Revival Amazing Grace Christian Church

Amazing Grace Christian Church.. 74th and Oakes near 

7422 S Oakes Tacoma, WA

253-460-7600

For the week of June 27 Pastor Mel Silas will be in town.  We will be having services all week starting at 7pm.  Music, Preaching, and an opportunity for you to invite your friends to hear the Gospel Message as well as some amazing testimony from Pastors Mel Silas, Matt Ritchie and Mark Latham.

About Pastor Mel Silas:

Pastor Melvin Silas better known as (Pastor Mel) spent a great deal of his life on the run from God, which caused him to spend many years within prison going in and out of jail for many different crimes. On one cold snowy night, in the state of Ohio while sitting in a cell. Pastor Mel accepted the call of God. For the next several years while still in prison he commenced studying the Word of God to know more about the God that had saved him while sitting in that cell.

Pastor Mel wrote a letter to Kenneth Hagin Sr. Pastor of Rhema Bible College, and asked for help. The man of God (Pastor Hagin Sr.) sent Pastor Silas a bible correspondence course. This course changed his life. He learned what it meant to live by faith!! Thank God for Pastor Kenneth Hagin Sr. and all the brothers and sisters at Rhema that invested in his life.

Upon being released from prison Pastor Mel attended Crenshaw Christian Center School of Ministry under Dr. Fredrick KC Price. Where he learned the excellence of ministry, along with the required disciple needed for a man of God to serve God and the people of God. After which Pastor Mel went on to attend ZOE Christian Leadership School under Bishop Frank Stewart for another two years and graduated. Pastor Mel would like to thank God for Pastor D.K. Williams and his wonderful wife Minister D’ Antoinette Williams, Dr. Ed Haygood of Agape Christian Fellowship, Pastor Greg Hayes of Crenshaw Christian Center, and Minister McAdoo House of I AM Ministry Prison Ministry. Also my beloved brother Albert Valdivia and his family. Pastor Daniel Rosales and all the brothers at Lighthouse of Faith.

It took Pastor Mel many years to finally come to a point of total surrender to God. He had things still that he had not let go of, and even with the Word of God in his head it had not gotten into his heart. So still for many more years Pastor Mel road that roller coaster ride that the enemy took him on. Till one day at the lost of just about everything he surrendered himself totally to the Lord, and the Word of God took root in his heart. 

Pastor Mel is now a dynamic and anointed Teacher and Preacher of the Word sharing the Gospel with electrifying presentation his life experiences through the Word of God to help others, communicating with unmistakable clarity which challenges the believer to walk in faith and live in fullness as God desires. His God given messages presents uncompromising truths with a unique and matchless style that reaches far into the hearts of listeners of young and old, of all ethnic origins. Pastor Silas is the senior Pastor of the The Great "I AM" Faith Center in the city of Los Angeles, California.

Open Air preaching in Tacoma on the waterfront.

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO, AND TURN UP YOUR VOLUME!

Glad tidings all!  We had our first open air in Tacoma today, and it went well.  I have posted a link to a video and please understand that you must turn it up all the way to hear it, and I promise it will get better.  Here is a short summary of our experience.

Upon arriving and spending some time in prayer, Steve ( guy in the hat) and I set up and traded off playing worship songs and handing out gospel tracts.  While Steve was handing out tracts a couple stopped and began to engage us in a conversation.  Vince and his wife must have been about 60, and very mild mannered.  they are  however of the opinion that all roads lead to God.  We began to chat about what the bible said, and Vince was a little surprised to be speaking to Steve and I who actually KNOW what Jesus said about the road is broad but the gate is narrow.  In the end I was able to deliver the Gospel message to them two different times, and they listened to it.  Vince's wife actually asked me why I did not think it was ok for her to have her own beliefs.  I told her I am not telling you not to have your own beliefs.  She replied to me "what are you saying"  I responded plainly that I am saying the only way to heaven in through Jesus Christ, this is what the Bible says.  The bible is not misinterpreted and we worship a God who calls us to lay down our sinful nature, and be born again in Christ.  God sent his only son not to condemn the world but to save it.

They wanted to present to bible as true for some and not true for others, but we gently pointed out to this point again that is not possible at all.  Based on what is said in the Bible, it is either true for everyone, or true for no one.  We went on.  In the end we were able to deliver the Gospel of Jesus Christ twice to this sweet loving couple.  Once we started identifying their need for a savior Vince's wife began to get a little uncomfortable, and left saying that the conversation was going nowhere, Ah but the wisdom of the world did not understand Jesus however God is still pleased to save those who believe.  Praise be to God the seed was planted and we had a success on our first trip out!!! We will be making some needed adjustments in order to improve the sound quality of the video as well as the quality of our open air program, and we will be at it again soon.  Stay TUNED!!!!!

GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU!!!!!!

How do we learn

Did you know and I am sure most of you do, that there are three main ways that people learn. Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic. There are more, but they are slightly more complicated versions of these. Do you know what type of learner you are? Visual obviously means you learn best by seeing, audio means by listening and kinesthetic means by doing.  Now, along with these types of learning come different ways to teach, and there are clues for identifying what type of learner you are. For instance someone might say I hear what you are saying, or do you feel me, or I can see that. If you would answer I hear you! You may be an auditory learner. If you would say something like I see what you’re saying, you may be visual, and I feel you, well you are kinesthetic. Of course you would need a little more in depth test than this to be sure, but this is a good clue.

I believe in order to really and truly understand and believe something most of us need all three of these touched. Jesus does that for us. He came to save us from eternal separation from God, he also came to show us how to live, how to pray, how to serve, how to love, how to be fruitful. He showed us, told us, and allows us to live it out learning first hand.

Now, after Christ had risen from the grave he caught up with his disciples who where back to their old trade of fishing. I can imagine Simon Peter sitting on the boat thinking about his friend Jesus whom laid down his life. From the scripture we know at this point he still didn’t get it. He had witnessed an incredible display and pain and anguish poured out on his teacher and friend Jesus. I cannot imagine what the disciples must have been thinking, but for me it would have been hard to connect the dots to what Jesus had been saying. Jesus told them he was going away to be with the father, and they saw him killed. If you remember they really did not fully understand what that meant, I mean Jesus told them he was going to be with the Father and they said, we want to come too! Of course by this Jesus meant his crucifixion, death, and resurrection and ultimate ascension into Heaven. The disciples did not yet understand how their sin our sin would be poured out on Jesus.

Think about it in this context. They heard him say it, the saw him teach but they did not experience it yet, so they just did not get it. It is unclear the full depth of their understanding at this moment, but what is clear is that after Christ had been buried they had turned and gone back to their old life. Though it is hard to imagine them being unaffected or totally without some sense of change in their hearts, yet they were still standing on the fence.

This particular day they were fishing and had caught nothing, Jesus came walking up and blessed them with fish, he said “hey the fish are over on the other side of the boat go get them,” John 21:6 and he said to them, cast the net on the right hand side of the boat and you will find a catch. Now I have been told different things about the part of scripture that Jesus loved them and wanted to bless them so on, and this is true. But what really happened here? They saw him, they heard him, and he told them essentially, hey you are going the wrong way let me show you once more what will happen if you go the way I tell you to. And they experienced a huge catch simply by following Christ’s instructions. This is what I call a kinesthetic prophecy. Think about that. Now listen to me I am not using this to say that if you listen to God he will make you rich with monetary rewards. If you think that is the universal case please discuss it with me later. I am saying that the entire world belongs to God, including all the fish. In fact, I believe the catch that God cares about equals two things. New souls saved and previously saved souls maturing. On both counts it equals kingdom growth and both are happening to God’s most prized possession, his sheep, you and me, all of his people. Do you feel me? Can you see what I am saying? After Christ died the Disciples did not really know what to do next. They followed him while he was on earth trying to understand what he was saying, and knowing it was important. Maybe getting a little bit of it but like many of us I am sure they put their own expectations on it and did not dive straight in to life as a follower of Christ.  They were on the fence what they got was confusion.    No idea where to go, no idea where to turn, however when they saw and heard Jesus they followed his instruction. You see there is no gray area with Jesus he goes into the gray and makes it black and white. When we come to Jesus and say Lord I want to follow, we are most likely a little confused about what that means, but it is ok. Jesus will take you and he will keep you. But he will also set you in the right direction.

I believe that we have a slight advantage over the disciples. Jesus even said that it was to our advantage that he goes to be with the Father because we will not receive his helper unless he goes away and sends it to us. John 16:7 but I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away the Helper will not come to you; but if I go I will send him to you. Who is it that Jesus is talking about in this passage? Anyone…..? Right, he is talking about the Holy Spirit. One thing I have always found interesting about this passage, Jesus makes it sound like we are almost better off with him being in Heaven, and the Holy Spirit being with us instead. Why is this? One reason is obvious, his sacrifice was not complete until his crucifixion and death but do not forget he was resurrected and walked on Earth for 40 days and I suppose if he wanted to stay he could have, but the Holy Spirit was meant to be our guide after his ascension. As we see from the disciples going right back to their old way of life after Christ’s death they were lost once more. Even after all they had witnessed, even though Christ walked with them, and he was with them for three years. Still, as soon as things went way above their understanding they climbed right back up on the fence, and began to revert back to the old self, or at least into their old profession.

You see Jesus knew this about us, he knew we needed to have him guiding us somehow in our daily lives because he already knew that following his footsteps was not possible for anyone without the power of God at work in their hearts. Furthermore he knew what was most important about the work of the Holy Spirit he said it will tell you when you are falling in to sin. He says because I will be in heaven and you will not be able to see me, I will send something that will teach you kinesthetically, “If you will”. Furthermore, in John 16:8 And He when He comes will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment. Now I believe the Holy Spirit guides us in many ways, I believe God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit; God can pretty much do whatever he wants to with it. But the thing Jesus points out is convicting the world of sin, is a priority. 

Let me ask, are you confused about God's calling on your life?  Are you on the fence?  Remember Jesus is teaching us still today, and it is when we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness that we understand second what he has for us to accomplish here on earth.  Allow the Holy Spirit to intercede for you, and allow yourself to learn the tough lessons, God will bless you for it when you turn to the side he has called you to be on.

-- 

Have reverence for the Grace of God.

How often do we stop and really look into what the Bible tells us about why God became flesh, and gave his (monogenes) “only begotten” Son to die for us on the cross. There are many that get stuck here, some try to deny that Jesus is God, or that Jesus is indeed even the Son of God. I compare these people up to the Baal worshipers of the OT.

Take a short look at Hosea 6:1-2. “Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up that we may live before him.

I believe this can only be taken one way. As the Prophet Hosea speaking to Israel. Now, I think it is important to have a little background on Hosea, and what life may have been like for him. Hosea lived during the last twenty five years of Israel's existence as a nation. During this time he saw six different Kings and a period of almost anarchy, and many many of his fellow countryman died in barbaric ways. Israel was being oppressed by the Assyrians. Hosea prophesied against the unfaithfulness of Israel and the impending judgment of God through the Assyrians.

The spiritual condition of Israel as we see throughout the entire Bible caused the Judgment of God to fall upon them. They were moving further into pagan worship, and this sort of worship included ritual drunkenness and temple prostitution. This is how the Canaanite fertility God's were worshiped. I do not necessarily believe that this happened overnight, or was even a conscious decision by the Israelites. I think that the Canaanite's pagan rituals were slowly integrated into the worship of Yahweh until after time the people had forgotten who Yahweh really is. Holiness and faith in Yahweh to be the lover of their souls had been replaced by idolatry, adultery and drunkenness. I think that today this same thing is happening. People do not change God's name they change who God is. If you change who God is you are like the Israelites, slowly losing your understanding the soft and severe nature of God.

I understand this is not the most popular subject to preach on, but the fact of the matter is this; God calls us to be holy, to lay down our sinful nature in such a way as is compared to death. Our old nature needs to die so it is no longer us who live but Christ who lives in us. This is part of what our Salvation looks like and we must also remember he has promised to raise us up that we may live before him. How do we know this? God broke the Israelites off of the Tree, according to the book of Roman's and he grafted in the gentiles, you and I, in order to make the Jews jealous so that some of them may return. Romans 11:19-22 Then you will say branches where broken off so that I might be grafted in. That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches neither will he spare you. Note then, the kindness and severity of God: severity towards those who have fallen, but kindness to you provided that you continue in his kindness, otherwise you too will be cut off. The most amazing thing has happened, instead of being like the Canaanites and worshiping pagan Gods, God came in the flesh as Jesus Christ, and was beaten, torn up, crucified died and was buried, and on the third day he rose again and all those who believe on him are now citizens of heaven. But do not be to proud, and do not be like the Canaanites we must know who God is. God, is merciful to those who draw near to him. We now have a choice. Do you lay down the old sinful self as we are called to do, and put on the new self created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness? We are saved by Grace as part of a plan to bring others to salvation as well. The God who saved us is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Three in one. Our Father created the heavens and the Earth. He chose Abraham to bless the all nations. Knowing our sinful nature long before hand elected us the gentiles to this Salvation, for the purpose of keeping his promise to Abraham, and offering his Grace and love to the entire world. We are called to live righteous lives, denying our sinful nature, and becoming new creations in Christ Jesus. He sent his Holy Spirit as our counselor to convict us of our sin, testify to Christ, and to intercede for us. If, in fact you have heard the calling of this God, than lay down your sinful nature, and be made anew. Die to your old life and allow him to raise you a new creation whiter than snow, and suitable to live in commune with God. This is the God we worship, the one true God, his name is not as important as his desires for us, his elect, whom he foreknew and will not reject according to his word.

Our other choice is to change the nature of God to suit ourselves. But this cannot be the way. God did not rectify himself to us he justified us to him. If you believe you can live out your Christian life in sin, not seeking righteousness, you are not worshiping the same God, and like the Canaanites and the Israelites who lived with them you are slowly but surely losing your touch on who God is as well, until one day you will be living a life and worshiping a God who does not even closely resemble Yahweh, and you are becoming corrupted by your desires to be lied to. A god that tolerates adultery, and other filthiness is not a god who saves, because he is a god who does not exist. A god who is not three in one Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is not a God who saves, he cannot, because he does not exist. This perversion will slowly tear you further and further away from God until one day you will look upon him and he will say to you, I never knew you.

In Jesus Name seek the death of your old self and the new birth of Christ. Seleh.

Statement of Faith

STATEMENT OF FAITH

1. WE BELIEVE THAT THE BIBLE IS THE DIVINELY INSPIRED PERFECT WORD OF GOD (2 timothy 3:16)

2. WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST, GOD IN THE FLESH FULLY MAN AND FULLY GOD WAD CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, BORN UNTO THE VIRGIN MARY, LIVED,  WAS CRUCIFIED, DIED AND WAS BURIED. ON THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN, IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER AND IS THE ONE AND ONLY ATONEMENT FOR SIN. (John 3:16, John 14:9 Hebrews 9:22, John 14:6-11 Gen 22:8)

3. WE BELIEVE THERE IS ONE TRUE GOD, EXISTING IN THREE PERSONS THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT (Matthew 28:19)

4. WE BELIEVE THAT ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD AND SALVATION FROM ETERNAL DAMNATION COMES ONLY THROUGH REPENTANCE OF SIN, AND ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR MASTER, LORD AND SAVIOR AND IS GOD’S FREE GIFT TO ALL HIS BELIEVERS AVAILABLE TO ANYONE WHOM WOULD LET CHRIST IN TO THEIR HEART. (EPESHIANS 2:8, Luke 13:5, Rev 3:20)

5. WE BELIEVE THERE IS ONE BAPTISM THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT POURED OUT TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE ON CHRIST, AND WATER BAPTISM THROUGH IMMMERSION IS A COMMAND AND AN ACCEPTABLE PUBLIC STATEMENT OF REPENTANCE OF SIN AND FAITH IN GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST (Ephesians 4:5, Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:4, Acts 10:44, Acts 10:47 John 14:16)

6. WE BELIEVE THAT GOD GIFTS ALL OF US SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS FOR MINISTRY LIKE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE BODY AND CALLS US IN TO THE FIELDS TO LABOR FOR THE HARVEST UNTIL THE DAY CHRIST RETURNS. (1 Corinthians 12:14-19, Romans 12:4-8, Luke 10:2 Ephesians 4:10-13, John 14:10-16)

7. WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS WILL RETURN FOR HIS BELIVERS AND ALL HIS BELIEVERS WILL LIVE ETERNALLY WITH GOD IN HEAVEN. (John 14:2-3, John 14:28)

First Planning meeting...

Last night was the first planning meeting.  We had originally scheduled four of us to be present.  One bowed out, one had to be out of town on business.  Instead we had new young man who is just beginning to learn.  Me and the other Evangelist spoke with him for a while, he asked some really good in depth questions and we had a pretty good time discussing.  We made tentative plans to begin preaching this weekend!  The newest young man to join us is named Jacob he is 23, and I believe God has a lot in store for him.  I am excited to know him, and look forward to what is to come.... Be praying and we will update soon with video of our first event.....

God Bless

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pevH0Ez6bms&feature=player_embedded

Peace Peace when there is no Peace

 My heart fills with joy for the day when we will stand in his presence and proclaim Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty who was and is is to come. I praise Elohay Yishi God of my Salvation. My Joy is still accompanied by the sadness and sorrow for those who will perish. This sorrow turns into burden to reach those who do not even know they can trade their death for his life burden because His burden is easy and His yoke is light. I thank God that he is patient 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. Some days I do have have the words to speak about these feelings, and my Joy is only made complete when I allow the Holy Spirit to intercede as a groaning for me to deep for words. God help us we have so far to go, so little time to get there, and I know on that day we will look at one another with Joy saying how far have we come. But there will be so many on the outside gnashing their teeth, and as long as God is patient waiting for those who will to repent of their sin, I will fight with everything I have been blessed with to turn as many souls to the savior as I can.

How can abuse change us?

I think part of the deception of this is as such.. We touch a hot stove and it hurts we learn not to touch a hot stove. A trusted person abuses us we learn not to trust people. Since  human nature is not as black and white as a hot stove and not all who are close to us will abuse us, our defense becomes much more complicated.  Not becoming fundamentally changed due to these experiences goes against our own self protective programming.  Just like sin separates us from God and causes us to paint a "graven image" of God this pain separates us from reality a little bit at a time causing us to become a warped creation. There is only one solution.... Jesus....His forgiveness of our sin restores us to God, and our forgiveness of each other "sins against us" restores us to reality. I have faith that Jesus will continue to do this, and as we walk, grow, and mature in him we become more like him, our view of these abuses changes, and we realize we do not have to be shaped by them at all. In fact we realize that our abuser is hurting just as we are. Oh, to be like Jesus and weep not because of my own pain but because of the lost, hopeless nature of the one who perpetuates the abuse cycle.

 In what ways do we wrongly defend ourselves? Here are a couple....

Denial of reality (conscious or unconscious)

Fantasy (escaping reality by daydreaming, TV, movies, music, drugs, alcohol.)

Emotional insulation (withdrawing from people to avoid rejection, or abuse)

Displaced anger (taking out frustrations on others)

Projection (attributing to another what you find unacceptable in yourself)

Rationalization (making excuses for your own poor behavior

Open Air Evangelism

We have started this blog to chronicle our upcoming open air preaching experiences.  Starting Monday the 21 of Feb I will be meeting with three to four other Evangelists and going over an outline for our program.  We are excited, and a little unsure of what the outcome will be, however one thing is for certain.... We will go into the highways and preach knowing fully that death is man's contribution to salvation.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me

It is interesting because I was reading Galatians today, and this seemed to take on a bit of new meaning for me. I realize that the new life in Christ is not actualized until death. We die to our old and God raises us again living as Christ, and Christ in us. How much of my life can I see that has not died with Christ, the old seems to want to hang on. God is the one in my life who is calling me to die to myself so he can raise me in Christ. Baptism not only in water but in the Holy Spirit. But my question is this... How do we die? Man sinned against God in the Garden, man betrayed Christ, man chastised Christ, man sentenced him to his crucifixion man carried his cross to Golgotha and right there on the cross the last of his blood was let out by the spear of a man. Yet Jesus said that no one took his life, that he gave it up on his own. He had the power to lay it down, and the power to take it back up again and it was God the Father who commanded God the Son (Jesus) to do this. It seems that it took every last drop of Jesus blood to kill him and it took the father to raise him again. Think about the type of death he had and who inflicted it on him. We may think we are alive without Christ but we are violent, sick, lost, and mastered by the world. Just as Jesus said no one can take his life but him, I think we not only need to be guided by God the Father to lay down our own lives but we also need to make the decision for ourselves. Are we going to put away hidden sin and wait upon the Lord? or are we going to continually be the people who beat and whipped Christ sentencing him to death on the cross?




So when Jesus tells us to take up our cross daily and follow him, I take this to mean we must crucify our flesh daily.  Our desires need to be his.  All of our family, friends, money, and possessions belong to him alone.  How can he truly use us unless we belong to him fully.   

Metadidomi essentially means sharing something that is one’s own, and the one exercising this gift gives sacrificially

When preaching from a lay position that happens once or twice a year either filling in, or for practice for the future, I always think 1 Corinthians 1:21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.  I have a friend whom I asked one time if he wanted to preach.  He said “Nope, I do not think I can say the same thing 600 different ways.”  So with this in mind, and the fact that I feel the topic of spiritual gifts is an important one, instead of stretching myself over several chapters and giving a brief overview of the many facets of this topic, I am going to focus on a couple scriptures that still gives a broad view but may fill in a few more details on what Pastor Mark laid out in his sermon on Unity in the Body.  If you remember the summation of his sermon was an ekklesia does not become church until; it is of the same mind, it maintains the same love, until it is united in spirit; it is intent on one purpose.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians that he did not want them to be unaware of spiritual gifts.  I believe it is safe to assume this is the case today.  But it is important to understand what a spiritual gift truly is.   My definition of a Spiritual Gift is as follows.  Spiritual Gifts are “gifts of grace” given by God, worked through his Holy Spirit and are for the edification or strengthening of the Body of Christ. Paul writes in   Romans 1:11.12 For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you that you may be established; that is that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.  Now as I read this, it sounds like Paul wants to come and give them some sort of spiritual power for them to build the church.  However, when we look deeper we find that when Paul says to impart, he is using the Greek word metadidomi and this implies that he is coming to use his gift, and that will in turn encourage both of them.  Like all that God does it is the endgame that is important, and anything and everything that strengthens us between here and there is a spiritual gift.  One other very important thing is that Paul does not mention which gift or gifts he will impart to them.   I think we can take this to mean that it is not imperative that we rack our brains trying to figure out exactly what our gift is.  I think Paul deliberately leaves this open because he does not know  their entire situation and all their needs until he arrives, he is however very convicted that God through his Holy Spirit will allow him to use  one or more gifts of the spirit to encourage not only the Romans, but each other.   Paul is giving of his entire life to allow the Holy Spirit to use him in order that the Body of Christ everywhere may be edified.  For you and I being open to filling the needs you see as you can is a good step in discerning what God is putting in front of you to do.  I believe that this type of action and devotion, when done in unity, and of course only out of love, is the true use of spiritual gifts.  The question is not God where do you want me to use the gifts given to me as much as it is God show me your heart for these people, (the Evangelist in me means the ones saved as well as the ones lost) and filling the needs of the church that you see.    How can we discern what we are able to fill and what we are not able to fill, well here is the thing… Just be open, and try when it comes up.    Ask yourself, and pray what might I do this morning that or this afternoon, or at work that will strengthen somebody’s faith.  And then you do it.  I am convicted the Holy Spirit will help you.  That is a way to discover your spiritual gift.  Now, if you see someone who is struggling with something, and you have been there before and you give them a word of that helps them to stay focused on Jesus, and gives them the strength to persevere you may have the gift of encouragement.  If you love someone when they are not loveable you may have the gift of love.  And by love I do not mean enable, I mean love by doing what is right for them always.  The list is endless, the bible names several but it is short minded to confine the gifts of the spirit only to what the bible names because when we understand they are for the encouragement and strengthening of the body, we realize how many things we can do to encourage and strengthen the body.

With this in mind, I want to mention something.  I think lack of knowledge of our spiritual gifts is an issue in the church today.  Personally I believe when someone becomes a Christian they need somebody to disciple them.  This discipleship should first deal with sanctification, and second spiritual gifts.  You see here is the thing, when Jesus returns he will separate the sheep from the goats, and he will tell the goats to depart from him. In Matthew 25:45 Then he will answer them truly I say to you to the extent that you did not do it to the least of these, you did not do it to me.  Do you remember the context Jesus was talking about?  He was talking about serving your fellow man.  Now, I am not saying if we do not respond to the need around us all the time we are all going to hell.  I believe that the goats in this passage may be professing Christians whom were never really transformed, never really saved.  I do not believe the issue is knowledge of our spiritual gifts; I believe it is lack of desire for them.  How do I get to this conclusion?  Well simply put, being saved is not a requirement to be used by the Holy Spirit.  But a burning desire to seek Jesus, which will ultimately lead us to want to be used by Him, is a universal byproduct of our salvation.  It is part of what a saving faith looks like.( now write this verse down because people will tell you that you must be saved to be used as an encouragement to the body, and that is not true)  Romans 11:29 says “for the gifts, and the calling of God are irrevocable.  “Why is this important?  Well, although I do believe God cares about the one using the gift, ultimately he cares just as much for the one the gift is intended to strengthen.  So much so that he may use even the lowest beast of burden to do his will.  This is in no way meant to cheapen the sacrifice of the giver, however just highlight the greater importance of God’s desire to further his kingdom.

Going back to Romans 1:11 For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you that you may be established.  Paul has a sincere longing and burden to come to them, and strengthen them.

The key is not first to know your gift as much as it is becoming the kind of person that wants to be a strengthener.  It is hard; personally I get annoyed way too easy, and sometimes I have given up instead of strengthening the person.  I do not consider myself a failure though, I desire to be a strengthener with all my heart, and I have faith in my Lord Jesus, that I am being transformed into this person even as we speak.  I honestly believe most everyone here has that same desire, so do not think I am not standing here passing any judgment; I am speaking what I believe to be truth.  However, there is some really good news about this.  Perfection is never the requirement.  Desire is.  But we must desire the right things; we must desire to be a blessing to the body. I do not mean monetary only when I say blessing, I mean to be a strengthener and encourager. 

Matthew Ritchie's Testimony

I can point to the exact moment I asked Christ to save me, not from eternity in separation from God, but to save me from where I was. It was 1997 in Kansas City, Missouri and I was 18 years old. I had been searching through the occult for answers for a couple years, since in my opinion Christianity was untrue and irrelevant. This led me through a carnal world that at the time seemed to hold freedom beyond measure. For me this was a time to get out on my own and make my own way. In fact, I moved out of my child hood home one week after turning 18 and began working full time while finishing high school at an alternative school. After six months of living as a reckless teenager I was evicted from my place and homeless. Being full of pride and unable to admit my interest in the occult was false I was truly a lost, wandering soul. Consequently in lieu of turning tail and going back home I put my trust in to the lies I was reading and decided to go on homage to Mexico in search of true enlightenment. I gathered my friends for one last night, and the next day I left in my 1988 Honda Civic and drove nonstop to the Mexican/US border. Upon arriving I sold my car for 300 dollars and crossed into Matamoros, Mexico with full intent to head to the Sierra Madres in search of enlightenment and mystical power. After a few days of hitch hiking, however, I was picked up by the authorities and placed into a Mexican Prison 1,400 miles away from home in Mexico City. I know what you are thinking as you read that; in fact every time I tell this story I see the concern come across the faces of the listeners. I was there and no one back home knew. However, this is not a dissertation of the horrors of Mexican prison. Basically, after a few days of no soap, no toilet paper, no hot water and questionable food I was completely broken. Being let down by what I had been studying and with nowhere to turn I thought my life was over. One night however, I had a dream. In this dream I was listening to a teacher telling the story of Martin Luther and his promise to devote his life to God if he was delivered from a storm. I woke up, and in my brokenness cried </span><span>“God I do not even believe in you, but if you are there I will devote myself to you if you save me from this darkness”</span><span>. It was only a few days later I was called in to the office of the prison and told someone unknown had sent money for me to go home on a bus. The next day I was released, taken via bus to the US/Mexican border and asked not to return to Mexico without a visa! </span>

<span>I will be coming back to this story and expanding on it, but I first want to point to some scripture. I believe that looking at Isaiah’s commission in a linear, four part fashion can help us to discern how God calls us in to ministry regardless of the bondage we are in. </span><span>Isaiah 6:1. (NLT) </span><span><span>It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple.</span></span><span><span> </span></span><span>Knowing a little about who King Uzziah was may help us to understand how Isaiah may have been feeling when he saw God in this verse. King Uzziah was a prolific leader and ruled during a great state of prosperity. Uzziah’s name even stretched to Egypt. King Uzziah reined for fifty-two years and in the earlier part of his rein under the Prophet Zechariah he was faithful to God, however later on his pride seemed to take him off course. None the less Uzziah’s death would have been traumatic for a young Isaiah and leadership that goes astray could have easily left Isaiah feeling let down, broken and unsure about his future. I personally believe Isaiah was in a confused and broken state when he saw God. </span>

<span>When I was released from Mexico I still had no idea who sent the money. I was however </span><span>not</span><span> convinced that God had heard my prayer; I just chalked it up to luck and felt silly for being so scared. I went on to finish school and live my life like normal all be it with a great story to tell about my vacation in Mexico. It was not until several years later that I really knew I saw God. I was in another pinch with my living situation. This time, I had ended a significant relationship, and had no place to go. This was a traumatic experience for me on many levels and one where I was so distraught I began drinking heavily and turning to other things. It got so bad in fact, to get away from it I decided once more to leave town in search of what I was missing. This time I would be going from Kansas City to Tacoma, WA to be closer to my parents who had moved there a few years prior. Something was different about this trip however. After I had everything packed and walking to my truck to leave town, I saw a bible that had been gifted to me sitting on the table. Something possessed me to grab it and tuck it under my arm on my way out the door. </span>

<span>Arriving in Tacoma after a week of driving I met my step father whom I had not seen in several years with a hug and tears of joy. I had not cracked the bible, but I was beginning to have a sense of coming home. Immediately I found a job working for The Salvation Army as a fund raiser and I made friends with the Corps Officer. After a couple weeks of getting settled in I began to get curious about God, I thought that there must be something about this that I have missed. Of course the Officer was open to talking to me about it and invited me to go to a special three day revival church service. I cannot recall the sermon at that service all I remember is that halfway through the message I was broken to my core. I realized that I had in fact seen God’s hand in my life, but I was so broken and distraught because I did not keep my promise to devote myself to him. I tumbled down to my hands and knees full on balling like a baby because I knew I had seen even a small glimpse of God’s love for me and I could never live up to it, and I may have even blown my chance because of my broken promise after my release from Mexico.</span>

<span>Looking at the second part of Isaiah’s Commission you can argue that the natural reaction to the realization of God’s holiness is grief about our iniquities. </span><span>Isaiah 6:2-5 (NLT)</span><span><span>Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. They were calling out to each other, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Heaven's Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!" At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."</span></span><span><span> </span></span>

<span><span>By no means do I want to make light of the fact that one could spend a lifetime looking at this passage and extracting bits and pieces from it, but for these purposes I want to break it down in two simple easily digestible facts. Isaiah saw God and after seeing His Holiness, Isaiah became broken and even thought his life was over because he knew how far short of the glory of God he was. Having never read a bible verse in my life, my reaction was the same as Isaiah’s. I was in distress, God revealed himself to me and I lost all hope because I knew my sin had taken me away from him.</span></span>

<span><span>I left the revival the first night unwilling to share what was on my heart with anyone even when they asked if I wanted Jesus to be my savior I resisted believing that I was beyond saving. That night I could not sleep, wrestles, broken, scared and depressed I balled up weeping. “</span></span><span><span>I prayed God, I am so sorry I am such a sinner I am a liar and did not keep my promise to you and I know there is no way for me to ever go back and fix it.”</span></span><span><span> Surprisingly, at that moment I had a peace that started to come in to my heart. At first I could not trust it. I thought what is happening? I was broken I refused to kneel and say the prayer to accept Jesus. I lied to God how I can possibly feel any better. I then heard a small voice in the corner of my mind say simply “I love you, and I desire you”. I held on to those words, I had never used a phrase so sweet, elegant and loving in my life. I knew that God had kept me even after me not keeping him.</span></span>

<span><span>Returning to the next night’s service I noticed that only two or three other people where there. I took note that likewise the night before there had only been two or three other people. The Evangelist preaching seemed annoyed that night at the poor turnout, none the less I was listening intently waiting for the moment he would tell us we could accept Jesus if we had the desire. This time when the opportunity to accept salvation came, I went forward got down on my knees and prayed. </span></span><span><span>“Jesus I am a sinner and I am lost, I need you, I love you and I desire you. Please come in to my heart and help me because I am a wreck, and I cannot fix what I have broken but I know you can and I believe you are there.”</span></span><span><span> Jesus had come in to my heart, and I was free. I had a rush of something a surge of energy physically filling my body, and I could feel the presence of God with me. I knew at that moment I would be willing to go anywhere God asked me to go. I knew I would keep my promise that my life would be devoted to him! But I had no clue as to how.</span></span>

<span><span>Now, Continuing on to the third part of Isaiah’s Commission. </span></span><span><span>Isaiah 6:6-7 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.</span></span><span><span> Just like in my personal life; Isaiah saw God, was broken and contrite because he was convicted of his sin and then he was forgiven. Consider this. After we are forgiven there must be something more. If not I could end this here, and not leave anyone reading a question mark as to what happens next. </span></span>

<span><span>A few weeks after I received Christ into my heart, I was delivering donated Christmas presents to a distribution center for people who had registered with the Salvation Army for holiday assistance. I walked out of the warehouse after dropping off the packages and saw a swarm of people coming to collect their share of the donations. I began to have a feeling of weightlessness come over me. I almost seemed to be floating. With this experience I knew immediately that the work I was doing was nothing more than a band-aid on a massive infected wound. Bringing presents and food to these lost, hurting, and wandering people really does nothing for them. There must have something more. I thought there must be some final cure for their sickness, but what? I was excited, charged up, and ready to move when I had this experience. In fact I rushed back to tell the Corps Officer all about it. He asked a simple question. What is God telling you to do? “Well, I don’t know” was my response, but I know there is a need for something to be done. My mentor than told me to pray about it and ask God to use me. So I did, and I waited to hear God tell me what to do and where to go. </span></span>

<span><span>The next part of my story moves a little closer to the fringe, but to me was so real, an answer to my prayer and has proven to be very true in my life since. Our church had a special teacher come by. This person had the gift of prophecy. His program was simple, he would stay two nights. One night he would teach about prophecy and what the bible says the next night he would speak a prophecy over you if you wanted. I was skeptical but interested enough to indulge. The teaching was good, and it softened me up in a sense he “bought” my trust. I figured at the very least it would be amusing. When my time came to get a prophecy I started to get really light. I almost felt drunk and the same feeling of floating came back, only more intense this time. The Prophet put his hands on my head and asked if I was ready. I just shook my head and he began. </span></span><span><span>“Sing a spiritual song unto me says the Lord. For I put a blessedness in your heart that needs an avenue needs and expression, also a testimony an</span></span><span><span> </span></span><span><span>evangelistic testimony and a prayer of salvation. Know the ones to whom I am sending you because it is not all places and not all people but a unique group a unique bunch of people. I am sending you in to dark places they will not come to me so I am sending you to them. Even back to the ones you came from. They will not come forward the day I send you but my word will not return void…..Selah”</span></span><span><span> After hearing this I was convicted to my soul that God wanted to use me to bring in the lost. I was correct. Over the next two and a half years God used me to lead many people to Christ. I lost count after a while, somewhere between fifty and sixty. In this time period there are several wonderful testimonies that are to this day unfolding. I stay in contact with many of these people and they themselves have led other to Christ. This, however; is not the mark of success. You see God used me to lead them to Salvation but the key is that God was leading them to salvation. He could have used anyone or anything he wanted to, but he chose me at this time and for these people. </span></span>

<span><span>Looking at the fourth part of Isaiah’s commission we can see that only after Isaiah’s sin was atoned for did he hear the calling</span></span><span><span>. Isaiah 6:8-10 (NIV) Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"</span></span><span><span> </span></span><span><span>He said, "Go and tell this people: "'Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving. Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed." </span></span><span><span>Once again I want to stress I am not speaking to what God is saying to Isaiah, but instead looking at the linear path Isaiah experienced from the time he saw God until the Father gave him a clear message. First he saw God, second he was broken because of his sin, third he received salvation through atonement and fourth he heard the call, responded and was directed. Isaiah’s prophecy was about destruction because of turning from God. What I felt called to do was bring the message of Salvation to a specific group of lost people. Two different parts of God’s Ministry but both ultimately work to the glory of God. </span></span>

<span><span>Tell me now; what is the mark of success? Is it bringing in lost souls and leading them to the sanctifying redemption they can now have in our Lord Jesus? Is it bringing a prophecy into the world to allow the destruction of sinful reprobate ideas? I will be so bold as to say neither. I have come to the belief that there is nothing we can do to add to what has been done for us. The last thing Jesus said before dying on the cross was; it is finished. </span></span><span><span>John 19:30 (NLT) When Jesus had tasted it, he said, "It is finished!" Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.</span></span><span><span> Isaiah did nothing to receive his atonement; there is nothing any of us can possibly do to pay the debt we owe. God so loved the world that he gave his only son, not to condemn us but to save us. We cannot buy our salvation and God can use anyone or anything he chooses to speak to the world. With Moses he used a bush; with Balaam he used a Donkey! Can we really even say that hearing and responding to the call no matter how great and miraculous the outcome, that the fruit of our labor is a mark of success? I would also say no. If God can use a donkey and a bush he can use anything he wants to do anything he wants. According to Luke 19:40 if we fail to praise him even the rocks will cry out!</span></span>

<span><span>I will propose that the only way we can consider that we have any success is that we are sanctified in Christ. If I have a new child I will tell everyone I know, and feel proud. When we buy a new car the first thing we want to do is show it off, in fact I am sure I can list ten pages alone of items I may want to brag about. Most of them would point to me looking like a success and I believe that is true for most people. It is natural that we want to boast about what we perceive is success. God knows this. In fact he tells us what we should consider worthy of success. </span></span>

<span><span>Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NIV) This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this; that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on the earth, for in these I delight” declares the LORD. 1 Corinthians 1:31 Therefore, as it is written; “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”  

Commentary 2 Cor 4:11-20

No matter who you are, we will all be there on the day of judgment. If someone says to you that they have been earning their way into heaven, or believe that some of the things they have done will cause God to see them as righteous, they are wrong and if we fear the Lord as in having a reverence for him greater than anything we can possibly imagine, we ought to be able to express this one thought to such a person. This comes in when we share our faith with anyone. The truth is we are all, every one of us a foul smell to God by our own standards. The bible says all of us have become unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags. If someone believes they will be innocent on the day of judgment because of any act they have done, or are even proud in the least of what they feel they have accomplished that person is sadly mistaken. You see, the only real act we can boast about in that God reconciled himself to us. What we can be happy about is only that we are in Christ. Because in Him we have become a new creation. Since we are made new, we will naturally be different. Our old will pass away, and our new will begin to unfold. Imagine taking a red ink pen, taking out the ink tube, and replacing it with a black ink tube. Or instead taking a red ink pen and dipping it in black ink to write black until the ink wears out and red begins to come out of it. When the writer holds the first pen he will know it was once red and now has become black. When the writer hold the second pen he will know it is a red pen that has dipped itself in black ink. The writer will then put the black ink pen where it goes, and the red one in it's place. When we are made a new creation in Christ we are filled with new ink and we will not write as we did before, and Since Christ is no longer with us in flesh this transformation is our only witness to knowing him in spirit. This is were I believe our assurance lies. This is were we can have tangible proof in our hearts we have been made a new creation.