Monthly Archives: December 2011

Happy New Year from Pastor Alan

by

0

Hey Guys,

It’s been a great year and I want to begin by personally thanking each and every one of you for your support in 2011. With your help we’ve begun a new ministry in Red Cross, NC and if you havent already, I encourage you to come out and see it for yourself. God has truly blessed us!

As I look forward to God’s plan for your life and this ministry in 2012 I’m brimming with vision and excitement. I’ll be sharing much more in the coming weeks but I can truly say that the message God has placed on my heart for you and the “Church” is more urgent and vital than anything I’ve received in the past decade. As my Partners and friends I ask that you continue to lift this ministry up with  your prayers. I need you prayed up for the abundance that God is about to pour out. Renew your mind and get ready!

 And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. Luke 5:36-38

You’re about to receive a “new thing” from the Lord and you need to know that when you get something new you should never attach it to something old! It will damage the integrity of the new. You wouldn’t put new wine into old bottles because the old bottles aren’t flexible enough to handle the pressure of change. In this verse Jesus is dealing with the attacks of his critics who are complaining about the way he and his disciples behave. Jesus is saying that, ”Your problem with me is that your religious system is so inflexible that it would break you to receive what I’m about to do.”

Christians can be guilty of this very thing, especially at the New Year. Even us preachers, in an effort to create a tag line that sticks in the minds of our  patrons, tend to get a little too shallow in our thinking…

We Want More in 2004; God’s coming Alive in 2005; You’re gonna get it fixed in 2006; We’re going to heaven in 2007; Everything’s going to be Great in 2008; You’re gonna marry someone FINE in 2009…

After this continual barrage of marketing magic, we find ourselves in the next year, disillusioned because everything wasn’t fine in 2009 and I still need more after 2004. However, if these mindless mantras become backed by prophetic insight, they can serve as a tool of mind-renewal.

What I’m trying to say is that there is no need in having a new year if you go into it with an old mind. If God pours a new year into an old mind, this year will be the same as the last.

Do You Have A Mind to Change?

Do you have a willingness to change? If not, you’ve got till January 1st to get rid of every poison that’s hindering you and every inflexibility stopping you from getting what God has for your life! Step into this moment with a new mind!

Just refuse to waste another year with an old mind. According to ROMANS 12:1-2 we can go through a metamorphosis, not because it’s the new year but by the renewing of your mind! We do, after all, serve the Lord with our minds and so the enemy doesn’t have to tie your hands to keep you bound, he’s just got to tie up your mind with stress, worry, and self-hatred!

I want you to join forces with me, this Sunday, January 1st at 6PM and let’s start the year off right by getting our minds out of bondage.  If you can get your mind out of trouble then you can get your family out of trouble!  If you can get your mind out, then you can get your job and your health out of bondage as well! Like a baby being born, at the beginning of this New Year we’re coming out head first!

The enemy has been holding you captive by your head. The Prodigal Son may have been penniless, destitute, and in the hog pen, but before he ever came home the Bible said, that he came to himself! Something happened in his mind.

This Sunday, January 1st at 6PM  I’ll be delivering what could be the most important message I’ve ever had the privilege of sharing and I want you to be there with me. It’s sure to renew your mind and get you ready for a new year where;

The Gates of Hell Will Not Prevail in 2012!

Regardless of what church you attend or what denomination you’re from, you need to be at this service! Bring your church, your pastor, your youth-group and be prepared to leave changed and charged!

For More Info Visit Our Facebook Event Page

THE HOBBIT New Trailer

by

0

Most people like a good story but everyone loves to be raptured into a world of imagination as they’re escorted by a skillful author through a story of hope, redemption, and the inevitable triumph of good over evil. This is what we’ve come to expect from J. R. R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” saga and the newest installment called, “The Hobbit” won’t disappoint.

As you enjoy the latest trailer of The Hobbit, keep in mind that although it may not be overt, the gospel of Jesus Christ permeates every square inch of Middle-earth! (More on this to come:)

A Christmas Revelation

by

0

It’s that time again! The beautiful Fall colors that lit up the countryside with brilliant yellow, and bright orange have all disappeared. The local department stores have announced their “one time only” sales. Our televisions are filled with commercials for the latest toys that thrill our children at the very thought of having that one thing they can’t live without. The Grinch, George Bailey, Eddie Griswold, and my favorite, Ralphie Parker (who desperately wants a Genuine Red Ryder 200 Shot Carbine Action Air Rifle for Christmas), all find their way into our homes as well as our hearts and bring the much need cure for that holiday nostalgia.

Countless hours are spent preparing food and even more are used to gorge ourselves with one last bite. It’s Christmas time of course! And if you haven’t already gotten your holiday shopping done, you may be in trouble. But, we must be careful that in all of our preparations we don’t forget the purpose for Christmas. It seems that in the rush of the season we tend to forget the real reason for the season. As we scurry to gather gifts for people we don’t even like, we forget about the greatest gift of all; Jesus.

“And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the son of the highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever: and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Luke 1:31

Two thousand years ago, God gave the gift of His Son and it’s important that we understand the significance of that gift. This holiday season we are not celebrating the fact that He was born in a manger but simply the fact that He was born. God came down through the womb of a virgin girl and the Creator lived among His creation. The Independent One became all dependant on one teenage girl. Thus He is named Emmanuel – “God with us” (Matt. 1:23). The word, “Incarnation” is used by theologians to describe the invisible God becoming visible in the form of Christ. The word “incarnation” literally means “en-fleshment”.  John chapter one says it this way, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us”.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever

 Christmas didn’t change Jesus. It only changed how we see Him. He was still the same Jesus before that auspicious night when there was no room in the Inn. He was still the same Jesus before Mary said, “Be it unto me according to thy Word”. He was still the same Jesus when Nebuchadnezzar looked with amazement into the fiery furnace and said, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God”(Daniel 3:25). And He was the same Jesus that God the Father looked at and said, “Let US make man in OUR image and after OUR likeness” (Genesis 1:26).

So, what is it that changed on Christmas day two thousand years ago? Humanity got a revelation of Jesus! We are not celebrating the fact that Jesus was born into existence but rather that He was born into our lives. A revelation is nothing new. In fact a revelation is only the revealing of what has been there all along. The incarnation was simply a fresh revelation of Jesus. Now God had a face!

This is what we are celebrating! The infinite became finite and the unknowable became known by many. We are celebrating the fact that the Christ of Christmas is no stranger to this planet and there is no reason that He should be a stranger to you. It’s not difficult for most to understand that God already knew them. He knows everything about you; including the things you try to hide from everyone else. But, He wanted so desperately for you to know Him that He stripped Himself of His imperial garments and put on the homespuns of humanity. This is the glory of Christmas; that you can know Him!

Who do you say that He is?

The disciples were exhausted after a long week of ministry. They had just witnessed their Master feed over four thousand people with only seven loaves and a few fishes. Yet, in the face of this miracle they still hadn’t received a revelation of Jesus. Out of frustration Jesus asks them, “Whom do men say that I am?” The disciples by this time had heard every rumor under the sun and they began to relate to Him all they had heard, “some say that thou art John the Baptist: some Elias; and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets.” Interrupting His illustrious twelve as they all shot off at the mouth, Jesus asked this all-telling question, “But who do YOU say that I am?”

I think that we would all agree that it really doesn’t matter what other people think about Jesus, but I want to take it a step further. It doesn’t even matter what you think about Jesus. Jesus didn’t ask them, “Who do you THINK I am?” He asked them, “Who do you SAY that I am?” What you believe is meaningless if it stays tucked away and hidden from the world. Romans 10:10 says, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the MOUTH CONFESSION is made unto salvation.”

Out of the silence we hear Peter that big two-fisted fisherman with steadiness in his voice and stability in his gaze, he declared, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” With relief Jesus exclaimed,

Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee but my father in heaven. And I say unto you, that thou art Peter and on this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

What just happened? Peter got a revelation of Jesus! The “rock” that Jesus was referring to, against which the gates of hell could not prevail, is the “revelation” of Him. It was Christmas all over again! But what would Christmas be without presents? Jesus said, “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven…” This is the real reason for the season. You have an opportunity to get to know Him up close and personal. And when you get to know Him the Bible says, “the Truth that you know will make you free.”

This holiday season when you’re with your loved ones and friends, you will find that some may ignore Him and others may even mock Him. Regardless of your situation, all that matters is who you say that He is. As we commemorate this most holy day, be sure to tell everyone who Jesus is to you and who He can be to them if they get the Christmas revelation.