Old Time Religion” or Present-Day Revival?

Published: June 06, 2025
Reading Time: 2–3 minutes

“Give me that old time religion.”

It’s a phrase many of us grew up hearing. Maybe it brings back memories of tent revivals, all-night prayer meetings, fiery preaching, and songs that shook the walls. There’s something special about remembering how God moved in the past. Those moments are part of our story. They matter. They shaped us.

But here’s what has been on my heart lately. While we honor those powerful seasons of the past, we cannot live as if God only moves in history. The danger comes when we treat the move of God like it belongs to a different time. Like His power peaked years ago and now we’re just trying to hang on until He comes back.

The truth is, God has never changed. His power is not weaker. His Spirit has not grown quiet. His love has not faded. Hebrews 13:8 says Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. That means He is just as ready to move today as He was in the revivals we talk about.

Isaiah 43:19 says, “Behold, I will do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth. Shall ye not know it?” God is not done working. He is not limited by tradition, by style, or by what used to be. He is always doing something fresh. The question is, are we watching for it? Are we making room for it?

Sometimes we cling to what used to work because it feels familiar and safe. But the Book of Acts was not the end of revival. It was the beginning. The early church was not our ceiling. It was our starting point. We are not called to maintain what was. We are called to carry it forward.

So let’s thank God for the past. Let’s celebrate the stories, the miracles, and the foundation that was laid by those who came before us. But let’s not stop there. Let’s lean into the present. Let’s open our hearts to the fresh outpouring of the Spirit. Let’s pray like we know God is still listening. Let’s worship like we believe He still fills the room. Let’s preach like souls are still hungry. Because they are.

What God did before was beautiful. But what He wants to do next might be even greater. The best move of God could be the one we step into today.

-Garry Pearce

At first glance, a cup full of paint might look like a chaotic mess. Different colors swirling together, no order, no pattern, just a glob of confusion. That’s how life can feel sometimes too. Our past mistakes, broken dreams, messy relationships, and uncertain futures can make us wonder if there’s any purpose in it all. But what if what looks like a mess in the cup is just the beginning of something beautiful?

When that paint is poured onto a canvas, something amazing happens. The chaos becomes color. The swirl becomes design. What was once a mess becomes a masterpiece.

Ephesians 2:10 says,

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

That word workmanship literally means “masterpiece” in the original Greek. You aren’t a mistake. You aren’t just a random collection of events and emotions. You were crafted by God on purpose, for a purpose.

Think about how a painter works. Each drop, each stroke, each layer matters, even the ones that seem messy. In the same way, God is using every part of your life, your highs and your lows, your joys and your struggles, to create something that reflects His glory.

Romans 8:28 reminds us,

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Even the parts of your life you wish you could erase are being used by the Master Artist. Nothing is wasted. Not one color. Not one tear. Not one detour.

You may feel like you’re stuck in the cup, swirling around, wondering if there’s any meaning to the mess. But when you place your life in God’s hands, He pours you out onto the canvas of His perfect will. That’s when the masterpiece begins to take shape.

So if today you feel broken, confused, or incomplete, remember this. The mess in the cup is only part of the story. Let the Creator pour your life into His plan. Trust His process. And know this, you are God’s masterpiece.

Isaiah 64:8 says,

“But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.”

The Master Artist is still painting. And you’re His favorite work.

The Weight of Influence: A Lesson from Leviticus 4

Published: May 23, 2025
Reading Time: 2–3 minutes

“If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin… a young bullock without blemish unto the Lord.” – Leviticus 4:3 (KJV)

In today’s world, the idea of influence is everywhere. Social media constantly reminds us how many followers, likes, or views someone has. But God has been addressing influence long before platforms like Instagram or YouTube existed. Leviticus 4 gives us a powerful example.

This chapter deals with unintentional sin. At first glance, it might seem like a set of rules from an old system that doesn’t apply today. But look closer. When the high priest sinned, the Bible says it brought guilt upon the entire people. His position carried weight. His actions reached beyond his own life and impacted the entire community.

The same is true for us. When we serve in ministry whether we’re leading worship, running sound, teaching a class, or even helping clean the church—we carry influence. People watch how we live, not just how we serve. And if we allow sin to go unchecked in our hearts, it doesn’t just affect us. It can affect the people we are called to serve and the atmosphere we’re helping to create.

That sounds heavy, but there’s hope. Leviticus 4 doesn’t stop at the problem. It offers a solution. God provided a sin offering to restore right standing. That offering points forward to Jesus Christ, the ultimate sacrifice. He is our way back to purity, power, and purpose. Through Him, we are forgiven and made new.

Jesus didn’t die so we could live in guilt. He died so we could live in grace. His mercy invites us to get honest with Him, confess what needs to be confessed, and keep moving forward. When we do that, we don’t just stay in ministry. We thrive in it. We become vessels God can use fully and freely.

So today, if you’re serving, leading, or simply showing up faithfully, take a moment and ask the Lord to search your heart. Let nothing block the flow of what He wants to do through you.

Is there anything in your life today that needs to be brought to God so He can cleanse it and use you more fully?

Make this your prayer:

Lord, thank You for trusting me with influence. I want to be a vessel that honors You. Search my heart, reveal anything that doesn’t belong, and help me walk in purity. Let my life reflect Your grace and Your holiness. In Jesus’ name, amen.

He Took Me by the Hand: The Power of Divine Guidance

Published: May 2, 2025
Reading Time: 4–5 minutes

There are moments when life feels like too much to carry.

Moments when discouragement, fear, grief, or failure seem to have the final say. But there’s a deeper truth: God is still reaching. Still restoring. Still taking us by the hand.

In Scripture, God's hand symbolizes more than help — it represents His power, presence, and personal guidance. Time and again, we see that when God takes someone by the hand, everything changes.

His Hand Brings Change

• In the Book of Acts, Peter lifted a lame man at the temple gate by the hand — and immediately, his feet and ankles received strength. That man went from begging to leaping and praising.

• In Mark 5, Jesus took a dead girl by the hand — and she rose.

• In Mark 8, He led a blind man away from the crowd, took him by the hand, and gave him sight.

• In Matthew 14, Peter began to sink after walking on water — and Jesus reached out His hand and saved him.

These aren't just moments in history. They’re windows into how God still moves today.

What Happens When God Takes You by the Hand?

When God leads, He doesn’t just pull you forward — He pulls you out:

• Out of depression

• Out of addiction

• Out of confusion

• Out of defeat

He leads us into peace, purpose, and healing. And even when His hand brings testing or correction, it's never to harm — always to heal.

“I came in broken, but I left restored. I came in blind, but I left with vision. I came in stuck, but I walked out free.”
– The testimony of everyone who’s truly taken by His hand.

It’s Time to Reach Out

It’s not about being perfect. You don’t have to “have it all together” to grab hold of God’s hand — just be willing.

Are you stuck at the gate like the lame man?
Are you sinking like Peter?
Are you buried in grief like Jairus?
Are you spiritually blind and surrounded by doubt?

The hand of God is extended to you.

You Might Be the Hand Someone Else Needs

Sometimes, God’s hand comes through His people. Just as Peter reached for the beggar, you may be called to extend hope to someone else.

Your faith.
Your prayer.
Your worship.
Your obedience.
It all becomes a conduit for someone else’s miracle.

Final Thoughts

When Jesus takes us by the hand, it’s not just for a moment — it’s a lifetime of direction and victory. It’s time to stop walking alone. He’s reaching for you.

Take His hand. Let Him lead.

From Pastor Darren: A Call to Holiness – Living by the Spirit

Friday, April 25th 2025

TCOD family,

I want to take a few moments to share something God has placed deep in my heart. This isn’t just another message—it’s a reminder, a challenge, and a call to every one of us: we are called to holiness. Not by our standards, but by His Word. And that call is still very much alive today.

Holiness Isn’t Optional

We’re living in a world where, if you ask around, nobody’s lost. Everyone thinks they’re okay. But when you hold up your life next to the Word of God, the truth becomes clear. Romans 3:23 tells us plainly: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” And thank God for 1 John 2:1 that reminds us: “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

That’s not just comforting—it’s life-changing. But the question is: are we truly living holy? Holiness isn't just what people see on the outside. It starts inside. It begins with surrender.

The Struggle Is Real

Even after being born again—repenting, being baptized in Jesus’ name, and receiving the Holy Ghost—we still carry that sinful nature. That flesh is still very much alive. I tell folks all the time, "After you come out of that water, you’re going to be fighting hell with a toothpick." That’s why we need each other. That’s why we need to walk in the Spirit. Because good intentions? They won’t get the job done.

Romans 7 shows us the battle—Paul himself saying, “When I would do good, evil is present with me.” But Romans 8 gives us the victory: walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Like a Bird Against Gravity

I shared this example the other night, and it stuck with some folks. Think of a bird flying—it’s flapping its wings, overcoming gravity. But the moment it stops, it drops. It’s the same with us. The moment we stop praying, stop worshiping, stop seeking God… we fall. The flesh takes over. And flesh never leads us into holiness.

Holiness requires action. Daily flapping. Daily surrender. And when we walk in the Spirit, we begin to soar again.

Know. Reckon. Yield.

Romans 6 lays out a threefold approach to victory over sin:

1. Know – Know that when you were born again, you died to sin. It no longer has dominion over you.

2. Reckon – Reckon yourself dead to sin. Act like it. Believe it.

3. Yield – Yield your body and life to righteousness. Stop going the same way, stop seeing the same people, stop the old habits. Yield to God.

They Need You

Let me say this clearly—we’ve got people who’ve repented, been baptized, filled with the Holy Ghost… and they’re not here anymore. And that may be our fault. You don’t give birth to a baby and then feed it once a week. No—we nurture, we support, we grow them up in the Lord. New believers need you. They need your prayers, your friendship, your discipleship. Don’t leave them to figure it out on their own.

Choose to Live Holy

Holiness is a choice. I told the church plainly: “Don’t just act like you’re saved. Be saved.” If you’re still doing the things you used to do, talking the same, thinking the same, something’s got to change. Because holiness isn’t just about looking right on Sunday—it’s about being right when no one’s watching.

God didn’t erase your sinful nature, but He did give you dominion over it. And that’s the message: you’re not forced to sin anymore. You’ve got the Spirit of God living inside you. Choose to walk in it.

Church, I love you. And I want to see each of us not just surviving, but soaring. Let’s not go through the motions anymore. Let’s live a life that pleases God in every area—at church, at home, at work, on the road. Let’s live holy.

Flap those wings every day. Don’t let gravity win.

– Pastor Darren