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Over 100 Blog posts have been written! Our Blog began less than six months ago and has been used by God to communicate information as well as strengthen believers in Christ Jesus. There is a wealth of biblical teaching on all kinds of topics. Please continue to come and receive the timeless truths shared. Thank you for all your support; we pray that this tool will be used by God for His Kingdom purposes. Please continue to visit us at www.aicf.us.

Pastor Ray

Reason 4: So that the word of God abides in you

” So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32, ESV)

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7, ESV)

“I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” (1 John 2:14, ESV)

“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;” (1 Peter 1:22-23, ESV)

The word of God is an abiding word (1 Peter 1:23). The word of God is truth (Romans 10:17) and brings about the new birth (1 Peter 1:23) and brings faith (Romans 10:17) and enables us to overcome the evil one (1 John 2:14, see also Reason 3 of Reasons to Memorize Scripture).  Although memorizing scripture is one method of to have the word of God abide in you, it is not and should not be considered the only means to abide in the word. By nature abiding in the word of God includes spending time in it through reading, mediation, and study.

The abiding word of God brings us within reach of a few of Jesus’ promises. There are a few different kinds of promises. Some are unconditional like when God appeared to Abram and promised to give his offspring the land, while other promises are conditional like when Jesus say’s “if” you abide in my word then ask whatever you wish or then you are truly my disciples. The promise Jesus gives us is a conditional promise. He will not give the result of the promises unless we meet the required condition.

It is important to understand what the promise is. Often times people will create a false promise by taking a verse out of the context of the passage. In the case John 8:31, the promise of abiding in His word, is that we are His disciples. That is important but it does not stop there. It continues to say that we will know the truth and will be set free by the truth. Unless we abide in the word, we are not disciples and we will not know the truth or be set free by the truth. Additionally, John 15:7 indicates that if we abide in the word we can ask God whatever we wish and it will be done for us. Taken out of context this verse fits almost any bad theology. Therefore, we must keep reading. Verse 8 say’s “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” The asking whatever you wish is directly related to bearing fruit and glorifying God the Father. If we abide in the word our desires will be transformed by the renewing of the mind (Rom 12:1-2) so that we can bear much fruit. The asking is for the bearing of much fruit.

Memorizing Scripture will help us to abide in the word of God when we are living our daily lives, running errands, having conversation at work, in a meeting, paying bills, going to the hospital, and reading the test results. If we want to bear much fruit, be disciples, fight sin, defeat Satan and love one another we must abide in the word.

Abiding in the word,

Pastor Ray

No More Excuses: Refuting 6 Justifiers for Not Serving

Reason 1: I’m not called to serve

John 5:36 For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Matt 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

By nature we are consumers. We all consume things to live such as food, water, clothing, electricity, etc… However, we live in a culture of increasing consumerism. One effect of Consumerism is the systematic development and methods used to create and promote the desire to purchase more and more.  One-upmanship is extremely common within America and can be seen in all industries. Just look at television commercials, advertising billboards, etc… This practice is so commonly used and so effective that we often times don’t even notice its use; rather we notice a desire to purchase something new. The current item is old and outdated (although functional) and must be replaced with the newest and best.

Tragically, this consumerism has crept its way in to the church. Generally churches in our culture advertise and create a church environment of “come and receive,” which is a parallel of “buy and receive.” We create Christians who are satisfied with average attendance Sunday mornings where they receive from the church. We are taught that programs, ministries, evangelism, teaching and just about all operating functions of the church are to be completed by paid staff or the hyper committed Christian. Biblically this is a half truth. Yes, we desire that you come and receive, however it is not to end there. We are called to come and receive and give. Giving includes all aspect of life. Money, time, possessions, knowledge, etc… It is a sacrificial giving of ourselves.  We all have work that God has given us to accomplish. This work we are to accomplish is only completed through serving. Even Jesus understands that he has work to accomplish (John 5:36). Because of this, we should be diligent to ensure that we complete all that God has called us to do. God has provided many opportunities to serve at work, school, home and your church. We want you to be faithful to the work God has called you to, therefore, serve…

Serving with you,

Pastor Ray

No More Excuses: Refuting 6 Justifiers for Not Serving

“And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Luke 10:2, ESV)

I am beginning this blog series because there is so much work to be done for the Kingdom of God. As the Elders meet each day we discuss various ministries and the laborers need to complete the work. It is clear that there is much to be done on Anderson Island. There are several reasons for the work of the ministry. As we work to spread the gospel, we minister to unbelievers as well as believers. We have ministries that are focused toward unbelievers as well as ministries that are focused toward believers. It takes individuals to complete the work of these ministries. Regardless of whom the ministry is geared toward, God works through the life of the servant as well as in the life of the servant. The Elders of AICF desire to see the God working in the life of every member of AICF. Every Christian is called to be actively serving Christ so that His name is proclaimed and He may work in the life of the servant.

The reason we ask you to serve may not be what you think it is.

We have your best interests in mind. God has ordained that the work of the ministry be completed by people. Several things take place when ministry work is completed. The gospel is proclaimed and people are saved; and God is at work in and though the life of the servant. Working for Christ in ministry is less about the task and more about the effects. Lives are changed when we work in ministry. God works through us to change others, and in us to increase our relationship with Him.  Therefore, when we ask you to serve it is not about the task. It is about God working in and though you. Our primary purpose is to feed the flock of God or in other words to see you grow spiritually. Because we want you to grow spiritually, we want you to stretch yourself in the work of the ministry. Therefore, I have written this blog to respond to the various arguments people use to justify their lack of service to God. Ultimately, their lack of spiritual growth.

Praying for your spiritual growth,

Pastor Ray

Expanding on Reason 3: It enables you to fight the fight of faith.

“By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.” (Hebrews 11:24-26, ESV)

If you are battling a sin, please memorize these verses. At a minimum please memorize the idea of these verses. Particularly “By faith Moses refused to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin, for Christ is a greater reward.” This text tell us several very important things about fighting sin.

• It takes faith to fight sin. It was by faith that Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. You will see that this faith was looking toward something. The faith was strengthened by a promise. And by this faith we can fight sin.
• Sin has fleeting pleasures. Some say that sin does not offer pleasure. This verse clearly shows that it does, however, it is also clearly fleeting or temporary. Sin will never satisfy, Sin will not last, and it has deadly effects. ”Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” (James 1:15, ESV)
• Remember Christ is better. The thing that faith looks to is this: Christ is greater wealth than all the treasures of Egypt. Because sin offers a temporary reward of pleasure, we must fight sin by looking to a greater reward namely Jesus Christ. There is nothing greater than Jesus Christ. Nothing will satisfy like Jesus Christ. Remember this in the face of temptation. When temptation offers you it’s bait – cry out God “I refuse to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin, for Christ is a greater reward!”

Look to Jesus,

Pastor Ray

Reason 3: It enables you to fight the fight of faith.

Christians are to grow in holiness. We are saved through sanctification (2 Thessalonians 2:13) or through an increase in holiness. An increase in holiness is an evidence of conversion and faith in Christ. The Christian life is to be fought. “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:12, ESV).

Therefore, we know that we are to be saved through sanctification and that we must fight for faith. The question is how?

We grow in holiness and fight sin with the promises of God. It is the word of God that enables us to fight sin. Sin offers a promise; and God offers a promise. Our fight of faith is to trust God’s promise over the promise of the sin. Faith is to trust God.

Example 1

For example, one may be tempted to steal money. The promise sin offers: If you steal this money then you will have money for food.

The way to fight the promise of that sin is to counter it with God’s promise:  “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:25-26, ESV).

Therefore, we counter the lie of the devil with the promise of God to provide. Of course we are more valuable then birds of the air!

Example 2

Another example may be one who is tempted to lie or cheat because others oppose us. The demonic promise: That by lying or cheating we will overcome those who rise against us.

However, we can fight this temptation to sin with the promise of God in Romans 8:31, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Example 3

Perhaps you struggle with anxiety and are tempted to be anxious. We can fight that sin with the promise of God in 1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” Or “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” (Psalm 56:3, ESV).

Memorizing Scripture provides us with the promises God ordained we use to live the Christian life. If we do not know the promises of God then we are only able to listen to the promise of Sin. We have nothing to offer in opposition to Sin. Every moment of everyday we should be trusting Christ. How can we trust that which we don’t know? Faith in Jesus is trusting Him for salvation. It is trusting Him for the finished work on the Cross. It is trusting Him for the forgiveness of sin, however, it is also used to fight sin and to prevent sin. The Word of God is to abide in us.

For the keeping of faith,

Pastor Ray

Reason 2: The word of God brings hope.

” My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word.” (Psalm 119:81, ESV)

“You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.” (Psalm 119:114, ESV)

“I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words.” (Psalm 119:147, ESV)

Psalms 119 is one of my favorite chapters in the bible. It is the longest chapter in the bible and it is the longest sustained meditation and praise of God’s word in the bible. For those of you who struggle with the desire to read the bible, or memorize scripture, or meditate on God’s word, or have never read Psalm 119; I highly commend it to you.

The word of God is hope. It is our hope in the time of trouble, trial, pain, suffering, anxiety, decision making, triumph, joy, weakness and strength. The word of God guards our heart from fainting in times of weakness and satisfies the soul when longing for eternity with Jesus. Time spent in the bible, the word of God is sure to be the best investment of our day. We should be memorizing everyday so that when we are at work, school, around the house, on the phone, in a meeting, driving the car, or on the ferry we are able to depend on the promises of God given in his word. Scripture sustains us, but only when we have it with us. If the word is not with us to sustain us, we will substitute God’s word with something else. It is impractical to open the bible every time you need it. However, memorized scripture is always there when you need it. Memorized scripture never fails, it always strengthens!

In need of more memorized scripture,

Pastor Ray

Reason 1: It helps you meditate on Scripture.

As I have been working and memorizing the first part of Ephesians, I spent a significant amount of time with verse one. Not because it is difficult to memorize, rather it is because when memorizing you spend more time in what you are memorizing.  Therefore, when memorizing Scripture we are better enabled to meditate on the word of God, which helps us to understand a word, verse, passage, chapter, book and the Bible. Meditation is required to memorize. You must spend time thinking about, repeating and perhaps writing the words you are memorizing. To memorize we are forced to slow down and this allows us to see things we generally pass over.

Perhaps you may be encouraged to hear my experience with verse one and seek for similar experiences. This one verse is profound. When you slow down you may be impacted the way I am. Read and think about the first part of the verse.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God… Eph 1:1

Paul was an apostle because of the will of God, no other reason; and certainly not because of Paul. Now, put yourself there. Ray a Pastor of Christ Jesus, by the will of God. _________ a disciple of Christ Jesus by the will of God. Contemplate your testimony, trails, pains, struggles, and your circumstances. Now praise the Lord for who you are, where you are and what you are, because you are what you are by the grace of God. 1 Corinthians 15:10

Praying for you all,

Pastor Ray

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for the, the conviction of things not seen.” Heb 11:1

“He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” 1 Thess 5:24

As many are aware there was a chat session this morning with the Riviera Board regarding the addition of a fire hydrant for the new Church building. We are not able to add this required fire hydrant without Riviera approval. The chat session revealed some hesitancy and perhaps barriers of Riviera approval.

Please pray for God to work in the hearts of the Riviera Board members. God has called us to be holy and blameless to be sanctified completely; to be a light on Anderson Island. God has ordained that we worship Him in a building, and called us to construct a place of worship, a house of God. He is faithful and just, surely He will do it! Please pray to our Lord and God.

Pastor Ray

Hi Everyone, we have rescheduled the Youth Worship Team practice and SWAT Team meeting for Feb, 6th at 3 and 4pm because a number of you are attending Black Lake Winter Camp. Mark your calendars!

Pastor Ray