Every year, we make a New Year’s Resolution, but the majority of us fail to make it to the end of February with that New Year’s Resolution still in mind. Are these plans that we make and fail to fulfill meaningless? Does it matter if we fulfill all of the plans we set for ourselves? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the importance of our words in his message, Not Just Mere Words Pt. 1: Renewing Your Mind.
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2NIV
5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. 8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.
During the time of Elijah, the nation of Israel was split into two separate kingdoms: Israel, the Northern Kingdom, and Judah, the Southern Kingdom. During the time of Elijah, King Ahab ruled over the land of Israel and filled the land with great sin because he and his household worshipped Baal. The Israelites followed their king and also began committing much idolatry. Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he puts Elijah’s situation into perspective, explaining that we are in the same shoes in his eye-opening message, Time To Choose.
20 So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. 21 And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. 23 Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. 24 And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.” 25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it.” 26 And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. 27 And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” 28 And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. 29 And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention. 30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been thrown down. 31 Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying, “Israel shall be your name,” 32 and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs of seed. 33 And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” 34 And he said, “Do it a second time.” And they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time.” And they did it a third time. 35 And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water. 36 And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God.”
New Year’s is a time of moving forward and starting over. It’s a time of self-evaluation and creating New Year’s Resolutions, but is this Biblical? Do these New Year’s Resolutions spiritually affect us when we fail to follow through on them? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the importance of the vows you make in his New Year’s Eve message, The Axe Is Laid At The Root.
John 14:15 Matthew 3:7-10 Matthew 3:5-6 Matthew 3:7b Mark 1:1 Acts 1:21-22 Hebrews 10:29 Hebrews 10:31 Hebrews 12:15 Ecclesiastes 5:5 John 15:4-8 Matthew 3:12
The Axe Is Laid At The “Root
4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Matthew 3:4-10
31 When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 Before Him will be gathered all the nations, and He will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And He will place the sheep on His right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ 41 Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
Christmas time is often seen as a time of gifts and presents brought to good little boys and girls from Santa Claus, but there are very few mentions of the ultimate and first Christmas present given to us 2,000 years ago and who gave it. What was the ultimate Christmas present given, who gave it, and who was it given to? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to what love is in his message, Jesus Is The Reason For The Season Pt. 2: Jesus, the Spirit of Love.
John 3:16 John 3:3 John 3:5 John 3:16 Micah 5:2 (NIV) John 17:5 Matthew 7:11 John 5:19 in John 14:13-14 Isaiah 9:6 James 4:2-3
Jesus Is The Reason For The Season
Jesus, The Spirit of Love
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Isaiah 9:6-7
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
James 1:16-17
Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of Lights. Jesus is the Spirit of Love fulfilling every good and perfect gift that comes down from the Father of Lights.
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
The Christmas season is one of the most beloved seasons of the year. It’s filled with family, friends, giving, receiving, and joy, but it’s also filled with chaos, hustling, shopping, and oftentimes arguing. All of these things make it very easy to forget the true reason we celebrate this special time of year. Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas in his message, Jesus Is The Reason For The Season Pt. 1: Jesus, The Spirit of Peace.
Luke 2:8-14 (NKJV) John 8:12 John 3:19-21 John 4:42 Isaiah 57:19 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (KJV) Luke 19:42 Isaiah 53:5 Hebrews 12:14a (NIV) Matthew 24:35 Isaiah 9:7 2 Peter 3:7 Ephesians 2:14-17 Job 22:21 Romans 5:1
Jesus Is The Reason For The Season
Jesus, The Spirit of Peace
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon Him; And with His stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Today, we’re told not to speak about religion, especially Christianity. We’re told that we have to be mindful of other people’s feelings, so we can’t mention sin or differentiate between right and wrong, good and evil. So, if we can’t talk about Jesus and we can’t talk about sin, how are we to reach the lost? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the role of Christian friends in this world in his message, The Faith of Four Friends.
Matthew 8:6 Mark 2:2-12 Luke 7:9-10 Luke 7:6-8 Luke 7:3 Mark 2:5 John 5:22 Mark 2:9 John 1:4 John 7:37a Isaiah 55 John 6:32 1 Corinthians 10:4 Romans 10:13-15
The Faith of Four Friends
2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And He was preaching the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in His spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic— 11 “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” 12 And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
Mark 2:2-12
1After He had finished all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. 2 Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. 3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to Him elders of the Jews, asking Him to come and heal his servant.4 And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with Him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” 6 And Jesus went with them. When He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. 8 For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 9 When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed Him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” 10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.
Jesus told the Pharisees that they needed to go learn what ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice’ means. If Jesus thought it was necessary for the Pharisees to learn what God meant when He said this through the Prophet Hosea, shouldn’t we also learn what this means? If it was important 2,000 years ago, it’s important now. Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the meaning behind this teaching in his passion-filled message, I Desire Mercy.
Matthew 9:9-13 Matthew 9:13 Hosea 6:6 Hosea 6:6 (KJV) Ezekiel 22:30-31 Psalms 136:1-3 John 10:10 Matthew 12:7 Luke 23:34 Acts 7:60 2 Peter 3:9 2 Peter 3:14-15 Hebrews 10:26-28 Revelation 1:13-16; 2:18; 19:11-16
I Desire Mercy
9 As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and He said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed Him. 10 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and His disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when He heard it, He said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 9:9-13
6 For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
Hosea 6:6
6For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
Today’s Church is filled with debates on when the rapture (the return or second coming of Christ) will take place. Some say that there will be a pre-tribulation rapture, while others say that there will be a mid-tribulation rapture or a post-tribulation rapture. As the return of Christ becomes more and more near, knowing the Truth without a shadow of a doubt becomes more and more important. Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the perilous times ahead in his powerful message, The End of Days.
The End of Days
3 As He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. 9 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Jesus told the men and women of His day and age many parables. Each parable riddled with warnings for the present as well as the future. One of the most well-known parables Jesus told was the parable of The Ten Virgins. Jesus tells us that only 5 of the ten virgins made it into the Wedding Feast. What does this mean? Will only half of the entire world be saved? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to a mystery behind a well-known parable in his sobering message, The End Time Church Pt. 2: The Ten Virgins.
Matthew 25:1-13 Matthew 24:45-51 Matthew 25:1 Hebrews 7:22 2 Corinthians 11:2 Matthew 22:13-14 Matthew 7:22-23 Matthew 25:3 Psalm 133 Mark 9:40 1 Timothy 4:1 2 Thessalonians 2:1-7 1 Thessalonians 5:3 Matthew 25:10-12 Luke 21:24
The End Time Church
The Ten Virgins Parable
1 Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Matthew 25:1-13
21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Jesus told John to write seven letters to the seven churches in Asia. To the last church, John was to warn them against their lukewarmness. This church matches the church of today in more ways than one. So, if we are the seventh church, the church of Laodicea, what does that mean for us? What should Christians in the last days church do? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the importance of how we spend our time during these last days in his sobering message, The End Time Church Pt. 1: The Church of Laodicea.
Revelation 3:14-22 Revelation 3:8b Revelation 3:10 Matthew 15:8 Revelation 1:9a Revelation 3:16-17 Matthew 9:9 Luke 5:8 Luke 19:7-10 Luke 8:2 Luke 9:54 John 4 Matthew 26:40 Galatians 1:18-22 1 Corinthians 15:10 John 14:26 Matthew 24:11 Romans 12:2 1 Peter 1:14 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 John 3:3
The End Time Church
The Church of Laodicea
14 And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. 15 I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
