Tag Archives: Christ

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Timothy Leadership Conference

16th Annual Timothy Leadership Conference 2015, Wednesday, April 15- Saturday, April 18
Christ Haven Worship Center
Philadelphia, PA

This year’s Timothy Conference was truly a blessing! Although Ark of Covenant Ministries arrived late for the 1st evening service on Wednesday night, we got a glimpse of what The Lord was doing through Bishop Gerald Loyd, who was the speaker of the hour for that service, and we were welcomed by Dr. Cummings, the Conference founder, with many thanks and gratitude.

The format for most of the conference’s meetings started with an hour of Morning Prayer power, followed by a seminar by one of the speakers for the night services, followed by a lunch break, following two separate seminar sessions with 6 choices to hear different speakers, followed by a lunch break, ending with the evening service. There were opportunities for sight-seeing in the Philadelphia area, the host church in Philadelphia did an excellent job of providing breakfast, lunch, and dinner for a very reasonable fee, and as always, conference goers were able to sit down and talk to  the speakers of each seminar on a face to face basis. There was a great deal of teaching that was poured into conference goers, that equipped for leadership, growth, and relationship with the Creator.

For Ark of Covenant Ministries, here were some highlights of the conference:
• Bishop Gerald Loyd’s Seminar “Leading Without Limits and Boundaries” Thursday Morning Seminar
o Leadership without limits and boundaries where he walked us through what it takes to be “purposeful” believers. There are two major frustrations when we don’t find out what our purpose is: unrealized anointing brings on spiritual constipation, and which breeds unrealized purpose.
• Debbie Heller’s Seminar Session “Stress Management for Leaders” Thursday Afternoon Seminar
o That afternoon, conferences goers had a choice between three seminar sessions. Ark of Covenant chose the session titled “Stress Management for Leaders,” in which Ms. Debbie Heller gave strikingly easy daily practices that eradicate stress all together. Coupled with faith, Ms. Heller suggested that we focus our minds on the present, rather than the past or future. Having a full mind or being mindful, is the difference between stressing or not.
• Dr. Graylin Stargell “Who and I Really? Understanding How People See you!” Thursday Afternoon Seminar
o We broke into groups, were given a real life scenario, and asked how we would react. The focus was on finding out how we think, and figuring out how others saw us in our decision making. Dr. Stargell wanted to see if we were “controllers” or “comptrollers.” Controllers are those who take over, dominate, and micromanage situations, while Comptrollers put systems in place, and delegate responsibilities to individuals accordingly for overall success.
• Dr. Graylin Stargell “Is Your Church One Phone Call From Disaster? Church Succession,                  Resignation and Management Planning” Friday Afternoon Seminar
o Many leaders have nothing for their congregations to fall back on if anything were to happen to them. Dr. Graylin Stargell gave us a basis for how to establish a pastoral succession plan so as to avoid the congregation being unfruitful and broken up.
• Sightseeing in Philadelphia
o An Elder from the host church who is also the church bus driver, took a group of us through the city to one of the Philly Cheese Steak restaurants the city is known for. He, being a native Philadelphian, showed us all the wonderful sights around the city area.
• Friday Night Service with District Elder, Dr. D. W. Cummings
o Dr. Cummings preaching ushered in a spirit of repentance, worship, praise, and took some of the older saints back to the days when the young people use to “cut up” in the church. The Spirit of the Lord was present and left a lasting impression on many as we traveled back to the Cleveland area.

This year’s Timothy Conference experienced a new location, and left a new desire to grow all the more closer to the Lord, even in our leadership roles. It was truly a blessing.

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Peace Breakers and Promise Shakers

Peace Breakers
Psalms 12:1-8

Peace: A state of calm and quiet, freedom from disturbing thoughts or emotions. The hebrew word for peace is Shalom.
Shalom means complete welfare and health.
The verb of the word Shalom is Shelem which means to be complete, and sound.
In 1 Kings 9:25, there is a display of a peace offering up to God. This was shalam. Shalam means to make peace. Proverbs 16:7 has an example of this as well.

Christ came not send peace on this earth but a sword as in Matthew 10:34. Jesus is concerned about our personal peace because through individual peace does one obtain unified peace. Before individual peace can take place you must first rebuke those things that cause you not to have peace. In Mark 4:39, Christ rebuked the wind and sea and it stopped.Then you need to operate the same as Christ did against all situations that come your way to disturb your peace. You need to tell that situation to be at peace. You have to, in your mind, look at that situation and speak peace and calmness into it. Your making up scenarios in your own mind of things that haven’t even happened, causing your inner being to be at war with itself. Sometimes you just have to say “mind be quite, be still, be at peace.” Christ will rush in and stop the chaos right then and there.

Ephesians 2:14, “for he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;” The second chapter of Ephesians talks about being at peace. God is our help, our glory, and our need…HE IS. When you are in your moments alone, ask yourself, why am I going thorugh all these thoughts in my mind? Because your not at peace. You are at peace when your mind is stayed on Christ. But when your on every situation you can’t reslove by your own power, you’ll allways be worried, fearful, and upset.

Philippians 4:6-7, “be careful for nothing;  but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Promise Shakers
2 Thessalonians 2:1-2, “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.” There are people who like to shake your world, but as in Hebrews 12:26-27, we’re reminded that no matter how people treat us, no matter what people say should not shake us. Because the world  is coming to an end, that should not shake you. If that disturbs you, you need to sitt back and think about where you are in Christ.  We can not be soon shaken by what people say, how they receive us, or whether they love us, or for any situation.

Promise means a pledge to do or not to do. The greek word for promise is epan-gelia. It is a law term which denotes a summons.  Shake means to move or cause to move or disturb emotionally. There are people who will distrub you emotionally and mentally, and take your peace. By taking your peace they disturb your relationship with God. The author of the confusion of peace is Satan; You will be moving yourself in to his realm, therby enabling him to cause others to destroy your peace and your relationship with God. You need to watch where and what you place your attention and emotions on. Fear will cause your peace to be distrubed, anger will cause your peace to be distrubed. Satans main job is to cause you to loose it and delay God’s promise for your life.

Always be reminded of Hebrews 12:14, “follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.”

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We are Who we Serve

Happy Sabbath to all! A day of rest, that is surely needed among the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives. Praise and worship this morning was nice and set the tone for us to hear what God has in store for us.

“We are Who we Serve: But I invite you to abundant life” is our topic today out of Isaiah chapters 53, 54, and 55. Are you tired and there seems to be no peace in your spirit? Things just feel out of balance? No fulfillment in your life, in your being? Looking for love that makes your life complete, alive and at peace? That will quiet those quiet moments? A peace not as men call it, but a peace that will hug you when your down and out, or when you feel like your not even worth being alive? A peace when your mind has so many conflicts. Too many decisions so many questions. There is a peace, a peace that passes all understanding.

Isaiah 53:1-12, 55:1-13
Isaiah 53:5- “but he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” The word chastisement means to punish bodily. In the greek its spelled PAIDEUO meaning to train children. The word stripes means strokes or blows with a hammer, the mark or print of blows in the skin. Iniquities means wickedness or wicked acts.

All this was done to him for us. He suffered all the pain, crying and headaches that we would have had to experience, and experienced for Himself on our behalf. Because He suffered for us, we should not have to struggle. All we have to do is live for Him. We lack faith, when we don’t see an opportunity for faith, we should sill have faith. Its hard these days to really hold on to something that we can’t see, because we want to do it our way. Thats why the word says lean not to your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path. We have to stop questioning His motives.

Isaiah 54:4-17
“Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood anymore. For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called” 4-5.

The name Christianity has become synonymous with fanatical, uncaring, unloving, vengeful people. The name Christian really turns people off today. So how will we be able to invite  people to Christ; how are we going to overcome that stigmatism of Christianity that the world sees? In some ways we try to defend being a Christian. The term really means Christ like. When the world sees Christians (or people posing as being Christ like) acting a certain way, they say if this is the way God is, I don’t want to be a part of that God. Majority of times its a male who is seeing and saying these things. Even in the church, there are mostly all women in the church. If you see men, you’ll see them as musicians, a few deacons, a few ministers, security, or janitor. But in the actual service, you’ll see few, the church is full of women, which is not bad its a blessing. But God wants to bring men to cause that oneness to be there. So it leads you to the point; what are we doing to recover the whole family, the men to the house of God? We teach our women and children. Even in Isaiah 54:13 “And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.” We need to walk boldly in the words of God as a true Child of God, I don’t’ use the term Christian, but Child of God. We need to let men know that God needs them, young and old alike. So you need to welcome them to a life in God, showing them that they are needed and loved by God. In Isaiah 54:17 “no weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.” There is power in this verse for both men and women.

God is not so much concerned about your money or clothing or food to eat or money you may have to give. Isaiah 55:3, 6,7 “incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his ways, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” This is not being told to men. When a church has a strong men foundation it makes for a strong ministry.

In conclusion, we need to begin to not talk like the church, but walk like the chruch. No matter what comes against us remember this “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, for whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord which made heaven and earth” Psalm 121.

If you have questions concerning what we’ve talked about today, comment below or email us ataocministries@yahoo.com.

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Happy Sabbath Friends

If ever there was a time for rest it is now! This week has been long, and its refreshing to take some time and slow down. We honor the Father this Sabbath in resting and we honor Him in our service today, giving Him the praise and glory through His son and our Savior Jesus.

The scripture reading today is Daniel chapter 12 and Isaiah 57.

Isaiah 57 is referring to the healing of the backslider. To correlate to everyday life, we have to be very careful about what we are putting our attention into on a daily bases. Anything that removes your mind from loving God is dangerous. That “anything” can become your God. You need to forsake and move away from those things. We try to justify our sins, and make God out to be a “loving” God who forgives no matter what. However, our hearts need to change.

Moving onto Daniel 12, we as believers are suppose to support and encourage one another in the last days. In the sales word there is a selling tactic know as the “Law of Average.” You talk to 75 people. Out of the 75 you may get 25 that consider; out of the 25 You may get 10 who seriously consider; out of the 10 you may get 5 who Are serious to commit. This is the same sort of tactic we as believers need to utilize to win souls. Daniel 12:2 says that some will awake to everlasting contempt and shame. How would you like to awake to shame because you didn’t do anything for Christ; if you let something else distract you from your walk in Him?

Lets get back to fellowship with Him; lets get back to doing what He has give us as individuals do in in Him. Lets get back to Christ.