Hurry
home
By
Pastor Larry Crawford, Open Arms Christian Fellowship |
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[December 11, 2015]
Imagine
a home where there is no death, no sorrow, no crying, and no pain.
Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Yet God is preparing an
eternal home for all who will accept the greatest Christmas gift
ever given… forgiveness of sins and salvation through Jesus Christ.
Give your life to Jesus today and experience His grace, love, peace
and forgiveness.
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 You do not have to wait for your eternal home to experience home.
God has provided His Church…a home for all who will come… a safe
place. A real home… a family…. as one of my friends says, “God wants
to give us a little heaven to go to heaven with.” Let me take a few
moments to describe it to you. I call it Father’s House. God is
raising up churches (Father’s House) with the Father’s Heart.
Father’s House is a House of HOPE: GOOD NEWS! It seems all we hear
is bad news…horrific real life stories happening throughout our
nation. In a world full of bad news, uncertainty, fear and
hopelessness – we need good news. The Good News…the Best News is
that God loves you so much He made a way where you can spend
eternity in Heaven and also experience a life full of joy on this
earth!
 Father’s House is a House of HEALING! No matter what pain you are
facing, Father’s House is present to minister healing and hope.
Let me describe it to you. “The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the power
of God unto salvation to all who believe…” Literally the GOOD NEWS
is the power of God which will rescue you and me from whatever it is
holding us captive…sin, pain, sickness, fear, etc.
Father’s House ministers Emotional Healing. Jesus came to “heal the
brokenhearted.” Literally those who are crushed… shattered hearts
and dreams – pain deep inside.
Father’s House ministers Physical Healing. Jesus came to “proclaim
liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind.” There
is not any sickness He cannot heal nor is there any addiction from
which He cannot set you free.
Father’s House ministers healing from Spiritual Abuse. Jesus came to
“set at liberty those who are oppressed.” This literally means those
who are bruised by life – especially brought on by others. God wants
to heal those of you who have been hurt not only by life outside the
church, but also those who have been hurt by the church in the
church.
Let me briefly describe the HEART of Father’s House. It is a SAFE
place full of PROVISION for all. The church is designed to be a
place where every person’s needs are met.
It is a SAFE place where you are EXPECTED! Father God is watching
and waiting for you to come Home. You’re welcome and expected!
 It is a SAFE place where you are ACCEPTED & FORGIVEN! It doesn’t
matter what you have done or where you are right now. You’re
accepted here! God loves you and wants to give you a fresh start… a
second chance… a new beginning.
Finally Father’s House is a SAFE place where you are CELEBRATED! We
are waiting to celebrate your Homecoming but also celebrate you!
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Several years ago I was at Six Flags in Atlanta, Georgia. I was
waiting in line with two of my children to ride Goliath (a large
roller coaster). The rides were shut down because of rain. We waited
and as people left line we kept moving closer to the front until we
were all the way to the front. There was a group of older teenagers/
college age people behind us using all kinds of bad language to the
point I almost said something because of my children. Then the Holy
Spirit prompted me to speak to one of the young men who had been the
most vocal. The Lord said, “Tell him it is time for him to come
home…to come back to me.” To make a long story short, I wrestled
with God but finally said those words to this young man. As I did,
he was speechless as tears came down his face. By this time my
children and I are on the ride and right before it took us away, I
said again – “Father God is calling you to come home. He loves you!
He sent me all the way from Atlanta, Illinois to Atlanta, Georgia to
tell you it is time to come home."
Today… right now… God is calling you to come home to Him. He loves
you!
I’ll be home for Christmas. I hope you will join me.
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