Potter's House Pasadena - CFM

Judges 1: 28 - 'And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites under tribute, but they did not completely drive them out...' You must consider with me, the Children of Israel were probably feeling good about themselves at this point. They escaped the hands of the Egyptians, in dramatic fashion...they survived the wilderness and God blessed them incredibly through that; then, they cross the Red Sea, the Jordan, and literally destroy every enemy they encountered up until Joshua's death...that's impressive. However, with great victory comes great responsibility - they were too confident in themselves instead of God and they allowed the enemy to hang around longer than they should; this eventually became their own undoing, the same is true for you and me. I'm here to tell you that you shouldn't negotiate with the enemy, you should TAKE HIM OUT! The many problems the Israelites ran into is found in chapter 2 of Judges...God said for ...

1st Cor. 11: 1-2 Follow me as I follow Christ. Now I praise you, brothers, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. 'Phil Jackson is arguably the greatest athletic coach of all time, having won eleven NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. Jackson has also been a respected mentor for two of the greatest basketball players ever in Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant and he currently holds the record for highest winning percentage as a coach.  He is more philosopher, spiritual seeker, and scholar than he is a sports-minded tactician, although he is tremendously athletic on a physical and mental level in his own right and won two NBA championships as a player.  At face value, this well-known depiction of Jackson is undoubtedly fascinating; however, it does not explain the exact mechanisms behind his tremendous success and outstanding leadership ability. Rather than explore what Jackson knows and try to copy or em...

JOB 1:6-12 NEW KING JAMES VERSION (NKJV) SATAN ATTACKS JOB’S CHARACTER 6 NOW THERE WAS A DAY WHEN THE SONS OF GOD CAME TO PRESENT THEMSELVES BEFORE THE LORD, AND SATAN[A] ALSO CAME AMONG THEM. 7 AND THE LORD SAID TO SATAN, “FROM WHERE DO YOU COME?” SO SATAN ANSWERED THE LORD AND SAID, “FROM GOING TO AND FRO ON THE EARTH, AND FROM WALKING BACK AND FORTH ON IT.” 8 THEN THE LORD SAID TO SATAN, “HAVE YOU CONSIDERED MY SERVANT JOB, THAT THERE IS NONE LIKE HIM ON THE EARTH, A BLAMELESS AND UPRIGHT MAN, ONE WHO FEARS GOD AND SHUNS EVIL?” 9 SO SATAN ANSWERED THE LORD AND SAID, “DOES JOB FEAR GOD FOR NOTHING? 10 HAVE YOU NOT MADE A HEDGE AROUND HIM, AROUND HIS HOUSEHOLD, AND AROUND ALL THAT HE HAS ON EVERY SIDE? YOU HAVE BLESSED THE WORK OF HIS HANDS, AND HIS POSSESSIONS HAVE INCREASED IN THE LAND. 11 BUT NOW, STRETCH OUT YOUR HAND AND TOUCH ALL THAT HE HAS, AND HE WILL SURELY CURSE YOU TO YOUR FACE!” 12 AND THE LORD SAID TO SATAN, “BEHOLD, ALL THAT HE HAS IS IN YOUR POWER; ONLY DO NOT L...

Gal. 2: 20 - 'I have been crucified with Christ;it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.' John Adams, 1776: "Before God, I believe the hour has come. My judgment approves this measure, and my whole heart is in it. All that I have, all that I am, and all that I hope in this life, I am now ready here to stake upon it. And I leave off as I began, that live or die, survive or perish, I am for the Declaration. It is my living sentiment, and by the blessing of God it shall be my dying sentiment. Independence now, Independence forever!" From a heart of passion into the history books, we hear and witness the declaration of our freedom, hence our great nation - the United States of America. That same passion about our country should be no match for the passion we have for the Cross! The men who took a stand and signed the Declaration of I...

Luke 13:6-9 6 He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ 8 But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’” This scripture is very personal because it speaks of a Christian who has served God for a length of time, yet has nothing to show for it. Remember, God is always challenging you and I to produce fruit.  In fact, this was among the first things God ever commanded mankind: Genesis 1:28 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing...

Gen. 22: 1 - 19, Abraham Tested 22 Sometime later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” 3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” 6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The f...

1 Corinthians 9:26-27 New King James Version (NKJV) 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. A blind spot is an area where a person's view is obstructed. This is usually understood when operating a vehicle, we realize that there are spots on the road where our vision is hindered...it's to our advantage and common sense not to make any decisions moving the car when the blind spot is at work. Not only is this true in a vehicle, it's true in our lives as Christians...there are vulnerable areas of life and if we are not careful...we can fall prey to said blind spots... Matthew 7:3-4 New King James Version (NKJV) 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to ...

John 12:1-8 12 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. 2 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. 4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, 5 “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. 7 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. 8 For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.” What an incredible picture of how destiny unfolds for people in the Word of God. 3 different people...

Acts 2: 1 - 4, 'When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.  Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.' We all know this scripture as the day the church started!  Consider with me what was actually happening, and what led to this moment in church history.  First of all, Jesus had appeared to 500 people before this took place, but only 120 people were in the upper room praying and doing what He told them to do before this moment.  I always wanted to ask, 'What happened to the other 380 folks?' I wonder if the pressure of family time at the Pentecost celebration took priority over the prayer meeting in the upper room? Seco...

1st Kings 8: 38 - 40, 'Whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows the plague of his own heart, and spreads out his hands towards this temple:  then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and act, and give to everyone according to his own ways, whose heart You know, (for You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men), that they may fear You all the years they live in the land promised to their fathers.' Prayer is arguably the greatest Christian discipline we possess as the people of God!  You can make an argument for Worship, you can make an argument for the Word...communicating with the King of kings?  I believe this is the most powerful!  We have no audience with the Mayor, Governor, or President of the United States...the One who made all 3, we can speak to anytime we wish!!  Powerful. In the everyday living of a Christian, prayer does many wonderful things to you and for you. ...

Acts 26: 19 - '...therefore King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to that heavenly vision...' I wanted to take some time and express my condolences and heart - felt gratitude to the fallen fireman this past weekend.  They risked their lives for the cause of saving others.  A memorial is being held in their honor today in downtown Houston.  No doubt, these men, (and a young woman), will be remembered for the sacrifice they made that day. I wonder how you and I will be remembered ? What will be your legacy?  Can I tell you that you are shaping your destiny and legacy right now!  The decisions you're making today are eventually going to chart your tomorrow.  People will remember you, however in a different light.  As a child of God, many will remember you for Who You Are, not just what you've done.  Later on in the scripture I showed you...King Agrippa tells the Apostle Paul, '...Paul, you almost persuade me to be a Christian!' Why did ...

John 11: 23 - 26 , 'Jesus said to her, 'your brother will rise again.  Martha said to Him, 'I know that he will rise again, in the resurrection at the last day.'  Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in me shall never die.'   Do you believe this? That seems to be the question of the hour...do you believe this?  Can you with confidence believe that Jesus Christ will do what He said He will do? What I've come to witness is people who have no problem believing God for what He can do in others, yet they struggle when they're in need of God to move for them.  Is it a fear that maybe Jesus will not come through?  Or maybe it's the possibility of vulnerability...in other words, by needing Jesus - you're telling others that you have a weakness or a shortcoming... well, so what! I strongly believe that when we are out of options, that is when the glory of God can shine the brightest in our lives.  He can finally ...

Romans 8: 1 - 8 '...for to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace...' This portion of scripture deals with 2 great entities...the flesh, and the spirit.  These are constantly at war within us all the time.  What's interesting is that God doesn't really give us a third or fourth option!  He tells us plainly that we are either in the camp of one or the other.   What I've come to realize is the bedrock of this text has a lot to do about value systems.  What we hold dear to our hearts is usually the champion of our personality and character going forward.  There are several things to consider on this vein of thinking. First of all, in a retail store or anything of that sort, you have various items, but the materials inside do not hold or share the same value; some things are more expensive than others...I can only surmise that the pricing is different because the importance of said item is also different...or...