Victory Fellowship Church Podcast

Parenting is NOT easy, but its simple: train your children the way God trains you.

Psalm 127:3a NLT "Children are a gift from God."

Our goal is to raise the type of child we would want to be friends with as an adult.  

Ephesians 6:1-4 NLT "Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. 2 "Honor your father and mother." This is the first commandment with a promise: 3 If you honor your father and mother, "things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth." 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

Children are provoked to anger when their core needs are not met.

1. Children need unconditional love. 

A child must know that they are valued, accepted and have a secure place in their family.

2. Children need a relationship with Jesus.

YOU lead them to Christ – and at an early age.

3. Children need spiritual discipleship.

Discipleship is intentional learning through practice. You are the mentor, they are the apprentice. (teacher/student)

P.R.E.P. your children:

Pray with them & for them.

Read scripture with them and to them.

Experience the presence of the Holy Spirit with them.

Protect  them from negative influences.

4. Children need to have fun.

5. Children need discipline.

Don't think of discipline as punishment for bad behavior, think of it as training in good behavior.  

Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

Proverbs 22:15 "A youngster's heart is filled with foolishness, but physical discipline will drive it far away."

It's a child's job to test their boundaries. It's your job to determine and enforce the boundaries.

Keys to loving, effective discipline: 

   1.      Pick your battles.

   2.      Set clear expectations and consequences.

   3.      Administer discipline with restraint.

   4.      Be consistent!

6. Children need a safe place to talk.

7. Children need role models.

Good parents don't just say it, they demonstrate it.

Don't be like Jesse, who didn't even invite David to be considered for king.

(1 Sam 16 )

***Are you training your children in the way Jesus is training you?

In this series, we're talking about things that aren't easy, but they're simple.  

Pastor Jamie Nunnally shares that it is not easy to walk in forgiveness, but it's simple.

 There are three types of forgiveness God is calling us to experience:

1. Receiving God's forgiveness

2. Forgiving ourselves

3. Forgiving others

We must receive God's forgiveness.

1 John 1:9 

God is more willing to forgive our sin than we are sometimes willing to admit our sin. God wants you to admit your sin because you can't be released from what you don't recognize.

Ephesians 1:7 "He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins." SO RICH!

If someone isn't forgiven, its not because God won't forgive them, but because they won't receive it.

 Isaiah 43:25 "I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again."

How often do you think about a bill you've already paid? You don't. That's how often God thinks about your forgiven sin: He doesn't. 

Feeling guilty doesn't make you a good person.

We must forgive ourselves.

We can only give what we have, so before we forgive others, we must forgive ourselves.

2 Peter 1:8-9

If you believe you're still a sinner, you will act like a sinner. If you believe you're forgiven, you will act like you're forgiven.

 Romans 8:1 "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus."

We must forgive others.

Matthew 6:14-15 "If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins."

Forgiveness is a two-sided coin. God can't redeem it until you release it. 

Forgiving others is not:

1. Denying what happened. 

The only people that won't like you having boundaries in your life are the people that have something to gain from you having none.

2. Excusing sin. 

3. Shielding someone from consequences. 

4. A guarantee that someone will change. 

If you need someone else to change in order for you to be OK, you are their prisoner.

Forgiveness is simply saying "I know a better judge than me and I am going to let Him handle this." Forgiveness is saying "I know unforgiveness is poison and I refuse to ingest it."

How to forgive others: Make the choice & engage the process.

You can't be married without a wedding but having a wedding doesn't mean you stay married.

Matthew 18:21-22 "Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven."

Forgiveness is not just a point in time action; It's a life-long decision.

Have you received God's forgiveness?

Have you forgiven yourself?

Are you forgiving others?

Do you sometimes feel stuck mourning a loss? In this message, Pastor Jamie will share how to deal with grief. 

Things I want you to know about grief:

Grief is a normal, healthy response to loss, pain, and death.

John 16:20a

Water washes – in the natural we have to clean a wound. Think of crying as cleaning an emotional wound.   

There are two wrong ways to grieve: distraction and despair.

1) Distraction is when we try to numb ourselves to how we feel. The problem is, you can't distract yourself out of grief. Feelings are meant to be felt. Talk it out with someone close to you or you'll take it out on someone close you.

Proverbs 13:14

Don't try to run from grief, instead run to God in your grief.

2) Despair is when grief becomes our identity.

Psalm 31:10

Don't wallow in your grief; worship in your grief and fight off despair.  

Christians follow Christ so we should grieve how Jesus grieved.

Isaiah 53:3 

John 11:35 "Jesus wept"

How we grieve reveals what we believe. 

The best thing you can do for someone grieving is to just be there with them.

Proverbs 18:13

Grieving people don't need your mouth, they need your ears.

God doesn't take away our grief—He adds good things to it.

Antivenom doesn't remove the venom from the body, but bonds with the venom and causes it to no longer be harmful. God will add things to your life like "anti-grief" so that the grief won't harm you.

Four things God will add to your grief:

1. Peace.

Philippians 4:6-7

Thankfulness requires that you don't lose perspective on what you already have in order to receive something else.

You can grieve and have peace at the same time, if you invite the Lord into your grief.

2. Joy.

John 16:20

Don't ask why, ask who. 

3. Comfort.

Matthew 5:4

When you are grieving, you are now in a unique position to experience God in a way you've never experienced Him before.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

God's comfort is an inexhaustible resource. When you give it away, you still keep it.

4. Hope.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

If Jesus were to come back tonight, you'd get a front row seat to your loved-ones' resurrection.

While walking through grief, face East. 

Almost every grave in every cemetery in the US is facing east. Why? Because Jesus will come back in the East. People are buried facing and expecting their resurrection. As you walk through grief, face East—expect the promise of Jesus to come true for you and those you've lost. Don't give up hope. Don't give into despair. Face East.

How are you dealing with grief?

Are you prepared to die? We tend to avoid thoughts of death, especially our own. In this message, Pastor Cynthia shares how thinking about death can lead to life.

Thinking About Death

Psalm 90:12 “Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.” – NLT

Tips for Dying Well - Not a bucket list, a way of life.

1. Be an Apprentice of Jesus

Then [Jesus] said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.” – Luke 9:23 NLT

And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame. 1 John 2:28 NLT

1. Maintain a Clear conscience: Repent, Forgive, Live in Peace

a.     Repent 

“Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”  Acts 3:19 NASB

Psalm 139:23-24 NIV

b.     Forgive 

Mark 11:25 NIV

“Father, forgive them” – On the cross, Jesus released and forgave others.

c.      Live in Peace

“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” Romans 12:18 ESV

3.     Resist Fear/Walk in love  1 John 4:16-21

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us.” – 1 John 4:18-19 ESV

Psalm 23:4 

God’s love drives fear from our lives. God is love. In His presence we know love.

When you are in that position of accepting His great love, fear loses its power over you. 

1. Prepare Others

Jesus prepared his followers for his death.

Jesus told his followers: “I am going to Him who sent me… and you will see me no longer… you will weep and lament… you have sorrow now, but I will see you again.” – John 16:5,16,20,23 ESV

We have the responsibility as apprentices of Jesus to help others in our family and in our community be prepared to die.

1. Anticipate going home.

Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. – 2 Corinthians 5:8 NLT

“For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.” – Philippians 1:21 NLT

People should die anticipating entering the presence of their loving Father.    

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints Psalm 116:15 

`Into your hands I commit my spirit.' Jesus quotes Old Testament scripture, but he makes it personal and intimate by using the word “Father”. Even on a cross, Jesus died like a child falling asleep in his love." 

Question: Are you prepared to die? Are you ready?

Are you ready to die? You don't know the day or time that you will die, but you can prepare now. In this message, Larry Nunnally shares his testimony of being resuscitated after a massive heart attack. We also will learn about the eternal rewards available to followers of Jesus. 

We are all building an eternal legacy and can receive eternal rewards. 

1 Corinthians 3:11-15

What determines our eternal rewards?

1. Loving Jesus and His Kingdom through prayer, study, and fellowship. 
2. Loving and serving other people. 
3. Making disciples of those around us. 

God wants a BIG family, and we are privileged to help Him build it!

2 Timothy 4:7-8

What increases Eternal Rewards?

1. Be obedient to God's word and God's leading. 
2. Learn from your leaders and mentors. 
3. Don't Quit!

What hinders Eternal Rewards?

1. Sin and selfish living will burn up in the fire of judgement. 
2. Good ideas that aren't "God" ideas will burn up. 
3. Procrastination blocks eternal rewards. 

Eternity is like an endless road. Our life on earth is like One Step on the journey. Give your life to Jesus and make the journey with Him. 

What we do in this life determines where we spend eternity and how we spend eternity.  

Since we are all going to die, we should start practicing for it. In this message, Pastor Jamie Nunnally shares how to practice for eternity. 

Philippians 4:9 "What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."

Practice brings peace. Do you want peace when you think about the end of your life? Practice for eternity now.

What does the bible say about practicing for eternity?

1. This life is not all that there is.

After this life. We have one of two possible destinations: heaven or hell. This means heaven and hell are not the "afterlife," earth is the "beforelife." And eternity is not in the future, its already begun.

Matthew 25:31-34; 41; 46

John 14:1-3

God is a good father and heaven is a good gift. Trust Him.

For the Christian, the worst case scenario is eternal bliss.

2. God's judgement is real, and God's decisions are just.

Hebrew 9:27 CEV "We die only once, and then we are judged."

Heaven and hell are a result of your relationship—you will go where your family is.

Hell was not made for people and it is not God's desire for anyone to go there.

1 Timothy 2:4

There is more than enough room – God is not looking for ways to keep people out.

No one who should be in heaven will be hell, and no one who should be in hell will be in heaven. God is a righteous judge.

God is not being mean when he sends someone to hell. He is simply granting them their wish.

3. Salvation—including eternity in heaven—is by grace through faith, not works.

One of the biggest lies out there is that good people go to heaven.

Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

The salvation equation: Grace + Faith = Salvation + Works

We don't work to get saved, but once we're saved we get to work.

4. Those who think the most of the next life will do the most in this life.

Psalm 39:4

Everyone is trying to get into heaven, but God is trying to get heaven into you.

Ephesians 5:16-17 "Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do."

How you live today determines how you're remembered tomorrow.

Are you practicing for eternity?

People tend to visualize of Jesus based on who they are, not who He is.

Hebrews 13:8-9a 

Terminator Jesus is adopted by Christians who are mad at the world and frustrated with the church. They want to leverage Jesus as judge to wipe out those they don't like.

Remember the story of Jonah? Why did he run from God's call?

Jonah 4:1-2 

The Ninevites were Jonah's enemies and he wanted God to destroy them, but he knew that God wanted to save them.

Jonah 4:11 

Terminator Jesus, who hates the people you hate, is not the real Jesus.

Three signs that you're following Terminator Jesus:

1. You weaponize God's word against other people.

God's word is for people, not against people.

Hebrews 4:12 

The word exposes OUR thoughts and desires, not THEIRS. We read the word, so that the word can read us.

God's word is designed to be mirror for seeing your own issues clearly, not a pair of binoculars to see others' issues clearly.

2. You root for other people's destruction.

1 John 2:2 "He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world."

Now that Jesus has come, there is no longer a "them" for "us" to rally around. The enemy's plan is to divide and conquer, God's plan is to unite and conquer.

Unbelievers aren't your enemy.

When you don't think heaven is for everyone, you're OK with people going to hell.

Christians don't fight AGAINST unbelievers, we fight FOR unbelievers.

Ever wondered why Christians don't go to heaven as soon as they get saved? Because you are here on earth to become a part of Jesus' rescue mission. You were not just saved from the world, but for the world.

What do we do instead of rooting for people's destruction?

1 Peter 3:9 

Don't get even, get blessed. Why would you want to be "even" with someone that hurts others, anyway? Jesus said love your enemies. Why? So you would be like him—because you were His enemy!

3. Judgement triumphs over mercy.

James 2:13

NLT – "There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you."

James 1:20 

You can't bully someone into the kingdom of God.

We should judge actions, but we should not judge people.

What about the wrath of God?

Romans 2:4-5 

Judgement is coming, but is not yet. And when judgement does come, it won't be you doing it because you don't qualify as someone else's judge.

2 Corinthians 10:6 

Jesus' obedience is complete, so He gets to punish other people's disobedience. Your obededience is not complete, so you don't get to punish anyone.

Who do you say that He is?

Do you worship Terminator Jesus?

You will be tempted to embrace 3 different understandings of Jesus: American Jesus, Hippie Jesus, and Terminator Jesus.

The Gospels are How We Know and How We Grow.

Hebrews 1: 1-3

Jesus is what God has to say about Himself. If you want to know who someone is, listen to THEM when they tell you who they are. When we have a distorted vision of Jesus, we will have a distorted vision of God.

You learn about the real Jesus by spending time with Him, not studying the counterfeits.

Hippie Jesus is cool with everything except not being cool.

Hippie Jesus can be best defined by looking at the actual hippie movement that occurred in the United States in the 1960's.

Hippie Jesus wants you to be the best you, even if it kills you.

Hippie Jesus doesn't ever want you to be inconvenienced by his demands, so he has very few.

Three Signs That You May Be Following Hippie Jesus

1) You mistake freedom FROM sin as freedom TO sin.

Hippe Jesus promises you freedom to do whatever makes you feel good. People who follow Hippie Jesus will think things like "he knows my heart and that's what matters right?" or "Jesus freed me from all of those rules, I can do whatever as long as I don't feel bad about it."

Hippie Jesus embraces our sinfulness and calls it "being spiritual". The real Jesus bore our sinfulness and empowers us to live a life of holiness.

Romans 6: 20-22

Hippie Jesus teaches poor impulse control, the real Jesus teaches self-control.

2) You have traded the "God life" for the "good life".

Our habits reinforce our ideas. We are either being formed into the image of God, or we are being deformed. Hippie Jesus promises us the "good life" by telling us to follow our hearts and never challenges us to form ourselves around the teachings of Jesus. This leads to a life that completely misses out on the "God kind of life" that Jesus promises us.

Hippie Jesus promises you a life that is okay, the real Jesus promises you abundant life.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."

─John 10:10

Zoe perissos translated "abundant life" means more than life, eternal life, the God kind of life.

Hippie Jesus is ripping you off. Jesus doesn't just help you "make the cut" when you die, he gives you access to His life now.

Hippie Jesus is a bad "Hope Dealer."

3) Your "counterculture" looks more like the world than the Kingdom of God.

Christianity is the most countercultural movement to ever exist. Christians in the early church period were known for doing the exact opposite of what the culture of that time was known for.

Romans 12:2 (NIV)

Are you following Hippie Jesus?

Jesus is the most popular figure in the world. People tend to visualize of Jesus based on who they are, not who He is.

Hebrews 13:8-9a

Three images of Jesus you will be tempted to embrace:

American Jesus

Hippie Jesus

Terminator Jesus

Today, American Jesus.

I'm using the term American Jesus in a negative way because as Amercians, we tend to view Jesus through the lens of our being American.

Christian nationalism.

Christianity Today defines it as "the belief that the American nation is defined by Christianity, and the government should take active steps to keep it that way."

Patriotism is good, but God doesn't love America more than Bolivia.

Mark 12:17 ESV 

God does not see your responsibility to your country to be the same thing as your allegiance to His Kingdom. You are not Christian American, you are an American Christian.

American Jesus is Jesus made in the image of American: materialism, self-reliance, achievement, excess.

Four signs that you might worship American Jesus:

1. Jesus is your savior, but not your Lord.

The word Lord in the New Testament means "master."

Matthew 28:19-20 NLT 

The main marker of a disciple of Jesus is obedience. You do what He says to do because He is in charge—not you.

James 1:22-24 

Jesus becomes your savior as He becomes your Lord. God doesn't want to only be your crisis manager, but He wants to be your daily planner.

2. Jesus wants to make you comfortable and happy. God is the God of comfort but there is a difference between being comforted and being comfortable. You need comfort because you won't always be comfortable!

Acts 14:22 NLT

God's goal for your life is not a life of luxury, but a life of maturity.

Your happiness is not as important as your holiness because holiness is what makes you truly happy.

God will do things for you. But God is not as interested in what He can do FOR you, as He is in what He can do IN you and THROUGH you.

3. Jesus helps you achieve your dreams, even though you don't help Him achieve His.

You exist to make God's dreams come true

Ephesians 1:5 NLT

2 Peter 3:9 NLT 

4. Your approach to Jesus is transactional, not           relational.

Christian gold diggers are just after the streets of gold. They want to go heaven, but they don't want a King. 

Psalm 91:1 NLT

Everyone wants God for their protection, but not every one wants to make God their priority.

Too many Christians are "shacking up" with Jesus. They want benefits from him, without commitment to him. When we do this we are using God for what He can do, not loving Him for who He is.

There are too many green card Christians who are using Jesus to gain citizenship in Heaven.

American Jesus is transactional, the real Jesus is relational.

Who do you say that He is? Do you worship American Jesus?

Jesus is the most popular figure in the world. People tend to visualize of Jesus based on who they are, not who He is.

Ultimately, it doesn't matter what Jesus looked like, but it does matter what Jesus was like. Who do you say He is?

Hebrews 13:8-9a "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas."

Jesus doesn't get updated with the culture. He doesn't receive a makeover to look like whatever people want him to.

The Israelites created a golden calf because it was what they were used to.

You are made in God's image, but you will be tempted to make God in your image

Three images of Jesus you will be tempted to embrace:

American Jesus – He makes all your dreams come true.

Hippie Jesus – He's cool with everything except not being cool, man.

Terminator Jesus – He'll be back! And this time, its personal.

Matthew 16:13-20

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"

"The Son of Man" is subtle, playful reference to Daniel where the Messiah is described as being "one like a son of man."

And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

John the Baptist – teacher

Elijah – miracle worker

Jeremiah – prophet

Jesus was all of these things, but He wasn't only these things.

He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven."

Peter had supernatural revelation that Jesus was the Christ. Son of the "living God" because they were at a famous outpost for worship of the Greek god Pan.

"And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

Jesus will build His church on people who understand who He really is.

Gates of hell: The pagans believed that the cave and spring water at Caesarea Philippi created a gate to the underworld—called "the gates of hell."

1 John 3:8 "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil."

Only those who recognize who Jesus really is will have the authority to overcome the works of the devil.

Who do you say that He is?

Want to find your place to serve? In this message, we'll hear Children's Pastor Missy Lamb as she shares about the importance of service and finding your place in Kingdom ministry.

1 Corinthians 12:27

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

1 Peter 4:10

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:

"Ministries of service are just as impactful in the kingdom  as supernatural ministry" 

"Let God put his super on your natural and get to work doing the work of the Kingdom" 

How to determine where to serve:

1. Serve where your passion is. 
2. What are you good at?
3. Is there something that keeps lingering in your mind?

"When we serve we are providing support to the vision of God in our community" 

"When you serve the Lord in a place you are passionate about, it doesn't feel like work" 

Are you serving in the way God has called you to serve?

What is your relationship with Jesus? In this message, Pastor Jamie helps you to recognize the type of relationship that you have with Jesus. 

When Jesus came, He drew a line and said that was then, this is now.  The birth of Jesus changed the world.

First week, Christmas brought clarity.  

Second week, Christmas brought a covenant.

Last week, Christmas taught character.

Today, Christmas created Christians.

1 Peter 2:10 "Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."

Make no mistake: Jesus did NOT come to create another religion. He came to replace religion with a relationship with God, and create a new way of living with Him as His own people.

There are 3 types of relationships that people have with Jesus and we're going to look at the life of another St. Nick (Nicodemus) to show us how they work.

Three types of relationship that people have with Jesus:

 1. Secret admirer.

A secret admirer only THINKS about the object of their affection.

Nicodemus was a secret admirer. John 3:1-2

Matthew 7:23 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

It's not enough to know about Jesus, you have know Him. And once you know Him, you follow Him.

2. Fan         .

A fan only DECLARES their devotion to someone or something.

Nicodemus became a fan.  John 7:50

John 6:25-26, 53, 66 

As a Christian who loves Jesus, you'll be tempted to be Jesus' biggest fan. But you have a greater calling than that: you're called to be on His team.

Jesus should be your one and only, not one of many.

3. Follower        .

A follower DOES the things that the person they are following does.

Nicodemus became a follower John 19:39-40 "Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews."

1 Peter 2:21 "He is your example, and you must follow in his steps."

John 6:67-69 "Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, "Are you also going to leave?" 68 Simon Peter replied, "Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. 69 We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God."

Luke 9:23 "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me."

Following Jesus isn't always easy, but it's always worth it.

Are you a secret admirer, a fan or a follow of Jesus?

When Jesus came, He drew a line and split time in half - BC and AD.

There are also other lines that were drawn – major changes that happened when Jesus was born. There is a then before Jesus, and there is a now after Jesus.

In this message, Pastor Jamie Nunnally shares how Christmas brought a covenant.

Hebrews 8:6 NET "But now Jesus has obtained a superior ministry, since the covenant that he mediates is also better and is enacted on better promises."

What is a covenant?

A covenant is a binding, mutually accepted arrangement that manages the relationship between individuals or groups. A covenant is a forever promise.

God uses covenants to govern His relationship with humanity.

Jeremiah 31:30-34 "The day is coming," says the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. 32 This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife," says the Lord. 33

(600 years passes)

Luke 22:20 "After supper he took another cup of wine and said, "This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you."

There are two main salvific covenants between God and man.

Hebrews 8:10,12 

The old covenant was designed to bring about behavior change. The new covenant is designed to bring about personal relationship.

You can't mix covenants.

2 Corinthians 3:7-11 

Romans 3:21-24 NET

You must die to the old to walk in the new.

Romans 7:6 But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.

Too many Christians are trying to live in the new covenant with an old covenant mindset. Jesus didn't die so that you could have a relationship with the rules.

The new covenant was the greatest gift we could ever get from God.

You are forgiven, you are cleansed, you are empowered, you are blessed, you are healed, you are protected, you have a home in Heaven, and you can know God personally.

Hebrews 10:22-23 "let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.

God did all the heavy lifting for your salvation.

Are you living in God's new covenant?

There is a common phrase in the new testament: "but now." If there is a "now," there was a "then." There is a before Jesus (then), and there is after Jesus (now). So, this Christmas, we are going to look at some of things that changed from then to now when Jesus came.

Today, Pastor Jamie Nunnally shares how Christmas brought clarity.

Hebrews 1:1-2 NCV "In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets many times and in many different ways. But now in these last days God has spoken to us through his Son..."

One of the reasons Jesus was born, was to provide clarity to humanity regarding who God is.

Jesus is God. But every time He made this claim, the Jews got really mad.

John 10:30-33 NLT

How does Christmas bring clarity?

1) Jesus shows us what God is like.

John 14:8-9

Jesus is the most recent and most accurate representation of who God is.

2) Jesus revealed the Father's will.

John 6:38

God's perfect will was perfectly expressed through God's perfect Son.

If you want to know what God desires, look at what Jesus did.

3) Jesus revealed the Father's heart.

You can't fully comprehend what someone has done until you understand why they did it.

Matthew 9:35-36 "... When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."

John 3:17 "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

Psalm 103:7 "He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel."

Acts 10:38 – "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him."

We won't understand the Father's will until we understand the Father's heart - and Jesus shows us the Father's heart.

4) Jesus provided access to the Father.

a. Jesus is our gate.

John 14:6 "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

b. Jesus is our guide.

Luke 16:16 "Until John the Baptist, the law of Moses and the messages of the prophets were your guides. But now the Good News of the Kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is eager to get in."

5. Jesus fulfilled the job description of the Messiah.

In Luke 4:16-21, Jesus read the messiah's job description from Isaiah 61:1-2.

Jesus stops short of "and the day of vengeance of our God." Why? Because we are now in a window of grace to respond to Jesus.

Are you looking to Jesus for clarity about who God is?

Saying "No" to temptation. In this message, Pastor Tim Martin shares how to resist and stand firm against temptation. 

Temptation is the state of being tempted especially to evil. (Dictionary)

James 1-12-15. 

12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

Genesis 3:1-3

1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?.."

Genesis 3:4-6 - Humankind gives into temptation in the garden. 

2 Samuel 11:3-5 - David gives into temptation. 

Matthew 4:1-4

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."

4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.' "

 ...

"10 Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.' "

11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him."

Jesus said "No" to the temptations. 

Tim found alcohol as a crutch to deal with pain of losing his father.

Tim ended up in a church on a Sunday morning thinking "I need to get my life right". "I'll give you everything."

He surrendered everything to God. 

Tim asked God to take the taste of alcohol from him. And, Tim has not tasted alcohol since then, 24 years ago. 

When you learn to say "No" to temptations you will not be able to contain God's blessing.

Giving into temptation takes you off the route in which God has prepared blessing after blessing for you. 

"When I said no to alcohol 24 years ago, I don't have to re-choose every time I'm tempted." - Tim Martin

Ephesians 6:10-18 "... Be strong in the Lord... Put on the whole armor of God..."

You are going to face temptations.

How to prevent falling into temptation again and again?

Make your choice. 

Daily put on the whole armor of God.  

Are you falling book, line, and sinker into temptation?

We're all on a search for God. During this series, we're going to look at some of the things we often find ourselves searching for when it comes to our relationship with the Lord

 What does God think about you?

1. God loves you, and He likes you, even though He knows you.

Ephesians 1:5 NLT "God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure."

Your redemption is God's dream come true.

2. God is not mad at you.

Colossians 1:19-20 NLT "For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross."

Feeling that God is mad at you is not logical in light of the cross. If you feel God is still angry at you because of your sin, you are believing a lie.

Why don't we feel God's approval sometimes?

1. Our conscience is condemned.

Hebrews 10:22 NLT "Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean..."

The Bible talks about having 1. Clean/clear/good conscience—when you're at peace with your behavior, 2. Guilty/condemned/defiled conscience—when you feel conviction over your behavior, 3. Seared/branded/burned conscience—when you don't feel bad about your bad behavior.

Holy Christians are happy Christians. Pure Christians are at peace 

2. We're looking at circumstances.

Romans 8:35 "Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?

What's happening around you is not an accurate reflection of how God feels about you.

 3. We're focused on feelings.

How you feel about God isn't an accurate reflection of how God feels about you.

Ephesians 4:26 NLT: "don't sin by letting anger control you."

Emotions must be monitored, because they're not always accurate.

Don't mistake God's silence for God's absence.

 4. We haven't dealt with our past.

The value of a $100 bill doesn't change based on how it was previously used.

God has not only forgiven but forgotten our sin.

Isaiah 43:25 NLT "I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again."

How often do you think about a bill you've already paid? You don't. That's how often God thinks about your forgiven sin: He doesn't.

***Are you searching for God's approval?

We're all on a search for God. During this series, we're going to look at some of the things we often find ourselves searching for when it comes to our relationship with the Lord. In this message, Pastor Jamie Nunnally shares how we can find God's will. 

You can know God's will for your life.

Ephesians 5:17 "Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." ESV

NLT – don't be thoughtless. Are you thoughtful or thoughtless when it comes to understanding God's will?

Three incorrect ideas about God's will:

1. Anything that happens is God's perfect will.

1 Timothy 2:4

You will experience God's will in your life through cooperation with God.

2. God's will is predetermined. 

Jeremiah 18:7-8 

You will experience God's will in your life though collaboration with God.

3. You shouldn't do anything unless you're 100% certain its God.

Even God can't steer a parked car. You must apply the gas, while He turns the wheel.

Acts 16:10

You will experience God's will in your life though continuation with God.

The written word reveals Gods general will to all; The spoken word reveals God's specific will to you.

Practical Tips for knowing God's will:

1. Search the written word.

Psalm 119:105 

2. Pursue God.

Romans 12:2 

You'll know the will of God when you embrace a walk with God.  

Don't make knowing the will of God your goal; make knowing the person of God your goal-and you will know His will.

3. Seek wisdom from a mature friend.

Proverbs 12:15 "Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others." NLT

4. If you're walking in maturity, do what seems right to you.

Acts 15:28 "For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements..."

The goal of maturity is that you don't have to hear from the Lord constantly on everything but to learn to think how He does. 

1 Cor 9:16b "But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ."

Be concerned with what kind of person you'll be, and what you do will work itself out.

Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."

Your perspective is tied to your location. Draw near to God, and you will see things how He does.

When you are making a difficult decision:

"If the request is wrong, God says NO. If the timing is wrong, God says SLOW. If you are wrong, God says GROW. But if it's His perfect will, God says GO"

If you've missed God's will, embrace rerouting

Isaiah 55:7 

Just like GPS, God allows u-turns.

***Are you searching for the voice of God?

We're all searching for God. in this message, Pastor Jamie Nunnally shares about searching for God's voice.

God wants you to hear his voice. 

Don't ever let anyone tell you that God doesn't speak today.

John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Jesus is the "logos" of God: communication, expression. Of course God still speaks—Jesus is literally the word of God, and words communicate.

God gave you the ability to hear His voice.

2 Corinthians 2:9-12 

God gave you a spirit so you could talk to His Spirit. You have a built in receiver for God's voice.

Romans 8:16 "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God"

God's direct communication is Spirit to spirit - its not the same as how we hear other things.  

What does the voice of God sound like?

1 Kings 19:12 – "still small voice."

God's voice sounds like your thoughts but from a different source – that's why its often hard to differentiate Him from you.

There is another spiritual being who wants to communicate with you.

1 Timothy 4:1 

How do you know if a thought is coming from God or the devil?

God's voice vs Satan's voice

God leads, Satan pushes 

God clarifies, Satan confuses

God comforts, Satan frightens

God encourages, Satan discourages 

God stills, Satan rushes 

God convicts, Satan condemns

Practical Tips for Hearing God's Voice:

1. Ask

James 4:2 "You do not have because you do not ask."

One of my favorite prayers: "Lord, I invite you into this situation."

2. Approach

James 4:8 "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."

Draw near to God – the closer you are to Him, the better you hear from Him.

Exodus 3:3 Moses said "I will turn aside and see this great sight"

Don't make God set your houseplants on fire to get your attention. Seek Him & go where He is already active.

3. Listen

Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God."

In order to hear the Lord, you'll need to lower the volume of life.

4. Recognize

John 10:27 "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."

This is great news! Recognizing the voice of God will come over time as you learn to be a sheep. Voice recognition comes through repetition. 

5. Confirm

God won't speak something to you that violates His scripture.

2 Tim 3:16 

Spoken word and written word work together to clarify and amplify one other.

Confirm the word that was spoken with the word that's been written.

6. Share

Proverbs 27:9 "The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense."

Spiritual leaders don't hear from God FOR you; they hear from God WITH you. 

Are you searching for the voice of God?

Your mind is like a minefield. You are in a battle. In this message, Pastor Denny Blake of Disciples of Jesus Ministries and Pastor Jamie Nunnally of Victory Fellowship Church share how you can win the battle of your mind. 

Your thoughts direct your actions. We need to think about what we think about. 

We don't need to have anxious thoughts about our future. Everything is going to be alright. Your victory is in Jesus Christ. We are more than conquerors. We are in a battle with a defeated foe. 

We need to inspect our thoughts. Just because you have a thought doesn't mean it is for you or from you. 

Tell yourself what God says. Dig into His word to know His will. 

"It doesn't matter who is saying it, if it is contrary to God's voice, it's wrong." - Denny Blake 

"If you do things God's ways, you get God's results." - Jamie Nunnally

"I've never seen in the Bible where someone said "Yes" to God and they weren't blessed." -Denny Blake

Gateways for the enemy to introduce negative strongholds in our lives:

Unconfessed sin

Involvement in the occult 

Unforgiveness

Heritage

Lies you believe

How to win the battle in your mind:

Challenge your thoughts

Capture your thoughts

Crucify your thoughts