Pastor Troy Billow expounds on the meaning behind the truth "He who has the son has life". Not just life in the here and now, but eternal life that begins the moment you trust Christ What does that mean, exactly? Eternal life is more than just a destination, it is an ongoing way of life. Anyone who truly believes this carries this testimony in their hearts, and radiates that out in the world.
In this message, Pastor Troy Billow explains how the birth, life, death, burial, resurrection, and the living power of the Holy Spirit not only gives the testimony of God in a revolutionary way, but it exposes how the forces of darkness in the form of false doctrine were then, and are today, trying to rob the life changing power of that truth. In John's Day, at this point, he was at war with and combating false doctrine. He knew Christ up close and personal. So as false doctrine is being spread, John gets upset and writes this message, and this week, it is the perfect message to comprehend during the Christmas season.
As Scripture states, "The Heavens declare the glory of God" (Psalm 19:1). In Romans 1:20, Paul writes, "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." What does that mean in the world of biology, technology, and design? This week, LFCC gives the floor to Daniel Currier, who through his background in biology, technology, and design shows us how intelligence launches information and how the information has a designed purpose assigned to it. He also shows us how the source of design and information is the mind, and that everything, every shape, every strand of DNA, every molecule and atom are entities that carry and transport information. So join us, as we look at the Glory of God through creation by a speaker whose living is rooted both in science and in faith.
Matters in our own lives have a tendency to block the flow of seeing God's love play out in our lives. And yet God not only showed His love in sacrificing His Son to make a way for us to be with Him in His presence, but He is also faithful to us in our daily lives, more-so than we realize or comprehend. Yet when we abide in Him, and act on applying His Word and Will, that evidence is experiential and has impact and power. So, what does God look for when it pertains to us loving Him? Hearing & following His voice, obeying His command, acknowledging Him, staying connected to Him, and fulfilling His purpose are all actions that prove our authenticity in loving God. And that is what God is looking for; authenticity in our relationship with Him. And with God, all that He asks for is actions based in His Truth, which in turn will produce considerable fruit.
Full Title: We Love Because He First Loved Us (1 John 4:19-21)
Loving people is God's greatest challenge. That point bears repeating. LOVING PEOPLE IS GOD'S GREATEST CHALLENGE. God's love isn't just words on a page, it is experiential. The question is; does it make a difference in your life to know that truth? We, as believers are able to love others because He first loved us. Love is an action, not just words. This is a command from God. When people actually do this, it sends the message to others that the person doing it is a follower of Christ. John said that if we claim to love God, but hate other people, we are liars, and the truth is not in us. If we are liars, then we're hypocrites, so our focus should be on love, so that, even when it's difficult and we thrive in doing it, we can have confidence in fulfilling this command when we are held accountable to it on the Day of Judgment.
Spreading the Gospel in many territories around the world is dangerous, tense, and uncomfortable. It is very telling when you consider the level of perfect love Christ has for all of us. It magnifies, defines, and signifies the level of evil, darkness, and death-inducing nature of what contrasts it. That said, a believer in Christ has a costly decision to make; Will we have something to show for our faith when we are judged by Christ? Believers are judged by a different standard. We will be judged by the way we showed love for others, even when it is difficult, taxing, and consuming. Christ is the prime example for how to conduct this, as people around the world who follow Christ are giving their lives just as He did. This week, we will also pay tribute to the lives of those who gave it all up to follow Christ and make the dangerous mission to make His love known in territories that are Red Zones.
If you can stop an argument before the rush of emotions "breaks" the boundaries of rationale, sensibility, and reason, you can diffuse a big conflict. In this message, our special guest speaker, Minister, Chaplain for the Cook County Jail, Youth Minister, and Teacher Bryan Revor will give prime historical examples of, and personal experiences relating to the true power of Proverbs 15:1, where it states, ""A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger". Experience how this applies in everyday interactions with people, marriage, nations on the verge of war, and a host of other areas where people are likeliest to lose their composure and lash out.
One of the realities we as believers have to focus on in our witness to other people is that the Spirit that lives in us needs to radiate from within outwardly through the flesh. This will in turn serve as hope for other people because they will see the truth of Christ living out through us. If you have a relationship with Christ, you will experience His love being made complete (mature, seasoned) in you. In other words, as we experience God living in us, that work is revealed to the world in how we live that out. It reflects out to other people, much like a lighthouse signaling ships out in distress way out at sea. If you are struggling with this reality, or you need to revisit it in your walk with the Lord, Pastor Troy Billow will explain how love, abiding in Christ, truth and fact, obedience, and the Holy Spirit are all critical components of living out the reality that Jesus promises everyone who trusts Him and follows Him. To put it in a nutshell, it is the key to the power of experiencing the reality of Christ's word and promises, which in turn motivates, mobilizes, and energizes one's faith constructively and productively.
In a message that honors life from the womb on, Pastor Troy Billow preaches a message based on Paul's letter to Timothy, where he defines the roles between men and women, designated by God. Paul references Genesis chapters one through three as the foundation to his argument, and what happened to Adam who, after being created first as a leader, was influenced by Eve to act in accordance to what Satan deceived her on,thus unleashing sin into this world, and causing death. In His grace and mercy, God moves Paul to expound on the importance of roles as He designed it, and in that, expounds on the blessings that women are given when it pertains to bearing a child. Deviation from these things has caused this topic to be one of the most controversial, and how we respond to these things, arouses the components that shape our positions pertaining to it. Where do you stand?
After Jesus rose from the dead, and He he visited His disciples a few times, Jesus challenged Peter three times with one question. Jesus asked Peter, "do you love me?" Now, there are separate Greek words used to characterize the word Love in the English. Jesus asked "Do you [Agape] me?" which is love in a sacrificial way. Or, "do you [Phileo] me?", which is essentially "do you just love me as a buddy?" Peter saw the ugliness in people all the time, and he positioned his approach to people to confront them. Jesus was well aware of Peter's feelings towards people. That said, Jesus challenged Peter to live out his love for Him by loving, or showing love towards people. What does it mean to love like Jesus did? What did His love consist of? How do you fare in light of this examination? Are you just a professor of this truth, or are you a possessor of this truth? This message will hold a high powered magnifying glass to that question.