Tag Archives: church notes

My Honest Testimony and Sunday Sermon Notes from 9/22/13

Testimonies Never Expire, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

This was my recap of my Sunday sermon notes for “Contagious Testimony.”
The scriptures for the sermon were from John 4:1-42.  People from the congregation were selected to give their very personal testimonies. God gets the glory for all He has done in our lives.

God delivered you out of the hand of the enemy. When was the last time you told someone? People need to know they’re looking at a miracle. You’re holding it in and not sharing it. Knock down the barriers that keep you from telling your story. You don’t need a license. You can be an evangelist and a missionary. Testify!
When Jesus met the woman at the well He tore down the Wall of Separation, Wall of Confidence, Wall of Pain, Wall of Experience, and Wall of Expectation. It wasn’t about the water, but the testimony.
Nobody can tell your story like you can. Take advantage of every opportunity to tell someone what the Lord has done for you so they will run to Him. God will send someone in your direction. Tell them how:
He healed you,
He delivered you from addiction, depression, and crazy relationships,
He kept you from having sex before marriage,
He was your Provider when you were broke,
He kept you when you were homeless,
He mended your marriage and your broken pieces,
He saved your children when they were running the streets,
He returned your children when they were taken away,
He made a way out of no way!
What’s YOUR story?
You’re a survivor and your praise should reflect what He’s done for you. There’s power in telling your testimony. If God did it before, He can do it again. He wants you to be His spokesperson. Run and tell somebody! Spread the word in the barbershop, the beauty shop and wherever you go! Contagious Testimony! Withholding Nothing!

So, after this powerful sermon I looked back and got a testimony I posted last year on my birthday. I don’t care how few people are reading this blog. I’m going to re-post that right now. Why should I be ashamed of how good God has been to me? This is a testament to what He can do for you too. This is why I started this blog, to share and hopefully others would share too. Here it is:

Lord, Your Grace And Mercy Brought Me Through…childhood sexual abuse, sniffing rubber cement and nail polish remover, the kinky, freaky and horny years, fornication, whoring, adultery, sexual movies, books and magazines, masturbation, cigarettes, marijuana, PCP (tac), free-basing cocaine, crack, pills, beer, wine, cognac, scotch, bourbon, whiskey, over-proof rum, tequila, champagne, brandy, vodka, long island ice tea, cursing, being a bitch, negativity, dark depression, evil thoughts, revenge, the daily game, the midday game, guilt, shame, condemnation, low self-esteem, self-consciousness, insecurity, rejection, loneliness, selfishness, feeling ugly and worthless, taking risks, the love of money, credit card abuse, confrontations, and lust. I still have issues, but I’m not what I did. The Lord still loves me in spite of my past. He forgave me. If He delivered me from all of this, He can do anything for you. Nothing is too hard for God! Not going to share the stories here, but I don’t look like what I’ve been through. God gets all the glory for me making it to today. Grace, Mercy, and Favor. Hallelujah!

 

Advertisement

Sunday Sermon Notes from 9/8/13

Testimonies Never Expire, , , , , , ,

Recap of “Contagious Warfare” preached on September 8, 2013 by PJFH.
Contagious means it catches. In the first chapter of Job a messenger came to Job to give him bad news. In verses 16, 17,and 18 it says: and while he was speaking…back to back things were going wrong.
Some of us have been going through back to back. It’s like a domino effect. We need a break! We’re going through spiritual warfare. But you’ve already won.
In the 9th chapter of Acts, Paul was converted. In the 13th chapter, he was assigned to the Gentiles. In the 14th chapter, his warfare began.
Acts 14:8-10. Paul saw a man’s faith. It could not be denied. What does faith look like? Like the opposite of defeat. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. The man’s faith increased as Paul preached. He stood up and the warfare began. If you were quiet and never said anything the devil wouldn’t bother you. If you keep praising God and giving Him glory, you’re making the devil mad.
YOUR ACTIONS ARE MISUNDERSTOOD. Acts 14:11-12. Your actions are twisted. You were just being nice to someone and they think you want them. You’re just giving God glory, doing good and people think you want attention. Your actions are misunderstood.
YOUR WORDS ARE MISUNDERSTOOD. Acts 14:18. People don’t hear what you’re saying, even though you’re a good communicator. There’s a spirit of confusion. You know what you’re trying to say, but that’s not what they hear.
PEOPLE COME TOGETHER AGAINST YOU. Acts 14:19a. People come together as a mob to shut you down. They don’t like you and they don’t even know you. Spirits rise up against you because somebody said something to poison their minds against you. God will let the truth come out. The trap they’re setting up will snap their head off. No weapon formed against you shall prosper. You’re more than a conqueror.
How did the whole town turn against Jesus and they were just praising him earlier and laying palms in his path? God’s going to get the glory. You’re going to be all right. You’ve got angels. This was just your season to go through. You will be okay.
YOU GO THROUGH ALONE. Acts14:12b. Paul was chief speaker. You stand out. You’re trying to blend in, but you stand out. You’re chief in every area. You’re not trying to be like everybody else. They’re already talking, so give them something to talk about. You should be a chief worshiper with a chief anointing. You’re alone. Everybody was there when everything was okay. Now nobody calls you when you need somebody to talk to. You can pick up on them, but they’re not there for you. Your BFF has become Best Friend Failed. You can be around a lot of people and still be alone.
YOU GO THROUGH PHYSICALLY.  Acts 14:19:b Paul was stoned, dragged out of the city, and left for dead. What happened to Barnabas? Your warfare affects you physically. You have heart palpitations, you can’t sleep, your metabolism is off and you gain weight even though you’re not eating that much. You’re stressed, have panic attacks, and your hair is falling out. Your mind is running while you’re trying to sleep. Your body won’t act right. Your self-esteem is affected. The devil is trying to leave you for dead.  It’s not over for you! The devil is a liar! You will be all right! When you’re having a flesh moment you say: It’s just too much! I can’t live like this!
You may be down for a minute, but it’s time to get up. There are people who can hear and see your back to back pain. God won’t put more on you than you can bear. You look like you’re dead because the devil doesn’t see you moving. You seem to think you’re done too, but God has reserved breath down in your soul. When the devil turns his back, get that last breath. You will breathe again! It’s time to get it together.
Here are the THREE STEPS TO GET BACK. Acts 14:20
THE DISCIPLES GATHERED AROUND HIM.  You need lively people to get around you. You need to be around life. You were depleted, drying up and have been supernaturally going through hell. Live! Breathe! Get your breath back, your ministry back, your praise back, your drive back! God will breathe into you and get the glory out of your ministry, your calling, your destiny, your dream, your tears, your disappointment, your pain and your rejection. You were left for dead, but you’re still alive. We come against the enemy’s assignment to make you have a nervous breakdown. Catch your breath! Inhale! Exhale! Breathe! You are still going to be who God called you to be! You will still have an opportunity. You still have a praise.
HE GOT UP. You can either lay in defeat or you can get up. You have to get up! It’s not over for you! You have too much in you!
HE WENT BACK INTO THE CITY. Face the ones who don’t like you and are talking about you. You’re scared you’re going to get hit again. You need to teach again and love again. Brace yourself to be hated by your enemies. Dream again, preach again, get your personality back, get your smile back, your gift back, your zeal back, your strength back.
You’re a leader. You can’t be in the back. Get back to the front! Be who God called you to be! Contagious warfare is back to back to back to back. You need the breath of God! Breathe on my family,  on my business, on my children, on my marriage, on my gifts, on my friends and relationships.
Get out of a dead place, cross over and submit to the breath of God so you can be free. God’s giving you a fresh breath! If you breathe you will get everything back the devil thought he’d taken from you.
I command you to live! You’ve got to live! Lord, Breathe Into Me Once Again.

Sunday Sermon Notes from 7/7/13

Testimonies Never Expire,

Sunday, 7/7/13, my Pastor preached a sermon called Family Feud. These are the notes I wrote.
God spoke to Abram and told him to leave home. He obeyed God. Genesis 12:5. Abram did not just take his wife and Lot. He took the people too. There was a group of people following one man. There is a blessing in being obedient. Abram obeyed and was blessed. Genesis 13:2. When you’re connected to someone who is blessed, you’re blessed too.
THE PROBLEM
Genesis 13:5. Lot was blessed with flocks, herds and tents because of his connection to his uncle. When you’re blessed, look out for the enemy who will try to cut your connection. The devil doesn’t like blessed people. They were so blessed the land could not hold them and all they owned. Genesis 13:7. There was an argument among their men. There had to be a division between Abram and Lot. A house divided can’t stand. The neighbors in the land are watching Lot and Abram. You don’t want outsiders to see what’s going on in your home.  Your parents told you to keep family business in the house. You don’t want to be on a rocky boat like Jonah. If you’re the reason my boat is rocking, you have to go.
Genesis 13:11-13.  Abram told Lot to choose where he wanted to live. When you have the option of making choices, make the right decision at all times. Make decisions that put you in the Will of God.
Abram chose to live in the land of Canaan. He could hear God.  Lot chose to live among the cities. Genesis 13:12b. He pitched his tent toward Sodom, where there was wickedness and sinning. People like to go where the noise is. Lot could hear the crowd. Don’t get so close to something that you get pulled in and you find yourself doing things you thought you would never do. Teenagers like to go where the action is, outside of their parents’ home.
THE CAPTURE
Genesis 14:11-12. Lot was carried off and all his possessions. Now here’s a family feud.
We shout over the wrong things; a house or a car. What about your children and your spouse? Heaven does not care about your promotion. They want your family members to be saved! You don’t want them going to hell. You’re saved, but your family members are on drugs and they’re alcoholics. The devil is a liar! As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord! Take back what belongs to you! The devil wants to take your children.
Is your family saved? Where are your  children? God, please chase them until they say yes. My children will be saved this year! Are we going to be selfish and shout over stuff? Don’t dance over a car. Pray for God to deliver your family members. Stop talking about you and pray for someone else!
THE TAKE BACK.
How do you take it back?
*You can’t ignore it. Genesis 14:14a.  Abram heard about Lot being captured.
Call it out. Look at your children.  Are your son’s lips black, his eyes yellow, and does he stink? You think your daughter is a virgin, but that’s not what everybody else is saying. Take authority with your kids. Be a parent; you can’t be their friend. It should get to you that your family is not saved.
*Get an army together. Chapter 14 is the first we hear of Abram fighting. Genesis 14:14b. He had 318 trained fighting men, just in case. You better have an army of prayer warriors together, just in case. You need back up in case the devil tries something.
Call out your family member’s name to come forth and put a praise on it.
*Pursue. Genesis 14:15. Be consistent in calling on God on your family members’ behalf. Get a pit bull mentality. Believe God for them and fight in the spirit. If you have the faith to say it, you should believe it. Fight for them like you’re crazy. Be persistent and continue to love on them.  Show God’s love at all times.  Release their name in the spirit so that God will arrest them. Get over the rejection and being talked about. Keep your children’s names in the atmosphere. God is able! The devil is already defeated.
*The Recovery. Genesis 14:16. Abram recovered all, everyone and everything. Believe God will save your family members before the year is out. You should want your whole house saved. Watch younger children; they can have spirits too. Write down the name of the person you want to be saved and delivered before the year is out and take it to the Lord in prayer.  There Is Power In The Name Of Jesus.

Bible Study Notes from 7/2/13

Testimonies Never Expire, , , , , ,

These are notes I took at Bible Study Tuesday night while my Pastor was teaching:
We pray for ourselves. It’s always me, me, me. Who do you serve? Who do you minister to? Who do you give to? You have to release. You can’t even take your next breath until you release the one you have.
We catch many types of fish in the church. The educated must release so they won’t be full of themselves. Don’t build a gated community around yourself. You have to help others. We can’t be selfish. Jesus said go in the highways and the byways. The whole don’t need a physician. We need to minister to the lost. Use me, Lord. We must look for opportunities to release. The Takers will take advantage of you and you can’t even get a thank you.
The older must teach the younger. Someone has to tell young ladies they can’t shower like a man. They have to sit in the tub and rest in the Lord.  Someone has to tell young men they have to change their underwear every day and use some cologne. Sometimes parents don’t teach us what we should know. Don’t be selfish. Release, then you will receive.
RELEASE THE OIL.
Read 2 Kings 4:3-6.  A man died with a debt and by right the sons could have been taken as slaves. The widow went to Elisha. He asked her, what can I do for you? He could have stopped there and spoke some things into existence but he immediately asked, “What did you have in the house?” He told her to get her kids and ask for all the empty jars in the neighborhood. The greater the hustle, the greater the blessing. When they had done that he told her to close the door. Then she wouldn’t have to hear people’s opinions.
She had to take the little oil she had and pour in each jar. When it was full, start another jar. You must release the little you have. Use me, Lord. God knows what you have to give because He gave it to you. The oil stopped flowing when all the jars were filled. Elisha told the widow that she could pay off her debt. Why did the sons have to take part in that? Because your children need to see your God at work.
Now you can get a job, now you can pay your bills, now you can have money and not try to impress folks. A little money is a lot of money to someone who doesn’t have any money.
RELEASING FORGIVENESS.
God can’t restore you with anger and non-forgiveness in your spirit. He will make you pray for the ones who did you wrong. God has more for you. Don’t let nothing stop your blessing.  Read Job 42:7-10. God sent Job’s friends to him so he could pray for them.
Have you ever had someone treat you really badly in public and in private they asked you to pray for them? If someone has done you wrong, let it go. Be happy if they get blessed. In fact, you should speak blessings on them. After Job prayed for his friends, after he released the prayers, he got back everything he’d lost and had more than before.
RELEASING THE RESOURCES.
If you’re living well, you’re blessed. If you have a car that goes from point A to point B, you’re blessed. Why are we blessed? It’s a blessing to be a blessing.
Read 2 Kings 4:8-10, 14-16.  A woman fed Elisha a meal.  Then it turned into meals, because he always stopped by to eat. She thought of more she could do for Elisha. Up your game. This is a holy man. She talked to her husband and decided to make him a furnished room on the roof. Look for an opportunity to be a blessing.
Elisha wanted to bless the woman back. She’d sowed the material. He sowed into her hurt spirit when he found out she and her husband had no children. He told her this time next year she would have a child. Lock it in. Commit to it. He had been eating and running. She was making him comfortable. Locking Elisha into her house was like locking God in her house. If you lock God into your life, He will blow your mind. One meal turned into a shut-in. God will resurrect things in your spirit. Your labor will not be in vain. Look for an opportunity to be a blessing.
RELEASING YOUR DISAPPOINTMENT.
You will be let down. You just have to grab the horns of the altar. God already knows what He’s going to do. Don’t put God on probation. Don’t walk away from God because you’re disappointed. It will clog your arteries and your blood can’t flow.
David’s baby was sick. David was praying and the baby died. What are you going to do? Everybody sees you praying. They don’t want to see you have a relapse. Let it go. Release and receive. Release depression and  disappointment. The plane can’t land because of your depression. You’ve got a runway full of disappointment. Let it go! God will put the right people in your life. Do not cry over who is not there; instead, celebrate who is there.
Read 2 Samuel 12:20-23. David found out his baby died and he worshiped. Worship will deliver you from anything. Let’s clear the runway! David could always have another child. The atmosphere had to be right to create another baby. The next baby turned out to be Solomon, who grew to be a wise king. Release! Better is coming in your direction! Things have to die out in our life for a reason.
RELEASE YOUR FAITH.
When you’re hurt, it’s hard to make yourself believe again. Release your faith. If you’re the type who has to connect all the dots, it will jack you up. Why this? Why that? You can’t make sense out of sin. Sin don’t make no sense. You’re a control freak. Stop. He is God! Release that!
Read Matthew 8:5-10. He told Jesus, just say the word and my servant will be healed. You don’t have to come to my house. Just speak it. Jesus saw the man’s faith.
Young people come to church on fire for the Lord with crazy faith. Don’t let these folks who have been in church all their life mess up your faith. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. It’s going to happen. I believe God! Up your faith!
Your sacrificial lifestyle pays off. God will require some things from you. There are places they can go, but you can’t go. Jesus wants you in an isolated place. He brings your body under subjection. You can’t have what your flesh craves.
Read 2 Chronicles 7:1-3. The people brought a sacrifice and fire consumed the sacrifice. God’s Gory filled the temple. The Glory demands respect. Even if people don’t like you, they have to respect you. Put something out there so God will come and get it.
RELEASING YOUR PRAISE.
God’s Glory will come. You can’t live a raggedy life if you expect God to come. There’s a war between spirit and flesh. What does God want you to do? You want His Glory to come. Your sacrifice is about to pay off. Don’t regret the hurt, pain and disappointment. When you release, you receive the Glory of God. We want to receive His Glory. Release your worship. Tell God: I give myself away. I am Yours. Thank Him in advance that the Glory of the Lord will be heavy in your life. Set yourself up to be blessed. Release so you can receive.
***My written Bible Study notes as taught by P.J.F.H. of N.L.C.SE – 7/2/13
(not sure if I can use names in a blog).