2021 – The Message from one church near you: “We offer Great Bible Teaching. Great preaching. Great programs for families, for mothers, for dads, and for kids! Come and help us grow!”
(DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS MISSING?)
AD 25 – The Message from Jesus to all His Disciples: Matthew 11:1 “When Jesus had finished giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.
“2 Now while in prison, John heard about the works of Christ, and he sent word by his disciples, 3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or are we to look for someone else?” 4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 those who are BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and those who limp walk, those with leprosy are cleansed and those who are deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM.”
2021 – The Message from another church near you: “Make disciples of Jesus Christ. A church that makes disciples of Jesus Christ by (1) living out the GOSPEL, (2) living in COMMUNITY, and (3) living on MISSION. A disciple of Jesus Christ is one who GATHERS, GROWS, GIVES, and GOES.”
Scheduled activities:
Tues. RefresHer Bible Study: Truthfilled, Student Ministry MidWeek Study, Wednesday Family Meal, Hispanic Ministry Estudio Bíblico, Awana 2020-21.MSM MDWK Worship, Wed. RefresHer Bible Study: Truthfilled, Celebrate Recovery,FBA At A Glance, Bible and Life Groups, Helps Outreach Food Drive Bag Distribution, Preschool Worship , Saturday 6:00PM Service, Divorce Care, Kidztown Bible & Life Groups (BLG), Preschool Bible & Life Groups (BLG), Hispanic Ministry BLG (estudio bíblico), High School Ministry Bible & Life Groups – Saturday, Middle School Ministry Bible & Life Groups, Bible and Life Groups, Helps Outreach Food Drive Bag Distribution, Sunday 9:30AM Service, Hispanic Ministry Worship Service (Culto de Adoración), Preschool Worship , Sunday 11:00AM Service, Veritas Concert, Ministerio Hispano Ensayo de Musica, Tues. RefresHer Bible Study: Truthfilled, Student Ministry MidWeek Study, Wednesday Family Meal, Hispanic Ministry Estudio Bíblico
(DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS MISSING?)
AD 25 – The Message from Jesus to all His Disciples:
7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven [h] has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. 9 Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, 10 or a [i]bag for your journey, or even two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is deserving of his support.
The Bible describes itself as the Breathe of God or “God Breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16). It is the Breathe of God, breathed through men and women and written into our languages. It has occurred over many centuries and by way of great effort through prayer, trials, tribulation and persecution. Many gave their lives in this effort.
Why? Why would so many give so much so you and I would have a written account of what God has said and done through humankind? It is because it is our destiny to know God, to do His bidding (works) and to be reunited with Him – or to perish.
These men and women of old knew the way to connect with God and to walk in His Spirit (they were indwelt by Him) and they accomplished great things. God worked through these men and women to accomplish Him Purpose. (He is the potter, we are the clay, so to speak – Romans 9:19)
But, humankind has drifted. More specifically, those Chosen by God, have drifted from Him and have forgotten how to “dwell in the secret place of the Most High and to abide under the shadow of the Almighty”. Even the most sincere have become self-reliant, rebellious, and proud.
We say we are working for God and sincerely believe it to be so. And, therein, lies the problem. We think we can do anything for God. But, we have forgotten that it is God Who does His Work in and through us. The connection has been diminished or lost. We have forgotten how to “be in Him and have His Spirit dwell within us”.
John 14:20 “On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I in you”
John 15:7 “If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
We have forgotten. The results are tragic.
Jesus hung on a cross between the heavens and the earth and yielded up His spirit.
Matthew 27:51 “And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split.
52 “The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;
53 “and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.”
THE CONVERGENCE OF GOD AND MAN
Heaven and earth converged, the veil was torn, the earth shook, rocks were split, tombs were opened and the dead were raised. Heaven and earth touched. The Spirit of God indwells the children of God on earth.
1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
FREED FROM SIN – What God has done
Romans 6:6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for the one who has died is freed from sin. 11 So you too, consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
SIN NO MORE – What has happened for you
6 No one who remains in Him sins continually; no one who sins continually has seen Him or knows Him. 9 No one who has been born of God practices sin, because His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin continually, because he has been born of God.
PRESENT YOURSELF TO GOD – What you must do
Romans 6:12 “Therefore sin is not to reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, 13 and do not go on presenting the parts of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead, and your body’s parts as instruments of righteousness for God. 14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under the Law but under grace.”
This “convergence” is the action of God upon man, and, it will not have its effect without man responding and humbly submitting to God.”
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. ‘He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”
The contemporary, postmodernists, and postmodern religions say that supernatural healing of the sick is done by medical professionals, the office of the Apostle is closed, raising the dead had ended, cleansing those with leprosy is done medically and casting out demons is the work of the psychiatrist. They largely believe that clothing the naked and feeding the hungry is to be done by government or non-government agencies and the Gospel message must be approved and sanctioned through tax code section 501-c-(3). And you have forgotten.
Remember, God says, “And He *said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.” Matthew 17:20
If this bothers you or you dismiss this then remember, the way to destruction is broad, but the way to life is narrow and few will find it. It is those who DO His will who are His followers and He has prepared a place for them.
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
Whitestone Fellowship 