Posted on 09/28/2002 3:04:01 PM PDT by grantswank
JESUS: NEW-MAKER
J. Grant Swank, Jr., POB l984, Windham ME 04062
Pastor, New Hope Church, Windham ME
Think back ten years. What pressure was on you then? Think back fifteen years.
What were you doing? You cannot recall; it is a blur.
Sometimes, as years pass, it is as if another person lived our situations, places, and events. One of God's gifts is to blur the past in preparation for eternity.
Paul said, "Forgetting those things which are behind. . .I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:l3-l4).
The accent is on the NOW in Jesus; then this now will pass as well. Therefore, it is not so much what is the content of the now, but Jesus, who will never leave us.
Satan would have us focus on our settings: poor, confused, threatening. God would have us focus on our Savior: more than adequate, abiding, loving, leading.
It is Jesus who is all-in-all. It is He who undergirds our mortality. It is He who understand our fragility.
That is why Scripture refers to us as clay: cracked; as dust: blowing in the wind; as wheat strands: at the mercy of the weather. Yet over our humanity is the God-man, Jesus Christ--our very breath derives from Him.
Sometimes God permits dire situations so we will cast off all our attachments to the world. Some of us have difficulty letting go of our manufactured securities: position, academic accomplishments, standing in the corporation, bank accounts, political savvy, talents, connections. Yet none of these can be our security; only Jesus can.
Therefore, trying situations are allowed by the Father to continually reminds "Blessed are the poor in spirit. . ." Poverty in soul is the beginning of spiritual riches.
Right now assess, not what is taking place in your life, but how aware you are of Jesus. As long as your companionship with Him is intact, then you are sound--whole. From alpha to omega, this intactness is all that ultimately counts for anything.
We tend to concentrate on the situation at hand instead of on Jesus. But circumstances will pass; so will you. Only your tie with Jesus will go on and on.
The Father permitted His only Son to endure intense persecution, particularly from so-called religious persons. They poked, jabbed, reviled--publicly--in one circumstance after another. Are they doing that to you?
Why did the Son have to undergo such daily miseries? To make certain that in His humanness He was totally yielded to the Father's plan for the moment.
If that was the procedure for the Sinless One, then why not for His other children--the offspring of grace? As Jesus was crafted daily into the Father's image through agonies about Him, so we are crated daily in the Savior's image through agonies about us.
Take your eyes off the situation and put them on Jesus within the housing of your soul.
He is already there; do not beg Him to come. By faith, you accept this security. That is enough for you.
After pastoring a denominational church most of his ministry career, Grant was ousted from his congregation. He left his denomination and is now pastoring a home church. Read Grant's "Insights" article each month. You can respond directly to him by email: insights@woundedshepherds.com.
by J. Grant Swank
So you have been ousted from your denomination? your church?
Is there a nucleus of believers who trust your integrity? Do they number half a dozen or more?
If so, start your own church. I did.
I started the New Hope Church the day after I was betrayed by the power clique of the system. Here's how it fell in place, thanks to God's mentoring:
The very next Sunday we met on the lawn of one of the new church's parishioners. It was in August--a gorgeous Lord's Day morn. During worship, I was ordained into our evangelical, independent house-church by the newly formed church board. I was handed an ordination certificate by the board secretary. She crafted it via her computer. The new church board was introduced and then prayed over. From that Sunday till today, we are still the New Hope Church, gathering on Sunday mornings and evenings as well as Wednesday evenings in our homes.... (see link for rest of the article)
Thank you,
Sidebar Moderator
Is that better?
Did you have some purpose in posting this? If so, what is it? Are you trying to say something to the forum members? If so, what?
Thank you.
A continuation of his article
From that Sunday till today, we are still the New Hope Church, gathering on Sunday mornings and evenings as well as Wednesday evenings in our homes.
After a year or so, we dissolved the church board. We retained a treasurer. We also have two laypersons as money counters. That's it.The 1st Church of Grant works this wayWe obviously have dissolved monthly board meetings since there is no board. We therefore have no annual meetings, no elections. No need for them any more.
We have also dissolved formal church membership with its usual membership roster. No need for them.
Grant is Pope..He has no authority to answer to for his doctrine or use of funds...
Most "independant " churchs at least have elders..But Grant is God...
I think that is how Jim Jones and Koresh started out..
...He goes on
We also have no more ecclesiastical overseers telling us what to do, when to do it, how much to pay-up, what reports to fill out and mail in. We have no more church politics to contend with, no more under cuttings, no more organizational unfairness and anxieties to untie or tolerate.In other words, we have been set free! The only one now in control "above us" is God--alone!
Grant that is what Jim Jones said...
In other words, we have been set free! The only one now in control "above us" is God--alone!***
| Isn't this where Moroni shows up and gives Grant some gold plates and a Peep Stone??? |
You know Wrigley I have discovered how easy it is to get published in America. I do not think any of this stuff has been very well written or particularily insiteful..I may try my hand at a few pieces what do you think?
I already had some Meditations published ..acouple are on the web I think should I look for tham?
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