Preached by Chris Broom, 7/6/2008

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Orlando International Christian Church Inaugural Service

The Truth Will Set You Free - Outline

Theresa and I traveled to Orlando this past week to be a part of the inaugural service of the Orlando International Christian Church. I have personally known Anthony and Elizabeth Eckels, the leaders of the Orlando Church, since 1990 when Anthony and I were baptized in the Performing Arts Ministry of the New York City Church. Anthony and Elizabeth recently moved to Orlando to start the church there and were having 20 at church with just the two of them. Since then, Colleen Parramoure placed membership, Lisa Robillard was restored and just two weeks ago, Gigi French, a business owner, was baptized. On Sunday, those 5 disciples had 54 at their inaugural service and grew from 5 to 9 as Jim and Deana Blowe placed membership from Phoenix and Ray Cholod and Rob Deckard were both restored to their relationship with God.

While we were in Orlando, the church here had house church services all over the Chicagoland area and I was very excited to get the news that there were 179 in attendance and that was with a number of families out of town. It was heartwarming to return and see the church this Sunday, and to welcome those who had been added to our number while we were gone. Irene Tracy placed membership and Jason Orosco was baptized at the Latino camping trip.

Today, service in Chicago was electric. There were disciples visiting with us from as far as Boston, Wichita and Detroit. Our dear brother James read a moving letter of repentance and admonition to those who could be tempted to leave God. He shared how he had ran away from God and His church. Consequently, he had fallen into sin and discouragement. Thankfully, much like the prodigal son, he came to his senses and returned to his spiritual family.

At the end of service, we were able to witness another CR graduation as Baltazar Hernandez was held up before the church for his humility and courage to get open and overcome his addictions. After that, we saw Laura Gutierrez baptized into Christ, and ended the service by singing ”I’ve Been Redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb!”

In the sermon above and in the notes below, I will share more about Anthony and Elizabeth’s journey to Orlando. I hope you will listen and be inspired on your own journey.

-Chris Broom

The Truth Will Set You Free

John 8:31-32

1. Obey the truth and you’ll know the truth.

• We want to see it and then we will believe it, but Jesus says believe it and you’ll see it.
• We want to know and then we will obey, but Jesus says unless you obey you will never know the truth.
• Jesus says that if we obey him we are really his disciples. Therefore if we don’t obey him, we are not his disciples.
• Jesus told us the way to heaven is a narrow road and though many will try, only a few will enter. Therefore we are to make every effort to enter. That’s the only way we will overcome.
• If we don’t know the Bible, we have not made every effort.
• Stop watching TV and read your Bible.
• If you don’t know the Bible, that’s your fault. Read it.
• Are you hanging out with people who know the word and will challenge you according to it, or are you out at the movies with your nonspiritual friends?

2. Love the truth and you’ll never perish.

Psalm 119:41-48

• Write out a Psalm this week to God about your love for the Word of God.
• They would threaten to kill your spouse or loved one in front of you if you didn’t deny Jesus.

2 Thessalonians 2:9

• People perish because they refuse to love the truth and so be saved.
• People perish because they are deceived by counterfeit miracles. They don’t know the Word.
• You can’t love the truth if you don’t obey it, much less know it, or even read it.
• If you don’t love the truth, God will allow you to be deluded. Why? Because God wants it to be very clear to those who love the truth.
• We must change the way we look at the Bible.
• We can see through the Bible to worlds beyond.
• We must appreciate the Word of God or we will never have life changing Bible study.
• We need to appreciate the men that gave their lives so that we could have the Bible at our fingertips.
• Men were burned at the stake by church leaders for translating the Bible and printing it so that the common man could have and read it.

• In America, our freedom wasn’t free. A great price was paid. In fact, many have paid for our freedom with their lives. Sadly, we take it for granted. It is the same spiritually. A great price was paid so that we could be free. We need to stop taking it for granted. We need to be grateful and stop grumbling. Life is hard.

1 Peter 1:24-25

• The Word of the Lord stands forever. It is the only thing that will last forever.

3. Proclaim the truth that others might live.

Luke 19:10

• Jesus came to seek and save the lost.
• We are not like Jesus if we are not here to seek and save the lost.
• Anthony and Elizabeth Eckels are proclaiming the truth as the leaders of our brand new church in Orlando, Florida.
• They really inspired the NYC church by their ministry in the East Village: 5 to 75 in 1 1/2 years.
• They were then in the full-time ministry in Orlando as well as New Orleans.
• Hurricane Katrina came and devastated New Orleans: they marked the house doors “D” for Dead and “A” for Alive.
• Anthony asked the Orlando Church, “What if we did that spiritually?” “D” for Dead Spiritually and “A” for Alive Spiritually. Would that help us to see things more clearly?
• Let’s make sure everyone in our neighborhood knows that we are disciples of Jesus Christ!

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