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Liberty in Christ Jesus (Galatians 2:1-10)

To the church in Galatia, Paul speaks of the freedom we have in Christ Jesus. What does that mean? The Jews at this time used the Judeo practice of circumcision to justify their communion with God. Pastor Troy explains that dynamic more in depth. You see religious people think that there is some kind of burden to carry so that they can be "right with God". Such people rely on religiosity, self-righteousness, and believe they have merit with God. The reality is; Christ's people accept and receive what He did for us on the cross, trust that, and take Him at His word. His actions are what justifies us when we believe and put our trust in this and this alone. The burdens that people think they need to carry to enter Heaven apart from this truth are of their own making.

What It Means to Surrender (Romans 14:8-9)

Special Guest, Ret. U.S. Navy Seal Michael Imhof brings a bold and powerful message on "What It Means To Surrender". Mr. Imhof explains what having faith means when the rubber hits the road, explains how you can't KNOW somebody unless you spend time with them (knowing God is speaking to Him, reading His Word, discerning the Spirit), makes the distinction between remorse and repentance, explains what components drag down a person's faith, and many other dynamics that weigh down the power of faith in one's life. Michael also discusses the power of "corporate agreement" in a church (Matthew 18:20), how actions serve as a powerful witness in and of itself, the importance of peace being the "umpire" of your spirit, and a host of other things that will revitalize, encourage, and energize your faith.

He Who... Persecuted Us ...(Galatians 1:18-24)

Title: He Who Formerly Persecuted Us Now Preaches (Galatians 1:18-24)

As a believer have you truly been changed? That an underlying question which serves as a critical basis for the authenticity of your faith. What does that mean? After Paul, once Saul, the former chief Jewish persecuted of Christians, encountered the risen Christ on the road to Damascus, He changed, and tried to re-evaluate the Old Testament in regards to Jesus Christ. So he sought Peter and stayed with him for 15 days to get his firsthand experience with Christ, and find out more of who Jesus was and what He was like. After all, Christ met Paul with authority, and the disciples experienced the wise and loving side of him, and spent more time with Him. Also look at Jesus's family. His family was like everyone else until after the resurrection. Today, we have the Word of God and the power of Christ which works in us if we simply spend time with Him and His Word. Many of today's "Christians" don't see the reality of God. Why is that? Because they fail to spend time with Him and be in His Word. When you care about your relationship with God, what He does in you and through you begins a track record of experience, experience you can depend and rely on.

Together In One Accord (Acts 2:1-13)


After Jesus rose from the dead, and before He left earth to sit at the right hand of the Father, He said that He was going to send a helper, a Spirit that would lead those who put their faith and trust in Christ into all truth (John 16:13). 50 days after Christ's ascension into Heaven, that promise was fulfilled on what we now call "Pentecost Sunday". In this Pentecost Sunday message, Pastor Troy Billow reminds us of the POWER of the Holy Spirit, the power that enables, motivates, and moves us to do do the work of the Lord and effectively speak our witness. When the disciples first received the Holy Spirit, they all were of one accord, and when they followed Him, they had resounding impact. Today, He works the same way. Believers who follow the Holy Spirit have impact, and the simple act of obedience enables the power of the Holy Spirit to get involved and help you share your witness for Christ for others to take notice.

Reveal His Son In Me (Galatians 1:11-17)

In this part of Paul's letter, Paul reveals the ultimate purpose of the believer. Paul explains that God wants Himself to be revealed through His Son, Jesus Christ, and He wants His Son to be revealed in/through us believers. Eternity rests on you having faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and that begins the moment you accept that. Pastor Troy expounds on this section of Paul's letter further in this message.

A Woman Who Fears the Lord.... (Proverbs 31:25-31)

Title: A Woman Who Fears the Lord Shall Be Praised (Proverbs 31:25-31)

In this special Mother's Day service, Pastor Troy zeroes in on some sage advice offered by King Lamuel's mother, a godly woman who brought up her son as a godly man. The result was that he turned out to be a wise King. What's interesting about this is that these truths are hearty, alive, and potent today if they are applied, and work strongly in those whose lives they are applied to. Good mothers are also sacrificial, caring, and take on a lot of responsibility, and in this service, we honor them in a special way.

The Gospel of Christ (Galatians 1:6-10)

Paul's letter gets bolder and more dramatic as he rigorously upholds the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and in so doing, he upholds the grace of God. Paul was the one who planted the churches, including this one in Galatia. Jews were troubling the souls of the early Christians by convincing them to believe that there was more to it than just grace. The message and the purpose of Christ is simple; Christ died for you while you were enemies of God & were already dead in your trespasses. Christ chose us, made us alive through Him, if we choose to receive him, and is the only one who can make us holy if we abide in Him. Paul is saying not to add anything to what Christ already did for us. In other words, don't pervert the Gospel. Paul even takes it a step further by saying that if anyone preaches another gospel, may he be accursed, which means may they be damned and doomed to hell. This strong display of emotion, backed by truth, shows definitively how serious God's Grace is, and how only through Christ, it is sufficient on its own. It is not reliant on anything we can do. When we work for the Kingdom, it is because we want to share the grace of God, not be bogged down with obligation because "we have to". Grace is all we need.

That He Might Deliver Us (Galatians 1:1-5)

In the first of a series on the letter to the Galatians, Pastor Troy Billow explains the historic backstory that led to Paul's need for writing the letter to them. Paul visited Galatia in Acts chapters 13-16, and established a church. The problem was that Jews in the Synagogues were influencing new Christians of a Jewish and gentile background, convincing them that they need more than just place their faith in Jesus. They told them that they needed the Law of Moses too. The Jews began slandering Paul too as if he was misleading converts by omitting the whole story, and convinced them that they needed to do more stuff. This letter's purpose is to set the record straight, and act as a chance for Paul to defend himself and the integrity of the Gospel message. The truth of the matter is; are we unworthy? Yes. Do we need to do more stuff to make us more worthy? No. It is Christ who makes us worthy, and He has a history of making people who are messes (like Peter) or self-righteous brainiacs (like Paul) worthy by making them humble, teachable, and in turn, powerfully effective.

Be Still??? Me??? (Psalm 46:1-10)

In all of the anxieties, tragedies, battles, and trying circumstances that we are unprepared for, God has a very simple message for us in all of these things. That message is "be still and know that I am God." What does that mean? Why can it feel so difficult to do? How can we apply it? In this message, Living Faith's own Thom Espinos explains what is lacking, what we need to understand, and how to apply it, so that it is clear to us how to rest assured in the security of the power of God that is our mighty fortress and a rock unfailing.

He Is Risen! He Is Not Here! (Mark 16:1-13)

There have been five major events in world history that established the world, changed it, and paved a path for a new direction. Those events are creation, the birth of Jesus Christ, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the forthcoming return of Jesus Christ when He comes to rule and reign on the throne of David in Jerusalem. The depth and seriousness of Christ, His resurrection, His impact, and influence is revealed in the prophecies of the ancient prophets, in Jesus's life, attitude, and conduct, and that power is reflected in the lives of everyone who chooses to receive Him into their hearts, abides by Him, and actively applies His example. When you look at how amazing and precise the prophets, Jesus, and His intervention and power in people's lives are, more than enough is provided to convince people to believe. These are the types of people unbelievers do not believe. Who do unbelievers believe? Unbelievers in Christ believe people who do not have that kind of power, influence, and impact. They constantly gravitate towards ridiculous and strange things that aren't factual, however something as significant as the resurrection is something that indeed happened, and is fact, despite what these types of people think. In this special Resurrection Day message, Pastor Troy Billow explains this "fact to belief/disbelief" dynamic, and why it is important for us to consider today.

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