DeanSweetman.com » Boldness http://deansweetman.com Sermons, Podcasts and Teachings to Live Your Best Life Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:55:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Dean Sweetman is Sr Pastor of the C3 Church with a campus in Lawrenceville, Georgia. He also serves as Executive Regional Overseer for C3 Americas. The Sweetmans moved to the USA in 1996 for the sole purpose of planting the Lawrenceville church. C3 Church currently serves the Atlanta community in a unique way through itís technology and charity work. Last year, Dean and Jill planted the C3 Church in Studio City, California. As Sr Pastors of both churches, they split their time between Atlanta and Studio City and have homes in both cities. Dean is a sought-after speaker in both church and business settings and an emerging author. His passionate and uncompromising preaching will inspire the most on-fire believer as challenge those who lack the fervor required to serve God. C3 Church in Lawrenceville, GA USA clean C3 Church in Lawrenceville, GA USA webmaster@christiancitychurch.com webmaster@christiancitychurch.com (C3 Church in Lawrenceville, GA USA) C3 Atlanta Online with Dean Sweetman DeanSweetman.com » Boldness http://audio.thec3church.com/podcasticon.jpg http://deansweetman.com/category/boldness/ The First Family http://deansweetman.com/2011/12/11/the-first-family-2/ http://deansweetman.com/2011/12/11/the-first-family-2/#comments Sun, 11 Dec 2011 21:31:40 +0000 Dean http://deansweetman.com/?p=620 When we think of Bible heroes, names like Moses, David, Samson, and Daniel come to mind. Joseph of Nazareth – husband to Mary and earthly father of Jesus – is generally not on the list. But on closer inspection, this quiet man is due more notice and respect than he is given. His heart is very much like God’s and provides a powerful role model for all of us today.

Joseph and Mary were betrothed in the Hebrew tradition. This is rather difficult for us to understand for it was not just a joining of two people in marriage but a merging of families, fortunes, and futures. A betrothal period could last up to seven years. During that time the expectations of both families looked and worked toward the union in a way foreign to us today. In addition, the entire community knew of and anticipated the union.

The Spirit and will of God interrupt this proceeding with the purpose of changing mankind’s destiny. From a heavenly perspective, it made perfect sense. From an earthly perspective, it made no sense. Fortunately, Joseph was not a man given to emotional reaction. Here we find his first quality of merit. Matthew 1: 19 tells us that Joseph “considered these things.” He didn’t react in a reality TV/Jerry Springer kind of way. He thought carefully and took the issue before God. He opened the door of his heart to hear what God had to say about the matter before he made any decision. Though his personal reputation was on the line, his first consideration was finding out what was the right thing to do.

A second quality to notice is that Joseph chose not to seek retribution, but to cover Mary and “break the engagement quietly.” (vs 18) If Mary’s pregnancy were to be discovered she would, at the least, be exiled or, at worst, stoned to death. Imagine Jesus’ life being ended before He had a chance to be born. But Joseph chose grace. He chose to cover her rather than expose her. In this day of “investigative reporting” when no secret is safe, and when many delight in the downfall of others, we could learn a great deal from this type of grace. Joseph took Mary as his wife but did not sleep with her as his wife until Jesus was born. Pretty amazing, right? Imagine walking in that kind of obedience.

Most importantly, Joseph’s willingness to set his own feelings and opinions aside and be open to God brought the will of God to pass. God sent an angel to Joseph in a dream to confirm the truth of the story Mary had told him. Joseph protected them and provided for them as Jesus grew. Once the story of Jesus’ birth, the flight to Egypt, and the return to Nazareth is done, we don’t hear any more about Joseph. He fades into the background. But without his obedience, the story would never have taken place. Imagine the multitude of lives that have been changed because Joseph chose to consider God in his actions. How many of us are living our best life because of his choice and how many others might find their best life if we choose to live by his example?

Verses Used:
*Matthew 1:18-24

]]> http://deansweetman.com/2011/12/11/the-first-family-2/feed/ 0 When we think of Bible heroes, names like Moses, David, Samson, and Daniel come to mind. Joseph of Nazareth – husband to Mary and earthly father of Jesus - is generally not on the list. But on closer inspection, When we think of Bible heroes, names like Moses, David, Samson, and Daniel come to mind. Joseph of Nazareth – husband to Mary and earthly father of Jesus - is generally not on the list. But on closer inspection, this quiet man is due more notice and respect than he is given. His heart is very much like God’s and provides a powerful role model for all of us today. Joseph and Mary were betrothed in the Hebrew tradition. This is rather difficult for us to understand for it was not just a joining of two people in marriage but a merging of families, fortunes, and futures. A betrothal period could last up to seven years. During that time the expectations of both families looked and worked toward the union in a way foreign to us today. In addition, the entire community knew of and anticipated the union. The Spirit and will of God interrupt this proceeding with the purpose of changing mankind’s destiny. From a heavenly perspective, it made perfect sense. From an earthly perspective, it made no sense. Fortunately, Joseph was not a man given to emotional reaction. Here we find his first quality of merit. Matthew 1: 19 tells us that Joseph “considered these things.” He didn’t react in a reality TV/Jerry Springer kind of way. He thought carefully and took the issue before God. He opened the door of his heart to hear what God had to say about the matter before he made any decision. Though his personal reputation was on the line, his first consideration was finding out what was the right thing to do. A second quality to notice is that Joseph chose not to seek retribution, but to cover Mary and “break the engagement quietly.” (vs 18) If Mary’s pregnancy were to be discovered she would, at the least, be exiled or, at worst, stoned to death. Imagine Jesus’ life being ended before He had a chance to be born. But Joseph chose grace. He chose to cover her rather than expose her. In this day of “investigative reporting” when no secret is safe, and when many delight in the downfall of others, we could learn a great deal from this type of grace. Joseph took Mary as his wife but did not sleep with her as his wife until Jesus was born. Pretty amazing, right? Imagine walking in that kind of obedience. Most importantly, Joseph’s willingness to set his own feelings and opinions aside and be open to God brought the will of God to pass. God sent an angel to Joseph in a dream to confirm the truth of the story Mary had told him. Joseph protected them and provided for them as Jesus grew. Once the story of Jesus’ birth, the flight to Egypt, and the return to Nazareth is done, we don’t hear any more about Joseph. He fades into the background. But without his obedience, the story would never have taken place. Imagine the multitude of lives that have been changed because Joseph chose to consider God in his actions. How many of us are living our best life because of his choice and how many others might find their best life if we choose to live by his example? Verses Used: *Matthew 1:18-24 C3 Church in Lawrenceville, GA USA clean 26:33 The Four Rivers – The Euphrates http://deansweetman.com/2011/10/30/the-four-rivers-the-euphrates/ http://deansweetman.com/2011/10/30/the-four-rivers-the-euphrates/#comments Sun, 30 Oct 2011 19:12:02 +0000 Dean http://deansweetman.com/?p=591 The Euphrates River–the final river in the Four Rivers series–is the river that means to “break forth into fruitfulness.” It is the simplest of the rivers to grasp: God wants us to be fruitful. That is it! So simple! God loves simple things. Humans make things too complicated; God makes it simple. He wants you to be fruitful, and the way to fruitfulness is obedience. Obey God. See? Simple.

Matthew 25 tells the tale of three servants entrusted with their master’s money while he is away on a long journey. It is an accepted fact that the man on the journey is Jesus. He is leaving for a time, and He entrusts His servants with His property. Jesus came to earth to save us and to establish the Kingdom. He got the work started through His death and resurrection. Then, He said, “The rest is up to you.” He gave us the Holy Spirit to help us in our charge to change the world. He trusted us with His resources (money,abilities, etc…) like the man in the parable entrusted his servants.

What happens next is the real gem. The man gives to his servants according to their abilities. Wait a second. That’s not very fair. Why don’t all the servants get an equal share? That’s because “fairness” is no Biblical. God wants us to have more then other people. He wants us to prosper and be fruitful. There is no ceiling or cap to that. It is ongoing. Those who cry over how unfair it is are the ones trapped in the small-mindedness of the world. Very simple. Two servants prospered because they used their resources; one did not. When the master returned, he rewarded those who increased and cursed the one who did not.

So use what God has given you! Sow it! Invest it! And watch the blessing of increase come into your world.

Verses Used:
*Matthew 25: 14-30
*Psalms 1

]]> http://deansweetman.com/2011/10/30/the-four-rivers-the-euphrates/feed/ 0 The Euphrates River--the final river in the Four Rivers series--is the river that means to "break forth into fruitfulness." It is the simplest of the rivers to grasp: God wants us to be fruitful. That is it! So simple! God loves simple things. The Euphrates River--the final river in the Four Rivers series--is the river that means to "break forth into fruitfulness." It is the simplest of the rivers to grasp: God wants us to be fruitful. That is it! So simple! God loves simple things. Humans make things too complicated; God makes it simple. He wants you to be fruitful, and the way to fruitfulness is obedience. Obey God. See? Simple. Matthew 25 tells the tale of three servants entrusted with their master's money while he is away on a long journey. It is an accepted fact that the man on the journey is Jesus. He is leaving for a time, and He entrusts His servants with His property. Jesus came to earth to save us and to establish the Kingdom. He got the work started through His death and resurrection. Then, He said, "The rest is up to you." He gave us the Holy Spirit to help us in our charge to change the world. He trusted us with His resources (money,abilities, etc...) like the man in the parable entrusted his servants. What happens next is the real gem. The man gives to his servants according to their abilities. Wait a second. That's not very fair. Why don't all the servants get an equal share? That's because "fairness" is no Biblical. God wants us to have more then other people. He wants us to prosper and be fruitful. There is no ceiling or cap to that. It is ongoing. Those who cry over how unfair it is are the ones trapped in the small-mindedness of the world. Very simple. Two servants prospered because they used their resources; one did not. When the master returned, he rewarded those who increased and cursed the one who did not. So use what God has given you! Sow it! Invest it! And watch the blessing of increase come into your world. Verses Used: *Matthew 25: 14-30 *Psalms 1 C3 Church in Lawrenceville, GA USA clean 33:41 The Four Rivers – The River of Anointing http://deansweetman.com/2011/09/25/the-four-rivers-the-river-of-anointing/ http://deansweetman.com/2011/09/25/the-four-rivers-the-river-of-anointing/#comments Sun, 25 Sep 2011 17:34:25 +0000 Dean http://deansweetman.com/?p=564 The second river is the River Gihon–the river of anointing. The River Gihon branches off the River Pshon – favor and blessing stay within God’s anointing and presence. King David’s son, Solomon, was anointed king at the river Gihon with oil, to symbolize the presence of God in his reign. Since Solomon did not ask for riches, but wisdom, God chose to bless Solomon – gifts come from blessing and His presence. Each of us has an anointing to be something or have something that God can use- the ministry gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher or the gifts of faith, prophecy, miracles, etc. God anoints us to do His work as we stay in His presence, which can be found as we seek God in our private times, and more importantly, in the House of God as we come together in corporate worship, connecting ourselves to God. The anointing carries us onward and we need the presence of God to do what He is calling us to do, to handle the pressure of that call at times, and to anoint the ideas He gives us so they come to pass. The C3 church is not just a cool place to come worship & learn about God, the presence and anointing of the Lord have to be here or it would all come tumbling down like a house of cards. We need the anointing to fulfill the visions we receive while in His presence!

Isaiah 66 says the oil of joy replaces mourning,that praise relieves heaviness. Peace comes out of His presence, it changes our hearts and minds as the Holy Spirit goes to work, making us different. Joshua gave us the greatest example of how going into the Temple, into the presence of God, set him apart from the rest of Israel, who stood outside their tent doors and watched the one man brave enough and wise enough to get literally into the presence of God. Because of Christ’s anointing to die on the Cross, we can now freely go into the House – the Presence – of the Lord, worship, serve and fulfill His call that is unique to each one of us. We don’t naturally know how to get into God’s presence, we have to choose like Joshua to get ourselves to church and connect in worship and the Word.

In Revelation 22:1-5 the apostle John writes about what he saw there in Heaven. He speaks of an angel showing him a pure, clear river running thru the main street, which had trees growing on either side. These trees were for the healing of the nations, and bore a different fruit once a month every twelve months. There is so much here – the river begins at the Throne of God, runs where everyone has access to it, and the fruit of it’s trees is not for us, it is for others, since God wants everyone to come into His Kingdom! He is a river without limit or end, He does not want us to segment off our lives into “Sunday I go to church, Monday through Saturday I live my life”, He truly wants to give us unlimited blessings – a different one every month if we are ready for it! Jesus follows up that thought when he said, “He who believes in Me, out of your belly will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38) Meaning that LIFE comes from knowing and believing in all the blessing, favor, anointing and presence that God is freely offering us. Why would we not want to follow Him to the ends of the earth – He has everything we need to LIVE! His blessings are unlimited, His presence pulls us in and brings change to our lives. We can come out of that dry, dusty riverbed we have been living in and experience the full-on wetness of journeying with the Lord in the Four Rivers. Changes are instant and imminent – are you ready to move forward?
Verses Used:
*Genesis 2:13
*Exodus 33
*Isaiah 66
*John 7:38

]]> http://deansweetman.com/2011/09/25/the-four-rivers-the-river-of-anointing/feed/ 0 The second river is the River Gihon--the river of anointing. The River Gihon branches off the River Pshon - favor and blessing stay within God's anointing and presence. King David's son, Solomon, was anointed king at the river Gihon with oil, The second river is the River Gihon--the river of anointing. The River Gihon branches off the River Pshon - favor and blessing stay within God's anointing and presence. King David's son, Solomon, was anointed king at the river Gihon with oil, to symbolize the presence of God in his reign. Since Solomon did not ask for riches, but wisdom, God chose to bless Solomon - gifts come from blessing and His presence. Each of us has an anointing to be something or have something that God can use- the ministry gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher or the gifts of faith, prophecy, miracles, etc. God anoints us to do His work as we stay in His presence, which can be found as we seek God in our private times, and more importantly, in the House of God as we come together in corporate worship, connecting ourselves to God. The anointing carries us onward and we need the presence of God to do what He is calling us to do, to handle the pressure of that call at times, and to anoint the ideas He gives us so they come to pass. The C3 church is not just a cool place to come worship & learn about God, the presence and anointing of the Lord have to be here or it would all come tumbling down like a house of cards. We need the anointing to fulfill the visions we receive while in His presence! Isaiah 66 says the oil of joy replaces mourning,that praise relieves heaviness. Peace comes out of His presence, it changes our hearts and minds as the Holy Spirit goes to work, making us different. Joshua gave us the greatest example of how going into the Temple, into the presence of God, set him apart from the rest of Israel, who stood outside their tent doors and watched the one man brave enough and wise enough to get literally into the presence of God. Because of Christ's anointing to die on the Cross, we can now freely go into the House - the Presence - of the Lord, worship, serve and fulfill His call that is unique to each one of us. We don't naturally know how to get into God's presence, we have to choose like Joshua to get ourselves to church and connect in worship and the Word. In Revelation 22:1-5 the apostle John writes about what he saw there in Heaven. He speaks of an angel showing him a pure, clear river running thru the main street, which had trees growing on either side. These trees were for the healing of the nations, and bore a different fruit once a month every twelve months. There is so much here - the river begins at the Throne of God, runs where everyone has access to it, and the fruit of it's trees is not for us, it is for others, since God wants everyone to come into His Kingdom! He is a river without limit or end, He does not want us to segment off our lives into "Sunday I go to church, Monday through Saturday I live my life", He truly wants to give us unlimited blessings - a different one every month if we are ready for it! Jesus follows up that thought when he said, "He who believes in Me, out of your belly will flow rivers of living water." (John 7:38) Meaning that LIFE comes from knowing and believing in all the blessing, favor, anointing and presence that God is freely offering us. Why would we not want to follow Him to the ends of the earth - He has everything we need to LIVE! His blessings are unlimited, His presence pulls us in and brings change to our lives. We can come out of that dry, dusty riverbed we have been living in and experience the full-on wetness of journeying with the Lord in the Four Rivers. Changes are instant and imminent - are you ready to move forward? Verses Used: *Genesis 2:13 *Exodus 33 *Isaiah 66 *John 7:38 C3 Church in Lawrenceville, GA USA clean 34:49 The Four Rivers – River of Increase http://deansweetman.com/2011/09/18/the-four-rivers-river-of-increase/ http://deansweetman.com/2011/09/18/the-four-rivers-river-of-increase/#comments Sun, 18 Sep 2011 18:49:04 +0000 Dean http://deansweetman.com/?p=560 In Genesis 2, we get our first view of the garden God planted as the dwelling place for man. He called it “Eden,” meaning “paradise” or “place of delight.” Verse 10 tells us that the garden was watered by a river that flowed through and out of the garden, then dividing into four branches. Those four rivers were named Pishon, Gihon, Tigris, and Euphrates.

While we believe that Eden was a real place, it is also representative of the human heart. Each of us has the responsibility to tend the garden of our heart – the garden of who we are. The four rivers represent principles that God has given to help us cultivate good fruit in the garden of our lives. The first river, Pishon, represents increase and expansion, a principal that Jesus taught repeatedly. To experience increase in our own lives we must believe that God is our source of all things, learn how to get into God’s flow, and avoid the things that cause us to get out of the flow.

Today we live in a society filled with self-help gurus. As a result, we often think we can will ourselves to success if we just find the right book to read. But the river comes from God and we can’t will or self-help ourselves into the life He brings. If we try to make it in our own strength, there will come a point when our human strength will fail us. When difficulties come, when we can’t take one more step, we must look to the God of the River of Increase to be the source of whatever it is we need. Whether it’s strength, peace, joy, forgiveness, grace, patience, wisdom….whatever it is you think you’re out of, God has it and wants to give it to you. We only need to plant our lives by His river and let Him be our source.

We all know that water is an incredibly powerful thing. Rowing against a strong current will quickly tire you out and make it virtually impossible to reach your destination. But, as humans, we often seem bent on rowing against God’s flow – trying to get to our destiny under our own power. The Holy Spirit is God’s river. He flows into our hearts and wants to branch out into every area of our lives and spill over onto others. But we have to get into the flow.

You don’t need to look hard to find examples of people who have fought their way to the top but have not found happiness. Rowing against the river of God will never get you to a place of contentment. We each must decide to turn our boat and stop fighting God’s flow. The river may take us to places we don’t understand, but we will find ourselves in a place of unending increase that will spill over and grow the Kingdom of God. So come on and jump in, the water’s fine.

]]> http://deansweetman.com/2011/09/18/the-four-rivers-river-of-increase/feed/ 1 In Genesis 2, we get our first view of the garden God planted as the dwelling place for man. He called it “Eden,” meaning “paradise” or “place of delight.” Verse 10 tells us that the garden was watered by a river that flowed through and o... In Genesis 2, we get our first view of the garden God planted as the dwelling place for man. He called it “Eden,” meaning “paradise” or “place of delight.” Verse 10 tells us that the garden was watered by a river that flowed through and out of the garden, then dividing into four branches. Those four rivers were named Pishon, Gihon, Tigris, and Euphrates. While we believe that Eden was a real place, it is also representative of the human heart. Each of us has the responsibility to tend the garden of our heart – the garden of who we are. The four rivers represent principles that God has given to help us cultivate good fruit in the garden of our lives. The first river, Pishon, represents increase and expansion, a principal that Jesus taught repeatedly. To experience increase in our own lives we must believe that God is our source of all things, learn how to get into God’s flow, and avoid the things that cause us to get out of the flow. Today we live in a society filled with self-help gurus. As a result, we often think we can will ourselves to success if we just find the right book to read. But the river comes from God and we can’t will or self-help ourselves into the life He brings. If we try to make it in our own strength, there will come a point when our human strength will fail us. When difficulties come, when we can’t take one more step, we must look to the God of the River of Increase to be the source of whatever it is we need. Whether it’s strength, peace, joy, forgiveness, grace, patience, wisdom….whatever it is you think you’re out of, God has it and wants to give it to you. We only need to plant our lives by His river and let Him be our source. We all know that water is an incredibly powerful thing. Rowing against a strong current will quickly tire you out and make it virtually impossible to reach your destination. But, as humans, we often seem bent on rowing against God’s flow – trying to get to our destiny under our own power. The Holy Spirit is God’s river. He flows into our hearts and wants to branch out into every area of our lives and spill over onto others. But we have to get into the flow. You don’t need to look hard to find examples of people who have fought their way to the top but have not found happiness. Rowing against the river of God will never get you to a place of contentment. We each must decide to turn our boat and stop fighting God’s flow. The river may take us to places we don’t understand, but we will find ourselves in a place of unending increase that will spill over and grow the Kingdom of God. So come on and jump in, the water’s fine. C3 Church in Lawrenceville, GA USA clean 35:48 My Cup – The Water 2nd http://deansweetman.com/2011/08/09/the-cup-the-water-2nd/ http://deansweetman.com/2011/08/09/the-cup-the-water-2nd/#comments Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:10:27 +0000 Dean http://deansweetman.com/?p=517 We are beginning a new series today on “The Cup.” A cup is something that was built to carry something else. A cup’s purpose is always to be emptied so to be filled again. Jesus said in the New Testament that we cannot get that which He wants to give us until we lose what we have, or, for turn of phrase, we empty our cup. That means we get rid of all the lies and tricks and influences of this world on our lives.

There are four instances in the Bible where “The Cup” is discussed:
1) The Cup of Water which represents Compassion
2) The Cup of Greed and Selfishness
3) The Cup of Sorrow and Suffering
4) The Cup of the Covenant

Each will be discussed in turn throughout the course of this series. Today, we will be looking at the Cup of Water. The Cup of Water is the manifestation of our faith. All too often, people come to church to get the experience without ever moving forward into a deeper relationship with God. The concept of the Cup of Water is where the challenge arises. Will you go beyond yourself to offer the water to others?

The Water is all that God has done in your life. You know what happens to water when it sits in a cup? It goes stale and grows mold and is undrinkable. Cups of Water are meant to be poured out. How do you pour out the water? You help others. Luke 10 paints a beautiful picture of how to give the Cup of Water. Luke 10 is the story of the Good Samaritan, and we all know the story. Poor man gets beaten up; twice he is passed by BY A PRIEST AND A PRIEST’S ASSISTENT!!! Yet, a man who is considered the enemy, stops and helps the beaten man. He sacrifices his time and resources to aid a man in need. That is giving the Cup of Water.

Now, you may be thinking, “I don’t have those kinds of resources!” You have something, right? You may not be living your best life, but you are living. And the life you are living is desperately needed by those who are dying around you. Reach out. Help out! Pour out. Give your Cup, great or small, and watch as God’s water changes lives.

Verses Used:
Matthew 10
Luke 10

]]> http://deansweetman.com/2011/08/09/the-cup-the-water-2nd/feed/ 0 We are beginning a new series today on “The Cup.” A cup is something that was built to carry something else. A cup’s purpose is always to be emptied so to be filled again. Jesus said in the New Testament that we cannot get that which He wants to ... We are beginning a new series today on “The Cup.” A cup is something that was built to carry something else. A cup’s purpose is always to be emptied so to be filled again. Jesus said in the New Testament that we cannot get that which He wants to give us until we lose what we have, or, for turn of phrase, we empty our cup. That means we get rid of all the lies and tricks and influences of this world on our lives. There are four instances in the Bible where “The Cup” is discussed: 1) The Cup of Water which represents Compassion 2) The Cup of Greed and Selfishness 3) The Cup of Sorrow and Suffering 4) The Cup of the Covenant Each will be discussed in turn throughout the course of this series. Today, we will be looking at the Cup of Water. The Cup of Water is the manifestation of our faith. All too often, people come to church to get the experience without ever moving forward into a deeper relationship with God. The concept of the Cup of Water is where the challenge arises. Will you go beyond yourself to offer the water to others? The Water is all that God has done in your life. You know what happens to water when it sits in a cup? It goes stale and grows mold and is undrinkable. Cups of Water are meant to be poured out. How do you pour out the water? You help others. Luke 10 paints a beautiful picture of how to give the Cup of Water. Luke 10 is the story of the Good Samaritan, and we all know the story. Poor man gets beaten up; twice he is passed by BY A PRIEST AND A PRIEST’S ASSISTENT!!! Yet, a man who is considered the enemy, stops and helps the beaten man. He sacrifices his time and resources to aid a man in need. That is giving the Cup of Water. Now, you may be thinking, “I don’t have those kinds of resources!” You have something, right? You may not be living your best life, but you are living. And the life you are living is desperately needed by those who are dying around you. Reach out. Help out! Pour out. Give your Cup, great or small, and watch as God’s water changes lives. Verses Used: Matthew 10 Luke 10 C3 Church in Lawrenceville, GA USA clean 46:39 The Holy Spirit http://deansweetman.com/2011/07/01/the-holy-spirit/ http://deansweetman.com/2011/07/01/the-holy-spirit/#comments Fri, 01 Jul 2011 18:06:24 +0000 Dean http://deansweetman.com/?p=482 There are 59 scriptures featuring the Holy Spirit in Acts. Acts chapter 4 tells of believers being filled with the Holy Spirit and how the believers then grew in numbers. In Acts chapter 8, the Holy Spirit empowers different members of the gathering. When God gets into everyday people, miracles happen. The Holy Spirit is how God accomplishes these miracles.

Up until this time in Acts, Peter and John had only been water baptised. Water baptism is only one step in the process. The second and continual experience is being filled with the Holy Spirit. Everytime the leaders got together, they were again filled with the Holy Spirit. After they were filled, they then laid hands on others for them to receive the Holy Spirit. Believers in Jerusalem were growing in number and meeting daily until the believers scattered due to increasing persecution–culminating in the stoning of Stephen.

Philip, a deacon in the church, went to Samaria, and there, he began preaching about Jesus. A revival started as a result! Soon, John and Peter came to see all that God was doing and to help. Now, some people today claim that miracles could only be from apostles, but here was Philip, a deacon, performing miracles! He started as a servant, giving food to the widows, until God promoted him. Peter and John served as overseers over the movement, including Samaria. Philip could have gone back with Peter and John to Jerusalem, but God lead him to the desert. God is into accountability. There is freedom in oversight; Peter and John told him to follow God’s leading. God wants to release people within boundaries and structure. It is how the church works.

Philip does not flinch at God’s leading. He sees a caravan in desert as he is walking. The second in command in Ethiopia was a Proselyte Jew returning from pilgrimage to Jerusalem. By now, Jerusalem was in turmoil, the 25 thousand believers meeting daily only to suddenly stop following the stoning of Stephen. The Ethiopian man came there during that time. The man did not know anything about Jesus. He did not know the “people of the way.” The Holy Spirit told Philip to go up and talk to him. He invites Philip into the chariot. The man was reading Isaiah, and Philip shows Jesus to him in the scriptures. The Ethiopian asks to be water baptized. There are Ethiopians today who can trace there lineage and faith back to this scene, all because of Philip heeding the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit told Philip to do things he did not know how to do. We are a church of the Holy Spirit. When we heed the Holy Spirit, we never know what God will do through it.

]]> http://deansweetman.com/2011/07/01/the-holy-spirit/feed/ 0 What we Say, Our Name, & The Holy Spirt http://deansweetman.com/2011/05/31/what-we-say-our-name-the-holy-spirt/ http://deansweetman.com/2011/05/31/what-we-say-our-name-the-holy-spirt/#comments Tue, 31 May 2011 13:39:46 +0000 Dean http://deansweetman.com/?p=475 When we submit to Christ, we have the power and authority to transform our lives and those of others by what we say. What comes out of our mouth is a release of what comes from heaven into our world. “Whatever we bind on earth is bound in heaven, whatever we loose on earth is loosed in heaven.” – Matthew 18. Growing our faith gives us the ability to function in the spiritual dimension. In the world, we would get tossed around by all the negativity that swirls there constantly, but when we are heavenly-minded and living for Christ, we don’t have to be part of the negative forces around us. We can create change by what we say and proclaim! Speaking connects us with the supernatural – it’s good to be positive, but that is not enough. We were created to be like God so when we speak His words we align ourselves with Him, creating peace in our lives. How we were raised & what was spoken over us can cause us to struggle with this, as the mouth is a powerful force for good or evil. It is always possible to create the changes we seek in our worlds!

Next, it’s important to realize that our souls are birthed at conception, and the being which is created at that point never dies. Our conceived beings are eternal, as we are made in the image of God, and He is eternal! So when the horrible happens and a child, born or unborn, dies, we can take comfort in knowing that God receives them and that their names are written in the Book of Life, burning brightly as innocents. As we age, when we turn to the Lord, again our names are bright lights in that book as we become more like Christ and want to make His name higher than ours. Those who continue to turn away from the Holy Spirit’s promptings will find their names fade from that book, if they choose not to reach out to what God is offering them. Our name is a vital component of who we are, and, in Proverbs, we find out that “a good name is better than great wealth” – Prov. 22. Your name is your calling card, for good or bad, and for all eternity.

The Holy Spirit is God on the earth today, and it is HIS job, not ours, to convict all men of sin, to comfort, and to bring understanding as we continue to search out what God is saying to us individually. In the Old Testament, God the Father spoke to the men of that time, and the Holy Spirit instructed the prophets what to say to the people of Israel & Judah. Then, for 33 years, Jesus was God the Son on the earth, showing us what God looks, acts, and sounds like. He had to die, not only for the sins of man, but to release the Holy Spirit to empower men, women, and children to have the authority we are talking about. Our authority comes from living in Christ and being filled with the Spirit! Remember how important that is! Even our impossible situations can be fixed up and made BETTER by God’s miracle-working power when we know who we are and what we have. In 1906, people were for revival in the country of Wales, UK, and in the city of Los Angeles; now, as a result of their prayers, over 1 billion Pentecostals filled with the Spirit are in the world today! We must look up to heaven, position ourselves in alignment with God’s Word, and realize that in every situation, God is bigger, more powerful, more abundant, and “able to do exceedingly more than we ask or think” – Ephesians 3.

]]> http://deansweetman.com/2011/05/31/what-we-say-our-name-the-holy-spirt/feed/ 0 Authority in Christ http://deansweetman.com/2011/05/17/authority-in-christ/ http://deansweetman.com/2011/05/17/authority-in-christ/#comments Tue, 17 May 2011 17:08:08 +0000 Dean http://deansweetman.com/?p=470 Some people interpret the Bible literally. I believe in taking the Word of God and interpreting it in the context of our society. I am a contextualist rather than a literalist. This simply means taking the Bible and making it apply in the context of our lives. The important thing is to live the meaning of the scriptures, to apply the teaching. We need to think about what God says and live out our faith. Apply the principles of the Bible to our lives.

We have been exploring the topic of who we are in Christ. We have authority in Christ. We have authority to do greater works in Jesus than He himself did. We have authority to cast out demons and heal the sick. We have authority to speak God’s word into existence. We have authority to teach all the nations.

Authority is powerful. It is something given to you – given from a source over or above you. When you are at work, your boss gives authority; he gives you access. When you start operating in that authority, you become so integral to the work, that you end up having more power over that process than the boss who gave you that authority. Jesus said to his disciples, “I’m leaving, but I am leaving you the Holy Spirit.” God has given us access to His power. He has given it, or delegated it to us. We need to step into that position and move within that power. He had all authority and He gave it to us. He said we could do greater things then He did, IF we live and walk in that authority.

Matthew 18:18-20: “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” We have been given the authority to open and close things, to bind or loose them, and to unlock or shut them in the context of prayer. We use this authority for when a breakthrough is needed. We are loosing the will of God on earth. The Kingdom of God is bigger than us. God’s will is bigger and more powerful then the world’s will. Jesus was talking about prayer and faith, about standing on the Word of God in authority. It can change the course of human life. Words are powerful. In authority, words can change the course of human life; they become potent. It is like having a nuclear device in the world of the Spirit.

Mark 16: 17: And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues. These miraculous signs will follow those who believe: healing and casting out demons. You have the POWER of the Holy Spirit in you! Don’t live in first gear when you have a V8 engine inside! In authority, we can bridge the natural and supernatural! Jesus spent so much time in prayer, He knew the heart of the Father. All the perfection of heaven can heal the broken. In those times that you need to stir the faith and soul again, go back to a time in your life when the will of heaven and the will of earth collided, and in God – everything aligned. See that time, visualize it, and find the confidence and authority in Christ.

]]> http://deansweetman.com/2011/05/17/authority-in-christ/feed/ 2 Christ in YOU http://deansweetman.com/2011/05/01/christ-in-you/ http://deansweetman.com/2011/05/01/christ-in-you/#comments Sun, 01 May 2011 16:53:54 +0000 Dean http://deansweetman.com/?p=461 Romans 5:1&2 - “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.”

Last week, when I asked you to pray for one another, I saw some of you get right up & pray, knowing that you were able to lay hands on those around you and expect healing to occur. I saw that it was hard for others, and some of you folded your arms & looked at me like, “I am not qualified to do that!” We need to realize who we are and what we have as believers, to focus on the power that each of us can tap into through Christ. The pastor of any church is not better, more spiritual, nor worse than any of his congregation. We are all ministers of God’s power in our world. There are many days when Jill & I do not feel qualified to do all the things that God has us doing – Pastor Phil Pringle prays starting at 5:30 every morning. I can’t do that! I need coffee to get going, and then I do what the Lord has asked me to do for that day. Each of us, according to the verse in Romans, have been made right in God’s sight by faith; we have peace with God because of Jesus’ death, as we talked about on Easter. Read the 2nd verse – we can confidently & joyfully share the power of God that has changed us with those in the marketplace. We are all righteous enough to lay hands on others, we are all filled with the same Holy Spirit. We transfer whatever is in us to others. Nothing imperfect can come into God’s presence. That’s why when we’ve been forgiven of our sins! We are all “made right in God’s sight by faith” as it says in verse 1 above.

Take the opportunities God gives when He gives them – it is easier than we think! God WANTS to use us, His people! Let the Holy Spirit stir you to enact your faith – don’t freak out! Laying on of hands is a point of contact and a transfer happens when we decide we can allow God to use us as conduits of His power. There is often self-doubt when God is starting this process in us. We never feel good enough, we know our own sins & lack of spirituality – but it’s not about US, it’s about GOD in us! Don’t disqualify yourselves or others for Christian/spiritual service. The Apostle Paul said, “My confidence isn’t in me, it’s in Christ & the anointing on my life.” Read about Paul’s early years before he got saved – he was not the best guy around!

Lead out of anointing and faith in God, not out of gifts we’ve been given. God gets on our heart, not our natural gifts; He enhances & anoints anything we offer back to Him, confident that He will use it through us. When we are called upon to do something outside our natural ability, we have faith that God will come through. Build on the basics and we come into a “zone of favor” that we couldn’t do on our own. God opens doors for us, no matter how bad we used to be, no matter what we have done. None of us is worse than anyone else because Jesus is the Great Equalizer, and in God’s eyes, we are all cleaned up & ready for new life when we accept Christ into our hearts and begin to live with simple faith, simple confidence. Ephesians 2:6 – “For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.” When we allow faith to lead us and believe that God is in us, we have that confidence to simply obey when the moment arises for us to act when God prompts us to reach out to someone. We were dead until we met Jesus, now life & resurrection impregnate us! The next time you are called upon to lay hands on someone, remember who you are and what you have – you CAN pray for those in your world! God is working through all of us, what a change that will make in the marketplace!

]]> http://deansweetman.com/2011/05/01/christ-in-you/feed/ 0 Romans 5:1&2 - "Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where... Romans 5:1&2 - "Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory." Last week, when I asked you to pray for one another, I saw some of you get right up & pray, knowing that you were able to lay hands on those around you and expect healing to occur. I saw that it was hard for others, and some of you folded your arms & looked at me like, "I am not qualified to do that!" We need to realize who we are and what we have as believers, to focus on the power that each of us can tap into through Christ. The pastor of any church is not better, more spiritual, nor worse than any of his congregation. We are all ministers of God's power in our world. There are many days when Jill & I do not feel qualified to do all the things that God has us doing - Pastor Phil Pringle prays starting at 5:30 every morning. I can't do that! I need coffee to get going, and then I do what the Lord has asked me to do for that day. Each of us, according to the verse in Romans, have been made right in God's sight by faith; we have peace with God because of Jesus' death, as we talked about on Easter. Read the 2nd verse - we can confidently & joyfully share the power of God that has changed us with those in the marketplace. We are all righteous enough to lay hands on others, we are all filled with the same Holy Spirit. We transfer whatever is in us to others. Nothing imperfect can come into God's presence. That's why when we've been forgiven of our sins! We are all "made right in God's sight by faith" as it says in verse 1 above. Take the opportunities God gives when He gives them - it is easier than we think! God WANTS to use us, His people! Let the Holy Spirit stir you to enact your faith - don't freak out! Laying on of hands is a point of contact and a transfer happens when we decide we can allow God to use us as conduits of His power. There is often self-doubt when God is starting this process in us. We never feel good enough, we know our own sins & lack of spirituality - but it's not about US, it's about GOD in us! Don't disqualify yourselves or others for Christian/spiritual service. The Apostle Paul said, "My confidence isn't in me, it's in Christ & the anointing on my life." Read about Paul's early years before he got saved - he was not the best guy around! Lead out of anointing and faith in God, not out of gifts we've been given. God gets on our heart, not our natural gifts; He enhances & anoints anything we offer back to Him, confident that He will use it through us. When we are called upon to do something outside our natural ability, we have faith that God will come through. Build on the basics and we come into a "zone of favor" that we couldn't do on our own. God opens doors for us, no matter how bad we used to be, no matter what we have done. None of us is worse than anyone else because Jesus is the Great Equalizer, and in God's eyes, we are all cleaned up & ready for new life when we accept Christ into our hearts and begin to live with simple faith, simple confidence. Ephesians 2:6 - "For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus." When we allow faith to lead us and believe that God is in us, we have that confidence to simply obey when the moment arises for us to act when God prompts us to reach out to someone. We were dead until we met Jesus, now life & resurrection impregnate us! The next time you are called upon to lay hands on someone, remember who you are and what you have - you CAN pray for those in your world! God is working through all of us, what a change that will make in the marketplace! C3 Church in Lawrenceville, GA USA clean 50:36 Faith and Expectation http://deansweetman.com/2011/03/03/faith-and-expectation/ http://deansweetman.com/2011/03/03/faith-and-expectation/#comments Thu, 03 Mar 2011 18:48:33 +0000 Dean http://deansweetman.com/?p=417 Mark 2:1-12: When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”
But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”
Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”

This story is one of the more…colorful narratives of Jesus’ ministry. We see a great of deal passion and determination from the characters involved—from the steadfast nature of the paralyzed man’s friends to the steadfast rigidity of the pharisaical onlookers. But let us focus on the former group.

Imagine the paralytic’s friends. Imagine their love for this man and their unceasing desire to help him in whatever way they are able. They’ve prayed with him. They’ve wept with him. They’ve perhaps defended him from others who have suggested that his sins are the reason for his condition. In spite of the efforts they have made, we can assume that none of the four are a doctor, and so any assistance that they’ve offered might seem to them ineffectual. (They’d be wrong, of course. But this is how they might feel.) Then, unexpectedly, they receive word that Jesus is returning to his adoptive hometown of Capernaum. An opportunity!, they think. From the beginning of his ministry, Jesus has—according to Mark’s Gospel—already healed many people, cast out many demons, preached with boldness, and cleansed a leper. So the four friends decide that need to get their friend to Jesus as soon as possible upon his return to the city.

Jesus does return and gossip goes out where he’ll next be speaking. And once these four friends learn of it, they make haste with their crippled companion over to the house where Jesus is staying. Upon arriving, however, they are immediately hit with a considerable obstacle—the house is packed with listeners, supporters and critics alike. There is no way in! One, faced with such a concrete challenge, could ultimately accept their defeat, or at least a delay. The four friends, on the other hand, keep moving.

The first task they must negotiate is to get their friend up on the roof of the house! This was probably not an easy charge considering that the paralytic lay on a horizontal mat, meaning that two men likely climbed onto the roof and then lifted their friend from a lying position. However they did it, once the five friends were successfully on the roof of the house where Jesus was preaching, they were still no closer to the encounter they were seeking. The only way to get to their healer, to pursue their hope, was to dig.

Can you imagine the reaction of the crowd within when that first finger poked through the clay roof? Here was Jesus, the Christ, packed into a hushed room of his followers (worshiping him) and his detractors (testing him), teaching and awing the crowd. Then, in that moment of extreme focus and palpable conflict comes a faint chipping sound, followed by a blanket of dust wafting down from the ceiling. A finger emerges through the crack, somebody gasps, and a murmur circulates throughout the room. But the disturbance is not finished. The finger becomes a hand and the hand, eventually, a hole roughly 7 feet by 3 feet. The murmurs below soon crescendo into chaos and then down comes the paralytic! When finally the man has been lowered upon Jesus’ table—an odd sight itself—the teacher breaks the silence: “My child, your sins are forgiven.”

There are two critical points I want you to notice. First, it is crucial to note that Jesus addresses the paraplegic as his “child.” Immediately he welcomes this man back into his family, fully accepted and whole. This is the relationship God wants with each of us, and this is one reason why He sent his son to come and reconcile us back to Him. This particular claim is central to the Gospel, so please do not skip over the ramifications of such a meaningful title.

Secondly, I want you to notice the phrase just before Jesus’ startling proclamation: “Seeing their faith, Jesus spoke.” One can get as caught up in the theological nitpicking if they’d like, but it seems perfectly clear that Jesus heals the crippled man by his friends’ conviction. The implications of this evidence are astounding! Piggybacking upon Bill Wiese’s message last week, what this means for you and for me is we are, or rather, can be in some way responsible for the healing of our friends! Our persistence in prayer for those placed in our sphere of influence is a considerable force. Our faith, in other words, has real impact on the lives of others, whether we know it or not.

This is the reason, I believe, this account is communicated not only in the Gospel of Mark but two of the other accounts as well. It seems to be a point that is important enough that God remind us on several occasions the impact we play in His kingdom in general, but on those sovereignly placed in our community in particular.

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