I have a deep passion and commitment to the ongoing development of spiritually strong and emotionally healthy individuals, marriages, families, leaders and cultures, helping you achieve your God-designed and appointed destiny.
THE BIBLE IS THE SOLE AUTHORITY
The entire Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true, acceptable and pleasuring to God – convicting (not condemning) us of sin in our lives, bringing us to a place of health and restoration. The Bible is completely reliable and accurate, as it is the truthful Authority for all mankind. Therefore, it is accepted as our manual for living. The Bible is the basis for all that we believe. The Bible is the loving call of an infinitely loving God; the solemn warning of justice; a sign that points us to heaven; a danger signal that warns us of hell; and it is the standard by which all men, nations, creeds and motives shall be tried. The Bible is never to be altered, taken away from or added to in its content or meaning.
II Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 119:105; John 5:39
THE ETERNAL GODHEAD
There is only one true and living God; Maker of heaven and earth and all that is in them; Alpha and Omega, Who ever was, and is, and shall be. He is infinitely holy, mighty, tender, loving and glorious; worthy of all possible love and honor, confidence and obedience, majesty, dominion and might. In the unity of the Godhead, there are three, equal in every divine perfection, executing distinct, but harmonious offices in the work of redemption.
The Father – Whose glory is so exceedingly bright that mortal man cannot look upon His face and live, but whose heart was so filled with love and mercy for His lost children that He freely gave His only begotten Son to redeem and reconcile them until Himself. Isaiah 43:10 and 44:8; Exodus 33:20; John 3:16-17
The Son – Co-existent and co-eternal with the Father, Who, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, He took upon Himself the form of man. He bore our sins and by the shedding of His precious blood upon the cross, purchased redemption for all that would believe upon Him. After three days He rose from the grave, ultimately ascending to Heaven. He stands at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for those with whom He has personal relationship. John 1:1-3; John 3:16; Matthew 1:23; I Timothy 2:5, 6a; Ephesians 2:18
The Holy Spirit – The third Person of the Godhead, omnipotent, omnipresent, performing an inexpressibly importation mission upon earth, convicting man of sin, righteous and judgment. He draws sinners to the Savior, as he rebukes, pleads, searches, comforts, guides, quickens, teaches, and baptizes the Believer with power from on High, preparing us for the great day of the Lord’s appearing. John 15:26; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Matthew 28:19; Romans 8:11; John 16:7-14
SALVATION THROUGH GRACE
The salvation of man is entirely through grace, that we have no righteousness or goodness of our own; therefore we must come and rely upon the unfailing mercy and love of Him who bought us and washed us in His own blood, pleading the merits and the righteousness of Christ the Savior, standing upon His Word and accepting the free gift of love and pardon. (Ephesians 2:8; Romans 3:10, 3:23 and 6:23; Isaiah 64:6; John 6:47; Ephesians 2:13). When we come into relationship with Jesus Christ, fully acknowledging our need and dependence upon Him, we are justified through faith; a change takes place in the heart and our new life is a very real one. We are born again in a glorious and transforming manner – old things are passed away and all things become new
DAILY CHRISTIAN LIFE
Having been transformed by the power and blood of Jesus Christ, we are to seek daily sanctification, fully participating in relationship with Him. We are to seek constant growth in faith, power, prayer, love and service, seeking to live a life that is patient, kind, sober, unselfish and godly.
I Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 6:1; Romans 8:5
WATER BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
Water baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is a commandment of Scripture. It is a strong outward sign of an inward transformation that has taken place by the power of Jesus Christ. We declare that we have died to sin; our old nature has been nailed to the cross with Him; our old life has been buried and has died, and we have been raised again into a new life that is only possible because of our relationship with Jesus Christ.
Matthew 28:18; Acts 2:37-38; Galatians 3:27-28
We are to commemorate and observe the Lord’s Supper by the solemn and sacred use of broken bread and wine or juice, reminding us that His body was broken and bruised for us and that His blood was shed for our sins – the ultimate sacrifice given for our redemption. Serving and receiving this sacred sacrament should always be met with heart-searching, self-examination and forgiveness and love towards others, that we would hold no forgiveness or offense in our hearts.
I Corinthians 11:26 and 28; 2 Corinthians 13:5
BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
At the point of salvation, the Holy Spirit comes and indwells in the Believer’s life. There is also an additional second experience available to the believer, wherein the Holy Spirit empowers the believer through Baptism of the Holy Spirit, as described in Acts Chapter 2. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the manifestation of the promised Comforter to empower the believer with power from on high; to glorify the Lord Jesus; to give inspired utterance in witnessing of Him; to increase the Spirit of prayer, holiness, sobriety; and to equip the believer and the church for practical, efficient, joyous, Spirit-filled living.
John 14:16-17; Acts 1:5, 8, 2:4; 8:17; 10:44-46; 19:6; 1 Corinthians 3:16
SPIRIT-FILLED, SPIRIT-LED LIFE
The Holy Spirit gives the Believer power to life a life free of impiety, coldness, idle conversation, boastfulness, judging or criticism. He enables us to live and walk in the Spirit, moment by moment, under the precious blood of Jesus Christ, being patient, loving, truthful, sincere, prayerful, non-murmuring – enabling us to love and lead others as Jesus led.
Ephesians 4:30-32, 6:18; Romans 12:1-2; 1 John 2:6; Galatians 5:16, 25; 1 Corinthians 3:17
THE GIFTS AND FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit has many gifts to bestow upon the Believer and His Church – wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, interpretation; that according to the degree of grace and faith possessed by the recipient, these gifts are given to the Believer, as the Holy Spirit so wills. These gifts are to be earnestly desired, for the benefit and building up of His Church. The fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance should be used, cultivated, and diligently guarded by the Believer.
I Corinthians 12:1,31; 12:11; 14:12; Romans 11:29; 12:6-8; John 15:8; Luke 3:9
MODERATION
The moderation of the believer should be known by all. The believer’s daily walk should never lead him into extremes, fanaticism, unseemly manifestations, back-bitings, murmurings – but should be one of sober, thoughtful, balanced and forgiving. The authentic Christian experience should be one of steadfast uprightness, equilibrium, humility, self-sacrifice and Christ-likeness.
Philippians 4:5; Ephesians 4:14-15; I Corinthians 13:5; Colossians 3:12-13
DIVINE HEALING
Divine healing is available to all who believe by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ, who has the ability to heal the sick and the afflicted in answer to believing prayer and His divine will. He is the same yesterday today and forever and has never changed, but is still all all-sufficient help in the time of trouble, able to meet the needs of and quicken the body, soul, mind and spirit into newness of life, according to His divine and sovereign will.
Matthew 8:17; 9:5; Mark 16:17-18; Acts 4:22-30, James 5:14-16
THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
The second coming of Christ is imminent. He will descend from Heaven, the dead in Christ will rise and the redeemed that are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and will then ever be with the Lord. No man knows the hour of His reappearance. Until He returns we are to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Titus 2:12-13; Matthew 24: 36, 42, 44; Hebrews 9:28; Luke 19:13 and 12:35-37