December, 2011

Don't Lose Focus!

As much as I love this season, I must  that admit that this is the time of year that causes me great concern.  I experienced my first black Friday this year and althought I was just a spectator in this event, I was amazed to see  grown people standing in lines over night, camping out, walking around the store  for twelve hours just to be the first in line to buy an item. I watched people curse each other,  fights and a few cases people willing to trample each other just to get the sales item.

Please allow me to admonish you to not lose focus! Athough the sales are wonderful and you may even save some money, please don't lose your focus. This is the time to celebrate Jesus Christ. It is time for us to celebrate the birth of the Savior who would eventually die for our sins so that we could be forgiven. He was born so that you and I could have eternal life.  Don't lose focus! Remember, Jesus is the reason for this season. It is because of Him that we are here. It is because of Him that we have come through the hardships of 2011, yet we are still standing. It was His grace and mercy that was extended toward us. Remember it is in Him that we live, move and have our being.

Yes, enjoy the season. Spend time with family and friends. Give and hopefully receive gifts, but don't lose focus! Remember to Celebrate Jesus!!!

November, 2011

"Hold On To Your Faith!"

We are living in very trying and challenging times. The norms of society and even our government endorsements of immoral and unGodly practices would make one think that standing for righteousness is a thing of the past. The bible declares that in the last days there would be a great falling away from the faith. It is clear to see that we are experiencing this right now. People who once proclaimed and confessed Jesus Christ are now denying Him not only in word but in deed also.

Christians are being challenged daily on what they believe. Our faith in God is constantly being challenged from within and without. We wrestle daily with our belief in God and His ability to heal, deliver, provide, open doors. We wrestle with the gospel that was taught to us from our youth. We wrestle with the truth of the very Word of God that has kept us to this point.  Our faith is being challenged! Allow me to admonish you simply to "Hold on to Your Faith!" Don't allow the enemy to steal, kill and destroy you. Don't allow what you see with your eyes concerning your financial, physical, mental, emotional, maritial or family situation to cause your faith to be shaken. Remember, we walk by Faith and not by sight. What it looks like right now is not what it shall be. Remember, God has an expected end for us and it's not what we are seeing right now. gainst all odds, HOLD ON TO YOUR FAITH!

October, 2011

What You Need Is An Air Freshener!

Pastor Charlayne Henry

     AGreek Philosopher asked his servant to provide the best dish possible. The servant prepared a dish of tongue, saying, "It is the best of all dishes, because with it we may bless and communicate happiness, dispel sorrow, remove despair, cheer the faint hearted, inspire the discouraged, and say a hundred other things to uplift mankind." Later the philosopher asked his servant to provide the worst dish of which he could think. A dish of tongue appeared on the table. The servant said, "It is the worst, because with it we may curse and break human hearts; destroy reputations; promote discord and strife; set families, communities, and nations at war with each other."

 "Death and Life are in the power of the tongue"  Proverbs 18:21

     The words you release from your mouth do not disappear. Your words have power. When you speak them out into the atmosphere they are sent on assignment. They are dispatched to pull down what we have spoken out of our mouths. Whether negative or positive we  will receive whatever we have spoken.

     Too many christians are walking around feeling defeated, like they can never get a break or the things out of life they deserve. Many christians have walked away from God because it appeared to them that everyone else is prospering except them. The problem is not with God, nor his promises. The problem has been the words we have released into the atmosphere. Our negative words not only have a negative fragrance, but they also bring life results that are contrary to the results intented for sons and daughters of the Most High God.  

     What you need is a spiritual air freshener. In order to change your atmosphere you must begin refreshing the word spoken out of your mouth. Begin to spray your atmosphere with Words of Life. Begin to speak in agreement with what God has spoken concerning you. Bring your words into alignment with the Word of God. Let the words you now speak become a spiritual air freshener; replacing your negative, death producing words with positive, life changing words. Decree, Declare and Agree with the word that declares:

I am the righteousness of God.

I am an heir and joint heir with Christ.

I am the beginning, not the end, the first not the last.

I am the lender and not the borrower therefore I will never be broke another day of my life.

I am healed by the stripes of Jesus, therefore I walk in divine health.

I am cleansed by the blood of Jesus, therefore I am a new creation.

I am kept by the power of Jesus, therefore I walk in constant victory.

I have life because I have Christ and therefore I walk in abundance.

I decree explosive, unprecidented, prospertiy in every area of my life!

Refresh your air by replacing the words you speak out your mouth. Change your words, change your atmosphere, change your life!

"Life Academy"

 with Pastor Henry

The Five-Fold Ministry
Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher (Ephesians 4:11).

November, 2011

The Qualifications of an Apostle

* An apostle had to have the spiritual gift of apostleship. The gift was provided by Jesus Christ after His ascension into Heaven, Eph. 4:8-11.

The gift was imparted by the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, 1 Cor. 12:11; Acts 2.
* The apostle received his gift and office by the sovereign decision of God the Father, 1 Cor. 1:1; 12:18; Eph. 1:1; Col. 1:1.
* The apostle had to have been an eyewitness of the resurrected Lord, Acts 1:22; 1 Cor. 9:1.
* The Credentials of an Apostle
* An apostle was endowed with miraculous powers of miracles, Heb. 2:4; 2 Cor. 12:12.
* An apostle had success in evangelism, 1 Cor. 9:2; 2 Cor. 3:1-3; Gal. 2:7-9.
* An apostle had the capacity to suffer patiently, 2 Cor. 12:12.

The term "apostle" (Greek, apostolos) simply means, "a sent one." An apostle is a messenger, an ambassador. The idea is that of representation: an apostle is a personal representative for the one(s) who sent him. He comes in the place of, representing the interests of, and bringing a message from someone else.

" Apostle of the Church"

An apostle of a church, then, is one sent by a particular church to represent that church's interests and/or deliver its message. Paul mentions that Epaphroditus was the apostle from the church at Philippi: "Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellow soldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants" (Philippians 2:25). The Greek word here translated "messenger" is apostolos. The relationship between Paul and the Philippian church was a close one, and this is one indication of it: they sent a messenger to assist Paul in his labors for Christ. He (Epaphroditus) was their apostle; he represented the church at Philippi to the apostle Paul. II Corinthians 8:23 also mentions such church apostles ("messengers," Greek, apostoloi).

" Apostle of Christ"

The gift of apostleship, however, refers to that carefully select group of men who were the personal representatives of Jesus Christ Himself. "Apostle of Christ" is a much more specific and technical use of the term "apostle." In a sense, all Christians are to be apostles for Jesus Christ, but this gift of apostleship belonged only to a very few. An apostle of Christ was a personal messenger of Jesus Christ, sent by the Lord Himself. He was a vicar of Christ (if you will pardon the expression!). He was one who represented the interests of Jesus Christ to men.

Qualifications

Like the gift of Pastor-Teacher, one was an apostle not only by calling or gifting but also by meeting certain qualifications. As already noted in the previous chapter, an apostle must have been one who could personally testify to the risen Christ. This was Paul's argument in I Corinthians 9:1 which established his own apostleship: "Have I not seen the Lord?" This was also one of the requirements stipulated by the eleven for the replacement of Judas (Acts 1:21-22). The credentials of Christ's apostles also included the ability to perform miracles. Jesus Himself gave this power to the twelve when He commissioned them (Matthew 10:1). Again in defending his apostleship to the Corinthians Paul mentioned this as something which identified him as a true apostle: "Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds" (II Corinthians 12:12).

The apostles were miracle workers who could bear personal witness to the risen Lord.

Their Position

Christ's apostles occupy a position of unique honor. In I Corinthians 12:28 they are listed as "first" in importance. Jesus Himself affirmed this when He prophesied that in the coming Kingdom they would "sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel" (Luke 22:29-30). Revelation 21:14 speaks of their names on the twelve foundation stones of the wall of the New Jerusalem. In Matthew 16:18-19 Peter, the representative of the apostles, is the one who holds the keys of the kingdom and is the rock on which Christ will build His church.

Their Authority

Closely associated with this honor is their unique authority. They were personal ambassadors for Jesus Christ, and as such their words carried divine authority. There was no appeal above their words, no discussion, no debate. They were Divine legates, bringing the very word of God to men. Their authority in the church was absolute.

A few examples should establish the point. In Acts 4:35-37, it is the apostles who are entrusted with the church's financial matters. In Acts 6:2-6, the record of the first church split, they are telling the church exactly what steps to take to settle the dispute. I Corinthians 4:17 declares the apostle Paul's example to be binding. In I Corinthians 14:37 Paul says, in effect, "anyone who disagrees with me is not spiritual." He claims that when he speaks it is Christ speaking through him (II Corinthians 13:3). Galatians 1:8-9 pronounces a curse on anyone disagreeing with Paul's teaching. I Thessalonians 2:13 declares that the word of the apostle is the word of God. II Thessalonians 2:15 says, in effect, "do what I tell you to do, and believe what I tell you to believe." II Thessalonians 3:6-15 commands harsh treatment on any who do not follow the apostle's instruction and practice. This is real authority! The New Testament plainly teaches the authority of the elders in the local church, but this kind of authority goes much further. This is the authority of Christ Himself through His personal messengers.

This is not to say that the apostles were infallible in every detail of their lives. Paul's rebuke of Peter for not practicing what he preached makes this clear (Galatians 2:11ff). Furthermore, after years of service for Christ Paul himself still claimed to be the chief of sinners (I Timothy 1:15). But nonetheless, the apostles were the authority: their word ended disputes and settled doctrine.

Nor is their authority limited to their first century contemporaries. The words of the apostles (now inscripturated) are no less binding today. Their word is the Word of God. They were God's mouthpiece, Christ's own representatives to His church.

Their Function

Many think that the term "apostle" simply means "missionary." The word "missionary" does come from a Latin root which means "to send," so the inference is understandable. Paul was involved in much mission activity, as were other apostles, but it is also clear that many, if not most, of the apostles remained in Jerusalem for several years. So the function of an apostle was much more than only missions.

Their function was basically to, 1) lay the foundation of the church (Ephesians 2:20, Matthew 16:18), 2) give God's revelation to men (Ephesians 3:5), and 3) demonstrate the truth of that revelation by the exercising of their sign gifts (II Corinthians 12:12).

 October, 2011

The Purpose of the Five-Fold Ministry
The purpose for these gifts is clearly seen in Ephesians 4:12. The gifts are given:

• For the perfecting of the saints 
• For the work of the ministry 
• For the edifying of the Body of Christ

The Length of the Five-Fold Ministry
The Book of Ephesians 4:13-16 reveals to us how long these gift would continue to be given to the church.

• Till we all come in the unity of the faith 
• Till we all come to the knowledge of the Son of God
• Till we all come unto a perfect man
• Till we all come unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: 

The Result of the Five-Fold Ministry

• The perfecting of the saints (Ephesians 4:12).
• The saints are equipped for the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:12) 
• The Body of Christ is edified (encouraged, strengthened, built up) Ephesians 4:12 
• The saints become strong and are able to withstand doctrinal error (Ephesians 4:14)
• The saints are matured (no more children) (Ephesians 4:12; 15)
• We all learn to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).

 Life Principal:

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.  Jeremah 29:11

Be sure that your words line up with the plans God has designed for your life.  You are responsible for speaking in agreement with the plans he has preordained for you.