Victory Church Providence

The River: Growing In Relationship With God

A Sermon by Pastor Mike O'Brien, Associate Pastor and Director of Student Ministries and Communications at Victory Church in Providence, RI.     

Growing in relationship with God

1. The Trickle Stage

God gives us a taste of who he is

2. The Controlled Stage

Fear can keep us where we are

3. The Submerged Stage

Push away from the shore, let the Holy Spirit operate

4. The Impassable Stage

 

 

Ezekiel 47

Water Flowing from the Temple

47 Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar. ² Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side.

³ Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand, the man measured a thousand cubits and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep. ⁴ Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep. ⁵ Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. ⁶ And he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?”

Then he led me back to the bank of the river. ⁷ As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other. ⁸ And he said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, and enters the sea; when the water flows into the sea, the water will become fresh. ⁹ And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. ¹⁰ Fishermen will stand beside the sea. From Engedi to Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea. ¹¹ But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt. ¹² And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food.  Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail,  but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.”

Division of the Land

¹³ Thus says the Lord GOD: “This is the boundary by which you shall divide the land for inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel.  Joseph shall have two portions. ¹⁴ And you shall divide equally what I swore to give to your fathers.  This land shall fall to you as your inheritance.

¹⁵ “This shall be the boundary of the land: On the north side, from the Great Sea by way of Hethlon to Lebo-hamath, and on to Zedad, ¹⁶ Berothah, Sibraim (which lies on the border between Damascus and Hamath), as far as Hazer-hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran. ¹⁷ So the boundary shall run from the sea to Hazar-enan, which is on the northern border of Damascus, with the border of Hamath to the north. This shall be the north side.

¹⁸ “On the east side, the boundary shall run between Hauran and Damascus; along the Jordan between Gilead and the land of Israel; to the eastern sea and as far as Tamar. This shall be the east side.

¹⁹ “On the south side, it shall run from Tamar as far as the waters of Meribah-kadesh, from there along the Brook of Egypt to the Great Sea. This shall be the south side.

²⁰ “On the west side, the Great Sea shall be the boundary to a point opposite Lebo-hamath. This shall be the west side.

²¹  “So you shall divide this land among you according to the tribes of Israel. ²² You shall allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the sojourners who reside among you and have had children among you. They shall be to you as native-born children of Israel. With you they shall be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. ²³ In whatever tribe the sojourner resides, there you shall assign him his inheritance, declares the Lord GOD.

Time Doesn't Heal All Wound

A Sermon by Pastor Richard Sfameni, Lead Pastor of Victory Church in Providence, RI.

John 5:1-9

1. An atmosphere conducive for God to work
2. An attitude is needed to experience healing

Shalom

A Sermon by Pastor Richard Sfameni, Lead Pastor of Victory Church in Providence, RI.  

 

Isaiah 26:3 NKJV

You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

 

Luke 10:5 NKJV

But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’

 

Numbers 6:22-27

22And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 23“Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them:

24“The Lord bless you and keep you;

25The Lord make His face shine upon you,

And be gracious to you;

26The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,

And give you peace.” ’

27“So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”

His Body Was Broken for you.

A Sermon by Pastor Richard Sfameni, Lead Pastor of Victory Church in Providence, RI.  

Share in Holy Communion with us. 

Spiritual S.N.A.P.

A Sermon by Pastor Mike O'Brien, Associate Pastor and Director of Student Ministries and Communications at Victory Church in Providence, RI.     

Jesus came to realign us, to put us back to our original track once we’ve hit life’s potholes. When we have veered away from God’s will we feel strain and pressure, His truth must be our focus. Refocus your efforts for kingdom building. Let the Holy Spirit redirect us when we deviate.  

 

Numbers 15:37-41 ESV   

Tassels on Garments  

³⁷ The LORD said to Moses, ³⁸ “Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a cord of blue on the tassel of each corner. ³⁹ And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, to do them,  not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after. ⁴⁰ So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God. ⁴¹ I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the LORD your God.”

Your Breakthrough May Be Closer Than You Think!

A Sermon by Pastor Richard Sfameni, Lead Pastor of Victory Church in Providence, RI.  

A breakthrough can be a process. Don’t be discouraged if it is not immediate. We have to learn patience. God is a God of restoration. Encourage yourself, pray for direction, and pursue your breakthrough! 

 

Romans 15:4 

 ⁴ For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.  

 

I Samuel 30:1-8 

David’s Conflict with the Amalekites 

30 Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, ² and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way. ³ So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. ⁴ Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. ⁵ And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. ⁶ Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

⁷ Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. ⁸ So David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?”

And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.”

A Celebration of The Life of Frank Buono

The Most Important Guest

A Sermon by Pastor Richard Sfameni, Lead Pastor of Victory Church in Providence, RI.  

Can we invite Jesus and involve Him in our lives?  

 

Invite Him. 

Jesus and his disciples were both invited and the couple was glad they did. 

 

Involve Him. 

"Whatever He says, do it!" Jesus had never done a miracle but Mary trusted who he was and believed in the power of God.

 

John 2:1-11 

Water Turned to Wine 

 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. ² Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. ³ And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”

⁴ Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”

⁵ His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

⁶ Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. ⁷ Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. ⁸ And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. ⁹ When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. ¹⁰ And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”

¹¹ This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.

Jesus Is In The House

A Sermon by Pastor Richard Sfameni, Lead Pastor of Victory Church in Providence, RI. With a vocal performance by Pastor Lisa Sfameni Co-Pastor of Victory Church.

Jesus is going to make Himself real today! Will you receive him?

1. Welcome Jesus
2. Receive the Word of God
3. Exercise your faith

"Healing In This House" by Grace Larson, sang by Pastor Lisa Sfameni.

 

Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralytic

2 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. ² Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. ³ Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. ⁴ And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.

⁵ When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”

Perseverance