WEST CENTRAL INTEGRATED TREATMENT FACCILITY – June 13, 2015
Set Captives Free Ministries shared an evening of praise and worship with 13 beautiful women on at West Central. All sang, clapped, and praised God. Many went to their knees in prayer during the song, “Not Guilty.”
Pastor Kevin Humphery delivered Part 1 of a 2-part message called, “Nothing Just Happens” designed to answer the question, “Why ME?”
Pastor Kevin Humphery delivered Part 1 of a 2-part message called, “Nothing Just Happens” designed to answer the question, “Why ME?”
Set Captives Free Ministries shared an evening of praise and worship with 13 beautiful women on at West Central. All sang, clapped, and praised God. Many went to their knees in prayer during the song, “Not Guilty.”
Pastor Kevin Humphery delivered Part 1 of a 2-part message called, “Nothing Just Happens” designed to answer the question, “Why ME?” From Jonah 1:1-12, the story of the struggles Jonah endured due to REFUSING God’s plan for his life. At some point, consequences come crushing down on us and many of us ask the question, “Wouldn’t everyone/everything be better if we just weren’t around anymore?” Answer yourself with, “NOTHING JUST HAPPENS.”
Jonah is not a “story” for kids. Jonah is the testimony of a man RUNNING away from God. In spite of himself, Jonah ends up on the beach of the city GOD sent him to preach salvation. Coincidence? NO!
We get proud and decide that we, alone, know what is best for us. God whispers – we ignore or scoff. God speaks – we listen to fools. Gods sends trials – we RUN to drugs, alcohol, sex, and toxic relationships to DROWN HIM OUT. But God is patient and NUDGES us back toward His plan at every opportunity. When we finally SURRENDER and look back at our path, we can see the HARDSHIPS had a purpose – to prepare us for the UNIQUE future God designed for us. (Romans 8:28)
God told Jonah to preach repentance in the city of Nineveh or the people would be destroyed. Jonah refused because he (Jonah) WANTED this group of people to suffer! He ran DOWN to the harbor for the fastest transport AWAY from Nineveh. After boarding, he went DOWN to the BOTTOM of the ship and went to sleep. Trying to ESCAPE from God ALWAYS carries us further and further DOWN into despair, depression, and sometimes ends in death.
When the storm started to sink the ship, the sailors looked for the cause. Jonah didn’t make excuses but he didn’t ACT either – he waited for those around him to DO something. They tried to save Jonah, but were finally forced to toss him into the sea or die themselves. How many people have gone DOWN in debt and guilt trying to save us when we refused to save ourselves by submitting to God’s guidance? In our lives, when we interfere with people God is dealing with, they end up going DEEPER DOWN! Let go and let God save them.
When Jonah went overboard, a huge fish just happened to be right beside the boat and swallowed without chewing? NOTHING JUST HAPPENS!
In the belly of the fish, Jonah reached the center of his storm – he called it his hell. In fear and solitude with nowhere left to run, Jonah PRAYED. Our self-created hell is the place where hiding is impossible and we must look at who we have become and why. It can be a prison cell, an empty home, a hospital room or a graveside.
God heard Jonah’s prayer and will hear ours if we believe and PERSIST. On the 3rd day, God answered and the fish spit Jonah right back on the path God set for him in the beginning of the story. When Jonah spoke God’s words, the city repented and was saved. When we share the surprising GLORY of how God rescued us, others’ lives will be changed. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says we become NEW CREATURES when Jesus enters our souls. What better story can we share? NOTHING JUST HAPPENS! Tell it!
When Pastor Kevin invited the women to accept Christ as Lord to follow him through this life and into Heaven, 8 women stepped forward to pray. All prayed for strength for ourselves a
Pastor Kevin Humphery delivered Part 1 of a 2-part message called, “Nothing Just Happens” designed to answer the question, “Why ME?” From Jonah 1:1-12, the story of the struggles Jonah endured due to REFUSING God’s plan for his life. At some point, consequences come crushing down on us and many of us ask the question, “Wouldn’t everyone/everything be better if we just weren’t around anymore?” Answer yourself with, “NOTHING JUST HAPPENS.”
Jonah is not a “story” for kids. Jonah is the testimony of a man RUNNING away from God. In spite of himself, Jonah ends up on the beach of the city GOD sent him to preach salvation. Coincidence? NO!
We get proud and decide that we, alone, know what is best for us. God whispers – we ignore or scoff. God speaks – we listen to fools. Gods sends trials – we RUN to drugs, alcohol, sex, and toxic relationships to DROWN HIM OUT. But God is patient and NUDGES us back toward His plan at every opportunity. When we finally SURRENDER and look back at our path, we can see the HARDSHIPS had a purpose – to prepare us for the UNIQUE future God designed for us. (Romans 8:28)
God told Jonah to preach repentance in the city of Nineveh or the people would be destroyed. Jonah refused because he (Jonah) WANTED this group of people to suffer! He ran DOWN to the harbor for the fastest transport AWAY from Nineveh. After boarding, he went DOWN to the BOTTOM of the ship and went to sleep. Trying to ESCAPE from God ALWAYS carries us further and further DOWN into despair, depression, and sometimes ends in death.
When the storm started to sink the ship, the sailors looked for the cause. Jonah didn’t make excuses but he didn’t ACT either – he waited for those around him to DO something. They tried to save Jonah, but were finally forced to toss him into the sea or die themselves. How many people have gone DOWN in debt and guilt trying to save us when we refused to save ourselves by submitting to God’s guidance? In our lives, when we interfere with people God is dealing with, they end up going DEEPER DOWN! Let go and let God save them.
When Jonah went overboard, a huge fish just happened to be right beside the boat and swallowed without chewing? NOTHING JUST HAPPENS!
In the belly of the fish, Jonah reached the center of his storm – he called it his hell. In fear and solitude with nowhere left to run, Jonah PRAYED. Our self-created hell is the place where hiding is impossible and we must look at who we have become and why. It can be a prison cell, an empty home, a hospital room or a graveside.
God heard Jonah’s prayer and will hear ours if we believe and PERSIST. On the 3rd day, God answered and the fish spit Jonah right back on the path God set for him in the beginning of the story. When Jonah spoke God’s words, the city repented and was saved. When we share the surprising GLORY of how God rescued us, others’ lives will be changed. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says we become NEW CREATURES when Jesus enters our souls. What better story can we share? NOTHING JUST HAPPENS! Tell it!
When Pastor Kevin invited the women to accept Christ as Lord to follow him through this life and into Heaven, 8 women stepped forward to pray. All prayed for strength for ourselves a