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CITY CHURCH // an Apostolic Community
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News & Updates:

Announcements -

Our gathering on Sunday, February 25th was really a wonderful time. We had a great group in attendance - both in person and by Zoom. As always, it was great to be together. In the gathering Michael gave a message entitled, "The Weapon of an Unoffendable Heart." That message is posted in the upper right corner of this page. We urge everyone to listen to this very important and timely message. Also, feel free to share the message with those that you are walking with.


Also, please put Sunday, March 17th in your calendar. We will host a Household Gathering that day beginning at 10AM CST. As always, this gathering will be hosted both in person and also on Zoom. We hope you can be in this gathering with us. Additionally, please put Sunday, March 24th in your calendar for the next Zoom with Sam Soleyn. That meeting will begin at 11AM CST. We hope to see you on Zoom.

This is a busy time for us, and we are sure it is for you too. Both Melinda and I are working on resource creation projects. I am currently working on a large writing project. That is going very well. My plan is to have a new book published by the summer of this year. It is an exciting time.

Until we see you next time please know that we love you very much. :)

Michael & Melinda

New Message -

You will see on the center of this page a new message entitled, "I Don't Know How." This message addresses what I have often found to be a misperception and misunderstanding of one of the most quoted verses in the New Testament. In this message, I share my personal encounter with the broader truth of the Scripture that the message is taken from. I urge you to read this message and also listen to it's companion audio recording which is listed in the upper right side of this home page.

I also encourage you to periodically check this site for new messages. As the Lord is leading us along with the bread of revelation, it is my intention to continue to speak and write the things that I am hearing from the Lord. Part of the "re-engage" word that I heard last year involves writing and speaking messages that are current and relevant. "Profitable" (upper right on this page) and "Patmos" are both messages that are well suited for this time. And there are others soon to come. So, check back as you can.

Resources -

A recent quote from Sunday, May 7, 2023 Zoom meeting. Sam Soleyn said, "the problem with submitting to your own soverignty is that you can never move beyond yourself." If you are not on the email notification list for Sam's Zoom meetings, please email us and we will add you to the list. Email us by clicking this link: infoat@citychurchla.com.

Blessings to you,

Michael


SEAMLESS FELLOWSHIP
on 4/2/17
by Michael Barrett

THE ISSUE OF SOURCE
on 3/5/17
by Norman Moreau and Michael Barrett
  (
click here for companion notes)

AMBASSADORIAL REPRESENTATION
on 2/5/17
by Michael Barrett
  (
click here for companion notes)

ROYAL BIRTHRIGHT OR A BOWL OF STEW
on 1/1/17
by Michael Barrett
  (
click here for companion notes)

BUILDING GOD'S WAY (Spanish)
on 12/4/16
by Javier Lopez

THE GOSPEL OF PEACE
on 11/6/16
by Michael Barrett
  (
click here for companion notes)

DESTINED TO FAIL (Pt. 1)
on 9/1/16
by Michael Barrett


THE CRITICAL KEY OF SPIRITUAL HEARING
on 7/31/16
by Michael Barrett
  (
click here for companion notes)

LOVE - IF AND IS
on 6/5/16
by Michael Barrett

A TIME & A SEASON

on 5/1/16
by Michael Barrett

CRITICISM, A CRITICAL SPIRIT, OFFENSE & GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY
on 4/3/16
by Michael Barrett

ENTERING AND EXITING
on 3/6/16
by Michael Barrett

THE WEAPON OF QUIETNESS
on 2/7/16
by Michael Barrett

IMMEDIATELY
on 1/3/16
by Michael Barrett

THE BOUNDARIES OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD
on 5/3/15
by Dan Crawford

THE DUAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST
on 4/5/15
by Michael Barrett

RESURRECTION AND THE TELEIOS MAN
on 10/5/14
by Michael Barrett

A CITY WITHOUT WALLS
on 8/10/14
by Michael Barrett

A CULTURE OF ONENESS
on 7/13/14
by Michael Barrett

EMPOWERED AND ENABLED
on 4/6/14
by Michael Barrett

WHAT'S IN A NAME
on 2/02/14
by Michael Barrett


2013 - 2014
on 1/05/14
by Michael Barrett

A YEAR IN REVIEW
on 12/08/13
by Michael Barrett

CHRIST FORMED
IN YOU

on 11/03/13
by Michael Barrett

WHAT IS GOD TEACHING YOU IN THIS SEASON and WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION
on 10/06/13
by Michael Barrett

Article: Healing the Brokenhearted 
Healing the Brokenhearted

Author: Michael Barrett

In Isaiah 61, verses 1 through 4 we find these words, "The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2) To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3) To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. 4) And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations." Jesus quoted Isaiah, as recorded in Luke 4:18-21, and affirmed to all the hearers that this messianic prophecy was written about Him, and that the fulfillment had, in fact, come that very day!  

Jesus came to set captive humanity free!! Paul said in Galatians 5:1, "It is for freedom that Christ has made us free." Jesus paid the ultimate price so that you and I would be set free from the bondage of the enemy.

One major area that the Lord Jesus came to free us in is the area of the broken heart. Isaiah said Christ was coming to "bind up the brokenhearted." Jesus said he came to "heal the brokenhearted." He did not come to only bind up, as if to say, to wrap something around the broken heart, resulting in a heart that is still cracked and leaking. No!! Jesus came to set us free! He came to completely cure the brokenhearted. To completely heal every broken heart!!

A Judicial Proclamation

I recently heard a brother say these words; "the problem with a broken heart is that it can't be filled." A broken heart can't be filled!! As I thought about this statement I began to realize that the church is filled with brokenhearted people. In Jeremiah 2:13 a very significant proclamation is recorded. In this passage we have a judicial proclamation from the Lord himself. We are told emphatically that a "broken cistern" can "hold no water." A broken heart can't be filled. No amount of teaching, preaching, telling, counseling, or any thing else can fill a broken heart! A broken heart has the same effect as the sand foundation of Matthew 7:26-27. Whatever is built on this unsure, weak foundation is surely subject to be ravaged by the tests of life. You and I are building something on some foundation right now. Hear this now!! The broken heart must be healed first, and then it can be filled. Later in this article I will discuss how the broken heart may be healed. But for now please understand that if you or I attempt to fill a broken heart we are putting the "cart in front of the horse." Again, please understand that a broken cistern can hold no water. A BROKEN HEART CAN'T BE FILLED!!!

The Power of a Broken Heart

I want to discuss briefly the power of a broken heart. In Luke 4:18 Jesus said he came to heal the brokenhearted. The Greek work translated "brokenhearted" according to Strongs Exhaustive Concordance is "suntribo." This word means to be crushed completely or shattered. The brokenhearted person is a person who has been crushed completely or shattered. This word actually is a combination of two words which mean "with or together" and "a rut or worn track." The power of a broken heart is that it imprisons that person and causes their life to be lived out of the rut or worn track of the experience or trauma that crushed their heart. This is what psychology calls "scripting." The experiences of our lives can literally "write a script" on our hearts. This "scripting" produces a rut or worn track like the grooves on a phonograph record. The net result of this scripting is a "conditioned response." A life lived reactively. When subjected to a particular situation having the same or similar circumstances, language or even implications as the old experience that caused the heart to be broken, a response ensues somewhat like a reflex action. The record plays the same tune it has played hundreds of times before. The record in fact can play no other song than the one recorded in its grooves.

The verse mentioned above in Jeremiah 2:13 speaks of a broken cistern. The Hebrew word in this verse, which is translated cistern, comes from a word that means, "to engrave" and figuratively means, "to explain." This same Hebrew word is found in Habakkuk 2:2, which says, "Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it." In this text, we find the same Hebrew word translated "plain." The experience or experiences, which caused the heart to be broken, have engraved the broken heart cistern. Some vision has been written on my heart and on your heart. Every person's heart has been engraved by the experiences of the past. The broken heart is scripted by the experience that caused it to be broken. This is why it is imperative for the broken heart to be healed. Otherwise, the same response will be played out time and time again. The record can play no other song!!

An Example of Scripting

One of the most widespread or common examples of scripting in the church is in the area of childhood experiences or experiences in early Christian development. If these collective experiences have not been representative of the Father's heart toward us, they can leave us with a very distorted view. For instance, if the experience of our relationship with our earthly father doesn't match what it was supposed to be by the Lord, then that experience will write a vision of fatherhood on our heart. This vision will affect our view of our Heavenly Father. This scripting will also affect every "father" relationship in our life until the broken heart is healed. We will find ourselves playing out the old script over and over again. Our life literally becomes an expression of the old experience. Until the broken heart is healed the cycle is repeated. Conditioned response is the order of the day until Jesus re-writes the script!

Based on the example just mentioned, let's play out the typical response of the broken heart prior to the heart being healed by the Lord Jesus. Let's say that the Lord introduces us to a new spiritual father-type relationship. The typical response before the broken heart is healed would range from absolute refusal to reluctance, suspicion and double-mindedness. Trust would be extremely difficult, if not impossible. The foundation of this new relationship would be at best shaky, thus affecting the potential of the relationship from day one. Again, the "father-figure script" that would be carried into this new relationship would be the Achilles' heel of the relationship. The broken heart must be healed if healthy, productive, interdependent relationships are ever to be enjoyed.

Jesus Came to Heal the Brokenhearted

Let us look once again at Isaiah 61:1. Isaiah said, "The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound." In Luke 4:18, Luke records that Jesus said He had come to heal the brokenhearted. The same anointing that was on Jesus during His earthly ministry has now been diffused into and throughout the Body of Christ. The church is the Body of Christ and is carrying the same anointing Jesus carried! Just as Jesus was anointed to heal the brokenhearted, so you and I are anointed to heal the brokenhearted. If you are brokenhearted, you need to get with a brother or a sister and have them pray with and for you so your broken heart can be completely healed. If this message has spoken to you and you find that you can truly relate to the scripting and conditioned response of a broken heart, you need to go to those who are over you in the Lord and have them minister the anointing to you to heal your broken heart. Hurt people hurt people. Healed people heal people. Get your broken heart healed so you can "build the old wastes, raise up the former desolations, and repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations." With a healed heart you will be able to help others that are brokenhearted. We need to see the Body of Christ rise up and be the Body of Christ!! Walking in strength and victory, amen? May every broken heart be truly healed by the very anointing of the Lord Jesus. May you be healed by that very anointing!! Amen!!

RECENT MESSAGE

THE WEAPON OF AN UNOFFENDABLE HEART
on 2/25/24
by Michael Barrett

A PROPHETIC WORD FOR 2024
on 1/21/24
by Michael Barrett

I DON'T KNOW HOW
on 11/5/23
by Michael Barrett

TRANSFORMATION & MATURING SERIES -
JULY, AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2023

REPENTING, RENEWING & MATURING
on 9/24/23
by Michael Barrett

THE REVEALING OF THE SONS OF GOD
on 8/27/23
by Michael Barrett

PREDESTINATION, TRANSFORMATION & TRANSFIGURATION
on 7/23/23
by Michael Barrett

SUFFERING AND REIGNING
on 6/25-23
by Michael Barrett

SENDING AND RECEIVING
on 5/28/23
by Michael Barrett

THE IMPERATIVE OF UNDERSTANDING
on 4/26/2023
by Michael Barrett

PROPHETIC STEPS FOR 2023
on 3/26/2023 - Zoom @ Varghese Household
by Michael Barrett

PHILEMON -PROFITABLE FOR YOU & FOR ME
on 2/4/2023
by Michael Barrett

PROPHETIC MINISTRY - SOAKING IN THE ANOINTING
by Michael Barrett

SEAMLESS FELLOWSHIP
on 7/21/2022
by Michael Barrett

THE EMOTIONS OF THE SOUL IN THE NEW SEASON
on 7/4/2022
by Michael Barrett

VOWS & OATHS - A REFUGE OF LIES
on 9/6/2020
by Michael Barrett
   (
click here for companion notes)

REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE
on 6/14/20
by Michael Barrett
   (
click here for companion notes)

A CONSCIENCE VOID OF OFFENSE
on 3/1/20
by Michael Barrett

SAM SOLEYN MESSAGE
on 1/5/20
by Sam Soleyn

THE SPIRIT OF EVANGELISM
on 11/17/19
by Dan Fox

THE VOICE OF ONE
on 11/3/19
by Michael Barrett (with open sharing)

THE RELATIONSHIP OF SON TO FAITH
on 10/6/19
by Michael Barrett

ESTABLISHED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS
on 9/1/19
by Michael Barrett

FROM MOURNING TO DANCING
on 8/4/19
by Michael Barrett

WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG
on 7/7/19
by Michael Barrett


THE GENESIS FACE
on 6/2/19
by Michael Barrett

CREATION'S EXPECTATION AND GOD'S PROVISION
on 5/5/19
by Michael Barrett

SEAMLESS FELLOWSHIP
on 4/7/19
by Michael Barrett

JESUS - YOUR KINSMAN REDEEMER
on 3/3/19
by Michael Barrett
   (
click here for companion notes)

INHERITANCE - DOCTRINE & EXPERIENCE
on 2/3/19
by Michael Barrett

AN ANSWER FOR YOUR MIND
on 1/6/19
by Michael Barrett

A SON, A HOUSE, A NATION
on 12/2/18
by Michael Barrett

A SEASON OF AWAKENING
on 11/4/18
by Michael Barrett

BROKENNESS, HUMILITY AND PRIDE
on 10/7/18
by Michael Barrett

PEACE THAT PASSES UNDERSTANDING
on 9/2/18
by Michael Barrett

DAN FOX: A MESSAGE OF ENCOURAGEMENT
MICHAEL BARRETT: PROPHETIC WORD
on 8/5/18

THE EYES, WHICH EYES AND SEEING AS GOD SEES
on 7/1/18
by Michael Barrett
   (
click here for companion notes)

THE OIL OF GLADNESS
on 6/3/18
by Michael Barrett

THE HOUSE AND THE PRIESTHOOD
on 2/4/18
by Michael Barrett

EYES ALL AROUND
on 1/7/18
by Michael Barrett
   (click here for companion notes)

THE KINGDOM OF GOD - A KINGDOM OF ORDER
on 12/3/17
by Michael Barrett

APPROACHING THE GOD OF GLORY
on 11/5/17
by Dan Fox

CROSS OVER AND OCCUPY
on 8/6/17
by Michael Barrett

ANNOUNCING A CHANGE OF SEASON
on 7/2/17
by Michael Barrett

PERSPECTIVE - GAINING GOD'S VIEW (includes discussion)
on 6/4/17
by Michael Barrett


ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER
on 5/7/17
by Michael Barrett
  (
click here for companion notes)

*other messages may be found on the "Media Resources" tab at the center top of this page

    City Church
    132 Scopena Circle
    Bossier City, LA 71112

    email: City Church