Ministries

Salvation IS an act of God's grace. Grace means that salvation is something we are given that we could never hope to deserve or earn. And maybe that is the hardest thing for us to swallow. We would expect to have to do something to make ourselves somehow worthy of God's love. But this is a misconception. The Bible clearly teaches thatsalvation comes from heaven downward--not from earth upward. God's gift of salvation was God-given, God-driven, God-empowered, and God-originated.

Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:8 - "It is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast." God's Word also teaches that God has provided that salvation to us already through His Son: John 3:16 -"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

The gift of salvation is not from man to God through our efforts. It is from God to man. Today is the day of salvation, please receive God's gift to you and accept salvation through Jesus' death, burial and resurrection.

Being a disciple encompasses more than just asking Christ in, and goes far beyond baptism. Our conversion, our acceptance of Christ as Savior is only the beginning, the entrance, into the faith and Christian life. It is not the only act of being a Christian! It is to be the door through which we go in our walk of faith, as is also our profession and testimony of our faith publicly. It does not stop there! It starts there! As well as learning to walk with Christ daily ourselves, He also calls us to make disciples of others.

Matthew 28:18-20 tells us: “Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”,

From the character of Christ will come the conduct of Christ, if we chose to follow Him. Then, those values of our daily walk, which drive our behaviors, will, in turn, influence others. You cannot lead where you have not been, or where you do not know the direction to go. This is why discipleship is so essential to the aspect of being a Christian. We are called, not to just visualize discipleship, but to do it; not to just talk about it, but to do it.!

Can anyone can call himself a Christian and not have concern for the lost. Charles Spurgeon said, "Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself. Be sure of that." The apostle Paul’s greatest passion was simply for the salvation of the lost, for evangelism. Paul tells us of this passion in Romans 9:1-3, "I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh". He would be willing to even give his life and his salvation for the salvation of his brothers!

The depth of our evangelistic zeal will be in direct proportion to the love we have for Christ and others. If you are not concerned about your neighbor’s salvation, then there is concern for yours. When Christians "...walk in the Spirit" as we are instructed in God's Word the love and concern for all who are lost will dominate our motives and actions as Christians.

This is our direction from our heavenly Father as disciples of Christ: "And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.'" --Mark 16:15

Preparation Makes the Difference
Ephesians 6:11 "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."

As the New Year begins, we must prepare for 2008 if we are to be ready for whatever comes into our lives. We must want to please Him and do whatever He asks of us relying on His strength and direction for all areas of our lives.

God tells us in His Word that we are to prepare ourselves in order that we may stand against the wiles of the devil. Two examples given to us in the Old Testament:

At the time Moses was born Pharoh had decreed that all male babies be killed. Moses’ mother had to prepare an ark and put her baby in it and place it in the water, trusting that God would take care of him. God had already prepared Pharoh’s daughter to be at the river’s edge and to lift him out of the water and save him. He even prepared the way for Moses’ own mother to nurse and raise him!

When the Israelites asked God to lead them out of Egypt, they had to follow His word and directions in following Moses. When they came to the Red Sea they watched as God provided the way for them to safety. That is preparation …to trust and pray and know that God will supply.

If we will read His word, pray with thanksgiving and a trusting heart and believe Him for our lives, we can do what God directs for our live and fully trust Him to provide according to His perfect will. The Bible tells us, “Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might!” God’s Word tells us, “I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens Me.” I must be strong in all things…not just when times are good, not just on Sunday, but believe Him for all things. I must put on the whole armor of God and stand strong every day, all year. We cannot stand strong without the whole armor of God that comes from His Word, pray with Him and fellowship with the body of Christ.

As the New Year begins, prepare for 2008 by putting on the whole armor of God. Satan’s goal is to separate us from the love of God. We must pray without ceasing and give thanks to God for our salvation and for all He does to lead and direct in our lives.

In Christ,

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