"As My Father Hath Sent Me Even So I Send You!"
Winning The Lost To Christ All Over The World Is Our Mission And Our Only Priority! "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven!" ~Matthew 5:16
An Outreach
Missions And Faith Ministry Where Miracles Occur, Prayers Are Answered
And Dreams Come True Because JESUS ....Lives!
A Victorious Church History
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*~Our Statement Of Beliefs
Spiritual Objectives, Missions, Spiritual Gifts
&
The Armor Of World Evangelism
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Glorious Missionary Beginnings And More Than 9 Decades
Of Documented Foundational History!
The Founder Of The Church Of Gospel Ministry
Dr. Irving O. Tarbox
1907-2007
The First Church Of The Gospel Ministry grew out of the original church founded by the loving missionary heart, unselfish work, dedication and the glorious seeds planted by Dr. Irving O. Tarbox who was the founder of the Church Of Gospel Ministry. Dr. Tarbox was born on December the 14th 1907 in Lynn, Massachusetts and began a missionary evangelistic ministry at the age of 19 in 1926 after being led to the foot of the cross and ordained by one of the greatest women evangelist in American history Aimee Semple McPherson. Sister Aimee spoke a great prophecy over his life and young Irving soon began The Church Of Gospel Ministry that became a glorious and far reaching work the seeds of which brought much fruit for the Kingdom of God during his more than 73 years as it's founder, leader and Bishop. Dr. Tarbox worked as an independent missionary evangelist and missionary among the poor in California, the lepers of Mexico and many other mission fields of the world providing food, clothing, medical care, bibles and the message of the cross to untold thousands of poor people and through his national outreach program gained the support and help of other men and women who felt called to the mission fields and the missionary work of the cross.
Aimee Semple McPherson
(1890 -1944)Aimee Semple McPherson's success as an evangelist-pastor was her strong anointing of the Holy Spirit and her irresistible call to the ministry of soul winning. According to church historian, Vinson Synan, "She holds a prominent rank among all religious leaders in the twentieth century and may well be the most important ordained woman minister in the history of Christianity."She founded Angelus Temple in Los Angeles in 1923 and it became widely known for her illustrated and dramatized Sunday night sermons. Was this not a resort to sensationalism? Some made such accusations. But Aimee McPherson believed that the life-giving message of the Gospel would be made more understandable with a more durable impact if it was rendered visible, as well as, audible. Her work and the glorious seeds she planted in the lives of others is still bearing a great harvest and much fruit today and the Four Square Gospel Churches of which she founded has spread to over 60 nations of the world.
This beloved woman of the Gospel who like most of us was not a perfect servant and of course she became the victim of many untruths thrust at her by the pew sitting churches in nearly every denomination in America but her great vision and work is living proof beyond measure that God does indeed call women to the ministry and anoints them with special gifts for the work of our Lords Kingdom and we as a living vine from the loving seeds Aimee planted in our beloved founder and we have always ordained and fielded great women of the Gospel and have done so without reservation for more than eight glorious decades. For many decades we as a church suffered many slings and arrows thrust upon us by many in the body of Christ because we held firm to our commitment to the ordaining of women who had a call on their lives for the ministry of our precious Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus, but we always had in our hearts the seeds planted so lovingly there by Aimee Semple McPherson and we were the first church in the world to ordain women simply on the strength of their call to the ministry of Jesus Christ! Thank You Jesus!Our Beloved Founder Dr. Tarbox worked with and ordained God called men and women into the church as ministers of the gospel simply on the strength of their testimony and the call that God had on their lives. The missions of the church grew rapidly and many helped to expand and carry on his work from the vision centered missionary church and missions board he founded so long ago. During more than 73 years of his glorious ministry and in the period of time that he led the valiant little Christ centered church and its missions he ordained many thousands of God called men and women to the mission fields all over the world. His dedication and support for the orphans of Baja and the poor in Tijuana are additional accomplishments for which he gave a full measure of his devotion and unselfish love.
Dr Tarbox was a great man of God and his faithful, dedicated missionary zeal and loving spirit still burns brightly in the work of this ministry and it is with grateful hearts that we continue to build upon the examples, love and foundations of his work as we follow in his loving evangelistic and missionary footsteps. His long life and dedication to missionary evangelism is proof positive that the work and seeds of faith we plant in the lives of others will continue to bear much fruit long after we are gone on to be with our Lord. We love, honor and hold in the highest esteem and regard our founding father who gave so much love and dedication to the cross of Christ. His historic work was in it's day far reaching, his life was spent in service to the cross of Christ and his ministry was one of spirit filled greatness for the furtherance of the gospel of Jesus Christ all over the world and an untold multitude have been added to the Kingdom of God because of his lifetime dedication and love for the work of the cross on the mission fields of the world. Dr. Tarbox in his final working years worked briefly and helped to establish The Church Of Salvation Ministry but it as well disbanded and many of the Ministers in that Church as well as the Church Of Gospel Ministry and it's ministers have been welcomed into the new church and many of the ministers ordained in them have since became members in the New Church organizational structure under Dr. Davy's love and wonderful leadership.
The beloved founder of the Church Of Gospel Ministry passed from this life and through the gates of heaven on March the 9th 2007. He was one of the most beloved men of God who planted great seeds of Missionary Evangelism into the lives of many hundreds he ordained over the course of his 73 years of ministry and then disbanded the Church of Gospel Ministry but with his love and encouragement Dr. Davy Ray Kendrick became the founder of the new Church nearly two decades ago and re- formed it as... "The First Church Of The Gospel Ministry!"
God Has Given Us A New Vision For This Worldwide Outreach Missions
Church And God Has Risen An Anointed Visionary Leader In
Humanitarian Missions, Evangelism And It's Global
Outreach Ministry!
Dr. Davy Ray Kendrick
Senior Bishop Of The Church And Chairman Of The Mission Board!
God Has Raised Up A Great Soldier Of The Cross And A Mighty
Messenger From Among The Common People Of America
To Lead This Historic Church On To Far Greater
Victories For The Cross Of Christ On The
Mission Fields Of The World!
~*~*~*~*~Our beloved Bishop Dr. Davy now carries on the glorious far reaching work of this dedicated historic outreach mission church and it 's world missions that were inspired by the spiritual seeds so loving planted by its founder. Dr. Davy was ordained in 1976 at Pensacola, Florida by Dr. Tarbox and now carries on the far reaching work of this worldwide outreach missions Church and ministry. With our beloved founders blessings, prayers and encouragement and nearly two decades of work Dr. Davy has faithfully continued his far reaching worldwide program to build on the historic work of the original Church and many years ago during his wonderful, spirit led and heartfelt re-organizational period added the word "First" to the church's name thereby formulating the church's original foundational name under the vision God has given him for this independent and ever expanding outreach ministry that is now reaching into nearly every nation of the world as he continues to develop hundreds of respected men and women of the cross all over the globe every year.
The essence and loving spirit of the original church has been preserved into a new church that has become one of the most productive Christ centered outreach mission churches in the world. Every minister in this beloved church owe much of their success in ministry to our beloved Bishop's wonderful leadership as he loves everyone with the heart and mind of Christ and continues to field new ministers and raise new local church bodies all over the globe.
Our Church Missions Center Operations And Other Information!
The First Church Of The Gospel Ministry is a non-profit worldwide outreach missions church professionally organized under the laws of the United States of America and section 501 (c) (3) and other US codes and was originally founded at the foot of the cross in 1926, it's history is well documented and the Church is respected and in good standing in every state of the union and on the mission fields of the world where it has served with honor and distinction for over eight glorious decades.
Beautiful Wayne County And Wooster One Of America's Greatest Communities Of Christian Faith!
Our worldwide operational missions center and it's outreach mission operations were at one time located in Wayne County with it's many historic and beautiful landmark buildings and is home to one of the largest cottage industry communities in the nation with many hundreds of craft, woodworking and other home based creative business people and a wonderful community of faith that is rich in Church history and filled with wonderful Christian people of all faiths, cultures and backgrounds. Wayne and adjoining Holmes county is home to one of the largest populations of the beloved Amish and Mennonite peoples and their beautiful small rural farming communities that dot the rolling hills of this beautiful area where these beloved people of God live, flourish and worship.
The beloved Amish peoples build no church buildings but just like Jesus and the early church they meet in their homes and one can often see a hundred buggies beside a large Amish home as these wonderful people of God meet to worship and hear the word of God spoken by their beloved brothers and the leaders of their peaceful communities.
The First Church Of The Gospel Ministry has a long history of not building church buildings but building up the body of Christ by it's evangelistic outreach and the fielding of men and women of the cross all over the world. Our original founder Dr. Irving O. Tarbox never built a home church building but built several large facilities for orphans.
Our Expanded World Missions Center Now Located In Bucyrus Ohio!
Dr. Davy and the global missions center operations have conducted it's worldwide outreach ministry for nearly two decades from Wayne and Holmes county the ministry recently expanded it's operational center that was for several years in the Village of Nashville Ohio then having completed some important ministry work from that little villiage Dr. Davy and the team have moved the missions center to Crawford County and Bucyrus Ohio to a smaller building that is much eaiser to maintain than the old church building they had in Nashville Ohio. Visitors to our missions center offices are welcome to visit but must arrange the visit by appointment 9am To 5pm Monday thru Friday Eastern Standard Time.
We are indeed thankful and proud to be have been part of the wonderful community of Wooster and for the opportunity to be of service in faith to every person in this diversified and Historic Christian Community as we reach out to all the world from the wooster headquarters and then onto the community of Nashville Ohio for the cause of Christ on the mission fields of the world! We thank Wayne County and the great city of Wooster and theVillage opf Nashviile for thier hospitality and the wonderful and safe communitiues that provides great communities where families and small business people can flourish and grow in a diversified culture and a great community of good people!
Like our beloved founder and many other evangelists our world mission center operations facilities also serve as Dr. Davy's pastoral headquarters. Dr. Davy as the Bishop of the Church is the Pastor, Shepherd, Spiritual Leader and Mentor to all of our ministers and missionaries around the world and works closely with the ministers from this operational mission center. The demand on Dr. Davy’s time as an evangelist and the Bishop of this worldwide outreach missions church does not permit him to pastor a local congregational church but as our Bishop he is the Pastor to all of the ministers in this beloved outreach missions church and is loved and respected by the members of our professional clergy all over the world.
A Bondservants Vows Of Faith!........Dr. Davy Has Very Few Earthy Possessions!
Dr. Davy having taken the Bishops vows of faith serves as our beloved Bishop and the spiritual leader of this glorious worldwide outreach missions Church and he nor his beloved wife Cathy receive any income or salary from the Church but they serve as the living loving Bondservants of Jesus Christ our Lord and as such Dr. Davy owns no property of any kind and has very few worldly possessions. " It is enough to be blessed of God says Dr. Davy and to be just the loving and faithful Bondservant of Jesus and to serve him with love, faith and dedication and from that service he supplies all my needs!
Dr. Davy Serves As The Senior Bishop Of The Church, directs Bible education, evangelism and world missions. Under his spirit led leadership he has set the work of the church's mission center among one of the most progressive and hard working missionary outreach mission churches in the world by developing new outreach mission programs, spirit filled and valuable educational materials, missionary tools, and developing new ministers that are reaching into over 173 nations to help bring in a harvest of souls upon the mission fields all over the globe!..... See Dr. Davy's BioPioneering Outreach Leadership Into The 21st Century
With the advent of the worldwide web the First Church Of The Gospel Ministry is growing into the 21st century and is a pioneering leader in world missionary and outreach ministries thanks to a servant's heart and the vision God has given us for the spreading of the Gospel on the world's mission fields. We welcome you to this ministry and encourage you to be a doer of the word and not a hearer only. If you are looking for a place to serve the Lord and become part of one of the most productive far reaching and spirit filled new testament outreach churches in the world we have a place for you to use your heart and hands. The ministry and Dr. Davy have been featured in news articles and other newspaper front page featured stories and is loved and respected by people of faith not only in our regional home operational area but all over the world!
Our Statement Of Beliefs! 1. We believe and know that God exists and is pleased with all who draw near by faith. We worship the one and only holy and loving God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit eternally. God has created all things visible and invisible, has brought salvation and new life to humanity through Jesus Christ, and continues to sustain the church and all things until the end of the age.
2. We believe in Jesus Christ, the Word of God become flesh. He is the Savior of the world, who has delivered us from the dominion of sin and reconciled us to God by his death on the cross. He was declared to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead. He is the head of the church, the exalted Lord, the Lamb who was slain, coming again to reign with God in glory.
3. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the eternal Spirit of God, who dwelled in Jesus Christ, who empowers the church, who is the source of our life in Christ, and who is poured out on those who believe as God's guarantee of redemption.
4. We believe that all Scripture is inspired by God through the Holy Spirit for instruction in salvation and all training in righteousness. We accept the Scriptures as the Word of God and as the fully reliable and trustworthy standard for Christian faith and life. Led by the Holy Spirit in the church, we interpret Scripture in harmony with our Lord Jesus Christ.
5. We believe that God has created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them, and that God preserves and renews forever what he has made. All creation has its source outside itself and belongs to God the Creator. God is good and provides all that is needed for life.
6. We believe that God has created human beings in his divine image. God formed them from the dust of the earth and gave them a special dignity among all the works of his creation. Human beings have been made for a loving relationship with God, to live in peace with each other, and to take care of the rest of creation.
7. We confess that, beginning with Adam and Eve, humanity has disobeyed God, given way to the tempter, and chosen to sin. All have fallen short of the Creator's intent, have marred the image of God in which they were created, disrupted order in the world, and limited their love for others. Because of sin, humanity has been given over to the enslaving powers of evil and death and only through the shed blood of Christ Jesus upon the Cross of Calvary can man be redeemed and receive salvation which is only by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ.
8. We believe that, through Jesus Christ, God offers salvation from sin and a new way of life. We receive God's salvation when we repent and accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. In Christ, we are reconciled with God and brought into the reconciling community. We place our faith in God that, by the same power that raised Christ from the dead, we may be saved from sin to follow Christ and to know the fullness of salvation.
9. We believe that the church is the assembly of those who have accepted God's offer of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. It is the new community of disciples sent into the world to proclaim the reign of God and to provide a witness of the church's glorious hope. It is the new society established and sustained by the Holy Spirit.
10. We believe that the mission of the church is to proclaim and to be a sign of the kingdom of God. Christ has commissioned the church to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them, and teaching them to observe all things he has commanded.
11. We believe that the baptism of believers in the immersion of water is a sign of their cleansing from sin. Baptism is also a pledge before the church of their covenant with God to walk in the way of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Believers are baptized into Christ and his body by the Spirit, water, and his blood that was shed on the cross at Calvary.
12. We believe that the Lord's Supper is a sign by which the church thankfully remembers the new covenant which Jesus established by his death. In this communion meal, the church renews its covenant with God and with each other and participates in the life and death of Jesus Christ, until he comes.
13. We believe that in the washing of the feet of his disciples, Jesus calls us to serve one another in love. Thus, we acknowledge our frequent need of cleansing, renew our willingness to let go of pride and worldly power, and offer our lives in humble service and sacrificial love to our Lord and Saviour, Christ Jesus.
14. We believe that ministry is a continuation of the work of Christ, who gives gifts through the Holy Spirit to all believers and empowers them for service in the church and in the world. We believe that God calls particular persons in the church to specific leadership ministries and offices. All who minister are accountable to God, the Lord Jesus and to a loving and trustworthy stewardship and proper biblical accountability ethics of and to their brothers and sisters in Christ in a body of believers in which they are ordained as ministers and are called to serve faithfully as the servants of Jesus Christ and to account in a loving and forthright manner to those of whom they serve and fellowship with.
15. We believe that the church of Jesus Christ is one body with many members, ordered in such a way that, through the one Spirit, believers may be built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.16. We believe that Jesus Christ calls us to discipleship, to take up the cross and follow him. Through the gift of God's saving grace, we are empowered to be disciples of Jesus, filled with his Spirit, following his teachings and his path through suffering to new life. As we are faithful to his way, we become conformed to Christ and separated from the evil in the world.
17. We believe that to be a disciple of Jesus is to know life in the Spirit. As the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ takes shape in us, we grow in the image of Christ and in our relationship with God. The Holy Spirit is active in individual and in communal worship, leading us deeper into the experience with the Lord Jesus and our Heavenly Father.
18. We believe that God intends human life to begin in families and to be blessed through families. Even more, God desires all people to become part of the church, God's family. As single and married members of the church family give and receive nurture and healing, families can grow toward the wholeness that God intends. We are called to chastity and to loving faithfulness in marriage.
19. We commit ourselves to tell the truth in all things and to honor God with the taking of vows of faith and giving cheerfully to the work of the cross and the ministry of the church on the world mission fields.
20. We believe that everything belongs to God, who calls the church to live in faithful stewardship of all that God has entrusted to us, and to participate in the work of the cross and to rest our faith on the finished work of Christ and the promises of God.
21. We believe that peace is the will of God. God created the world in peace, and God's peace is most fully revealed in Jesus Christ, who is our peace and the peace of the whole world. Led by the Holy Spirit, we follow Christ in the way of peace, doing justice, bringing reconciliation, and practicing non-violence, even in the face of violence and warfare.
22. We believe that the church is God's Holy Nation, called to give full allegiance to Christ, its head and to witness to every nation, government, and society about God's saving grace.
23. We place our faith, hope and assurances in the reign of God and his fulfillment in the day when Christ will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. He will gather his church, which is already living under the reign of God. We await God's final victory, the end of this present age of struggle, the resurrection of the dead, and a new heaven and a new earth. There the people of God will reign with Christ in justice, righteousness, and peace forever and ever.
Spiritual Objectives
1. Complete commitment to the authority of God's word and God's will.
2. Knowledge of Biblical standards and principles for Christ like living and the yielding to the Lord Jesus Christ as revealed in the Bible which is the living word of God.
3. Cultivation of the habits of obedience, prayer, bible study and Christian fellowship as helpful and necessary means of growth in the Christian's relationship with Christ.
4. Appreciation for the privilege and acceptance of the responsibility to share the Lord Jesus Christ with those around us, as well as, throughout the world.
5. Through the teaching of the Holy Spirit gain knowledge and wisdom of the nature, mission and ministry of the church and understanding God's plan and method of world evangelism.
6. Awareness of God's calling of one's natural and supernaturally bestowed gifts and abilities.
7. The spiritual development of natural and supernatural gifts through the study of the living word of God and of the principals of preaching, teaching, counseling and outreach.
Missions
1. The preaching and spreading of the Gospel among all peoples of the earth.
2. To Respond as the Lord commands us to be God's Love In Action as a doer of the word and not hearers only.3. To ordain, empower and field Independent God called ministers of the Gospel and missionaries for the World Mission Fields.
4.To grant Independent Church Charters for the founding of local Churches.
Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in.
Luke 14:23~*~
Spiritual Gifts
By Dr. DavyThey Make All Missions Possible!
Gifts
Worship
Wisdom
Miracles
Knowledge
Prophecy
Faith
Healing Discernment
Dreams & Visions
Encouragement
~*~How Do We Obtain Spiritual Gifts? They Are Given! (1 Corinthians 12:8-11) For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the self same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will
~*~ Spiritual Gifts - Getting Them & Using Them!
There are some members of the church in the body of Christ that seem to be so hung up on "gifts". These people often say; "I have this gift, he has that gift, she has another gift. If you don't have this or that gift well you aren't this or that!" The first thing to remember about Spiritual Gifts is that they are just that .....gifts! God loves to give us gifts just as we love to shower presents and gifts on our children. Some of these gifts are indulgent, they are given just for our benefit, most of them however are practical and they are given to us to make our missions, evangelism and a victorious life in Christ not only possible; but, glorious!"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"
(Matthew 7:7 -11) These gifts are like tools we are given them as we ask for them or when we have need of them. If, for example, I want to build a house I would go get my tool chest and select the proper tools I needed for the job. When I'd finished the job I would put the tools back in the box. I wouldn't carry around with me a hammer, nails, saws, etc... just in case I might be called upon to build another house. But, should I be so called I know where the tools are and how to open the tool chest to retrieve them for the job ahead!
It's the same with spiritual gifts. As the servants of the Lord we are given them when we have need of them and God desires us to use them for his Glory! They are not exclusively ours, they are freely available to all of God's children when they need them and or when he decides to give them. Tools are inanimate objects, to use them you have to be skilled. Spiritual gifts on the other hand come with a mind, spirit and purpose of their own. If we yield to God and become his faithful servants he uses them through us.
I think that sometimes we are too quick to parcel out responsibility to certain individuals. If the disciples met a demon-oppressed man they didn't go looking and come back with a person skilled in deliverance ministry, they just said in the ''Name Of Jesus" and cast out the demon there and then.
So when we consider the following gifts we must remember the following points. (1) God can do whatever he wants to do in and through us as long as we take him at his word and have faith in the power he gives us. (2) Gifts are available to anyone who asks for them in faith. (3) Gifts are given to us when we have a need for them. (4) Gifts are for the furthering of missions and the improvement of the church.
The Word of Wisdom GiftThis gift is incredibly useful and indispensable if we wish to carry out an effective spirit filled, progressive and Christ centered ministry. This gift has nothing to do with human understanding, logic or academic ability or the educational wares that are the byproducts of human study conferred upon students at some seminary school that is often devoid of the true knowledge and nature of God or by some scholarly ecclesiastical body of men with a dozen letters behind their names who have never had a personal relationship with our Lord or ever led a soul to the cross, held the hands of the dying, feed the starving, visited a widow in her hour of loss, preached a child's funeral or preached the Gospel upon the streets of a crime ridden city.
This gift is about the Holy Spirit presenting us with spiritual solutions in apparently impossible circumstances.
It is a gift most modern day theological seminary students can't ever get a hold of or even believe in and that is why there are so many "good as dead" denominational churches falling by the wayside and are finding themselves helpless, hopeless and often pastorless.
A pastor who cannot understand this gift and how to get it soon finds himself looking for a job in the secular world and leaves behind a dead and confused body of people sitting on the cushioned pews as dead as door nails. In this the end time seminary schools are so busy teaching sociology, psychology, humanism and created program steps that they turn out people that look and sound more like liberal socialist than evangelists, preachers of the Gospel and men of God!
Most of these people are never able to get a hold of the GIFT Of The Word Of Wisdom! To most of them wisdom is displayed upon their certificates of graduation. A recent study amazingly has shown us that clearly 7 out of 10 graduates of all seminary schools in America do not believe that all of the bible is true or is, in fact, the living word of God. So much for seminary schools, brother!
No wonder we have millions sitting on the pews of America and throughout the world more lost than they were before they started attending church. That is one of the reasons that we as an evangelistic outreach missionary Church look for men who have a calling on their lives for the ministry and are not only God called; but, spirit filled, led and trained men of the Gospel. That great old time saint and soul winner Billy Sunday said it best when he said, "The Church has hearkened more to the authority of the world than to the authority of God". We see more and more the full truth in that statement today as we look more closely at some of the unproductive doctrine and teachings of some of the failing churches within the body of Christ. Those who are failing are those who cling and hearken to the authority of the world. We at the First Church Of The Gospel Ministry want to know that our candidates for ordination have a genuine and sustaining call on their life from God and not what or if they have attended or graduated from some seminary or bible school. Theological head knowledge of the Gospel and sociology in this day and time is worthless. Spirit knowledge is all powerful and with it one can receive all the gifts that God has for us as his children and with them we can do all that God calls us to do. The work of the cross is done with the heart and not with the head. Call it old time Bible thumping religion..... if you want ,too; but, through it the real work of the church has always gone on and been a success because of it ...and that my dear friends is an example of the gift of the word of wisdom!Yes!...Give us true men of God who know how ...by faith in the living word of God ...know how to lay hold of the truth and receive by it the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I pray everyday that God will send this ministry workers and men who probably couldn't pass a college exam; but, are on fire to preach the gospel. That is what the world and the body of Christ needs is men with loving hearts for the truth and not theology or seminary degrees in sociology or secular humanism. Head knowledge can't and won't ever win or covert the lost to Christ in this the final days of Harvest Time...but, love, truth and spirit filled men and women who are ready to go into the harvest fields to win the lost and bring them into the Kingdom of God. Yes! God, give us men and women who are not looking for comfort or safety; but, have a hunger to win souls down at the street level and upon the bloody mission fields of the world where human life has little value and is in need of the Gospel of our Lord. Oh, how the world hungers for men and women of God who are filled with the fire of evangelism and the truth of the gospel. Men and women who know how to by the spirit lay hold of and claim the Gifts Of The Word Of Wisdom and all the gifts God gives to the servants of the Lord who know how to serve with their heart and hands and not with their heads only.
One of the best biblical examples of the gift of wisdom is given to us
in a judgment made by Solomon.1 Kings 3:16-28 "Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him. And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house. And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house. And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid it. And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom. And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear. And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king. Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living. And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king. And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other. Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it. Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof. And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment."
It is easy to see that God will give us the wisdom when we need it if we will just call upon him to fill us with the wisdom we need and then we must have the spirit of love and the action of boldness to use it in the proper way.The Gift of Knowledge The gift of knowledge is another wonderful gift. Although God will give this gift freely to those who ask him we should not ask for this gift lightly. The use of this gift requires a great deal of faith on the part of the practitioner! The gift of knowledge provides us with many things including information about a person, people or their circumstances that is unknown to others and secret to them. This gift can be especially helpful in ministry - but, one has to have an equal measure of bravery and sensitivity to use it! The gift of knowledge is a wonderful thing; but, has to be administered with extreme care, sensitivity and caution!
An Old Testament example of the gift of knowledge; 1 Samuel 10:20 - 24
"And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken. When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found. Therefore they inquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff. And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward. And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king."A New Testament example of the gift of knowledge (this example shows that spiritual gifts though generally bringing blessing also root out hypocrisy and corruption);
Acts 5:3 - 11
"But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things."The Gifts Of Faith Have you ever been faced with circumstances that you knew God could solve for you - but, your confidence was just sinking beneath the weight of what looked to be beyond your human capacity to solve or make happen? In such circumstances we need to ask for the gift of faith! The gift of faith is a supernatural charge of divine confidence in the face of extraordinary circumstances and impossibilities - "That Makes All Things Possible".
Examples of the gift of faith being used are everywhere in the bible. Elijah's defeat of the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel, Peter's declaration to the lame man "get up and walk", Moses parting of the Red Sea, Daniel in the lions den, Peter's walking on the water and so we see in Gods word the gift of faith at work time and again. The gift of faith is a release of confidence in the promises and instructions of God and all we have to do is ask God for the faith it takes to make what ever it is we want to happen or to take place. If you lack faith in God's promises of empowerment you cannot tap into the unlimited power you have as a servant of the Lord and a child of the living God. Remember, that "Faith Is The Substance of Things Hoped For, And The Evidence Of Things Not Seen" Hebrews 11:1.
I believe that one of the best examples of a group of believers asking for, receiving and using the gift of faith is found in;
Acts 4:23-31
And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.Some may argue that the disciples asked for boldness and I think they did; but, I also think in the face of impossible persecution they asked that God would also give them the power to believe that he would do what he had told them he would do!
Healing Gifts
We believe in the miracles of healing because we believe in God!If you intend to practice the gifts of Healing it is important you understand something about the nature of this gift. Like the gift of knowledge the gift of healing is a great blessing; but, it must be used with great sensitivity and care.
The death of our friends, family and people all around us together with the long term illnesses and disabilities of other saints proves beyond a doubt that God does not heal everyone. WHY?
There are some within the body of Christ who believe that if a person is not healed it is due to a lack of their faith or the lack of faith of those administering the healing and nothing more...... if this were absolute then eternity would start now and not after we die!
God heals people we touch or pray for; because, it is his will and pleasure to do so. Our faith and the faith of the one that is sick plays a divine, powerful and most important role in God's will for those that need healing; but, God's will ...in the end will prevail no matter how strong the faith of the person who needs the healing may be at the time. For it is not faith alone that brings about the healing.I personally have been the recipient and blessings of God's great healing power and since the time of my own healing God has blessed me and this anointed missionary ministry with many and abundant healing gifts. All of us in the body of Christ need to study more closely the story of Job as in it ... it is clear that there is a lot more to healing and illness than some in the body of Christ are at this moment prepared to admit, pray about or even try and understand.
The omnipotent nature of God's sovereign will... should not stop us from doing in all faith as our brother James tells us to do in James 5:14-15 and in times of need we should ask God for additional gifts of divine healing in our ministry. As long as we are prepared to conclude all our prayers with the phrase "Thy will be done Lord". Then we are on solid spiritual ground and should exercise our faith in healing ministry in the boldness possible manner. Many in the faith movement blindly blame the sick and dying with lack of faith when they die. This, of course, is a great error and cannot be true.
Listen...We cannot un will the divine will of God no matter how hard we try to intervene... but, we know that God will do as we ask in the matters of healing if we who are performing the acts of healing are in the will of God, have the faith to believe in his power to act upon our faith and we who have been anointed with healing gifts must learn to use them with the powerful gifts of faith. But faith alone does not always decide the outcome ...the will of God is the deciding factor in all healing.
Some are never able to lay hold of the gifts of healing for the simple reason they don't seek God's blessings in the proper way. The way to receive the gift of healing or any other supernatural gift is to place yourself prostrate before the throne of God in constant loving, tearful, abiding and consistent humble prayer and worship. I have never known, read about or encountered any minister to get this gift sitting on the couch, bending on one knee or both...It is when we are willing to humble ourselves enough to at last fall down on our face before the throne of God and ask in the proper manner and with the Holy Spirit upon us worship, praise and ask God to deliver unto us for our care, use, and his glory the gifts we seek ...then and only then will God so impart unto us all the gifts we seek. Do you want spiritual gifts? Then get down on your face before the throne of God and ask in the proper manner and worship.....If you are weak in gifts you are more than likely weak in your willingness to ask and worship God in the manner that he desires and demands of those who love him.....really love him....not with your mouth or your head; but, with a surrendered loving humble heart of a servant of the Lord Jesus! I am forever amazed at Christians who would not think of humbling themselves as our Lord did to wash the feet of a brother. Yet, feel they are in possession of faith strong enough to heal a person of Cancer.
Healing does come to great multitudes in the body of Christ who come forth for the elders of the Church to lay hands upon them and in many other faith healing ministries. I have seen great healings that have baffled the medical profession. God does heal in ways that man cannot define with human logic or the understanding of the best minds in the fields of medicine.
This ministry actively asks people to send their prayer and healing request and to request our prayer and spiritually anointed and powerful VICTORY healing cloths that I as the Bond Servant of Jesus like Paul I have worn them next to my body and we have prayed over them and as people are using our prayer and healing cloths in their lives and healing ministries we are seeing God raise up people from their death beds and are seeing a great outpouring of healing gifts being poured out upon the work of this ministry. We Thank and Praise God For These Wonderful Gifts!Biblical examples of healing are, indeed, common place in both the Old and New Testaments and God has, indeed, raised up some great men of the gospel in our own time whom he has given the gifts of great healing power. One of the most profound and wonderful men of our time who has through the practice of the gifts of healing has brought forth healings to untold thousands is the Rev. Ernest Angley whom I both love and a have a deep appreciation for the wonderful gifts that God has given him. I have been greatly blessed by observing his ministry for many years and I have learned much from that dear dear brother. There are many others; but, their faith and gifts of healing like the healing pools of water at Lourdes in France often fail to bring about the healing that is desired in some people. Is it lack of faith or is it God's will? We cannot answer that question for the answer is apparently hidden in the mysterious will of God, himself. We only know that God has led us to the receiving of great healing gifts and power for this ministry and we are joyful in and for them and do the work of gentle and loving servants in the practice of them as God so leads.
One thing is for certain ...... If you feel called to minister healing then you should learn to call upon the name of the Lord as you pray for healing through prayer request or by the laying on of hands or prayer and healing cloths upon the sick and in all humble faith call upon him to heal those and close your prayer of healing with: THY WILL BE DONE, LORD!
We believe that we are in the last harvest days before our Lord comes and that is why throughout the world we are starting to see more healings in the body of Christ as a witness to his coming and it is why this ministry is so blessed with the powerful healing gifts God has given us for the work we are doing in the gifts of healing!....See Faith & Divine Healing!
Great Healing is coming through this Ministry!
Thank You Lord Jesus!Miraculous Powers This is where in response to our faith God intervenes and bypasses the laws of nature. Miraculous powers are usually accompanied by the gift of faith and the gift of healing. This gift seems to thrive in areas where the church is persecuted. This gift basically says, "My God is so big, so strong and so mighty there's nothing that he cannot do". In many ways this gift embraces all of the others, as spiritual gifts are by their very nature heaven sent, miraculous and supernatural!
I believe that the closer we get to the final days in this harvest time we shall see more and more miraculous power given to us, his faithful servants and children, for I believe that we are in the end time now and the final harvest is already underway and I fully believe that in this end time we shall see men raised from the dead by the speaking of the name of Jesus as a witness of his coming.
We as God's children should now be practicing and seeking the gifts of Miraculous Powers everyday. To receive great gifts we have to have faith enough to begin to practice all of them and have faith that God will act upon our call for him to give us the gifts we seek including The Gift Of Miraculous Powers!
1 Corinthians 4:20 "For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power."
We must now begin to act upon the powers that God has given us, his children, who are sealed in Christ in heavenly places. See my Teaching Sermons series from the book of Ephesians and you will be better equipped to understand the blessings and power we have in our relationship in Christ! CLICK HERE Hallelujah!Prophecy Prophecy is not always about predicting the future. Prophecy is often the ability to receive a message from God and relay it to his people quickly, efficiently and with conviction. Of course, the message may refer to the future; but, we must not limit the power of this amazing gift just to the act of foretelling. Occasionally prophecy will foretell; but, prophecy always informs and brings forth! Prophecy is a most useful gift available to all believers and we should seek it and ask for it constantly.
1 Corinthians 14:1 - 5 "Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. for he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth that he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying."
Prophecy encourages, prophecy builds up, and prophecy glorifies Christ. Prophecy corrects, prophecy directs. In terms of examples any time a Christian uses their mouth in tune with God's will the result is prophecy. Sometimes certain individuals are set forth as prophets because of their remarkable gifts of communication. If we ask in faith we can all be prophets. Hallelujah!
Dreams & Visions
The fact that God speaks to his people in dreams and visions is beyond debate. We're all familiar with the old adage that a picture can tell a story better than a multitude of words, as John Bunyan said, "The citadel of man's soul is easier stormed through eyegate than eargate". Sometimes when people are struggling with complex spiritual issues metaphor and simile are God's best servants.
Biblical examples abound, Joseph and his brothers, Daniel, the birth of Jesus. When Peter quotes Joel in Acts he specifically mentions dreams and visions as accompanying the delivery of the Holy Spirit.
In my own experience dreams are good motivators because they are intimate. If God takes the time to speak to my unconscious mind then he wants me to act upon the vision in that encounter and do what he has placed before me in that dream as I sleep or the visions he gives unto me when I am fully awake. Of course not all our dreams come from God. I always before I go to sleep ask God to visit me in my dreams and to envision me with his will. God will speak to us in our dreams. It is one of the gifts he gives us to use in missions.
But how do we know if a dream is from God? One sure factor is that it will often recur. It will be easily and fully remembered. It will be lucid and in great detail. If we dream such a dream and we are unsure of its meaning then we should seek out someone with the gift of interpretation. God has spoke to me often in my dreams and when he has I have always acted upon them just as he gave them to me. When we arrive at a meaning for our dream we should test that interpretation among God's people. (God has never visited me in a dream that I did not fully understand and comprehend.) Dreams that seem to have an unhappy ending should not be seen as concrete predictions; they might just be warnings! Symbols can have a negative, as well as, a positive meaning. Fire might symbolize Hell! Or it might indicate the descent of the Holy Spirit! We should interpret dreams cautiously and apply a great deal of prayer to this activity.
Visions are just as or even more important than dreams. Visions are often the precursor to the gift of faith, which in itself is often the precursor to something miraculous. You may have a vision for your church or the use of a run down building in your community. In such cases we should pray through the vision, test it and when we are certain that the picture we see is from God we should pursue it with a passion.
An Old Testament example of a dream; Genesis 28:11 - 21 "And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the is the gate of heaven. And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:"
A New Testament example of a vision; Acts 10:9 - 21 "On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate, And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?"
Tongues Under this heading we're going to look at both tongues and the gift of interpretation. There are two types of tongues. The practical ability to speak in the language of your listeners. (even though we may not speak that language in the normal sense) This gift is one of the reasons a God called missionary worker need not be able to speak a foreign language in order to go into a mission field for example in Africa where there are literally hundreds of dialects.
Many would be missionaries worry to much about not being able to speak an unknown language that it hinders their call to a mission field where God wants them right now. If God is calling you to a mission field anywhere in the world then he will equip you with all the tools to do the work including the gift of the tongue of the language spoken in that mission field. The old time missionaries knew this and went forth in faith and without that faith they couldn't have carried the Gospel all over the world long before language schools ever came about.
Now we come to the gift, which is communication or praise via a language given by the Holy Spirit. The first gift speaks for itself and its pragmatic benefits are obvious. This gift is still given and we should ask for it and seek it when the right time arrives. The second has always been the cause of controversy and division within the church. Paul lays down strict guidelines for the use of this gift within public worship;1 Corinthians 14:1 - 33 "Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints."
In my own ministry the spirit has on many occasions allowed me to use tongues in my private devotions. In those moments when love and praise or concern or frustration has made it difficult for me to pray, the Holy Spirit has taken over and I have prayed in the spirit. My experience has taught me and the bible would appear to confirm that this gift is for private use and personal edification. In itself it is not proof of Holy Spirit baptism and the use of this gift is not essential to Salvation.
However, we should not ignore seeking this gift. If we feel that we need it then we should ask for it in faith. If we have been given it we should use it within the parameters of scripture. If we do this then God will surely be glorified.
Tongues may and are being used in public worship and we certainly approve of the gift of tounges in open worship where another has the gift of interpretation to follow one who is speaking in tongues. I have witnessed this many times. However, I feel we should look unto Paul and follow his example in regards to tongues.
If God has a message for us then he surely can, does and will deliver it as easy in our mother tongue as in an ecstatic one. Why go through a tongue and then through an interpreter to receive a message from God? Within the context of the holy scripture this is not the way we see God dealing with his people.
We as a church believe that God gives the gifts of tongues for many uses and for his glory when he so chooses to use them to edify a body of believers, in private settings, as well as, public worship.Many in the body of Christ have used the issues over the gift of tongues to divide and do great harm to their congregations and ministries. Many in the so called tongue movement are telling people to just start jabbering and that will bring about the holy spirit and then real tongues will follow "WHAT FOOLISHNESS" this is! What good is it to have a large group of people jabbering in an ecstatic tongue with no one able to understand what is being said? Paul clearly instructs us not to engage in such activities.
Worship If anything is underestimated in terms of power and use within the Church today its praise! Praise is not only a gift from God; but, it embraces all of the others. Praise is the fertile soil in which a ministry grows. Praise is a complete anathema to the Devil and his evil demons. Praise puts things into perspective. Praise can win victories where other methods fail. If you look at its Hebrew roots the word praise means to "humble oneself" and "to serve". These two activities, humility and service are the hallmark of successful Christian living and in fruit bearing missions.
James 4:6-10 "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."
John 13:35 "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
A Good Old Testament example of praise being used as a weapon is found in Joshua chapter 6 where the walls of Jericho were breached. We can and should all praise God Boldly! - Hallelujah!
Discernment
Discernment often enables us to read other people's motives and love into their spirit. Discernment allows us to test the sincerity of certain actions or statements. Discernment can at times be a very unpleasant gift. To sit in front of the TV and watch some TV preacher preach or testify with enthusiasm; yet, to feel in your heart the burden of their hypocrisy can be very hard indeed to bear. Like knowledge and healing discernment must be administered with great sensitivity. Discernment makes people fully transparent. When you look at them you can see clearly whatever they're doing or saying in their hearts. Discernment is a kin to spiritual intuition and there are many examples of discernment within scripture;
Acts 13:9-12 "Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, And said, O full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord."
Matthew 16:21-23 "From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men."
As with all the gifts discernment must be used in conjunction with faith and trust. Discernment can sometimes enable us to see things which are frightening - in such circumstances we must just stand our ground in the name of Jesus and deal with what we see. God looks on the heart and not on the outside of a man, discernment allows us to do the same.
Encouragement
Encouragement is one of the best gifts to receive and one of the best gifts to be called to use.
Tychicus, a fellow worker of Paul, had the gift of great encouragement and Paul uses him repeatedly;
Ephesians 6:21 -22 "Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things: Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts."
Colossians 4:7-8 "All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord: Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;"
Another Encourager Was Timothy; 1 Thessalonians 3:2 "And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:"
This gift can be used liberally without fear. We can all be great encouragers. There is nothing mystical or dangerous about encouragement. All it takes is a word, or card or telephone call, a kind word, deed or act. We can all be wonderful encouragers so let's do it!
Hebrews 10:25 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."
The Soul Winning Armour Of Missionary Evangelism!
By: Dr. Davy
God has equipped us as his children with the full armor of God so that we may do the work of the cross and win the lost to Christ. We as his children must take hold of, put on and use this armour not only to stand our ground, defend the truth and the gospel; but, to go forth as champions of the cross in the work of worldwide missionary evangelism. Contrary to some thinking in the body of Christ I believe that all evangelism in order to be effective must be fully missionary in its approach, outreach, presentation and in the no nonsense preaching of the Gospel and must include within that message the doctrine of hell.
I do not for a moment believe that we can scare anyone into heaven; but, I do know we can and should attempt to preach people out of hell. We must boldly preach the full Gospel; but, that Gospel cannot be preached unless we who are called to preach have taken upon ourselves the full armour of God so that the work of the Cross may be done with effectiveness in this final season of HARVEST TIME! For I know that Jesus is coming soon and we must do all we can with boldness to reach all of the lost that we can in these final days of HARVEST!
Putting On The Full Armour Of God!
"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;" (Ephesians 6:13-18)The Belt of Truth!
Satan according to scripture "was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. " (John 8:44). When he attacks us it stands to reason that his methods will always be based in the realm of untruth. He will lie about our circumstances, our health, and our resources. He will deny our state of Salvation. He will preach a gospel of salvation by works whilst enthusiastically drawing our attention to our constant failure. He will in short avoid the truth at all cost.
He knows that "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32) He also knows that Jesus' promise applies not just to those Jews; but, to everyone who believes in him and holds to his teaching.
It is no great surprise then that the first item of armour that Paul refers to is "the belt of truth". When we put on the belt of truth we are making a declaration. We are saying that we accept what God says and not the counter-reality that is suggested by our circumstances or weaknesses. The truth that we are accepting is found in God's word. We cannot know what God says about our ability, our eternal future and unless we familiarize ourselves with his word we must gird ourselves with the truth and stand firmly on it no matter who or what may try to come against us!
In addition to the truth that God proclaims about us we as his children know that the belt of truth gives us an additional responsibility. We must strive to be truthful in our dealings with others. We should live lives that are morally set apart (holy) from our secular friends and acquaintances. Personal holiness should allow us to be truthful in all that we do.Yet God commands us to speak things that are not as though they are and believe we receive them and God will provide unto us all that we speak in faith. But to speak things that are not as though they are and to do so in faith is not a lie but is the act of faith in God's provision and our faith to speak into being that which will honor God and the work he has called us to do for the Glory of our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus.
Understanding and accepting God's truth about us and being truthful by his grace in our dealings with others will afford us God's formidable protection. It's worth noting the essential quality of the belt of truth! The belt holds everything else together, on it we hang all of our other weapons! When it comes to spiritual self-defense truth must be the essential starting point for us all.
2 Corinthians 6:3-10 "Giving no offense in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things."
The Breastplate of Righteousness
As Christians our righteousness does not come from within ourselves. We are not righteous because we have managed to obey a few rules and regulations in our strength. We are righteous; because, God declares us righteous! As Paul says to the Philippians in 3:7-9;
"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:"
Our gospel is about a righteousness that comes from God;
"For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:17 )
When Christ died and rose again he freed us from the constant pressure of having to perform. No longer do we have to earn our righteousness we just have to believe in it. Although I believe that Holiness provides us with the privilege, through grace of being sinless right now, I recognize the probability of human failure. Christians should not have to worry about failure, because their place in God's kingdom does not depend on their mortal performance; but, on God's grace and our willingness to receive it in faith!
A breastplate protects the heart. The Heart is the home of the Holy Spirit. He lives there not because human effort makes the place habitable; but, because God's grace decorates it in the plush and luxurious style to which he is accustomed! Thank God! And praise be to or Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus!
The Gospel of Peace It says in revelation that the redeemed "overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." (Revelation 12:11). Active proclamation of the Gospel of peace brings a steadiness to our stance that cannot be found in anything else.
Evangelism, the sharing of our faith is not (as some proclaim) optional. Witnessing through words and actions is the equal responsibility of all Christians! The old adage that "the devil finds work for idle hands is true". Look at the story of David and Bathsheba. It all began in "the season when kings went to war" - where was David? At home lazing about. (see 2 Samuel 11)
The more time we devote to the work of evangelism and freely sharing the gospel of peace the safer we are and will be; but, safety should not be our goal in these final days of harvest time. But, we must as the whole body of Christ reach out with the stinging battle cry of missionary evangelism and preach boldly the Gospel and go forth into all the missions fields of the world and bring in the harvest that awaits us who are willing to enter the arena with the boldness of purpose having taken upon our persons the full armour of God so that we may win the lost now!
The Shield of Faith
Faith is the solid foundation on which rest the entire body and work of all Christianity. Without which nothing is valid, nothing
is assured, nothing is possible and upon faith rest the glory of God our father and the finished work of our Lord Jesus!Hebrews 11:1-12:2 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son. Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
The devil cannot pierce the protective armour of faith. Let's pray like our brothers and the great saints in the Gospels, "Lord I believe - help thou my unbelief!" The Helmet of Salvation
The old gospel song says "I am amazed when I think of God's love, so wonderful matchless and true, that we can be saved by the work he has done and not by the work that we do. Everything I have said under the heading "The breast plate of righteousness" equally applies to Salvation!
When the devil attacks simply remind him that you are in the words of James God's child and nothing he or anyone in the realm of this world or the next can harm you. Don't boast to the enemy of your salvation, simply put it on in his presence. Tell lust, greed, apathy, jealousy or whatever demon attacks you that they cannot have any victory in your life because you are sealed forever in the Lord Jesus and you have power over all evil no matter what quarter of the devil's realm it comes from! In Jesus we are sufficient!
Remember the advice of James "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." (James 4:6-10)
The Sword of the Spirit
It always amazes me how weak and defeated that so many of the members of the body of Christ seem to be at times and
often are.....when they have within easy reach and at their disposal the chosen weapon of the Holy Spirit.Constant Prayer "Prayer is the Christian's vital breath " says the hymn writer and how right he is. The following poem stresses the importance of the quantity and quality of our prayer time:
Lord come and educate and teach my keen desire.
That only where souls learn to wait falls Pentecostal fire.
If I would see the way where you would have me walk
Then I must when I kneel to pray allow you time to talk.
Revival shall be mine in strict proportion to
The sum and quality of time I spend alone with you.
Your word, Oh Lord, is clear the sentiment so plain.
If we would see and know you near then still we must remain.
The shells that God employs to force his foes to ground.
Though packed with loud and happy noise are fired without a sound.
Whatever we are doing we should be and could be praying. Driving, baking, cleaning, washing, ironing, walking, most things even those that require concentration can be accompanied with prayer. Let's become a praying people and back up our prayers with fasting! Constant prayer keep our armour bright!
Having Done All The items of armour above do not and cannot work in isolation. We must take them all or none of them. We either "do all" and stand or try and do some and fall. Notice, too, that this armour equips us only for fighting at and in close quarters. There are no siege weapons here, no spear, no bow and arrows and no slings! The fighting that the gospel and Christianity draws us into is hand to hand combat with the forces of evil. Take away one of the above items and the Christian warrior either becomes vulnerable to attack or unable to fight back. If we use all of this armour and if we hold it together with faith and consistent and meaningful prayer then we will win all the battles that come our way, as Paul said to the Romans;
"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:31-39)
We must as the beloved and chosen ones of God that have by grace been sealed forever in Christ learn to take upon our persons the full armour of God and go forth with boldness and true abiding faith into the battle for the lost souls of this world and retrieve them and bring them to the foot of the cross now! For Jesus is coming and the fields are ripe with the harvest and his armour is the true armour of real and fruitful missionary evangelism... and in these final harvest days all are being called to the missions fields.....where are you ready and willing to go and serve? Jesus is calling you to the fields now! It is time you provide seed, it is time you tilled, it is time you gave, it is time you joined the last great harvest for the souls who await your willingness to come among them now... and win them to the cross of Christ! Lord, we thank you and we give you all the honor, all the praise and all the glory! Amen And Amen!
A Ministry Outreach That Is Worthy
Of Your SupportIf you are looking for a Bible Believing Church to join with a vision for winning the lost to Christ or a place to give your tax deductible contributions and support we pray that you would join us in the beautiful work of this missionary ministry with your prayers, participation, vows, tithes, love gifts, and other contributions for our expanding missions and outreach programs. God will bless you for all that you do in helping to spread the Gospel down at the people and missionary level where your gifts, contributions and funding can do the most good.
"God has a work for me to do and a work for you
to do so let us join together in the fields for
the Harvest!"
~Dr. Davy
JESUS IS COMING!
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