First Apostolic Church

Our faith is important to our Christian maturity because so many other traits are added to our faith. In addition, faith was taken above all in the armor of God in Ephesians 6. It was a means of protection to those other protective pieces of the armor. In this lesson we highlight the other items that should be added to our faith in order to continue to grow.

Ultimately, Paul's prayer for this early church was for them to be dominated and controlled by the fullness of God. He wanted them to become everything that Spirit inside them wanted them to become. God having freedom to work to his fullest in our lives or the life of the church is the glory in the church.

TBA

TBA

To the sons of Abraham's concubines Abraham gave gifts but to Isaac Abraham gave all that he had. Abraham gave everything to the one that had trusted him when everything appeared as though it was gong to be taken from Isaac.

While the Holy Ghost is an excellent beginning, we must continue to grow up into Him in all things. Peter admonishes us to add to our faith a lists of seven other items. In doing so we further solidify our calling and election in Christ.

The church reveals the mystery. Collectively and individually we have been given grace for ourselves. In addition, grace has been given to us as distributors of it. A church, a group of people should be the most gracious that have been shown the most grace.

Throughout the pages of scripture God identifies himself as several things. In essence, he is whatever we need for the present circumstance. He always proves to be more than enough.

There is a real danger for the church to slip into a lukewarm mode and drift off into a cold state. We must take advantage of that position when we are hot. This is a challenge to seize the opportunity when it is present.

When Daniel realized how near he was to the end of the seventy years of captivity, he turned his attention toward the books (Bible) and prayer. Our reaction to the events of our time should be the same. The Challenge: 24/7 Plan.

The sign was a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. This was a sign the shepherds would understand. Micah prophesied of one coming to reign for ever with dominion even unto the tower of the flock, the tower of Edar. Historically where temple lambs were born and swaddled to insure no blemish or brokenness for sacrifice would be the place in the vicinity of Bethlehem where this Savio...

When we emerge from our trials and troubles, we should come forth as more than conquerors. We should walk away victorious but with tangible spoils from our battles. Spoils won in battles were dedicated to maintain God's house. Likewise what we get from our difficult circumstances should maintain the original splendor of the church. Solomon's Temple was exceeding magnifical because much of the mate...

When Jesus died on the cross, he made a way for all segments of society to be saved. Nearness to God was no longer dictated by class restrictions. Now Gentiles were not only brought nigh to God by Jesus' blood but Jew and Gentile had access to God.

Loneliness isn't just a reality. Loneliness sometimes can be an idea. There have been people in crowded rooms that still experienced the feelings of loneliness. The enemy of our souls wishes to intimidate us with this idea that we are all alone and no one has ever been where we are. Nevertheless, a scripture treasure is where Jesus told his disciples that he would not leave them comfortless but he...

It is disappointing to invest yourself and everything you have into a person only to have them fail you. Samuel knew what this was like. He emptied his horn on Saul. Although Saul failed, God had Samuel to fill his horn because there was another anointing he wanted him to be instrumental in... David. Be sensitive to God because when you think it is finished he may have you involved in someone's st...

Periodically we must cast our eyes over our shoulder in order to see where we are compared to where we were. In that reflection we need to note the "But God" moment in our lives. An impossibility swings on the hinges of possibility with those two words. Only hindsight can help us realize that God often works in a person before he works through them.

Ezra brought back the second group of captives from Babylon who desired to return to Jerusalem. Those who returned were free from their captivity but still lived in the vicinity of the Persian Empire. Therefore, they contended with the regulations and litigation that flowed from that empire. Likewise us who have been born again contend with the influences of living in a fallen world, not to mentio...

The general instruction when in a siege or a struggle was to refrain from cutting down any fruit bearing trees. The wood from such a tree may have adequately been made into a bulwark but primarily it was a supplier of life. When the dust of a struggle settles, you need fruit bearing trees to help sustain you. Therefore, do not sacrifice today what you may be or future generations may be in need of...

The benefits Paul has already told were readily available to the church stem from a relationship with God. If you break your relationship with God, you cease to exist in him. Therefore, we reject the benefits of the church when we reject God. Above all other matters, know God.

Deeply seated in the first family was an element of discontent. A discontent that fostered a disregard for a command to the extent of disobedience. The peril: They had everything they needed. Don't sacrifice everything you have for temporary pleasure!

The first mile is one of obligation. The second mile is one of opportunity. However, you will never reach the second mile unless you finish the first mile. Our roads of obligation open up to us various opportunities.

Some of the wonders of being in the church are as follows: 1) Redemption, 2) Forgiveness, 3) Inheritance, 4) Trust/Hope, and 5) Sealed.

Paul has a desire to finish namely two things in his life: 1) His course and 2) His ministry. The ministry Paul had simply was to testify or be the voice. Although God could work independent of us, he has devised a plan to work through us. God wants us to be his voice.

Fountain or cistern? Living water or stagnant water? In reality, when we try to substitute our man-made plans for God-made plans, they are broken and useless from the very beginning. If you are going to make your cistern, make it big because cisterns that hold no water many times become prisons. In this case, a prison of your own making.

In speaking to the Ephesian church, Paul tells them how God foreknew and predestined not an individual but a group of people. God knew he would have a church (us in Him) and he designed a plan for that church. The choice is yours to be a part of the church or not.