Messages

Isaiah 49:8-9–

Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.

Desolate: deserted, isolated, uninhabited, baren, depressing, unhappy.

As prisoners of this world you were desolate, your life was meaningless, you felt so bare and isolated by your friends and maybe even your family. Some of you may have been unhappy and fallen into depression. You deserted everyone around you and became a recluse trying to hide and run from God and the purpose he had for you.

But, Christ heard your cries and brought salvation and mercy into your life! He has redeemed those desolate places in your life into marvelous treasures. He has given you an inheritance and an overcoming power for those areas in your life that the enemy thought would keep you from fulfilling Christ’s purpose and plan.

Path has been commissioned to Go and shine His light into this dark world. He has called us to Share His Power, Truth and Love to our community and abroad.

… Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves….

 God Desires the Desolate!!

Executive Pastor

Luke 19:10 – For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Do we really know who Jesus came to seek and save? Do we fully appreciate our commission to seek them as well?
In my search for the answers to these questions, I did a simple word study. In just one “right click” and one “mouse-over” the secret was revealed! I found the reason why you and I are not truly motivated to reach the “LOST.” When I clicked on “thesaurus,” three pathetically passive words showed up. They just sat there on the screen staring at me! The software programmers and their current thesaurus defined LOST as 1) misplaced 2) mislaid 3) absent.

Now, I might MISPLACE my cell phone and I might MISLAY my keys! I might even be ABSENT from physics class! But when it comes to a human soul – when it comes to my family member – when it comes to my friend, they aren’t MISPLACED. They’re LOST! What’s the difference? Let’s find out what Jesus meant by LOST…

When Jesus said “I came to seek and to save that which was LOST,” the word He chose was crystal clear. Read carefully the definition of the Bible word Jesus chose for LOST:  1) destroyed  2) put out entirely 3) abolished 4) rendered useless  5) put to death 6) given to eternal misery in hell! That’s what Jesus meant when He said, “lost.”

At Path this month, Share Pastor Darrell Marsh and I will be pleading with you through preaching and prayer to become passionate about reaching the LOST! I pray that you see your coworkers, classmates, neighbors and even shop cashiers in a new light from this month forward. In fact, I’m asking everyone one of us to ask ourselves these questions:

• Have I adopted a secular definition for LOST?
• Do I really see people as LOST?
•  Am I doing everything in my power to reach LOST family, friends and acquaintances?
• Am I taking every opportunity afforded me by God to testify and offer hope?

Our Shepherd’s voice is clear today. He’s saying, “Find my LOST sheep!”

Herod the Great tried to stop Jesus after His birth by slaughtering all the children 2 years and under. Satan tried by tempting Him in the desert. The Pharisees tried by criticizing His teachings and miracles. Herod Antipas tried by questioning and mocking Him. Pilate and his soldiers tried by beating him publicly. The cross tried by bleeding the life from Him. Death, Hell and the Grave tried to stop Him with a stone over the tomb’s door.

If only they had known … Jesus is UNSTOPPABLE!

If only we knew the power of Paul’s words in Romans 8:11 … But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

The same Spirit that makes Jesus UNSTOPPABLE is in us! So if Jesus is unstoppable, so is His church! Who’s trying to stop your destiny in its infancy? What’s trying to tempt you away from your purpose? Who wants to halt your ministry? Why would you allow a little mocking or persecution to slow you down when you know that even DEATH can’t stop you!

You are UNSTOPPABLE in Christ Jesus!