Words of Encouragement

Words of Encouragement

Monday, July 01, 2013

Last night I had what you would call “one of those nights” in which I could not sleep. In fact, I did not lie down in bed permanently until after 4AM. As I enter into this afternoon I now understand why I was up late reading the Word of God, praying and listening to others on Christian program as my soul was fed throughout the night with “words of encouragement” and hope.

As I write today I want to encourage all of “us” to focus on what God is doing and in the process let us also “focus on what others positively do in our lives.” Sometimes people can be like the “Children of Israel” whom God rescued time and time again in the Old Testament; for we read stories of God’s goodness and the peoples forgetfulness.

Our God is a GOOD GOD and He supremely loves you and me. In the process, each of us is surrounded by many people who go the extra mile to brighten our life and to assist us in the journey. In a day and time in which people are in many different places spiritually, it is good to be reminded that God is GOOD. It is also profitable to be prompted to have our memory recall that many people in our lives are in our corner.

The Psalmist said, “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. (Psalm 34:8.) The New Testament reads in (I Peter 2:17a) “Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters.”

When we lie down tonight, let us go to God in prayer thankful for all His blessings for God is good. Let us not get so distracted down here that we forget what God is doing up there and all around us. In the process, be thankful for the people who do wonderful things in your life. Show respect and love as brothers and sisters in Christ.

In His Love and Service,

Pastor Johnny Sullivan

“Abide in Christ”

Extending love is something that is expected and mandated by God. Being loved and appreciated is one of life’s greatest gifts.  It is true that people’s behavior is a freedom of choice, yet the greatest spiritual truth that we can share is LOVE. Having the opportunity to share that love is also one of life’s greatest treasurers. Many love as they have been loved and vice versa, yet the words we will examine Sunday morning teach us valuable lessons and great insight into the scheme and plan of life.

Prior to our services this Sunday at Daniels Chapel Church, please take time to read John 15: 1-17. Jesus said in (John 15: 17), “These things I command you, that you love one another.” Yet, how many people fail to deliver on this expectation? How many deliberately ignore what Jesus says? It is evident that many individuals live with a sour heart and so many forsake this blessing.

We live in a day and time that many hold grudges and seem to forget that people have feelings and when words and ungodly actions come our way that it hurts. Yet, I am also mindful that some people do not care how far they have to go with their issues to cut people down to the core and inflict harm and damage that takes years to psychologically, mentally and emotionally to repair. How many go through life self-centered and due to their misbehavior regret in the long run how they have lived their life and treated other people? How many fail to “Abide in Christ?” How many fail to “love as Jesus loves?”

When we “Abide in Jesus” our actions and attitudes reflect as such. He is the vine and we are the branch and we must always be united and connected to Him. In a day and time when people are guilty of labeling others and over-generalizing and discounting positives, may it be our desire to see the GOOD in all people and look at the heart. Jesus commands us to “Abide in Him.” People who do that exemplify love at all times, in all circumstances and in any and all occasions. Trees are known by the fruit they bear. Actions speak louder than words. Let us “love one another” as Christ has first loved us. May it be our desire to bear “Jesus Fruit!!”

Sunday evening I will be speaking on the subject of “Betrayal.” Once again, that is a place each of us has been in life for being “betrayed” is one of the worse things that can happen to a person. Be sure to mediate on Matthew 15: 10-20 and John 13: 21-30 over the weekend.

Blessings and love to all. Always know that our staff and our families love and appreciate you. In the end it is important that we love Jesus, love all people, love one another and love His Church. Be forgiving and forgetful. 

In His Service and Love,

Johnny

Pastor Johnny Sullivan

Friday, February 22, 2013

“Following the Call”

  

In this week’s edition of Pastoral Letters of Encouragement I want to share some exciting news that I learned on Thursday. Yesterday I had the opportunity to go over to Rocky Mount at lunch and meet with Dr. Doug Slater, Chuck McCann and Paul LoSoo- the three gentlemen that I have had the pleasure and honor of serving with overseas in India. It was a great time to get together; seeing that it had been about a year since we sat down and talked about our families, ministry and what is happening in India.

The greatest part of our reunion yesterday was when Chuck announced to us that now that he is recently retired from the US Postal service, that he is following God’s call to full-time missionary work and is moving to India in June. All of us are excited for Chuck, for this is truly a leap of faith- to sell everything you own, leave it all behind (family, friends, the comforts and amenities of living in America) and to follow God as He leads him over half way across the world. I thought to myself, this is truly a living example of someone “denying themselves and taking up the cross and following Jesus!!”

Whether we are in India or here in the regions of Wilson County, God has called each of us to a special mission field to share the Gospel. Our youth can make connections with those that they play sports or go to school with. Adults can engage their lives for the Gospel to be shared as co-workers sit in a break-room or retirees go shopping; sit in a neighborhood restaurant or people enjoy a round of golf or fishing in the closest stream. People everywhere need Jesus and God is waiting for you (DANIELS CHAPEL CHURCH) to stand in the gap!

My message this week is simply this: let us have the fortitude and desires as my close friend Chuck to share the Gospel and tell others about Jesus Christ and may we FOLLOW THE CALL!! May God give us the passion for those who are lost and the many around us who are in need. Compassion and love must be extended to others; the same grace and mercy Christ has given us. True happiness comes when we give, so let us truly be “A Light into the Community (the world) for Jesus Christ!!”

Keep Chuck and all our friends in India and all around the world in prayer. I can assure you that those people over there are praying for us. Let us also pray one for another here at home as we serve and tell others about Jesus Christ and His wonderful Church!! There is still room at the cross!! Let us follow the call God has placed in our life and do our best to bring them in!

LET US PRAY:         Dear God, thank You for the opportunity to experience true living that is only found through the blood of Jesus. Thank You for salvation and the opportunity to be a minister for Your Gospel. Be with Chuck and our brothers and sisters in Christ all over the world. Help all of the people of Daniels Chapel Church to have a heart of compassion and love; so others can find joy and peace through the precious gift of Jesus. Prepare our hearts for a great weekend. Keep us safe and sound as we allow Your Spirit to direct our thoughts and actions. Heal every hurt and mend each need. And now may the grace of God the Father, the Love of Jesus Christ God’s Son, the sweet communion of His Holy Spirit; rest and abide with each of you now and forever...AMEN.

Blessing and love from our staff and families to you. We love all of you with all of our heart. Have a great weekend!! Please join us for our services Sunday!!

In His Service and Love,

JOHNNY

Pastor Johnny Sullivan

Friday, February 15, 2013

P.S. As you may have heard, the weather could be tricky tomorrow night and into Sunday morning. Please know that as of Friday that services are still scheduled as normal at DCC for Sunday, February 17. If you have any questions tomorrow night and into Sunday morning if the weather gets bad about our schedule here at DCC and if we cancel or postpone, this will be broadcast on WRAL-5, WTVD-11, WNCT-9, and our Church internet website.  

The God of Deliverance

In this week’s edition of Pastoral Letters of Encouragement, my heart’s desire is to offer words from the Lord that brings affirmation and joy to your life. I would like to ask you to take time and read PSALM 107 and let these passages feed your soul. The Psalmist in these words first gives thanks to the Lord “for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever!!”

Our amazing God is the One true God of hope and faith. In the Lord we find rescue from fault and failure and deliverance from sin, sickness and despair. Our prayer list continues to grow at Daniels Chapel with many different circumstances as people reach out to a Holy God in faith and assurance for deliverance to come. In this Psalm we find 4 major points that I ask you to dwell on as you study and meditate on this portion of God’s Word. They are:

·         God delivers His people from weariness to rest. (Verses 4-8)

·         God transitions individuals from darkness to light. (Verses 10-15)

·         God heals people and brings them from sickness to health. (Verses 18-21)

·         God rescues His own from danger to safety. (Verses 23-31)

Whatever you are going through today, I want you to know that God loves you and that He alone is the God of Deliverance. Whatever your prayer to Jesus Christ maybe at this moment I want to remind you that the Lord cares and He is listening. Whatever miracle you are waiting for, God is getting ready to send your blessing for “God is good and His mercy endures forever!!”

In closing, may our attitude be like the Psalmist who proclaimed multiple times in this passage these wonderful words of testimony, “Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!”You are on the brink of greatness!! Your miracle is just around the corner!! Stand firm! Hold on!! Never, ever GIVE UP!!

LET US PRAY:         Dear God, as we Your people call out to You for deliverance, please bring rescue and relief. In gratitude we praise You for who You are and I ask Your blessing and touch to come to every life, home, family and to the entire body of Christ and Daniels Chapel Church. In faith we look to You for the answers to life’s circumstances with a promise: that when Your goodness is revealed that we will faithfully testify and proclaim Your wonderful works to all people. Bless us with a safe and prosperous weekend and prepare our hearts for what You have for us as worshipers and students of Your Word this Sunday at Daniels Chapel Church. Bind us together in harmony, unity and love for the cause of Jesus. Let our attitude be as we gather this weekend as the Psalmist who said, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” (Psalm 100:4)   In Jesus Name, AMEN.

From our staff and families to each of you, WE LOVE AND CARE FOR YOU!!! Blessings for a great day in the Lord!! Praise the Name of Jesus!!! Our God is a God of DELIVERANCE!!!!

In His Service,

Johnny

Johnny Sullivan, Senior Pastor

Thursday, January 31, 2013

“Christ-like Character”

Friday, January 25, 2013

Hello Church family and friends. I pray that you have had a wonderful week and that you are preparing yourselves for a great time in the Lord Jesus Christ this Sunday at Daniels Chapel Church. Please be sure to read John 13: 1-17 prior to the service Sunday morning and let the story of Christ and His Disciples speak to your heart and life. Also, make plans to join us throughout the day and please invite someone to come with you. I love all of you and look forward to seeing you here Sunday!!

One last thing before I share with you a few thoughts that are on my heart: please go by the Church sanctuary and “peak in” at the wonderful work that is taking place!!! Huge thanks go out to Buddy Baker and all the members of the CGLRP Committee as well as the many volunteers who have put in so many long hours already in this renovation project. I also want to “Praise the Lord” for Curtis Kirby and the fine construction work he is doing as well!! I cannot THANK YOU; the great people of Daniels Chapel enough for all the kind and wonderful acts of service and love you extend to the Ministry of this Church. We have “many, many victories” to celebrate in Jesus Christ. For all that has ever been accomplished and for all that is to come, we give all the glory and praise to our loving Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!!

Today I have felt led to share once again the passage of scripture that I closed the service with last Sunday night. Daily we must try our very best to remember who we are in Jesus and also strive to imitate our Savior in unconditional love to our fellow man. Let these words speak to our hearts as we move forward in faith with vision to help all people we encounter and come into contact with.

The Apostle Paul writes in Colossians 3: 12-17 these powerful words:

¹² Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; ¹³ bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. ¹⁴ But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. ¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 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.”

Satan is a master of putting stumbling-blocks and diversions into our spiritual path. Often times Satan distorts and places people onto a path in which we do not need to go. Pastor Bill and I were having prayer while ago as we do many, many times. Today, we corporately prayed for the “Blood of Jesus” to cover this Church and its many members and attendees of this Congregation for it is so easy to get misled, misdirected and steered in an opposite direction.

May each of us take what Paul says in this text and use these words to not only help ourselves, but spiritually be a benefit to others in and out of the Church. Look again at what the Apostle writes:

·         Put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness and longsuffering.

·         Bear with and forgive one another.

·         Do not forget that Jesus Christ has forgiven you.

·         In all things, put on the Spirit of Love!!!

·         If we do these things, the peace of God will rule our hearts.

·         The end result is rich spiritual growth in His wisdom and teaching will come and brighten our life as we sing unto the Lord.

·         Finally, this results in doing ALL things in the name of Jesus always giving thanks to Him!! That is “Christ-like Character!!”

LET US PRAY: Oh Lord our Lord, how excellent is Thy Name in all the earth. Thank You for this blessed cold day in which we feel Your Spirit and realize that You are alive and well!!! Thank You for fellowship, companionship and the relationship we have with You our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ. Dear Lord, please bless Your people. Forgive us of all sin and help us to forgive others. Help us to remove the log from our own eyes before we look for the specks in others, for no one; absolutely no one is perfect but You. Thank You for what You have done and are doing at Daniels Chapel Church. We have many, many, many victories to celebrate and it is all for Thee. For those who are hurting bring relief. For those in sickness and pain please bring healing. For those who are stumbling around and have been diverted please in the Name of Jesus bring them back home. Now dear God, prepare us for another fabulous day in the Lord this Sunday at Daniels Chapel. May our Worship be uplifting and may the Spirit of God reign down on us as ever before as we ask for Revival, Renewal and a Regenerative heart and soul. In Christ Holy and Awesome Name, AMEN.

From every one of us on staff as well as our families, please know that WE LOVE ALL OF YOU!! Stay safe and warm this weekend and be in prayer for the services Sunday. We look forward to seeing all of you at Daniels Chapel Church!!

In His Service,

Johnny

Pastor Johnny Sullivan

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If Not Us, Then Who?

Day by day, week by week and year by year life can get so depressing if we let it. I have been reading a book I referenced in the last Sunday evening message that is inspirational. This book is titled Grace written by Christian author and theologian Max Lucado. In my spiritual walk with God, I look to God's Word first for spiritual food but also to good books and magazines of thought to feed my soul and inspire my life. I am also an advocate and lover of good Christian music for that too brings me into the presence of a Holy and Wonderful God. I am however thankful that this book is ministering to me in where I am right now with God for Jesus Christ came and gave grace that we might be free from sin and set apart to serve. That is a message people need to hear in the day and hour we live in America and all across this world!! 

Max Lucado has been inspired by God to say many powerful things through the years in his ministry. But some of his most powerful words are ones that I want to share with you today in preparation for this Lord's Day at Daniels Chapel Church. Lucado states:

"When grace moves in… guilt moves out."

"We forget that IMPOSSIBLE is one of God's favorite words."

This Sunday God is leading me to share with each of you on the subject of "VISION" which is the Sermon Series for the month of January. The Word of God says, "Without VISION the people perish." (Proverbs 29:18) The topic of the Sunday morning message at 10:30am in the Family Life Center is "If Not Us, then Who?" Please pray and mediate on this thought if you will? God saves people and we become His Church, His Body. By His grace we have received pardon for our sins and His unconditional love is a message we must extend and share. 

It is important that we look at where we are individually and corporately as a Church. As I shared last week, we must do "What God Wants!!" The Church today all across this world must begin focusing on the UN-CHURCHED and the many ways we can reach out to others for Christ so that they might be saved. Jesus is a "Friend to Sinners" and Christians and Churches must do EVERYTHING they can to spread the Gospel and share God's Good News. Again may I ask you, "If Not Us, Then Who?"

Let me offer one challenge to you today: GO OUT TODAY AND WITNESS TO SOMEONE!! In fact, I had that opportunity with 4 people in two different locations before 9:45am this morning!! God opens the door!! Allow His Holy Spirit to share your story so others can be "On the Brink of Greatness" as we "Do What God Wants." My friend, PLANT SEEDS of God's Hope. Jesus changes lives!! 

Let us pray: Dear God, thank You for salvation and redeeming grace. Thank You that You alone are "everlasting to everlasting and Your love is beyond compare." Forgive us of ALL sin. Help us to remove the logs from our very eyes before we are judgmental with others and look for the specks and mistakes in others. Jesus is a friend to sinners. He has saved those who have asked Him into their heart and life. Now lead each person and this Church to the un-churched so that others are rescued from Hell and defeat before the end of time. Finally, help those who are sick. Reach down to those who are depressed and heal people of any problem or situation; giving all glory and honor and praise to Thee, in Christ Holy Name, AMEN.

Always know that I LOVE YOU!!! Our staff at Church loves each of you. We are here for you as well as so many others. Stay safe, live for Jesus and love all people and each other. 

Come join us Sunday!! We would love to see all of you here during the day. God is going to do great things in music, prayer and proclamation of His Word in Worship, Sunday school as well as the many youth and music activities. Your life will be touched as His Spirit speaks. 

Have a great day and weekend!!

In His Service and Love,

Johnny

Pastor Johnny Sullivan

P.S. Please take time to read Romans 1 prior to Sunday morning!! Please focus on Paul's heart, words and attitude!!

Doing What God Wants

I was given a new book written by former NFL Coach and NBC Football commentator Tony Dungy for Christmas titled Uncommon Life. I have found many of his statements pretty relevant to our lives; seeing that the Church is living in a post-Christian era where secularism, materialism and political correctness seem to prevail. Dungy states in the first few pages of this book these powerful words, “Whether you are a man or a woman, maintaining a core of self-control will set you on a path toward developing other basic qualities that are keys to living a significant life, keys that focus on character, honesty, and integrity; the priorities of faith, family and friends; embracing your full potential and mission; and living a life of faith and influence. All designed with the intention of helping you to grow in the wisdom of God’s plan for your life and to live out His purpose fully.”

This Sunday I will continue moving forward in the January sermon series on the subject of “VISION.” Last week I shared with you on the topic “On the Brink of Greatness” for if we stand and sing Standing on the Promises then I firmly believe that our lives should reflect such conviction and belief.

God wants you to do want God wants. God wants the Church to do what God wants. We were never created to satisfy ourselves and to please number 1. We were created by God and for God.  

Take time to read I Chronicles 4:10 prior to Sunday as I speak on the subject, “Doing What God Wants.” That evening I will be sharing from Romans 10 on the subject of “The Beginning of Salvation.” I hope and pray that you will come and join with the many, many people who are worshipping at Daniels Chapel Church as we strive to be “The Light into the Community for Jesus Christ.” God has a plan for your life and His Church. Let us follow His path to greatness to not only bless the Lord, but to receive one in return!

Join us this weekend!!! Be a part of a great movement of God’s Holy Spirit as lives are transformed and changed for the cause of Jesus Christ at Daniels Chapel!!

Sunday Schedule of Services:

          Aaron’s Prayer Band                              9AM

          Sunday School                                      9:30AM

          Worship (Family Life Center)                   10:30AM

         Kidzville (Lighthouse)                              10:30AM

          Evening Worship and Youth Activities         6PM

Always know that I love each of you!! Have a great day and weekend!!

In His Service,

Johnny

Pastor Johnny Sullivan

P.S. Once again, I want to THANK the Lord and the Church for the Spirit of unity, harmony, peace and love we feel. THANKS to each of you for your sacrifice, hard work and commitment with the Church renovations and logistics issues we are working with. THANK YOU for being kind and thoughtful as we work together to beautify God’s House!! THANKS to all for you for your labor of love for Christ and Daniels Chapel Church!! 

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