And they’re not going to talk about the first date. Nobody stands at a grave and talks about somebody’s birthday.

And they’re not going to talk about the last date either.
They’re going to talk about the dash.
They’re going to talk about what you did with it and who you were in it. And I believe there are 2 people sitting in this room tonight.

— If you’re saved but you’ve been sleepwalking — you’ve got the ticket and none of the life. And God has works sitting there that He prepared for you before you were born, and they’re still waiting. It’s not too late. Wake up and start walking in them.

— And if you’re hurting tonight — I want you to hear this one. This night is not forever. Weeping stays for a night. But morning is coming. It always comes.

You didn’t choose the first date.
You won’t choose the last one.
But the dash is yours. What are you doing with it?

The invitation of the gospel is the invitation to come home. It is the invitation to lay down the burden of self-rule and once again joyfully live under the benevolent reign of the true King. Through Christ, we are welcomed back into God's Kingdom, restored to fellowship with our Father, and called to serve as His royal priesthood, faithfully representing His will upon the earth until the day His Kingdom is fully revealed.

John Wycliffe reminded the Church that God's Word stands above every human authority. William Tyndale devoted his life to placing that Word into the hands of ordinary people. Jan Hus proclaimed that Jesus Christ alone is the Head of His Church. Patrick Hamilton joyfully declared that sinners are justified by grace through faith in Christ alone. Thomas Cranmer ensured that these glorious truths would be proclaimed whenever God's people gathered for worship. These convictions have become so common that we seldom consider the price that faithful witnesses paid to preserve them.

Yet the greatest lesson from these men isn't how they died but their devotion. They loved Christ more than comfort, treasured God's truth more than safety, and believed that faithfulness justified sacrifice.

Every generation, God looks for people who value His truth and are ready to stand with humility, courage, and conviction. Hopefully, we will also be remembered for overcoming "by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony," staying faithful to Christ and His truth until the very end.

We view our slight, short-lived troubles in the light of eternity. We see our difficulties as the substance that produces for us an eternal, weighty glory far beyond all comparison, because we don’t focus our attention on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but the unseen realm is eternal.

Do not allow the lies from the defeated Satan and the kingdom of darkness to steal the victory from your faith. Results are not always visible instantly – we have to persist and hold onto and continue to believe and to declare our outcomes that are

provided by our God out loud. We persist in rest. Samuel anointed David King, and Abraham was declared to be the father of many nations long before their manifestations appeared in the earth realm.

These declarations are scripture and were and are real when God declared them to be so, long before their physical manifestations appeared.

Let it be so Lord, In the power of the name of our unchanging Savior, Jesus of Nazareth. Amen.

Their testimony of these two witnesses has now become our responsibility. May we prove faithful in our generation, not merely by owning a bible, but by believing it, reading it, obeying it, proclaiming it, and passing it faithfully to those who come after us.

May we never settle for merely talking about justice. May we become people through whom God's justice is seen. May we cultivate the field He has entrusted to us. May we help others discover the purpose for which they were created. And may our lives, through the grace of Jesus Christ, truly yield much food for the glory of God and the blessing of the world around us.

Jesus wasn't just a good teacher, He wasn't just a moral man, He wasn't just a prophet, He is the Lord of all creation and He went to the cross for you and me, He died on the cross, He was buried and  He walked out of the grave.

• The first is the question of authority.

That began in the Garden when the serpent asked, "Did God actually say...?" His strategy hasn’t changed. Every false religion, theological error, and moral compromise begins by questioning what God has said.

Our generation faces the same temptation. Culture tells us truth is personal. Feelings compete with Scripture. Public opinion constantly changes. Even the Church is tempted to reshape the Bible to fit the culture instead of allowing the Bible to shape the Church. The issue has never been a lack of voices. The issue is deciding which voice has the final word.

• The second is the question of salvation.

People are still searching for acceptance. Some seek it through religion. Others through success, morality, or personal achievement.

Yet every one of those efforts is another version of what Adam and Eve did in the Garden. After they sinned, they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. We have been sewing fig leaves ever since, trying to cover sin through our own efforts instead of receiving the covering God has provided through Christ.

Revival, reformation, and resources: That is God's pattern. He revives a people. He reforms the earth through people. He provides for people so that they can carry out what it is He wants them to do.

As we surrender ourselves to that pattern, we become participants in God's eternal purpose—the restoration of His creation through His redeemed people. May our prayer always be the prayer Jesus taught us to pray

Mt 6:10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Even within the Church, the temptation remains. We are pressured to reinterpret Scripture, accommodate culture, redefine sin, minimize holiness, and live independently of God's authority. Satan needs no new strategy because humanity continues to struggle with the same old temptation: trusting our answers more than God's.

The good news is that Jesus came to restore what was lost in Eden. Where Adam failed, Christ succeeded

Therefore, never forsake the power of God in your search for wisdom, nor compromise wisdom for power. Pursue the Holy Spirit, who grants power, wisdom, and understanding in fullness. The same God who created the earth through His power, founded the world with His wisdom, and expanded the heavens through His understanding continues to build His Church in the same manner today.

The gospel is not merely an invitation to receive forgiveness. It is an invitation into fellowship with God and into the family of God. As we walk closely with Him and faithfully with one another, we experience life as God originally intended and display His glory to a watching world.

If God said it was not good for Adam to be alone in a perfect world, how much more do we need one another in a fallen one?

Through word and deed, proclamation and demonstration, signs and wonders, and the power of the Holy Spirit, the manifold wisdom of God is made known, and the Kingdom of God advances.

May we, Bethel Church, be not only dedicated to preaching the gospel but also committed to fulfilling the gospel assignment through Spirit- empowered demonstration.

Yes, our world is different. There are churches on every corner. There are many options. People can leave easily. Preferences can dominate. Commitment can weaken. But the call of Acts 2 remains before us. The church is not merely a place to attend. It is a people to whom we belong. It is a family formed by Christ. It is a body filled by the Spirit.

And if we will recover the devotion of Acts 2, perhaps we will also recover the beauty, power, unity, generosity, and witness of these first believers.

Kingdom Pursuit - Our responsibility as disciples is to seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness. We pursue God's purposes and reflect God's character.

Kingdom Provision - God's responsibility is to provide everything necessary for the fulfillment of His will.

Kingdom Possession - We live in a fallen world and face a real adversary. We must contend for the manifestation of what God has promised.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all

these things will be added to you.

Philippians 3:7-11

 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Peter preached. The Spirit openly proclaimed. The Savior boldly confronted sin. Honest calls to souls were urgent. And the result was an awakening.

The church was never called merely to entertain, mirror, or soften the truth to fit culture. Pentecost reminds us that God continues to transform people through the gospel of Jesus Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Our task is simply to proclaim Jesus in the power of the Spirit and to trust God to do what human methods cannot.

Romans 1:16 (ESV)
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes...

The world does not need better presentations, branding, or polished religious experiences. It needs an authentic encounter with the risen Christ and the reality of His Kingdom. The Gospel saves, delivers, empowers, and heals. That is the full Gospel Christ commissioned His Church to proclaim.

So may we be a people who faithfully carry out His mission. May we receive the empowerment He promised. May we remain focused on the assignment He gave. And may He find us faithful when He comes.

John 10:10: I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Jesus came so that YOU may have life, have it abundantly

When we die to ourselves and turn to Christ, we become the righteousness of God in Him.

Not because we earned it. Because He gave it to us — freely.

Now go and live your life abundantly.

And here’s the encouragement: you don’t have to create that life, you simply have to receive it by faith and proceed to walk it out for His glory.

So the charge is clear: Be watchful.
Guard what God has entrusted to you.


35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?

If you only follow the parts of faith that you like, or surrender only to what you agree with, then you are not truly following Jesus. Instead, you are simply following your own preferences.

True discipleship requires surrendering all aspects of oneself, not just those that are comfortable or agreeable.

Jesus took upon himself our sins and paid the ultimate price for us, motivated by his love for humanity.

All that is required from us is to surrender our old selves—our old ways, desires, and habits.

When you surrender, you do not lose your life. Instead, you discover the true purpose and fulfillment that comes from following Jesus wholeheartedly.

Because He is here, He knows, and He can and will do something about it. When He speaks, light comes—and when light comes, darkness flees. So, if your life feels formless, empty, or chaotic, this is not the end of your story; this is where God works best

Response leads him into surrender, and Restoration reminds him he is not alone. Redirection reshapes his purpose, Renewal prepares him in hidden seasons, and finally Release sends him into the work God had already prepared.

Paul’s story reveals God’s work in restoring what is broken, realigning what is misaligned, renewing what feels hidden, and releasing people into their divine destiny. The same God is here today, and as with Paul, He still walks people through that journey from resistance to Kingdom purpose.

The church does not retreat; it leads. The environment reacts to the authority of a people confident in their identity in Christ, aware of their authority, and ready to set boundaries that embody heaven's rule. The question is whether the people of God will rise, take their place, and establish what is allowed to operate within it.

The question isn't just whether you pray, but whether you pray with expectation and keep praying until heaven responds. Because prayer isn't optional; it's a vital part of God’s plan for His people. And those who do this are the ones who see answers come.

The core issue isn't God's ability or desire but our openness to receive. Will we, like Nazareth, foster an environment of offense? Will we, like the people of Capernaum, simply observe and judge? Or will we, like the crowd in Luke 6, actively draw on God’s power as we, in faith, press in and receive?

The truth is, Heaven is prepared. The power is active, and the Kingdom is near. The only remaining question is whether we will connect.

The question He asked them still echoes over every assignment He gives:

“Where is your faith?”

Not because He is absent — but because He is inviting us to rise, stand in His name, and watch the resistance give way so the journey can continue to the other side

It is what continues when you are gone.

And the greatest tragedy is not that treasure is hidden.

It is that we fail to search for it

And it is still the glory of kings to search it out.

Search for it in people. Protect it in yourself. Speak life over it in others.

Be intentional – stretch, dig, polish, if you need a different tool to get past the clay try something else. But remember you sold all you had for the treasure hidden in the field of dirt. See the value hidden in me……Remember the real treasure is HIM.

That is why this teaching cannot be reduced to becoming a better version of yourself. Christianity is not self-repair or self-improvement. The gospel does not say, “Try harder to live this way.” It says, “You have died, and a new life has begun.” It is no longer I that live, but Christ in me the gospel is not you to become a better you, the gospel is die to you and let Him live through you. He that would come after me must deny himself take up his cross and follow after me. This is not about becoming a better you. It's about becoming a new you - Christ in you, the hope of glory!

In conclusion, the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few and time is limited. Let us all, men and women, come together and actively participate in the world-changing mission that God has entrusted to us!

Luke 4:38–44 shows us that moment beginning in the ministry of Jesus. The disciples see Him demonstrate the will of God as He restores what is broken. They help by interceding for others, thereby capturing God's heart. And by the end of the passage, they are surrounded by a city that is coming to Jesus. The ministry is expanding.

Reflecting on these inspiring women fills us with humility and a warm sense of gratitude for how wonderfully God works. It's truly beautiful to see His hand at work among women throughout history, and it’s so important to honor that with genuine respect and

It's truly wonderful to celebrate and rejoice as the Lord continues to raise up more women to join in His great harvest, sharing His love all around the world.

 Psalm 103:2-3 (ESV): 2Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your disease

Claim your healing Speak the Word of God and His promises OUT LOUD

 You have authority in JESUS CHRIST TO heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers and cast out demons...USE IT. Pray and take hold of your healing

James 5:14-15 (ESV): 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up.

So, church, we’re embracing Jesus’ power to restore what sin has twisted. When authority is healthy, families become closer, the church feels more secure, and everyone can grow in peace without fear. And when authority is truly redeemed, giftings aren’t held back; instead, they’re joyfully shared.

The truth is, just like them, we can also rush to build our lives, dreams, or ministries without waiting on God’s timing. But true strength and blessings come when we build with patience, prayer, and trust in Him.

The Kingdom of God does not advance through eloquent presentation. It advances when the gospel is preached with clarity, courage, and dependence on the Spirit. The same Spirit who empowered Paul still confirms the Word today. The same gospel that saved then still saves now

At some point, someone says, “You don’t need all of this to finish the trail.” Piece by piece, the weight is removed. And with every item set down, breathing becomes easier. They didn’t lose what mattered; they finally let go of what didn’t.

That’s what Paul is describing. When Christ becomes the measure of worth, we don’t lose life, we gain it. Freedom comes not from carrying more, but from trusting Christ enough to set things down.

Faith begins with hearing God’s promise, grows as we declare it with our lips, and comes to life when we act on it with our hands. The Israelites sang, 'Spring up, O well!' as they dug into the dry ground, and God turned a barren desert into a flowing spring. May we do the same—believe His Word, declare His truth, and take the steps He calls us to take—until we see His living water spring up in our lives.

The question Psalm 14 leaves us with is not whether God exists, but whether He rules our lives. Are we merely acknowledging God, or are we truly seeking Him? Wisdom begins with reverence, and faith begins with surrender. And a life fully entrusted to God will always stand in contrast to the folly of living as if there is no God.

 “God sees more than we do.”

 “Heaven is backing what God has initiated.”

“This moment is not a setback; it is a setup.”

This is not a season to shrink back. This is not a season to disengage. This is a season to advance the Kingdom of God.

This is a season to lift our eyes. This is a season to trust in heaven’s resources. This is a season to advance by faith, trusting in God’s power and provision as we step forward in faith into our assignment to bring God’s Kingdom to bear in the world around us.

The Kingdom System represents God’s call for us to align ourselves, moving beyond simple faith or ethics to establish proper governance under rightful authority. Jesus’ words continue to hold true:

“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.”

When we prioritize alignment, provision naturally follows. When we allow God to take the lead in our lives, we will find that life begins to work as it was meant to.

In the end, the real question isn’t whether God is willing to rule. It’s whether we are willing to surrender to His rule as we surrender to Him.

·  Restored relationship.

·  Restored identity.

·  Restored health.

·  Restored authority.

·  Restored purpose.

This is not a different gospel. It is the rest of the story.

As we celebrate Christmas, we, His people, should do more than remember the birth of the baby Jesus. We should recognize the opportunity to renew our allegiance to the King who came. We should seek to recommit to His mission and allow His truths to shape how we live every day. When the King truly reigns in us, the Kingdom is revealed in us and can then advance through us.

Therefore, the Church must continue to preach the Word, lay hands on the sick, and expect God to move in power.

 Jesus is still the Healer.

 The Spirit is still giving gifts.

 The Church is still called to minister in His name

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Initially, we pictured someone outside a city wall or closed door, with the King inside ready to welcome. The good news is now that the door is open. You no longer have to stay outside; you can enter where God’s presence, promises, and pleasure dwell through faith in Jesus.

Where are you right now? Do you find yourself on the outside, or have you crossed the threshold through faith? Today, I want to encourage you to take that step. Enter in. The King is calling, and His arms are open wide. Step into His will, by faith, and find the abundant life that only He gives.

That’s how many people treat God. As long as life is running smoothly, He sits idle in thebackground. But when everything shuts down—when the job fails, the relationship breaks.

 The storm hits—suddenly they call on Him to keep the lights on. And once things improve, He fades into the background again.

But God was never meant to be your backup generator. He is the true Light, meant to shine every day—not just when your world goes dark. He doesn’t just flicker on in emergencies—He powers your entire life.

So the call is clear: Tear down the imitation altars. Restore God’s altar to the center. Stop living with divided devotion. Choose today—will God be your backup, or your everything?

I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to this world any more than I do. 17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19 And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

I believe the Lord is stirring His church again, not just to preach salvation, but to demonstrate the Kingdom. And I believe He wants to increase the flow of healings and miracles among His people, so that Jesus can be glorified as we facilitate hurting, damaged people towards wholeness.

Like the prodigal, you don’t have to be completely well and whole to come back; you just need to hear the Father’s call to you to come back and let our loving, and merciful God begin His work of reconciliation, healing, restoration in your life.

Come back home and He will save you. He will make you whole!

1 Jn 4:4 (ESV) ...He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

 Examine your hearts and Confess Your Sins and seek forgiveness and cast your cares on Him.

 Fan your personal devotion to Christ - Be hungry for God, don’t be complacent.

 Restore your spiritual health

Consistently read and meditate on Bible – Sharpen Your Sword – Explain How to Meditate

Thirst for Scripture
Be fully engaged in CORPORATE WORSHIP and PRAY

Evangelize and Spread the Gospel You are ALL evangelists: You Should Be:

Tell everyone you know or meet about Jesus and the Good News of the Kingdom of Heaven

 Proclaim the gospel!!!

 Surrender complete control to Jesus.

So if you’re tired, if you’ve tried everything and nothing has worked - raise your hands, lift your heart, and place your trust in Him. Because when faith touches Jesus, power still flows, and the same love that healed them all those years ago can heal you today.

Matthew 28:18-19 (ESV): 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

2. Live the Kingdom Life – Jesus’ Life

 Righteousness, Peace, Joy, Love, Power & Purpose

 Overcome,  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons (Matt 10:8)
3. Spread the CULTURE OF HEAVEN to all nations, just like Jesus did.

Today, I believe that as we pray and lay hands on those who are willing, God will do what His Word has promised He will move. As He touches you and imparts His Spirit’s power, that blessing is not meant to stop with you. You are called to pass it on lay hands on those around you so that what you have received, others may also receive.

What will happen if we don’t fulfill our responsibilities? Our children and their children and their children, our neighbors, our friends, our loved ones will not know the Lord. IT’S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN’T HAPPEN.

Acts 1:8 (ESV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE BE LIKE TO...

Have GREAT Peace, Joy & Love in your family, with your Spouse, with your Kids,  In all aspects of your life. Just imagine how much suffering we could destroy if we walked in His Power and with His Purpose.