First Apostolic Church

Many times a way to peace is through conflict. We have peace with God through Jesus Christ. And it was his blood of the cross that made peace. Emulating that process; death, burial, and resurrection we can be peacemakers.

This lesson investigates how holiness keeps a distinction between the sexes.

The rulers could not say anything against or deny what had happened to the lame man in Acts 3. When they conferred about the situation among themselves, their only hope was to keep its impact and influence from spreading. This alone is reason why we must act outside the box because we have an experience that cannot be denied. The adversary is just wishing to contain its impact.

A pure heart is necessary. It affects every area of our life since the heart is the seat of all the issues of life. In essence, this beatitude tells us those who strive to emulate God will recognize God.

Jeroboam sinned and affected generations after him. Anytime the sin of succeeding generations are mentioned they are tied back to Jeroboam. One man's sin had a lasting impact until Asa. Asa did not following in those footsteps. We should aspire to be an Asa instead of Jeroboam.

Having an anointing without understanding leads to frustration, as it is possible to receive an anointing today... not to be demonstrated until a later time in life. We're set apart for a purpose, and understanding the purpose is half the battle.

If a brother is overtaken in a fault there are a couple of ways people respond. They either seek to restore that person or amplify their fault and publish it to all they come in contact with. Scripture admonishes us to be a restorer.

We all experience "the wilderness" from time to time but we must evaluate how we got there. Three different occurrences in scripture describe how we arrive there. The demon possessed man was DRIVEN there by the DEVIL. Jesus was LED there by the SPIRIT. Lastly, Elijah WENT there HIMSELF. Our response to "the wilderness" should vary based on how we got there.

Much in the Christian life is spoken about walking, running, and fighting but we need not overlook the importance of just standing. Paul's final admonition to the church at Ephesus was to take the whole armor of God. Why? So they might STAND.

Mercy begets mercy. Being merciful is possible if you have progressed through the prior four beatitudes. Mercy and judgment can coexist if the one extending the mercy bears the judgment. Mercy is more than a recognition and more than a feeling. It provokes you to action.

The Lord told David that he did well to have a desire in his heart to build a house for the Lord. Later, Solomon, David's son, spent seven years of his life building the temple. David's heart had become his son's life. This truth is not illustrated any greater than in the Fatherhood and Sonship of God.

Desires are natural yet we must appease them with the proper things. There is a major difference in being filled and being satisfied. In this lesson we discovered how are godly appetites can be satisfied.

The common bend of humanity is to resort to familiar things they once entertained or did. If they were delivered from a past sin, it is that terrain that they oft times engage in again because it is familiar. Thus resulting in their spiritual demise.

In order to fulfill your carnal desires, you must ignore the cry of wisdom. Two women are vying for your attention: Wisdom and Lusts. Each lead you down entirely different path and have absolutely different ends. If you continue to follow your lusts, it will not be without the constant cry of wisdom's voice.

This is part one of a holiness series begun in Ladies' Meeting. This first lesson focuses on hair. Others will follow in this series but they meet only the first Thursday of each month.

Matthew 5:5 - The modern-day definition of meekness is somewhat removed from the Biblical definition. Simply put, meekness is power under control. They "inherit" the earth. Yet an inheritance is reserved for those accounted as heirs to the successor. Discover how a spirit of meekness positions one to be an heir.

Jeremiah 29:11 - Noah's ark, Moses' ark, and the Ark of God each had an expected end which purpose was preservation. Their success was determined by carefully following the plan for each. No adjustments were needed. Likewise in our lives, no modifications are necessary... Just follow the plan.

Joshua 7 - Achan had items in his life, in his home that should not have been there. With this understanding, Achan kept these things hid. As with Achan so with us -we keep hid at times things that are sinful. In reality, they need to be brought to the open and destroyed. Sadly, if we continue hiding them, it will have a negative affect on our family and church.

The blessing in mourning is that you can only mourn if you can feel. Mourning is one indication that you are not past feeling. Secondly, the blessing in mourning is that you shall be comforted; one will be called alongside you to help you.

Too often we stay trapped in our struggles, when we have the answer already -get out of the boat. When we get out of the boat we're actively refusing to accept current conditions. When you get out of the boat, the miracle will begin.

Based on the closing verses of Psalm 91, beginning at v13 - God is our faithful deliverer; his deliverance, strength and protection are for the faithful. While we may not physically tread upon a lion and an adder, we can have God's deliverance over the most hurtful and deadly battles in life - because of our faithfulness.

The first step in this progression is realizing our need. The blessing always flows from the better to the less. When we poise ourselves as poor in spirit, we become prime candidates for being blessed with nothing less than the kingdom of heaven.

An inspired recollection prompted David to include Uriah the Hittite as last among the list of mighty men. His gut must have still ached as he pondered removing a mighty man from his life -a man that had his best interest in mind.

Being careful or sensitive to her surroundings caused a great woman to provide for a prophet and even make a place for him in her home. What she made provision for would someday make provision for her. Be careful because you never know when you might be nursing the answer to a future problem.

Enoch and Elijah bypassed death as will everyone born again and alive when Christ returns. However, Elijah was sent on a journey by the spirit of the Lord to various cities prior to his departure that would set him in proper alignment before he left. Discovery what these cities represented and how they can benefit us before the catching away.