Pastor Ed Castro Blog

5 benefits from 'Storms'

Pastor Ed Castro — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:37:31 GMT

Mat 14:24 NLT - Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.

Mat 14:25 NLT - About three o'clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water.

Mat 14:26 NLT - When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, "It's a ghost!"

Mat 14:27 NLT - But Jesus spoke to them at once. "Don't be afraid," he said. "Take courage. I am here! "

What Storms of life can do for us

1. Storms often provide us with greater opportunities to see God’s glory

2. Storms can promote our spiritual maturity

3. Storms build our character and courage

4. Storms produce an appreciation for prayer

5. Today's storms give us the wisdom to share with others going through the same storm in the future.

This Sunday I will be speaking about 'Telling your mountain to move'. Your not going to want to miss out.....

Victory Outreach North Brooklyn meets every Sunday @ 108 Manhattan ave (Beween Boerum ave & Johnson ave). We are near the L train Montrose stop, the G train Flushing stop and the J train @ flushing ave . Service starts at 11am (service is approx 90 minutes long) Some people wear suits and some people come in jeans, what really matters is that you are there ready to discover (or re-discover) the difference Jesus makes www.vonorthbrooklyn.org

Sunday Sermon Re-cap- Pray,Love,Eat Pt 1

Pastor Ed Castro — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:39:20 GMT

Yesterday I began our 'Eat,Love,Pray' series with the 'Power of Prayer' sermon.

Here is the recap...I pray it encourages you to pray more.

Mat 6:6 NKJV - "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who [is] in the secret [place]; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Jesus Expects us to have a personal prayer life at home.

Prayer is talking to God.

Top reasons why we must pray!

We must pray because it’s what Jesus expects us to do as a church- We cannot lose fact in our main mission as a church is to be a people of prayer. Prayer gives us the fuel to live by the Great Commandment, Pursue the Great Commission, listen to the Great Companion (Holy Spirit) and live by the Great book (Bible)

Mat 21:13a NKJV - And He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,'…

We must pray for forgiveness-

We cannot let the stain of sin hinder our daily walk with God.

1Jo 1:9 NKJV - If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Pray to learn how to be more forgiving-

We cannot let unforgiveness hinder us spiritually, mentally, socially and physically

Mat 18:21 NKJV - Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"

Mat 18:22 NKJV - Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Eph 4:32 NKJV - And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

We must pray because it brings peace to our lives-

Prayer is the catalyst for peace.

Phl 4:6 NKJV - Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

Phl 4:7 NKJV - and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

We must pray because it a catalyst to wisdom-

Most of our problems our not spiritual warfare problems but lack of applied knowledge problems.

Jam 1:5 NKJV - If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

We must pray to be blessed-

The blessing of God enables us to live at a higher dimension. a great service gets us into a 'state' but prayer and discipline allows that 'state' to become a 'stage of divine development'.

1Ch 4:10 NKJV - And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep [me] from evil, that I may not cause pain!" So God granted him what he requested.

We must pray to see healing in our nation and city-

We cannot not just be spectators to the economic, social and spiritual decline of our nation, we must rise up and Pray the price for revival.

2Ch 7:14 NKJV - "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

We must pray for our households-

We must pray and not just complain about our family challenges. God still does miracles, but we have not if we ask not.

Psa 127:1 NKJV - A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.

We must pray for our spiritual might-

Make a decision to be mighty! We have God's permission to be spiritual giants that go for the gold and While giving God the glory! Awaken the giant within...we are more than underdogs.

Eph 6:10 NKJV - Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Eph 6:11 NKJV - Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Eph 6:12 NKJV - For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places].

Eph 6:13 NKJV - Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Eph 6:14 NKJV - Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

Eph 6:15 NKJV - and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Eph 6:16 NKJV - above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

Eph 6:17 NKJV - And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

Eph 6:18 NKJV - praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

We have to pray for church workers-

The harvest is great but the workers are few.

Mat 9:38 NKJV - "Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."

We have to pray for the anointing to become excellent at work-

Our favor with God and men as well as the outcome we produce influence the income we receive. We have a kingdom mandate to grow financially to support our family and God's church.

Gen 39:2 NKJV - The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

Gen 39:3 NKJV - And his master saw that the LORD [was] with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand.

Gen 39:4 NKJV - So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all [that] he had he put under his authority.

Dan 6:3 NKJV - Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit [was] in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.

Pro 22:29 NKJV - Do you see a man [who] excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown [men].

We have to pray for the atmosphere of our ministry-

In the presence of God is the 'Presents' of God and it's the anointing that breaks the yokes of bondage not clever programs....but we need a critical mass of people who will pray the price.

Act 4:31 NKJV - And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

We have to pray for joy when we are experiencing the blues-

The devil love to use weapons of mass distraction and mass Discouragement to weaken the saints.

Psa 30:5 NKJV - For His anger [is but for] a moment, His favor [is for] life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy [comes] in the morning.

Psa 30:6 NKJV - Now in my prosperity I said, "I shall never be moved."

We must pray to be more like Jesus Everyday-

As Christian we are called to be like 'little Christ', We must strive to be more like Jesus Everyday of our lives.

Eph 5:1 NKJV - Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.

Eph 5:2 NKJV - And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

Have a great week and remember...

Can I grow, even though......

Pastor Ed Castro — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:33:12 GMT

Today I want to help some people who believe they may not be in the position to grow in their walk with Christ because of certain circumstances in their lives.

Can I grow as a Christian while taking care of my family?

Yes, lets look at Enoch (emphasis mines)

Gen 5:22 NKJV - After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters.

Gen 5:23 NKJV - So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years.

Gen 5:24 NKJV - And Enoch walked with God; and he [was] not, for God took him.

We see Enoch had a family and still walked with God so close that God took him to heaven without seeing death.

Can I grow as a disciple even though I made a mistake?

Yes, Let's look at the life Mark (Author of the book of Mark)

Act 15:37 NKJV - Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark.

Act 15:38 NKJV - But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work.

Act 15:39 NKJV - Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus;

Later on Paul writes

2Ti 4:11 NKJV - Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.

Can I grow as a Christian even though I don't feel called to full time ministry?

Yes, We see many people in the bible who were used by God in a might way and did not have ministry office or title. Let's look at Aquila and Priscilla

They were host and co-workers (some people believe they got him the job) to Paul

Act 18:2 NKJV - And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them.

Act 18:3 NKJV - So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers.

They offered guidance with tact

Act 18:24 NKJV - Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man [and] mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.

Act 18:25 NKJV - This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John.

Act 18:26 NKJV - So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

They hosted the church

1Cr 16:19 NKJV - The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.

Can I be used by God even though I may not be in the inner circle of your church leadership and not have gone public with my Faith?

Yes, as long as you don't desire to stay a quiet Christian forever and have the heart rise to the the occasion when led by the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus laid down his life at the cross, while the disciples ran 2 men, one rich and one religious named Joseph and Nicodemus who many people thought didn't desire to follow Christ stepped up to the plate. these men used their influence and income to make a difference.

Jhn 19:38 NKJV - After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave [him] permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus.

Jhn 19:39 NKJV - And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.

Jhn 19:40 NKJV - Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.

Jhn 19:41 NKJV - Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.

I pray that as you read this post that you will begin to start removing excuses that are stopping you from desiring to grow as a Christian.

God Bless,

Pastor Ed

http://www.facebook.com/VONBchurch

Sunday Sermon Re-cap- "Reach in"

Pastor Ed Castro — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:23:17 GMT

Eze 36:26 NKJV - "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

As we Reach up & Reach out we must also let the Holy Spirit Reach in to our lives and transform more and more into the image of Christ.

For us to continually grow spiritually we must learn not to block God’s hand in our lives

The Gospel is the good news. Jesus laid down his life for us to have a vibrant relationship with God empowered by the Holy Spirit to be whole and holy.

We must learn to empty our cups and allow God to pour into our lives.

In martial arts they say 'when the student is ready the teacher will appear'. We must ready our hearts for the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Today I want to share with you 3 big ideas regarding letting God reach in to our lives

1) We must allow the Holy Spirit to reach in and awaken or revive our Spirit

When we accept Jesus Christ as a our Lord and Savior the Holy Spirit awakens our spirit that was formerly dead (hence the term born-again)

Now to many have been serving God for sometime and we know there are times we get so acclimated to church life that luke-warmness creeps into our hearts and we find ourselves with a spirit that needs reviving hence the term and phenomena of revival.

The first step to revival is recognition, then prayer and confession with a contrite heart that will increase our desire, discipline and ability to delight ourselves in attending kingdom business of personal devotion to God and commitment to build his kingdom.

You have to be willing to 'prime the pump' of spiritual growth even when your not feeling inspired.

This will take Faith (belief in the person and process of the holy spirit), Faithfulness (mature consistency with expectation set on God’s time) and proper usage of emotion (inside energy in motion) we must use emotion and at the same time not be lead by them.

Emotions are a good servant or a wicked tyrant. We need passion minus the drama

We need not just a spiritual desire but spiritual discipline. The combo of proper desire and discipline will bring delight to our spiritual lives.

2) We must let the Spirit of God come in our hearts to cleanse, extract and fill our hearts

Many people try to fix themselves with many different modalities, Some are positive but we must understand that to truly grow as a person that is a Christ-follower we must allow the Holy Spirit to not only allow the process of internal cleansing/extracting of bad habits and prevailing negative thought patterns we must also fill our hearts with a desire to be more like Christ.

If a person says they are going to not do (blank) any more and not think of (blank) anymore and does not fill in their heartsas well as their minds with Christ they may find themselves with a new and worse negative (blank).

There is a void in our inner being that is reserved for Christ only he can truly fit and fill that void anything else is a bootleg replacement that is not a natural fit and solution. Its just a temporary band-aid to an eternal issue.

We can not just stop doing bad but start doing Godly good

The heart of man has a vacuum-like nature to it. It has to be filled. If we "empty" our heart with evil, without filling it with Jesus and His good, evil will rush in again to fill it.

Luk 11:24 NKJV - "When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.'

Luk 11:25 NKJV - "And when he comes, he finds [it] swept and put in order.

Luk 11:26 NKJV - "Then he goes and takes with [him] seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last [state] of that man is worse than the first."

Let the Holy spirit Fill your life with a desire to Love God, Live for God and Lead others to do the same.

This is part of Victory Outreach's anointing to rescue people and to give them a desire to fill their life with God’s mission, mandate and mantle.

We cannot fear the calling of God in our lives and try to ignore and replace it.

As we let God fill us we will develop a compassion to reach the lost.

3) We must let the Holy Spirit heal the scar tissues of our hearts

Sometimes when we were young we had a Boo-Boo and we love to talk about it but we didn't let anyone get near it.

We must let the holy spirit and God’s word penetrate every chamber of heart.

We must be willing to present our hurts and pains in the presence of God and ask for his divine touch.

2 stories from the Gospels come to mind

Luk 13:10 NKJV - Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.

Luk 13:11 NKJV - And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise [herself] up.

(The WOMAN WAS RESTRICTED)

Luk 13:12 NKJV - But when Jesus saw her, He called [her] to [Him] and said to her, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity."

Luk 13:13 NKJV - And He laid [His] hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

(THE WOMAN WAS RELEASED)

Luk 13:14 NKJV - But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, "There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day." (THE RULER WAS RESENTFUL)

Luk 13:15 NKJV - The Lord then answered him and said, "Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead [it] away to water it?

Luk 13:16 NKJV - "So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound--think of it--for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?"

(THE RULER GOT REBUKED)

Luk 13:17 NKJV - And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him…… (THE CROWD WAS RESPONSIVE)

Mat 12:9 NKJV - Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue.

Mat 12:10 NKJV - And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"--that they might accuse Him.

Mat 12:11 NKJV - Then He said to them, "What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift [it] out?

Mat 12:12 NKJV - "Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."

Mat 12:13 NKJV - Then He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched [it] out, and it was restored as whole as the other.

Mat 12:14 NKJV - Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.

Mat 12:15 NKJV - But when Jesus knew [it], He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all.

When we come to church whether we have something crooked or withered in our lives we must come willing to stretch ourselves in the spirit and let God’s healing presence make us whole. You may not get cured in one service but we can allow God to begin the process of healing in our lives.

I pray this week you will allow the Holy Spirit to reach into your life and make you whole, Holy and Hungry to be more like Christ.

Always remember God is more concerned with your character than your comfort and more concerned about your holiness than your happiness.

Peace,

Pastor Ed

Prayer Template for Inner-Strength

Pastor Ed Castro — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:32:27 GMT

Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me?

    Father, You set Yourself against the proud and haughty, but You give grace [continually] unto the humble. I submit myself therefore to You, God. In the name of Jesus, I resist the devil, and he will flee from me. I resist the cares of the world, which try to pressure me daily. Except the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.
    Jesus, I come to You, for I labor and am heavy laden and overburdened, and You cause me to rest — You will ease and relieve and refresh my soul.
    I take Your yoke upon me, and I learn of You; for You are gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and I will find rest — relief, ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet — for my soul. For Your yoke is wholesome (easy) — not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant; and Your burden is light and easy to be borne.
    I cast my burden on You, Lord, [releasing the weight of it] and You will sustain me; I thank You that You will never allow me, the [consistently] righteous, to be moved — made to slip, fall, or fail.
    In the name of Jesus, I withstand the devil. I am firm in my faith [against his onset] — rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined. I cease from [the weariness and pain] of human labor; and I am zealous and exert myself and strive diligently to enter into the rest [of God] — to know and experience it for myself.
    Father, I thank You that Your presence goes with me and that You give me rest. I am still and rest in You, Lord; I wait for You and patiently stay myself upon You. I will not fret myself, nor shall I let my heart be troubled, neither shall I let it be afraid. I hope in You, God, and wait expectantly for You; for I shall yet praise You, for You are the Help of my countenance and my God.
In Jesus’ name, amen.

Scripture References:
    Psalm 42:11    Hebrews 4:10,11
    James 4:6,7    Exodus 33:14
    Psalm 127:1    Psalm 37:7
    Matthew 11:28-30    John 14:27
    Psalm 55:22    Psalm 42:11
    1 Peter 5:9

From the book Prayer that availeth much

Biblical Pattern For The Family

Pastor Ed Castro — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:17:00 GMT

Hey guys,

I want to share with you what the Bible says about the roles of each family member. I hope this post sparks an hunger in you to study further.

Husbands are called to LOVE their wives like they love themselves & like how Christ loved the church.

Eph 5:25 NKJV - Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,

Eph 5:33 NLT - So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

In order to love like Christ we must Love, study the Life and Lessons of Jesus

Hbr 12:2 NKJV - looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of [our] faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Husbands must learn to seek wholeness and learn to loves themselves (not fall in love with yourself) or they will never learn to truly love their wives with wholeness.

Husbands must see the potential of our family under the blessings of God

Psa 128:3 NKJV - Your wife [shall be] like a fruitful vine In the very heart of your house, Your children like olive plants All around your table.

Husbands are also called to bring unity and band everyone together...i.e. hus(house)BAND

(tip for the wives..if you want your husband to LOVE you more act more lovable)

Wives are called to Respect their husbands

Eph 5:33 NLT - So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Wives must learn to respect their husbands (respect=esteem...wives know that husbands often have fragile egos).

When you respect your husband it builds them up internally that will effect their (and your) external conditions, remember their income is often effected by their outcome and our outcome is directly connected to our self esteem/confidence/image.

note: it would be easier for husbands to respect and wives to love but the word of God challenges us to grow in this challenge in order to help each other blossom.

(Tip for husbands if you want your wives to respect you more than act more respectable)

Raising Kids- We must love, appreciate, recognize their potential and TRAIN them.

Kids are a gift and reward. They have the potential to be sharp and even help you in the future!

Psa 127:3 NLT - Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.

Psa 127:4 NLT - Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior's hands.

Psa 127:5 NLT - How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.

Psa 144:12 NKJV - That our sons [may be] as plants grown up in their youth; [That] our daughters [may be] as pillars, Sculptured in palace style;

Bring them to Jesus from young

Mat 19:13 NKJV - Then little children were brought to Him that He might put [His] hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them.

Mat 19:14 NKJV - But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

Don't let everyone else see more potential in your kids than you do

1Sa 16:10 NLT - In the same way all seven of Jesse's sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen any of these."

1Sa 16:11 NLT - Then Samuel asked, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse replied. "But he's out in the fields watching the sheep and goats." "Send for him at once," Samuel said. "We will not sit down to eat until he arrives."

Jessie didn't see David's regal potential but of all King Saul's servant does (see below)

1Sa 16:18 NLT - One of the servants said to Saul, "One of Jesse's sons from Bethlehem is a talented harp player. Not only that--he is a brave warrior, a man of war, and has good judgment. He is also a fine-looking young man, and the LORD is with him."

We must train (coach/teach/guide with love) our children so they can grow from dependence on you to independent young adults that begin a life-long dependence on God to an effective Christ-following Interdependent Man/Woman that contributes to the Kingdom of God and society itself.

We must remember its easy to be good at distributing occasional punishment but its a challenge to establish daily discipline. Instruction & Inspiration is better than intimidation in the long run.

Pro 22:6 NKJV - Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.

Parents we must lodge these words in our hearts-Govern (lead/manage) Guard (physical/mental against others and sometimes from themselves) and Guide (be a model/teach/train)

(Note to Parents if we want our kids to honor us more then we must act more honorable)

I hope this helps and sparks a desire for you to study further.

Peace,

Pastor Ed

http://www.facebook.com/VONBchurch