There is a general feeling that the church consist of a building and its rituals and trappings. Jesus made a statement that "He would build His Church and the gates of hell would not prevail against it." So the question remains: "What does God's Church Look Like?"
My answer to this is as following:
1) God's church looks an awful lot just like you.
2) God's church is seen through the eyes of those who have asked Jesus to forgive their sins
therefore it looks a lot like a person who has been forgiven now forgiving others.
3) God's church is a commanded church as Jesus said "go into all the world and preach the
gospel."
4) God's church looks a lot like those who are obedient to the commands of Christ therefore
fulfilling the requirements of righteousness.
5) God's church is obedient because it is a loving church.
6) God's church is a caring church because of the love given to us through Christ.
7) God's church is a commissioned church given authority and power to do the task as assigned
by the Lord of the Harvest.
So what does God's Church look like?
It looks just like you living in a forgiven state having accepted the command to go into all the world and preaching the gospel where the righteousness of obedience is credited to your account.
It looks a lot like you going with a heart filled with carring love for the lost because Christ has forgiven you and placed His love in your heart. It looks a lot like you going forth with authority and power being obedient to the assigned task. So what does God's Church look like? It looks a lot like you. Are you satisfied with what God's church looks like?
God bless you
Walter Rose
Pasator
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
Being Secure In Christ
I have mentioned the unrest in the world on occasion and today I alude to it again. To look upon the issues and unrest in the world without the Word of God can be quite disconcerting. I have encouraged you to find the answers in God's Word. Many of the answers may not be found with a causual, unconcerned glance. The truths of God's Word are many and they are sure to the one who searches - not for a moment - but a daily reading of scripture and a careful study of those things that come to us as we read.
We are concerned with food and water the most with other cares such as family, home and security coming close behind. Jesus said that we should be satisfied with what we have today and the morrow will provide situations and sustenance as the need occurs. Psalm 55:22 says "Cast your burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain you." In another scripture God declares to us, "You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because we trust in Him."
There are many scriptures of promise to the one who trust in God.
Be a student of God's Word. It will never fail you.
Walter Rose
Pastor
We are concerned with food and water the most with other cares such as family, home and security coming close behind. Jesus said that we should be satisfied with what we have today and the morrow will provide situations and sustenance as the need occurs. Psalm 55:22 says "Cast your burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain you." In another scripture God declares to us, "You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because we trust in Him."
There are many scriptures of promise to the one who trust in God.
Be a student of God's Word. It will never fail you.
Walter Rose
Pastor
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Planting, Sowing, Reaping
John 4:38 - I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.
Working for and with God is quite different than working for ourselves. God's work is a continuous work in progress. Until He returns and all things are finished we are called to work. Some plow and prepare, others sow seed, sometimes never seeing the result of their labors. Planters have to believe that their contribution is going to terminate in a good harvest. Jesus has told his disciples that he has called them to reap a harvest planted by someone who preceded them.
Think for a moment - the Old Testament and the New Testament share with us the labors of those faithful men and women who broke the ground, sowed the seed and on many occasions gave their lives in that cause. It is harvest time and dare we ignore the labor and cost of this great harvest? God has given us a great opportunity to go into the harvest locally, regionally and nationally and around the earth. Our part is to enter their labors and gather in the harvest they have made possible. The fields are white unto harvest. The time is now!
The way to secure your future is in giving our life for HIS. This will bring great reward.
The beauty of it all is that the plower, preparer, sower and harvester all will rejoice together when the results of the efforts is revealed.
May God give insight to each of us for the harvest.
Walter Rose
Pastor
Working for and with God is quite different than working for ourselves. God's work is a continuous work in progress. Until He returns and all things are finished we are called to work. Some plow and prepare, others sow seed, sometimes never seeing the result of their labors. Planters have to believe that their contribution is going to terminate in a good harvest. Jesus has told his disciples that he has called them to reap a harvest planted by someone who preceded them.
Think for a moment - the Old Testament and the New Testament share with us the labors of those faithful men and women who broke the ground, sowed the seed and on many occasions gave their lives in that cause. It is harvest time and dare we ignore the labor and cost of this great harvest? God has given us a great opportunity to go into the harvest locally, regionally and nationally and around the earth. Our part is to enter their labors and gather in the harvest they have made possible. The fields are white unto harvest. The time is now!
The way to secure your future is in giving our life for HIS. This will bring great reward.
The beauty of it all is that the plower, preparer, sower and harvester all will rejoice together when the results of the efforts is revealed.
May God give insight to each of us for the harvest.
Walter Rose
Pastor
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Faithfulness
I have read the account of Joseph in Genesis today. I have read this account many times and I never cease to marvel at the accountability that Joseph displayed in 12 years of alienation from family and friends. His early dreams and visions of leadership seemed to be mainstays in his life.
Hatred from his brothers, slavery in Potiphar's house, running from Potiphar's wife. His subsiquent accusation and incarceration in prison for an extended time would break most people. The marvel of it all was his sensitivity to the presence of God, his spirit that did not wane with disappointment. He did a great job in Potiphar's house, in prison, and finally in the land of Egypt. He was tested and found true. His assignment to secure the food of the land for 7 years and finally his forgiveness to his brothes is a most wonderful and rewarding testament to a young man who was true in faith while imprisoned.
Each of us can take another lesson from this story of faith and accountability without someone standing over his sholder. If your dream is delayed maintain faith. God may come today with the answer.
God bless you
Walter Rose
Pastor
Hatred from his brothers, slavery in Potiphar's house, running from Potiphar's wife. His subsiquent accusation and incarceration in prison for an extended time would break most people. The marvel of it all was his sensitivity to the presence of God, his spirit that did not wane with disappointment. He did a great job in Potiphar's house, in prison, and finally in the land of Egypt. He was tested and found true. His assignment to secure the food of the land for 7 years and finally his forgiveness to his brothes is a most wonderful and rewarding testament to a young man who was true in faith while imprisoned.
Each of us can take another lesson from this story of faith and accountability without someone standing over his sholder. If your dream is delayed maintain faith. God may come today with the answer.
God bless you
Walter Rose
Pastor
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Three Indespensable Needs in Our Lives
Eveyone of us has an ongoing need to do what is right and real. Scripture tells us that "the heart is deceitful and who can know it?" Along with everything else God speaks to us this is a knowledge that each of us should take an indepth look into our hearts and then lean heavily upon God to help us in our need.
God has called each of us to fulfill the task He assigns to us. These callings - of course - cannot be fulfilled by man's strength alone. We have need from God, therefore we cooperate with God in relational, educational and ministerial action. The actions we take are indespensable to our lives and efforts.
God did not give us an unreachable height or unattainable assignment. As I have already said these things must be reached in cooperation with God through the following three things. 1) Prayer. Prayer is a two way street. It is speaking and listening. If we want answers to our prayers then we need to be good listerners. The idea of listening is that we may know how to respond. 2) Reading. Reading first of all must include the Word of God, the Holy Bible. The Psalmist said: "Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee." The Word of God leads us in principle and practice. Principle being the foundation built upon the Word of God and practice being the obedience and trust in God's Word. 3) Ministry. Minsitry is our everyday walk with our lights shining and our mouths speaking from the great resivoir of the word of God. Ministry is speaking or doing good deeds with the opportunities we have today. Ministry is that of seizing the moments we have "NOW" and using them to produce a godly effect in the lives of others by the way we speak to and treat them.
Love is the overall and overwhelming force that drives us to pray, read and minsiter, otherwise these things will be a heavy burden that will wear us out. Done through the avenus of love we will be able to shoulder the burden with joy knowing the eventual and eternal outcome of our efforts with Christ.
May God bless these thoughts to your heart today.
Walter Rose
Pastor
God has called each of us to fulfill the task He assigns to us. These callings - of course - cannot be fulfilled by man's strength alone. We have need from God, therefore we cooperate with God in relational, educational and ministerial action. The actions we take are indespensable to our lives and efforts.
God did not give us an unreachable height or unattainable assignment. As I have already said these things must be reached in cooperation with God through the following three things. 1) Prayer. Prayer is a two way street. It is speaking and listening. If we want answers to our prayers then we need to be good listerners. The idea of listening is that we may know how to respond. 2) Reading. Reading first of all must include the Word of God, the Holy Bible. The Psalmist said: "Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee." The Word of God leads us in principle and practice. Principle being the foundation built upon the Word of God and practice being the obedience and trust in God's Word. 3) Ministry. Minsitry is our everyday walk with our lights shining and our mouths speaking from the great resivoir of the word of God. Ministry is speaking or doing good deeds with the opportunities we have today. Ministry is that of seizing the moments we have "NOW" and using them to produce a godly effect in the lives of others by the way we speak to and treat them.
Love is the overall and overwhelming force that drives us to pray, read and minsiter, otherwise these things will be a heavy burden that will wear us out. Done through the avenus of love we will be able to shoulder the burden with joy knowing the eventual and eternal outcome of our efforts with Christ.
May God bless these thoughts to your heart today.
Walter Rose
Pastor
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