Contending For The High Praise - Eric Johnson - March 22, 2009

Worship: Shatter - G. Viggers / S. Carlson O Come, O Come Emmanuel - J. M. Neale / T. Helmore Angels We Have Heard on High - J. Chadwick / E. Shippen Barnes Beautiful - P. Wickham Oh For a Thousand Tongues to Sing - C. Wesley / D. Crowder / J. Parker Marathon Man - G. Viggers / S. Carlson Joy to the World - I. Watts / L. Mason Our God is Hungry - G. Viggers / S. Carlson Come Let Us Adore Him - C. Frederick Oakeley / J. Francis Wade

After an incredible prayer time Eric shares on longevity. There are no problems in life, there are only opportunities. Conflicts are opportunities to learn and grow and build longevity.

There are two types of thankfulness, a reaction of thankfulness to a blessing or gift, or giving thanks before there is a reason to. As believers we are called to give thanks and praise before we see an outcome. In the middle of a storm we must keep our eyes fixated on Him. It was in a moment of pressure that Jehoshaphat sent his praise and worship team to the front lines of battle. The result was victory without losing a single life.

We have reduced salvation into a ticket to get into heaven. The goal isn't to get to heaven, but to bring heaven to earth. When you are just trying to get into heaven, fear motivates how you live your life. Our understanding of salvation will dictate not only the decisions we make but how we live our lives.