Grace Truth Time
Church that Heal Series – Session 1
Grace + Truth + Time
Sunday, November 8, 2020
Senior Pastor, Dr. Janet Cook
©2020 Praysers Ministries, Inc. d.b.a. River of Life Community Church
Note: Unless otherwise indicated all scriptures are taken from the NKJV
The Heartbeat of River of Life is to provide a place of refuge for all people to meet with Jesus and receive healing for their body, soul and spirit as their hope is restored and their strength is renewed by sharing the Love of God through His Word.
Luke 13:6-9
He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’ ”
(Play Dr Henry – Session 1)
Grace + Truth + Time
Dig around, Fertilize, and Give it Time
Luke 13:6-9 He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’ ”
Jesus Full of Grace and Truth
John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
“Grace is something you can never get but only be given. There’s no way to earn it or deserve it or bring it about any more than you can deserve the taste of raspberries and cream or earn good looks or bring about your own birth.” Frederick Buechner
“Grace is the enabling gift of God not to sin. Grace is power, not just pardon.”
John Piper
G5485 charis (χάρις), “grace,” indicating favor on the part of the giver, “thanks” on the part of the receiver, is rendered “acceptable.”
By Grace You Are Saved Through Faith
Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
We Need Grace and We Need God’s Truth
John 17:15-17,19 “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. (19) And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.”
- Sanctify – to make holy,
- Vines Dictionary – Sanctify – G37 The separation of the believer from the world in his behavior— by the Father through the Word (John 17:17, 19).
- Sanctifying grace – The way we receive grace is through God’s truth, the Holy Scripture, the word of truth. The prayer of Jesus is for his disciples to be kept from evil and made holy.
- “Sanctified by the truth”
To Change Your Life – Abide in the Word
John 15:3-4 “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 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.”
- We are saved by grace and sanctified by Truth – Which is God’s Word.
John 8:31-32
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Grace + Truth + Time
We Grow Up
Ephesians 4:15-16 “But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 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.”
1 Peter 4:10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Transformation
Romans 12:1-3 “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.”
What must I do to be saved?
“What must I do to be saved?”
PPT Water Baptism
Sunday, November 1, 2020
Senior Pastor, Dr. Janet Cook
©2020 Praysers Ministries, Inc. d.b.a. River of Life Community Church
Note: Unless otherwise indicated all scriptures are taken from the NKJV
Jesus Baptized
Matthew 3:13-17 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.
When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Jesus Commanded
Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore 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.”
What shall we do?
Acts 2:36-37 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
Repent and be Baptized
Acts 2:38-39 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
Received his word and were Baptized
Acts 2:40-42 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers
Gentiles Received the Holy Spirit
Acts 10:44-46 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.
Peter Commanded Them to be Baptized
Acts 10:47-48 Then Peter answered, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
Fall in Love with the Word Part 3
Fall in Love with the Word of God Part 3
PPT “Fight the Good Fight!”
Sunday, October 25, 2020
Senior Pastor, Dr. Janet Cook
Be Watchful in All Things
2 Timothy 4:5
“But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
- Be Watchful
- Endure Afflictions
- Do the Work of an Evangelist
- Fulfill Your Ministry
Paul’s Farewell to Timothy
2 Timothy 4:6
“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.”
- Paul’s life was poured out like a drink offering to God.
- Departure – analusis – G359 – an unloosing
- Laying down the burden in order to rest
2 Timothy 4:7
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
- Fight – agnon – Paul had done his best
- Finished the race – Paul completed his course
- Kept the faith – Paul never lost confidence or hope in the Lord.
2 Timothy 4:8
“Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
- Paul would receive his reward from the righteous Judge.
- To Timothy and all loyal believers, whatever discouragement or persecution we may face we know that our reward is with Christ in eternity.
God is a Shelter and a Strong Tower
Psalm 61:2-4
“From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle forever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings.”
I hear the Lord say that He is our true shelter and He is our safe place. Shelter in Him!
“Shelter-in-place” means to take immediate shelter where you are—at home, work, school, or in between. It may also mean “seal the room;” (CDC)
Shelter in Place
I hear the Spirit of the Lord say to the church you are my beloved. I am with you always. Draw close to me and I will keep you from the snare of the enemy.
(Over the last few months, I have heard the phrase “shelter in place” several times on the news.)
I hear the Lord say to the church that we are sheltered safely in him when we abide in His Word.
How to Shelter in Place
Psalm 91:1-2
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
How to Shelter in Place
The Hebrew word “Shelter” means “A place to hide from you enemies”
The Hebrew word “Refuge” means, “A place to run to for safety.”
The Hebrew word “Fortress” means “The one who keeps me”
The Lord is my Protector
Psalm 91:1
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”
- Dwells = H3427 – To sit down, to remain, to inhabit
- Rest = H3885 – to stop, to stay permanently, to remain, to dwell, to abide
- The Psalmist found in God a hiding place…a safe place… a resting place…from the trials…troubles…temptations… & terror of this world.
John 15:1-4
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 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.”
John 15:5-6
“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. 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.”
John 15:7-8
“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.”
Fall in Love with the Word of God Part 2 – Preach the Word
Fall in Love with the Word of God Part 2
“Preach the Word!”
Sunday, October 18, 2020
Senior Pastor, Dr. Janet Cook
©2020 Praysers Ministries, Inc. d.b.a. River of Life Community Church
Note: Unless otherwise indicated all scriptures are taken from the NKJV
The Word of God
2 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.
A Solemn Charge
2 Timothy 4:1-2
“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season.
Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”
- One day you will stand before the living God to give an account of your life.
- Take your life seriously, take the Word of God seriously.
- Be ready at all times
- Convince, Rebuke, Exhort – with the Word of God
- Be Patient and Teach
From the Truth to Fables
2 Timothy 4:3-4
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables.”
- They will find teachers who will tell them what they want to hear, not what they need to hear.
- They will turn away from God’s truth to embrace what feels good.
Be Watchful in All Things
2 Timothy 4:5
“But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
- Be Watchful
- Endure Afflictions
- Do the Work of an Evangelist
- Fulfill Your Ministry
Shelter in Place
I hear the Spirit of the Lord say to the church you are my beloved. I am with you always. Draw close to me and I will keep you from the snare of the enemy.
(Over the last few months, I have heard the phrase “shelter in place” several times on the news.)
I hear the Lord say to the church that we are sheltered safely in him.
Psalm 61:2-4
“From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings.”
I hear the Lord say that He is our true shelter and He is our safe place. Shelter in Him!
“Shelter-in-place” means to take immediate shelter where you are—at home, work, school, or in between. It may also mean “seal the room;” (CDC)
How to Shelter in Place
Psalm 91:1-2
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
How to Shelter in Place
The Hebrew word “Shelter” means “A place to hide from you enemies”
The Hebrew word “Refuge” means, “A place to run to for safety.”
The Hebrew word “Fortress” means “The one who keeps me”
The Lord is my Protector
Psalm 91:1
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”
- Dwells = H3427 – To sit down, to remain, to inhabit
- Rest = H3885 – to stop, to stay permanently, to remain, to dwell, to abide
- The Psalmist found in God a hiding place…a safe place… a resting place…from the trials…troubles…temptations… & terror of this world.
John 15:7
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”