theCrossroads UPC

For too long, the people of God had imagined a political figure, an earthly king who would give them victory over their tyrannical enemy. The Jews of Jesus’s day believed that their God had made the world and that He had remained in charge of it. They didn’t understand, any more than we do, why a world made by a good God would somehow go wrong, but clearly that had happened. The signs were all there: broken bodies, broken lives, broken systems, broken countries. The whole thing needed fixing, needed mending, needed to be put right.He was telling them that the new Exodus was here, but it wasn’t going to be an Exodus from Roman rule…it was going to be an Exodus or departure from the slave-master of SIN which had gripped them for many generations…and now God would be their King and He would be in charge.Jesus told them that He was the WAY…Through His Death, Burial and Resurrection - He was making a way for them to leave the Slave-Master of Sin!

In order to protect our mind - we must put on the Armor of God. How do we do this? PRAYER! Praying Always...We must pray the Word of God if we are going to protect our minds!

On Father’s Day, Pastor A.J. Dummitt continues our JESUS series by preaching “Show us the Father”. We are pursuing Jesus like never before, and on Father’s Day it is a great day to explore relevant and timeless truths from God’s Word together.

Have you Lost your mind? We need to lose our natural (carnal thinking) mind to take on the "mind of Christ".

Don't allow your fear and worry to Hijack your life. CHOOSE to bring your thoughts into obedience to Christ! In this Mind Set series teaching Pastor A.J. Dummitt will unpack the key to moving beyond your fears and worries and having PEACE of mind! Thank you so much for joining with us and growing spiritually.

Jesus is Enough! Text Matthew: 17:1-817 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. Mount Hermon- Tallest mountain in all of Palestine, over 9000ft tallPeter, James, and John- the inner circle of the apostlesLuke 9: Traveled, fell asleep, woke up in a start so this story happened at night- One thing to see a bright light, but to see Jesus clothed in garments shining English word BeholdGreek word- idou– means Pay attention to this- interpreted- BeholdMatt 17:3-Mosses and Elijah were there- Both had mountain top experiencesMoses received ten commandments up on Mount Sinai in Ex 19Elijah was up on Mount Carmel, called down fire from heaven and it consumed the sacrifice, and the waterWhy did God choose Moses and Elijah:Moses- I think it is because Moses represents the Law- wrote first five books of the Bible, often called the Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and DeuteronomyHe was considered the giver of the LawElijah- He was considered the foremost of the prophetsSo in Moses and Elijah you have both the Law and the prophetsDid you know that Jesus was the fulfillment of both the Law and the ProphetsMatt 5:17: Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.Then Peter sees Jesus talking with Moses and Elijah and thinks that Jesus is their equalThis is where we see God respond with a voice from heavenWhat caused God to speak from heaven?When Peter suggested that Jesus should share His glory with someone elseIsaiah 42:8 I am the Lord that is my name and my glory will I not give to another neither my praise to graven images.Matt 17:5 God Presence appears in form a cloud- second important thing to noticeMatt 17: 5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them:God uses a cloud several times in the Bible to indicate his presence:The Exodus from Egypt- cloud by day, fire by nightThe inauguration of the tabernacle- Shekinah glory of GodThe inauguration of the templeEzekiel’s vision 1:5John’s vision in Revelation chapterMatt 17: 5b The Voice of God spoke –Matt 17: 5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.This passage tells us three things:Voiced Divine approval on Jesus- “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased- Approval was not focused on Moses, not on Elijah, But the focus was upon JesusDirected authority to Jesus- Hear Ye Him! Not Moses, Not Elijah, but listen to Jesus aloneCalled for Obedience to Jesus alone, Not Moses, Not ElijahYou see, the disciples distracted by the presence of Moses and Elijah, they were taught about Moses and Elijah, and they missed the point that was right in front of them! JESUS IS ENOUGH Telegraph Illustration: Back when the telegraph was the fastest method of long distance communication, a young man applied for a job as a Morse code operator. Answering an ad in the newspaper, he went to the office address that was listed. When he arrived, he entered a large, busy office filled with noise and clatter, including the sound of the telegraph in the background. A sign on the receptionist’s counter instructed job applicants to fill out a form and wait until they were summoned to enter the inner office. The young man filled out his form and sat down with the seven other applicants in the waiting area. After a few minutes, the young man stood up, crossed the room to the door of the inner office, and walked right in. Naturally the other applicants perked up, wondering what was going on. They muttered among themselves that they hadn’t heard any summons yet. They assumed that the young man who went into the office made a mistake and would be disqualified. Within a few minutes, however, the employer escorted the young man out of the office and said to the other applicants, “Gentlemen, thank you very much for coming, but the job has just been filled.” The other applicants began grumbling to each other, and one spoke up saying, “Wait a minute, I don’t understand. He was the last to come in, and we never even got a chance to be interviewed. Yet he got the job. That’s not fair!” The employer said, “I’m sorry, but all the time you’ve been sitting here, the telegraph has been ticking out the following message in Morse code: ‘If you understand this message, then come right in. The job is yours.’ None of you heard it or understood it. This young man did. The job is his.”~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Are our ears tuned to His voice??While others were pre-occupied with other conversations, although worthwhile they may have been, they missed the main message!THE ONES WHO WILL HEAR THE STILL, SMALL VOICE OF JESUS IN THIS GENERATION ARE THE ONES WHO ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS!WE HAVE ALL HAD PEOPLE SAY SOMETHING TO US AND WE WERE DAYDREAMING, OR OTHERWISE PRE-OCCUPIED.“The only way I can really understand what someone says is if I am looking directly at them when they speak!”IN ORDER TO HEAR WHAT GOD IS SAYING, WE MUST REMOVE ALL DISTRACTIONS AND KEEP OUR EYES ON HIM!6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. 7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” 8 When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.To put this scripture in context, just a week earlier, Jesus had asked his disciples a question inMatthew 16:13- Whom do men say that I am?They had responded in verse 14:And they said, Some say that thou are John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?Matt 16:16– And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.It is interesting that in the space of just a week that he forgets that Jesus is the Son of the Living God.I submit to you that the entire point of the Mount Transfiguration experience is to show the inner circle, Peter, James and John that He is God manifested in the fleshThe Law was necessary for its time but Jesus came to fulfill the law, Jesus is Enough all by himself.The prophets had a very important function in their day, but the prophets cant save you but Jesus can, Jesus is enough!I am saying to this church today, God has a job for someone to do!There is a work to be done, and the position is open, who will fill it?Who will go and do the work of God in this generation?THE JOB POSITION IS OPEN, AND THE ADVERTISEMENT HAS GONE FORTH!Mark 16:15-16 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.Matthew 9:37-38 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. What is The job you may ask?Reach the lost at any cost!The Pay?Matthew 16:26-2726 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. The benefits?Romans 14:1717 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. And a life insurance policy that is out of this world!And, the applicants have come from near and far, and are sitting in the interview room, waiting for their turn! But, I would say to you today, that it is not the most qualified, not the most well-dressed, not the first on the scene, or not the ones with the most ability that will get the job, but the ones that will get the nod from the Lord of the Harvest are those who will hear his still, small, voice and understand what the purpose of the church is in this day! Those whose attention is not diverted by the other sounds that clamor all around, those who don’t think that they have already arrived and deserve the job because of their superior qualifications, but those who are listening and understanding the voice of God!We can argue all day long amongst ourselves, and use scripture to back up why we are right, and everyone else is wrong, but while we are crossing theological swords, people are dying and going to hell!THE ONES WHOM GOD WILL WORK THROUGH IN THIS GENERATION ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE ELIMINATED THE DISTRACTIONS IN THEIR LIVES. Not the most educated,Not the best dressed,Not the ones with the most impressive pedigree or heritage,But, those who have eliminated distractions!If you have Jesus, you have enough!I truly believe that what God is looking for in this generation is not talent, ability, pedigree, heritage, etc.I BELIEVE THAT GOD IS SIMPLY LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WHO WILL ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS!PEOPLE WHO WILL KEEP THEIR PURPOSE CLEAR, THEIR LIVES UNCLUTTERED, AND FREE FROM THE THINGS OF THE WORLD THAT WILL DIVERT OUR ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE STILL, SMALL VOICE OF GOD!People that will not only hear, but understand what God is saying. How do I hear and understand the voice of God?It’s not enough to hear the voice of God; I must understand what God is saying.Peter heard the voice of God but wanted to build three temples.It’s one thing to hear the voice, but another to know from where it is coming and what it is saying.John 10:2727 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:The way that I can hear the voice of God is only through prayer, fasting, spending time in the Word and eliminating distractions. Jesus is Enough!When you are fearful, – “His perfect Love Casteth out all fear” Jesus is enough for youLonely– Matthew 28:20 Jesus said, “Lo I am with you always even to the ends of the earth” Jesus is enough for you!Weary– Matt 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest- Jesus is enough for you!Friendless– He is the friend that sticketh closer than a brother- Jesus is enough for youHealing– Jesus is the healer- he bore stripes upon his back for your healing, he has already paid the price- Jesus is enough for youSalvation: Jesus died on the cross for your sins- Jesus is enough for you!If you have never repented of your sins, let me tell you that Jesus is enough for you- He died to pay the penalty of your sinsYou don’t need to carry it any longer, bring it to JesusBring your hurts to him,Acts 2:37-3937 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. If you have never been baptized in Jesus Name, Jesus is enough for you!Today is your day, we have warm water in the baptistry tankWe have robes here,There is a private place to get changedyou can be baptized and go home in your dry clothesBut most importantly, you can go home with your sins washed away!

It’s always the right time…so SET YOUR MIND, when you are focused on things above…out of your mouth will come the praises of God which will bring about your victory! Praise is powerful - when you praise God you are setting your mind for victory! Thank you so much for joining with us and growing spiritually.

We need to have our focus more on Jesus than ever before. This Sunday, Pastor A.J. Dummitt will be starting a new series about JESUS by preaching “Son Of Man”. What would our lives be like if we were to pursue Jesus like never before? Let's find out together.

In our first week of the MIND SET teaching series, we will be uncovering one of the most dangerous schemes in the enemy’s arsenal to defeat us as Christians. In this session we will be discussing how humans act when there is a stronghold in their mind, we will talk about the devastating effects of strongholds, and then we will cover how to pull down a stronghold. Everyone at some point will have to deal with this reality - so it is good to equip yourself with this knowledge and ability. Thank you so much for joining with us and growing spiritually.

In our final ENEMIES teaching series, Pastor A.J. will be helping those who are in the "fight of their life" know who the enemies are and how to defeat them. We have already talked about how we have to battle our Flesh, and the spirit of the world (worldliness), and in this session we will see how the devil is our greatest adversary. Satan would like to destroy every child of God. Find out how he works and how you can have victory over him in this Bible Study session. Thank you so much for joining with us and growing spiritually.