“For The Joy Set Before Him”

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work]. [Ps 110:1] Just consider and meditate on Him who endured from sinners such bitter hostility against Himself [consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭AMP‬

“Fully Surrendered to God’s Agenda!”

Pastor Kerry Willis 

The Road to Emmaus — My Message the Sunday After Easter 2025

Perhaps my message preached this Lord’s Day following Easter 2025 will be a blessing to you… 

https://www.youtube.com/live/xEOQ8mlGJaw?si=98lEwtoVTL4wKN1O

Shalom. Shalom. 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

In My Life, Lord… Be…

In my life, Lord, be glorified, be magnified, be lifted high, be satisfied, today, and day-by-day. Amen.

This is my moment-by-moment prayer, precious Jesus. Amen, again. 

“Fully Surrendered to God’s Agenda!” 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Surrender is Our Part in Sanctification

I love to hear everyone get all theological about the term sanctification. Many convoluted definitions are given and I’ve probably given a few of those myself along the way. Still, what we as humans forget too often, is this: Sanctification, or to render one Holy, is a God-Thing!

If sanctification is a God-Thing, then what is our part in sanctification? Our part is simply to surrender our all to Holy God, Whose “Thing” is Holiness! As we give up our right to rule our own lives, He puts us in right relationship with Himself. Yes, He alone makes us holy. To surrender is to prove we really believe Holy God is willing and able and ready to sanctify us.

While our part in sanctification is simply to surrender, “simply surrendering” is not necessarily an easy thing. Simple and easy are not synonymous. For example, it’s a simple thing for a millionaire to go to the bank and withdraw a million dollars to give to the poor, but perhaps it’s not easy?

Finally, if we don’t surrender our all to God, and instead continue clinging to our stuff, our dreams, our sin, it will eventually cost us everything that is holy. Even eternal life will eventually escape our embrace if we refuse to wholly surrender to Holy God.

Have we wholly surrendered our all to Jesus, yet? Is living in full surrender to Him our preferred lifestyle?

Galatians 2:20 comes to mind: “I am crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ now lives in me. And the life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved and gave Himself for me.”

He is waiting for and worthy of our wholehearted surrender. The wholly surrendered life, that leads to the entirely sanctified life, is truly the most wonderful life ever, and it lasts for… forever.

Let’s Be Fully Surrendered to God’s Agenda!

Presence Matters Most!

No Invisible People! UNITY!

Pastor Kerry Willis

A Lot of Compassion Versus A Lack of Compassion

This passage reveals a lot of compassion on Jesus’ part and a lack of compassion on the religious leaders’ part: 

"Jesus went into the synagogue again and noticed a man with a deformed hand. Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus’ enemies watched him closely. If he healed the man’s hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the deformed hand, "Come and stand in front of everyone." Then he turned to his critics and asked, "Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?" But they wouldn’t answer him. He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, "Hold out your hand." So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! At once the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to plot how to kill Jesus." ‭‭Mark‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT‬

Imagine this scene. Jesus shows compassion and the religious leaders began to plot for the death of Jesus. Because Jesus loved, they hated Him. Jesus wanted to save souls. The religious wanted to destroy the Savior. Heart-wrenching. 

"Fully Surrendered to God’s Agenda!"

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Your Strength or We Faint

“Abba Father, apart from Your strength, we would surely faint as we journey onward. Make us more aware of Your Holy Spirit’s never-ending power and presence with and within us. In the Wonderful Name of King Jesus, we pray. Amen.” -kww

“Fully Surrendered to God’s Agenda!”

Pastor Kerry Willis 

The Flesh and Blood of Jesus -- Mysterious and Offensive, Yet Redemptive

The idea of Jesus’ blood has been mysterious and offensive for quite a while, yet redemptive: 

"So Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me. Many of his disciples said, "This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?" Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, "Does this offend you? At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him." John‬ ‭6‬:‭53‬-‭57‬, ‭60‬-‭61‬, ‭66‬ ‭NLT‬‬

"Fully Surremdered to God’s Agenda!"

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Lady Melba’s Song for Today

Often my Mom, Lady Melba, shares in testimony over the phone a particular song that’s on her heart. Here’s her song for today: 

“Let me lose myself and find it, Lord, in Thee.

May all self be slain, my friend, see only Thee.

Though it costs me grief and pain,

I will find my life again.

If I lose myself I'll find it, Lord, in Thee.”

“Fully Surrendered to God’s Agenda!”

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Psalm 116 — From The Hallel

“I love the Lord, because he heard me when I called to him. He listened carefully to me. I will always pray to him, for as long as I live. The danger of death was very near to me. I was afraid of the deep hole of death. I was very sad and upset. Then I called out to the Lord. I said, ‘Lord, please save my life!’ The Lord is kind and fair. Yes, our God is very kind. The Lord takes care of helpless people. I was in danger of death, and he saved me! So now I know that I am safe again. The Lord has been very good to me. Yes, Lord, you saved me from death! My eyes no longer weep, and I do not fall down to the ground. Now I will serve the Lord here in this world where people live. I trusted in the Lord even when I said, ‘I have much pain.’ I was upset and I said, ‘Everybody tells lies.’ The Lord has done many kind things to help me. What can I give back to him? I will offer a cup of wine to the Lord, to thank him because he saved me! I will worship him. I will give to the Lord everything that I have promised. I will do that when all his people meet together. The Lord is sad when one of his servants dies, because their lives are valuable to him. Lord, I am truly your servant. I am like a slave in your house. You have saved me from death. I will offer a sacrifice to you to say ‘thank you’. I will worship you as Lord. I will give to the Lord everything that I have promised. I will do that when all his people meet together, in the yard of the Lord's temple. Yes, I will worship you in your temple in Jerusalem. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭116‬:‭1‬-‭19‬ ‭EASY‬‬

“Christ Remains”

This Phil Driscoll song, “Christ Remains”, has held my soul strong many days and still even to this day…

https://youtu.be/L1b0PbsaS5E?si=GBUJ3lw8aulDJUh2

“Fully Surrendered to God’s Agenda!”

Pastor Kerry Willis 

From The Hallel —Psalm 117 — “Hallelujah!”

“O praise the Lord, all you nations! Praise Him, all you people! [* Rom 15:11] For His lovingkindness prevails over us [and we triumph and overcome through Him], And the truth of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭117‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭AMP‬‬

* “And again, “Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, And let all the peoples praise Him!” Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭11‬ ‭AMP‬‬

“Fully Surrendered to God’s Agenda!”

Pastor Kerry Willis 

From Psalm 114 -- A Portion of the Hallel

"The Red Sea saw them (God’s people) coming and hurried out of their way! The water of the Jordan River turned away. The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs! What’s wrong, Red Sea, that made you hurry out of their way? What happened, Jordan River, that you turned away? Why, mountains, did you skip like rams? Why, hills, like lambs? Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob." Psalms‬ ‭114‬:3-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

"Fully Surrendered to God’s Agenda!" 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Continuous Kissing of the Feet of Jesus

“Then Jesus turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, HAS NOT STOPPED KISSING MY FEET. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭7‬:‭44‬-‭48‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Fully Surrendered to God’s Agenda!”

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Wisdom Takes a Back Seat to Humility

If you want wisdom, you will appropriate humility into your heart. Humility delivers wisdom as a chauffeur delivers his client. Wisdom travels with humility. In some ways, wisdom takes a back seat to humility. -Bible App

“Fully Surrendered to God’s Agenda!” 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

How to Receive Wisdom

Moreover, the crown jewel of wisdom’s accumulation is the fear of the Lord. 

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline” (Proverbs 1:7). 

The fear of God positions you to receive wisdom. Having no fear of God means you lack wisdom. No wonder our world is filled with fools. — Bible App Reading Plan

“Fully Surrendered to God’s Agenda!”

Pastor Kerry Willis