Author: Tyler West

Founder and Lead Pastor of thevine.tv Realtor® with The Ott Group at Ponce Realty Group LLC (www.theponcerealtygroup.com) Theodore Roosevelt describes in “The Arena” a man who boldly stepped out of the seats & into the Arena! The Arena I get to fight in is to help others live an abundant life by finding the gifts that God has given them and helping them take their next step by fulfilling the calling God has on their lives! Growing up in a widowed home from the age of 2, I experienced the dependence of faith, the importance of family, the foundation of integrity, the value of loyalty and the success that can be achieved through hard work. Whether expanding Walgreens from 4000 to 8000 healthcare stores, or stepping out in faith to be a part of launching a NewSpring Church Campus--faith, family, integrity, loyalty and hard work are fingerprints of me being involved! Each experience I have stepped into has allowed me to develop invaluable relationships that have not only achieved remarkable results, but more importantly made an impact on the lives of others that will last beyond this lifetime...a cause worthy to fight for! Can't wait to see how Jesus continues to #JoinSpartanburg at #thevinetv and the Local Church Around the World!

Miracle of Deliverance

Demons! It’s one of the weirdest (and for some off limits) thing to talk about in Christianity! When we hear those words we all have thoughts pop in our heads…funny or scary! So if demons do exist should we be scared or…

“Miracle of Deliverance”


Demons! It’s one of the weirdest (and for some off limits) thing to talk about in Christianity! When we hear those words we all have thoughts pop in our heads…funny or scary! So if demons do exist should we be scared or should we trust God for Deliverance?

Revelation 17:3-8, 15-18    Habakkuk 1:5-11

  • You Have Miraculous AUTHORITY over Darkness in the Name JESUS
    • If you look at the parallels between Chaldea in the Old Testament and Babylon you can connect the dots of how Chaldeans are like demons on earth (and in the end times for sure)
      • demons: Tempt You To Sin, Distract You From God’s Will and Inflict Suffering
      • Not a stretch to see the parallel ride and the same place the Chaldeans are found in the Old Testament is in Babylon. Even Daniel had to learn the language of the Chaldeans when Israel went into captivity!
    • It’s not a stretch to see where Satan has been since he was kicked out of heaven for trying to be God. He has been out to destroy the very creation God made for Redemption every since. From the Garden of Eden and the Fall, to countless Old Testament miracles, to tempting Jesus in the New Testament to thinking he has defeated Jesus on the Cross to the very end when even Satan will try to convince man he is God one last time as Babylon finally falls in Revelation
  • So what does this have to do with me?
    • Regardless of our viewpoint on demons the questions is what language are you versed in? The language of God’s Word or the language of the Chaldeans (the world). When we understand that one stands in direct opposition to the other we can see that there is something out there fighting against all God made us to be!
    • If we think that for one minute that Satan is happy with receiving by faith that Jesus is who He says He is we are mistaken! Satan doesn’t care if we “know of” Jesus (look at Cain in the Garden of Eden…he know of God). Satan doesn’t care if we even have some Bible verses memorized or posted on our wall…what bothers him is when we step in to become all that Christ made us to be! That threatens him & his standing and he will have none of it. Satan tempts us as Christians by trying to take:
      • The Tithe from the Church
      • The Next Generation
    • If Satan can pervert those 2 things he knows that his step to the end times where it feels he has power is closer…and even though Satan knows his end is defeat…he doesn’t mind wasting you & me in the process so that he can have a little bit of prideful power.

Jesus defeated sin, death and grave and gave us authority over demons through Him crucified! Darkness isn’t the opposite of light it is the absence of light! When we have Jesus, who is the Light of the World, it’s impossible for us to be overcome by darkness…even a little light separates the dark! So today will you find for victory or from victory…in Christ the victory is already won!

Take Away:
What did you take away from this Study that you’d never fully realized before?

Is there anything you’re struggling with that you need to battle both practically and spiritually?

Interested in More About Our Thursday Greenhouse Gathering: CLICK HERE
Find Out How You Play a Part to #JoinSpartanburg: CLICK HERE

Liberty and Justice For All

“Liberty and Justice for All”

Liberty and Justice for all! Ever thought the reason we end the pledge of allegiance with that is because it is something we all desire? But what if it is more than that? What if our freedom is found in something higher? Would we believe that living out Liberty and Justice is found in Grace and Truth?

John 1:1-5,14

  • GRACE
    • In Old Testament (Hebrew) = hen (mentioned 60 times)
      • Means finding favor in God’s eyes
      • When we look at the Old Testament the system of keeping the Law is how men/women found favor in God’s eyes. If we were disobedient to the Law we couldn’t experience God’s favor.
    • In New Testament (Greek) = charis
      • Means unmerited favor of God
      • This is a HUGE shift because of Jesus. It completely changes from finding favor in God’s eyes to having the unmerited favor of God.
    • We have to see the difference in Grace from before Jesus to after to see where we sit today! Do we operate out of the Grace that we have unmerited favor of God or do we operate out of finding favor in God’s eyes! The difference is religion vs. relationship.
    • In the world we live in today and in this country where freedom (Liberty) is our foundation we have to show the world the freedom in Christ. Not in religion but in Christ. The freedom is found in Christ alone…not in the way we work to get there!
  • TRUTH
    • In Old Testament (Hebrew) = emeth
      • Means firmness and stability
      • In the Old Testament the Truth is about God revealing Himself to be who He says He is (we’ll get to the New Testament in a moment :D). God is firm and never wavering in who He is.
    • In New Testament (Greek) = alethes
      • Means Unconcealed Reality or Genuine
      • In the New Testament the Truth is revealed in a person…Jesus! Jesus is the fulfillment of over 300+ prophesies in the Old Testament! He is God unconcealed (remember Paul talking about the Mystery being revealed in Ephesians 3?).
    • When we see Truth in America we see that through the lens of Justice…or even scales. We live in a world where Justice is polluted & perverted by the eyes of the one executing judgement.
    • For us as Christians we get to live out the Truth because we have a relationship with Jesus & He is in us! The mystery of God’s plan to reconcile all of creation back to Him not just the Jewish people was revealed in Christ in the New Testament.

The freedom in Christ is that we get to live lives that aren’t stuck in executing judgement on one another…that’s God’s job. We don’t even have to convict others…that’s the Holy Spirit’s job. We get to love others…that’s our job! And when we do that well we will live out a life that is Liberty and Justice for all! 

Take Away:
Do you tend to lean more toward grace or truth? What does it look like to lean all the way in either direction?

What are some specific ways you can live with both grace and truth to influence the culture around you?

Interested in More About Our Thursday Greenhouse Gathering: CLICK HERE
Find Out How You Play a Part to #JoinSpartanburg: CLICK HERE

Indivisible

Indivisible! A word we say every time we recite the pledge of allegiance…a word that isn’t for a select political party, people group or agenda…

“Indivisible”

Indivisible! A word we say every time we recite the pledge of allegiance…a word that isn’t for a select political party, people group or agenda…it means we can not be divided or separated! Something we have all been living in recently is separation. What if we really saw that the fracture in our nation starts with the fracture in the Church? What if we were made for unity not uniformity?

Ephesians 4:1-16

  • The CALLING of UNITY (Ephesians 4:1-6)
    • We are Christ’s Royal Ambassador’s to the world. We get to be His love to everyone we encounter. That is the bond of peace…LOVE! Not by the arguments we win but instead by the gentleness, humbleness and meekness. We are not called to lord ourselves one over the other…we are instead called to come to the table and work together. The calling of unity is simply to live the live worthy of your calling. If you struggle with your calling it’s who you are in Christ (your identity)! In Christ we are all ONE!
  • The GIFT of UNITY (Ephesians 4:7-13)
    • We are all different by God’s grace to carry out the mission to reach the world with the Hope of the Gospel! Many of us in the Christian world can get caught up in what Paul is writing about here as it pertains to purgatory and Christ going down to set the captives free…before the theological debate ensues take a deep breath and let’s add a twist here. Regardless of whether Paul is referencing Psalm 139 where the descent is the womb, Psalm 63 where the descent is the grave what’s most important is the Christ Descended First because He is of God and now we get to be lifted up because of Him! Jesus has set the captives free because He conquered sin, death, the grave & satan! Christ laid aside all ambition to be honored and respected so that each of us could have life. He gives us different gifts as to show that life to the world. Our gift is our ability to show to show Christ’s love to the world. We should share that gift by asking “How can I best utilize myself for the benefit of the rest of the members of the Church?” not “How can I use my gifts to glorify myself & my position?”. Inside the gift of unity to build each other up in faith, hope and love…there is no room for selfishness in that.
  • The CAUSE of UNITY (Ephesians 4:14-16)
    • Every part of the Body has it’s own purpose. Every part is made to do what the other part can not do…but together in unity they can do so much more! God has made no part of the Body in vain! When we have our identity in Christ and know that we have been given the ability to function in the Body our purpose is to give all we have to the function of that Body for the nourishment of the Body…that is the love of Jesus! Not “just do my part” but instead “live out my part and encourage you as you live out yours” so that we can strengthen, support and grow the love of Christ together as we reach the world with the Hope of The Gospel!

Our identity is in Christ, our abilities are our gifts given to do the works of ministry and our purpose is to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth in how we love others through our gifts from our identity in Christ! We are not first Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, Catholic or a specific denomination…we are Christians! And united together we will leave the world turned upside down by the Gospel instead of being the Church turned upside down by the world!

Take Away:

What do you think are some of the greatest causes of disunity among Christians? No wrong answers.

What are some of the ways you personally can create more unity in Christianity

Interested in More About Our Thursday Greenhouse Gathering: CLICK HERE
Find Out How You Play a Part to #JoinSpartanburg: CLICK HERE

One Nation

“One Nation”

One of the greatest things about the USA is that we get to actually vote in elections! We have so many things to be grateful for (that we all take for granted). It’s Amazing God let’s us live in this country and a time such as this; however, the breaking news is the…America is not the Promised Land nor is it God’s only & favorite nation. So how do we reconcile our faith with our politics?

Ephesians 1:1-14

This letter from Paul to the Church is Ephesus is believed to be while he was in prison or house arrest. And even though Paul was in prison, in a terrible circumstance, Paul still uses this opportunity to care about others! Paul starts his letters so eloquently with “Grace and Peace” be with you…not peace then grace…we can only experience peace when we first experience God’s grace.

As Paul goes on to write he reminds of the election of those God choses (not talking of 5 point Calvinism), but the words that Christ even reminds us…”you did not chose me but I chose You”. When we step into a relationship with Christ we realize even more how He chose us over anything to set us free from sin and death by the commencement of all overflow…God’s love for us!

Paul goes on to write about our Adoption to Sonship through Christ. Not our citizenship of an earthly nation but our adoption as sons & daughters of the living God. So many times we hear about free will of man and neglect the free will of God. God has the free will to chose whom He gives & takes away, who leads and who follows, who is rich and who is poor…yet the American Dream can cripple us and say “pull up your bootstraps and work to be blessed”…not the same in God’s economy.

It was the riches of God’s grace that Christ Jesus came and made a way for us to be adopted into a nation of Christians. Not because of how good, or “righteous”, we are but because of how good God is. The saints and martyrs who have gone before us on the front lines operated in the same grace we get to today as they followed God’s will and plan to bring His name fame to the ends of the earth! And in the process the things of Christ in Heaven and the things in Christ on earth are reconciled to the Father in the end! His entire creation! We are no longer separated as Jew or Gentile but we are one through Christ.

The Holy Spirit is our seal from God of His love for us.  It is so much different than a pledge. A pledge is given, and then it is taken back again when the condition is carried out. Not so with a seal!

Do I love America? Yes! Do I stand for the pledge? Yes! But I know that I am a child of God first, and an American second! If what I do every day reflects America more than Christ…I’m doing it wrong! Remember today to you are chosen by God! Nothing man says can take that away! A Hebrew word for Chosen is Bachar (which means rooted in). Where are you rooted today?

 

Take Away:
How does knowing you’re chosen by God change the way you view your role in this life?

How well do you feel Christians are doing at representing Christ? How are you contributing?

Interested in More About Our Thursday Greenhouse Gathering: CLICK HERE
Find Out How You Play a Part to #JoinSpartanburg: CLICK HERE

Abba Father

“Abba Father”

Father? It’s a word we’ve all heard at some point in our lives! We’ve probably even invested in a tie or two for the Fathers in our life! If we’ve been in Church we have often heard of Abba Father…through multiple Easter Passion Plays, movies and Bible Studies! So what does it mean? And how often is it mentioned in the Bible?

Romans 8:15             Mark 14:36                Galatians 4:6             Psalm 68:5-6

When we look through Scripture we see many different names for God! But one of the most significant is Father. Father is used over 200 times in the Gospel by Jesus…yet the term “Abba” only shows up 3 times. Abba is Aramaic for Father (in Jesus’ time would be Daddy…they would say ima for Mother). We often get stuck in this in that we try to love God enough to bless us…but instead it’s the other way around…He so loves us that He made a way for us to be family!

Ever been in a very busy place with thousands of people (maybe a Sporting Event or a Graduation) and heard a child cry “Daddy”? It’s crazy how the child stands still and it seems out of no where the Father comes in grabs the child and seems to hug the very fear of abandonment out of them. The same can be said of our Father in Heaven…He so loves us that He will do anything to get to us to show us we are not alone! And when we have a relationship with Him through Jesus we have the opportunity to feel His very presence eliminate the fear of abandonment.

Maybe your earthly father experience isn’t that great. Maybe he abandoned you, hurt you or even abused you. That’s not what our Heavenly Father is like. He hears us cry Father and comes running our way! So many times in our life we think we need a new something, but the real thing we need is a relationship with a Father who will do anything to get to us! To the world you are hohum average but to God you are anything but! He so loved us that He gave His Son…His only Son to have a relationship with each of us! His Son, Jesus, died for people who won’t even acknowledge that He is real…that’s how much He loves us! Our relationships on earth are established on an understanding that if you hold up your end of the relationship I will hold up mine…oh but not Abba Father! His love is so great it could never be reciprocated and yet when we call Father or Daddy He is still there no matter what!

Maybe today you are in the midst of a crazy struggle! Maybe even with your earthly father…let me ask this…Have you ever heard of God frowning at Jesus? No…it’s His Son in whom He is well pleased! And when you have accepted Christ as your Savior…when the Father looks down He only sees the Son! And can’t help but Smile!

Take Away:
In what ways have you projected the image of your earthly father onto your Everlasting Father?

What can you do to remind yourself God is a Good Father?

Interested in More About Our Thursday Greenhouse Gathering: CLICK HERE
Find Out How You Play a Part to #JoinSpartanburg: CLICK HERE

Persecuted

Ever just felt like ET? Like you were made for something greater than this world? What if I told you that you were!

“Reclaimed: Persecuted”

Ever just felt like ET? Like you were made for something greater than this world? What if I told you that you were! That the very creator of the Universe made you for something INDREDIBLE! Would your circumstance dictate your outcome? Or would your faith?

Matthew 5:10    John 15:18-20

Take Away (Table Talk)
If you could serve any where in the world, where would you go and what would you do?

Describe something that you did that took a Huge Leap of Faith.

Interested in More About Our Thursday Greenhouse Gathering: CLICK HERE
Find Out How You Play a Part to #JoinSpartanburg: CLICK HERE

“PeaceMakers”

“Reclaimed: Peacemakers”

The Spring and Summer months in the United States we take time to pause to and CELEBRATE our Military…Memorial Day is those who have passed away while serving paying the ultimate price for our freedom and July 4th is a celebration of our freedom! These peacemakers aren’t afraid to confront conflict in order to make peace…it’s the ultimate example of the Gospel! Jesus did the same! He didn’t try to keep the peace and avoid the conflict that sin had on us all…instead He confronted it, defeated it and by receiving the gift of Salvation from Christ alone we get to experience Eternal peace!

Matthew 5:9   John 6:35

Take Away (Table Talk)
If you had to be handcuffed to one person for an entire month, who would it be?

If you could give one piece of advice to a large group of people what would it be?

Interested in More About Our Thursday Greenhouse Gathering: CLICK HERE
Find Out How You Play a Part to #JoinSpartanburg: CLICK HERE

Pure in Heart

We spend most of our lives trying to get from point A to point B—but what if it was more than that? Even our meals have a strategy and agenda…

“Pure in Heart”

We spend most of our lives trying to get from point A to point B—but what if it was more than that? Even our meals have a strategy and agenda so much so that we chose who gets to be there. What if the table was meant to be more than that? What if the table was open for everyone? What if the table was where grace was not only extended but experienced? Let’s Reclaim the Table with a pure heart! No Agenda just get to know you better!

Matthew 5:8    Psalm 51:10

Take Away (Table Talk)
What Movie Do you wish you could live in and why?

What thing is consuming your thoughts most right now?
Interested in More About Our Thursday Greenhouse Gathering: CLICK HERE
Find Out How You Play a Part to #JoinSpartanburg: CLICK HERE

Hunger and Thirst

“Hunger and Thirst”

Ever just crave something…like so bad you can’t get it off of your mind? Usually when this thought comes to mind it involves food for most of us. But what if we change what we hunger and thirst for to be filled? How much better would our lives be, our jobs, our community and the world? Community is where we do that! Join us over the next 4 weeks as we Reclaim the Table with Table Talk!

Matthew 5:6

“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” C.S. Lewis

Take Away (Table Talk)
If you could change one decision you made today what would it be and why?

What is the BIGGEST thing you are praying for right now?

 

Interested in More About Our Thursday Greenhouse Gathering: CLICK HERE
Find Out How You Play a Part to #JoinSpartanburg: CLICK HERE

Interrupted Joy

In the Christian world we can have some really crazy vocabulary—dichotomy, trichotomy, predestination, transubstantiation…and so on. But, has any one really came at you with this “How Are You?”

Exponential Interrupted Joy

In the Christian world we can have some really crazy vocabulary—dichotomy, trichotomy, predestination, transubstantiation…and so on. But, has any one really came at you with this “How Are You?” Like really “How Are You?”…not the 180 characters or less, not the I have to have it all together How Are You…the real HOW ARE YOU? Many times when we make the decision to follow Christ we know we can’t bury our past but we then let our past bury us! And that’s not the life Christ died to give us! This can sound so basic but still remains true…How Are You?

Matthew 3:13-17

  • Jesus REWRITES our PAST
    • This is one of the most talked about stories in the Bible! Let’s not miss the significance of the meaning here: Jesus is literally living out the past (in the fulfillment of the Old Testament). This story is very much like the story of Israel leaving Egypt and crossing the Jordan into the Promised Land! More importantly it serves as a reminder to us all that no matter what has happened in our past because Jesus died for our sins on the Cross we are forgiven! Our past is not what defines us any longer but actually only Christ who defines us!
    • Now here is where I’ll level with you! I don’t the know the hurt of your abuse, misuse or things that honestly you’ve never shared with any one! Things in your story that only you and the person who hurt you know! But, I do know that no matter what our past, Jesus still loved us enough to come the Cross, die for our sins and rise again so that we can live the life He made us to live to the full…not one buried by the past but a life where He has buried our past!
  • Jesus ENGAGES us in our PRESENT
    • This story is literally God coming down in the form of Man…Jesus Christ and He is literally living out the righteousness of God by being baptized! He steps into the present and tells John He must baptize Him to fulfill what He was called to do!
    • This is where we can get stuck…we forget that in the midst of whatever we are going through that Christ is right there with us in the present to say “I Know How It Feels!” He knows how it feels to be abused, mocked, betrayed, abandoned, wrongfully accused and murdered for something that He didn’t do! Yet He still loved us enough to die for our sins and leave an empty so that we may experience the life He’s called us to live. I wonder if we can walk in that today? The hardest thing for all of us is that we can’t give what we haven’t first received…and when we’ve received Christ to heal our past & walk with us in the present we can so much more easily live the life we were made to live & share the Hope of Christ with others!
  • Jesus’ FUTURE is our FUTURE
    • When Jesus comes up out of the water God breaks forth the very Heavens He created and tells of how proud He is of Jesus…before Jesus even goes to the Cross! Jesus’ future is to go to the Cross so that we may have a relationship with God forever! Jesus’ future is our future!
    • God is well pleased because He is in Christ! When You accept Christ in your life, Christ is in you and Father sees you just the same! It isn’t your past failures, your current screw ups or your future derailments…He sees Christ in you in whom He is well pleased!

The Joy of our Salvation can be interrupted by us not being fully healed! You can’t live an exponential life if you aren’t first real with how you are! Because you can’t live in peace unless you’ve received peace! What if the one thing holding us back from our Exponential life is the answer to the question “HOW ARE YOU”…the real answer! Will we trust God enough to let it go to Him & be bold enough to share it with the people He has placed in our life to walk with us in our journey

Take Away
How Are You?

Interested in More About Our Thursday Greenhouse Gathering: CLICK HERE
Find Out How You Play a Part to #JoinSpartanburg: CLICK HERE