1 Peter 1:16 – “…for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy….” 

How do we define sanctification?  Sanctification means “set apart for God’s purposes” or “separated from sin and spiritual uncleanness.”  In the original text of the Bible, “sanctification” is often the same word as “holiness.”  The definition of sanctification has two components – separation from sin and dedication for God’s purposes (that is, the will of God).  In practice, we experience sanctification in three general ways: past, present, and future.  As Christians, we can say that we were sanctified, that we are being sanctified, and that we will be sanctified.  

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Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

This issue must be a top priority for the church.    continue

Titus 2:7-8 – “In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned.”

The Lord wants us to teach the classes with an attitude of humility and gratitude in our hearts.  We have seen those preachers on television who confuse their own egotistical self-confidence and aggressiveness with unction.  We do not teach like this. 

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Maranatha Church Services Description

“For God is not a God of disorder but of peace…everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.”  - 1 Corinthians 14:33, 40

PLEADING THE BLOOD OF JESUS TO BEGIN: The brother who is designated beforehand to lead the worship in that service (usually a deacon or worker) goes to the pulpit at the exact moment the service is supposed to begin.  The worship leader greets the church briefly (one sentence) and asks everyone to kneel together to plead the Blood of Jesus.  Of course, people can stand if they find kneeling difficult.   continue

“Everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.”  (1 Corinthians 14:3)

1 Corinthians 12:7-10 -”To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy...”

We must be careful about how we handle prophecies.  Prophecy is the sixth of spiritual gift out of nine that Paul lists in 1 Corinthaisn 12. We are happy to see so many Pentecostal and charismatic churches around us that believe in prophecy and have amazing experiences with this gift. We are grieved when we hear of abuses of prophecy or unscriptural practices surrounding this gift, which bring scandals in Christianity and mislead many people.

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1 Timothy 3:1-3 - ”…Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.  Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money…”

Christian groups always have some form of leadership, whether the group is a member of a healthy Body, or simply a manifestation of a modern Christian movement. Protestant churches typically refer to their leadership as “ministry.”  Ministries vary in roles somewhat from denomination to denomination, but they can be divided into two general categories: professional clergy and non-professional ministry (sometimes referred to as “lay ministry” or “tentmakers” in some circles).

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1 Peter 1:8-11 - ”…Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow…”

Salvation is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Salvation is central to the message of any church that preaches the gospel.  The Bible teaches that salvation is available only through Jesus Christ, not through whatever religion we choose.

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1 Corinthians 16:1-3 – “Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem.“

The New Testament indicates that we should avoid collecting tithes or offerings in a way that 1) makes people feel pressured; 2) gives an opportunity for wealthier church members to show off; or 3) makes it appear that the church or the pastors are interested mostly in people’s money.  It appears from the Bible that the church in the Apostolic Era did not ask for money or take offerings during their public services.

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Psalm 103:3 - “…who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases…”

Galatians 2:12-14 -  “I plead with you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you.  You have done me no wrong.  As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn.”  

We believe strongly in healing, and we have many wonderful healings happen in our midst.  At the same time, we freely admit that not everyone is healed, and we do not always know why.  We know there are several factors that affect whether we receive a healing.  Many talk about “faith” – and there is a place in the Scriptures where it says Jesus could not operate many miracles in Nazareth, because of their unbelief. (Matthew 13:58; James 1:6-7 also addresses this).  Sometimes we ask for the wrong motives, and this also prevents our prayers from being answered (James 4:3).   continue

Matthew 23:6-11 - “They love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi.’  But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers.  And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.  Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ.  The greatest among you will be your servant.”

Our flesh craves prestige and power.  The Holy Spirit does not accommodate this trait of man.  In the Work of the Holy Spirit, there is a constant struggle to keep our flesh from interfering with the Spirit’s Work, from hurting God’s project.  The Spirit wants to give glory to Jesus and none other.  Our flesh wants at least a little glory for ourselves.  Some people feel a need to be someone “special” – as did the Jewish leaders Jesus describes in the passage above.   continue