The Power of Jesus to Transform by Pastor Brent Lokker

Jesus gave his life for me long before I had any awareness of his indescribable gift. I was a portion of the joy set before him when he endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2). I gave my life to Jesus when I was 12 years old. I didn’t yet know the joys I would experience by being his but I did know my decision was significant. A camp counselor led me in a prayer of accepting Jesus’ sacrificial gift of forgiveness and at that moment I felt a wave of warmth around the area of my heart and tears welled up in my eyes because of something wonderful that had taken place. To this day, I don’t remember the counselor’s name, but I can picture his short, muscular, stocky frame and his distinctly red hair. I have thanked God for him on many occasions knowing that his choice to lead me into a deep friendship with Jesus as my Savior and my Lord dramatically changed the course and the quality of my life forever. There will be a day on the other side of this earthly life when I will meet this man again and express my deep gratitude for the transaction that took place that day—Jesus taking from me my old sin nature (Col 2:11) I had inherited from Adam and brining to life his glorious Spirit within me in its place. I know the Bible says there will be no more tears in heaven but whatever the equivalent of joyful tears is in heaven is going to take place that day. Though I’ve had many moments along the way when I’ve temporarily forgotten this transaction, Jesus never has! He was not only my Savior in a moment when I was 12 years old, but He’s been the Savior I’ve needed every single day of my life! I think if we all could reflect on how much more destructive and empty our lives would have been without Jesus and remember the umpteen times he has restored us to life-giving repentance through his kindness (Romans 2) so we would enjoy more and more of his peace and freedom, we would more readily step out to be that unnamed, red-headed man to another who’s life will be changed forever by being introduced to their Savior Jesus. Ask God for his eyes to see those around you who need Jesus. Share your own story of how being loved and forgiven by him has transformed you. Yes, we are all still in process, but your story is more powerful than you know.  Honestly, we’ve often made evangelism a weird, uncomfortable thing because we’ve been thinking we have to say the right thing to get someone to pray a certain prayer. The simple truth is we are inviting people to encounter the forgiving, life-restoring Jesus—to have a deep friendship that will dramatically change the course and the quality of their lives forever!                                                                With Love, Pastor Brent

In last Saturday’s message, Resurrection Celebration, Pastor Brent demonstrates the reality of Jesus’ resurrection through the testimony of scripture and you will hear Marilyn Ga’s gripping testimony of how Jesus completely rescued and restored her by that same dunamis power.

Click to listen to Resurrection Celebration

Passion Week / And the Promised Holy Spirit by Pastor Russ Fochler

"Let me make this clear: A single grain of wheat will never be more than a single grain of wheat unless it drops into the ground and dies. Because then it sprouts and produces a great harvest of wheat—all because one grain died." John 12:24 TPT

In last week's email, I encouraged us to walk with Jesus through this week of His life (Palm Sunday through His Resurrection).  With Holy Spirit' help may we behold Jesus' passionfor our freedom and friendship: The way He established the great path from our darkened suspicions and destructive independence back into the arms of our true Father, the one true God.  Jesus became this path by suffering with us and taking upon Himself our sin and death.  Join us this Saturday night at 6:00 PM as we enter together into the awe and joy of Jesus' victory for us over Death and Sheol. During the elder retreat last January, we received God's leading to engage more intentionally with Holy Spirit this  coming year.  Going through the Book of Acts is part of this.  Last year we focussed upon Jesus as our King.  This included experiencing Jesus inside of us and beginning to explore what it means to be Jesus' ekklesia - His legislative assembly on the earth.  Now, as we go through Acts, we're looking to Holy Spirit to reveal and impart more to us about being Jesus' Ekklesia (Matthew 16:15-19).  In the current season, we're walking through one of the most remarkable chapters in the Bible: Acts Chapter 2.  The Holy Spirit came in a very dramatic way and then moved through an impromptu speech by Peter to reveal Jesus to the crowd who gathered.   Last Saturday, I made this observation: "The keys to Heaven’s Realm come through our relational access to the mind of Jesus about the situations and people Father God desires to help.  This relational access is empowered by Holy Spirit being in us and upon us!    We experience prophetic words, visions, dreams, and “knowings” through Holy Spirit. We participate in Jesus’ Ekklesia as we agree and declare Father God’s will to be done on earth as He desires in Heaven.  This includes what we agree to be “tied up” and what we agree to be released. You can listen to my talk last Saturday from Acts 2 here and look at the slides here.    Love,         Russ

Walking with Jesus Through Passion Week by Pastor Russ Fochler

This coming Sunday is the time that most Christians mark as "Palm Sunday". When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on that day almost two thousand years ago, it marked a "point of no return" for him. The coming week was the appointed time of Pesech - "Passover" and for Jesus to reveal Himself as "The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." I encourage you to walk with Jesus this week. We often touch upon and analyze passages from the last week of Jesus' life when He was visable to all.   But how often do we just immerse ourselves in this part of His story? We know Jesus yearned for the hearts of His disciples to stay present with Him when He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. What if we could give Him that gift now?  I believe  we can. Let me explain: Time and our human spirit We know that God lives outside of time.  He dwells in eternity.  We are aware of living in the construct of time - and it helps keep things understandable for us.  However, when we're united with the "God of the spirits of all flesh" (Num 27:16); He can take us places beyond the time and space limitations of our physical bodies. A Story in Jerusalem A few years ago, a group of folks from Blazing Fire went to Jerusalem to help one the houses of prayer (Succat Hallel).  During our breaks, we explored the "Old City" and the country side.  On day, we visited the house (palace) of Caiphas the high priest at the time of Jesus' trial.  At the lowest level there is a dungeon pit hewn out of rock. As we entered this pit, we were given time there by ourselves. And a spirit of intercession gripped us.  Kelly Rashe, Susan, and Karena in particular - sensed strongly the presence of Jesus as he waited in this dungeon pit.  We all felt a supernatural grace to express our love, gratitude, and compassion to Jesus - believing that He was receiving our expressions as He waited there almost 2,000 years ago.  I would say this was the most significant experience of that trip for me. Jesus' Last Week (plus a bit) A surprising percent of the Gospel texts focus on these days: The Gospel of Matthew: ~34%  (Starts Chap 21:1) The Gospel of Mark: ~ 39%  (Starts Chap 11:1) The Gospel of Luke: ~ 23%  (Starts Chap 19:28) The Gospel of John: ~ 47%  (Starts Chap 12:1) I encourage you to "Journey with Jesus" though His last week by inviting the Holy Spirit to read with you - and empower you to "enter into" His journey.  I suggest that you read one of the first three (synoptic) Gospels and then the Gospel of John. It is my prayer; that as you do this, that your heart will connect even more deeply with your Savior, King, and Betrothed Bridegroom. Love,         Russ  P.S. I originally wrote this in 2013.  It felt right to post it again for this week.