Empower (our church) is moving.

We’ve been meeting at Praise Fellowship in Carol Stream, IL. We’re moving to the Carol Stream Holiday Inn. The service times will be the same: 10am Sunday, 6:30pm Wednesday, Men’s Fellowship: 1st Friday of each month, 7pm. All of these meetings will be held in the Holiday Inn.

If you can make it we’d love to see you and meet you.
Keep us in prayer as we leave the facility we’ve been in for so many years.

Here’s a recent journal entry I wanted to share with you:

Lord, I love you and I need to you to speak to me personally – not just about pastoring.

Son, you’re doing well. You’re getting to a place where things fall apart if your personal disciplines are not in place.
Being lenient with yourself leads to trouble because things unravel from there.
So go ahead and tighten up – like re-tying your shoelaces. Tighten up. I’m with you and I’ll help you but it’s time for you to make the effort to put everything in place. You’ll see the needs be met. You’ll see my hand of blessing. I like order – bring it all in order.

This is the last of a series of notes I used this past Sunday. The reason I’m posting it is because the Lord spoke a word to me about each point. I hope this helps you.
You might want to listen to it online as well.

Here’s the word from the Lord:

I have given your life as a gift to you. I will fill your days with plenty and cause you to drink from my river of delights. As you are thankful and have a cheerful countenance your life will be more enjoyable. Enjoy my gift to you.

Psa 36:7 NASB How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.

Psa 36:8 They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; And You give them to drink of the river of Your delights.

Psa 36:9 For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.

This week I’m sharing the notes from my sermon this past Sunday. For each point the Lord gave me a word to share with the congregation. I hope this helps you.

Come, visit and take a listen if you’d like.

Hab 2:4 … But the righteous will live by his faith.

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

2Co 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight–

The Lord spoke this word to me:

In order for real fruit to come forth from you, you must be drawing from me.
The only way to receive from me is by faith.
Faith is your connection.

This is one of the points from my Sunday sermon:

Be Friendly

1Peter 4:8 AMP Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others]. [Prov. 10:12.]

1Pe 4:9 Practice hospitality to one another (those of the household of faith). [Be hospitable, be a lover of strangers, with brotherly affection for the unknown guests, the foreigners, the poor, and all others who come your way who are of Christ’s body.] And [in each instance] do it ungrudgingly (cordially and graciously, without complaining but as representing Him).

1Peter 4:8 NASB Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

1Pe 4:9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint.

The Lord spoke this word to me:

When someone gets a vision they get very focused. Focus disconnects them from anyone who doesn’t relate directly to their vision. Focus is very helpful and is necessary in getting the job done. But just because you are focused doesn’t mean you should not be friendly. You have a responsibility to love each other deeply from the heart. Make room in your life for others. Trust me for the completion of your vision. Work together with others. Work in the midst of others. Realize that as you help them with their vision I am further equipping you for yours.

This is from Sunday’s sermon.
The Lord gave me a different word for each of the points. I hope you like it.
You could also listen to it at the church website.

Write Your Vision

The Lord spoke this word to me:

As each is equipped with an ability so you also are given an assignment. Your assignment is the vision for your life. The one who reports for duty will hear his CO’s commands. I will show you on the inside of you what you are to do. It will play out like a movie in your meditation time. My Holy Spirit will be right there to produce the show for you. Submit yourself to me so I can show you your future.

Habbakuk 2:1 KJV I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.

Hab 2:2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

Hab 2:3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

Hab 2:1 AMP [OH, I know, I have been rash to talk out plainly this way to God!] I will [in my thinking] stand upon my post of observation and station myself on the tower or fortress, and will watch to see what He will say within me and what answer I will make [as His mouthpiece] to the perplexities of my complaint against Him.

Hab 2:2 And the Lord answered me and said, Write the vision and engrave it so plainly upon tablets that everyone who passes may [be able to] read [it easily and quickly] as he hastens by.

Hab 2:3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time and it hastens to the end [fulfillment]; it will not deceive or disappoint. Though it tarry, wait [earnestly] for it, because it will surely come; it will not be behindhand on its appointed day. [Heb. 10:37, 38.]

This is the notes from my sermon this morning, I thought it might help you.
There’s five parts. I’ll do one part each day this week.
I hope you like it.
Joe

Use Your Gift

1Peter 4:10 NASB

As each one has received a special gift,

employ it in serving one another

as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

The Lord said:
I have placed a special deposit inside each of my children. That deposit belongs to them. They must discover it, unwrap it, learn it and use it. My Spirit on the inside of them will lead them to their gift. If they will cooperate with me, it won’t be long until that gift comes to the surface and begins to bless many.

Know who you are and how I’ve made you. Don’t endeavor into the areas where I have not equipped you. Stick with your gifts. It will be fun for you, rewarding, desirable, healing. Staying in your gifting maintains unity in my body. When you stay in your lane you won’t jostle the one next to you.

Click Here
It’s clean.
Have you’re speakers on.
Wait a moment for it to load.
Joe