2. How are you doing in this SEASON of your life? (Eccl 3:3,4)
“A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.”

• What time is it IN you?
• What time is it in those AROUND you?
* Make the most of your time! (Eph 5:16)

“And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.”

Introduction: How many of us would like to “Increase Our Faith”? Do you need “increased faith”? Perhaps we all do! Extraordinary Faith is available for ordinary believers….who believe BIG! “Faith” in Jesus does not mean everything always turns out the way we want it to. Rather, “Faith” in Jesus means we trust Him no matter what (see Heb 11:1-6). Like the New Testament disciples, we must learn to depend on His Word regardless of the circumstances. Luke, the historian and physician, recommends (3) remedies for EXTRAORDINARY FAITH!

1. Why do we need EXTRAORDINARY FAITH? (Luke 17:5)
“And the apostles said to the Lord, Increase our faith.”

• Because of our problems {What’s yours?}
• Because of God’s promises {Do you know them?}

2. When can we expect EXTRAORDINARY FAITH? (Luke 17:6)
“And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.” {Sycamine tree is sometimes translated mulberry}

• Faith in the Old Testament demonstrated
* Abel
* Enoch
* Noah
* Abraham
* Jacob
* Moses
* Joshua
* Gideon
* Deborah
* Ruth
* Jeremiah
* Elijah
* Elisha

• Faith in the New Testament illustrated
* Centurion (Matt 7)
* Syrophoenician woman (Matt 15)
* Sinful woman (Luke 7)
* Lydia
* Barnabas

3. How can we have EXTRAORDINARY FAITH? (Luke 17:6)
“If ye…have faith as a grain of mustard seed.”

• Look back to God’s Provisions
• Look forward to God’s Vision

1. When can we EXPECT a REVIVAL? (Psa 138:7)
“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me.”

• When we return to our 1st Love (Psa 138:1, 2)
• When we return to the Word of God (Psa 138:2)
• When we get humble before God (Psa 138:6)

2. How can we tell we need a REVIVAL? (Psa 138:7)
“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me.”

• When we neglect prayer
• When we neglect soul winning
• When we lose our passion for spiritual things

Conclusion: These trying and troubling days are requiring God’s people to be full of FAITH and RESURRECTION POWER in order to flesh out the Christian life. But He is our source! Revival is possible… daily as we abide in Him.

Mark 2:1-16

Mark’s gospel records (3) ways to tell if you are a REAL FRIEND:

1. REAL FRIENDS bring their friends to Jesus! (Mark 2:1-4)
“And they come into him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was born of four….and when they could not come night unto him….they uncovered the roof….they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.”

2. REAL FRIENDS bring their friends to Jesus to be forgiven, because they’ve been forgiven! (Mark 2:5-11)
“When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.”

• Jesus saw their faith (Faith moves the Master)
• Jesus forgave his sin

3. REAL FRIENDS bring their friends to Jesus, then they find FREEDOM! (Mark 2:1)
“And immediately he arose, took up the bed…they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.”

• Jesus heals spiritual sickness
• Jesus heals physical sickness

Introduction: Have you asked the question….”Where in the world are we heading?” Do you ever wonder, “what’s on the other side?” I’m glad to tell you that we can have assurance & confidence when we TRUST in the Lord that He will both provide and guide all the days of our life. The book of Deuteronomy is called the 2nd law. Why? Because Moses was giving instructions to the younger generation (Israeli people) about entering the promised land. You’ll recall due to their unbelief (Num 13, 14), they could not enter into the place of rest (Heb 3, 4) that God had promised them. Unbelief always short circuits the power and provisions of God (Heb 11:6)! As with the children of Israel (even though the Church does not REPLACE them), we can identify with their dilemma today in (3) ways:

1. Where we are heading today are PLACES we have never been before! (Deut 11:10)
“For the land, whither thou goest in to possess it, is not as the land of Egypt, from whence ye came out.”

• Egypt, a PLACE of bondage
• Canaan, a PLACE of Victory

2. Where we are heading today are PLACES that will have its UPS and DOWNS! (Deut 11: 11)
“But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven.”

• Uphill battles to fight
• Downhill valleys to walk

3. Where we are heading today are PLACES to see the WATCH-CARE of our Lord! (Deut 11:12)
“A land which the Lord thy God careth for: the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.”

• God will take care of us
• God will watch over us

“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?”

Introduction: These are “TROUBLED TIMES”! Yet, our Lord Jesus Christ has blazed a trail before us with His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection; furthermore, His daily PRESENCE within us, along with His PROMISE to come back for us empowers every believer with hope and assurance for not only abundant living, but also eternal life. Paul gives CHRISTians (4) ways to trust “Triumphant Truths for Troubled Times”!

1. Christ-centered IDENTIFICATION! (2 Cor 2:14)
“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ.”

• Brand new Love
• Brand new Lord
• Brand new Life

2. Faith-based TRANSFORMATION! (2 Cor 2:14)
“And maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.”

• Living by Feelings
• Living by Faith

3. Spirit – filled PARTICIPATION! (2 Cor 2:15)
“For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish.”

• Imitation
• Participation

4. God-honoring MANIFESTATION! (2 Cor 2:16)
“To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life.”

• Fresh fruit
• Rotten fruit

1. Look at the PRESENCE of God’s CREATION! (Psa 19:1, 2)
“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.”

• See God’s Natural Creation (Psa 19:1, 2)
• Read God’s Supernatural Revelation (Psa 19:7-11)

2. Consider the POWER of God’s REVELATION! (Psa 19:7-11)
“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandments of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb….there is great reward.”

• Restoration (v 7)
• Transformation (v 7)
• Jubilation (v 8)
• Illumination (v 8)
• Satisfaction (vv 9, 10)
• Compensation (v 11)

• Trash In = Trash Out
• Truth In = Truth Out

Conclusion: We do not worship God’s CREATION, we worship the CREATOR – God (“EL”- where we get the word “Elohim,” which means Supreme Being – by the way, Paul mentions Jesus created it all – Col 1:16). Yet, we can admire His handiwork (Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, the sun, moon, and stars, etc)…”How Great thou Art”! But equally important, is the Lord’s “Specific REVELATION,” namely the Bible…”perfect, sure, right, and pure.” The Word of God will keep us from SIN or SIN will keep us from the Word of God (Psa 19:7-13)! So, our prayer ought to be: “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”

Introduction: Recently, I received a call, right after it happened, from a person whose almost new truck had been vandalized – the windows were shot out, busted, and shattered to pieces by bullets from a gun for no reason. Needless to say, they were irate…..ANGRY….we would say RED-HOT MAD! – understandably so….to the point charges were filed.

However, after praying and coming to Church, God began to work on the perpetrators along with this couple who experienced this dastardly deed. Days later, they called and things were made RIGHT! Charges were dropped…. restitution was made, all because they included the Lord Jesus in the situation. Troubles and trials are unavoidable, but having a “PASSION for Jesus” helps lighten the load!

• Being right is all because of God’s “AMAZING GRACE” which initiates salvation (Titus 2:11)
{“Salvation” is the word soterios – see Eph 2:8, 9}
• Doing right is all because of God’s “ABOUNDING GRACE” which activates separation (Titus 2:12)

2. A PASSION to follow Jesus in this life by LOOKING RIGHT! (Titus 2:13, 14)
“Looking for that blessed hope, and glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ: Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

• God’s Grace looks in the RIGHT place! (Titus 2:13)
• God’s grace trusts in the RIGHT person! (Titus 2:14)
{“Purify” is the word katharise, which means to cleanse}

Conclusion: Remember; it pays to follow Jesus! Not just as a “good luck charm” or a “spare tire” but rather, He calls us to have a “PASSION” (strong desire) to include Him in our life as our Lord & Savior! Then and only then, does He guide us, cleanse us, and fill us to live a supernatural life that cannot be humanly explained, but divinely experienced.

“I have decided to follow Jesus!”
Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese

2 Corinthians 8 and 9

Introduction: How many of you like a BARGAIN? Speaking of bargains, my granddad used to spend hours cutting out of the paper coupons that would save money. Then he would pass some of those coupons along to us grandchildren at Christmas time. He was known as “Thrifty”! Paul, on one of his missionary journeys, wrote a second letter to the believers at Corinth (who had money), encouraging them to give to the Lord like other Churches had done; i.e, those in Macedonia (Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea). The money would be used to meet the needs of those less fortunate saints in Jerusalem. Three (3) steps were given to the believers that guarantee a BLESSING from God:

1. In order to Discover the BEST BARGAINS, we must 1st GIVE of OURSELVES to the Lord! (2 Cor 8:1-5)
“Moreover, brethren we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia. How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality….Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.”

• His grace, freely given
• His grace, freely received
• His grace, freely lived

2. In order to Discover the BEST BARGAINS, we must GIVE of our SUBSTANCES (resources) to the Lord! (2 Cor 8:12-9:8)
“For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not…..Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf….He which soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall really bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

• Give from A willing mind (2 Cor 8:12)
• Give from A loving heart (2 Cor 8:24)
• Give from A cheerful hand (2 Cor 9:6-8)
{“cheerful” is the word hilarios… our word hilarious!}
Do we give hilariously?