Victory Vida

Dear Church: Your Prayers Are Precious to GodPastor James MeeksJuly 11, 2021 Revelation 8:3 KJV And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. Revelation 5:8 KJV And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. The Precious Prayers of the Church: Satan does not want you to pray. Satan does not want you to know how valuable your prayers are to God. 1. Revelation 8:1-4 2. Revelation 5:8 1. There are prayers that are answered right away. Isaiah 38:1-5 KJV In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live. Then Heze

In the Bible, Jesus emphasizes that the number one way people will fall away from the faith is through deception. It can come in many packages, which is why it’s so important to know what the Word says to keep us anchored. Social justice is something we all tend to think of in a positive light, but we often don’t recognize that it isn’t rooted in God’s moral laws. When we agree with things that sound good but aren’t biblical, entire societies can be deceived. In part three of Dear Church, learn the differences between social and biblical justice and action steps to hold tightly to the truth of God’s Word!

The results of fatherlessness are all around us: godlessness, rebellion, identity issues… For thousands of years, people have said that fathers aren’t necessary, but that isn’t the way the Father intended. God is raising up strong men and fathers who will lead their children to Jesus and leave strong legacies. He is healing us, repairing father wounds, so we can change the story in our families. In part one of our series, hear the top three things Pastor Johnson’s father taught him!

Our God is holy, special and unlike anyone or anything else we’ll ever encounter. In His love, He has called us to live life according to His standards rather than the world’s. God has set up fences of holiness to protect what is set apart for His unique purposes. With that, He has created a fence of space as a model for us in regard to having healthy relationships with others. Find out more in part three of our Fences series!

Thank God for fences! We put them around things that are valuable, like our homes, a children’s playground, art… Even God set up fences to guard what was most important to Him, and He has set the example for us. The first one He ever built was around time. God created for six days and on the seventh day, He rested, and He has extended that same invitation to us. If we want to truly thrive, we must find real rest for our souls. How? Let’s follow God’s way and enjoy the gift of the Sabbath day!

We are in a war. Our identity is fully secure in Christ, but we’re in an ongoing battle for our hearts. We have an enemy who’s constantly seeking to get us off track, but God has given us the spiritual weapons we need to fight back. Want to know how to overcome every attack of the enemy and live fully secure in Christ? In the final message of our Church Face series, discover how to combat the lies and win the war for your heart!

Just in case no one’s told you lately: You are enough. At some point or another, we’ve all felt like we don’t measure up, like we need to do more to be accepted and loved. The truth is that you’ve already been set free as a child of God! You don’t have to compare or compete with anyone else; you can show up authentically in all the Father has called you to be. He created you uniquely, and it’s time to embrace who you are in Him.

Who, or what, defines you? Many of us have allowed things like possessions, accomplishments, family, and sex to determine our value. But we were created to live from a place of identity and significance rather than spending our whole lives searching for it. God the Father designed and chose you—yes, you—to be here, and He’s the only one who gets to define you. What does He have to say? You were made on purpose for a purpose, and your presence matters. You are wanted and loved!

We live in a world that tells us we have to prove our worth, but if God’s greatness is going to be emancipated in us, we have to take hold of this truth: We are His beloved children! The reality is that it’s impossible for us to walk in an identity that we don’t fully believe, and we have an enemy who’s actually afraid we’ll discover who we are in Christ. As God’s children, we don’t have to try to earn our value. He created us, which means we’re already loved and accepted—and that will always be enough!

Jesus died a brutal death on a cross, sacrificing His life once and for all so that we could have a relationship with God. We know the story doesn’t end there! What a beautiful picture of His love. Celebrate Jesus with us during a special Easter presentation as we remember His life, death, and resurrection!

We have a God who loves to speak to His people both individually and corporately. He delights in gathering His people together to hear, discuss and live out His Word as one body. To journey into the great future God has for us, we have to be people who recognize and follow the voice of our shepherd. Coming together to hear His Word has incredible power, as we can do much more than we ever could alone. Let’s lock arms and move forward on the mission our God has set before us!

To walk in the greatness that God wants to free within us, we have to hear His voice and know that He is speaking! How does He speak? Through His Word, prayer, dreams and visions, and words of prophecy given through other people. In today’s message, we’re talking about how to discern whether or not God is actually speaking versus our own wants, the enemy, or someone else’s narrative for our lives. It’s our desire that when you ask the question, “God, is that you?” that you would be able to hear Him clearly in the unique way He created you!

We have a God who loves to speak to us, and we were made to hear Him. Communication with God is key, because much of what He says effects what comes next in our lives. So, it’s important that we understand the ways in which He speaks. One of those ways is through prayer. Let’s take time to learn the principles of how to hear His voice in prayer so we can fulfill the purpose He has for us!

While on the journey to emancipating God’s greatness, letting go of unforgiveness is an essential part of the process. Many of us have not forgiven ourselves for our pasts, but holding onto sins, failures, and mistakes only hinders us from living in the fullness of God’s destiny. The reality is: We don’t have to stay stuck. It’s time to toss the bag, to let go the weight we’ve been carrying, and walk in the freedom of His love!

We have a God who wants to set us free so we can live the life Jesus purchased for us to the fullest! We also have an enemy who sets traps of offense to keep us bound. One of the main areas he attempts to cause offense is actually between us and God. We don’t talk about it often in church, but we’re going there. Why? Because God has placed His greatness in us, and it can only be emancipated when we open our hearts to Him.