The Church today has become lukewarm. It’s a Church that has no power and seemingly no moral compass, but why? Maybe it’s due to the lack of judging as we cling to a more tolerant society. Maybe it’s the lack of good shepherds leading us into green pasture. The one thing that is certain is that there is something wrong with the Church. Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the problem and solution in his powerful message, Soar Like An Eagle.
Soar Like An Eagle
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength. 30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, 3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 5 who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
When the people of God cry out for help, the LORD hears and answers them. He sends them someone to help them, a deliverer, but that deliverer isn’t always someone we expect. When the LORD chooses someone, it’s not always someone we expect. Join Reverend Kenny Yates in his eye-opening message, The Undesirable Deliverer.
Judges 11:1-11 Exodus 2:11-14 Exodus 2:23-25
The Undesirable Deliverer
1Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior, but he was the son of a prostitute. Gilead was the father of Jephthah. 2 And Gilead’s wife also bore him sons. And when his wife’s sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out and said to him, “You shall not have an inheritance in our father’s house, for you are the son of another woman.” 3 Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob, and worthless fellows collected around Jephthah and went out with him. 4 After a time the Ammonites made war against Israel. 5 And when the Ammonites made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to bring Jephthah from the land of Tob. 6 And they said to Jephthah, “Come and be our leader, that we may fight against the Ammonites.” 7 But Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me and drive me out of my father’s house? Why have you come to me now when you are in distress?” 8 And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “That is why we have turned to you now, that you may go with us and fight against the Ammonites and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.” 9 Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you bring me home again to fight against the Ammonites, and the Lord gives them over to me, I will be your head.” 10 And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The Lord will be witness between us, if we do not do as you say.” 11 So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and leader over them. And Jephthah spoke all his words before the Lord at Mizpah.
At some point in time, each one of us will experience an event that will challenge our faith. An event that will try to sneak in doubt, anger, grief, etc., in order to separate us from Jesus. So, what do we do to stop the enemy from getting a foothold in our lives? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he shines some light on this in his eye-opening message, Faith Revisited Pt. 9: Four Days Late.
Romans 8:28 John 11:28-37 John 11:3 Matthew 8:5-10 John 11:21-22 John 11:23b-25 Acts 16:25-26 John 11:32-37 John 11:22 John 11:37-39 John 12:27 John 13:21 Acts 3:4 John 11:45-46
Faith Revisited
Four Days Late
1Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4 But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. 7 Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8 The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11 After saying these things, He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” 12 The disciples said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He meant taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16 So Thomas, called the Twin, said to His fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
Many of us believe in God, but mountains still stand in our way. At what point in time does our faith begin to work? How do we put our faith into action? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the importance of action in faith in his fiery message, Faith Revisited Pt. 8: Confident ln Your Faith.
Acts 3:1-12 Mark 1:35 James 2:17 Acts 4:19-20 Mark 16:20 Mark 4:24-25 Acts 3:12 Romans 12:3-6a Luke 6:38 Matthew 13:12-15
Faith Revisited
Confident ln Your Faith
24 And He said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. 25 For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”
Mark 4:24–25
35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed.
Mark 1:35
1Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
Jesus boldly stated that His sheep know His voice and wouldn’t be distracted nor led astray by another shepherd. So, does that mean we won’t ever be led astray and that we don’t have anything to worry about? If that’s true, then why did Jesus Himself tell us that we have to be careful what we hear? Can Christians hear from someone or something other than Jesus (God)? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the importance of the relationship between the Good Shepherd and His sheep in his fiery message, Faith Revisited Pt. 7: Building Faith.
Faith Revisited
Building Faith
14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.18 But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” 19 But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.” 20 Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” 21 But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”
Paul stated that faith came by hearing and hearing through the word of Christ, but what does that mean? What is hearing, and how does it relate back to the word of Christ? How does hearing grow faith? If it’s impossible to please God without faith, wouldn’t it be important how to attain, retain, and grow faith? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the mystery and importance of hearing in his message, Faith Revisited Pt. 6: How to Attain Faith.
Romans 10:17 Hebrews 3:16 1 Corinthians 10:1-5 Deuteronomy 5:23-24 Hebrews 4:2 (ESV) Luke 8:16-17 Hebrews 4:12a 2 Timothy 1:6 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) Isaiah 55:10-11 Jeremiah 1:12 Luke 8:17 Proverbs 25:2 (NKJV) Deuteronomy 29:29 Luke 8:18 Proverbs 13:22 Luke 16:11 (NIV) Isaiah 53:1 Mark 4:24-25
How to Attain Faith
The Importance of Faith
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. 4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.
Hebrews 11:1-6
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing His riches on all who call on Him.13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
During Jesus’ earthly ministry, He taught many important things, but He often spoke in parables. These parables are filled with Truth and wisdom, but unless you understand the parable and why Jesus told them, the parables become useless to us. Knowing and understanding parables are the first steps, but after that, you have to put that knowledge and understanding into action. Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the importance of The Parable of The Sower in his message, Faith Revisited Pt. 5: The Diligent Seekers.
Luke 8:4-8 Luke 8:1b 1 Corinthians 4:20 (NIV) Matthew 13:1-3 Mark 4:1-3 Mark 4:10-12 Hebrews 4:2 (NKJV) Mark 7:13 John 8:31-32 John 14:6 Luke 8:11-12 Hebrews 10:29 Luke 8:13-15 Mark 4:33-34 Luke 8:16-18 Acts 4:20
The Diligent Seekers
The Parable of The Sower
1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around Him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then He told them many things in parables, saying:
“A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.” 10 The disciples came to Him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” 11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:
“Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’
16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
Matthew 13:1-17 (NIV)
Jesus spoke in parables so that He could separate those who weren’t diligently seeking Him and the things of God. If He spoke plainly to everyone, all would have the wisdom of God, but if He spoke in parables, then only thought who were diligent seekers of the Truth would find the Truth. They would find wisdom and understanding. This is all so that we might build our faith because, without faith, it’s impossible to please God.
Jesus told the parable of the talents. Each person was given a certain amount of talents and was later judged by what they did with those talents. This begs the question of what that parable means and what that has to do with us (the Church) today? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the necessity of faith in his message, Faith Revisited Pt. 4: Hidden Faith.
Matthew 25:14–30 Romans 12:3 Luke 18:8
Hidden Faith
14 For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Faith is the catalyst of our salvation. In fact, the Scripture goes as far as to say that no one can even please God without faith. So, faith is important for us to have, but we don’t have to have a lot of faith. According to Jesus, we only need a mustard seed of faith to move mountains, yet we aren’t seeing mountains being moved. Why? What does it mean to have a mustard seed of faith? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the Truth behind the faith in his message, Faith Revisited Pt. 3: Mustard Seed Faith.
John 15:8 Matthew 17:14–20 2 Timothy 2:16 2 Timothy 2:23 1 Corinthians 4:20 Matthew 17:20 Mark 4:30–32 Acts 19:13–15 Acts 3:6
Mustard Seed Faith
14 And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before Him, 15 said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he has seizures and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16 And I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not heal him.” 17 And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”
Many Christians today are living with faith that has no hope because of doctrine that teaches that there are no more healings, miracles, signs, wonders, or words from God. So, if these doctrines remove the hope of people, why do we teach and preach these kinds of doctrines? Are they for our own good, or do they contradict the Word of God? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the Truth about a hopeful faith in his message, Faith Revisited Pt. 2: Where is Your Faith?
Luke 8:22–25 1 Timothy 6:3–5a Romans 10:14–17 Acts 8:9–13 1 Corinthians 4:19–20 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 John 14:12–14 1 Corinthians 1:4–9 Mark 16:15–18
Where is Your Faith?
23 And when he got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” 26 And He said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey Him?”
Matthew 8:23-27
18 While He was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before Him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 And Jesus rose and followed Him, with His disciples. 20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His garment, 21 for she said to herself, “If I only touch His garment, I will be made well.” 22 Jesus turned, and seeing her He said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.
