Welcome to The Garden Church Oct 13th 2024

Who am I?

My name is Cody; I am a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army, Stationed here at Fort Campbell. More importantly, I am a father, a husband, a brother, a son, and a child of God!

I did not grow up in the Faith, religion, or spirituality. I wouldn't say I was an Athiest because I was ignorant! I was an uninformed child who ran the streets of NY with little to no guidance!

So, I would like to open in prayer but before I lean into it I would like to start with one of the first questions I had as entered into this new world of faith.

How do you pray? Am I doing it right? and How do you know it’s working?

The answer I found was …. much like any other question relating to the faith and that is….What does the scripture say?

In the N.I.V. the answer is revealed in Matthew 6:8-15: would like to spend a couple minutes on this a break it down before asking you to bow your heads so we can pray!

Matthew 6:8–15 (ESV)

Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

I was called here today by our Father, who art in heaven; I simply answered the call! In most cases, we feel as though we are unworthy and unqualified. Maybe it was things we have done in the past or things we are doing now!

I was blessed with being able to walk through the Doors of the Garden Church and hear a Story about a Pastor, a Husband, a father, and a child of God who gave his life to plant the seed that helped the garden grow and brought us all here to this moment, which is not the first time someone has given their life for us.

I got to hear the story of people this church saved

I got to hear the story of the partnership this church has with a program where people are not only fighting addiction but fighting for their lives, , which we all battle in some sense.

The truth is that we all have addictions, whether it be to some sort of substance, social media, video games, technology of some sort, food, sports or amazon prime!

GOD Knows amazon prime makes my life full and my bank account empty!

The bottom line is that we all fight and thats what makes this church special!

I'm not just talking about the modern definition of the word church but the Hebrew and Greek translation of the word church being ekklesia, meaning an assembly ….

So, by definition were talking about the assembly of christ, all true believers of the christian faith, whether together in these four walls or spread out across God’s green earth …. we the people are the church and we do not always represent the herd of the ninety-nine, in most cases we are the one’s that went astray, we are the ones that feel outcasted, or not always welcome at some of these bigger churches, looked down upon, and forgotten…. but that cant be the case can it?

I struggled with this for a long time, How can I come to god the way I am …. Improv

Hiding from God

adam and eve

God and hide and seek

what does the scripture say Matthew 18:12 and Luke 15:4 discusses the Shepherd and the flock

Matthew 18:12–14 ESV

What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Luke 15:7 ESV

Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Turn your mess into a message—it's not even on you to figure out! How do we put it in perspective … What does the scripture say? The Shepperd is the person who owns the sheep, and if you have opened your heart and invited God, it's his word that you will be saved! You belong to the highest!

What is a shepherd's role:

A shepherd's primary role is to care for, tend, and protect sheep:

Herding: Shepherds lead a manageable number of sheep from the front of the flock. 

Feeding: Shepherds take sheep to fields to graze on grass. They also provide food for the sheep. 

Guarding: Shepherds protect the sheep from danger. 

Leading: Shepherds show the sheep how to avoid obstacles and dangers. 

Caring: Shepherds care for the sheep's long-term welfare and consider them part of their family

to leave the flock until he finds that one who went astray , I know we talk about how the bible says SEEK God, but according to the scripture Its also the shepherds Job to Find you!

That doesn't make it easy. You may have gone a good distance, been wandering for quite sometime but he’s been looking for you! He’s been searching for you!

You emotions are useful, but how you feel about yourself is not how your father feels about you, its not who Jesus was!

Why is this one so important?

Because they have seen adversity, gone through trials and tribulations, and made the decision of their own free will to seek God, they have a testimony now. They were strong enough to make it through the addiction and the hardship and again willingly come back! Do you know how much more appreciative and grateful people are when they almost or did lose something good and they get it back?

it's God's grace that covers you where his will will lead you!

You serve the same God as Abraham

The same God as Moses

The same God as King David

The same God as King Solomon

Murderers, Alduterers, people who strayed away, sinners!

God took the ones who felt unwanted and unworthy, the sinners , the ones who went astray!

and what did God do? He revealed to them his plan for their life! The plan he had the entire time, since before they were concieved!

You know you serve The same God as Jesus Christ! Aint it beautiful!

God is seeking you and now God needs you to stop hiding from him, he know where you are and what you have done, and its him who says you are worthy and wanted, he wants to turn your mess into a message he just need you to stop running from him turn to him and invite him into your life!