The Mountain is around the Back

The Mountain is around the Back

Brother Bob Mest, Executive Director of Alabaman Adult and Teen Challenge, preached from Exodus 3, emphasizing that seasons of desert and wilderness are God's preparation—not punishment—and that perseverance through hardship leads to mountaintop encounters with God and a divinely given assignment. The message stressed that God is already at the mountain, reveals Himself by fire in the desert, calls people personally into intimacy before public ministry, and that the mountain experience equips believers to return and deliver others. The meeting closed with an invitation to altar ministry for those weary from wandering to receive revival, direction, and empowerment.

Obstacles

Pastor Greg Melvin warned that sin and disobedience are primary obstacles that block God's power, blessings, and entry into His promises, urging attendees to follow God's instructions and maintain humility, repentance, and steady obedience. True repentance — not mere remorse or emotional displays — requires concrete action: confessing sin, forsaking it, and committing to a changed life so God can restore, forgive, and heal. The message closed with an urgent call for personal self-examination and surrender, encouraging anyone with unconfessed sin to come forward for genuine repentance.

Dangers of an Empty House

Pastor Greg Melvin warned that churches and individuals risk losing God's presence and power when they drift into compromise, spiritual apathy, or leadership failure, using the capture of the Ark (1 Samuel) and Eli's example to illustrate consequences. He identified symptoms of a spiritually empty church—form without power, ongoing defeat, division, and reliance on human methods—and cited scripture calling for repentance, restored obedience, and wholehearted devotion. Practical steps offered were to remember one's fall, return and change, repent of idols and sin, and fully recommit one's life to God.

When Passion Fades

Pastor Greg Melvin warned against spiritual lukewarmness using Revelation's Laodicea as a warning, urging believers to realign their lives with Scripture, repent, and regain passionate pursuit of God. He identified worldly comforts, routine attendance, unforgiveness, compromise, and poor parenting as causes of spiritual decline, and emphasized humility, self-control, and separation from sinful patterns. Practical steps offered to reignite faith included returning to your "first love" with daily prayer and Scripture, honest self-examination and total surrender to God, and seeking spiritual growth and mutual encouragement in the church.

Going Somewhere

Pastor Greg Melvin emphasized spiritual growth, urging listeners not to become satisfied where they are with God but to keep moving forward in faith, prayer, service, and purpose. Using examples from Isaac, Paul, and Moses, it taught that growth comes from persistence, refusing to quit, and staying focused on God's plan rather than looking back or standing still. The sermon also encouraged the church to believe that families, finances, relationships, and ministries are all going somewhere when they continue advancing with God.