James 2:22, “ You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected.”

     Perfected is another word for completed, but it gives a much deeper meaning.  Something can be completed without being perfected, but in this case, James is telling us that if we truly have faith it will produce works.  Not only will you produce works, but these works will perfect your faith.  In other words, as you take the step of faith and do something for the Lord, you might take the step with just enough faith.  At first you might be doing the best you can but then, as you start to see God working through your faith, it grows and becomes perfected through the work.  The law of Faith is just like the law of gravity in a physical world.  You drop something off of a building it will fall to the ground, no questions.  In the spiritual, if you have faith, it will produce works that will complete, or perfect the faith you are walking in, no questions.  So, do you have any faith today?  “If you show me your faith without your works, I’ll show you my faith by my works.”  Amen!            God Bless,  Rusty

Luke 15:32, “ but we had to be merry and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.”

I feel led today to pray for all the prodigal children out there.  There are so many that have walked away from families and are wandering around, trying to find their way through the darkness.  Father, we pray that You would give them illumination so that they can find the way home.  There are so many that have been pushed away from relationships and families.  Some of the ones with he biggest calls on their lives have been deceived and have walked away.  Lord I agree with my brothers and sisters today that you would bring them all back home safely.  I pray that you would open their eyes and let them see truth.  Bring them back home Lord, into your loving arms.  Would You let them know how much they are missed and loved, like only You can.  They are all missed so very much.  Comfort all their loved ones until they find the way home and let there be peace in their hearts.  More then anything else Lord, we pray protection over them.  Please keep them from harm and steer their feet away from danger.  We pray this and believe it to be done, in the name of Jesus, Amen!                      God Bless, Rusty

3 John 2, “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, even as your soul prospers.”

God wants us to prosper and be in good health.  Is He talking about finances? Yes, but that’s not all!  He’s talking about wanting us to prosper in all the things He has for us.  He wants us to have more then enough in everything.  More then enough peace and joy.  More then enough love.  More then enough time and energy to spread the gospel.  More then enough victories.  More then enough of HIs Spirit overflowing inside of us.  More then enough of everything!!  And of course, you could not benefit from more then enough if you were sick and diseased.  So He wants us to prosper and have everything there is for us, and to be in good health so the benefits of His kingdom can be passed on to others.  Yes He does want to prosper you financially also.  He wants you to have more then enough so that you can help to finance His kingdom in these final days.  This is His promise so let’s all start claiming it!  God is Good, all the time!  Amen!   God Bless, Rusty

John 1:14, “Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.”

Our Heavenly Father wants to reveal His truth to us.  But when the truth is revealed to us we have a tendency to do one of two things.  We either shrink under the truth, seeing our complete sinfulness and feeling completely unworthy or we become prideful thinking we have arrived.  The problem is that in either case, the truth is not revealed to us just that we should know it.  God wants us to apply the truth to our lives.  This is the only way that the truth can set us free.  Just knowing the truth doesn’t help.  Most of the times truth is not applied because it’s simply to hard.  We don’t know how we could do it.  That’s where God’s grace comes in.  If we’ll just do the best we can to apply the truth, His grace will bring us through.  When we get to the other side we’ll know that we only made it through His grace.  His grace is always sufficient, no matter what!  That’s good news in my life!  How about yours?   God Bless,  Rusty  

Genesis 2:7, “ And God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.”     

     Life is just a vapor in this world, at least our physical life.  But what about the eternal spiritual life that we find in Jesus Christ?  This life is hard to explain.  You can use words to try to label it or describe it, or you can use phrases to try to nail it down, but when it’s all said and done, it’s pretty indescribable.  The only thing that I can tell you about God’s breath inside of us is that if it’s there, you are going to go through changes in your life as you know it.  When He breathes on us we go through things inside that we can’t explain, at least not in this world.  One thing I can tell you for sure, if there is any surety in it, is that when God lives inside of you it’s like your very existence shifts.  It feels like being a plant and always searching for the sun light and stretching your arms towards it.  It’s like a cool glass of water after being outside all day long in the summer heat.  It’s like sitting in a hot tub of water after you’ve worked all day long.  It’s like having an umbrella in the pouring rain.  It’s like finally getting on the honeymoon after six long months of stressful preparation for the wedding.  I don’t know how to describe it, but one thing I know for sure, it’s real!!  God’s life is real and tangible and I’m so glad He lives in me.    How about you?  God Bless,  Rusty 

Ezekiel 34:16, “ I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken, and strengthen the sick.”

        Do you have one that is lost?  Do you have one that you’ve been praying for and just doesn’t want to come home?  God is intent on bringing the lost home and I believe that He’s going to start with your lost one.  God told me to pray for the lost today so let’s join in agreement that your lost one will come home:   Father, I agree with all the precious people that have lost ones.  I agree with them that their prodigals are on the way home.  I believe with them that each one of them has come to the hog pen and is having their eyes opened to the situation around them.  We pray that the Holy Spirit is bringing conviction into the very hearts of the lost and they are realizing how much the Father loves them and are plotting courses to return home, even as we pray this prayer.  Father, we thank you that they are returning home and we give you the honor and the glory for it, in Jesus name, Amen!!             God Bless,  rusty       

Isaiah 55:11,” So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”

Do we realize the power in speaking the word of God?  It is a force changes universes.  With it the world was created out of nothing.  You see, when we speak God’s anointed word, it’s not us speaking it, but God speaking it through us.  In other words, we are just the vessel that’s being used to transfer God’s creative power into this world.  Every situation that we find ourselves in is an opportunity to speak God language.  You see, the world doesn’t understand God language but all God’s creation stands at attention when He speaks.  And not only that, but when His word comes forth, it will accomplish what it was sent to do, it can’t fail.  We as humans can fail but God’s word cannot.  So we need to speak His word and understand that through us, He can change the world we live in.  Speak His word today to every creature.  Speak to every situation and watch God’s power change the very atmosphere around you.  He can’t fail!!  Allow Him to come into your situation today and watch mountains move in front of you.  So, what are you waiting for?  Let’s get started!!                   God Bless,  Rusty

2 Corinth 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”

     There are all kind of things happening around us as we seek to breakthrough to new levels.  My prayer is that we keep strong through the storm.  “Father, we come to you not on our own, because we are nothing.  But we come in the righteousness that Jesus purchased for us.  Your grace is sufficient for us no matter what comes against us.  We stand firm in the midst of the storms knowing that you are greater then anything we will ever encounter.  Your love is enough to see us through.  So Lord, we stand firm.  As we keep walking through the valley, we know that there is victory on the other side.  As we walk and get tired we know that Your grace will see us through, no matter what.  Because when we are weak, then we are strong and Your very power is perfected in weakness.  Thank you Lord for seeing us through and giving us all the strength to continue.  We love you and know that our breakthrough is right around the corner.   Thank You for the new beginnings, in Jesus name, Amen!  Now, whatever you’re facing today, no matter how hard or how impossible, get ready and move forward with the strength that only He can provide.  He’s already gone ahead, and He will never leave you or forsake you.  So don’t give up!  Keep fighting!  His grace is sufficient, no matter what!      God Bless,  Rusty

John 1:3,” all things came into being by him and apart from him nothing came into being that has come into being.”

Jesus is the word, and in the word is life, and this word is what purifies us.  This word is also what gives us life. He is not just life, but he creates life. So all life that's created, or in fact, everything in this world that exists, came from his word, or from him. So if the word creates it also washes and it also makes us pure. So you might say that creative power comes from purity. Only things that are pure can create, and things that are unclean destroy.  Saying all this, we can see why it's so important that we stay clean, or washed in the word. We see why it's so important every day to wash yourselves in the creative word of God. Only when we are purified, or clean can we speak the word as Christ's representative, and expect it to bring forth life. It's all about him and simply has nothing to do with us. So every day we have to clean ourselves so that he can use us to create a life in others. So, have you read his word today, or have you had your bath yet. If not, the water is warm so go jump in. Somebody out there needs life today, and you just might be the one who God can use to create life in them. Amen!      God Bless,  Rusty

Ephesians 5:26, “ that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word.”

     The process that God has established for going from a common man to a holy one, is called sanctification.  He purifies us, or washes us with the water, or His word.  It’s a process that must continually be allowed if we are to grow in Him.  Just like taking a physical bath, which we must do on a regular basis, we must bathe with His water on a regular basis.  We bathe because we get dirty after a while and as we work we start to perspire and eventually smell if we don’t bathe.  It’s the same spiritually.  The harder we work the more dirt of the world gets on us and the more we start to smell, or lose the fragrance of Jesus.  When this happens we need to be purified, or washed in His water by the word.  This is why it’s so important to stay on the word.  The word is what cleans us and keeps us pure.  Our purification, or our ability to continue on in this sanctification process, depends on how much we stay in the word.  The word keeps us pure and is what allows us to draw into His presence.   That’s why after we sin, it’s so hard to pick up the word and read it.  We smell so much we don’t think we’re worthy to be in the word.  But Jesus loves us so much that He’ll raise us from the dead just like He did Lazarus, even though he already smelled.  So, can you smell yourself this morning?  You might just need a bath with pure water, Amen!                      God Bless, Rusty

John 15:3, “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.”

     In the old covenant there where a lot of instructions and rituals that would take a person from being unclean (unpure), to clean (pure).  Because God was in the midst of the people, the only way you could approach Him or minister unto Him was by ritually washing first at the laver.  If any one was found to be unclean they had to go outside the camp until a priest confirmed them, by ritual, to be clean again.  In the new covenant, ritual, ceremony, religion (ritual) has all been abolished because Jesus paid the price outside the camp to make us all pure.  Therefore we can boldly approach the throne of grace and receive mercy and help in the time of trouble.  We can confidently ask Him anything and He will grant it unto us.  We can draw near to Him, and He will draw near to us!  The main point this morning is this;  We are made pure in the new covenant by the word.  Jesus washes us clean by the word.  Our purification comes to us as a free gift and we stay pure by staying in the word.  The water in the laver was a type of the word that Jesus has washed His church clean with.  So I only have one question for you today;  have you washed this morning?                      God Bless,  Rusty

Psalm 119:105, “The word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.”

      His word becomes the light that illuminates you and shows you the way.  If you are to be trimmed every day, so that the light can become brighter in you, the utensil used to trim your wick will be the word of God.  So every day we need to be filled with the Spirit.  You see, the actual lamp does not provide the light.  What actually provides the light is the oil.  So this is the picture that we have from the word of God.  Every day, as we feed on the word of God and meditate on His promises, the Holy Spirit breathes on the word and it becomes alive, or, it illuminates us as we walk through the world.  It shines before us so that no matter what situation you find yourself in, it shows you how to proceed and to walk through it.  As our light continues to grow brighter from more filling and more trimming, we start to shine so bright that we become a light for everyone around us to be drawn to.  After all, when it’s dark outside, if you don’t have a flashlight, you’ll find the one who does and walk with them so that we can see where we’re going.  Teri commented on yesterday’s message, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.”  , “And now," as Paul Harvey would say, "you have the rest of the story!”     God Bless,  Rusty

Philippians 4:13, “ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

   It seems like every place I go lately people are focusing on the state of the economy, the nation, or the world.  Every one seems to be focusing on all the negative things and not looking at what Jesus is doing in His church.  Everyone is focusing on the things that we are familiar with, which, is reality to us.  But we aren’t looking at the promises of God, which are the only true reality.  It’s like we’re praying to just hang on when we should be taking the gospel into the streets and reaping the harvest.  I’m not suggesting that we totally look the other way and don’t even acknowledge our current situation in this world.  We need to pray for our situation.  But I think we need to pray with faith in God, not a, “whoa is me” attitude."  The last time I checked God is still very much alive and He’s still on the throne.  Right now is the time for God to really show out and He wants to do just that.  If He can find a people to believe Him, the very earth will shake around us!!  He’s waiting for us to preach the gospel to the poor, proclaim release to the captives, the opening of blind eyes and the healing of the brokenhearted.  He wants us to pray for boldness to proclaim His word so that He can confirm it with signs and wonders.  Last week in church we prayed for a lady with cancer spots on her nose and they disappeared.  Did you hear what I said!!  We weren’t worried about all the problems around us, we focused in on the situation in front of us and took a stand on God’s word!!  Yes, we need to repent for our actions, or, more appropriately, our inactions.  But we also need to stand up and take authority over our world.  We need to rule and reign like God intended man to do.  It’s a wonderful time to be alive in the body of Christ!!                      God Bless,  Rusty

John 17::15, “I do not ask thee to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.”

     Jesus prayed that we would be protected against the evil one and his cohorts.  Today I pray the same thing for all of us as we go forward to meet the busy schedules of life;    Father, I pray today that you would help us.  There are so many good things that have happened to us since we started to walk this walk.  You have changed us in so many ways.  But Lord, there are still so much work to be done.  Each one of us still has things in our lives that open doors to the evil one.  I pray that You would help us today.  I pray for the spirit of holiness to invade our bodies and take over our thoughts.  Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  Help us today and keep us from the evil one.  We are so weak on our own.  We need Your help.  You’re the only one that can help us.  So, today Father, I pray for your help to come to all the saints, that we may stay strong and walk in a manner worthy of you.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, the strong Son of God, Amen!    God Bless,  Rusty

Isaiah 55:6, '”Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.”

     Let me say first that the Lord can be found any time someone truly searches for Him and seeks him out.  Saying that, I do believe also, that there are certain times when He is very close.  During these times people are drawn to Him and His presence passes through them to bring them closer then ever before in their lives.  I believe we are at one of those points right now in human history.  I believe we are at a point in time when He is available to help us with all kinds of problems in our lives that we’ve been struggling with for years.  King Solomon wrote that there was an appointed time for everything under heaven.  I believe that we are at the start of a breakthrough season in the body of Christ.  If we will seek for Him during this time, His anointing is going to destroy and heal things that have been hanging around for years.  Just the closeness of His presence is enough for people to receive.  It’s time for not only salvation and the harvest to come in, but it’s a time for deliverance and healing to flow through the body of Christ.  It’s a time, in other words, to jump in with both feet.  It’s not a time to be timid, but a time that we should all get a little wet.  Seek Him right now because you can feel His presence as you read this.  He’s right there with you.  Call upon Him right now!  You won’t be disappointed!   God Bless,  Rusty

Hebrews 11:6, “ And without faith it’s impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”

     When we seek God with our whole hearts , we will find Him.  He allows any one who is seeking Him to find Him.  It’s part of the plan of God, that you be found by Him.  When you seek Him the bible says that He will reward you.  That’s good news, but with what will He reward you?  It’s an age old question but I believe to be found by God actually means, or alludes to attaining Him, or His presence.  If that be the case, then the greatest reward that comes from seeking Him is arriving at a resting place, or a place of peace.  When He is present there is no strife of anxiousness.  There is no wanting or desire.  Therefore we have peace with Him and with ourselves.  So seek Him today because He’s waiting to be found.  He’s waiting to give you His peace, not as the world gives, but perfect peace.  That’s a pretty good reward that can’t be bought in this world, no matter what you aspire to.  You can win the Super Bowl or become the winning pitcher in game 7.  You can be the Pole racer or have more then one gold medal hanging from your neck.  You can have a Doctorate degree and be a CEO of a major corporation or you can be the President of the United States.  None of these things guarantee you peace.  The only place of peace is seeking and finding God.  So, why don’t you get started seeking Him, and only Him this morning?  You’ll be rewarded!                           God Bless,  Rusty