Walking in the Authority of Jesus - Avoiding Fear Production

Text:  Luke 13:1-21

When we hear of others facing health challenges or someone dying suddenly, it can produce fear. We wonder if it can happen to us.

The shield of faith combats fear - not symptoms. In this passage, the woman had a routine, which prepared her for revelation. She believed there was an answer to her problem and invested her resources. Keep your faith and hope going, so you can act on revelation.

She'd been coming to the synagogue on a regular basis. She was in God's house.

1.  Her location didn't change anything.
2.  Her need didn't change anything.
3.  Goodness didn't change anything.
4.  It's FAITH that changes anything.

Jesus said she'd been bound by Satan. He loosed her from that bondage. The Greek word for "loosed" means to loosen, break (up), destroy, dissolve, lose, melt, put off. The enemy's ultimate aim is to obliterate you. In order for us to be loosed from what we are bound to, someone or something must come against it.

A lot of people get discouraged when they don't see results. Continue the good routine, adjust it - don't stop. The enemy wants you to buy into the lie that your growth depends on you doing certain things. Your growth depends on what you receive.

If something comes from God, it is a warning, and every time God gives a warning, there is time to change and avoid the outcome. If it comes from Satan's kingdom, he is a liar. Some parts may be true, but the outcome is always the lie.

Routine can put us in a place to receive revelation that when acted upon will produce a good change, but ritual can shut down our expectation, hope, and faith.

To hear the entire message, please visit our website and click on the Listen Tab. You can listen online or download the message to your MP3 player.

If you're visiting in the area or looking for a church home, we invite you to Zoe Christian Fellowship. We're located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Route 611), in Warrington, PA.  We look forward to meeting you.

Please note: We're doing two classes on Sunday afternoons, which start at 1:00 - 1:15 PM. The first one is The Good Foundation, taught by Pastor Mike Perea. The second class is End Times, taught by Pastor Steve. The classes alternate weeks, so you can attend both if you wish.

Quotable Quotes

"If your faith is never tried, then your faith can never be trusted!" - M.L. Sanchez

This Week at Zoe

 Wednesday, 2/24/16, at 7:30 PM. Pastor Steve will teach on 2 Kings 15 - 4 Kings of Israel.

Worship Team Practice - Thursday, 2/25/16, at 7:00 PM.

Sunday Morning Service - 2/28/16, at 10:00 AM. Children's Services also start at 10:00 AM.

Zoe Christian Fellowship is located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Route 611), in Warrington, PA. All welcome!

Sunday, 2/28/16, 1:00 PM - Pastor Steve will begin teaching a class on the End Times. With all that's going on in the world today, many people have questions about what the future holds. Come out and invite a friend!

This class will be alternating with the Good Foundations class, so people can attend both if they so desire. Pastor Mike Perea is teaching this class.

Sunday Morning Series - Walking in the Authority of Jesus - Following Our Examples

Text:  Mark 3:1-6

This portion of Scripture covers the man with the withered hand. The Greek language incorporates more meaning than English. In Greek, the words used indicates the man's current condition was based on a previous event. Jewish tradition says he was a bricklayer and was injured.

The man didn't come to the temple expecting to be healed. It was the Sabbath and part of his normal routine. Jesus' actions came under constant scrutiny by the religious leaders. When Jesus called the man, he had to stop and listen. In our lives, we may not be prepared to receive from God, but we'd better be ready to receive when He calls.

He told the man to, "step forward." It takes courage to step out and give to others, but it also takes courage to step out and receive from God. This was the man's place of worship. Jesus was the equivalent of a visiting minister. He didn't have to face the religious leaders every Sabbath.

Jesus says to the man, "Stretch out your hand." For your faith to be stretched, you must attempt what is either difficult or impossible. Questioning without doing what God tells us to do is doubt. Doing without questioning is faith. The ability of the source is the root of any questioning.

There are good routines and bad routines. If we're always speaking worry and doubt, that's a bad routine. On the other hand, if we're in the habit of speaking the Word over our situation, we're developing momentum. When it gets going, it's hard to stop.

To hear the entire message, please visit our website and click on the Listen Tab. You can listen online or download it to your MP3 player.

If you're visiting the area or looking for a church home, we invite you to our Sunday Morning Service at 10:00 AM. Zoe Christian Fellowship is located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Route 611), in Warrington, PA. We looking forward to meeting you.

A new class, "Good Foundations," taught by Pastor Mike Perea, began on Sunday, 2/14/16. He's teaching on the basic doctrines of Christianity.

On Sunday afternoon, 2/21/16, at 1:00 PM, Pastor Steve will begin teaching on the End Times. With all the crazy things happening in our world, it's important to get a Biblical perspective. He will first look at the scriptures in the Book of Daniel that relate to the end times.

Note: These classes will alternate every other week. This way, if you want to attend both, you can. All welcome!

All welcome! Zoe Christian Fellowship is located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Route 611), in Warrington, PA.  Check out our website for more information.

Quotable Quotes

"Unbelief is the rejection of truth." - Pastor Stephen Hecht

This Week at Zoe

Midweek Service - Wednesday, 2/17/16, at 7:30 PM. Pastor Steve will speak on II Kings 15 - King Azariah (Uzziah).

Worship Team Practice - Thursday, 2/18/16, at 7:00 PM.

On Saturday, 2/20/16, at 8:00 AM, the Men's Breakfast will take place in the Children's Church Auditorium. Please bring a breakfast item and your Bible.

Sunday Morning Service - 2/21/16, at 10:00 AM. Children's Services will also begin at 10:00 AM.
At 1:00 PM, the End Times Class will begin. Pastor Steve will be teaching. All welcome!

Zoe Christian Fellowship is located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Route 611), in Warrington, PA.

Sunday Morning Series - Walking in the Authority of Jesus - Faith's Battle

Text: Mark 5:21-43 & Various

Many Christian's ask their faith to fight battles it was not equipped to fight. It is a tactic of the enemy of our faith to get us to use it against what it cannot change so that we lose confidence, even thinking we have no faith.

Jairus gives Jesus some faith to work with:

1.  A problem - his daughter is seriously ill.
2.  A plan
3.  A proclamation

Jesus responds not to his begging but to his faith. Instead of things getting better, they get worse. A messenger comes along and informs Jairus that his daughter is dead and advises him not to trouble the teacher any further.

1.  Most people see praying/asking for something as bothersome to God.
2.  The opportunity for which you came is gone.
3.  There is nothing more to achieve.
4.  He is not able to do anything now.

As far as Jesus is concerned, there's no problem with the change or the request. The only problem is fear. He tells Jairus not to fear.

New information - a doctor's negative report, a change in a situation, the opinions of friends and relatives - can bring fear, doubt, and anxiety. Until we are ready to obey the general command, "do not fear," "do not worry," we will not receive or be ready to act on the special command to, "come." Just because what you face doesn't change doesn't mean your faith is not working.

Don't allow anyone's declaration to undo your proclamation. Something said based on sight cannot undo what was stated based on faith unless you let it go or become fearful. When Jesus arrived at Jairus' house, he put all the mourners out of the room. Only the girl's parents, Jesus, Peter, James, and John stayed there. Don't feel badly about putting doubters or potential doubters out of the room while you deal with a problem. Being a Christian doesn't always mean being nice.

The problem is not in what we face but in what we fear. Build your faith on the promises from God's Word that go against what the enemy is baiting you with fear.

To hear the entire message, please visit our website and click on the Listen Tab. You can listen online or download the message to your MP3 player.

If you're visiting in the area or looking for a church home, we invite you to our Sunday Morning Service at 10:00 AM. We also have Children's Services available. Zoe Christian Fellowship is located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Route 611), in Warrington, PA.  We look forward to meeting you!

New Classes!

We're excited to announce that beginning next Sunday afternoon, 2/14/16, at 1:00 PM, we'll be starting a new class called, "Good Foundations." Pastor Mike Perea will be teaching on the basic doctrines of Christianity.

On Sunday afternoon, 2/21/16, at 1:00 PM, Pastor Steve will begin teaching on the End Times. With all the crazy things happening in our world, it's important to get a Biblical perspective. He will first look at the scriptures in the Book of Daniel that relate to the end times.

Note: These classes will alternate every other week. This way, if you want to attend both, you can.

All welcome! Zoe Christian Fellowship is located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Route 611), in Warrington, PA.  Check out our website for more information.

Quotable Quotes

"Every tomorrow has two handles.  We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith." - Henry Ward Beecher

This Week at Zoe

Wednesday, 2/10/16, at 7:30 PM - Pastor Steve will teach on 2 Kings 14, which covers the reign of King Jeroboam II.

Thursday, 2/11/16, at 7:00 PM - The Worship Team will meet for practice.

Sunday, 2/14/16, at 10:00 AM - Both our Sunday Morning Service and Children's Church begin at 10:00 AM.

At 1:00 PM, the first class, "Good Foundations," will start. Zoe Christian Fellowship is located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Route 611), in Warrington, PA. All welcome!

Sunday Morning Series - Walking in the Authority of Jesus - Calling for God's Power

Text:  Mark 10:46-52

Words can produce faith or doubt. Authority deals with what's possible, while power deals with the impossible. It's not important how the miracle comes. It's important to know how to access it.

What Prevents Healing Power?

1.  Disobedience - ignoring God's instructions/commands.
2.  Unbelief - hearing truth and rejecting it.
3.  Ignorance - You've never heard the truth.

Understanding Unbelief - John 20:24-29

1.  Unbelief is the rejection of truth.
2.  Thomas heard the truth that Jesus rose from the dead, but rejected it.
3.  Unbelief is the rejection of truth.

Blind Bartimeus - Mark 10:46-52

1.  He cries out when he hears that Jesus is coming his way.
2.  Those around him tell him to be quiet.
3.  Many warned him. The Greek word used here means to rebuke, censure, warn, admonish.
4.  He refuses, and Jesus stood still.
5.  Bartimeus throws aside his garment - the official sign he was recognized as blind and could beg. It was equivalent to a license or permit. The Greek word used here means to throw off, lose, or throw away. The only other time it's used is in Hebrews 10:35.
6.  Jesus asks him what he wants. Unlike many people today, who would answer, "healing or a blessing," Bartimeus gets specific: "that I may receive my sight."
7.  The focus is on his receiving. Miracles have more to do with our receiving than with God granting or doing something.

Doubt and unbelief put us in a place of waiting for the action to happen. It's not about God being willing to perform a miracle. It's about us being willing to receive it.

To hear the entire message, please visit our website and click on the Listen Tab. You can download the message to your MP3 player or listen online.

If you're visiting in the area or looking for a church home, we invite you to our Sunday Morning Service at 10:00 AM.  Zoe Christian Fellowship is located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Route 611), in Warrington, PA. We look forward to meeting you!

Quotable Quotes

"Depression is the emotional result of hopelessness. Joy is the emotional result of hope. Peace is the emotional result of faith." - Rex Rouis

This Week at Zoe

 Midweek Service - Wednesday, 2/3/16, at 7:30 PM. Pastor Steve will be teaching on 2 Kings 14.

Worship Team Practice - Thursday, 2/4/16, at 7:00 PM.

Men's Ministries - AUTO SHOW on Friday, 2/5/16. If you're interested, please contact Pastor Steve or Keith Porter.

Sunday Morning Service and Children's Services - Sunday, 2/7/16, at 10:00 AM. It's also Communion Sunday, and we'll have our Covered Dish Dinner immediately after the service. Please bring enough food for you and your family with some extra to share (if you're able).

Are you looking for a church with a strong emphasis on the Word? Zoe Christian Fellowship is located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Route 611), in Warrington, PA.

Sunday Morning Series - Walking in The Authority of Jesus - The Operation of Authority

Text:  Luke 7:1-10

The centurion asked the Jewish leaders in his community to approach Jesus and ask Him to heal his servant. He'd heard of Jesus, but there's no indication he ever saw Jesus.

The leaders went to Jesus and pleaded with him to heal the centurion's servant based on his love and actions for the Jewish community. We do some of the same case building today. Jesus goes with them in spite of their wrong approach because of the centurion's faith.

While the centurion doesn't feel he's worthy of Jesus entering his home, Jesus disagrees. How many times do we disqualify ourselves from the blessings of God because we feel unworthy? He is able, but are we willing to receive?

This man understood authority. The soldiers under him came, went, and did what he commanded. Authority involves 3 things:

1.   Going
2.   Coming
3.   Doing

Authority deals with what is possible, while power deals with what is impossible. It involves faith, not just knowledge.

To hear the entire message, please visit our website and click on the Listen Tab. You can listen online or download it to your MP3 player.

If you're visiting the area or looking for a church home, Zoe Christian Fellowship is located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Route 611), in Warrington, PA.  We look forward to meeting you!