Hi Newport Church Family,
We trust you had a hope and faith filled week!
Last Sunday we celebrated our 15th Birthday as a church and were able to pause and reflect on God’s faithfulness over the last fifteen years, while looking ahead with anticipation and faith for all that lies ahead.
Rest and Restoration
My message last Sunday on Rest and Restoration explored the patterns, cycles, and sequences through which God brings about His Divine purposes, and especially the significance of the number fifteen in those cycles.
Solomon wrote:
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
But the glory of kings is to search out a matter
Proverbs 25:2 NKJV
John writes in the book of Revelation that God has made each one of us kings and priests, with all of the authority of kings and all of the access that priests had to God.
This means that it is our privilege to search out the deeper meaning of all that God says, and to receive insight and understanding into what God is doing at this present time.
Fifteen is the number Rest and Restoration in the Bible and both Rest and Restoration are integral parts of God’s purpose. As we emerge out of this unprecedented season, Rest and Restoration are especially significant.
We all need Rest and we all need Restoration.
Isaiah says, “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall.”
It is only God who never tires and never gets weary, but Isaiah goes on to say,
“those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
Let’s enter this next season from a place of rest, as we spend time in God’s presence, and experience the lift of His Spirit. Then we will run and not be weary, walk and not faint!
God not only promises Rest for each one of us but also Restoration. God is a restorer and desires is to restore to us all that has been lost. When God restores He promises to restore to us double that which has been lost.
On the return of the Jewish people after seventy years of captivity God said to Zechariah:
Even today I declare that I will restore double to you.
Zech 9:12
Let’s enter this new season with a spirit of faith and expectation that God will restore to us double what has been lost.
This is His promise, and it’s for each one of us. A promise that is not based on us having earned God’s favor, but based on who God is, and His faithfulness to all of us who call on the name of Jesus!
Let’s declare this as a season of Rest and Restoration for us personally, our families, our church and our community!
Baptisms at the Beach Saturday August 7th
We have baptisms at the beach coming up and if you would like to be baptized we would love to connect with you. If you have not been baptized in water yet, this is a very important step in your journey of faith and we encourage you to take this next step.
Jesus was baptized Himself, and as we are immersed in the waters of baptism we follow His example. Just as Jesus was later buried and raised from the dead, so our old sinful life is buried in the waters of baptism so that we can rise up out of the water into newness of life!
You can click on this link to let us know of your interest, as well as coming to a special baptism class that I will be teaching on Sunday August 1st at 9am before our 10 am Sunday service.
Summer Serve Day Saturday August 14th
We would love to have you join us for our Summer Serve Day when we will be distributing food, back packs and school supplies to those in need at Davis Elementary School in Santa Ana.
This has always been a highlight for us as a church and a way that we can make a meaningful contribution to the people in our extended community.
Click this link for more details. We hope to see you there for what will be a great day! You can also help us prepare for the day putting the gift packs together or by contributing with an offering.
Bringing Hope to our World
Our generosity opens the door for us to bring hope and faith to people who have yet to experience the love and peace that Jesus has brought to our lives.
Thank you for your continued partnership with us as a church through the giving of your donations, tithes and offerings.
God is faithful and He promises not only to give us food to eat but seed to sow. He also says that He will give seed to the sower. That means us specifically as we sow our seed in faith!
If you would like to give your donation, tithe or offering now you can do so by clicking here.
Let’s remind God of His promises and believe that we will do what He says he will do!
We look forward to seeing you tomorrow either in person or online. Come early for a great cup of coffee and bring your family and friends.
We are praying that God’s presence and power will touch each one of you in a significant way.
We love and appreciate you all greatly,
Pastor Jonathan & Dianne Wilson
Senior Pastors