Category: CHURCH

Living in Community… Together

Throughout the New Testament, Jesus gathered different types of people to himself: people who were hurting, people who were sick, and people from different social and ethnic backgrounds. He poured out the same love on them all, then invited them to live in community together, saying,

“Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” (John 13:34b ESV)

God’s people were designed to live in community – nonbelievers, young believers, and mature believers, all from different walks of life, seeking Jesus and finding hope. Together we have three things in common: our brokenness, our need for a Savior, and our desire for community.

What makes for a Good Elder?

A good elder will fulfill the qualifications of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. That is foundational. He must be a man of character, the Word, and prayer. He should be hospitable, not a lover of money, rule his own household well, and the husband of one wife. These are just some of the biblical qualifications. However, there are also qualities that make for a good elder beyond the actual biblical requirements for service. Here are other things Jason Helopoulos have noticed over the years:

Theological, but Fiercely Practical: He will know the scriptures and revel in the doctrine and theology of God’s holy Word. And at the same time, he will know how to apply those truths of Scripture to the lives he is privileged to serve. As this man ministers, those under his care do not receive platitudes. Neither do they need to have a PhD in theology to sort through his advice and counsel. He is theologically minded and fiercely practical in applying that theology.

Leader, but a Willing Follower: People look to him. He doesn’t wear a sign that announces he is a leader. He isn’t loud and demands that people follow, they just do. His character and life in Christ almost demand it. However, he is also willing to follow the pastors and his fellow elders in the church. He does not always need to be in the front. It is not a matter ego with him. It is not a necessity.

Dignified, but Wonderfully Approachable: An elder should have an air of dignity about him. He is serious about the Christian faith. He knows that life is short and he does not waste it. However, this air of dignity does not drive people from him, but rather compels people to him. All find him approachable. He is the type of man that one naturally feels as though they should sit at his feet, look up, and say, “Talk to me about the things of God.”

Listener, but Wisely Vocal: He is slow to speak and quick to listen. He has a discerning ear that can sort the important from the mundane. Others are encouraged by his careful listening. However, he is also willing to voice an opinion if it is needed. He is not silent. And when he speaks, men listen. When his voice is exercised, he does not dominate by force. Rather, he persuades through wisdom.

Courageous, but Pastorally Winsome: The pastors of the church know that this elder will “have their backs.” Every elder in the church knows that this is “a brother in arms.” He does not shy away from the hard discussions, the difficult conflicts, or the trying personalities of the church. He is a man that stands in the gap. But not with bravado. He is not a reluctant engager, but he is winsome. He isn’t looking for conflict, but he also won’t run from it.

Dogmatic, but Flexible: He is a rock on the non-negotiables. He will not be moved from the teaching of the Scriptures. However, he is flexible and able to concede points to others when he is proven wrong or the issue is not of extreme importance. He does not always demand or insist upon his own way. He is willing to compromise and even happy to do so if the subject is not central.

Gifted, but Knowingly Humble: His gifts are readily used to serve the body. He is aware of how the Lord has gifted him for service in the church. In turn, he is also keenly aware of the gifts which he does not possess. He happily yields to other pastors and elders more gifted than him in whatever realm of service that may be.

Officer, but Servant First: He recognizes that the office of elder is an office. He has a mantle upon his shoulders. There is responsibility and privilege. However, this is not a position by which he seeks to lord over others. He recognizes that the office of elder is first and foremost an office of service.

Churchly, but a Lover of Men: He loves the church as a body. This leads him to weigh-in on big decisions and think through methodological and practical issues in the church. They concern him. However, this is always driven by a love for men. He loves the church, because he loves its people. He is able to echo the sentiment of Paul when he said to the Philippian church, “my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown…” (Phil. 4:1).

Loyal, but a Thoughtful Exhorter: There is a natural willingness to lend support to his pastors. He is inclined that way. He does not have a gate checker mentality. He is not a fault finder. However, when it is necessary, he is willing to challenge his pastors and fellow elders appropriately. He does not follow blindly.

Thank God for the elders he has called to serve in the church. I have had the distinct privilege of laboring alongside of some of the best men I have ever known. They have challenged, exhorted, encouraged, and shaped me. My friend was one of the best at doing so. Let us treasure them while we have them.

Church

We become part of a spiritual building – the body of Christ – the church.

Father’s Day

9 Famous Fathers in the Bible Who Set Worthy Examples

Adam – The First Man

Getty Images

As the first man and first human father, Adam had no example to follow except God. He faltered on that, plunging the world into sin. He also had to deal with the tragedy of his son Cain murdering his other son, Abel. Adam has much to teach today’s fathers about the consequences of our actions and the absolute necessity of obeying God.

Noah – A Righteous Man

Noah stands out among fathers in the Bible as a man who clung to God in spite of the wickedness all around him. What could be more relevant today? Noah was far from perfect, but he was humble and protective of his family. He bravely carried out the task God assigned to him. Modern fathers may often feel they are in a thankless role, but God is always pleased by their devotion.

Learn more about Noah …

Abraham – Father of the Jewish Nation

What could be more frightening than being the father of an entire nation? That was the mission God gave Abraham. He was a leader with tremendous faith, passing one of the most difficult tests God ever gave a man. Abraham made mistakes when he relied on himself instead of God. Still, he embodied qualities that any father would be wise to develop.

Learn more about Abraham …

Isaac – Son of Abraham

Many fathers feel intimidated trying to follow in the footsteps of their own father. Isaac must have felt that way. His father Abraham was such an outstanding leader that Isaac could have gone wrong. He could have resented his father for offering him as a sacrifice, yet Isaac was an obedient son. From Abraham he learned the invaluable lesson of trusting God. That made Isaac one of the most favored fathers in the Bible.

Learn more about Isaac …

Jacob – Father of the 12 Tribes of Israel

Jacob was a schemer who tried to work his own way instead of trusting God. With the help of his mother Rebekah, he stole his twin brother Esau’s birthright. Jacob fathered 12 sons who founded the 12 tribes of Israel. As a father, however, he favored his son Joseph, causing jealousy among the other brothers. The lesson from Jacob’s life is that God works with our obedience and in spite of our disobedience to make his plan come to pass.

Learn more about Jacob …

Moses – Giver of the Law

Learn more about Moses …

King David – A Man After God’s Own Heart

One of the great strugglers in the Bible, David was also a special favorite of God. He trusted God to help him defeat the giant Goliath and put his faith in God as he was on the run from King Saul. David sinned greatly, but he repented and found forgiveness. His son Solomon went on to become one of Israel’s greatest kings.

Learn more about King David …

Joseph – Earthly Father of Jesus

Surely one of the most underrated fathers in the Bible was Joseph, the foster father of Jesus Christ. He went to great pains to protect his wife Mary and their baby, then saw to Jesus’ education and needs as he was growing up. Joseph taught Jesus the carpentry trade. The Bible calls Joseph a righteous man, and Jesus must have loved his guardian for his quiet strength, honesty, and kindness.

Learn more about Joseph …

God the Father

God the father, first Person of the Trinity, is the father and creator of all. Jesus, his only Son, showed us a new, intimate way of relating to him. When we see God as our heavenly Father, provider and protector, it puts our life in a whole new perspective. Every human father is also a son of this Most High God, the constant source of strength, wisdom, and hope.

Some less convenient facts of History gleaned from Wikipedia

Father’s Day was inaugurated in the United States in the early 20th century to complement Mother’s Day in celebrating fatherhood and maleparenting.

After the success obtained by Anna Jarvis with the promotion of Mother’s Day in the US, some individuals, such as Sonora Dodd,wanted to create similar holidays for other family members, and Father’s Day was the choice most likely to succeed. There were other persons in the US who independently thought of “Father’s Day”, but the credit for the modern holiday is often given to Sonora Dodd of Central Methodist Episcopal Church, who was the driving force behind its establishment.

Father’s Day was founded in Spokane, Washington at the YMCA in 1910 by Sonora Smart Dodd, who was born in Arkansas. Its first celebration was in the Spokane YMCA on June 19, 1910.^] Her father, the Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, was a single parent who raised his six children there. After hearing a sermon about Jarvis’ Mother’s Day in 1909 at Central Methodist Episcopal Church, she told herpastor that fathers should have a similar holiday honoring them. Although she initially suggested June 5, her father’s birthday, the pastors did not have enough time to prepare their sermons, and the celebration was deferred to the third Sunday of June. Several local clergymen accepted the idea, and on 19 June 1910, the first Father’s Day, “sermons honoring fathers were presented throughout the city.”

However, in the 1920s, Dodd stopped promoting the celebration because she was studying in the Art Institute of Chicago, and it faded into relative obscurity, even in Spokane. In the 1930s, Dodd returned to Spokane and started promoting the celebration again, raising awareness at a national level. She had the help of those trade groups that would benefit most from the holiday, for example the manufacturers of ties, tobacco pipes, and any traditional present to fathers. By 1938 she had the help of the Father’s Day Council, founded by the New York Associated Men’s Wear Retailers to consolidate and systematize the commercial promotion. Americans resisted the holiday for its first few decades, viewing it as nothing more than an attempt by merchants to replicate the commercial success of Mother’s Day, and newspapers frequently featured cynical and sarcastic attacks and jokes. However, said merchants remained resilient and even incorporated these attacks into their advertisements. By the mid-1980s, the Father’s Council wrote that “(…) [Father’s Day] has become a Second Christmas for all the men’s gift-oriented industries.”

A bill to accord national recognition of the holiday was introduced in Congress in 1913. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson went to Spokane to speak in a Father’s Day celebration and wanted to make it official, but Congress resisted, fearing that it would become commercialized.

US President Calvin Coolidge recommended in 1924 that the day be observed by the nation, but stopped short of issuing a national proclamation.^[15] Two earlier attempts to formally recognize the holiday had been defeated by Congress. In 1957, Maine Senator Margaret Chase Smith wrote a proposal accusing Congress of ignoring fathers for 40 years while honoring mothers, thus “[singling] out just one of our two parents”. In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first presidential proclamation honoring fathers, designating the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. Six years later, the day was made a permanent national holiday when President Richard Nixon signed it into law in 1972.

Scripture is filled with people we can learn much from. When it comes to the challenging vocation of fatherhood, several fathers in the Bible show what is wise to do–and what is not wise to do.

At the end of this list, you’ll find a profile of God the Father, the ultimate role model for all human dads. His love, kindness, patience, wisdom, and protectiveness are impossible standards to live up to. Fortunately he is also forgiving and understanding, answering fathers’ prayers and giving them expert guidance so they can be the man their family wants them to be.

WELCOME

This is a spiritual journey in which we;

1. CHOOSE INSTRUCTION OVER MATERIALISM.

Receive my instruction and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold. PROVERBS 8:10

2. CHOOSE WHOM YOU WILL SERVE.

If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; butas for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. JOSHUA 24:15

3. CHOOSE UNDERSTANDING OVER COMFORT.

How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver. PROVERBS 16:16I ca

4. RESOLVE TO CONTROL YOUR MOUTH.

Let my judgment come forth from Your presence; let Your eyes look with equity. PSALM 17:2

5. RESOLVE TO NOT BE DEFILED BY THE WORLD.

But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself. DANIEL 1:8

6. RESOLVE TO LIVE AS YOU BELIEVE.

For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 1 CORINTHIANS 2:2

7. PURSUE RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. II TIMOTHY 2:22

8. PURSUE PEACE.

Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.HEBREWS 12:14

Remember to Pray for

Your community
Your Family
Your Friends
Your Neighbors
Your co-workers.

And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. HEBREWS 10:25

Pray for

Victory Fellowship
Ministry,
Leadership,
Vision,
Stewardship and
Impact

Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. PHILIPPIANS 1:27

And do not forget to pray for:

The World
Those who don’t know Christ
Those who aren’t walking with Him
Those afflicted
Our Nation’s leadership, decisions, and soldiers
The Church around the world
Those suffering from all that sin bring to this journey.

Do this, knowing the time that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. ROMANS 13:11-13

Remember If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 JOHN 1:9

The Purpose of the Church

In the purpose of God the church has a key role to play in edifying, educating, evangelizing, and equipping. In the purpose of God the church is here to stay. A few years ago I heard a preacher say that people who have predicted the death of the church have themselves been buried with the church serving as the pallbearer. The church is here to stay. Jesus in Mathew 16:18 said ” upon this rock I will build my church (ekklesia); and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.”

The strongest exponent of the church in New Testament had a unique experience. Saul of Tarsus was “breathing threats” against the church and was on his way to Damascus to afflict the church when he met the risen Christ. In his never-to-be-forgotten encounter the Lord asked, “why persecutest thou me?”

In this encounter he got two revelations. The first had to do with the character of Jesus, and the second had to do with the relationship of Christ to His church. To his amazement Paul discovered that Jesus is not only living, but that He is identified with His church. Paul learned that it is impossible to slight, despise or oppose the church without wounding the Son of God himself. From that time to the end of his life, Paul had two consuming subjects – JESUS CHRIST and HIS CHURCH. He wrote in Ephessians ;

“Christ loved the church, and gave himself up for it: that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Eph.5:25-27).

Today, the church stands beautiful and radiant as the bride of the world’s Creator and Redeemer. The Christ who gave Himself for the church will NOT allow the systems of the world such as political, social,economic or principalities to detract it. He has committed Himself to the church for time and eternity.

Hear the word again;

Be patient , brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hears for the coming of the Lord is at hand. James 5:7

There are days of waiting and days of labor that includes persistence in prayer. Both are necessary.

The work of rebuilding God’s Temple

In the book of Ezra we read of the challenges the people of God faced in rebuilding the temple and provide a lasting legacy for their children. The captives had come back to the Promise Land after the Babylonian Captivity was over. Work had began in Jerusalem on the Temple; the foundation was laid (Ezra 3:11-13).

As soon as the work of rebuilding began, the opposition wrote letters to the king (Ezra 4:11-16) threatening that the Jews would not “pay tax, tribute, or custom, and the king’s treasury will be diminished” (Ezra 4:13). Also, they accused the Jews in Jerusalem of being “a rebellious city” (Ezra 4:15).

The opposition was successful. The king got their letter and “thus the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased” (Ezra 4:24). Remember, just because the opposition wins a battle does not mean they win the war.

Too often we give up at our first defeat, or we quit after our first setback. Remember, your task is important. Then remember, it is not you, but God that they oppose. Claim the promise,

“He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

The “eye of God” was at work, meaning He was looking at the events. God never loses sight of what’s happening on earth. He not only sees, the Lord works behind the scenes to accomplish His will.

The Jews knew they were keeping the law of the Lord. They kept right on working. Their preachers encouraged them,

“Haggai and Zechariah . . . prophets, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of . . . God” (Ezra 5:1).

The Jewish political leaders led them,

“Zerubbabel . . . rose up and began to build the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God were with them, helping them” (Ezra 5:2).

Sometimes you must have to keep on doing the right thing, even when the opposition continually opposes you. We read that again, the opposition protested. They “spoke thus to them:

‘Who has commanded you to build this temple and finish this wall?’” (Ezra 5:3).

But God’s people persisted in the face of protest because they knew they were right.

The “eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, so that they could not make them cease” (Ezra 5:5).

Cyrus, the Persian king who defeated the Babylonians, had originally signed a decree for the Jews to return to the Promise Land to re-build the Temple. The opposition had opposed the work on the Temple, so the Jewish leaders appealed to the next Persian king, Darius, to get started again. Darius wrote to the opposition,

“Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God on its site” (Ezra 6:7).

God overcame the opposition through the prayers of His people and the inner-workings of the political establishment.

What happened?

“So the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai . . . and Zechariah . . . . And they built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the command of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia” (Ezra 6:14).

Notice, they gave credit to both God and their political rulers. They couldn’t have done it without God; they wouldn’t have completed it without governmental appeal. Lord, teach me to

“render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matt. 22:21).

After they handled their opposition, the people of God celebrated. You can follow their example after a victory over opposition.

First, they “celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy” (Ezra 6:16). Many times God’s people don’t know how to celebrate a victory. After we achieve a success, there should be recognition, rejoicing and rest.
Second, they worshipped God, “They offered sacrifices” (Ezra 6:17). They brought God into the celebration and thanked God for the victory.
Third, “They kept the Passover” (Ezra 6:19), which meant they confessed their sin and remembered their past slavery in Egypt. The Passover meal involved asking for forgiveness of sins and thanking God for deliverance from Egypt. Isn’t that an example to you? You should always be grateful for God’s deliverance from the old life and His leading us into a new life. Lord, I am thankful.
The fourth act of celebration was a banquet. “The children of Israel who had returned from the captivity ate together” (Ezra 6:21). There is a time to fast, and there is a time to feast. Learn the contribution of both in ministry.
The fifth step was “to seek the Lord God of Israel” (Ezra 6:21). We must learn to seek God at all times. We must seek His help when we face opposition, and seek His answers when we have need. We must seek His strength to fight, and seek His peace when fearful. But finally, we must seek His presence to worship Him after victory is achieved.

MEMBERSHIP IN THE LOCAL CHURCH

Require of us getting comfortable with the possibility that God has called us to win souls faced with the frustrations of the new world without the settled structure of the old
Require that we move forward without imposing any opinions whatsoever. Let whoever joins the fellowship hold particular or general redemption, absolute or conditional decrees; let them be Churchmen or unchurched, Baptist or Independents. The One condition, and one only, is required, – a real desire to save their souls.

Church Membership

Recently I came upon description of membership as follows;

“Membership is not about belonging. Everyone belongs; everyone is welcome. Membership is not about gaining special privileges…becoming a member does not mean you get something that non-members do not get. Rather, membership is about a commitment that you believe God is calling you to serve him by serving the church.” (See Peculiar Prophet Blog).

Someone else in another blog said;

I think membership is what John Wesley referred to as ameans of grace. It is a confession that, while we are all broken, we are undertaking a challenging journey together. It is a place where God’s grace might touch us, effect us. Might acceptance into a community of love be part of how God reaches out and transforms a person? Might the embrace of those different than ourselves be a way that God transforms us, teaches us to love as God loves, to see the world as God sees it? If membership in church is not about us, not about the church, but about God, then how can we earn it? How can we limit it? It must never be taken lightly, but that by no means says that it must be limited to the few. If church membership is about God and God’s grace, then it follows the same pattern as everything else about God– it is a crime to offer it to anyone less than all of humanity. God–and God’s grace–is for all (Becca Clark)

I feel the greatest way any under-shepherd could BLESS each person whom they serve or share the gospel at the local church is help them believe in Jesus and as a result place membership in the spiritual body of Christ, (i.e the Universal Church), where all who believe in Jesus are members. This is the most essential membership because the goal of membership should be to live and serve him till we hear Him, the Chief Shepherd of the Universal Church, the bridegroom of the church say, “well done my good and faithful servant” in that day of his return or when placed in a box (i.e whichever comes first).

When such scriptural protocol is followed, the local church then is a group of believers in Jesus Christ who meet in some particular location on a regular basis. The universal church is made up of all believers in Jesus Christ worldwide. The term church comes from at least 2 words. One of the words has to do with the meeting together or “assembly” (1 Thessalonians 2:14; 2 Thessalonians 1:1).

A local church is normally defined as a local assembly of all who profess faith and allegiance to Christ. Most often the Greek word ekklesia is used in reference to the local assembly (1 Thessalonians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 4:17; 2 Corinthians 11:8). There is not just one specified local church in any one area necessarily. There are many local churches in larger cities.

The universal church is the name given to the church worldwide. In this case the idea of the church is not so much in the assembly itself but rather in those constituting it. The church is the church even when it is not holding an official meeting. In Acts chapter 8 and verse 3, one can see that the church is the church even when they at home.

From scriptures, membership in a local body should come after one has placed membership in the spiritual body of Christ (i.e Universal Church). Before you place your membership in the universal church and as result membership in the local church a pastor will often ask;

Do you accept Jesus Christ as the Lord, the Savior, the Boss and the Center of your life ?
Is your DOMINANT desire to be MORE PASSIONATE for Jesus as you live in accordance to revealed word of God?
Is your DOMINANT desire to bear MORE FRUIT for Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit for the rest of your life………….

The scriptures teaches that the focus of our lives needs to be on the “final day when the trumpet of the Lord shall sound and time shall be no more.” That is the moment when the roll is called up yonder and each person stands before the LORD OF LORDS and give an account of their life. At that time:

Every Un-Confessed sin will be revealed
Every Motive of our hearts will be revealed
Jesus will either Judge us or Reward us according to how we lived our life for Him!

Church

The word used in the New Testament Greek to indicate the body of the believers is the word ekklesia which refers to “called-out” body of persons who assemble to carry out certain organized aims. The Hebrew word used in Septuagint for church is qahal which means assembly, convocation or congregation.

“Christ loved the church, and gave himself up for it: that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Eph.5:25-27).

The Spirit of God is reminding us that that this institution we call the church is not a passing fancy. The stamp of eternity is upon it. It has not been left to its own devices; God is in it. The destiny of the church is not honorable mention in the museum of the dead institutions. Instead, as a living, spirit-led body it moves through history toward the consummation of the age and its own glorification.

The Spirit of God is also reminding us that the church in the biblical sense is the fellowship of believers redeemed by Christ and made one in the family of God. It has nothing to do with facilities and grounds or the address of its building. It also has nothing to do with size . The church in biblical sense is a fellowship of baptized believers, voluntarily banded for worship, nurture and service. Blessed is anyone who like Paul finds the Savior and realizes that the church is here to stay until the day of HIS triumphant return.

NO TURNING BACK

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

God is at work throughout the earth to bring everything to consummation in Jesus Christ. In the face of the dark prospects overshadowing this generation and despite any paralysis that temporarily renders the church ineffective in serving Christ’s through evangelism, worship, education, ministry and discipleship, we can testify that God is setting the stage for an extraordinary advance of Christ’s kingdom.

God is saying we have unprecedented opportunity to preserve the vision and mission which is a reflection of the conviction of those who established and set out to not only incorporate but steward transitions that resulted in relocation.

Relocation has been a spiritual journey where we have learn to worship God. God has taught us how to fall down on our knees and seek his face. We know what it means to go through times of severe testing and trouble in church growth. In the process we have seen that most new churches today have very little future for the system of the world is more prepared to close small churches and match with other bigger and more dynamic churches in the community. In the midst of such realities we find ourselves asking what in the world are we existing for? To steward the end? To stand in the gap as God brings about the new? To give everything we have for the work of evangelism, discipleship and occupational work in pastoral ministry for those called? What is the mission that we are called?

We are called to the mission defined and articulated by our Lord and Savior. Jesus while starting his ministry summarized his mission in terms of Isaiah 61. At the end of his ministry, he articulated a vision and mission for his disciples as one of evangelism and discipleship in Mathew 28:18-20.

We are thankful that we are not asking the question to whom do we belong? Apostle Paul declared; “Nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Tim. 1:12). We know the Savior. We know to whom we belong. We belong first and foremost to God. Second, we belong in the body of Christ that is nationally recognized as the General Conference of the Southern Methodist Church. It is the blessing of this connection that we have had many faithful churches support this mission. Were it not for the support of the General Conference, friends and family we could not have survived to this date. Were it not for the sacrificial giving, words of encouragement, prayers, and many visitations, of our leadership, friends and family we would not be looking to the future with hope.

The scripture says; “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13).

Therefore, the future is bright and we know what we exist for. We are here as local body of believers because God is at work throughout the earth to bring everything to consummation in Jesus Christ. In the face of the dark prospects overshadowing this generation and despite any paralysis that temporarily renders the church ineffective in serving Christ’s through evangelism, education, equipping and edification, we can testify that God is setting the stage for an extraordinary advance of Christ’s kingdom.

Christian Walk

God longs to make a difference in our lives and our world as we commit to Christ-honoring fellowships.

Fellowship, for the Christian, centers in Jesus Christ. This means three things:

A Christian is related to others because of Jesus Christ; Christians must have one another to give God’s word reciprocally to each other.
The path to others is only through Jesus Christ; All relationships with one another and God are through Christ. He is our peace, wrote St. Paul, and the avenues to others wind through him.
The Christian is incorporated in Christ from eternity to eternity: We are incorporated into Christ and shall be with him and one another in an eternal fellowship.

It is only by God’s grace that we have eyes to see what God sees

Scripture says of Jesus;

Walking down the street, Jesus saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned: this man or his parents, causing him to be born blind?”

Jesus said,

“You’re asking the wrong question. You’re looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do. We need to be energetically at work for the One who sent me here, working while the sun shines. When night falls, the workday is over. For as long as I am in the world, there is plenty of light. I am the world’s Light.”

He said this and then spit in the dust, made a mud paste with the saliva, rubbed the paste on the blind man’s eyes, and said,

“Go, wash at the Pool of Siloam.”

The man went and washed – and saw…

This day when Jesus made the paste and healed his blindness was the Sabbath. The Pharisees grilled him again on how he had come to see. He said, “He put a mud paste on my eyes, and I washed, and now I see.”

Some of the Pharisees said,

“Obviously, this man can’t be from God. He doesn’t keep the Sabbath.”

Others countered,

“How can a bad man do miraculous, God-revealing things like this?” There was a split in their ranks. They came back at the blind man, “You’re the expert. He opened your eyes. What do you say about him?” He said, “He is a prophet….”

They called the man back a second time – the man who had been blind – and told him,

“Give credit to God. We know this man is an imposter.”

He replied,

“I know nothing about that one way or the other. But I know one thing for sure: I was blind…I now see.”

This is a paraphrase of the biblical story in John 9: 1 – 5 which teaches us that;

It is only by God’s grace that we have eyes to see what God sees. It is only by God’s grace that we can see who are our neighbors. It is only by God’s grace that we can see beyond our own biases, self-interest and personal desires.

It is only by God’s grace that new opportunities for ministry and the means to accomplish them are revealed to us. It is only by God’s grace that we can pray with eyes wide open. It is only by God’s grace that we can affirm, “Though I was blind, now I see.” Christ Jesus is the only one who can restore our sight. Christ Jesus is the only one who can heal our blindness. Christ Jesus is the only one who can help us pray with our eyes wide open.

I, for one, am praying for open eyes to see the miraculous ways Jesus uses each of us to offer healing and hope to those persons we will evangelize and disciple.

I, for one, am praying for open eyes to see the miraculous outpouring of God’s grace as we transition to a new premise. Remember our goal relocation facility that is within twenty mile radius of I-20 and 635 with acreage for expansion and space for children, youth, parents and grand-parents to fellowship, pray and touch the world for Jesus.

THE REALITY OF TRANSITION

Throughout this TRANSITIONAL SEASON the following principles and considerations will help guide and influence our planning and decision making:

A. God’s Provision: We trust and believe that God will do immeasurably more in VICTORY FELLOWSHIP than we could ever ask or imagine. Our commitment is to put our trust and faith in God alone and not in our planning or works.

B. Our Purpose: In all of our planning and praying, we will stay focused on our core purpose to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Additionally, we will strive to help all of our people at VICTORY FELLOWSHIP to value and appreciate the importance of growth, and to experience first hand the excitement of seeing God at work doing miraculous things.

C. Our Values: Our values define what is important to us. Our values shape who we are, what we do, and how we act. In all things, we will strive to model Jesus Christ and live our scriptural values.

D. Faith: Transitions challenges us to step out in faith beyond our current comfort levels. God’s blessing and provision in the early stages of VICTORY FELLOWSHIP is abundant. In response, we need to take big steps of faith. In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus told the parable of the talents. The servants who were entrusted with much were faithful and thus were blessed with even more. We recognize God’s blessing on VICTORY FELLOWSHIP and will strive to be faithful with the abundance He has poured out on us.

E. Prayer: We recognize the power and absolute necessity of seeking God’s direction at every stage of this process. Proverbs 16:9 says, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” We will make prayer a priority.

F. Relationships: Establishing, building and nurturing relationships with God, with one another, and with the Community will take priority in all we do. We are committed to love each other (I Corinthians 13), not to a product or process.

G. Excellence: We will strive for excellence in all that we do. Excellence honors God. We desire to eliminate barriers between Christ and the unsaved. Our commitment to and demonstration of excellence will draw unsaved people to be more receptive to hearing and considering the good news of Jesus Christ.

H. Genius of the “And”: Transition into a new premise will enable us to reach more people AND improve the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of what we do. Conventional wisdom teaches that you can have either quantity or quality.

I. Planning: Planning is a means to an end, not the end. We will always seek first to be lead by God without being constrained by our plans. We will use planning as a tool to help us join God in what He is doing and to accomplish what He is calling us to do. Planning will help us coordinate our limited resources to move us from where we are to where God wants us to be. Our plans will serve as a guide to help focus our efforts and will be updated to reflect where God is leading us.

MOVING FORWARD

In Hebrews the word says;

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. 4 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. 5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:1-6

More than seven years have passed since we started this journey of Victory Fellowship. It has been a journey of;

Preaching the gospels to all the people we can, at all the places we can, as often as we can.
Nurturing relationships with the believers and ministry partners as often as we can and at all the places we can

The journey of Victory Fellowship began with a mission to share the gospel to all people. God has blessed this efforts abundantly. Why God has chosen to bless this mission so abundantly remains a mystery. Through his journey we have learned that with God Victory is sure. Our theme passage has become;

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything; but only God who gives the growth.” ( I Cor. 3:6-7).

In Romans the word says;

“It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.” Romans 15:20.

I’ve got this firm believe and conviction that partnership or affiliation is not matter of building on someone else’s foundation. On the contrary partnership is empowering one another.

In Corinthians the word says,

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. I Corinthians 2: 10 – 15

From the first day we have had one desire; to spread the gospel and the vision to build global communities of believers among all people.

As churches emerge they are encouraged to make their own decision on matters of affiliation.
On leadership, there has been no aspirations for creating any kind of hierarchy or control mechanisms. Churches are free to select their own leaders and ‘call’ their own pastors.
On Affiliation, there is no coercion or manipulation involved. It is a decision a congregation has to make on free-will.
On felt needs, there is no interest in doing other important things such as building hospitals, school systems, soup kitchens and etc. It is up to the congregation.

In Ephesians the word says;

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. Ephesians 2:20-22

We thank each individual and organization who has given precious time, tithes, words of wisdom and encouragement. Thank you so much. We thank the General Conference that has carried a lion’s share, giving unselfishly of their time and resources with a willing heart. We ask God to meet replenish their strength and resources in his own unique way.

In Isaiah the word says;

16 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily. 17 Also I will make justice the measuring line, And righteousness the plummet; The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, And the waters will overflow the hiding place. Isaiah 26: 16 – 17

We should not build our foundation on numbers but on God. Biblical numerical church growth is attained when God alone through his saving grace touch a life and give salvation. New believers are added to the church by God’s work of saving grace through the preaching of the gospel (Acts 2:47). Once we become saved, we need to grow spiritually. Spiritual growth is a result of nurturing relationships with baptized Christians through God’s work of sanctifying grace.

In First Timothy the word says;

7 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge (I Tim 6:19 -20).

We are called to act on our faith. I have heard it said that in most matters, we move in either of two directions; from words to things, or from things to words. That is to say, if we do not make the journey from theories, and ideals to concrete situations, then the concrete situations will be lost under a smog of words.

In Second Timothy the word says;

Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” 20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. 21 If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. 22 Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will (2 Timothy 2: 19 -26).

Victory Fellowship was incorporated with an intense burden and shared vision of maintaining a place for the worship of God, our heavenly Father in Dallas, Texas. The purpose has always been to evangelize all people and provide for Christian fellowship, where the Holy Spirit may be honored according to the Word of God as we also meet the social, physical, emotional, spiritual and mental needs.

In First Samuel the word says;

Then Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the LORD; in the LORD my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance. 2 “There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. 3 “Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed. 4 “The bows of the warriors are broken, but those who stumbled are armed with strength. 5 Those who were full hire themselves out for food, but those who were hungry hunger no more. She who was barren has borne seven children, but she who has had many sons pines away. 6 “The LORD brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up. 7 The LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts. 8 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. “For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s; upon them he has set the world. 9 He will guard the feet of his saints, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness. “It is not by strength that one prevails; 10 those who oppose the LORD will be shattered. He will thunder against them from heaven; the LORD will judge the ends of the earth. “He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.” 1 Samuel 2:1

The cry of our hearts is for God to turn what we some may feel as failure and dilemma of relocation as the launching pad for bold evangelistic move of the Holy Spirit.

THANK YOU

Thank you for giving to the LORD. Redeeming others cost and because of Christ we can make the sacrifice. It doesn’t cost much to spread the gospel and operate a church. But a movement calls on great sacrifice. Implementing a vision is demanding and yes, there will be disappointments. We can only achieve this purpose to the extend that we give ourselves to God primarily for sake of the lost and generations to come.

Hear the word…. Again

Someone has said to ignore your own history, not to start from home, is the path of treason. But failure to transcend your own history is the path of idolatry. Today’s devotion is from Deuteronomy 6. Hear the word;

¹ These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, ² so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. ³Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, promised you.

⁴ Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. ⁵ Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

¹⁰ When the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, ¹¹ houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, ¹² be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

¹³ Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. ¹⁴ Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; ¹⁵ for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land. ¹⁶ Do not put the LORD your God to the test as you did at Massah. ¹⁷ Be sure to keep the commands of the LORD your God and the stipulations and decrees he has given you. ¹⁸ Do what is right and good in the LORD’s sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land the LORD promised on oath to your ancestors, ¹⁹ thrusting out all your enemies before you, as the LORD said.

²⁰ In the future, when your son asks you, “What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the LORD our God has commanded you?” ²¹ tell him: “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. ²² Before our eyes the LORD sent signs and wonders—great and terrible—on Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. ²³ But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land he promised on oath to our ancestors. ²⁴ The LORD commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the LORD our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. ²⁵ And if we are careful to obey all this law before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.”

May our God give you his victory in whatever challenges you are facing today and tomorrow. All of us need God’s victory. This victory is not by might nor by human power or strategic planning, but by the power of the Holy Spirit (Zech 4:6). May you also have sweet fellowship with your family and ALL neighbors. True Fellowship is when a people in a family, church or nation become extended family to one another (Acts 2). God moves in a powerfully way when people are united.

What is Church Ministry?

The numbers of people in crisis of any kind are staggering but are absolutely real. Behind each number is a human being: a mother, father, sister or brother. We can be used of God as we commit to;

Outreach Services through basket distribution, gardening and etc

Family Counselling Services

Emergency Assistance

Nothing compares to the power of people of faith in times of tragedy. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, observed that;.

In a Christian community, everything depends upon whether each individual is an indispensable link in a chain. Only when even the smallest link is securely interlocked is the chain unbreakable. A community which allows unemployed members to exist within it will perish because of them. It will be well, therefore, if every member receives a definite task to perform for the community, that he may know in hours of doubt that he, too, is not useless and unusable. Every Christian community must realize that not only do the weak need the strong, but also that the strong cannot exist without the weak. The elimination of the weak is the death of the fellowship.

Bearing Fruit

I heard a delightful story about the mulberry tree. Mulberry trees are a beautiful shade tree and, thus, are very popular and prominent in the Southwest. But, they are also messy trees.

They bear a great deal of fruit that readily falls from the trees when ripe, fouling sidewalks, streets and lawns. And, the seeds quickly germinate and start many new little trees.

There is now a solution to the messy mulberry trees. A hybrid tree has been developed that does not bear fruit. These trees still provide plenty of shade, but you don’t have to mess with the fruit or the little trees. The parable needed no interpretation!

It is time to rid ourselves of our hybrid genes and restore our original DNA. It is time to mess with the fruit and plant more little trees. It is time for our genetic markers of personal holiness and social holiness to shape our every witness and ministry.

Conquest or Justice for the poor?

Joshua’s lifework was to take the Promised Land and settle the people of Israel there. The Bible records three key moments in Joshua’s vocational call:

The first sign of Joshua’s call comes in the book of Numbers 13 where we first meet him. On orders from the Lord, Moses sent a young man named Hoshea son of Nun from the Israelite’s desert camp into Canaan “to spy out the land.” Moses changed his name to Joshua, which alerts us to the special character of this young man.

In his prime age, God says to Joshua;

“You shall put this people in possession of the land that I swore to their ancestors to give them.”

Now, many years later when Joshua is very old, Israel’s Divine Project Manager says;

Much of the land still remains to be possessed…
This is the land that still remains…
I myself will drive them out…
Allot the land…divide this land…

If you look at the evidence, it seems more historically probable that Israel got the land through a slow and incomplete, but very significant, overthrow of oppressive kings by an alliance of:

Indigenous people seeking justice; (poor people already living in the land)
Refugees seeking a homeland; (children of those enslaved by Egypt)

This is called “Peasant Rebellion.” The “Peasant rebellion” theory or model of occupying the land is founded on the social world of Canaan in the 13th century B.C.E.

Before its occupation by the Israelites, Canaan was dominated by city-states. There were many city-states clustered throughout the region (thirty-one are listed in Joshua 12:7-24 just in the region of Canaan).

In this ancient form of political, economic, and social organization, each city was independent of another and each was ruled by its own king. The king lived in the city surrounded by his royal bureaucracy composed of the aristocratic families. The royal army was garrisoned inside the city walls. Most of the city people were humble shopkeepers, service providers, and artisans. The city was also the center of religious life. Thus, the city dominated all aspects of life.

Agricultural and pasture lands surrounded the city. These lands were often parceled out as large farms to the king’s aristocratic bureaucrats.

Clearly during the preceding century, and most likely at the time of the conquest in about 1200 B.C.E., there was considerable social unrest throughout Canaan. Diplomatic correspondence sent by various Canaanite and Syrian city-state kings to the Egyptian pharaoh complained of the ‘apiru.

In this conflictive social situation, groups of Israelites, who were deeply influenced by the Moses-Exodus tradition, began crossing the Jordan River. Other Israelites had already settled there and mingled with the native population.

These Israelites demanded land. They claimed their God Yahweh promised land to the landless. Angry Canaanite peasants and ‘apiru made common cause with them. They also wanted land. Together they rebelled against the kings and the cities. Instead of being expelled from the land, Canaanite peasants received land! The people of the countryside overthrew the urban centers

From the Garden to the City

The bible begins in a garden at the book of Genesis and ends in the city in the book of Revelation. The scripture is clear that “what began in a garden will one day end in a grand and glorious city.”

This city will be like no other city on our planet because it will not be made with human hands. Rather, this will be a Heavenly city delivered down to man, by God. Until that happens, though, we all must exist here together as we are being shaped and our world is being prepared for that urban reality.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

At his 1994 inauguration as President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela spoke of being liberated from our fear.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,

talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.

Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking

so that people won’t feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God

that is within us.

It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,

we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,

our presence automatically liberates others.