Living Word Christian Fellowship
“That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving...” Psalm 26:7
Vol. 15, No. 12 December 2006
So many may say, “I’ve done all I know to do! I don’t know what to do! How much longer, Lord! Why is it so hard?” On and on it goes trying to guess what God is up to and why nothing is working. The answer is simple, yet complex. IT IS ALL ABOUT GOD! Everything we think or feel or experience is all about God. He doesn’t have to tell us one thing. We just rest in Him by trusting Him in all things. Don’t fret about today or tomorrow, just let Him be Lord of all.
We have thought that He was Lord until this new day. Some are still trying to live out of the old way of carnal Christianity and it doesn’t work. Our agendas are being crushed – our ways are being parted – our thoughts have got to go. Jesus is becoming Lord of the universe and we have to wait our turn because we are not forgotten or ignored. This plan is much too big for any of us. The time will come when all of this will be made plain. Don’t listen to the false prophets who prophesy out of their flesh promises that never come to pass. The day of guessing with God is over. Just wait on the Lord and He will do what He wants without your approval. False words have destroyed so many. But there is a clarity that is taking place with those who know it is all about God.
The holidays are upon us once again. This can be a joyous time for you if you will but rejoice in the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living and keep following the King of kings and the Lord of lords. It’s a new day that is going to prove to be the grandest ever.
In Christ,
Pr. Steve
A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.
He who kneels before God can stand before anyone.
Don’t put a question mark where God puts a period.
When praying, don’t give God instructions—just report for duty.
Biblical Separation (2 Timothy 2:21)
In a fallen world, all disciples experience times of separation to become sanctified. We are commanded in Corinthians to “be ye separate” (6:17). If we do not adhere to this command, the consequences are severe. To compromise with people is to offend God. So to please God, we must at times detach ourselves from people.
Full spiritual maturity is to walk with God and to know Him. Very few in history have followed this consistency to learn to walk with God because to walk with Him is to walk apart from others who do not walk with Him. Unity with God means separation from everyone who is not united with Him. The Bible says, “Two cannot walk together unless they are in agreement” (Amos 3:3).
So we cannot walk faithfully with Jesus and at the same time walk closely with those who are unfaithful to Him. The thought of separating ourselves from unsaved sinners is understandable because a little leaven leavens the whole thing. But what about separation from other Christians?
There are two types of Christians in the church – the committed and the uncommitted. In our portion of text they are identified as “honorable & dishonorable” (2 Tim 2:20). In this passage the “great house” is the church, or the current manifestation of the kingdom of God. The vessels of “gold and silver” are spiritual Christians who are of great value to God and are reserved for honorable use. Vessels of “wood and of earth” are carnal Christians who are not fit according to scripture for honorable use and are called dishonorable.
This is not to condemn anyone. The Word of God is infallible. In order to be a vessel of honor, one must be fully sanctified (made holy), or separated unto God (vs. 19). For one to be sanctified we are told we must “depart from iniquity” [moral wrongs of character]. You must separate yourself from anything that keeps you from Christ’s character regardless if others claim Christianity or not. Paul is talking about the Church. Do not build close relationships with carnal Christians. If we do separate ourselves from vessels of dishonor, we will go on to full sanctification and honor (vs. 21).
There are Christians who profess faith in the Lord without currently possessing it. They walk contrary to the Word of Truth even though they have been taught. They carry offenses. They are faithless in practice and obedience. They are worldly-minded. Their goals are not Christ-centered and eternal. They serve themselves and not Christ. They do not submit to the authority of God or those in leadership because they have reasoned within themselves their way is acceptable.
We are called to be yoked to Jesus (Matt. 11:28-30). We are commanded “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers…” (2 Cor 6:14) [unbeliever = one who continues to disbelieve what the Word teaches.]
Both Lot and Abraham were right with God (2 Pet 2:7-8). In their day they walked by faith, but both were not equally committed. Abraham set his heart to continue to walk in the Light, but Lot did not. So eventually Abraham reached the point where he could no longer remain close to Lot (Gen 13). WHY? Because Lot longed for prosperity and prominence among the people. Abraham longed for the glory of God. Lot was consumed with temporal pleasures. Abraham longed for a city whose builder and maker is God (Heb 11:10). So one day they departed company and never again were reunited. The outcome – Lot spent the remainder of his life alone. Abraham spent his days walking with God.
Jesus warns us to count the cost of discipleship. Make sure you are ready to finish what you start. Some this past year gave up, separations have come, but we are still here. WILL WE CONTINUE ON? The day of the Lord is at hand. There are many days of uncertainty and unpleasantness ahead. WILL WE CONTINUE ON?
You will have to make decisions of an unpleasant nature to have the fullness of Christ. This world is faced with two choices: separation or judgment. If we refuse Biblical separation, we will never know the fullness of the Spirit and His power.
Hosea 6:3 “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD…”
While you count the cost and you find yourself being separated, you will become one with Him and He will pour out special blessings to accompany your walk.
Because Abraham chose the way of the Lord and he separated from the carnal Lot, look what God did for Him: (Gen 13:14-17).
Is it easy to count the cost and separate from the familiar? No, but God is faithful. REMEMBER: Separation leads to full sanctification. And the sanctified have special influence with God. Because of Abraham’s dedication, Lot was delivered from total judgment. If we live separated lives, our prayers will cause God to give life to many, even those we have had to leave by the wayside as we follow Christ.
1 John 5:16 “If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.”
Separation is not isolation. God always gives us in return, more than we give up. The Lord is calling us into a greater relationship with Him – intimacy, to know Him. The separation is necessary for the fellowship. The Lord’s separation is truly a uniting of spirit to spirit.
And remember - many separations are temporary so that God can make out of you what He can use for His glory so others may find Christ. Who knows what will happen to former friends and family if we remain faithful to the call.
2Ti 2:21 “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, [and] prepared unto every good work.”
-Pr. Steve
. . . My calling as a pastor
Pastor’s Journal 2005
Dec. 3: Spiritual maturity is where a believer trusts in the witness of the Spirit in the inner man more than his natural senses. Become a listener!
Dec. 5: “Your level of authority has been increased. While others increase in anointing or giftings, I have increased you with spiritual authority against wickedness and in the power of My name to be used for deliverance.”
Dec. 6: “My promises will be fulfilled in you, all the way back from the start of what I said I will do. Greater works shall you accomplish, but it will antagonize people because it will not be done to satisfy them. It will be done by My Spirit alone. You will be faithful. You do walk in faithfulness and you live by faith in the Son of God.”
Dec. 15: He that dwells in the secret place of the Most High. We abide in Christ Jesus on the throne of Glory in heavenly places. We shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Oh Lord, all I want to see is You, above all this world has to offer.
Dec. 17: Vision of two streams of water coming down the mountain of the Lord and merging at the bottom. This is the place of sweet fellowship with the Lord, but He is adding something with it. “Except the Lord build the house our labor is in vain” (Psm. 127:1).
Dec. 19: Perfect peace have they whose mind is stayed on Thee. (Isa. 26:3)
Dec. 20: “I have taught thee in the way of wisdom, I have led thee in the right paths.”
Dec. 22: “I have shown you this year My rest. You have experienced it and walked in it. Don’t lose it by fretting or frustration. I have said this coming year will be fulfillment. Remember My rest and all that you experience will be glorious without sorrow or regret.”
Dec. 23: “You will see and behold the beauty of My Holiness in this lifetime.”
Dec. 26: Your Father which sees you in secret will reward you openly. Fruitfulness!
Dec. 27: A peace that surpasses all your thoughts.
Dec. 29: “You stand as a Sentry to My Kingdom. You defend the righteousness and those who would follow Me. You keep sin out so that My purity might be seen and known. You are a support for those in need and those who are troubled. My authority, approval, anointing and acceptance are upon you, and you will lead many to My Kingdom.
Dec. 31: Reasoning of the mind destroys belief (Luke 5:17-22).
Fire Baptism part 2 of 3
To be in God’s presence is to be in the presence of absolute holiness where no sin or unrighteousness can stand. To be in the presence of God is to have the overwhelming sense of one’s uncleanness and the overwhelming desire to be clean (see Isa. 6:16).
Isa 6:1-5 (KJV) "In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."
God is able to judge and destroy the sin and purify the repentant sinner. The Holy Spirit is the gift Jesus gave His disciples (John 20:22) and is the presence of God at work in the life of the believer and in the world.
John 20:21-23 (KJV) "Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:”
Most stop here; but the sentence is incomplete:
23 “Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained."
This is the baptism of fire, the recognition of sin, the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
The presence of God’s Spirit brings the overwhelming sense of one’s uncleanness and the overwhelming desire to be clean.
The statement “He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire,” means that Jesus had and has the ability to immerse (baptize) people in the presence of God so that they are aware of their sin and their need to be cleansed of that sin.
What sin are we talking about? We have heard in the past about repentance; but what if we can't repent? We must recognize sin.
How many have the conviction of the Holy Spirit? How many have that conviction over all sin in their lives? Have we become hardened? The baptism of fire brings back that recognition.
If we stop speaking in tongues, the language dries up. It is the same with the fire. It must be renewed daily.
How can we intercede if we are not baptized with fire? We must recognize sin. We must hate what God hates.
It is the war against sin. It starts with our own lives, then goes out into the world.
To be continued…
-Pr. S. Chad Ross
The Power To Please God
Heb 11:1 (KJV) “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
The old cliché “It is hard to teach an old dog a new trick” is often found to be true as people grow into what they think they know to be certain, instead of growing by walking with God. But for Christians, as well as unbelievers, the need for change soon becomes evident when the old way of doing something no longer brings the expected results. To keep trying to accomplish something a certain way without success is ludicrous, but those who invoke God by faith and seek to walk by His Spirit can hope for the understanding to make the changes and to gain the power to come into them. God never changes, but we are continually being changed more and more into His image. Those changes are not usually automatic, neither are they usually easy. More times than not we must reach the end of our own strength before we can receive His. The carnal, or natural way of thinking, is blind to the spiritual understanding that can be received only by the born again part of a Christian. Therefore, we can see that our natural way of doing things must be abandoned, and a setting of our focus upon the instruction of the Lord is our only hope.
Rom 8:5-8 (KJV) “(5) For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. (6) For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (8) So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”
Are we trying to please God? It is easy to inadvertently set our hope upon ourselves when we seek to follow God by the letter of the law. The “Do this,” “Don’t do that” mentality can lead to a judgmental attitude toward ourselves and towards others. Even if we follow the law with total success, we could still be lacking the element most needed: that is love. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, not God so judged the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Those who have received Christ have received the love and the Spirit of God. If we have received such a great gift, we should be glad to reciprocate with giving to enhance that new relationship. Being a Christian is more relationship than it is following rules. The beauty of this adventure is found when we stop trying to perform and choose rather to be motivated by the desire to know and love God more each day. Perhaps we don’t know how to do that. But we do know that His word says that if we humble ourselves and seek Him, He will reveal to us the wisdom and understanding, and the power to make it happen.
Heb 11:5-6 (KJV) “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. (6) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
-Kurt Thurston
Missions
Birthright - Right to Life –Dedicated to give love and support with abortion alternatives to women with unwanted pregnancies. Supplies clothing and baby needs as well.
Richmond Academy – An accredited school that nurtures and develops children as they educate their minds and their spirits. They work to prepare children for college as well as for life. Pray for parents to receive a vision for their child’s educational needs. They are rejoicing in the new facility and excited to see how God used it to reach Richmond.
Christian Life Ministries - Eastern Block Nations - Dr. Ron Cottle & Dr. Frank Babbish - Teaching and training Christians to be leaders and pastors across the nations.
Grace Ministry - Spirit Filled Counsel - Dr. Dianne McIntosh – Ministers to Pastors and their families. She also teaches and trains leaders at conferences and through college courses. Pray for God to minister truth and renewed life to all those lives she touches.
Rev. David & Karen Davis - Jerusalem – Reaching out to those who need Jesus. Because of the war many workers and people fled to Galilee. God has spoken to them to bring those in need into Father’s house. They are going to the streets ministering and bringing in the lost. God is showing His faithfulness to those that are turning to Him. Pray for those lost in Jerusalem and for the restoration of workers for the Kingdom and their safety.
Rev. Nicolas Louis Juste - Haiti – Giving many orphan children a home, food, clothing and love. Pray for the adoption of these children that have been orphaned because of numereous reasons and that the homes they go to will be Godly with Godly parents to love them with Christ’s love.
Rev. I. Thomas Maher - India - An outreach to the Indian people through orphanages, Bible Schools and through relief efforts. Much food, and many bibles have been distributed to the people of India. Pray for the needs of the ministry as well as the needs of his family.
Rev. Peter Kaya - Turkey - Bringing many from Turkey, Bulgaria and Macedonia into the faith and training them to be the leaders in their own land.
Rev. Leroy Cloud - Cambodia—Ministers through conferences and training classes to the people of India, Cambodia, and Hong Kong. Please pray for the health of his wife.
Bishop Dr. Omobajesu - Ministers to people of Africa. Sacrificially invites those in need into his home, clothes and feeds them. Needs prayer for financial blessings and physical strength during present times of testing and trials.
