The Net
Your Purpose
^{Sunday, March 15, 2026
_{Apostle Mike Herzog}}

Our purpose is to use our net to catch souls and see people saved.

Deuteronomy 5:6-10
^{‘I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. ‘You shall have no other gods before Me. ‘You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.}

What you do influences your family and future generations. But God's blessing is so strong that when one generation chooses to serve the Lord, it can change the course of that family's line. We are commanded not to make an image of any God and to have no other gods before the one true God. Moses went to the top of the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments from God. He was with Him for forty days. The people began to grow impatient. They turned to Aaron and asked him to create a god for them. Aaron collected the gold from them, threw it into the fire, and created a golden calf for them to worship. Today, there are many people who worship false idols. An idol is anything you put before God. An idol is anything you trust, admire, and obey instead of or before God. It could be your money, your things, your kids, your plans, or your future. Whatever we put before God will not succeed.

People learn about God and see Him through people who are made in His image and follow His commands. The goal of man is to know God and tell others about Him.

I Peter 2:9
_{But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light}

When you’ve invested time in God’s presence, people notice something different about you. You reflect a glow of joy. People followed Jesus because of the things He said and did.

John 14:6
_{Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.}

Some of the things Jesus said offended people because He spoke the truth. Many people prefer to live a lie. When you are living a lie and someone speaks truth, you are confronted with two options. Either submit to that truth or persecute that truth. When you tell the truth to someone, there is a high probability that you will be disliked for doing so. A friend will tell you the truth. An enemy will tell you what you want to hear even if it leads to your demise.

Proverbs 27:6
_{Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.}

There was a time when many people turned away from Jesus because He said some controversial things. Jesus was the living word, and God’s word is what He preached. Apostle Mike explains that the church has fallen into a bad habit of only serving others but falling short on spreading the word alongside. The church is serving out of the right motivation, but serving should open the door for spreading God’s word. The enemy uses fear, intimidation, condemnation, and accusation to keep believers quiet.

John 6:68
_{But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.}

It takes courage to speak the truth, and you may get rejected or criticized for it. It’s much easier just to be seen as nice and helpful.

Psalms 107:1-2
_{Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy}

In Matthew 5:18, we learn about the beginning of Jesus calling His disciples. Their purpose was to follow Him, and that is also our purpose today. It takes wisdom and skill to be an effective fisher of men. He promises if we abide in Him, we will bear much fruit. Speaking is critical to the salvation of others, as well as to our own salvation.

Romans 10:9-15
_{that if you confess with your mouth 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 righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”}

If you confess and believe that Jesus came and died and God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. If you call out to Jesus for help, you will be saved. Many people think that they must fix their lives before coming to Jesus to be saved. Apostle Mike gave the analogy that this is like a sick person saying as soon as they get well, they will go to the hospital. Jesus is the one that heals us. How can someone who has never heard of Jesus call on Him? This is the significance of mission trips. People don’t know what they have not yet been informed of. The word “preach” means to herald, like a trumpet. A herald is an official messenger bringing news. When we share the gospel, you should be speaking with words of authority because you are speaking the truth.

There are two things Apostle Mike proposed we do.
#1 Focus on the eternal and not just the temporary.
Matthew 6:19-21
_{“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.}

#2 Open your mouth.
Psalms 81:10
_{I am the LORD your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.}

“Out of the land of Egypt” is symbolic for being saved, moving from death to life. The Holy Spirit will give you the right words to say.

Our purpose in following Jesus is to cast our nets and make disciples.

The Net
Your Platform
^{Sunday, March 8th, 2026
_{Pastor Chris Byrd}}

It is the mission of Impact Church to inspire, equip, and empower you for the impact that your life is intended to have. Pastor Chris reminds us that we are a marvelous work of God. Evangelism can be hard because you might be afraid of what other people will think, say, or do. The pastor says that if people think we're strange for spreading the gospel, we're doing a great job because the world is strange. We are supposed to be here but not be a part of this world.

Ephesians 2:10
_{For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.}

God loved us so much that He gave up His only son as a great sacrifice so that we could be forgiven when we sin. The least we can do is show our gratitude for this tremendous sacrifice by sharing the testimony of Jesus Christ with the world. Pastor Chris continues this series on being fishers of men and challenges us to practice gratitude and to reflect on ourselves. What is the condition of your net? Does your life align with your declaration of faith?

A platform can mean a few different things. A platform is a raised surface adjoining another. A way to get from one place to another. It’s a declaration of principles on which a person or group stands. The Bible is our truth at Impact Church. A platform is a way or chance to share ideas or information. A podcast, a podium, or a stage is all a way to get a message across. It is a plan or framework for building on. It can be a vehicle that is used for a certain purpose to move a certain type of material or equipment.

Genesis 2:15-17
_{Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”}

God makes each one of us, and then He gives us an assignment. He has done this since the beginning of time with Adam and Eve. They wanted to be great, but they fell short because they didn't take responsibility. Eve wanted more, as if God had not given her everything she already needed. There were consequences for her sin, but when they were kicked out of the garden of Eden, God still clothed them. Regardless of man’s sin, God showed mercy and years later gave us His only son.

John 19:30
_{So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.}

Jesus restored the relationship we have with God, enabling us to walk with Him every day. Jesus also knew we needed a helper.

John 14:26
_{But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.}

God has always known we would need help. In the Garden of Eden, when Adam was created, God gave him Eve as a helper. When Adam and Eve made a mistake, He helped them by giving them clothes. Jesus helped us to have a relationship with God the Father. When Jesus tasked us with sharing His testimony He gave us the Holy Spirit. The Bible tells us when we come to Jesus, we are no longer who we used to be; we have been reborn, and we have a new assignment.

Acts 1:8
_{But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”}
Genesis 1:28
_{Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”}

Scripture states that we will receive power first and then we will be witnesses. It also states that God blessed them first and then he asked them to do something. If we act without help from God, its powerless and unsuccessful. Your platform must be built on God. God never calls you to action without giving you the tools you need. One example in the Bible would be Joseph, the dreamer. God blessed him with the gift of prophecy through dreams and the ability to interpret God’s messages sent through dreams. These blessings were given for a divine assignment. Joseph didn’t do anything to deserve the terrible things that happened to him after receiving these gifts. However, his faith in God did not change because of his circumstances. God did not abandon Joseph amid his struggles, nor did He change his blessing or remove his anointing. God moved his platform. Joseph did what he was supposed to in the position that God had put him in until God was ready to move his platform once more. In the end Joseph was rewarded and blessed abundantly for his faithfulness to God and for fulfilling his assignment.  

Genesis 39:3
_{And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand.}

God doesn’t stop obstacles we encounter, but he does use them all for a greater purpose. We sometimes think that the platform God has given us is too low for us, as if we should be on a different one. Other times we think that the platform is too high. When we feel unqualified, God qualifies the chosen. If Joseph had decided to wait to use the gifts God gave him when he got out of prison, he might have never been freed. The reason he was freed was because he was obedient to use the gifts God gave him while going through the hindrances.

Hebrews 13:1-5
_{Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also. Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”}

Be content with what you have. We are all part of the body of Christ, which is like a fishing net that holds us together. God tells us to check on our nets. The Bible is a book of instructions that show us how to live a life that reflects righteousness. If you don’t carry out any of the instructions, you mirror a worldly life. Joseph didn’t act like the world, and because of this, God elevated him. We are to love one another and not be jealous of the blessing or calling God has given the next person. God also reminds us to cast our nets to those outside of the church. You never know who you will encounter. Keep your focus on what God has for you because He will put people in your path. You must be present and aware enough to recognize that they need your help. Our most important mission is to spread the gospel. Where are you fishing? Are you doing so from the platform God has given you? Are you telling others what God is doing in your life? God has equipped you for the platform He needs you to be on right now. If you are faithful to operate from that platform, He is faithful to elevate you.

Be grateful. That is how we draw near to God.
Be present. We can miss so much because our head is stuck in the past.
Be willing. If God has called you to do something, He has already prepared you.

The Net
Your Life is a Message
^{Sunday, March 1st, 2026
_{Pastor Darlene Marshall}}

“Christ is my firm foundation
The Rock on which I stand
When everything around me is shaking
I've never been more glad
That I put my faith in Jesus
'Cause He's never let me down
He's faithful through generations
So why would He fail now?”

Luke 6:46-49
_{“So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwater rises and breaks against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”}

What has God done for you lately? Did you share the news of what He has done for you? He doesn’t bless you just so you can keep it a secret. He wants you to share the news of His goodness with everyone. When God speaks to us, it is our responsibility to obey.

Matthew 4:19
_{Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”}

A net is a tool used by fishermen to gather fish. Jesus chose ordinary men to do the Lord’s work. Jesus would use these men to catch more than just fish.

Luke 5:1-11
_{One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking. When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.” For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed. Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.}

These men had spent the entire night and early morning fishing, but they had failed to catch anything. Then Jesus gave them instructions that, at the time, they did not understand. When they obeyed, Jesus bestowed an abundance upon them. Jesus put an anointing on their lives to then go and gather more followers to grow His father’s kingdom. That is how God desires to anoint us. From that day on, they abandoned everything and followed Jesus. For each of us, God has a purpose. Evangelism is a way of life rather than an occasion. People observe what you do as well as what you say. People's hearts and lives will be captured by your life, which will also provide them with a chance to transform their lives.

Revelation 19:9-10
_{And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are true words that come from God.” Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said, “No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers and sisters who testify about their faith in Jesus. Worship only God. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.”}

When God has done something in your life and you share it with others, He can reproduce that same testimony for the other person that is hearing it. We must tell people about the hope that lies within us.

Jonah 1:1-17
_{The LORD gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the LORD. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the LORD by sailing to Tarshish. But the LORD hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart. Fearing for their lives, the desperate sailors shouted to their gods for help and threw the cargo overboard to lighten the ship. But all this time Jonah was sound asleep down in the hold. So the captain went down after him. “How can you sleep at a time like this?” he shouted. “Get up and pray to your god! Maybe he will pay attention to us and spare our lives.” Then the crew cast lots to see which of them had offended the gods and caused the terrible storm. When they did this, the lots identified Jonah as the culprit. “Why has this awful storm come down on us?” they demanded. “Who are you? What is your line of work? What country are you from? What is your nationality?” Jonah answered, “I am a Hebrew, and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land.” The sailors were terrified when they heard this, for he had already told them he was running away from the LORD. “Oh, why did you do it?” they groaned. And since the storm was getting worse all the time, they asked him, “What should we do to you to stop this storm?” “Throw me into the sea,” Jonah said, “and it will become calm again. I know that this terrible storm is all my fault.” Instead, the sailors rowed even harder to get the ship to the land. But the stormy sea was too violent for them, and they couldn’t make it. Then they cried out to the LORD, Jonah’s God. “O LORD,” they pleaded, “don’t make us die for this man’s sin. And don’t hold us responsible for his death. O LORD, you have sent this storm upon him for your own good reasons.” Then the sailors picked Jonah up and threw him into the raging sea, and the storm stopped at once! The sailors were awestruck by the LORD’s great power, and they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him. Now the LORD had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.}

Jonah claimed to follow God, but he was disobedient. God had created a divine plan for Jonah. He sent the fish to capture Jonah to put him in a position of obedience to what God had planned for him.

Jonah 2:1-4
_{Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the fish’s belly. And he said: “I cried out to the LORD because of my affliction, And He answered me. “Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, And You heard my voice. For You cast me into the deep, Into the heart of the seas, And the floods surrounded me; All Your billows and Your waves passed over me. Then I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight; Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.’}

Have you been unwilling to fully commit to what God has for you? The Body of Christ needs you so that we can be unified for God’s divine purpose.

Ephesians 4:11-12
_{So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up}

Practice obedience. Use your nets and cast them out. Share the love of Christ and your testimony. Offer up the invitation to your father’s kingdom. Not everyone will accept the invitation, but that’s ok. Let Jesus take care of the rest. Our part is to be obedient and to spread the word of what God has done for us.

Money Matters
Giving On Purpose
_{Sunday, February 22nd, 2026
^{Apostle Mike Herzog}}

The desire and need for money dictates how you spend a large portion of your time. Money is an indicator of where your heart is.

Haggai 1:1-11
The prophet was saying that God has noticed that the people seemed to think it was not time to build the Lord’s house. The people’s concern was the cost and time required to accomplish this. Often, we make the same decision. We think it is not yet time to do the Lord’s work. When God says, “Consider your ways,” he is pointing out that you are wrong. He’s proposing an adjustment in your thought process. There are many people that work so much but never seem to have enough. If we put anything before God or trust anything instead of Him, it will not succeed. He is after your whole heart and needs you to put all your trust in Him. No man can have two masters. It’s not about the money; it’s about your heart. Do you hold back? Or do you trust and obey?

James 5:1-6
“Your gold and silver are corroded.” Since gold and silver corrode when kept in storage, this has to do with greed. In the Bible money testifies to a person’s heart, stewardship, and spiritual state. It is a test of faith and trust, revealing whether you rely on riches or God. God wants you to be generous so he can bless you in return.

Five Reasons to Give on Purpose
 
Your money testifies to the condition of your heart.
Acts 10:1-4
Cornelius gave and prayed. An angel showed up and called him by name. God saw his generosity and heard his prayers. Later he and his family were the first non-Jewish people to be blessed with the Holy Spirit.
Luke 21:1-4
Jesus saw the woman gave all that she had out of love, commitment, and trust.
Matthew 26:13
This desperate woman poured out a fragrant oil on Jesus’ head that had cost her a year’s wages because of her adoration and trust in Him.

Your giving is a weapon.
Malachi 3:10-12
God saying “try me” is like Him saying let me prove it. Give Him your trust, and He can rebuke the enemy on your behalf.

Giving causes you to overcome.
Revelation 12:10-11
The enemy is the accuser. That's his weapon. He attacks your mind with shame and condemnation using this weapon. In "the courtroom of heaven," he also makes use of that charge by bringing up our transgressions, which he has seen. But Jesus' blood already paid the price to atone for our sins. Our deeds as well as our words serve as our testimony. What enables us to triumph is our reaction to what Jesus accomplished for us. Giving God your tithe is an expression of your faith in him. The testimony that is being declared is what is in your heart when you give it. It has to do with why you are giving.

Giving shows you are thankful.
Matthew 10:8
You can’t be thankful and selfish at the same time. You come to understand that everything you have is a gift from God when you are genuinely appreciative of everything He has done for you.

Giving reveals your trust.
Who you trust is who you worship. A life of surrender is what it means to live for Jesus. He gives us abundant life as a reward for our perseverance, even though it can be difficult and demanding.

Romans 12:1
_{I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.}

“Where your heart is, there is your treasure.”

Empowerment
^{Sunday, February 8th, 2026
_{Pastor Antonio Barboza}}

The time has come to leave the upper room. Jesus ministered to His disciples in the upper room. There came a time when the disciples had to graduate from the upper room and become apostles to go out and minister. In the second chapter of Acts, the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended, was a day of graduation for the apostles. If you’re saved, you’ve been called to ministry. God has sent us here to be ministers of reconciliation. Our mission is to reconcile the world back to Him. The time has come for the church to transition from preparation to entering a new phase of responsibility and empowerment.

The origin of the word “graduation” comes from the Latin word “gradus,” which means “step.” To move forward with God, you must be willing to take a step of faith. Another word for graduation is commencement. The term refers to the beginning of a graduate’s career. For three and a half years, Jesus taught His disciples. He was crucified, and then He returned from the grave for forty days. Before He ascended back to heaven, He told His disciples to wait on the power of the Holy Spirit. That period of discipleship was preparation for them to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit and graduate to apostleship so they could begin ministry. The hardest thing to do in this life is to live righteously, which is why we require empowerment from the Holy Spirit, especially through times of persecution.

Acts 1:4-8
_{And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”}

There are two things the Holy Spirit will do.
 
#1. Empower you: Renewing you from within, bringing you peace, strengthening you, and helping you to navigate through this Christian life.

#2. The anointing: Helps you to be a witness to the Lord.

Eight things to be empowered:

#1 - Prayer
The most powerful and impactful thing you can do to transform your life is to pray. When you pray, you are praying to someone you cannot see who at times does not respond. You can’t be certain in the moment if He heard you or when the answer will come, yet you are doing so in faith. Prayer is the greatest thing you can do to develop your faith.
II Chronicles 7:14
_{if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.}

#2 - The Sacrifice of Obedience
Dying to the flesh for the glory of God. Laying down the wants for His love.
Romans 12:1-2
_{I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.}

#3 - The Word
It transforms your mind, and you begin to see the world from a different perspective.
Hebrews 4:12
_{For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.}

#4 - Witnessing Souls
Share your faith and your testimony. Demonstrate love and your walk with Christ.

#5 - Have a God Purpose
Engage in an activity in your life that requires sacrifice on your part but does not require any sacrifice from God. Something that is just for God that you get nothing out of.

II Samuel 24:24
_{Then the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God with that which costs me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.}

#6 - Repentance and Confession
Spend time before the Lord repenting and confessing every day. No one has had a perfect day without sin. Repenting humbles you. The greatest enemy to your walk is pride.
I John 1:9
_{If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.}

#7 - Assemble in Fellowship
Being around like-minded believers strengthens you.
Hebrews 10:25
_{not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.}

#8 - Forgiveness
Without it you are a prisoner of bitterness.

To be empowered, we all need a fresh anointing from the Holy Spirit so that we can empower and minister to grow God’s kingdom.

Restoration
Week 3: Assignment
^{Sunday, February 1st, 2026
_{Apostle Mike Herzog}}
We have been learning about restoration for the past couple of weeks. Restoration is to receive back more than what was lost. Forgiveness and gentleness are necessary parts of restoration. We should be displaying the fruits of the Spirit when helping to restore others rather than displaying hypocrisy, casting judgment, or condemning one another.

Galatians 6:1
_{Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.}

We all want to know our purpose for being placed on this earth. The assignment God has for us is restoration. Each of us has a unique path to fulfill that assignment. When we approach the day of judgement, we long to hear our heavenly Father tell us, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Hearing those words will confirm we have received, understood, and fulfilled our assignment. He reveals our assignment to us in many ways. Signs of your calling could include your passion, specific gifts or abilities, desires, burdens (which are things you feel compelled to do to make a difference), prophetic words that may provide direction, or even dreams from God.

Genesis 37:5
_{Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.” And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.” So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?” And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind.}

Joseph's dream was a prophecy of his future, but the part he told his brothers about them bowing to him was not the most important part of God's assignment for him. Joseph wasn’t quite ready to walk in his purpose when he received the dream. First God had to work on his character by putting him through a type of “God University” that would test and ultimately strengthen his faith. He had lessons to learn before he could advance to fulfilling God’s divine purpose. God has us face trials to instill wisdom within us. Faith is the key to walking in our assignment, and the struggles we endure refine our faith. If you have gotten a word from God that He is going to provide, you need situations that look like God isn’t going to provide to grow your faith.

James 1:2-5
_{My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.}
I Peter 1:6-7
_{In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ}

Genesis 37:18-28
_{Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him. Then they said to one another, “Look, this dreamer is coming! Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, ‘Some wild beast has devoured him.’ We shall see what will become of his dreams!” But Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands, and said, “Let us not kill him.” And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit which is in the wilderness, and do not lay a hand on him”—that he might deliver him out of their hands, and bring him back to his father. So it came to pass, when Joseph had come to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colors that was on him. Then they took him and cast him into a pit. And the pit was empty; there was no water in it. And they sat down to eat a meal. Then they lifted their eyes and looked, and there was a company of Ishmaelites, coming from Gilead with their camels, bearing spices, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry them down to Egypt. So Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh.” And his brothers listened. Then Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.}

Joseph’s brothers hated him, were jealous, and they betrayed him. It is very likely that he was devastated and wondered what he did to deserve this betrayal. Often God will use the people closest to us to assist with initiating a trial for us. He will allow the enemy to inflict suffering for God to then turn those plans for His good works. Joseph’s brothers had evil plans that God used to teach Joseph long-suffering, patience, and the testing of his faith.

Genesis 37:36
_{Now the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.}
Genesis 39:1-6
_{Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had in the house and in the field. Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.}

Joseph was aware that God was watching his diligence even when no one else was. He made the decision to try his hardest at everything. He held fast to the hope that someday God would deliver him. The evidence of God was clear because Potiphar’s home was being blessed. Amid suffering God is always with us, but where God is working the enemy tries to show up with temptation. Potiphar’s wife noticed Joseph and persistently tried to distract him with lust and seduction. Being a man of honor, Joseph denied her. This rejection angered her, so she falsely accused him of taking advantage of her.  

Genesis 39:19-23
_{So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, “Your servant did to me after this manner,” that his anger was aroused. Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper.}

Joseph was imprisoned after being falsely accused. He met a butler and a baker while he was held captive. Each of these men had an incomprehensible dream. Because of the experience God had given him, Joseph knew how to interpret dreams, so he assisted these men by doing so. He was confident that by doing God’s work, he would be freed from prison.

Genesis 40:8-14
_{And they said to him, “We each have had a dream, and there is no interpreter of it.” So Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please.” Then the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, “Behold, in my dream a vine was before me, and in the vine were three branches; it was as though it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and its clusters brought forth ripe grapes. Then Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.” And Joseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days. Now within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your place, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand according to the former manner, when you were his butler. But remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house.}

Genesis 40:21
_{Then he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.}

Joseph explained to the butler that in three days he would be restored to his position in Pharaoh’s house and explained to the baker he would be hanged in three days. Both of his interpretations came to pass.

Genesis 41:1
_{Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh had a dream; and behold, he stood by the river.}

Joseph pleaded with the butler not to forget him when he regained his proper position with the Pharaoh, but regrettably, he did. In due time, Pharaoh had a dream that he needed help interpreting, and the butler recalled Joseph’s gift. The butler suggested Pharaoh speak with Joseph. When Pharaoh shared his dream with Joseph, he was informed that it meant the land of Egypt would have seven years of abundance and a seven-year famine. Joseph advised how to manage the coming famine.  

Genesis 41:37
_{So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants.}

Pharaoh finally recognized Joseph had the Spirit of God working within him, that all he’d predicted came true, and that his instructions saved the people. The famine not only affected Egypt but also spread as far as Canaan, affecting Joseph’s family.

Genesis 45:4-8
_{And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.}

Joseph explained God sent him on an assignment to help restore his brothers and many more. He recognized that the trials he endured were a part of preparation, as God chose him as a vessel for restoration. Pain can cause you to grow closer to God or to turn away from God. God trusted him with pain, as He knew the pain would not turn him cold. We can either choose to blame God for our pain, or we can choose to understand God is with us in the pain. As we learn His heart and get closer to Him, He moves from being with us to working from within us. God is not orchestrating evil in our lives; that is the enemy. Satan comes to kill, steal, and destroy. God can turn that for good and use that to help you fulfill your assignment. Our assignment is to restore others.

Genesis 50:20
_{But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.}

Restoration
Week 2: Gentleness
^{Sunday, January 25th, 2026
_{Apostle Mike Herzog}}

I John 1:9-10
_{If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.}

Jesus is our restorer. If we say we don’t need Him, we are wrong.

I Peter 5:8
_{Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.}

It is easy to forget about how much mercy we have received when things are going well. The enemy is waiting for us to stumble. When we get caught in one of his traps, that doesn’t have to be the end. We can be restored. The biblical meaning of trespass is to be caught in willful disobedience of God’s law. Anyone who trespasses has made a bad choice.

Galatians 6:1-4
_{Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.}

People who need restoration are those caught in a trespass. Spiritual people handle sensitive issues and partner with God to do the work of restoration. They are not ones who gossip or are self-centered. We are called to lift each other up because we love God and should love our neighbor as ourselves. We examine our own work before the Lord. We should not compare ourselves to one another.

Galatians 5:22-26
_{But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.}

Paul reminded us that the restoration process requires gentleness and long-suffering. Instead of weakness or passivity, gentleness is the fruit of the Spirit—a humble, compassionate strength. It is strength to help others, showing kindness to those who have transgressed, and remaining composed under duress. Strength in long-suffering shows evidence the Lord is near because you cannot do so in your own strength. Someone who needs to be restored is someone who feels hopeless. Being kind to someone who is lashing out from the pain they are experiencing can cause the person stuck in trespass to change their ways.

Romans 12:21
_{Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.}

Love conquers all.

John 8:3-12
_{Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, 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 ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”}

The Pharisees weren’t concerned about her restoration. They only wanted to prove that they were more righteous. We are all guilty of sin. Jesus is not looking to shame or condemn us. He wants us to be restored and move forward. As spiritual people, we can do this for others as well.

Luke 7:36-47
_{Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” So he said, “Teacher, say it.” “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” Simon answered and said “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.}

It is believed that the woman spoken of in John 8:3-12 is the same woman spoken of in Luke 7:36-50, Mary Magdalene. Because Jesus forgave her many sins, she poured her heart and soul out to Him to express gratitude. She then dedicated her life to Him as His disciple. Mary Magdalene was the first one He saw outside of His tomb when He rose again. Jesus restored her and put her in a better position than ever before.

Restoration through gentleness is about using the sword of the Spirit (God’s word) and slicing up the lies of the enemy to replace them with the truth that we have been redeemed through Jesus Christ.

Restoration
Week 1: Forgiveness
^{Sunday, January 18th, 2025
_{Apostle Mike Herzog}}

When hope is restored, that gives you something to hold on to. When hope is restored, it also helps you to see the bigger picture. Apostle Mike uses the analogy of a corn maze to elaborate. When trying to navigate inside of the maze, you can only see what is in front of you and what is behind you. If you view the maze from above with a drone, you can see the entire maze from a larger perspective. You can regain optimism when you see the wider picture.

Hebrews 6:19
_{This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,}

Anchors help you stand still against the current and tide during the storm. Having God as our anchor, by keeping our hope in Him, allows us to stand firm no matter what happens in our lives.

Hopelessness can cause people to act differently than they do when they have hope. When someone is hopeless, you may notice things like social withdrawal, neglect of health or personal hygiene, changes in appetite or sleep, low motivation, irritability, sadness, and even risky behavior. In extreme cases, hopelessness can lead to self-harm. Over the last ten years, for those in the age bracket between 18 and 24, suicides have increased by twenty percent. This age bracket is typically considered the most exciting time of life, yet this is also the prime time that hopelessness can arise. Regaining more that has been lost is the goal of restoration. Jesus makes us better than we were before we hit our lowest point.

John 1:19
_{That was the true light which gives light to every man coming into the world.}

When the burden of sin is realized, the thought of being unrighteous can be a hopeless feeling. Everyone has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. God knew we could never be perfect, so He sent His son to die for our sins to pay the price on the cross to save our souls so we can be forgiven for our sins. Forgiveness is the key to restoration. In your sin Satan works to shame you, belittle you, condemn you, steal purpose from you, and cause you to see yourself differently than who you really are. Believing the lies Satan is telling you can put you in a hopeless mindset. Satan is unable to tell the truth. When those lies creep in, remember they are the opposite of what the truth is. When you hear the lies that there’s no hope and no way out, that is a sign that breakthrough is just around the corner and Satan is trying to trick you to cause you to miss your breakthrough.

When you confess your sins to God and ask for His forgiveness, He forgives you and you are the righteousness in Christ Jesus. In addition, you become more aware of how much mercy and grace that He has given you. We love to receive forgiveness, but it’s much more difficult to forgive others. We play a key part in the restoration of others by giving them the gift of forgiveness. When someone hurts you, that hurt comes with certain rights. We feel entitled to the right to be upset, disappointed, or angry. We tend to demand an apology. At times some of us might have the desire for the person who hurts you to feel the pain you feel, to want to see them fail, or you might have the desire to get even. Forgiveness is you releasing the rights to hold onto those feelings. The toughest part about releasing those rights is the unsettling concern of who will hold the wrongdoer accountable.

Job 1:8-22
_{There was a man in the land of UZ, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East. And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did regularly. Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house; and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, when the Sabeans raided them and took them away – indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said; “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.” In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.}

God is looking for us to trust Him no matter what happens. Job did exactly that. He did not sin regardless of what happened to him.

Job 2:7-11
_{So Satan left the LORD’s presence, and he struck Job with terrible boils from head to foot. Job scraped his skin with a piece of broken pottery as he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.” But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong. When three of Job’s friends heard of the tragedy he had suffered, they got together and traveled from their homes to comfort and console him. Their names were Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Sophar the Naamathite.}
 
Amidst intense suffering, Job’s friends arrived not with solace, but with harsh accusations, insisting that his afflictions were a consequence of grievous faults. Such condemnation, layered atop his existing grief, undoubtedly compounded his anguish. This highlights that restoration is needed not only for those who suffer but also for those who may cause hurt.

Job 42:8-10
_{Now therefore, take yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up yourselves as burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.” So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the LORD commanded them; for the LORD had accepted Job. And the LORD restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.}

God instructed Job’s friends to bring a sacrifice to Job and ask him to pray for their forgiveness. Despite how harshly they had treated him, Job interceded on their behalf, praying sincerely for their mercy. Because of Job’s compassionate and forgiving heart, God blessed him abundantly.

Job 42:10
_{And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.}

Forgiveness is not just a gift you can give another person to help them heal; it also heals you and frees you from the prison of bitterness and resentment. Job’s restoration was directly related to him doing restoration work for his friends.

The Church
Past, Present, & Future:
Part VI
^{Sunday, January 11th, 2026
_{Apostle Mike Herzog}}
Acts 3:21
_{Whom heaven must keep until the time for the [complete] restoration of all things about which God promised through the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.}

As Apostle Mike finishes this series of teachings, he reflects on Acts 3:21, which tells us Jesus will return to earth when what has been prophesied is fulfilled and what has been lost is restored. We get some answers to a few questions we all have regarding this series. How does this apply to us? What do we need to do? How should we live with this understanding?

Matthew 24:3-14
_{Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”}

Many will try to deceive us, stating they are the messiah, and rumors of wars will arise, but we are not to worry. We might not escape the tribulation, but those who persevere will be saved. There is a difference between the gospel of salvation and the gospel of the kingdom. The gospel of salvation was Jesus coming and dying for our souls to be saved. The gospel of the kingdom is Jesus wanting us to reign and rule with Him to bring His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

Romans 14:17
_{For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.}

The kingdom of God is not tradition, religion, or the order of service. The kingdom of God is a relationship filled with righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. With that understanding, there are two things we should be focused on for how we should be living our lives. The first is that we should be living our lives looking for opportunity. It can often be disguised as work, a problem, or a challenge. Because of this, we tend to avoid it, but the caveat is that the opportunity is just on the other side of those obstacles. Part of our assignment is to bring the restoration of all things. How can we help those around us and bring the kingdom of God to our surrounding area? We can pray for our community that strongholds be broken. We can get involved and use our voice to make a difference. We can help bring peace to troubled homes by informing others of God’s peace, joy, and truth. Doing such things can affect generations. We can listen to God and pray for wisdom and discernment by applying ourselves to the study of His word. The word of God can influence our opinions. Understand and believe we can demonstrate the attributes and miracles of the kingdom of God.

II Corinthians 3:6
_{He has enabled us to be ministers of His new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life.}

We are not meant to merely be spectators. Start where you are right now. Let that extend to your family. Then extend beyond that until the world is touched by the presence of God.

Isaiah 2:2
_{Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all the nations shall flow to it.}

The expansion began with Jesus, then to His 12 apostles, then to countless people. The only rule Satan has is over his fallen angels. God gave man rule of the earth in partnership with Him. Man gave that up in the Garden of Eden when he fell into temptation, but Jesus won it back. Satan tries to use men to take over the earth. In this 3rd reformation that has begun, it is our responsibility to look for opportunities to display our obedience and partnership with God to bring about His divine purpose.

Revelation 11:15
_{Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”}

The second keyword of how to live this kingdom mentality is oil. Oil is the currency the world runs on. Refined oil is what goes into our automobiles. We shouldn’t live hoping we have enough to make it to our destination. The anointing oil of the Holy Spirit inside of us is how everything runs. We need to always be prepared by abiding in His presence daily.

Matthew 25:1-13
_{“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”}

None of us know exactly when the end will be. We should live like every day could be our last.

The Church
Past, Present & Future:
Part V
^{Sunday, January 4th, 2026
_{Apostle Mike Herzog}}

A topic that is seldom discussed in church is the end times. Apostle Mike gives us some insight into what that might look like.  He opens with a recap of the series we’ve been learning about regarding the Church, its eternal purpose, how the Church has experienced reformations throughout history, and the process of restoration that has progressed.

I Corinthians 12:26-27
_{And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.}
When one part of your body is hurting, the rest will not be working at full potential. When someone experiences a breakthrough, we should share their joy and celebrate with them. This scripture is about us being one in unity as the body of Christ. The 3rd reformation we are living in today is called the Saint’s Movement. Each individual believer being empowered by the Holy Spirit through the gifts of the fivefold ministry to advance and to demonstrate the kingdom of God is the major change that the Church is currently being blessed with.

Humans are the only living creation that has a body of flesh and a spirit. When we pass away and ascend to heaven, our spiritual body will be recognizable but flawless and free from sickness, decay, and weakness, just like Jesus when He died and rose again. We will be suited for eternal life in God’s presence. Our bodies don’t belong to us; they are a gift from God. This is why it is so important to take care of our bodies.
I Corinthians 6:19-20
_{Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.}

Every believer is a minister and a kingdom ambassador. Christians have the authority to demonstrate God’s supernatural power because the Holy Spirit lives within them. In this 3rd reformation, the Church is being activated in all the restored truth to demonstrate the kingdom of God. Since emerging from the Dark Ages, truth has been added onto truth in the restoration process of the Church, and there is more to be revealed.

Ephesians 4:11-13
_{And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;}
As the fivefold ministry prepares its church members, it is going to bring the church into a place of unity. Maturity comes with time. God will bring the revelation and power necessary to accomplish this work. It is unclear how much will be accomplished in our mortal bodies and in our immortal bodies.

Revelation 11:15
_{Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”}
The kingdom of God is anywhere that God rules. When you surrender your life to God, you become a part of His kingdom. A king is the ruler of a domain, and whoever moves into that domain becomes part of that kingdom.

There are key end-time events that many have a difference of opinion on. Christians seemingly agree upon three end-time events, but there are many different beliefs about when and how. The Bible is not explicitly clear about how the end-time events will unfold. Scripture says Moses knew what God did, but the children of Israel knew how God acted.

Key End Time Events

• Jesus is coming back.
• There will be a seven-year tribulation period.
• A millennial reign of Jesus and the saints.

Seven-Year Tribulation
Some believe Jesus will return before the seven-year tribulation occurs. This group of believers is classified as “pre-trib”, meaning pre-tribulation. There is a second group of believers classified as “mid-trib” that believe Jesus will return to take His saints with Him in the middle of the tribulation. Scripture describes the first half of the tribulation as bad and the second half as even worse. The third group of believers are identified as “post-trib”, meaning they predict Jesus will return after the tribulation ends.

Millennial Reign
Pre-millennialism is a belief that Jesus will return before the millennium to establish His reign for one thousand years. Post-millennialism is the belief that the Church will first obtain peace and righteousness for one thousand years, and Jesus will return after that’s been established to make the final judgment. And lastly, A-millennialism is a belief that Christ’s reign is figuratively one thousand years, not literally, and that we are living that right now.

Matthew 24:36
_{“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.”}

It is very rare that any two people believe the exact same thing about everything. Apostle Mike informs us about two major viewpoints about beliefs regarding the Church, how we are operating, and the end times, along with the history behind these viewpoints.

The Dispensation Viewpoint
This viewpoint was established in the 1600s during the Evangelical movement. The role of the apostle and the prophet laid down the foundation of the Church and wrote the New Testament books. Their belief is that since the Church was established and the Bible was completed, the roles of the apostle and the prophet are no longer needed. They don’t believe in supernatural healings, miracles, demonic deliverance, or speaking in other tongues by gift of the Holy Spirit. The only supernatural experience accepted is the born-again experience. They believe the Church is deteriorating and will continue to do so until the day of Christ’s return for our salvation. Amongst this belief system, most teach a pre-millennial rapture and that the only thing holding back Jesus is His grace so that more people can be saved. Many Evangelicals and Pentecostals agree with this belief system or parts of it. They have the notion that only a select number of people are going to be saved. This causes them to avoid associating with those they fear will not be saved out of fear they may be putting themselves at risk of salvation. The concern that we are all at risk of going to hell has caused many to turn to Christ before it is too late.

The Reformed Restoration Viewpoint
This is the contrasting viewpoint to dispensationalism. This teaches that the first-century Church is the pattern for today. It is believed that the second reformation was the beginning of a series of truths being restored to the Church that were lost during the Dark Ages. They believe that the Church is progressing and will overcome, emerging greater than ever, and that before Christ’s return the Church will fully mature.

Acts 3:21
_{Whom heaven must keep until the time for the [complete] restoration of all things about which God promised through the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.}

God uses people on the earth to fulfill His plans.

• Noah to build the ark to save humanity.
• Moses as a deliverer to bring His people out of bondage.
• Joshua to lead the children of Israel to the promised land.
• David to defeat His enemies and establish a godly nation.
• Jesus was sent to purchase our redemption for us.

All Protestant churches are Reformation Churches. The Evangelical movement came from Protestants uncovering more truth. From there, the Baptist Church emerged, revealing more truth. Many denominations have taken the restorative truth God gave them and stopped, refusing to accept any more. Restoration is a continual process. If the restorative work were complete, Jesus would have already returned. We aren’t waiting on Him; He’s waiting on us. He is expected to return when all truth has been restored to the Church, and we are united. It’s up to us to work on that with God’s help. Jesus is coming back for a victorious Church. When Jesus was on the earth, His body was used to provide, overcome, and redeem. Now we are the body of Christ. God’s purpose for the Church is for us to fully reveal Jesus, just as Jesus fully revealed His Father.

Ephesians 3:20
_{Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,}
God can do more than we can imagine, and He works through the power He puts within us. The Church has power when we operate according to God’s will. With the Holy Spirit residing within us, there is power in us to be able to change the atmosphere wherever we go.

The Church
Past, Present & Future:
Part IV
^{Sunday, December 28th, 2025
_{Apostle Mike Herzog}}

Each person that is a member of the church is a part of the body of Christ. We each have an individual function, and we function best when we are assembled as one.
Ephesians 4:16
_{From whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.}

This is week four of the series that Apostle Mike has been teaching about the Church’s history, where we stand currently, and where we are moving towards. It is important to know where we’ve come from to understand where we are going. The Church has an eternal purpose. That purpose is the body of Jesus. Over the course of history God has implemented reformations to manifest His divine purpose within the Church.

1st Reformation:
The birth of Jesus. (Separated time: A.D. & B.C.) Then the birth of the Church on the Day of Pentecost after Jesus died and rose again. The Church began to grow rapidly. The Church later faced persecution.
Throughout history those who clung to the old ways persecuted those revealing God’s new plans.
The Church went from being spirit-led to being man-led, taking the relationship with Jesus and turning it into forced religion. This led Christianity to the Dark Ages.
The Dark Ages lasted one thousand years and consisted of moral corruption amongst the Church and its leadership. Leaders were the only ones with access to the scriptures, but they weren’t preaching those scriptures. They preached what would edify their own personal interests.

2nd Reformation:
In the 1500s God raised up a type of Moses named Martin Luther, whom He used to bring the people out of bondage. Man had taught that you had to do certain works and suffer to earn peace with God. Martin struggled with obtaining that peace, so he sought out truth in scripture for himself. He finally found peace with God when he came across Romans 5:1.

_{Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,}

Peace with God isn’t obtained by any work a man can do, but simply by faith in Jesus Christ. Martin Luther challenged the Church by posting his Ninety-Five Theses on the church castle. This was the beginning of God’s second reformation, called the Protestant Reformation. The Protestants were a group of people in protest of how the Catholic Church was operating. They began forming new churches. This second reformation got the church moving out of the one-thousand-year dark period.

Acts 18:24-26
_{Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. So, he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.}

Each of us has a certain amount of revelation. None of us have a full revelation of God. Revelation is an unfolding of knowledge or understanding over time. Apollos was a man of God who had a certain level of understanding. He was preaching about the baptism of John, which was about repentance of sin. Aquilla and Priscilla had more revelation than Apollos, so they pulled him aside to share this revelation with him. They explained there is also baptism in the Holy Spirit. He then gained that revelation. Each of us has the opportunity when revelation comes to hear, learn, and move forward or refuse that revelation. The struggle with the evolution of the Church is that when new revelation would come, many would refuse it because they were stuck on the old revelation they received, rather than being open-minded to the next revelation available to be able to move forward. The Church was built through an incremental process, just like each human being is born and grows.

Isaiah 28:9-10
_{“Whom will he teach knowledge? And whom will He make to understand the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just drawn from the breasts? For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon, line upon line, Here a little, there a little.”}

The Evangelical Movement
During the 1600s the main belief was about personal conversion through baptism, along with the truth that salvation should produce a transformed lifestyle and a daily walk with God. A group called the Anabaptists gave the revelation that true baptism was immersion, rather than the traditions of Catholics that consider baptism the sprinkling of holy water on the head of an infant. The Baptist Church grew from this revelation. They also believed there should not be one nation-church denomination. The Protestant and Catholic Churches joined forces to persecute the Evangelicals. The Catholics would persecute by fire (burning at the stake), and the Protestants persecuted by water (drowning). Because of this persecution, the movement was transferred to America, where there were laws prohibiting killing as a form of religious persecution.

The Holiness Movement
This movement of the 1700s revolved around sanctification. This taught that there are two works of grace. We receive grace through salvation for what Jesus did for us, but also by baptism of the Holy Spirit to further assist us in living righteously every day. The Methodist Church was a part of this movement, and they taught the methodical study of the word of God and anti-worldly activities. They had an emphasis on missions and restored victorious living and joy to the Church with evidence of the fruit of the Spirit.

The Faith Healing Movement
The 1800s taught that Jesus received 39 strikes on His back for our physical healing. Science has since discovered that there are 39 roots of disease. Jesus took each stripe for our disease and healing. During the 1880s a Presbyterian minister named A.B. Simpson was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Knowing he didn’t have much time to live, he declared that if he was going to die, he’d die full of the word of God. Upon studying scriptures, he found the revelation that Jesus not only paid for our salvation but also bought our healing. After this revelation, God healed him, and he lived 35 more years and preached his testimony everywhere. This created a worldwide movement. Simpson founded The Christian and Missionary Alliance.

The Pentecostal Movement
Restoration of the power of the Holy Spirit within the Church through preaching of the word accompanied by healing, miracles, speaking in tongues, and radical praise and worship occurred in the 1900s. This was born in the U.S. and spread rapidly into Latin America and eventually around the world.

The Charismatic Movement
Restoration of the experiential reality of healing and miracles, personal prophecy, and presbytery and revitalization of traditional churches by integrating practices from Pentecostalism made a global impact in the 1950s. This wasn’t led by any one person or group. It was known for enthusiastic worship and personal faith experience.

The Faith Movement
The distorted teaching from the Dark Age that suffering meant being holy was finally overcome in the 1970s. There was a maturing within the body of Christ regarding living victoriously, spiritually, physically, and financially.
III John 1:2
_{Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.}

The Prophetic and Apostolic Movement
The truth that God’s purpose was to bring restoration and activation to the fivefold ministry gifts, including the apostles and the prophets, was illuminated by the 1980s. The fivefold gifts are the apostles, prophets, pastors, evangelists, and teachers. The purpose of these gifts is to equip the saints to do the work of ministry empowered by the Holy Spirit. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are meant to operate in each member of the Church. The Five-Fold Ministry shows us how to activate these gifts.
Ephesians 4:11-12
_{And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,}

1950s – The time for the Evangelist.
1960s – The time for the Pastor.
1970s – The time for the Teacher.
1980s – The time for the Prophet.
1990s – The time for the Apostle.

The Saints Movement
Church historians believe the 3rd Reformation began between 2007 and 2008. We are currently living in a reformation. God has called the body of Christ to function in gifts and the power of the Holy Spirit. We all need to be activated. Activation is the process of turning something on or starting something. We require knowledge and faith, and to move from passive belief to active participation by being in the word, praying, and taking leaps of faith.
Acts 1:8
_{“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”}

All these movements are part of the restoration process from what was stripped away during the Dark Ages. God’s plans will continue to unfold until the time when our savior returns.

The Church:
Past, Present, & Future
Part III
^{Sunday, December 21st, 2025
_{Apostle Mike Herzog}}

The Church was born over two thousand years ago. There’s a lineage to the Church. This week Apostle Mike continued the series of teachings about the History of the Church. He reminds us that each of us is a unique attribute of the body of Christ and the Church has an eternal purpose.

Ephesians 4:16
_{From whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.}

Over time, God has instituted reforms. The first Reformation began with the birth of Jesus and culminated in the birth of the Church on the Day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit ascended to bring the people the presence of God. Three thousand witnesses accepted Jesus as the Son of God and their souls were saved. God’s throne moved from Jerusalem, where Jesus previously resided, to inside of His people, now known as a spiritual Jerusalem. This was a time when the lineage of our Church was growing rapidly. God began using all types of people to perform miracles. The belief that only Jews could be saved changed through the revelation of the Holy Spirit, that Gentiles could also be saved. Christians began to face major persecution. This resulted in the need for them to scatter. God took this tragedy and turned it for good as this became an opportunity for the gospel to be spread far and wide. Even while the Church faced persecution it was growing rapidly. During that time many thought the end times were occurring because of so much persecution that seemed to line up with the prophecies Jesus mentioned would happen in the last days. Then, a major shift happened. The Roman Emperor had a revelation about who Jesus was and made Christianity the official religion of Rome. It was mandatory to keep citizenship. This subjugation of free will took the spirit out of the Church and turned it into a man-made structure. Taking a relationship with Jesus and turning it into religion, ushered in the Dark Ages for the Church. “Unless the Lord builds the house, they that labor, labor in vain.”

Around 600 A.D. Mohammed founded the Islamic religion. They conquered many nations, including Jerusalem. During the dark period, corrupt leaders ran the Church. The clergy were uneducated, and they allowed bloodshed, bribery, and immorality. It was a time of war, and of nations rising and falling. There was no mercy or justice in the world. Church was reduced to an empty form of godliness without life or power. 1000 A.D was referred to as the Midnight of the Dark Ages. The dark period lasted roughly from 500 A.D. to 1500 A.D.

Certainly, this series of tragic events appeared as though the end of times were near; however, Apostle Mike reminded us that the return of Jesus isn’t based upon how terrible things get, but His return is based upon fulfillment of the ancient prophecies. God had once raised up Moses to deliver His people from bondage out of Egypt, and in the 1500s God began raising up a Moses of that time to deliver His people from bondage once more.

In the late 1400’s many had attempted to reform the Church but were silenced. Their lost lives paved the way for the second reformation. In 1461 there was a man from Germany named Johannes Gutenberg who invented the printing press. Its purpose was to be able to take a piece of writing and make copies. Before the printing press, it cost a year’s salary to create a copy of the Bible. The first book printed on Gutenberg’s movable printing press was the Bible. This changed the world because you no longer required going through someone else to get the word of God. This opened direct access to His word. This invention also promoted education. The newfound access to knowledge created a light out of the Dark Ages. The kingdom of darkness is about ignorance and this invention created a way to gain understanding and revelation. Exploration started happening from the opening of people’s minds. In 1492 America was discovered. America was a part of God’s plan for the second reformation to happen.

When God wants to do something on earth, He needs someone to partner with. By the early 1500s God hand-picked the next Moses of the generation. His name was Martin Luther. This man received and delivered messages from God that brought the Church out of bondage and launched the second reformation. In 1505 Martin was a 22-year-old law school student. One day, while out riding horses with a friend, his friend was suddenly struck by lightning and killed. This near-death experience for Martin brought forth an epiphany of his convictions. He abruptly quit law school and joined the monastery. Anything the church taught, he obeyed, from fasting to inflicting pain on his body. At the time, man taught that you earn righteousness from God through suffering and by what you accomplish. Doing these things did not bring him peace, it only made Martin more aware of his sinful nature. The concept that God was such a hard-hearted dictator frustrated him and left him feeling unsettled. His superiors suggested he study the scriptures for himself to find peace with God. Finally, he came across Romans 5:1.
_{Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,}
Following a checklist of acts of service isn’t what brings us peace with God. There is nothing we can do to earn right standing with God, except to believe in Him and what His son did for us on the cross. Jesus already paid for our salvation. This scripture was the transformation point in Martin’s life, and he was born again. This completely changed his perspective on God’s nature. He discovered many other truths in scripture that were contrary to what the church was teaching.

Martin made ninety-five theological arguments based on scripture that opposed what the church was doing such as selling indulgences (pardoning of sins), worshiping objects, and earning salvation. He boldly declared justification was by faith alone. He wrote these ninety-five statements down, titling it his “Ninety-Five Thesis” and courageously nailed it to the castle church in Wittenberg, Germany. He finally had the peace with God that he had longed for all his life, and he had no fear of man’s repercussions. He was thirty-four years old during the official start of the second reformation, October 31st, 1517. This was called the Reformers movement. His intention was not to break away from the Catholic Church, but that is what happened. In 1520 he was excommunicated and given sixty days to recant his ninety-five “heresies” or face the death penalty. He defied the order and burned it publicly. This started a revolution. Men from other countries began to stand up for the same truths. Reformed churches were set up and persecuted by the Catholic and Orthodox churches. This started 100 years of religious war.

In 1529 there was a meeting with the Catholic church leadership. A law was passed that the Reformers couldn’t preach in Catholic states, but Catholic churches could perform anywhere. The Reformers protested this law. That was the beginning of the Protestant Church. Christendom is classified as either Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant. The Protestant Church began by protesting an unrighteous rule. The Protestant movement restored great truths to the Church. This brought back the truth that we are only made right by what Jesus did. We can come boldly to the throne of grace, and we do not require someone in a position of power to advocate for us. These truths were taken out of the Church after the persecution during the first reformation when we were put into bondage, but God raised up Martin Luther to deliver us from bondage to restore truth to bring about the second reformation. God is seeking those with the desire to have peace with Him for themselves and for others. During the Dark Ages, the religious leaders were manipulating those desperate for peace with God to use for their own personal gain. However, God is searching for people who can bring about His divine assignment on earth.

Throughout history, there has been a pattern of those stuck in the old ways persecuting those embracing change. In the weeks to come, Apostle Mike will be discussing the further progression of the Church. God will always be unraveling His plans for progression, and we must embrace that His plans are for our good. We are now in a time of undergoing the third reformation as God is still working and revealing more to us. God often uses our convictions, our frustrations, and our discontentment. Martin Luther was dissatisfied with the condition of his soul, and God used that so Martin would get hungry enough to search for a greater purpose through God’s truth.

Proverbs 8:17
_{I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me.}

The Church:
Past, Present, & Future
Part II
_{Sunday, December 14th, 2025
^{Apostle Mike Herzog}}

We continue to learn more about the Church, its purpose, significance, origins, and future. Apostle Mike opens with reviewing Ephesians 4:16.
_{From whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.}

There is a role for every member of the Church. We are stronger together. The Church has an eternal purpose and is more than just a structure; it is the body of Christ. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God delivered Jesus. The Holy Spirit also dwells in believers of Christ. Jesus will do nothing without His Church because it’s His body.  He came to earth as a fulfillment of prophecy. He couldn’t return to heaven until the prophetic words spoken about Him were fulfilled. Furthermore, He cannot return to earth until the prophecies regarding what will transpire on earth before His return are fulfilled. People think that things going badly on earth are an indication of when Jesus will return, but that’s incorrect. No man can predict the exact date of His return. It will only happen in the fullness of God’s time. Acts 3:20-21 talks about when Jesus will return to the earth.
_{And that He may send [to you] Jesus, the Christ, who has been appointed for you, whom heaven must keep until the time for the [complete] restoration of all things about which God promised through the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.}

The Church goes through a reformation. This is when God makes major shifts in the Church to fulfill a purpose. God’s plans are unfolding incrementally over time. We must be open to the journey He’s leading. Constant small changes lead to massive change. Throughout history, there have been two reformations that have taken place and a third already in progress.

The first reformation was the birth of the Church. Jesus was born in 4 B.C. He came to the earth to die for our sins. This brought redemption for mankind. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon willing people. Believers became the body of Christ. They were no longer righteous by the law, but righteous through following Christ. Three thousand people got saved and empowered to be witnesses for Jesus. People were being healed, miracles were happening, and fellowship was growing. Jesus chose 12 apostles, and they were responsible for building the Church. This fulfilled prophecy and changed the world.

For the first 10 years, the apostles and prophets thought that only Jews could be saved. The Holy Spirit revealed that Gentiles could be saved, too. This revelation made the gospel of Jesus available to everyone. In Acts chapter 8, there was a Deacon named Steven that God began using for miracles. This made the religious leaders jealous, and he was stoned. This resulted in mass persecution that arose against the Church. When Jesus gave the great commission to the Church, He said they’d make disciples in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria. After the great persecution of the Church, believers were scattered all over the nations just as Jesus had prophesied. On their travels, believers began testifying and healing people. This illuminated the realization that God can use anyone to perform His miracles, not just apostles. This was referred to as the Saints movement. God had to stir things up so change could happen to initiate growth. We wouldn’t have moved unless things got uncomfortable. The Church grows in persecution because its faith is tested.

In the book of I Thessalonians, during 50 A.D., Paul wrote a letter to those in the Church facing prosecution and hard economic times. This letter was meant to be an encouragement and reminder that Jesus will someday return.
I Thessalonians 4:16-18
_{For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so, we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.}

Some misunderstood Paul’s letter and went as far as to neglect their responsibilities, to sit and wait in prayer for Jesus’ return. This led Paul to write another letter in 60 A.D. in the book of Ephesians to correct them and redirect them to lead holy lives while awaiting the Lord. He talks about the gifts of the five-fold ministry that God has given us for the equipping of the saints, that we can come into the full maturity of the body of Christ. Rather, encouraging them to keep functioning, to always be prepared for Christ’s return, and to live in unity before Christ’s return could take place.

In 70 A.D., the Roman Empire sent a great army to Jerusalem. The city and the temple where Jesus used to reside when He was alive were destroyed. Many Jews had been killed. Christians had believed a prophecy Jesus had spoken about before His death about this mass destruction in Jerusalem, so they fled the city and were spared.  

Luke 21:20-24
_{“When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against these people. They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”}

Not a single Christian died during the destruction in Jerusalem because they obeyed Jesus’ prophecy.

Between 100 A.D. and 313 A.D., Christianity was prohibited in the Roman Empire. However, this did not stop the Church from growing. The gospel continued to be spread throughout the world. The worst persecution took place from 303 A.D. to 310 A.D. Emperor Diocletian started this persecution until his abdication in 305. Christians believed he was the antichrist spoken of in the book of Revelation. Diocletian demanded that every Bible be burned, all churches be torn down, and some churches were burned to the ground with people still inside, worshipping. Anyone who didn’t renounce their faith would lose their citizenship. Ten years later, Christianity arose again. Seventy years later, Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire. By 313 A.D., Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan.  This made religious tolerance possible, put an end to Christian persecution, and permitted open worship. Constantine began to favor Christians. He banned taxes on Christian ministries and encouraged and assisted in building churches. He had become an advocate for Christianity. Seventy years later, Emperor Theodis made Christianity mandatory in order to maintain citizenship in the Roman Empire.

During times of persecution, the church was thriving, alive, and spirit-led. As things progressed, man took matters into their own hands. Rather than allowing the church to be spirit-led, man decreed Christianity to be mandatory. This removed the choice God gave man to believe. When man took control of something God never appointed him to, this led to a thousand-year dark period spiritually and culturally.

Revelation 2:4-5
_{Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place – unless you repent.}

As the Church, we are the body of Christ. It’s not about a look, structure, or performance. It’s about a loving relationship with Jesus. The Dark Ages began because the Church moved away from a loving relationship with Jesus and moved into man made structure. If we do not learn from the past, we are doomed to repeat it.

Abide
^{Sunday, December 7th, 2025
_{Pastor Amy Herzog}}
Nowadays, a lot of people quickly give up on things they start. For example, reading a new book, starting a new diet, or getting a new job. It becomes too difficult, uncomfortable, boring, or inconvenient. Pastor Amy presents an alternative, abiding. To abide is to stay. A close, personal relationship with God is what it means to abide with Him. This manifests as faithfulness, dedication, and loyalty.

John 15:4-8
_{Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.}

Sometimes we want to move. Sometimes we want to give up. This happens when things get difficult, when we get offended, or when we get discouraged; we quit. Abiding is how we bear fruit. Bearing fruit is how we bring glory to God. Fruit comes from intimacy. Pastor Amy discusses three ways to abide in Him, focusing on the main scripture of John 1:1: abiding in His word, in His presence, and abiding together.
_{In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.}

To abide we must be rooted in His word.

Colossians 2:6-7
_{As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.}

To bear fruit, you must have roots. The bible often compares us to trees.

Psalms 92:12
_{The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.}

The cedar and the palm tree represent longevity, steadfastness, uprightness, fruitfulness, and a righteous life. Palm trees can withstand harsh conditions, and they have a long life. In Aruba the winds are constant, and there is a type of tree that grows called a Divi Divi tree. The Divi Divi tree grows bent. They have abundant resources and remain green year-round despite their circumstances. Their trunks are flexible, and their roots are so deep down that even when the storms come, they may bend, but they never break. Just like the Divi Divi tree, it’s ok for you to bend, but don’t let the storms break you. To those who are rooted in God, He promises the righteous a life full of abundance. We must allow time for our roots to grow deep down. We cannot grow roots if we are always moving. Roots provide an anchor. Our roots keep us standing in tough times. Roots also absorb food and water that is preserved in the root system. His word is our bread of life and the water that can quench our thirst. Roots also provide storage and resources during the dry times. The word is in you throughout all seasons of your life when you are rooted in His word. When we have deep roots, we abide in His word, and we cannot be moved.

Ways to Abide in His Word

#1. Read it. 1 Year Bible is available on Youversion.
#2. Meditate on the word. Look up different versions of scripture.
#3. Memorize it.
Making a habit deepens the impact and gives you the ability to call on scripture when it's needed.
#4. Use it. Let the word be a solution to the world’s problems and not our opinion because the word is truth.

Abiding in His Presence

John 1:1

"Abide" refers to staying or residing, while "presence" (in the spiritual sense) refers to a profound or tangible encounter with Him via prophecy, worship, or the Holy Spirit. Our family will eventually follow if we set an example by abiding in Him. Everywhere we go, God is with us, and we ought to worship Him daily. In order for God to move in our lives, we must grant Him permission. God becomes a guest in our lives if we only occasionally spend time with Him. Inviting God to live within us on a daily basis is the path to true peace.

Worship daily.
I Chronicles 16:29
_{A scribe to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering and come before Him. Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness.}
Psalms 95:1
_{Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.}
Psalms 119:175
_{Let me live that I may praise you, and may your laws sustain me.}

Pray without ceasing.
I Thessalonians 5:17
_{Pray continually}
Philippians 4:6-7
_{Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.}
Matthew 7:7-8
_{“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.}

Speak in the Holy Spirit.
One of the many gifts given to believers by the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues.
I Corinthians 12:4-11

The Gift
God has given each of us a unique gift. We should be using our gifts to do His will and to connect with Him on an intimate level. We get rejuvenated and find supernatural peace when we use these gifts. This is more than anything the world could ever offer.

Abide Together

John 1:1

God is love. We are the representation of His love. We abide with God when we show the love of God. We are the word of God in the flesh.

Proverbs 27:17
_{As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
We are not meant to be isolated.}
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
_{Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.}

Man was not meant to be alone.

I John 3:18-20
_{Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything.}

Psalm 68:6
_{God sets the lonely in families, He leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.}

Job 14:7-9
_{“At least there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail. Its roots may grow old in the ground and its stump die in the soil, yet at the scent of water it will bud and put forth shorts like a plant.}

Have you been feeling hopeless? Go back to abiding in Him and He can bring you back to life.

I John 3:24
_{The one who keeps God’s commands lives in Him, and He in them. And this is how we know that He lives in us: We know it by the Spirit He gave us.}

John 1:1
_{In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.}

Abide in the word.
Abide in His Presence.
Abide together.

The Church
Past, Present, & Future: Part I
^{Sunday, November 30th, 2025
_{Apostle Mike Herzog}}

The church was created for a greater purpose than a gathering of people on Sunday mornings. The church’s purpose is eternal. In simplest terms, the church is the body of Jesus Christ. Just like you do not walk without legs, Jesus does not do anything without the church. God does nothing at random, and His timing is not determined by man’s timing. Our heavenly Father is eternal, outside of space and time, and omnipresent. His timing is determined by the fulfillment of prophecy. He doesn’t do anything unless He tells His prophets first.

Amos 3:7
_{Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.}

There was great anticipation for the coming of the anointed one. Everything had to be done in divine order for God to send the Messiah. The church was initiated when Jesus was born.

Isaiah 9:6-7
_{For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgement and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.}

God spoke this word to the Prophet Isaiah about the coming Messiah. This word transpired 700 years later.

Galatians 4:4
_{But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His son, born of a woman, born under the law,}

The prophecy was fulfilled, and God sent His Son when all the divine prophecies given to Isaiah finally materialized. The fullness of time means that when a series of events is finally aligned with the will of God in full maturity, His prophecy will properly take place.

Mark 4:29
_{But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.}

When Jesus was born, there were certain things happening within the culture. Because of the Roman rule of Israel, the Jews eagerly awaited the arrival of the Messiah. The Israelites were suffering from oppression, which resulted in a yearning for a savior. Rome had unified much of the world under its government. This unification of all the different nations resulted in the empire becoming relatively peaceful. This made travel more flexible and allowed early Christians to spread the gospel. In earlier times, it would not have been possible to have such freedom to share the gospel. Greece had achieved cultural conquest, while Rome had achieved military conquest. Because of the Greek influence, the Greek language was being used for trade. This expanded the common use of the Greek language, so these nations could hear and understand the same knowledge being shared. Many began to abandon the worship of false idols when they discovered that those idols left their prayers unanswered. The religions of that era emphasized a relationship between God and a savior. Offering blood sacrifices was a requirement of these religions. This made the gospel of Christ, which involved one ultimate sacrifice, believable to them. The Romans recruited soldiers. These men were introduced to the Roman culture and ideas such as the gospel. The earliest introduction of the gospel to Britain was the result of the efforts of Christian soldiers stationed there. From man’s point of view, this represented the fullness of time. Until the ancient prophecies that were shared prior to Jesus’ birth were fulfilled, neither He could come to earth, nor He could return to heaven.  

A Few Prophecies of the Old Testament
Jesus was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver.
His crucifixion between two criminals.
He was given vinegar to drink.
Dying without a broken bone in His body.
He was buried in a rich man’s tomb and resurrected again on the third day.

Isaiah 53:7 is another example of prophecy before Jesus could return to heaven.
_{He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.}

When Jesus was accused of blasphemy and ridiculed, He kept silent as a lamb led to the slaughter. The way He responded was the fulfillment of a prophetic word. Jesus cannot return to earth again until the ancient prophecies have been fulfilled. No man will know the day or the hour. Some of those prophecies yet to be fulfilled are times of restoration, and all His enemies will be made His footstool. Throughout history people have set many dates for Christ’s return, specifically during times of persecution, unrest, and famine. None of these strenuous circumstances determines when He will return. His return is based on certain events happening first.

Acts 3:20-21
_{And that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.}

Jesus wants to be reunited with His church. Heaven is holding Jesus back until the completion of the prophecies. Our assignment is to work to fulfill His will on earth as it is in heaven.

A reformation is a time when God makes a major shift in the church to accomplish a specific purpose. Those who embrace the old become persecutors of the new. The biggest threat to the move of God is those stuck in the past refusing to move forward. God is constantly moving and providing us with new revelations so that we can progress. Apostle Mike expressed that he will be examining three unique reformations over the next few weeks in this series of teachings.

1st Reformation:
The birth of the church. This brought redemption for mankind.

Ephesians 2:19-22
_{Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.}

Jesus’ home on earth is the Church. Each member of the church is a part of Christ’s body, each serving a different function. The apostles and the prophets received revelation for the purpose of the church; they laid the foundation for the church, their blood was spilled as martyrs, and there are divine moments that led to this first reformation, along with the birth of Jesus. Often, we don’t understand the significance of what God has done until we reflect on past events.

Ephesians 5:31-32
_{“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.}

This last scripture refers to Jesus and His church. When we come to Jesus, we become a part of His body. Coming to Jesus to be saved is not only to go to Heaven but also to become one with Him. To fulfill His assignment to restore all things to the way things once were in the Garden of Eden.

Thankful
^{Sunday, November 23rd, 2025
_{Apostle Mike Herzog}}

We all have issues. Apostle Mike’s sermon on Sunday explains the root of our problems, how to address the root, and how to achieve victory over these issues. First, we must identify the problem and admit it to ourselves. The main issue each of us struggle with from time to time, is selfishness. It is the common denominator of our problems. Selfishness is being concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself, seeking or concentrating on one’s own advantage, pleasure or wellbeing without regard for others.

James 3:16
_{For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.}

Selfishness is a birthplace of every kind of evil.

II Timothy 3:1-5
_{But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!}

This scripture describes people pretending to have a relationship with God, putting on an act to fool others to get what they want.

Studies have been done to show what happens when we are selfish.

Seven Things That Happen Because of Selfishness

1.   Selfishness pushes people away.
2.   When we are selfish, we begin to think of people in terms of what they can do for us, rather than enjoying unconditional friendships.
3.   Self-obsession means we are more prone to worry and mental health problems.
4.   Selfishness makes it easier for us to fall into traps like addiction. When you’re selfish, you are more concerned with getting what you want to make yourself happy, regardless of how your actions will affect others.
5.   Selfishness means we can hurt others as we ruthlessly strive to satisfy our own needs.
6.   Self-centeredness can damage our reputation and lead to loneliness.
7.   Selfishness destroys families.
More joy comes from giving than receiving. To choose to constantly take, to receive joy, is an insatiable trap.

Proverbs 11:24
_{There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty.}

Give freely and become wealthy. Be stingy and lose everything. This is a supernatural truth that goes against our logical thinking. The deception from the enemy is that self-seeking leads to happiness. The Bible tells us not to focus on our own happiness but to pursue helping others.

Philippians 2:3-4
_{Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.}

Let serving others be what fulfills you. The way to succeed is to help others succeed. With the same measure you give, it will be given back to you. You cannot love without giving. God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. Relationship struggles, addiction, low self-esteem, and sin come from selfishness. God gave us a weapon to overcome selfishness called thanksgiving. It's easy to become consumed with all the things we don’t have, but when we shift our focus to all the blessings God has given us, it becomes easier to be thankful. Thankfulness is the humble acknowledgement that everything we have is a gift from God. No one owes us anything. Despite troubles and challenges, we all have something to be thankful for.

The first Thanksgiving in 1621 was established because people were thankful that so many survived the harsh winter. Many others who came over on the Mayflower lost their lives from malnourishment, disease, and much more. Those who survived partnered with the natives and were blessed to learn how to grow crops to be able to eat. Through all the struggles, the greatest gift to those who survived was that God had provided. Life is not a guarantee; it’s a gift. We must constantly be aware and remind ourselves of what we do have.

Matthew 18:21-35
_{Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”}

This servant owed the king 750,000 lbs. of gold. Today that would be equivalent to about 480 billion dollars. The king wanted to settle accounts, but the servant was unable to pay. The king forgave this servant's debt. This is a picture of salvation. Jesus wants our forgiveness to be limitless. Jesus paid our debt with something priceless: His blood. He knew we’d never be able to pay the debt of our sins, so He took that burden upon Himself for our eternal souls. You’d think someone forgiven of such a large debt would be grateful. That servant then sought out another servant who owed him the equivalent of $20,000. The servant who had just been forgiven of his own debt that was much greater would not grant his fellow servant the same mercy. When his master heard of this, he punished him. Withholding forgiveness is selfishness. As Apostle Mike put it, “Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping the other person gets hurt.” The root of unforgiveness is selfishness.

Five Things Being Thankful Does for You

1. It allows you to come into the presence of God. Without thanksgiving you cannot come into the presence of God.
2. It shows you the will of God for your life.
I Thessalonians 5:18
_{In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.}
When people are thankful, it naturally makes you want to do more for them. Being thankful causes God to want to continue to pour out His blessings upon you because He delights in the prosperity of His people. When you are selfish, you block the blessings God has for you.
3. It causes you to have effective prayer.
Colossians 4:2
_{Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;}
You stay alert in prayer when you are thankful.
4. It defeats selfishness. When you’re thankful, you can’t be selfish.
5. It repels evil. Selfishness is the birthplace of every evil practice. Thankfulness attracts the presence of God. When He shows up the enemy flees.

How can we practically be thankful and focus our self-efforts and energy on other people? When you pray, pray for others instead of praying for yourself. When having conversations with others, ask them about themselves. Be a good listener, rather than monopolizing the conversation with what you have going on. Serve others instead of waiting to be served. Ask how you can help. Jesus came to serve rather than coming to be served.
 

What Are You Thinking?
^{Thinking For a Change.}
_{Sunday November 16th, 2025
Pastor Chris Byrd}
 
This past Sunday Pastor Chris opened with a few quotes he would commonly refer to as “food for thought.”
 
“Our life always expresses the result of our dominant thoughts.” - Søren Kierkegaard
"Think before you act; think twice before you speak" – Sir Thomas Brown
“What you feed your mind will lead your life.” – Unknown
 
When you change the way you think, it will change your life. Are you willing to do your part in the covenant that God has for you? The previous week Apostle Mike’s focus was around Proverbs 23:7. Where your heart leads, your actions follow.
 
The brain is the control organ of your body. This is where the concept of thought, understanding, and consciousness happens. Thinking is the process of using one’s mind to consider or reason, use rational judgement, or to meditate. The more we practice a particular thought pattern, the faster our brain defaults to that way of thinking. Our minds can be changed. God can change our way of thinking if we let Him. Negative patterns can be unlearned. The brain can recognize a pattern, learn from that, solve a problem, create new ideas, and give meaning to things. Studies have proven your brain reacts before you have a conscious thought. That is our brain's habits. It is a natural process to place one foot in front of the other when walking. Our repeated decisions can become automatic, but our brain can refrain from inducing a certain decision at all. Repeatedly saying no to the negative thoughts will result in reducing the number of negative thoughts that arise. Renewing is restoring to an original state. Renovation is to change this state. Mental habits are similar. Thinking is built on the foundation of belief.

II Timothy 3:16-17
_{All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.}

Scripture affirms the truth while also provide direction and correction. We need God’s help interpreting this wisdom. We cannot rely on our thoughts alone which is why it is important to call on the Holy Spirit for revelation.

I Corinthians 2:10-12
_{But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.}

If we are going to think for a change the first realization, we must come to is that everything in the Bible is true. To believe the contrary is to put your thoughts above God’s. Your brain never stops thinking. What you choose to fill your mind with can occupy your thought life. If you fill it with God’s truth that can bring you supernatural peace. Our thoughts can be contrary to God’s truth, but that is why He has given us the Sword of the Spirit to fight against intrusive thoughts.

Proverbs 2:1-5
_{My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the LORD,}

Take action to apply scripture to your life and repeat this daily.

Romans 12:1-2
_{I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.}

Philippians 2:5-7
_{Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.}

Being God’s bondservant comes up often in the Bible. The men claiming to be His bondservants were expressing they were no longer slaves to their sinful ways, but newly slaves to the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Who do you claim to be? If you are a child of God, you know that means you were beautifully and wonderfully made in His perfect image. We need to speak these positive truths over ourselves often for them to take root. Studies have proven negative information is easier to accept than positive information. We can ask God for help with this because the Spirit is there for correction and God’s word available for improvement.

James 1:5-6
_{If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.}

God has gifted us with a measure of faith to stay focused on Him. It's our responsibility to trust Him for that faith to grow. There are times we struggle to have faith, but by the washing of the word and through the renewing of our minds He gives us the strength to preserve when trying to make changes.

II Peter 1:5-7
_{But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control, perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.}

Scripture informs us of how we should live. If we accept this truth, it will bring change.

Five ways for the word to produce fruit in our lives.

Identify the negative thoughts.
 
II Corinthians 10:3-6
_{For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.}

We must ask God to search our hearts and reveal what does not belong.

Question your assumptions.
 
John 16:13
_{However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.}

Pay close attention to your thoughts. Ask yourself; does that sound like God? Or does that sound like the enemy?

Take every thought captive.
 
Nehemiah 7:3
_{And I said to them, “Do not let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot; and while they stand guard, let them shut and bar the doors; and appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, one at his watch station and another in front of his own house.”}

We must guard our minds and our hearts.

Affirm God’s promises.
 
Psalms 1:2
_{But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.}

Meditate on the word.

Have a growth mindset.

II Peter 1:2
_{Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,}

God’s grace and peace is infinite when walking with Him.

It is no easy task to take faith and add Godly behavior in the world we live in today, but He rewards us for our efforts of self-control and our desire to grow our knowledge of Him. We cannot hold onto old thinking and embrace God’s truth. We must surrender to let Him perform His perfect works within us.

II Peter 1:8-10
_{For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.}

What Are You Thinking?
^{As A Man Thinks}
_{Sunday November 9th, 2025
^{Apostle Mike Herzog}}

Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can or can’t, you’re right.” The truth is your belief determines your failure or your success. Studies performed on the human brain have determined that the number of thoughts each person has can range from 6,000 to 80,000 per day. Ninety five percent of thoughts are repetitive, and eighty percent of those thoughts are unfortunately negative. We often face the struggle of conflicting thoughts as well. It can feel like there is a wrestling match going on in your mind.

Proverbs 23:6-8
_{Do not eat the bread of a miser, Nor desire his delicacies; For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. The morsel you have eaten, you will vomit up, And waste your pleasant words.}

A miser is a hoarder or a greedy person. The mind of someone who is greedy that offers something to you desires the appeal of generosity, but their heart feels the opposite. After offering a gift, they are left feeling bitter because generosity is not their heart’s desire. Their hearts desire is more focused on how the appearance of generosity will benefit their image, but worried they will go without because they decided to share what they had. We say and think many things, but our character is determined by what is going on in our heart.

Hebrews 4:12
_{For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.}
 
The Holy Spirit is not after what you do or what you say, but what’s going on in your heart. Why did you do what you did? What was your motivation for that? Your mind can be your biggest asset or your greatest enemy.

I Corinthians 1:26
_{For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.}

It is difficult for those who are gifted with intellect to avoid becoming proud or arrogant. Jesus said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” His disciples asked Him, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus replied, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” When you have money and knowledge it is easy to begin to rely on those things and think that is all you need to succeed. Those things can cause you to doubt what God tells you to do because sometimes God’s direction doesn’t make logical sense to man. Faith is the bridge from our heart to our head. Faith is what dictates your actions.

James 2:14-17
_{What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.}

We are saved by our faith in Jesus, not by our works, but if there is faith there will be action. A thought begins in the mind, that thought travels down the bridge of faith towards our heart. If the thought, then becomes what we truly believe there will be action that shows the evidence of what’s in our heart. Your beliefs will motivate what you decide to do. For example, if you truly believe in the power of prayer, you’ll pray.

Proverbs 4:23
_{Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.}

Your heart is your core and critical to your physical and spiritual health. Out of the heart come all issues of life.

I Samuel 16:7
_{But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as a man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”}

Philippians 2:5-9
_{Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, but did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,}

In this scripture the word mind means attitude. Let the attitude that had Jesus be the attitude you have. In His mind (His data center) He knew who He was and what His assignment was, but in His heart, He chose to humble Himself and be obedient to Gods will. Regardless of our knowledge or gifts we can humble ourselves and submit to Christ by serving others and obeying the word of God. When we humble ourselves, He exalts us. He knows our heart’s desires. He wants us to choose to submit to Him out of our love, adoration, and trust for what He has planned. We try to understand God’s plan and we try to figure it out, but faith cannot be figured out. The foundation of faith is trust.

Bridging Faith from Your Head to Your Heart

#1. You are what you eat:
A daily intake of the word of God is imperative. When you continually take in the truth from God it begins to cause your old thoughts to lose their place, so you begin to intellectually believe it.  Then that truth gets pushed down from your head to your heart.
#2. Meditate on the word:
Psalms 1:2
_{But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.}
Think about what God says and what it means. Compare His truth to real life situations.
#3. Memorize the word:
Be intentional.
Joshua 1:8
_{This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.}
#4. Use the sword:
II Corinthians 10:4-5
_{For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,}
Our thoughts can often be contrary to what God says. We must take those thoughts and confront them with God’s truth shown in scripture (the sword of the spirit). If that thought doesn’t match what God’s word says, that is how we know it has no power and therefore those thoughts can be defeated.
#5. Take steps of faith:
When the Holy spirit presents an opportunity to step out in faith move quickly so that you don’t take the time to analyze the decision and allow your thoughts to convince you otherwise.

Discipleship
Priority
^{Sunday October 26th, 2025
_{Apostle Mike Herzog}}

                If one generation does not testify to the next, that testament dies. In Jewish culture they used to verbally share the first five books of the Old Testament with the next generation from memorization. Christians are saved to help grow God’s kingdom and shine the light given to us in the dark places, so that we can help others see that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. During Jesus’ time on earth His priority was to make disciples, so that His fathers kingdom would carry on forever. The last instructions He gave before He departed from earth and returned to heaven were written in Matthew 28:18-20. Jesus declared that His authority was being passed down, and commanded we go make disciples. Discipleship is about relationships. It is a priority to intentionally do something for the sake of someone else’s growth and it’s not about your own benefit.

Jesus Feeds Five Thousand
^{John 6:1-19}
                A great multitude of people followed Jesus because of the miracles that He performed. People are often drawn in when they want to be mesmerized. They want to find out how they can benefit. He chose to sit down with His disciples and give them His focus rather than cater to the crowd. He knew what He was about to do to feed the crowd, but He chose to set up that moment for discipleship training. When discipling to someone it’s important to be intentional to look for opportunities to teach God’s lessons. Both Philip and Peter had doubts of how they’d feed the crowd even though their past experiences with Jesus had already proved what miracles He could perform. Once more Jesus displayed God’s power when He multiplied the rations to ensure the crowd ate their fill. He partnered with His disciples by having them bless the crowd with these gifts. God is looking for people to partner with Him. He is the one who starts the multiplication of blessings, but He puts that in our hands to continue His work. He then had the disciples gather what was left over as evidence to remind them of what He had just done. We often forget about all Jesus has done for us, which is why it’s important to constantly create reminders for ourselves of His goodness. One way to help ourselves remember is to write down when He blesses you, so that you can look back on it later. After the crowd witnessed the miracles, He had performed they wanted to make Him king. If people are won over simply by signs others can do the same to sway the crowd in their favor. Jesus was not after winning over the crowd with His works, but instead He wanted their hearts based on who He is. This is why He left the crowd. He didn’t want the fame, only the hearts of His followers.

Jesus Walks on Water
^{Matthew 14:25-31}
                Later His disciples were faced with fear even with the evidence of His most recent miracle still in the boat with them (the baskets of bread). All the baskets of bread didn’t calm their fears because a sign doesn’t bring lasting peace. Only the giver of the sign can bring that kind of peace. Peter stepped out of the boat towards Jesus having faith in who He was, but when he took his eyes off Jesus and began looking at the signs of the storm and waves all around him, he began to sink. When we take our focus off Jesus and look for signs, good or bad, we put our focus back on our circumstances, and we begin to stumble. When we continue looking for signs doubt creeps in. Keeping our focus on Jesus keeps our peace and trust in Him, allowing Him to release His power upon our lives. The signs aren’t nearly as important as who is giving the signs.

Jesus The Bread of Life
^{John 6:20-29}
                The people were seeking Jesus because they saw what He could do, and they hoped He could do something for them. Jesus confronted them about this truth, how they weren’t seeking Him because they simply wanted to know Him. Are we seeking Him because we want something from Him? Or are we seeking Him because we want to know Him? Jesus is a king, and He is beckoning us, but we should be seeking Him to get to know Him, to love Him, praise, and worship Him and to bring Him honor. His desire is for us to seek Him for everlasting life, not for what He can do us here on earth because that is merely a temporary satisfaction. His disciples asked Him what they should do to get what will satisfy them forever. He explains they simply need to believe in the one God sent, referring to Himself. See the sign, do the work, which is to trust and believe in God. Sometimes believing is the hard part, but we must believe in His promises contrary to evidence that may infer otherwise. There is a battle that goes on inside of our minds, but the work is not giving up believing. He will help us fight the battle to continue to believe.

Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy
^{Mark 9:20-27}
                There was a boy that had a deaf and dumb spirit upon him. He was constantly seizing and convulsing from demonic torture. Jesus asked the boy’s father how long that had been happening. The boy’s father explains it had been going on since birth. Any parent that must witness their child suffering wants to do whatever it takes to end that suffering. A parent would even go as far as to take their child’s place if possible. You can imagine how desperate this father felt. Jesus tells this boy’s father if he can believe, his boy can be healed. Anything is possible to those who believe in Him. Deciding to believe does not always mean all your doubts disappear. The hardest obstacle to overcome is to stand in the face of unbelief and trust God, but He can work wonders with even the smallest amount of belief.

Jesus The Bread of Life
^{John 6:30-58}
                Jesus is the sign; our responsibility is to do the work of believing in Him. When we continue to believe in Him, we will never again long for meaning and purpose. He brings peace and contentment. Looking for signs will forever leave you feeling unsatisfied. His priority is His disciples. The will of God is that everyone believes in Jesus, His son. Belief takes something that doesn’t make sense in our natural mind. We choose to believe because He said it to be true. God is the God of the impossible. Jesus chose to live as God the Father intended and when we follow Jesus, we do the same because that becomes our true purpose of surrendering to the Almighty. That is what salvation is.

Discipleship
Intentionality

_{Sunday October 9th, 2025
Apostle Mike Herzog}

                Intentionality is being deliberate. God has given you a gift with the intention of distributing that gift to others. Apostle Mike provides a recap on last week’s scripture I Chronicles 14:2 about how David recognized God made him a king for the purpose of blessing people. Our eyes have been opened because of Christ for a specific reason. Darkness is ignorance. Light causes darkness to flee. We are moved out of darkness and into the kingdom of light when the light of the Holy Spirit fills us. It is important that we do not hide that light as it’s not for us to keep to ourselves, but to share with others to bring them out of darkness. Apostle Mike provides two stories out of scripture that show the importance of intentionality and understanding this assignment.
                The first story begins in Acts 26:9 regarding the life of Apostle Paul when he was on trial for things people fabricated about him. He was defending himself and sharing insight on what he had done throughout his life.

Acts 26:9-18
_{“Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities. “While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’}

Paul was an enemy to the church, and he thought he was doing the right thing. There are many religious leaders doing work contrary to the kingdom of God and they think they are doing the right thing. Paul was on his way to Damascus to continue to persecute Christians then a light from the heavens shined down upon him. Jesus shined this light to open Paul’s eyes. To show him that he will become someone who would share the things he has seen and heard. This is the responsibility we all have, to share what we have seen and heard. Christians have been saved for a reason. That reason was not only to be right with God, but also to save others. Some of us were saved from tragedy, others from word of mouth about Jesus, or perhaps you were saved by way of a supernatural encounter like Paul’s. By whatever means you came to Christ, He saved you for a reason much bigger than your own salvation.

Discipleship is done intentionally by decision, investment, and commitment. The intentionality takes both parties involved. Not just the person that has something to give, but also from the one needing to receive something. If you don’t have what you want to have, you should turn to someone who has what you want and ask how they got it. Ask them to show you what they have done to get that from God. To help someone else you don’t have to know the whole book. You can be on page two helping someone who is on page one. We retain ten percent of what we hear and ninety-five percent of what we teach. When you’re intentional about taking what you’ve learned and breaking that down to teach someone else you retain that information.

The second story from scripture about intentionality that Apostle Mike taught us was about the Prophet Elijah and Elisha. God told Elijah to disciple Elisha.

I Kings 19:19-21
_{So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.}
                       
 Elijah was intentional in reaching out to Elisha by taking his mantel which represented Elijah’s anointing and placing it on Elisha. Elisha decided he wanted Elijah’s discipleship. He prepared for this by distributing what he had so he could be fully committed to being Elijah’s servant.

II Kings 2:1-15
_{And it came to pass, when the Lord was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel. Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent!” Then Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they came to Jericho. Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?” So he answered, “Yes, I know; keep silent!” Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So the two of them went on. And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground. And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over. Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him.}

Discipleship is a journey to share your life with someone else. Evidence of growth should be present. A year from now you should be able to look back and identify yourself handling situations better than you had before. Gilgal means rolling away. This would compare to Elijah and Elisha moving from bondage to freedom on their growth journey. Elisha insisted on standing by Elijah. He displayed commitment to serving Elijah. He refused to give up being discipled. Bethel in Hebrew means House of God. We need to lead people into God’s presence. Being in the House of God is how we grow. We must remain persistent and not yield. Jericho is a place of fragrance and lush vegetation. Jericho is from the Hebrew word reyach which means fragrance or scent. When we worship God, our praises are like a sweet aroma to His nostrils, and in return He blesses us with fruitfulness. As we are an Elijah to an Elisha we need to lead our disciples into the place of fruitfulness. Jordan is the name associated with transition and new beginnings. A disciple needs to stay with the person they are mentoring until they get victory in the place of new beginnings. Many of us have been pursuing promises from God, but we just haven’t been able to cross the Jordan to get to our place of breakthrough. It takes God sending an Elijah for that extra help to get you to where God intended you to go. That is what the church is for. The body of Christ is each part helping the other part. When Elijah said “If you see me when I am taken from you” he meant if you see things the way I see things. The way to see like someone else is by getting right up next to them, seeing and understanding things from another person’s perspective. How did they know the spirit that was once on Elijah was now on Elisha? The evidence of Elijah’s spirit displayed upon Elisha was the power, anointing, and presence of God. How did this happen? Through a transference of God’s power from discipleship.
How do you practically invest, disciple, and pour into someone else? First you decide and then you invest. What you invest is time. God can multiply your time so prioritize what he’s called you to do.

I Corinthians 11:1
_{Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ..}

Topics you can choose to teach when discipling...

#1. Teach others about reading the Bible. We are transformed by the renewing of our minds through the knowledge of God’s word. Then talk about what you read.
#2. Help someone with prayer. Pray together. Teach prayer using prayer models. Example: The Lords Prayer or The Tabernacle Prayer.
#3. Family. Talk to someone about how to be the best father, mother, son, or daughter that they can possibly be and what it means to love, respect, cherish, and have humility.
#4. Integrity and the courage to do the right thing. Teach about being a person of your word and paying your bills.
#5. Purity. Discuss with someone how we guard our eyes, so we don’t let the lust of flesh drive us. Jesus said if we’ve looked upon a woman lustfully that’s as if we’ve committed adultery.
#6. Character. Who are you when no one is watching? God sees it all. He knows the thoughts and intents of the heart.
#7. Work ethic. Do everything you do wholeheartedly unto the Lord and not unto men. Scripture says if you don’t work you shouldn’t eat.
#8. Financial management. Where your treasure is, there is your heart also.
#9. Giving. Teach about generosity. Sowing and reaping. Investing.
#10. Communication and clarity. Honesty. Language. Certain words should not come out of your mouth.
#11. How to deal with your feelings. Not ignoring them, but also not being led by them. We need to listen to people and pray about them.

                If you aren’t taught; how do you know? The best way to disciple is to teach and lead by your example. All these topics are powerful information, but for these to become what God wants it takes the Holy Spirit. Scripture says, “Be holy as He is holy.” Discipleship is lead by the word of God. Use scripture to reflect upon when teaching. Knowledge combined with the power of the Holy Spirit is what causes transformation.

I Timothy 4:12-16
_{Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.}

Discipleship
_{Sunday, October 12th, 2025
Apostle Mike Herzog}

Jesus began His church with disciples. Discipleship is a two-way process of becoming a follower of Jesus. It involves designated spiritual growth through learning the teachings of Jesus, implementing His lifestyle, and sharing the knowledge of His principles with others. Apostle Mike passes down these teachings to his congregation this past Sunday. He explains why we disciple, what happens when we don’t disciple, and reasons we might not disciple. The key aspects of discipleship are learning & imitation, transformation, relationship, and replication.

The first step of discipleship is learning and imitation. Everything you know you’ve learned from someone else. A disciple learns from their teacher and actively imitates their life, not just in teaching, but also with their actions, heart, and character. This leads to transformation of the heart and mind, which reflects evidence of faith and obedience. Another key to discipleship is relationship through sharing your life with someone. Providing insight into your struggles and accomplishments helps them to relate to you, while also allowing them to hope that they can achieve success after struggles. Replication is another attribute of discipleship. If you pour into someone else, they should turn around and help the next person with what they have learned. People often feel compelled to give after they have experienced another’s generosity.

Why do we disciple?
Jesus tells us to do this as this is our way to give others a testimony which is the living proof of how seeking the savior has transformed lives. We also disciple because of thankfulness. When you share the news of our gratitude for God’s blessings, He blesses us even more. Lastly, we disciple because we love God, and we love people. If you love God, you want to obey Him and you want others to know Him.
Matthew 28:19-20
_{Go therefor and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.}
Matthew 10:7-8
_{And as you go, preach saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons Freely you have received, freely give.}
Matthew 22:36-40
_{“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”}

What happens when we don’t disciple?
#1: People don’t hear if you don’t share.
Romans 10:9-15
_{That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”}
#2: Judgment happens. If they do not hear they disobey.
Judges 2:10-12
_{When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the LORD nor the work which He had done for Israel. Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served the Baals; and they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they followed other gods from among the gods of the people who were all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the LORD to anger.}
#3: Gods plans are delayed. He needs a willing servant to partner with and without that His plans will be delayed. When He finds a willing servant, His plans can be fulfilled.
Ezekiel 22:30
_{So, I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.}
In the days of Abraham, a prophetic word was spoken about how the children of Israel would be in bondage in Egypt for 400 years. Then later a word came that a deliverer was born. Pharaoh heard about this, and he issued a decree to murder all the newborns. Because of God’s sovereignty, Moses was protected and brought to Pharaoh’s house by way of a basket to be saved and raised in Pharaoh’s house. God’s timeline was originally planned to be 400 years for His children to be delivered and at 390 years Moses got the idea that he was going to take matters into his own hands when he killed an Egyptian that was abusing a Hebrew slave. He did this because he wanted to be the deliverer and make something happen in his own timeline. Word got out about what he did, and he ran into the wilderness. He spent 40 years in the wilderness where God had to work on his character to perfect something inside of Moses, so that he could be used for God’s will. The word of God spoken to bring the children of Israel out of bondage at 400 years came to pass at about 430 years. The timeline of God’s plans are dependent upon us sharing His word and praying to Him for guidance rather than taking matters into our own hands or doing things in our strength.

Why don’t we disciple?
#1: Selfishness. Too often we think our relationship with God is enough for just Him and us. It’s more than that. It is about how we can partner with God and bring others to His kingdom as well. The best way to become successful is helping others. The best way to get over your own problems is to help other people with their problems. If you can help someone else obtain a breakthrough, God will certainly help you obtain a breakthrough.
Philippians 2:3-7
_{Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.}
#2: A Hardened Heart. We can become so desensitized by the society we live in that we forget to have compassion enough to pray for others.
Ezekiel 36:26-27
_{I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.}
#3: Lack of confidence. We have something to teach the enemy does not want us to feel strong enough to teach on behalf of our Heavenly Father. If you are saved the enemy knows he already lost you, but if he can get you to doubt yourself and he can keep you quiet, he can stop you from delivering the next child of God. We must accept Gods plans for us and declare it to ourselves. Speak boldly for Him.
Chronicles 14:2
_{And David realized that the Lord had confirmed him as king over Israel and had greatly blessed his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.}
Apostle Mike tells about a stat he read a while back on the training of Navy Seals. They are sent on special assignments and describes as “the best of the best”. These Navy Seals can accomplish things that change the world. God has invested so much more in each one of His children. As Christians we are special agents for the assignment of the kingdom of God molded with a purpose. He has equipped us with the Armor of God and the training required to grow His kingdom. We might not know it all, but we know something. We don’t have to know it all to help someone else. The best way to learn something is to teach it because when you teach something it’s demanded of you to understand it.
Daniel 11:32
_{Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.}

God’s word says if you know Him you will be strong and carry out great exploits which means all you must do is believe what He says and step out in faith. Listen and obey.

Fruit
Glory to God
_{Apostle Mike Herzog
Sunday, September 28th, 2025}

Without roots we cannot grow fruit. Our roots keep us planted firmly so we don’t fall in the midst of the storm. Our roots also give us the nutrients we need to grow. We store up knowledge and lessons learned in those roots to refer back to when obstacles arise throughout our lives. We also learned about needing character to sustain a fruitful life. Character is who you are and having godly character matters to our Heavenly Father so that he can shower us with his blessings. 

Genesis 1:28
_{Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”}

These were God's first instructions to man.

1 Corinthians 10:13
_{Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.}

Everything we do should be with the intention of bringing God glory. When you have faith that God will heal, protect, and bless you, that faith begins with a seed. Being fruitful and multiplying is what it takes for that seed to grow. We must do our part living by godly character and trusting that God will allow us to bear fruit in due season. To plant, water, and decree is our responsibility, but God brings the growth. Speaking by faith what God wants to have happen in your life plays a very important part in your succession. Studies have proven that speaking positive words of affirmation over a plant causes it to grow big and beautiful. Speaking negatively towards a plant causes it to wither. This is a perfect example of the power of words. 

John 15:5
_{“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.}

God is the only one who can bring the increase. 

John 15:8
_{By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.}

To bring God glory, you must bear fruit. What is fruit? It's doing everything that you can wholeheartedly unto the Lord. The Father is glorified by the fruit of His children. A parent is even more delighted when their children succeed than for that parent's own successes. God wants to see His children succeed just like each parent wants to see their children succeed. Your child winning is the reward you receive for your investment. 

Philippians 4:1
_{Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.}

This scripture is a spiritual father speaking to his church. He is expressing that his motivation is seeing his spiritual children succeed. Growth takes constant effort. God continually works on us. Being pruned hurts and nobody likes it, but He does this to get rid of what’s standing in our way of something better that He has for us. God takes delight in our growth.

Isaiah 61:3
_{To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”}

God is glorified when we are healthy.

James 1:2-5
_{James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.}

There are many obstacles we face. God uses such trials to prune us. Mankind has a resistance to change built deep inside of us. We prefer to be comfortable. Unless something gets uncomfortable, we don’t move. God allows struggles such as testing of patience to develop our patience. 

Psalm 35:27
_{Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, “Let the Lord be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”}

Just like no parent wants their child to suffer, neither does God. Parents know that sometimes children have to suffer to learn and grow. He wants to see us prosper. He has set up kingdom rules for us to prosper, He has bound himself to these words. 

• You sow what you reap. God won’t let you reap what you did not sow. 
• Give and it will be given to you, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. With the measure you use it will be measured back to you.
• A tree is judged by its fruit. A bad tree cannot bear good fruit and a good tree cannot bear bad fruit. 
• It’s more blessed to give than receive. 
• If you water others, you will be watered. The greatest way to be successful is to help others be successful. 
• In all our ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. 

Deuteronomy 8:18
_{“And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.}

Your wealth increase is God confirming His covenant. 

John 13:34-35
_{A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”}

Love is the foundation of the Fruit of the Spirit. When you do what God says you are guaranteed His results of bearing fruit. This gives glory to God. 

Matthew 21:18-19
_{Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.}

Jesus passed by this tree that had no fruit. Do you know what a tree with leaves on it, but no fruit is? It’s religion. It looks good, but shows no evidence of power. A tree with fruit is a relationship with Jesus. Jesus cursed the tree that He saw was not bearing fruit because it was a fraud. The enemy has deceived so many presenting the appearance of God on the outside, but not having godliness on the inside. It is a trick of the enemy. It’s easier to work with someone who knows they are a heathen than somebody that thinks they are not, but looks like everything is together. Where is the fruit, the godly character, and the love for one another?

John 15:5
_{“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.}

God wants us to draw closer to Him. When you are in His presence He can bring forth miracles that happen overnight. It’s up to us to sow a seed and speak life. Life and death are in the power of the tongue.

Fruit
Character to Sustain
_{Sunday, September 21st, 2025
Apostle Mike Herzog}

                A few weeks ago, Apostle Mike went over the topic of Fruits Equals Roots. He reminded us that a tree cannot bear fruit without having roots first and neither can man. Fruit is the evidence of God’s blessings. We need to build character to sustain that fruit. Without character you don’t have the ability to persevere. The roots reflect the branches of the tree and character is like the trunk of the tree. What is going on underneath of the bark compares to what is happening on the inside of us.

Psalm 1:3
^{He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.}

We can have fruit that is successful at times, but what we strive for is to consistently bear fruit. God is our Gardner. He sometimes prunes us so that more fruit can grow in our lives. The Holy Spirit crafts a course for us to get us to develop and grow exactly how He intends us to grow. Your image is what people see. Character is who we are when no one is looking, and it’s developed from repeated choices. Without godly character we will take short cuts to get results, or we let the pride from the success go to our heads and then comes the fall. Whether we have come from humble beginnings or a royal family we need godly character worked into us. This week we immerse into the testimony of two men in the bible that God used in great ways with completely different lives to reflect on the notion that God has a different course for each of our lives to build that Godly character inside of us.

The Testimony of King David

King David was a man after God's own heart that came from obscurity then was exalted to king. God promised David that he would always have a descendant on the throne. Jesus came from the line of David. David had the character to sustain what God wanted him to do. David started out as a shepherd. There was a time that his father Jesse was asked to present all his sons before the Prophet Samuel. Jesse presented 7 of his sons and disregarded David. The Prophet Samuel stated that none of those sons were the one God had chosen and asked Jesse if he had another son. Jesse then admitted to the prophet that he had 8 sons. God does not choose people like man does. David learned godly character while out in the wilderness vigilantly and attentively shepherding his sheep away from the eyes of men. The Lord saw this and allowed David to shepherd His people. As God works on you throughout your life you can begin to see the bigger picture of what He is doing. You learn about God through His development of you.

Psalm 23:1-6
_{The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.}

David caring for sheep taught him that God is his great shepherd. God proved that He would lead him, guide him, never forsake him, and always protect him. For example, David faced both a lion and a bear that had come to attack his sheep. David could have chosen to let the beasts devour his sheep and no one would have ever known. Instead, David chose to do what was right. He attacked the lion and the bear with his bare hands to protect the lamb. The character he displayed was just like Jesus, when one strays from the ninety-nine, He goes after that one. When you are making the challenging decision to do what is right when no one is looking, God pays attention to that. He is building a character inside of you to help sustain you. Your experience with the lessons He has taught you previously keep you grounded so that you may stand firm when the trials arise. Later in David’s life he had to face a giant named Goliath. He remembered God previously helped him defeat a lion and a bear. David knew that God came through for him before and He would do it again. Because he built a godly character to sustain when no one was watching, the same character stood firm when everyone was watching, and he wasn’t moved by that circumstance. The testing of our faith produces perseverance, character, godliness, and so many more fruits.

Psalm 78:70-72
_{He also chose David His servant, And took him from the sheepfolds; From following the ewes that had young He brought him, To shepherd Jacob His people, And Israel His inheritance. So, he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.}

In the field God saw David’s character was built. Promotion comes from the Lord. If we are faithful with little, God will trust us with much. Godly character is excellence and integrity. Because of David’s character God chose him. His life and lineage were very fruitful. Jesus is still on the throne as a descendant of David because of the promise God gave.

The Testimony of Moses

The second man of God that Apostle Mike spoke of was Moses. He had a very different start to his life than David. This was a time when the children of Israel were in bondage in Egypt, and they were growing rapidly in numbers. The Pharaoh of Egypt was nervous that the children of Israel were going to take over so he issued a decree that all the male infants would be killed. Moses’ parents cherished him and went to great lengths to protect him.

Hebrews 11:23
_{By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.}
Exodus 1:22
_{So, Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “Every son who is born you shall cast into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.”}
Exodus 2:1-10
_{And a man of the house of Levi went and took as wife a daughter of Levi. So, the woman conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him three months. But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank. And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him. Then the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river. And her maidens walked along the riverside; and when she saw the ark among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it. And when she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby wept. So, she had compassion on him, and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?” And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” So, the maiden went and called the child’s mother. Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So, the woman took the child and nursed him. And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. So, she called his name Moses, saying, “Because I drew him out of the water.”}

God does nothing by random. Of all of people who could have found Moses, God chose Pharaoh's daughter. Moses’ sister was watching as Pharaoh's daughter discovered Moses. She offered to help Pharaoh's daughter to find someone to take care of baby Moses. When Pharaoh's daughter accepted, Moses’ sister took him back to his mother who was then paid to care for him. This was God’s provision. The name Moses means pulled out or drawn out. Pharaoh's daughter named him this because she pulled him out of the river, but what God had in store for his future gave his name a greater meaning. He was privileged being brought up in the house of Pharoah.

Exodus 2:11-15
_{Now it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren and looked at their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. So, he looked this way and that way, and when he saw no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. And when he went out the second day, behold, two Hebrew men were fighting, and he said to the one who did the wrong, “Why are you striking your companion?” Then he said, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” So, Moses feared and said, “Surely this thing is known!” When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well.}

Moses knew he was created for a great purpose but decided to take a short cut. He was born to deliver the Israelites, but instead of allowing God’s process to work he decided to take matters into his own hands. He knew he was about to do something wrong by killing this man. Bad character will cause you to take shortcuts to get the results you are wanting. This decision revealed character issues that were in Moses. After this tragedy Moses went and sat by the well in the land of Midian. Midian means strife, judgement, or contention. The Bible tells us how to know what is good and to decide not to follow that is sin. The standard of righteousness is very high. When we mess up do we quit, feel sorry for ourselves, shift blame, try to justify our actions, lash out, isolate, or run from God? How we respond when we make a mistake shows whether godly character is working inside of us or not. Regardless of how Moses reacted, God still had a purpose for him. No matter what you have done, if there is still breath in your lungs, God still has an intention for each of us to bear fruit. Our Lord tells us if we confess, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us of all our unrighteousness.

Exodus 2:16-25
_{Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. And they came and drew water, and they filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. Then the shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them and watered their flock. When they came to Reuel their father, he said, “How is it that you have come so soon today?” And they said, “An Egyptian delivered us from the hand of the shepherds, and he also drew enough water for us and watered the flock.” So, he said to his daughters, “And where is he? Why is it that you have left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.” Then, Moses was content to live with the man, and he gave Zipporah his daughter to Moses. And she bore him a son. He called his name Gershom, for he said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land.” Now it happened in the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage. So, God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them.}

                The first thing Moses did after being driven to the wilderness was serve others. It’s hard to continue to self- commiserate when you begin to help someone else with their problems. After helping someone else, the second thing he did was felt contentment. Be content, live in the moment, and be thankful God has brought you to where you are. The third thing that happened to Moses was he began to bear fruit. If you learn to serve and be content where you are you can bear fruit right where you have put down roots. The struggles you are going through are to develop a character in you so that you can help someone else.

Exodus 3:1-4
_{Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So, he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.” So, when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”}

                During this season of Moses’ life, he was faithful to his flock. He tended the sheep with excellence and integrity. He then went to the presence of God. When the bush was burning God saw Moses turn towards His presence and then God called him. We’ve got to seek the presence of God. An encounter with God transforms us.

Exodus 3:11-12
_{But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” So, He said, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”}

                Previously Moses had struggled with self-control and pride. God had taken him through a process of transformation. This time when God commanded him to go back to Egypt to deliver the Israelite’s Moses responded with humility. In Moses’ time of weakness is when God’s strength was revealed.

Exodus 4:18-19
_{So, Moses went and returned to Jethro his father-in-law, and said to him, “Please let me go and return to my brethren who are in Egypt and see whether they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.” Now the Lord said to Moses in Midian, “Go, return to Egypt; for all the men who sought your life are dead.”}

                Moses showed honor when expressing to the person he was serving that God had called him to do something by asking permission to go back to Egypt.

Numbers 12:3
_{(Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)}

Exodus 33:13-15
_{Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.” And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.}

Moses came so far in God’s school. This made him meek. Meek means having strength under control characterized by humility gentleness and submission to God’s will. Moses graduated God’s School of Character by continuing to rely on the presence of God. He took the children of Israel out of Egypt and back to the same place Moses encountered God by the burning bush. When we get victory and fruit we need to go right back to God. Moses went from taking matters into his own hands to following God’s lead the rest of his days.

Both men, David and Moses, were born for a specific purpose. God had a different path for them to take to get to that purpose. This is the very reason we cannot compare our lives to others. Each person requires a different journey to build the character God is trying to create within us. Moses’ parents saw that he was a beautiful child unlike Davids parents who didn’t even consider him. David went from being belittled and undermined and God elevated his heart from that point. Moses went from a place of being self-elevated and God had to bring him down to build him back up with a new heart. David grew up in the wilderness, Moses grew up in the palace but had to go to the wilderness. They were both required to be in the wilderness. God took David out of the wilderness where he started to build him up. Moses had to be humbled to be renewed and built back up. All of us must go through the wilderness to be renewed and to receive the promise of God.

Fruit
Roots Equal Fruits
^{_{Sunday, September 7th, 2025}
Pastor Mike Herzog}

                With faith we also need fruits in our lives. The fruits in your life are even more crucial than your gifts. Gifts are great, but without fruit you will begin to decay and wither. Pastor Mike begins his sermon discussing two types of fruit.

#1 – The Fruit of The Spirit:
Galatians 5
_{But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.}

#2 – Multiplication:
An example would be an apple with seeds. That apple should produce more apples by spreading those seeds. If we have the seed of God, which is His word we should be spreading His word to others to multiply His kingdom.

                From the fruits of the spirit, love is the most important foundation. You cannot display genuine patience and kindness without love. Jesus summed this up with His first commandment, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” And “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The key to the effectiveness of your gifts is the fruit of love.

I Corinthians 13:1-3
_{Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.}

Doing good deeds without love has no eternal value. Living fruitful lives means we have the fruit of the Spirit working within us and on us.

                The Bible references much comparison between people and trees. Trees are known for their fruits, just like people. If you are constantly dishonest; you are known by that fruit and you develop a reputation that you are not to be trusted. People can also eat from the fruit of your lives, just like they eat from the fruit of trees. Most tend to gravitate towards people who make you feel good and provide encouragement. These types of people prosper and multiply because that’s good fruit. We can also provide shade and comfort just like trees.

Jeremiah 17:5-6
_{Thus says the Lord:
“Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert and shall not see when good comes but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited.}

We do not want to be like shrubs. We want to be like the lush trees that bear much fruit.

Psalm 92:12
_{The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.}

God wants us to grow and prosper. Palm trees are known for longevity, steadfastness, uprightness, fruitfulness, and a righteous life. They are capable of withstanding harsh conditions. They’re deeply rooted with a flexible trunk, produce abundant resources, and remain evergreen their entire lives. God wants us to be like palm trees, having deep roots and constantly producing fruit.

Psalm 1:3-4
_{He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.}

The ungodly are like shrubs, dry and barren. The godly shall flourish and produce fruit in season. When you are living by God’s will the season of bearing fruit is frequent. A tree cannot bear fruit without roots. A few examples that display not putting down roots consist of persons who jump from relationship to relationship, church to church, or constantly changing careers. When your life is ever-changing you are like a shrub. Shrubs are easily replanted, but they are nothing special. A tree requires a substantial amount of work to relocate.

What do roots systems do?

#1 – They anchor.
They spread out and grow deep into the soil to provide a strong stable base for the tree to prevent it from falling over in the wind and rough weather. Like the tree, we need to have a firm foundation (His word) to stand strong.

Colossians 2:6-7
_{And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.}

Growing roots doesn’t happen overnight. You won’t see a sudden spike in the growth of a plant by staring at it for a few moments, but if you come back in a few months, you will see the evidence of its growth. Our lives are like this. After consistent care, in due time we blossom.

#2 – They provide food.
Specialized feeder roots at the tip of the root system absorb water, oxygen, and dissolve mineral nutrients from the soil. The rest of the tree gets food because of the root system. This is why it is important for a tree to be in good soil to be able to get nutrients from the soil. If a tree is in dry & dead soil it won’t get any nutrients.

Matthew 13:6
_{But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.}

Because the plant couldn’t get roots, the hot sun came, and the tree died.

#3 – They retain storage.
Roots serve as a storage site for carbohydrates which are essential food reserves the tree uses when it is not actively growing, such as during the winter months. There are seasons of joy and when blessings are overflowing. There are other seasons in life that come with tough times. Life has challenging moments, and we can’t always rely on how we are feeling, especially when we don’t have the drive to push forward. Regardless, we must endure. When there are drought seasons of good times, but we must reach down into our roots where we have stored up good memories to help us sustain our nutrients from the blessings God has previously given us.

                Picture cutting down a tree. On the inside you see rings. The skinny rings are from a year that there weren’t many nutrients. The fat rings are from a year with an abundance of nutrients. Throughout the history of our lives there are fat rings representing the years of an overflow of joyful experiences and skinny rings representing tough years we endured challenging seasons.

Jeremiah 17:7-8
_{“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.}

When challenging times come the rooted tree doesn’t fear. We remind ourselves this may be a tough time, but God has delivered us before and He will deliver us again. Others notice when you can withstand the storm throughout the trials that arise. This helps give others hope that they can find a peace like that too. Trees of righteousness are the planting of the Lord. Being planted, consistent, and letting your roots grow down deep is the key to your life being fruitful. Roots take time and consistency. Keep showing up. Pray, read scripture, worship, come to church, and never stop chasing after God. He promises you will bear fruit if you don’t give up. Staying connected and bearing fruit is how God is glorified in our lives.

John 15:6-8
_{If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.}

                        Sometimes trees are uprooted and brought to another place. This is a very delicate process to ensure that the tree can bear fruit again. There are circumstances when it’s necessary to move a tree, typically when something is hindering healthy growth. In the transition of uprooting, a proper support system followed by ample healing time is essential for rehabilitation.

                There are instances when a tree is cut down and it hits the ground. It’s never the trees decision to be cut down. At times our lives are cut down just like trees, such as encountering heartbreak. It takes roots to bear fruit. So, what happens when the tree is cut down?

Job 14:7-9
_{“For there is hope for a tree, If it is cut down, that it will sprout again, And that its tender shoots will not cease. Though its root may grow old in the earth, And its stump may die in the ground, Yet at the scent of water it will bud And bring forth branches like a plant.}

Simply being exposed to the slightest scent of God gives us the nourishment we need to grow again. He is the God of impossible! Only he can take us from a hopeless situation and bring us back to life. We need our gardener to show up and prune us so we can bear even more fruit. The thing the enemy meant for evil God will use for good.

Anointing

_{Sunday, August 31st, 2025
Pastor Antonio Barboza}
 
The Anointing can refer to two meanings:
#1. The physical act of applying oil as a sacred ritual. (The Old Testament – To smear.) When you anoint a person, you are smearing them with oil.
#2. More commonly, the spiritual presence, power, and authority of God within a person signifying that they are set apart for a divine purpose or equipped by the Holy Spirit to perform a task. The spiritual anointing provides empowerment, illumination, understanding of God’s truth and is a manifestation of God working through a person for his will. (The New Testament – God Smearing a person with the presence of God.)

Baptism of The Holy Spirit V.S. The Anointing

• Both by the Holy Spirit
• Two different reasons

Acts 1:4-5
_{And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”}

After His resurrection Jesus spent 40 days with His disciples giving them infallible proofs, speaking to them about the kingdom of God, and He gave two last commands before He ascended to heaven.
#1. Wait for the promise of the Father. (Referring to John’s baptism.)
Matthew 3:11-12
^{I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”}
                John paints a picture of “The winnowing fork.” After wheat is harvested, it’s placed on a threshing floor. A large stone is rolled over the wheat to crack open the wheat, pressing down the chaff (the useless part of the wheat). After that process, the person with the winnowing fork digs into the wheat and throws it up into the air to separate the wheat from the chaff. The current of the wind blows the chaff away, leaving just the wheat (the useful part). When the Holy Spirit comes upon our life he baptizes our life with the Spirit of God. Like the wind, he blows upon our life separating the good things from the useless things leaving the wheat. God gathers that into the barn which is useful for him. Leaving the chaff to burn up with unquenchable fire. So, when the Holy Spirit comes, He comes with fire to burn up the useless things (bad habits) in our life. The baptism of the Holy Spirt comes to internally work on you.

John 14:15-18
_{“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
God sent us a helper to grow and mature.}

John 15:26
_{“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.}
He tells us who He is because sometimes we forget.

John 16:13-14
_{However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.}

As Pastor Barboza joked, “Denial is more than a river in Egypt.” Sometimes we are living in denial, and the Holy Spirit guides us to the truth so each of us can self-reflect for our growth. When you have issues with another person, first look in the mirror. It is easy to blame others, but harder to identify our own flaws.

Baptism of The Holy Spirit Provides:

• He lives within us.
• He helps us.
• He teaches us.
• He reminds us.
• He witnesses to us. (John 16:7-11)
• He works with us.
• He leads us into all truth.
• He hears and speaks the mind of God to us.

Jesus’ last willing testament:
#2. You will receive power to be a witness.
Acts 1:8
_{But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”}
Power – Greek word for Dunamis.
Dunamis is the word Alfred Nobel used when he came up with the word Dynamite. Think of dynamite exploding. This revolutionized construction because it allowed them to move huge foundations to build new foundations. This is the anointing the Bible is referring to.

The Holy Spirit Smears you with:
Strength, Power, and Ability.
Supernatural Power: Allows you to do things you cannot normally do in your own strength.
Ability: Speaks about the amplification of your natural abilities, along with empowering your spiritual gifts.
The anointing comes after the Holy Spirit comes upon you. (After the baptism)

Why do we need anointing?
Isaiah 10:27
_{It shall come to pass in that day
That his burden will be taken away from your shoulder,
And his yoke from your neck,
And the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil.}
                The anointing comes to destroy the plans of the enemy, set you free, and bring healing. Breaking ties of anything God doesn’t want you tied to. Simply get to know Jesus and watch him break off the things that don’t need to be there.

                Anointing is for ministry, so that you can share the gospel. This is the way to expand the kingdom.

Luke 4:14-19
Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. So, He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

Before Jesus went into the wilderness to be tempted by the enemy, He went to the Jordan and got baptized. As soon as He came up from the water the Holy Spirit led Him to the wilderness. After a 40-day fast Jesus returned home in the anointing.

5 Dimensions of Anointing:

• He wants us to preach the gospel to the poor in spirit.
• He wants us to bring healing.
• He wants us to bring liberty (release from bondage).
• He empowers us to open people’s eyes to the truth. (II Corinthians 3:16)
• He empowers us to free the oppressed (to break/ shatter).

Our Heavenly Father wants His entire family anointed.