The Purpose of the Church

Bro. Hughes preached at First Church Hawaii on the Sunday following the marriage retreat.  His message was so thought provoking.  His text was Luke 4:14-22, key verses were verses 18-19, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord."

First step - Becoming God Dependent
Poor is someone with a problem he cannot handle on his own.  When you realized your need for God then He can start healing your broken heart.

Liberation
There are two things that lock you in prison that you cannot escape - a lie and unforgiveness.
Unforgiveness causes chaos and health issues.
Forgiveness is not an option.  Your best life cannot happen if you won't release the junk you hold on to.
Revenge means that you become God.  It never works.
Baptism frees us from our past.  God forgives us, but He can't forgive FOR us.
True forgiveness cannot happen unless you give up all control and hope for revenge.

The Forgiveness Chapter
Matthew chapter 18 is called the forgiveness chapter.  Verse 18 says, "Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."  This is talking about forgiveness.  We have to loose things before God looses them.
Forgive when no one asks for it.
We stay bound when we won't let things go. 
Forgiveness is the most difficult thing for humans to do. 

Praying Forgiveness
Bro. Hughes explained forgiveness in a way I had never heard before.  He said when you are praying for someone who has wronged you, you need to ask God not to hold their sin against them.  He gave two examples - Jesus on the cross and Stephen when he was stoned.  Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)  Stephen said, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge."  (Acts 7:60)
I have never prayed like that before.  Yes, I've prayed and asked God to help me forgive.  But my human nature has kept back a part with the thought, "I'll forgive and let God get even."  That's not how forgiveness works.  To be completely free, we have to let go of any hope that God will punish the one who wronged us.

Recovery of Sight
This is talking about mental blindness or denial.  The more you deny something, the worse your issue becomes.

Deliverance to the Bruised
We don't need to be healed from bruises.  We need to be delivered.

Year of Jubilee
When we follow the process of Luke 4:18-19 everything that was lost can be recovered.
Isaiah chapter 61 is the portion of scriptures that Jesus read in Luke chapter 4.  Verse 7 says, "For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them."

Break Every Chain

We had an incredible service last night at Victory Tabernacle!  It started in choir practice.  We learned a new song and the choir came ready.  We were expecting a move of God.  I had to ask myself, "Why don't I come expecting God to move in every service??"

The song was so simple, but so powerful.  There is power in the name of Jesus.  I can't think of words that are more powerful than that!  We added cardboard testimonies to the song and the combination was dynamic!  I think we sang for about 45 minutes (I have the sore throat to prove it!) as the power of God swept into the house and chains were broken!  I have no idea how many chains came off last night, but I know there were many.  And ten year old, Kay, received the Holy Ghost for the first time!

There is power in the name of Jesus
There is power in the name of Jesus
There is power in the name of Jesus

To break every chain
Break every chain
Break every chain

There's an army rising up
There's an army rising up
There's an army rising up

To Break every chain
Break every chain
Break every chain

I hear the chains falling
I hear the chains falling
I hear the chains falling
I hear the chains falling