Growing Up

Ephesians 4:11-15

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,  13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. 

I think most of us that read this passage do not include themselves as having a part in the ministry gifts. This is an identity passage that clarifies in part our part in the body of Christ. The church is not the pastors and the prophets, the church is you, the saint. The priestly ministry of Jesus Christ is passed on to every believer in some measure. 

So what is your part in the priestly ministry of the body of Christ? 

Pastor Patrick

Trustworthiness

So many times I hear people giving their opinion about the Bible and how it has been changed and manipulated over the years and that we can't trust it. Well, Psalm 19:7 says " The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul". I must say that there have been many, many scholars both secular and Christian that have done the homework and will attest how amazed they are how well kept the Bible has been over the centuries. It does not surprise me that the bible is inerrant (perfect), and that the Holy Spirit has kept and protected it since the creation of the world. 

The bible is also infallible and the perfect and complete guide to faith and practice. God is true and reveals His truth to us through His word. You can sleep well tonight knowing that God is capable of doing things we cannot. Like, protect and keep his word for eternity. 

Pastor Patrick

Divine Inspiration

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, 2 Tim 3:16. It is so important to know this and believe that the Bible we read and look to for instruction, discipline and correction for life is actually from God Himself. If we doubt the validity of these words, even a little, then we have nothing to base our lives as a Christian on. Is God capable of giving his instruction through men? Is God able to sustain the word throughout time if he is? 

None of the bible is from man but is God breathed. The word comes direct from the Holy Spirit. In 2 Peter 1:20-21 this is elaborated in that each writer was "moved by" the Holy Spirit, in other words being carried along. The Bible is a part of the plan of the Holy Spirit and has been carried out by His hand through these men that penned it. 

Pastor Patrick