The Church of Eleven22

We bring to God our first and best because He first loved us by giving His best in Christ Jesus.

Colossians is all about grace from start to finish because the Bible is all about grace from start to finish. The Bible is all about grace from start to finish because God is all about grace from start to finish.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21

Man-made religion is our attempt to make our way to a god up there somewhere through our own efforts. The Gospel is that God came down to rescue us. 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). Matthew 1:22-23 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10

Jesus did not come to bring peace. He is peace. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.John 16:33

Is it time for you to come to your senses, leave your rebellion or religion and come home to an Everlasting Father? For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” Romans 8:15

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 Do you need a Wonderful Counselor? You can access the power and presence of the Holy Spirit through person of Jesus Christ.

The same God who warns us so adamantly about hell is the same God that sent his only begotten son Jesus to bear our sins and save us from hell. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:3-4 Jesus is both the most active voice on Hell in the Bible and the saving voice saying, “surrender and follow me, for I have come to save.” The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. Revelation 22:17 The reality of Hell should: 1. Stir us with passion to worship the King of Heaven 2. Strengthen the urgency of eternity in our witness of the salvation of Jesus 3. Sober us to the reality of the kingdom of self and its consequences

When we pray “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” we are not merely praying “God make our lives better” we are saying “God rule and reign here. God have your way with us because your way IS better.”

Passivity is holding back your strength for self preservation. Aggression is expressing your strength for self gratification. Love is leveraging your strength for others through self sacrifice. *The use of the trademark "Act Like Men” is with the express permission of Harvest Bible Chapel (www.actlikemen.org).

True strength is not found in position, possessions, or power but in the PERSON and Work of Jesus. * When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; Luke 11:21 * For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12: 10b * Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 *The use of the trademark "Act Like Men” is with the express permission of Harvest Bible Chapel (www.actlikemen.org).

-The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is his name. Exodus 15:3 - So God created man in his own image, Genesis 1:27 - For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, Ephesians 6:12 To Stand up and Act like Men we must dress our selves for battle and go to war to DEFEND and PROTECT our loved ones. Stand firm because our Victory is in Jesus. "by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him." The use of the trademark "Act Like Men” is with the express permission of Harvest Bible Chapel (www.actlikemen.org).

THE REBELLIOUS PERSON follows their own desires and ends up, despite some fun, being devoured. THE RELIGIOUS PERSON follows their rules and ends up, despite their effort, being devoured. THE GOSPEL CENTERED PERSON follows Christ the victor and ends up, despite our hardship, in victory. *The use of the trademark "Act Like Men” is with the express permission of Harvest Bible Chapel (www.actlikemen.org).

To STAND UP and act like a man you must first BOW DOWN and surrender to Jesus. For if, because of one man’s (Adam) trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17 ”It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” – Teddy Roosevelt *The use of the trademark "Act Like Men” is with the express permission of Harvest Bible Chapel (www.actlikemen.org).

The Church of Eleven22 is a movement for all people to discover and DEEPEN a relationship with Jesus

The Church of Eleven22 is a movement for all people to DISCOVER and deepen a relationship with Jesus. Have YOU Discovered a relationship with Jesus?

The Church of Eleven22 is a movement for ALL PEOPLE to discover and deepen a relationship with Jesus Christ. So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:1-5

The Church of Eleven22 is A MOVEMENT for all people to discover and deepen a relationship with Jesus Christ. “God did not start this movement for us to stop it.” – Deb Petersen (wife of the chairman of the Elder Board)

God LOVED so God GAVE. If we BELIEVE then we RECEIVE eternal life. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. – Jesus (Matthew 5:16)

As followers of Jesus, our lives are subject to a greater authority. We live our lives under the rule of Jesus. We do what he says. We see the world through his view. The way we know what he says and the way we see his view is through the Bible.

The Point: Apart from JESUS our lives, our families, and our country will fall APART. How do we respond? When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said “Repent,” he intended that the entire life of believers should be repentance. – Martin Luther

Religion is as dangerous as irreligion because both neglect the proper treatment of God’s Word and thus neglect the relationship offered by Jesus to us. The whole Bible points to a relationship with Jesus, not religious activity. RELIGION IS ROOTED IN MAN’S ATTEMPTED EFFORT TO REACH GOD. Relationship is rooted in God’s accomplished effort to redeem man.

If you are not ROOTED in the finished work of Jesus Christ, then you will surely be UPROOTED by the schemes of the enemy: the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:16-17

God does not call the brave, BUT GIVES COURAGE TO THE CALLED.

The Church (and this world) needs men and women who are obedient to the call of God in their lives. Is it time for you to get off of the sidelines and get into the game?

THERE IS NO TESTIMONY WITHOUT A TEST. - IF dependence on God is the ultimate point then maybe weakness is our greatest asset. “Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” – C.S. Lewis “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” –The Apostle Paul- 2 Corinthians 12:10

“When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, ‘Repent’ (Mt 4:17), he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.” – Martin Luther (the 1st of 95 Theses)

Often times the storm IN YOU is greater than the storm that YOU ARE IN. Jesus can calm them both because HE has overcome our storms. 33 "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 If you worship something finite, it can’t help you in a storm. IT WILL ONLY SINK WITH YOU. We need an infinite Christ who endured our storm. – Pastor Ryan Kwon

You don’t have to continue to do the things you used to do because you are not the person you use to be. TAKE OFF THOSE GRAVE CLOTHES AND LIVE. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

DO YOU NEED A MIRACLE? Do not fear; only believe, fight through the crowd and pray. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

THERE IS NO SHAME IN YOUR PAST. In Christ, your past pain is a platform for God’s Glory. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. – Saul of Tarsus (aka the Apostle Paul)

“I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:24 “Humanity falls into two equal and opposite errors concerning the devil. Either they take him altogether too seriously or they do not take him seriously enough.” – C.S. LEWIS “You cannot cast out the flesh and you cannot disciple a demon.” – Robert Morris

One of the best ways to DEEPEN your relationship with Jesus is to help others DISCOVER theirs.

The Purpose of Jesus’ Miracle isn’t necessarily to show His RAW POWER but to point to His REDEMPTIVE PURPOSE.

Do you believe?

Will you build your life of the Rock of surrender to Jesus or the shifting sands of Self? Final Thought: “Give me all of you!!! I don’t want so much of your time, so much of your talents and money, and so much of your work. I want YOU!!! ALL OF YOU!! I have not come to torment or frustrate the natural man or woman, but to KILL IT! No half measures will do. I don’t want to only prune a branch here and a branch there; rather I want the whole tree out! Hand it over to me, the whole outfit, all of your desires, all of your wants and wishes and dreams. Turn them ALL over to me, give yourself to me and I will make of you a new self---in my image. Give me yourself and in exchange I will give you Myself. My will, shall become your will. My heart, shall become your heart.” CS Lewis, Mere Christianity

A TRUE friend is in the business of getting into your business. Do you have a friend like that? Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. Proverbs 27:6

God is who He says He is and He always keeps his promises. Rest in this truth. God’s Ultimate promise: 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32

In His MERCY God created refuge for ALL PEOPLE before we even knew we needed it. In His GRACE God provided the salvation we could never achieve on our own. God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive MERCY and find GRACE to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16

When you believe in a Sovereign Lord you pray BIG BOLD prayers. (Acts 4:23-31) “Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:13-16

How would you describe your financial situation? FAITHFUL, FEARFUL, or FALSE SECURITY 24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:24-25, 33

“For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” 1 Corinthians 1:25

God did not save you to make much of you, but the gospel frees you to make much of Him. “It is about the greatness of God, not the significance of man. God made man small and the universe big to say something about himself.” ― John Piper, Don't Waste Your Life