Missionaries to the
Armed Forces
The acronym P.A.S.S.
The title for this center comes from Scott’s interests in old western books and shows. No matter what book was read, or what cowboy film was playing, all the cowboys would always say one of the following statements: “Let’s head them off at the pass;” “We will meet at the pass;” “We will rendezvous at the pass;” and so on.
So wanting to use the PASS for a good meeting place, he tried to find an acronym using each letter. He came up with a few titles, but none of them were worthy for a Christian military center. Then a good friend, his pastor, came up with Patriotic And Spiritual Services. This fit the name very well.
Thus, the PASS had obtained its name.
Mission Statement for Service Center
What
My wife and I are praying to start a service center for the “Forgotten People,” and more directly towards our military service members. Under God’s direction we would like to start a center that allows our service members to ‘get away’ for the weekend. A place where we can provide a number of services for our military off of their post and into a godly environment; some of these services include, but not limited to, a Chapel, counseling, overnight lodging, feeding, entertainment, sports activity, planned outings, Christian books, bible studies, etc. These services would be available at little to no cost for our military, pending our level of support.
My goal is not to start, nor establish a New Testament Church. If the place where God sends us has no New Testament Church in a good driving distance(I am defining a good driving distance to someone who has to drive over one hundred miles or over a hour) from the service center, then I would pray about starting a church.
What is the P.A.S.S.?
The Patriotic and Spiritual Service center will be a place that will assist our Service Members to come to know the Lord, or grow in His love. As a military service member, when the day is done there are few options where they can spend their time: in their rooms (also known as a barracks rat), hang out at the local club, go to the bars, or other questionable type of atmospheres. Not too many places have a center devoted to their spiritual wellbeing, outside of a church. This service center will allow them to escape the walls of a military base and give them a godly atmosphere to relax, read, eat, and fellowship; as well as have local churches (yes more than one) to get involved in the soldiers that live near them. A good number of church members have a huge disconnect when it comes to the military because of a separation. A center ran by a former military service member, will be able to bring the two differences into one center; with God as our overseer.
We will work with our military family and help them with deployment and re-deployment issues. Help them with counseling in their lives. Just be friends to them, hear what they have to say, and support them in prayers, meetings, and Bible studies. We want to reach out to them that return wounded, and those that are suffering from past military experiences.
We want to unite them with a local church that can sponsor them and show brotherly love and kindness: take care of individual needs for each military that we can reach.
Goals
There are several goals in mind for the service center.
The ultimate goal is to have a God honouring, Christ-centered, local church ran service center for our armed forces, the “Forgotten People.” A place where the Gospel is given to the lost men and women in the military. Also, a place where they can escape the world, come for a weekend, or longer, relax in a Christian environment, and where God is honoured and glorified.
My life’s verse is Philippians 4:11. There the Apostle Paul states, “Whatsoever state I am therewith to be content.” I do not wish to be anywhere else but where God want me to be. In that, I do not want to be stagnate; once the service center is in a place where it can financially support itself, or God places someone else who can maintain the center, I will be praying and ask for God’s guidance to start another service center. If it is God’s desire for me to stay and serve him at one service center, or start more, I will go where He wants me to go.
Another goal is to become a self-sufficient ministry. By that, I wish to have the center to where it can sustain itself financially and be run by a member, or a few members out of one local church. A short list of ways that this center can be self-sufficient, but not take away from local supporting churches, are a bible/ book store, various fundraiser activities with the local towns, a thrift store, etc. The reason to become self-sufficient, or self supporting, is twofold; to allow supporting churches the opportunity to reallocate their missions giving (we do not want to be known as a ‘munch’-inaries); and second to have the responsibility and privilege of the center to fall on the local church.
Government
The service center will have, with in its self, a board, or government. This board’s size will depend on the size of the center and the location of supporting churches. This board will have at a minimum five seats and a maximum of fourteen seats. A five seat board will consist of up to four men and at least one woman. A fourteen seat board will consist of up to twelve men and at least two women. To qualify for one of the seats mentioned above, a man, will have to either, have been, or currently serving in the armed forces, and/or be a ordained minister, or a devout man of God with good godly references. For a woman, she would have to be, either an elder widow, or one who has served in the military as a spouse or enlisted. The reason for the ladies seat is, not to only make decisions, but also to focus on, or not to let the board forget the children nor the military families. Neither of these seats will be occupied by my wife nor I, but we will be ‘chairman’ of the board. My choice of position for my wife and I, is base off of Genesis chapter three, where Adam blamed Eve, and Eve the devil and the devil had no one to blame. From thus, I will be to blame if the center fails or succeeds; God gets all the glory. It is God’s ministry he has entrusted us into this field and we together (God, my wife, and I) will be responsible for what happens. All final decisions will be my wife and I, but we will use the godly counseling of the board’s outcome. We will not be like King Rehoboam, in II Chronicles 10, where he forsook the counsel of his father’s wise men, and listened to the counsel of his boyhood friends. All issues will be brought up before the board and each board member’s who speaks will be heard. As stated before, this is mine and my wife’s calling and all consequences, weather good or bad, will be ours to bear.
Accountability
We are accountable, first and foremost, to God, to follow His calling to “Go.” Secondly we will be accountable to each other, my wife and I; then to our sending church, New Horizon Baptist Church of Ward, Arkansas. Third, we will be accountable to our Mission’s Board, followed by our local ‘base’ church. Fourth, we will be accountable to our local supporting churches, followed by all of the churches that are supporting our work. And finally, we will be accountable to our prayer partners and e-mail partners. Financially, we will be accountable to God and all of our supporting churches. At any time, by request, our book will be available (updated within the last month of viewing, or longer pending support or scheduled trips). We will be accountable to all of our churches for monthly to quarterly official updates, as well as to our e-mail partners.
Rejuvenation
Annually, my wife and I will take a time, of no longer than two months, for rejuvenation. This will be used to relax with each other, and visiting with friends and family. This time may be used to re-affirm a small number of supporting churches. Once a month we will take a family day to spend with each other away from our duties. We, being a home mission, should have no issues, as far as expenses, to fund our travel.
Ministry outreach ideas (all will have been blessed by the board)
A ministry that I would like to have is a way to help our homeless veterans. I will call it a “Three Year Work Plan;” We find a qualified, homeless veteran, verified by the VA (Veteran’s Affairs), take him in on a work rehabilitation idea. Once approved, the veteran will sign a contract: the contract will include all parameters of the plan. The first year will be spent on trying to get the veteran on his/ her feet. They will work in the center as a janitor; we will provide them with food, shelter, and a stable environment for the VA to service them; take them to appointments as needed. The second year will be focused on getting the veteran good working skills, as well as ready for interviews. The third year will be sent on them finding another job on the outside, and making room for the next veteran. This is only a three year program, and if the veteran has not improved in the second year, or have not found a good job and moved out they will be asked to leave, we are not a boarding house and will only use this plan/ program to better them, not have them lounge on supporting church’s money. Depending on support, we may be able, upon completion of the plan, send them away with a little financial support. All this will be outlined in great detail in the contract they will be signing.
Another ministry would be a relief fund for military families. Having a separate fund account and the ability to maintain this account, we would be able to assist military families in crisis with a ‘no interest’ loan. The loan will have an easy re-payment plan; if the family cannot make payments we will schedule fundraisers that they will participate in to assist them in paying back the loan, as well as raise additional funds for this fund. To apply for this loan, the named will have to apply in person with name, reason, and command information. Within a 24 hour period, the board will be contacted and given the information and a decision will be made. For a first timer, a loan of no greater than five hundred dollars will be given, on board’s approval, and as they progress and the funds allow a greater amount can be granted.
A financial ministry would be to rent out the facility, depending on time and building lay out (see appendix A). For supporting churches, they could rent out the facilities free of charge; donations are always accepted.
Another ministry would be to house traveling missionaries, pastors, evangelist, and other ministerial people. Because the facility will be use to house military service members, it can be used to house those who are in service for the Lord’s work. If/ when the funds allow a separate apartment could be built for this purpose alone, on the premises. This ministry would be free to all approved missionaries and a donation for all else. This would be on an appointment only basis, so as to not double or over book the stays.
Another ministry within the ‘Forgotten People’ that my wife and I would consider is that with the elderly, particularly those in the rest homes. We would go to them and be a chaplain and a blessing; hold meetings in their facilities, pray with them and assist where needed. An event that can be done with and for these people is, especially around the holidays, rent-a-soldier, or rent-a-grandparent. This would be beneficial for those who do not have families, or those whose families are away.
Another form of ministry would be to hire a teen from a local church for the summer and breaks. They would assist us around the facility in running and maintaining it. This would be helpful to them and us, and we could bless them by paying their way to a camp or something of that nature.
An outreach ministry that we could do, but not to overstep any churches program, is to host some form of children’s ministry, like Vacation Bible School, AWANAs, or one of our own design.
Salvation Testimony
Scott Payne’s Testimony
I, Scott was saved when I was about 7 at Lakeview Baptist, in Lakeview, California. I was raised in church all my life, but lived a life for himself. When I was 14, I went forward, convicted of sin, and received an assurance of my salvation. At age 15, I surrendered to the Lord’s leading of my future; a week later, in a way I had prayed, God revealed His call for me to preach. God lead me into military service, and after several attempts to leave the military, God allowed me to stay until retirement (pending July 2018).
Brandy Payne’s Testimony
I, Brandy was saved at the age of 16 years of age. But unfortunately when I reached 18, I was deeply depressed and during an incident when I turned 19, God got a hold of me and I fully surrendered. Once surrendered, I was able to move on in life. He has been with me since. I have had her ups and downs, but have found Him ever faithful and loving to me.
Doctrinal Statement
- The True God
There is only one true God. He appears in many forms: the Trinity. As a father has many roles: he could be a father to his children, a son to his parents, a husband to his wife, a brother to his siblings, even a grandparent to his children’s children; he is only one man. Same as God, he appears in many forms to us, so that we can know him. The word ‘trinity’ (God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost) is not found in the scriptures, but its meaning is there: “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:” (Genesis 1:26a). He was there from the beginning; “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God” (John 1:1&2).
- Jesus
Jesus is God; he makes the second person in the Godhead: the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost/Spirit. God the Son came in human form (John 1:1 & 14) as prophesied but Old Testament prophets, in Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Then fulfilled in Matthew 1:21-23.
He is the son of God, as stated in Matthew 3:16-17, “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
He was born miraculously of a virgin. See Virgin Birth #6
- Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is God; he makes the third person in the Godhead: the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost/Spirit. The secular world knows him as a conscience. He was present from the beginning (Genesis 1). He dwells with the born again believer. When Jesus left he gave us God’s presence with the Holy Spirit (And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:1-4). The Holy Spirit tells, convicts, us when we do wrong. He keeps the door of communication open with God the Father, so that we can always call upon him. The Holy Spirit is omnipresent, so not only is he with the Christian, he is also with all the Christians.
- The Scripture
I believe that the Scriptures are God’s spoken word written by men, inspired by God, preserved through the ages by God: In Second Timothy 3:16 reads, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” And in Job 32:8, “But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.”
I believe that not only in the Scriptures are God’s spoken word, but also God himself; in John 1:1 states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
I believe that we are not to take the words of God and conform them to our liking: Revelations 22:18-19 says, “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
I believe that the scriptures, in itself has the power to deal with sin and bring others to the saving knowledge of God: Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
II Peter 1:19 “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:” We have the true word of God, contained in these 39 books of the Old Testament and 27 books of the New Testament.
I believe that through the testing’s of time that Authorized (King James) Bible is the true infallible Words of God.
- The Fall of Man
Genesis records the fall of man. God gave man freewill. Man chose to do that which was not godly. From that time man, for the first time, was separated from God.
Genesis 3:14-19 And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
From this time, man has continually sinned and disobedient toward God. We have the freewill to do good or bad. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12)
The devil continues to succeed as Christian’s testimonies fail, or they delay in following God’s commandments.
- The Virgin Birth
Luke 1:26-38 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
The Scriptures speak of a virgin giving birth to a Saviour over seven hundred years (Isaiah 7:14) before it was to happen. This miraculous birth of Jesus was so we could have a Redeemer. This had only happened once and never happened again. Mary, after the birth of Jesus, was married to Joseph and was, is, no longer a virgin, and continued to produce children.
- Atonement for Sin
Jesus is the atonement for sin, in that, he came down to be born of a woman, under the law, and have the same temptations that you and I face: John 1:10-14 reads, “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 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: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
Salvation is by grace alone: Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” The next verse, verse nine: “Not of works, lest any man should boast.” We cannot get to heaven on our own accord, it take an act of God to accept us as we are, sinners, and allow us to enter into his presence. Jesus came to this earth to “seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). Jesus’ death made the atonement of our sins: in Romans 5:10, “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” For further understanding read Romans 5:10-16.
- The Righteous and the Wicked
Psalms 145:20: The Lord preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.
The righteous are those who, through are sinners, have come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and now live by faith in Christ our Lord.
Psalms 7:11: God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
Psalms 9:17: The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
The wicked are those that reject Jesus as the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29, 35-36). They will have their part (Revelation 21:8).
- The Freeness of Salvation
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Salvation is a free gift, you do not have to earn, nor buy it. A gift is something someone gives you without anything in return: no strings attached. How does one receive this gift? By simply reaching out and accepting the gift. Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” There is no condition in this verse. How does one receive salvation? Romans 10:9 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” All one has to do is call upon the name of The Lord, confess their sins, and ask him to come into their heart. That is it, no gimmick, no tricks of any kind.
- Repentance and Faith
Repentance is us, a sin-filled race, man, confessing our sins to an all powerful creator, God: acknowledging that all we deserve is the torments of Hell; acknowledging that Jesus, God the Son, came to this world , born of a virgin, came as the Sacrificial Lamb, lived a sinless life, willfully died on the cross of Calvary, was buried, rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven as he and the prophets of old prophesied (I Corinthians 15:3-4); accept Christ to come into our hearts; and proclaim that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Saviour, and our God.
Once a sinner has confessed they are a sinner, accept Christ into their lives, they have shown great faith: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).
Romans 10:17-So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Galatians 3:24-Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
- Justification
Romans 5:18-21 “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Romans 5:9 “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”
We are justified by faith in Christ Jesus. As it was once said “‘just as if ied’ never sin.” Christ’s justification is as if it had never happened, as far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:12). Being justified by Christ’s shed blood washes all of our sins away, they are still a part of our past, but it allows us to be seen in God’s eyes as perfect, sinless, spotless, white as snow lambs, and allowing us access into God’s glorious kingdom.
- Perservence of the Saints
John 10:27-30 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.
If we follow Christ, wholeheartedly trust in him, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3) he will be with you through the fires. We must endure to the end. There are countless accounts of folks on their death bed, and people listed in “Fox Book of Martyrs” that while being tortured said how they can see God’s heavenly presence welcoming them home. God will protect you and comfort you.
- The Resurrection
The Resurrection: I believe in the Scriptures account of Jesus’ resurrection as indicated in the four Gospels, in the book of Acts, and in the account given in I Corinthians 15:1-4: Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
The Return: And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:9-11)
Christ will come again; even he said he would, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:2 & 3)
The Related Events: When he returns he will take his children, those that repented from their wicked ways and look to Jesus for sole-salvation, onto Glory. “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (I Thessalonians 4:13-17). This speaks of the rapture (the word ‘rapture’ is not found in the scripture; its meaning “to take up” is found).
- Creation
I believe in the Big Bang theory: God said it, BANG!! It happened.
I believe in the Genesis’ account of creation. Not the theory of evolution, which is a theory that man was evolved from a tiny atom particle and over billions of years we evolved to monkey until we come to man as we know them today. Nor do I believe in the Gap theory, the theory that combined the evolutionary time span to the creation from the Bible: where one day to God is over a thousand years to mankind. I believe that God created the heaven (not heavens) and the earth in six days, every day recorded as good, and rested on the seventh (Genesis 1).
- Grace in the New Creation
John 3:1-7 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
John 1:9-13- That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Christ’s shed blood saves us, his Word guides our lives; we have been given grace from God. He alone is all we need and it is nothing short of a free gift. All one has to do is reach out and take it. Salvation is not done on our own:
“Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:” (Ephesians 1:8-9). That we may walk in the newness of life (Romans 6:4).
- The Church
The Church is a called out assembly of believers. There are arguments of where and when the first church was assembled. My belief is that the church is not a building, but the members of the church assembled together in order to worship. The best illustration I have for this is from a movie, “First Knight,” when King Arthur took Lancelot into the palace, and Lancelot read the inscription on the round table; King Arthur states, (something on this order) “now that it is the heart of Camelot, not these walls and timber. Burn them all! Camelot lives on, for Camelot is the people.”
The church is ran by its members and led by its pastor. Unlike some churches, we do not have a higher headquarters to answer to, we answer straight to God. We do not have to talk with a priest nor minister to have them as a sol interceder to talk on our behalf to God. We have the privilege in using only ‘one mediator between God and men’ (II Timothy 2:5).
- The Devil
Isaiah 14:12-14 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Ezekiel 28:12-17 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
The devil, Lucifer, was at one time a high ranking angel in God’s court, until he wanted to be more that what he was created to be. When iniquity took over him he became deceiving and conniving. He was thrown out of heaven and a host of angels with him. Ever since then, he has had a grudge against God and his creation. We have no idea of the power he has, but in Christ we have the power to overcome him. We alone cannot fight against the devil.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (1 Peter 5:8)
“And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14)
The devil is very smart we must read and study our Bible, so that we can defeat Satan as Christ did as he was in the form of man (Matthew 4).
- Giving
Everyone gives, but not everyone gives from the heart.
The church is run by the offerings of its members. God has no personal use for our currency. We give to God, from what he gave us, so that the body, the church, can function.
We get our tithing history for Jacob, he said, “And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.” (Genesis 28:22). We give the tenth, or one tenth, of our income to God (the local New Testament Church). Jacob did not have to give; his choice to give gave us the foundation for giving our tithe. Anything given above that is considered an offering, or a love offering.
How you give and how much you give is between you and God. Do not be stingy, or blatant: see Luke 21:1-4 and Mark 12:42-44.
If you give, God will bless.
- Civil Government
Jesus said to give tribute to the government (Matthew 22:17-21) that which belongs to the government, and unto God that which is God’s. We need to pray for our government. As God’s hand was on Pharaoh (Exodus 7:3), he still has his hand in our government. The power of prayer is still at large. There needs to be a separation of Church and State. We need to keep the state out of our Churches.
The New Testament Church has been given the authority within the congregation to handle any issue within itself. Matthew 18:15-17, Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
- Marriage
Genesis 1:27-28 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”
Marriage is between a man and a woman. God did not make a mistake in the creation of man. He states in Genesis 1:27-28, that male and female created he them, and that they are to replenish the earth. How can two of the same gender reproduce? They cannot. In today’s society, just as in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah, homosexuality is rapid. God came into this world to save sinners; therefore we are to still ‘love the sinner, not the sin.’ I Timothy 1:15, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”
- Missions
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Missions is the mission of the local New Testament Church. God gave us the commandment to Go! Go and preach the Gospel to every nation, and the entire world. The Gospel of Christ does no good if we just sit in a pew and say “AMEN!” to it; we must go.
Romans 10:13-15 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Not everyone can go physically to a foreign land, but we can labor with them through prayers and financial support. If everyone was to be a missionary, how would they receive their support? You can be a missionary in your own town. Sow where you are planted, but we must support missions.
I even know of missionaries who support missions
- The Two Ordinances: The Lord’s Supper and Baptism.
The Lord’s Supper:
I Corinthians 11: 24-29à And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
There are a few references to the Lord’s Supper. Above is the one that I like the best to explain it. The Lord’s supper is not to be take likely. There are differences of opinion about when and how to observe this ordinance: some preachers take it once a year, some twice, some several throughout the year, I have heard up to twelve times a year, for some. The Lord states, in verse twenty-six, “as often,” there is no exact amount times but it is as often as we conduct the Lord’s Supper we must do in remembrance of the Lord. I have heard of three different types of Lord’s Suppers: closed, close, and open. These are at the pastor’s discretion.
When conducted, as in verse twenty-eight, they must examine themselves that they do not bring damnation to themselves.
Baptism
Baptism is an issue that people have a misunderstanding about. Baptism does not save you; it is a step of obedience. The best passage of scripture I feel to illustrate this is:
Acts 8:36-37à And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
And, Luke 23: 39-43à And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Baptism is an ordinance given by God as a step of obedience, it cannot and will not save anyone. The passage in Acts, states that baptism is a step, it is not part of salvation, but before baptism is conducted the one to be baptized needs to have Jesus Christ in their heart. Salvation is required for baptism. The second passage I use to show that baptism is not a requirement for salvation: Jesus told the malefactors that he would be in paradise with him. There was no way for him to be baptized there they were sentenced to death in the most discriminating way.