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thank you, Lord-

[September 10. 2008] YOU CAN'T CURSE WHAT GOD HAS BLESSED
- pastor Dennis Leonard (Heritage christian Center in Denver, Colorado, the US)





Genesis 12:2-3

I will make you a great nation; I will bless you,and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

Galatians 3:14, 29

That the blessing of abraham might come upon the Geniles in Christ Jesus, that we moght receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

1. God gave a promise to Abraham when He said, "I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you."

     a. Paul said when you love the Lord Jesus Christ; the same blessings that God promised Abraham now belong to you.
     b. When you put God first in your life, no one can stop the blessings of God from eventually coming your way.



2. Setbacks occur in all of our lives; it rains on the just and the unjust.

     a. A setback can happen on your job, in your family, or even in your health.
     b. A setback can place you on the Potter's Wheel where God will mold you and change you.
     c. A setback can cause you to go through the fire to become a new vessel, changed and perfected.



3. As a Believer, you may be pressed in on every side.

     a. God has a way of allowing difficulties in you life, in order to the change your direction and produce good fruit.
     b. Your spiritual enemy has a plan to bring you down, but God has two plans to raise you up.
     c. You can't curse what God has blessed.



4. Paul was beaten 5 times with 39 stripes, he was beaten with rods, stoned and shipwrecked three times, and yet he refers to these as light afflictions. Paul knew his help was on the way. (2 Corinthians 11:24-26)
     
     a. The word defeat is not in God's vocabulary.
     b. God has a way of turning tribulation into triumph.



5. The faith message is not about getting whatever you are believing God for.
 
     a. The real faith message is when you believe God for a comeback, while you're in the middle of a setback.
     b. God specializes in the impossible; you can't curse what God has blessed.



6. If you feel as though your life is at its lowest point, remember you are in good company.

     a. Jesus was on His way to the cross, He had some dying to do, but He told His desciples He would be back.
     b. Perhaps you've lost your house; it's time to believe God for a new one.
     c. If your problems feel as through they are crushing you, call on the Lord.



7. Storms never last; you have to ride them out.

     a. Your answer may be delayed, but it can't be stopped in Jesus' Name.
     b. The devil wants you to think you're finished and thatyoursituation is hopeless; but you can't curse what God has blessed.
     c. Get your eyes off of your storm and get them back on the Lord.
     
    

8. When you lood at scripture, you'll see that the odds have always been against the people of God.

     a. Esther was taken as a slave, but one day God used her to bring deliverance to His people.
     b. Joseph was wrongly accused and thrown into prison; but one day he was promoted from the prison to the palace.
     c. When God is working in your life, He may lead youinto a dry place.

   

9. If you will be determined to put God firest in your life, no enemy can overpower you.

     a. If you put God first, no weapon formed against you will prosper. (Isaiah 54:17)
     b. If you will put God first, you may be thrown into the fire, butyouwill not be burned. (Isaiah 43:2)
    


10. I want to remind you that Jesus Christ, the King og Heaven, has already defeated the devil.

     a. Any time you make a decision to put the Lord first, your spiritual enemy will come against you.
     b. If youare gaining spiritual territory, you can bet that your spiritual enemy will try to stop you.
    


11. Sometimes when the pressure is so great, it may feel as though there is nothing you can do but surrender.
 
     a. The Word says, if you will be determined to put God firest in your life, no enemy can overpower you.
     b. Having done everything you know to do, stand. (Ephesians 6:13)
     c. Even though the attacks come and everything may look as though it is lost, you must stand.



12. God is so big; He will turn everything for your good.

     a. The righteous may fall seven times, but with God on your side, you can keep getting back up. (Proverbs 24:!6)
     b. People may say you won't survive this storm, but you can't curse what God has blessed.



13. "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9

     a. Today is the day of restoration and God's Glory is breaking forth on His church and into your life.
     b. There is a double portion ocming for you, if you will trust in the Lord.

[September 7. 2008] HELP IS THE WAY
- pastor Dennis Leonard (Heritage christian Center in Denver, Colorado, the US)





Mark 4:35, 37

On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side." And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.

Mark 5:1-6, 15
Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadareness. And when He had come out of the boar, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, whohad his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tomls, crying out and cutting himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. Then theycame to Jesus, and saw the one sho had been demonpossessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afrad.

1. You may feel as though thedeck is stacked against you.

     a. Maybe you beleve you were born on the wrong side of the tracks.
     b. Perhals you feel you are an underdog because of your gender or your skin color.



2. The Bible says that Jesus was anointed to preack the gospel to the poor. (Luke 4:18)

     a. Jesus came for those who are poor spiritually as well as those who are financially challenged.
     b. No one cared about the poor the way Jesus did.


3. There maybe times in your life when lofe itself becomes so difficult, you don't know what to do.

     a. There is only One who will reach into your darkness and lift you up. He will be with you in your storm.
     b. If you love the Lord, you will face challenges, difficulties, and your faith will be stretched.
     c. Whether you like it or not, storms cause you to grow up spiritually.



4. If you are in a storm today, the enemy will do all he can to get you to turn back; but God wants you do keep walking by faith.
     
     a. God will teach you His ways in the middle of your storm.
     b. You may e going through the biggest storm of you life, but if God be for you who can be against you? (Romans 8:31)
     c. You must rememver the storm can't destroy you, because Jesus is in the storm with you.


5. The reason the storm came up while Jesus and the disciples were in the boat was an attempt to stop them from getting tothe other side.
 
     a. Jesus had an appointment with some devils on the other side of the lake, and the storm was trying to prevent Him from getting there.
     b. This passage shows that a storm always precedes a miracle.
     c. God was sending help to a troubled man, and somehow the demons knew the man's help was on the way.
    d. How do you know that it was demons that sent the storm; because Jesus rebuked it!



6. The man in our text, the one with the unclean spirit; found himself in big trouble.

     a. He was isolated, living alone and no longer connected tohis familyand and friends.
     b. He was a living man who was living in a dead place.
     c. The Bible tells us that this man had reached a point in his life, where he was out of control.



7. Perhaps today you are living in a dead place.

     a. You are alive, but dead on the inside.
     b. Perhaps you are someone who goes to work and to everyone around you, you are just a number.
     c. You may be hurting so badly today that you push people away can the pain only gets worse.
     
    

8. There are some storms you can't get through by yourself.

     a. You serve a God that keeps coming afteryou, in spite of life's storms.
     b. You serve a God that will never give up in you and will never leave you or forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)
     c. Even if the odds are greatly against you,God says lift up your head and rejoice for I AM with you.

   

9. Even if your world has been turned upside down, Jesus will keep you from losing your mind.

     a. Ir will be Jesus that will reach out to you, even if everybody else gives up on you.
     b. It doesn't matter how big your devils are, they don't compare to your God.
     c. When God is on your side, you have to believe that help is on the way.
    


10. With God's help, you can overcome impossible odds.

     a. With God's help, you can be healed, set free, and overcome every bondage in your life.
     b. You must remember that in every crisis, you have Jesus Christ.
    



11. The Bible syas that after the storm, Jesus made it to the other side.
 
     a. The mand ran out to see Jesus and began to worship Him.
     b. If you will begin to worship the Lord in spite of your devils, your help is already on the way.





12. Rememvber that even as the storm raged on, Jesus kept coming.

     a. I am telling you that the storm in your life is a sign that help is on the way.
     b. Remember you serve a restoring God, and your story isn't over until you get back everything the enemy has stolen from you. (Joel 2:25)

[August 24. 2008] BACK TO A PLACE OF BITTERNESS
- pastor Dennis Leonard (Heritage christian Center in Denver, Colorado, the US)





John 11:14, 17, 19,21, 34, 43-44

Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been lin the tomb four days. And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Now Marthasaid to Jesus, "Lord, if Youhad been here, my brother would not have died. And He said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to Him, "Lord, come forth!" And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go."

1. God wants you to give vrace to other people.

     a. You may have failed people in the past and needed forgiveness; and now you must forgive others.
     b. If you fail to give vrace to others, a root of bitterness could spring up in you.



2. Mary and Martha had become bitter toward Jesus after Lazarus' death.

     a. They blamed Jesus for not coming more quickly.
     b. A series of losses can affect how you feel about life.
     c. When you go through enough, you can become bitter.



3.  God warns us that we should not be like Esau who gave up too soon and missed his blessing

     a. There is something about bitterness that tendsto rob you of your future.
     b. You must learn to forgive people instantly, so the root of bitterness does not get inside of you.



4. Jesus said to Mary and Martha, "Show Me where you laid Lazarus."
     
     a. Jesus was telling Mary and Martha to go back to the place they had become bitter.
     b. They had lost their faithand He was telling them to go back to that place.
     c. Perhaps you are in asituation where God didn't answer your prayers the way you thought He should; and now He si telling you to go back to that place where bitterness got a hold of you.


5. Moses couldn't go into his promised land because he was angry and bitter against the people.
 
     a. God told Moses to speak to the rock, but Moses struck the rock in his anger toward the people.
     b. It was Moses' anger and bitterness that stopped his victory.



6. Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14

     a. In other words, it doesn't matter what someonesaid or what someone did.
     b. It doesn't matter whois right or who; all that matter is pursing peace with that person



7. The Bible says of you don't deal with bitterness, you can't walk in holiness.

     a. Holiness is not about the length of your hais, whether or not you wear makeup, or whether or not you goto the movies.
     b. Holines is about having a forgiving heart.
     c. God is concerned about the condition of your heart.
     
    

8. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind toone another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even asGod in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32

     a. If you hold anger on the inside of you, it can torment you and can cause you to become extremely bitter.
     b. Bitterness is like a poison that can cause you to become physically ill.
     c. Jesus said of you don't forgive others, my heavenly Father will not forgive you. (it's not optional) (Mattew 6:14-15)

   

9. You were not made to hold onto bitterness, but to forgive and trust God.

     a. You can't let anything from your past cause you to put your life on hold.
     b. It has been proven that un-forgiveness and bitterness cause so much stress on your immune system thatit can cause sickness.
     c. You are at a crossroads today, you will either leave this place bitter, or you will leave better.
    


10. The Book of Exodus says the children of God became botter against Him because they had gone three days without water.

     a. The Lord showed the Children of Israel a tree and Moses threw it in the water. It turned the bitter water sweet and pure. (Exodus 15:25)
     b. When Moses threw the tree in the water it was a type and shadow of how when Jesus comes into a situation, He turns your bitter waters sweet.
     c. The Lord wil turn your life around if you will release the bitterness you are holding.
    



11. Since this is your year, you have to let go of the bitterness in your heart.
 
     a. If you are going to see your life turn around,then you have to go back to the place of bitterness.
     b. You have to go back to where your bitterness is buried.
     c. Itls time to quit talking about your past, and start talking about your future.

[August 17. 2008] SPEAK TO IT
- pastor Dennis Leonard (Heritage christian Center in Denver, Colorado, the US)





Romans 10:9-10 and Numbers 20:7-8, 10-11

"That if you confess with your nouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto rghteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying, "Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak o the rock before thier eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and heir animals." And Moses and Aaron gathered the assimbly together before the rock; and ge said to them, "Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?" Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly,and the congregation and their animals drank.

1. "Fpr out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."

     a. The problem with the church today is people are saying things out of their mouth without conviction in their heart.
     b. They are speaking to situations, but there is no faith in their heart.



2. God told the children of Israel to send twelve spies into the Promised Land.

     a. Then spies had a bad report, two of them had a good report.
     b. God knew all along that there were giants in thier Promised Land.
     c. God knew they would have to have faith in Him in order to enter their Promised Land.



3.  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

     a. Always remember that true Bible faith is never about future, it's about right now.
     b. God is waiting for living faith to come out of your mouth.



4. Just hearing the Word is not enough to take you into the promises of  God.
     
     a. You have to take what you've heard and speak faith out of your mouth.
     b. God's promises are instant, but you have to mix faith with them to see them manifest in your life.



5. Faith has nothing to do with your emotions.
 
     a. Faith is based on the Word of God, and speaking the faith that is in your heart.
     b. Faith isn't faith, until youspeakitout of your mouth and believe it in your heart.
     c. The woman with the issue of blood mixed her words with what she believed in her heart.



6. It's not a matter of just believing in your heart, you must also speak it out of your mouth. (Mark 11:23)

     a. You jave to speak to your mountain.
     b. God always said it before He did it.
     c. He always spoke it before it came to pass.



7. Your words are like seeds that must be planted.

     a. So jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you." Mattew 17:20
     b. If you plant the seed it will grow into something bigger; that is what faith is about.
     
    

8. God wants you to get your praying and you saying in agreement.

     a. Don't pray God's Word one minute and then talk about how big your giants are the next.
     b. No matter what you're going through, don't let your circumstances change your confession.
     c. Even when things look impossible, God will show up to do the impossible.

   

9. All you need isa word from God.

     a. The angel of the Lord told Mary she was going to have a son, and His name would be Jesus.
     b. One word from God will change everything in your life... His Word is true.
     c. Heaven andearth shall pass away, but My Word will never pass away. Matthew 24:35
    


10. God told Moses to speak to the rock, but Moses struck the rock.

     a. The rock was a type of Christ.
     b. Moses didn't havae to hit the rock; all he had to do was speak to it.
     c. That word is for you; all you have to do is believe in your heart and speak to your mountain.
    



11. The enemy's whole plan is to whut you up and throw some giants in your face.
 
     a. His plan is to intimidate you, so you don't speak the Word over your situation.
     b. The Bible says that the children of God saw giants and they felt like grasshoppers.
     c. You are not a grasshopper; you are a joint heir with Jesus Christ.

[August 10. 2008] THIS IS A JOB FOR GOD
- pastor Dennis Leonard (Heritage christian Center in Denver, Colorado, the US)





Daniel 3:14-17 (KJV)
Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them,Is it true, O Shadrach, Mechach, and Abednego, donot ye serve my gods, norworship the golden image which I have set up? Now if ye ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; will: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that Godthat shall deliver you out of my hands? Shadrach, Nechach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar; we are not careful to answer theein this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

1. The three Hebrew boys refused tocompromise their stand for the Lord.

     a. The enemy gets mad shen you take a stand for the Lord.
     b. When youstand up to the ways of this world, the enemy will heat wituations upin your life.
     c. The enemy will attempt to use discouragement because of your stand for Jesus Christ.



2. When you are in a spiritual fight, you have toget down in the trenches and pray.

     a. "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." James 5:16
     b. It's our prayers of earth that move all of heaven.



3.  The Church of Jesus Christ is under attack as never before.

     a. There is great persecution today for those whostand up for Jesus Christ.
     b. The enemy is waging a final war against those who love the Lord.
     c. The true Church is the devil's only threat.   



4. We think that if we're living for the Lord, everything will go nice and smooth.
    
     a. God may not take the heat out of your situation, but He will preserve you in the middle of it.
     b. You may be in an impossible situation, but that is when it is a job for God.
     c. Out of nowhere, the Son of God jumped out of eternity and into the lives of the three Hebrew boys. What He did for them, He will do for you.



5. Do you ever wonder why God waits until the last minute to answer your prayers?
 
     a. It is so He receivers "Maximum Glory."
     b. If the king would have changed his mind about throwing the three Hebrew boys in the fire, the king would have received the glory.
     c. God waits until the last possible minute, so you know that it was God that delivered you.



6. Some people think faith will get them anything they want.

     a. True faith continues to serve the Lord, even when you don't get what you want.
     b. True faith says,"I will trust in the Lord and in the Power of Hes Might."
     c. God wants each of us to reach the point thatwe walk in faith and put control in His hands.



7. God doesn't want to help you fight your battles, He wants to fight your battles for you.

     a. He wants you to trust Him so much that you quit worrying over your problems.
     b. He wants you to reach the point that you realize that this is a job for God.
     c. "... casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7
     
    

8. It is in your weakness that you will learn to pray and trust only in Him.

     a. You will never have a resurrection, without the death of your flesh.
     b. You need to come to the end of yourself, so that you can see God move.
     c. Be still and know that I am God... Psalm 46:10

   

9. God wants you toreach the point that you can say, thebattle is the Lord's and my victory has already been won.

     a. It's easyto praise God when He blows up a furnace.
     b. God wants to know if you will praise Him when your problems ge hotter and hotter.
    


10. Do you think we shout, clap, dance and sing because we are putting on a show?

     a. Paul and Silas couldn't get out their mess until they began to praise God. (Acts 16:25)
     b. We are sending in the Tribe of Praise and trusting God to fight our battles.
     c. When trouble knocks at your door, let praise answer it... this is a job for God.
    



11. The Bible says that praise is the language of faith.
 
     a. The Children of Israel were captive in Egypt for generations. Only the Blood of the passover Lamb set them free, it was a job for God.
     b. When Joshua was in Jericho, he faced walls that were sixteen feet thick. There was no way to defeat that mighty city; it was a job for God.
     c. Daniel faced hungry lions. He was a dead man walking, but it was just another job for God.




12. Everythins around you may look lost.
    
     a. The odds may seem as though they are compoetely againstyou, but it's just another job for God.

[August 3. 2008] MY BLESSINGS ARE ALL TIED UP
- pastor Dennis Leonard (Heritage christian Center in Denver, Colorado, the US)





Genesis 22:1-2, 9, 13-14

Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" Andhesaid, "Here I am." Then He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one og the mountains of which i shall tell you."

Then they come to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altarthere andplaced the wood in order; andhe bound Isaac his son and laidhim on the altar, upon the wood.

Then Abraham lifted his eyes andlooked, and there behind him was aram caught in athicket by its horns. So Abraham wentandtood theram, and offered it up for a burnt offering insteadof his son. And Abraham called the mane ofthe place, The-LORD-Will-provide (Jehovah Jireh); as it is said to this day, "In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided."

1. The Word saysthatour God is Jehovah Jireh, our provider.

     a. He will meet all of your needs and provide for you.
     b. He loves you and wants to take care of you.
     c. He will do things for you that you can't do for yourself.



2. Abraham had great faith in God.

     a. He believed that if Isaac had to die, God would raise him up.
     b. He toldhis servants, "My son and I are goingto the mountain to worship, but we will be back."
     c. God wants you to trust and have faith in Him.



3.  The Bible says, "the words of your mouth are like a bit in a horse's mouth." (James 3:3)

     a. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love itwil eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21
     b. It's not what enters a man's mouth that defiles him, but what comes out. (Mattew 15:11)
     c. Your words will either strengthen your faith or cause you to give up.   



4. When Abraham lifted the knife to sacrifice his son, God held back his hand.
    
     a. God provided aram in the thicket.
     b. He will deliver you from the hand of your enemy.
     c. He has the answer to your situation right now.



5. God has your blessing alltied up because it belongs to you.
 
     a. When God has a vlessing for you, it can't escape.
     b. He will save your blessing for just the right time.



6. If you will trust Jehovah Jireh, He will give you blessing that you can't imagine.

     a. He will give you blessings that you haven't even prayed for.
     b. He will give you houses that you didn't build.
     c. God will fulfill every need and every desire that you have because of who He is.



7. Philippians 4:19 says, "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

     a. He will do exceedingly beyond all you can ask or think because He loves you. (Ephesians 3:20)
     b. "... Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man. The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9
     
    

8. Your faith will be challenged; you can't let life discourage you.

     a. "...In the world youwill have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33
     b. Many are the afflictions of the righteous : but the LORD edlivers him out of them all. Psalms 34:19
     c. No weapon formed against you shall prosper; And every tongue which rises against youin judgement You shall condemn... Isaiah 54:17

   

9. God wants youtohave the kind of faith that you can gothrough any trial and say, "I will be back."

     a. He wants you to grow tothe point that youlook at adversity and say, "My blessings are all tied up."
     b. He wants you to say, "A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you." Psalm 91:7
    


10. The enemy will try to make your situation look impossible.

     a. When the widow's son died, she kept her faith and said, "It is well."
     b. When Job lost his family and possessions over night he said, "Though the Lord slay me yet will I trust Him."
    



11. You must learn to say,"I will be back." no matter how bad it looks today.
 
     a. My blessings may be tied up, but I am still going to trust God.

[July 27. 2008] HE STOOPED DOWN TO SAVE ME
- pastor Dennis Leonard (Heritage christian Center in Denver, Colorado, the US)





John 8:4-8

They said to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery,in the very act. Now Moses, in the lawm commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?" This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the fround with His figher, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, "HE who is with out sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." And again He stooped sown and worte on the ground.

1. In this story you see the heart of God and His mercy.

     a. God wants to bless you, in spite of what you've done.
     b. When you asked God to come into your life and forgive you, His mery washed away your sins.
   


2. Lamentations 3:22-23 says, "Through the LORD's mercied we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning..."

     a. God's mercy will never fail you.
     b. His mercy will endure forever.
     c. His mercies are new every morning.



3.  Apostle Paul said, "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and fien grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16

     a. If you rail God, He wants you to climb into His lap and ibtain the mercy that you need.
     b. The Bible says, "... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
     c. If we confess our sins,He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us fromall unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
   


4. Everyone has personal struggles, but Jesus came to stoop down and pick you up.
    
     a. Only God can bring greatness out of weakness.
     b. He can use the foolish things of this world to confound the wise. ( 1 Corinthians 1:27)
     c. He can take the most uniqualified persin and raise them up.



5. Your spiritual enemy wants you to think that you're too unworthy for God to use.
 
     a. He wants you to think that you have failed too many times.
     b. He wants you to think that you have commotted the unpardonable sin.



6. When you fail, God has the ability to look beyond all your sins, weaknesses and hurts. He will stoop down and pick you up.

     a. He looks at you and calls you the righteousness of God. (w Corinthians 5:21)
     b. He looks at you and never condemns you.



7. The Word says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those whoare in Christ Jesus who do not walk according to the Flesh, but according to the Spirit." Romans 8:1
     
    

8. 1 Chronicles 16:24 says, "Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever."

     a. David was an adulterer, but God used him for His glory.
     b. Rahab was the town whore, bout God used her for His glory.
     c. Abram was an idol worshipper, ut he became the father of our faith.

   

9. God has a lot of goodness stored up for those who love Him.

     a. Just because you stumble andfall, it doesn't mean God will abandon you.
     b. God promised that He will never leave you nor forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5) 
     c. You are mever too dirty for the Lore to pick you up because He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)



10. They wanted to kill the adulterous woman, because all they caredabout was their religion.

     a. Jesus stooped down because the adulterous woman couldn't get up.
     b. Her only hope was for Jesus to stoop down to her level and meet her where she was.
     c. You are mever too dirty for the Lord to pick you up because He cares for you.



11. When you think Fod world never help you, He will stoop down and give you brand new mercy.

     a. You may have failed in the past, but His mercy will pick you up.
     b. You maybe in a storm today, but His mercy will get you through it.
     c. You may have been out of strength, but God's mercy stepped in and gave you the strength to go on.



12.  Now that you have made Jesus the Lord of your life, God is on your side.

     a. I an persuaded that neither death nor life, nor andgels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor edpth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which isinChrist Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
     b. God has your name tattooed on His hand. Isaiah 49:16.
     c. Isaiah 54:17 says, "No weapon that isfrmed against thee shall prosper."



13. David said, "... Youanoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of me life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever." Psalm 23:5-6

    a. Your life will changewhen you understand God's goodness and mercy are following you.
    b. Your life will change when you understand that God's mercies are new every morning.
    c. Your whole life will change when you realize He stooped down to save you.

[July 30. 2008] AFTER THE TEST
- pastor Dennis Leonard (Heritage christian Center in Denver, Colorado, the US)





GEnesis 22:1-2, 9-10, 12-13

Now it came to passafter these things that God tested Abraham, andsaid to him, "ABraham!" And hesaid, "Here I am." Then He said, "Take now your son, youronlyson Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering onone of the mountains of which i shall tell you."

Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abrahan built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar; upon the wood. And abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.

And He said, "Do not lay yourhand on the lad. or do anything to him; for now i know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me." Then abrahan lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.

1. No matter sho you are, you will be tested and go though trials and difficult times.

     a. Everyone has trials and tribulations to face; but after these things, you will see your victory.
   


2. There's somethings about the tests of life that will prepare you for your future.

     a. Tests will make you stronger.
     b. Tests will cause you to exercise your gaith and trust God in a greater way.



3.  God will ask you forthe thing you love the most, to find out where your heart is.

     a. He wants to find out how much you love Him.
     b. He will allow you to go through tests in order to prepare you for your victory.
   


4. The Word says, "...Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9
     
     a. If you love the Lord, you will be tested.
     b. The test will prepare you for greaer things.
     c. It's all about having faith in Him instead of yourself.



5. When you are going through a test, your spiritual enemy's plan os for you to get mad at God.
 
     a. The enemy's plan is for youto blame God in the middle of your test.
     b. The enemy's plan isto put so much pressure on you that you will puit.
     c. God wants you to trust in Him with all yourheart, and lean not on your own understanding.
(Proverbs 3:5)



6. Blessed is theman whoispatient under trial andstands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor's] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him. James 1:12

     a. If you are still walking around with a chip on your shoulder, then you have failed the test.
     b. If you have un-forgiveness toward a person, then you have to retake the test.
     c. If youare tired of going in circles, then you have to learn to pass the test.



7. Beloved, donotthink it strange concerning thefiery trialwhich is to try you, as though some strange things happened to you. 1 Peter 4:12
     
     a. No one likes to be tested, butit's necessary for your faith to grow.
     b. It's all a part of God squeezing things out og you that need to come out.
     c. If you pass the test, then you get to graduate and go to the next level.    
    


8. Abraham had to be tested before he could be know as the father of faith.

     a. Abraham and Isaac had to walk up the mountain by themselves to be tested.
     b. There are times when you're tested that you have to yoto the mountain alone.
     c. If you pass the test, the blessings wil come your way.

   

9. If you are struggling today, it could be because yougave a hard time giving up the thing you love most.

     a. God wants you goget to a point where you say, "Lord, not my will but Your wil be done."
     b. God didn't want Abraham's son, He just wanted to know if he was willing to give Him the thing he loved the most.



10. In your times of thesting, you have to believe that God is working everything out.

     a. You have to believe that He will turn tragedy into triumph.
     b. You have to believe that He's turning yourtestintoa testimony.
     c. You have to believe that His goodness and mercy will endure forever.



11. After the tests, you will receive the victor's corwn.

     a. God will let you go through tests because He has big plans for you.
     b. He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all thatwe ask of think, according to the power that works in us. (Ephesians 3:20)

[July 20. 2008]





Luke6:27-38





"But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone whotakes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and of anyone takes away your goods, donot ask for them agin. Do to others as you would have then do to you.

 "If you love thos ewho love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good tothose who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even to receive, what credit is that to you? Evensinners lend to senners, toreceive as muchagain. But love your enemies, do good and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you willbe children of the Most High; for he iskind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, jusr as your Father is merciful.

 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you wil be forgiven, give, and it will be given to you. A goodmeasure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, wil beput into your lap; for the measure you give will be themeasure you get back."

[July 16. 2008] HE CHOSE ME
- pastor Dennis Leonard (Heritage christian Center in Denver, Colorado, the US)





John 15:15-18

No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but i have called you freinds, for all things that i herard from My Fother i have made known to you. You did njot choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that youshould go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you,that you love one another. "If the world hates you, you knowthat it hated Me before it hated you."

1. As aBeliever, God has placed an assignment on your life that only you can fulfill.

     a. Whatever talent you need to complete an assignment, God has already given that talent to you.
     b. His gifts and callings are irrevocable.
   

2. God nevercalled you to be perfect, but He does expect you to trust Him.

     a. He has empowered you toaccomplish His will.
     b. There will be difficult times that come your way, but God wants you to have the right attitude.
     c. The enemy cannot stop a Christian that believes the Word and is washed in the Blood of Jesus.


3.  Genesis 1:27 says that you were created in the image of God.

     a. You are a chosen generation,aroyal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people... 1 peter 2:9
     b. You are of God, little children,and have overcome them, because Hewho is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4
   


4. The easiest way to fail in this life is totry and please everyone around you.
    
     a. God did not call you to be a people pleaser; He called you to be a God pleaser.
     b. You can't allow people's opinions to dictate how you live.


5. "He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world..." Ephesians 1:4
 
     a. God made you to be the best person you could be.
     b. You don't have to be jealous of anyone else, because you've been chosen by God.
     c. You don't have to be intimidated, because you've been shoesn by God.


6. When God chooses you for a job, you can do things that nobody else can do.

     a. The reason you can tolerate certain things is because you've been chosen by God.
     b. The reason you canlive in your difficult situation is because you were chosen by God.
     c. The only reason you can tolerate the way people talk about you is because you've been chosen by God..


7. God demonstrates His own love toward us, in thatwhile we were stil sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
     
     a. Teh bible says, "For God so lovedthe world thatHe gave His only begotten Son, that whoeverbelievers in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16


8. God has inscribed you onthe palms of His hands. (Isaiah 49:16)

     a. He is holding back the hand of the enemy and watching over you.
     b. He wants youtotrust inthe Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)
   

9. The enemy has a plan to bring you down and try to destroy you. (John 10:10)

     a. You may feel pressed in on every side, but the enemy cannot destroy you because you've been chosen by God.
     b. The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD. Psaln 37:23
 

10. When God is working in your life, He willlet you go through some things in order to find out what you will do.

     a. God wants to know if you will praise Him in the middle of your storms.
     b. He wants to know if you'll keep on tithing, when wverything is at its worst.
     c. He wants to know ig you will keep coming tochurch,even though you may have been betrayed.


11. Your attitude is everything, especially whenyou aregoing through trouble.

     a. God wants you to have  the right attitude, and praiseHimno matter what comes into your life.
     b. If you lose your house and you have the right attitude,you will trust God for a better house.
     c. If you have the right attitude, you will confess that youare more thana conqueror through Christ Jesus who loves you. (Romans 8:37)


12.  The Bible says, "...Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!"

     a. And all these Blessings shall come upon youand overtake you,because you obey blessed shall you be when yougoout...Blessen shallyou be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. Deuteronomy 28:2-6
     b. Your are the head, and not the tail; you are above and not beneath.



13. The enemy can't stop you because you have been chosen by God.

    a. The Word says, "No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgement You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of theLORD, And thier  rightousness is from Me," Says the LORD. Isaiah 54:17
    b. "The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways." Deuteronomy 28:7
    c. When the Lord has called you to do something for Him, nobody can stop you.



14. It's time to prophesy and say, "I am victorious and chosen by God."