We ALL have a part/role within the Kingdom of God. Each person has been gifted to do good works, as Ephesians 2:10 says. We should find our place and work within the Church.

The book of Nehemiah gives a great picture of how the Church should function. As Nehemiah followed the vision that God gave him to rebuild the walls, he showed it to the people and they did their part. Each family was assigned an area to work on and they helped each other accomplish the work.

This is how the local church should function. The Pastor has the vision and teaches or imparts the vision into the congregation. The congregation should then take the instruction of the Pastor and perform the work. There needs to be leadership in place to help carry out the vision, not force people or try to control people. There is one Pastor and one vision. Any other way will only bring confusion to the body and the vision will not come to fruition.

First of all, we all need a Pastor to lead us, guide us and bring us up in the things of God. Secondly, we need to be plugged in, participating in the activities and events of the church. There are no lone-rangers. Thirdly, we need to submit to the vision.

It is not the job of the Pastor to do all the work. Pastors are to equip the saints so that the saints (congregation) are able to do the work. Too many times people want the Pastor to do everything.

Find your place. God will give you grace to do what you’ve been called to do. There may be a time of stretching and learning how to function in your call, but the frustration level will not be unbearable. Challenges will come but they don’t have to overtake you.

Get behind your Pastor and fully engage in his or her vision. Show up on time and be ready to go to work. Great exploits will follow commitment.

Read the book of Nehemiah, Eph. 2:10, 4:11-13, 2Timothy 3:16,17, and Prov. 29:18

Why do I expect things to happen when I pray? The Power of God is in me! I don’t deny the power that is at work within me or the authority that I have.

As a Believer, we are told that WE have the power and authority to cast out demons, to heal the sick, and to raise the dead. Jesus said this in Mark 16. This is how we are supposed to live. Jesus had that expectation with the disciples and with everyone that is part of the body of Christ.

Read the book of Ephesians. In chapter 1, Paul tells us that God has given US every spiritual gift. In chapter 2, he said that we have been created to do good works, healing, restoring, and reviving. In chapter 3, it is made clear that we are and have the fullness of God dwelling in us, propelling and launching us into doing great exploits for Him. This then continues on through chapters 4 and 5, and in chapter 6, capped it all off.

Ephesians 6:10 (KJV) – “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

Don’t deny the earth-shaking, healing, yoke-destroying, and bond-breaking POWER that is on the inside of you!

When we receive the Word of God and put it into action, our lives will be changed forever. We need to get this understanding and change how we think.
The Bible tells us in Proverbs 23:7 that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. Now this was talking about those who are more concerned with themselves, but it applies to all.
What is in your heart? What motivates you?
What you listen to or read, will affect the way you think. The way you think will affect your decisions and they will affect your actions. Your actions will affect your character and that will affect your destiny.
So where is it you want to go? Set goals and focus on them.
If you want more love, focus on that. Start by looking up verses that deal with love. As you study put them on your heart. You will begin to think about them the more you study. In turn the more you think on them the more those verses will influence your decisions, then your actions. Soon you will have more love in your character or your natural behavior and you will arrive at your destiny, having more love.
This applies to every aspect of our lives.
James 1:22
But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].
If we listen to secular radio, TV and news media all the time and never take time to read the Bible or get teaching from tapes, CD's, DVD's etc, our thinking will be influenced by the worlds system and not by God's Kingdom.
Paul wrote, Be transformed by the renewing of you mind.
Romans 12:2
Lets get the Word of God down in our hearts and let it change how we think.

So many times we limit ourselves and our effectiveness for the Kingdom. We get that small voice speaking to us… go and do this… and we start praying “Lord, if that’s you… if it’s Your WILL… Show me Lord, make everything around me wet and I stay dry. Send five people to come and give me a Word. Let me call my pastor and he will tell me to do this thing without me mentioning it… blah blah blah……

We need tos tart doing the impossible for God so He can get the glory. Stop making excuses for our shortcomings and weaknesses. The Bible tells us that in our weakness, we are made strong.

If you study your Bible, you will see that God never calls anyone to do anything for Him that is in their capacity to do. God told Noah to build the Ark, told Abram/Abraham to have a child at the young age of 100, told Moses to speak to a rock and produce water and on and on.

When Pastor Laura and I stepped out to plant our first church, we were told that it was impossible by some folks, however, our spiritual father told us we could not fail. He saw our vision as clearly as we did. Everything we have needed to begin and maintain this ministry has been provided. The place we currently meet is at no charge to us. All the sound equipment, our internet radio program, our website, and our television commercials have all been paid for in advance. Where there is vision, there will be provision. That provision is more than financial, too. God will provide wisdom and understanding as to how, where, and when to move. He will also provide support from other Believers.

What impossible thing is God calling you to do? Is it to start a new ministry in your community or give to your local church like never before? What are you waiting for? There’s nothing wrong with seeking wisdom and trusting God to provide not only finances, but all the other parts as well. When it comes right down to it, we have to choose what we are going to do.

Remember, you can do whatever God is telling you to do. Phillipianes 4:13 - “I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me.”

Have you ever asked that question? I know I have many times. When we felt like we are at our worst, we question if God could possibly use us. After all, we're not perfect, are we?
In actuality, we are perfected in Christ. He is the one that has done all the work. Look at Hebrews 10: 14-17, "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more."
Did you get that? You, who have been sanctified, that means "set apart." The Amplified Bible says consecrated and made holy." Jesus has made us perfect, because he was made perfect. Now if we are in Him and He is in us, we are what He is. 1 John 4:17..."As He is, so are we in this world." I know a lot of religious people are upset with me now, but read it for yourself. All we have to do is believe and walk in that belief. Walk in that love commandment.
I really suggest reading and studying the book of Ephesians. In it you will discover that: He has given us all that we need, God has made us new creations to do His work, His power is at work in us, He has given us teachers and preachers and prophets to help us along the way, we are children of light and we have the full armor of God.
Now if that doesn't get you going, I don't know what will.
Today, take the time to speak over your life. Tell yourself that you are able to do all that God has for you to do and that you are made perfect and that He loves you.

I know it's been several weeks since my last writing, my apologies.
Lately, I have been feeling off and wasn't really sure what it was. I rebuked the devil and made my confessions and nothing seemed to fit. What was it? Was I doing something wrong? I went straight to the top and asked God. He showed me in no uncertain terms what it was.
We have not been preaching enough on the soon coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ, Anointed One. I have repented of this and now change what I am doing.
Jesus is coming back one day soon. No, I don't know when or where, but I know He is coming. Not by a feeling or some spooky spiritual tingling up my back. His Word says He is coming back. He told the disciples that he would and He told John in Revelation 1:8, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." Revelation 22:20, "He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
The time for us to sit around and pout about our lives is over. It is time to grow up.
How do we do that? Very simply repent for our sins, self-centeredness, lack of forgiveness towards others, not showing the love that God commanded us to show and act upon, ask the Lord to forgive us, and put our faith into action.
On a personal note I have had to take the time to repent, change how I think and change my actions, over a few sins lately. I have learned that this flesh likes to be in control and therein lies the battle. We have to tear down strongholds and line up our thinking with God's Word. II Corinthians 10:4-5, "(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"
Now stop looking at the world and wringing your hands, saying how terrible it is. Don't blame companies for not acting right, and boycott this one and say bad things about that one. If you see that someone is out of line with God's Word, put it in perspective. Why are we surprised when sinners, worldly thinkers that are not of the Kingdom of God, do sinful things. PRAY for them!!!
Action steps:
Ask God to forgive you. And He is faithful to forgive.
Repent, that is change how you think and change what you do.
Put your faith into action, invite someone to church this weekend.
Show the love of God to everyone you meet.
Pray for those around you that don't know Jesus as Lord.
You are a child of God and He loves you, no matter what.
Yours in Christ always,
Pastor Eric

I know that many of us have heard about agreeing on a thing and it willb e done, but let’s look a little closer.

We have to start back in the beginning. When God said, “Let US make man.” He was speaking to The Christ, The Anointed One, Jesus, and to the Holy Ghost. There was an agreement made in Heaven, and it was accomplished on Earth. This is a Kingdom principle that is still in effect today.

Now move forward to Genesis 11 and the tower of Babel. God looked down and saw that the people were ONE. They had agreemtn amongst themselves. Genesis 11:5-7, “And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men build. And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now othing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.”

God knew that if people could come together in agreement or unity of purpose, nothing could stop them. Why? Because God made man, you and I, in His likeness. Not just a physical appearance but as a living breathing spirit. He gave us that same authority that He has. I know that messes with some people’s religion. God understood that He had to separate those people in order to stop the tower. When we cannot communicate and come into agreement, we can’t accomplish all that God has for us to do. That’s why in Ephesicans 4:1-5, Paul wrote about unity in the church.

That’s why Jesus said, “…if any two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”  Matthew 18:19-20.

That is the authority and power we have as believers, the authority of the Name, and the power of agreement.

(To Be Continued…)