Desert Breeze Community Church

It’s easier to quit than to persevere but the costs will eventually always outweigh and overtake the temporary pleasure physically, spiritually, relationally, and morally. Three things we need if we are going to persevere in perilous (difficult) times.

“All Christians are but God’s stewards. Everything we have is on loan from the Lord, entrusted to us for a while to use in serving Him.” (John MacArthur) We are not called to serve God with a frustrated sense of obligation. Instead, we are called to serve Him with a heart of joy, in awe that we get to play a part in His magnificent story. True service will require sacrifice, but it also comes with the amazing reward of honoring our Father in Heaven who gives us all good gifts.

The Apostle Paul is awaiting trial and certain death and is passing on the ministry torch to young Pastor Timothy. This second letter reads like a coaches half-time motivational and instructional talk. When you consider the high stakes of heaven and hell, shrinking back from our calling as a Christian is not an option. This series will teach and motivate us to more fully embrace our Courageous Calling as Christians.

There is a violent side to living the Christian life. Spiritual growth is not for the timid. You must not only aggressively nurture a heart for Jesus but also a hatred toward sin. The only possible attitude toward sin is a declaration of all-out war. Don’t just bellyache about your struggles with sin (pride, anger, envy, lust, gluttony, slothfulness, worry, fear, bitterness, depression, discontentment…). MAKE WAR! (Gen4:7; Rom8:13)

People who love God with all their heart are always content regardless of circumstances because they always have what they most want and that is God. Signs of discontentment would be the opposite of 1Cor13:4-8.

“We live in a time when people go to a building on Sunday mornings, attend an hour-long service, and call themselves members of the Church. But have you ever read the New Testament? Do you find anyone who “went” to church? The fact that we have reduced the sacred mystery of church to a one-hour service we attend is staggering. Something that God has designed to function as a family has been reduced to an optional weekly meeting.” – Francis Chan (Letters to the Church)

It is in our nature to want a quick fix to the problems of life. However, quick fixes are not always desirable, even when they are possible. This is true physically and spiritually. Through his life, death, resurrection, and ascension Christ has defeated the enemy (Jn. 16:11) and now not even death itself (“the gates of hell”) can prevail over those who are in him (Mt. 16:18; Is. 38:10; Jn. 11:25). In this letter, Paul instructs Timothy on how to conduct himself while leading the affairs of the church (3:14-15). In today’s passage, he focuses on how Timothy should train himself for godliness, which includes declaring and living the truth (sound doctrine and life) so that others would follow his example.

Satan doesn’t leave fang marks on the skin but lies in the heart (John 8:44). A lie believed to be true will affect your life as if it were true (Pro4:23). Lies will imprison you but the truth will set you free (John 8:31-32). Who you are can be no better or no worse than the thoughts you entertain in your head. “Sound doctrine originates with God, is recorded in the Word of God, and is consistent with the whole revelation of God.” -Daren Dirksen: Captivated [series] Colossians-Unity in Doctrine

There is a major problem when people talk about meeting God or knowing God and yet remaining unchanged over time by God. If the God who is perfect in love, infinite in wisdom and unlimited in power comes to dwell within you, believe me, it will transform your life. You cannot live in vital union and communion with the Creator of the Universe and remain the same.

We have a leadership crisis in our world today. There is a major disparity between power and character. Those in power are not necessarily up to the task of discharging their responsibilities to the benefit of those they lead because of their lack of character. A church (family/nation/organization) rises or falls upon its leadership (Matt10:24-25)!

Our sexuality is not incidental, or unimportant, or a curse, or a burden. Our manhood and womanhood were created by the perfect love and infinite wisdom of our brilliant Father. When you own your manhood and womanhood through the clarifying lens of God’s Word you bring God much glory and experience much joy.

Through Christ, The Great Intercessor, we should not only desire to pray, but become enamored with reaching those outside of Desert Breeze through power of prayer.

Nothing can transform a human heart, heal a wounded soul, fill you with meaning, hope and happiness, turn hatred into love, bring about forgiveness, reconciliation and peace like the Gospel. (Rom1:16)

Jesus said, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” –(Matt16:18) There is not a more exciting, compelling, fulfilling adventure this side of eternity than being a part of a Biblically functioning community that is redeeming, rebuilding and renewing people’s lives. This series will teach us, the church, how to become everything Christ died to make us. Doctrine Matters because healthy doctrine promotes a healthy faith and a healthy faith is a life of love and a life of love is a life overwhelmed by God’s love.

Nothing has the power to transform your life like intimacy with God. Intimacy with God is enjoying the riches of God’s Glory (His indescribable greatness and unimaginable goodness). In this text we see some very deep changes in John the Baptist. If that is true about him, though he knows very little about the coming of the Messiah compared to us, even more so should that be true about us.

1. Christmas is about light coming into our world of hopelessness through the birth of Jesus Christ the Lord. 2. Christmas is about life coming into our world of death through the birth of Jesus Christ the Lord. 3. Christmas is about glory coming into our world of emptiness through the birth of Jesus Christ the Lord.

We were created by God, for God, to See, Savor, and Show the Glory of God. Nothing is more life-liberating and soul-satisfying than enjoying the riches of God’s glory. The Glory of God is His Indescribable Greatness and Unimaginable Goodness. God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.

Advent is about the arrival of life in the midst of death. Life is one of the major themes of John's gospel, where the word is used thirty six times. When it comes to this subject, we all know that it is possible to be alive, and yet not really have life in its fullest and truest sense. This true life is what we were made for.

“Light” Why do we put lights on our homes and trees and light candles to celebrate Christmas? Because Christmas is about light coming into this world through the birth of Jesus Christ. Seven times in our text the word “Light” is used.

If our prayer life reflects the quality of our relationship with God, then how can we have a prayer life that is filled with passion, power and the presence of God? Along with the Word of God and the People of God nothing will bring greater HEALING to our spirit, soul and body like communication, conversation and communion with God.