Winning Spiritual Warfare

By Joel Southerland On March 26th, 2010

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When you hear the words “Spiritual Warfare” you almost immediately start thinking about the spiritual giants you know. The preacher – deacon – evangelist – ‘super christian’ – who you think engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the devil himself.

But, the fact is, Spiritual Warfare happens every day of our life for the ‘regular’ Christian.

How do you fight a spiritual battle?

How do you win a spiritual battle?

Listen to this sermon by Pastor Joel Southerland and get some help on “Winning Spiritual Warfare for the Regular Guy”.

Prayer Help…(3)

By Joel Southerland On March 20th, 2010

Tip #3 – Have a Plan

If you don’t have a prayer plan or a prayer list you won’t pray. If your prayer plan is to pray about everything that crosses your mind – then EVERYTHING will cross your mind and you’ll wind up daydreaming. So, before you sit down to pray, take a few minutes and create a prayer list.

Prayer Help…(2)

By Joel Southerland On March 18th, 2010

Tip #2 – Find a Place.

If you don’t find a place to pray – you will have difficulty praying. If you are worried someone is going to walk in on you it will hinder your prayer life. If you are in a place full of distractions it will hinder your prayer life. The good thing about prayer is now that the veil has been torn!!!! – we can pray anywhere.

Prayer Help…(1)

By Joel Southerland On March 15th, 2010

Yesterday was an awesome day at Liberty!

If you slept in because of the time change, here are some highlights of what you missed….

  • Another trusted Christ….
  • An awesome new song last night… [great worship yesterday]….
  • a Word about the importance of the church – to Jesus….
  • a completely packed house on Sunday night and a move of God concerning our prayer lives. The altars completely filled after I preached on “Pray before the Emergency”…..
  • A video about an exciting new project I am doing with the GBC

Knowing that a lot of people have difficulties with prayer…..I plan on posting a few simple helps to get you started….

Tip #1 – Find a time – if you don’t find a time to pray you won’t pray. So, look at your calendar and find out when you can pray. Book it like an appointment with God. If it can be the same time every day – great!! But, because of your schedule Monday may be a different time than Tuesday. Just make sure you have a time to pray.

Blessings!

Pastor Joel

If This Ain’t Revival…..

By Joel Southerland On March 10th, 2010

What an amazing Sunday we had. It was one of those events that many Christians will go a lifetime and not see or experience…the Spirit of God “blew” through our place in great power.

Immediately, two Bible passages came to mind….

Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

John 3:8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.

I can’t tell you for sure if we are having revival in our midst – but I can tell you that it sure feels like revival and that 2 of the obvious signs of revival are happening….

1) Souls are being saved. The last night of February we baptized 18 people [the largest 1 time baptismal service in our history]. During revival, we had 4 more saved. This past Sunday, we had 15 saved [including my daughter] and 1 join for baptism. If all of those are baptized in March, we will have baptized nearly 40 people in 2 months! To put that in perspective, the most Liberty has every baptized in a YEAR is 52!! Keep inviting the lost and sharing your faith!

2) Giving is at record amounts. The last 2 weeks total offering [Tithes, Missions, KTFB, Revival] may be the largest 2 week offering in our history. If it isn’t, it is real close. I just finished reading in the OT [I'll let you look it up in your quiet time] where giving was a sign of revival. They had to stop the offering because the people were giving  faster than it could be used! Now, we aren’t going to stop the offering - I am a Baptist preacher and we are in a building program – but it is just another sign that revival is happening in our midst. Keep giving and lets see how fast we can get relocated so we can see more saved! Keep giving so we can see how many ways we can touch our community with the love of Christ.

The last sign of revival is confession of sin and forsaking of sin. Maybe today you want to start praying and asking God if there is something between you and Him that is keeping you from being in a close, vibrant, growing relationship with Him? If /when He shows you something – get rid of it and let’s watch as revival continues in our midst!!

Cause if this Ain’t revival….I don’t know what is!

Looking Back….Looking Forward….

By Joel Southerland On March 1st, 2010

5 thoughts on the weekend….

1. Liberty you did a great job the whole weekend. Thank you for your attendance and for your commitment to Super Sunday and Revival. Even though we didn’t reach our goal, you filled the building and the parking lot up to capacity.

2. We had guests everywhere  – especially Sunday. We will reap the rewards of that for a while. If you invited someone, make sure you reconnect with them this week to see if they have any questions about the church.

3. “Wild Bill” did a fantastic job of preaching exactly what we needed to hear! Thanks to Bro. Bill for bringing it hard and straight!

4. We had 4 saved Sunday!! To God be the Glory!!

5. We baptized 18 last night – awesome! Lets keep it up and see more saved and baptized in 2010 than we ever have before in our history! And speaking of last night, what an amazing service to END revival with. The building was full with the balcony nearly full – that was amazing!

3 thoughts looking forward…

1. I am starting a 2 week [4 sermon] series called “Christianity – a little dab WON’T do ya” this Sunday. Too often the average Christian wants just enough of God to ease their conscious and we need to understand that is not how God wants His relationship with you to work. So, I’m preaching it hard starting this week. Don’t miss and be praying.

2. Too often we have a post-Super Sunday let down the weekend after – don’t let it happen. Teachers and SS leaders make sure you do your job of contacting and encouraging this week so that we stay on a high in church and Sunday School.

3. Bro. Bill commented on the incredible joy our church has – he talked to me about it in depth. So, don’t let that subside. This Sunday, show up withe the joy of Jesus filling your hearts and showing on your face and attitude!

Blessings…