Sunday Sermon-Sept.13,2009

I've been without a computer for awhile and am typing this on a laptop. I like to process the sermon's quickly because my memory is keener with interpreting why I have written the notes I have written. I will do my best with last week's sermon notes.

This month's theme is "Farmville First."
Jesus told His disciples to be witnesses first in Jerusalem, their hometown.
It is hard to minister in one's hometown.
People know you there. You have to live what you talk.
When we learn to minister and use our gifts, talents, and service in Jerusalem, then God will open up the world to us-the world will yield its increase to us.

Psalms 67 talks about how the earth will yield her increase when all the peoples of the earth praise God. We can change our climate by our worship of God. When we praise Him and the earth yields its increase, God will bless us and all the ends of the earth will fear Him.
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Pastor shared a thought from a book he is reading-"Leading on Empty." Adrenalin is to be used only in emergencies. Pastors use adrenalin too much. Being a pastor is like giving birth on a Sunday only to discover that on Monday, you are pregnant again.

We need to share our pastor's burden.
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When you wake up in the morning, begin to thank God for His grace. In everything give thanks. Revival can happen when you and I learn to bless the Lord. God wants to open up the windows of Heaven to us evenmore than we want Him to open them up.
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Psalms 133-It is good and pleasant for brethren to dwell together in unity. It is like precious anointing oil upon the head, running down Aaron's beard, down to the edge of his garments. It is like the dew on the mountains...Where there is unity, the Lord commands a blessing-life forevermore.
Unity is refreshing-like the breath of God. The fragrance of the Holy Spirit is like oil in our midst and our oils mixed together make a wonderful aroma that fills a room and spills over into a town.
The whole town will smell the fragrance of God as we dwell in unity.
When God pronounces a blessing, He gives a blessing. When God blesses us and we bless Him and we bless others, God also blesses them, and a community is changed.
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Pastor challenged us to praise the Lord and worship Him and bless Him this week.
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Only the truth can have a counterfeit. No one swears by Buddha or Mohammad.
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A thought came to me as I watched someone worship God today. I will be honest and admit that I sometimes struggle with loving this person. The thought was this:"We should not withhold fellowship and love from anyone the Lord loves."

And an old chorus came to my mind during this sermon.
"Lift up your hands in the sanctuary..
Lift up your hands and bless the Lord...
And the Lord who made Heaven and earth...
Will bless you out of Zion."