We have just entered into the 2024 hurricane season and already there has been one named storm. The predictions of the NOAA is that we will have between 18-24 storms  10-14 named storms and 5-8 major storms. Certainly we should not take the predictions lightly. There are several website available for anyone to learn how to be prepared for the storms that approach our property.

In the life of believers and people in general, the storms of life know no season. There is usually a few days notice when a hurricane is approaching, however, the storms of life don’t always come announced. We don’t often have time to prepare for these life storms so it is important to stay prepared. Jesus instructed His disciples in Luke 6:47 that a wise man will hear His words and act upon them and live by them and thereby build his life upon the foundation of the Word of God. When the storms of Life come his life will not be destroyed, disturbed, shaken or blown away. However, the person who refuses to implement God’s word into his life will definitely suffer loss.

This weeks message gives 8 ways for us to prepare and be ready for any storms that might come our way. To see the entire message click on the Watch Services link and be informed.

Remember it is the truth you know and walk in that sets you free.!

On May 27, we as Americans celebrate Memorial Day. For many it is a day for picnics, beaches, bar-b-ques and that is fine . However, we must never forget the cost of the freedoms we enjoy in this wonderful country. We are called to remember the 1.3 million lives sacrificed to purchase this freedom along with the 1.5 million who returned wounded and the countless millions who suffered mental and emotional issues from the wars found.  These men and women all believed that freedom was worth dying for.  If we fail to remember the cost of our freedoms, we run the risk of taking them for granted and will gradually begin to lose them altogether. Our Government is intended to provide safety, infrastructure and an environment conducive to living a free life.  Over the past several years the Federal and some State Governments have begun to place restrictions upon its citizens in the form of taxations and regulations that will ultimately infringe on the freedom of many.

to watch the entire message “Worth Dying For!” click on the watch services button and click on the appropriate link.

Until next time, remember it’s the truth you know and walk in that sets you free! I’m Pastor Carl Benton

Hebrews 12:1 tells us to run the race set before us with endurance once we have laid aside the sin that ensnares us and the weight that weighs us down.  If we think about life as a race then we have to drawn some observations. One, we do not race against anyone else. This is our race with a grand prize for those who finish their course. Second, this race is not a sprint but a marathon. Third, there are three parts to this race, the start, the middle and the finish. So many start well but somehow get sidetracked in the middle and wind up derailed before the finish. Many start well and run well almost all the way to the finish, then one mistake can cause them to falter and only be remembered for their failure.

We looked at the reign of Kings Asa on Judah in 2 Chronicles 14, 15 and 16. We drew some lessons from our study. Go to the media section of our website and watch the entire message to get the conclusions.

Remember it is the truth you know and walk in that sets you free. Pastor Carl Benton

We have just celebrated the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. What a celebration of Life. However, we should never forget that before there can be a resurrection there must be a death. So we reflect on the Thursday before just after the last supper, Jesus went into the garden with his disciples to pray. He was in such agony He sweat drops of blood. Personally I believe He realized that He was to take on the sins of the entire world and be separated from God the Father for the first time in His life. He reaffirmed His commitment twice, saying “Not My will but Yours be done.”  Rom 5:8 says that God demonstrated His love towards us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

On Friday, Jesus was crucified, the torture of which is hard to describe or to imagine. On the Saturday, His lifeless body lay in the tomb but His human spirit was in the region of the damned. Early on the Sunday Morning the Holy Spirit Quicken Him alive and the explosive force of Life rolled away the stone from the tomb. Death could not hold Him.

God’s Love has forgiven our past, effects our daily lives and changed our destiny.  The resurrection is not just a historical event but a life changing eternal happening.

To watch the entire message go to the media button and click to open the video on this website.

Until next time, Remember it’s the truth you know and walk in that set you free.

Pastor Carl Benton

It seems like each year Christmas is more and more commercialized with advertisements beginning earlier and earlier in the year. I’m not opposed to corporations promoting their business because for some the Christmas shopping season makes their entire year. Pastor Belinda and I do watch movies on TV mostly on Pure Flicks a christian movie streaming service. I’ve even noticed this year that even when they endeavor to explain the true meaning of Christmas, it is always about family, morals, some feel good story of reconciliation and forgiveness. Those are good however I rarely hear anyone take about the birth of our savior and Lord Jesus Christ.

Lest we forget, there would be not Christmas without Christ. So as we go around this year please remember to keep Christ as the center of your celebration and heart.

Remember it’s the truth you know and walk in that sets you free. Pastor Carl

As believers in Jesus Christ we are empowered to overcome in this life. In the last two post we saw that we can overcome, The World, The temptations of the flesh and, The Devil with God’s word and the Spiritual Armor that is available. Remember that God always leads us in His triumph. All we need to do is follow His instructions.

I remember the old Timex commercials that said “It takes a licking and keeps on ticking.” No matter what kind of attack you may be under with God on your side you can keep on ticking or living.

Our physical DNA is in every cell of our body. You’ve see the picture of what DNA looks like. It determines everything about you. well we have a spiritual DNA. God said to me that spiritual DNA stands for Divine Nature Assigned. It determines everything about you spiritually.

This week we’ll look at Four distinct features of a believer’s DNA:

Faith:   Rom 12:3 “God has given to each one the measure of faith” Faith in God gives us spiritual sight, seeing beyond the immediate natural struggles of life into a spiritual reality for the favorable outcome. Faith demonstrates itself in boldness, confidence and recognizing that what we see is only temporary.

Favor: the advantage to succeed in life. We are members of the Royal Family of God. God surrounds us with favor. A great example of favor is the Story of Joseph in the book of Genesis.  Read Gen 36-39 for his life.

Forgiveness;  We have the capacity to forgive. Unforgiveness does not harm the person who has harmed you. All it does is keep you tied to the person or event like a tether ball. No matter how hard you hit it, it will always return to you. Forgiveness is a decision of the will. Once you decide, feeling will follow.

God’s Love:  Remember God loves you as much as He loves Jesus. God’s Love will keep your faith working, the favor active, the forgiveness easier and will always cause us to overcome the obstacles of Life.

To hear the entire message click on the media button, then on the watch services link.

Until next time, remember it’s the truth you know and walk in that sets you free. Pastor Carl Benton

God has equipped and empowered a Christ centered believer to be an overcomer in their life. Last time we saw that we are in a warfare against the devil, the world culture and the temptations of the flesh. Praise God, He has made a way for us to overcome.

This post will focus on what I call the “personal terrorist”. The apostle Paul tells us the God has not given us a “spirit of fear”. However many are influenced by this spirit. I call it the spirit of manipulation. This spirit manifest itself in six basic ways. We’ll briefly list each way it will manipulate a believer.

Pride: Selfishness, greed, control, perfectionist, compulsive behaviors, racism

Isolation:  Loneliness, depression, despair, over sleeping, alcoholism, drug addiction

Intimidation:  Shyness, low self esteem, insecurity, indecisiveness, no confidence, stressed out

Paralysis:  Phobias, paranoia, trouble adjusting to change, guilt and shame

Panic: Panic attacks, anxiety and worry, sleeplessness and confusion

Negative Attitude;  Critical, judgmental, sarcasm, cynical about the sincerity of others, impatience

If you find yourself in one or more of these areas, you are not alone! This situation is not hopeless, God has a way and plan for you to overcome the “personal terrorist.”

First God to God’s word and know God

Second be clothed with your spiritual armor

Third become God inside minded.

To view the entire message go to the Media button and click on watch services.

Until next time this is Pastor Carl Benton reminding you, “It’s the truth you know and walk in that sets your free.”

If you are not aware of it, we are in a spiritual battle everyday of our lives.  At times life seems to be running smoothly and at times it is as rough as can be and at other times we feel like we can’t go on another day. When we realize that this battle exist on three fronts we can be prepared because God has made a way for us to overcome every battle of life.

Before we were born again, we were not capable of waging a good warfare because we did not have the spiritual weaponry that would insure victory. However, when we made Jesus the Lord of our lives and became the children of God. All things became new. We received the Holy Spirit and the spiritual equipment to fight in this battle.

The first front we battle is, the devil. First Peter 5:7 tells us to be sober, be vigilant for our adversary, the devil roams about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.  We must not allow anything to cause us to lose our focus of life in Christ. Remember that Jesus made a show of the devil after the crucifixion where Jesus defeated him soundly. So when the devil harasses you, remind him that he is defeated.  James 4:7 says, “Submit to God, Resist the devil and he will flee from thee.” When we live according to God’s word we are submitting to God and are in subordination under God’s authority. Satan must recognize your authority and obey. However, if we are insubordinate to God, then Satan doesn’t have to obey our commands.

The Second front we battle is the world. Many times people unknowingly yield to the enemies pressure to say and do things that are ungodly towards us.  The way to respond is found in Mat 5. We must pray for them, do good to them and bless them for they don’t know what they are doing and whose behind their behavior.  The Apostle Paul tells in Ephesians chapter six that we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities, powers, rulers and spiritual wickedness. When walk in love we are submitting to God’s word.

The third front is simply temptation, 1 John chapter two tells us the temptation comes in three forms: Lust of the eyes, Lust of the flesh and the Pride of Life.  Remember when Jesus was in the desert He was tempted with these three temptations. He used the Word to overcome the temptations. We must do the same.

God has not let us at the mercy of the devil, but has empowered and equipped us for the battles of life. He has changed our DNA from victim to Victor. Rejoice that He has not abandoned us.

You can watch the message by clicking on the Media link and go to Watch services.

Until next time, remember, it’s the truth you know and walk in that sets your free.  Pastor Carl Benton