Did you that the Bible talks about SEX, Cheating, Relationships, Communication? Join us at Vision Church as we start the Series THE NAKED TRUTH (Uncovering the Realities of Relationships)

You will hear a message you will understand and can relate to, listen to great music and meet new friends….

Here are the sermon titles and dates:

February 28th – Satan’s Sex Ed 101.
March 7th – Toilet Water!
March 14th – Don’t get married until…….
March 21st – The grass is greener
March 28th – Can you hear me now?
April 4th – How to fall in love with your future EASTER SUNDAY

In 2 Kings 7 there is a POWERFUL story about 4 men with leprosy.

Things were so bad in Israel because of a famine that a woman had cooked her son and ate him…. that’s really messed up (1 Kings 6:26-29)

Now, in chapter 7 we have these 4 men with leprosy.  They decided to move toward the impossible: They knew the worst the Syrians could do was kill them. They would die anyway if they did nothing.

They decided to move toward the impossible situation. When you move towards the impossible……..God acts in your behalf.

I Samuel 4 opens with the nation of Israel battling the Philistines. Israel is camped at a place called Ebenezer and the Philistine army has pitched their tents in Aphek. Israel was losing the battle because of sin in their midst, especially in their leadership (see I Samuel chapter 3). When they lost 4,000 men in battle, they began to ask “Why has the Lord smitten us?”

Instead of seeking the Lord and searching their hearts to reveal the true problem, the Israeli army decided to take the Ark, the symbol of God’s presence, and send it before them in battle. In previous battles, at God’s command, the Ark had preceded Israel’s army into battle, but it was only the symbol of God’s presence. Because of sin, the presence of God was not with His people in this battle so the symbol of His presence was meaningless.

We learn that the Philistines capture the Ark in chapter 4:11.  The symbol of God’s presence was now in the hands of the enemy and Israel was defeated in battle.

When we lose God’s presence, we are also rendered ineffective in battle.

But is the presence of God truly with us, or have we settled for symbols and rituals? Whenever we settle for symbol, ritual, and tradition, the presence of God withdraws. The glory of God is lost to the enemy. Have you settled for ritual instead of the reality of God’s presence?

In Exodus 33:15-16 Moses had said to God….”If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

Here Joshua know that it’s not him or the people that are taking the land, or overcoming the obstacles that are in their way… it is GOD.  HE is the one that has GIVEN (notice the past tense) them the land.

When we learn to let God lead and we follow what He has commanded nothing is impossible. The question is are we willing to get our feet wet? How many people are standing one inch away from the breakthrough / miracle but, nothing will happen until they take that step.

It says in Joshua 3:13 and 15….And as soon as………set foot in the Jordan…….Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge..”

Here is what I believe God is asking us “Are your foot in the water“?

If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. (Deuteronomy 28:1)

How often do we pray and expect the blessings of God but, we are far from “fully” devoted to Him?

How often do we treat God like a “slot machine“?  We put in a quick prayer, we attend church for an hour or so and we expect God to be impressed and bless us.

Over and over in the Bible we read phrases like Deuteronomy 30:6…..love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.

Think about the word “ALL” not part, or some or even most…..NO ALL….

That’s why at Vision Church we are all about reaching people that are far from God and making them FULLY devoted followers of Christ.

All too often we see Big problems and view God as small. The reality is that God is BIG and that nothing is impossible for Him.

In Numbers 13 spies are sent to explore Canaan. It’s quite interesting that God over and over again keep saying “the land which I am giving you”.   According to God it was already done!

When the men returned after 40 days one thing that they said was this “We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.” (Numbers 13:33)

To them it seamed impossible because they looked at what they could do, not what GOD had said and what HE could do.

When we learn to view life God’s way and see things His way we start to see the possibilities. When we learn to listen and obey, doors will open and the impossibilities we become possibilities.

In the Tent of Meeting, outside the curtain that is in front of the Testimony, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the LORD from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come.
It is awesome to know that, if we believe in Him, He is always with us even in the Darkest of times. That fire (presence) is what makes the difference.

Matthew 5:16 says this:  “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven”.

This is something that we shouldn’t turn off or on. It should ALWAYS shine…

Three days following the earthquake communication in country is still very difficult. Our internet is unreliable making our connection with the outside world challenging. The day after the earthquake, Jimmy had walked to some of our members’ homes that were in the vicinity to check on them. All those he was able to get to were fine. All of them had lost their homes or their homes were badly damaged. They were all sleeping in the streets because everyone has been instructed to sleep outside of buildings and away from walls because of the tremors that continue to be felt throughout the day. Our church which is located in the basement of a large two story commercial building didn’t  seem to have suffered much damage but we are not sure if it is structurally sound. We will have to make sure it is safe to hold our services on Sunday.

Today, we are slowly getting news from a few members of the church. Some of our worst fears have materialized as a young woman who grew up in the church died in Caribbean market and her body has already been interred in a common grave. We pray for courage as the news of the fate of family, friends, and acquaintances are known.

Jim has along with some of our neighbors, worked to get drinking water into our neighborhood and another area next to us. They are also working with a bakery to help supply bread for this area.

When the streets were opened yesterday and we were able to get out; we checked on a couple of our friends. We found their street had been turned into a make-shift refugee camp. Their house was badly damaged and they had been sleeping in their garage running into their yard every time they felt a tremor. After they had gathered a few belongings to come with us, we walked by a few cadavers covered in sheets to get to our car. This was the scene throughout the city; the living camped around the dead.

Again, we praise the Lord for our safety because just two houses down the street from us a man was crushed while sitting at his desk. As the system was overwhelmed, when the wife came to claim his body, Jim was among those who helped remove him from the rubble. Another man was killed by our neighbor’s wall just across the street from us and he had to make the arrangements for him to be moved. In that, we have been fortunate to be in an area with limited damage which allows us to be in the position to help others.

We are well aware of your concerns and the desire to help. At this point we would like to direct you on how to best get the help to us. In the coming days, we foresee that we will run out of resources and the price of everyday commodities will rise. We have consulted with others and realize that the best help should be monetary in nature.

We (Vision Church)have the ability to directly deposit money into their bank account and have already send funds to help.  100 % of what you give will be sent right away to help.  You can give using a credit card or a bank card.  Please specify that the money you are giving is for Haiti.   You donation is tax deductible…

If you want to give just click here:  I WANT TO DONATE MONEY

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We have a great connection right in Port-au-Prince, Haiti with Pastor Jim and Maryse Cartright. Many of you have met Maryse and Jim as they regularly visit Vision Church as they are in Miami and as Maryse is the sister of Marie-Solange Benedict who attends our Church.

Pastor Jim and Maryse founded Tabernacle Evangelique de Bethel 1985 with 5 people and now has over 700 people attending the church.

Here is a link to their Website if you want to learn more about what they are doing:

http://www.logoshaiti.org/index.html

This is a ministry that has a proven track record of 25 years of ministry in Haiti. We will be able to send funds directly to the church and I can tell you that this is really needed and that 100% of what you give will go directly to them.

I can’t personally say enough good things about the Cartright’s and their ministry, you are giving to people that have a heart for God and a heart for the Nation of Haiti.

So, how can I give?

You can give right now, by using a credit or debit card : Click here to donate to Haiti.

You can also give on Sunday, just designate “Haiti” on your offering envelope. Thank you for everything that you are able to to. I know that together we can make a huge difference. Please help to spread the word………