tag:pastorbw.com,2005:/blogs/hope-city-house-of-prayer?p=2Hope City House of Prayer2019-05-21T01:15:04-04:00For more info visit Pastorbw.com or HopeCity614.orgThe official podcast of Pastor Brian M. Williams of Hope City House of Prayer in Columbus, OHBrian WilliamsfalseBrian Williamsinfo@hopecity614.orgtag:pastorbw.com,2005:Post/37593372015-06-29T16:47:26-04:002022-02-21T01:41:54-05:00Prevailing Prayer: America's last Hope<br>2 Chronicles 7:14 "if my people who are called by my name, shall humbles themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and heal their land"<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="Gdd7UcRf7vU" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/Gdd7UcRf7vU/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gdd7UcRf7vU?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>1:10:52Brian Williamstag:pastorbw.com,2005:Post/37508212015-06-22T18:08:22-04:002022-06-01T21:18:18-04:00Leading Like Jesus <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/129137/2c46cd7d338d0c7696d134e55a13714abd3dc492/medium/leadlikejesuslogo.jpg?1435010763" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" /><br>We have a great need in our generation for Godly leadership. Surprisingly, the majority of people have never been trained or taught how to lead. While there are some who have a natural inclination toward leadership and exhibit characteristics of a leader, there still must be a time of development to ensure that we lead well. Looking at the life of Jesus, we discover the qualities that we as Christian leaders are to aim for.1:14:03Brian Williamstag:pastorbw.com,2005:Post/37508072015-06-22T17:50:07-04:002023-12-10T11:33:14-05:00Healing The Wounded Heart of America<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;"></span><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/129137/62b2c7ad3a03035af96924225e9201d17b250b08/medium/screen-shot-2013-04-04-at-8-57-14-pm.png?1435008391" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" /><br><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;">The heart of America is in need of the healing presence of the Holy Spirit. This message is a clarion call for those whose hearts truly acknowledge and desire to see a new day and a window of mercy for many souls to come to faith in Christ. More than anything we need a corporate witness from the church to respond with recognition, repentance, so that God can bring need restoration.</span>45:59Brian Williamstag:pastorbw.com,2005:Post/37507922015-06-22T17:20:20-04:002022-05-17T07:36:30-04:00Acknowledging and Healing The Racial Wounds of the American Church<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/129137/ce53440b57dea61be95c8392c065725e458a97e6/medium/race.jpg?1435007993" class="size_m justify_left border_" />Each day, the media showcases the undeniable racial wound of America. While political agenda's are certainly apart of this, one cannot deny the historic and unresolved issue of race relations in the U.S.A. As the church, the question is often how do we respond. In this 60 minutes message, we deal with the dynamics at work both in the natural and spiritual realms. There are great opportunities for healing all around us, if we would simply respond according to God's word. There are people searching for answers and seeking truth, and in these times, only God can help us. Please listen with an open heart and an open mind. Charleston, SC is just the latest storyline in our national news. We pray that God move upon our hearts, call us to repentance, and bring restoration to our land. Please listen with an open heart.<br><br> 58:22Brian Williamstag:pastorbw.com,2005:Post/37239012015-06-01T13:46:36-04:002022-02-20T05:58:13-05:00Why Did God Choose me <strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/129137/9c663ff039ee44b3f6671c0f0f7351fdd7860a5e/medium/unnamed.png?1433180743" class="size_m justify_left border_" />We live</strong><span style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"> in a world obsessed with superlatives. The biggest, fastest, richest, wisest, most beautiful, and strongest among us are always touted as the definition of success. The ordinary, weak, slow, poor, and average are usually seen as not good enough. Humanity has an obsession with being better than…. someone else. The bible calls that pride. Pride is responsible for both the fall of men and angels. Pride is so deeply ingrained in our human souls, that it takes an even deeper work of the Holy Spirit to set us free, not just from the devil, but from ourselves.</span>50:18Brian Williamstag:pastorbw.com,2005:Post/37238652015-06-01T13:40:59-04:002022-05-06T08:13:28-04:00Understanding Honor vs. The Fear of Man<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;"><br><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/129137/93ece2173a75422c2cdfd817618ec5679eef0978/medium/feargod.jpg?1433180351" class="size_m justify_left border_" /><br>Freedom</strong> from the “fear of man” is frequently a theme in preaching. "To fear man", is almost always seen from a negative perspective, and rightfully so. “The fear of man” claims responsibility for emotional instability, spiritual immaturity, and an overall reduction in our quality of life. The fear of man causes people to do things for the wrong motives, to be “men-pleasers”, giving preference to opinion instead of priority to the word of God. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees in <strong>John 5:44</strong> with these words <b>“How can you believe who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?”</b> The indictment in this passage confronts the motive of these men, who although they studied the law and prophets religiously, they were unwilling to confess that Jesus was the messiah they had been waiting on. Their reason for denying Jesus was quite simply, the fear of man. The fear of man can cause us to miss our greatest moments because the peer pressure of our social circles and familial ties has greater influence than God Himself. For this reason and many others, the “fear of man” is dangerous and must be addressed. But as it is with everything, there are at least two sides to every story or at least an alternate viewpoint. When considering the “Fear of man”, I believe we must be careful to remember that it isn’t the fear or reverence for people’s opinion, which is the problem, it is in the imbalance between it and the word of God. I have seen countless people over the years, which dealt heavily with the fear of man due to rejection issues of their childhood and sought affirmation around every corner. They were good workers and diligent but it was their MOTIVE, which was the problem, not their diligence. This must be noted. To fear or to reverence people or those in authority and to be concerned to some degree with their opinions of us, is healthy so long as we have the foundation of God’s word in our life. If a person who has been solidly converted and has learned the unconditional love of God for them, they can healthily “fear” man. In using the word “fear” the idea is better understand by the word “reverence”. “Fear” is a healthy way synonymous with honor. The bible teaches us to honor all people, to love our enemies, and bless those who curse us. It is dangerous when we allow the pain of what people have done to us in the past, cause us to dishonor all people, or lack reverence for all people. </p>
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<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;"><strong>As a pastor,</strong> I have a mandate to preach the word of God boldly and unashamedly. When I was just getting started in the ministry I would preach holiness or hell messages regularly. The crowds would scream and holler amen amen! The altar calls would be filled with tears and deliverance from unclean spirits… but I noticed a trend, next week, the same people would be back at the altar crying and asking to be saved. This truly confused me and messed with my theology. I didn’t understand why these people wanted to be born again each every week, despite my very clear and articulate preaching on the process of justification, sanctification, and spiritual maturity. I preached about the love of God, about mercy, about grace, about everything the bible teaches… yet, the people weren’t getting it! After much prayer, I recall, being approached by a few people who suggested I tone it down a little bit and be more conscious of my demeanor. They reminded me that Jesus came full of grace and truth, and that I should say perhaps things in a nicer way. Well, that completely ruffled my little zealous feathers, how dare these people tell me to tone it down! I was the man of God and after all I was delivered from “the fear of man”, I was a preacher of righteousness! Because of my pride and immaturity, I continued preaching in the same tone and demeanor, which yielded the same results. Even worse, people became afraid of me. Members of the church would leave the church because if they stumbled and fell they felt afraid to confess their sins and ask for help. Why? Because they were bound by the fear of man, and guess who was responsible? Me. It wasn’t a demonic attack against these people; it was creating an atmosphere of perfectionism, despite my preaching against those very things. Somewhere between the latter parts of 2013 I slowly began changing my tone from time to time and guess what… the church started exploding in growth! Between 2014 and 2015, the church tripled in size and I became a pastor and a father. Now before the reader misunderstands, there is a time and place for preaching with great zeal and with holy anger against sin which is destroying people’s lives, but the key is discernment and learning to be lead by the Holy Spirit. Jesus did rebuke BOLDLY the Pharisees and turn over the moneychanger’s tables, but not every day. As people of God, we’ve got to know when to say to the woman caught in adultery “Go and sin no more” and likewise to those causing children to stumble “It would be better for you if a millstone were tied around your neck!” #discernment</p>
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<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;"><strong>Now, the other side of the coin is this:</strong> The fear of man can be healthy! The key is balance and order. It is not unhealthy to fear disappointing people. Living up to standards is a practical way of demonstrating our love for God and people. As long as the fear of God is first in your life, the fear of man will yield positive results. It always amazes me how quickly people want to live below standards and expectations, using the excuse “Im free from the fear of man”. What they don’t realize is that those type of statements are clear indicators of a rebellious heart. Anyone who will willingly live beneath expectation that SCRIPTURE sets forth for disciples is in rebellion. Anytime your pastor can not hold you accountable to honor God in your life without being accused of being “controlling, manipulative, etc… you are in rebellion, not against the pastor, but God. The Lord has set leaders in the church, in the family, in the workplace, and in the government even, that we are all called to submit to. We do this in the fear of God, but that means we reverence those leaders as representatives of God as we honor them and the standards they call us to uphold, when those standards are biblically rooted. In Pastoring I deal with many people over the years that have lost all respect for standards. These people have the most disorderly lives and never succeed. The reason is because they don’t fear man, and remember the word “fear” in this context is synonymous with honor. In conclusion, may these words help you to remember that the fear of the Lord, translates into honor for men. The fear of the Lord always drives out the spirit of fear. My prayers in the days to come is that the body of Christ would be free from ungodly expectations placed upon us by ourselves and live according to they higher standards of grace. This is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. God bless</p>
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<div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;">-Pastor Brian</div>1:05:27Brian Williamstag:pastorbw.com,2005:Post/37107462015-05-18T17:26:27-04:002022-05-30T06:34:01-04:00The Call To Integrity<p style="margin: 0px; color: rgb(20, 24, 35); font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"> </p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; color: rgb(20, 24, 35); font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">The word "integrity" is defined as <i><b>"the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness, the state of being whole and undivided, </b></i><i><b>the condition of being unified, unimpaired, or sound in construction."</b></i></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; color: rgb(20, 24, 35); font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Today, integrity is becoming a rare value. Whether it be politicians, policeman, preachers, or people in any profession, it seems as though ethics, character, and integrity have been redefined, minimized, undervalued, and have lost importance. I believe this is the reason for the collapse of our society. Soon and very soon, we will run out of ways to keep our society afloat. As a follower of Jesus I have made integrity my aim. Integrity in the biblical sense, is righteousness, or in other words Christ-likeness. It is the goal. In a generation where giftedness is celebrated and so long as dollars are generated, standards can be freely violated, it is no wonder that we are losing our way. I believe that revival in the church, must be seen as more than a means to attract new attendees or even converts, but a restoration of integrity as a priority. Integrity is synonymous with the character of God, or another way of seeing it is as the "fruit of the Holy Spirit". Integrity is what gives our words authority and credibility. You see, we need both, authority and credibility. Authority refers to the realm of the spirit which is the dimension which is unseen, where spiritual warfare is fought, through the Holy Spirit we must have authority. This comes from being born again by the will of God after placing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. However I'm finding that many people who are "born again" lack credibility. "Credibility" refers to our witness or influence in the natural realm, the dimension that we see. In other words, there is a great deal of hypocrisy in our lives. I speak as one who has been repentant and even now as I type, know that the Lord calls for deeper devotion from myself. The world must find us credible, even if they hate us and persecute us. Credibility means that our lives line up with our words. Jesus was rejected, scorned, and despised, but nobody could deny his credibility. Jesus was not just a man of words, but a man who was the living word. The Apostle Paul, another giant of the faith was one who had credibility. He practiced what he preached. I believe that a pre-requisite for a genuine outpouring of God's spirit is for the restoration of integrity in the church. That is to say that we live the same way behind closed doors as we do on stages. Integrity is what causes one to depart from evil. Integrity is in essence, the fear of the Lord active in one's life. I am asking God to make me a man of integrity in all things, large and small, seen and unseen. I believe we must make our interior life a priority in these days when so much substance has been lost to style. We must contend for righteousness on the inward parts.</p>53:12Brian Williamstag:pastorbw.com,2005:Post/37008052015-05-09T15:57:26-04:002021-09-11T15:15:16-04:00Is There a Prophet in the Land?<span class="font_small"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/129137/617d893f67354b26e2f78ece0d86fc24b5967427/medium/unnamed-1.jpg?1431202210" class="size_m justify_left border_" /><span class="font_regular"><strong>Long ago I read a book </strong>by Leonard Ravenhill entitled "Why Revival Tarries". In this book the Spirit of God convicted me deeply of my need for prayer. I recall not being able to make it through more than 6 pages, before I dropped to my knees as a 20 year old sophomore in college, repentant, and almost certain I was not truly converted. Ravenhill's word's carried so much power, though the book had been written nearly 60 years prior. I remember weeping through the chapters and God writing His word on my heart with each turning of the page. To this day, I have scarcely come across any resource produced within the past 20 years that has had the same impact on me. In fact, most of the books I read today were written long ago. It seems these days we have figured out how to grow our churches and gain more followers to ourselves, but in the midst of our mega-church culture, very few follow closely to the lamb of God. From time to time I watch Christian television and more often than not, the preacher is giving instructions on how to improves ones self, get past all of their haters, and how to make lots of money. The music production, the arena's and cathedrals where these shows are filmed are quite impressive, but sadly, my heart is never moved... at times my emotions are stirred but conviction of sin and provocation toward holiness has almost never been the result.<br><br>This troubles me, and here's why: we live in a world which needs the Leonard Ravenhill's, the voices of God, who like John the Baptist cry out from the wilderness "Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord". We need prophets. What we have by and large is "profits" who have the gift of prophecy, but there is a major difference between someone who operates in the true biblical authority of a prophet and someone who has learned how to prophesy, sound like they are prophesying, or tap into the realm of the demonic were familiar spirits seduce many with words of knowledge given by demons, which serve as bait for the heretical teachings that follow. <br><br><strong>We live in a society</strong> which is crying out for the word of the Lord. The streets of Baltimore are wounded, the people are confused, the families are destroyed, the cities are burned with fire, the churches are full of compromise and delusion... and all this goes on with few seeming to notice. In prayer I have been heart broken over this. I ask the Lord, what must be done to fix this, and the divine response comes from <strong>Ezekiel 22:30 where the Lord states "I sought for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before, so that I might not destroy the land, but I found no one"</strong>. In other words, God was describing to Ezekiel the lack of prophets. A basic definition of a Prophet is "one who speaks on behalf of God". And what God was saying that in the midst of the generation of compromise, suffering, idolatry, and confusion, I can't find anyone to partner with me, anyone willing to build up the walls which have fallen down. I believe God is asking the same question today. He's asking it through the whisper of the holy spirit calling us to prayer, He's asking it through the preacher who pleads from the pulpit on a weekly basis for men to be reconciled to God, in so many ways, the eyes of the Lord are scanning America today, looking for a man who is willing to proclaim the word of the Lord, so that mercy would triumph over judgment. The definition of prophet is not only one who speaks on behalf of God, but one who is a friend of God. Like any true friendship, God desires to share His heart with His friends. Friendships which are healthy require time, a listening ear, and a willingness to do whatever it takes to ensure the well being of the other. Prophets are this to God. I believe what has opened the door to the false prophets in the house of God is a false understanding of God. If we see God as a mean, distant, disconnected God, then the role of the prophet is lessened to a great degree. But just as John the baptist said of Himself "I am a friend of the bridegroom, I stand and hear His voice and in this my joy is full...." God is looking for Friends to prophesy. Leonard Ravenhill whose book I read long ago, carried so much authority, not because of his fame or fortune, his reality TV show, or his theological profundity, but because of obvious and deep intimacy he had with the Lord. Ravenhill was a man of prayer and because of that he became a prophet, or in other words, he became a friend of God. <br><br><strong>Jesus taught</strong> in John 15:15 that the difference between a servant and a friend of God was the knowledge of His will."No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you." Those who would call themselves "prophets" these days are absolutely unaware of what God is doing in the earth and what the church must do in this hour. This is not because they don't have the gift of prophecy, it's because they aren't friends. Because they are not friends of God, they lack the heart of God, and therefore minister from their flesh and soul, able to enlighten the mind, stir the emotion, but unable to transform the heart. This must change and through prayer and fasting it can and will.<br><br><strong>In conclusion</strong>, I think maybe this blog should have been titled "Are there any Friends of God in the Land", because a prophet is just that. Until our hearts truly break for the burden of God's heart for a lost and dying world, until we can say from a place of genuine conviction that our lives are totally spent for the cause of Christ, there will be no revival. Until we, as preachers can turn down the lure of money and fame, in exchange for the eternal honor of knowing God deeply, we will have no revival. Until the TV networks of our day can no longer bait us with million dollar contracts to make a mockery of our gospel and bring reproach to our God, then we will see no revival. Until our churches can place as much emphasis on the altar call and deliverance as we do on our building projects and offering appeals, we will see no revival. Until we as a church fear God, more than man we will see no revival, until we as the church can no longer live in peace while our world is being torn apart by war, we will see no revival. Until the preacher begins to weep as he drives through the drug infested community where he ministers, we will see no revival. We may fill our services with good entertainment and with people, but there are many blank pages, yet unfilled in the lambs book of life. My prayer is very simple: Lord, count me worthy of friendship, that I may prophesy, that I speak as one who has "seen and heard, touched and handled", may tears precede and follow my fiery preaching, and more than anything may my actions speak louder than my words. God is looking for a man or a woman who will say yes to friendship. May we be those who willing lay it all down for Him. In Jesus name.</span></span>1:21:41Brian Williamstag:pastorbw.com,2005:Post/36924662015-05-04T14:40:41-04:002022-05-19T09:52:33-04:00The True Grace of God<strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/129137/a2af75f574d941711015dadd9ec3112c356b0673/medium/img-1436.jpg?1430764812" class="size_m justify_left border_" /><br>We live in a society which places premium value</strong> upon things which make our environments more comfortable, our daily task easier, our schedules more manageable, and our lives as effortless as possible. We have been dubbed the "micro-wave" generation. Every city street is filled with "fast-food", our homes our filled with the fastest internet, and cell phone companies are constantly inventing the most advanced "smart phones". In the church of Jesus Christ, I'm afraid that this same spirit of ultra-ease has crept into the lives of many believers and into the very fabric of our churches. In the bible, Jesus taught a radical message that to become His disciple, men must embrace a life of self-denial, of putting themselves last, and serving the least, last, and the lost. It seems that the message of the grace of God has been misapplied, misinterpreted, and as a result we are at risk of being misguided and our message misunderstood. The bible teaches absolute truths concerning the plan God has set forth to redeem our souls from the bondage of sin. While many treat the grace of God as a casual thing, the bible actually teaches grace as a supernatural essential, given to promote a life of surrender and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. In this message I pray you are enlightened and place faith in God's grace. May the spirit of the living God, captivate your thoughts and arrest your affections as a result of hearing.<br><br><br><a contents="To help us sustain and continue this ministry prayerful consider giving financially so that we can continue to offer these resources for free." data-link-label="Give" data-link-type="page" href="/give" target="_blank">To help us sustain and continue this ministry prayerful consider giving financially so that we can continue to offer these resources for free.</a>56:52Brian Williamstag:pastorbw.com,2005:Post/36781772015-04-26T21:50:55-04:002023-12-10T12:09:01-05:00The Rules of Spiritual Warfare<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/129137/1dbce38625f631b0c8938d8ae74934f2cee39d1f/medium/the-enemy.jpg?1430099568" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="" /><br><span class="font_small">On Sunday, April 26 I preached a message entitled "The Rules of Spiritual Warfare". We looked at several passages of scripture and discussed the urgent need for believers and followers of Christ to understand the way that satanic agendas work. We looked once again to God's word in hopes of discovering our authority and power as believers. This message is sure to bless you. As always, we are blessed to offer every resource on this website for free, but if you would like to offer your financial support it will be greatly appreciated. <a contents="You can do so by clicking here." data-link-label="Give" data-link-type="page" href="/give" target="_blank">You can do so by clicking here.</a> Thank you and God bless. Please share this link on your various social media platforms.<br><br>"You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules" - <strong>2 Timothy 2:1-5<br><a contents="To listen to other free messages click here" data-link-label="Free Audio" data-link-type="page" href="/free-audio" target="_blank">To listen to other free messages click her</a><a contents="To listen to other free messages click here" data-link-label="Give" data-link-type="page" href="/give" target="_blank">e</a></strong></span>1:08:23Brian Williamstag:pastorbw.com,2005:Post/36685392015-04-20T21:29:45-04:002022-08-13T06:21:52-04:00The Honor and Glory of Sonship<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/129137/d4a91ed501576afc55c451a0d787e2d063ad3b76/medium/img-0589.jpg?1429578552" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" /><br>There is an identity crisis in this generation. The family unit is under attack. The role of men has been perverted, the purpose of salvation is being lost in the blowing winds of heresy. In this message, learn what scripture teaches regarding the role of the Father and children. This message is relevant to male and female alike and will greatly bless your life, if you take the time to listen. As always, these messages are available for free. If you feel led to help us continue this ministry you can do so by <a contents="clicking here" data-link-label="Give" data-link-type="page" href="/give" target="_blank">clicking here</a>. We love and appreciate you. Praying that God bring truth, hope, and love to your life. Enjoy. Please share with friends on Facebook, twitter, and email. God bless.<br><br><strong><em>"</em></strong><span class="black"><strong><em>For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."</em></strong> - Romans 8:14</span>1:10:41Brian Williamstag:pastorbw.com,2005:Post/36612172015-04-16T12:41:26-04:002022-01-09T07:38:22-05:00Praying in The Holy Spirit<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/129137/693b0af799ca7efdc796bbaa8302a80fc4b10365/medium/sa-prayingintheholyspirit.jpg?1429202294" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" /><br><span class="font_regular"><strong style="font-size: 0.8em;">Jude 1:17</strong><span style="font-size: 0.8em;"> But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. 20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen."</span></span><br><br><br><br><span class="font_small"><strong><span style="font-size: 0.8em;">This message was preached at Hope City House of Prayer on Sunday, April 12, 2015. Hear what the bible teaches on this valuable topic. More now, than ever, must the church be pray. The words of Jude, speak to our generation with great accuracy and urgency. Enjoy and be blessed in the name of Jesus.</span></strong> (<span style="font-size: 0.8em;">To continue offering these resources for free, we depend on the prayerful and financial support of people like you. If you'd like to help us spread the word, </span><a contents="you can give here." data-link-label="Give" data-link-type="page" href="/give" style="font-size: 0.8em;" target="_blank">you can give here.</a><span style="font-size: 0.8em;"> Thanks)</span></span>55:13Brian Williamstag:pastorbw.com,2005:Post/36500602015-04-09T17:28:50-04:002022-02-20T06:01:07-05:00The Baptism of the Holy Spirit <div>
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<strong>Acts 2:1-4 - The Holy Spirit falls on Jews in Jerusalem</strong><br> When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.<br><br><strong>Acts 8:14 - The Holy Spirit falls on the Samaritans</strong><br>"Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit."<br><br><strong>Acts 10:44-47 - The Holy Spirit falls on the Gentiles</strong><br>While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, 47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.<br><br><strong>Acts 19:1-6 - The Holy Spirit falls on the unaware believers </strong><br>And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they saidto him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.<br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;"><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;"><span class="font_small"><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;">The baptism of the Holy Spirit</strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;"> of God is an essential part of God's plan on salvation. Throughout the new testament, we see not only Jesus Himself, but the early church and the apostles making much of the role and activity of the Holy Spirit. Being filled with the Holy Spirit was not an option or an issue of theological debate, it was a necessity! There has been an all out war to dilute the message of Jesus Christ and we must "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints"... In this message discover what it means to "baptized in the Holy Spirit. This may be what you are missing. As you'll learn from the scriptures, the Holy Spirit is not an accessory for your Christian life, but the very power to be Christian. My prayer is that God fill you and lead you all your days. Please listen and share with friends. </span></span><br><br><br><br>(Thank you for your support in the gospel! Your financial support<a contents="The recommended donation is 5.00" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=LRY9NFNLZPDHW" target="_blank"> </a>will greatly help to offset cost and enable the ministry to grow so that more souls can be reached for Christ. However, if money is tight, we want you to be blessed! Download it for FREE, and it's yours. We love you and thank God for the opportunity strengthen your faith. Text giving: If you'd like to give via text, send a message to 614-808-1833 ( example: $5 or 5 ) you will be given a receipt via email for your record keeping)</div>
<div> </div>1:02:28Brian Williamstag:pastorbw.com,2005:Post/36317962015-03-30T13:55:27-04:002022-05-07T01:47:20-04:00The Purpose of His Presence<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/129137/ce779e9a70ade5eef190f193616162d4cafe05cb/medium/1742445-436595956498538-1561860515-n.jpg?1427738161" class="size_m justify_left border_" /><br><br><strong>On Sunday, March 29, 2015</strong> I preached a message entitled "The Purpose of His Presence". I shared from God's word and heart about the desperate need for us to understand the purpose of His coming into our world, and into our lives. On Palm Sunday, was led to point out the hypocrisy of the crowd who cheered "Hosanna, Hosanna" but just 5 days later said aloud "Crucify Him Crucify Him". We asked the Holy Spirit to give a heart to truly know the Lord and as we concluded service dozens of people responded in repentance and were delivered by the power of the Holy Spirit. God was truly in the midst of us. We were so blessed by the ministry of the worship team as well, who sang beautifully as they led us into the presence of the lord. It was truly a day of rejoicing in the Lord. Here's the message for your encouragement.<br><br><br><strong>1 John 3:8 "....For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil"</strong>45:06Brian Williamstag:pastorbw.com,2005:Post/36296352015-03-28T17:51:59-04:002022-04-26T21:56:00-04:00Understanding the Prosperity Gospel vs. Luxury<div> </div><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;"><span id="en-NKJV-29808"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/129137/b1fba3f077aedc4776f55237e293d09923bc1443/medium/hope-city-hop-5-18-14-7630.jpg?1402811068" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></span></b><br><span class="font_regular"><strong>In the body of Christ today</strong> there is a great divide on many levels, not only is 11am on Sunday morning still the most segregated hour of our week as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr once said, but we are divided on the issue of money. There are those who subscribed to what is commonly known as the "prosperity gospel” and there are those who vehemently reject it as another gospel and heretical. Both views claim scripture as their foundations and on a surface level provide valid points. I am someone who has vacillated between these two worlds. As one who feels a call from God to build bridges and tear down walls in the body of Christ. I consistently interact with people on both sides of the aisle. As a pastor of a local church which is growing rapidly I full well understand the value of teaching on this issue and the need for understanding. I also have first hand experience dealing with budgets and the great need for money to facilitate ministry. As a missionary who has traveled the world and served the poorest of the poor, I have seen the discrepancy with what we understand in America as the goal for our lives, with what scripture actually teaches and is practiced by true believers world wide. In prayer I felt the Lord speak to me, more so teach me, a lesson on this subject and so I’d like to give you all a few thoughts to consider. As a working title for these thoughts I’ve chosen this theme; The difference between luxury and prosperity”. May the Lord give you understanding in all things. Please read the full text.<br><strong>(please excuse any typos, I didn’t have time to proof-read)</strong></span>
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<div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;"> <div><span class="font_regular">L<b>uxury is defined </b>as “The state of great comfort and extravagant living, a non-essential item which is expensive of highest quality and hard to obtain.”</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 1em;">When we think of luxury, we may think of palaces adorned with silver and gold fixtures, the best of the best.. and if we’ll be honest, we all have an appetite for the “finer things in life”. Luxury also speaks to us of a place of extreme comfort or a quality of life, wherein we experience a care- free existence. In America, luxury is often the goal of our entire lives. We are told from childhood to work hard so that we can attain to the “dream”, which simply put is a life of luxury. And if we’ll be honest with ourselves, we've all chased it. Can we fault ourselves or blame another for desiring the best this world has to offer? In a society where hard-work is rewarded, why should luxury be frowned upon? For most, it isn’t, in fact it is celebrated. Those with the most money and who live the most luxurious lives, often have the most influence in our culture. From hollywood to the Whitehouse, the American society is shaped by those who live in luxury. WWJD, the question of the hour!</span></div>
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<div><span class="font_regular">Luxury speaks to us of all that this world has to offer and if we read the bible carefully and listen to the teachings of Jesus, it seems as though luxury should not be the goal. Everything about the person of Christ, speaks to us of a life lived of discomfort, servanthood, and self-denial, yet in the church of this generation, it appears that many have embraced the goal of luxury right along the rest of the American society. For some, this has caused great debates and division, for others, this created what I would like to call a hybrid gospel. I chose the word “ hybrid” because the word hybrid speaks to us of a combination. The word hybrid is defined in the dictionary as “ A thing made by combining two different elements, a mixture”. In the biblical sense this would qualify for “lukewarm” as was the case with the Laodicean church, it would also be classified as “profane” fire, it could also be referred to as another gospel. The gospel was never meant as a message to create luxury in this life, but quite often the opposite. Again, luxury is defined as "The state of great comfort and extravagant living, a non-essential item which is expensive of highest quality and hard to obtain.” When we look to the life and words of Jesus we find alignment. Not only did Jesus call His disciples to “Deny themselves, take up their cross and follow me”, He did that very thing. He denied himself, as God wrapped in human flesh, disguised, unknown and uncomfortable, yet willing to drink the cup of the Father’s wrath against a world enslaved by sinners and death, He took His cross to Mt. Calvary and there He stretched out His arms, dying in selfless, love. This model has been the template every follower of Christ and it has not changed. Despite our ever evolving morals and ethics in these days, Jesus still says, “If any many would be my disciple, he must first deny himself, take up his cross and follow me”. </span></div>
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<div><span class="font_regular"><b>Alignment in the life and example of Jesus Christ:</b> The agreement between the words of Jesus and example of Jesus is the basis for spiritually authority. In Philipians 2, we learn that Jesus "...became obedient unto death, even the death on the cross, wherefore God has highly exalted Him and given him a name, which is better than any other name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God our father in heaven.” In the same way that Jesus was promoted because of His willingness to be demoted, so must we follow the divine blueprint for blessing and authority. The problem with luxury in the life of a believer is that it usurps the process toward prosperity. The term “Prosperity Gospel” has been treated like a curse word in nearly every Christian circle because of the emphasis on luxury, but what we must understand is that luxury and prosperity are not synonymous. Prosperity is defined as "a successful, flourishing, or thriving condition, especially in financial respects”. Many believers have committed the fallacy of equivocation which is "the misleading use of a term with more than one meaning”. I believe that many believers are guilty of equivocation in regards to the issue of prosperity. This has caused large numbers of people to misunderstand the purpose of prosperity. While it is obvious, or perhaps undeniable that luxury for the sake of luxury is incompatible with following Christ, it is equally undeniable that prosperity is essential for the fulfillment of the purposes of God. Again, remember that prosperity defined is "a successful, flourishing, or thriving condition, especially in financial respects”. For so many reasons, God desires that we prosper. The bible contains a litany of verses and examples of men and women who were blessed with abundance of financial wealth, in fact Jesus himself, though he became poor for our sakes, is no longer poor! He embraced a low status in hope to destroy that which created sickness and poverty, namely sin! His resurrection from the dead, signals not only victory over death but over all the effects of sin, include sickness and poverty. For many Christians, the idea that God is not impoverished is hard to accept, and so they accept poverty as if there is some virtue in it. I declare to you, being poor does not glorify God. There are many who are poor who are just as vile a sinner as those who are rich. There is no lack in God’s kingdom, and in every place where God’s kingdom is advancing there will be no lack! That includes your life and whatever ministry God has called you to. The early church had no sick among them and everyones needs were met. Why was this so? Because they were following the teachings of scripture which position us to be blessed by God in every way. </span></div>
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<div><span class="font_regular"><b>So why the confusion? </b>This is a question, I have often asked and what I believe it boils down to is definition, motive, and our purpose. Let me explain.</span></div>
<div><span class="font_regular">Definition: The way in which we define the word “prosperity” will greatly influence whether or not we become prosperous. If the word prosperity scares you because you define it as evil, more than likely you will be impoverished all your life. If you understand that prosperity is NOT synonymous with luxury, and if you understand that God desires that we “prosper and be in health, even as our soul prospers”, then by faith, you will experience blessings available through Jesus Christ in all areas of your life. So we see that definition is very important in this matter. There are many people who define “Christianity” as a religion of rules which is restrictive and which stifles your enjoyment in life, and for those people, because of a mis-definition, they run the risk of perishing without Christ and going to hell for eternity, all because they never understood. </span></div>
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<div><span class="font_regular"><b>Next, is the issue of “Motive”</b>. The word motive speaks to us of the reason behind our actions or beliefs. For those who are followers of Christ Jesus, the entire focus of our lives has been shifted and transformed by the power of God to now live for the glory of God. This carries over into every area of our life. The places we work, live, find entertainment, the type of person we marry, the clothing we wear, our manner of speech and conduct, the way we spend or give our money, our entire value system must be shaped by the motive of giving glory to God. It has been said that “money changes people”, but I would suggest that money, doesn’t change people it simply reveals our motives. Money is much like a magnifying glass, it exposes that which is invisible to the naked eye. There are many people who believe themselves to be honest, charitable, generous, and kind, but the moment they begin to prosper monetarily speaking, the greed, lust, and selfishness begins to show. The truth is that the money has not changed them, it has revealed their motives. Often, God will not allow a person to prosper because PROSPERITY is never a priority, but character is. God will allow our lives to hard at times to teach valuable lessons in integrity, commitment, honor, faithfulness, and responsibility. He would be a bad father if He continued blessing us without teaching us. Often times people are discouraged because they aren’t experiencing the benefits of a blessed life and so they begin to doubt the truth of scripture or become jealous of those who are, all this does is reveal the problem. God is much more concerned with the type of people we become then the accomplishments of our lives. It is the mercy of God that has kept some people in a stable 9-5 job and not allowing their entrepreneurial plans to prosper. Again, as a father, the Lord does not want to put you in a position that you can not handle. Some will say “I know I’m ready to be blessed, if i had this much money, I would give so much away and help others..” But the Lord sees your faithfulness with your little that you do have. If you mismanage 100, you won’t be faithful with 1,000, let alone 1 million. In His Sovereign will the Lord determines the extent of our prosperity potential in accordance with His will. We cannot manipulate him, nor the principles of scripture for selfish gain. And as a side note, satan blessed people too. It’s a snare!</span></div>
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<div><span class="font_regular"><b>Lastly is the issue of “Purpose”. </b>There are many who are not prospering because their desire for prosperity is not with the purpose of God in mind. As followers of Christ, luxury is not our purpose for prosperity. As the the Apostle Paul said “To live is Christ to die is gain”. If we cannot echo those sentiments, then we have not understood the purpose for prosperity. It will take billions to finance the great commission. It will take millions to evangelize and restore the lives of people. Through the word of God we have time-tested and unchanging principles which can position us for the necessary blessings to accomplish God’s purpose. it has been said that “God pays for what He orders”. If that be true, then the reverse is true, God does not pay for what He does not order! I have seen countless ministries start and stop, rise and fall, due to financial pressures. I often ask, how…. The answer may be complicated or it may be simple. it may be complicated in that many ministries start with pure definitions, motives, and purpose but through negligence, a lack of prayer, or sinful practices, the anointing lifts off of them and they are left to their own wisdom. I assure you, nothing began in the spirit can be continued in the flesh! However, It may be simple. There are many great preachers who are terrible at money management. This is why in the book of Timothy, the Apostle Paul advised young Timothy to appoint elders in the church who were above reproach, who were of “Good report” inside and outside the church walls. If a man cannot manage his own house, how can he manage the house of God? So we see that many churches and ministries fail for this reason. The lord will de-fund your ministry to conform your soul. He cares more for you, then what you do for Him! Apostle Paul, had seasons of abundance and seasons of leanness, however, he learned that in all things he could be content in Christ. </span></div>
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<div><span class="font_regular">As we conclude, I want to challenge the reader to understand that the pursuit of LUXURY as defined by the dictionary is incompatible with Christian living. Again, the words of scripture affirm this. Apostle Paul again says to young Timothy<b> "<span id="en-NKJV-29795">Now godliness with contentment is great gain. </span><span id="en-NKJV-29796">7 For we brought nothing into <i>this</i> world, <i>and it is</i> certain we can carry nothing out. </span><span id="en-NKJV-29797">8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. </span><span id="en-NKJV-29798">9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and <i>into</i> many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. </span><span id="en-NKJV-29799">10 For the love of money is a root of all <i>kinds of</i> evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (1 Timothy 6:6-9) </span></b></span></div>
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<div><span class="font_regular">I also want the reader to understand that PROSPERITY is not an evil thing or a curse word. We need men and women who are prosperous to facilitate the greatest rescue mission of all, the souls of men. It will not be easy, it will require billions of dollars in addition to prayer, fasting, and the power of the Holy Spirit. However, God is not looking to make us prosperous for selfish motives or for impure purposes. He is looking for men and women he can trust with the riches of this world, to invest in the purpose of saving souls and building His church, so that true riches that do not perish can be the inheritance of all men. I leave you with this scripture.<b> "Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. <span id="en-NKJV-29807">18 <i>Let them </i>do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, </span><span id="en-NKJV-29808">19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” (1 Timothy 6:17-19)</span></b></span></div>
</div>59:35Brian Williamstag:pastorbw.com,2005:Post/36258882015-03-26T17:23:51-04:002022-01-09T07:41:43-05:00Media Ministry updatesGreetings, friends and supporters. I truly thank the Lord for your partnership in the gospel. I'm writing to inform you of some great things going on and to ask for your help. In the past 4 years, my online sermons have been downloaded over 100,000 times. All of them have been offered for free, as I would never want to hinder anyone from hearing the word of God. Going forward, I feel the Lord wants to offer Cd's and DVD's as well. Many people have emailed our church who don't have an MP3 player, a computer, or simply don't understand how they work, some don't have the internet, especially our overseas listeners who may not be able to download files. So we'd like to purchases a CD/DVD duplicator. This will give us the opportunity mass duplicate and give away freely, hard copies of our services and worship recordings. The benefit of having this will greatly increase our ability to spread the word of God. Will you prayerfully consider giving toward this ministry goal? The cost for the duplicator, recording equipment, and computer software is going to cost an estimated 2,000. If you'd like to do so, you can do it through paypal here, or by simply texting any amount to<br>614-808-1833 (example: give 10) Thank you again, we aim to win the world together for Christ. I appreciate your help in this holy endeavor. <br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/129137/eb0670eefb9d498b53b180bde326cfc475cc5c74/original/hope-city-hop-5-18-14-7660.jpg?1402811127" class="size_l justify_center border_" />1:15:22Brian Williams