Announcements:

• King Jesus will be praised worship night (August 27, 2023 at 6pm)
• Prayer meeting (Next One September 3, 2023 at 6pm).  First Sunday of every month.
• Spanish Translation for the sermon is now available at HCC.  Feel free to invite Spanish speaking people to church.
• Youth meet every Saturday at 6:30pm.
• Pray for HCC and Open Hands Community Charitable Services as we prepare to expand our service to the community.

Sermon Notes:

Main Point:  Jesus loves the church; for he died for it.  As we pray, praise and worship in spirit and in truth King Jesus will do whatever he wants to defend the faith.

Pastor’s Thoughts:

• I expect to see and we are already seeing; healings, deliverances, salvations, 
• Jesus said the gates of hell will not prevail against the church.  Matthew 16:17-19.
• King Jesus will be praised by a true church.  By a people actively praying and seeking to die to self and answer the Call of God on their lives.
• We are seeing it in this church and the presence of God is not disappointing.

When God’s people humble themselves and take time to actively participate in spiritual warfare through prayer, Jesus will defend the faith and supernaturally transform hearts to the benefit of His Kingdom (like Saul to Paul).

Story of Paul: Acts 22:6-21; Acts 26:12-18.

• Saul was actively seeking to kill and destroy (eliminate) those that proclaimed Jesus as Lord and Savior.
• Jesus himself intervened to defend the true church.
• Jesus personally had a little talk with Saul.
• Once Saul realized Jesus was alive and was who he said he was:  The Son of the Living God, Messiah, and then Saul converted to Paul and became a light for the gospel of Jesus Christ to the gentiles and to the world.
• If Jesus needs to supernaturally intervene to defend the true church he will.

Pastor’s Thoughts:

• Once again, we find ourselves in a moment in Donna, and the RGV, and our nation where the true church needs to be defended by King Jesus.  
• This world is quickly advancing into darkness because the enemy is at work to steal to kill and to destroy souls
• But Gods people, the true church, is rising up and intercessory prayer (spiritual warfare in prayer) is beginning to rise up not only in our church but God is putting it in people’s hearts to pray, praise and worship. (like THOP, ACTS 2, HCC, and other churches)
• It is happening and we are seeing the evidence of God hearing our prayers and pouring out his Spirit and presence.
• And what we are seeing are the prodigals returning to God with passion and this time it is different. (like Saul to Paul)
• It is very exciting to see what God is doing.  How God is responding to true prayer, praise and worship.  God is truly inhabiting the praises of His people.