The Gifts Are for Today, and for You

Some say the gifts of the Holy Spirit passed away with the Twelve. But the book of Acts records the manifestations of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in many people other than the Apostles: Paul, the 120 disciples of the Upper Room, general believers of Acts chapter four, deacons, Agabus, and Philip’s daughters. Clearly, the gifts of the Spirit are for all believers filled with the Spirit.

The question to ponder is: Are we among those added to the list above? If the gifts are nothing more than a historical curiosity, they do us no good whatsoever. But they are for “you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call" (Acts 2:39 NKJV).

What is the common denominator among the above list of Christians who operated in the gifts of the Spirit? FAITH. We receive the free gift of the Holy Spirit’s power by faith.

Debbie and I have committed our lives to be counted among those who operate in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. How about you?

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11 NKJV

A Reputation of Faith and Love

We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints;

Colossians 1:3-4 NKJV

Your reputation is your billboard. It is how you are known.  It is what people are saying about you. The proverb declares: “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold” (Proverbs 22:1 NKJV).

According to Paul, the believers at Colosse had a great reputation. Their faith was spoken of across the land. Paul had received reports of their faith while he was a prisoner in Rome.

Being people of faith and love makes for the very best of reputations. How can we develop such characteristics? Here’s some ideas:

1. Be a giver. Faith and love gives requiring nothing in return. Your time, talents, and treasures are meant to be given not hoarded.

2. Be an encourager. Faith and love always sees the best and has a kind word to share. A word of encouragement is a breath of life to a weary soul.

3. Be consistent in word and deed. Faith and love are not moody. They don’t run hot and cold. When people find you to be the same day in and day out they will call you faithful.

It’s a great day to be a Christian, and it’s a great day for faith and love to mark your life!

Many blessings to you.

Through Faith, We Know that We Know

God has made matters of faith very clear. Indeed, the Bible refers to these matters as the “record” God has given to us:

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

1 John 5:11-13 KJV

When you hold your Bible today, you hold the record of God’s promises to man: salvation, healing, prosperity, cleansing, forgiveness, victory, peace. . . .  Every promise is offered to everyone. It just takes faith to receive them.

By faith we know that we know the promise is ours. There is an inner witness of the Holy Spirit confirming the promise is true:

All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true.

1 John 5:10 NLT

As you read your Bible, consciously acknowledge the truth of God’s Word. Say out loud: “This testimony is true. I BELIEVE and I KNOW IN MY HEART that I have all the benefits of Christian living promised by God.”  The Holy Spirit will agree with you.

Too many say they believe in Jesus but they don’t know anything regarding the blessings of Christian living. They don’t even know if they are going to heaven. It is all a mystery to them because they are unfamiliar with the Record of God’s blessings.

“These things have I written unto you that believe . . . .”

Believing begins with reading what has been written. Everyone is responsible for reading the Bible for themselves. With reading comes believing, and with believing comes knowing. No one can ever rob you of what you know to be true in your heart.

Grand View Church focuses on building faith through Bible-based preaching, so dreams and desires can be achieved. It is the vision of Grand View Church to equip others to fulfill their God-given purpose in life.

Be blessed today, and be a blessing to others.

Faithful Service and Blameless Living

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am El-Shaddai—'God Almighty.' Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life” (Genesis 17:1 New Living Translation).


A Covenant of Land and Fruitfulness

The Lord was about to do something amazing in the life of Abram. The Almighty One was going to make a covenant with this old man: “I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to give you countless descendants” (Genesis 17:2 NLT).

The covenant promised to multiply his descendants greatly. Nations would come from him, and of those nations would be kings.

Land would also be given to Abram’s descendants as a permanent inheritance: “And I will give the entire land of Canaan, where you now live as a foreigner, to you and your descendants. It will be their possession forever, and I will be their God” (Genesis 17:8 NLT).


The Lord’s Requirements

What did the Lord Almighty require of Abram in return? SERVICE AND HOLINESS: “Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life.”

The words “serve me faithfully,” actually means, “walk before me.” It indicates that we are to conduct our affairs in plain view of God. To undertake His will faithfully—a service to which He inspires us and observes us.

Service is our apprenticeship to the mastery of Christ. It is a win-win; we mature through service, and the world reaps the benefits of our service.

Serving the cause of Christ is most effective when mixed with faith—strong faith. Serving Christ out of habit displays the proper actions but often lacks a faith-filled heart. But service that springs from an abiding faith is satisfying and fulfilling.

Faith sees the broad plans of God . . . service (faith in action) brings them to pass.

To live a “blameless” life is to set aside hindrances to one’s mission. But to be blameless sounds utterly impossible. The apostle Paul said that he was blameless regarding the ceremonial law (Philippians 3:6), but when He came to a saving relationship with Jesus he understood true blamelessness for the first time. He was washed in the Blood of Christ and was counted righteous by faith.

To be cleansed by the Blood of Christ is to be blamelessness. With such knowledge we aim to faithfully fulfil our mission without distractions that impede our success.

Grand Dreams Require Grand Prayers

Jesus said we are to dream big dreams and pray big prayers:

“Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them” (Mark 11:24 NKJV)

The Lord has our best interests in mind. His dreams for us far exceed what we could ever dream for ourselves. We do well when we take time to discover those dreams and pray them out. Discovering the will of God, and yielding to it, is the aim of the Christian.

When our will bends to His wishes we will experience His blessings.

“A miracle happens not because we will it to happen but because God wishes it to happen—and because the believer knows he or she can trust completely in Him and His promises.”

 — Dr. Bill Bright

Jesus confirmed this point when He said, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work” (John 4:34 NKJV). Jesus feasted on the will of His Father.

We have two primary means of learning the will of God: the Word and the Spirit. The Bible reveals the Lord’s will concerning Christian conduct and purpose. Additionally, the Holy Spirit reveals the plans of God to those who have a hearing ear.

Currently, the WTM ministry team is fasting in preparation for the kick off of Grand View Church. We are fasting because we desire to give special attention to God’s will regarding the ministry of GVC. We have grand dreams, so we are praying grand prayers.

Join us.

See you Sunday, September 19, at 6:00 PM for GVC’s inaugural worship service.

Faith for Your Future

“Where there is unbelief, no mountain will be moved, no sick people will be healed, no great works will be done for God’s kingdom. Just as Jesus could do no mighty miracles in Nazareth because of the townspeople’s unbelief, so today we limit His mighty miracles because of our unbelief.”

—Dr. Bill Bright

As Paul said, “Faith is substance of our hope,” and hope should fill our future. We should focus everyday on building our faith so we can ensure tomorrow’s mountains will be moved, the sick will be healed, and great works will be done for the Kingdom.

Has today been difficult? Faith says, “Tomorrow is the turning point.” Has today been wonderful? Faith says, “Tomorrow will be even better!”

Faith embraces the possibilities.

What can we do today to build our faith? Here’s a few suggestions:

Prioritize Faith Building. Your first step today should be to adopt a faith mindset:

I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me

[I am ready for anything and equal to anything

through Him Who infuses inner strength into me;

I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].

Philippians 4:13 AMP

Find a Specific Scripture on Which to Stand. You don’t have to memorize the entire Bible. A single verse that takes hold in your heart, will change everything. Even just part of a verse can inspire such great faith that sickness will flee from you:

. . . with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole.

Isaiah 53:5b AMP

Turn a Deaf Ear to the Contrary Voices. The majority of voices that you hear throughout the day are negative. It is true that “misery loves company.” Don’t let the woes of the world infect your thinking. Change your friends if you have to. Those appendages on the sides of your head are ears not garbage cans. Do not let contrary voices conform your thinking:

Do not be conformed to this world (this age),

[fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs],

but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind

[by its new ideals and its new attitude]

Romans 12:2 AMP

SAVE THE DATE: September 19, WTM gives birth to Grand View Church. Our inaugural church service will at 6:00 PM in the grand ballroom at the Hilton. Don’t miss it!

Thinking on the Supernatural Level Is a Process

"To often we do not expect the miraculous or the impossible. Supernatural thinking looks at life from a faith perspective that considers all things possible with God”—Bill Bright.

Thinking on the supernatural level is a process; one that Dr. Bright describes as five stages: Knowing God, surrendering to God, seeking a vision from God, abandoning self-effort, and adopting a supernatural perspective (taken from The Joy of Supernatural Thinking, pp 37-44):

1. Knowing God. It is not knowing that there is a god, but knowing God personally—as a child knows a father. Such knowing brings trust.

2. Surrendering to God. Submitting to anything other than one's "flesh" is most difficult. The flesh seeks to rule. But your spirit seeks to be led by God’s Spirit. For the Spirit always knows where the still waters and green pastures are. “Let the Holy Spirit fill and control you” (Ephesians 5:18).

3. Seeking a vision from God. Your God-given vision is an important piece in God’s overall plan of evangelizing the world. Spiritual gifts are given to compliment God-given mission. The Lord will equip you for your calling.

4. Abandoning self-effort. Our abilities are too limited to ever accomplish what God has commissioned us to do. The natural man, with natural thinking, and natural talents is unable to achieve the works of ministry God envisions for us. However, the Holy Spirit provides the “super” on our “natural” needs. We are not great, but the Lord desires to do something great through us.

5. Adopting a supernatural perspective. “The filament in a light bulb does not shine because it tries hard; rather, it shines because it is connected to a power source. We are the same way — we are successful only as we serve as a conduit for God’s power in the world.” Fully commit to the truth that with God ALL things are possible.

Have a wonderful Spirit-led day. Jesus is Lord!

Pastors James and Debbie