Pastor's Anniversary

Come Celebrate with us our Pastor's 3rd year of service to our church and our community!

October 24, 2010

Morning Worship ... 11 AM

Celebration Concert ... 3:30 PM

Hope to see you there!

The Leverich Memorial Church Family

I’m Not Perfect, So Why Can’t I Sin?

October 3, 2010

Psalm 8:3-5

The Psalmist asks, “What is Man”? Why is Man so Special? Why am I so valuable?

Genesis 1:26 says that God made us in His image. He formed us and breathed into us. Man was given dominion over the earth. Most importantly he had an unhindered relationship with God. God came to man everyday at a certain time. Man did not have to remember to seek the Lord. All God requested of man was that he worship Him. God desires our worship because He deserves our worship but He doesn’t demand it.

God gave Man one command in Genesis 2:16, 

And the Lord commanded the man” you are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” (NIV)

All Man had in the garden changed when Adam and Eve disobeyed

When Adam chose to disobey God and obey Satan
Man gave his dominion over to Satan. Man gave his God given dominion over the earth over to Satan. More importantly, sin (disobedience) hindered man’s relationship with God. Instead of God coming to us everyday we have to go to Him. Man now has to remember to seek the Lord. We have to remember to go to God. God gives us rituals to help us to remember – Prayer, Communion, Passover, Easter,

God still deserves and desires worship but since He is Holy, sin had created a separation. God sent Jesus, the Christ, His son who bridged the divide when he died on the cross.

Galatians 2:20 says “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

We can fight sin and win because Jesus has already won.
Realizing that, we can beat sin. James 1:12 -18 lets us know that; temptations come but that is not the sin. As I develop in my mind (ponder) what temptation puts there, we make it right in our minds and then carry out the sin – like Adam and Eve.

A life of perfection begins with a surrendered and obedient heart. Life becomes difficult when we refuse to obey the Word of God.

Are we rationalizing sin in our minds? Are we like Adam and Eve who through their sin forfeited the authority God had given them and threw away the unhindered relationship they shared with God? Are we striving to live the life of perfection God promises us or are we settling for Satan's consolation prize?

If we choose God we can have the life He has always desired us to lead.

Pastor Pete

Revival of Righteousness

September 19, 2010

Proverbs 14:34

Righteousness – acting rightly, being upright – basically do what is right.

“ Do the Right Thing” .

It is possible to be righteous.

Focus on doing what is right before God. If you leave man to himself he cannot do what is right. You need a Godly influence to do what is right.

Rom 3:21,22 – God’ s standard of righteousness can be kept. Jesus is the example.

Even when we walk into impossible situations, we can make the right choice. Joseph walked uprightly before God. Joseph did what was right when Potiphar’ s wife tried to seduce him. He ran. He ended up in jail based on a lie. So you might say, what is the use of doing the right thing? God is always there to pick you up when you walk uprightly before Him. God never deserts us.

God does rightly out of His holiness. God requires us to do the right thing as well since he commands us to be holy as He is holy. When we move away from the righteousness of God we have problems. Sin has distorted what the right thing is.

“Fear God and keep His commandments"

Ecclesiastes 12:13

“ Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a disgrace (reproach) to any people” - Proverbs 14:34

If America was really based on the righteousness of God, slavery would never have been a part of its history.
We hinder ourselves from having God’ s righteousness played out in our lives when we sin. Romans 1:16,17 tells us that sin hinders us from receiving the blessing of God’s righteousness.

A Revival of Righteousness is a renewed commitment to God’s standard of what is right. Are you ready to be revived in the righteousness of God?

Pastor Pete

A Little Mercy Goes a Long Way

 September 5, 2010

Lamentations 3:19 – 24

The prophet Jeremiah laments his situation to God. In verse 1, he says that he has seen affliction. His situation has affected him physically and emotionally. Verses 1-20 describe how Jeremiah feels. He feels like he is in a dark place. When he thinks about it, his “ soul is downcast within him” (v20). He is depressed. But then he calls to mind the faithfulness of God.

 

We can remember the different ages and stages of our lives. We also remember the difficult or painful experiences in our lives. Sin has had an impact on our lives. Even when we have done everything right, because we live in a sinful world. It seems that our path is blocked. Sometimes things happen that are unfair.

 

But God calls us to consciously remember and because of this we can have hope. Remembrance can bring pain but it can also bring hope. The fact that I can remember is a good thing.

 

What are we called to remember?

1. The Lord’s Great Love. God is Love. God is a God of Love, “because of His great love, we are not consumed” (v22). We experience mercy, forgiveness, and grace because of His love. 
2. His Compassion never fails v.22

God’ s Love and Compassion are new every morning (v23). So we can say “Lord I thank you and I am looking forward to something fresh, something new” - Everyday something new.

 

God is faithful – He’s already provided.

The faithlessness of people seems to overshadow the light of God.

• Since God is light we can decide to make Him our portion (v24)
• Since He is faithful we can decide to wait for him (v24)
• Since He Is faithful we can hope in Him. “ The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him” (v25)

In Summary

We can remember the stuff in the past but we don’t have to let it control us. We can pray, Lord renew me, refresh me- give me a new perspective. To be revived is to be renewed, refreshed. It is to have a New Focus, a Refreshed Focus. To be revived is to look forward to spiritual growth. A Fresh Outlook.

Pastor Pete

The Land Between

August 29, 2010

Guest Speaker: Sis. Damaris Herron
Numbers 11:4-35

I went to the Global Leadership Summit and heard Jeff Manion, Pastor of Ada Bible Church in Michigan, speak and he talked about the Land Between.

What is the Land Between?

 The Land Between (as defined by Jeff Manion) is where life is not as it once was, where the future is in question. It is a time in the “desert”.

It can be an instant change:
• A break up
• Death
• Loss of a job

Or it can be progressive:
• Economic crisis
• Illness
• Broken Marriage

We are all going to find ourselves in the Land Between. When we come to Christ you do not land on easy street, you will not always pass go and collect $200. This is not the Wiz where Michael Jackson is singing ease on down the road. You will face trials, you will feel hardships, and you will find yourself at some point in your life in the land between. And it can last days, weeks, months or years.

What matters most is NOT the trial that you are going thru but your RESPONSE, your reaction to that trial, to being in the Land Between.

Pastor Manion used the story of the Israelites in the desert right after they come out of slavery from Egypt to illustrate the Land Between.

• Refresher: The Israelites had been slaves in Egypt. God raised up Moses to lead them out. They survived the plagues, they crossed the Red Sea, they are being protected by and provided for by God every day. And we meet up with them in the desert where they are eating manna everyday for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
  
  

They are in the land between, the land after slavery and right before they reach the Promise Land, Canaan.

Pastor Manion says that this land, the Land Between is fertile ground for 5 things:

• Complaint: Numbers 11:4-9
  When we are in the midst of a trial we have to be careful that our complaints don’t become accusatory. And as time passes and you keep complaining and nothing changes before you know it complaint and bitterness take up residence in your house. If we are not careful here is where our faith can come to die. Instead we must trust God. When the chips are down will we say Lord, you’re in control? Will we be able to go thru trial, no matter how long, still believing that God is good, God is loving, God is wise, God has my back?
  
• Meltdown: Numbers 11:11-15
  At some point in our trial, in our journey thru the Land Between, we will come to the end of ourselves. We will be exhausted and at the end of our rope. We can’t see the end we can’t see where we originally started from. All we can see and feel are our circumstances coming to rest heavily upon us. Sleepless nights, tears, worry, and we say we can’t take it anymore. This is the time where we learn to pray. Psalm 55:22 says, “Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” God wants us to cast our cares on Him. He wants us to unburden ourselves to him. The same way that we vent to our best friend so God wants us to vent to Him. NOT complain to Him. But cast our cares on him. This is where our prayer lives reach a maturity. Where we know that our relationship with God is growing deeper because we are coming to Him seeking relief and not trying to do it on own. In Psalm 13 David comes to God and asks, How long Lord will my enemies prevail over me? How long? And he resolves himself to trust in the God he knows can make a difference in his circumstances. That’s what our prayers should be.
  
• Provision: Numbers 11:16-17
  God brings us to a place of dependence. He wants us to trust Him for our everyday, day to day minutia; things that seem small to us but are a big deal to God. He wants us to open our hands and let go of those things that we are holding on to so tightly so that he can bless us, so that He can provide for us, so that we understand that everything we need can be found in Him. If we are able to trust God for the small things we will believe Him for the big, almost impossible things. He may provide a way out of our storm or He will provide you the tools to weather it. If you trust God He will provide.
  
• Discipline: Numbers 11:30-34
  We hate discipline. Some more than others, which is why we get repeat offenders which the Israelites are. In the Land Between, God inflicts pain for redemptive purposes. God wants us to learn from the discipline so that:
• We won’t make the same mistake that can lead to dire consequences
• So that it will draw us back to Him
  
• Transformational Growth
  This is where what you do in response to the trial will push your faith and relationship with God forward to new heights or where you could end up like the Israelites, left wandering in the desert for 40 years and/or dying there. When you are here, in the Land Between, trust God. You don’t know why these trials are happening to you but God knows.  And you can be confident, of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; (Philippians 1:6)

Maybe…

• In losing your job God is trying to teach you something? Humble you? Cause dependence on Him?
• The man or woman you swore you couldn’t live without, God broke that up to show you that you can live without them & he has someone much better for you?
• The death of a loved one will put you in a place to be a blessing and a comfort to those who experience the same loss?
• Uncertainty about your major in school or your future as a whole is an opportunity for you to ask God to show you His dreams and plans for you?
• The death of a young person is so that it will jumpstart you to action for the kingdom?
• Thru your illness you will be an inspiration and a testimony to God’s faithfulness?

Romans 8:28 says: And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

What we do here, in the Land Between, will either bring you life or cause you to perish and will determine how long you stay here.

It's your Choice. 

Pastor Pete

What You Do Tells Me Something about You

August 22, 2010

Ephesians 4: 23-32; Colossians 3: 5-17

Today we are continuing to talk about Christian Character and Conduct. Last Sunday we talked about how ones Character is revealed by their conduct. Both Ephesians and Colossians deal with character and conduct, Colossians is more complex but Ephesians more practical.

Focus on Ephesians 4: 23-32

As a Christian we are:

Renewed in the spirit of our mind. (v 23)

We “put on the new man which was created according to God – true righteousness and holiness”.

God’s word is very practical.

• Verse 25 – Put away lying
• Verse 26 – Be angry but do not sin
• Verse 27 – Don’t give place to the devil
• Verse 28 – Don’t steal. Go to work to be able to give to others in need. Don’t mooch; work, be a contributor
• Verse 29 – Watch what you say. Say good things. “Impart grace to the hearer.” Be careful how you talk about others (Gossip) 

These verses focus on my conduct in relationships – how I deal with people.

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God (v 30)

When I do these things I “grieve the Holy Spirit of God.” We are attached (sealed) to God by the Holy Spirit who lives in us and who is trying to help us to be more Christ like until we go to heaven. When we don’t listen to His voice we grieve him, like a child who is resisting the guiding hand of his or her parent.

In Summary:
God commands us to:

• Put off (Get rid of) all bitterness, wrath (rage), anger, clamor (brawling), evil speaking (slander), malice. (v 31)
• Replace it with kindness, compassion and forgiveness
• Be kind, tenderhearted (compassionate), forgiving each other (v 32)

God wants us to be genuine in our conduct

The memory verse for the month of August is Col 3:17:

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him”

Our Conduct Should Please God

Pastor Pete

Christian Character

August 15, 2010

Ephesians 4:17-24

The question before us today –

          What is your character like?

It is popular to be a Christian to day. But what exactly does it mean to be a Christian?

We know how to act Christian (dress, talk, shout) but Christian means to be Christ-like. It means to be a follower of Jesus. It means to act like Jesus.

Being a Christian is knowing the Savior – One’s life changed because you have met the Savior.

We make the mistake of confusing character and conduct. Our character is revealed in our conduct. What and how we think (Character) is revealed in our conduct. What we believe shaped how we think and is revealed by what we do. If we have accepted Jesus as our Savior and Lord, the Holy Spirit is shaping our character.

The New Testament has:
           
27 books, 4 Gospels, 1 History, 1 Revelation, and 21 Letters on how to live the Christian Life.

Christian Character is who I am after I have accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior.

Christian conduct is how I behave (what I do) after I have been born again.

Focus: What shapes Christian Character?

1. Faith – What I believe
2. God’s Word – Read God’s Word (Meditate, memorize)
3. Surrender to God’s truth revealed in the Bible – God’s knows best
4. Obedience to the Word of God – Do what God directs us to do

Only as we choose to allow God to have our heart can He shape our character. We don’t have to teach a baby to do the wrong thing! As we surrender to God as a baby in the arms of his or her parents, we can know that we are safe. The Lord will never divorce us – even when we walk away from Him.

Summary:

Christian Character is who I am in Jesus Christ as I allow the Holy Spirit to work Christ-likeness in me and work out my sinful character out of my life.

Surrender today to a life in Christ Jesus and watch how you will be changed.

Pastor Pete

Celebrating the Lord’s Table in the Right Way

August 1, 2010

1 Corinthians 11:23-32

In society we have days of remembrance. For example, Memorial Day, Veterans Day are observed so that we don’t forget those men & women who have died or served our country.

Similarly, the Lord’s Supper is celebrated so that we can remember the sacrifice Jesus became for us. It is not just a ritual. It is a celebration!

The bread represents the Body of Christ – Died, Buried and Rose. He is alive!!

The cup represents the Blood of Christ – Jesus blood paid for our sins.
We can stand before God righteous because we are covered by the blood of Jesus.
We are celebrating our salvation in Jesus Christ

Focus
1 Cor 11: 27 – We need to understand how we are to come to the Lord’s Supper.

Participating in the supper by taking the elements (Bread, Cup) does not save us. This celebration has to do with recognizing that I am saved! 

1. Come with the right motive. Don’t take the Lord’s Supper to be seen, or selfishly (a self focus). Come to be a participant not a spectator.
2. As members of the Body of Christ we have come together to celebrate what Jesus has done for us. We are one body in Christ celebrating Jesus the Focus Factor.
3. Come to celebrate Jesus – Celebrating Jesus has to become a pattern of our lives.

In Summary: The Lord’s Supper is a meal for believers. Your motive for coming must be right. Your attitude has to be right. Examine yourself, acknowledge your sin and seek forgiveness before participating. God forgives us. Seeking and receiving forgiveness has to become a pattern in our lives. You know the things that you do that are not right. Look at it. Acknowledge it and seek forgiveness so the celebration can be real.

Pastor Pete

A Victorious Attitude Always Wins

July 25, 2010

Matthew 28:18 – 20; Luke 24

After Jesus rose from the dead he met with disciples and said “All Power (authority) is given unto me – Go and make disciples. Go in the power I give you because I have the power. I have conquered death, hell and the grave. Matthew 28, 19, 20

We can have confidence

Jesus said “Peace be with you” John 20:21, 22. Jesus speaks peace. Jesus gives us his peace. He has already won the battle. “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” John 21:21 (NIV). How did the father send Jesus – as a human being to bring us peace with God.

Then he breathed on them and said “receive the Holy Spirit”. The power Jesus gives us comes through the Holy Spirit who lives in us when we accept Jesus as our Savior.

God’s Word must be received to have an effect in our lives.

In Mark 16: 17, 18 God promises to protect us as we go out to share the gospel. These verses were fulfilled in the Apostle Paul’s life on the island of Malta. A snake bit him but he didn’t die. He prayed for the sick and they were healed. As a result of Paul’s visit and his experiences there were many new believers. God‘s promise, Romans 8:35-39,

“Nothing can separate us from the love of God.”

Luke 24

God wants us to understand that we are champions. No one can beat our God. It is out attitude that causes us to win. Phil 2:5 – Mind of Christ. Jesus knew the victory was his so he resisted temptation, focused on the cross and completed the work. We need a Christ like attitude.

Application:
We need to change how we think about ourselves and the things of God. A victorious attitude comes from the peace of God on the inside.

Phil 4:8,9 tells us the things we are supposed to think about; whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy – think ( meditate) on these things

Change your thinking! Think Victory!
 

Pastor Pete

If You Bring the Vessel Empty, God Will Fill It

July 18, 2010

2 Kings 4:1-7

Last Sunday we discussed that we overcome the world by our faith. This is the story of a woman of faith – a spiritual woman.

This woman was a widow – the wife of a prophet who served under Elisha the prophet. The Testimony of his life was that he "revered God". 2 Kings 4:1 (NIV)

In those days the husband was the source of income for the family. With his death, she no longer had a source of income.

She had a need so she went to Elisha the prophet and stated her need – “my husband is dead, the creditors are coming to take my sons to be slaves”.

Elisha asked her “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” She answered “nothing but a little oil”. 2 Kings 4:2 (NIV)

He told her to go and ask all her neighbors for empty vessels - many empty vessels. Go into her house, shut the door and pour the little oil she had into the empty vessels she had collected. She and her sons did exactly as instructed. They obeyed the command of the prophet Elisha who was the “man of God” at that time. 2 Kings 4:3, 4 (NIV)

The miracle came in her obedience. As she did what she was asked to do, the little jar of oil kept filling the large vessels she has collected until all were full and there was not another vessel available. 2 Kings 4:5, 6 (NIV)

She then went back to Elisha the prophet and told him she had done what he told her to do. He then told her to go and sell the oil, pay her debt and live off the rest. 2 Kings 4:7 (NIV).

God provided a source of income from what she already had. In blessing the widow, she was able to bless others.

The question for us today is...

Do we know what we need? Can we clearly state the need? Do we go to God with a clear need? Do we follow the instructions God gives us? Do we do the necessary work (go out and ask for vessels)?  Do we go back to God and let him know we have followed His instructions so that He can tell us the next step? Our need causes us to recognize our dependence on God.

Application to our lives today:

• The prophet is the Word of God – Bible
• The seeking out of Elisha – Prayer
• The need – physical, emotional, spiritual, financial etc
• The little oil – the Holy Spirit
• The vessels – us as individuals

God pours his Holy Spirit into us to meet whatever need we may have. When we pray, God speaks to us through His Word. If we obey, our needs are met and we are able to bless others. When God blesses, He always gives us enough for ourselves and others. But God’s blessings are hindered when we move from where God can pour the oil into our vessel by not reading the Word, not praying, not obeying God’s Word and not fellowshipping with other believers, yet we expect God to be able to bless us. But He cannot.

Sometimes our vessel is full – full of sin, doubt, disobedience, self-righteousness and pride. But if we bring the vessel empty, God will fill it up.

Pastor Pete

Faith Is the Victory

July 11, 2010

1 John 5:1-5

“This is the victory that overcomes the world – our faith”

Victory comes as a result of our faith. Specifically faith in Jesus Christ.  Everyone who is born of God overcomes the world.

How do we know we are born of God?

“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God” 1John 5:1 (NIV)


Our new nature manifests itself in love for God and a desire to keep his commandments. Our attitude to obeying God’s commandments is the key. We know that we love God if we keep his commandments.

“This is love for God: to obey his commands” 1John 5:3 (NIV)

It is not impossible to obey God’s Word. God’s commandments don’t burden us, they free us. 1 John 5:3
If we are in Jesus Christ we don’t have to follow the ways of the world. We can withstand the influence of the world by knowing and obeying God’s word.

Who is an over comer?

Someone who put his faith in Jesus Christ and follows his commands.

And you can be one if you put your faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. I invite you to accept Christ and you will have the victory in all that you do.

Pastor Pete

Dads! It’s Never Too Late to Get It Right

Fathers Day, June 20, 2010

Genesis 48:3-4, 8-22; 49:33- 50:1

These chapters are the culmination of four generations of men blessed by God who were a part of a dysfunctional family.

God called Abraham and told him he would have a son by his wife Sarah. As time passed, he has a son named Ishmael with his wife’s maid Hagar who God blesses although this is not God’s ideal. But God said he would have a son with his wife Sarah, which he did – Isaac. But conflict between the brothers and their descendants continue to this day. Isaac though not the firstborn was the one chosen by God for blessing because...

God fulfills His word even when we mess up.

Isaac had twins Esau and Jacob with his wife Rebecca. Esau was his father’s favorite and Jacob his mother’s. God let Rebecca know that Jacob was the chosen leader but Isaac planned to bless Esau as the firstborn. Through deception Jacob received the blessing but he had to leave home because his brother wanted to kill him. So he went to Laban his uncle who manipulates him into marrying his two daughters. How Jacob came to have two wives is a fascinating story. Laban deceived him and Jacob found himself married to Leah when he loved Rachel and believed he was marrying her. This set up a rivalry between the two sisters that only ended with Rachel’s death.

Jacob had 12 sons and 1 daughter by four women – Leah, Rachel and their maids Zilpah nd Bilhah. Leah and her maid (Zilpah) had 8 of the 12 boys and Rachel and her maid (Bilhah) had 4. The last two sons born to Jacob were the two Rachel bore him – Joseph and Benjamin. The Bible tells us Jacob loved Joseph the 1st born son of Rachel but his 10 brothers hated him. Jacob showed his love by making Joseph a coat of many colors. He clearly was Jacobs’s favorite child and enjoyed the privilege of that position. He spent time with his dad, tattled on his brothers to his dad, and learned about God from his dad. Joseph ended up in Egypt because his brothers sold him into slavery. But God blessed him throughout his time as a slave, his stint in prison and as the second in command to Pharaoh. Joseph’s faith in God is seen by how he lived his life and the choices he made inspite of adversity.

Joseph had two sons with his wife Asenath – Manasseh and Ephraim. Scripture records that when Jacob was about to die he called his sons. He gave Joseph a special blessing and blessed Joseph’s sons as well – once again the younger over the older. Joseph understood that God directs the blessing and so he did not argue with his father when Jacob blessed Ephraim his younger son by placing his right hand on his head. Joseph got it right. God blesses according to his Word.

Today as fathers there are two things we must do in order to get it right. First: we must develop a heart of obedience to God. Second: We must realize our children are watching us and what we do speaks volumes over what we say.

Pastor Pete

Free To Be Me, But Who Am I Supposed To Be?

June 12, 2010

John 8:36

He (She) whom the Son sets free is free indeed.

How are we free?

Jesus sets us free from the bondage of sin by: Exposing Sin, Overpowering Sin with God’s Righteousness, Giving us the ability to live righteously.We have the ability through the power of The Holy Spirit, to make right choices.

We are no longer slaves to sin.

Sin destroys. (Ephesians 2:1-5). We sin without thinking. Our first inclination left to ourselves is to do the wrong thing. The things we do often lead to destruction. Self destruction, Relationship destruction, financial destruction, physical destruction, environmental destruction.

We are the sum total of the choices we make.

The way we think defines who we are and shapes what we do.What a person thinks will be demonstrated by how he lives his life. Galatians 5:1 encourages us to stand firm in the freedom we have through Jesus Christ.We are free to be who He has made us to be.

 “I have come that you might have life – life in abundance”

John 10:10

Freedom has boundaries.

You may think that you can live your life anyway that you want. The reality is you live once but you have to give an account of that life to the Creator of life. Hebrews 9:27 says “It is appointed unto men once to die and after this the judgment”

What Freedom do we have?

Freedom to live within the parameters of the house of salvation. We are blessed when we live in the freedom that salvation brings.

The issue is: We don’t like boundaries (parameters). Adam and Eve were free within the Garden of Eden. They were okay with that freedom until a conversation with the Serpent (Satan) after which they thought the parameters they had been given were unfair (restrictive), so they took of the forbidden fruit and lost the freedom they actually had.

Learn to live within the boundaries of God’s Grace. This means I must be determined to stay away from anything that looks like sin. Do the right thing. Righteousness –the right thing -is set forth by God.

Who are you free to be?

The valuable person God created you to be. In Psalm 139:13-17 the psalmist says, “we are fearfully and wonderfully made.”

Our value comes from God who made us. So value (treasure) what God had placed in you – gifts, talents, an d abilities.

Pastor Pete

Hold On to Your Liberty

June 5, 2010

Galatians 5:1

What's Needed to hold on to our Liberty?

1. Understand Your Freedom
2. Freedom has a price – Jesus death
3. Know the liberty you have through Jesus
4. Accept the liberty you have in Christ
5. Live in the Liberty you have through obedience to God’s Word (the Bible)

What Freedom do we have?

We are liberated from the captivity of sin. Sin holds you captive. Jesus’ death actually liberates us from the yoke – control of sin, if we place our faith in Him.

Gal. 5:19-21, lists the things we are freed from when we allow the Holy Spirit to guide our lives. He keeps us in line.

We have a choice; we can move towards God or move away from God.

Pastor Pete

Stay In the Place of God

May 30th, 2010

Guest Speaker: Rev: R. Woods
Genesis 50:19-20

As we celebrated out anniversary Rev. Woods shared highlights from the life of Joseph.

Joseph set up for trouble right from the beginning of his life.

• Born into a dysfunctional family
• Born to Jacob in his old age
• First child of the wife Jacob loved
• Jacob expressed his love for Joseph by giving him a special robe
• Joseph was a dreamer. God gave him profound dreams
• Joseph crowed about his dreams
• Joseph tattled on his 10 older brothers
• His brothers hated Joseph and sold him to traders for 20 pieces of silver
• The traders sold him to Potiphar

But God was with Joseph.

When God is with you, you have all that matters. God Blessed Joseph. He had the command of Potiphar’s household. Even when Potiphar’s wife wrongly accused him of rape and Joseph was sent to prison God was with Joseph in prison. He had favor in prison and was a leader there.

After a few years he was finally called to interpret Pharaoh’s dream. God had given him a Survivor Plan for the next 14 years. Joseph became Pharoah’s right hand man during the years of plenty and famine.

The Key Point:

Joseph was rejected, kidnapped, enslaved and imprisoned but God’s plan for him was not limited by his circumstances. God was with Joseph.

The Christian life is full of calamities. But God is with you to help you find a way to deal with hurt, disappointments, and tragedies. Get a "So What" spirit. Have an attitude of Faith.

When Joseph finally revealed who he was to his brothers he told them, you meant it for evil, but God meant it for your good. Know that you are where God wants you to be.

Leverich Memorial Church, Stay in the Place of God. You will find everything you need in the Place of God.

Pastor Pete

Church Anniversary

We are celebrating 102 years of worship and witness on

Sunday, May 30, 2010!

Special Guest Speaker: Rev. Ravine Woods
A good friend of our church, we look forward to a spirited Word from the Lord.

Special Celebration Dinner and Time of Reflection following the Morning Worship and...

You Are Invited! 

Leverich Memorial Church

102-19 32nd Avenue

East Elmhurst, NY 11369

The celebration starts at 11 AM!

So join us for songs of celebration, a blessed Word, good food, and great fellowship.

Pastor Pete & First Lady Doreen

Celebrating God's Grace

May 23rd, 2010

Ephesians 2:1-10

God's grace is not obtained as a result of an individual working and doing good thigs in order to please God. Grace is a gift from God offered to all, and can only be received by faith as an individual puts their trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ.

God who is rich in mercy loves us so much that inspite of how messed up and hopeless we were and still are He sacrificed His Son's life so that we could have a chance to live and have a relationship with Him. God had always intended for us to have a relationship with Him and we have always desired this.

But what is grace? What is mercy?

Mercy:
A man is found guily of a crime. He has been tried based on the evidence gathered and his own testimony and has been convicted. His crime is punishable by death but the judge shows him mercy by sentencing him to life in prison without the possiblilty of parole.

See he had commited the crime so in fairness it would not be right to set him free. The crime he commited had to be paid for but he was spared from the harsher punishment.

However, for God MERCY wasn't, isn't enough. His plan has always been to set us free. He offers us life by GRACE.

Grace:
Lets go back to the man who was found guilty. He is standing before the judge waiting to be sentenced, his crime punishable by death. Just before he is sentenced to death the judge calls his own son into the courtroom, whom he loves dearly, and tells his son to go stand beside the guilty man. With his son's ok he passes the man's judgement of death onto his son and sets the guilty man free.

This is what God did for us when he sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins. He showed us GRACE.

God's Grace enables us to live our lives with LIMITLESS possibilities all to the glory of God.

Accept God's Grace today!

Pastor Pete

Women's Day!

Today we celebrated the anniversary of our Women's Fellowship.

Our guest speaker, Rev. Marjorie Harris from Southern Baptist Church in East Elmhurst, NY, spoke from the verses in Romans 5:1, 2.

Topic: "You Have Access"

Through Christ you have

• Access to God's heart,
• Access to God's favor,
• Access to God's blessing,
• Access to God's healing,
• Access to God's riches,
• Access to God's throne where Jesus and the Holy Spirit intercede for us with the Father.

So you can come to God with whatever is a concern, whether big or small, because you have access!

Happy Mother's Day!

From Pastor Pete & First Lady Doreen

and the Leverich Church Family