Tree Church

There’s a stirring in the Spirit! Like a mighty flame I feel you rushing in.

Culture offers an alternate choice. The path to life is narrow and few find it. 

If you have it in your mind that culture has more to offer you you will always choose it. We choose to honor God in spite of the pull of our culture. We CHOOSE to put Him first in our minds and hearts.

God’s way is BEST and BLESSED.

Malachi is a book of correction. The author is unknown but we do know it was inspired by Holy Spirit. God wants to receive us with open arms. God is challenging His people to grow in Him.

The way you think impacts how you FEEL and the way you feel impacts how you THINK.

How you THINK/FEEL impacts how you BEHAVE.

How you BEHAVE impacts your quality of LIFE.

Positive thinking affects your physical, mental and emotional well being.

If you you want to honor god in your actions, it begins in your MIND.

 

Malachi 2:

17 You have wearied the Lord with your words;

“Yet you say,

“In what way have we wearied Him?”

In that you say,

“Everyone who does evil

Is good in the sight of the Lord,

And He delights in them,”

Or, “Where is the God of justice?”

When we act in same way as our culture and nothing bad happens we can believe that God accepts it. Even though His Word says differently we can view it wrongly. God can send messengers to alert us to our wrong thinking! 

3 “Behold, I send My messenger,

And he will prepare the way before Me.

And the Lord, whom you seek,

Will suddenly come to His temple,

Even the Messenger of the covenant,

In whom you delight.

Behold, He is coming,”

Says the Lord of hosts.

Biblical prophesy applies to the past, the present and future.

 

Isaiah 40:3

3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

“Prepare the way of the Lord;

Make straight in the desert

A highway for our God.

Luke 3

3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins,

4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying:

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the Lord;

Make His paths straight.

5 Every valley shall be filled

And every mountain and hill brought low;

The crooked places shall be made straight

And the rough ways smooth;

6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”

John called for repentance. Repentance is the changing of your mind and heart.

Change your mind. Change your heart. It starts with our thinking…acknowledging our ways are wrong and His are right.

Luke 3

7 Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 9 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Our behavior shows our repentance. We were made for good works. 

10 So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?”

11 He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”

12 Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”

13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”

14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?”

So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”

15 Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, 16 John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Change happens when we come to the realization that we do not know the answers but we accept the One who does.

Believe in His power to accomplish what we cannot! Faith alone pleases the Father.

Matthew 9

4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 7 And he arose and departed to his house.

He knows the thoughts of man. Our closed mind stops us from the fullness of the trinity in your life.

Matthew 12

9 Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. 10 And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him.

11 Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other.

22 Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. 23 And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”

24 Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”

John 11

30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met Him. 31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.”

32 Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

33 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. 34 And He said, “Where have you laid him?”

They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”

35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”

37 And some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?”

38 Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”

Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.”

And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”

They saw the miracles of God and denied it. Seeing they chose not to believe. 

We can do the same things today. Our unbelief and closed minds can stop us from seeing the miracles in our life’s.

Malachi 3

2 “But who can endure the day of His coming?

And who can stand when He appears?

For He is like a refiner’s fire

And like launderers’ soap.

3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver;

He will purify the sons of Levi,

And purge them as gold and silver,

That they may offer to the Lord

An offering in righteousness.

4 “Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem

Will be pleasant to the Lord,

As in the days of old,

As in former years.

It is difficult to go through the Refiners fire. But He never takes His eyes off the one going through it. It challenges us to grow spiritually and changes our minds.

If we respond to the correction He is faithful to change us precept by precept into the image of Jesus. 

Revelation 3

15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”

Malachi 3

5 And I will come near you for judgment;

I will be a swift witness

Against sorcerers,

Against adulterers,

Against perjurers,

Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans,

And against those who turn away an alien—

Because they do not fear Me,”

Says the Lord of hosts.

There will be many challenges that we will encounter but each one that we learn from and allow to change us grows us in the ways of God. They lead us to a deeper faith in Him and to know His nature. We need a rhythm of rest in order to hear the still, small voice of Him who loves you.

Politics is a lie. We do not need a political party to save America. There is no  political party that will save us…only God can do that!

Our identity and purpose must be that you are a child of God and no one can steal that from you. He is always in open arms to bring you close to Him. 

Luke 10:25-28

If we love God we will love our neighbors. God is love.

How can we love Him who we cannot see and not love His creation that we can. If we love others, as God loves them, we will do them no harm.

Love fulfills the Law.

James 2:13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Luke 10:25-28

25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”

27 So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

28 And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”

To entrap Jesus in argumentation for the purpose of discrediting Him. Since He is conversing with a legal expert, Jesus appeals to the law. The lawyer’s answer parallels Jesus’ teaching in Matthew and Mark about the greatest commandments. These commands reflect the heart of Jesus’ proclamation of the kingdom of God: love of God and love of neighbor. Faithllife Bible.

The question posed by the lawyer is really a challenge, since the verse speaks of the testing of Jesus. To inherit something is to receive it. In other words, the man was asking, “What must I do to share in the reward at the resurrection of the righteous at the end?” Jesus countered the lawyer’s test by having him answer his own question.

The lawyer responded to Jesus’ questions by quoting Deuteronomy 6:5, a text that was recited twice a day by every faithful Jew. This text summarized the central ethical standard of the Law. 

Deuteronomy 6:5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

The lawyer also alluded to Leviticus.19:18. The basis of the man’s response is an expression of allegiance and devotion that also can be seen as the natural expression of faith, since the total person, heart, soul, strength, and mind, is involved. 

Leviticus 19:18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

The theme of love for God has its emphasis on devotion to Jesus, and where the disciples are taught to be devoted to God in prayer. Jesus develops the theme of love for one’s neighbor. Jesus was not saying that righteousness is the result of works. Rather He was saying that love for and obedience to God will be a natural result of placing one’s faith in the Lord. Those who believe in Jesus and follow Him will receive eternal rewards. Jesus states this principle to Peter in Matthew 19:27–30. NKJ BIble.

Matthew 19:27 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” 28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

Ezekiel 20:11 |And I gave them My statutes and showed them My judgments, ‘which, if a man does, he shall live by them.’

Holy Post Episode 480: The Myth of the Religious Right with Randall Balmer

Habakkuk and Christ in the Scriptures

Heaven and earth are filled with Your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.

Jesus, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Habakkuk’s name is appropriate because he calls attention to the salvation by which God embraces those who “live by faith.” The word “salvation” appears three times in reference to his prediction of the Anointed One. “You went forth for the salvation of Your people, for salvation with Your Anointed.… I will joy in the God of my salvation”.

Interestingly enough, that Hebrew word for “salvation” is the root word from which the name “Jesus” comes. Whether the prophet sees the full extent to which Jesus will accomplish the world’s salvation is uncertain. But he definitely sees an artist’s rendering of the reign of Christ. He writes, “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea”.

Habakkuk 3:17-18

17 Though the fig tree may not blossom,

Nor fruit be on the vines;

Though the labor of the olive may fail,

And the fields yield no food;

Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,

And there be no herd in the stalls—

18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

Matthew 1:21

21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Habakkuk 2:14

14 For the earth will be filled

With the knowledge of the glory of the Lord,

As the waters cover the sea.

God’s future kingdom on earth will feature a reign of righteousness. All humanity on the renewed earth will know the Lord and live in accordance with His will. The structures of human systems, adequate as they are for the present, will fall under God’s judgment because they encourage a spirit of independence from Him. What Satan fraudulently promised in Genesis 3:5, God will deliver. The glory of the Lord speaks of the full manifestation of His person, significance, presence, and wonder. The true knowledge of God in the time of His kingdom on earth will be like the waters—all-embracing, inescapable, and fully enveloping. NKJ Bible.

Genesis 3:5 

For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

1 Samuel 2:1 And Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. I smile at my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation.

Psalm 9:14 That I may tell of all Your praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion. I will rejoice in Your salvation.

Psalm 40:16 Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; let such as love Your salvation say continually, “The LORD be magnified!”

Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

John 17:24-28

 All we need is His love. If Jesus is held up others will be drawn to the salvation that He provides.

Love fulfills the Law!!

We are not promised prosperity or popularity, but we are promised God's presence. With the Holy Spirit working within us, we stand equipped and empowered to complete the good works God prepared for us to do before the beginning of time. (Ephesians 2:10) First5 

Romans 13:8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Romans 13:10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

1 John 4:8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

John 17:24-28

24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

The apostles saw Christ’s glory in His words and works. Christ prayed for all believers to behold His glory, unveiled in the full revelation of His deity. The ultimate reason for future believers to know the love of God is so that God’s love may be replicated in them, thus drawing the entire world to Christ. NKKJ  Bible.

Christ, as one with the Father, claimed on behalf of all that had been given to him, and should in due time believe on him, that they should be brought to heaven; and that there the whole company of the redeemed might behold his glory as their beloved Friend and Brother, and therein find happiness. He had declared and would further declare the name or character of God, by his doctrine and his Spirit, that, being one with him, the love of the Father to him might abide with them also. Thus, being joined to Him by one Spirit, they might be filled with all the fulness of God, and enjoy a blessedness of which we can form no right idea in our present state. Matthew Henry.

Exodus 34:6 And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,

Matthew 11:27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

John 12:26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

2 Corinthians

Commit everything in our lives to Jesus. He will do the rest by the power of Holy Spirit.

God so loved the world that He gave us Jesus!

2 Corinthians

Because Paul indicates that he experienced the comfort of the risen Christ in the midst of his hardships, he reveals Jesus as the source of the believer’s comfort: “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ” Given Paul’s personal tragedies, Jesus the Comforter is a major emphasis in this letter. But, look further and you will find much more. Jesus is celebrated as our triumph, our light, our reconciliation, our substitute, our gift, and our strength.

2:14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.

4:6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

5:19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

12:9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Despite his suffering, Paul is confident in his victory through Christ. Just as God created the world, He now makes believers a new creation. The Hebrew word used here, kosmos, for the world refers to people estranged from God and under the influence of sin and the devil. Paul affirms that Christ did not sin, though He was tempted.

This describes how God regarded Christ as sin for the sake of undeserving sinners. More specifically, Paul may be presenting Christ as a substitute for sinful humanity or he could be referring to Christ’s identification with sin through His union with sinful humanity. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, God demonstrated His righteousness  (dikaiosynē) by judging sin yet showing mercy to sinners. Here Paul refers to the idea of Christians becoming the righteousness of God. He may mean that believers, as a result of God’s justification, receive a right standing before God while Christ takes on their sins.

This indescribable gift refers to Christ, who brought about salvation through His life, death, and resurrection. He became poor so that those who believe in Him might become rich. Paul appropriately closes his appeal for the Corinthian church to give generously by thanking God for His generous gift.

Grace in this context, the Greek word used here, charis, refers to Christ’s power to help Paul endure hardship, be strengthened when struggling (physically, mentally, or spiritually), or experience forgiveness. God’s grace  enables Paul to participate in Christ’s sufferings for the gospel and the Church and to still demonstrate God’s power despite his weaknesses. Despite Paul’s troubles, God will help him. Paul does his work because God chose to empower Him. Weakness provides the opportunity for God to show His power. For this reason, Paul can boast about his weaknesses even though others may mock him. Faithlife Bible.

As God commanded the light to shine in the darkness at creation (so he “turns on” the light in peoples’ hearts so they can see who Jesus Christ is. People who do not believe are blinded by Satan. But believers see the light. 

God could change His relationship toward us because our sins have been imputed (reckoned) to Christ, instead of to us. In other words, God placed our sins on Christ, who knew no sin. His death was in our place and for our sins. If we believe in Jesus, God counts Jesus’ righteousness as our righteousness. The word of reconciliation that has been entrusted to us is to tell all people that God wants to restore them to a relationship with Himself. This is the Good News that everyone needs to hear. Jesus never did anything wrong. Yet He died for our sins, so that we could be declared righteous, that is to say, justified. 

God’s indescribable gift is His Son, Jesus Christ. Our gifts can never compare to God’s sacrifice for us. When believers are without strength and look to the Lord, He provides power by His grace. NKJ Bible.

Isaiah 40:29 He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.

Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

Mark 4:39-40

There have been times in my life when I  have been destroyed emotionally. Only in the peace that God provided have I been able to stand and be healed. 

My faith from childhood allowed me to trust God. I trusted Him alone, I feared man. Mistakes? Many. But He has brought me through it all never forsaking me even though He had every reason too. 

Those who have trusted Him totally…love Him so very deeply.

Matthew 8:26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

As we learn to trust God and recognize His control over all else, we gain strength and courage by exchanging our earthly fears for a heavenly one (reverence). First5 

“You know, the Greek word for ‘thanks’ is eucharist. The way we say ‘thank you’ to God and to each other is the greatest imaginable form of appreciation. In fact, the reason we are created in God's image—in God's tzelem—is  to be God's representatives on this earth—to do here what God would do—to take care of the land and each other as God would take care of us. You don't ever have to do anything sensational in order to love or to be loved. The real drama of life (that which matters most) is rarely center stage or in the spotlight. In fact, it has nothing to do with IQs and honors and the fancy outsides of life. What really nourishes our souls is the knowing that we can be trusted, that we never have to fear the truth, that the foundation of our very being is good stuff.” Mr. Rogers

Mark 4:39-40

39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

Jesus shows Himself to have power over both spiritual and elemental forces, demonstrating His divinity. Jesus has made clear that He is God’s chosen agent. He expects the disciples to recognize this and have faith in His ability to act with divine power. Faithlife Bible.

Jesus’ command over the wind and the sea demonstrates His full and complete deity. Only God the Creator can calm wind and sea. NKJ Bible.

When our wicked hearts are like the troubled sea which cannot rest, when our passions are unruly, let us think we hear the law of Christ, saying, Be silent, be dumb. When without are fightings, and within are fears, and the spirits are in a tumult, if he say, “Peace, be still,” there is a great calm at once. Matthew Henry.

 

Life Church Vineyard

Everyone Gets To Play

Without love we are just noise!

Christians can behave badly. This doesn’t mean they are not believers. We are by nature a sinful people. We are most concerned about our own well being. How do we go from caring only about ourselves to caring for others? By the power of Holy Spirit.

You don’t need more of Holy Spirit…He needs more of you!

All who open the door to Him… will receive Him. When you receive Jesus you receive the whole of the Trinity. Holy Spirit is our constant companion, a gentleman, we need to listen closely to Him to discern His voice. 

God is love! 

God is right now putting into alignment those things that will affect your life for many  years. His involvement in our life is a miracle. Our very existence is a miracle of God. Everything, every little thing, is under His control. His agenda is bigger than our wants and needs. His agenda is to take His love to all who will listen. Lean in to His intuitions.

Every breath we take is His  gift!

1 Corinthians 13:1-8

13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

We grow by hearing the Word of God and allowing Holy Spirit to teach and guide us in the way of Jesus. 

1 Corinthians 12:4 

There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

The tools (equipment) we need are supplied by the gifts of Holy Spirit. We are imbued with power to accomplish God’s will by Him. 

Revelation

Teaching

Preaching

Exhortation

Administration

Discerning of spirits: good, bad or evil

Miracles

Evangelist

Faith

Gifts of healing-God is always the healer

Giving-in obedience to the prompting of Holy Spirit from the resources that He gives us.

Aid-doing good should be our way of life. Giving without expecting anything in return.

Mercy and helps-grace 

Interpretation of tongues

Kinds of Tongues

More common but not less important gifts of Holy Spirit:

Service

Word of Knowledge

Craftmanship

Hospitality

Interpretation of dreams

Philanthropy

Intercessory prayer

Missionary work

Music

God the Father gives you natural gifts. They are given to you at birth. When we surrender that gift to God Holy Spirit  can do phenomenal things with them.

Gifts given to us by Jesus:

Apostle

Pastor

Prophet

Teacher

The Tree Church

Every Morning Mercy Will Restore Me!

Lord You found me and restored me

You washed my sins away!

That’s what Your mercy did for me.

Without love we are just noise!

Love is the fulfillment of the Law.

Our relationship with God is the end result of time spent with him. 

Malachi 2:10 

10 Have we not all one Father?

Has not one God created us?

Why do we deal treacherously with one another

By profaning the covenant of the fathers?

A Covenant is a relational agreement between two parties. It is a promise to love, honor and forsake all others placing our relationship with God above all. We cannot love God and disregard His values.

Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

1 Corinthians 13:1-8

13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

Our approach to God can be to inwardly focused. We are corrected by Holy Spirit for our growth into mature believers with an authentic relationship with God.

Deuteronomy 14:2 For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

John 1:12-13

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

When we fail to place Him first we fail to know His heart.

Authentic worship trusts God as the definer of the relationship.

Authentic love honors others. We accomplish this by obeying the 10 Commandments.

God defines the relationship. We value what He values. We devalue God when we devalue others. God knows our heart.

1 John 4:19-21

19 We love Him because He first loved us.

20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

Matthew 22:37-40

37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Romans 13:9-10

9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.