Exactly What I’m Thirsting For

This series we have been doing from the Gospel of John has been rich season of growth.  I am still working out Pastor Dave's message, "Sword Swinging and Cup Drinking”.  What a powerful contrast in evaluating our reactions and our choices, and what a clearheaded reminder to “put down your sword”.  Beyond how this teaching reveals how my reactions look more like Peter than like Jesus, I’ve been wondering how this question impacts how we serve.  I wonder if sword swinging is faithless work that comes easy for us, maybe even natural for us, and it seems to sit comfortably with our pride - "I'm looking out for me, I'm taking care of myself".  While cup drinking demands humility - "I'm looking to God to care for me, in faith I'm receiving whatever His best is for me".  putting down swords that inhibit my serving.  In Ephesians 6 Paul prompts us to take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and to pray in the Spirit on all occasions.  I am asking God to search me and disarm me, to remove my swords of this world, that wound and kill, and arm me instead with the sword of the Spirit that guides me and directs my steps.  Holding the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God strengthens my faith as I drink the cup God sets before me, trusting that His best for me is exactly what I’m thirsting for.  Join me in asking God to search us and disarm us of any such swords of this world, and instead place in our possession the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.

Pastor Eric

Sent To Forgive, Forgiven To Be Sent

Thankful for the opportunity to contribute to our series on the Gospel of John.  This message is from John 20:19-23.  Jesus breaks through doors and hearts locked by fear and doubt.  Thank you for listening.

Sent - click to play sermon

Our First Mini Movie - The Wedding

Very excited to release our first mini movie from Midland Free Methodist Church, inspired by the  four part preaching series by Pastor Dave Kessler.  Thanks for watching.


The Wedding from Eric Wing on Vimeo.

What Do You Think About God?

Let’s consider together some important questions.  What do you think about God? Is he near or far, kind or angry - think for a moment about what you really think about God.  Next let’s consider what we think God thinks of you?  Is he please or embarrassed, are you the object of complete delight or do you think he might get your name wrong if you met at a potluck.  Spending a moment to consider both of these questions can reveal how close you will grow toward God.  What you think about God can shape your entire relationship with Him.  I have found that spending time with this question in my own personal worship time with the Lord has proven to be a refocusing moment in my journey with God.  His Word discloses His deep personal thoughts to me and my prayers disclose my deep personal thoughts to God.  Knowing what God thinks of me also has a great impact on my obedience - I am not motivated to obedience to gain His favor, or manipulate God into doing what I want, I am motivated to obedience because of the favor and lavish mercy He has already shown me.

What do you think about God?  and What does God think about you?  Here is a scripture that helps us answer these questions well, this would be a great verse to commit to memory.  

Zephaniah 3:17 “The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing”

Pastor Eric

Live piano postlude response 12-21-14

Live worship postlude 12-14-14

Live piano worship response 12-14-14

Blame

Everyone has times of starting over.  In this message I share how important it is to let go of our blame stories and start telling stories of what God, whose intentions for us have never change, has done and is doing in our lives.
Thank you for listening to this message "When I Start Over"

click here to listen to "When I Start Over"

Live piano postlude 11-30-14

God's Love Language

Thanksgiving is one of our love languages of God.  For the follower of God we are to be a spring of thankfulness, in all things give thanks.  This is not pretend happiness for life is often too difficult, too confusing and far to fragile to live in a make believe thankfulness.  This is a thankfulness that recalls God intentions for us and remembers that nothing can separate us from his love.  This is a thankfulness that sets its eyes on thing above, not ignoring the things below, but also not letting the hours become greater than the eternity we are promised. Often we evaluate reasons for thankfulness on our circumstance or on the actions of those around us.  Thanksgiving for the follower of God is rooted in remembering the intentions of God not the actions of the moment.  In the moment we have very little perspective, in fact, in the light of eternity which God fully sees, we can only see a dim little blink of eternity.  This dim view often oppresses our giving of thanks and can even misdirect us into blaming God for circumstances and actions that do not seem to align with his intentions and promises.  Psalm 105 is a great help in guiding us toward being a people of thanksgiving.

1Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.  2 Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.  3 Glory in his holy name;  let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.  4 Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.  5 Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,

So here is our guide to thankfulness for the follower of God;

Give praise
Proclaim his name
Make known what he has done
Sing to him
Tell of his work
Glory in him
Rejoice in him
Look to him
Seek him always
Remember what he has done
Be thankful

Pastor Eric

Jesus The Son Of God

Jesus; who is he, why is he here, and why does that matter to us?  Sermon Podcast

Listen to Jesus Son of God sermon podcast