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First Assembly of God Newsletter November 2009 |
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As we enter into this Thanksgiving season there is much to be "thankful" for. Abraham Lincoln said, "There is much to be thankful to God for. We should designate one day a year for grumbling and complaining, and spend the other 364 days returning thanks." The psalmist encourages us to "enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him, and bless his name." (Psalm 100:4) One of the things that I am most thankful for is that life is full of new beginnings. There are some who would claim that these instances are not new beginnings, just circumstances, things to be lived through. But I want to be more positive than that. Scripture reminds us that in the beginning of life, God was there. In the beginning, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. In the beginning, God is able to do abundantly more. In our beginnings are new opportunities. But opportunities are only opportunities, until we act on them. In these opportunities, we find that our faith is affected. Each time in scripture it mentions "beginnings" referring to Father, Son or Spirit, it requires some step of faith. When we say the words of Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created..." we speak faith. When we repeat the words of John 1:1, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God," we speak of our faith. We cannot accept any of these portions of scripture without it affecting our faith. Do you see the connection? In the beginning God, in the beginning was the Word. Why? Not just so we may have the opportunity, which comes from beginnings, but also the faith to move forward in these opportunities in faith. It is not until we act upon the opportunity that our faith will begin to grow. I believe that when many Christians claim to be stuck in a rut, the truth is, that they haven't made the most of their new beginnings. When we live out our faith, we find even more new beginnings. For John, the beloved disciple, who probably sat down some 60-70 years after Christ's ascension to write the well-known phrase, "In the beginning was the Word...," we know that he experienced new beginning after new beginning as we read his version of the Gospel message, his letters, and finally the Revelation of Jesus Christ he received. I thank God that I am not the person I was five years ago. I believe as I continue my life's journey, I am going to see many new beginnings. I believe that as we are about to say goodbye to 2009 and welcome in 2010, we each have a new beginning, with new opportunities. How will you use them, and how will your faith in God be affected? Jesus can take ordinary people and do something miraculous. The fact is that if we accept Jesus' offer of a new beginning, as for forgiveness and Christ's leadership in our lives, he's promised that he's able to do abundantly more than we could ever do alone. It's as simple as that. May your life be filled with many new opportunities to build your faith and strengthen your relationship with Jesus Christ. Have a great Thanksgiving! — Pastor Jeff |
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BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATOR NOTES
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Up! Up! and Away!! Recently I had the opportunity to complete my first hot air balloon ride, an experience that had long been on my “want to do” list. My oldest daughter said I was doing the “Bucket List” thing. I haven’t seen it, but apparently there is a movie called Bucket List that is about a terminally ill man who sets out to complete his “want to do” list before he … kicks the bucket. Now I am not planning a soon coming departure from this earth, unless the Lord returns, but I do enjoy pursuing new adventures. My balloon ride lasted about an hour and provided fantastic views of God’s great creation here in the Shenandoah Valley. Drifting slowly across the landscape and looking straight down on things from altitudes ranging up to 2000 feet is a perspective we don’t often get. I was amazed at how smooth and seemingly effortless it was for that huge balloon to lift us up into the sky. As we were being lifted up by the balloon I couldn’t help but think about the rapture. First Corinthians 15:52 tells us that this blessed event will happen in the twinkling of an eye. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 we read that the Lord Himself will descend from heaven, the dead in Christ shall arise first, then those who are alive in Christ will rise to join them in the clouds to meet the Lord. Those comforting words go on to say that all who believe, and ascend to meet Him, shall be with the Lord for eternity. As wonderful as the balloon ride was it will be nothing compared to the glorious ascent during the rapture. While the balloon relied on the burning of propane to produce hot air to give it lift, our ascent during the rapture will be fueled solely by the power of God. The Bible tells us that this glorious event will occur unannounced, like a thief in the night (1 Thess. 5:2). My prayer is that everyone who reads this is prepared to go “Up! Up! and Away!” with the Lord when that time comes. In the meantime, if you have the opportunity to take a hot air balloon ride, I highly recommend it. — Steve Parsons |
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First, lay hold of this covenant promise in Psalm 46:1: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” The phrase very present means “always available, immediate.” Faith must rest in the assurance that God’s Spirit is abiding in you all hours of the day and night, continually. And because he took up a habitation in you, he listens to your every prayerful thought and cry. We know that if he hears us he will grant our petitions. The Holy Spirit will move heaven and earth for any child of God who takes time to pour out his heart to the Father with unrushed, unhurried time in his presence. Next, read and believe Psalm 62:5–7. This is the prayer of David that touched God’s heart. David says, “Wait on God only. Expect help from no other source. He alone must be your source, your only hope and defense. Only he can supply you with the strength to keep going until your answer comes.” When you become wholly dependent on the Lord alone—when you stop looking for man to help you, and trust God for the supernatural—nothing will be able to shake you. Nothing can move you into fits or pits of despair. David declared, “I shall not be moved” (Psalm 62:6). Now comes the heart of it all, the secret to prevailing prayer that every saint throughout history has learned—THE POURING OUT OF THE HEART BEFORE THE LORD. “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us” (Psalm 62:8). God will hear and answer you when he sees you’re willing to shut off all media for a season, cry out your heart, pour it out before him, and trust he will respond. — Pastor Stephanie Grant |
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