MESSAGE NOTES: Crossroads #4

THE DOCTRINE OF BALAAM

Pre-Message: Coronavirus Situation (John G. Lake Story)

I was ministering one time where the bubonic plague was raging. You could not hire people for a thousand dollars to bury the dead. At such times the government has to take hold of the situation. But I never took the disease.

Now watch the action of the law of life. Faith belongs to the law of life. Faith is the very opposite of fear. Faith has the opposite effect in spirit, and soul, and body. Faith causes the spirit of man to become confident. It causes the mind of man to become restful, and positive. A positive mind repels disease.

Consequently, the emanation of the Spirit destroys disease germs. And because we were in contact with the Spirit of life, I and a little Dutch fellow with me went out and buried many of the people who had died from the bubonic plague. We went into the homes and carried them out, dug the graves and put them in.

MESSAGE NOTES: Healing School Sunday

ANOINTED WITH POWER

Introduction:

• We have committed this year to monthly ‘lean into’ healing and the supernatural power of God
• Last month we talked about “Why Healing” and why this was important that we contend for a greater manifestation in this area.

Acts 10:38 (ESV) – how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

• We see that Jesus went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil – as Christians we are called to do the same
• Jesus did this because he was anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power

MESSAGE NOTES: Crossroads #3

THE LAW OF G.I.G.O.

Introduction

Deut 30:19 (ESV) – 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,

2 Timothy 2:19-22 (NLT) – 19 But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.” 20 In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. 21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. 22 Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

• We have been talking about the power of our choices
• We talked about how we have a choice as to whether we will be an honourable vessel or a dishonourable one
• We talked about the key of ’turning away from evil’

2 Timothy 2:22 (NLT) – Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

• There are some things we need to run from
• There are some things we need to run after
• Our ‘companionship’ matters

The Biblical Principle of “Seed Time and Harvest”

Pages: 1 2

MESSAGE NOTES: Crossroads #2

TURN AWAY FROM EVIL

Introduction:

Last week we began to talk about the importance and power of our choices

• Deut 30:19 (ESV) – 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,
• We talked about how we have a choice as to whether we will be an honourable vessel or a dishonourable one
• Joshua 24:15 (ESV) – 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Let’s go back into 2 Timothy where we finished up last week to continue talking about #ChoosingLife

MESSAGE NOTES: Crossroads #1

CHOOSE LIFE

Introduction

• This year our themes have included “Holy Ambition”, “Purpose, Destiny, and Calling” and “Pursuing the purposes of God in our Generation”
• We are also leaning in for healing, signs and wonders… you and I are called to be “naturally supernatural”
• As we continue on this journey I have felt led by the Lord to talk to us about the importance and power of our choices

God has given you the power to choose!

• Holy Ambition is a choice
• Walking in purpose, destiny and calling is a choice
• Pursuing the Purposes of God in our generation is a choice

Deut 30:19 (ESV) – 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,

MESSAGE NOTES: Why Healing?

WHY HEALING?

Revelation 3:8 (ESV) – I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

• Several of the key themes so far this year have been: Spiritual Ambition and Open Doors
• One of the “Open Doors” I shared with you last week was regarding the call to the Ministry of Healing and the call on TCC to be a “House of Healing”.

In this coming year, and coming decade, I believe that one of the definitive things God wants to do is for us to step into seeing thousands of healings and miracles.

• This word has been spoken to our church over and over
• There is a coming move of God in our city and nation and healing will be a big part of it
• Some would fall into the trap of thinking it will “just happen” but we are not just going to “waltz” into this…

Hebrews 6:12 (ESV) – 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

• Healing is a promise 
• We will inherit this promise through faith
• We will inherit this promise through patience

MESSAGE NOTES: Fast Forward #3

03: WALKING THROUGH THE OPEN DOORS

Revelation 3:8 (ESV) – I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

Prophet Yul Crawford: 2020 is the Year of the Open Door

• We started this fast talking about HOLY AMBITION – is to carry a passion for the purposes of God in your generation. It’s the desire to want to do something great for God. It’s the passion to do what you were born to do.
• We have been believing God to speak about destiny, purpose, and calling
• Many of us have heard things already… some perhaps not. Either way – expect God to continue to speak to you as we go forward.

ACPE Word:

MESSAGE NOTES: Fast Forward #2

02: DON’T DO IT

INTRODUCTION

• God wants to speak to us about our destiny, purpose and calling
• We are called to be people of Holy Ambition – those who have a passion to serve His purposes in our generation
• We have set aside these 20 days of prayer and fasting to ‘ask, seek, knock’
• I really sensed to pick up where we left off on Friday Night… Pastor Sharon was sharing about the word the Lord gave her about ‘you are dragging, because you are dragging’

I want to talk to encourage you in two things you need to cut off coming into 2020:

MESSAGE NOTES: Fast Forward #1

01: HOLY AMBITION

INTRODUCTION

• Over the past several months I really felt a stirring from the Lord for fresh vision for Toronto City Church in 2020. 
• This decade will be one of building! There are so many prophecies/promises over this church that have yet to be fulfilled and I believe that this decade is a time that we will see breakthrough in so many areas.
• This would not replace what we have built up to this point… but sharpen it and really push us forward in a new way
• As I meditated on this though, I felt the Lord say – “Make sure in January that you start with people in their individual lives because I want to speak powerfully to every person about the destiny, purpose and calling that I have for their life”

Acts 13:36 (ESV) – 36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption,

MESSAGE NOTES: Home #2

02: THE PRODIGAL FATHER (PART 2)

Special Focus: Reminder regarding 2020 Fast Forward

Introduction

• We are continuing our series entitled “HOME”
• One of the strongest themes of Christmas for most of us is ‘family’ – right at the core of our vision here at TCC is to be a spiritual family. Right at the core of Christmas is about God the Father sending His only son to save us, so we can be welcomed into family.
• When you are part of a family then you have a home – the dictionary defines it as the place where one lives permanently, especially as a member of a family or household
• Over the next several weeks I want to talk about a family, and a home, and how God’s heart/character was revealed through them.

Luke 15:1-2, 11-24 

Quick Review:

• We are focusing on the parable of the Prodigal Father – it’s often called the Prodigal Son but we see clearly that Jesus said the story was about a father with two sons… not a son with a father and a brother.
• Jesus told this parable to answer the Scribes and Pharisees who were scandalized by the fact that Jesus ate with Tax Collectors and Sinners.
• They were deeply offended by this, but Jesus told them this parable to illustrate the heart of God the Father, and the heart that he walked in. Many Bible scholars believe that this parable offended them so deeply that it was at this point that they decided that Jesus must die.
• The first part of the parable focuses on the first son, who did something incredibly offensive when he asked for his inheritance, which was usually given when a father died. The Father granted his request even though this would have brought even greater public shame on the Father. 
• The son left, wasted it all, and then returned destitute – but even when he was a long way off the Father saw him, had compassion on him, ran to him, hugged him, kissed him and welcomed him home. He gave him his best robe, the family ring (of authority), put shoes on his feet and killed the fattened calf and threw a party.
• All of this would have been very shameful in the eyes of the community as they would have felt the son should have been disowned and punished, Father’s never ran to sons and definitely didn’t welcome them home with a party.
• This all illustrates the heart of God the Father towards us – who gives prodigal grace and forgiveness to us and welcomes us home. The God of the Universe “picks up His skirts and robes and runs to us” and embraces us fully even though we do not deserve it!