Statements of Faith - Grafted Into The Vine

 

JOHN 15:1-8

I am The True Vine, and My Father is The Husbandman (Vinedresser: worker of the soil, farmer). Every branch in Me that bears no fruit He takes away: and every branch that bears fruit, He purges (cleanses, prunes) it, that it may bear more fruit.

Now you are clean through The Word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can you, except you abide in Me. 

I am The Vine, you are the branches: he that abides in Me, and I in him, will bring forth much fruit: for without Me, you can do nothing. If a man does not abide in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and withers; and men gather them,  and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be My disciples. 

    My prayer after studying this out is, "Lord, make me more fruitful.", knowing full well that having a more fruitful life sets God's hands in motion to prune from my life that which is not fruit-bearing. I asked for this because I feel unfruitful. There are days I feel useless and discarded. I don't feel fruitful at all. Am I where God wants me to be so that He can use me efficiently and effectively?

    My prayer life is vital to my fruitfulness: it is the rain and the sun on my fields. My Bible study time is vital to my fruitfulness: it is the Seed that gets planted in my fields. My social life is vital to my fruitfulness: it is the companionship of working side by side in my fields. What fields are these? The fields which are ripe unto harvest: the fields of souls who are searching for something to satisfy their hunger and thirst for Truth. 

    I live in Christ. I am able to live in Him because He lives in me. How is this possible? By faith in His Name for my salvation. His Name is Savior, Redeemer, Reconciler. His Name is Faithful and True. His Name is Living Water and Fountain of Life. His Name is Bread of Life and Mana From Heaven. 

    He satisfies the hunger of my soul. He slakes the thirst of my soul. He saved my soul when He died on the cross. He gave my soul new life, when He conquered death and walked out of the grave. He leads me, He feeds me, He strengthens me. In Him I am found and in me He shines His Light and His Love all through me and out of me, that all may see that Christ is alive in me. I am renewed in Him and now, I am strong again. 

    I am being made more fruitful even as I write this. And it is good to be in The True Vine where The Father can work on me with His loving hands, removing dead weight and giving my branch more bounce to carry sweeter fruit. 

Statements of Faith - Surrounded By His Songs

 

PSALM 32:7

You are my Hiding Place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah. 

    Zephaniah 3:17

"The LORD your God is among you; He is mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.” 

    Deuteronomy 30:9

And The LORD thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for The LORD will again rejoice over thee for good, as He rejoiced over thy fathers.  

    God delights in His people when they delight in His Word. With great joy He greets the prodigal son (or daughter, as the case may be): He runs to the penitent sinner who is on the road to redemption. The sinner, hoping to be a servant, instead receiving grace and mercy, is covered with the garments of praise which His God has laid upon his shoulders. The penitent, repentant sinner is given status and brought into God's house where, with amaze and wonder, he or she remains. 

    And God sings. 

    The expectations within me are so great that I cannot begin to describe them. But, oh the joy when His face I see and He breaks out in song over me! 

 ROCK OF MY SALVATION  - Vineyard Music 
 WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE LORD - Christ For The Nations

Statements of Faith - Sealed

 

EPHESIANS 1:13. 14 

In Him you also trusted, after you heard The Word of Truth, the gospel of your salvation; in Whom also, having believed, you were sealed with The Holy Spirit of promise, 

Who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory. 

    Who is Sealed? The born again believer, whether they are God's chosen elect - the Jews - or they who have been grafted into The Vine - the church - we are all sealed by The Holy Spirit of God when we come to Christ Jesus for our salvation and redemption. 

    How are we sealed? The validation of our salvation is the mark which God has placed on His people. Though not visible to the naked eye, it is completely visible to God. 

    What marks a Christian that makes them visibly different to other people? It is not our words, nor our actions: they who are also faithful followers of Jesus Christ can see, even from a distance, the glow of The Holy Spirit upon us. I've had people come up to me, total strangers, and say, 'I know you're a Christian. I can see Jesus in you.' And they hug me and smile and then walk away. 

    I, we, are sealed and set aside to be used for God's glory. We have chosen this path of service to our God and as long as we focus on The Word which is directly in front of us, not worrying about what's ahead, nor regretting what has passed; not allowing ourselves to be distracted by what's on the left of our view, nor what tempts on the right. We maintain our walk of faith one step at a time. 

    Eve, in the garden of Eden, allowed herself to get distracted when she listened to the serpent beguile her with his malicious deceitful words, causing her to answer him instead of ignoring him. He questioned God's Authority and questioned Eve's understanding of God's Word.

    That's why it is so important for each of us to know and understand, through God's Holy Spirit, the Truth of God's Holy Word. It is a moral imperative to be able to live God's Word that we must first read and study to know God through His Word. We must pray to God and seek Him out, with desire to draw closer to Him than we are now. The strength of our relationship with God is in Christ. 

    If Christ is not in us, then we cannot be in Christ; nor is it possible to draw near to God, nor even enter His presence with worship. God knows our hearts: if our hearts are not right with God on God's terms, then we have failed to understand the most basic imperative: there is only one God and He desires to be first in everything we do, including our worship. 

    In Exodus 20, the very first commandment tells us this. God rebukes idolatry and then goes on to describe what idolatry is. He demands absolute worship from us when we recognize that GOD IS GOD. God will speak to people in dreams and visions, He will pour out His Holy Spirit upon His sons and His daughters. (Joel 2) He will reveal Himself to those who are seeking Him. Now is the time to seek God and live. For the day is fast approaching when people will seek God in fear, but lacking understanding, they will not find Him. 

    It is The Holy Spirit and the church who are calling people to salvation through Jesus Christ. When we leave, what will you do if you don't leave with us? Now we pray that The Holy Spirit fill us and burn away everything not of God, leaving only that in us which God will accept. 

    If you don't know where to start reading your Bible, start with The Book of John. And let The Holy Spirit direct your steps where to go next. 

 BURN IN ME - Paul Wilbur

Statements of Faith - Overcomer

 

1 JOHN 4:4

You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

   {Just when I think I am done with this series and believe I am waiting for another to begin, I get another study on my Statements of Faith. And it's a good one.}

 1 John 5:3

For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome, because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith. 

    You want to be an overcomer? Overcoming temptations, overcoming hate, overcoming bitterness, overcoming regrets, overcoming depression, overcoming loneliness, overcoming discouragement, overcoming pain, overcoming prejudices, overcoming every single thing that threatens your soul, your sanity, your existence? You need Jesus. I know this because I need Jesus. Every. Single. Day. Of. My. Life. 

    When you accept Christ into your heart, you are saying, I believe that Jesus Christ Is Lord, that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God who came for the sole purpose of being The Living Gospel which saves the person who believes in Christ for their salvation. 

    Having this salvation saves my soul. He saves me from the condemnation which is set aside for those who do not believe on The Name of The Only Begotten Son of God. Salvation cloaks me with the righteousness of Christ. I am Covered by The Lamb of God who died on the cross for my sins. I am an overcomer because Christ lives in me, having conquered death, hell and the grave, the risen Savior not only is able to intercede for me with His Father, but live in me and I get to live in Him. Home Sweet Home. 

    Why do I take the time to tell you about my Savior? I am able through Christ in me and The Holy Spirit upon me to love you with the love of The Lord. I am able to forgive the wrongs done to me for the sake of the cross. I am filled with the peace that passes understanding, calming my spirit and my soul. 

    I am filled with the desire to have you walk this journey with me: traversing every valley, where shadows are kept at bay by the Light of God's Love in me; scaling the mountains to meet with my Savior. It is good to walk together to reach our destination. We are able to lift each other up, when we begin to falter.. For the journey is long and treacherous and home seems so far away. 

    But we have a Living Hope that keeps us upright, for though it may appear that we are alone in this world, appearances are deceiving. Each Christian who faithfully walks in God's Way of Holiness walks with God, with Christ and with The Holy Spirit. It is a walk of Faith: faith in the promises of God; faith in The Christ Who died for me and rose from the grave and intercedes even now on my behalf with His Father; faith that I will see God and live. 

    I am an Overcome for Christ lives in me. I have nothing to fear. The words and actions of this world cannot destroy me, nor can they hurt me or kill me. For I have The Living Word living in me. And when I leave this body, I will live forever with Him. 

    Come to Jesus. Today could be your day of salvation. O Happy Day. 

OVERCOMER - Mandisa 

I SPEAK JESUS - Charity Gayle 

SAY HIS NAME - Crowder & Maverick City

O COME TO THE ALTAR - Elevation Worship

GOODNESS OF GOD - Bethel Music

Statements of Faith - Through The Blood

 

Ephesians 2:13

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

   We who are not born into God's elect people, have now been made God's people by the actions of Jesus Christ when He was publicly humiliated: He was stripped of His garments, beaten, tortured, nailed to the cross. And why, being God's Son, would He allow them to do that to Him? Because of His great love for all people. 

    In Romans Paul describes our becoming God's people as being grafted into the olive tree. In John 15:1-4, John describes it as becoming one with The Vine. In John 17, Jesus prayed for the people who had not yet believed in Him that they would believe and become one in Him, as He is in God. John 10:16 calls us "sheep from another flock who needed to be brought in to the original flock". It is a unique and wonderful love that God would want us to exist in Him, not just near Him. 

    It is by our faith in Christ Jesus that we are saved by the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8). How does a person go about obtaining such faith? "Faith comes by hearing, hearing by The Word of God." ( ) We have to hear The Word of God being spoken to us, whether by someone else or reading it aloud on our own. We need to believe that The Word we are speaking IS The Word of God before The Holy Spirit can apply it to our hearts. Memorization is wonderful, but memorizing Bible verses won't save us: only the blood of Christ applied to our sinful hearts can do that. 

  It is the blood of God's Lamb that atones for our sins. It is the blood of The Only Begotten Son of God that removes our sins (Romans 3:25): "God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand." 

    It is wonderful, cleansing blood, flowing from the throne of grace. We see a cross.  We see two beams plus three nails which equals forgiveness. God's mathematics are greater than ours. While it may seem impossible that God would have His only begotten Son go through such torture and death for sinners such as we, it is to fulfill His plan of salvation for all of mankind, from the beginning of time until such time as the plan is complete. We're almost there. 

    It is wonderful to have this beautiful relationship in Christ. It is like no other relationship we will ever have. This one saves our souls AND changes our lives. It is because of God's all-encompassing love that we are able to have this faith-based lovestyle at all. Many people have memorized John 3:16, but have not believed it. I believe it. Jesus died for me and took my punishment. God laid my sins upon His shoulders and He became sin for me. Being my sin, He was judged for it and died for it Being The Word of God, He took back the keys of death, hell and the grave and rose from the grave, raising up in a new body. For us.

    John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him, should not perish but have everlasting life."

    Romans 4:16 "Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all." 

THE BLOOD OF JESUS SPEAKS FOR ME - Travis Cottrell 

    

Statements of Faith - Predestined For Adoption

 

EPHESIANS 1:5

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will. 

Romans 8:14, 30

For all who are led by The Spirit of God are sons of God.

And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.

Ephesians 1:11

In Him we were also chosen as God's own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,

    You want to know God's will for your life? Pay attention: God loves you and wants you to be in His family, so He formulated a plan of salvation that would apply to all men and women in all nations. His plan of salvation through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ may seem foolish in the sight and understanding of mankind, but to those who believe on The Name of The Only Begotten Son of God, we have become His children by faith: we have believed the evidence without seeing the end result. 

PREDESTINED: To pre-establish boundaries

    God has set in order the things which must be done to accomplish the purpose He has set forth.

    Predestined does not mean that God does want some saved; it means He has chosen all to be saved through His plan of salvation. But not all will be saved, for each of us has a choice to make in this life while we draw breath. Jesus died on the cross to save all of us, and rose from the grave to give each of us eternal life through Him. However, some have found this message of the cross and the empty tomb to be mere fantasy, for they do not believe God is real. Living under false pretenses then, they cannot fathom that God's Word is real and true. 

    But we who do believe pray for those who don't. We pray that God will ahold of you whatever it takes. We pray for your salvation, that you will come to a point of believing on The Name of Jesus Christ, for "There is no other Name under heaven by which men can be saved." (Acts 4:12).

     Buddha cannot save you. Allah cannot save you. Mary cannot save you. Vishnu cannot save you. Shintoism, Taoism, Sikhism, Caodaism cannot teach you The Way of The Lord, which is paramount to living a separated, holy life. None of these can intercede on your behalf with God. Only Jesus saves. Only the blood of Jesus Christ can wash away sins. Only the resurrection of Jesus Christ can give you new life in Him. 

    God sent His Son to save us, and He sent His Holy Spirit to change us, to bring us into a state of holiness that we might see God and live. God sent His Son to give us eternal life, and He sent His Holy Spirit to lead us to Himself. 

    This is God's will for our lives here and now and after death. This is The Gospel of salvation by which all must be saved. Are you in that 'all'? Come to Jesus and be made clean. Come with me to the cross and see my Jesus. Come to the empty grave and see where my Jesus is not. Come and hear what The Spirit has to say. Let God have His Way in you, just as He is having His Way in me. Teaching me to surrender, to let Him lead me all the way home. 

    Let me reiterate here: we are all predestined by God to be saved, but not all of us will be saved, for the established boundaries which God has set forth to be saved are judged by many people to be foolish and delusional. 

    What decision will you make or have you made for Christ? 

I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS  - Lydia Walker

Statements of Faith - Accepted in The Beloved

 

EPHESIANS 1:6

To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He has made us accepted in The Beloved.  

THE BELOVED

Psalm 2:7 

I will proclaim the decree spoken to Me by The LORD: "You are My Son; today I have become Your Father."

Isaiah 42:1

"Here is My Servant, Whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in Whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations."

Matthew 17:5

While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!"

John 1:32

And John bore witness, saying, “I saw The Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him."

Song of Solomon 6:3

“I am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine, He who pastures his flock among the lilies.”

WE ARE ACCEPTED IN HIM

Ephesians 1:7 

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.

Ephesians 2:6-9

(6) And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,  (7) in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. (8) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, (9) not by works, so that no one can boast. (10) For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.

John 1:12 

But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name: children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.

 

    Believing on The Name of The LORD JESUS CHRIST for our salvation makes us acceptable in Him. It is the generous grace of God which has made this possible. Nothing we could ever do or say would help us to land this position in Christ. 

Ephesians 1:3 says we are "blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms IN CHRIST".  

    In Christ we are made perfect though our perfection cannot yet be seen with earthly eyes. We are not 'holier than thou' people of God: we are repentant sinners, who know and acknowledge that we need a Savior to save us from the penalties of our sins. And In Christ we are forgiven: our sins have been washed away by the blood which He shed on the cross that day on Golgotha. 

    In Christ we are loved by God, for God sees His children when He looks on us, because we have Christ in us. When we come to Jesus for the salvation freely offered, God covers us with the blood of His precious Lamb and makes our souls clean. 

    In Christ we are being built up into living stones - 1 Peter 2:5 - to be God's house, His dwellingplace. Our Foundation is Christ and each believer is a living stone built upon The Living Word of God, The Rock of Our Salvation. 

    If you are not In Christ, you are not in The Word, and you will not be finding yourselves in a very happy place; in fact, it is dark in hell, it smells in hell, it is hot in hell -- with no cool water for relief --and the sounds will tear through you: not just the screams and cursings from other people in hell, but from the fallen angels who will join you on their judgment day. 

    God is to be feared and revered. His holiness demands it. No sin can be in His presence. Remember Christ on the cross and the skies got very dark (Matthew 28:45, 46), Jesus Christ out to His Father, for now He was alone upon the cross. When the soldier thrust his spear into Jesus' side, where His heart was, water and blood came out (John 19:34). for our Savior's heart was broken. Sin had been laid upon Him and He became sin for us. In light of this knowledge we remember that sinfulness cannot be in the same vicinity as God, and therefore, neither could Jesus Christ at that time. 

    Through His obedience even to the point of death, Christ surrendered Himself to His Father. And though He knew that day was coming, He also knew that He would remain on the cross and in the grave until His work was done. 

    We who are In Christ have Christ in us through our faith in God's Word, God's Son, God's Beloved. We who are In Christ are saved by grace, filled with The Spirit of God and rest in God's peace. We beg you who are not, Come to Jesus and be healed, forgiven, loved and accepted.

JESUS PAID IT ALL - Fernando Ortega 

NEAR THE CROSS 

 

Statements of Faith - Chosen In Him

 

EPHESIANS 1:4

I am chosen in Him before the foundation of the world. 

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.

Romans 8:16

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 

John 1:12, 13

But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God--children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God. 

    The born again Christian is created in Christ Jesus; believing on His Name for our salvation, it is the only way to become a child of God. Taking communion, participating in the remembrance of Christ's sacrifice (the bread and the wine/juice) will not save a person's soul. Only Jesus can save us. Only the blood of Jesus Christ can wash away a person's sins, iniquities, transgressions. Only the blood of Jesus Christ can remove our shame and regret. 

    And only The Holy Spirit can tug at our hearts, calling us to come to Jesus and be born again into His Name, through His Name and His blood. Only The Holy Spirit can prick our consciences, convicting us of sin, rebellion against God--against His Way, His Will and His Word--and bring us to our knees crying out to God to forgive us, save us and make us clean and holy. Now is the time to listen to what The Spirit and The Word are saying to us. Now is the time to be forgiven and set on the road to change, to holiness. 

    [God's plan of salvation began before recorded time. There was a war in heaven. Satan rebelled against God and declared war on Him, persuading one-third of heaven's angels to follow him. That's what he does: he is persuasive, cunning, deceitful, tricky and evil. But God won that war and declared Lucifer (Satan's God-given name) to be persona non grata: he was no longer welcome in heaven, nor in God's holy presence and had to be removed permanently. So God sent him to Earth before there were people there.

    He worms his way into people's minds and hearts by manipulating and questioning God's Word and Authority. He is a devil and he lies and deceives people into believing things that are not true. (If a thing is half-true, it is still a lie. If a statement is omitted, it is still a lie, for the truth was not in it.).]

    But God had a Plan and His Plan is Jesus, His only begotten Son, Who took our punishment, died on the cross, rose from the dead and walked out of the grave! God won another war against Satan. And all who believe on The Name of His Son become God's sons and daughters: we are the children of faith. For it takes faith to believe the impossible or even the improbable. 

    Too many people have died in their sins and gone to hell. They died believing lies about their gods. They died not believing on The Only Name that could save them. They died unforgiven. And as such they condemned themselves to eternal death. They died not knowing their Creator, not knowing that He loved them, not knowing that there was a Way to heaven that they deemed improbable, for some doubted the existence of God and therefore denied His Son Jesus Christ's existence. 

    But God still loves us and His Spirit is still calling us to Come To Jesus and be Washed By The Blood, for Nothing But The Blood of Jesus can cure this disease called sin and be cleansed by His blood which washes away the sins of the world (John 1:29; John 3:16). Come today and see this Jesus Who washed away my sins. Come and see how God is changing me as I walk by faith this journey called life. Come and walk with me and Jesus, for He walks with me and wants to walk with you, too; as God has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. 

    

    

Statements of Faith - Blessed By God

 

EPHESIANS 1:3

I am Blessed by The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed me in Christ with every spiritual blessing in heavenly realms. 

James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from The Father of lights, with Whom there is no variableness (change), nor shifting shadow.

Deuteronomy 28:1-14

1 By our faithful obedience to God's Word, He will set us on high above all nations of the earth.

2 We are to pay attention, be attentive to, God's Word and seek to know (with understanding and spiritual wisdom) and obey His will in every situation and decision.

 3 Wherever we live and whatever our work, it is blessed

4 Our children, our gardens, our livestocks will be blessed

5 God will supply all our needs

6 We will be blessed when we enter our homes and blessed when we leave them

7 We will have victory over our enemies and prosper in all we do; our enemies will fear us and our God, endeavouring to stay in our good graces

8 Our storehouses/barns/accounts will be prosper that we may bless others

9 We will be established as God's holy people, IF we keep His commandments and walk in His Way

10 They will know us by The Name of our God and be in awe of who we are 

11 Reiterates verse four 

12 We will prosper so well that many nations will borrow from us but we will never have need to borrow from them

13 We will rise above our enemies in the power and Promise of God, being the head (wise leaders); moving upward (as one does when mountain climbing, for example) but never downward.

14 As long as we remain in Him and follow Him, not allowing ourselves to be distracted by what tries to draw our attention away from Him, we will obtain every blessing He has herein promised His holy people. 

 In Christ, Who is God's Word in the flesh, I am forever truly blessed, indeed. In Christ, I am forgiven of my sins and redeemed by His blood, which He shed on Calvary. 

 In Christ, I am made whole and complete through His sanctification process through God's Holy Spirit. In Christ, I am not alone, nor will I ever be lonely, for He is my all in all. 

 In Christ, I am blessed beyond measure because He loves me. In Christ, I am God's adopted child because I believe that Jesus Christ is Lord. 

  In Christ I live and Christ lives in me. 

Statements of Faith - 1 Peter 2:9

 

1 PETER 2:9

I am a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that I should show forth the praises of Him Who has called me out of darkness into His marvelous Light. 

CHOSEN GENERATION

    How are we chosen? By believing on The Name of The Lord Jesus Christ for my salvation. By repenting of my sins, iniquities and transgressions against The Word of God. By believing that God's Word is True and Faithful, that He fulfills His promises in His time. 

    We are chosen because we choose to follow Christ Jesus wherever He leads us; whether He leads us in the valleys of our lives or upon the mountains' heights. When He calls us to follow Him, we joyfully answer His call, running to meet Him, where He picks us up and holds us close to His heart. We are His sheep, His little lambs and we stay near our Shepherd. 

    Once we lived in the darkness of this world, too. Once we lived in rebellion, choosing to do things our way: selfishly and with only our interests at heart. But now, now we belong to God, choosing to live a life of honor and sanctification that we might be made pure and perfect in Christ. 1 Peter 2:10 "Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."

ROYAL PRIESTHOOD

    He has promised that they who serve Him on this side of life will not only be blessed immensely now, but also be rewarded on the other side of life. 

Revelation 1:6 "And has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." 

Revelation 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.Exodus 19:6 "And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites." 

HOLY NATION

    Deuteronomy 7:6

For you are a people holy to The LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all peoples on the face of the earth.

     2 Thessalonians 2:13

But we should always thank God for you, brothers who are loved by The Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning to be saved by the sanctification of The Spirit and by faith in the truth.

   We are saved by faith in The Truth of the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ and through the sanctification of The Holy Spirit. Though the thief on the hill with Christ came to the realization that Jesus was indeed The Christ, he had just enough time left in his life to do so. By his declaration "Lord, remember me", he acknowledged Jesus to be LORD and asked that his name not be blotted out. And Jesus brought thief to paradise with him. 

    A holy nation also honors its God by not only hearing what He has to say, but by obeying what The Word He speaks. 

PECULIAR PEOPLE

    Exodus 19:5

Now therefore, if you will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then you shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine.

    Titus 2:14

He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

    We are God's people, His church, His possession, His congregation. We are set apart from all nations by choosing to be obedient to His Word and choosing His Love and Righteousness for us above all other loves and unrighteous thinking and actions. 

    When someone tells us, "You're weird, strange, crazy", it's because they have noticed your differentness, your born again-ness. As we should be: different, not like everybody else. Remember the teaching song, "One of these things is not like the other"? We are not like the other. We shine bright because our souls have been saved and The Light of Christ now lives in us. 

    The salvation of Christ upon us and the purification process of sanctification through The Holy Spirit cause us to continually praise our God for this wonderful thing He has done for us and in us. 

    Three hundred and three times the word 'praise' occurs in The Old Testament, alone. And in those three hundred and three times the word 'praise', at varying times, indicates different ways to praise. 

    Yadah: to extend our arms out in front of us or lift our hands up to our Lord 

    Halal: to boast in The Lord

    Shabach: to shout praise to The Lord 

    Tehillah: combination of all other words of praise to God 

    Towdah: sacrifice of praise - praising God in adversity

    Barouch: to kneel or prostrate one's self, to bow before The Lord

    Zamar: to play a musical instrument for God

7 WAYS TO PRAISE - Carman

NO LONGER SLAVES - Zach Williams
CHANGED - Jordan Feliz

HAPPY DANCE - MercyMe 

JESUS CAN - Austin French

LIVE LIKE YOU'RE LOVED - Hawk Nelson

    

    

Statements of Faith - Not Ashamed

 

ROMANS 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

    Romans 1:17

For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” (Exodus 18:9).

    SENT TO THE JEWS (ISRAEL) FIRST

Acts 3:26

"When God raised up His Servant, He sent Him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."

    THE POWER OF THE CROSS

1 Corinthians 1:18, 21-24

(18) For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

(21) For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

(22) For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 

(23) but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 

(24) but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

 

    Without the mark of the cross (the atoning blood of Christ)  and the resurrection (born into a new life in Christ) upon the church (the born again believers who live a Christ-filled life) as a whole, nor without the baptism of The Holy Spirit dwelling within her (Comforter and Guide) and upon her (the power of God), there can be no unity in God's church, Christ's bride. 

Hebrews 9:22

And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. 

Luke 24:49

And behold, I am sending The Promise of My Father upon you. But remain in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

True repentance is an acknowledgement and confession of our sins to God that we may receive His forgiveness. Without repentance (acknowledge sin in my life, confess my sins to God and stop doing those sins) there can be no forgiveness. 

Luke 24:47-48

(47) And He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 

(48) and in His Name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. 

Romans 4:25

He was delivered over to death (torture and the cross and the grave) for our trespasses (rebellions against God) and was raised to life for our justification (righteousness).

    

    CALLED TO SALVATION THROUGH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

Acts 4:11-12

(11) This Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’

(12) "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” 

Romans 5:6

(6) For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Acts 10:43

"All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His Name."

Romans 10:8-10

(8) But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:

(9) that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

(10) For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.

    I am not ashamed of being a Christian, a Christ-filled Christ follower. I am not ashamed of His gospel of salvation for it is the power of God saving me, changing me into His reflection, His image. For in the beginning when God created Adam, He created him in His image. And because He created Eve from Adam's rib, she became created in His image, too. 

    But sin entered in Eve's heart and she doubted the Truth of God's Word, causing her to eat the forbidden fruit, which she then handed off to Adam who also ate of it. Since then sin has reigned upon this earth and each person born has been born with the nature of sin within it. One of the first words we learn is "No", closely followed by a rebellious nature: doing what we want to do instead of doing what is best for us. 

    But God in His infinite mercy, which He extends to a thousand generations, made a Way for us to be forgiven and saved: John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" 

I am a whosoever. 

WINDS OF WORSHIP 10 - New England Worship Songs - Vineyard Music

NO WAY, WE ARE NOT ASHAMED - Carman 

THE JOY - The Belonging Co

 

Statements of Faith - I Am A Fruitful Branch

 

JOHN 15:4

Abide in Me, and I in you. 

As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,

 unless it abides in the vine, neither can you,

 unless you abide in Me. 

    Abide: remain, stay, wait (I wait for, I stay in, I remain with)

    How are we fruitful branches in Christ? 

• Matthew 4:19 When we follow Christ, He teaches us how to become 'fishers of men', how to draw people to The Light and Love of God's gospel of salvation.
• Proverbs 11:30 & James 5:20 Be a soul winner in His kingdom. Tell your testimony: what Christ Jesus has done for you, how He saved you and continues to walk your life's journey with you. 
• 1 John 3:24 Keeping His commandments causes us to be fruitful branches, for by doing so, we remain in Him and He in us. 
• 1 John 4:15 & Romans 10:9 Speaking out loud that Jesus is The Son of God shows they that hear us speak such Truth that God is in us and we are in Him. 

    What is a Christian's fruit?

• Our disposition, our character, our attitude - We are to have, cultivate and exhibit the fruit of The Spirit - Galatians 5:22-23.
• Our life and conversation - Live a life of love - Ephesians 5:2
• Our intentions, motives - Live a life of faith in God - 1 Timothy 1:4
• Honor God, do good - Live a life that is worthy of God's call - 2 Thessalonians 1:11 and Ephesians 4:1
• Be an example of what we say we are - Live a life that is worthy of The Lord - Colossians 1:10

    And now we must consider: are we, indeed, fruitful branches in The Vine which is Christ? If we are, we must endeavor to continue to do so. And if you are not, what are you waiting for? You have received a personal invitation to be seated in Christ and He in you which requires a personal response from you. Come, come to Jesus Christ and be grafted into The Vine. Today is your day of salvation. 

PROOF OF YOUR LOVE - For King & Country 

BUILD MY LIFE - Pat Barrett and Cory Asbury 

LIVE FOR JESUS - Evie Tornquist

Statements of Faith - Worth Dying For

 

JOHN 3:16

For God so loved the world (you and I) that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. 

Romans 5:8

But God commends (establishes) His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

    God thinks you and I are worth dying for. All He asks in return is that we live for Him.

    1 Peter 1:18-20

Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 

But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest (revealed) in these last times for you. Through Him you believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him; and so your faith and hope are in God.

    Romans 12:1

Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

    Romans 6:16

Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness?

    Romans 10:13

For whosoever shall call upon The Name of The Lord shall be saved. 

    1 Corinthians 6:20, 21

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. 

    Isaiah 44:22

I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you. 

    Philippians 1:20

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

     

    I, too, eagerly and with great expectations, hope that I will in no way be ashamed when I stand before God and He judges me for the life I have lived. Every day I pray that God will use me for His glory, to advance His kingdom in whatsoever way He chooses to do so. 

BUILD MY LIFE - Pat Barrett

THIS IS AMAZING GRACE - Phil Wickham

SPIRIT LEAD ME 

    

Statements of Faith - I Delight Myself In The Lord

 

PSALM 37:4

Delight yourself in The LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

SPEND TIME WITH HIM IN PRAYER

Matthew 7:7, 8

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you

For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 

Matthew 6:9-13 is an example of prayer that Jesus gives His disciples. 

(9) Acknowledge Who God Is and that He is holy, recognize that we are not, then 

(10) Receive His kingdom [Mark 1:15; Acts 2:38], Surrender and submit to His will [Romans 12:1-3; Psalm 63]

(11) Ask for and receive that which God desires us to have daily

(12) Ask for forgiveness every day for the sins we have committed and receive it, because we are forgiving those who have sinned against us (don't retain bitterness, don't hold grudges against anyone), knowing that God will forgive us as much as we have forgiven others [Matthew 6:14; Mark 11:25]

(13) Pray for strength to withstand temptations and be separated from such [Luke 22:40; John 17:15; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Thessalonians 3:3)

MEDITATE IN THE LORD (ponder, think about)

Psalm 19:14

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 104:34

My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

STUDY HIS WORD

2 Timothy 2:15

Study to shew yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing The Word of Truth.

Ephesians 1:13

And in Him, having heard and believed The Word of Truth--the gospel of your salvation--you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. 

Ezra 7:10

For Ezra had set his heart to study The Law of The LORD, to practice it, and to teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.

SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER Casting Crowns

WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE LORD 

ANCIENT WORDS  Robin Mark

GIVE ME WORDS TO SPEAK Aaron Shust

Statements of Faith - I Am The Light of The World

 

 

MATTHEW 5:14

You are the light of the world. A city lying on a hill is unable to be hidden.

    A Christian's life is more visible in the darkness of this world than any other. When we declare our differentness, we open ourselves up to be more carefully observed to see if we truly are living a different life than everyone else around us. 

    Are we living John 8:12 by faithfully following Jesus? In John 9:5 and John 12:36 Jesus told those who followed Him that He is the Light of the world BUT only while He was in the world. Before leaving He designated to His followers that if they really were following Him, they (the born again (John 3:3, 6) would become sons of light. We are filled with His Light because we have our Christ living in us! Wherever Jesus is, His Light is! 

    If we have Christ living in us and The Holy Spirit of God guiding us, then it will be impossible not to live a changed life, for our hearts have been changed and our mindset is being transformed day by day. When we remain in Him, breathing in and taking in His Word when we read it, change is inevitable. And change for the better, at that. 

    They who still live in darkness are changing, too. Except by refusing to see the Light of Christ, they sink ever deeper into the darkness of their comfort zones. It's scary becoming a Christian. Suddenly everyone you ever knew looks at you different. They know how you used to be, how you used to behave, how you used to dress, how you used to talk. The places you used to hang out you don't go to any more. You have a new hang out: the congregation of the saints. Wherever God's people are, you, the new Christian, are going to be found. 

    Your light is impacting their darkness. Some will be drawn to the light, like butterflies to nectar. Others will withdraw from the light that is in you, like shadows seeking the dark alleyways. Your light and The Holy Spirit within you reveals sin to them and convicts their sinful ways. All of a sudden, you are "persona non grata": unwanted and not welcome. 

    With such a Light burning in you and I it is impossible to not shine. A lighthouse on a clifftop is there to warn ships trying to sail into safe harbor that dangers lurks just ahead: hidden shoals, bulky rocks jutting out of the water or hidden just beneath it; reefs and cliffsides. In the thickness of fog or the darkness of night the lighthouse sends its brilliant beams of light constantly to prevent ships from crashing. So, too, does the faithful Christian. 

    We are the lighthouses of this world. Our Light is Christ Jesus. As long as we stand on The Word, our Lights will continue to shine. Even when we falter, and our light gets wobbly, we get back up again and raise our Light even higher that it may shine farther and wider. Our Lights travel all over this globe. And we will continue to shine until God either calls us home via death or raises us in the air via being caught up with Christ. 

NO OTHER NAME Planetshakers

WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE LORD Christ For The Nations

FIRE Eddie James 

FIRST THINGS FIRST  Consumed By Fire

 DRAW ME CLOSE TO YOU Michael W. Smith

GOD FOLLOWER  Steven Curtis Chapman