Nebraska

The Risky Life

So my oldest Son Dominic told me a month ago that I needed to study for the entire month for this sermon because he wanted me to wow you with my vast knowledge of Coin A Greek and Hebrew. He wanted me to shock you with my extensive knowledge of Jewish history because I have a great interest in Judaism even before we found out we were 50% Jewish and He told me in certain terms to exegete the scripture so that I would show myself approved. Again, not in those terms, but I thought maybe some would be wowed by the use of my big words.

But I’m not going to do that today. I was going to give you a little bit of my testimony and who I was because I come from a very rough past and it would give you insight into why I am the way that I am. I love and studied psychology and I appriciate what makes people tick and figuring out why people are the way they are, but I’m not going to do that either. I am an open book. If you ask the question I will answer it, but be warned we don’t always like the answer to the questions we ask.

But I will tell you who I am. I am a blood bought, Spirit filled Pentecostal Preacher. No I do not swing from the chandeliers, but as Paul has stated If I am going to boast I will boast of that which God has done. Through the use of both my hands and mouth I have seen the blind receive sight, the lame walk, and People become Spiritually, physically, and mentally healed.I’ve seen marriages restored and addicts become free. I have watched and seen the Holy Spirit fall so mightily that hours have passed and people still worship. I raise my hands in worship, I bend my knees in surrender. I speak in tongues. I have told people things that no one other than them and God knew and I have helped to open eyes to doors and healing that people need to walk through.

I am a fighter. I was born a fighter. When I was a kid since the age of 6 when I came home with my tooth knocked out. My step father grabbed me by the shirt, threw me out of the house and said in crasser terms. knock him out or I knock you out. Since that day I have never lost a fight. Not because I am stronger, Definitely not because I am smarter, but rather because I refuse to stay down. I have won fights simply because I wore people out. Since then God has taught me to channel my fight and now I fight spiritually. I fight for my family and I fight for God’s people. I am involved, some would say over involved, but I don’t like to lose and I don’t like to watch other people lose either.

The biggest thing about me is that you will find that I am here. I am present and where I am God is also because I never leave his side. At times I’ve questioned him. At times I failed Him, at times I wanted to run away, but God and I, much like my wife and I, have become inseparable.

This morning I want you to open your bibles to

John 12:9–11 ESV

9 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

I want to be so close to Jesus that when they see me-They see God.

Lazarus- lived a life so led by God that the Phrases knew that getting rid of Jesus wasn’t enough. They would have to kill Lazarus again.

Understand-As a Pastor I couldn’t get into the public school system. So I became a substitute teacher. In PA schools use a temp service to fulfill their sub roles. I became so good at my job even though I wasn’t a teacher that teachers sought me out to cover their classrooms. I took a woodshop position for a few days as the teacher was at a conference. this was a 2 period class which means it was an hour and a half long. Now I am sub-they cannot use equipment so It became a free time. I began to talk with the students and someone mentioned I was a Pastor. Would you believe it there were teenagers who didn’t know who a Pastor was. And more I got asked the question Who is Jesus. Teenagers didn’t know who he was. Listen It was common place when I was a kid. Even if you didn’t believe in Him you knew of Him. So for an hour I got to explain Jesus in a public school.

But there are risks. This is why I titled my sermon the Risky life. When you live a Spirit filled life there will be a target placed on you from the enemy. 7 Years ago I used to ride motorcycles. I had a gorgeous Pearl white Yamaha V star 1100.

We did a blessing of the bikes. Made the news had tons of people come out to get prayed for. A few weeks later a couple board members wanted to show me the beautiful town. So after church about 6 of us jumped on our bikes and took off into the mountains of central PA. Beautiful ride. The Lead biker took a turn on a road he didn’t know. Took us up this mountain on a one lane road. At the top of the mountain where it starts to crest downward was this turn. We were going way to fast and bikers started to disappear. Footpedels started to throw sparks and I was the only one in the back riding doubles. I start thrown down the gears attempting to slow down, but knew we were going to slide. The back tire kicked the bike slide and we went sliding to other side of the road where there wasn’ta guard rail but there was a 40 ft drop to the gound below. I slam into the bike and stop. My wife slams into me. I make sure she is ok. We get up. By then the other riders turned around and we are now getting the bike back up on the tires. We stop and we pray At the end of the prayer the board member asks me. Did you see it? I said the turn…He said no the angel. He heard the crash and as he turned around he said a large being stood just off the road like this: And your bike slammed into his foot. We thanked God. We prayed. We went home. That Monday I took the kids to the park with the wife. I got a phone call. There is a lady at the church who is refuses to leave until she talks to the Pastor. Arriving at the church and sensing something isn’t right. I pack up my kids I head to the church and send my wife home. Being safe I meet this lady in the parking lot and ask her what she needed.

Refusing to look me in the eyes she said my Father tried to kill you. I said ok. Who is your father. She said you know. I said pretend I don’t. I’ve never met this lady in my life. What you need to understand is this. Where I am in Pa has the largest wiccan population per capita in the US. He looked at me, not she, He looked at me dead in my eyes as her posture and voice changed and He Said Satan. Satan was there when you slid your bike.

Now understand—no one knew. This was the day after. I told no one. The board didn’t talk about it. We all left silent with the understanding that this never happened bc we didn’t understand it.

This demon spoke again and said Satan isn’t going to quit until your dead. Understand this is the 2nd accident in as many months that should have killed me on this bike. So I sold the bike. But that day I took the ladies head in my hands and I started praying like I never prayed before. She fell to the ground convulsing and God spoke. She wants to keep the demon. So we eventually part ways. And Later I asked God why. And as clear as day. He said Son—I wanted you to know your enemy and I was reminded of this verse.

2 Corinthians 4:8–10 ESV

8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

What I come to understand that day was this: My life is a battle ground and I can live either scared of Satan or I can make him scared of me.

So how do we win? How do we win souls, how do we win territory? How do we win the battle we are in?

First understand.

Ephesians 6:12 ESV

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

There is nothing you can do in the natural to win souls. There is nothing you can do in the natural to bring salvation to lost people. There is nothing you can do in the natural to overcome addiction. The battle you may be facing isn’t here in what you can see. It’s fought where you can’t see it. And the only way you can win this battle drawing close to God.

John 15:5 ESV

5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

If this body of believers wants to grow, if you want to change the town, if you want to get your schools back. If you want to get families back if you men to stop being women and women to stop being men then we must first draw closer to God. Ever since Adam and Eve and the fruit of garden Satan has been trying to put distance between God and his people because he is afraid of people will do when they are empowered by God. The Spiritual gifts aren’t dead. Healing happens, Tongues happen. Prophesy happens. What’s dead is the people of God. We stopped seeking these tangible manifestations of the Holy Spirit because we’ve stopped pushing for more of God.

One of the saddest things I hear from Mature Christians is the phrase “our time has passed. It’s up to the next generation.” Listen if you are here still you are here for a reason and God desires to open the flood gates of Heaven and pour out his Spirit admist his people. He wants another Azusa street revival Where a few older men went into an upper room and prayed until God moved. Thousands of people from all across the world flocked to the streets just to feel the over flow of God’s Spirit in that room.

In ‘95 the brownsville revival broke out because of a PAstor who said We aren’t leaving until we see the move of God. The congregation spent hours worshiping and hearing the word. Hours turned to weeks. Which turned to months. One of mentors the LAte Bill Suddeth found his ministry in that revival and said there were rooms filled with wheelchairs, walkers, canes. People came possessed and left free. People came in high and drunk and left sober.

This year the Asburry revival struck 200, that we know of, colllege campuses across the world hit revival. My alma mater Valley forge closed classes for two weeks. Samford University, Cedarville University. University of the Cumberlands. All saw revival. It spread across denominations. Pentecostals, Methodist, Baptist, and some catholics all saw the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and after studying revivals for a while now I have found they all have one thing in common. People who refused to leave until God showed up and was done moving.

That’s why dream for the church. This is who I am. I am a revivalist. I want more of God. I want more of His Spirit I want Water baptisms and Spirit baptisms to happen every week.

2 Corinthians 3:17 ESV

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

John 8:36 ESV

36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

John 3:16–17 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Listen church we are about to receive communion and when we do my prayer is this: That you pray for a fresh anointing of the Holy SPirit.

There are 3 types of people here this morning

First your hear you may have been saved for a while and your fire doesn’t burn as right as it used to. God wants to fan your flame.

Second you may not know God. You’re here because you heard there was someone new in town and you don’t know Jesus. God wants to ignite your spark

Third, you’re here and you are on fire for God- god wants to increase his presence. This morning I first want to give oppertunity to anyone who wants to receive Christ to raise their hand. I want to pray for you this morning.

Second. As Pastor Robin comes up to give communion-I want to pray a fresh annointing on everyone else. I want pray a Jeremiah Spirit where the fire was deep in his belly that he couldn’t help but to utter the words of God. I want to pray that we remember and become so passionate about spreading God that when people see us walking down the street they see Christ.

I want you to be a target this morning.