09/23/12 - Storm Chasers PT4 - Pastor Tony Ashmore

Pastor Tony Ashmore concludes the series "Storm Chasers" in this Sunday morning celebration.

Storm Chasers Part 4
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Sunday, September 23, 2012

www.mylifegatechurch.com

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Sermon Notes:

My Boat is Sinking

Matthew 14:24-27 “Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for astrong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am
here!”

1 Peter 1:13 (NLT) "So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to thegracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world."

1. An Anchor for the Soul: The trap of the storm is the ‘overwhelming of the soul’—it begins to dominate our mind, will, reasons and emotions (soul). Peter teaches us recognize this and seek the Holy Spirit’s help in keeping our soul in line with God’s Spirit. (Note the initial reaction of the disciples seeing Jesus—this man with whom they were very familiar: they didn’t recognize Him! They thought He was a ghost. When the storm becomes the focus of our souls, everything is distorted and scary. But once they recognized Jesus, the storm is no longer the focus.)

2. Truth as my Compass: We lose our bearings in the midst of the storm, saying and doing things we might not normally say or do. Peter encourages us to exercise self-control by ‘knowing what we are to do’. The Truth is the source of that information. It stops the compass needle from spinning and points to the answer. (Note the effect of Jesus walking on water to reach the disciples during a storm: The storm was getting all the attention but at His appearance all the attention shifts to Jesus—in fact, the story shifts from being about a storm to being about Jesus and His power. We move from being ‘trapped’ in a horrible storm to an exciting ‘walking on water’ adventure.)

3. Elevate Jesus: When we become our agenda in the storm, we become ‘storm chasers’ as described in Jesus’ teaching in Luke 6. We fall for the trap and the storm becomes all about us—how it effecting us, hurting us, bothering us, etc. By looking forward and elevating Jesus—making Him and the Kingdom—our agenda stays pure and our goal moves from ‘me winning’, or ‘me surviving’, to ‘Jesus being glorified’ no matter what. (The goal of the storm was to sink the boat and stop the forward movement of the Kingdom. In spite of the storm still raging all around them, simply making Jesus the center of attention instead of the storm, disarmed the power of the storm and changed the goals of every disciple. No longer was their goal to simply ‘survive the storm’ their goal became ‘walking in the power of Jesus.’ Not one more mention of the storm—everything is about
Jesus and the Kingdom now.)


So What? What Really Matters?

Philippians 1:10 “For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.”

Peter encourages us “not to slip back, doing what we have done out of habit” but to stay focused on Jesus, understanding that the real victory, the ultimate goal, in every storm is Jesus being exalted. John 21: Peter and Jesus share breakfast and a walk on the beach.  Jesus has prepared fish on a charcoal fire. The last charcoal fire they shared was the one in the chief priest’s courtyard where Peter had denied even knowing Jesus, cursing Him.

Know Jesus has brought him back to the place of that ‘storm’ to restore him. Jesus asks Peter 3 times “Do you love me?” using the agapao word for love which means the God kind of love. Peter responds with phileo, “Yes Lord I love you like a brother.” Jesus then tells Peter how his life will end. If Peter’s love for Jesus doesn’t make the leap from “I love you like a brother” to “You are my God and I love you with the God-kind of love” then Peter will not win that final storm—his own crucifixion. Peter, when told he would crucified like Jesus since he loved Him so much asked to be crucified upside down because he was unworthy of dying in the same manner as his Lord (agapao, not phileo).  When anyone walked by that cross, they stopped and asked, ‘Why is that man crucified upside down?’ Peter made sure the answer pointed to Jesus and not him. What really matters in every storm is who gets glorified, who gets the attention, who is exalted? Peter learned what really matters and knocked it out of the ballpark. All the result of thinking clearly, exercising self-control and looking forward toward Jesus. I think he would tell you that when Jesus was glorified in that one, he won—in spite of the fact that the storm resulted in his own death. “Death, where is your sting?”

3 Simple Keys: (1 Peter 1:14-16 MSG “Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”)
• Don’t slip back into old habits and ways of responding.
• Look forward with all your hope in the grace of Jesus.
• Define the ‘real win’—Jesus glorified.

09/19/12 - Finding the Rhythm of Grace PT3 - Pastor Tony Ashmore

Pastor Tony Ashmore continues the series "Finding the Rhythm of Grace" in this Wednesday evening celebration.

Finding the Rhythm of Grace PT3
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Wednesday, September 19, 2012

www.mylifegatechurch.com

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09/16/12 - Storm Chasers PT3 - Pastor Tony Ashmore

Pastor Tony Ashmore continues the series "Storm Chasers" in this Sunday morning celebration.

Storm Chasers Part 3
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Sunday, September 16, 2012

www.mylifegatechurch.com

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Study now: Download the Sermon Notes (requires Adobe Reader)

Sermon Notes:

Proverbs 10:25 "When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation." (TNIV: When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.)

2 Timothy 2:1 “You then…be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”

Keep doing what you are doing and you'll keep getting what you're getting.  Doing the same thing and expecting different results is crazy.  Tired of walking away from the storm feeling beaten and broken?  Gotta change the 'dance', develop a new 'video' in our mindset. God changes us by changing the way we think. 

Again, what are my 'agendas'?  Am I being swept away or standing firm?  The answer will reveal whether my agenda (which is driven by my words, attitude, and actions) is 'wicked' (any agenda other than a Kingdom agenda-there is no gray area in this as much as we want one.  There are only 2 worldviews.) or 'righteous'.  Get honest with this answer and the solutions become obvious.  Keep justifying, rationalizations, or denying and keep getting swept away.

Righteous:  We have no righteousness on our own.  Our righteousness is a result of grace.  Ephesians 2:8 “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.”  So the righteous stand firm forever through life’s storms through grace.  Grace is our storm preparation kit.

What's in your storm preparation kit?
1.    Enabling Grace (1 Timothy 1:12):  Enables us to do what we aren’t able to do on our own.  Through enabling grace “we are able to do all things…”
2.    Exceeding Grace (Ephesians 2:7; 2 Corinthians 9:8): Grace that exceeds, trumps, anything we face. Grace that causes us to abound in times of lack.
3.    Establishing Grace: (Hebrews 13:9):  Grace that firmly establishes us in God’s Word and Ways
4.    Emergency Grace (Hebrews 4:16):  Grace that helps in times of need

1 Peter 1:13 (HCSB) “Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be serious and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

09/12/12 - Finding the Rhythm of Grace PT2 - Pastor Tony Ashmore

Pastor Tony Ashmore continues the series "Finding the Rhythm of Grace" in this Wednesday evening celebration.

Finding the Rhythm of Grace PT2Pastor Tony Ashmore
Wednesday, September 12, 2012

www.mylifegatechurch.com

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09/09/12 - Storm Chasers PT2 - Pastor Tony Ashmore

Pastor Tony Ashmore continues the series "Storm Chasers" in this Sunday celebration.

Storm Chasers PT2
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Sunday, September 9, 2012

www.mylifegatechurch.com

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Sermon Notes:

Hurricane Hunters: Finding Storms Before Storms Find Us

John 16:33 “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”  Peace ‘in me’ vs. storms ‘on earth’.  Note the location of trials, sorrows, storms = on earth, in this world.  The Big Idea of this message is for us to find the storms before the storms find us—be Hurricane Hunters.  There are storms that we chase, but there are also storms that are we all will face because we have an enemy.  Don’t wait until those storms are ‘on earth’—in the flesh and blood realm which is where satan is best equipped—find them and offensively disarm them in the spiritual realms. 

2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Note Paul’s wording:  a fight (indicating opposition), a race (indicating competition), kept the faith (indicating temptation).  We have an enemy and we will face ‘storms’ that are not of our own choosing or making, but simply because satan hates Jesus and anyone who belongs to Jesus.  Those who don’t belong to Jesus don’t escape because they have the ‘potential’ to follow Him.  “Rains on the just and unjust”.  Both houses (sand and rock) face the storms. 
But we can have an ‘early warning system’ that will help us stop the storms before they become Category 5 hurricanes. 

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 “We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.”

Ephesians 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

In Ephesians 6:12 Paul gives us a ‘hierarchical view’ of spiritual warfare.  From ‘highest to lowest’ it is as follows:
Highest:    Spiritual Hosts of Wickedness in the Heavenly Places
        Rulers of the Darkness of This Age
        Powers
        Principalities
Lowest:    Flesh and Blood

The way these ‘storms’ of demonic opposition manifest in our lives could be categorized the same way hurricanes are: Category 1 to Category 5.  The Category rises as we allow the ‘storm’ to descend through the ranks of opposition.  In other words, if we engage the ‘storm’ with God’s mighty weapons at the ‘Spiritual Hosts’ level it will be a Category 1 storm—the easiest to withstand without damage.  But if we allow it to progress without opposition, each level increase the likelihood of damage from the storm.  When it manifests at the ‘flesh and blood’ level it is a full-blown Category 5 storm and we are forced to engage it on our enemy’s battleground (note 2 Corinthians 10:3-4).  In other words the more we allow the storm to descend through the spiritual ranks, the lower it goes, the more equipped our enemy becomes.  Our equipment is meant for the ‘high places’.  If we learn to sense the ‘storm’ with ‘early warning devices’ then we engage our enemy on Heaven’s terms instead of hell’s terms. 
Too many of us don’t even know a storm is approaching until it shows up in our lives, then we are forced into ‘survival mode’—just trying to minimize the damage and survive the storm.  Had we confronted and addressed the ‘storm’ in the higher realms with God’s weapons we would have sustained less physical, emotional, mental, financial, relational damage. 

So how do we do that?  It’s back to the ‘agenda’ thing—do we have a Kingdom agenda or are we pursuing our own agendas—chasing “wealth, satisfaction/fulfillment, happiness/pleasure, and popularity”.  Yes, there are ‘costs’ to being Kingdom-minded, but there are huge rewards.  One of those rewards is being sensitive to what God sees and hears.  Seeing ‘what cannot be seen’.  Jesus: “Blessed are those who believe and do not see.”  Blessed life!

Practically, here are the things that move us ‘up’ in the heavenly realms, empowering us to engage the storms before they appear:

1.   Connections:  local church, connect groups, GROW.  Is your ‘inner circle’ standing with you in the heavenly places or are they simply ‘flesh and blood’ comrades?
2.   The Word: our ‘sword’—our offensive weapon is the Word.  The more skilled we are with our sword, the less we will find ourselves in a ‘defensive posture’.
3.   Prayer, Fasting, Giving:  moving beyond convenient or emergency prayer and comfortable fasting to the kind of ‘training’ great athletes do to prepare.  Jesus won his greatest battle (Calvary) at Gethsemane.  Before it ever got to the ‘flesh and blood’ realm, he had won.  Note how he did it:  connections (he had his inner circle with him), the Word (he prayed according to the Scripture), submitting his agenda (not my will but yours), intense prayer and fasting.  A person who will fast consistently will always know the mind of the Lord accurately and will always grow.  Become ‘prayer-mandated’ instead of ‘schedule driven’.  Jesus moved from place of prayer to place of prayer and never let His schedule compromise His prayer.  Generosity as a lifestyle—to honor God’s gifts to us and to keep ourselves dependent on His provision.
4.   Embracing the Holy Spirit.  (“The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”)
5.   Submission to Authority  (Jesus—“not my will, but yours.) 

The more of these we activate in our lives, the higher we ascend into the heavenlies and the sooner we are able to sense and confront ‘storms’ of opposition.

09/05/12 - Finding the Rhythm of Grace PT1 - Pastor Tony Ashmore

Pastor Tony Ashmore begins a new series entitled "Finding the Rhythm of Grace" in this Wednesday evening celebration.

Finding the Rhythm of Grace PT1
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Wednesday, September 5, 2012

www.mylifegatechurch.com

Listen now: Download today's podcast

09/02/12 - Storm Chasers PT1 - Pastor Tony Ashmore

Pastor Tony Ashmore begins the series "Storm Chasers" in this Sunday morning celebration.

Storm Chasers Part 1
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Sunday, September 02, 2012

www.mylifegatechurch.com

Listen now: Download today's podcast


Study now: Download the Sermon Notes (requires Adobe Reader)


Sermon Notes:

Deuteronomy 28:2 (HCSB) “All these blessings will come and overtake you, because you obey the Lord your God.”  

1 Corinthians 10:13 “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” 

1. Agendas (motives), Attitudes, Actions and Words: Which Storm Are You Chasing?

In the Sermon on the Plain, Jesus gives four blessings that are similar to the beatitudes in Matthew. Luke 6:20-22 says you a blessed if you are poor, are hungry, weep or are hated by men for Jesus' sake. Here in Luke 6:24-26, however, Jesus goes on to offer four corresponding woes. Woe to you if you are rich, full, laughing and people speak well of you.

Think about the four things Jesus mentions: wealth, satisfaction, happiness/pleasure and popularity/fame. What do we spend most of our time seeking after? Wealth. Satisfaction. Happiness. Popularity.

We would like more money to be able to do more things. We want to be satisfied and not have to think about any of the material troubles in life. We look to avoid all the things that may bring sadness. We desperately seek the approval and applause of others.

More than likely, one of these things that Jesus said would be a curse in your life is the very thing that so often fights for supremacy within us. Most of our idols are going to fall in one of these four areas.

You probably recognize the area where you are tempted the most.

Again, there is nothing necessarily wrong with any of those things in and of themselves. They become areas of sin when we spend our life chasing after one or more of them.

The sad reality is that when you chase those things you find them to be sand. You can never hold on to it as long as you want. There's always more lying around you that can never be grabbed. When you seek after those things, you never have enough and you never have it for long enough.

Our life ends up in a self-induced curse because our chase is a perpetual one, running around the hamster wheel, never able to reach what we are running after. There is no need to see this as the result of superstition when we inflict the woes on ourselves with our insatiable desire for temporal things that can never truly satisfy.

We can have blessings within an abundant life characterized by following our Savior or we can have curses within a never satisfied life characterized by bitterness and discontent.

What curse are you chasing when you should be seeking the Kingdom and righteousness of Christ? What pile of shifting sand are you making into an idol instead of building your life on a solid foundation?


2. Storms cannot be avoided.  How wet you get is often up to you.
Jesus gives the anti-dote in the same teaching (Luke 6:43-49):

The Tree and Its Fruit

43 “A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 44 A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. 45 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart. (Don’t focus on the fruit—trying to change the fruit is ‘fruitless’—figs don’t grow on thornbushes or grapes on bramble. 

Building on a Solid Foundation

46 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? The “Lord”-ship power is in what He says.  He is everyone’s savior, but just like Heaven—it is not the Savior part that gets you there, it is the Lord-ship.  He saved everyone but that salvation is only ‘effective’ for the ones who accept it.  His Lord-ship is available to everyone but it is only effective to those who accept it.  Jesus as Savior means He took my ‘place’.  Jesus as Lord means I take ‘His place’.   47 I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. 48 It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. 49 But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”

There is a difference in a life with trouble and a troubled life.  We all have trouble, but some have trouble-filled lives.  Sometimes those trouble-filled lives started out as a pursuit of wealth, happiness/pleasure, fame/popularity, or satisfaction.  They don't remember that, or admit it, because the start of the chase is a distant memory.  All they remember now is trouble, not the initiation of a chase that Jesus said would bring woe.


3. The Umbrella Principle

Using a large and small umbrella to illustrate the protection of God during the 'storm' and how our words, actions and willing obedience can either widen or shrink that protected area.  When we choose to chase the curse instead of being chased down by the blessing because of our lifestyle choices we will have a smaller 'tolerance zone' for 'getting wet'. 

Luke 10:18-20 (Message) Jesus said, "I know. I saw Satan fall, a bolt of lightning out of the sky. See what I've given you? Safe passage as you walk on snakes and scorpions, and protection from every assault of the Enemy. No one can put a hand on you. All the same, the great triumph is not in your authority over evil, but in God's authority over you and presence with you. Not what you do for God but what God does for you—that's the agenda for rejoicing."

08/29/12 - Relationships 101 PT5 - Everett Spencer

Everett Spencer continues the series "Relationships 101" in this Wednesday evening celebration.

Relationships 101 PT5
Wednesday, August 29, 2012

www.mylifegatechurch.com

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