Messages from the Body

Here is a sampling of some of the messages that have made a special impact at CCiPH, and that have been transcribed or written in manuscript.

Most weeks in our equipping assembly, at least one man has been asked to prepare a message that will build up believers. Often, the message is taken from the liturgical Gospel reading of the day, or it is a life message that God has been working into the fabric of that man. It is included here to build you up.

Doing versus Being in the Kingdom

A Call to Awake and Come into His Presence

Message from Jay Horn on August 17, 2002

Psalm 80:2 "Awaken your might; come and save us."

Psalm 80:3 "Restore us, O God; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.

AWAKEN because we are ASLEEP !

Psalm 80:18 " ... revive us, and we will call on your name."

REVIVE us because we are DEAD !

Psalm 80:19 "Restore us, O LORD God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved."

 RESTORE us because we have STRAYED AWAY !

The Summary of Psalm 80:  Return to God's presence.

JOEL 2:13 "Rend your heart and not your garments.  Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.

The Summary of the Book of Joel:  Lives are fruitful when what is important to God becomes important to us !

Romans 13:11 "And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed."

This is the month of Elul in the Jewish calendar.  It is the last month of the year and is set aside for preparation before the high holidays of Tishri.  Why is spiritual preparation so important at this time?  The Day of Atonement was to remind the people that sacrifices made at the altar WERE NOT SUFFICIENT to cover, or atone for their sin.  Christ has com and "torn the veil from top to bottom" so that we may enter in to the very throne-room of God and have a close relationship with Him.  Why does God pursue and desire relationship with such unfaithful people as we are?  Hosea, like God, was faithful before and after he married the prostitute Gomer, despite her unfaithfulness.

Hosea 6:4  "What can I do with you, Ephraim?  What can I do with you, Judah?  Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears."

Hosea 6:6  "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings."

This is a reflection of Psalm 51.

Psalm 51:16-17 "You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

GOD does not want anything we do for Hi!  What He wants is a broken and contrite spirit.

GOD wants us to be with Him - That is IT !

Do you make faith demands on God that please Him?  Do you make requests that only He can fulfill?  Think on that one again -- do you make faith demands on God that please Him?

The Conclusion of this matter, then, is to ask yourself:

Are You in a Relationship with God?

Are You Asleep?

Will You Awake Today and Step into the Light of Christ?

Ephesians 5: 13-14: "But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: 'Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.'"