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Hands Up Praise God WitnessPage, Sikeston, MO (2026)

03/30/2026

OUR DUTY…BEING FIT TO SERVE

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”1 Corinthians 10:31

We are created for greater things. God has great and wonderful plans for us. God did not create man for laziness and gluttony. As we read in 1 Corinthians 10:31 God has a plan for every aspect of our lives, which includes provisions for our physical health as well as our spiritual health. God expects us to do our part and fair share of the work! The world is full of choices that have left us tempted in ways unimaginable, and indulging in many unhealthy choices.

Our part is a challenging one, to resist such indulgences and temptations by every means possible, including prayer. ASK God for help when you find yourself in this situation, He is always willing and able to give you just what you need. We are all here to contribute to life. Make sure you are fit to serve... Be a giver not a taker…

“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” Galatians 5:13

03/11/2026

Victory or Defeat! You choose how you want to live as a Christian.

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”1Corinthians 6:19-20

1Corinthians 6:19-20 brings us to realize that we are the dwelling place of God. Revelation is the first step to holiness and consecration is the second. Then a full surrender of ourselves to God is what must follow. As we realize that we are the temple of God, then we will immediately realize that we are not our own.
That brings me to the opening title to this message. The difference between victorious Christians and those Christians that experience constant defeat is not what you may think. It has little or nothing to do whether one has Spirit or not. It is in the revelation that the victorious Christians know his indwelling and consequently recognize the divine ownership of their lives is no longer theirs.

The defeated Christian still relies on their own accord and that they master their own lives. The defeated Christians must come to a revelation of sorts, when the day they realize they must give up all rights to themselves and submit to the absolute Lordship of Jesus Christ. They must surrender everything to Him, including families, things they posses, business, time etc. They have to fully become His, and submit entirely to His disposal. When they do they are then from that day no longer their own masters. They then become stewards.God will never be able to direct their lives until full control is given over to Him. Without absolute authority, He can be in their presence, but He cannot be powerful.The power of the Spirit is stayed.

So reflect a moment on this question. Who are you living for, the Lord or for yourself? Again I ask you in more specific terms. Is there anything God has asked you to do that you are putting off, or withholding from Him because of your “SELF” control.
Are you and God in odds or contention about anything He has asked of you? Not till every controversy is settled and the Holy Spirit is given His full place can He reproduce the life of Christ in you. Victorious Christians have done this! That is why they are Victorious Christians.

The secret is out. Now you know. It’s you call, your choice. Victory or Defeat!

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”1John5:4-5

02/19/2026

Teamwork in Ministry…Couples Serving Together, willing to take the risk.

“After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.”Acts 18:1-2

Have you ever thought about how you and your spouse might work together in a ministry for Jesus Christ? The opportunities and benefits are many and can be of significant impact to ministry.
The above passage in Acts introduces us to an example of just a couple who impacted ministry. Aquila and Priscilla were married and living in Italy at the time this passage was written. Claudius the emperor of Rome ordered them and all Jews from Rome. (Acts18:2). So Aquila and Priscilla departed and came to Corinth a city in Greece and set up their trade of tent making there.
Shortly after Paul arrived in Corinth to preach the gospel and since he was without means he sought to provide income for himself through tent making which was a trade he also shared before. “And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tent makers. (Acts18:3). Now It’s not known for sure but Aquila and Priscilla believed Jesus as their Messiah, which I believe was from Paul’s expounding the Old Testament as written in Acts18:4 “And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.”. But we do know at some point they came to know Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Savior of the World.

Know Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half before moving on to Ephesus, and being that Aquila and Priscilla developed such a deep relationship with Paul they accompanied him onto his journey to Asia. Upon their arrival in Ephesus, Paul preached to the Ephesians for a short while and then left from the leading of the Holy Spirit. Aquila and Priscilla remained to continue the work that Paul had begun. While they remained this couples ministry’s most significant accomplishment was to help a fellow Jew named Apollos to understand more fully the gospel of God’s grace.
At this time Apollos was still preaching the “baptism of John.” They took him in and according to scripture; “And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.

This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.”Acts 18:24-28. As was then, it is today, God is looking for couples who have a heart to minister and can effectively work together in presenting the gospel and building His church, as Aquila and Priscilla did.

If you or your spouse is in the ministry alone, there is so much more that the two of you together can accomplish in your local church and community in spreading the Word of God to others. I suggest that you prayerfully consider the decision and direction that you would have the Lord direct you and your spouse to, and then discuss how God might want to use the two of you as a ministry team. Then obey Him!

“After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.” Luke10:1-2
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02/12/2026

“He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon!’ Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20)

Embrace the promise, Jesus is coming soon.

Father, I choose to fully embrace your promises for me. I believe them and act upon them. I will not allow the devil’s voice to speak loudest in my life. The promises of Your Word drown him out. I receive Your righteousness, protection, health, blessing, love, victory and freedom. In Your name, Jesus, Amen.

01/26/2026

Spiritual Check... Which are you? An Encourager or Discourager?

“And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”Exodus 16:2-3

There is nothing more spiritually disheartening and discouraging than griping and complaining? Exodus chapter 16 begins telling about children of Israel departing Elim and entering into the wilderness of Sin Exodus chapter 16 begins telling about children of Israel departing Elim and entering into the wilderness of Sin. “And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.” Exodus 16:1
It had been one month to the day that God had opened up the Red Sea and delivered these same people from the generations of slavery. (by the way they all griped and complained about). These were God’s people, on their way to God’s place, following God’s chosen leader on God’s path. And yet here we read that they were griping up a storm! Just as Moses and Aaron needed people to encourage them in their mission, so also churches and pastor’s today need encouragers to balance the discouragers.
Challenge yourself with this notion.
List five blessings you have received from God on a piece of paper and then thank God for each of them. Then call or make a time to pay a visit with someone from your church and focus on the positive and share your blessings with them.Not only will it uplift and bless them as well, it may just encourage them to do the same, and encourage all those they visit.

So What category do you want to be known for Encourager or Discourager?

“But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”Hebrews 3:13

01/19/2026

As Christians how others see you is important.

Reflecting on the Truth. Instructions included.

“Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself: but as it is written, the reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.” Romans 15:2-3

Instructions are a funny things. Sometimes they can be confusing or difficult to follow. Most people ignore some or most of a set of instructions if they feel they are to tedious and unnecessary to complete their task. Instructions are a guide or suggestions that are well planned and thought out to help us in accomplishing whatever they are written for.

The Holy Bible and the scripture it contains are a set of instructions that as Christians, believers we are expected to follow to accomplish a task as well. It reflects the very path and life that God wants us to follow and complete. As Christians we become the product of the Word if we follow the instructions in the Bible, and this is how we want to reflect to others, nonbelievers. So this brings me to this question.

What do others want to see in persons claiming to be Christian? I believe they would want to see someone who reflects the life of Jesus Christ. The scripture above instructs us to do just that. In not so many words but it’s meaning is clear. We are to instructed to love them, as we love ourselves.
The scripture above instructs us to do just that. In not so many words but it’s meaning is clear. We are to instructed to love them, as we love ourselves. “If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well.” James2:8.

As we encounter those who needs a word of encouragement or maybe a pat on the back, or a helping hand, or a heartfelt prayer. We are expected as Christians to reach out to our neighbors, if we won’t who will? If we don’t show love for them, then who will? If we don’t show that love toward our brothers and sisters, then who will? So today, seek out that neighbor in need. Then do something about it.
Make sure you read the instructions clearly and fully, don’t skip over or not include some areas because you feel it is a waste of time or not needed in your life. I guarantee you these are a set of instructions you were not meant to edit at your convenience or ignore.
Hey, it’s not my instructions. It’s our Heavenly Father’s instructions. Although they may be difficult to follow at times and confusing keep reading them and study them. It will become clear what to do next, and the final product will be eternally rewarded!

“Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.” Leviticus 19:18

01/15/2026

SAYING THE RIGHT WORDS AT THE RIGHT TIME….

I’m pretty sure there’s been an instance in all our lives at one time or another we were tasked or confronted to make a speech or say something to someone or to a group that we were totally unprepared for. Be it a large crowd of people or just finding the words to say to someone whose day hasn’t been the best it could have been.
Many times and too often, as Christians we are faced with the same situations and dilemmas when confronted with questions and situations that require Spiritual words to be given. Mostly it has to be with not being prepared, not studying God’s Word and not praying enough for insight and knowledge of the Word.
I was reading in book of 2 Timothy and came to the scriptures in chap 4:1-2 verses "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine."
These words Paul wrote to Timothy in the above passage of scripture made me realize how this also applies to us today! We are to be student’s to God’s Word so that in all times and in all situations we’ll be ready with well chosen, Biblically based, words of correction, rebuke and encouragement. Now that doesn’t mean we are called to be abrasive and so intense to the point so that others are turned off to God’s truth. Instead, we need to be prepared to honestly any lovingly proclaim the truth of God’s Word.
If you aren’t sure you are prepared enough to the challenge to speak to others ask God to help you know what to share from the Bible and when to share it. Just remember Paul’s exhortation in verse 2 believers are to preach the Word with “all longsuffering and doctrine”
It’s up to you as a Christian to spread the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew16:15 "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." 2Tim2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
It is written, study it and obey. Put into practice so that you will not be put on the spot and ashamed or embarrassed for not knowing what to say!

01/14/2026

Go and Tell and Share Your Life Changing Experience!

"Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying, Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him."
Luke 8:38-39

This passage of scriptures is the result of what Jesus did for a demon possessed man in the land of Gerasenes. In reading chapter 8 in the book of Luke we see were Jesus had not much more than gotten ashore when he was approached by the demon possessed man.

The man was from the city and resided among the tombs where he was seen by many as naked and homeless. But when he saw Jesus, the scriptures said he fell down to his knees and shouted to Jesus, ”What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you don’t torture me!” He said this because Jesus had already commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man.

Now when you read more into the scriptures you will discover that the man was cleaned spiritually from the demons and was found sitting at Jesus’ feet, fully dressed and completely sane. The man wanted to leave and follow Jesus and become one of His disciples, but Jesus instead told the man to return to home and tell the story that God has done for you. So the man obeyed Jesus ‘command, proclaiming throughout the city what Jesus had done for him.

The Lord’s command to the demon possessed man still applies today! If God has done a transforming work in your life, GO AND TELL others about it. After all, nothing creates a thirst for Jesus Christ like evidence of a changed life. If you’re not sure about what to say to another person, take a minute and jot down what your life was like before you knew Jesus, how you met Him, how He has changed your life.
After you have done that, then pray for a chance to tell someone else the GOOD NEWS!

01/08/2026

Are You Spiritually Starving? Then you need to feed on the Word of God.

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”John3:3

The secrets to building a healthy strong body is of course a good diet that consists of nurtient delivering foods taken in to our bodies that are then digested and become part of our bodies. The food allows our bodies to become stronger and growth is a result. On the other hand when we starve our bodies of the nutrients it requires our bodies then will shrink and become weak and prone to outside invasions of bacteria and countless germs etc. Like our physical bodies, our spiritual body also needs to be fed. Fed and nurtured in order to develop strong and to ensure proper growth.

As Christians our spiritual bodies must be changed first in order to receive the proper course of nutrients. According to Jesus Christ as He spoke to Nicodemus in John3:3, those who repent and receive Him as Lord and Savior are “born again” not physically but spiritually. And when we are born again spiritually then as a newborn baby we must also come to spiritual growth.

There are a few things that come to mind to have healthy growth spiritually. First, no relationship can flourish without constant, heartfelt communication. This true not only in human relationships but also the relationship we have with God. As feeding our physical bodies with good foods is beneficial for growth and strength, a nurturing relationship with God requires constant communication with Him to ensure our spiritual bodies develop properly. The way to accomplish this is through prayer. Furthermore it is just as crucial to engage in reading God’s written revelation of Himself, the Bible. The Holy Bible not only forms the nutritious foundation for our spiritual growth and prayer life, but is the key element in the building of a strong and healthy spiritual relationship within our walk as Christians.

Prayer is our primary way of communicating to God as the Bible is God’s way of communicating to us. As Christians our spiritual growth is pinnacle in our walk and nothing should take precedence over getting into the Word and getting the Word into us. Just as our failing to eat a well balanced meal on a regular basis, eventually not having a well balanced spiritual meal consisting of praying and the Word of God we will starve spiritually eventually.

Finally it is crucial that our new born spirits as well as our starved spirits become actively participants in a healthy well balanced church environment. The church is referred to as the body of Christ and has many members that make up this body, just as our body has many parts that make it up as complete.

When we received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior in our lives we are then part of the church universally. But as members of the body of Christ we must feed our spiritual bodies and exercise it with prayer and Word, to ensure we are a vital, reproducing members of the local body of believer’s as well.

So stop starving and start growing. But it starts with being born again, SPIRITUALLY! Eat up! Clean your Plate. Don't waste your food.

“Marvel not that I say unto thee, Ye must be. born again.” John3:7

12/25/2025

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.Luke 2:11

We have been forgetting about Christmas for 2,000 years! When Jesus was born in the manger, many people missed the big event because they were too busy with all of the tasks of the day. As much as times have changed over the last 2,000 years, many things are still the same!
The tasks that consume our time may be different, but we are still busy buying presents for everyone else to remember the real reason for Christmas.
During this holiday season, take some time with your family recognizing the miracle of the birth of Jesus and the sacrifice he made for us so that we could have eternal life. Christmas sermons should always emphasize the miracle of Jesus.

Merry Christmas to all from the Gardner Family.

Hands Up Praise God WitnessPage

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