Singleness is For Pleasing The Lord

Singles, your job is NOT to simply "wait" on God. And of course, when married people tell singles like us to wait on God, it usually means "wait for God to introduce you to a spouse." Waiting is SO much more than that. As if you have nothing better to do than wait for a lover. As if being single automatically means that marriage MUST be needed. As if you cannot be useful in the Kingdom of God as a single. You are LOVED. God wants to HEAL you. He has a work for His saved children to do. You have been commissioned to spread the Word. You are acceptable to God as you are, single and in Christ.

"...He hath made us FREELY ACCEPTED in His beloved. By whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins, according to His rich grace.... according to His GOOD PLEASURE..." 
Eph 1:6b, 7, 9b

Be sure to read all of Ephesians 1 for a great boost in encouragement in the Holy Spirit. That passage is SO RICH in truth and comfort for His disciples. Single or not, this truth is for ALL disciples. 

Now don't get me wrong, waiting on God is extremely important for renewing one's strength and for getting proper guidance from Him in all things. But it is not just singles who must learn to wait. ALL Christians must learn to depend on His presence and dwell there. Married people must do this too (I was married once, so I understand this well). And for them, it will be even more difficult, due to having both God and a spouse to please. Now, as singles, waiting on God for a spouse CAN be important, IF one is asking God for a spouse and desiring marriage. But it should not be so important that it sidelines the work God has commissioned you to do today, or the fellowship with Himself that is so sweet and powerful. Believe me, nothing is so sweet and peaceful as dwelling in communion with Jesus' Spirit. Nothing beats dwelling in the presence of the Holy Spirit, the One who created the universe and owns it.

Singles only have God to please. This is very freeing. And guess what? There is SO much you can do in God's kingdom today. God longs for more fellowship with you. 

Now, I know some singles will complain to me and say "stop trying to get me to accept singleness." To that I say: It's not you or me that accepts it, it's the Word that accepts singleness. The Word sees singleness as an equal gift beside marriage. See 1 Cor. 7:7. I am not trying to get you to "accept" singleness. I am simply presenting the Biblical view of singleness and challenging people to let the Spirit change their thinking.

Besides, everything has a season (Eccl. Ch. 3). Marriage and singleness are no exceptions. Nothing on this earth lasts forever, not even singleness. Time on earth is short. The question is: are you willing to let the WORD shape your thinking? Believe me, I have had to change my mind in order to conform to Biblical thinking, many times. The Holy Spirit keeps expanding my understanding. My understanding is still not complete, but it is growing in Him. Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to shape your thinking on subjects like singleness? Is there room in your heart for Him to influence you? I have done a complete 180 on singleness. I used to avoid it, and not appreciate it. Now, through His Spirit and His power and His Word, I have a more Biblical view.

Whether you accept singleness as a gift or not is irrelevant. What IS relevant is that you obey the Lord Jesus, the One who you follow as a disciple. And like it or not, when you follow Jesus devoutly, and you just so happen to be unmarried, you are automatically making use of the gift of singleness. Paul said that singles can devote their attention to pleasing the Lord. Discipleship IS pleasing the Lord.

1 Corinthians 7:32-35 ESV

32I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord.
33But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife,
34and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband.
35I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord. 

So the disciples's life is to be spent in undivided devotion to the Lord. Married or unmarried, we are called to please the Lord through letting Christ live in us. 

The single person has the advantage here. Rather than seeing singleness as a "problem" that marriage can "fix" (so to speak), why don't we take Paul's attitude here and see it as a gift for pleasing the Lord?







 
Paul makes it clear in the passage above that marriage will cause a division of attention to some degree.
And yet, the married individual, by making an effort, is also able to secure undivided devotion to the Lord. After all, discipleship and pleasing the Lord must come first. 

See, Bonhoeffer in his book "The Cost Of Discipleship" makes it clear that discipleship is not a group event. Each disciple is isolated from the world in Christ and surrounded by Christ. Not even a marriage changes the fact that you are called to be an individual before the Lord. Your allegiance lies first with Jesus. You can have or do nothing without Jesus. You have no righteousness of your own. You only have HIS righteousness as your own. This is the life of a disciple. 

Understand that the kingdom of Heaven that Jesus proclaimed has changed the order of things. No longer is marriage and childbirth the main way for the Kingdom to advance. Because of death, earthly kingdoms and the now-finished Levitical priesthood relied on marriage and childbirth. Now, the Kingdom of Heaven and the Melchisedec priesthood supercede death. Jesus the High Priest and High King will not die. He died once and rose the third day. He will never die again. And we His followers will also live forever. Jesus is glorified. And as the one who stands on the basis of an endless life (Heb. 7:23-24), Jesus grows His Kingdom through evangelism and discipleship. These two things are how God grows His spiritual family. That means you can be EXTREMELY effective as a vessel of obedience to Jesus in growing the kingdom, WITHOUT even being married! Children are still important. But the Melchisedec priesthood does not rely on children in order to continue. Why? Because Jesus will never die! He is Priest FORVER after the order of Melchisedec (Heb. 7:21)! And we are being made priests and kings after the same order, under Him! (Rev. 1:5-6; Rev 5:10-11)

God's focus is on the heavenly. Man's focus is earthly. But it is time we looked up. Lift the eyes and see Jesus the author and the finisher of our faith.

Yes, Jesus allows and upholds Biblical marriage. And Paul makes it clear there is no sin in a man and a woman getting married. But Jesus does not REQUIRE it for His followers. Neither did Paul. They also did not FORBID marriage. And yet, both Jesus and Paul were single on earth. And they were EXTREMELY effective. Jesus was the One to PAY for all our sins, and bestow His righteousness on ALL who trust in Him. Jesus INITIATED the Church and Kingdom expansion.

He IS the Way into the Holy Nation, the Heavenly Jerusalem. 

Paul, after his conversion, worked to EXPAND the Church and the Kingdom and grew it through the power of God, through epistles, preaching, working a job, and also cooperating with other disciples. 

What God cares about most is what you can do as a single. He cares about YOU. He cares about the salvation, holiness, and growth of souls. This kingdom expansion cannot be stopped by marital status. 

So the next time someone tells you that singleness is for waiting, just smile and say,

"Actually waiting on God  is something all Christians must practice. But the season of singleness is for pleasing the Lord." 

And the Lord is pleased when we obey His Great Commission in Mat. 28:19-20.

He is pleased with placing us in the Body for growth and edification as in 1 Cor.  ch. 12 and ch.14.

And He is pleased when we abide in His presence daily, like a branch abides in a vine. He is pleased to cause the fruit of the Spirit to grow in you. He is pleased to answer the prayers of the fruitful branch. Singles can be a fruitful branch, without children!  See John 15, Philp. 1:11 (fruits of righteousness) and Gal. 5:22-23 (9 fruit of the Spirit). 

And He is pleased to heal us of all our emotional and physical pain. James 5:14-16

Jesus is pleased to give and receive Love. And He is pleased when we love our brothers and sisters in Christ. 1 John 4:19:21. 

- God bless.

Pastor Curtis

Thu May 19 2016 1:50pm EST

Getting a "Helper" no longer depends on Eve.

I was just reading a social media post about what it means to be a "help meet".
So I looked up Genesis 2:18.

Genesis 2:18 GNV
Also the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be himself alone: I will make him an help meet for him.

That word "meet" is just another way of saying "suitable". Eve, Adam's wife, was a "help" and that help was suitable (or "meet") for him.

Here it is in other translations:
ESV
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”

GW
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is right for him.”

MEV
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone. I will make him a helper suitable for him.”

There is no doubt that Jesus upholds the Genesis definition of marriage and that man and woman should honour God's covenant of marriage if they choose to enter it (Matthew 19:4-6). A man and woman should always enter into the marriage covenant with witnesses before they live with each other or engage in sex. Marriage is very important.

But Jesus also made it clear that not all people need to be married. (Matthew 19:12) Marriage is not a prerequisite to being accepted by Christ or even being used to advance His Kingdom. Indeed, the New Covenant seems to make plenty of room of singles to get involved exactly as they are, living alone and set apart to do God's will.

Today, as Christians, we have an even bigger Helper, someone available to us at all times. Singles and married people alike can rely on the Helper who is suitable to guide us into all truth. Unlike Eve, the Holy Spirit cannot be tricked or deceived. He knows all things and is pure and peaceable and only speaks truth. He testifies of Jesus Christ alone. He is God. God is three-in-one, or Triune. The Holy Spirit is distinct from the Father and the Son, yet He is God. The Father and the Word (Son) and the Holy Ghost are One.

 1 John 5:7 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)

⁷ For there are three, which bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the holy Ghost: and these three are one.

 

We can safely rely upon the Holy Spirit in ways we cannot rely on a marriage partner. Marriage partners fail and sometimes are deceived. But the Holy Spirit is never wrong and He can guide you.

John 14:16-17 New King James Version (NKJV)
16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 
17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

John 14:16-17 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever,
17 Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him: for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

This means.... we do not need to get married to have a Helper. That Helper, or Comforter, is the Holy Spirit!
The same Holy Spirit who created all of the universe and made mankind is now here to help YOU, in Jesus name, to live for God and to remind you of His Word. He will live with you and in you FOREVER! How awesome that is! Call on Him today!

John 16:13-14 GNV
13 Howbeit, when he is come which is the spirit of truth, he will lead you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, shall he speak, and he will show you the things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.

Romans 8:1 GNV
1 Now then there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, which walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 8:26-28 GNV
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what to pray as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh request for us with sighs, which cannot be expressed.
27 But he that searcheth the hearts, knoweth what is the meaning of the Spirit: for he maketh request for the Saints, according to the will of God.
28 Also we know that all things work together for the best unto them that love God, even to them that are called of his purpose.

2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

You can, as a follower of Jesus Christ, have a Helper meet for you, without marriage! You can have a relationship to Him right now! Call on Jesus as Lord and yield to His Spirit. Seek to please the Spirit of God by faith.

And... Should you choose to get married, then that is great. But just remember your greatest Helper is already here: the Spirit of Jesus Christ!
-CJA

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[Sun. May 15, 2016 3:18am EST]

God Sets Up Governments. Do you Trust Him?

Christians: The Question is not whether or not you trust the Prime Minister of Canada or (for Americans) the President, or the current Candidates. The ultimate question is, Do you trust The Lord Jesus in what He is currently doing?

Take a look at these verses to think about God's sovereign hand in all nations.

Romans 13:1 ESV

13 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

-----

Psalm 4:4-5 GENEVA

4 Tremble and sin not: examine your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and trust in the Lord.

-----

Note that David was under persecution from the governing authority, Saul, at the time he wrote Psalm 4. Saul was set up by God. And he was eventually removed by God for disobedience. But God did allow persecution to come to David, through Saul. 

The truth is, God sets up rulers and he takes them down again. He is sovereign over everything. 

Will you trust in the Lord more than in Canada? Will you trust in the Lord more than in The United States? Will you trust the Lord even though he instituted a Prime Minister you may, or may not like? Will you trust in the Lord even though He institutes presidential candidates you might not care for? 

The issue is, and always will be, that we must continually trust the Lord. He alone is in control of all nations at all times. Yes rulers do their plans. Jesus allows it for a time. But The Lord works a greater good that we cannot necessarily see. And He does it through all kinds of leaders. Just read through the Old Testament for many historical examples. 

Should we pray and then go out to vote in elections? Absolutely! But keep in mind the following verse:

Proverbs 19:21 GENEVA
21 Many devices are in a man’s heart: but the counsel of the Lord shall stand.

---

So many devices, like elections, and laws and plans are in mankind's power. But ultimately it will always be the Lord's plan and counsel that is established. Don't be fooled into thinking that human democracy somehow overrules God's kingly sovereign influence. God always gets His way. God is looking not just at countries but also at the spiritual health of his churches within those nations. Are they hot for Jesus, or lukewarm? Have we grown too complacent? 

Let us learn to trust the Lord and pursue Him with spiritual passion. See, if we didn't have difficult times in politics, when would we ever look to the Lord in trust? The goal is always that we should pray for leaders...  and put our faith and trust firmly in Jesus Christ who is God and Lord of all. 

Do you trust the Lord in what He is doing in the current Canadian political landscape? Even if we don't understand it, we can STILL trust the Lord! This goes for Americans too! I don't profess to know even half of what God is currently doing. I do know that I can trust the Lord. 

I do not necessarily agree or disagree with the strong opinions I have been hearing here in Canada and also from my American friends. I mostly do a lot of listening and observing. And in the end, it is not my opinion that matters. God's counsel is what stands. 

Habakkuk did not understand why God established worldly and bitter leaders. 

He did not comprehend God's workings in politics... BUT he still trusted the Lord, because he knew the Lord. He knew that the Lord is righteous only, and pure. He knew that God's plans are good even when there are bad people in charge. Sometimes, God uses worldly leaders, and their persecution, to bring revival to churches, and reignite passion for Jesus. 

Habakkuk 1:5-7 GENEVA

5 Behold among the heathen, and regard, and wonder, and marvel: for I will work a work in your days: ye will not believe it, though it be told you.

6 For lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and furious nation, which shall go upon the breadth of the land to possess the dwelling places that are not theirs.

7 They are terrible and fearful: their judgment, and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.

----

Habakkuk shows that his trust in God is unwavering.

Habakkuk 3:16-19 GENEVA

16 When I heard, my belly trembled: my lips shook at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: for when he cometh up unto the people, he shall destroy them.

17 For the fig tree shall not flourish, neither shall fruit be in the vines: the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat: the sheep shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no bullock in the stalls.

18 But I will rejoice in the Lord: I will joy in the God of my salvation.

19 The Lord God is my strength: he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on Neginoth.

---

God bless you as you put all your trust in Jesus, and not in your own understanding.

-CJA

Thu. May 5/16 3:09pm EST

Waiting Does Not Mean Wasting Time

I came across this meme on social media tonight:

I think it is good. I would, however like to clarify what "waiting" is about in this context.
Keep in mind I have not remarried yet in almost 7 years. I have had no steady relationships in that time since I was abandoned, and my first marriage ended. Yet I am really involved with ministry more and more. My miracle ministry that survived divorce has been preserved by the Lord. I am to teach and to preach and to minister in my local church. That is my privilege and honour. Whether I get married or not, this is my calling. It is the cross I bear. What is the cross you bear for Jesus?

So to this meme I say:

Yes of course waiting on God is important.

But... It is also important to position oneself for receiving. One must keep praying in Jesus' Name, and keep asking and keep seeking. It's not enough to just sit back and do nothing. When some people think of waiting they imagine themselves sitting in a doctors office, waiting to be called. No.

In this context, "waiting on God" means working for Him in your calling. It means you do not act outside His will, but you DO act according to His will. Waiting on God does not mean standing around doing nothing, wasting the gift of singleness. The more years one can get in doing the work of God, the better. Because once marriage comes, your time will be divided and you will have to please both The Lord and also your spouse. Believe me, that is no easy task.

(1 Cor. 7:32-33)

 

Wait on God by praying for your future spouse to come. Then ....get back to work! Serve Jesus. Spread the Gospel. Love one another in the churches. Serve God in the ministry you have. All Christians have a ministry. Be faithful.

Go all out for Jesus as a single. NOW is your time to serve and bless Him and bless others. You will never again have this THIS level of freedom to please the Lord. You will never again get this many options where you are free to make choices in Christ without considering a spouse's plans or feelings.

 

You have a commission. Serve God in it, and really press into your love relationship with Jesus Christ our God and Saviour. Don't think that waiting means wasting. Not a chance. Waiting means you position yourself thankfully and prayerfully, and then get busy and do what God called you for in ministry.
Yes, you keep putting yourself in position for meeting a special person. But your focus must remain on your calling. The only way you will ever know who to marry is by cultivating your calling in Christ. Jesus does not call us to marriage or singleness per se. He calls us to love Him, to spread His Gospel, and to die to self and follow Him. THAT is the call. In a word, the call is DISCIPLESHIP. And, regardless of your marital status, marriage cannot ever be more important than discipleship. And the geographic details of your call will vary from mine. Nevertheless, now is the day to serve God and worship Him and love Him.
Love those He puts in your path. Feed the sheep with the truth of Jesus Christ, who is the Bread of Heaven and the Living Water. In 1 Corinthians 7:7, Paul calls marriage and singleness "gifts". They are not the call, but gifts. The Call is always discipleship. And discipleship is always an individual experience before the Lord. Discipleship cannot be blocked by marriage or family or past or current condition. As you read through 1 Corinthians 7 you realize the key is not found in marriage OR singleness. The key is this,

 

1 Corinthians 7:171599 Geneva Bible (GNV)

¹⁷ But as God hath distributeth to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk: and so ordain I in all Churches.

 

 

God bless,

Pastor Curtis

Completion Vs. Loneliness

Colossians 2:6-10 GNV

⁶ As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him.

⁷ Rooted and built in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving:

⁸ Beware lest there be any man that spoil you through philosophy, and vain deceit, through the traditions of men, according to the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

⁹ For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

¹⁰ And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.

 

I would like to make a bold declaration. And you can join in with me if you want to.

 

I have been battling a bit of depression and loneliness lately. It comes and goes, and I only experience it in certain places. So I make sure to fellowship with others at church. It helps. And I commune with the Lord's Spirit too. His presence is so special to me.

 

And today, in church, our lead pastor read a Bible chapter that hits home for me (Colossians chapter 2). As seen in the passage above, The Apostle Paul declares "ye are complete in him". The Him, is no one other than Jesus Christ the Lord!

 

So I am going to encourage myself by not only being with my church family, but by also declaring the word of God over my life. Are you ready to join in these declarations with me?? Here we go...

 

Say this along with me....

 

My emotions sometimes feel lonely and unloved.

BUT MY REALITY, FROM GOD's WORD IS:

1) I received Jesus Christ (v6)

2) I walk in Jesus Christ (v6)

3) I am rooted in Jesus Christ (v7)

4) I am established in the faith of Jesus Christ (v7)

5) I have been taught in the faith of Jesus Christ (v7)

6) I have been abounding (producing much fruit) in the faith of Jesus Christ (v7)

7) I am thankful for Jesus Christ and all His blessings to me (v7)

8) I will keep my faith and my thinking pure in Jesus Christ. (v8)

9) Jesus Christ contains ALL RICHES and ALL the fullness of God. (v9)

10) I am COMPLETE in Jesus Christ who is the Head of all power and authority. (v10)  

 

So we have said these statements of truth together. I want us to dwell on each one. What does it really mean?

 

See, I am a well connected man. I am an established church leader of 16 years and I have been in the retail industry for over 20 years. I suffered abandonment from an unbelieving wife because of the ministry and the faith. So I am divorced.
I am well-connected, but I still feel loneliness on occasion. You might feel the same way. 

I know you have probably suffered for Christ as well.

So, I have come to a realization:

 

Loneliness, for me at least, is a feeling of incompletion. I feel like something -someone- is missing from my life. I feel like there could be more to it. And if left unchecked, loneliness can turn sour and develop into unhealthy habits for us, like watching the wrong kinds of videos or eating too much. Or it could turn into ungratefulness and extreme self-centeredness. If left unchecked, loneliness could make you blind to the current reality of your blessings. Loneliness, if we dwell on it too long, could create a victim mentality which has us letting go of our responsibilities, claiming our circumstances are too difficult for us to be responsible in. That is the OPPOSITE of what the Bible calls us to be: Overcomers. (See Revelation chapters 2 and 3).  

 

We don't want this feeling to turn sour. And yet, there is no shame in feeling lonely and I am coming to realize it is ok to feel this way. Many people seem to be able to relate. But I also tend to hold those feelings back because I don't want people to worry. Why worry when you could pray? Worry is a topic I may get into later, but all it does is slow you down and make the problem bigger than God. Bad idea. God is bigger than any problem and prayer is bigger than worry. Faith is bigger than fear. I got off on a little tangent there, but I needed to say those things. I hold back my feelings because I can't stand to see certain individuals worry. I know it is a waste of their time to worry so I simply don't discuss it. If however these individuals happen to read this: just remember, worry is unproductive and the idea of someone worrying about me makes me feel horrible and sick. I just do not like to see my loved ones in turmoil. 

Pray for me instead. Prayer in faith and in thankfulness is powerful. Your prayers would encourage me!     

 

So... back to the topic at hand: rather than wallow in loneliness, and let it go sour, I allow the Sweet Holy Spirit to come in and transform me. Rather than let it motivate me to seek comfort in the wrong places, I have determined to turn it all over to Jesus Christ and combat this feeling with the word of God which declares that I am COMPLETE IN HIM. I am complete, lacking nothing in Jesus. I am rich in Christ, who has all wisdom and all knowledge. Colossians chapter 2 talks all about that. I am a VICTOR in Jesus.

 

SO let's get practical. If I truly am complete in Christ that means I do not NEED those other things in life that I currently don't have.

I do not need a wife, or children, or home ownership,  or a car. I do not need a huge paycheque or a lot of close friends (I do not have a lot of close Christian friends outside of my family and my church.).

I need Jesus. HE makes my salvation and my walk complete.

His body, the church, helps me to grow every week. He is the Head of the Body (which includes all local churches)!

 

 I am VERY satisfied with what I currently have. I can honestly and truly say that.

 

But, of all those earthly things I mentioned there is only one thing I do desire: a wife. I want to be remarried, to a woman with a ministry mindset. Like me, she will be someone who has chosen to forgo the natural family in order to serve the spiritual family, the church. I believe we will be powerful in service to Christ, with little holding us back in this very troubled world (Luke 23:28-29). And yet... I remind my soul that according to Paul, I do not need a wife to be complete. The Bible says so. Paul lived that example. He chose not to marry (1 Corinthians 9).  

 

What I have come to realize is that when my emotions start going down the drain into feelings of loneliness, it is because I am starting to believe I am somehow incomplete. It is a LIE! I am not incomplete. Why? Because I received, and walk with, Jesus Christ!

Now of course I would still enjoy getting married again. But I don't depend on it like some kind of life-jacket in a sea of uncertainty.

No, instead, Christ is my steady rock upon whom I stand.
I keep running the race, and telling myself what God says about me: I am complete in Christ.  

 

I encourage you, and challenge you to do the same. Run the race set before you- be true to the call to fellowship with and walk with Jesus Christ. Declare Colossians 2:10 over your own life, as often as you need to. Ask Him for your desires, and ask Him to help you navigate the times of loneliness or depression. Those feelings will still exist from time to time. It is nothing to be ashamed of. It is part of the disciple's walk.

The difference is, we can now refuse to come to a wrong conclusion based on those feelings. We can now come to the correct conclusion, and declare with Paul:

 

¹⁰ And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power. (Col. 2:10)

 

 God bless,

Pastor Curtis

Sun Apr 17 2016 2:31pm EST

 

Your Ancient Identity

Only the Creator, God, can tell you who you are and what your identity is. Humans came from Him! All created things, the earth and stars, and matter itself, came from Him.

God knew you and loved you and planned for you long before you existed.

Jeremiah 1:5 GENEVA

Before I formed thee in the womb, I knew thee, and before thou camest out of the womb, I sanctified thee, and ordained thee to be a Prophet unto the nations. 

Psalm 139:13 ESV

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

Psalm 139:13 GENEVA

For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.

He will give all overcomers a new name! Your earthly identity is from Him. But so is your heavenly identity!

Revelation 2:17 GENEVA

Let him that hath an ear, hear what the spirit saith unto the Churches. To him that overcometh, will I give to eat of the Manna that is hid, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth, saving he that receiveth it.

Revelation 2:17 ESV

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’

You might try to manufacture or manipulate your own identity, apart from God and Christ. And yet, despite all our attempts to find out who we are APART from Christ, we always seem to fall short.
                                                      

Apart from Christ, we are never truly satisfied. We never really know "for sure" who we are. That is why some worldly-minded people go through a mid-life crisis and have a flip-flop. They attempt to answer the question of "who am I" without first asking the question "Who is GOD?" Once we know who God is through reading the holy Bible, we can begin to rediscover our ancient identity in HIM.

The reality is that we will never be complete apart from Jesus and His identity. It is IN HIM that humans find their true identity. Once you know who He is, you can learn and rediscover who YOU are in Him. Identity leads to purpose. Purpose gives us hope.

God bless you!
April 3, 2016 4:31pm EST

Of Marriage and Ministry

I just saw an excellent question posted on social media to a group of Christian singles. The question, in essence, was: could you marry another believer who had a different view of End Times (eschatology) than you?

I thought I should reply to it, because I am an Assistant Pastor for a local church. I am also currently single and willing to get married again someday. I wrote:

I'm a Historicist, like Kelley Varner, Steve Wohlberg, Charles Jennings, and Robert Caringola. (Christians usually subscribe to one of three eschatology views: Historicism, Preterism or Futurism).
I would rather be married to someone who sees things more the way I do, but I can be flexible. HOWEVER, such a woman might have trouble accepting me if she is a futurist because I teach Biblical Historicism at the church and she would end up being there (if she was married to me). If you are going to be married to a pastor/Bible teacher, I think it makes more sense for the two to be on the same page with some major doctrines. Things are a little more complex when you are in the ministry because everyone is watching you and your spouse. Unity is important to being effective leaders.

For instance, my pastor (whom I am assistant pastor to) is married and he is a historicist as well. His wife fully supports his teaching from Scripture and his ministry. She does not handle eschatology much in her own sermons. That is more what he does. I teach eschatology too. But if his wife was to show disagreement with him, that would detract from his message. So if she DID disagree with a major doctrine, she would have to be careful not to make that public in the church or it would undermine her husband.

See, I am in a pastoring and teaching ministry. I need a show of solidarity from my future wife... so that my leadership is not undermined. Even if she does not agree with every point. Now disagreements do happen to every couple.... of course. But a healthy couple can work through things together in private. Then in public ministry, they can be unified and function as a team. This will help breed certainty amongst the congregants. No one wants to follow a pastor whose wife is always disagreeing with him. That is a recipe for confusion and weakness and dissention in the church.

Things go much smoother when BOTH the husband and the wife are in agreement about major doctrines of eschatology and soteriology and pneumatology etc. It is needed in order for a pastor and his wife to be an effective leadership team. Even if the wife is not a "pastor" herself, she IS a leader. Being married to a pastor automatically brings her into a prominent leadership role that other women will follow, whether she realizes it or not.