New Wine in Old Wineskins...

Titus 3:5 says "⁵Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;"








According to this verse, the activity of the Holy Spirit can be found in the life of the believer in two specific areas... Regeneration and Renewal

• Regeneration (adoption) refers to our entrance into the Kingdom of God... our "new birth" (Ephesians 1:4,5)

Jesus said, "you must be born again..." (John 3:3) not "again, again" (repetition) but Again (anothen) FROM ABOVE!

"You must be born from above!"

 Regeneration (palingenesia) speaks of God creating a new heart and a new Spirit within our lives.

The second work of the Holy Spirit in our lives deals with "Renewal" (Adaptation) or making adjustments for change...

To make suitable for a situation... (Webster)

God will first prepare the vessel before he fills it, to keep from spilling or wasting - God never wastes any of His resources.  Waste (perdition) was a name used by Jesus to describe Satan (John 17:12)


In Matthew 9:17, Jesus explains the concept of pouring new (neos) brand new, powerful and active wine - into "Old Bottles".  By doing so, the bottles would explode and the wine would be lost. (waste)

So, we are challenged and commanded by God to "renew" our minds (Romans 12:2) that we not only may receive the gifts from God, but we may also be able to "retain" them! (Proverbs 3:18)

Pastor Jody

"I'm SICK of this Heat!"

Don't you just love this time of year?  Finally! we can take off our sandals, ease out of all the summertime scrambling that we do and just relax... catch our breath.  I think the word for "Autumn" in the Greek means, "I'm sick of this heat!" anyways...

The Prophet Isaiah is announcing our Lord's entrance to Earth some 700 years before it would happen - but he is describing in detail just who Christ Jesus would be - and what he would become to all Humanity...

Here are five names in Divine Order and Spiritual Sequence of Christ:

1. Wonderful (peleh) A change in climate

In Palestine, the people would endure heat waves of 100 degrees + for 5 to 6 monhs of the year.  I'm sure they, just like we do in Oklahoma (go Sooners!) are so bombarded by the heat and humidity that the sand wasn't the only thing getting overheated...
Day after day of blistering heat, sun and sand - and then... something happens.  The wind changes direction and a shift in the seasons begins.  Crisp mornings, cool afternoon breezes and folks would rise early in the morning just to inhale the Autumn air for the first time in, well... months!  I can imagine they'd say, "This is Wonderful!  A change of climate has finally come."

That's exactly how these over-heated, over-worked, over-religious Jews would describe Jesus as he walked among them with Love, Grace and Truth - "WONDERFUL!"  Christ was then and is now our "change of climate" and our spiritual breath of fresh of fresh air!

Open your windows, friends - A change in climate is come!

Pastor Jody

Go Where You're Celebrated...Not Just Tolerated.

Have you ever wondered why you were born?  Have you ever questioned your value or your worth?  Always remember - loneliness is not the lack of affection - it's the lack of direction.  In today's lesson, I want to help give you some direction!



In Proverbs 30:24-28 the Bible talks about four creatures.  We will examine these four creatures and apply them not only to ourselves but to our outreach as well.

• The Ant (industrious)
• Hard Working
• committed
• the ant prepares for tomorrow

• The Conie (intelligent)
• a conie is NOT a foot-long chili dog
• it's a small rabbit
• the conie knows it's strengths and weaknesses

• The Locust (inspired)
• the locust only moves and travels together with the "swarm"
• they are motivated and driven by the wind, or "God's breath"

• The Spider (invaluable)
• this spider isn't an 8-legged spider like you might think
• this spider is actually a lizard

Now, why would a King welcome these lizards into their castle?  I'm glad you asked!

The lizards EAT the bugs!  They ate anything that was "bugging" the King...WOW!

What's my passion?  To get rid of anything in your life that is "bugging" you! (sorry, children excluded!)

One lizard is better than 10,000 roaches.  think about that...  Remember, you are the Exterminator!

Bon Appétit!

Pastor Jody

Guard Your Heart!

Friends, when the scriptures tell us to "put on" the whole armor (Ephesians 6:11)... it's telling us to "dress yourself" according to the season or circumstances of the day.  But it goes one step further.  It carries the idea to fasten up, "button up" or zip-up that garment tightly around the body. (enduo)

What good does it do to wear a rain coat in a rain storm if it's not zipped up - or to wear a fleece lined coat during a winter storm if it's not buttoned up around us?  It doesn't do any good at all if it allows the elements to get in!

Well, God is reminding us that when we go out and face our day, make sure that the breastplate of righteousness is fastened and secured around us.  Why?  I'm glad you asked!

The breastplate covers and protects our heart (kardia) (our feelings, emotions, reasoning & reactions).

As we learn of God's Righteousness, it will reveal that it's not meritted by our own goodness or good works.  Here, you do the math...

GOOD - GOD = 0

Righteousness comes only through faith in Jesus Christ and his finished work at Mt. Calvary!
(Romans 3:22)

My friends, protect your heart (kardia) - for out of it flows the forces of life, health and happiness! (Proverbs 4:23)

See you next week!

Pastor Jody