Our Faith

Ministry Statement

Our purpose is threefold: To worship God in Spirit and in Truth; to know spiritual maturity through the understanding of God’s Word by the Holy Spirit; and to touch as many lives as possible with the wonder full, power full message of our Living Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Doctrinal Statement

WE BELIEVE the Bible is the inspired and authoritive Word of God.

WE BELIEVE that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.

WE BELIEVE in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father and in His future return to this earth in power and glory to rule over the nations.

WE BELIEVE that the only means of being cleansed from sin is through repentance and faith in the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

WE BELIEVE that regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential for alvation.

WE BELIEVE that the redemptive work of Christ on the cross provides healing of the human body in answer to believing prayer.

WE BELIEVE in the Spirit-filled life by whose indwelling, the Christian is given the power to live a joyous and victorious life.

WE BELIEVE in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost, the one to everlasting life and the other to everlasting damnation.

WE BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is God come in the flesh.

WE BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever!

If you would like to know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour,

please click on this link: "How to be Born Again"

If you would like to be Baptized in the Holy Spirit, please click on this link:

"Ministering the Baptism in the Holy Spirit"

June 25, 2021 "The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all." 1 Corinthians 12:7 NKJ

Over the decades, many have asked questions re: the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. Through the grace of God, I have had many encounters with Jesus that ruffled my feathers! I won't go into all of that ... however, as a result, I found myself sorely humbled, yet better off in the long run - the race ahead of me. Jesus knew better ... I am now a willing participant, a grateful child of God!

Before His intervention, I was of the mind that said, "If I don't see it in the Word, I won't believe it." As if I knew "everything" God had hidden in His Word! How prideful of me! Yikes! I remember Joseph Garlington* saying, "First God does you, and then maybe, He'll tell you what He did!" That was quite the contrary to what I expected, however, that is exactly what Jesus individually fashioned for me! First He did me, then, through the daily reading and meditation in His Word, He began to show me what He did! Five years of discovering treasures that were previously hidden from me. I feel I have barely scratched the surface.

Today's writing came from a statement presented by a comment on youtube:

"Food for thought: Does the Bible tell us what the presence of God 'feels' like? I don't think so. Also, look at the response of people in the Bible when they encounter God: reverence, fear, a recognition of their own unworthiness (Matthew 17, Exodus 20, Isaiah 6, Acts 5). Not euphoria or incessant laughing or shaking. I am not saying the Spirit can't bring you joy, but Biblically we are not given any description of what God's presence itself feels like."

Well, I had believed that at one time myself. Until, Jesus humbled me ... it was much like Saul on the road to Damascus ... all of a sudden at the words of Isaiah 61:1-3 in the song, "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord," the fire of God came upon me like a lightening bolt! HE had my full attention! That was the end of August 1995.

The Bible gives us many references as to how it "feels" in the presence of God. Love, Joy, Godly sorrow leading to conviction of sin, peace, laughter, fear, awe ... countless examples of what the presence of God "feels" like. :)

So I gently suggest an in depth study of the words "shake, tremble, travail, in the scriptures, both Hebrew and Greek. It's all in there, and more ... much is hidden treasure for just the right time, in our individual lives. Hidden for those who desire to "see" and "hear" what the Holy Spirit is revealing individually for such a time as this ... Psalm 33:15 He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works.

Back to 1995, one of the very first words Jesus revealed to me personally was re: the "shaking" manifestation. During my daily reading of the Word, I came upon the word "travail" in Isaiah 66:7-8 & Galatians 4:19 ... as an intercessor, I was led to look further to find out what that meant to God for me personally. I found the word in my Strong's Concordance:

Travail/travailed H2342 Hebrew presents many of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. Huge word!

Strong's H2342 - ḥûl

חוּל chûwl, khool; or חִיל chîyl

a primitive root; properly, to twist or whirl (in a circular or spiral manner), i.e. (specifically) to dance, to writhe in pain (especially of parturition) or fear; figuratively, to wait, to pervert:—bear, (make to) bring forth, (make to) calve, dance, drive away, fall grievously (with pain), fear, form, great, grieve, (be) grievous, hope, look, make, be in pain, be much (sore) pained, rest, shake, shapen, (be) sorrow(-ful), stay, tarry, travail (with pain), tremble, trust, wait carefully (patiently), be wounded.

You can find even more on this amazing word re: what it "feels" like is God's presence here: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2342/kjv/wlc/0-1/

These are the verses I was meditating on that day:

Isaiah 66:7 Before she travailed, H2342 she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.

Isaiah 66:8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth H2342 in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, H2342 she brought forth her children.

Galatians 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth G5605 again until Christ be formed in you. G5605 ὠδίνω ōdínō, o-dee'-no; from G5604; to experience the pains of parturition (literally or figuratively):—travail in (birth).

Another discovery was re: the word "fell" G1968 - epipiptō in Acts 11:15 "And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost "fell" G1968 on them, as on us at the beginning." That word "fell" from G1909 and G4098 means to embrace (with affection) or seize (with more or less violence; literally or figuratively).

This happened to my husband and I ... When the Holy Spirit "fell" on us following Holy Communion the night we were baptized in water on March 25, 1972. I was "embraced" (as with affection), and my husband was "seized" (as with more or less violence, both literally and figuratively!

At one point, Jesus showed me what He did to Ezekiel! The whole book is an amazing account of what it was like for Ezekiel to "feel" and/or experience the presence of God beginning with the very first chapter ... Ezekiel 1:2 And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and "set" me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me.

That word "set" H5975 - ʿāmaḏעָמַד

definitions includes (Hiphil) to station, set; to "cause" to stand firm, maintain; to "cause" to stand up, "cause" to set up, erect.

Another treasure discovered: Jeremiah 23:9 "Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; H7363 I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words of his holiness." That word "shake" רָחַף râchaph, raw-khaf'; "a primitive root; to brood; by implication, to be relaxed:—flutter, move, shake." (In my mind, I could "see" God shaking Jeremiah like a rag doll!) The best part of this is that HE does it sovereignly "at His holy Word," some translations say "words." KJV is the "words of His holiness!" I love that!

God looks on those who "tremble at His word" as reverential. Isaiah 66:2b ... to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth H2730 at my word.

The root of that word tremble, KJV translates Strong's H2729 in the following manner: afraid (20x), tremble (13x), fray away (2x), careful (1x), discomfited (1x), fray (1x), quaked (1x).

Outline of Biblical Usage: to tremble, quake, move about, be afraid, be startled, be terrified (Qal) to quake, be anxiously careful, to or come trembling, cause to tremble, to drive in terror.

Strong’s Definitions:

חָרַד chârad, khaw-rad'; a primitive root; to shudder with terror; hence, to fear; also to hasten (with anxiety):—be (make) afraid, be careful, discomfit, fray (away), quake, tremble.

1828 Noah Webster's Dictionary ... quake: To shake; to tremble; to be agitated with quick but short motions continually repeated; to shudder. Thus we say, a person quakes with fear or terror, or with cold. Hebrews 12:21

All of these "feelings" words are related to the "fear" of the Lord, and the beauty of His holiness, realities the modern day church hasn't fully embraced --- yet. I could go on and on ... but would rather each get the blessing of discovering His sweet treasures from Jesus Himself. The Holy Spirit teaches each of us, for again, we are fashioned individually.

May He personally introduce each of us to the Holy Fear of the Lord at His Word, and the beauty of His holiness from His perspective, individually.

It is nothing for Him to shake the earth, therefore, He can easily shake any of us, even a "Saul" on the way to Damascus! Even as Jesus causes a bolt of lightening to shake the heavens (or a rebellious Saul), He can also direct His finger to shake anything/anyone else He pleases.

Father God, forgive us for thinking/saying the devil, or man is responsible for Your manifestations. The deceiver can only counterfeit the real. Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that You are the only Creator of Your manifest presence, and I thank You that Your manifestations** are for the benefit of all. 1 Corinthians 12:7

Father, I also ask You to bless Your people as we humble ourselves before You, pray and seek Your face, turn from our wicked ways, ideas, and the enemy's lies. Then we will hear from heaven, You will forgive our sins and heal our lands. Grant us a Baptism of Repentance coupled with Godly sorrow, O God. Do what is right in Your sight, in Jesus name, Amen. \o/

_____________________________

* https://www.bishopjlg.com/

**1 Corinthians 12:7 G5321 φανέρωσις phanérōsis, fan-er'-o-sis; from G5319; exhibition, i.e. (figuratively) expression, (by extension) a bestowment:—manifestation.

P.S. I am not a Hebrew/Greek scholar ... so I am sure there is much more for me to learn about God's Holy Words! As I tell my grandchildren, "Your Nonna is never too old to learn something new or be corrected!" Thank You Jesus for the unveiling and the unfolding of Your Holy Words! \o/

Grace upon grace, Betty Jordan