Abiding Life News Archives, 2008
TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS (12/21/08)
Twas the night before Christmas and all through the town;
Though there are many happy faces and a joyful sound;
It seems nearly all have forgotten the real reason for this time;
To take Christ out of Christmas seems somewhat of a crime;
I've seen greed, commercialism, selfish attitudes without pause;
The Savior is ignored and all minds fixed on Santa Claus;
While Jesus is pushed out of most people's celebration;
We, the true believers, must declare truth to our nation;
Understanding the reason for the season is what really frees us;
It's not about you. It's not about me. It's all about Jesus! (12/24/04)
HEALING HINDRANCES (12/14/08)
I've discovered at least twenty one (21) hindrances to Divine Healing. But after further study and review, I determined that really there are just three real hindrances to healing. Or at least all twenty-one of these hindrances can be categorized into three categories. The three healing hindrance categories are ignorance, unbelief, and reaping what you sow. I want us to look in detail at each of these and look at the various ways that they manifest in our lives. We need to realize that there are many things that we say, do, or believe that slow or even stop the healing power of God on our lives. But each of these examples are manifestations of either ignorance, unbelief, or reaping what you sow.
It is easy to think that your problems are much deeper then this and this may seem like an over simplification. But I truly believe that God means what He says. He promises healing to each of His Blood-bought children. He even calls it the children's bread. So if you don't receive your healing, the problem is on your end, not on His end. He did what He promised and He has provided for your healing. The problem is that you have not yet received it. Most likely, it is because of one of these reasons you have not yet received. (Whole article at www.abidinglife.net/abiding_articles or www.abidinglife.net/ffm207)
WHAT ARE YOU GIVING JESUS FOR HIS BIRTHDAY? (12/12/08)
This time of the year, it is natural to be thinking about what gifts you will give to your varous family members and friends. The real question shouldn't revolve around what gifts we give to each other, but what gifts are we giving to our Savior. It is suppose to be His birthday that we are celebrating. At Christmas time, we need to each take time to think about what gifts we could give to Jesus Christ.
We need to give Him the gift of ourselves, to serve Him in every way that He makes available to us. We should give Him the gift of our love (love the Lord w/all your heart, soul, mind, & strength - what Jesus called the greatest command). We need to give Him the gift of our worship. We should give Him the gift of our time. We should give Him the gift of our obedience (the whole duty of man - Ec.12:13). It isn't about us anyway, it is all about Him. Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday Jesus!
PRAY FOR OUR ABIDING LIFE MISSIONS MINISTRY PARTNERS!(12/8/08)
You may have noticed that we have three Ministry Partners in other countries. They are Pastor Ben Manfort with Abiding Life Faith Ministries in Ghana, Pastor M. Daimai with World Road Church in India, and Pastor Kenneth Mutyaba with Abiding Life Christian Center in Uganda. These are each ministers who have been in communication with me for many years now and have requested affiliation with Abiding Life Christian Ministries. Each of these ministries have specific ministry needs that they have made known to me.
Please consider adding them to your gift giving list if you can. They each have tangible material needs, but even more, they each request our prayers. Specifically, the church in India has an unfinished building that they have not been able to work on for months. Plus, they face many challenges from the Hindus, the Muslims, and the government. The ministry in Ghana has many needs such as a car, and a need to purchase property. As you pray for FCFnv, please remember to pray for our three Abiding Life Missions partners also. Thanks and God bless you!
OUR LAST GATHERING IN 2008! (12/07/08)
Wow, today is the 7th. That means there is only six months to go to the first Sunday service of Faith Christian Fellowship of Northern Virginia. This coming Wednesday, 12/10/2008, will be our last Abiding Life Gathering for this year. We will not have another gathering until 2009. During the Month of December most us are kept very busy with various holiday celebrations, festivities, and gift buying. Please try to keep the focus on Jesus, He is the reason for the season. Try to come to our last gathering of the year on the 10th. But, enjoy the rest of the holiday season with family and friends. Also, please remember to come to our Abiding Life Gatherings in January. Don't forget that we will be changing our gatherings to Friday evenings. Our start time is always 7:30PM, unless otherwise noted. Details are at www.abidinglife.net/gathering.
HISTORY SHAPED IN CRADLES!(12/3/08)
Let's consider the year 1809. The international scene was tumultuous. Napoleon was sweeping through Austria; blood was flowing freely. Nobody then cared about babies. But the world was overlooking some terribly significant births.For example, William Gladstone was born that year. He was destined to become one of England's finest statesman. That same year, Alfred Tennyson was born to an obscure minister and his wife. The child would one day greatly affect the literary world in a marked manner.On the American continent, Oliver Wendell Holmes was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. And not far away in Boston, Edgar Allan Poe began his eventful, albeit tragic, life. It was also in that same year that a physician named Darwin and his wife named their child Charles Robert. And that same year produced the cries of a newborn infant in a rugged log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky. The baby's name? Abraham Lincoln.If there had been news broadcasts at that time, I'm certain these words would have been heard: "The destiny of the world is being shaped on an Austrian battlefield today." But history was actually being shaped in the cradles of England and America. Similarly, everyone thought taxation was the big news when Jesus was born. But a young Jewish woman cradled the biggest news of all, the birth of the Saviour. (adapted from C.Swindoll/source unknown)
THE GIFTS OF GOD ARE FREELY GIVEN ALL YEAR LONG! (12/2/08)
It's Christmas season again and everyone seems to be focused on our annual tradition gift giving. There are probably gift exchanges taking place in your work-place, in your school, and in your family. And though the world has progressively been pursuing taking Christ out of Christmas, Christ Himself was the first gift. God Himself began all this gift-giving! God the Father gave Jesus to us as the Savior of the world and the Savior to each of us individually. Jesus then gives us gifts. For one thing, He gives us the Holy Spirit to lead us and to guide us through the affairs of life. The Holy Spirit then gives us gifts. Several gifts of the Spirit are listed in various passages in the New Testament. God additionally gives us many other gifts such as eternal life, healing, provision, and much more. Have you ever wondered what gifts God will give you? The real question is have you unwrapped the gifts that He has already given you? The good news is His gifts are available all year long. You can receive and unwrap His gifts any time of the year! Unwrap and enjoy all the gifts of God.
JESUS, NOT SANTA, IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON! (12/1/08)
For many years I've been disturbed by the continual and seemingly increasing emphasis on Santa Claus during the Christmas season and the de-emphasis on Jesus. Even in the Catholic school where I used to be employed for years, one year I counted 27 "Santas" (pictures or figurines) and only one Nativity Scene in the school cafeteria. It seems to me that Santa is a diversion of Satan to refocus the reason for the season. Throughout December you can see Santa posters on nearly every retail store window and throughout every neighborhood. Nativity scenes are getting harder and harder to find. In a popular Christmas song we hear, "he sees you when your sleeping, he knows when your awake...", and they're not talking about Jesus, they're talking about Santa. Is Santa omniscient? We also are told that he circles the globe, visiting every single home in just one night. Is Santa omnipresent? He is depicted as having great magical powers. Is Santa Omnipotent? We are also to understand that he is very old and has been around for hundreds of years and will probably never die. Is Santa Eternal? We Christians know that only God has these Divine attributes! Santa is simply a tool from Satan (notice the similarity of these names) to divert attention away from Jesus! I strongly discourage Christians from having anything to do with Santa Claus. The story of Santa Claus is a total lie, not even closely resembling the real Saint Nicolas from many centuries ago. God's greatest joy is that we walk in Truth (III John 4) and Santa Claus is a lie. We could almost even go so far as to say that Santa Claus is an anti-Christ, because in all the stories about him he has all the powers and characteristics of God and is a tremendous distraction from the true story of what we call Christmas. Sure celebrate Christmas, but keep it focused on Jesus. Reject Satan's counterfeit, Santa.
A SLOW FADE! (11/30/08)
I don't know if you ever listened to this song by Casting Crown before. I heard it many times, but only this morning did I pay attention to the words. I thought it had a powerful message that many people need to hear, so I looked up the words and... here it is... I hope you take time to read and meditate on the message conveyed in this song.
SLOW FADE, Casting Crown
Be careful little eyes what you see. It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings. Be careful little feet where you go. For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow. It's a slow fade when you give yourself away. It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray. Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid, When you give yourself away. People never crumble in a day. It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade.
Be careful little ears what you hear. When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near. Be careful little lips what you say, For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray. It's a slow fade when you give yourself away. It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray. Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid, When you give yourself away. People never crumble in a day.
The journey from your mind to your hands Is shorter than you're thinking. Be careful if you think you stand, You just might be sinking. It's a slow fade when you give yourself away. It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray. Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid, When you give yourself away. People never crumble in a day. Daddies never crumble in a day. Families never crumble in a day.
Oh be careful little eyes what see,
Oh be careful little eyes what you see,
For the Father up above is looking down in love,
Oh be careful little eyes what you see.
CHANGING TO FRIDAY GATHERINGS! (11/28/08)
Beginning in January of 2009, we will be changing our Abiding Life Gatherings to Friday evenings. This will allow our time to be less constrained. We will be more free to go beyond 9:00PM, if we want to. This will also allow more time for fellowshipping, general conversation, and getting to know one another. Also, I believe we will be able to get a few more people to attend on Friday evenings.
THANKSGIVING HAS A VOICE! (11/26/07)
I've studied the Seven Hebrew words for Praise for the past 28 years. The Hebrew praise word that is commonly translated "thanksgiving", Towdah, literally means the "Confession of Thanksgiving". At least half of the times where the word Towdah is used there is also a reference to your voice or the words of your mouth in the same verse or at least in the context. It is critical that we speak our gratitude unto God, voice it with our lips, verbally vocalize our appreciation for Him and the things that He has done. Thanksgiving is not a "day," it's a way life! It is to be expressed from our mouth on a daily basis. As a Christian, Thanksgiving Day should not be merely an occasion that we celebrate once a year; thanksgiving should be a continuous expression of worship we offer to our Lord daily!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! (11/23/08)
Most of us will be with family members or with friends this week as we give thanks to God for our many blessings. All of us have things to be thankful for. Hopefully, we don't wait until this time of the year to express our thanks to God for all the great things that He has done. Frequently we may be tempted to complain about our lot in life. We may be unhappy with some aspect of our career, our bills, or our living conditions. Scripture tells us... "...in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus, concerning you." It isn't that we are thankful for the circumstances and situations that we face, but we are able to give thanks in the midst of them. We are "Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith." He is more than able to cause us to overcome all the challenges of life by His grace and power. He will continue to "perfect that which concerns us". That is certainly something to give thanks for. So as you gather with your family and friends this week let people know what you are thanking God for. Find ways to verbally express your thanks to God for the victories that He has given to you up to now, and the victories still to come. Happy Thanksgiving!
INTENSE GENUINE JOY! (11/22/2008)
Have you ever thought to yourself that if you could have one specific thing in your life, then you would be truly happy and content? Have you said, "if I were a millionaire, then I'd be fully satisified"? Or, "if I had that job...", or "if only I had that house...", of "if only I had that one thing, I would be totally content"? But God says, "delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart" (Ps.37:4). There are so many promises of God in Holy Scripture that we have learned to live by. Many of us have learned to walk by faith in many areas of our Christian life. We have learned to practice "the love-walk" even when we don't feel like it. Some of us have learned to apply the healing Scriptures to our lives to overcome obstacles to our health. Yet many of these very same Christians tend to go through life down, sad, unhappy, and even depressed. There are many things that we could say about the resolution to this problem, but one key passage is this one in the 37th chapter of Psalms. We have to make up our minds that we are going to have a delightful or joyful mind and outlook regardless of our soul's feelings. The God-kind of joy begins with a decisions. Most people believe that once they receive the desires of their hearts, then they'll have joy. This verse presents just the opposite view. Delight yourself in Jesus, then He'll give you those things that you desire. I'm not talking about "faking it". I'm talking about intense genuine joy. Get excited about Jesus. Fall in love with Him all over again on a daily basis. Outwardly express radical excitement about your relationship with your Creator, then watch Him provide those things that you deeply desire.
BUILDING THE LAUNCH TEAM! (11/7/08)
I just created a new page, as a sub-page to the main Faith Christian Fellowship page, inviting you to join our Launch Team. We are still trying to build a strong Leadership Team. But we will also need at least a dozen people on our Launch Team for an effective first service, and first month, and beyond. From the firsk service, we will need ushers, children's teachers, greeters, counters, musicians, and more. Please check out our Launch Team page and sign up to join the team!
ABIDING LIFE BY-LAWS, CONSTITUTION, AND DOCTRINES! (10/10/08)
We have completed our review of our ABCD material at our Wednesday gatherings. We will vote on it at our annual business meeting in January. There is still time for you to review it and express your opinion on any aspect of it. If you have any concerns whatsoever with any part of this document, please bring it to our attention before the end of December.
THREE KINDS OF UNITY!(10/5/08)
There are three kinds of unity spoken of in I Cor.1:10. "...that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you: but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and the same judgment."
Speak the Same Thing: This points toward doctrinal unity. Among the Leadership Team, we may find minor points of disagreement in some of the details of these doctrines, but we must be in general agreement with the overall emphasis of each of the First Principles of the Oracles of God. We certainly could not allow someone who promotes incorrect doctrine to be among our elders or deacons. We have to make sure that we are teaching and preaching doctrinally sound principles.
In the Same Mind: This points toward unity of vision. Among the Leadership Team, we must find our minds focused on the same vision. We must be in agreement with where the church is going. If an elder or deacon has a different vision then the Pastor does, spiritual friction will slow, or even stop, the power of God from flowing in the church. If you have in your mind to take the church one direction, but in my mind, the church is to be going in a different direction, chances are, it will not go anywhere.
The Same Judgment: This points toward unity in our business affairs, choices, discisions, integrity, and judgments. This goes beyond doctrinal issues and vision. This has to do with the way we judge various circumstances and situations that arise in our church community. This has to do with how we handle conflicts and crises. Elders and Deacons and other leaders must unite behind the discisions of the Pastor, unless they are clearly unbiblical, immoral, unethical, or illegal discisions. They must united in the Same Judgment.
NEW CALENDAR PAGE! (9/28/08)
I just added a new calendar page to the website. It is a sub-page to the main Abiding Life page. The Calendar page allows for a quick reference to what Abiding Life events are happening and when. Click to the calendar when you want to find out what is happening at a quick glance. Another page that provides similar information is the Gatherings page. The Gatherings page is a sub-page to the Faith Christian Fellowship page. Let me know if you know of other meetings, events, or holidays that should be added to the Calendar.
GOD WARNS AGAINST TOO MUCH TALKING! (9/27/08)
I noticed that God's Word cautions us against too much talking. We always need to make sure we choose our words wisely and be listening to the Holy Spirit as we do so. When people talk too much it is common for them to put their foot in their mouth.
Pr 10:19 - (The Bible in Basic English)
Where there is much talk there will be no end to sin, but he who keeps his mouth shut does wisely.
Pr 14:3 - (Good News Translation)
Proud fools talk too much; the words of the wise protect them.
Pr 20:19 - (Good News Translation)
A gossip can never keep a secret. Stay away from people who talk too much.
Ec 5:7 - (Good News Translation)
No matter how much you dream, how much useless work you do, or how much you talk, you must still stand in awe of God.
Ec 5:7 - (The Bible in Basic English)
Because much talk comes from dreams and things of no purpose. But let the fear of God be in you.
AVAILABILITY OVER ABILITY! (9/20/08)
"But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, 'with men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible'" (Mt.19:26). God isn't looking for your ability as much as He is looking for your availability. God knows us better than we know ourselves. He know your limitations. He knows where you lack. He knows where you are weak. He knows your abilities or lack thereof. But He also knows that when you've reached your limits, He can demonstrate His limitlessness. He knows that where you lack, He is the unlimited supply. He also knows that in your weakness, He will reveal His strength. Whatever abilities He has gifted you with, certainly use them whole-heartedly for the Lord and the promotion of His Kingdom. But more than ability, He is more interested in your availability. If you make yourself available, He will do mighty things through you. If you make yourself available, He will demonstrate His ability through you.
GOD'S 911! (9/11/08)
Seven years after the tragic events of 9/11/2001, most of us still vividly remember the details of that day. While we grieve with those who grieve and attempt to comfort those who need comforted, we need to build relationships with the God of all comfort. We need to remember that God has given us His Holy Spirit, who He referred to as the Comforter. Yes, we remember the horrific events of 9/11 and the tremendous united reaction of comfort, love, and unity that we saw in nearly all Americans across this nation on that day and in the days following. But let's also remember God's 911.
Psalm 91:1 is God's 911. The 91st Psalm holds a tremendous promise for protection for those who abide and dwell in His presence. If we faithfully abide under His wing of protection, and continue to stand in faith, He promises complete divine protection. God's protection promise goes so far as to declare that though 1000 may fall at your side and 10,000 at your right hand, it will not come nigh you. Do you believe this?
God's 911 can be initiated into your life by faith. Faith is the key that makes this promise a reality in your life. Faith is the key that unlocks the door to all of God's promises. God's 911 is what we could call our assurance policy. God assures us that He always has our best interest at heart. He even goes on to say that He wants to satisfy us with a long and productive life. Yes, it is a good thing to remember the 9/11 of 2001, but let's daily remember God's 911. (Ps.91:1)
PEACE BE UNTO YOU! (8/31/08)
"Then said Jesus unto them again, 'Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you'" (Jn.20:21). Christ has sent His ministers to go in peace, to walk in peace, and to follow after peace. So many Christians never know how they have been sent, although they recognize that the Lord has commissioned them to go. If the supernatural peace of God has left your life and/or ministry, it might be wise to stop what you are doing. Take a few hours or a few days to wholeheartedly seek the mind of God for more clear direction.
WE'RE BACK ON TELEVISION! (8/27/08)
We just got the word that our new television program, Rivers of Living Water, will begin airing on Labor Day. That's this coming Monday, September first. Rivers of Living Water will be on FPA Cox 10 three times every week. Click on the Rivers of Living Water page for more details.
PRAYER PARTNERS REQUESTED! (8/18/08)
FCFnv will begin it's first Sunday morning service in June of 2009. That is less than 10 months away. It is time that we get serious about prayer for the launching and effectiveness of this new church congregation. Prayer is the cornerstone of every great move of God, including the original out-pouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. We believe in the power of prayer and we know you do too.
I would like to personally invite you to join me in prayer as we embark on this wonderful journey of a great church ministry in the Alexandria/Annandale/Arlington area in Virginia. We are officially launching a prayer ministry to unite people around the world in prayer for God's work in this "Inside the Beltway" area of Northern Virginia. Our desire is to have 120 prayer partners, the same number of people in the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost. For more information, please go to www.abidinglife.net/prayer_partner and consider joining us as a Prayer Partner.
NEW BEGINNINGS! (8/8/08)
The number eight is generally believed to be symbolic of new beginnings. We all mess up. We all make mistakes. We all have said and done things that we wish we could take back. When we mess up, we like to start over. But after too many disappointments we often give up. However, the Bible speaks of us becoming a "new creation"--and then we also become ambassadors of Jesus! Scripture tells us that His mercies are new every morning. Start every day with a time of serious praying and seeking God. Receive His mercies and His grace. Accept His cleansing and forgiveness and move on to whatever new beginnings He has in store for you. On this eighth day of the eighth month of 2008, make today a day of new beginnings in Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit.
HIDE HIS WORD IN Your HEART! (8/2/08)
According to the 11th verse of Psalm 119, it is important that we hide God's Word in our hearts. In doing so, we are allowing the Holy Spirit to bring Scriptures to our remembrance when we need them. The Spirit of God is faithful to bring to my remembrance the verses that I need when I need them for effective ministry. But in order for Him to bring God's Word to my remembrance, I have to be studying His Word diligently, so there will be something there to bring to my remembrance. It is imperative that we daily devour God's Word for spiritual nourishment and strength.
COMMUNION: The Body and The Blood! (7/26/08)
The most controversial part of communion, among most Christians and churches, is the meaning of our Lord's words when He said, "this is My body" and "this is My blood". Was this to be taken literally or was Jesus speaking metaphorically, presenting the elements as a type and symbol of a spiritual truth? The presence of Christ in the Lord's Supper is still a topic of debate 2000 years after that first communion ceremony. You can read more on this subject with the newest article on the Abiding Articles page: www.abidinglife.net/communion1.
NEW POLL QUESTION! (7/1/08)
What Biblical topics are you interested in? What subjects would you like for us to discuss at our Abiding Life Gatherings? Voice your opinion on our new poll questions at www.abidinglife.net/polling_booth.
SHOULD CHRISTIANS CELEBRATE HOLIDAYS? (6/29/08)
In 1979, I started attending a church that took a strong stand against celebrating holidays, especially the ones with a lot of occult and pagan practices in them, like Halloween, Christmas, and Easter. After reading up on the paganism that is behind most of the symbols and practices of these holidays, I was convinced that I shouldn't have anything to do with them. But I quickly found out that most Christians didn't agree with my conclusions. I found out that instead of bringing more people to agree with me, I was chasing more and more people away from me when I expressed this anti-holiday perspective.
After a period of a few years, I noticed that many of those that once believed that they shouldn't celebrate holidays, began to compromise and started celebrating them again. Over the years, I've met many Christian leaders who have said that they used to be opposed to celebrating Christmas and other holidays, but now they have returned to celebrating them. They too expressed that one reason for their return to celebrating holidays was because they were chasing too many people away from them by having such a seemingly extreme position on the subject. So, gradually, I began to rethink my position on this subject also.
Certainly, we need to know what our unshakable foundational beliefs are and not be contentious or argumentative on any of these minor issues. The First Principles of the Oracles of God, such as the Blood Covenant and the inerrancy of Scripture, are unshakable foundational doctrines on which we should never compromise or waiver. However, whatever your stand on the holidays is, there is room for us to disagree without being disagreeable. How you look at this issue isn't something that we should break fellowship over.
The word "holiday" stems from a word meaning "holy day". Certainly not all holidays are holy, in fact some are very unholy. Should the unholy holidays be completely discarded? There are many unholy holidays that have been sugar coated with a lot of holy symbolism to make them look holy. What should the Christian stance be concerning holidays? Let's begin this discussion by looking at the big three unchristian American Holidays. (read the whole article at www.abidinglife.net/holidays)
CONTROVERSIAL DISCUSSIONS! (6/17/08)
As Spirit-filled Christians, it is important that we each know what we believe and what our unshakable foundations are. It is important that we believe the truths that are grounded on the Word of God. I have posted at our website what I see as the First Principles of the Oracles of God, the bottom line principles, that we cannot and will not compromise on (www.abidinglife.net/first_principles).
But there are some controversial topics that are not part of that unshakable foundation, which have been introduced to us in some recent gatherings, such as...
- Should Christians Celebrate Holidays?
- What is the Right Perspective on Communion?
- Is it Really Always God's Will to Heal?
- What is Manifested Sonship and is it Biblical?
- What is the Anointing Oil and How Should it be Applied?
- etc.
If we're going to evolve into a Bible-based, Christ-centered, truth-teaching church, it is important that we know what the Bible really says about each of these, and any other controversial topic that comes our way. We don't want to be contentious about any of these. We just want to know what the Biblical truth is and know it well enough to convey it to others. However, in some of these non-foundational areas we should be able to disagree without being disagreeable. We will begin discussing some of these beginning with our next Wednesday gathering on June 25th, Unless the Lord leads us in another direction.
HE ALONE SATISFIES! (6/16/08)
"Delight thyself also in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart" (Ps.37:4). Delighting ourselves in the Lord, making ourselves to be joyful in Him, should be the objective of every sincere Christian. Taking pleasure in our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is not simply a nice sounding cliche, but a way of life for the true disciple. It is remarkable how everything fits into proper order when we joyfully put God first in every aspect of our lives. Even the worst of trials seem to turn out for our good because this Scriptural principle is a fixed law of God. Isn't it awesome that He promises to provide, not only our needs, but the very desires of our heart, when we put our relationship with Him before all else. When our hearts are in tune to God's order, His teachings, and principles, then our motives and desires become in line with the nature of God. Our desires will cease from being selfish, vindictive, or damaging. This Scripture is a practical, legal contract with God. He said that if you delight yourself in Him and put Him first in every aspect of your life, He will make it His business to answer your prayers and give you the desires of your heart. What an awesome God we serve!
THE ESTABLISHER OF OUR THOUGHTS (6/8/08)
Proverbs 16:3 tells us to commit our works unto the Lord and our thoughts will be established. If we are fully committed to Him and His ways, and we commit to Him all that we set our hands to, He will even guide our thinking process. The writer to the Hebrews adds additional insight into this idea by saying, "The Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword,... and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." This tells us that God's Word discerns our thoughts and even the intentions of our hearts. When our lives are truly committed to the Lord, when we read His Word and let it work in our lives, then our walk, thoughts, and even the intentions of our hearts will line up and be in accordance with God's perfect will.
GRADUATION CEREMONY CANCELED! (6/6/08)
Due to lack of interest and other complications, our LCU graduation that was scheduled for the 28th of June is now being canceled. We will plan better for a bigger and better graduation event next summer. We're sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused anyone.
NEW ABIDING ARTICLE: JESUS MY EVERYTHING! (5/24/08)
The Covenant that God made with us through the Blood of Jesus is an awesome thing. Not only does Jesus provide everything we need, He becomes everything we need. I've been doing a lot of thinking about this lately. Many of the blessings that God promises to us, He also reveals Himself as being that blessing that He promised. Let's look at a few key Scriptures that show us what redemption is all about.
Notice First Corinthians 1:30, "But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:" Did you notice that it doesn't just tell us that Jesus provides wisdom for us, which certainly He does, but it tells us that He becomes our wisdom. It doesn't just tell us that Jesus provides righteousness for us, which certainly He does that too, but it tells us that He becomes our righteousness. He not only provides sanctification and redemption, but He becomes our sanctification and redemption.
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GOD LOVES YOU AND WANTS YOU TO KNOW HIM! (5/18/08)
God created us in His own image so we can know Him personally and have a joy-filled life. He did not make us as robots to automatically love and obey Him, but gave us a will and a freedom of choice. Since the beginning of time, we have chosen to disobey God and go our own willful way. We still make this choice today. This results in separation from God and ends in misery. The Bible tells us about our miserable state. It says: "All of us have sinned and fallen short" of God's holiness (Rm 3:23). It also tells us that the result of unforgiven sin is death. But it also tells us the good news. God provides the free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord (Rm.6:23). Disobeying God results in being separated from Him. Through the ages, people have tried many ways to bridge this gap and reach God - without success. There is only one way to reach God. The cross of Jesus Christ, and His precious Blood, is the only remedy. Jesus is the only answer to our problems. He is the only one who can bring us back to God.
CELL PHONE vs. BIBLE (5/2/08)
I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone? What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets? What if we flipped through it several times a day? What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it? What if we used it to receive messages from the text? What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it? What if we gave it to Kids as gifts? What if we used it when we traveled? What if we used it in case of emergency? This is something to make you go....hmm...where is my Bible? Oh, and one more thing. Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill. Makes you stop and think "where are my priorities? And no dropped calls!
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER (5/1/08)
Today is the 57th annual Day of Prayer. It is great that our government recognizes the need to set aside a day to pray for those things that concern us as a nation, as well as individuals. Of course, we each should be praying daily. In fact we are admonished in Scripture to pray without ceasing. But to have the US Government leaders acknowledge that we need God's guidance as a nation is awesome! I only wish the government would do more to promote this day. Certain Christian leaders do a lot to promote it, but since the Government created this occasion and recognizes
the need to seek God through prayer, it seems to me that they should do more to bring it to everyone's attention. Anyway, let's call upon God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength for Him to provide direction to our governmental leaders as well as our Spiritual leaders. Let's ask him for revival in our nation and around the world.
NOW CONCERNING SPIRITUAL GIFTS (4/27/08)
We've been talking a lot about Spiritual Gifts at our meetings lately. I don't pretend to be an expert on the subject, but as we each learn God's will in this area, we must seriously consider what He says in His Word. Our beliefs about the Gifts of the Spirit should not be primarily based on our feelings or on our experiences. Feelings are subject to change, and they do so too frequently. Face it, our feelings just are not reliable. But neither are our experiences. Our beliefs must be primarily based on God's Word. After that, our feelings and our experience should line up with His Word, to confirm His Word. God's Word says that we are to walk by faith, not by sight. God's Word says that we are to be led by the Spirit, not by feelings.
A careful study of the 12th chapter of I Corinthians reveals that God wants you to be knowledgeable concerning the supernatural realm. It is important to God that you have knowledge and understanding concerning the spiritual gifts. Head knowledge is important. Experiential knowledge is even more important. Don't be afraid to seek to learn about these things. Rest assured that it is God's will for you to learn about them. God wants to speak to His people. He desires that we hear His Voice. We are to allow Him to speak to us individually as well as in the congregation to the whole church body. Some may think you are strange when you are flowing in the Spirit, but this should be the normal CHristian lifestyle. It should be considered strange when one is not operating in the Gifts of the Spirit.
But rest assured that the Holy Spirit desires to manifest Himself through each member of the Body of Christ. What a grand and glorious church we'd be if we each would be fully yielded to the Holy Spirit in order to allow Him to flow through each of us, for the greater glorification of our Lord and Savior, for the expansion of the Kingdom of God, and for the benefit of the whole church. You know, God knows you better than you know yourself. You might think your best function is one thing, but God knows even better than you do the best way to fit you into His body. He created you. He knows your strengths better than you do. He knows your weaknesses better than you do. He knows how to make you a blessing to others better than you do. Ask Him to reveal these things to you. Ask Him for His wisdom in how to function in His perfect will in the Spiritual Gifts that He has given to you.
HE KEEPS WHAT WE COMMIT TO HIM! (4/20/08)
"...for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day." (II Tm.1:12)
What is it that is concerning you today? What issues are you facing in this phase of your life? Commit it to Christ. He is not only able to keep it, but He is able to perfect all that you commit to Him. Jesus is concerned about all that concerns us. We are not able to keep ourselves from falling in the many traps of this world nor of the snares of the evil one. We are not able keep ourselves, but everything that we have committed to the Lord, He is able to keep and perfect. If I can keep myself committed to Him, then I find this verse to be true in every aspect of my life. If I can keep my health committed to Him, then Jesus is able to keep me healthy. If I can keep my finances committed to Him, He is able to keep me with sufficient finances. If I can keep my future committed to Him, He will faithfully guide and direct my every step. Everything that I can commit to the Lord, He will keep. To me, this is the reason why this Scripture is so great. He is able to keep that which I have committed into His trust.
WHOLENESS IN GOD (4/19/08)
"And the very God of peace satisfy you wholly and I pray God your whole spirit, and soul, and body be preserved blameless..."(I Th.5:23). God is interested in your whole being: spiritually, mentally, financially, physically, psychologically, socially, and in any and every other way. In any area of your life that is weak, Jesus wants to be your strength. We need this wholeness that Paul was speaking about in order to function fully and adequately for the Kingdom of God. Have faith that He is transforming you into the image of Jesus Christ: wholly, in every aspect of who you are. You may feel fragmented today, that some part of your life is incomplete. You may feel the weight of problems and pressures threatening to shatter you to pieces. But I can tell you from experience that the God of peace will come into your life and begin to make you whole. Nothing else in life will wholly satisfy and fulfill. Press forward in God through the power of the Holy Spirit and in the Name of Jesus.
SOMEBODY'S DIVINE APPOINTMENT! (4/12/08)
I once read an interesting article on-line at the C-Faith Website. What caught my attention about it was the statement in the introductory paragraph about being "somebody's Divine appointment." So often we "Word of Faith" believers tend to develop the mindset that God is moving people in and out of our lives to minister to our needs and desires. But we must not overlook that God is also moving us in and out of other people's lives to minister to their concerns. Every day we should live our lives with the knowledge that we are somebody's divine appointment, to introduce him or her to Jesus. We must be obedient to take advantage of the opportunities that come our way to share the love of God. I can think of several occasions when I was upset with myself for missed opportunities to share the Gospel of Christ. After the individual left my presence, God reminded me of something they said that was a perfect opening for me to share either a Bible verse, a personal testimony, or something that might've prompted them to consider the ways of God. I just want to encourage all of us to stay aware of those whose paths cross ours. You might be a Divine appointment today. You might have something important to add to someone's understanding of God, His grace, and His love.
AWESOME GRACE! (4/1/08)
God's grace towards us is truly amazing, beyond comprehension. Grace is perhaps one of those words that everyone has heard, and nearly everyone thinks they have a basic understanding of what it means, but in reality very few actually comprehend it. In the Christian community we are surrounded by the word. We even have schools and churches with the word "Grace" as part of their name, yet most of those within those walls couldn't properly define it to you. Additionally, we all have sung songs such as Amazing Grace. We are constantly surrounded by this word, but do we truly understand the magnitude of grace? Yet, I'd say that "Grace" is an incredibly critical and important doctrine of Christianity. Most denominations and traditional churches tend to impose some form of legalism on their members. Even the non-denominational and Charismatic groups have the tendency to unknowingly slip in that direction. Even after being set free from the bondages of legalism, most Christians tend to slip back into a degree of legalism, without even knowing that they are doing so.
A FEW WORDS ABOUT DIVINE HEALING (3/16/08)
God's Word speaks a lot about Divine Healing. It is seen throughout Scripture, from cover to cover. The prophets of the Old Testament ministered healing to God's people. The Psalms and Proverbs speak of it. Jesus made physical healing a central theme of His earthly ministry. It is clearly included in the redemptive work of the cross. It is also included in the Great Commission that Christ delegated to all believers. The first century believers demonstrated God's healing power, as seen in the Book of Acts as well as in other historical documents. The writers of the epistles also discussed it.
The fact is, healing belongs to you. It is included in the covenant that He has made with you. There may be many reasons why we can believe the message of healing, but here are three specific reasons you can believe this message. Reason one: because God said it; Reason two: it was a central theme in the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, as well as his first century disciples; Reason three: it is seen as included in the redemptive work of the cross; (Is.52; Mt.8; I Pe.2:24)
BUSINESS, LEADERSHIP, AND ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING SCHEDULED! (1/31/08)
Now we need to begin to think seriously about what lies ahead of us this year. At this time, we need to begin the year with a business and re-organizational meeting to discuss many foundational things. If you want to be considered part of the Leadership Team, you should be at this meeting. If you want to be a part of our Leadership Team but it is impossible for you to make it, let me know.
A public meeting to discuss the business, leadership, and organization of Abiding Life Christian Ministries and Abiding Life Christian Fellowship is scheduled for Wednesday, March 5th, at 3416 Pipit Drive, in Alexandria, at 7:30PM. Please contact us at ken@3john2.org for additional information.
LOOSE THE WEIGHT IN 2008! (1/8/08)
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us" (He.12:1).
I stepped on a scale a couple of days ago and was shocked at how much weight I had gained since the last time I weighed myself. As we start a new year, it is always common for people to pledge to loose some pounds in the new year. After putting on some weight over the holiday season, it certainly is not a bad idea to make such a pledge. Although, I am pledging to loose some physical weight from my body, I am more focused on loosing a different kind of weight.
The writer to the Hebrews instructs us to lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily besets us. What kind of weight is the writer talking about? Anything that keeps you from moving forward with Christ is a weight that needs to be set aside. Anything that slows down your progress in God's Kingdom and anything that interferes with your time with Him is a weight that must be laid down.
Is there anything in your life that is a hindrance in running the Christian race? This isn't just talking about sin, but anything and everything that is a time consumer or something that detracts you from your calling. Those are weights that the writer is urging you to set aside. Are their burdens that you've been carrying that have slowed you down spiritually? It should be laid down also. Put it all on Jesus Christ. Perhaps there are worldly cares, riches, and honors, which are not wrong in themselves, but could become a weight depressing the mind to the earth, and a great hindrance in the work and service of God, and therefore should be laid aside.
Do you spend more time with your television than you do the Word of God? Do you listen to more secular music that Christ-centered music? Are there more ungodly influences in your life than Christian influences? Are there areas in your life that the heart should not be set on? Perhaps there are habits or other strongholds weighing you down spiritually. Perhaps there are some legalistic ideas and practices that have become a weight upon your spiritual walk. Maybe it is bitterness or unforgiveness that is weighing you down. Whatever it is, lay aside that weight so you can move forward more in God's Kingdom. Allow God to reveal to you what those weights are that you need to loose.
2008 - YEAR FOR NEW BEGINNINGS! (1/1/08)
I believe that 2006 was a year that God gave us to fix the things that were broken. I believe that 2007 was a year that God was building a new foundation, and promoting His vision for Abiding Life Christian Fellowship and His church universal. I believe that 2008 is to be a year for new beginnings.
I believe I am hearing the Lord say that 2008 is to be a Year of New Beginnings. I began hearing this in my spirit a few months ago, and recently have been hearing other ministries saying that they are sensing the same idea within their spirits. I believe God wants to intervene in our lives in unprecedented ways. He wants to reveal Himself to us as never before. He desires to lift us up into higher heights of His zoe life. New ministries will be launched and existing ministries will launch out in new directions. Individual Christians will make new Spirit-guided and God-ordained life and ministry decisions.
Among other things that this may mean, I believe that God is giving us another chance to establish and strengthen the foundation for ALCM and ALCF, and set out on a new tract that He will make clear to us. But also I sense that there will be many new beginnings that were not previously planned. Along with the notion of the year 2008 being a year of New Beginnings, I also believe I hear the Spirit of God saying that 2008 will be a year of unforeseen changes in many lives and ministries. In other words, you and I may be planning our year in one direction, but God is going to intervene and move us in new unforeseen directions, according of His perfect will.
We need to remain sensitive to the Holy Spirit to make sure that we are always in tune with what He is doing and saying. As we daily seek God and pray in the Spirit, He will have us fully prepared for whatever direction He takes us. It is imperative that we seek Him first on a daily and continual basis and spend quality time listening for His still small voice. He says that He will guide in a plain path. But we must put Him first in all we do. Consider His will in all your plans. Don?t be afraid to ask Him for His divine guidance. He only desires good things for you. 2008 is to be a year of new beginnings and a year of unforeseen changes.
