Blessed Life Fellowship

New Wine and Old Wineskins

Doesn't it seem like God is up to something new these days?  And if we are to keep up with Him, we may have to think about things we once held dear a little different.  Jesus' parable about the new wine and old wine skins is about people who are willing to receive what God is doing NOW. We don’t necessarily need to scrap the patterns created in the past, although we might be interested in reforming them to some degree.  There is definitely some good in old traditions.  But much more important is whether, as people of God, we treat the traditions we have come to know and love with flexibility, grace, and compassion for others so we can stay in tune with the new thing God might be doing now.

RESUMING NORMALCY: Resisting the Spirits of Fear and Division

It has been said that a movement should never let a crisis go to waste.  This means that a crisis can be used to exploit and advance a political or social agenda, and in many ways that certainly seems to be happening with the COVID crisis as people of the same mind and heart begin to turn on one another and fear begins to grip people's hearts.  In this short 10-minute address by pastors Andy and Donna, we discuss this satanic strategy of "divide and conquer," and why we need to resist fear and division.  But we also discuss some "rogue" medical opinions numbering in the thousands of physicians who believe we must abandon the media-fed standards of social distancing and resume our normal lives.  

Trusting God in the Storm

This past Sunday at BLF we conducted a Zoom meeting where several members of the congregation provided their perspectives and life lessons on the times we are living in.  While that Zoom meeting wasn't recorded, Pastor Andy provides an overview of that discussion here and the high points of each participant's input.  The theme interwoven throughout each participant's talking point were that we can trust God in the storms of life, and while it may not be comfortable at the moment, it's all going to work out for our good.  At the end of this short 20-minute post, Pastor Andy provides his own input on the Biblical response during times like these.   

Arise, Shine!

The Bible says in Isaiah 60 that even though "darkness has covered the earth and thick darkness the people," God's glory has nevertheless risen upon His people.  So in these uncertain times when darkness seems to have advanced, we are assured that God's glory and favor are upon those who fear Him, and we should in turn allow His light to shine through us to others.  This teaching provides three ways we can allow the light that God has shown upon us to shine on others, thus dispelling the darkness.  This season is a great opportunity for God's people to arise and shine!    

CHRIST OUR PASSOVER

Exodus 12 is the story of how the firstborn of Egypt were destroyed by the angel of death but passed over the Israelites when their doorposts were painted with the blood of a lamb.  This is a prophetic picture of what Jesus would do many generations later when He became the Lamb of God Who protects us from the wrath of God against sin when He took our punishment upon Himself.  Learn in this short 23-minute teaching how important the Old Testament is in providing "types and shadows" of what would be fulfilled later in Jesus as we celebrate the finished work of Jesus on the cross and His glorious resurrection.  

QUARANTINE WITHOUT CONFLICT: Navigating Relationships in Close Quarters

Longterm quarantine can cause some people to experience a little sense of stir-craziness.  When more than one person is occupying the same house without being able to leave the premises very often, the extended closeness may cause people to get on one another's nerves.  And yes, the Bible has a lot to say about this, too.  Complete with the visual aid of slides in video format, learn in this short teaching how to successfully manage your family relationships when times are tense.  And if you live alone, this will still help with relationships in general.  

DIVINE ENABLEMENT: Encouragements from Philippians 4

The little chapter of Philippians 4 is packed with powerful truth that is especially meaningful for the times we are in.  From this chapter we learn how to respond in times of difficulty, how to pray effectively, how to tap into divine provision, how to enter a place of peace and contentment even in the midst of trial, and how to trust Christ as our giver of strength.  This 20-minute teaching will shed new light on a little chapter that illuminates a big God.  

FAITH OVER FEAR

Second Timothy 1:7 tells us that God has not given us a spirit of fear.  How does this translate to a proper and Biblical response to the coronavirus then?  This personal message by Pastor Andy is a half-hour overview of Andrew Wommack's 2-hour "Faith Over Fear" teleconference from this past Sunday evening, plus some additional commentary that will help to bolster our faith and give us a wise and Biblical way to respond to the current situation our society is facing.  

Encouragements from Psalm 91

In perilous times it's good to refresh our memories on the promises of God.  This mini-teaching reminds us that God has made wonderful promises of protection for those who draw near to Him -- promises that we can stand on when everything around us seems to be in upheaval.  Be encouraged as we celebrate the wonderful promises of God and remind ourselves that we need not fear plagues or disaster.  

God's Love is Enough: Establishing our Identity in Christ, by Guest speaker, Ebenezer Olatuyi

As Christians we can often fall into the same trap of the world around us in seeking our individual identities in temporal and shallow things.  In this teaching, BLF member Ebenezer Olatuyi shares in his very first full length teaching at BLF how our identities as individuals need to be established, and what the foundation is on which those identities rest.  We are reminded by Ebenezer that God's love is enough!