NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH (REVELATION SERIES)

New Heaven and Earth

 

While many people are familiar with the frightening events described in Revelation, few have come to realize what God has planned following the destruction of the Beast, The False Prophet, Satan & Their armies.

““For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, And joy in My people; The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, Nor the voice of crying. “No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, Nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days; For the child shall die one hundred years old, But the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed. They shall build houses and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; They shall not plant and another eat; For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, And My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain, Nor bring forth children for trouble; For they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the LORD, And their offspring with them.
 
“It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, The lion shall eat straw like the ox, And dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,” Says the LORD.”

NKJV 25-65:17 Isaiah

“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”

NKJV 27-21:1 Revelation

“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.”

NKJV 17-22:1 Revelation

 

NEW HEAVEN, NEW EARTH

 

** DESTRUCTION OF ALL ‘MAN-MADE’ THINGS IN ORDER TO BE REPLACED BY GOD-MADE THINGS AND THINGS MADE BY THOSE IN THE NEW CREATION.

** NO MORE SEA, OPENING UP HUGE AMOUNTS OF INHABITABLE LANDS. THE EARTH IS NOW 2/3 SEA.

** WE WILL RETURN TO GOD’S ORIGINAL PLAN TO “BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY.” I BELIEVE EVENTUALLY, WE WILL INHABIT ALL THE PLANETS IN THE UNIVERSE. HE MADE THEM FOR A REASON….

** WE WILL BE AWARDED LAND AND WILL RULE OVER THOSE BORN ON THAT LAND.

** WE WILL HAVE CHILDREN TO REPLENISH THE EARTH. WE ARE NOW IN ‘INCORRUPTIBLE BODIES,’ MEANING THEY CANNOT SIN AND WILL NOT DIE.

** WE WILL ONCE AGAIN HAVE FULL USE OF OUR MINDS. CURRENTLY, ONLY A FRACTION OF OUR MIND IS USED. THEREFORE, WE WILL BE A SUPER-INTELLIGENT PEOPLE.

** COSMIC TIME WILL BE TURNED INTO ETERNITY.

** NEW JERUSALEM WILL BE GOD’S HEADQUARTERS. THE CITY SPANS 1500 SQUARE MILES, AND THE SAINTS ARE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE CITY AND SEE GOD AND JESUS. MANY WILL LIVE THERE WORKING IN LEADERSHIP UNDER CHRIST. OTHERS WILL INHABIT THE LANDS OUTSIDE AND BRING THEIR GLORY INTO THE TEMPLE.

** NO REMEMBRANCE OF FORMER TIMES AS THE CURRENT GOOD TIMES WILL OVERSHADOW THEM. NO PAIN, DEATH, TEARS, SORROW, UNHAPPINESS, LONELINESS, ETC.

***NO MORE CORRUPTION OF ANY KIND. TREES, PLANT-LIFE, ANIMALS, RIVERS, INCLUDED.

***I BELIEVE ALL HOUSES WILL BE BUILT FOR FELLOWSHIP AND PEOPLE WILL GATHER DAILY TO CELEBRATE LIFE AND GOD.

LIFE WILL BE SIMPLE. HARD WORK TO CREATE FARMS AND BEAUTIFUL KINGDOMS OUTSIDE OF JERUSALEM.



…AND THEN THE END SHALL COME (REVELATION SERIES)

“…AND THEN THE END SHALL COME”
 
Study of The End of the Age, and The Coming Kingdom of God By Reydon Stanford
 
Revelation & The Need for Deliverance
 
Many people are often afraid of the dark and judgmental tone of the Book of Revelation. It is hard for them to understand how a loving God could be full of wrath and aim that wrath upon the kingdoms of the Earth in what is defined as The Great Tribulation. For us to understand God’s motives for this dark time, we must understand that it is a response not an action. Just as the Archangel Michael went to war against Satan and cast him and his angels out of Heaven, in response to Satan rising up against God, so is the Great Tribulation a response to Satan and his evil followers. It is “justifiable homicide,” if you will. Justifiable homicide means taking a life or lives that threaten the lives of others first, and must be eliminated to preserve innocent lives.
 
Most of us would agree that if someone broke into our homes with the intent to torture, abuse or murder our families or ourselves, and we had a weapon to stop it, we would stop it and be justified in doing so, because we are reacting to an act of evil…not starting one. This is God’s intent by unleashing His justifiable wrath upon the evil of the Earth during this age…the age that will be ruled over by The Beast…possessed of Satan to deceive the world.
 
“Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?” They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.” Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’? “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” Matthew 21:33-44 NKJV
 
In this passage we see that Jesus is using a parable to explain that God created the Earth, set mankind over it, but when He (God) wanted a people from it, by sending Prophets and Preachers to them, they beat and killed them…even His Son. Therefore, God will destroy them and take the Earth back away from them and give it to His people. Romans 1:18-32, tells us the state of mankind once Satan began to deceive him toward evil…
 
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore, God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise, also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” Romans 1:18-32 NKJV
 
Then again, we learn that when mankind is given over to evil…there is no conscience left and he is therefore nonredeemable.
 
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.” I Timothy 4:1-5 NKJV
 
THE GREAT DECEIVER
 
Going back to the beginning…this story has its root in one individual…Satan. Satan…created by God as an Arch-angel, stood against God in order to take away The Throne of God. Although the Bible does not give us the full accounting of this event, we know that war broke out in Heaven over Satan’s deception of a third of the Angels. There was war in Heaven and Satan and His angels were cast out of Heaven. (Rev. 12:7-17). In this passage we see that following Satan’s defeat in Heaven and being cast to the Earth, He went to make war against two specific groups of people…Those who hold the commandments of God, (Israel), and those who have the testimony of Jesus Christ, (The Christians). This is extremely important information if we are to understand where the Enemy will come from…in order for God to REACT, to the murder of His people, and the events that initiate the 21 Judgments of God and the end of Evil.
 
By Reydon Stanford
Senior Pastor
Trinity Christian Center Church
Muleshoe, TX


EVANGELISM

TRINITY CHRISTIAN CENTER CHURCH MISSIVE

Vol. 7:–No: 30(October 23, 2016)

Philippians 4:13-“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

EVANGELISM

Officer Tori Matthews of the Southern California Humane Society received an emergency call: a boy’s pet iguana had been scared up a tree by a neighbor’s dog. It then fell from the tree into a swimming pool where it sank like a brick. Officer Matthews came with her net. She dived into the pool, emerging seconds later with the pet’s limp body.

As the Arizona Republic (2/14/’95) reported, Officer Matthews commented, “Well, you do CPR on a person and a dog, why not an iguana?” So, she locked lips with the lizard.

“Now that I look back on it,” she said, it was a pretty ugly animal to be kissing, but the last thing I wanted to do was tell this little boy that his iguana had died.” The lizard responded to her efforts and made a full recovery.

Tori Matthews didn’t see a water-logged reptile: she saw a little boy’s beloved pet. We may never see the beauty on some people, but when we realize how much they mean to God, we’ll do what we can to keep them from drowning.
 
by David Gray
Trinity Christian Center Church
Muleshoe, TX


MOTIVATION!!!

TRINITY CHRISTIAN CENTER CHURCH MISSIVE

Vol. 7:–No: 29(October 16, 2016)

Philippians 4:13-“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

 

MOTIVATION!!

Little Tommy( who was Jewish), was doing very badly in math. His parents had tried everything: tutors, extra books, advanced calculators, etc. They had tried everything they could think of. Finally, in a last ditch effort, they took Tommy down to the local Catholic school and enrolled him there.

After the first day, little Tommy came home with a very serious look on his face. He didn’t even kiss his mother hello. Instead, he went immediately to his room and started studying. Books and papers were spread out all over the room and little Tommy was hard at work on his math homework.

His mother was amazed. She called him down to dinner and to her shock, the minute he was finished eating he marched back up to his room—without a word to anyone. Instantly he was back to hitting the books as hard as before.

This went on for some time, day after day, while the mother tried to understand what had made all the difference. Finally, little Tommy brought home his report card. He quietly laid it on the table and went up to his room to study his day’s lessons.

With great trepidation, his mom looked at the report card and to her surprise, Tommy had gotten an ‘A’ in math. She could no longer hold her curiosity. She went to his room and said, “Son, What was it? Was it the nuns?”

Little Tommy looked at her and shook his head. “No”, he answered.

“Well, then”, she replied, “was it the books, the discipline, the structure, the uniforms? WHHHHAAAAATTTT was it?????”

Tommy looked up at her and said, “Well, on the first day of school, when I saw that guy nailed to the plus sign, I knew they weren’t fooling around.”



THE RED UMBRELLA

TRINITY CHRISTIAN CENTER CHURCH MISSIVE

Vol. 7:–No: 28(October 9, 2016)

Philippians 4:13-“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

THE RED UMBRELLA
 

As the drought continued for what seemed an eternity, a small community of mid-west farmers were in a quandary as to what to do next. The rain was important not only to keep their crops healthy, but to sustain the townspeople’s very way of living.

As the problem became more urgent, the local church felt it was time to get involved and called a prayer meeting to ask for rain. In what seemed a vague remembrance of a Native American ritual, the people began to arrive. The pastor, on his arrival, watched as the congregation continued to file in. He slowly made his way to the front to officially begin the meeting.

Everyone was taking the opportunity to visit across the aisles to socialize with close friends. The pastor’s thoughts, when he reached the front, were on quieting those present and starting the meeting. As he began to ask for quiet, his eyes scanned the crowd and he took note of an eleven-year-old girl sitting in the front row.

Her face was beaming with excitement and she quietly sat in her place. Next to her, poised and ready for use, was a bright red umbrella. The beauty and innocence of the girl made the pastor smile as he realized the faith she possessed. No one else in the congregation had brought an umbrella.

They had all come to pray for rain, but she had come expecting God to answer with the needed rain.



21 Secrets To Abundance

TRINITY CHRISTIAN CENTER CHURCH MISSIVE

Vol. 7:–No: 26(September 25, 2016)

Philippians 4:13-“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

21 SECRETS TO ABUNDANCE

God is more than a God of Salvation. He is a God of supply. III John 1:2- “Beloved, I wish above all that you prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers.”

1. A crisis is a signal for me to learn, not lose.

2. It is not a sin to have a need in my life.

3. My need is an indication to change something in my life.

4. God will always vary His methods of supply.

5. There is a special place for my blessing and supply.

6. God will sometimes remove my visible sources of supply to maintain my dependency upon Him.

7. God sometimes uses the illogical and the unlikely to supply my needs.

8. I must respect abundance enough to ask for it before it will come to me.

9. My faith will release the moment my mind focuses on a specific target.

10. My God will never ask me for something I do not have.

11. I already possess abundance in the form of a seed.

12. My supply for tomorrow can start with whatever is in my hand today.

13. God is aware of my present level of need.

14. Everyone has something to give.

15. The world’s conditions do not control the Christian’s supply.

16. My expectations affect my supply.

17. My consecutive giving creates a consecutive harvest.

18. God expects me to give with an expectation to receive.

19. My supply depends upon what I do.

20. When I let go of what is in my hand, God will let go of what is in His hand.

21. My reaction to a man of God in need determines how God will react to me when I am in need.
 
Written by:
David Gray
Trinity Christian Center Church


Earth Time-Zone

A Study into The Temporary and The Eternal

By Reydon Stanford

 
THE FALL
 
Genesis 1: 26-31 In this passage of scripture, we see that God’s plan…begun in the ‘Age of Eternity,’ was for mankind to rule over the Earth…be fruitful and multiply…and to fill the Earth.  This was God’s original plan for mankind, who was created to live forever, and at that time, was eternal.  However,…In Genesis 2:15-17, God sternly warns Adam and Eve that if they eat of the ‘Tree of The Knowledge of Good and Evil,’ in that day…the eternal age will be interrupted by death…thus creating ‘Earth Time Zone,’ which includes a life of destruction, sin and death…not only to mankind but to all of the creation he was placed over to rule.
 

In Genesis 3, we see that Adam and Eve did in fact, eat of the fruit bringing the curse of ‘Sin and Death,’ upon not only themselves…but all of creation on planet Earth.  They were then forced out of the Garden of Eden (in the Eternal Time Zone), and forced to struggle upon a dying Earth with dying bodies, creating the age of Earth Time Zone. Because of this transgression…a curse was brought upon the Earth and all mankind.  They would live temporarily with a sinful nature, (selfish, evil and destructive), and would be subjected to suffering as a result.  HOWEVER,…and thankfully, God instituted a plan of salvation for the Earth and for mankind…in order to return the Earth and Mankind back into Eternity after a period of time.

 
In Romans 8:18-39, Paul beautifully explains this ‘Plan of Redemption,’ that comes to us through Christ as a free gift of God.  He also explains that our passage through Earth Time Zone is more of a ‘birthing’ process, now that Christ has (by Himself), paid the price of the curse of sin and death “once for all” mankind.  In other words, we are no longer ‘punished’ or ‘suffering a curse,’ due to Adam and Eve, because Jesus Christ ‘redeemed us from the curse.’  Galatians 3:13 says: “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us…for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.'”  So mankind entered into the curse by eating from a tree and Jesus redeemed us from the curse by dying upon a tree.
 
QUICK REVIEW: Eternity was interrupted by Adam and Eve’s sin, bringing them into an age of Sin and Death…what we call Earth Time Zone Every subsequent child of Adam and Eve passes through Earth Time Zone as a birthing process back into Eternity. Our suffering is temporary and part of the birthing process into eternity and IS NOT payment for sin.  Jesus paid for all sin by His own death upon the Cross.
 
 
THE PLAN OF REDEMPTION OF THE EARTH
 
Romans 8:19-22 “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.  For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.  For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.” In this passage of scripture we see that all of the Earth was subjected to the curse of sin and death when Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit.  Trees, animals…every living thing began to die…subject to Earth Time Zone…the temporary time zone of suffering.  But…all creation is also ‘eagerly’ awaiting the redemption of planet Earth. Now…presently…those of us here on planet Earth are obviously still subjected to Earth Time Zone, with suffering and the death of the body. 
 
In Genesis 6:5-7 we see that mankind had grown so evil that God decided to destroy him altogether.  Only Noah garnered the grace to save the human race.  Since the flood, there have been wars, division, bloodshed and death upon epic scales.  Mankind…through mostly evil means, has taken over rule of the Earth, dividing it into nations and kingdoms and keeping it away from the poor and needful.  This is the Earth we live on today.  No wonder there is so much suffering and death.  However,…God has a plan to reclaim the Earth and bring an end to Earth Time Zone…sin and death.
 
 
IN THE MEANTIME
 
In the meantime, all believers pass through planet Earth with its struggles and hardships such as sin, sickness, etc.  However, at a certain point, we leave this earthly body and are taken to Heaven to be with The Lord (Who is preparing New Jerusalem), for the future Eternal Kingdom of God that is soon to return to Earth forever. Once we leave our Earthly body, we dwell in a Celestial Body until the time of the Resurrection, when our spirits will be once again reunited with our physical body.  The only…AND BIG DIFFERENCE…is that at that moment, our corrupt bodies will be changed into incorruptible bodies forever.  I Corinthians 15:50-58 explains this transition very well.  Please read it!!  Study it. 
 
 
THE FINAL DAYS OF EARTH TIME ZONE
 
One of the most frightening books with the Bible is the final one…Revelation of Jesus Christ.  This is largely because it is filled with destruction, death, evil days, etc.  However, we must view it accurately to understand what it represents.  Remember…till now, the Earth has been ‘robbed’ by evil men.  Men who set themselves up as kings and rulers over God’s creation.  The entire book of Revelation represents basically one major theme…that Christ is coming back to reclaim the Earth for Himself and His people, and destroy all evil, once and for all…returning the Earth back to its original state (as in the Garden of Eden), and back to His original plan for mankind to multiply and fill the Earth with God’s people.


The Word and The Power Of It

 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” John 1:1-5 NKJV
 

One of the most misunderstood precepts of the Bible and the Ways of God, is the power He has put into the spoken and written word. Not only His own words, but those of mankind and Angels. To show the value He places upon words…remember that the Bible declares that everyone will be judged upon their “idle words.” He warned us in the Ten Commandments, not to use (speak or write) His name in vain…meaning, not to use it without real cause. Words are so powerful that everything was “Spoken” into existence…including us.

 

Deception also comes at the power of words. Words spoken in contradiction to God’s words are deceptive and damaging to our faith. Lies are forbidden by God, who warned that “all liars will have a place in Hell,” because the wickedness contained within lies. In order to lie, one must purposely decide to deceive, deflect or lead someone into an untruth…no matter how great or small. These lies can be used to protect one’s self from punishment, or in order to manipulate someone else for a desired outcome. No matter the intent…it is from the “Father of Lies,” Satan.

 

Throughout the Word of God, we see where words brought both life and death to the hearer. When God spoke…things were created or destroyed. Proverbs 18:21 declares: “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit…” We know that God created the Heavens and the Earth and all the Host of them with His spoken word. We also know that His declaration that the Earth would be destroyed with a flood, and that Sodom and Gomorrah would also suffer destruction were spoken forth as well. We know that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead by speaking words to him, and that He also healed using just words. We know that Pilate sentenced Jesus to death upon the cross with words. Truly…life and death are in our words.

We live in a society that claims a right to “free speech,” meaning that we are fundamentally able to say anything we desire, good or bad, true or false, brilliant or silly. However…according to The Word of God, our words should be taken with great value and never simply used as time or space fillers.

 

I want you to look closely at each of the following words and think about their power:

Life, Death, Cancer, Diabetes, Insanity, Alzheimer’s, Love, Peace, Fear, Brokenness, Depression, Defeat, Joy, Anger, Bitterness, Eternity, Hell, Heaven, Murder, Rape, Poverty, Wealth, Mean, Kind, Short, Tall, Fat, Ugly, Handsome, Pretty, Liar, Righteous, Smart, Stupid, Funny, Idiot, Deaf, Blind, Failure, Success.

Again, look hard at those words and think about the feelings they conjure up inside you as you read each one. These words are powerful and can affect our emotions, simply by reading them on the page.

Why? After all, aren’t they ‘just words?’

No, they are powerful because each one represents a state of being or an action that is either very pleasant or very painful. Think about how many relationships have begun, prospered and brought fulfillment with words of life spoken between the two people. Likewise, think about how many relationships have been ruined by mere words. With our words, we can speak life, peace, kindness, sweetness and love. Likewise, with our words, we can speak bitterness, hatefulness, sorrowfulness, meanness, etc.

Our words directly impact us.

 

In the Bible Jesus tells an interesting parable, regarding sowing and reaping. He explains that the sower, “sows the WORD.” The words sown will ultimately bring forth fruit. Either they will produce abundant life, or they will produce thorns that choke the life out of an otherwise fruitful plant.

In Luke 6:45, Jesus said, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.”

Think about that statement long and hard. In other words, whatever is in our heart, those are the seeds we will sow forth into our lives. If our hearts are bitter, angry, full of defeat, fearful or uncaring….all of our words will proceed from that heart. However, if our hearts are full of peace, love, hope, faith, and trust in the Lord, our words will reflect that…sowing words of life and abundance into our lives.

It is no secret that a negative heart produces negative words, which produce negative results.

A positive heart produces positive words, which produce positive results.

 

I challenge you to listen carefully at your words. Are they full of fear, doubt, hopelessness, anger and bitterness…or are they filled with faith, hope, love, peace, joy and expectation?

There are times in each of our lives, that our hearts become tainted by the negative words of the world and Satan. We are simply not immune to them, no matter how hard we are following the Lord or trying to remain faithful.
 
In these times, we must stop…do a heart-scan and ask God to cleanse us…washing all the lies and uncleanness of Satan out of our hearts. Then, by reading His word, we can fill our hearts with the faith, hope, joy, and peace that will have us sowing seeds of life back into our lives. It really matters…it is really true…and it is in our hands.
 
 
 
By: Reydon Stanford
Senior Pastor
Trinity Christian Center Church


The Value of One Parishioner

TRINITY CHRISTIAN CENTER CHURCH MISSIVE

Vol. 7:–No: 22(June 5, 2016)

Philippians 4:13-“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

 

Ten little parishioners standing in a line,

One disliked the pastor, then there were nine.

Nine ambitious parishioners offered to work late,

One forgot her promise, then there were eight.

Eight creative parishioners had ideas as good as heaven,

One lost her enthusiasm, then there were seven.

Seven little parishioners got into a fix,

They quarreled over projects, then there were six.

Six parishioners remained with spirit and with drive,

One moved away, then there were five.

Five steadfast parishioners wished there were more,

One became indifferent, then there were four.

Four cheerful parishioners who never disagree,

Until one complained of meetings, then there were three.

Three eager parishioners. What did they do?

One got discouraged, then there were two.

Two lonely parishioners, our rhyme is nearly done,

One joined a sports team, then there was only one.

One faithful parishioner was feeling rather blue,

Met with a neighbor, then there were two.

Two earnest parishioners each enrolled one more,

Doubling their number, then there were four.

Four determined parishioners just wouldn’t wait,

Until each one won another, now there were eight.

Eight excited parishioners signed up sixteen more,

In another six verses, there’ll be a thousand twenty-four!



How To Lead Others

TRINITY CHRISTIAN CENTER CHURCH MISSIVE

Vol. 7:–No: 21(May 29, 2016)

Philippians 4:13-“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

 

DEPTH OF CHARACTER AND PERSONAL INTEGRITY:

Good character derives from our very being. It’s worth more than can be said. Trust is born of solid character. Relationships are built on trust. Those we’ve come to admire withstand the test of time through these traits. They strive for consistent, not perfect, behavior(i.e., keeping one’s word and telling the truth), which is a building block of success.

SELF-AWARE AND SELF-CONTROLLED:

Great leaders are first leaders in their own lives. Those who sustain success do so out of a practiced personal and professional self-discipline. The key word is “practiced”. Aristotle said: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

Scripture teaches the importance of managing oneself. It’s a “fruit” of the Spirit. Paul, writing to Timothy says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7.

Being self-aware reduces the chances of self-deception, which is the greatest deception of all.

LIFELONG LEARNERS:

Achievers are curious individuals. They pursue knowledge and have an interest in ideas other than their own. Learning, growing, and changing are requisites of leadership. Adapting along the way is essential for personal and professional development.

Effective leaders own their success, manage others as well as themselves, and always act in God’s timing—this latter aspect of leadership, God’s timing, just cannot go wrong. Follow God’s leading and you will never wonder if you made the correct choice.
 
David Gray
Trinity Christian Center Church