"Sending the Help-er"

Friendship Community Church

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"Sending the Help-er"

November 5, 2023 • Pastor Logan Ames

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"Do not quench the Spirit" ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:19

If I'm being honest, this verse used to make me a little bit uncomfortable the first few times I heard it. My thought was, "What right or even ability do I, a sinful man that's basically a speck in all the universe, have to suppress or thwart the move of God?" While it's true that we don't have the right to quench the Spirit - and Paul clearly commands us not to - we DO have the ability. God has given us free will, which we have used to rebel and sin. But when Jesus came to save us, He knew He couldn't stay, at least in the flesh, so He promised to send us the Holy Spirit, the Helper, so that He would always be with us in Spirit. The Spirit is the Helper because He reminds us of Jesus' words and gives us strength and comfort to get us through each day. But we have to be willing to accept His work in our hearts in order to be blessed by it. When we read the above verse or even talk about the work of the Spirit, we so often think about what He's doing outside of us. But that section of Paul's letter is clearly about our own character and godliness. You are unable to quench the Spirit's move in the world, but you must be unwilling to quench it in your own life. This week at Friendship, we'll talk about God "Sending the Help-er" because He knows we cannot win this spiritual war on our own. Join us and see what the Spirit is up to in your life!

Victory

December 31, 2023 • Associate Pastor Ben Sorbello

So the presents are unwrapped but do you feel His presence? Take a minute to reflect on this next question before you answer it...ready...Do you feel Victorious? In what or who? Are you in a battle or trial right now, with your health, a relationship, life in general? Does your life have PURPOSE? When you look in the mirror are you content and feel blessed or cursed? Are you proud to be a Christian today? Are you fired up to go to battle for your Commander? Do you believe that we are winning the War? Do you feel prepared to continue the War? This week we will be finishing the teachings of the Holy Spirit on Waging War - The Victory. If you have been part of the training program at Friendship since August we have been learning about the Spiritual War that we are in and how we need to defend ourselves and loved ones from the evil that exists. This week we will find encouragement from our Commander so you do not want to miss this! Commit yourself and your family to following and listening to the Holy Spirit of God and we look forward to fellowshipping and praying with you this week.

Christmas Eve Service 2023

December 24, 2023 • Pastor Logan Ames

"Holy Light"

"The Big Picture"

December 24, 2023 • Pastor Logan Ames

"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst" - 1 Timothy 1:15 Jesus was born to die. He came to be the Savior for us and for the whole world. Believers know this, but we tend to lose sight of it this time of year. We focus on the joy and the miracles and the celebration of His birth like somehow it's separate from His purpose. But God was planning this and foretelling it through the Law and Prophets for well over a thousand years, which means the Messiah's birth and death would always be linked. In order to save us and provide for our forgiveness, He had to shed His blood, something one can only do if they become flesh. This weekend at Friendship, we'll talk about "The Big Picture" of Jesus' birth for not only His own parents, but the whole world. If we want to wage war against the enemy, we must yield our own understanding to His; we must let go of our small picture of our circumstances and surrender to His big picture plan, even when we don't understand it.