As 2018 wraps up, we’re remembering bright moments that will shine into our new year.

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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

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Repeat After Me

The Bridge is talking about the October Convention again.  Not because we’re old.  We have a message worth repeating.

Bonus:  highlights from all the speakers are here, so stick around!

That meeting ignited momentum within the life of the church.  We heard from God’s throne as His anointing fell heavily and unmistakably on Brother Nobles and the Ministry.  Let’s keep that spirit and momentum fresh in our lives as we move into 2019.

This past summer, losing Elder LaFleur impacted all our churches.  We grieved a tremendous and monumental loss, but Elder had already planted us on a solid foundation and into a name Higher, Greater, Stronger, and Brighter than any other . . . Jesus.

There Is Something Breathtaking About God’s Church Being Unified. 

As Jesus poured out His heart to the Father before He died, of all the subjects about which He could have prayed, Jesus asked that we be made perfect in unity.

“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.  And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:  I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”  John 17:21-23

His prayer was answered.  When the Early Church gathered together, they prayed in one accord and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.  The Apostles were united just as Christ had prayed.  As a result, the church grew exponentially.

This meeting was our first General Meeting without Elder, and he was greatly missed.  We saw the extent to which Elder had prepared the church for this season.  An extremely wise Apostle, he had a competent leadership in place who would love the people and lead us the rest of the way home.  He raised up a Ministry that operates in love, order, and unity.

Their bond tightened as they put their arms around us, kept us out of fear, and led us into an incredible security about the future.

Elder Poured Countless Hours Into Keeping The Fight In Us

. . . that we might be HOME with him one day.

Never in a million years did we expect our lives would be connected with being overcomers, this great work, and these amazing people in the Body of Christ as it is today.  How everything has unfolded is unparalleled.

We sat completely captivated in October by how God came into our midst and settled us.  Elder gave his life for God’s people.  He made sure the sheep would not be lost or left hopeless and he ensured the safety of this whole flock.

The meeting picked up where Elder left off with keeping the fight in us.  It was packed with life-changing truths about overcoming, services that touched heaven, and messages that drew us into the presence of God to praise Him.

Only One Can Garner This Kind Of Attention

Hello, true church.

“My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.”  –Song of Solomon 6:9

God is the reason we were all there.  We wanted to see Him . . . and we did.  Through God’s Ministry, we saw Him and heard His voice.

It Fell Off My Radar

Get it back on your screen.

Often in the middle of our own circumstances, we forget what God has already done.  This past meeting, the Lord came in the midst of tragedy, moved mightily across our churches, and magnified great things that are coming.

The Lord is still here now to help us make things right, heal the broken, beckon the wayward and lost to come back, and bring the weary home.  Every person searching and seeking to know God will find His presence here—if they are looking.

When Something Deep Inside The Depths Of Your Heart Comes Alive

After the meeting, testimonies were overwhelmed with people expressing deep gratitude for how God touched them explaining that their lives would never be the same.

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THE MESSAGES

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We’re skimming highlights of the messages from each minister who got up.  God gave them words to encourage us and take us farther down the road, and that’s exactly what they did.

We missed Brother and Sister Gill tremendously in this meeting.  Brother Gill lost his brother, and he and his family are still in our prayers.  His gift was missed, but he was there in spirit.  He ended our summer meeting referring to Elder’s last message about praise.  Brother Gill’s passion to ignite more praise and worship in God’s people stuck with us and came to fruition in October.

If You Haven’t Read Revelation 3:21, Pull Up A Chair.

Brother Nobles laid the foundation before the meeting to delve into the subject, “Overcoming”.  He and the Ministry covered the facets of overcoming and taking off restrictions that limit God.

Brother Nobles

Things we need.

• Don’t hesitate on God.  We should have an urgency, not a hesitation.
• God will help whatever condition we have.
• The strong can go through a weak spot; the weak can become strong.
• Be merciful as your Father was merciful.
• Never restrict who God is bringing in.  If we aren’t overcoming, inviting others may be hindered by our spirit.

Overcoming is a process.

• Work and walk into perfection.
• Matthew 5:48 tells us to be perfect.  We will never attain to man’s perfection.
• We need God’s point of view and direction to overcome.
• Overcoming starts with the ministry.  If the ministry isn’t overcoming, the church will not grow.
• I Corinthians 15:52, the “twinkling of an eye” is the last step.

Identify what you have to overcome.

• Revelation 3:21, overcoming is everything about the carnal mind.
• Jesus had to pour his soul into death.  Overcoming allows us to escape the process of death.
• It’s hard being honest with ourselves.  We cannot fight what we do not identify.
• A thought enters our mind.  Backtrack and find where and when it started.  We can’t fix it until we identify it.
• Eating of the tree of good and evil makes us look normal to the world, but don’t forget—anything outside the will of God is evil.
• Nothing is wrong until it overrides or influences the righteousness in us.
• Dad and Mom made the old man.  God made the new man in us.  We’re battling for the new man to win.

Only God can reveal truth to us.

• Matthew 16:17, God has to open our eyes to see these things.  Strive to keep the carnal nature at bay.  If allowed in, it will start to close our eyes.
• Colosians 1:26 is no longer a mystery to us.

Three big players in fueling the carnal nature are found in 1 John 2:16.  Thank you, Adam.

1. Lust of the Flesh—strong desire.  It fights against God and what He wants us to have.  How to win:  “I will not compromise anything that takes me away from God, and I’m willing to forgo the natural man to meet the needs and necessities of the new man.”
2. Lust of the Eyes—authority and decision maker.  It turns us from serving God to serving ourselves.  How to win:  “I will not allow the carnal nature to rule me by taking the place of God’s power, authority, and decision making in my life.”
3. Pride of Life—ego, glory, and personal prestige.  Ego tells us our way is better than God’s.  We show our ego by doing what we want and how we want.  Pride of life causes us to fight against God’s Word.  How to win:  “I will not make a statement with my actions that indicates I can do better than what the ministry or God says.”

This three-fold temptation came into play from disobedience in the garden.  We need to challenge and fight all three with God’s Word.  The carnal nature is not bigger than God in us.  We want God in control of our life.  With Him, we shall overcome every conflict!

Brother Byrd

We are in the most important meeting.  Right here, right now.

• God always has a certain path and direction for the church to go.
• Joshua 1:6, be strong and of good courage.
• We have a peace that surpasses all understanding.
• We are going in the same direction Elder was taking us.
• God is a God of order.
• Be steadfast in our walk and loyal, trustworthy, and faithful to our pastor.
• Do we want the ministry to work?  Pull on them.  Say “amen” and praise the Lord once in a while.
• If you expect much, you will receive much.

Brother Gibbs

Start overcoming

• Overcoming is a process in which you need the will and the Holy Ghost.
• Water baptism is needed to overcome.
• Faith is the beginning of salvation and of the overcoming process.

Matthew 19:21-22.  You want to be perfect?  Sell what you have.

• You can’t sell until you have something to replace what you’re selling.
• Sell old concerns to gain the things of God.
• Unless you can sell what you have, you cannot follow.
• Sell what you have to take on His mind.
• Noah was a just man and perfect in his generation because he followed God.
• Walk with your whole heart, selling as you go.  Talk to a minister—he will give you something to replace what you sell.
• Be found in His righteousness and fellowship of suffering by selling what you have.
• Forget old failures.  Don’t worry about the past.  Worry about the future.
• Press through the old life and old failures.
• Matthew 16:24, deny self and follow Jesus.
• Take up your cross and go after Jesus, the spirit in the Body of Christ.
• Humble yourself and become obedient.

Keep pressing toward the mark.

• Philippians 3:14-17, the mark is a spirit, a nature, a high calling.
• We have examples—just follow them.
• Keep on going.  Don’t stop.
• I Corinthians 10:5, God was not well pleased that men were overthrown in the wilderness.
• We need to know how to suffer.  Look how Jesus suffered.  Look how Elder suffered.  We have to suffer for eternal glory and life.
• The sting of death is sin.
• 1 Peter 4:12, don’t think fiery trials strange.
• We can’t be negative every day and get something good from it.

Keep your first love alive!

Brother Randy

Blind Bartimaeus by the highway side, begging.

• As Jesus walked by, blind Bartimaeus cried out.
• It’s not what happens, it’s how we react.
• The Father must draw us.
• We stop our own blessings because of our thinking.
• If you have a need, go to the Lord.  He has something for us.
• Jesus does not disappoint.  Come prayed up and you’ll be ready.

There are conditions only God can answer.  “The ministry saw me through my toughest times, and taught me to stand on my own two feet”.

Let God have His way!

Brother Gavin

It’s important to gain experience from the Lord.

• Romans 5:1-3, being justified by faith, we have peace with God.
• We have access by faith into His grace all the time dwelling in us.
• Spiritually, we glory in tribulations.  We’re still here, right?
• We can face tribulation in our mind and overcome.

My hope keeps me here!

Brother Bean

“We’ve been praying for you.  We see you’ve weathered the storm.”

• This is a rich man’s house built by the Lord.
• There is no retirement from this.  We run to the end.
• The Lord has taken Onslow to the next level.
• Proverbs 14:4, where no oxen are, the crib is clean.  Much increase is by the strength of the oxen.
• We have humble shepherds.

Overcoming is a process, so be patient.

• Tribulation works patience.
• Romans 8:17, if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be glorified together.
• 2 Timothy 3:12, if you live Godly in Christ, you shall suffer persecution.
• Revelation 3:5, 12, 21.  Get these in your spirit.  Lay hold onto eternal life.
• Jesus overcame.  So will I.
• Hebrews 4:15, Jesus was tempted with sin and is touched by our infirmities.
• We will be wounded by those who are close.

Focus on the priority—overcoming.

• Psalm 41, my old familiar friend has lifted his heel against me.
• Overcoming = eternal life.
• Overcoming = eradicating the works of the flesh.  The enemy found nothing in Jesus.
• Beginning of overcoming is “Let this mind be in you”.

Beware of the enemies of Jesus.

• Be able to identify the enemy.
• You must have a revelation on God and the devil.
• Matthew 4:1-10 teaches us how to fight the enemy.
• Psalm 91, dwell in the secret place, and you shall abide under the shadow of the almighty God.
• Don’t debate with the devil.
• When Jesus cried ‘not his will’, his will was gone.
• 2 Corinthians 10, bring every thought to the obedience of Christ.

Surrender conditions and get rid of the baggage.

• Encourage yourself.  Be strong.  Confess positive scriptures.
• 2 Corionthians 10, our weapon is the Word of God.  The weapons of our warfare are not carnal.
• Isaiah 45, God forms light and creates darkness.
• Your thoughts shape who you are.  Your present thoughts will direct your future.
• Get the victory over your mind and thoughts.
• 1 Corinthians 2:10, the spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
• Ephesians 6:10-11, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.

Are you in this race?  Just finish!  The promise is to the overcomers.  Once you reach perfection, you move out a live soul.

We can make the Bride!

Brother Wright

The joy of the Lord is my strength.

• Romans 8:24, we are saved by hope not seen.  Don’t give up hope.
• Genesis 1, God saw what He made and it was very good.
• Genesis 3, they knew they were in the natural.
• 1 Timothy 4, be an example of believers in word, conversation, charity, spirit, faith, and purity.
• Matthew 5:14-16, let you candle be on a candlestick, not hidden.
• Proverbs 29:25, put your trust in the Lord and you’ll be safe.

Don’t be subtle, or subtil.

• 1 John 4:18, there is no fear in love.  He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
• Overcome subtility.
• Be real with your love, not subtle.
• If you say you’re going to do something, do it.
• You can be subtle in self-righteousness.
• Measure ourselves by the Word of God.
• Proverbs 12, the way of a fool is right in his own eyes.  Listen to the right counsel, not your own.
• Don’t be wise in your own eyes.

Representing His Kingdom is our responsibility.

• Luke 18:9-14, the publican judging by his own standards, “not as other men are”.   Subtility.
• Have mercy on others—this is the right spirit.  Don’t look down your nose at others.
• Haggai 1:2-3, consider our ways.
• Low self-esteem causes us to draw into a corner.  Fear and low self-esteem cripples the church.
• Jeremiah 7:24, when we walk our own way, we go backward, not forward.
• Haggai 1:6, a bag with holes is counterproductive.
• Small things can become giants.

Psalm 139, we are fearfully and wonderfully made!

Brother Phil Phillips

We are all one, filled with the same spirit.

• John 13, the ministry feeds the sheep and God feeds the ministry.
• Jesus gets to work here.
• We are getting cleansed by the ministry through the Word.

Don’t stand on protocol.  Let’s yield to the spirit.

• Peter said what he thought.
• Let’s become more vocal and enthusiastic with the Holy Ghost.
• If God heals your body, it’s time to get right.  Get free in the spirit.

Come up to the altar and “you” press in.

Don’t come to the altar and wait for the ministers to do something.  When you don’t come prayed up, it’s like having to give you CPR.

Ministers:  “Give them another shock . . . more joules!  We’re losing them!”

Come prayed up.  Come ready!

Brother Robert

Let God deal with you and touch your spirit.

• What touches one person may not touch another.  “You being here touches me.”
• God knows what to do to touch us.

“Fair to look upon.”

• Ruth was fair to look upon because she had the right heart and compatible spirit.  Keep a compatible spirit and you’ll be fair to look upon.
• No matter what condition you are in—the condition does not have to be catastrophic like being burned, losing a loved one, or surgery.  Other conditions can be just as traumatic such as being made a single parent.  Whatever the condition, we can still be fair to look upon.
• Whatever you do, do it with consistency.
• Keep a compatible spirit with God and no matter what condition, enjoy the ride!

Happy is that people whose God is the Lord.  “I am joyful.  I will rejoice in the Lord forevermore!”

Brother Monte

Elder and Sister Jean have been here since the first prayer.  He heard the footsteps coming, and look where we are today.  Brother Nobles saved my life by helping me see how to overcome when I needed it.

With a pure heart and spirit, we give sincere honor.

Hold on to the things we hear.

• Matthew 15:1-8, don’t allow natural conditions to take us away from God and the overcoming process.
• Don’t let your traditions, jobs, and natural things take you away from God.

There’s a bunch of us now whose hearts are joined together.

• Mark this meeting on your calendar—these days the Lord walked amongst us.
• The lion lay down with the Lord.
• Jeremiah 2, the Word of the Lord came to us and touched the ministry.

Get back on the potter’s wheel and fix the broken cistern.

• Don’t allow your tribulations to cause you to say, “Where is God?”
• Subtle things make us forget about overcoming.
• Hear, understand, have more worship.
• Ask Him for mercy.

This meeting gave us opportunity to have an audience with the Lord.

• Have faith and talk to the Lord.
• Come down for prayer letting your heart to be fair to look upon.
• Get Jesus off of Jupiter, whatever crazy faraway place you have Him.  He’s right here.
• When you need something, you call on Him a little bit.  Don’t do that.  Let go!
• Elder taught us, “We are the King’s kids.”

We cannot overcome without the four major doctrines.  We need God’s order.

• Matthew 15:11, that which goeth out of his mouth defiles a man.
• Matthew 15:13, allow God to plant you deeper.
• Matthew 15:14, if the blind lead the blind, they both fall into the same condition.
• Matthew 15:24-25, this woman came and worshiped Him.
• If you want to overcome, start by asking God to have mercy on you.

Jeremiah 33:3, call on God and He will show you great and mighty things!  Be quiet ye fields and ye mountains—it is our time to cry out to God!