We are facing times when we may stumble and want to give up. Or maybe we have just run out of gas, it seems, to face the day-to-day onslaught. It is time for someone to step in and help – to help in refueling that spiritual wing tank. In these times that can be so discouraging, we need to step up and help our fellow brothers and sisters and remind them that Jesus Christ is always there.

What do we say to give encouragement and how? We talk about a checklist in the audio below, and I hope you can use it to guide you in encouraging others.

Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of sermon and/or download mp3 file.)

Multitudes of people in our world today are living a life of self-illumination. They have become a god unto themselves with their own carnal understanding of the true and living God. Their world views and philosophies are distorted being influenced by Satan, the god of this world. These people walk a treacherous path without understanding, without hope, and without life in Jesus.

Jesus said, “The lamp of the body is the eye; if therefore your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” Matthew 6:22, 23.

When Jesus said, “Come follow me,” He was calling people out of darkness and despair to walk in His marvelous light of life.

Jesus said, “I Am the Light of the world; he who follows me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the Light of life.” John 8:12.  How about you? Do you hunger and thirst for the unfolding of God’s word to give you light and truth? See Psalm 119:130. Jesus, the Light of Life, is calling—follow Him now!

Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of sermon and/or download mp3 file.)

I am sure all the parents and child care givers hearing that title have at some time said that to their children.

Do you do that to God? Do you demand something of Him in prayer; do you demand God to prove Himself to you by doing something you can see? If so, we need to talk—to talk about faith.

Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Hebrews 11:6, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”

Let’s review some of God’s truth on those scriptures as we read Hebrews 11. Follow the sermon on the audio link.

Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of sermon and/or download mp3 file.)

Jesus declared that “the good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.”  KJV says, “For of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” (Luke 6:45)

I love the way Paul expressed his willingness and readiness to preach the gospel to whomsoever. He said, “So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.” (Romans 1:15)  He was ready and willing to release what filled his heart on the inside. (“…as much as in me is…”)

Elihu, the youngest of Job’s comforters said, “Behold, my belly is like unvented wine, like new wineskins it is about to burst. Let me speak that I may get relief; let me open my lips and answer.” (Job 32:19, 20) Is this your experience?

Can you say, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes…”? (Romans 16:1) Is your life so filled with a passion to spread the gospel that you feel you might burst if you don’t speak it? Are you willing?  Are you ready? Do you speak out of the good treasure of your heart—every day?

Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of sermon and/or download mp3 file.)

Personal Testimonies: Prior to the morning's message, Pastor Mark opens the floor to life testimonies. It is great encouragement to hear how the Lord is working in each of our lives. This part of our service begins with Pastor Linda Pugsley sharing comments that have been received from followers of our website as to how this ministry has blessed their lives. Click the forward button below to play the personal testimonies of Pastor Mark and others and/or download mp3 file.)

Additional Personal Testimony: Following the morning's message, the Lord provided the opportunity for one of our members to receive encouragement from our body in Christ. We pray your heart will be blessed as you listen to this powerful testimony. Click the forward button below to play and/or download the mp3 file.)

(This is the final message in the series on the Jewish Feasts. The supporting information to which Pastor Linda refers in the audio is included in the Study Guide below.)

Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of message and/or download mp3 file.)

There is no doubt that anyone who has sincerely received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior has also been aware of His mercy, compassion and grace shed upon them.

When Jesus looked upon the multitude, He felt compassion for them because they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd. Jesus also said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore, beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:36-38)

When Paul solemnly charged Timothy to preach the Word (Logos – written or spoken), he intended for him to be obsessed with the message and to have a burning compassion for souls!

David declared, “My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue…” (Psalm 39:3)

All true saints of Jesus Christ need to be asking God for His fire of compassion to burn intently within their hearts. Will you commit to stand before God and ask Him for such compassion?

Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of sermon and/or download mp3 file.)

Personal Testimonies: Prior to the morning's message, Pastor Mark opens the floor to life testimonies. It is great encouragement to hear how the Lord is working in each of our lives. Click the forward button below to play the personal testimonies of Pastor Mark and others and/or download mp3 file.)

That is the usual response from most sane people...no one looks forward to suffering. But can we learn something in it and gain something from it? The Book of Job certainly covers the issue and answers many questions regarding suffering.

Just the word “suffering” brings a creepy, crawly feeling to most. So much so, we prefer to do without it forever! But let’s look a bit closer at the reality of suffering. It is really a two-sided coin. On one side, suffering could be seen as coming from God to bring out the best in us (squeezing the grapes to make wine, so to speak). On the other, it could be seen as Satan trying to use the same circumstance to bring out the worst in us.

Your response to suffering can be to despise it, faint under it or receive instruction from it. If you realize the purposes of suffering, then maybe, just maybe, you can receive instruction from it.

“Purposes” to suffering—yes, I said purposes to suffering. They are to produce fruit (patience, knowledge and maturity), to silence Satan, to glorify God, to become more like Jesus, to teach us dependence on God, to refine our lives, to rebuke our sin and to enlarge our ability to minister to others who are suffering.

In Hebrews 12:11, we are told that discipline is sorrowful but if you are trained by it, it yields the fruit of righteousness.

The entire Book of Job is glorious, really, when you see what God does to Job in his sufferings and the changes that came about in his life…it explains so very much and shows God’s supreme wisdom. Of course, we all know the ending...Job not only changes but has his health and his wealth restored to him doubly.

Read Job 1-42, it’ll do a body good! Also, listen to the attached audio of the sermon and be blessed.

Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of message and/or download mp3 file.)

Study Guide: (Download file to print Study Guide for message or view embedded file below.)

Quick Access to Previous Message on the Study of Job: If you missed the first part of this two-part study, here is a quick link: Job - How God Turns Suffering and Loss Into Joy and Gain.

In the account of Job, we see a man who had everything. He was a man who loved God and was blessed mightily by Him. Satan, of course, didn’t like any of that and challenged God regarding Job.

Satan accused Job of loving God only because Job had been blessed. He intimates that God used those blessings to bribe Job into loving Him. God proves His point in this account and allows Satan to torment Job, but not to take his life.

Satan gladly obliges and throws it all at Job causing him to lose everything, even his health. But Job refuses to stop loving God. Job is tormented, he complains, he questions God, etc., but he never stops loving God and acknowledging God’s greatness.

We all know the end of this story...even though Job lost everything, God restored him many times over. Job never got his original kids or servants or business back, but he received many times over a NEW and wonderful life to live.

God is great and gracious in all His ways. He loves us and knows the depth of our suffering. Our problem is that we don’t wait long enough for God to fix or restore what is broken and lost. And, sometimes, even though things may never get fixed or restored, He will give you the strength and courage to get through it all and STILL have NEW life of joy and gain to make up for the suffering and loss.

Joni Erickson was paralyzed in a diving accident at 15 years old. She never got the use of her body restored, but God blessed her with a determined spirit and a whole new life that she says would never have existed if she were not paralyzed from the neck down! She is a singer, artist, speaker, and philanthropist. She is married, and she and her husband started an organization that repairs old wheelchairs and delivers them to paralyzed youths in poor countries. Wow—what was taken away in one way was totally restored in another. Don’t try to figure God out...just let Him work His marvelous ways in your life. To Him be all the glory!

(Scripture Reference: Job)

Audio:(Click forward button below to play audio of message and/or download mp3 file.)

Study Guide: (Download file to print Study Guide for message or view embedded file below.)

The end of August, our webmaster had a big move which impacted the timeliness in the posting of sermons as they occurred at Great Hope Christian fellowship. Her computer, files and other website-related materials were not accessible for posting on this site. We are happy to say that things are now settled down and back in order. Actually, there have been some upgrades on the equipment which will improve the process. All praise is given to God for the wonderful blessings that have taken place during this moving process.

So that you don't miss anything, we will start posting current services first and will be adding previous messages as additional posts during the week. Within a few weeks, we will be caught up and everything will be posted on a regular basis.

Thank you so much for your patience during our "growing pains". We have so much to share with you, so please continue to check back often. Better yet, sign up to "Follow By Email" (see link to the right of this post in the column). That way, you will receive notice by email each time something new is added.

How many times have we heard or said that? A hurt occurs, sorrow is felt, and promises to change are made...but we don’t. What’s up with that?

Maybe it’s because we think sorrow and confession are enough to make the changes needed. In the Scripture, the process is called repentance...and that involves much more than saying you are sorry. True repentance involves change; it is a turning from sin and turning to God.

The end result of true repentance is glorious...it is a revived life in Christ knowing that His ways are the best ways and no treasure tops His righteousness ruling in us.

Be sure to listen to the posted audio of this sermon and learn the “Six Signs of True Repentance”.

(2 Corinthians 7:9-10a, Isaiah 44:22, Philippians 2:13, Romans 12:5, 10)

Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of message and/or download mp3 file.)

Personal Testimonies: Prior to the morning's message, Pastor Linda opens the floor to life testimonies. It is great encouragement to hear how the Lord is working in each of our lives. Click the forward button below to play the personal testimonies and/or download mp3 file.)

Study Guide: (Download file to print Study Guide for message or view embedded file below.)