Even In The Darkest of Times
2020 has been filled with fear, anxiety, division, anger, and much confusion. I think it’s safe to say that none of us are sad to see 2020 come to an end so that we can usher in 2021. Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he brings his sobering message, Christmas Tidings: New Beginnings, summing up 2020 and looking towards the future.
Back to Special Occasion Messages?
Have the Church’s spiritual eyes grown shut? Have we lost our way? Have we become a modern-day Eli, watching as sin corrupts our world, our country, our city, our churches, our homes, and have done nothing? As a Church, have we allowed the flame that was once strong, was once burning on fire for God, have we allowed that flame to grow dim to almost nothing? Join Rev. Kenny Yates as he reveals today’s Church’s connection to Eli and his two sons in his eye-opening message, Take The Blinders Off.
Eli was the judge of those days, yet the Word of the LORD was scarce. He didn’t hear from the LORD often because he allowed unrighteousness to reign free in his own household. Eli’s two sons were wicked, yet he did nothing to correct this. This is how the Church is becoming today. We no longer hear from God the way the early Church did because we allow the unrighteousness to dwell with God. We have to take the blinders off and stand for righteousness.
1 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. 2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was.
1 Samuel 3:1-3
12 On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 13 And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. 14 Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.
1 Samuel 3:12-14
Do you remember the feeling you had when you first got saved? The desire to read your Bible, to pray, to get closer to God? You were once on fire for God. You were seeking to hear from Him every Sunday morning at Church. You had passion. But as time went on, the passion slowly died. Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he explains the need for passion in the Church in his fiery message, Passion.
We can do as much good work as we want, but unless we have a desire for God it’s not worth anything. We have to have a love for God that burns as hot as fire.
2 I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
Revelation 2:2-5
A mother’s job isn’t easy, but it is crucial. Why? What is the importance of a mother? Isn’t the father that God focuses on? A mother is a guiding hand for her children and the glue that holds the family together. Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he delivers our 2020 Mother’s Day Message explaining three principal virtues of a mother in 2 Samuel 20:16-22 in his message, The Wisdom of a Mother.
Sometimes it’s easy to overlook the importance of a mother, but remember that God has a special purpose for everyone.
16 Then a wise woman called from the city, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab, ‘Come here, that I may speak to you.’” 17 And he came near her, and the woman said, “Are you Joab?” He answered, “I am.” Then she said to him, “Listen to the words of your servant.” And he answered, “I am listening.” 18 Then she said, “They used to say in former times, ‘Let them but ask counsel at Abel,’ and so they settled a matter. 19 I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the heritage of the Lord?”
20 Joab answered, “Far be it from me, far be it, that I should swallow up or destroy! 21 That is not true. But a man of the hill country of Ephraim, called Sheba the son of Bichri, has lifted up his hand against King David. Give up him alone, and I will withdraw from the city.” And the woman said to Joab, “Behold, his head shall be thrown to you over the wall.” 22 Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it out to Joab. So he blew the trumpet, and they dispersed from the city, every man to his home. And Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.
2 Samuel 20:16-22
During His earthly ministry, Jesus taught that there are two roads set before each of us. A narrow road and a broad road. One He said leads to Eternal Life, the other He said leads to Eternal Death. In our world today, there seem to be more than just two roads. There seem to be several different journeys that people claim all lead to the same destination, but is this true? Does it matter which journey we take as long as we are aiming for a certain destination? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he explains both roads and the destinations of each in his message, Two Roads.
In life, we are each given two roads to choose from, a narrow road and a broad road. Each road has a different journey and destination.
13 Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Matthew 7:13-14
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”
John 14:6-7
15 If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
John 14:15-17
According to Jesus, there is only one way to the Father. There is only one way to Eternal Life, and that is through Jesus Christ. Choosing to live outside of the love and will of Jesus will lead you to Eternal Death. So choose the road less traveled by that leads to Christ Jesus.
Every year we celebrate Easter and/or Passover, but do we truly understand the purpose of these two significant Holidays? How is an ancient feast connected with a more recent celebration? How are Easter and Passover connected? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he explains the connection between the two in his message, Feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread: Part Two.
1 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, 2 “This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you. 3 Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household. 4 And if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his nearest neighbor shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats, 6 and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight.”
14 “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast. 15 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven out of your houses, for if anyone eats what is leavened, from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. 16 On the first day you shall hold a holy assembly, and on the seventh day a holy assembly. No work shall be done on those days. But what everyone needs to eat, that alone may be prepared by you. 17 And you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day, throughout your generations, as a statute forever. 18 In the first month, from the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. 19 For seven days no leaven is to be found in your houses. If anyone eats what is leavened, that person will be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a sojourner or a native of the land. 20 You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwelling places you shall eat unleavened bread.”
Exodus 12:1-6; 14-20
Back to Special Occasion Messages?
Each year we celebrate Palm Sunday, but why? What’s the significance of this revered Christian Holiday? Could it be rooted in the Old Testament feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread, if so how are they connected? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens your eyes to the true purpose of Palm Sunday in his message Feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread: Part One.
1 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, 2 “This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you. 3 Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household.
4 And if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his nearest neighbor shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats, 6 and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight.”
Exodus 12:1-6
Back to Special Occasion Messages?
At some point in time, we all will have a battle with AI (Adultery and Idolatry). For some of us, this is a battle we have to face every single day. For others, it will only be once or twice; nevertheless, the battle at AI is an important one. Most people don’t believe that you can overcome adultery and/or idolatry, but is that true? How do you overcome idolatry and adultery? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he brings this fiery message opening our eyes to the Do’s and Don’ts when fighting AI.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Ephesians 6:10-20
Reverend Kenny Yates does not believe that only men struggle with AI, nor does he believe that only men read into things and turn them sexual. He was simply speaking, at that time, from a man’s point of view to those type of men, since he is a man. We, as The HoldToHope Family, believe that Adultery and Idolatry see no gender, but leech on to any unsuspecting, unshielded person that they can.
Sometimes we expect our second chance to happen immediately. Our miracle we expect to happen at the very first touch. An instant healing, but it doesn’t always happen that way. Sometimes it takes a second touch. Sometimes it takes a second touch. Sometimes we have to try again in order to receive our healing. Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he brings the fiery message entitled Second Chances Pt. 2: The Second Touch.
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:1-9
Others may not promise you a rose garden, but Jesus did. This is a promise of God. He promised the good and the bad so that you can grow. A rose can’t grow unless it rains every now and then. Neither can we grow without hardships every now and then. Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he explains exactly what that rose garden will look like in his message, “He Promised You A Rose Garden.”
1 I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.
He
2 As a lily among brambles, so is my love among the young women.
She
3 As an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
Song of Solomon 2:1-3
God didn’t promise that it would always be sunshine, but He did promise you a rose garden. He promised that when rain and muck came, He would help you to grow.
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Romans 5:1-5
This is a promise of God, that we might be strengthened and grow because of our struggles. Tribulation, pain, suffering, none of that will weaken us because when we are weak, then He is strong.
Back to Special Occasion Messages?
