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Bible Preaching

God’s Extraction Plan

Apostolic Life Cathedral | March 17, 2024 | 6:30 PM

Jesus has an initial extraction plan to “seek and to save that which was lost,” and then to extract those He initially extracted (called out) from the sinful world to rise up and be with Him in Heaven.

Text: Acts 2:46-47

(46)  And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

(47)  Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

The word “Church” (ekklesia) means “a calling out.”

The Church then is an assembly of people who have been called out of the sinful world.

We have in this assembly tonight men and women who were responded to the call of Jesus and were extracted and brought into a place of safety – the Church.

80 times “Church” is mentioned in the New Testament

The Church is universal – international. In fact, the last 7 times “Church” is mentioned in the New Testament Jesus is speaking to multiple churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea (Rev. 2-3).

Then we read this passage from John in Revelation 4:1, “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.”

“Come up hither” is when the church is called out the second time to be with Jesus in Heaven.

Called out to be called up!

1 Corinthians 15:50-58

(50)  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

(51)  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

(52)  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

(53)  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

(54)  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

(55)  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

(56)  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

(57)  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

(58)  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Called out and called up!

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

(13)  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

(14)  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

(15)  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

(16)  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

(17)  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

(18)  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Called out of the sinful world

Jude 1:21-23, “(21) Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.  (22)  And of some have compassion, making a difference:  (23)  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”

  • Some have questions and need to be  convinced by the Spirit and the Word.
  • Others we snatch from Hell’s flames as God delivers them from sin.
  • There are those to whom we show compassion and in a less aggressive manner we see them call out to God and they are saved from Hell as well.
  • You don’t have to be stained by sin to love a sinner to Jesus.
  • Just be intentional in God’s Extraction Plan.

God is intentional in His daily work to save people: “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

  • Intentionality of daily life – don’t become a robot
  • Hebrews 12:1-2, “(1) 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,  (2)  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.
  • 1 Jn. 3:8b, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
  • Out intentionality is necessary:
    • Psalms 100:1-5, “(1) Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.  (2)  Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.  (3)  Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.  (4)  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.  (5)  For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
    • Isaiah 12:2-3, “(2) Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.  (3)  Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

God’s Extraction Plan involves ALL of member of the CHURCH working together:

Kelly Doss:

  1. Homeless man in need of a place to sleep last night.
  2. Ebony let him stay with her.
  3. Anita picked up Ebony and Kelly this morning for Sunday School.
  4. He wept in the car saying he needed a change and family.
  5. Anita told him, “We (ALC) can be your family.”
  6. Bro. Robbins read a verse about being free. Kelly related to it because of his own run-ins with the law.
  7. Bro. Daniel sang a song about being free.
  8. Before she went to teach her class she told him, “Jesus wants to do something for you today. Be willing to lean into that.”
  9. He came to the front and Gary Keesee prayed with him as he repented.
  10. Gary then went to his pew and talked with him about baptism, then took him to the baptistery.
  11. Bishop Harper prayed over Kelly.
  12. I baptized Kelly in the name of the Jesus Christ.
  13. Kelly came out of the water speaking in tongues as he was filled with the Holy Ghost.
  14. Everyone had a separate but necessary part to play in God’s Extraction Plan.

Are you ready?

Luke 12:40, “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.”

John 14:18, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”

Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Categories
Bible Teaching

Jesus Is Alive Today

Apostolic Life Cathedral | March 3, 2024 | 10:00 AM

John 4:1-43
(1)  When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,
(2)  (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)
(3)  He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.
(4)  And he must needs go through Samaria.
(5)  Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
(6)  Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
(7)  There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.
(8)  (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)
(9)  Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
(10)  Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
(11)  The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
(12)  Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
(13)  Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
(14)  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
(15)  The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
(16)  Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.
(17)  The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:
(18)  For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.
(19)  The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
(20)  Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
(21)  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
(22)  Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
(23)  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
(24)  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
(25)  The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
(26)  Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
(27)  And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?
(28)  The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,
(29)  Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
(30)  Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
(31)  In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.
(32)  But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.
(33)  Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?
(34)  Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
(35)  Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
(36)  And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
(37)  And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
(38)  I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
(39)  And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.
(40)  So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.
(41)  And many more believed because of his own word;
(42)  And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
(43)  Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee.

Categories
Bible Teaching

Faith’s Report

Text: Hebrews 10:35-11:2

“(35) Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.  (36)  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.  (37)  For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.  (38)  Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.  (39)  But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. (11:1) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  (2)  For by it the elders obtained a good report.” 

 There is a repayment of the faith invested in the things of God.

 Patience is faith waiting in the hallway of the hospital to hear the good report that the promised child has been born.

 A great amount of faith is tested in the waiting room of life. A promise is given and now we watch and pray, but that is sometimes a mistake.  

 You see, while we wait for the promise to come, we are also preparing our home and ourselves for the due date.

 This is why Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, Target, and Amazon sell so much baby items. 

 People are not just waiting around twiddling their thumbs: 

• They are painting the nursery room either blue or pink – male or female

• They are shopping for rockers, baby beds, basinets, diaper bags, bottles, car seats, etc.

• They are deciding if they should breast feed the promise, or feed it a bottle

• They are worrying about cost and hoping two nickels can somehow make 50 cents.

• But, most importantly, they are preparing for the day when the promise arrives.

 It time to make a plan for arrival time. 

Faith’s Report is that everyone who lives by faith will receive a good report.

 Good Report = “to be a witness, that is, testify (literally or figuratively): – charge, give [evidence], bear record, have (obtain, of) good (honest) report, be well reported of, testify, give (have) testimony, (be, bear, give, obtain) witness.”

 The just who live by faith overcome the accuser by: 

Revelation 12:10-11, “(10) And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.  (11)  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

There is much power in faith. In fact, faith is involved in our justification:

Romans 5:1-2, “(1) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:  (2)  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

Peace with God starts with faith in God.

Jeff Arnold said, “Faith is focus on God, fear is focus on your problems.”

Faith’s Report is the the obtaining of a good report through trust in God’s promise that propels an action on our part…an active faith. If observed from that point-of-view, trust can be seen as a step beyond faith.

 Hebrews 11:39-12:2, “(39) And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:  (40)  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (12:1) 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,  (2)  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.”

Categories
Bible Teaching

Lunch Time

Apostolic Life Cathedral | 2/11/2024 | 10:00 AM
Categories
Bible Teaching

The Missed Ministry

Apostolic Life Cathedral | 2/20/24 | 7:00 PM

Isaiah 6:1-8

(1)  In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. (2)  Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. (3)  And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. (4)  And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. (5)  Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. (6)  Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: (7)  And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. (8)  Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

The Missed Ministry

Romans 8:26-28

(26)  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

(27)  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

(28)  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

  • The Holy Spirit’s Intercession means God is present with us for the purpose of aiding and directing us as an advocate does in a courtroom. The Spirit is willing to intercede for anyone, or to aid or assist in any manner.
  • He often uses your prayer of intercession to help someone else. Sometimes you know who and what, other times you don’t
  • “…According to the will of God…”
  • The Spirit is given according to His will, and the purpose of God’s will is to grant His aid to all who truly love Him.
  • The desires which He puts in your heart  while praying are those which are according to His will – what God wishes to exist.
  • Because you are praying His will then He will also guard you in those prayers.
  • This doesn’t mean that you are infallible, or never make an improper petition, never have a selfish desire, or that your motives are always pure; but the Holy Ghost has a general superintendence over your mind, and as long as you yield yourself to His direction then you will not be led into error.
  • You are most safe when you yield yourself completely to the influence of the Holy Spirit.[1]

1 Timothy 2:1-6

(1)  I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

(2)  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

(3)  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

(4)  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

(5)  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

(6)  Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

  • Just as Jesus is the ultimate model of intercession, we are to follow that level of sacrificial intercession – He gave Himself a ransom (the redemption price for the captive).[2]

Uncle Mark’s notes: Man’s Intercession[3]

WHAT IS INTERCESSION?

  • The Spirit maketh intercession. The Holy Spirit of God.
  • Intercession = “interceded in behalf of,” to  make petition, plead with
  • It is the will and mind of God being revealed.
  • With groanings = too deep for words. It is travail of the Spirit of God.
    • “To sigh, murmur, pray inaudibly…“grief, groan, grudge, sigh.”[4]
    • A.D. Urshan to Anthony Mangun: “Hold your belly and groan.”

DEFINITION OF AN INTERCESSOR: “And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him” (Isaiah 59:16).

An intercessor is one who stands and prays for someone else by lifting them up and carrying their burden.

 Isaiah 63:5, “And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold.”

HOW TO SPOT if you are an INTERCESSOR:

  • You PRAY LONG and OFTEN.
  • You SEE PRAYER AS A HIGHER PRIORITY.
  • You are quick to pray for others.
  • You RARELY MISS A PRAYER MEETING.
  • You DERIVE THE GREATEST FULFILLMENT FROM PRAYING.
  • You ARE SENSITIVE TO THE TRAUMAS AND MORAL DECAY IN SOCIETY AND CONSIDER PRAYER TO BE A PRIMARY ANSWER.
  • You are ANOINTED WHEN you PRAY ALOUD.
  • You CARRY GOD’S BURDEN AND EXPERIENCE TRAVAIL.
  • You DEVELOP PRAYER STRATEGIES, ORGANIZING PRAYER.

INTERCESSORY PRAYER IS “THE MISSED MINISTRY”

A DIVERSE MINISTRY

GOD’S ANOINTING WILL DIFFER FROM INTERCESSOR TO INTERCESSOR, AS WILL THEIR METHODS OF PRAYING:

  • SOME PRAY THROUGH LISTS.
  • OTHERS FIND LISTS TOO RESTRICTIVE.
  • SOME PRAY PROPHETICALLY, THAT IS ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF THE SPIRIT.
    • ONCE IN THEIR PRAYER CLOSET, THEY JUST PUT THE CAR IN GEAR, THEN LET THE HOLY SPIRIT DRIVE.
  • SOME PRAY FOR PASTORS, CHURCH LEADERS, GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIALS, ETC.
  • SOME PRAY FOR CRISIS – AS GOD ASSIGNS THEM
  • SOME FOCUS ON LOST SOULS.

INTERCESSION IS NOT GENDER BASED.

HOWEVER, THE INTERCESSOR’S GENDER, SPIRITUAL GIFTS, TALENTS, NATURAL INTERESTS, AND ASSIGNMENTS FROM THE LORD WILL SHAPE THEIR INTERCESSORY STYLE.

THE HIDDEN MINISTRY

THE MINISTRY OF INTERCESSION IS DIFFICULT FOR MANY TO UNDERSTAND PARTLY BECAUSE IT IS A MINISTRY THAT USUALY OCCURS IN THE CLOSET (IN SECRET).

TRUE INTERCESSORS ARE CONTENT TO REMAIN NAMELESS, FACELESS SERVANTS OF THE MOST HIGH.

INTERCESSORS KNOW THEY CAN REACH HIGHER FROM THEIR KNEES THAN FROM A STANDING POSITION.

THEY SHUN THE LIMELIGHT AND HAVE NO INTEREST IN ACCLAIM.

THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THE LORD WHO HEARS THEM IN SECRET WILL REWARD THEM OPENLY.

Would you rather be known of God, or known of Man?

A POWERFUL MINISTRY

GOD HAS CHOSEN TO RESPOND TO HIS PRAYING PEOPLE.

HE MOVES IN ANSWER TO THEIR PRAYER.

HE ANSWERS PRAYING PEOPLE.

GOD IS SETTING THE STAGE FOR A POWERFUL DIVINE INTERVENTION AS HE ACTIVATES THE GREATEST PRAYER MOVEMENT THE TRI-STATE HAS EVER KNOWN.

A SELFLESS MINISTRY WHO WILL SPEND LESS TIME PRAYING FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR NEEDS, FOCUSING ON THE NEEDS OF OTHERS.

A LIFESTYLE OF CONTINUAL “SPIRITUAL PREGNANCY”

PREGNANT WITH A BURDEN TO SEE THE GREAT COMMISSION FULFILLED.

Rachel to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I die.”

“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (Psalms 126:5-6).

TODAY, GOD IS RECRUITING AN ARMY OF INTERCESSORS  

ALL OF US HAVE BEEN DRAFTED.

IT’S TIME WE REPORTED FOR DUTY!

LET PRAYER BECOMES AS MUCH A PART OF YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE AS BREATHING IS TO YOUR PHYSICAL LIFE.

YOU MUST FIND YOUR RHYTHM IN PRAYER.

YOUR PERSONALITY, SPIRITUAL GIFTS, PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD WILL DETERMINE IT.

PRAYERS CAN BE WRITTEN, SPOKEN, SILENT.

TRY TO MAINTAIN A CONSTANT AWARENESS OF GOD’S PRESENCE THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

Paul’s description of ceaseless prayer:

“Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. Brethren, pray for us” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-25).

Apostolic Life Cathedral is now to the point where we need intercessors to say with Isaiah of old, “Here am I; send me.”

THE HIDDEN MINISTRY

You’re Going to Miss Me When I’m Gone

Back in the late 1980’s, my uncle, Mark Kuntzman, was living in Moore, OK. He shared with me a story that told to him by his pastor when he lived there, and this is recollection of the story his pastor told him:

For 7 years the Church I was pastoring had been in a season of unprecedented growth and revival. I had not changed anything in my approach to pastoring, or leadership, but everything we did flourished and bloomed. It was as if we were sitting under an open heaven and God’s blessings and His favor fell on our Church. The saints were in unity, converts were being added to the church nearly every week, and we were positively impacting our community.

One day I was called to the bedside of a beloved elder saint who was about to make his journey to be with our Savior. After we had spoken and prayed, I stood to shake his hand and say, “goodbye,” but he held tightly onto my hand, looked me steadily in the eyes and said, “Pastor, you’re going to miss me when I’m gone.” I said to him, “I know that, brother,” but he shook his head and simply said to me one more time, “You’re going to miss me when I’m gone.”

Well, that saint of God passed shortly after, and we held his home going service, he went to be with Jesus, and life went on.

6 months later it seemed as if my legs were cut out from under me. There was division in the church, services were dry, attendance was low, conversions were at a standstill, finances were scarce, and I was losing patience in the struggle. So, one Sunday, to my shame, I got up in the pulpit and took my aggravation out on those sweet saints of the Church, and I felt good about it.

When that Sunday service was over, the widow of the beloved elder came to me and asked to speak privately with my wife and I. So, we went to my office, and as I turned to hear what she wanted to say she asked, “Pastor, do you remember my husband’s last words to you before he died.” I answered, “Yes, he told that I would miss him when he was gone.”

She agreed and then said, “I’m going to tell you why he said that. When my husband retired from his career he was praying one day and told the Lord that he wanted his retirement years to be spent doing something productive for Jesus and for his pastor and his church. So, every day, Monday through Friday, my husband would rise up and get dressed, drink his coffee and eat his breakfast, then he’d walk to his favorite chair, sit down and pray for you, for our Church, and for our community. At noon, my husband would take a lunchbreak and sometimes a short nap, but by 1:30, or 2:00, he would go back sit down in his favorite chair and pray until 5:00 PM for you, our church and our community. He did that every week for seven years until he died.”

Then she said to me with tears on her cheeks, “Pastor, that’s what he meant when he held onto your hand, looked you in the eyes, and said, ‘You’re going to miss me when I’m gone.’”

What is the missed ministry? Intercessory Prayer, The Ministry of Intercession, Intercessors.

Come on, Intercessors! Apostolic Life Cathedral needs you: elder, student, hyphen, man, woman, boy, girl, etc.

[1] Albert Barnes Notes on the Bible.  Romans 8:27. paraphrased

[2] Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible. 1 Timothy 2:6. Paraphrased.

[3] Mark F. Kuntzman. Man’s Intercession. Nov. 13, 2007.

[4] Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries. G4726 & G4727.

Categories
Bible Preaching

No Time to Waste, Get It Done – Bishop Edwin S. Harper

Apostolic Life Cathedral | 1/4/2024 | 6:30 pm
Categories
Bible Preaching

A Complete Work

Apostolic Life Cathedral | 1/4/2024 | 10 am

John 5:2-9, 14

2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. 5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? 7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. 8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. 9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath….14  Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

Notice:

  1. Impotent = to be weak, feeble, to be without strength, powerless, to be weak in means, needy, poor, sick.[1]
  2. The impotent folk waited for another to help them.  They were looking for a Savior
  3. A certain man = we don’t know his name, whether he was married, what his infirmity was, or his age, only that he was in that infirm condition for 38 years.
  4. vs. 6, “Wilt thou be made whole?” = Other translations read:
    1. NASB, “Do you wish to get well?” – removes the importance of the word “whole”
    2. RSV/ESV, “Do you want to be healed?”
    3. NEB, “Do you want to recover?”
  5. The man’s restoration back to wholeness relied on his obedience to the command of the Lord.
  6. Whole = sound, of a man who is sound in body to make one whole (i.e. restore him to health), metaphorically: teaching which does not deviate from the truth.[2]

Consider the reality that many in our churches are:

  • Religious, but not saved
  • Churchy-fied, but not sanctified
  • They holler, but are not holy
  • Speak in tongues, but don’t allow the Holy Ghost to direct their lives
  • Come to the altar, but don’t give their whole self to God
  • Satisfied with less than purity, holiness, morality, complete transformation

Wilt thou be made whole? 

Do you really want to be complete?

Are you really seeking God in every aspect of you life?

Have you truly tried to clean up all the deficits of your personality, nature, urges?

Have you really tried to present yourself to God as “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Ro. 12:1)?

Are you really striving not to be “conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Ro. 12:2)?

Do you really want to stop doing what’s ungodly?

Do you really want to please God and obey His Word?

Do you want to be made whole?

Philippians 1:3-7, “(3) I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,  (4)  Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,  (5)  For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;  (6)  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:  (7)  Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.”

God is here to do A Complete Work in you…

[1] Thayer and Smith. Greek Lexicon entry for Astheneo. The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon.

[2] Thayer and Smith. Greek Lexicon entry for Hugies. The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon.

Categories
Bible Teaching

Standing Tall On Your Knees

Apostolic Life Cathedral | 1/21/2024 | 10 am

Daniel 6:1-28
(1)  It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
(2)  And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
(3)  Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
(4)  Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
(5)  Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
(6)  Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.
(7)  All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
(8)  Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
(9)  Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
(10)  Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
(11)  Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
(12)  Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
(13)  Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
(14)  Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
(15)  Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.
(16)  Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
(17)  And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.
(18)  Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
(19)  Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
(20)  And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
(21)  Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
(22)  My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
(23)  Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
(24)  And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
(25)  Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
(26)  I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.
(27)  He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
(28)  So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Categories
Bible Teaching

Times Like This?

Apostolic Life Cathedral | 1/28/2024 | 10 am

Esther 4:13-14, “Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews.  For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?“

Categories
Bible Preaching church history History

The Burning of Guyandotte

Apostolic Life Cathedral | 1/28/2024 | 6:30 pm

Text: Hebrews 12:28-29, “(28)  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: (29)  For our God is a consuming fire.”

Ancillary: 2 Timothy 1:6-7, “(6) Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. (7)  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

November 11, 1861: The burning of Guyandotte[1]

The Civil War hit home in the Cabell County town of Guyandotte on November 11, 1861. Union troops burned the town in retaliation over a raid pulled off the day before by Confederate cavalry.

Joe Geiger, who has written a book about the Civil War in Cabell County, says Guyandotte’s fate was the result of suspected collaboration with the Confederate raiders and the town’s secessionist reputation.

Geiger said, It’s not really clear exactly how many buildings were burnt. But practically the entire business section was burned and a number of houses as well.

It’s interesting to note Confederate sympathizers’ houses were not the only ones targeted. Many houses belonging to people of Union sympathies were burned as well.

In the fall of 1861, Guyandotte served as a hostile host to a Union recruit camp. The recruits weren’t able to put up much of a fight against the raiders. They were taken prisoner and forced to march to New Bern, Virginia.

According to Geiger, some of the animosity came about because of the march of the prisoners. It began at a full run. They were tied two-by-two with rope and were herded out of town. Apparently, quite a few of the Guyandotte secessionist women were dressed up with their aprons and were yelling at the prisoners and such. The march was very torturous…

The Wheeling Intelligencer newspaper called Guyandotte the “ornaryest place on the Ohio River” and said it ought to have been burned earlier.

That event is called

“The Burning of Guyandotte.”

I’m praying that another fresh fire will begin to burn in Guyandotte tonight and its flames will burn through the Tri-State.

One hundred years ago, In 1924, a Pioneer of the Pentecostal Movement, Lill Horton had a dream. She was in a Church full of stoves, but she was shivering with cold. So, she sought for an interpretation and this was what she received:

“There’s plenty of people (stoves) who need to have the fire of God kindled in them, but they do not have the Holy Ghost to kindle the fire. You need to go where the Holy Ghost fire is burning.”[2]

You are in a Church tonight where God’s fire and shekinah falls and fills the stoves of all who will willingly reach out to Him in faith, call out in repentance and praise Him with their whole heart.

Others in this room tonight have received the Holy Spirit of God, but you’ve allowed the flame to become a barely glowing ember.

You need to hear, heed, listen and obey Paul’s words to Timothy:

“(6) Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.  (7)  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:6-7).

It is absolutely necessary that you stir the embers and bring forth a fresh fire tonight.

For 100 years there has been a fire in Guyandotte.

It started in Guyandotte and that same Holy Ghost fire is here tonight.

This campus in located at 350 Staunton Street in the Guyndotte section of Huntington…

But this fire I’m preaching isn’t confined to any street of section.

“Our God Is A Consuming Fire”

The fire of the Holy Ghost crosses rivers and bridges

Social divisions, economic disparities, prejudicial thinking, generational gaps

The Holy Ghost fire I am talking about is a cord of flame uniting every Spirit-filled believer together in their faith and experience:

“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:12-13).

Our God is a consuming fire!

Look at our text: Hebrews 12:28-29, “(28)  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: (29)  For our God is a consuming fire.”

This kingdom that began on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 (And when the day of Pentecost was fully come), placed in those 120 Holy Ghost divine power:

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

This kingdom cannot be moved.

It is built and established on a Rock – The Lord Jesus Christ – and the gates of Hell cannot prevail against it.

A consuming fire?

God in Christ is a consuming fire. Our Lord Jesus is “full of grace and mercy, yet He will appear in great wrath to His enemies, who will not let Him reign over them.”[3]

There is a payday someday.

So, we worship Him with reverence –  a humility recognizing our unworthiness, and Godly fear – a desire from our most tender area of faith and affection not to offend God.[4]

Why? Although we see Him in this present church age as a God of mild majesty, He still possesses the tremendous power He displayed at mount Sinai, and one day, maybe tonight, He will break forth as a consuming fire against all those who violate His law and despise his gospel.[5]

I used the fire pit last night while cleaning out my garage,

The fire was hot, bright and even singed hair on the back of my hand.

The smoke got all over my clothes, my skin, hair, and even nostrils were full of the smoke…the lasting residue of the fire.

Paul told us what lasting effect the Gift, the fire, of the Holy Ghost has on us:

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:6-7).

  • No Fear – no timidity, no cowardice, but boldness
  • Power – a holy courage, dunamis, miraculous power, strength,
    • “Power to encounter foes and dangers; power to bear up under trials; power to triumph in persecutions.”[6]
  • Love – God & Man
    • “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18).
  • Sound Mind – To think clearly. Discretion. The Mind of Christ.
    • Philippians 2:1-11, (1) If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,  (2)  Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.  (3)  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.  (4)  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.  (5)  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  (6)  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  (7)  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  (8)  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  (9)  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:  (10)  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  (11)  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

[1] http://archive.wvculture.org/hiStory/timetrl/ttnov.html#1111. Accessed: 1/28/2024.

[2] Mary H. Wallace. (1981) Pioneer Pentecostal Women (Vol. I). Word Aflame Press. 119-120.

[3] Hebrews 12:29. John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Albert Barnes.