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The message of grace that empowers you to stand as an overcome beleiver.

  1. Jul 26

    Be the Church | Jul. 26, 2026 | Ps. Dan Stauffer | Next Level Relational Netwrok

    The church is an active, living body designed to do the heavy lifting. To be the church means engaging directly in the strenuous effort required to bring people into the presence of Jesus. When the crowds block the way and the barriers seem insurmountable, true faith digs through the roof to find a way. True faith operates not just for the individual self, but it stands in the gap and has faith for others. Jesus sees this collective, determined faith and responds with profound authority, declaring that sins are forgiven. To be the church means moving forward with absolute conviction despite the inevitable critics. There will always be teachers of the law questioning the authority of Jesus and the methods of grace. Yet, the mission remains fixed entirely on ultimate life-change. A clean stable produces no harvest, but embracing the heavy lifting and the messiness of ministry brings forth the power of God. The ultimate authority of the Son of Man is demonstrated on earth through the forgiveness of sins and the physical, undeniable restoration of broken lives. To be the church means the congregation goes home radically different than how they came. Paralyzed individuals get up, take their mats, and walk out in full view of the community. This visible transformation astonishes the world, causing everyone to praise God. The ultimate result of being the church is that surrounding onlookers witness undeniable life-change and are irresistibly drawn to Jesus.

  2. Jul 19

    More than Enough | Jul. 19, 2026 | Pastor Raph

    More than Enough It is all a matter of the revelation of how much God has actually blessed us in Christ Jesus.  Out of that revelation, our faith would be brought to a level of trust and confidence that it will have no more limits. Ephesians 3:14-21 14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Paul’s prayer for the church was not a matter of provision, structure and more money. It was all about revelation. But Paul says, vv. 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Grasping God's love requires spiritual, strength, "muscle" and endurance, not just casual reading . "Comprehend" καταλαβέσθαι(katalavesthe). It does not mean "comprehend" in the sense of solving a math problem or intellectually understanding a concept. It literally means to "lay hold of," "seize," "pull down," or "make one's own." The literal Greek reads something like: "you may have the full power to seize and lay hold of all the measures and implications of Christ for us." power at work within us. Ephesians 3:20 (ESV): "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us," Ephesians 3:20 (AMP): "Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us," It's incredible to realize that God responds to our prayers, even those beyond our wildest dreams. Everything unfolds through His power working within us. The scripture does not say that you must do certain things for the power to work. It simply tells you that power operates within us.  You need to believe that. It’s not a matter of feelings or sensations. God says His power is at work in you.  The word “power” is dunamis δύναμις  That means: force (literally or figuratively), miraculous power, ability, abundance, might. That power " operates in us.”  That expression, “operates in us,” is energeo ἐνεργέω: that means to make active, to make efficient, to energize.  Our word energy comes from energeo in Greek.  Because the power is always working in us, be careful what you say, because God will respond abundantly above all that you ask or think.  To help you understand, I will divide this text into seven levels.  1. Now, to Him who is able.  We have a God who is all-powerful. He rules over the earth and the heavens.  2. Now, to Him who is able to do all things. God is capable of doing everything. For our God, nothing is impossible. 3. Now, to Him who is able to do all that we ask.  Be careful what you ask for because heaven is listening. Be careful what you ask for because God will do it. 4. Now, to Him who is able to do all that we ask or think. Have you ever fantasized about a beautiful house? Have you leafed through some magazines and thought how good it would be to have a house like that? Be careful what you think, because the power is at work in you. If you knew this, you would ask more of God. Once this verse comes alive in your heart, you will ask and keep asking, and think and think. All of this is already good enough, but God has more for us.  5. Now to Him who is able to do all that we ask or think abundantly The next level is that God is able to do abundantly all that we ask for or think of. Suppose you ask me for prayer. Before praying, I will tell you: "Let's pray to Him who is able." That would already be good, but the Word of God says that He, besides being able, will answer abundantly. 6. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think He is able to do far more than everything we ask or think. 7. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us At the seventh level, we learn that the power to accomplish all things is already at work within us. He has unleashed upon us the floods of the abundance of grace. How can sinful man, unworthy man, experience the favor of God? God did it so that when Jesus cried out, "It is finished," all blessings were released. The Surplus of Grace Let’s visit the story of the multiplication of bread and fish again in John 6. Aside from the ultimate miracle of Jesus's resurrection, the feeding of the 5,000 is the only miracle performed by Jesus that is recorded in all four Gospels. John 6:1-14 1 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.  7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” I'm curious about the thought process the disciples used for the math involved. Today, I'll teach you a simple math problem. When you run a business, the key financial concern is whether your income minus expenses results in a positive number—this is called surplus, revenue, or profit. The disciples made the calculation, and the result was not positive; it was very negative. So, the logic implies that you must close that financial gap with investment, an outside resource that is not part of the original relation of supply and expenses. They made the calculation and said, if we get 200 days of man’s wage in bread, it will not be enough to give each one a piece of bread. If Average Daily Wage (8-hour shift): $265.56 per day. 200 denarii would hold the purchasing power of about $30,000. At Publix Bakery, you would be able to buy around 5,454 loaves.  The next verse informs us that there were 5,000 men. Counting women and kids, scholars affirm there were approximately 15,000. During this week of preparation for our Nation’s Festival, it took us about 3 days to prepare the party. Because not everybody could do the job together, each one was doing a little here, another little there. But after the party, all of us helped to clean the building. In 1 hour, the building was ready for the service. I think of how I would try to resolve the problem of 15,000 people being hungry. I would try to make everybody work, particularly the men.  Five thousand men can do a lot. Maybe one of them had a barley field ready for harvest. Maybe I could send 1000 of them to collect the barley, while another 1000 would be building the temporary sifting and threshing floors and the roasting ovens, and another 1000 would be gathering the other ingredients or fishing in the Sea of Galilee. 1000 would be baking the breads and cooking the fish. The other 1000 would be working on the logistics of the distribution. Done. Great job. It is like the historical phrase "United we stand, divided we fall.” But Jesus did something different. Sit down, it is time to grow  10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number.  Why not lead in work? Because Jesus is the employer. Why not lead them to fight for their rights against the lack the Romans created? Because Jesus was not a union leader or revolutionary. Why not motivate them to be more civil? Because Jesus is not a politician. Why not calm them down while they find their way back home? Because he was not a pacifist.  Jesus said: “Sit down.” Why. Because He is the good shepherd. Psalm 23:1-2 1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. The position of blessings is the position of a king. It is the position of authority in faith.  I know it seems crazy and contradictory compared with the momentary circumstances we are in right now, but that is the growth pain before a fast growth spurt comes. Recently my teenage son woke up with knee pain. It was not muscle pain. It was bone pain, painful growth.  When teenagers hit a rapid growth spurt, the most intense growth occurs in the dark while they are sleeping. The body shuts down other functions to push all its energy into expanding bones and muscles. It is uncomfortable, and it hurts. Lying down to sleep relieves this constant physical pressure. While hormones are the primary driver of growth, this "unloading" allows the cartilage at the ends of long bones (the growth plates) to expand and lengthen more freely. Growing takes an immense amount of caloric energy. When the body is asleep and largely paralyzed, it can divert all of its available resources to the metabolically expensive task of building new bone and tissue. The circumstances we are in right now might feel dark, crazy, and completely at odds with the peace. Mark 6:30-31 30 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he s

  3. Jul 12

    The God full of Grace and Truth | Jul 12, 2026 | Pr Raph

    The God full of Grace and Truth John 1:14 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. God became human in the person of Jesus. God dwelt among us then and now is still living in us, full of grace and truth. Prostitutes, sinners, tax collectors, and the marginalized were drawn to Jesus. People could touch Him and receive their miracle with no deserving, merit or explanation. John 1:17 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. The Pharisees, who trusted in their own goodness, could not receive anything from Jesus. Why? Because He is for the unworthy. If Jesus is full of grace and truth, then He is for those who do not deserve it.  If you know you are undeserving, you can receive Jesus. Grace is for your moments of greatest weakness; precisely when you fail, you can achieve your miracle. Yesterday we had all our foster kids at this big happy pool party. Most of them have been victims of different family situations. Some of them are victims of their own bad decisions. But yesterday, they were being hugged, welcomed and celebrated for who they really are: children, beloved, chosen, as they should always be. That is grace. Grace, the emulsifier of Joy in affliction 2 Corinthians 8:1-2 1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. In chemistry, when you try to mix two unmixable substances, you need a third component called an emulsifier. Think about oil and water. They can’t mix, unless you put on some soap. Another good example is vinegar and oil; you can’t mix them, but if you add an egg yolk, you will mix them, and the result is mayonnaise. Well, that is the picture: here are three elements that are unmixable.  “severe severe test of affliction” "their abundance of joy" "extreme poverty” But if you add “grace of God that has been given,” you can now mix them all. And the result of that mix is different from what some here are experiencing. have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. Let’s break this verse in parts. “severe test of affliction” results in exhaustion, frustration, despair. “extreme poverty” results in fear, anxiety, greed, money-grabbing, alm-begging… But if you try to add joy there, it does not mix. It will be fake, hypocritical and religious. However, once a person realizes the grace we have, it becomes possible to find real joy in extreme affliction and destitution. What grace is that? 2 Corinthians 8:9 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. With that grace, we do not merely survive; we thrive. We don't just get by—we advance from one level to the next. We do not simply hold the line; we take ground; we go from one degree of glory to another. We do not simply endure; we overcome. Romans 8:31-32 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Our thought should be: How does this need compare to the abundance of grace I possess? What importance does this need have when such provision is accessible?  A father buys his child a fully paid-off, brand-new car. A week later, the child is sitting at home, losing sleep and completely paralyzed by anxiety. Why? Because the car is low on gas, and the child is terrified their father won't be willing to give him $40 to fill the tank. The father would look at them and say, "I just paid for the entire car. Do you honestly think I’m going to let you be stranded over a tank of gas?" You finally got married; do you think God lacks the wisdom to teach you how to deal with the disappointments? You warmly welcome your children, whether born, adopted, or fostered; do you believe that God will not provide you with the love needed to raise them?  You opened your business; God will also bring the clients. God gave us a church building; He will also provide the finances to you so we can keep it, improve it and expand it. Grace to have all sufficiency Would you like God to make all His favor and grace abound in your life? We all do. God promises that we can always enjoy His grace and have more than enough in everything. Even after a pandemic, wars in Ukraine, Palestine and Iran. We can still have abundant supply in all things. All we need is the overflowing grace. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. This promise is not just for the future. In the original text, the verb is in the present tense. God is able to do it today. Right now, the Lord is making all grace abound in your life. At this very moment. So why don’t we always see this sufficiency? Because we are too focused on the natural. We tend to live by sight rather than walk by faith. Right now, the Lord is causing all favor, all grace, to abound upon you. He wants you to have ample sufficiency in all things. At this very moment, as you read this text, God's grace is overflowing in your life. The key is to believe Some people teach that if you have enough faith, you can make anything you want happen. That’s not biblical. True biblical faith is opening your spiritual eyes to see what God is already doing in your life. Yesterday, during the World Cup match between England and Norway, while a group of brothers was watching in a slow stream service, another brother had the game on his phone in real time. It was interesting to see him shouting when England scored, and everybody was biting their nails thinking that the game was over for the British. However, once the TV finally broadcast the goal, all was clear, and England did win the game. It is all a matter of perspective. Who is actually with the final truth? God is the God of all grace and all truth.  It is believing that healing is already yours and thanking God for it. Hebrews 11:1 1 ESV Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  Faith makes the invisible real. Even if you don’t see God’s abundant favor yet, faith says: “Thank You, Father. I receive it!” Even if you only have a few dollars in your pocket, you can still thank Him because His grace is overflowing toward you. Faith doesn’t create something new — it simply takes hold of what is already real in the spiritual realm and brings it into your life. This promise is connected to financial provision. The Bible says God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). For those who give as God leads, His grace abounds toward them, providing more than enough financially. God is continually making His grace overflow so you can have abundant supply. Gratitude Jesus lived in the full abundance of the Father. Everywhere He went, there was provision. Remember the story of the five loaves and two fish that fed over 4,000 people ( Matthew 15:32-38). The disciples saw a huge problem, but Jesus saw abundant grace. He took the small amount of food, gave thanks to the Father, and multiplied it. While the disciples said, “What is this among so many?” Jesus gave thanks because He understood the abundance of God’s grace. Matthew 15:35-37 35 And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, 36 he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 37 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over. The people ate as much as they wanted, and twelve baskets were left over—untouched. That event was so remarkable in the memory of the disciples of Jesus that, later, John, in his gospel (John 6), after telling about the multiplication, about Jesus walking over the water, and calming the storm, says, all that happened in a place. And the landmark moment that most stayed in his memory was when Jesus gave thanks.  John 6:23 23 Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. The Lord rejoices when we say: “What is this need compared to the overflowing grace of God?” Learning with David, I realize that despite this difficult time, I can carefully select my words before my children, family, and church.  In deep distress, I can always choose to praise Him with gratitude. Psalms 34:11-13 11 Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 12 What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? 13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. The Correct Image of the Father: full of grace and Truth Consider the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15. The younger son wasted everything and returned home expecting to be treated as a hired servant. Instead, he received undeserved favor and was welcomed back as a son. All he had to do was receive the father’s abundant grace. Meanwhile, the older brother — who had never left home — became angry and refused to join the celebration. He complained,  Luke 15:29 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celeb

  4. Jul 6

    Multiplication of Grace | July 05, 2026 | Pastor Raph

    Multiplication of Grace There are things that can hold and restrict the grace of God upon our lives. And there are attitudes that can increase God's favor. Notice that I used the words “grace" and “favor" interchangeably.  What is Favor The word favor is the unmeritorious blessings of God coming to your life. I like to explain favor by comparing it with mercy. While mercy is the complete forgiveness of our sins on Calvary, and because of it, we will not receive all the punishment we deserved.  Grace, or favor, is to receive everything we do not deserve: all the blessings, all the joy, all the multiplication that Christ is worthy to receive. Grace is undeserved favor.  Under God’s favor, the enemy can’t prevail against you. Your critics will have no way to reprove you. Your competitors will not surpass you. Psalm 5:12 (ESV) "For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield." Because of God’s favor, the right people will come close and will do business with you. Even if your services are more expensive, people will see an advantage in using them. As important as they are, honesty and integrity do not increase favor.  They are rewarded with trust, and that is good. But we want more than that. We need multiplied favor. Joseph Joseph is the ultimate example in business, management, and standing out no matter where he worked.  Remember that Joseph worked with absolute integrity in Potiphar’s house. He refused to sleep with Potiphar’s wife, doing the honorable thing.  Later, in prison, he was honest, and His integrity earned him trust.  Both Joseph's superiors trusted him enough to put him in charge of daily operations. Genesis 39:21 (ESV)"But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison." Trust is good, but it wasn't enough to get Joseph out of prison or fulfill his destiny. Being a trustworthy prisoner still leaves you in a prison.  We need more grace. When God’s favor steps in where integrity reached its limit, from prisoner we will be exalted as royalty God gave Joseph the supernatural ability to interpret dreams, bringing him before Pharaoh. Genesis 41:39-40 (ESV) "Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command.'" Because of God’s favor, Pharaoh didn't just see a trustworthy man; he saw a man backed by God. Pharaoh immediately promoted him to the second-highest position in the most powerful empire in the world. Abraham Abraham is perhaps the most striking example of favor despite integrity. His story proves that favor is completely unmerited. If God’s blessing depended solely on Abraham’s honesty and integrity, he would have lost everything. There were two instances (with Pharaoh in Genesis 12 and with King Abimelech in Genesis 20) in which Abraham’s honesty completely failed. Out of fear for his life, he lied and said his wife Sarah was his sister. His lack of integrity put him in a terrible position. If Abraham had only relied on his honesty, he would have been punished by these kings for deceiving them. He broke their trust. But instead of Abraham being punished, God’s favor intervened. God stepped in, protected Sarah, and actually rebuked the kings.  Because of unmerited favor, Abraham wasn't just spared; he was blessed with massive amounts of livestock, servants, and silver. It was not Abraham's excellence or morality, but God's favor, that multiplied his wealth despite his lack of honesty. Genesis 20:14 (ESV) "Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him." Abimelech realized that, though Abraham had previously lied to him, Abimelech could not deny the supernatural blessing on Abraham's life. He realized that anyone who opposed Abraham would lose, and anyone who aligned with Abraham would prosper. So he went to "do business" and form an alliance.  He didn't approach Abraham because of his flawless integrity; he approached him strictly because of the undeniable, multiplied favor of God on his life. Genesis 21:22-23 22 At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army said to Abraham, “God is with you in all that you do. 23 Now therefore swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me or with my descendants or with my posterity, but as I have dealt kindly with you, so you will deal with me and with the land where you have sojourned.” How To grow in Favor  This begs the question: how can we increase God's favor upon our lives? That was the desire of the Apostles for us. 2 Peter 1:1-2 1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. Peter made it clear. Faith is the number one condition for multiplied grace.  A faith that makes you conscious of God’s gift of righteousness. Favor does not come because we make more things for God.  Favor is not meant to be a repayment for hard work. The biblical reasoning is: we do more because we have received more grace. Grace and peace are multiplied when we know more of the Lord. The more you listen to a preaching that exalts the work of Christ. When you learn more about the person of Jesus, everything in your life will prosper. This is not about the so-called “Prosperity gospel.” This is about the gospel of grace that will indeed produce prosperity. Romans 5:17 17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. So we can pray in the name of Jesus and ask for anything we need, with confidence that the Father listens and answers. 2 Corinthians 5:21 - 6:2 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Cor 6:1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. It is a matter of seeing more of the Lord.  We tend to think we need more money, but the Lord says we need more favor, which grows as we see more of the Lord. Our school had a demand for expansion for this coming school year in August. We had no resources to make that happen. But because of favor, a grant was given to enable us to achieve world-class quality using the best materials and equipment for that growth. We are opening two new classrooms because of that. Our foster families were loving these kids with all their hearts, and one of them testified that an unexpected amount was given to them with no application or process. That is favor.  We are being convinced that it is a matter of better marketing, but it is a matter of more favor. I talked with a brother yesterday who told me that all his business growth over the past year was driven by word of mouth. He said his only problem now is finding people willing to learn and work. That is favor. When Peter and Paul say about knowing the Lord, the knowledge here is a “heart” matter. Therefore, turn on a worship song. Pray “Lord, I want to know you more.” And by doing that, the favor will increase over your life. Have a Conscience of Forgiveness Romans 5:20-21 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Because of what Paul wrote here, many think that he meant to say, "the more a person sins, the more grace one will have.” Actually, that was exactly what Paul’s opponents accused him of saying. If you read the following verses, Romans 6:1-2 1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? What Paul was teaching is that one must be conscious of how sinful and broken and wretched they were without Christ to be so thankful and pleased with the great forgiveness they had received.  That is why it is so important to know that we would never be worthy of God’s favor based on our own merits and uprightness. The law was like a spoon. If you have a cup of water with residue at the bottom. While the sediments are still and tamed at the bottom, the water seems crystal clear. But if a spoon moves the water, the dirt from the bottom will be revealed. The spoon did not produce the dirt in the water; it only revealed it. The spoon is the law. The law does not have the power to clean the water. The spoon only reveals there is a problem.  Sin is already in our flesh. And unless one sees their sin, they would never perceive the need for a Savior. Here is how the grace can increase. Once one says yes to God’s solution for our terrible sinful condition, saying yes to Jesus, we no longer need to live under the conscience of sin.  We need to grow in the conscience of forgiveness. Luke 7:47 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” The one who knows and reminds himself of God’s complete and amazing forgiveness will love the Lord the most and consequently will receive more favor. The problem with the conscience of sin is the continuous shame and condemnation that it evokes. These things prevent the favor from growing in our lives. Think like this:  If my son wants to relate to me based on shame a

  5. Jun 28

    One Coin - Two Sides | Trent Tombs | Jun 28, 2026

    The Full Picture of the GospelThe Two-Sided Coin of the Gospel: The Gospel is the ultimate power of God to save, but to experience its full impact, we must grasp it in its totality. Much like a coin with two distinct sides, the complete picture of the gospel involves both the Gospel of the Kingdom and the Gospel of Grace. While Jesus' earthly ministry heavily emphasized the Kingdom and the Apostle Paul’s letters championed Grace, they are not two separate messages, but one unified gospel. Understanding both sides is crucial; it prevents us from becoming comfortably stagnant on one end or burning out through legalism on the other, ultimately empowering us to step fully into our royal identity. The Gospel of the Kingdom: When Jesus began His earthly ministry, His central declaration was clear: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17). This was not a harsh threat, but a joyful, royal announcement that the King's domain had finally arrived on earth. As believers, we are no longer subject to the broken systems of this world; we have been transferred into the Kingdom of God's beloved Son. This means we are royalty—joint-heirs with Christ—who carry the delegated authority to bring heaven's standard of healing, peace, and dominion into our homes, our workplaces, and our city. The Unshakable Foundation of Grace. Before we can effectively expand the Kingdom, we must be completely secure in the Gospel of Grace. The cross of Calvary is our unshakable foundation. Through Jesus' finished work, our sins have been entirely dealt with, and we are no longer defined as just "sinners saved by grace," but as the very righteousness of God in Christ Jesus! The enemy desperately wants us to doubt our salvation to keep us immobilized. However, grace assures us that our standing with the Father is based entirely on Jesus' perfect, finished sacrifice, not on our own flawed performance. Empowered to Reign in Life: When we successfully bridge the Gospel of Grace with the Gospel of the Kingdom, we are activated to truly reign in life. Romans 5:17 reveals that those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness will reign in life through Jesus Christ. Grace is the glorious means to a Kingdom end. It radically transforms our nature and secures our adoption as sons and daughters, enabling us to step out with the King's authority. Free from the heavy burdens of worldly worry and anxiety, we are fully equipped to take dominion over the circumstances we face. The Mission of the Local Church: God's ultimate design is to express this powerful, dual-sided gospel through His bride, the local church. We were not merely saved to get a ticket to heaven; we were saved for a divine, world-changing purpose right here on earth. As a living embassy of heaven, the local church is the place where broken people encounter the healing power of the Kingdom and the unconditional embrace of Grace. As we fully accept our royal identity and rest in the finished work of the cross, we will naturally multiply, advancing the King's domain and preparing ourselves as a bride ready for His triumphant return. Key Scriptures: Matthew 4:17Colossians 1:13Matthew 6:33Romans 5:17

  6. Jun 21

    The Spirit of Adoption | Jun. 21, 2026 | Pastor Raph

    The Spirit of Adoption This past week, I’ve had several deeply moving, providential, divine-appointed conversations with brothers and sisters in our congregation. And a beautiful, recurring theme kept surfacing in those talks: the adopting heart of God. As a church, we believe deeply in fostering and adopting. We believe it is how we become an answer for our broken community, stepping in to love and guide the next generation. Recently, a dear friend of mine, Pastor Sam Todd from Sanford, Florida, came down to Fort Myers and treated me to lunch. By the way, if you ever want to invite me to lunch, I am exactly like Jesus with Zacchaeus—I am always ready to say yes. In fact, if you don't invite me, I might just invite myself! Jokes aside. As we sat at the table, Sam shared the powerful story of his own adoption. His late parents had struggled with infertility, but they felt a profound calling from God to be parents to multiple children. To confirm this calling, they bought a stuffed bunny, placed it in their bedroom, and named it Samuel—because in the Bible, the phrase "asked of God" directly translates to the name Samuel in Hebrew.  That bunny became a daily token of their prayer. It was a “Gedeon fleece” before God, saying, "Lord, if you do not bring a child to our family in 12 months, we will understand that we were just emotionally moved, and we will let it go." For 11 months, they prayed. No child came. But exactly 11 months and three weeks into that year of prayer, the phone rang. It was an adoption agency. A young, unmarried girl had just released her baby boy for adoption. That was Samuel. In that single moment, the Todd family broke a generational curse and completely changed the trajectory of that little baby's life forever. Fast forward to today. Pastor Sam Todd has two biological sons. At our lunch this week, I sat with his youngest son, Phil. We had the most incredible time talking about Legendarios and about Godly, heavenly things. But his oldest son wasn't at the table with us. He was busy taking care of his own daughter—a beautiful little girl he adopted from India. Think about the staggering odds of that. There was perhaps a one-in-300-million chance that a little orphan girl from India would end up in an American family. But she ended up in a family whose very foundation was built on the adopting heart of God. She was chosen. Pastor Sam Todd was chosen. And this morning, on Father's Day, I want to remind every single one of you of this truth: You are chosen. We have a Heavenly Father who looked at us in our brokenness, called us by name, and elected to adopt us into His eternal family. (Romans 8:14-17) 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For many, the idea of "God the Father" brings up a mixture of emotions. If we are honest, sometimes our view of our Heavenly Father is tainted by our earthly experiences. That is a problem. I remember that in one of my Bible studies, I learned that the only way I could relate to God appropriately was by first fixing my relationship with my earthly father. Again, the problem was that I was unable to fix that relationship perfectly, and it goes back to the thought that the Christian life is centered on what I can do, not on what Christ has done. It is the other way around. Be loved, receive the mercy of the heavenly Father. Allow the truth of adoption to take your heart completely. And from this new identity as beloved, you will have a healthy, healed relationship with your earthly father and with everybody else. The finished work of Jesus Christ entirely defines our relationship with the Father. He is not demanding you earn your keep; He is inviting you to rest in His grace. The name Revealed: Father When Jesus stood on the brink of the cross, He prayed what we call the High Priestly Prayer. He did not say, “I have manifested Your name as Elohim or El Shaddai."  The entire context of John 17 is Jesus speaking to His Father. He revealed God’s name by demonstrating His perfect, unconditional love as a Father to His children. Jehovah-Jireh, our provider, or Jehovah-Rapha, our healer. Yet, of all the magnificent titles and redemptive names God revealed throughout history, Jesus came to emphasize one above all others. The name that the Lord Jesus came to reveal to us is "Father". (John 17:6) 'I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.'  (John 17:11) 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. Father — Patēr — The word carries a meaning of nourisher, protector, upholder. (Matthew 6:9) 'Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”' We do not relate to our early dads primarily through a title. With God, Jesus is teaching that we pray through an intimate relationship of grace. When you cry out "Father," you are assuming the position of an heir. Today, in Christ, the Father loves you just as much as He loves Jesus. If you always come before the Father saying "God, God," it is no wonder you might struggle to feel His love or find faith released in your heart. But when you say, “Father," the Holy Spirit fills you with His love and faith. When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, He did not give them a complex religious formula. He handed them the keys to intimacy. (Matthew 27:46) 'And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”'  Our access to the throne room is not based on our good behavior, but on our family status. You are a child of God, and you have a Father who delights to hear your voice. Think of it this way: If you go to a large corporation, employees address the head of the company as "Mr. President" or "CEO."  They interact with him based on his title and their performance. But at the end of the day, a little boy can run right past the reception desk, burst into the corner office, and yell, "Dad!" The CEO drops everything for his son.  The world knows God by His titles—Creator, Judge, Elohim. But because of the finished work of Christ, you do not stand in the lobby of heaven as an employee hoping for a good performance review. You burst into the throne room as a child. The only time the Lord Jesus called His Father "My God" was on Calvary. On the cross, He took on our sins and proved for us our separation from the Father. Jesus was forsaken so that you and I would never be. He cried out, "My God," experiencing the cold distance of judgment and the full penalty of the law, so that today, as born-again believers, we can cry out, "Abba, Father". Because of His sacrifice, our position is eternally secure. ἀββά The term ἀββά occurs in the NT only 3 times: Mark 14:36 (Used by Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, expressing agonizing intimacy and submission to God's will) In Rom 8:15; Gal 4:6. In each case, it is used to call on God in prayer. The Apostle Paul (in Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6) and Mark deliberately chose to write the Aramaic word into their Greek texts using Greek letters (Ἀββᾶ). A transliteration. English translators maintain this by transliterating the Aramaic word into English letters, honoring the bilingual construction of the original authors. Biblical scholars conclude that New Testament authors used bilingual expressions to strategically bridge Christianity’s Judean roots with its expanding Gentile audience. Historically, retaining the exact syllables of Jesus’s native language captured his authentic voice (ipsissima vox) during intimate healings (Mark 5:41: Talitha koum — translated as, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!”; Mark 7:34: Ephphatha — translated as, "Be opened.") and his traumatic crucifixion (Mark 14:36) 'And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”’). Also, the immediate Greek translations following Aramaic transliterations dispelled pagan notions of magical incantations and clarified narrative misunderstandings. John and Paul used this dual-language technique to prove Jesus fulfilled Jewish prophecy and to emphasize that Greek-speaking Gentiles were fully adopted into the same familial relationship with God. An act of cultural and theological bridge-building. And maybe even as a password to protect the early persecuted believers. A vital liturgical function, as untranslated Aramaic words like Abba, Maranatha and Hallelujah. functioned as sacred, unifying passwords of worship that connected the broader Greco-Roman churches back to the mother church in Jerusalem. (Galatians 4:6) 'And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”' According to Moisés Silva in the New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis (NIDNTTE), Abba has absolutely no childish character. Jewish writings demonstrate it was the standard word used by adult offspring It was also a respectful title for scholars, like "rabbi". In Greek philosophy, the term patēr signified the supreme deity who is the creator, parent, and sustainer of the entire cosmos. The Cry of the Spirit The Spirit does not point you to your own works to establish your identity; He points you to your Father. Psalms 103:11-14 11 For as high as the heavens are above the e

  7. May 31

    Be Fervent in the Spirit | Pastor Raph | Jun 7, 2026

    Be Fervent in the Spirit Romans 12:9-13 9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Today, we will start a series of “The Heart of God for Us”.  In the next weeks, I would like to share what God has intended us, as His people, to be known. The qualities that would make us distinct in our families, workplace, school and community. We will not follow an order here. But we will try to share what the Lord wants us to be like and how He empowers us to respond to this identity. Today, we land on Romans 12:11 Romans 12:11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.  “be fervent": a primary verb; to be hot. The image is to boil, of liquids; or glow after you heat up a metal, of solids. That is, be fervid, earnest, be fervent. Thomas Edison tested thousands of bizarre filament materials—including carbonized bamboo and even human beard hair—scientists finally settled on tungsten because it has the highest melting point of any metal on Earth. To make it work, they take about six feet of microscopic tungsten wire, tightly coil it up to fit inside that oxygen-free glass bubble, and let it burn at temperatures rivaling a star's surface, all without ever actually turning to ash. Be a burning bush Exodus 3:2-4 2 And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Moses’ calling and his usefulness were about the fire in his life. That is why God called Him out of the burning bush.  True usefulness to God relies entirely on the fire of His presence rather than human capability. We Are "Common Bushes": God did not choose Moses for his intellect, charisma, or strength. A desert bush is a rough, ordinary, and unimpressive plant. God does not seek out our natural attributes; He chooses us despite who we are. Our beauty and uniqueness do not come from our natural "wood," but from the fire of God resting upon us. The Fire Sustains the Work, Not the Bush: If a physical fire burns a bush, the wood is eventually reduced to ash. But in this vision, the fire did not consume the branches. God’s heart for us is fervor without burnout. To be set on fire by god without being consumed by the demands of the work. Many leaders fall into the Messiah trap—the belief that they must convert people, save people, fix marriages, heal broken lives, or deliver someone from addiction. But we can’t. Those things are far beyond what any human being can accomplish on their own. We can preach the gospel, disciple people, pray, counsel, encourage, and walk alongside them. We can plant and water the seed, but only God can bring the growth. We can create an environment for transformation, but only the Holy Spirit can transform a heart. When leaders take responsibility for outcomes that belong to God, they eventually become exhausted, discouraged, or controlling. Our calling is faithfulness, not sovereignty. Jesus is the Savior, not us. He is the one who changes hearts, restores marriages, breaks chains, and brings true freedom. So, we should not rely on human strength to accomplish His work. If you try to carry God's work on your own shoulders, you will burn out. True spiritual fervor means allowing God to work through you, so that He sustains the energy, provision, and impact. The Fire Attracts: Moses could not resist the fire (vv. 3). When we are fervent in the Spirit and clothed in Christ, people no longer see our natural limitations; they see the glory of God. There is a famous saying often attributed to John Wesley: “I set myself on fire, and people come to watch me burn.” Fire and Usefulness How could a fearful and cowardly Peter be used by Jesus? Before Jesus’ crucifixion, Peter denied Jesus. Matthew 26:69-70 69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” After Jesus’ resurrection, Peter and the other apostles were afraid of persecution and purposeless. They went back to their old life as fishermen.  John 20:19 (ESV) "On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, 'Peace be with you.’" John 21:1-3 (ESV) "After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, 'I am going fishing.' They said to him, 'We will go with you.' They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing." They needed something else. They needed the fire. Acts 1:4-5 (ESV) "And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, 'you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.'" Remember, they were already with the Holy Spirit within them. Jesus, on the occasion of appearing to them in the locked house, had breathed over them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit." John 20:21-22 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If a police officer is assigned to direct a massive crowd at a Fourth of July parade, it is not enough for him to have completed training, carry a badge, or hold the title of officer. He may possess the identity of a police officer, but to exercise authority effectively, he must also be clothed as one. The uniform visibly represents the authority behind him. People respond not merely to who he is, but to the authority resting upon him. Scripture speaks of being clothed with power from on high, being baptized in the Holy Spirit, and being filled with the Spirit. This is not about receiving a new identity; it is about receiving divine empowerment. The Holy Spirit within gives us life. The Holy Spirit upon us gives us power. The Spirit within produces character; the Spirit upon enables ministry. Just as the officer needs both his identity and his uniform, believers need both the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit and the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit resting upon them. God's work is accomplished not merely by who we are in Christ, but by the power of the Holy Spirit operating through us. They needed special clothes for the great commission they were receiving. That is why we understand the covering, suiting the dressing of the Holy Spirit. Or, as the baptism of the Holy Spirit and Fire.  Acts 2:1-4 1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." In only moments after that event, the same Peter and the same apostles changed completely.  Acts 2:14 (ESV) (Bold Peter) "But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: 'Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.’” They were on fire. Fervent. Boiling. Fuming. And the result was amazing. Acts 2:41 (ESV) (Three thousand added) "So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” The Fire Combination  So the question now is how to keep the fire burning. Every physical fire requires three essential elements to exist: fuel, oxygen, and heat. Heat is the ignition source. It raises a material to the temperature where combustion begins. Fuel is any combustible material. Fire is essentially a rapid oxidation reaction—combustion. For combustion to continue, all three components must remain present simultaneously.  If you want to quench a fire, it is just a matter of removing one of these elements. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 (ESV) "Do not quench the Spirit." Similarly, spiritual fire has a triad to sustain the fire within our hearts. Faith, Hope, and Love 1 Corinthians 13:13 (ESV) "So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." Just as a natural fire needs three elements. In order to keep the fire, in order to abide, one must keep the three.  “abide” - μένω - Menō. to last, endure of persons, to survive, live, to remain as one, not to become another or different. The fire within us requires faith, hope, and love. Remove any one of these, and the fire goes out. They must all be deeply connected. Faith and Love. For me, God's love for us is the activator: Faith does not operate in a vacuum; it is activated by love. Galatians 5:5-6 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.  6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. There is no trust if one does not know they are loved. Faith comes from first knowing

  8. May 24

    My cup overflows | May 24, 2026 | Pastor Raph

    My cup overflows At least once a year, a pastor should pass by Psalm 23 with the church. Why? Because that is the Psalm that reminds us to whom we belong. People today live with anxiety, insecurity, and fear of lack or danger. Because God is our good, faithful, steadfast shepherd, we can live without fear or lack, even in life’s darkest moments. Know that we are not part of a movement or an organization. Some sort of membership club or religious sect. We are Jesus’ very flock. This is one of David's Psalms that does not tell us the situation he was involved in ( compare with Psalm 51, 56, 59 or 142). These are historical prefaces, technically called a historical superscription in their opening lines.  Charles Spurgeon said that David could not have written these words given his temporal or earthly circumstances, as his life was marked by great trouble, from his days as a shepherd to his time as a hunted exile, and later as a king beset by war and family tragedy. Psalms 23 1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. David, a former shepherd himself, writes not as a detached observer—but as someone who knows both sides. He knows what it means to lead sheep… and he knows what it means to be one. Jesus can be our perfect good shepherd because He is the Lamb of God. He became like us John 10:10-11 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.  11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. When God called Moses, he added Aaron to his ministry, because Moses never experienced what the people, as slaves, had suffered.  However, our deliverer knows what it is to suffer.  Hebrews 2:18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. John 10:14-15 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. Shepherding was not a clean, serene, or glamorous job. It involved a grueling, twenty-four-hour-a-day commitment of living in the dirt with the flock, fighting off wild animals, and guiding stubborn animals through hostile terrain. I shall not want Psalm 23:1 “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” That statement changes everything. David does not say, “The Lord gives me some help.” He says, “The LORD is my shepherd.” This is personal. Not "a" shepherd. Not "the" shepherd in general. My shepherd. And because of that relationship: “I shall not want.” This does not mean we never face difficulty. It means we will never lack what we truly need. It does not mean a life free from hardship, financial struggle, or physical pain.  It does mean the Creator of the universe takes full, personal responsibility for the care, feeding, and protection of His flock. He makes, He leads, He restores. Psalms 23:2-3 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Sheep don’t lie down easily. They are anxious animals. The work of the Holy Spirit today is to convince you about your righteousness, so we can lie down and be still. John 16:8-11 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. concerning sin, because they do not believe in me: it is “one sin”. Unbelief. That is the only sin that condemns a person to hell. Once you believe, that conviction is fulfilled. - concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father: That is what the Spirit is working on us now.  The Holy Spirit came into your heart to constantly remind, reassure, and convince you that you still possess the gift of righteousness through Christ—even when you make a mistake. He wants to lead us to new levels of this revelation. Romans 5:17 17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. The shepherd provides all of that. 2 Corinthians 5:21 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Unless we are fully convinced of God’s righteousness in us, there is no Psalm 23:5. Psalms 23:5 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. cup overflowing. The very end of the Psalm,  Notice the relation of John 16:11. John 16:11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. How can you sit at a table in the presence of your enemies? Only if the Spirit fully convinced you that "the ruler of this world is judged." He is the Restoration and Provision The place of provision, restoration and rest is Jesus Himself. Psalms 23:3 He restores my soul. Life drains us.  Sin distorts us.  Stress exhausts us. Comfort in the valley Psalms 23:4 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. David does not say “…if I walk through the valley". He says, “…even though I walk through the valley".  A devastating medical diagnosis, the grief of losing a loved one, or intense relational betrayal. The rod in Psalm 23 symbolizes God's strength and protection, used to defend the flock from predators and to count sheep (Leviticus 27:32). The staff represents God's guidance and love, used to direct and rescue wandering sheep, especially when they are trapped or in danger.  A staff identifies the shepherd as a shepherd. Used for the care and management of sheep—and only sheep. It will not do for cattle, horses or pigs - W. Philip Keller This “valley” could refer to deep ravines where predators lurk, and shadows hide danger. It represents anything that threatens us: Fear, loss, suffering and death. “I will fear no evil…” Why? Not because the valley is safe. Not because the danger is gone. “For you are with me.” Did you notice the shift? Earlier, David said, “He leads… He makes… He restores…” Now he says, “You are with me.” You are completely known, entirely forgiven, and eternally secured. You do not have to earn the Shepherd’s love; you simply have to yield to it. John 10:28-29 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. For most of us, it is in the valley that theology becomes personal. Psalms 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. The Hebrew word for "follow" means to actively pursue or chase down. How do "goodness and mercy" relate to the "rod and staff"? His rod points to His goodness. His staff points to His mercy. His goodness pursues us; His staff pulls us close.  You do not have to exhaust yourself chasing after God’s approval. Psalms 138:7-8 7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me. 8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.  God does not always remove the valley— but He always enters it with you. “Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” The same God who corrects you is the God who comforts you. A hospital hallway feels cold and overwhelming. Nothing seems to have changed about the situation… But once a close friend comes and stands close to us, everything feels different. His presence changes everything. God not only provides and protects… He stays with us. My cup overflows Psalms 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. He blesses us in the presence of enemies. In the ancient Near East, hospitality carried profound weight. When a weary, dust-covered traveler arrived at a host's tent, the host would anoint their head with fragrant oil as a lavish sign of extreme honor, refreshment, and favor. God treats us as His honored guests, serving us a feast of grace even while the spiritual battle rages all around us.  John 10:9-11 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. Spourgen also said, "The phrase, ‘my cup overflows,’ represents the pinnacle of the Psalmist’s experience. David realized that God’s grace provided an abundant, immeasurable, and excessive measure of blessing. Why Some Cups Never Overflow? Have you tried to fill a cup for someone who is constantly running?  Doubt: Doubting God’s promises makes us uneasy. Makes us “Overfunctioners.” They feel that if they don’t "do it all" (or "fix it all"), things will fall apart. They are constantly running around, stressed, and exhausted.  While being a “fixer" can be a positive trait, when it is driven by anxiety and leads to burnout when they try to dictate the outcome of every situation.  The truth is that we don’t have control over everything, and powerlessness is a stressful trigger for many. So they hover, they interfere, they critique, and

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The message of grace that empowers you to stand as an overcome beleiver.

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    VineSWFL.Church
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    267
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    Clean
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