Acts 23: Hard Ground
March 12, 2023 • Pastor Isaiah Fern • Acts 23, Matthew 13:18–23
1. Some hard hearts will never become soft. Matthew 13 - Which soil are you? hard, shallow, thorny, soft soil. Following Jesus does not remove your problems on this earth and make everything OK today. Following Jesus removes your sin and makes your eternal soul OK with God. 2. You cannot throw in the towel right now. Dont give up. 3. God will use ungodly leaders to carry out His future plans
Prayer & Fasting
January 8, 2023 • Pastor Isaiah Fern • Mark 9:25–29, Matthew 6:16–21, Isaiah 58:4–9
PI shares about the important Christian discipline of prayer and fasting. 1. Fasting and prayer can help us hear from God. 2. Fasting and prayer can strengthen our intimacy with God. 3. Fasting and prayer can teach us to pray and give with the right motives. 4. Fasting and prayer weakens our flesh. 5. Fasting and prayer is spiritual warfare.
Acts 12: Killed & Persecuted
December 4, 2022 • Pastor Isaiah Fern • Acts 12, Matthew 5:10–12
Website to Pray for Persecuted Christians Pastor Isaiah shares about the persecution the early church went through with the Apostle James being executed then Peter being imprisoned. He shares 3 main points: 1. As the GOSPEL of Jesus spreads, so does the HATE of the people of Jesus. Three reasons why you will be persecuted as a Christian: a. Your presence exposes darkness and sin. When people realize you don’t do the things they do because it’s wrong and you love differently, it makes them realize the darkness and sin they are living in. b. Followers of Jesus stand up for righteousness and justice & this threatens people who benefit from taking advantage of people. c. Followers of Jesus speak the truth, even when it’s not popular, and this makes people angry. 2. Christians don’t stand by and do nothing when persecuted. 3. The Gospel cannot be stopped by anything, even violence.