Greater Life Church

We all have heard the story of Jonah and the Whale (or the big fish). Jonah attempted to run away from God. Bro. Hughes uses this familiar story to explain the untold story about Jonah. At an early age, we learn the hard lesson that life is not fair. We can be the most righteous person and still go through storms in life. Living a life for God is not an insurance policy against trouble. None of us will get through life without weathering a few troubles. Some of these troubles and storms are of our own making. One of the victims in the story of Jonah is the captain of the ship on which Jonah booked passage. He lost his cargo, and almost lost his life due to the storm. Many times the troubles in our lives are the result of the cargo or passengers that we allow to come on board. Jonah was running from God. Bro. Hughes warns us to beware and stay away from people who are running away from God. Like the captain of the ship, harboring or being around people running from God can bring storms into our li

Our scripture text is David reflecting upon the accomplishments of his life. The text references three mighty men. Most of us when we hear the term Mighty Men, feel that we are not included in that group. Most of us feel like we are just getting through. David was a man of great courage and confidence. Then as now, men were attracted to this type of man. Many of these people were outcasts from other situations and were searching for a place. They knew that if they could be around, or get connected with the right people, that they would become better. The old saying that birds of a feather flock together is true. Like-minded people will gather together. When these men came to David, he planted a seed in them that grew, and in turn, they planted seeds in others and reap harvest themselves. Eleazar was such a man. He had come be known as one of these Mighty Men. Even though all the others had run off, Eleazar stood to fight against the Philistines with only his sword and his will. Elaez

There are times and difficulties that we go through in our lives. These are temporary things and are not meant to stay. If we look at a single frame from a movie, we will see a single still photograph. It is part of the movie, but it is not the entire movie. To fully understand the movie, we must see the entire thing, not just the single frame. Bro. Hughes tells us that we must view our live in it’s entirety not, just a single frame. We must not judge our entire life by a single event or frame. Many people get caught up in the moment and they lose perspective of what is to come. That moment will pass, and another will take its place. Bro. Hughes reminds us not to make decisions about life based upon the moment. Our texts remind us that there is glory yet to be revealed. The bible tells us that a good man will fail seven times, but he gets back up. The failure does not define his life. God has a plan and a glory in each of our lives, and we need to let that plan work out.

The bible is more than just a book. It is the word of God. Bro. Hughes says that the bible should be the most important book in our life. The devil will do whatever he can to distract us and keep us from studying, hearing and reading the word of God. In warfare, it is a good tactic to attack targets that will have the largest effect on the enemy. Our scripture text reveals a fact about the devil and demonstrates the power of the word of God. It illustrates something that the devil knows that all of us should know. Something about when the word of God is planted that causes him to come to try to undermine it. The devil is smart enough to know what the word of God will produce in a person’s life and what it can result in. Because of this, as soon as the word of God is deposited, the devil will do his best to distract and take away from it. The power of the word of God in our life is the most powerful force and source of strength that we can ever have in our life. The devil knows th

Our world has changed the principles that many of us grew up believing. We used to be considerate of and look out for our neighbors. Because of our offenses and hurts, we are no longer connected to our neighbors. The human reaction is to retreat when we are hurt. When we become hurt, we begin to build walls and turn inward to protect us from further hurt. Bro. James Hughes tells us that problem with that is that when we do that, we are beginning the process of creating a prison for ourselves. Our world encourages us to be self centered and judgmental. This behavior is contradictory to the will of God and can be very damaging in our relationships. In our scripture text, Jesus is telling the disciples how to respond to those that offend them. The world and human nature tells us that the response to an offense is revenge and retribution. Bro. Hughes says that the problem with that theory is that no matter what you do, or how much revenge we get, it cannot change the original hurt. It only

Our scripture text tells us that with God there is no variableness. He is the same then, now and tomorrow. He is always the same. The God that sustained Moses as he fled from the Egyptians, the God that was with Daniel in the Lion’s den is the same God that is here for us. God desires a relationship with his creation. When He created the garden, he made it perfect for his creation. He created man in order to have a relationship. Even after sin entered the world, God still desires a relationship with His creation. He has not had a change of heart. The bible is full of stories where God was a healer, where God was a deliverer, where God was a comforter, where God provider. He has not changed. He is still all those things. His plans have not changed.

According to John Maxwell, People change when they hurt enough that they have to. He concludes that another way that people change is that they learn enough that they want to change because they see the benefit. The ability to change is one of the benefits of humanity. We can change location, change directions, change vocations, and to adapt and learn. We can change our attitude. The question that troubles Bro. Hughes is “Why is it so difficult for some to change.” Or, ask another way, why is it easier to change some things than others. Our text highlights a man who made a monumental mistake. Esau was the first-born, and was entitled to at least 2/3 of his father’s possessions. He sold that birthright for a bowl of pottage. Afterword’s, he realized his mistake, but he was never able to recover though he tried. Bro. Hughes observes that Esau is not so different from any of us. He struck a deal in the heat of a moment that at the time he must have thought was a good decisi

In all of our lives are things that we would rather forget. We all have things about which we are not proud, and about which we would like to change. The truth is that none of us can change our past, and can only look to the future. Paul extorts us to let the past to be the past and to live our life in hope for the future. Bro. Hughes asks what should we forget. First he says, forget our past failures. We cannot un break the egg, or un-spill the milk. Whatever has happened has happened. We can agonize over the details, and not change one of them. It is foolish to live life in regret mode. Our future success is hindered by the baggage of the past. We must not be so consumed with what has happened that we forget to focus on what will happen. It isn’t always failures that cause us to live in the past. Some rely on past success and forget to strive for new success. When we hold on to the glory days, we cannot strive for new victories. There is more to what Paul said than just to

The story of Goliath is one that is familiar to us all. He was a man among men who stood between seven and eleven feet tall who wielded enormous weapons. He stood before the nation of Israel defying them to come to the battle. God’s people cowered in their tents and did not answer the call. After forty days, David stepped forward to answer the challenge. We all know the outcome that David was victorious and slew Goliath with a sling and then cut the giant’s head off with his own sword. David did not keep the sword, but turned it over to the house of God. Out text takes place many years later. David while fleeing Saul came to the house of God to seek refuge. He had not brought with him any weapons. The priest offers Goliath’s sword. David recognized that sword to be the best thing available to him. He had the spiritual perception to know that there was none like it. There was a spiritual drive in David to seek the best, something that was tried and proven. Bro. Hugh

There are times in life when we fighting and doing our best, but life seems to be getting the best of us. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth that was very much like our world today. This first century church was divided. The people there rebelled against any authority in their lives. They were consumed in an atmosphere of false teaching. Bro. Hughes sees a great deal of similarity between the Corinthian church and our modern world. Our scripture text is Paul’s strategy for dealing with the battle that life was presenting the Corinthian church as well as our world today. Bro. Hughes tells us that we will all have some kind of battle in our life. Whether we have been living for God forever, or just converted last week, we will all fight spiritual battles. Out scripture mentions a strong hold. Bro. Hughes defines a stronghold as anything in life over which we have lost control. A strong hold is a mindset that accepts a situation as unchangeable even though the situation is contrary t

Often in life the things we think should happen do not. We often have a vision of how life will go, and it does not always go that way. Life can change in a moments notice and life can turn upside down. Life is filled with the unexpected. No matter what we may be facing, we are all blessed. Even though we may be facing the trial of our life, we are still blessed people. As thankful as we are for the blessings of God in our life, we need to be even more thankful for what God will do in the future. Bro. Hughes declares that our best days are before us not behind. God has a purpose for our life. Often times the hard part for people to believe that God wants to do good in our life. Many people do not see the hand of God in our life due to the process that He uses to bring about his purpose. The things that He allows to happen, or blocks from happening confuse us. Bro. Hughes tells us that the process God uses is just as important as the outcome. For many people, when they begin to meet resistance o

The God we serve is by no measure small. There are things that God set into motion that He does not need to visit or to tend. He established laws that have become cause and effect. If we praise, He will inhabit our praise. If we pay our tithes, He will bless our lives. God does not look into the offering plate to see how much is placed there. He does not have to. If we obey God’s law, we will receive the blessing. It is possible to live by God’s laws and receive the blessings of a Godly life, but still be lost. Bro. Custer warns us to not mix up obedience to the law and salvation. If we live by the laws, but miss that He desires a relationship, we will miss out on the life that God wants us to live.

Who can measure the value and power of a mother’s influence? For good or bad, nothing can compare to the influence that a mother has on her children. The bible says that a wise woman builds up her home. On this Mother’s Day 2011, Bro. Hughes uses this scripture in Proverbs to describe the light of a mother’s life.

Bro. Hughes observes current events and declares that we are truly living in the end times. With all the glorious description of Heaven, how could anyone not want to go there? Prophecies’ from over 2000 years are happening in our world today. We need now more than ever be living in such a way that they are ready to go to heaven at any time.

Often in life we worry about the things. We face facts, dilemmas and odds that overwhelm and confuse us. These things confront and confound us, but God is not confounded. Our scripture text is from a journey that Jesus and the disciples took across the Sea of Galilee. This trip takes place right after the miracle of the loaves and fish. These disciples began to be concerned about their lack of food on this journey. Jesus questions them: “Why are you so troubled?” After witnesses the various miracles, they were still worried about their current lack of bread. Jesus ask them to consider what they already knew. The question they should have ask is one that is relevant to us today: When has God NOT met a need in our life? Bro. Hughes uses this story to ask the same question. The God that helped in the past will be the same God that can help today. Whatever we may be going through today, God knows and can help us. Remember from where God has brought us. If God can feed 4000 with seven

Every man at some point wonders if his life is in vain. We all want to feel that our live matter. People like to see the result of their labor and effort. Often in our prayer life, we do not see the results of our prayers. Bro. Hughes tells us that the result of prayer is never nothing. God may not give any sign of His receiving our prayers, but all prayers are heard. Our scripture text references the prophet Elias. God we first meet Elias in 1 Kings 17 where he learns from God that there will be a drought in the land. Bro. Hughes looks at Elias and sees three points He was a man of faith. Faith is not always enough He showed us how to act and respond when God did send an answer.

At the turn of the last century, polish artist Jan Styka created two paintings. One of them, the Crucifixion, is an enormous 195 feet long and 45 feet high. Bro. Hughes remarks that one of the messages of such a work of art is that the Crucifixion and the Resurrection are both larger than life events. Jesus did more than just die an innocent death, he blotted out our sin. He nailed our debt to His cross. No one can say that they are excluded, His love embraces all. His love is deeper than our sorrow or our guilt; it is deeper than our deepest sin. It is wider than our largest transgression. On this Easter Sunday, we can do what he has done and nail our sin to His cross.

In the subway system in New York and Washington DC, the tunnels and passages crisscross underground in a seeming endless array. There are signs posted in the terminals that point the traveler to their destinations or to the exit. In life, we are often presented with situations that make it difficult to know which path to take. Our scripture text seems to be Paul’s attempt to advise someone who found it difficult to live and live for God in the sinful land of Corinth. He first assures them that the pressures and issues they were dealing with were common to all men. The people of Corinth perhaps felt as if they were alone in their struggle, but Paul reassures them that they were not alone in their temptations. No matter what the Devil says, we are not the only ones struggling with the things with which we are struggling. Then Paul reminds them of God’s faithfulness. God will not tempt us beyond our capacity to handle that temptation. God knows our limitations, and will provide a way out f

Morning Service Words are part of our life. It is said that men speak 25,000 words each day. Women speak 45,000 words each day. All of our words have meaning, but not all of our words are thought out. Our text indicates that our words have the ability to build up, or to tear down. Not only do our words affect others, the words we use affect our own lives. Words have power and influence. Because of the power and influence of words, we need to guard our words and choose our words carefully. Proverbs 18:21 tells us that not only are words powerful, but that we will eat the fruit of our words. The bible tells us that a good word can change the tide of our life. Bro. Hughes tells us that a good word will be true and kind.

There is no such thing as a self made man. There are those who have done well in life, and have appeared to have done so without any help from others. The truth is that all of us rely upon others in some way. It is common in American society to think that we are owed certain things. Bro. Hughes declares that none of us are entitled to anything in this life, but each one of us owe something to others. If all we do is take from life, we will be like the Dead Sea. Life will be empty and void if we do not give as much as we take. In our scripture text, Paul declares that he is a debtor. One could look at Paul’s life and question how he could feel that way, but he was keenly aware that he owed everything to God. Each of us owes a debt to God because of His mercy and grace and we owe an obligation to His church. Each of us has found a home in the church. We have found forgiveness, mercy, restoration and love in the church. We in turn have an obligation to extend the same to others in the church a