Blog https://www.hardysbc.net Mon, 18 Mar 2024 20:59:13 -0500 http://churchplantmedia.com/ Seven Reasons Why Prayers Are Not Answered https://www.hardysbc.net/blog/post/seven-reasons-why-prayers-are-not-answered https://www.hardysbc.net/blog/post/seven-reasons-why-prayers-are-not-answered#comments Fri, 25 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0500 https://www.hardysbc.net/blog/post/seven-reasons-why-prayers-are-not-answered 7 Reasons Why Prayers
Are Not Answered

By Bob Russell


There are reasons why prayers are not answered, even though I get a little impatient with super-spiritual saints who leave the impression that they have a deeper grasp of prayer than most. Such folks teach that if other believers just understood God’s Word better—or had more faith in prayer—God would answer all their requests. They would never suffer illness or poverty again. Such leaders seem to ignore the fact that Jesus was poor and the Apostle Paul struggled with a thorn in the flesh throughout his life. Paul prayed for God to remove the pain, but the Lord did not answer this petition.God is not a cosmic genie who promises to answer every request if we just believe strongly enough in His power. There are qualifiers. Someone once said that God answers prayer in one of four ways: 1) “Yes,” 2) “No,” 3) “Wait,” or 4) “You’ve got to be kidding Me!”

Why Prayers Are Not Answered Reason #1: Unconfessed sin.

“Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1-2)

Why Prayers Are Not Answered Reason #2: An unforgiving spirit.

“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” (Mark 11:25)

Why Prayers Are Not Answered Reason #3: An unbelieving heart.

“But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.” (James 1:6-8)

Why Prayers Are Not Answered Reason #4: Improper motives.

“When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” (James 4:3)

Why Prayers Are Not Answered Reason #5: An alienated marriage relationship.

“Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.” (1 Peter 3:7)

Why Prayers Are Not Answered Reason #6: An anemic effort.

“So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.” (Acts 12:5) “Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.” (James 5:17)

Why Prayers Are Not Answered Reason #7: The sovereignty of God.

“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.” (Romans 9:15-16)

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7 Reasons Why Prayers
Are Not Answered

By Bob Russell


There are reasons why prayers are not answered, even though I get a little impatient with super-spiritual saints who leave the impression that they have a deeper grasp of prayer than most. Such folks teach that if other believers just understood God’s Word better—or had more faith in prayer—God would answer all their requests. They would never suffer illness or poverty again. Such leaders seem to ignore the fact that Jesus was poor and the Apostle Paul struggled with a thorn in the flesh throughout his life. Paul prayed for God to remove the pain, but the Lord did not answer this petition.God is not a cosmic genie who promises to answer every request if we just believe strongly enough in His power. There are qualifiers. Someone once said that God answers prayer in one of four ways: 1) “Yes,” 2) “No,” 3) “Wait,” or 4) “You’ve got to be kidding Me!”

Why Prayers Are Not Answered Reason #1: Unconfessed sin.

“Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1-2)

Why Prayers Are Not Answered Reason #2: An unforgiving spirit.

“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” (Mark 11:25)

Why Prayers Are Not Answered Reason #3: An unbelieving heart.

“But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.” (James 1:6-8)

Why Prayers Are Not Answered Reason #4: Improper motives.

“When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” (James 4:3)

Why Prayers Are Not Answered Reason #5: An alienated marriage relationship.

“Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.” (1 Peter 3:7)

Why Prayers Are Not Answered Reason #6: An anemic effort.

“So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.” (Acts 12:5) “Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.” (James 5:17)

Why Prayers Are Not Answered Reason #7: The sovereignty of God.

“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.” (Romans 9:15-16)

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Becoming a "Recovering Pharisee" https://www.hardysbc.net/blog/post/pharisee https://www.hardysbc.net/blog/post/pharisee#comments Sun, 02 Jul 2023 04:00:00 -0500 https://www.hardysbc.net/blog/post/pharisee Hi, I'm ________, and I am a recovering Pharisee... Hi _________!

If only it were that easy. If only there were Pharisee recovery groups to help us accomplish the permanent eradication of pride and self-projected superiority.

It seems to be human nature to develop a sense of self-righteousness...To judge others by a different standard and to measure our righteousness with a prideful attitude.

Jesus calls us to humility. Jesus calls us to dependent trust. Jesus calls us to gratitude...

John Fischer uses the recovery model in his book, 12 Steps for the Recovering Pharisee (like me) admittedly in somewhat of a tongue-in-cheek way. But, he points us to consider that the church should be the most honest place on earth—a place where it is possible to say among friends: “Hi, I'm John, and I'm a Pharisee.” “Hi, John,” comes the echo, and we revel in the realization that this is the meeting place of accountability for equals.

These are the Simons who want to come down off their pedestals and join the company of saved sinners at the feet of Jesus, who, like the prostitute anointing his feet with perfume and tears, can't seem to get enough of this grace and forgiveness. This is the gospel for those courageous enough to tear off their masks of adequacy and self-righteousness and get on with a life of gratitude and love for others. This is the Pharisee recovery group of which I speak, and these are the steps that will lead us out. I know, for I am an expert in the downturned look, the haughty eye, the wagging head—and I've had enough of it. Welcome to the group.

Quoted from the book, Twelve Steps for the Recovering Pharisee (like me):

  1. We admit that our single most unmitigated pleasure is to judge other people.

  2. Have come to believe that our means of obtaining greatness is to make everyone lower than ourselves in our own mind.

  3. Realize that we detest mercy being given to those who, unlike us, haven’t worked for it and don’t deserve it.

  4. Have decided that we don’t want to get what we deserve after all, and we don’t want anyone else to either.

  5. Will cease all attempts to apply teaching and rebuke to anyone but ourselves.

  6. Are ready to have God remove all these defects of attitude and character.

  7. Embrace the belief that we are, and will always be, experts at sinning.

  8. Are looking closely at the lives of famous men and women of the Bible who turned out to be ordinary sinners like us.

  9. Are seeking through prayer and meditation to make a conscious effort to consider others better than ourselves.

  10. Embrace the state of astonishment as a permanent and glorious reality.

  11. Choose to rid ourselves of any attitude that is not bathed in gratitude.

  12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we will try to carry this message to others who think that Christians are better than everyone else.
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Hi, I'm ________, and I am a recovering Pharisee... Hi _________!

If only it were that easy. If only there were Pharisee recovery groups to help us accomplish the permanent eradication of pride and self-projected superiority.

It seems to be human nature to develop a sense of self-righteousness...To judge others by a different standard and to measure our righteousness with a prideful attitude.

Jesus calls us to humility. Jesus calls us to dependent trust. Jesus calls us to gratitude...

John Fischer uses the recovery model in his book, 12 Steps for the Recovering Pharisee (like me) admittedly in somewhat of a tongue-in-cheek way. But, he points us to consider that the church should be the most honest place on earth—a place where it is possible to say among friends: “Hi, I'm John, and I'm a Pharisee.” “Hi, John,” comes the echo, and we revel in the realization that this is the meeting place of accountability for equals.

These are the Simons who want to come down off their pedestals and join the company of saved sinners at the feet of Jesus, who, like the prostitute anointing his feet with perfume and tears, can't seem to get enough of this grace and forgiveness. This is the gospel for those courageous enough to tear off their masks of adequacy and self-righteousness and get on with a life of gratitude and love for others. This is the Pharisee recovery group of which I speak, and these are the steps that will lead us out. I know, for I am an expert in the downturned look, the haughty eye, the wagging head—and I've had enough of it. Welcome to the group.

Quoted from the book, Twelve Steps for the Recovering Pharisee (like me):

  1. We admit that our single most unmitigated pleasure is to judge other people.

  2. Have come to believe that our means of obtaining greatness is to make everyone lower than ourselves in our own mind.

  3. Realize that we detest mercy being given to those who, unlike us, haven’t worked for it and don’t deserve it.

  4. Have decided that we don’t want to get what we deserve after all, and we don’t want anyone else to either.

  5. Will cease all attempts to apply teaching and rebuke to anyone but ourselves.

  6. Are ready to have God remove all these defects of attitude and character.

  7. Embrace the belief that we are, and will always be, experts at sinning.

  8. Are looking closely at the lives of famous men and women of the Bible who turned out to be ordinary sinners like us.

  9. Are seeking through prayer and meditation to make a conscious effort to consider others better than ourselves.

  10. Embrace the state of astonishment as a permanent and glorious reality.

  11. Choose to rid ourselves of any attitude that is not bathed in gratitude.

  12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we will try to carry this message to others who think that Christians are better than everyone else.
]]>
The Pastor's MVP https://www.hardysbc.net/blog/post/the-pastors-mvp https://www.hardysbc.net/blog/post/the-pastors-mvp#comments Fri, 05 Aug 2022 14:00:00 -0500 https://www.hardysbc.net/blog/post/the-pastors-mvp If there's ever been a time that ministry leaders need to enlist and encourage others to come alongside them in prayer, I cannot think of such a time. I know so many pastors who are struggling under the weight of ministry and are weary in the battles of spiritual warfare. 

Church planter and consultant, Nelson Searcy, says that "some pastors are reluctant to share their ministry with others. Sometimes we don’t get people to pray for us because we get used to doing ministry by ourselves. Sometimes, it’s spiritual pride. We just don’t want to give that power to other people. But the more people who have power, the stronger our church is going to be and the more we can do for God".

I NEED YOUR HELP! Would you join me as a prayer partner? Would you stand in the gap and make a difference in our church? 

 Im asking you to do two things: 

(1) Take time to watch this message by John Maxwell. I know that the recording is dated, he preached it in the 1990s, yet his words are more timely now than ever! Take a few notes and consider the critical importance of being on this team!

(2) I ask you to prayerfully consider joining our intercessory prayer team... The "PIT" crew or "Pastor's Intercessory Team" will be a vital part of our ministry moving forward.  

In the next few weeks, we'll be talking about how this team will operate and we will gather together after our Refresh revival services to discuss this vital ministry!

Thanks,


signature

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If there's ever been a time that ministry leaders need to enlist and encourage others to come alongside them in prayer, I cannot think of such a time. I know so many pastors who are struggling under the weight of ministry and are weary in the battles of spiritual warfare. 

Church planter and consultant, Nelson Searcy, says that "some pastors are reluctant to share their ministry with others. Sometimes we don’t get people to pray for us because we get used to doing ministry by ourselves. Sometimes, it’s spiritual pride. We just don’t want to give that power to other people. But the more people who have power, the stronger our church is going to be and the more we can do for God".

I NEED YOUR HELP! Would you join me as a prayer partner? Would you stand in the gap and make a difference in our church? 

 Im asking you to do two things: 

(1) Take time to watch this message by John Maxwell. I know that the recording is dated, he preached it in the 1990s, yet his words are more timely now than ever! Take a few notes and consider the critical importance of being on this team!

(2) I ask you to prayerfully consider joining our intercessory prayer team... The "PIT" crew or "Pastor's Intercessory Team" will be a vital part of our ministry moving forward.  

In the next few weeks, we'll be talking about how this team will operate and we will gather together after our Refresh revival services to discuss this vital ministry!

Thanks,


signature

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Why The Devil is Interested in Your Church https://www.hardysbc.net/blog/post/why-the-devil-is-interested-in-your-church https://www.hardysbc.net/blog/post/why-the-devil-is-interested-in-your-church#comments Tue, 26 Jul 2022 05:00:00 -0500 https://www.hardysbc.net/blog/post/why-the-devil-is-interested-in-your-church

(Recognizing the Places of Spiritual Attack)

 By Dave Butts

Several years ago I had the opportunity to write a book entitled The Devil Goes To Church. It’s been interesting to watch the responses of people who see the title for the first time. Most of them say, “The devil sure does go to church… especially mine.” Why this overwhelming awareness that Satan is somehow interested in what happens in churches? Maybe it’s because we’re seeing his hand at work in the church. This excerpt helps us understand why Satan is interested in your church and four ways that he attacks local congregations.

There is a very real reason why the devil goes to church. The Biblical worldview is of a great cosmic battle between the forces of God and the forces of Satan. Christians are those who have changed sides in the battle. Paul writes about this changing of sides in the second chapter of Ephesians: “…in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved” (vv. 2-5).

The enemy of our God has become our enemy. We are not in a neutral position. When Christians gather as the church, we become a real threat to Satan. We are there to worship, to pray, to teach and to encourage one another to live and proclaim the Kingdom of God and as such, proclaim the enemy’s defeat. It is apparent that he will do all he can to prevent that from happening….

The real danger for us is being unaware of the enemy’s schemes. We approach every difficulty in church as though it is just a natural thing. When churches divide over whether or not to use hymns or contemporary choruses, it is not natural. When the flock turns on the shepherd, it is not natural. When the saints, called to live in love, spend their time criticizing and accusing one another, it is not natural. The devil has come to church!

…There is one obvious thing about Satan’s attacks – he is consistent. He does basically the same thing over and over again in church after church, down through the ages. We might categorize them in these memorable ways: Doubt, Deceit, Discouragement, Division.

Doubt

Sowing doubt has been one of the enemy’s weapons from the very beginning. In Eden, the serpent stirred up doubt in Eve, causing her to sin. He caused her (and Adam) to doubt God’s word, asking the insidious question, “Has God said…?” You can almost hear the oily voice continuing, “You don’t really believe that do you?” The same voice, the very same voice, is asking the same question today, causing Christians to begin to doubt God and His Word.

Doubt was the weapon Satan used against Jesus in the wilderness. Every temptation was preceded by the word, “if.” “IF You are the Son of God,” the enemy whispers, attempting to instill doubt into Jesus. He still uses the same attack.

Doubt can come in many forms. Sometimes it is the frontal attack on the veracity of the Bible. There are many in church who simply do not believe that all of the Bible is truly God’s inspired Word. But sometimes the most vicious attack comes on those who do believe in the Bible, but are then led into doubt as to the power of God’s Word. “Will that really work?” people ask. Whole segments of Scripture are robbed of their power as Christians relegate them to some other day or time, and fail to appropriate them for themselves. Be careful when trying to explain away a clear meaning of Scripture. It may be that the enemy is raising doubts.

Doubt is also raised as to the nature of God. When tragedies come in life (and they do), even Christians find themselves doubting the love or mercy of God. “How could a loving God cause (or allow) such a thing to happen?” The whispering enemy is again at work to cause God’s people to doubt the goodness or power of their God. We’re sometimes told that to doubt is natural. Not for those who have tasted of the goodness, mercy and power of God! Faith is the natural response to God. Look at Job and the almost inconceivable tragedy that changed his life. Though facing great loss and with tremendous grief, still he words one of the great faith responses in Scripture, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” (Job 1:21).

Doubt also comes to the individual believer regarding his/her position in Christ. The enemy continually works at trying to separate us from Christ. He doesn’t have the power to actually do that, but he tries to instill doubt in us as to who we are in Christ. The best way to counter that is with the truth of God’s Word. Christian author, Neil Anderson has written much on this topic and has prepared a wonderful list of scriptures that affirm who we are in Christ:

  • John 1:12 – I am God’s child.
    • John 15:15 – I am Christ’s friend.
    • Rom. 5:1 – I have been justified.
    • 1 Cor. 6:17 – I am united with the Lord and one with Him in spirit.
    • 1 Cor. 6:20 – I have been bought with a price; I belong to God.
    • 1 Cor. 12:27 – I am a member of Christ’s Body.
    • Eph. 1:1 – I am a saint.
    • Eph. 1:5 – I have been adopted as God’s child.
    • Eph. 2:18 – I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit.
    • Col. 1:14 – I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.
    • Col. 2:10 – I am complete in Christ.

Deceit

A second weapon that Satan uses against the Church is deceit. This should not surprise us since Jesus Himself described Satan as a liar. Satan delights in twisting the truth, confusing people and leading them into error. That’s rather obvious when you look at the condition of Christian doctrine, both within and without the Church. It may be as subtle as the lack of understanding concerning Christian grace or as obvious as those who deny the inspiration of the Bible.

The Apostle Paul speaks of difficult times for the Church in the last days, especially in regard to truth. We are warned of those who are “always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth, men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected” (2 Timothy 3:7-8).

Like what you are reading? This article is a part of the text from the course “The Devil Goes to Church" at PrayerU.com, the digital learning site of Harvest Prayer Ministries. For more information on this course, click here.

 This passage is so clearly being lived out in the Church today, that we can easily see the enemy’s handiwork. There is no shortage of Bible studies in our churches. But we debate the meaning rather than living out the intent of God’s Word. We have fallen into the trap that James warned us about: “Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22). Studying Scripture without doing it is one of Satan’s great deceits.

This deception concerning the Word of God leaves the Church powerless and unable to function as God has intended. George Otis, Jr. delivers a scathing indictment of this powerlessness as follows:

“If ever there was a moment for the Church to stand up and be counted, that moment is now. Unfortunately, American Christendom is in the midst of a low, debilitated spiritual state. At almost every turn, supernatural power and insight have given way to religious inertia. Fellowships are growing numerically, but members are not maturing in character. There are programs aplenty, but little fear of God. Most ominously, modern believers seem oblivious to their own unhealthy condition. Having succumbed to the Laodicean Syndrome (see Revelation 3:14-17), they view their compromised state as normal – even blessed.

“A troubling, if predictable, consequence of this spiritual self-deception is that the Church has found itself unable to speak into the current crisis with any clarity or consistency. Burdened political leaders seeking direction from Christian clergy and prayer networks report receiving advice that ‘wanders all over the map.’ Needing wise men with keen understanding, these national decision makers are finding instead blind guides and flesh-clouded counsel” (George Otis, Jr. “Fading Light,” January 2003).

 Discouragement

One of the main passages of Scripture that we often use to hit people over the head with to get them to attend church is Hebrews 10:25: “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” The focus of the passage however is not merely attending a meeting, but in the process, encouraging one another.

One of the very practical reasons for this scriptural command is to counter the enemy’s strategy of discouraging the believers. Many faithful Christians who have withstood the more frontal attacks of Satan in the area of morality, truth and righteous living, have found themselves blind-sided by discouragement. A few words of criticism here and there, a “down” day, a little loss of fresh vision, a program that didn’t go according to plan, and suddenly we find ourselves discouraged and wondering if we can go on.

Many great women and men of God have had severe bouts with discouragement and depression. Perhaps the clearest example is that of Elijah following his great victory over the prophets of Baal. In the wake of that victory, Queen Jezebel ordered his execution. In fear, Elijah ran and ended up in this situation in 1 Kings 19:4: “He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, LORD,’ he said. ‘Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.’” Now that is serious discouragement from a great man of God. It took the intervention of the Lord Himself to bring Elijah out of that depressed mood.

You may not have sat under a tree with a desire to die, but discouragement can hit us all. The great word of God to the Church in this case is that we are called to be an encouragement to one another. We are to build one another up in our faith. Our gatherings need to be times of great encouragement. The church that is a place of support and edification is a place where the enemy’s plans have been thwarted.

There is an old story about discouragement called, “The Devil’s Tool Sale”:

“It was advertised that the devil was putting his tools up for sale. On that date the tools were laid out for public inspection. They had prices on them, and there were a lot of treacherous instruments: hatred, envy, jealousy, deceit, pride, lying, and so on. Laid apart from the rest of the devil’s tools was a harmless-looking tool, worn more than any of the others and priced very high.

“‘What’s the name of this tool?’ asked one of the customers.

“‘That,’ the devil replied, ‘is discouragement.’

“‘Why have you priced it so high?’

“‘Because discouragement is more useful to me than all the others. I can pry open and get inside a man’s heart with that when I cannot get near him with any other tools. It’s badly worn because I use it on almost everyone, since so few people know it belongs to me.’”

When we begin to understand that discouragement is of the enemy, we can begin to counter it using the weapons of our warfare. It is not natural for a Spirit-filled child of God to walk around discouraged. This is an attack of Satan to put us on the sidelines.

Division

Francis Frangipane writes, “If there ever was a false doctrine that was so widespread, so accepted in the Body of Christ, yet so contrary to the heart and teachings of Christ, it is the tradition of division within the Church” (Becoming the Answer to Christ’s Prayer, p. 2).

One of the most effective strategies of Satan has been to bring about division in the Body of Christ. It makes sense that the enemy would push for a splintered, divided Church, since Jesus desired exactly the opposite. The main focus of Jesus’ great high priestly prayer of John 17 was that His followers would be united. A strong, united Church is a testimony to the world of the love of God. Satan is doing all he can to destroy that testimony.

One of the main weapons we have against this attack is awareness of the enemy’s schemes. If we are unaware of the satanic nature of division, there is a greater tendency toward excusing it or just assuming that this is one of those things that happens occasionally in the church. When we see clearly though, that we as a church are under attack, then we will determine at all costs to guard against division. Members of a congregation are well-prepared to resist the enemy when, finding themselves in times of conflict, they begin to ask the question, “What is the enemy trying to do here?” Then, turning to the Lord, they ask the most important question, “Lord, how do we counter the attacks of the enemy against Your people?”

When a church finds itself facing issues that bring division, the prayer meeting is far more effective than the board meeting. Division always has a spiritual issue at its root and the enemy is always involved. It is heartfelt, heaven-sent prayer by the Body of Christ that will rout the devil and deal with the issues that are at hand.

I’ll never forget a church where I taught a prayer seminar in central Indiana. I’m so grateful I got there early that Sunday morning. As I walked into the church sanctuary, I was amazed to see about a dozen men walking around the room praying. They were laying hands on the pews and walking to the four corners of the room, praying for a new awareness of the Lord’s presence, a fresh moving of His Spirit, and for protection from the attacks of the enemy. What a powerful way for a group of Christian leaders to go on the offensive against Satan and to keep the devil from their local congregation.

How will you take your stand against the enemy?

Excerpted from The Devil Goes to Church: Combating the Everyday Attacks of Satan by David Butts, Harvest Prayer Ministries

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(Recognizing the Places of Spiritual Attack)

 By Dave Butts

Several years ago I had the opportunity to write a book entitled The Devil Goes To Church. It’s been interesting to watch the responses of people who see the title for the first time. Most of them say, “The devil sure does go to church… especially mine.” Why this overwhelming awareness that Satan is somehow interested in what happens in churches? Maybe it’s because we’re seeing his hand at work in the church. This excerpt helps us understand why Satan is interested in your church and four ways that he attacks local congregations.

There is a very real reason why the devil goes to church. The Biblical worldview is of a great cosmic battle between the forces of God and the forces of Satan. Christians are those who have changed sides in the battle. Paul writes about this changing of sides in the second chapter of Ephesians: “…in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved” (vv. 2-5).

The enemy of our God has become our enemy. We are not in a neutral position. When Christians gather as the church, we become a real threat to Satan. We are there to worship, to pray, to teach and to encourage one another to live and proclaim the Kingdom of God and as such, proclaim the enemy’s defeat. It is apparent that he will do all he can to prevent that from happening….

The real danger for us is being unaware of the enemy’s schemes. We approach every difficulty in church as though it is just a natural thing. When churches divide over whether or not to use hymns or contemporary choruses, it is not natural. When the flock turns on the shepherd, it is not natural. When the saints, called to live in love, spend their time criticizing and accusing one another, it is not natural. The devil has come to church!

…There is one obvious thing about Satan’s attacks – he is consistent. He does basically the same thing over and over again in church after church, down through the ages. We might categorize them in these memorable ways: Doubt, Deceit, Discouragement, Division.

Doubt

Sowing doubt has been one of the enemy’s weapons from the very beginning. In Eden, the serpent stirred up doubt in Eve, causing her to sin. He caused her (and Adam) to doubt God’s word, asking the insidious question, “Has God said…?” You can almost hear the oily voice continuing, “You don’t really believe that do you?” The same voice, the very same voice, is asking the same question today, causing Christians to begin to doubt God and His Word.

Doubt was the weapon Satan used against Jesus in the wilderness. Every temptation was preceded by the word, “if.” “IF You are the Son of God,” the enemy whispers, attempting to instill doubt into Jesus. He still uses the same attack.

Doubt can come in many forms. Sometimes it is the frontal attack on the veracity of the Bible. There are many in church who simply do not believe that all of the Bible is truly God’s inspired Word. But sometimes the most vicious attack comes on those who do believe in the Bible, but are then led into doubt as to the power of God’s Word. “Will that really work?” people ask. Whole segments of Scripture are robbed of their power as Christians relegate them to some other day or time, and fail to appropriate them for themselves. Be careful when trying to explain away a clear meaning of Scripture. It may be that the enemy is raising doubts.

Doubt is also raised as to the nature of God. When tragedies come in life (and they do), even Christians find themselves doubting the love or mercy of God. “How could a loving God cause (or allow) such a thing to happen?” The whispering enemy is again at work to cause God’s people to doubt the goodness or power of their God. We’re sometimes told that to doubt is natural. Not for those who have tasted of the goodness, mercy and power of God! Faith is the natural response to God. Look at Job and the almost inconceivable tragedy that changed his life. Though facing great loss and with tremendous grief, still he words one of the great faith responses in Scripture, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” (Job 1:21).

Doubt also comes to the individual believer regarding his/her position in Christ. The enemy continually works at trying to separate us from Christ. He doesn’t have the power to actually do that, but he tries to instill doubt in us as to who we are in Christ. The best way to counter that is with the truth of God’s Word. Christian author, Neil Anderson has written much on this topic and has prepared a wonderful list of scriptures that affirm who we are in Christ:

  • John 1:12 – I am God’s child.
    • John 15:15 – I am Christ’s friend.
    • Rom. 5:1 – I have been justified.
    • 1 Cor. 6:17 – I am united with the Lord and one with Him in spirit.
    • 1 Cor. 6:20 – I have been bought with a price; I belong to God.
    • 1 Cor. 12:27 – I am a member of Christ’s Body.
    • Eph. 1:1 – I am a saint.
    • Eph. 1:5 – I have been adopted as God’s child.
    • Eph. 2:18 – I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit.
    • Col. 1:14 – I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.
    • Col. 2:10 – I am complete in Christ.

Deceit

A second weapon that Satan uses against the Church is deceit. This should not surprise us since Jesus Himself described Satan as a liar. Satan delights in twisting the truth, confusing people and leading them into error. That’s rather obvious when you look at the condition of Christian doctrine, both within and without the Church. It may be as subtle as the lack of understanding concerning Christian grace or as obvious as those who deny the inspiration of the Bible.

The Apostle Paul speaks of difficult times for the Church in the last days, especially in regard to truth. We are warned of those who are “always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth, men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected” (2 Timothy 3:7-8).

Like what you are reading? This article is a part of the text from the course “The Devil Goes to Church" at PrayerU.com, the digital learning site of Harvest Prayer Ministries. For more information on this course, click here.

 This passage is so clearly being lived out in the Church today, that we can easily see the enemy’s handiwork. There is no shortage of Bible studies in our churches. But we debate the meaning rather than living out the intent of God’s Word. We have fallen into the trap that James warned us about: “Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22). Studying Scripture without doing it is one of Satan’s great deceits.

This deception concerning the Word of God leaves the Church powerless and unable to function as God has intended. George Otis, Jr. delivers a scathing indictment of this powerlessness as follows:

“If ever there was a moment for the Church to stand up and be counted, that moment is now. Unfortunately, American Christendom is in the midst of a low, debilitated spiritual state. At almost every turn, supernatural power and insight have given way to religious inertia. Fellowships are growing numerically, but members are not maturing in character. There are programs aplenty, but little fear of God. Most ominously, modern believers seem oblivious to their own unhealthy condition. Having succumbed to the Laodicean Syndrome (see Revelation 3:14-17), they view their compromised state as normal – even blessed.

“A troubling, if predictable, consequence of this spiritual self-deception is that the Church has found itself unable to speak into the current crisis with any clarity or consistency. Burdened political leaders seeking direction from Christian clergy and prayer networks report receiving advice that ‘wanders all over the map.’ Needing wise men with keen understanding, these national decision makers are finding instead blind guides and flesh-clouded counsel” (George Otis, Jr. “Fading Light,” January 2003).

 Discouragement

One of the main passages of Scripture that we often use to hit people over the head with to get them to attend church is Hebrews 10:25: “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” The focus of the passage however is not merely attending a meeting, but in the process, encouraging one another.

One of the very practical reasons for this scriptural command is to counter the enemy’s strategy of discouraging the believers. Many faithful Christians who have withstood the more frontal attacks of Satan in the area of morality, truth and righteous living, have found themselves blind-sided by discouragement. A few words of criticism here and there, a “down” day, a little loss of fresh vision, a program that didn’t go according to plan, and suddenly we find ourselves discouraged and wondering if we can go on.

Many great women and men of God have had severe bouts with discouragement and depression. Perhaps the clearest example is that of Elijah following his great victory over the prophets of Baal. In the wake of that victory, Queen Jezebel ordered his execution. In fear, Elijah ran and ended up in this situation in 1 Kings 19:4: “He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, LORD,’ he said. ‘Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.’” Now that is serious discouragement from a great man of God. It took the intervention of the Lord Himself to bring Elijah out of that depressed mood.

You may not have sat under a tree with a desire to die, but discouragement can hit us all. The great word of God to the Church in this case is that we are called to be an encouragement to one another. We are to build one another up in our faith. Our gatherings need to be times of great encouragement. The church that is a place of support and edification is a place where the enemy’s plans have been thwarted.

There is an old story about discouragement called, “The Devil’s Tool Sale”:

“It was advertised that the devil was putting his tools up for sale. On that date the tools were laid out for public inspection. They had prices on them, and there were a lot of treacherous instruments: hatred, envy, jealousy, deceit, pride, lying, and so on. Laid apart from the rest of the devil’s tools was a harmless-looking tool, worn more than any of the others and priced very high.

“‘What’s the name of this tool?’ asked one of the customers.

“‘That,’ the devil replied, ‘is discouragement.’

“‘Why have you priced it so high?’

“‘Because discouragement is more useful to me than all the others. I can pry open and get inside a man’s heart with that when I cannot get near him with any other tools. It’s badly worn because I use it on almost everyone, since so few people know it belongs to me.’”

When we begin to understand that discouragement is of the enemy, we can begin to counter it using the weapons of our warfare. It is not natural for a Spirit-filled child of God to walk around discouraged. This is an attack of Satan to put us on the sidelines.

Division

Francis Frangipane writes, “If there ever was a false doctrine that was so widespread, so accepted in the Body of Christ, yet so contrary to the heart and teachings of Christ, it is the tradition of division within the Church” (Becoming the Answer to Christ’s Prayer, p. 2).

One of the most effective strategies of Satan has been to bring about division in the Body of Christ. It makes sense that the enemy would push for a splintered, divided Church, since Jesus desired exactly the opposite. The main focus of Jesus’ great high priestly prayer of John 17 was that His followers would be united. A strong, united Church is a testimony to the world of the love of God. Satan is doing all he can to destroy that testimony.

One of the main weapons we have against this attack is awareness of the enemy’s schemes. If we are unaware of the satanic nature of division, there is a greater tendency toward excusing it or just assuming that this is one of those things that happens occasionally in the church. When we see clearly though, that we as a church are under attack, then we will determine at all costs to guard against division. Members of a congregation are well-prepared to resist the enemy when, finding themselves in times of conflict, they begin to ask the question, “What is the enemy trying to do here?” Then, turning to the Lord, they ask the most important question, “Lord, how do we counter the attacks of the enemy against Your people?”

When a church finds itself facing issues that bring division, the prayer meeting is far more effective than the board meeting. Division always has a spiritual issue at its root and the enemy is always involved. It is heartfelt, heaven-sent prayer by the Body of Christ that will rout the devil and deal with the issues that are at hand.

I’ll never forget a church where I taught a prayer seminar in central Indiana. I’m so grateful I got there early that Sunday morning. As I walked into the church sanctuary, I was amazed to see about a dozen men walking around the room praying. They were laying hands on the pews and walking to the four corners of the room, praying for a new awareness of the Lord’s presence, a fresh moving of His Spirit, and for protection from the attacks of the enemy. What a powerful way for a group of Christian leaders to go on the offensive against Satan and to keep the devil from their local congregation.

How will you take your stand against the enemy?

Excerpted from The Devil Goes to Church: Combating the Everyday Attacks of Satan by David Butts, Harvest Prayer Ministries

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Praying for Revival https://www.hardysbc.net/blog/post/praying-for-revival https://www.hardysbc.net/blog/post/praying-for-revival#comments Thu, 14 Jul 2022 10:00:00 -0500 https://www.hardysbc.net/blog/post/praying-for-revival REV

Our "Refresh" Revival is coming up August 14-17... Join us in preparation by praying for the event... for your own spiritual life, and for our church, community, and nation!

Download the 40 Day Prayer Guide HERE!

 

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REV

Our "Refresh" Revival is coming up August 14-17... Join us in preparation by praying for the event... for your own spiritual life, and for our church, community, and nation!

Download the 40 Day Prayer Guide HERE!

 

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RESURRECTION CELEBRATION 2022 https://www.hardysbc.net/blog/post/resurrection-celebation-2022 https://www.hardysbc.net/blog/post/resurrection-celebation-2022#comments Wed, 13 Apr 2022 13:00:00 -0500 https://www.hardysbc.net/blog/post/resurrection-celebation-2022 His Love Changes EVERYTHING!

Join us this weekend as we celebrate Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday! 

Friday at 6:00 p.m. and Sunday morning 9:00 am Bible Study / 10:30 Worship

Why is the resurrection so important? Why does it matter?

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the foundations upon which Christianity is built (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). The virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14Matthew 1:1825Luke 1:27), the deity of Christ (1 John 4:155:5John 10:30), Jesus’ atonement for sin (Romans 5:10–112 Corinthians 5:21), and His crucifixion are non-negotiable truths, without which Christianity could not exist. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead was the crowning achievement that forever separates Him from any other religious leader who has ever been or will ever live. No other religious figure in history has ever prophesied His own death and resurrection—and then accomplished it.

The fact that Jesus rose from the dead matters because it fulfilled prophecy. Jesus prophesied His resurrection (Mark 8:31), and so did the Old Testament (Psalm 16:10–11Isaiah 53:12). Roman rule brought crucifixion as a particularly heinous form of capital punishment. Many people were crucified for their crimes and for insulting Caesar. So the facts of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial are not necessarily outstanding, as many suffered the same fate. However, the bodies of those other people are still in their graves. Jesus’ tomb is empty (Luke 24:24). If Jesus never rose from the dead, there would be no compelling reason to believe that He is who He said He is. But the fact is that He did rise again, confirming His claim to be God (Matthew 27:6328:6).

The fact that Jesus rose from the dead also matters because our justification hinges on it. “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Romans 4:25). A dead Savior cannot save, but we have a living Savior who justifies us and makes intercession for us (see Hebrews 7:25).

The fact that Jesus rose from the dead is fundamental to our faith. First Corinthians 15 is a detailed explanation of the importance of Jesus’ resurrection. Verse 14 states, “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” In fact, “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins” (verse 17), and believers who have died are “lost” (verse 18).

Jesus rose from the dead, and Paul presents that event as the only thing that gives us hope in this life. Christ was the first to permanently rise from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:20), clearing the way for a future resurrection for all who believe (verses 22–23). Jesus’ claim that He has the power to grant eternal life is to be trusted because He Himself conquered death (Romans 8:11John 3:16–1810:28).

  • Easter Activities at Hardy Street

    • Good Friday Service (April 15) - 6:00 PM
    • Easter (April 17)
    • Rescheduled Egg Hunt (April 20) - 5:30 PM - More Info

    • Church Directory Photos (April 17, 20, 24)

      We now have four opportunities for you to be included in our updated family group directories! You do NOT have to make a reservation and there is nothing to purchase… We simply want 100% participation and we ask that you mark your calendar now for one of these times!

      Easter Sunday, April 17th before and after services

      Wednesday Morning, April 20th before and after morning Bible study

      Wednesday Evening, April 20th before and after evening Bible study 

      Sunday, April 24th before and after services
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His Love Changes EVERYTHING!

Join us this weekend as we celebrate Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday! 

Friday at 6:00 p.m. and Sunday morning 9:00 am Bible Study / 10:30 Worship

Why is the resurrection so important? Why does it matter?

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the foundations upon which Christianity is built (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). The virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14Matthew 1:1825Luke 1:27), the deity of Christ (1 John 4:155:5John 10:30), Jesus’ atonement for sin (Romans 5:10–112 Corinthians 5:21), and His crucifixion are non-negotiable truths, without which Christianity could not exist. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead was the crowning achievement that forever separates Him from any other religious leader who has ever been or will ever live. No other religious figure in history has ever prophesied His own death and resurrection—and then accomplished it.

The fact that Jesus rose from the dead matters because it fulfilled prophecy. Jesus prophesied His resurrection (Mark 8:31), and so did the Old Testament (Psalm 16:10–11Isaiah 53:12). Roman rule brought crucifixion as a particularly heinous form of capital punishment. Many people were crucified for their crimes and for insulting Caesar. So the facts of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial are not necessarily outstanding, as many suffered the same fate. However, the bodies of those other people are still in their graves. Jesus’ tomb is empty (Luke 24:24). If Jesus never rose from the dead, there would be no compelling reason to believe that He is who He said He is. But the fact is that He did rise again, confirming His claim to be God (Matthew 27:6328:6).

The fact that Jesus rose from the dead also matters because our justification hinges on it. “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Romans 4:25). A dead Savior cannot save, but we have a living Savior who justifies us and makes intercession for us (see Hebrews 7:25).

The fact that Jesus rose from the dead is fundamental to our faith. First Corinthians 15 is a detailed explanation of the importance of Jesus’ resurrection. Verse 14 states, “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” In fact, “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins” (verse 17), and believers who have died are “lost” (verse 18).

Jesus rose from the dead, and Paul presents that event as the only thing that gives us hope in this life. Christ was the first to permanently rise from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:20), clearing the way for a future resurrection for all who believe (verses 22–23). Jesus’ claim that He has the power to grant eternal life is to be trusted because He Himself conquered death (Romans 8:11John 3:16–1810:28).

  • Easter Activities at Hardy Street

    • Good Friday Service (April 15) - 6:00 PM
    • Easter (April 17)
    • Rescheduled Egg Hunt (April 20) - 5:30 PM - More Info

    • Church Directory Photos (April 17, 20, 24)

      We now have four opportunities for you to be included in our updated family group directories! You do NOT have to make a reservation and there is nothing to purchase… We simply want 100% participation and we ask that you mark your calendar now for one of these times!

      Easter Sunday, April 17th before and after services

      Wednesday Morning, April 20th before and after morning Bible study

      Wednesday Evening, April 20th before and after evening Bible study 

      Sunday, April 24th before and after services
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The Mission of God https://www.hardysbc.net/blog/post/the-mission-of-god https://www.hardysbc.net/blog/post/the-mission-of-god#comments Wed, 09 Mar 2022 16:00:00 -0600 https://www.hardysbc.net/blog/post/the-mission-of-god

ReDiscoverFamily

 

As we continue to focus on being a "Family of Faith", recognize that we have a clear missional mandate! From last Sunday's message, realize that we are:

Entrusted with His message ... YOU shall be my WITNESSES

Employed by the Messiah ... you shall be MY witnesses

Empowered by the Spirit ... you shall receive Power!

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ReDiscoverFamily

 

As we continue to focus on being a "Family of Faith", recognize that we have a clear missional mandate! From last Sunday's message, realize that we are:

Entrusted with His message ... YOU shall be my WITNESSES

Employed by the Messiah ... you shall be MY witnesses

Empowered by the Spirit ... you shall receive Power!

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A Word About the Weekend - 10.31 https://www.hardysbc.net/blog/post/a-word-about-the-weekend---1031 https://www.hardysbc.net/blog/post/a-word-about-the-weekend---1031#comments Wed, 27 Oct 2021 15:00:00 -0500 https://www.hardysbc.net/blog/post/a-word-about-the-weekend---1031 door

This Sunday, we continue with our "Jesus in His Own Words" series as we look at the I Am statements! 

The statement “I am the door,” found in John 10:7, is the third of seven “I am” declarations of Jesus recorded only in John’s Gospel. These “I am” proclamations point to His unique, divine identity and purpose. In this “I am” statement, Jesus colorfully points out for us the exclusive nature of salvation by saying that He is “the door,” not “a door.”

Furthermore, Jesus is not only our Shepherd who leads us into the “sheepfold,” but He is the only door by which we may enter and be saved (John 10:9). Jesus is the only means we have of receiving eternal life (John 3:16). There is no other way.

 

WELCOME TERRY FREGOE!
IMG_5824

We are also excited about the addition of Terry Fregoe to our staff as Director of Communications.  Terry has been married to his wife, Cecilie for 13 years. He is the father to 4 children: Deveron 10, Emmalynn 8, Carter 5, Kohen 3. 

Terry is a native of South Mississippi and resides in Janice just outside of Brooklyn. He is no stranger to our Hardy Street Family as Terry has played an active role of leadership in our Trail Life Troop. 

Terry came to faith in Christ at age 11, and at 25, began to sense a deep desire to teach and preach. At that time, he surrendered his life to the ministry at Vardaman Street Baptist Church in Stone County.

Terry is a programmer / Analyst in the Information Technology Department of William Carey University. He holds an Associate of Applied Science degree from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Web Development Technology, and a BA in Christian Ministries focusing on Pastoral Ministry from William Carey. 

Terry will coordinate internal and external communication at H.S.B.C. including ministry training materials, policy and procedures, web development, print media, and more. 

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door

This Sunday, we continue with our "Jesus in His Own Words" series as we look at the I Am statements! 

The statement “I am the door,” found in John 10:7, is the third of seven “I am” declarations of Jesus recorded only in John’s Gospel. These “I am” proclamations point to His unique, divine identity and purpose. In this “I am” statement, Jesus colorfully points out for us the exclusive nature of salvation by saying that He is “the door,” not “a door.”

Furthermore, Jesus is not only our Shepherd who leads us into the “sheepfold,” but He is the only door by which we may enter and be saved (John 10:9). Jesus is the only means we have of receiving eternal life (John 3:16). There is no other way.

 

WELCOME TERRY FREGOE!
IMG_5824

We are also excited about the addition of Terry Fregoe to our staff as Director of Communications.  Terry has been married to his wife, Cecilie for 13 years. He is the father to 4 children: Deveron 10, Emmalynn 8, Carter 5, Kohen 3. 

Terry is a native of South Mississippi and resides in Janice just outside of Brooklyn. He is no stranger to our Hardy Street Family as Terry has played an active role of leadership in our Trail Life Troop. 

Terry came to faith in Christ at age 11, and at 25, began to sense a deep desire to teach and preach. At that time, he surrendered his life to the ministry at Vardaman Street Baptist Church in Stone County.

Terry is a programmer / Analyst in the Information Technology Department of William Carey University. He holds an Associate of Applied Science degree from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Web Development Technology, and a BA in Christian Ministries focusing on Pastoral Ministry from William Carey. 

Terry will coordinate internal and external communication at H.S.B.C. including ministry training materials, policy and procedures, web development, print media, and more. 

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A Word About the Weekend - Oct 24 https://www.hardysbc.net/blog/post/a-word-about-the-weekend---oct-24 https://www.hardysbc.net/blog/post/a-word-about-the-weekend---oct-24#comments Thu, 21 Oct 2021 05:00:00 -0500 https://www.hardysbc.net/blog/post/a-word-about-the-weekend---oct-24 JESUS IN HIS OWN WORDS

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12

Jesus had come to the temple along with many others from across the land to celebrate and commemorate the Feast of Tabernacles and was in ''The Court of the Women,'' the most public place at the Temple.

The Feast of Tabernacles during the time of Jesus was full of pageantry fueled with great expectation. It is a week-long fall festival commemorating the 40-year journey of the Israelites in the wilderness.  It was at Jesus’ final Tabernacle celebration while on Earth that He offered to fulfill the anticipated yearnings of many hearts on the Feast day: He offered refreshment (Jn. 7:37), rejoicing (Jn. 8:12), and rest (Jn. 9:14). This powerful “I AM” statement is a bold invitation for anyone who believes to experience light and life!

We invite you to join us this weekend as we discover the powerful truths behind this bold declaration of Jesus!

 

 

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JESUS IN HIS OWN WORDS

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12

Jesus had come to the temple along with many others from across the land to celebrate and commemorate the Feast of Tabernacles and was in ''The Court of the Women,'' the most public place at the Temple.

The Feast of Tabernacles during the time of Jesus was full of pageantry fueled with great expectation. It is a week-long fall festival commemorating the 40-year journey of the Israelites in the wilderness.  It was at Jesus’ final Tabernacle celebration while on Earth that He offered to fulfill the anticipated yearnings of many hearts on the Feast day: He offered refreshment (Jn. 7:37), rejoicing (Jn. 8:12), and rest (Jn. 9:14). This powerful “I AM” statement is a bold invitation for anyone who believes to experience light and life!

We invite you to join us this weekend as we discover the powerful truths behind this bold declaration of Jesus!

 

 

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A Word About the Weekend - October 17 https://www.hardysbc.net/blog/post/a-word-about-the-weekend_4 https://www.hardysbc.net/blog/post/a-word-about-the-weekend_4#comments Mon, 11 Oct 2021 22:00:00 -0500 https://www.hardysbc.net/blog/post/a-word-about-the-weekend_4 Sermon Series Graphic - I am

Join us this weekend as we kick off this brand-new sermon series entitled, "Jesus in His Own Words". We will be exploring the "I AM" statements of Jesus from the Book of John. 

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Sermon Series Graphic - I am

Join us this weekend as we kick off this brand-new sermon series entitled, "Jesus in His Own Words". We will be exploring the "I AM" statements of Jesus from the Book of John. 

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