Archive for the ‘By Tim Brassell’ Tag

“A Rich Welcome Into The Eternal Kingdom!” 

Study by Sherwin Scott


“And you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:11 (NIVUK) 

Would you like to receive a rich welcome into God’s eternal kingdom? That is what has been promised to all believers. The welcoming party will be the Father, the Son, the Spirit, and the holy angels. The life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ guarantees a rich welcome to all who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. It requires the gift of faith to believe that Jesus is the Christ, God’s own Son. The same faith that the apostle Peter demonstrated. (Matthew 16:16–17). Once we know that we have received the gift of faith, we are then instructed to make every effort to confirm our calling and election. “Add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.” (2 Peter 1:5-7). For if we do these things, we will never stumble. All these attributes are also gifts from God our Father. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17).

It is clearly God’s will that we exercise these gifts, adding them to the faith that we have already received. If we think that we lack any of these precious gifts, we must then ask in believing prayer. “This is the confidence which we have before him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from him.” (1 John 5:14-15). A rich welcome into God’s eternal kingdom awaits all who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. And who put their trust in him to answer the above prayer for these additional gifts which are synonymous with the fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5: 22-23. These gifts, including faith, are more precious than gold or silver which perishes over time and more valuable than money which can lose its value at any time! It is God’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom. Can you just imagine what a rich welcome into that kingdom will be like: the fanfare; the music; the glory; the joy. 

Prayer

Father in heaven, I thank you for the amazing future that you have prepared for those who have received the gift of faith. Please add to my faith the fruit of the Spirit.  In Jesus’ s name I pray.
 Amen 

Photo Compliments:

1.) Torahfamily.org

“A Leader’s Wisdom!”

Part A:

Part B:

Full Message:


Scripture: Exodus 18: 1-27


Summary:

This Gospel message, delivered by Pastor Richard Andrews, highlights God as The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit God revealed in Jesus. Pastor Richard emphasizes the call for all believers to step into leadership roles, using the example of Moses and Jethro from Exodus 18. The message highlights that leadership in God’s kingdom is not reserved for the elite, but is a calling for everyone who follows Christ. Pastor Richard shares practical wisdom on how leaders should rejoice with others, relate to those around them, and wisely carry out their responsibilities through humility and reliance on God. He stresses the importance of vulnerability, relational ministry, and the need to rely on God’s wisdom, just as Moses did under Jethro’s guidance.

Key Points and Highlights

🌟 Every Believer is Called to Lead

  1. Leadership is not just for pastors or prominent figures. All believers are called to lead by following Christ’s example in their daily lives.

🛡️ Rejoice with Others in God’s Work

  1. Leaders should take joy in what God is doing in the lives of others, as seen in Jethro’s celebration of God’s work with Moses and Israel.

💞 Relating to People is Key to Leadership

  1. Leadership begins with building relationships. Like Moses and Jethro, strong leaders take time to connect with those they serve.

🔄 Testify to God’s Goodness

  1. Moses recounted God’s faithfulness to Jethro. Leaders should share testimonies of God’s work in their lives, encouraging others in their faith.

🙏 Bless God’s Name in Worship

  1. Leadership involves worshiping God openly and encouraging others to do the same. Jethro praised God after hearing about His works.

🌍 Wise Leaders Share the Burden

  1. Pastor Richard emphasizes that leaders should not take on all responsibilities alone. Just like Jethro advised Moses, delegating is crucial to avoid burnout.

🔧 Leaders Challenge Others with Love

  1. Jethro challenged Moses’ leadership structure. Wise leaders should lovingly confront areas of weakness, helping others improve without judgment.

🔥 Leadership Requires Humility

  1. Moses demonstrated humility by listening to Jethro’s advice. A true leader remains teachable, willing to receive counsel and guidance from others.

✝️ Follow Jesus’ Example of Perfect Leadership

  1. Jesus serves as the ultimate example of leadership. Pastor Richard encourages everyone to model their leadership after Christ’s perfect wisdom and grace.

🤝 Serve Others by Loving Them as Christ Loves

  1. The sermon concludes with the reminder that leadership means loving others as Christ loves us, with compassion, sacrifice, and service.

Context:

This sermon, delivered by Pastor Richard Andrews, is on spiritual leadership and the Christian call to serve. Using the story of Moses and Jethro from Exodus 18, Pastor Richard outlines practical lessons on leadership that apply to every believer, encouraging humility, wisdom, and reliance on God. The message challenges listeners to step into leadership roles in their homes, workplaces, and communities while participating with Jesus as the ultimate Leader.

Photo Compliments:

1.) Church of Jesus Christ (EDITED)

A Few Good Quotes On Living Out Grace!

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” — Ephesians 4:2-3

We’ve all been there—faced with moments when forgiveness feels impossible, whether from small daily frustrations or deep hurts caused by those we love. It’s natural to wrestle with forgiving the “unforgivable.” C.S. Lewis captured this struggle perfectly when he said, “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”  Colossians 3:13 tells us— “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Though difficult, forgiveness is essential for living out the grace that Father has freely given us.

Grace, as described in John 1:16-18, is a gift from God through Jesus Christ by the Spirit. It’s not something we earn but receive. John Calvin emphasizes that this understanding of grace should move us to compassion and kindness toward others: “We ought to be the more inclined to show kindness and compassion…because God has bound us so much the more strongly to Himself by His grace.” Extending grace is how we reflect God[Father-Son-Holy-Spirit]’s love in a broken world. 

But grace isn’t something to simply admire; it’s something we live out daily. 1 Peter 4:10 calls us to be stewards of this grace, applying it in our marriages, friendships, and communities. Dietrich Bonhoeffer reminds us that sometimes living out grace means speaking hard truths with love and accountability, even when it’s uncomfortable. 

In marriage, Tim Keller says that grace mirrors the gospel—it’s filled with beauty and pain. We’re called to love our spouse deeply, to forgive, and to extend grace even when it’s tough: “We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.” This grace requires intentional love and effort, even when it is most challenging.

Grace is also about presence and unity in our communities. Henri Nouwen notes that sometimes the greatest grace we can offer is simply to listen and be present without judgment: “When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us…it is those who…have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.” Augustine of Hippo adds that grace doesn’t take away life’s burdens, but it strengthens us to bear them: “What grace is meant to do is to help good people…bear [sufferings] with a stout heart.”

We must also learn to extend grace to ourselves. C.S. Lewis warns, “If God forgives us, we must forgive ourselves. Otherwise, it is almost like setting up ourselves as a higher tribunal than Him.” Psalm 103:12 reassures us that God[Father-Son-Holy-Spirit] has removed our sins completely, and we can rest in His forgiveness.

But how do we live out this grace?

We are called to live out grace by participating in the life of Christ. John 17:21-23 highlights that we have unity in Christ through the Spirit, but this unity is a gift of grace. “As adopted children of God, we share in God’s life, but we are not God. This participation is not about merely striving to emulate Jesus, but about sharing in who Jesus is and what He has done for us…” — The Surprising God (The Claim of humanity In Christ by Alexandra Radcliff)

Gary Deddo explains that this participation is not something we strive for on our own but is already complete in Christ, being worked out in us by the Spirit. Thus, living out grace is not about our striving but manifesting the reality of our union with Christ.

Pastor Timothy Brassell explains, “Grace is impossible apart from Christ by the Spirit…But you can trust in the Lord and receive rest, knowing that Christ has already fixed our forgiveness.”

Our ability to live out grace isn’t through our own strength but through participation in the life of Christ by the Holy Spirit.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for the gift of grace through Jesus Christ. Help us live out this grace—extending forgiveness, compassion, and love to others. We cannot fully live it out on our own. Fill us with Your Spirit as we seek to participate with Christ. Teach us to trust You, especially when we struggle to forgive. May Your grace work through us, bringing healing and love into the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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bobvila.com (EDITED)

“The Significance Of Receiving The Holy Spirit!”

Part A:

Part B:

Full Message:


Scripture: Ephesians 1, Mark 1, Acts 2


Summary:

This sermon, delivered by Pastor Timothy Brassell, focuses on the significance of receiving the Holy Spirit as a critical part of the Christian journey. Pastor Tim emphasizes that the Holy Spirit is not just a power or presence but a divine person to be received, celebrated, and intimately known. Through scripture, he outlines the Spirit’s role in transforming believers, empowering them to live holy lives, and participating in God’s work. By exploring scripture like Ephesians 1 and Acts 2, Pastor Tim invites listeners to deepen their relationship with the Holy Spirit and understand the immense value of being Spirit-filled.

Key Points and Highlights

  1. 🌟 The Spirit’s Role in Christian Life
    • The Holy Spirit is essential for a believer to fully experience and participate in the life of God. The Spirit guides, empowers, and reveals God’s will.
  2. 🔥 Receiving the Holy Spirit is Receiving a Person
    • Pastor Tim clarifies that the Holy Spirit is a person to be received, not a force or mystical experience. He wants believers to understand that this is a relational encounter.
  3. ✝️ The Holy Spirit Reveals God’s Love and Presence
    • Through the Holy Spirit, believers are drawn into deeper intimacy with God, understanding His love, character, and desires in a transformative way.
  4. 🔄 God’s Sovereign Decision to Send the Spirit
    • The pouring out of the Spirit is a sovereign act of God, planned before the creation of the world. It shows God’s initiative in building a relationship with humanity.
  5. 🤝 Participation in God’s Mission Through the Spirit
    • The Holy Spirit empowers believers to actively participate in God’s redemptive mission on earth, extending His love, grace, and truth to others.
  6. 💞 The Holy Spirit Brings Unity and Relationship
    • Pastor Tim emphasizes that the Spirit is the bond of love in the Trinity and serves as the connection between believers, fostering true Christian community and fellowship.
  7. 🛡️ Spiritual Security and Confidence
    • Being sealed by the Holy Spirit is a promise of God’s faithfulness, giving believers the confidence that they belong to God and are protected by Him.
  8. 🔧 The Necessity of Humility
    • The act of receiving the Holy Spirit requires humility, recognizing that it’s not about what believers can achieve but about accepting a gracious gift from God.
  9. 🌍 The Spirit’s Universal Reach
    • The Holy Spirit is poured out on all people (Acts 2), making Him universally accessible. However, receiving Him and responding to His work is still a personal choice, that He helps a person to make.
  10. 🙏 Our Response: Will You Receive Him?
    • Pastor Tim concludes with a heartfelt call to action, asking each believer to reflect on whether they have truly received the Holy Spirit, embraced His presence, and allowed Him to guide their lives.

Context:

This sermon was delivered on a Sunday morning as part of a series focusing on the Holy Spirit’s role in the life of the church and individual believers. Pastor Tim’s primary intent was to deepen the congregation’s understanding of who the Holy Spirit is and what it means to truly receive Him. By grounding his teaching in both Old and New Testament scripture, he aims to align his listeners’ perspectives with a Trinitarian view of God, emphasizing the relational nature of the Holy Spirit’s presence and work. He also addressed some common theological misunderstandings, such as viewing the Holy Spirit as an impersonal entity or something believers can achieve through effort, stressing that receiving the Spirit is entirely a work of God’s grace.

Photo Compliments:

1.) WordPress

“Passing Away!”

Study by Sherwin Scott


When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

 Colossians 3:4 (ESV)

Today we are living in what can be described as a troubled world – a world where many people are experiencing pain, suffering, displacement and untimely death as a result of war, crime, disease, and poverty from various causes. Countries that are in the forefront of suffering and displacement include, among others, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, Sudan, Bangladesh, Haiti and Ukraine. Just in the last few weeks, a UN-backed peacekeeping force of Kenyan police have been sent to Haiti where the island nation is being terrorised by armed criminal gangs. 

Jesus Christ is the only one who can restore order and justice to our troubled world. The Bible clearly shows that he will return to usher in a world of peace and security. As the header scripture shows, it is just a matter of timing – ‘when’ and not ‘if’ – for he is the King of kings, the Lord of lords and the Prince of peace. Jesus has been given a mandate, from God the Father, to bring justice to this world: ‘Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations…He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.’ (Isaiah 42:1,4).

Our present evil world is in transition, it will not continue forever! ‘…For the present form of this world is passing away’ (1 Corinthians 7:31). ‘…but whoever does the will of God abides forever’ (1 John 2:17).

When the timing is right, Jesus Christ will dramatically intervene in the affairs of our world to usher in a new heavens and a new earth where, ‘…The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind…be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create (Isaiah 65:17,18 NIV). At that time we are told, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4 ESV).

Prayer
Eternal Father, thank you that this present troubled world is passing away. We look forward to Jesus’s return and to the fullness of your kingdom, bringing righteousness and peace throughout all the earth. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

Photo Compliments:

1.) bibleversestogo.com

“The Importance of The Holy Spirit for Human Life!”

Part A:

Part B:

Full Message:


Scripture: 2 Cor 3: 17


Summary:
In this sermon, Pastor Timothy Brassell emphasizes the vital role of the Holy Spirit in human life. He explains that without the Holy Spirit, there can be no possibility of true human life as intended by God. The message underscores the unity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and how the Holy Spirit is essential for understanding and participating in God’s nature. Pastor Brassell calls for a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit to experience real freedom, spiritual growth, and glorified human life. He also addresses misconceptions about humanity’s divinity, clarifying the distinction between humans and God.

Key Points and Highlights:

  • 🌟 Ordinary Life, Extraordinary Purpose
    • Pastor Brassell explores how Jesus lived an “ordinary life” until receiving the Holy Spirit, which transformed Him for His mission, modeling the need for the Holy Spirit in our lives. 
  • 🔥 The Holy Spirit’s Crucial Role
    • Without the Holy Spirit, there is no possibility of human life as God intended. The Holy Spirit is distinct from the Father and the Son but essential for spiritual growth.
  • 🔄 Transformation through the Spirit
    • Pastor Brassell explains that humanity’s transformation comes through the Holy Spirit, who connects us to the life and work of Jesus Christ. 
  • 🛡️ Addressing Misconceptions about Divinity
    • The sermon corrects the misconception that humans can become divine. Pastor Brassell stresses that while we share in Christ’s nature, we are not and will never be God. 
  • 🌍 Freedom Through the Spirit
    • True freedom comes only through the Holy Spirit. Pastor Brassell contrasts worldly definitions of freedom (wealth, success) with the freedom found in knowing God through the Spirit. 
  • 🙏 Understanding the Trinity
    • The relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is crucial for understanding God’s work in our lives. The Holy Spirit is Jesus’s “other self,” translating His work to us. 
  • 📖 Scripture and the Holy Spirit
    • All scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit, who guides believers in understanding the Bible’s teachings and leads to correction, growth, and righteousness. 
  • 💡 The Role of Jesus and the Spirit in Salvation
    • Salvation is incomplete without the Holy Spirit, who enables us to participate in the relationship between the Father and the Son. 
  • 🌱 Participating in God’s Nature
    • While we are made in the image of God, we are not divine. The Holy Spirit allows us to participate in God’s divine purposes, not divinity itself. 
  • 🌟 The Ongoing Work of the Holy Spirit
    • The sermon concludes with the importance of continuing to grow in the Holy Spirit, reminding believers that their relationship with God is an ongoing, transformative process. 

Context:
This sermon by Pastor Timothy Brassell centers on the significance of the Holy Spirit in the Christian life. It emphasizes that while Jesus Christ’s work is essential, the Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in translating that work into the believer’s life. The sermon focuses on the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in glorifying human life and bringing believers into deeper relationships with God.

Photo Compliments:

1.) Logos Community Church

“God Delivers His People!”


Part A:

Part B:

Full Message:


Scripture:

Exodus 13: 17-22; Exodus 14: 1-31


Summary:

This sermon highlights God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit God revealed in Jesus. Pastor Melvin McKee explores the theme of God’s deliverance as seen through the story of the Israelites in the book of Exodus. He emphasizes how God guided, protected, and delivered His people from slavery in Egypt, using Moses as a leader to bring them out and through the Red Sea. Pastor McKee draws parallels between God’s deliverance of Israel and the spiritual deliverance offered through Jesus Christ, who leads humanity out of slavery to sin.

Pastor McKee also reflects on how God uses difficult circumstances to grow and guide His people, emphasizing that God’s deliverance is always for His glory and the good of His people. The sermon touches on the importance of trusting in God’s sovereignty, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges.

Key Points and Highlights

🌟 God’s Guidance and Deliverance
• God led the Israelites out of Egypt, guiding them through the wilderness and parting the Red Sea to deliver them from the Egyptian army.

🛡️ Spiritual Deliverance through Christ
• Just as God delivered Israel through Moses, He delivers believers from sin through Jesus Christ.

🌱 Trusting in God’s Sovereignty
• Pastor McKee encourages believers to trust in God’s plan and sovereignty, especially in times of trial and uncertainty.

🔄 God’s Purpose in Trials
• God often allows His people to face challenges to reveal His power and bring about spiritual growth.

Context

This sermon by Pastor Melvin McKee focuses on the biblical narrative of the Exodus as a powerful example of God’s deliverance. By reflecting on these events, he illustrates how God continues to deliver His people today through Jesus Christ, urging believers to trust in God’s guidance and sovereignty in every situation.

Photo Credits:

1.) YouTube

“God Hears His People!”


Audio – Part A:

Audio – Part B:

Audio – Full Message:


Scripture:

Acts 7: 23-25 Hebrews 11: 24-26 Exodus 3: 2-15 Exodus 4: 1-5


Summary:

In this sermon, Pastor Tony Marra delivers a powerful message centered on God’s attentiveness to the cries of His people and His faithfulness to deliver them. Drawing from the biblical narrative in Exodus, the sermon explores Moses’ journey from being a prince in Egypt to becoming God’s chosen deliverer for the Israelites. Pastor Marra emphasizes God’s compassion, sovereignty, and the personal relationship He desires with His people, reinforcing that God responds to oppression and suffering.

Through the story of Moses and the burning bush, Pastor Marra highlights the key themes of deliverance, the importance of humility, and the call to participate in God’s work of salvation. The message urges believers to trust in God’s promises and act as instruments of justice and reconciliation in a world filled with oppression and suffering.

Key Points and Highlights

🌟 The Faithfulness of God

  • Pastor Marra explains how God fulfilled His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob by raising up Moses to lead His people out of Egypt. He draws a parallel to God’s ongoing faithfulness to His promises.

🛡️ Moses’ Calling

  • Moses’ encounter with God in the burning bush symbolizes God’s holiness and Moses’ humility. God called Moses to deliver the Israelites, reinforcing that He hears and responds to the cries of His people.

🌱 God’s Compassion

  • The sermon reminds believers that God is not distant. He is intimately involved in the lives of His people, responding with compassion to their oppression and suffering.

🔄 Participation in God’s Mission

  • Believers are called to participate in God’s mission, just as Moses was. Pastor Marra stresses that God equips His people to act as agents of justice and deliverance in the world.

🌍 The Eternal I AM

  • Pastor Marra reflects on God’s self-revelation as “I AM,” emphasizing His eternal power, unchanging nature, and ability to meet every need. The name “I AM” is a reminder of God’s presence in every situation.

Context:

This sermon delves into the foundational story of Moses and the Exodus, exploring themes of deliverance, faithfulness, and God’s ongoing mission to rescue His people from oppression. Pastor Marra draws attention to how God’s promises to the patriarchs are fulfilled through Christ, the ultimate deliverer.

Photo Credits:

1.) drmichellebengtson

“Abraham, a Friend of God!”

Word of Life Devotional by Sherwin Scott

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6 (ESV)

Abraham was called the friend of God and father of us all: ‘…and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.’ (James 2:23).

What was so special about Abraham that he is known as a friend of God?

He was blessed with the gift of faith. He was fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was counted to him as righteousness. Abraham’s faith being counted to him as righteousness was not written just for Abraham alone, it applies to all who believe in God’s promises: ‘…the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord…’ (Romans 4:23-24).

We can fully believe that the ‘good work’ that the Father began in every believer will be completed. And what exactly is that good work? ‘…my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!’ (Galatians 4:19). Through the Holy Spirit, the Father is forming the very image of His beloved Son in every believer.

With the very same gift of faith that God gave to Abraham and that he gives to us today, we can completely trust him to fulfill all his promises. ‘For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.’ (2 Corinthians 1:20). As we believe God’s promise to complete the ‘good work’ that he began in each of us, that faith will also be credited to us as righteousness, the same as Abraham.

So, like Abraham, we too can be friends of God credited with righteousness.

Prayer
Father in heaven, thank you for the gift of faith which enables me to believe your precious promises and to be credited with righteousness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Study by Sherwin Scott

Photo Credit:

1.) scripturefortodayblogspot.com

“Some Incredible Facts Because God’s Son Became Human!” 


Part A:

Part B:

Full Message:


Scripture: Hebrews 2


Summary:

This Gospel message highlights the revelation of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in Jesus. Pastor Timothy Brassell emphasizes the profound impact of God’s Son becoming human and explores the fundamental truths about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, focusing on the incarnation of Jesus and its implications for believers. By examining scriptural references, particularly from Hebrews 2, the sermon highlights the importance of understanding God’s relational nature and the significance of Jesus’ humanity in the context of God’s redemptive plan.

Key Points and Highlights

🌟 God’s Relational Nature

  • God is revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, emphasizing a relational and loving nature.

🛡️ Incarnation of Jesus

  • Jesus becoming human is central to understanding God’s plan for salvation and his relational approach to humanity.

🌱 Faith and Trust

  • Believers are called to trust in God’s plan and embrace the relational nature of God as revealed through Jesus Christ.

🔄 Hebrews 2 Reflection

  • Hebrews 2 emphasizes the significance of Jesus’ humanity and his role in making atonement for sins, encouraging believers to stay anchored in their faith.

Context:

Pastor Timothy Brassell focused on the incarnation of Jesus and its profound implications for understanding God’s nature and plan for humanity. The message aligns with broader theological themes of God’s relational approach, the importance of faith, and the significance of Jesus’ humanity in the Christian journey.

Photo Compliments:

1.) besharpened.com