Restoration Church

Waze for the Last Daze, week II -- 22 August 2021

Remember the daze when you had to pull over and ask for directions? WAZE is most beneficial when you are going somewhere you’ve never been. As long as you have battery (or power) and you entered the correct address, you can just sit back and trust WAZE, even if she changes her mind or the directions on you.
In 536 BC, the temple in Jerusalem was rebuilt, the relationship with God was reestablished,.  The Israelites had a new lease on life but there was no resulting power, only a temple, a worship facility that was having no apparent impact on the people of God or their world. Their rebirth was seen in their return, but their recovery was unseen and abundantly manifest in the rubbled mess called “Jerusalem”, the city of peace.
This is the picture of many believers. They are saved, they have established a connection to God, but have no resulting power that brings real life. No walls. A city with no walls isn’t a city.
As a people, the Israelites illustrate the incompleteness that often besets and bewilders reborn believers. The Jerusalemites, frustrated by their inability to restore their capital city, depict believers who seem unable to regain control of life issues mangled in their pasts. Like those in ancient Judea, so often with us: recovery was so long in coming, the conviction grows that it is never going to happen.
But, then something happens...someone is dispatched by God to come and lead the effort to rebuild God’s way.

Waze for the Last Daze -- 15 August 2021

Do not be deceived, be discerning. Wow! No sensationalism but not ignoring history either. Something is happening in the world.
Covid, quarantine, pandemic, hypocrisy, double standard, silencing, cancelling, racial division (Nation against Nation) BLM, Antifa, Democrats and Republicans giving $3T away to people. Two distrusted presidential elections 2016 and 2020. A media driven by greed. News that is so dishonest it’s almost laughable.
Watch out so that you’re not deceived. See to it that you are not alarmed.
How do you learn to be discerning?
“...do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is...be filled with the Spirit. Discernment will enable you to not be alarmed.
The bridegroom is coming, he might be a LONG time in coming, but He is coming!

A False Negative - 8 August 2021

There is a lot of bad news everywhere. I have some good news. We are dealing with a False Negative.False negative is actually a positive which in a covid world is a negative. I’d rather have a false positive which is actually a negative which is really positive, in a covid world.
The culture always needs a heroic, godly voice that will speak the truth loudly, courageously, humbly and strongly. While others “I don’t want to be bothered, I want to keep my job, I have a family to feed”. Someone else can stand against the system.
This is where we are. Things are insane. Most people see it. 
Eric Metaxas says that you have to catch this stuff early before it’s too late. Bonhoeffer did. He could see where it was heading. The church had the power to do something. They didn’t listen to him and by the time they woke up, it was too late and the Nazis had defanged the church, they had marginalized anybody who would protest. 
We are in this exact place right now in this country.
Germany was a wonderful country, great culture rich in history with amazing Christian history. But, at this time they had sloppy theology, cheap grace with a poor understanding of what it meant to be a biblical Christian.
We need to stand and be the praying, powerful, faithful church NOW.

Limitless -- 25 July 2021

The Source of Liberty -- 4 July 2021

2 Corinthians 3:17 (NKJV) Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty, or freedom.
Moses’ face was glowing and he wasn’t aware of it. It was glowing because “he had spoken with the Lord.” Paul is saying that the New Testament is even better, way better because:
it doesn’t bring “death” it brings “LIFE”
it is not temporary, it doesn’t fade, NO, it is permanent and,
Moses reflected God’s glory but the Spirit in us will RADIATE His glory!
...for the letter kills, but the Spirit give LIFE.

27 June 2021 -- Did God Really Say?

Religion kills individuals, it’s hard for man to get to God, religion kills people - only knowing good and evil without being in an intimate relationship with God causes “religious people” to do deadly things. Christian parents who are religious kill.
Christians live out of one of these trees - either the tree of knowledge or the tree of life. The tree of life is a picture of walking and talking with God-living in His provision, protection, fellowship, friendship and lordship. It’s a picture of living life full of His Spirit, resting in Him and having a clear conscience, it’s relationship! Tree of Knowledge - shame (nakedness), victim (blaming others), etc.
Satan did not encourage Eve to rebel; he appealed to her love for God and desire to be more like Him. He offered her an appearance of godliness (goodliness), but one that was actually devoid of life.
Religious or Christlike? How do you know? When is the last time God told you something? Something that you didn’t really want to hear, that challenged your flesh, you didn’t want to do it but you knew you needed to, you submitted to the power that comes from Holy Spirit, and “you” did it?
Do you have a moment that you can recall where you would say, “God really said…”? You need regular moments like this.

20 June 2021 -- Humble Dads Over Perfect Dads, Father's Day 2021

Being a father is hard work. It’s rewarding at times but it is not for the weak or the faint of heart. Marriage versus parenting. There is this idea that we have to be perfect or our children will destroy the world. Secretly, we feel the pressure to be a superhero dad and inside we know that we are not.
I want to encourage you dads this morning. Children don’t need a superhero dad. We think they do but they don’t. We all carry the shame of not measuring up. Kids don’t need a perfect dad. They need a humble dad.
 

13 June 2021 -- Did God Really Say?

Can I trust the Bible?
There are 8 core beliefs that lead to two toxic ideas. It’s ok to question your faith. Christianity is up for the challenge.
Dictators have tried to destroy the bible, cultures have outlawed the bible, governments have cancelled the ones who believe it, teach it, and preach it, Christians have been persecuted and martyred for having copies of it. And, here it is still standing as the best selling book of all time. It’s the best selling book every year.
You know how we know the bible is true? Because the Word became flesh and lived on this earth.

Uncensored -- 6 June 2021

God’s posture toward His creation is good. He is good, so all that He creates is good.
The Lord God said that it was not good for man to be alone...so, He fixed it and made it good.  The first thing he noticed that wasn’t good was the fact that man had been left alone. He said, that is not good. So He put Adam to sleep, took a rib, and created Eve. (When Adam woke up, it was good!). God is good. Sometimes bad things happen in this life, but God is good.
This is the battle of our culture. Goodness, good things, the good life without God. Good on your terms not His. Did God really say? Did God actually mean? This is the heart of this new series. Uncensored.
Here comes some nasty pandemic. What do we do? We sing Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength to our God for ever and ever!  Here comes the political chaos that makes us feel like the rest of the world and what do we do?  Here comes an evil spirit of division that brings about racial division like we’ve never seen and what do we do?  Did God really say?  Yes, He did.  And, by the way, He is GOOD!

30 May 2021 -- Baptism Sunday