Pastor Matthew Tarkington

Pastor Matthew Tarkington

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Just a real guy who believes in a real God that meets real needs in a real way.

Operating as usual

06/11/2024

In the story of the healing of the dead boy outside of Nain, the Bible tells us the people said "A great prophet has risen among us".

The boy who was raised was labeled a prophet because he spoke what Jesus was saying. Prophets call things that BE NOT as though they ARE because they are repeating what God has said and see it as so!

God is raising up prophets—not just believers, but firebrands of His Word.
We’re not called to just have good services; we’re midwifing prophets.
Our Bible studies aren't called to just be informational classes - they are meant to be Prophetic incubators.
We aren't here to raise "nice Christian kids" - we are called to raise them in boldness and tenacity - willing to delcare the Word of the Lord!
We don't just sing songs - We are called to declare anthems of faith for the weirdly death-defying.

HOW DO WE FACILITATE THIS WELL?

1. There is PROPHETIC Alignment: Prophets don’t walk solo. They’re aligned—like the bones in Ezekiel’s vision. God’s a divine chiropractic. When He linked the bones together it was symbolic of what God does in His "body" (the church). He connects people together to accomplish His plans for a local body. A prophet who "goes it alone" without a covering and a fellowship is dangerous. Remember Timothy? Although he was anointed and called - God paired him with Paul and Paul did what it took to make sure he was paired with a community of faith. Alignment births destiny.

2. There is a NEED for FATHERS: The pastor is not called to be the "spiritual father" of a church, but a dad amongst a group of Spiritual dads. A prophet without a father is dangerous to all around them. However, a "father" isn't just blood or someone sitting in the position of a leader. Eli's sons fell because they had a s***m donor who was not a FATHER to nurture their prophetic gifts and positions. Fathers believe in others and in love direct, recalibrate, and promote prophets. Without fathers, people who operate in the prophetic have the potential to become hard, harsh, mean, and callous and may even fall into gross sin.

3. We EMBRACE mistakes and PROMOTE boldness - Our job as a community of faith is not to promote perfection, it's to give people a safe place to learn, to grow, and to step out prophetically and in power. Does that mean that everyone gets it right 100% of the time ~ WHAT A MESSED-UP AND STRESSFUL PLACE THAT WOULD BE! I'm not called to serve a polished business... I'm here to shepherd a growing body.

Share this post! Let’s break the cycle. Tag your prophetic tribe. Let’s dance in alignment, embrace apostolic wisdom, and thrive together. 🙌🏼✨

06/09/2024

6 DECLARATIONS I'M MAKING FOR MY LIFE:

1) God’s Plan is My Compass: I will not waver in trust for the divine blueprint laid out for my journey.

2) I Seek God's Approval Above All: The only validation I seek is from above, not from the fleeting judgments of the world.

3) I Choose Community Over Isolation: I embrace fellowship, knowing that unity, not solitude, is where my strength lies.

4) I am Unapologetically Me: I celebrate how God made me, without excuses for the masterpiece that I am. I reject the toxic trap of comparison, for my worth is not measured against another’s journey.

5) Healthy Bonds, Not Harmful Ties: I commit to nurturing relationships that uplift, and push me forward and to severing those that drain the spirit.

~~ How about YOU, which of these 5 ring the most true for you during this season? ~~

05/29/2024

The Python spirit wants to attack your sleep so that you do not have dreams. God wants to speak to you through dreams.
Get your dreams back.

Episode 25 04/23/2024

Today is the last episode of SEASON 1 of our podcast "After Thoughts"! It's available NOW on youtube!

Episode 25 How can JOY change your life?

04/21/2024

Welcome to Faith4life Church

04/21/2024

Welcome to Faith4life Church!

04/17/2024

Join us for midweek Bible Study at Faith4life with Pastor Matt

Episode 23 04/02/2024

Episode 23 of After Thoughts is up NOW!

Episode 23 Giants, Nephilim, David and Goliath, and Jesus' sacrifice... what do they all have to do with each other? Find out in today's episode

03/27/2024

ILLUSTRATIONS can be powerful.
ILLUSTRATIONS are NOT the Word.
PREACHING can be powerful.
PREACHING is NOT the Word.
PROGRAMS can be powerful.
PROGRAMS are NOT the Word.
WORSHIP PRODUCTION can be powerful.
WORSHIP PRODUCTION is NOT the Word.

Bottom line... if your "preacher" reads one scripture... but the majority of their content is weird/controversial/showy/personal/stories... you aren't hearing a sermon... you are watching a show... with itching ears...

2 Tim 4:2-3 TPT "proclaim the Word of God and stand upon it no matter what! Rise to the occasion and preach when it is convenient and when it is not. Preach in the full expression of the Holy Spirit —with wisdom and patience as you instruct and teach the people. 3For the time is coming when they will no longer listen and respond to the healing words of truth because they will become selfish and proud. They will seek out teachers with soothing words that line up with their desires, saying just what they want to hear.

03/20/2024

I've got to be real with you.
The assignment God has placed on my shoulders in this season sometimes feels like carrying a mountain.

Paul, the OG apostle, knew a thing or eight about asking for prayer. So I don't feel guilty or wrong to ask for the same things:

1. He wanted **joy and refreshment**—like a spiritual Red Bull.(Rom 15:30-32)

2. His **gifts**? He wanted them cranked up to eleven. (2 Col. 1:10-11)

3. **Boldness**? Yep, he needed that too. No backing down, no backing up, no backing away. (Eph. 6:18-20)

4. Oh, and deliverance from the enemy's sneak attacks? You bet. (Phil. 1:19)

5. **Open doors** for more opportunities, more platforms and more places to speak? Paul said - pray that out too.
(Col. 4:2-4)

6. He didn't want the **message hindered**—no spiritual traffic jams. That means praying for internet working and for the message to go further than it normally can! (2 Thes 3:1-2)

7. Safe travels and protection? Yep, he asked for that too. (Phile. 1:22)

8. And finally, whatever the Holy Spirit whispered in someone's ear, Paul was like, "Yeah, pray for that too." (1 Thes. 5:25)

So friends, I need you to rally.
I need your prayers. No joke.
Pray that my steps stay steady, my spirit stays fierce, and my purpose stays laser-focused.

Thank you for your prayers...

01/11/2024

Tonight is part 2 of a very serious and in-depth study on 10 Focuses for 2024...
This one... it a bit harder for me than last week... mainly because the Holy Spirit is challenging me with almost all of the last 5 we will cover...

This is PRACTICAL
This is SPIRITUAL
This is BENEFICIAL
for everyone.

See you online in about 20 min.

Episode 12 01/09/2024

Episode 12 is now ONLINE! (sorry for the delay)

Episode 12 In this "year of the wind" what does it mean to supernaturally "unfurl our sails"?

Episode 12 01/09/2024

Episode 12 is UP!

Episode 12 In this "year of the wind" what does it mean to supernaturally "unfurl our sails"?

12/13/2023

You may not want to hear this today... or think less of me...

Today, I want to share something deeply personal with you. It's about those moments when the weight of our responsibilities, the challenges of our calling, or the burdens of life become so overwhelming that the thought of quitting crosses our minds.

I'm Matt, a pastor with 21 years of ministry experience, and I've navigated these turbulent waters more times than I can count.

When I sacrifice time with my family and responsibilities to meet with people - who don't show up for service for the next few weeks...

When I give my all in prayer, in study and extra time to prepare a life-changing Word... only to have lower attendance than usual.

.. let's just say - Quitting isn't a new concept to a depressed mind and emotions...

However, quitting isn't always a negative word; sometimes, it signifies a critical point in our journey where we recognize our limitations.

There have been instances where the struggle was so intense that quitting wasn't just about changing vocations; it was contemplating if quitting life was worth it as well.

In these moments, I find solace in a powerful anagram the Holy Spirit gave me years ago:

QUIT = "Questing Unleashes Inner Truth."

Just like the quests in the video games and RPGs I enjoy, our challenges mirror dragons, trolls, and curses.

The debt feels like a dragon,
Difficult people seem like trolls guarding impassable bridges,
Stagnation can act like a curse waiting to be lifted.

Each "quitting quest" forces me to confront essential questions:

Where am I trusting more in my strength and less on my faith?

Where am I leaning on what I can figure out and not what He can give me?

As I ponder these questions, a particular Scripture comes to mind:

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

Thinking of quitting? Consider it a quest.

Firstly, explore what happens if you do. Will the same inner turmoil and challenges persist, or is there a chance for renewal?

Secondly, contemplate what happens if you stay. Can the metaphorical dragon, troll, or challenge be defeated? Can you believe that the impossible is possible with God?

Thirdly, reflect on what remains true about your faith, irrespective of the outcome. Our faith is not contingent on circumstances but on the unwavering character of God.

Remember, the moments when quitting seems like the only option can become turning points in our journey of faith.

Embrace the quest, face the challenges head-on, and discover the inner truth waiting to be unleashed.

12/05/2023

New PODCAST up at 12:30pm!

Episode 7 11/28/2023

This weeks podcast is up!

Episode 7 Self Examination is called to be a part of the "HOLIDAYS" as God created them. Join me in learning more about "examining what is within us".

08/26/2023
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