Wow! What a Saturday service! It always awakens me to the reality of Jesus' kingdom when His followers are baptized. People declaring that they are leaving the old life of sin and death behind and walking in Jesus' new life of Truth and Peace. Please pray for Ali, Will, Roman, and Judah this week. Pray for encouragement and for God to continue to grow them in faith. If you had questions about baptism and that was something you wanted to partake in please let us know!

It's business time!!!! April 21st we will be going over the financial health of our church as well as logistical decisions our church is going through and our plan for the coming year(s). These meetings always make me feel a lot more involved in our church and let me see a little behind the scenes to know how my church is doing.

We will also be ratifying our new church council members as well. If you would like to know how you become a voting member of the church, please let us know by email at info@parklandfoursquare.com.

Hello Parkland Ladies! Katie Donohoue is, once again, going to be hosting a very virtuous and posh tea party at her lovely abode! If you are a lady and you would like to attend please contact Katie Donohoue at (253)841-1346. May the tea taste well upon thy taste buds. Ta-ta!

If you recently welcomed a little one into this world and would like to dedicate your baby to the Lord at our church please contact us at info@parklandfoursquare.com. We will be having dedications throughout May and we would like to make sure we get a date that works best for you and your family!

If you have any questions or comments about the announcements please comment below or let us know by email at info@parklandfoursquare.com.

We want you! We need help. Teams for greeting, security, provision of treats, announcements, and set up/tear down are forming and we need interest. Please let us know if you wanna get plugged into these groups. We always need help with kid's ministry as well. So... Please email us at info@parklandfoursquare.com for more information. Don't be shy!

The earliest Christians gathered in the upper room, 120 of them. They were waiting for the Holy Spirit to empower them as Jesus had said He would. Peter steps up in the middle of this prayer meeting and declares out the need to select a replacement for Judas IScariot. What was the criteria:

Acts 1:21–22

This person had to have been:

1.  Accompanied us during the time that Jesus went in and out among us.

2.  Must become with us a witness to His resurrection!

What does it mean to be a witness of His resurrection?

The fact that Jesus bodily rose from the dead is absolutely central to our faith in Jesus and the message of hope we witness to.

Acts 4:33 and Acts 1:8​

What are some examples of great witnesses?

Jesus! He is named the Faithful witness!

Revelation 1:5 (ESV) and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood

Not was a faithful witness or will be, This is ultimately describing His nature that will ever be!

John 14:6 (ESV) — 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Dan's Story of his friend who asked him what it would take Dan to give up his faith in Jesus:

“I’v told this story to some of you, it’s one of my favorites, not because of how I responded, but because it was a revelation that God gave me as i was answering my friend who was determined to get me to deny my faith.

What will it take for you to deny Jesus?

You’d have to separate me from who I am.

Jesus can’t separate himself from witnessing the truth—Because He is the truth. He is the faithful witness.

This is why in John 17:26 Jesus says, "I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” He and the Father are one!

What kind of witness is He? Faithful! He will continue witnessing, declaring His truth through the Holy Spirit and the Church.

His witness will not fail,

Nor will he stop witnessing.

DECLARING WHO HE IS TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.

John 17 is the prayer of a faithful Witness!

John 18:37 (ESV) — 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Jesus was a witness to his resurrection before he was resurrected!  His resurrection was victory over Sin, Sickness, Satan and Death. When Jesus rose people from the dead He was witnessing of His resurrection. When Jesus healed the sick and forgave sinners, He was witnessing of His power over Sin, Sickness, Satan and Death. "Slain from the foundation of the earth."

Ephesians 1:19–20 (ESV) — 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,

What is this power? This is the resurrection power of Jesus.

Let's see a specific example of how this power is worked in Jesus' ministry before the cross.

Mark 5:21–34 (ESV) — 21 And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. 22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23 and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” 24 And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. 25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

Jesus was about complete restoration. 

A.   Complete Restoration.

A.    Completely, immediately, irreversibly healed

A.    No human agency sufficed. She spent all her money, it was getting worse, went to all kids of doctors. Than she hears reports of this Jesus guy! I’m going after him. I’m desperate. Little did she know, Jesus not only healed her. He completely healed her, immediately healed her, irreversibly healed her, and healed her of things she didn’t even know she needed healing of.

Lets look at this intense story of restoration. This is more than a story of physical healing, but complete and utter resurrection from the ashes of social and emotional death to effervescent life.

          Jesus heals her and could have left it at that. But he wanted to talk to her and restore her. She was afraid! Why?

          12 years unclean. All the while, you can’t touch anyone. You can’t be friends with anyone! Leviticus 15:25

          Jesus wanted to turn this wrong view on its head. He looked around and called her forward. Who touched me?

          I love how the disciples answer so unaware of what’s going on! But Jesus is completing the ressurection.

1. He wasn’t too busy. (ON his way to save a dying girl)
2. He wasn’t too snobby (woman)
3. He wasn’t afraid (unclean)
4. He wasn’t too distracted by others (thronged about him) Faith has a way of cutting through the crowd and getting God’s attention
5. He is welcomed her as His daughter
6. Imagine how this felt! 12 years, no family. POWER!
7. He reinstated her into her community
8. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”  - "You have no debt to me Go in peace. Do not fear that this affliction will return to you. Dig your roots back into your family. God is with you!”

This is a radical testimony about how when no human agency sufficed and the situation seemed insurmountable, but this "5ft. 8in. Jewish Carpenter" made a way. She now becomes a witness of His truth and a prophetic picture of His resurrection.

The invitation still stands for prayer requests for those who would like others to stand with them in prayer. Please let us know if you have any specific requests and we would love to add them here or to have them shared with leadership. Please comment below or email info@parklandfoursquare.com.

May God bless your week. I hope to see you soon!