Hello,
We are so blessed! "We" means God's children who are living in an intimate fellowship with God as our Father by faith in Christ Jesus as lord!
Now that may be a peculiar definition, but how many of God's children do you know that do not seem to experience the blessings of God in their lives? They are always "looking for" a blessing or "expecting" a blessing or some similar train of thinking - - yet they seldom seem to realize the promised blessings found in the Bible!
Why? What's the difference? In nearly every case that we have encountered, the difference is always rooted in their lack of intimate fellowship with God as FATHER which is replaced by religious thinking!
Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost ... AND TO SHOW US what is available to us once we are saved! While we are become but pilgrims passing through this life on the way to eternity, Jesus said this:
"And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." John 17
Eternal life does not begin with going to Heaven once you die, eternal life begins - and is - KNOWING GOD! Not a mere awareness of Him, but we know by the balance of Scripture that this means an intimate, up close and personal, knowing God as PAPA! (Study Romans 8; Galatians 4; Ephesians 1 & 20)
Consider this - - if we are to become transformed and conformed into the very likeness of Christ, and if Christ lived in a continual intimate fellowship with God AS FATHER, then doesn't it become apparent that to be like Christ include that we too should be experiencing God as Father in the same way as Christ Jesus did while on earth?
And how do we enter in to this level of Christ like intimacy with God as Father? ASK! For God does indeed intend that this be your life experience! And when it begins, one's perception of blessings enters an entirely new dimension and you begin to realize His blessings regardless of the "natural" condition of things!
Many Blessings!
Dr. Timothy
|
From Dr. Timothy
Jesus
wants two things for our souls ... First - to be healthy and Second, to
prosper! So
this brings out the question - - IS YOUR SOUL PROSPERING?
GOD’S DESIGN FOR OUR SUCCESS
In
this session let’s address two items right up front: What do we mean by success
(spiritual or
otherwise) and what is our definition for spiritual victory?
Success:
The best definition I ever heard
for success came from Bill Gothard
(Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts) - - “To
fulfill God’s purpose”
Actually when you think about it,
success in any realm can best be defined by
fulfilling the intended purpose for
any given thing! The purpose for a
retail
business is to make sustained, sufficient profits. The purpose for a military
campaign might be
to vanquish an enemy. The purpose for a
marriage is to
fashion a new complete life by a man and woman (the two shall
become one
flesh).
Of course there are primary and
secondary purposes for many things, so
complete success would be to fulfill all
the purposes for which a thing is
intended.
The primary purpose for the creation of humans is for a species
of
creation to be (and live) in fellowship with God. The secondary purposes
for the creation of
humanity would include things such as procreation (replenish
the earth), dress
and keep Eden (and subsequently all of earth), to take dominion
over the earth
(be the rulers of earth under God’s direction and by His authority), etc.
Spiritual Victory:
To live life according to God’s designs
and fulfilling His purposes for us
individually regardless of and overcoming
any opposition of God’s enemies.
This begins with being born
again, continues with our transformation into
being like Jesus with our reality
becoming lives that are in the dominion of
righteousness and no longer under
the dominion of sin!
For
sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under
law but under
grace. (Romans 6:14)
*****************************************************************
One
more really important thing needs to be said here: You may have instances of
momentary success
or you may even have areas of life which seem to be successful
BUT success is
not genuine or complete if success is not our spiritual reality!
“Beloved,
I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as
your soul
prospers.” (3 John 2)
Many
saints do not know this while others do but can’t seem to experience
spiritual
success so they settle for apparent success in the natural realm but do not
understand that the spiritual condition of a person will always, eventually
mani-
fest in the natural realm! Thus, if
they are a spiritual failure, that failure will
eventually be seen in the
natural realm of a person’s life!
One
of the greatest tactics of the devil has been to ingrain the belief in our
society
that our lives can be “compartmentalized” and that each compartment of
life can be
detached from every other compartment of life! But is that really so?
Here
is a true experience for an example:
There
was a man in ministry who was also required to be employed in secular
work. This man was plagued by an angry
spirit and had great difficulty with
lust.
While he was obviously anointed of God in ministry but his hidden
spiritual failures limited his success in ministry until he reached the point
that he
gave up on ministry and just focused on his secular work where he routinely seemed
"successful" and was able to earn a good income. However, again because of his
spiritual
failings (lust and anger) his marriage eventually failed. His areas of
failure did not seem to bother
the man’s employers however because in the
“compartment” of his profession, he
was “successful”! But the man dealt with
the pain of his failures by heavy drinking and giving in to lustful
desires. These
eventually led to his becoming
an open embarrassment to his employers so he
lost his employment. Finally his life was the open manifestation
of the reality of
his spiritual condition - - failure and defeat!
One
more detail about this man’s life that is important to know - - as he spiraled
down to
defeat - - in nearly every step of the way he was employing the methods
of
spiritual warfare that he had learned from the popular ministries of the
day!
Rebuking the devil and claiming the
promises of God! Using warfare methods
that
resulted in defeat and destruction!
Oh
yes, a final detail about this man: God
rescued him from the destructions of
the enemy and set his feet upon THE
Rock! He learned God’s plan of successful
spiritual strategies that changed his life from defeat and failure to victory
and success
which has been his reality now for nearly two decades!
Next Issue: Methods That Guarantee Defeat! (To Stay Away
From!)
In Christ & With His Love,
Dr. Timothy
|
PROPHET'S CORNER
1. Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2. not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first ...
2 Thessalonians 1:1-3
Church Touts Homosexuality
as a Gift, Not a Sin ChristianPost.com
Being gay is a gift from God, asserts one church in Ohio.That’s the message that Central United Methodist Church is spreading
throughout their community via a digital billboard, launched on Monday. This
“simple statement,” the church announced, is “intended to be a gift to
those who have experienced hurt and discrimination because of their real
or perceived sexual orientation.” “The Church seeks nothing less
than the healing of the world, and Central UMC wants to offer words and
acts of healing to those hurt and marginalized,” the website states. Jeff
Buchanan, the director of Exodus Church Equipping & Student
Ministries, agrees that the Church must display love and compassion for
those in the LGBT community. But he opposes the message that CUMC is
sending through their “Being Gay is a Gift from God” campaign. “Why
would God bestow this ‘gift’ only to condemn it throughout the Bible?
This would seemingly contradict His character as a God who is loving and
just.” The Toledo church’s controversial billboard ad is directly connected
to a long month-long sermon series by its new pastor, Bill Barnard. The
church is hoping that the ad will move the public towards tolerance,
reported ABC 13, and not perpetuate anti-gay attitudes and behaviors,
which were harming the LGBT community. The purposes of their
recently launched campaign are threefold: to offer welcome to all
persons who are gay; to challenge the larger Church to fully accept
persons who are gay into the life of the Church; and to call on all
people to bring all the gifts of who they are to God. “By
welcoming and living in community with faithful Christians who happen to
be gay, we have come to understand that being gay is part of who God
made them to be,” CUMC proclaims on their site. “And by gay Christians
bringing all that they are to God, the body of Christ has been
strengthened.” “In fact, we would experience the body of Christ as incomplete without LGBT persons.” Barnard
told ABC, “We really believe that being gay is a gift from God, and
it’s not anything that anyone has to apologize for or be ashamed about.
So that’s how [the campaign] came to be.” Believing sexuality to
be a “good gift from God” – or as they declared yet another way in God’s
infinite diversity – CUMC defines sin as denying who God created them
to be. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This September -
The World May Divide Between Israel and Palestine Martin Indyk, former US
ambassador to Israel and adviser to US Middle East envoy George
Mitchell, said Thursday that if no changes are made between now and
September, the UN will declare a Palestinian state.
"Unless the US, Israel and the Palestinians have an alternative, the
Palestinian plan can not be won," Indyk told Army Radio. "If there isn't
anything else, then in September there will be a vote in the UN that
will recognize a Palestinian state, just like the UN recognized Israel
in 1948."
Indyk explained that the US does not have veto power in the UN's General
Assembly. "The US may vote against it, but that won't stop it," he
said.
If a Palestinian state is declared, Israel could be considered an
occupier of of a UN-member country, "and that would be an uncomfortable
situation for Israel," Indyk said.
"Tactically, it is very easy for the Palestinians to go to the UN - it
doesn't cost them anything, and it puts pressure on Israel," Indyk told
Army Radio. "As a strategy, Israel needs to think about the day after
the vote."
Indyk added that, should the UN approve a Palestinian state in
September, it will prove Hamas's point, that there is no reason for
negotiations, and encourage violence.
|
This week's Leader's Message is from Jerry Williams, Epic Ministries.
Thought
for the day - May 2, 2011
Since
1970 I have been supremely honored to be an ambassador and soldier of the
Lord. I have experienced indescribably
great and wonderful things in His presence and have seen the fingerprints of the
blessed Holy Spirit on every area of my life.
I have known the joy of His presence from the first day of my new birth
and have seen His power mightily manifested through my life for more than four
decades. I have also known countless
instances wherein His love covered and cleansed me from foolish and selfish acts
of disobedience. Through it all He has
remained faithful and true, never leaving or forsaking me. As I look back on my journey through this
life my greatest joy apart from knowing Christ Himself is realizing I have been
His instrument in seeing tens of thousands come to know Him as their Master,
Lord and Savior. What a marvelous and
magnificent Savior we serve Who Alone can take what once was worthless (me) and
use them for the highest purpose in eternity.
To God be all the glory!
Over
the last decade I have seen an ever growing number of my brothers and sisters in
Christ (many who came to know Him through His ministry in my life) go on before
me to be united with the Lord. Many were
those who stood shoulder to shoulder with me in the gospel and are irreplaceable
in my life. All of these precious ones
are ever present reminders we are just ‘passing through’ this world. Yet, as I look about the Church today I find
it difficult to identify a present awareness of eternity. Instead, I see believers hungering and
pursuing momentary pleasures that have no hope of ever passing through the veil
into everlasting life. Are they so blind
they do not see these precious ones going on before them to see Him face to
face? Do they not understand there will
one day be a glorious family reunion filled with joy unspeakable in the presence
of our Risen King!? Do they even believe
those who refuse to repent of their selfish, disobedient lifestyles here will
have no family reunion, but rather a certain judgment followed by eternal
torment, loneliness and utter darkness forever, and ever, and ever? There will be no parties in hell. There will be no fellowship in hell. There will be no God in hell to hear their
cries for help and deliverance. That is
why it amazes me how unaware so many of those I meet are concerning their
eternity. People live as though this is
the life where all their promise of rewards and hope lies. This is precisely why the longer I live the
more I long to make sure those I meet are made aware of their need for a
Savior. God has already placed eternity
in the heart of every man. All I need to
do is proclaim and live the truth in front of them. It is never too late for anyone in this
world! I must let them know it is Jesus
Who will hear their cries for help and He alone is fully able to deliver them
from every snare of the fowler.
Are you
living your life as a sojourner and citizen of heaven while passing through this
momentary existence knowing Jesus has gone to prepare another ‘place’ for us to
live with Him forever? Too often the
cares and worries of this momentary existence create a blinding dust cloud of
confusion that chokes and smothers our spiritual senses rendering us easy prey
to our daily circumstances. In those
deadly distracting times all we need to do is be still, wait and listen for the
ever present voice of the Holy Spirit.
He will certainly speak if you will listen. In that quiet place everything will begin to
once again come into focus and start making sense. The moment you hear His voice the dust cloud
will begin to lift and the first thing you will see is that great cloud of
witnesses who have gone on before us.
They are crying out encouragement, but also warning us to be careful how
we walk, not as unwise, but as a wise, making the most of our time here as the
days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15,16) Then, as your spiritual vision begins to
clear, you will again see the Lord. In
that moment you will remember no weapon formed against you can prevail over your
life as long as your eyes are on Him. An
unwavering confidence will then begin to return to your soul as you remember His
promise to never let anything come into your day that He has not already
provided a way of escape and a pathway to freedom. Yet, that’s not all you will see. Look beneath your feet! Do you see him now? Yes!
Gloriously Yes! It is the enemy
of your soul under your feet. How is
that possible when only moments before you were easy prey to this same
enemy? Your vision was so impaired you
didn’t see the true state of things, but rather only saw with the clouded eyes
of your flesh. Jesus defeated Satan and
then said, ‘It is finished!’ The devil
is a defeated foe and all those who follow him are in the ranks of a defeated
army that is powerless in the presence of God.
By the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony that old serpent
of old is now under your feet. Praise
the Lord Who has redeemed, rescued and delivered us from the power of darkness
and transferred us to the Kingdom of His Son, a magnificent, eternal Kingdom of
Light!
So,
lift up your head and start walking as one who is more than a conqueror, rather
than one who is under the circumstances.
Remember, we are only passing through on our way to a glorious dwelling
place with Jesus. On the way let’s make
the most of our time here and take as many with us as possible. Quit being self consumed with your momentary
issues and set your mind and heart once again on Jesus. Hear the multitudes of witnesses encouraging
you on the way. Rise up! Put on the whole armor of God! Get ready!
Get ready! Get ready! This is not the time to rest. This is the time to unite and storm the gates
of hell that cannot prevail against us in Jesus’ name.
Be sober, be vigilant;
because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom
he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in
the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood
in the world. But may the God of all
grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have
suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever
and ever. Amen. 1 Peter
5:8-11
|
MINISTRY UPDATES
MAY 16 - Dr. Timothy will be ministering in Godfrey IL at Destiny Fellowship.
=========================================
DO YOU NEED TO TALK WITH US?
NOW YOU CAN CALL US TOLL FREE!
888-800-1584
|
Thank you for subscribing to the True Hope Times and being a part of our ministry whether by prayer, participation or provision!
We love you and cherish your prayers, please contact us anytime you have a prayer need or an article/study you would like to share!
Dr. Timothy & Staff of True Hope Churches & Ministries |
|
SPECIAL OFFERS
| Learn about our Complete Doctoral Degree Programs at True Hope Bible Institute! |
CONTACT DETAILS
| True Hope Churches & Ministries
P.O. Box 2529
Alma, AR 72921
info@truehopechurches.com
Toll Free: 888-800-1584
|
|