Year 3 of the Safe House International Faith Fellowship did not disappoint. Some of y’all may not care about the Word instead who was there. So let me start with that. There were a few people who could sing such as Melvin Crispell III, Bishop William Murphy, Bishop Jason Nelson and Jonathan McReynolds to name a few. And blessed us, they did.
The gather has only grown stronger. When I say the presence of God was there from start to finish…………….it’s rare these days to be in such an overpour of God’s presence.
Let me quickly walk you through my weekend, highlights from each speaker and why it’s on my schedule to attend every year no matter what. It was so much happening that weekend but I don’t feel like doing a series so this is what y’all get. To sum it up; you just had to be there.
I came in on the train which I like and immediately was picked up by my friend and we headed to the opening Thursday night service.
Thursday Evening Service: Pastor John Gray
Sermon: Who Kidnapped Jesus?
Scripture: John 20:11 {AMP}
“But Mary [who had returned] was standing outside the tomb sobbing; and so, as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the tomb;”
3 Highlights
- Question: Whom are you seeking?
- Jesus has been kidnapped by agendas.
- Freedom bankrupts the agenda.
Friday Morning Service: Bishop William Murphy
Sermon: God Got Me
Scripture: Hebrews 13:15 & Genesis 45:8a {AMP}
“Through Him, therefore, let us at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.”
“So now it was not you who sent me here, but God;…”
3 Highlights
- Destination is the promise.
- Goshen= place where God protects and provides for you.
- Everything they did, God used it to reposition me for the finished work of my future.
After service, I grabbed lunch then went back to my hotel to nap. I needed that nap. Work had built up a lot of stress in my body that I needed to allow my body to relax.
Friday Evening Service: Pastor YPJ
Sermon: It’s Not Natural
Scripture: Ephesians 6:12 {AMP}
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places.”
3 Highlights
- Just because you can get into a fight, doesn’t mean you know how to fight.
- Enemy trying to do 3 things: 1-Lull humanity into convictionless (passivity), 2-Intimidate- make timid or fearful, 3-Exaggerate- enlarge beyond bounds of truth. {L.I.E.}
- Until you learn how to fight, you will get burnt out, exhausted & the adversary will have you where he wants you.
Saturday Morning Service: Bishop Jason Nelson
Sermon: The Joy of Process
Scripture: Proverbs 25:2 & Luke 2:52 {AMP}
“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.”
“And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and men.”
3 Highlights
- Not all darkness is an enemy of God.
- Most of us keep repeating the same process until we learn God again.
- Liminality is the essence of process. You can’t become unless you’re not. You have to acknowledge you’re not something.
After service I went to lunch with a group of people. It was great. I got to know more people. A friend of mine who knows I’m an introvert told me I needed to get out and meet people while I was there. Not to stay in my hotel room. I did and it was exactly what I needed. We did a quick car tour through Notre Dame. My friend and I went to the South Bend Chocolate Factory. I go every year. I like to get treats for my team. And me thanks to the generosity of my friend. The factory is in a new location with a dinosaur & chocolate museum. Interesting combo of interests the owner has.
Sunday Morning Service: Apostle Kevin Duhart
Sermon: Make Christ Great Again
Scripture: Genesis 1:26-28a & Matthew 16:16-19 {AMP}
“26-Then God said, ‘Let us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) make man in Our Image, according to Our likeness [not physical, but a spiritual personality and moral likeness]; and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the cattle, and the entire earth, and over everything that creeps and crawls on the earth. 27-So God created man in His own, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28-And God blessed them [granting them certain authority]…..”
“16-Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), the Son of the living God. 17-Then Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed [happy, spiritually secure, favored by God] are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood (mortal man) did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18-And I say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades (death) will not overpower it [by preventing the resurrection of the Christ].
3 Highlights
- We are in warfare over the blessing [the Anointing].
- It’s possible to be close to oil & not discern it’s oil.
- Fighting in the heavenlies should frustrate you into producing something because we have a builder’s grace.
After I got up off my face at the altar, I went to lunch again and we had a good time. It was getting late and I realized my train was leaving soon so my group had to go because they were my ride to the train. My friend drove like she was in the Indy 500 and literally got me to the train with seconds to spare. I was running in heels to make that train and did.
Overall, Safe House was what I needed to refocus on God, who I am and what I need to do to fulfill the purpose of reflecting God’s glory.
Leave a Reply