Our Mission To love all people at all times and lead them into a new life in Christ.
Our Vision To be a church that will be multicultural and generational, having a lasting impact on the people to whom we minister.
To see the gospel extend beyond the walls of our church through various outreaches.
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James Wells, WROTE A SONG IN 1918 called, “Living by Faith”
I care not today what the morrow may bring,
If shadow or sunshine or rain,
The Lord I know ruleth o’er everything,
And all of my worries are vain.
Living by faith in Jesus above,
Trusting, confiding in His great love;
From all harm safe in His sheltering arm,
I’m living by faith and feel no alarm.
Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:6-7 “So then, being always filled with good courage and confident hope, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord—for we walk by faith, not by sight [living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises].”
Paul says to us, “We have not made it home yet. We are not in the presence of the Lord yet. We have not got our glorified bodies yet. In the meantime while we are here in this world we continue to walk by faith not by sight.
Walking by faith and not by sight requires us to go to unfamiliar places at times. As we go God is faithful to reveal to us what is needed to continue as we walk in obedience to his word.
Matthew 1:21 “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.
On the day of the birth of Jesus earth may have not know what was happening but Heaven did. All of Heaven’s angel’s were waiting in eager anticipation, waiting to break forth in praise to the birth of a newborn child, a child that meant that God had sent forth His salvation to earth.
Hebrew 2:14-15 tells us why Jesus came. “Therefore, since [these His] children share in flesh and blood [the physical nature of mankind], He Himself in a similar manner also shared in the same [physical nature, but without sin], so that through [experiencing] death He might make powerless (ineffective, impotent) him who had the power of death—that is, the devil—and [that He] might free all those who through [the haunting] fear of death were held in slavery throughout their lives.” The reason he became man was to die. So he had to be born a man in order to live and to experience death.
John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” The Message Bible says it this way-”The Word became flesh and blood and move into the neighborhood.” Jesus left the glories of heaven to move into our neighborhood. Jesus chose to live among us so he would know what life was all about.
Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” In this verse Jesus is announcing his mission-to seek and to save those that are lost.
Jesus birth was the beginning journey that was to end thirty three years later on a cross, and then through a resurrection to be glorified and exalted and restored back into Heaven to the glory that He knew before he came.
Jesus truly is the reason for the season. That is why we celebrate this glorious time of the year by showing the love of our Savior.
Now these things happened to them as an example and warning [to us]; they were written for our instruction [to admonish and equip us], upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 1 Corinthians 10:11
God’s Word is full of life experiences of men and women good or bad that have been placed there as examples for you and me. In the book of Genesis we have the story of Joseph which takes up 13 chapters of this book. When the Bible gives you so much information about one person I believe there is a lot we can learn from that person’s life experiences.
One such person is Joseph. When we think of Joseph our minds may immediately go to the coat of many colors his father made for him. But it is not about the coat. It is about the dream God gave Joseph. (Genesis 37:5-10) I don’t think he shared the dreams in spite or pride to his brothers. I believe Joseph was excited and he believed the dreams were from God about the purpose and plans for his life.
The enemy is after your dream. He does not want you to dream for there is power in a dreamer when it comes from the spirit of man.
When God puts a dream inside of you not everybody is going to celebrate with you. As it did for Joseph some of your strongest opposition may come from those that are the closest to you.
Joseph went from sharing the dream God had given him, to his coat begin stirpped from him, to the pit, to the palace. You never know where your dream will take you. Continue to trust God. After all He was the one who gave you the dream. If you remain faithful to Him you will see the fulfillment.
We have what we call emergency preparedness plans. At my place of employment we go through these plans once a year. Should there be a real life emergency we would know what to do. If there is such an occurrence of an emergency we would know in advance what to do. We should not have to run to find the emergency manual to find out because there may not be time.
In life we have circumstances come along and as sons and daughters of God we should be prepared to know what to do. That is why we stay in the Word, stay in fellowship with like believers, be connected strongly to a local church for a covering, fellowship with God through on going prayer (prayer is just talking to God) and be open to leading of Holy Spirit.
The Bible tells us about a man who encountered a situation. He heard of a great multitude of his enemy coming to battle against him and his people. This is a story of Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20) and at the time he heard this news the enemy was only about 15 miles away. No time to run and find a manual on what he should do in this situation. The first thing Jehoshaphat did was to pray (he talk to God about the news he just heard.) Then he began to remember who God was and what he had done in the past. 2 Chronicles 20:15 we read, “Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” You shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you. Fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you.
Whatever situation you may be facing do not fear or be dismayed. The battle is not yours but God’s. Fear is unbelief in disguise. Dismayed is loss of courage. Lean into God and rest in Him in time of trouble.
Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear [anything], for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you;I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation].
The message I ministered last week (Ministers of Truth) must
have shook the kingdom of darkness. I won’t go into detail of what I have experienced this week. God is faithful and I refuse to be silent. I have chosen to speak every day Romans 8:31 “What then shall we say to all these things? If God is for us (me), who can be [successful] against us (me)?”
We as sons and daughters of God have been given a voice to speak forth into the darkness of the World. We are the voice of God in the earth. As God’s representative on the earth, He has given us the authority to speak for Him. I believe that we are living in strategic times and the Lord is prompting us to be the voice of truth that will bring breakthrough. The enemy wants to silence your voice because we have been given and know the “truth” that will set people free.”
What is it that the enemy is using to try to silence your voice with;-a debt that you are concerned about how;-it is going to get paid; an ongoing health issue;-a child that is going the opposite way you have taught them;-a job that is struggle to go to every day;-a stronghold in your life that seems you cannot get victory over. The enemy uses every day life situations to shut us down, to silence our voice. If God’s Word is truth, why are you still struggling? Why are you having to go through what you are going through? These are the whispers of the enemy to silence you. After all how can you speak truth to someone else when you seem to can’t get the Word to work for you.
Don’t allow what you have not had a breakthrough in yet to silence your voice. Be a voice to someone else’s breakthrough and watch as God brings what you have been believing for to manifestation.
Believing and speaking truth is to trust God. Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart And do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].
That which is spoken in the secret place will be brought to the light. For I am giving you a voice to that which my spirit is speaking. No longer will the Church not have a voice. But you will have a voice to speak forth into the darkness of this World. The words that I will give you to speak will be words of truth that will shake the kingdom of darkness. I am the “Spirit of Truth” and in Me is there is no darkness. Truth will win, truth will prevail.
We are the voice of God in the earth. As God’s representative on the earth, He has given us the authority to speak for Him. I believe that we are living in strategic times and the Lord is prompting us to be the voice of truth that will bring breakthrough.
Many times God is waiting for something to be done, but He needs someone to began to speak his will. The Church (the body of Christ) is taking their place as we listen and obey what he is speaking to us in the secret place. We then become his mouthpiece in the earth. As the days darken we must learn to be His voice and speak His truth!
People are discouraged and frightened as nations are in turmoil and evil seems to be everywhere. The Church (sons and daughters of God) can stand in the gap and bring healing to the earth as we become God’s mouthpiece of hope and life. The Spirit of Truth who lives in give us everything we need to come against the spirit of darkness that wants to prevail.
Isaiah 58:12:“Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.”
“For this is the day of great rejoicing! I Am God of your yesterday, I Am God of today, and I Am God of your tomorrow. Why would you not rejoice. For I have given to you all things that pertain unto life and godliness. You have what you need in our hands. Use what is in your hands. As you go I will increase the Spirit of might upon you that you can go and receive all. So think not that you lack in anything. For surely I have given you everything you need to overcome in this life. Use what I have given you. Take that small thing in your hand and began to use it. As you use it I will multiply it and it will increase for my Glory. Yes people around you will began to say, ‘How can they do what they do?’ You will began to use it as a testimony to say, ‘Our God is awesome, our God is great, our God should be bowed to and give praise to.’ For surely by His hand we have come, we will overcome. Surely by His hand we can conquer all things.’
As followers of Christ we should rejoice always in good times and bad. The word tells Psalms 118:24 “This is the day the Lord has made we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Paul encourages us in Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, rejoice.” The apostle Paul uses the Greek words for joy and rejoicing sixteen times in only 104 verses. Yet he writes these words while in prison. Surrounded by every conceivable obstacle to joy. Yet he could still rejoice and encourage the people at Philippi to do the same.
Why is this a great day to rejoice? Knowing Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior is reason enough to rejoice. We are sons and daughters of God. We have been given everything that we need to overcome in this life.
Ephesians 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
When the good days come we rejoice. When the bad days come we rejoice. The joy of the Lord is our strength.
Last Sunday morning we had a visitor. As I got up to open the service, the Holy Spirit immediately began to minister to her. God brought her all the way from Indiana to New Life For The Nations so she could know that she had not been forgotten.
So I say to you today, take heart, do not be discouraged God has not forgotten you. He knows right where you are and what you have going at this moment in your life.
Joshua 1:9 “ Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged for the Lord thy God will be with you wherever you go.” Hebrews 13:5 “….I will never [never any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax my hold on you [assuredly not]!
We are in good hands – the hands of a Savior who defied nature and calmed a storm. We are in the hands of the one who called dead people from the grave. We are in hands of the one who turned water into wine – fed five thousand with two small fishes and five rolls of bread and had plenty left over. We are in good hands because we are still in the hands of a Man who though He was crucified, dead and buried and just when satan thought he had Him defeated, the Bible says that He arose from the dead triumphantly and declared that all power is given unto Me in heaven and on earth. Ephesians 1:20 “...When He raised Him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places…. Ephesians 2:6-7 tells us we are seated with him now in that position.
He has got you in His grip and He is not going to let you go! Yes, you are good hands with Jesus.
1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen generation a royal priesthood, an holy nation, peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Called out darkness into his marvelous light. Once we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior we are now children of light. The Word tells us in Ephesians 5:8 “For you were once darkness, but now are you light in the Lord; walk as children of light.”
It is walking in this light that we see the way to go. Jesus quite often used the contrast between darkness and light to describe the difference that Christ makes in the lives of those that believe. John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have light.”
We are called into his marvelous light to proclaim the praises of him who has called us out of darkness we once were in. We have been called out of darkness to be a light of the saving power of God to those who are still in darkness.
Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel but on a candlestick; and giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before me, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Are you letting your light shine?
For I Am the Lord your God and there is none other that offers the grace I give. Step into abundant living through provision I have provided for you. Know I am for you and the things that are so easily besetting to you lay aside. Look for me and surely you will find me. I am only a breath away. Utter my name and I will hear and respond. This is the season of turn around. It may have felt like you have been stuck in a place and your walk has become heavy and every step you have taken has seem as a burden. I am the burden lifter and I am causing things to turn around for your favor. Look to the east, look to west, look to the north, look to the south am I not Lord of all. Those things that you touch, feel, taste, and even see are temporary. Do not hold on to those things as a lifeline that are so easily lost in a moment of time. I am your source of continual overflow. Just as you would see and sense fall in the air a new season has arrived. So it would be in the spiritual realm. So I am bringing the new to you. Some may say, “But I have not walked this way before. Lets just continue on as before.” No I am commanding you to step out of your place of comfort and become radical in believing, radical in giving, radical in praise, radical in your loving the unlovable. Yes there is a baby about to be born spiritually and it has been in the incubator of my spirit. The enemy has come in the last few months and has desired to cause a miscarriage but by my grace it has stayed intact and you have come to full term. The water has broken and a flood of my spirit has been released. Welcome to the overflow. Welcome to the new, embrace the new. For this place will not only be called the place of prayer but the place of praise, the place of salvation for many that have grown weary. They have grown weary in trying to find their place in me, grown weary in trying to find who they are. Searching but never finding peace. I am peace and not one of my own has to strive for what I provided through my Son Jesus. No I am not dead but I am alive through those who choose to believe to those who will allow me to live big in them. For surely I have brought you to this place. I have brought you to this time. What a great opportunity you have to let the light of my love shine. The world as you know gets darker and the line of darkness bigger but the light of my church, my chosen ones, my beloved ones will shine brighter. Yes my glory shall be revealed in the land through you. Do not be ashamed of the gospel of truth for it the power of salvation to all those who choose to believe. It thas the power to bring about change in lives so others will stand in awe of the transformation that has taken place in their life. Relief has come to those who have had their lives shattered by a gospel that offers no hope. A gospel that says you have to perform, a gospel that says you do and God will. No you be and I will. You are my righteousness in Christ Jesus, you are my chosen ones, you are my sons my daughters. You stand before pure and holy. I look not at what you have been or what you have done but what I have purposed. Some may say, “I will get over this, I will get delivered from this, I will get this straightened out and then I will serve you God. I implore you to come as you are love me and let me love you. My love is not as the love of a person but the unconditional love of a heavenly Father that loves you just a you are. How great how wide is my love for you-it has no measure-never ending. That is what I have done by sending my Son Jesus so you can come just as you are.
“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts. Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” Zechariah 4:6-7
We live in a time in history when we need to know the most important thing there is to know. It is most important to know the power we have in us through the Spirit of God living in us. If one does not believe in the total Word of God he cannot understand the power of God that rests in us, much less operate in it.
It is sad to say that even many Christians do not believe in this power and many that believe are not experiencing it at work within themselves. I believe that one reason this is happening is due to thinking we need to “work” things out. We don’t work things out. We believe it is the Spirit of God’s job to bring things to pass as the above Scripture says. In ourselves, we do not have the power or might to give us the victory over our circumstances. What then can we do?
To live in victory we must learn to believe in the grace of God. God told Zechariah that the “mountain” would be crushed and buried before Zerubbabel as he brought forth the capstone. The word capstone can mean the top cover of a tomb or the lid of a casket. Get a picture of your “mountain” buried under your feet. How does it happen? It happens by properly using your mouth and shouting “Grace, grace” over the capstone. You can’t win by fussing, cussing, and fretting over your mountain. Grace is the power of God for salvation so focus on it and not your works of righteousness. Life and death are in the power of the tongue. Use it rightly.
For I have not called you as a people forsaken or barren. But I have called you as a people who are caught up in My love. And because of this love relationship you shall not be barren but bear much fruit in this season. Do not get caught up in the spirit of fear that wants to dominate this nation. But rest in my peace. For it is finding that rest in Me I will quiet you with My love. For there are some who would want to disqualify themselves because you have allowed yourself to get caught with fear and have made some wrong choices. But if you will allow Me I will make the wrong right and you will be standing in victory. For you are my sons, for you are my daughters. I have placed much seed in you. Allow My love to permeate that seed and bring much harvest such as you have never seen before. Why should you stand on the sidelines waiting to bat. I decree to you today says the spirit of grace the wait is over. You are fully armored to go and make disciples. Tell the good news for the good news is always good. I am not holding anything against you. For with the cords of My love I will draw you into myself and show you the way to walk. Your walk will be a demonstration of your relationship with Me. Others will see the joy you have and yes it will be contagious.
Zephaniah 3:17 “The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”
I believe that the greatest hindrance in living a overcoming Christian life is not knowing who we in Christ what we have been given. So many churches teach salvation but it is to be maintained by works or get saved and hold until that someday you will cross Jordan and then you will inherit all things. God has provided a glorious inheritance for all believers and we are to take hold of it now. We live this overcoming life through our position which is one of authority and our inheritance includes dominion over all the works of darkness, including sin, sickness, disease, and spiritual death.
Ephesians 2:6 says, “. . . And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. .” As sons and daughters of God we must get a revelation of our seating and reigning with Christ is a position of authority, power, and triumph. Not one of defeat or failure.
Notice the word “hath” in Ephesians 2:6. This is a word that is past tense. We when received Jesus Christ as our Savior he raised us up and sit us heavenly places in Christ Jesus. We reign in this life now-if we exercise our rightful authority.
The word hath in Ephesians 2:6 is past tense. God has already raised us up and made us sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. We will rule and reign with Christ in this life now—if we’ll exercise our rightful authority.
“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” II Cor. 4:6
Have you realized that God has prepared us through the glory of Jesus Christ to shine out of the darkness of the worldly system? We are the light of the world to give direction to the lost and blinded world. It is not our purpose to blind the evil world like shining a flashlight in their eyes to cause them pain. We are to be seen by the light of Life as it is reflected through the darkness around us. We are called to show the love of God to a dying world so they can find Christ. Our light is to give them hope in Christ not to spotlight their sins. It is the Holy Spirit’s job to convict of sin, not ours.
If you are lost in the dark, seeing a light gives a sense of hope to find your way to a place of safety. Light is a comforting thing when lost in the darkness. Darkness cannot be turned off or on. The only way to overcome darkness is to turn on a light. There is no switch to turn off the dark. Think about what light you are shining into the darkness. Does it just light up the evil present or does it offer a place of hope for the weary? The best light is the reflection of Jesus’ glory revealed in you.
What are you struggling with? Are you anxious, lying awake at night wondering how things are going to work out. Mulling things over and over in your mind how you can make it work out, what you can do to make it better. The answer is found in Psalms 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God.“
The word still in Hebrew means to release, to cease, to let down, to stop frantic activity. Know that I am God. Know in this instance means “to properly
ascertain by seeing” and “acknowledge, be aware.” Acknowledging God implies that we can trust Him and surrender to Him because we understand who He is.
The nation of Israel was always tempted in times of trouble to align themselves with other nations, (their god were idols, other people (those trusting these idols as their god. During Isaiah’s time, Judah looked for help from the Egyptians, even though God warned against it. Judah did not need Egyptian might; they needed trust on the Lord. Isaiah 30:15 “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.”
For God’s sons and daughters to be still would involve looking to the Lord for help. Align yourself with the Word not frantic activity. When we are still and surrendered to God we find peace. When life gets overwhelming remember Psalms 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
“Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord God, ‘That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the Lord. They shall wander from sea to sea, And from north to east; They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord, But shall not find it.” Amos 8:11-12
This portion of Scripture from Amos depicts a situation in which people are desperate to find a way of life that makes sense to them. In verses 13 and 14 that follow it says they will seek out other Gods or other human sources of knowledge. They will seek human wisdom as the source of truth. As it says in Romans chapter one, they will believe the lie. There will be much confusion about who and what to believe and “knowledge will increase”. Mankind has a common trait no matter who they are or where they live. They seem to know that there is a source of wisdom bigger than them that is available to anyone who can “happen” to find it.
Most people believe there is a standard of truth that gives the correct answers to all the important questions of life. No one has or can ever have all the answers about every subject of study. But everyone inwardly desires to know, “Who am I? What is my purpose? And Where am I going?” Therefore, everyone adopts a standard by which they live their lives. I have decided to make the Bible my standard thereby living by the Word of God. To live by the Word I must know the Word. To know the Word I must lay aside any human ideas I may have and allow the Word of God to renew my mind (Romans 12:2). To know the Word of God I must “know the Word of God”. Is this double talk? No, it gives understanding to John 1:1, 14. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” You can’t know the Word without knowing Jesus Christ because He is the Word. Christianity is not believing in a doctrine or theology. It is a relationship with a person, Jesus Christ. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” That is our challenge. Can you live up to it?
“And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs. The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright—words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.” Eccl. 12:9-14
The writer was trying to get over the point that there is so much information available to us that it is impossible to know everything there is to know. He is not saying that too much study is wearisome because of study itself. He is implying that there is so much information, much of which is false, that it is important to study and give attention to the right things. There are so many books that have been written that contain only useless information. His conclusion is that it isn’t important to learn everything but the right things. He finishes his discourse by telling us that if it doesn’t begin and end with God it is useless. “The reverential fear and respect of God is the beginning of knowledge.” Prov. 1:7 Therefore, it is up to us to choose the truth. If we are genuine Christians, God’s Word is the truth. So, accept it and stand on it.
You are kidding me. I did not know that. Really, she does. Well, what qualifications does she have. She doesn’t look like one. Oh! She must have really changed from how I use to know her. These are responses I have heard over the years when people find out I am a minister, you know, stand behind a pulpit and preach.
I am not sure what a preacher is suppose to look like. The “really are you kidding me responses” I choose to take as compliments. Qualifications–well I do have one certificate from International Seminary taught by the best Pastor Gerald Reliford. Qualifications–I do have a lot of life experiences. A life filled with wrong choices, hurt, disappointment, abuse, religion. But if I had no certificate, no degree hanging on my office wall, no life experiences, I would still be qualified. Because first and foremost I am daughter of God. Not because of anything I have done or not done. Qualified? -Yes, because of His amazing grace.
1 Corinthians 15:10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.”
Grace is what He has done and faith is what I do to receive what He has already done for me. Grace and faith go hand in hand. Ephesians 2:8 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”
Acts 4:32-33 “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.”
The common theme that seems to run through the book of Acts is unity-accord. Unity means, “the state of being one or united-the quality of being one in spirit, sentiment, purpose, etc.” The word accord means “to make agree or harmonize to be in agreement or harmony”. These words were used as “begin one in spirit, purpose, or aim.
Why did the early church have such power? They all were of “one heart and soul.” They knew their purpose-to bring the gospel to all people. Each one had a different task but they were all unified for the purpose. All the believers shared in this unity. Not just the leaders or the apostles.
I remember reading a story about a little one year old girl that became lost in an open field with grass and weeds waist high. Once her family realized she was missing they immediately formed a search team to began searching for her. Realizing the weeds were taller than her they knew this would be a difficult task. They all scattered out and went in different directions. But to no avail. Finally, just before dusk one of the people in the group offered a suggestion, “Let’s link arms and walk together side by side up and down the field to see if that helps.” In no time the little girl was located all because the people came together as one.
Unity – walking together as one for the same common purpose. John 12:32 Jesus said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”
The prophet Habakkuk got a glimpse of God’s glory. Habakkuk 3:3-4 …..”His splendor and majesty covers the heavens. And the earth is full of His praise. His brightness is like the sunlight; He has [bright] rays flashing from His hand, And there [in the sun like splendor] is the hiding place of His power”.
Ezekiel got a glimpse of God’s glory. Ezekiel 1:26-28 “And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it. And I saw as the color of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about”. As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.
The nation of Israel got a glimpse of God’s glory when God came down to meet them on Mount Sinai. Exodus 24:17 The sight of the glory of The Lord was like devouring fire on the top of the mount.
This was all Old Testament what has this to have to do with us as New Testament believers. The good news it has everything to do with us as New Testament believers!
We read in Romans 6:4 that “Jesus was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father”. That same power, that same glory that Ezekiel the Israelites and Habakkuk saw, came on the scene after the Crucifixion. It was the same power that split the curtain in the Temple from the top to the bottom when Jesus dies. That same power, that same glory flashed into the pit of hell and raise Him up and stripped satan of his dominion
The day of Pentecost 120 believers were praying in the upper room in Jerusalem the power and the glory of the Lord fell. Acts 2:2-4 That was the day those believers got totally immersed in the Spirit of glory. That day those believers got totally immersed in the Spirit of glory. Those believers were so filled with the glory of God they began to speak a heavenly language. They went out and started turning the world upside down for Jesus. They preached the gospel and saw miracles signs and wonders followed.
Habakkuk 2:14 “But [the time is coming when] the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
The glory that the Old Testament people saw is not coming down but the fire and the glory is coming out of us as New Testament believers. We are the temples of God’s glory in the earth.
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