Stand

Happy Sunday!

Today, Bishop Alexis A. Thomas completed his series on the Epistle to the Ephesians. His reference scriptures were Ephesians 6:10-13.  He entitled the message, "Stand!"

Ephesians can be divided and describe using three words; Sit, Walk, and Stand.  We must know that we are seated in heavenly places with Christ, we must walk through life and represent and reflect His love to the world, and finally we must STAND strong and in faith when faced with and attacked by the devil!

The enemy knows the scriptures. He quotes them and mis-quotes them regularly.  He is the culprit behind every attack.  He uses human beings to fight against the people of God.  He also works to dilute our impact in the world.  How we stand against the enemy is our testimony to the world.  The Apostle Paul encouraged the Ephesian Believers, "Finally, brothers and sisters, draw your strength and might from God. Put on the full armor of God to protect yourselves from the devil and his evil schemes. We’re not waging war against enemies of flesh and blood alone. No, this fight is against tyrants, against authorities, against supernatural powers and demon princes that slither in the darkness of this world, and against wicked spiritual armies that lurk about in heavenly places. And this is why you need to be head-to-toe in the full armor of God: so you can resist during these evil days and be fully prepared to hold your ground." Ephesians 6:10-13 (Voice)  

Stand!  I know what you're thinking!  How can I stand my ground when my life seems to be falling apart?  I'm glad you asked!  2 Corinthians 5:7 says, "The path we walk is charted by faith, not by what we see with our eyes." (Voice)  By FAITH! How do I get faith? The Word says, "so then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17 (New King James Version)  Hearing the Word daily, meditating on it, and studying it will strengthen you and help you to stand against the enemies attacks. Bishop mentioned the movie, "The Usual Suspects".  I've not seen it, but he said in one scene the the star is trying to convince another person that their enemy Keyser Söze really exists.  It's just like our enemy!  Satan exists! Closing our eyes and covering our ears will not make him disappear!  If we understand that he is already defeated it removes the fear factor.  Jesus defeated Satan at the cross!  Now all he does is lie to us and deceive us into thinking he is more powerful than God. 

Our theme for this year is, "We are a WELL Church"; walking examples of liberated lives. Bishop also declared that this is the year we will see the manifestation of our total wellness.  Ever since he made that declaration, he has personally been under physical attack. But he has been encouraging himself and we should as well.  No matter what we see with our natural eyes we must trust the Word. The Word is truth! I am what God says, I am!  I can do what God says I can do! And I can have what God says I can have!

Stand your ground!

Love and prayers, Cynthia

"How's Your Walk Been This Week?"

Happy Sunday!

Bishop Alexis A. Thomas preached, "How's Your Walk Been This Week?"  He continued using scriptures from the Epistle to the Ephesians.  Ephesians 4:1 says, "I beg you—I, a prisoner here in jail for serving the Lord—to live and act in a way worthy of those who have been chosen for such wonderful blessings as these." (Living Bible)

Last week, Bishop taught us that we are "seated" in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. When we truly realize and understand where we are seated it should affect the way we walk.  Knowing who we are in Christ will affect the way we walk in every area of life.  Bishop recalled attending a reception held in honor of President Bill Clinton.  As he entered the venue, he noticed a difficult individual at the registration desk.  He watched as this individual gave others in line a hard time.  Bishop pulled his ticket out of his pocket and realized it was for reserved seating on the dais.  His attitude immediately changed.  When he finally got to the table, he just showed his ticket to the person and was able to enter without delay.  Knowing where he was seated affected the way he expected to be treated, and the way he would allow others to treat him.

How's your walk been this week?  Good question!  I've done well, but I needed this reminder.  When you know that, "no weapon turned against you shall succeed, and you will have justice against every courtroom lie."  it's easier to deal with difficult people and easier to, "don’t fight against the one who is working evil against you. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, you are to turn and offer him your left cheek. If someone connives to get your shirt, give him your jacket as well." Isaiah 54:17 and Matthew 5:38-40 (Living Bible) 

Isaiah 40:31 fits perfectly with this sermon, "Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening? God doesn't come and go. God lasts. He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything, inside and out. He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind." (Message)

Seated and walking worthy...love and prayers, Cynthia

"Would You Please Sit Down?!

Happy Sunday!

Bishop Alexis A. Thomas preached, "Would You Please Sit Down?!"  He used Ephesians 2:4-7 and Hebrews 10:11-13 as his reference scriptures.

"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:4-7 (New King James Version)

"And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool."  Hebrews 10:11-13 (New King James Version)

What we believe is demonstrated by how we behave! If you believed Proverbs 18:21,"Words have power in matters of life and death." wouldn't you speak positively?  If you believed Jeremiah 29:11, "I will bless you with a future filled with hope—a future of success, not of suffering." wouldn't you live with hope and joy?  If you really believed Philippians 4:19, "You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus." wouldn't you thank God confidently even though you have no idea how He will do it?

Brother Jesse Duplantis said, "When will we get away from people's commentaries on the Word of God and get away from genetically altered Christianity and distortion and start believing what God says?"  The Word of God must have preeminence in our lives!  The Word has to have the last word!  The reference scriptures that Bishop used today, tell us that we are already seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.  How can this be?  Because the last time I checked, I was seated in Phoenix, Arizona.  I'm so glad you asked!  God is Eternal!  He is not limited by or restricted by time. He has already finished the work!  Jesus even verified this on the cross when he said, "It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and died." John 19:30 (Easy-to-Read Version)

Think about it this way.  Imagine that I give you a million dollars. Don't laugh, one day I will be able to do it! I deposit it in a savings account in your name. When you need money you keep coming to my house. You cry and beg me to give you the money, because you're broke.  I'm puzzled and I give you a real crazy look because I've already given you the money! It's already in your account! You have to do your part...you must follow instructions and guidelines, go to the bank and make a withdrawal. The money will sit there collecting dust and interest until you go and make a demand for it!  God has already "given us everything we need to live a life devoted to God. We have these things because we know him." 2 Peter 1:3 (Easy-to-Read Version)

In the Bible, people don't sit down until their work is done!  Jesus finished his work and he allows us to accept his work as payment for our sins.  When we accept Jesus and agree that his sacrifice was enough, we are allowed to sit down with him.  We can, "Let him have all our worries and cares, for he is always thinking about us and watching everything that concerns us." 1 Peter 5:7 (Living Bible)  Would you please sit down and trust and obey God's Word?  Would you sit down and stop trying to work it all out? As the song says, "while you're trying to figure it out, God has already worked it out!"   "Trust the Lord completely; don’t ever trust yourself.  In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success." Proverbs 3:5-6 (Living Bible)

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Trees

Happy Sunday!

Bishop Alexis A. Thomas preached, "Look At All These Trees!"  He used Genesis 2:16-17 as his reference scriptures.

One of the most difficult assignments in this life is to live with, or to work around grumbling, fussing, and complaining people!  Proverbs 21:9 says, "It is better to live in a small corner on the roof than to share the house with a woman who is always arguing." (Easy-to-Read Version)  The children of Israel suffered in the wilderness because they were constantly murmuring, and complaining.  1 Corinthians 10:5 says, "But just experiencing God’s wonder and grace didn't seem to mean much—most of them were defeated by temptation during the hard times in the desert, and God was not pleased." (Message)

The reference scriptures Bishop used say, "God made certain demands of the man regarding life in the garden. God said, "Eat freely from any and all trees in the garden; I only require that you abstain from eating the fruit of one tree—the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Beware: the day you eat the fruit of this tree, you will certainly die." Genesis 2:16-17 (Voice)

Did you see that? God allowed them to eat of ANY and ALL the trees in the garden, except one!  But the enemy assisted them in focusing on that one tree and ignoring the vast number of other trees available to them!  He plays the same trick on us today!  He's convincing us to worry and complain about our bills, and problems instead of remembering all the times God has supported us, and provided for us.  He's tricking us into complaining about our spouse, instead of remembering how different single life was.  He's hood-winking us into complaining about our job, and our co-workers, while millions of Americans wish they had employment.  Adam and Eve fell for it, but we don't have to!  Jesus came and defeated the enemy and has given us power and authority! 

The Apostle Paul encouraged the Philippians to, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8 (King James Version)  He had more than enough justifiable reasons to complain, but he didn't do it!  He learned that being thankful and grateful to God for his unfailing love and blessings was the best way to live with joy!

Bishop encouraged us to step away from the "Complaint Window", and step over to the "Claim Window".  At the Claim Window, we can claim all the promises of God by faith!  Yes, things may look grim, but what has God promised?  Psalm 84:11 says, "He doesn't deny any good thing to those who live with integrity." (Voice)  Yes, the doctor says it's fatal, but what has God promised?  1 Peter 2:24 says, "By his wounds you were healed." (Easy-to-Read Version)  Yes, your month is longer than your money, but what has God promised?  Philippians 4:19 says,"And it is he who will supply all your needs from his riches in glory because of what Christ Jesus has done for us." (Living Bible)  Yes, they treated you badly, but what has God promised?  Isaiah 54:17 says, "Weapons made to attack you won’t be successful; words spoken against you won’t hurt at all." (Common English Bible)

Look at all these trees!  Focus on the promises and not the problems!

Love and prayers, Cynthia