Restoration Church

Half-Brained Christianity -- 11 April 2021

Holy Spirit reformation and Half-brained Christianity - the mystery of Spiritual formation.
31 Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, “When you continue to embrace all that I teach, you prove that you are my true followers. 32 For if you embrace the truth, it will release true freedom into your lives.” 33 Surprised by this, they said, “But we’re the descendants of Abraham and we’re already free. We’ve never been in bondage to anyone. How could you say that we will be released into more freedom?” 34 “I speak eternal truth,” Jesus said. “When you sin you are not free. You’ve become a slave in bondage to your sin. 35 And slaves have no permanent standing in a family, like a son does, for a son is a part of the family forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free from sin, then become a true son and be unquestionably free! 37 Even though you are descendants of Abraham, you desire to kill me because the message I bring has not found a home in your hearts.

Resurrection Sunday -- 4 April 2021

I know there is much fear in our culture today as we continue to deal with a pandemic, political unrest, media that is “state run” and hellbent on dividing people, racial tension, and a seismic shift in our western world. We’ve gone from being a Christian nation, to post-Christian, to anti-Christian culture. We’re not in Kansas anymore. All of this has given us concern, worry, anxiety, oppression, and anger.
How do we deal with this kind of stress and pressure? Let’s look at what happened to Jesus. The parallels are uncanny.
A mob mentality
An unfair trial
A questionable election
A cancel culture 
An innocent person suffers
What if us being the salt of the earth is not just the impact we have when others see the light in us but it is the prayers that we pray when “it looks like God’s side is losing?" What if God’s best work is done when the seed is buried? All hope is lost? The only hope we have is a miracle?

The Aaronic Covenant -- 28 March2021

Guest speaker J. Michael Utterback on Palm Sunday 2021.

The Holy Spirit Reformation -- 21 March 2021

The Protestant Reformation, October 31, 1517. Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses on the door of the church at Wittenberg, Germany. The Church was compromised, indulgences, priestly superiority, Scripture kept away from the common people. Martin Luther protested for change to come from within. Church was lifeless, it had become political with too much power.
At the time of the Reformation, everyone had accepted what was being taught, not taught. You pay for indulgences, saved by works, priest was right even if unscriptural, Latin mass...no options. Martin Luther protested and he took his life in his hands. Today, we stand at a similar crossroads. Because of unfamiliarity with Scripture, the masses accept whatever the spiritual leaders teach, the church has become lifeless, powerless. We have plenty of copies of Scripture but we’re ignorant.
We need another reformation. I believe we are in the beginning stages of a Holy Spirit Reformation. Today, I am protesting against a lifeless, compromised, apathetic church.

Resurgence -- 14 March 2021

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Theold has passed away; behold, the new has come."
First, “The old has passed away”, and secondly, “Behold, the new has come.” We are continuing to receive and walk in NEWNESS. This newness is a “new order” that has divine authority.
You now hear from heaven.
You now receive instruction from the Holy Spirit.
You now have access to the throne of God.
You now have supernatural power, gifts, and ability---through prayer.
Our relationship with Jesus was never meant to be one time experience thatbecomes distant and outdated. There are endless possibilities of resurgence: new things, new miracles, new victories, new levels of grace, and new revelation.
We have to have an encounter with the Jesus Christ. Open your mind and heart to God’s miracles and possibilities.

Salt of the Earth, Week 2 -- 7 March 2021

Humility, modesty, sincere, reliable, simple, godly, CHRISTIAN.
Maybe for some, but you might be asking, what am I to do? Can I get my situation turned around? How do I leave a legacy for my children? Move from generational curses or consequences to generational blessings?
How can I become a salt of the earth person? Let’s define it first. It would be the kind of person who followed the teachings of Jesus that he offered in the Sermon on the Mount. He is saying, “I’m about to teach you some things that if you apply them to your life, you will impact the earth, your community.”
How am I to become a solid, mature Christian, salt of the earth?
Understand the power of YOU
Understand the power of Holy Spirit

Salt of the Earth -- 28 February 2021

What is a “salt of the earth” person? Well, we know from Matthew 5 it would be the kind of person who would heed the teachings of Jesus, a Christ-follower or a Christian. But, we have this cultural term too. The woke culture has threatened this and other terms - synonyms for “whiteness” like salt of the earth, patriot, conservative, Christian, etc. - this is so sad.
What defines a true “salt of the earth” person? Not race.
Humility - not impressed with themselves, not insecure, humility is honesty.
Modesty - no need to impress others, draw attention to themselves, not pretentious; I pray that you will go ahead now and embrace modesty as a lifestyle.
Sincerity​ - their yes is yes and their no is no, not fake, we’ve seen so much fakeness in our world that when we see real, we run to it, people are craving the real, authentic right now even if it’s not “great”, sincerity is endearing.
Reliability​ - you can trust their handshake, they’ll sign a contract but you don’t really have to get them to because their word is their bond, you can take it to the bank.
Simplicity​ - they don’t have to go on cruises in the Mediterranean to be content or happy, they don’t need the newest whatever to feel important, they don’t have to have the corner office, sit at the head of the table, they know who they are.
I want to start a campaign to raise up a salt of the earth church...
Real life-giving relationship with Jesus
Study the Bible
Engage with the Body of Christ

The Goodness of God, Part II -- 21 February 2021

If you abide in me and my word abides in you...If we would open to the Holy Spirit, abide in Jesus, and say “may it be unto me according to your word”, revival would come and we would experience the goodness of God like never before. This is simple, right? You don’t need a seminary degree to understand the simplicity of being filled with Holy Spirit capacity, abiding in Jesus, and letting His word abide in you.
But, why don’t more Christians experience this?
Lack of discipleship
A casual view of sin, compromise
Spiritual warfare
This is about spiritual intimacy. Abiding in Jesus, a branch connected to the Vine, the source of life. What a privilege! What a place! A good God has gone ahead of us to prepare a place for us…

The Goodness of God -- 14 February 2021

The Goodness of God - If you were convinced of God’s goodness, it would dramatically change your life. This is foundational to all theology. His goodness won’t allow anything to destroy His work of grace in a person’s life. Mike Bickle said, “All of God’s judgments are aimed at whatever interferes with love.” His goodness doesn’t avoid judgment in a sense but it is judgment against what would destroy you. So, even His judgment is an expression of His goodness.
The goodness of God is the cornerstone of all theology. It is a primary thought for us in learning what Jesus actually came to reveal. We know that He came to die on the cross, purchase our salvation, and to be resurrected in order to remove the sting of death. In doing that, He came to reveal the heart of our Heavenly Father. Jesus is perfect theology. Over and over, Jesus said that He came to reveal the FATHER. Not a taskmaster, judge, lawyer, but a Father. A “how much more” Father at that!
But, there are many times when things are turbulent that we struggle to trust the goodness of God, His heart.
If you have been walking in obedience and “stuff happens”, then rejoice because that stuff is called pruning and the Father is making you more fruitful. It may not feel like it. It might get ugly. Hang on...spring is coming!
If you have been walking in disobedience, stop, repent, and start taking steps to becoming an obedient branch. And, it is so important that you settle the fact that God is good.

Taking Up Your Cross -- 7 February 2021

Luke 9:23 Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 
God’s plan for you is beyond anything you can imagine. Satan and his cohorts will try to make you feel like you don’t deserve, he will lie to you, discourage you, distract you, accuse you, condemn you. You’re going somewhere good. He’s got you on His radar. It’s not too late and you’re not too far gone. If you have a heart to receive this morning, get ready because His goodness is running after you.
But, it starts with a cross. The whole deal. He’s asking you to simply get with His plan for your life.
Have you come to this point in your life? The big moment when your circumstances have brought you to a broken place and you, finally, said, “ok, God, I’m yours”. Jesus, who knew the plan, still asked if there was a way around it because his flesh didn’t want to go the way of the cross but he prayed, Your will be done.
The cross is about dying, surrender, and His will being done. It’s also something spectacular to behold. Listen, He has already made a spectacle out of the demonic powers that work against you. Now, He wants to make a spectacle out of you - look at that!
Forgive everyone who’s trying to ruin your life
Help others who are experiencing the same struggle
Be sure you take care of those close to you
Aim your hard questions at God, not man
Be human enough to acknowledge your need
Be assured, there is a purpose and an end to what you are suffering
Surrender your day to God, and let it go