All posts by AOCM

My name is Pastor Tony Catron I graduate from K.S.U. with a degree in electronic/electrical engineering. While doing that I became a Junior Deacon and also a musician in my dad's ministry in Cleveland, Ohio. Years later, my career took me to Michigan where I worked as a Electrical/Electronic Engineer. While in Michigan I became a Minister, then later went to Seminary training at Birmingham Bible Institute and became an Elder at a large Pentecostal church in Michigan called LLCC. I was called to the ministry by God. So I headed up an outreach ministry based on the End Times, dealing with restoration in people lives. Then my dad called me back to Ohio to help him Pastor his church. During that time, God changed my outreach ministry, turning it into a full-time restoration ministry. He gave me the name Ark of Covenant Ministries and the rest is history.
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Mark 9

The Transfiguration of Christ

Jesus took Peter, James and John up to a mountain. There, Jesus was transfigured into a state of bright glory. There standing with Him were Moses and Elijah, Moses whose body was buried by God Himself, and Elijah who was taken up into Heaven by a chariot of fire. Two men who were close to God in power and might. Jesus had said to the 12 disciples prior to taking these 3 with Him to the mountain that there were some among them that would not taste death until they saw the Kingdom of God manifest with power. These 3 were privileged to see this.

The Disciples Unable to Cast Out a Demon

It seems that age know no bounds when it comes to evil spirits tormenting people. What could have caused a spirit to enter into this boy? We may never know why, but one thing we do know is that Jesus’ question to the Father about how long the boy had been tormented showed Jesus’ compassion. Can demons come in from sin of a parent? A child can see the sin of a parent which will open up the will of the child to accept such sin.

Jesus used the 9 disciples failure, who hadn’t gone with Jesus to the mount of Transfiguration, as a teaching tool. He will send us to do things that we don’t know anything about, knowing that we may fail, so that we can grow. Although the disciples had experience with casting out demons prior to this incident (Mark 6), they came against something that challenged their faith even further. Though they had the authority from Jesus, something prevented them from using it. Jesus rebuked His disciples. Their faith was lacking and that is why they couldn’t cast out the demon. We see that faith is the key to any miracle. Prayer and fasting awakens faith within us, so that when we do confront evil spirits, we will be filled enough to act in Jesus’ authority to send demons packing.

Jesus Again Prophesies His Death and Resurrection

During His time walking with the 12 disciples, He often would mention the true purpose of His destiny as the Anointed One of God: to suffer and die, but be resurrected 3 days later. The disciples response was always indifferent.

The Disciples Argue over Who Will Be the Greatest

Peter, James and John had just witnessed the the glory of Jesus, and returning with Jesus from the mountain of transfiguration, they encountered the other 9 disciples who couldn’t cast out a demon. Could competition have been stirred up among them because of this? They were arguing about who would be greatest. Jesus admonished them that there can be a greater: the one who is not vying for status, but humbly serves others. The disciples later told Jesus that there was someone casting out demons who wasn’t a part of their group, wanting them to stop. But Jesus again admonished His disciples not to think in such a way to degrade someone because as His parable of the milestone says, if they continued in their unnecessary rebuke and denigration of that soul, it would be better to have never been born than to face the judgement that their evil actions deserved.

Jesus spoke of sin being compared to everlasting hell fire if we don’t turn from our sin. He also uses fire to say that everyone will be “salted with fire.” John the baptizer said that Jesus baptizes with the Holy Ghost and fire. Fire for the believer is refining and purifying. Fire for the sinner is everlasting torment.

Summary

  1. Faith is the key that unlocks doors to miracles, 19
  2. Supernatural is natural when following Christ, 3-8
  3. Faith tried is faith true, 19, 23, 29
  4. It takes real faith to walk in Jesus ways, 18-19
  5. Greatness is found in serving others, 34-35
  6. Be sure you truly believe you believe, 24
  7. Its best to loose a limb today than let you soul be cast away, 43-48
  8. Your belief can affect change in others, 23-26
  9. Become seasoned in the Lord, 50
  10. Be not afraid to ask the Lord of His ways, 32

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Is Someone’s Sinful Lifestyle Defiling You or Has Defiled You, So That Now It Defines You?

Sometimes as humans and even as Christians, we try to place our desires as God’s will for our lives, to satisfy the need to fulfill our individual lust of this walk in life, baring no form of common sense. At any time in your life have you ever wanted something so bad, that you would do just about anything to get it? Or maybe, you had made up in your mind that if things in your life do go the way you planned, that you would do all you could or whatever it took to make things happen the way you believe they should be; that you began to damage all around you to the point where the situation changed for the worse? Like anything in life, as the old quote from Theodore Roosevelt reads: “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain and difficulty.”

Luke 6:43-45 says:
43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

For most people in society today, all have one this one major problem: lack of or no patience. As I said earlier, anything worth having is worth waiting for. For instance if you want something from the Lord then you need to wait on it.

Romans 12:1-17
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is
that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of
himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in
tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high
things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.


You must understand that we can’t allow this world to define who we are in life. As Saints, we must not allow our life and walk as a Christian to be associated with the world’s understanding or interpretation of what a Christian is.

1 John 2:15-17
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.


In my conclusion: My challenge and question to you is who is defiling you now?

Mark 7:15 says, There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

Also Mark 8:27 states, And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?

Who do people say you are?

Week of April 26

The Verse

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7

The Prayer

Dear Lord,

Thank you for caring for me.

You Protect me.

You Love Me.

You Provide for me.

Cover me God.

Show me you during this time when everything feels so uncertain.

Open my eyes to see you.

Open My ears to hear you.

I sing praises unto your name,

Because I know that you are real.

You are true.

You are solid.

I can place my trust in you.

I give you my worries.

I give you my fears.

I let go.

For I know.

You care for me.

Thank you for continually loving me.

Show me how to be today

In Jesus Name, Amen

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Mark 8

Jesus Multiplies Food Again

When Jesus looks at a person, He doesn’t just care for them in one way. He cares for the physical needs of the people as well as where they stand spiritually. His heart went out to the crowd who followed Him and again as we saw 2 chapters earlier, He gave bread and fish to people, multiplying food for 4,000 people. Jesus has a heart and He wants us to have a heart. He is so concerned about other people and not Himself. These people were in the wilderness and it shows that Jesus provides in a desert place, no matter if it is a literal desert or a spiritual desert.

Jesus Warns of the Yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod

The disciples forgot to take bread. They forgot to take the things that they needed. We’re not talking about food, but a deeper level of understanding in learning not to be forgetful. We need to know what to do to prepare for the journey ahead of us by spending time with the Lord. The Disciples when Jesus told them to beware of the teaching that come from others, they were oblivious. Its important for us to be covered, prepared and have eyes to see what is around us. We may fall back into what we use to do unaware if were not discerning good from bad and what’s necessary for us personally.

Jesus Heals Blind Eyes

There were some people who brought the blind man to Jesus. People, though they may not have a relationship with Jesus, know where to get healing. There is something about being with Jesus that awakens the inner man’s connection to the Creator. Jesus leads the blind man away and does the miracle in secret. Among teaching the disciples through the miracle of multiplying bread and fish, Jesus was still doing healing miracles.

Peter Receives Revelation from God

Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do men say that I AM?” It was unfolded to Peter by divine inspiration that Jesus was the Christ.

Jesus Prophesies His Death and Resurrection

Jesus began to tell His disciples that He was destined to go to Jerusalem and suffer, die and be raised 3 days later.

What It Means to Be a Follower of Jesus

Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Jesus.

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Now That the Pandemic Is Passing, Where Did It Leave Your Faith?

When storms come our way in life, we tend to weigh our lives by or walk by the severity and type storm. Often times we measure ourselves or our Christian walk by outside influences or internal conflicts. In this world, this human mindset is now the norm, and reason, humility, honor, and common sense are becoming a rarity not only in this world but also in the Church. Most people in society today will speak of how great a world it would be if we could get rid of the evil in the world to stop all the violent people who commit evil. But I say that the first step in cleaning up our society starts when you begin by restoring yourself from your subjugated life styles.

Mark 4:17-19 says, “And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.”

As we begin to slowly reincorporate back into the hands of our sometimes hectic, chaotic life, what do we learn from the experience? Have you become a saint or maybe more of an “‘aint”? One thing that all of us fail to realize is that the pandemic has not ended but just begun, that the pandemic of sin and faithlessness is right beside disbelief, which most
people in society, as well as the children of God, have been overtaken by.

Romans 7:14-20
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.


As Paul has put it, it’s the constant struggles of our mortal flesh in direct conflict with our soul. Why halt you between to opinions? If you believe Jesus is God and that He is will do what He said he’d do or if you won’t believe He will do, then why keep playing Christian? If you want to do the worldly thing, then do it wholeheartedly.

In my conclusion, I’ll leave you with these words found in 1 Peter 4:7-13:
7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.