
When we put our trust in the Lord and each of His guiding steps, we can be confident in knowing the outcome (regardless of circumstance) will ALWAYS be GOOD!

But God cannot lead us where we will not follow. Trust in Him!

The landscape of the church may be ever changing but the reason for the church never is!

Many churches across America, as well as globally, have a visual distinction from the churches of yesterday with steeples and pews. Today, we have some meeting in former malls and shopping plazas, some in rented school buildings and hotel meeting rooms. Some churches of today have taken on the landscape of the early church, whether out of necessity or simplicity, some are gathering in homes, in secret, and sometimes virtually underground, hidden from the oppressive view of local authorities.
All over the world, God’s people are gathering in a variety of places and settings — yet they gather for the same grand purpose. God's NEVER changing purpose of the church…

The exaltation of God-
God has called us to live “for the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:12). We are to glorify and know the God Who created us ; “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light”- 1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)

The edification of the saints-
Paul said that his own goal was not merely to evangelize, but “teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Jesus Christ” -Colossians 1:28 (NKJV).
“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ”-
Ephesians 4:11-15 (NIV)

The evangelization of the world-
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” -Matthew 28:19–20(NIV)

Whatever is pleasing to God:
“upon this rock I will build my church” -Matthew 16:18

WHO is God?

God identified His name to Moses as: "I AM WHO I AM," The name of I AM is how God chose to introduce himself. The significance of God’s self-given name encompasses all that He is, and how we are to relate to Him. For He is everything that we need in every area of our lives.

One beautiful image of the Lord is seen in Proverbs 18:10 where He is described as a Strong Tower, where: "The righteous runs into it and are safe."

The Lord began unveiling His holy name and perfect attributes from the very first verse of Genesis, where we discover Him to be the all-powerful Creator.

To Adam, He became his relational Lord, and Abraham saw Him as the Almighty God Who was His Master and Provider. To Moses, the friend of God, He became his Banner and Sanctifier, while Gideon found Him to be his Perfect Peace which surpasses all understanding. David discovered the Lord was his Tender Shepherd Who laid down His life for the sheep, and Ezekiel worshipped the Righteous God Whose name is JESUS.

All of us who run to the Lord as Creator and Redeemer, discover Him to be our Perfect Peace, our Gracious Shepherd, and our Everlasting Righteousness.

When we can look beyond the rebellious, prideful nearsightedness that we were born into and recognize that by God's eternal power the universes were created, we can start to glimpse into the very character and heart of God, Who loved the world so much that He sent His only begotten Son to make the ultimate sacrifice for every one of our sins. And His name is Jesus Christ.

May we never forget WHO God is and that in Him alone will be found our refuge and strength, our peace and our safety.

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.” -Proverbs 18:10(NKJV)

“ The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” -Romans 6:23(NIV)

This scripture reminds us that as sinners, we have “earned” the sentence of death. But because of our merciful God who gave us the “gift” of salvation through the sacrifice of His son Jesus Christ, we can now escape death and instead enjoy eternal life with Him.

This gift of salvation is THE epic proportion! No other gift is bigger, better, more important or more outrageously generous! It secures our ETERNAL home in Heaven!

We don't deserve it; we haven't earned it. And in fact, there is nothing we can do to “earn” this gift of salvation. We must simply accept it.

Accepting this gift is as simple as believing Jesus died for your sins, admitting your sins, turning away from those sins and accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

We were once sinners, doomed to die, BUT God! He resolved this terrible dilemma for us on the cross. And simply asks us to;
Believe
Confess
Repent
Submit
then relax KNOWING that death doesn't have a grip on you;
life through Jesus does.

“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” -1 John 5:11-13(ESV)

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41 (NIV)

We all face the struggle of dealing with our flesh. Paul said, “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God...” (Romans 8:6-7)

When we speak of the flesh, or carnal nature, we are primarily referring to a mind-set, a way of thinking. It is the insanity which keeps us bound up in sin that we know (when we are in our right minds) is destroying us.

When we deal with the powerful pull of temptation, the conflict between the flesh and spirit becomes an even more relevant issue in life. Paul said, I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16 NKJV)

We can spend thousands to sit on a psychologist’s couch, attend support group meetings, go to world-renowned clinics for addicts, read all the self-help books and even have demons cast out of us. But, if we want to overcome habitual sin, we must learn to walk in the Spirit.

To walk in the Spirit and live a life pleasing to God, we must bring our flesh completely into subjection. We can’t plead with God for help to overcome a particular sin but then resist Him when He requires change in other areas of our lives. We sometimes want Him to come in and clean out the red-light district but want the lights left on in the movie houses, gambling halls, and comedy clubs.

God is not looking to simply help us overcome “one little problem area.” Rather, He is looking to overhaul our entire lives. As we allow Jesus to have more of the territory in our kingdom, we will find that our inside world becomes better managed, cleaner and more orderly. As we permit God to empty our old self-nature, we find we are being filled more and more with His Holy Spirit. Thus, our defeated life is gradually replaced with the victorious life we are promised. This is what the Lord desires and expects for His children.

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” -Galatians 2:20 (NKJV

God gives us the desires of our heart. He does not give us our heart’s desire.

Psalm 37:4, says
“Delight yourself also in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart”

And

Jeremiah 17:9 says:
“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?”

Our true desires must rest in God. Practically speaking, this means we spend time in His Word. Studying and praying. In these moments, whether they be hours or minutes, we can help our hearts align with the One who will completely satisfy.

It’s almost Sunday, and we can’t wait to join in fellowship and worship with you!! Grab your family, friends, neighbors and come join us Sunday!!

📍West Lake Preparatory Academy (1691 Forney Creek Pkwy Denver, NC)
⏰10:00 AM

The words of a father to their children carry bountiful weight, but a father of faith who continuously models Christ through his love and sacrificial actions will create an unshakable foundation of faith within his family.

“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things,” Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:7 (ESV)

When you look at healthy families, you see one common characteristic — sacrificial men of God. Men who take their children to church- even if they’d rather be at home watching a football game. Men who take time for their children — even when they have a laundry list of other things they could be doing. Men who deal patiently with their children — even when they’ve had a long day. When men do the right thing for their families and offer that life-giving sacrifice, it pays big dividends. The family that results from that kind of fatherly sacrifice is a harmonious family with a solid foundation in the Lord.

In Romans 12:1-2, Paul writes, ” I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.

It is the Lord’s will for men to be good fathers. Christ-like sacrificial role models for their children.

Sacrifice is hard, if it were easy it wouldn’t be called sacrifice. Sacrifice is also very powerful. On the surface, sacrifice can feel weak and powerless. Christ may have looked weak and powerless on the cross during his moment of ultimate sacrifice, and yet that sacrifice remains the most POWERFUL act the universe has ever seen!

Thank you to every father who is a Christ-like role model that sacrifices for their family!

Thank you Jesus for being our Father so that we too could become father’s through you! Come out tomorrow and join us for Father’s Day at our 10:00 a.m. service celebration.