As a follow-up to the previous message "Kingdoms in Conflict", where Jesus drove a legion of demons out of a demon-possessed man, we see what happens next. When Jesus drove the demons out from the man, he was healed and put in his right mind. This dynamic is very prevalent today in a variety of ways; no matter how messed up you are , Jesus will straighten you out and place you in your right mind. Jesus helps His people stay in their right mind, because He is interested in HEALING you, not leaving you where you are, in your mess, though it is a battle, a Kingdom Battle where your mind is the battlefield. When you are delivered, stay with Jesus, and live a life worth your calling. In this message Pastor Troy explains how those who have been delivered from bondage/evil spirits/ end up being the MOST DEVOTED followers of Christ, because of what He has done for them. And when He does this, tell other people what He has done for you, as He did the demon-possessed man, to show that there is an encouraging message of hope that can be made out of a mess of despair.
So many of the problems people experience in their lives are not just regular problems; they are spiritual problems. When Christ came to the earth in the power of God, He exposed things that no one had previously seen or never properly discerned. When Jesus stepped off the boat after calming a raging storm, He was met by a demon possessed man. The man was naked and lived isolated within the tombs. When He saw Jesus, he fell to his knees and begged Him not to torment him. Jesus commanded the demons to leave the man's body. First the leading spirit was "smug", but it was also afraid of Jesus. The spirit requested to be sent into the pigs, which Jesus did in fact fulfill. The fact of the matter is that there is an enemy out there, and He has organized legions to try and maintain dominance over this world and do all he can to destroy people and discourage the Kingdom of God from growing on earth. However, we have an advocate, a helper called the Holy Spirit to transcend these powers, forces, and horrible thoughts, because the Holy Spirit leads everyone who relies on Him into ALL TRUTH. The presence of Jesus cast fear in the demonic. They are doomed because they are already judged, and they know it. We need to keep that in mind when they attack or oppress. In this message, Pastor Troy Billow expounds further on the realm of the demonic, and Christ's power over it.
It is common today for the unbelieving world to believe that the Bible is simply a "religious book". And in this day and age, there are many religious books, one of which is, most notably the Quran, the book of authority in the ever growing religion of Islam. And yet, there are number of deep, fundamental, and chasmic differences between the religious book of Islam and the nature and substance of the Bible. What are these differences and why are they so important? In this message, Guest Speaker Olin Giles from radicaltruth.net will explain the humbling nature of the Bible, the truth, depth, and dimension of the testimonies and references within the Bible, as well as a number of other factors that prove that the Bible is far more than what the world perceives it to be. It is rooted in history, geography, personal eyewitness testimonies, and much more. In this message, you will see how the Bible is superior to the Quran.
During a raging storm, out in the sea, Jesus's disciples were panicking over the size of the waves and the many dangers in action, posed before them. They try to wake Jesus who is in the boat sound asleep and wake Him up. They express their fears and anxieties over what is set before them, however, Jesus teaches His disciples a lesson in His sovereignty and control over creation as He calms the sea and stops the storm. Case in point; Jesus has control over ALL of the things we have NO control over. In this instance, Jesus's disciples knew that they had no control over the storm (i.e. the circumstances around them), and they panicked. This poses as intriguing question; how do you respond when you have no control over the things happening around you? When the "waves get large" and "water is coming in the boat", are you panicking, or do you have faith? Do you realize the depths of His sovereignty? Nothing will happen to you that He doesn't allow, just as He allowed the disciples to take the boat out, knowing that there was going to be a storm ahead. Pastor Troy Billow expounds on an array of revolutionary truths in this fundamental example of faith in the midst of a storm, and what that means for you in your walk, so you can be prepared for when the next "storm" in your life hits.
Who is Jesus's family? When Jesus's mother and brothers were unable to reach Him as He was speaking to a crowd, someone relayed the message to Jesus that His mother and brothers are standing outside waiting to see Him. At that moment, Jesus redefines the concept of family. Jesus replies, "My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice." What does that mean? Adding another dimension to the Parable of the Seed & the Sower (covered in the previous message "A Noble Heart"- 6 Sundays ago if you want to look that up) in Matthew chapter 13, those who do the will of the Father, put His word into practice and hear, retain, and persevere in it, THAT person is part of Jesus's family. Jesus here disconnects the earthly dynamics about His family and prioritizes the spiritual aspects. And yet it is important to note that people who put God's word into practice are not EARNING their salvation (as salvation cannot be earned by works), they are PROVING their salvation by allowing the Holy Spirit to work in and through them. In this message, Pastor Troy Billow explains the depth and dimension regarding this, and why it is important to realize what is going on here and the significance of what this means fundamentally.
Faith, according to God's Word is, "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1)".A believer's faith is based on hope and trust in God, and it is fed by what and how God keeps His promises and sustains us by aiding us in numerous ways. The question is; with a litany of things that scripture reveals, do we have unwavering CONFIDENCE in that? The world is a dark place led and influenced by plethora of dark beings (Satan being the "prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2)" and demons). All they aim to do is steal, kill, and destroy people, particularly the ones who apply, live by, and are sustained by God's truth. The people of Hebrews chapter 11 died for their faith. And what helped them remain diligent in their faith? God's promise of a better resurrection. The Christian life is not easy. It takes diligence, effort, and commitment (Philippians 3:12). It is a journey with many challenges and efforts by dark forces to bring discouragement, doubt, and death. And yet we are instructed to "take hold", forget what's behind, and strain forward. In this message Pastor Troy Billow explains what this all means, as well as the importance of casting off the very thing that, because of our flesh nature, entangles us.
When Jesus was on earth sharing the Gospel message with people, including those who were closest to Him, he knew that they would need help, counsel, and power. And so, Jesus promised to send a helper to them that would provide them with power, boldness, insight, and strength. 50 Days after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, that power came down from Heaven to enable the disciples to carry the work of Jesus in this world. This powerful, transformational, and revolutionary person of the Trinity, gave people power to be witnesses of Christ, change their hearts, change their minds, change their spirits, weed out the anchors of the flesh, re-prioritize everything, and through the Holy Spirit, provide fruits that transcend human capacity, gifts that grow the Kingdom and help heal the world, and power to do what Christ did, so that we can be His hands and feet, growing the Kingdom before He returns. In this special, packed message on Pentecost, Pastor Troy Billow reveals the power, purpose, and transformational experience living by the Holy Spirit allows for you, when you simply follow Christ and yield to the Spirit's wisdom, prompting, and working in your heart and life.
The Pharisees tried to separate themselves from "unclean people". A Pharisee by the name of Simon invited Jesus to dinner with him. A sinful woman who heard that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house went there to speak to Jesus. So, she entered the Pharisee's house, not caring what people thought of her, and with boldness, entered the house while they were having dinner. She entered the house weeping and brought with her an extremely expensive bottle of perfume, to wash Jesus's feet. She washed Jesus's feet with her hair. Simon was upset and confronted Jesus about what kind of a woman she is. Jesus answered back with her faith, humility, gratefulness, and lengths she went to show her appreciation for Jesus. God is looking for people with the great kind of love this woman has for Jesus. This begs the question for every believer; are you as appreciative in this sort of way? Pastor Troy Billow explains.
In honor of the National Day of Prayer, Pastor Troy Billow delivers a message on how Jesus sought prayer as the source of His strength. When Jesus was in the company of the disciples, He "left the scene" to pray to His Heavenly Father. Since Jesus opened access between you and the Father, in the same way He has access to the Father, you can approach Him and bring your cares, concerns, requests to the throne room of God. Like a Father, God needs for you to talk to Him, because if we believe Him and have faith in Him, then we can approach Him and be direct, with confidence and boldness, and He will hear us. Tremendous things happen when we talk to God, because, as a Father, He is attentive and caring towards our condition and what we truly need.
Drawing from the parable of "The Seed & The Sower", Pastor Troy Billow explains in meticulous detail the different kinds of soil that the seeds of God's Word falls on as different conditions of the heart in today's world to today's generation. Although people listen with their ears, they do not hold the Word of God in their hearts. A noble heart is a heart in which the listener not only listens to the Word, but has a desire and a need to know it, live it, and speak it. God is always looking for people searching for the truth, and when they do, and apply the truth provided for them, storing it in their hearts, it makes a real difference. This message not only reveals the heart, but it tests the heart when you hear it. And most importantly, it teaches what it means to persevere through testing trials with it.