Messages

Pastor’s Message

The prophet Elijah knew about fatigue and discouragement. In one of the most unbelievable experiences in Scripture, he faced off against 450 of Baal’s prophets at Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18). Fire fell from heaven, and the people watching fell face down, realizing that the God of Elijah was the one true God. This was a great spiritual victory! But soon after, Elijah was running for his life because the murderous King Ahab and Queen Jezebel were out to get him. He basically gets to the point where he sits down, and says to God, “Take away my life. I don’t want to live anymore.” Elijah is at a low point, he is discouraged, even reaching a point where he doesn’t even want to continue with life. I’m guessing that many people have been at a point like this somewhere along the road of life.

What I love about this story is that as Elijah’s running, discouraged, not really knowing what he was going to do, God meets him right where he was, and nourishes him. “Suddenly, an angel touched him. The angel told him, ‘Get up and eat.’ Then he looked, and there at his head was a loaf of bread baked over hot stones, and a jug of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again” (1 Kings 19:5b-6, CSB). God feeds and nourishes Elijah at this low point in his life. And then in the verses that follow, God reveals His glory in an all-together new way to Elijah, but it’s not in what we might call a spectacular way, like fire falling from heaven. Instead, it’s a still small voice, where God speaks to Elijah’s heart, and reminds him that he is not alone, that God is with him, and that God is committed to giving him everything he needs to stand up under the discouragement and loneliness that he feels.

I just want to encourage you, and remind you that God loves you. He wants to nourish and care for you, in every way your soul needs. You are not alone and He is committed to providing everything you need to be able to stand under the depths of discouragement.

I hope to see you and your family in church this coming Sunday. Don’t forget to let your light shine for Jesus!

Pastor Rick

Message From Andy (Student Minister)

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever!
– Ephesians 3:20-21
 
Church Family – I can’t come close to explaining how The Holy Spirit moved at our Camp Bays Mountain Retreat in August! I am still praising God for the four who were saved and the one who rededicated her life during that weekend, and I am in awe at how He is moving among our young people. I truly believe that God is raising them up as a “Revival Generation!”
 
Over the course of the weekend at Camp Bays Mountain, we did a deep-dive study into Paul’s letter to the Ephesians with a focus on how we are “So Much More” in God than we often realize. Ephesians 3:20 reminds us that we have God’s mighty power at work within us through The Holy Spirit, and that He wants to do more in us and through us than we can possibly ask for or even imagine – all for His Glory! As we studied through Ephesians, we were reminded that:
  • God’s got you.
  • God delights in you.
  • God empowers you.
  • You are an essential part of God’s plan.
  • You are not alone.
  • Your life has tremendous potential.
I’m excited to share more with you about our weekend at Camp Bays Mountain on September 7th this month!
 
Andy