217church - Audio

Faith demands an action. James reiterates that without actions our faith is dead and our faith must be activated. Faith is more powerful than belief, faith produces fruit, and our faith leads to courageous living.

Our love for people as a church must always be present in the way we treat those we know and those we are just meeting. If our church is to grow healthy as God wants us to, our faith must be increased as we show hospitality, acceptance and mercy.

Faith demands an action! As we stretch to believe in what God has called us to be and do, God will transform our faith through our heart, our head, and our hands.

When we are being tempted, everything seems like it is slow motion. The rapid heart rate, the uncertainty and the guilt that creeps up even before you give in. We must change the trajectory of our life by changing who we listen to, what we act on, and focusing on where we are going.

James writes giving clear insights on how God desires for us to have increased faith. The question isn’t whether or not we will have tests and trials but rather when. When we face the tests of life we are to respond with joy, steadfastness and prayer.

When God created everything he rested on the seventh day and the first thing man experienced was God at rest. Not only is the Sabbath a commandment but it is a way of life that if followed leads to dependence on God. Remember your work does not define your worth.

When an obscure prophet named Habakkuk is called to deliver a message to the people, he complains that he doesn’t like God’s plan. He is encouraged to wait for the vision and to carry it out at it’s appointed time. We must carry out the vision of 217church with unity in our values as they provide the roadmap to the appointed time of the vision.

When 217church was started over 5 years ago, we had no idea what would happen, but we were willing to believe and trust. Our heart is to have 10,000 vision owners who will carry the baton of this church in this generation. We believe Jesus has called us to Central New Jersey to be a restored family sent on mission that spreads the vision, shares the responsibility, Serves the ministry and sacrifices for the purpose of the church.

Paul writes Timothy, a young pastor and encourages him to not just say the correct things, but to order his life around a Godly example for who will come after him. We are to set the example in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity. This is the purpose of the family of God.

Ruth shows us how to take our trials and turn them into triumphs. By having a clear purpose, the right perspective and a lot of persistence she was able to rise above her circumstances. Our toughest trials can be our greatest tragedy or our biggest triumph, it all depends on how we respond to them.

David was called a man after God’s own heart, but he wasn’t perfect. He was a murderer and adulterer that became desperate for God’s love in his life. We must realize our dysfunction, become desperate for Him and then live in His destiny as we depend on His work to make us clean.

Esther was a simple, beautiful Hebrew girl that had great influence and great courage but she didn’t start out that way. If we are to move from fear to boldness we must know where our authority comes from, always act with humility, and petition God for clarity.

Moses was called and created for a mission by God before he was even born. He went through moments of confliction, confusion, and conviction. However, that was all needed for him on the path that God had laid out for him. He was stretched beyond what he was comfortable with, are we willing to be stretched in order to be strengthened?

In Joseph’s life he experienced betrayal, imprisonment, false accusations, near death experiences, poverty, and abuse from his family members. However, even through this he found a way to persevere to blessing as he served Pharoah. As we persevere, we are to do so with authenticity, faith and hope.

Jael, a seemingly obscure woman plays an incredible role in subduing an evil king and setting the Israelites free from oppression. We must be confident in God to submit to His authority and depend on His sovereignty.

Deborah was called as a judge to be used of God to give the Israelites victory. When God calls you to something, many times there is a delay on our part in the obedience. But when we act, it creates a catalyst for God's blessing and fulfillment in our lives. Calling will meet action when we realize God’s plan, provision, and power for our lives.

Abraham was called by God to be the father of nations. Yet he was willing to sacrifice His only son in a bold move of obedience and trust in God. God stepped in and provided the sacrifice. As men we are called to laugh because of the Joy of the Lord, declare bold faith with our mouths, follow Jesus with our actions, and receive the blessings of Jesus throughout our lives.

Isaiah, a prophet to four kings of Judah, was always willing to bring the difficult but needed message of truth to the people as God’s messenger. If we are to be the people and church God calls us to be we must learn to soar, stride, and be sustained by waiting on the Lord to give us wisdom.

In a culture where there's instant gratification, where people are based on by their body of work, and people believe they are able to do it all, faith is what considers us righteous, not by anything we do. Scripture tell us that there is nothing that we can do to earn it, it is by faith in Jesus that saves us. If that's true, what can we do to put more emphasis on Jesus than the rest of the world.

We live at the level in which we speak. We know that the words that we speak can either bring life or death, so which one will we choose. Will you be a person that speaks encouragement and proclaims the Gospel? Or will you be one that brings gossip and harm to others around you?