Announcements:

• Youth Serve and Swim: Tuesday, July 4, 2023 (Youth meet at church at 9 AM, Perform Serve Project and then Swim After, Pick up at 1PM) Ask Sam and Julie for details.
• Prayer meeting (Next One July 2, 2023 at 6pm).  First Sunday of every month
• Men’s Meeting (Next one July 15, at 9.30am)
• Women’s Meeting (Next one August 19)
• King Jesus will be praised worship night (July 30, 2023 at 6pm)
• 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:  Staying close to Jesus in prayer and praise and worship is the key victory no matter what fiery darts the enemy tries to throw at the Saints.  Jesus is our refuge and Jesus wins.

Intro:  

• A spiritual war is raging.  
• A battle between darkness and righteousness.  
• A battle for souls.
• Not only do we discern this spiritual war in our spirits but the word of God is very clear about it.

Scriptures on the Spiritual War:

2 Corinthians 10:3-5.  We do not fight in the flesh but in the Spirit where we can bring down strongholds/darkness in the name of Jesus.

Ephesians 6:12. We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Pastor’s Thoughts

• This struggle between good and evil does end. 
• Spoiler alert.  Jesus wins
• The enemy will be cast out as the prince of the air here on earth and Jesus will rule as King of King and Lord of Lords.  Nor more death, no more sin.  Just King Jesus being praised by the saints and Jesus.
• Revelations 20:10. The enemy will be cast into the lake of fire for ever and ever.
• As we events unfold and we approach the last days the bible tells us what to expect and it is exactly what we are beginning to see more and more of today.

Scriptures:  In the last days

1 Timothy 4: 1-3.  In the last days these things will be evident.  Forbidding to marry.  Defining what God has given us for good as evil (example:  eating meat, having children and multiplying etc..)

2 Timothy 3:1-5.  In the last days.  Unnatural affections, etc…. (example, gender confusion, homoxexuality)

Acts 2:17-19.  In the last days, God will pour out his spirit on all flesh, specifically his servants with signs and wonders.  (This is what the church can focus on doing well)

Stay close to Jesus:  In his presence there is rest.

Psalm 91:1. Those who live in the shelter of the most high will find rest in the shadow of the almighty.

James 4:8. Draw nigh to God and He will draw night to you.

Pastor’s Thoughts:

• Staying close to Jesus is the most important thing for us to do as the spiritual war reigns on all around us.
• We are in the last days and sin and darkness continues to get more pronounced, so it is time for the church to praise and worship and pray with a genuine heart.
• When we stay focused on true praise and worship and persistent prayer, we will experience the presence of Jesus
• And when the presence of Jesus is evident, good things begin to happen.  God is good.
• In the last days, it is God’s people worshipping Jesus in spirit and in truth that will bring hope and a move of God to the lost world