Ye Shall Have A Song

“Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the Mountain of the Lord, to the Mighty One of Israel. And the Lord shall cause His glorious voice to be heard …”  – Isaiah 30:29-30

As we take time to meet with our Lord and Saviour in daily devotions, we ‘could’ hear His voice coming through His Holy Word! ─ If we have ears to hear!  He is calling His Church to come close, to come under the shadow of His wings, close to His heart.  He is challenging us to “Grow in His Grace and to be nurtured in Spiritual matters.”  He will grace us with a “Song in the night season,” and He will give us “gladness of heart” if only we will draw nigh to Him. The Spirit of God is calling His people to the mountain of God, where the Mighty One of Israel’s voice can be heard! Come away from the noise of the day, and the voices of the world and listen for the “Still small voice of God!”  His voice can be heard as we read His Word and meditate upon His commandments.  His voice can be heard as we go about our daily chores, if we have a ear to hear!  He is calling His people to “Righteousness” and He promises to hold our hand as we embrace His Presence.  His cry to our heart is: “That we be a light in this darkened world.”  He commands us to Sing a New Song, and to give Him praise from the ends of the earth!  A True Song in our heart, effects everything about us.  It springs forth in our continence and our actions as we go about our daily activities.  David sang these Words recorded in Psalms 108:1-3 “O God, my heart is fixed; I will Sing and Give Praise … I will awake early.  I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: and I will Sing Praises unto Thee...”  What would happen if the saints “fixed” their heart to Sing and Praise?!  To be ‘fixed’ is to be “firmly set in the mind!—Not subject to change!”  What glorious victory we could have if we continued to Sing & Praise in the difficult changes of our life.  Our Lord never changes, He is the same today, yesterday and forever!  We serve a ‘fixed’ Saviour!  May our Song of praise rise to Him in every situation of our life for He is our solid Rock! O saints His Word reminds us; “We shall have a song and give Praise to the Mighty One of Israel!”       Loving you, Pastor

I Wait

“Shew me Thy ways, O Lord; teach me Thy paths. Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my Salvation; on thee do I Wait all the day. Remember, O Lord, Thy tender mercies and Thy loving kindness; for they have been ever of old.”  ~ Psalm 25:4-6

Wait!  Probably I am safe in saying, “no one likes to wait!”  The season is upon us who is in Christ to practice “waiting! It is for the Coming of the Lord Jesus that we Wait.  In this process of waiting we learn many things.  First of course is patience, and that again is probably another term that brings frustration. But in our patient waiting for the Coming of our Lord and Saviour, we find Blessings.  The lame man waited at the gate of the temple. He was forced to be patient for he was lame.  He waited expecting alms, some coins that might drop before him that would help him financially in his lame condition. In his waiting God had big plans for him.  He did not receive monies, but rather, healing! How awesome is that?  Sometimes we are waiting for a specific thing when God has a greater thing in store for us.  In Jerusalem by the sheep market at the pool of Bethesda sat a man infirmed, unable to walk, waiting in desperation for the angel of the Lord to stir the waters of healing. Even though he was unable to walk and it was difficult for him to get into the waters, he waited in expectation. He had been this way for 38 years. Yet hope spurred him on, that somehow he might get into the healing waters. God’s plan unfolded as Jesus walked by and said: “Rise, take up they bed, and walk.”  Immediately the man was made whole!  You may be in a “waiting” period, but God sees you, and He has plans for you!  We as Christian believers in Jesus Christ our Saviour, are in a waiting period! The Passage of Scripture in Luke 21:28 comes into my spirit as we see the signs of our time unfold. “When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your Redemption draweth nigh.” The question before us is: “are we waiting in expectation for the Coming of the Lord or do we have well laid plans for our future without regards to the Coming of our Messiah?  May there be an expectation of Hope for today and for the Day of the Lord!      Loving you, Pastor

Conditions of Blessings

September 8, 2013  “If thou wilt walk in my ways …”  Zechariah 3:7   

O the wonderful things that God has prepared for them that Love Him and who will walk in His Ways.  Christianity at large has begun to take advantage of the Christian Life and seems to be walking closer to the world in our day.  But God is calling those who Love Him to walk apart from the world, to recognize that there are conditions of God’s Blessings.  We find these brief conditions in the Holy Scripture as we read the Book of Zechariah.  It would be well for the saints to read these Prophets as they near the end of the Old Testament for there is great wealth that relates to the day in which we live.  For instance the Prophet Zechariah was one of the three Prophets after the exile along with Haggai and Malachi.  Babylonian captivity was one of the most severe times in the History of the Israelites.  The Book not only talks about the final stages of the captivity, but also begins to offer an immediate future of restoration of Israel and under the Messiah.  The Messiah, this Jesus is seen in various ways as we read throughout the Book.  He is The Branch, He is the Stone, The Shepherd, and The Coming King.  The Prophets keen awareness of God prophesies concerning the ‘thirty pieces’ of silver [that which Judas sold the Lord Jesus for in the New Testament] and mentions Prophetically about those who will look up Him whose side they have ‘Pierced.’  And as you read closely you will see the King who is coming the second time.  There are Visions, Prophecies, and sermons all meant to encourage the restoration of Judah as a nation.  Chapter twelve deals with the siege of Jerusalem by the anti-christ.  This is a timely Prophetic Word for our day as we keep a watchful eye on God’s Holy Land. But note VS one of Chapter 13 – “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the House of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness,” This Fountain has opened for the believer in Christ. It happened at Calvary as Jesus side was opened and out flowed Water and Blood and our Salvation become available.  To day this is a strategic time for Israel … let us watch & pray for Her.  
 Loving you, Pastor

The Spirit of God Dwelleth In You!

September 1, 2013  

“Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard…, in Faith and Love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.”   ~ 2 Timothy 1:13-14

I think of the Passage of Scripture in Isaiah 64:4 “For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside Thee, what He hath prepared for him that waiteth for Him.”  This is the Prophetic Words of The Old Testament; imagine there was a time in the days of humanity that there was no vision of the preparation of God for His people. We are a favored people for now it has been revealed unto us, note 1 Cor. 2:9-10  “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.

But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” How awesome is this to us?  The Revelation of God’s preparation for His people is revealed to us!  How? By the Spirit of God, the powerful and wonderful Holy Ghost! These Messages of this member of the God Head are astounding! And … this Spirit of God dwells in us.  Christianity has so short changed this ‘indwelling’ Spirit of God that has come to be housed in us.  I know this is a repetition…but let us think again on 1 Cor. 3:16  “Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”  O the workings of the Holy Spirit in the human temple!  He will ‘mortify the deeds of the body’ – ‘He bears witness that we are the Children of God’ – He has given us the ‘Spirit of Adoption, where we cry Abba Father’ – He confirms He abides in us’ – He confirms, that we know we dwell in Him and He in us … And as He raised up Christ from the dead, He will quicken our moral bodies to Resurrection and Eternal Life!  What a mighty God we serve!  A God that has sent His Holy Spirit through His Son Jesus to dwell in us, empowering us, equipping us, leading and guiding us into all Truth!  Let us ‘Hold Fast’ to His Eternal Plan, remembering His Holy Ghost dwells in us!”  Awesome! Praying for you and loving you, Pastor

Diversities of Holy Ghost Gifts!

August 25, 2013  

“There are Diversities of Gifts, but the same Spirit. But the Manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”  ~ 1 Cor. 12:4-7

These past few weeks we have taken in much information regarding the “workings” of the Holy Ghost which was given by Father God in the Name of His Son Jesus Christ, our Saviour. The Greatest Gift of God, which is Eternal life, Encouraging Gifts, Illuminating Gifts, Convicting Gift, Love and Kindness, etc.  Consider this:  Gifts for the Body, The Soul, and The Spirit, all given to enhance the Body of Christ. In our Message today we explore the “Diversities of Gifts through the Holy Ghost.  Among these unique Diversities are: Administrations, Operations, and the Manifestation of the Spirit. Scripture teaches us these Gifts are given to us to profit by the following ways:  Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith, Healing, Miracles, Prophecy, Discerning of Spirits, Divers Kinds of Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues. The Holy Ghost Baptism brings us all together in One Spirit, whether we be Jew or Gentile, bond or free, we have been all made to drink into One Spirit.  We are encouraged by Scripture to be Zealous of these Spiritual Gifts and their Diversities, zealous for them for one reason, to edify the Church that is the Body of Christ.  1 Cor. 12:28 C God has also set in the Church Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, Miracles, Gifts of Healing, Helps, Governments, and Diversities of Tongues. Diversities simply means that God gave variety for balance to the Church. He divided His Gifts into various operations that there might be an increase in His Church. For while we are One Body in Him, we have many characteristics and differences, thus His Gifts bring balance to His Church. While Prophetic Gifts may not be what you do, you have a great variety of Gifts available. Together we make up the Body of Christ moving in the Gifts, Operations, and Administrations. None are greater than the other and the Greatest of all is that we have Charity, that we have a God-like love for one another!  While there are many differences in the Body of Christ it is important that we recognize our gifting and be faithful to operate in them as the Holy Ghost prompts us. O Holy Ghost move upon your Church and help us be faithful to your bidding.  

Loving you, Pastor

The Comforter Has Come

August 18, 2013  

“The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.  ~ John 14:26

My heart was stirred as I shared the Message: “Ye Are The Body of Christ!”  In 1Cor. 6:19-20:  we are reminded of this Scripture: “…Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” As we meditate upon this let us see the depth of what God desires of His people! There is frailty in the Body of Christ; this is why our Heavenly Father has sent His Gifts and Promises. These Gifts and Promises come through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  The Baptism of the Holy Ghost is given to the Body of Christ for various reasons which we will see in the Message today.   The Comforter is the Holy Ghost; most often when we think of the Holy Ghost we first think of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues. This truly is the power behind the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. But today we want to give a personal look at the Holy Ghost, for He is a great part of the “Gifts of God!” Jesus declares “The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, will be sent from My Father and in My Name. We quickly learn that the “Comforter is the Spirit of Truth, He will testify of Jesus, He will reprove the world of sin, He will guide us into Truth, and He will show us things to come. He will dwell with us and shall be in us, He will teach us and bring all things to our remembrance,” Things of Eternal Life, the Strength of His Word, the offer of Salvation, etc. O how we need the Comforter of our Lord! In the Old Testament in Eccl. 4:1 again we hear the humanness of mankind; “I …considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.” Then came Jesus with “I will not leave you Comfortless: I will come to you!”  Giving Thanks for His awesome Love!   And loving you, Pastor

Gifts of God

August 11, 2013  

“Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the Gift of God, and Who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee Living Water.”                       ~ John 4:10

Today we explore the ‘Gifts that God’ has given to the saints and unto His Church. It is amazing to find so much information on His Glorious Gifts. For instance in Ecclesiastes we find a most unique passage: 3:13 “…Every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the Gift of God.” The thought of Ecclesiastes is that Solomon was writing later in life; it is his human reasoning. Even in this state of feeling that everything was vanity and vexation; still he recognized the Gift of God.  Again in Chapter 5 vs. 19 he recognizes that riches come from God and are a Gift of God. It would be to our good to remember that all the blessings, whether of humanness or Spiritual are Gifts from God. However, in this message we want to examine the Spiritual Graces that God has imparted to t he Church, which are known as Gifts of God. “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable Gift.” His first and so awesome Gift is Jesus, our Saviour. There is a song that runs through my mind as we talk about the Gift of God; “ and “The Gift goes on and on and On”. How true, gifts today often age, rust, or just get used up, but the Gift of God is Eternal!  Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the Gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The Gift of the Holy Ghost was promised by God the Father. Jesus then reminded the disciples of this Promise as he prepared to return to the Father after His Resurrection.  In Acts Chapter 2 the Holy Ghost came and baptized all who were waiting for Him. This baptism was evidenced by the “speaking in tongues.”  Some think this Gift was just for the disciples in Jesus day, but as we search for truth; this is what we find: The Gift of the Holy Ghost continues to this day! Scripture reveals this in Acts 2:28-29. After repentance, forgiveness, water baptism, we may receive the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and I quote vs. 39: “For the Promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off …” It is one of the most precious Gifts that God has given to the Body of Christ! Romans 5 tells us it is a Free Gift! There is so much to be seen as we pursue the Gifts of God in our Life! 

Loving you as we pursue Him, Pastor

Ye Are The Body The Christ

August 4, 2013

“Ye are the Body of Christ, and members in particular. God hath set some in the Church, first Apostles, secondarily Prophets, thirdly Teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, Helps, Governments, Diversities of Tongues.” ~ 1 Cor.12:27-28

What an awesome thought, we are the Body of Christ.  When is the last time we gave some depth to our thoughts regarding our position in Christ?  If this were a daily recognition it would probably change our activities and our responses in our life.  We are the Body of Christ! We are His representative in all that we think or do.  There is a responsibility in our daily life to show that we are Christ’s. This involves our example as a believer, our conversation, our character and our involvement with the unbeliever.   Jesus has given us a way of being a part of Himself.  It is through the Communion Table, the emblems that He shared with His disciples that remind us of Him.  1^st Cor.10:16 talks about this and tells us the Cup and the Bread are the Communion of the Body of Christ.  Eph. 3 tells us that in other ages this was not known, but it has been revealed by the Apostles, Prophets, and the Spirit, that we are fellow heirs of the same Body, and partakers of his Promise.  The Promise in Christ!  So again I draw your attention to 1^st. Cor.12:27 “Ye are the Body of Christ!”  God has given to us through Jesus, a Promise.  That Promise entails the Holy Ghost.  He, the Holy Ghost came fifty days after Jesus leaving the earth.  He came to illuminate the Father, and the Son to us, to empower us with Gifts, and to be a Comfort to the Body of Christ. I am sure there are a multitude of more thoughts and reasons for His Coming, but if we begin here in His Promise, empowered by the Holy Ghost, and Comforted in our daily journey, we will accomplish some powerful things for the Kingdom of God.  O that there would be an advancement in the Kingdom work in these last days, and may we come to the reality that we are the Body of Christ and Father God is counting on us!  Loving you, Pastor