Christian Fellowship
“That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving...” Psalm 26:7
Vol. 22 No. 11 November 2013
Amo 3:6 (KJV) “Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?”
As we see more and more destruction in our land we must remember that God is in control and that He is judging us. It has taken a long time for ministers to accept the fact that that which is happening to us is the judgment of God. Some still won’t accept it. The sin in our land has overflowed the cup of the Lord and now we must pay the price.
It is during this time that we must repent and cry out to God for His protection and safety. We must not look to the government for help, but we must look to Jesus. Our government may fail us, but the Lord Jesus Christ is faithful and true.
We are not of this world. We may experience many difficulties, but we will come through in victory if we keep Him filling our hearts and lives every moment of every day.
God may allow Satan to wreck our country, but he cannot wreck the life which is filled with Christ. Whatever the judgment that comes, we must continue to believe and receive from the Lord.
What is necessary for each of us is to go deeper with the Lord. Dig deep and allow the waters of life to flow freely. This is the power of the Holy Spirit that works in the life of those who are baptized in the Holy Spirit. The deeper you go, the greater the flow! Don’t remain shallow because it just won’t be enough to sustain you.
The overcomers are promised great blessings. And our God will give to each of us according to what each has sown. Gal 6:9 (KJV) “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
In Christ,
Pr. Steve
Love of God
Rev 3:7-13 (KJV) And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; (8) I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. (9) Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. (10) Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (11) Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. (12) Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. (13) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Philadelphia means “city of love.” There has been much emphasis in our time about love -- love -- love, but when we study Laodicea we find the reality is not on love but rather on the rights of people. Philadelphia’s literal meaning is the love of people, thus we get “brotherly love.”
The first word that we get for the church of Philadelphia is “HOLY.” In our generation holiness has had a bad name because it has been translated as meaning “legalism” – what you wear, how you dress, how you wear your hair, if you take aspirin instead of trusting the Lord for your healing. Women got hit hard; for example, according to some religious circles, if you wear cosmetics you are considered to be a Jezebel.
Such legalistic restrictions have resulted in extreme reversals of response: Dress the way you want to whether it is appropriate or not; watch X-rated movies; get tattoos and body piercings. We went from one extreme to another extreme. After all, we are saved by grace so what does it matter?
It matters because the Bible says that without holiness no one shall see the Lord (Heb. 12:14). Holiness is two things. But first, let me tell you what holiness is not. It is not the gifts of the Spirit. Gifts are free, you don’t earn them; instead, you receive them from God. So that includes salvation – the free gift of God. Salvation is not holiness. Salvation is the first step toward holiness, but it is not holiness. Don’t idolize someone who has different gifts than you have. It doesn’t mean they are closer to the Lord than you are. We have seen too many gifted men fall away, so don’t be surprised when you see gifted men acting carnally. We have put the emphasis on something that is not biblical.
Neither is religious performance holiness. Some people believe if they obey the letter of the law they will be holy. Legalized obedience didn’t work in the old covenant, and it doesn’t make you holy in the new.
And lastly, consecration is not holiness. I can commit myself to God every day, but that does not mean I am holy. Consecration is a way of life, but it is not holiness.
Jesus came to the Philadelphia church as HOLY! Holiness is two things: It is being set apart to God for His purposes; and secondly, it is to be free from unclean spirits. That’s what holiness is.
There is a holiness by God calling you holy. That happens when He called you out of darkness into His marvelous light for His purposes. So God calls you holy. But then there is a holiness that has to be worked out in behavior. This holiness takes place as the Holy Spirit leads you to see unclean spirits, such as jealousy, rage, lying, and lust, which house themselves within your being. Once you acknowledge what the Holy Spirit has revealed, He will help you to confess these strongholds and get rid of them. Remember, without holiness – you cannot see the Lord. So holiness is vastly important in our days.
The whole world today is one big lie. The emphasis in the media is to portray sex, money and pleasure as means to personal fulfillment. Based on a lie, satisfying these desires does not lead to what we ultimately want, the fruit of love, joy, and peace. Although some people like being miserable, most of us want joy. We all need peace, but many unwisely seek peace by indulging in actions that bring only temporary satisfaction. Only those under the strain of mental illness and satanic torment do not desire love, joy and peace. A sickened world causes people to thrive off such spiritual and emotional states as hatred, misery, and unrest, conditions which are the opposite of love, joy and peace.
A healthy environment is one that is upbeat, with hope that says everything is going to be alright because God is making all things work together for the good of those who love Him. A person with that kind of attitude can make it through any circumstance of life. Those are the kind of people we like to hang out with. It is not fun to hang out with those who revel in misery. The old maxim that says “Misery loves company” is not true for the believer. The believer enjoys the love and fellowship of those who know how to enjoy life. [We often carry on at restaurants with others we are fellowshipping with – not in a bad way. But if there are people who love misery, look out; you can offend.]
Our culture today is teaching the hatred, the misery and the unrest, not love, joy and peace of life. God’s way is the best way. The other way destroys the hope that we need to survive the difficulties of life that we are now up against. If you can get this hope now, you will save yourself much heartache as things continue to slide into the abyss.
Another thing we see about Philadelphia is that Jesus has the key of David that no man can shut, nor open. This has all been passed on to us: Mat 16:19 “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
That is the key to David! And when we are truly obeying Christ and moving in the Spirit, we have that authority. We don’t have it if we are careless Christians. If we humbly serve Him without trying to “be someone,” His authority is ours. This attitude is important because it will keep you from worrying about what is going to happen to us. Worry and fretting are going to escalate to the place that men’s hearts will fail them. The government is making so many changes they don’t even know what the outcome is going to be. Not knowing causes people to fret.
Know this: JESUS IS IN CONTROL (say it). There is nothing that anyone can do in this world without His permission. The devil himself can’t get into hell because Jesus has the keys. The Congress, the House, even the President can’t do anything outside of Jesus’ approval. He is working out everything for those He has called to be in His image. So when you fret, guess who you are fretting against? You are fretting against the King. You are accusing Him of not knowing what He is doing. Such fretting and unbelief make Him jealous. In such cases, His attitude is, “If you want to serve antichrist go ahead and serve him.”
Jesus is not the little wimpy man people make Him out to be. When you go messing with Jesus, He will show you who is King! If you have ever been close to Jesus, don’t get involved with something else because it breaks His heart. How can you give so much to someone and then turn and go off on some tangent, leaving behind the one who loves? How would you feel? The Lord has those same feelings. That is why he says in Hebrews, “When you do that, there is no way back to Me. You are not going to do that to Me again.” That doesn’t mean you go to hell. But it means that because you jilted Him you will not have that same kind of close relationship again with Him. Once you find intimacy with the Lord, don’t you dare turn away from it. That sweet love of and for Christ is very precious. The Lord counts on it and He looks forward to it. That is why He paid the price at Calvary for it. He longs for a relationship that never looks back. Heb 6:4-6 (KJV) For [it is] impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, (5) And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, (6) If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put [him] to an open shame.
Don’t crucify Christ all over again. Be careful! You have the sweet peace of Christ, the sweet love and the sweet joy. That is Jesus! He is good and faithful. And He wants us to be faithful to Him.
One other thing that we are told about the church of Philadelphia concerns TRUTH. What is truth? Truth is a person -- it is the consuming fire of Israel. It is the only truth there is. What scientist’s tell us are facts (most of the time). But that is not truth. That is data. What Jesus tells us focuses on “Why?” or “ What is the purpose?” And He is the only one who knows. So the only truth in the world is the consuming fire – the Lord Jesus Christ. Buy the truth and sell it not. Ours is “The Day of the Big Lie.” And Americans are buying into it wholesale. As a result, God is bringing His judgment. It is not a pretty picture, but that is where we are. So don’t be surprised by anything that happens; just know the King is in control. Keep His Word; do not deny His name; and know that He loves you dearly and that He will move heaven and earth to keep you safe.
HOLINESS – KEYS OF AUTHORITY – TRUTH
All that is required to keep you from great temptations that are filling the earth today is to stand in the love of God. Remember what verse 10 tells us: Rev 3:10 (KJV) “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”
What is the “word of my patience”? Spiritually, it is to obey the commands of the Lord. But literally it means “joy.” Maintain the joy of the Lord through it all. We are told from Hebrews 12:2 that Jesus “Who for the joy set before Him endured the cross.” When you endure your cross with joy, you are keeping the word of His patience and you will be kept in the time of great temptations that will come upon all the world.
-Pr. Steve
I am going to be sharing with you thoughts from my journal over the past few years. This is to show you how the Lord has brought about His Word in my life to minister to you and to show you how real this walk can be. Please read and understand by the Spirit about ...
. . . My calling as a pastor
Pastor’s Journal 2012
Nov 3: It is time to be loosed from the past and go on in the blessing of the Lord. Be complete in Me and become fearless of the future.
Nov 5: Blessed are you when people reject you because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day for great is your reward in heaven.
Nov 7: By your patience, possess your souls (Luk 21:19). For you have need of endurance.
Nov 9: And this is the confidence that we have in him; that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know we have the petitions that we desired of Him (1 Jn 5: 14-15)
Nov 16: I am bringing change to your life.
Nov 18: How beautiful are the feet of Him who brings good news.
Nov 21: Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Mat 6:19-21)
Nov 22: I am so thankful for loved ones. My family extends all over the world because of the love of Jesus Christ. Thank you, Father, for Your son Jesus Christ, who gave His all for us that we might have so much, especially life abundant. O Lord My God, I will give thanks unto You forever!
Nov 24: All things are possible to him who believes. (Mark 9:23)
Nov 28: Serve Him with gladness and joy divine.
Nov 29: The greatest blessing in my life is that I am loved by God and by Jesus.
Nov 30: Whether I go or come, sit or rise you are there with me. I cannot hide from You. You know my thoughts and You live in my heart. I live for You. Search me, test me, and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and heal me in the way everlasting. (Psm 139)
Sedentary Christianity
The word sedentary is used to describe a lack of, or complete absence of activity. The most common example of sedentary behavior is “sitting around.” Specific examples of sedentary behaviors include: watching television, playing video games, using the computer, reading, and eating or drinking. The main emphasis is not that a person should never sit down, but rather to expose the lethargy, as well as the diversions, that are inhibiting today’s Christians from answering the call to break their carnal routines and to get up and get going out into the world so that they can share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the love of God with the lost and those that are spiritually lifeless.
1Co 1:21 (KJV) “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”
There are people in your realm of influence who need what God has placed in you as a witness for Him. We Christians cannot continue to dismiss the responsibilities we have been given. To get up and get out there and share is not an option -- it is a requirement.
Mar 16:15-18 (KJV) “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (16) He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (17) And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; (18) They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
Christians need to witness, just as much as the people out there need to be witnessed to. We are the ones who bring awareness that the Kingdom of God is here. Of course there will be people who reject Jesus, and you; but that is not a good reason to sit around and do nothing. Every Christian has the obligation to get out there and take the life of Christ to whomever they can reach.
Mat 16:24-25 (KJV) “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (25) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”
Interestingly enough there is another correlation between losing your life to find it, and just continuing to be lethargic instead of getting up and doing what we know we should do. Research has proven that when people live sedentary lifestyles, they run a great risk of experiencing Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or deep venous thrombosis. DVT is the formation of a blood clot (thrombus) in a deep vein, predominantly in the legs. There are potentially life-threatening complications caused by the detachment of a clot that travels to the lungs or brain. And the correlation is that spiritually the same thing happens to us when we let ourselves fall into the trap of not caring and not getting out there to share Christ with others. We must not allow the flow of Christ’s love to get clotted by our desire to kick back and stay sedentary. People’s lives depend on our faithful witness.
-Kurt Thurston
Quotes:
"No man is ever fully accepted until he has,
first of all, been utterly rejected."
- Author unknown
Next course from Christian Life Educators Network - Richmond Center:
Winter Break! Classes Resume in January
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