THE CHURCH OF GOD OR CHURCH OF MAN and The Rock Almighty Voices with Deliverance.

WHAT’S THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT WE SHOULD INITIALLY BE LOOKING FOR WHEN SEARCHING FOR A PASTOR? 

We’re going to begin by looking at Scriptures that are from the book of Acts, the Epistles, and the book of Revelation that will assist us in unveiling the qualifications, duties, and what the teaching content of the messages of a pastor-teacher should be comprised of. You might ask, why aren’t you not using the Old Testament and the four Gospels Scriptures? This is simply because the revelation about the specifics of the leadership of the New Testament church wasn’t unveiled in any of those books.

I think we’d agree that most of the Old Testament Scriptures pertain to the theocratic nation of Israel that operated under obedience to the God-given institution of the Mosaic Law and its prescribed priesthood. While the four Gospels do unveil in a limited way Scriptures that talk about a new kingdom that was forthcoming, a power source that would reside within by means of the indwelling of one of the members of the Trinity, and a new attitude that focuses on the renewal of the thoughts of an individual, however, the specific office of pastor wasn’t mentioned until the revelation of such was disclosed to some of the apostles and disciples, proclaimed by them, and recorded in the writings of the New Testament canon. So, sit back, read, and enjoy what is about to be presented.

By the way, there’s one more important thing to be aware of. This study is going to present a lot of information about the office of a pastor. If you try to use all of it at one time as an aide in either assisting you in finding a pastor or in critiquing the pastor of the church that you’re currently attending or have yet to attend, you’ll probably become overwhelmed. So, what I recommend is to try and pick out just a few ideas from each chapter and use these to make a determination as to whether those in leadership pass what I’ll call the Bible rating.

 

Where should we begin?

Let’s start by looking at what I consider the number one thing that should be clearly evident to us when searching for a pastor.

John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

From this verse, we can deduce this question.

Is the pastor born-again? Another way of asking this is, has the pastor received the indwelling Holy Spirit?

This is by far the most important qualification of a pastor. In other words, was there an acknowledgment at a point of time when the pastor acknowledged themselves as a sinner to God the Father along with expressing a desire to turn from them and make a profession of belief in Jesus Christ, the Messiah/Savior, as to who He is and what He has accomplished? This is otherwise known as responding to the gospel of Christ.

What should this gospel convey to a listener?

The gospel of Christ is the good news that Jesus Christ, the God-man, who as one of the members of the Trinity, pre-existed time, left heaven, was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life obeying the directives of another member of the Trinity, this being God the Father, died on a cross paying the debt for the sins of all mankind along with providing forgiveness for them thus satisfying the justice of God, rose again after three days never to die again, was witnessed on earth by over five hundred people in His glorified body, and ascended into heaven. Belief in this Jesus is one of the conditions for a person receiving the indwelling Holy Spirit. If a person has received the Holy Spirit, then they’re born again (born anew).

The other condition is repenting of one’s sins.

Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

The word repent means to change one’s views, designs, and practices or to turn from one’s evil ways to God the Father, which precedes belief in His Son. When an unbeliever repents and believes, they’ll receive into their life (body) the person of the Holy Spirit.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

This verse supports the conjecture that it’s the belief of the truth (belief of the gospel of Christ, which includes repentance) that causes an unbeliever to receive and thus be sanctified by the Spirit. This begs the question.

How do you know if the pastor is born-again or born anew of the Spirit?

Just ask. Pastor, would you mind answering this question? Are you born-again? If the response was, I repented of my sins to God the Father and believed in His Son; God come in the flesh, deity (possesses the divine attributes of sovereignty, righteousness, justice, love, eternal life, omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, immutability, and veracity), then Hallelujah.

If the response was, I hope I’m going to heaven because:

I believe in the Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

I was sprinkled with water as a baby or immersed in water as an adult.

I obey the tenets of the faith that I’m a member of.

There are many avenues for someone to get to heaven.

Then it should become obvious that this leader hasn’t received the Holy Spirit.

Have you ever taken a test in school where you’re asked to answer many questions, but there’s one that has to be responded to in essay form that’s worth the majority of the points? Well, this is that one. Have you ever been given a box of chocolates, and when you opened the cover, each one had a slightly different appearance along with a unique ingredient inside that you couldn’t see? And you were afraid of picking the wrong one?

My favorite candy filling is soft caramel. I can think of a number of occasions at Christmas when I hoped that the sweet which I decided to choose was exactly what I wanted. And when it wasn’t, I couldn’t just spit it out in front of everyone. I’d quietly get up and go to the bathroom, discharge it out into the toilet, and flush it.

Finding the right pastor is kind of like this. There’s many of them that look good on the outside. They dress well. They speak well. They’re kind. But do they really have the key ingredient that we just talked about.

We’re off to a great start! In the next chapter, we’ll attempt to answer this question. Who calls and qualifies a born-again believer to the leadership office of pastor-teacher? But before we go there, I’ve got an article for you to read about how important it is to choose the right pastor as it would be in choosing the right kind of candy. Maybe this is an over-reach, but I think you’ll enjoy this.

This story mentions a movie that was called Forest Gump. I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of it or seen it? I did. In the movie, the main character, Forest, says “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.”

HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT CHOCOLATE FROM THE GIFT BOX IN THE [BREAK ROOM]

Forrest Gump was wrong. [There’s] a way to know what you’re going to get in a box of chocolates — mostly.

[December] 13, 2016 

This time of year, at least in the US, the gift packages and treats come flying in (sometimes literally) from vendors and customers. People are saying “thank you” or “hey, how about sending some more business our way” — and they’re doing it the international language of business: food.

The most commonly used phrase in this language is the classic assorted box of chocolates. Sure, it’s a nice gesture. Most people enjoy chocolate candies. They don’t need to be cut, chilled, prepared, and [they’re] less likely to cause [guilt] due to their diminutive size.

But the box of chocolates comes with baggage — the anxiety of the unknown. We’ve all been there. You mosey on into the [break room] and see a surprise box of chocolates. You’re not an animal, so you’re going to indulge. But you can’t stand the thought of biting into the raspberry creme one, or worse, the monstrosity [that’s] the cherry cordial. You so badly want the chocolate or vanilla buttercream, the nougat, or the caramel one. But the thought of biting into the chocolate with the orange creme sends you into a bout of existential vertigo.

Fear not, friends, [I’ve] stumbled upon a very simple rule to help [you] navigate through the box of [chocolates]. If the candy is square and tall, [you’re] safe — it’s bound to be a [non-fruit-filled] candy. If it’s round, it will tend to be fruit [crème-filled]. Try it at your own risk.

Now, some boxes of chocolates come with guides — a printed paper that shows how the treats are laid out in the box, with their shapes, and tells you what’s in them. This is great, and if you encounter a box with a guide, you can safely dive in. But [it’s] not the common practice. The square/circle rule can help you to pick what you’re looking for in the absence of a guide.

I’m here to help, and I hope this principle has helped you. Let me know how it works for you this holiday season.2

Likewise, I’m here to help you in finding the right pastor to co-labor with. You’ll find something in the final section of this book that will provide you with the right spiritual ingredients so that you’ll know what to look for.                                             

Website: http://bit.ly/1RQnYJ8          

Endnotes

2Mike Sturm. “HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT CHOCOLATE FROM THE GIFT BOX IN THE [BREAK ROOM],” 7 January 2021

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My name is James Rondinone.

I grew up in Massachusetts and began my own spiritual journey early on in life.

I attended Bible college, having completed a two-year Christian Leadership course of study, and graduated as valedictorian (summa cum laude).

I’ve written and published a number of spiritual books on various biblical topics.

These books can be found online.

Amazon.com: https://amzn.to/2RB0Y7D Website: https://makingtheonerightchoice.com

Article source: https://articlebiz.com

GIVING THANKS FOR OUR HEALING

 

by Creflo Dollar | 

If you’ve ever suffered from a health issue, you can remember how glad you were when you recovered. Our bodies have an amazing power to regenerate and heal, but the process isn’t spontaneous; it comes from God, the Great Physician. He can heal the body, soul, and spirit, and also direct His healing powers through anyone He chooses to use. It’s actually His will for us to be healthy; we can therefore be thankful for the healing Jesus made available to us.

Regardless of how healing and wholeness come about, we can be sure that God is behind it. His Word says that those who trust in Him will prosper on every level, including physical health. “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” (3 John 1:2). Our souls are our minds, our thinkers, and our choosers; what goes on in our minds has a powerful effect on our physical bodies. To prosper is to be successful and to grow strong and healthy, which is what God wants for us.

We don’t have to beg and plead for healing, because Jesus has already obtained it for us on the cross. “…And with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). Knowing this, we can be confident that whatever physical manifestations of illness we’re experiencing right now are only temporary. Our faith allows the physical blessings that begin in the spiritual realm to be transferred to the physical realm. God is in perfect health; in light of this, there’s no reason why we can’t be as well. “…Because as he is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17).

We can agree with the Word on healing and follow up with our acts of faith. It’s important that we have faith, first, so that our faith can give birth to actions. Following the doctor’s orders isn’t simply a set of dead works if trust in God’s promises is our motivation to do what needs to be done to restore our soundness. “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (James 2:17). He’s well able to work through health care providers, and does so on a regular basis.

The world doesn’t know God’s Word on healing, but we can be grateful that we have His guarantee. We can rest assured knowing our restoration to wholeness is a “done deal,” regardless of what it may look like or feel like right now. God says He’ll take care of His children and He always keeps His promises. “The Lord nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health” (Psalm 41:3, NLT).

When the doctor gives us a bad report, we know that God is bigger than any report or diagnosis. Trusting in Him for our healing means to lean on and rely on what He tells us, with no worries or doubts. This kind of faith produces physical results others can see for themselves. “It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones” (Proverbs 3:8, NKJV).

Thankfulness for our healing is the proper response. There’s nothing wrong with pills, medicine, or therapy, but we need to acknowledge that healing comes from God, not from them. “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes” (Psalm 118:23). When we know and believe the promises in the Bible about healing, there’s absolutely no reason to stay sick. Meditating on this makes us truly thankful.  

Here are simple ways to solve the difficulties of women losing weight and The StrengthCast PowerShow

 

• Author Grey Kelley

Here Are Simple Ways To Solve The Difficulties Of Women Losing Weight

Winning in the weight loss game

A lady and her partner go on a diet together. Are they both inspired? Yes. Do they each consistently count calories? Yes. The guy is most likely to shed more undesirable pounds than his better half.

Why? Blame it on your genes, some specialists state.

" We hear this all the time, and it can be irritating for ladies," states endocrinologist Ula Abed Alwahab, MD. "But regrettably for females, their hereditary makeup can make slimming down a bit more difficult."

What elements are at work here?

1. Metabolic process blues. Females generally have more body fat and less muscle than guys. Which impacts the standard metabolic rate, or the number of calories your body burns while at rest.

" Metabolic rate remains in part driven by your muscle mass, and females have less muscle and more fat naturally than males," states dietitian and accredited diabetes teacher Dawn Noe, RD, LD, CDE.

2. Pregnancy impacts. When a lady gets pregnant, she puts on weight and more body fat. In addition, it's frequently hard for a brand-new mom to discover the time to work out and sleep. And she'll require both to shed those additional pounds.

Breastfeeding does assist with burning calories and weight loss at this phase of life.

3. Menopause. Ladies likewise put on weight in their abdominal area throughout menopause due to a loss of hormonal agents and a slower metabolic process. Some females even have a name for their brand-new potbelly-- meno-pot.

4. PCOS struggles. Between 5 and 10 percent of females have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This is a condition identified by a hormone imbalance that makes weight-loss harder and triggers menstrual abnormality.

Regardless of these difficulties, there are a lot of methods to eliminate weight gain and dominate. Here are 3.

1. Resistance training and weightlifting.

Increasing muscle mass assists both ladies and males to enhance their metabolic process. Having more muscle mass assists you in burning calories, even when you're sitting or at rest.

You can preserve muscle by doing resistance training a minimum of two times a week, for 20 to 30 minutes per session. This is specifically important as you get older. (Your metabolic process naturally decreases and you lose muscle as you age.).

There are a number of methods to approach resistance training:

Usage of a health club or equipment in your home.

Utilize dumbbells or resistance bands.

Take part in a physical fitness class, such as Pilates.

Utilize your body for resistance by doing push-ups, crouches, and lunges.

Females are often reluctant to do weightlifting since they assume it will make them look manly. That is a mistaken belief, as females do not have the quantity of testosterone that males have.

Noe motivates females to get comfy with weights. "Women need to be weightlifting to get the advantages of structure muscle, such as increased metabolic rate and avoidance of osteoporosis," she states.

A weight-bearing workout isn't just a healthy exercise. As it assists in growing muscle mass, you burn more calories, which reduces insulin resistance substantially and avoids diabetes.

2. Select a proper meal plan that works for you.

If middle-aged males and females are both thinking about dropping weight, the number of calories a male requires for weight reduction is approximately 1,500 each day (depending upon height/weight/level of exercise) however, the lady's calorie requirements will be much less-- generally about 1,200 calories daily, Noe states.

Naturally, if they are both working out frequently, those calories might move somewhat greater. For females, progress in your weight reduction might indicate consuming less than males in the long term.

Noe frequently suggests a well-balanced strategy such as the Mediterranean diet plan. She likewise tends to utilize lower carb and ketogenic diet plans, particularly for females with PCOS or diabetes who might not endure greater carbohydrate meal strategies. "Research of weight reduction does not substantiate one eating pattern over another," she states, "and the meal plan you choose should be matched according to your health requirements and consuming habits.".

3. Concentrate on the long game.

It's crucial to exercise patience. Research studies reveal that the majority of weight-loss strategies tend to produce anywhere from a 5% to 10% weight reduction within a year if you persevere. "If you’re not seeing progress, talk with your health care group as you may need to apply other strategies that will better fit your way of life," she states.

Whether you follow a diet plan low in fat, low in carbs, or some other diet plan, make certain meals are well balanced and healthy. Consist of lean proteins, healthy fats like nuts, olive oil, and avocados, restrict empty carbohydrates (no sugar, white bread, sweetened beverages, etc.), and great deals of minerals and vitamins from veggies and fruit.

Other nutrition suggestions for ladies over age 50 consist of consuming appropriate amounts of calcium and Vitamin D, either from food or supplements. 

I'm a content writer who loves to write articles on health and fitness as well as topics on internet/affiliate marketing and business.

Top 3 Causes of Death in 2021 (New Data Might Surprise You) and What is a Heart Attack, how do I spot the signs and how do I treat it?

 

What is a Heart Attack, how do I spot the signs and how do I treat it?

• Author Joanna O'donovan

What is a heart attack, how do I spot the signs and how do I treat it?

Angina

Angina is usually caused by a build up of plaque in the arteries and as a result a reduced blood flow. During exercise or exertion, the heart needs more blood but cannot get it because of the reduced blood flow. The casualty will often feel pain in the chest when they exercise.

Heart Attack

A heart attack is caused when some of the plaque breaks off and causes a blood clot. The blood clot can block the artery resulting in the death of an area of the heart muscle.

Signs of a heart attack

Symptoms can begin suddenly and unlike angina, sometimes when at rest. Like angina, a heart attack can feel like “vice like” squashing but can also feel like tightness in the chest or even indigestion. The pain can be in the centre of the chest and can radiate into any arm. The symptoms usually last longer than 30 minutes and the casualty can be a grey colour and may be sweating. They may be suffering from “shortness of breath” and have a feeling of impending doom. Sometimes the casualty will feel nauseous, dizzy and they may vomit.

Treatment

Sit the casualty down and make sure that they are feeling comfortable.

If the casualty says that they have their own GTN medication then let them take it.

Try to reassure the casualty.

Call 911/999 if:

You suspect that they are having a heart attack

The casualty tells you that they do not have angina.

If they say that they have angina but the symptoms are not relieved after 15 minutes by resting or taking their medication. If they say that they have angina however,the signs came on when at rest.

If in doubt CALL 911/999/112

Find out about dealing with your own heart attack when you are alone here: https://bostockhealthcare.com/heartattackonyourown

Be prepared to resuscitate if they go into sudden cardiac arrest. To find out more about treating heart attacks and resuscitation why not book on one of our first aid courses.

Joanna is the Director of Bostock www.bostockhealthcare.com a first aid training company that was established in 1984.

Concealed Carry: Quantifying Your Defensive Shooting Skills, And Setting Standards

 

by Matthew Maruster 

What level of defensive handgun skills does it take to win in a gunfight? Because no two defensive gun uses are exactly the same, and there are many variables, it's impossible to answer this question unequivocally.

However, don't think that you can't or shouldn't train to a quantifiable standard.

By studying many armed encounters caught on video, we can draw some basic inferences on things like typical draw speed necessary to get a shot on a suspect who has a gun at the ready position vs at their side. We can look at how many shots are typically necessary to get immediate stoppage based on where they hit the suspect.

These videos provide great real-life data we can look at to put together some general parameters on the proficiency standards that suggest a favorable outcome. But I want to reiterate that nothing guarantees you'll win a gunfight. Proficiency in defensive gun skills certainly helps, and that's what we are trying to get at.

Limitations to practice —

It is hard to train for the exact conditions one undergoes in a real-life deadly force encounter........Read the full article........

PERSISTENCE AND PERSEVERANCE and The Rock Almighty Voices with Disciple

 

by Creflo Dollar 

Part of being human is wanting to experience success and accomplish the goals we set for ourselves.

Sometimes this is easier said than done, especially when we face adversity that threatens to set us back. Often the difference between success and failure isn’t intelligence or book learning, but our willingness to keep going. When we feel discouraged and think we can’t go another step, knowing what God says about persisting and persevering gives us strength to keep moving forward.

Persistence and perseverance are good, as long as they aren’t misdirected. We can spend months or even years spinning our wheels trying to move in a direction God doesn’t want us to go. This is the wrong kind of persistence that yields no results. When we step out of the way and let God set our course, things begin to get very clear and everything we need to do clicks into place. “A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).

We live in a culture of “me-ism” that encourages us to put ourselves first and foremost, in the center of the circle. This can block our progress. Our blind spot can cause us to struggle to reach the goals we set for ourselves, instead of the goals God wants us to reach. We greatly increase our chances of success when we listen to God’s voice instead of to the voice of our own human reasoning. “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:21).  

Persevering in the things God tells us to do instead of the things the world tells us to do puts us in the supernatural realm. Following His prompting is guaranteed to generate resistance in a world that doesn’t know God. When we feel that external pressure applied to us, we endure because we know we’re going in the right direction. “You need the strength of endurance to reveal the poetry of God’s will and then you receive the promise in full” (Hebrews 10:36, TPT). Correctly dividing the Word in this area gives us the discernment to know the difference between God’s perfect plan for our lives and what we have decided to do for ourselves.

Perseverance involves patience, which is a godly trait. Abraham was a good example of someone who patiently walked in faith regardless of the odds. He no doubt faced numerous opportunities and temptations to pull his faith off the field, but he didn’t. “And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise” (Hebrews 6:15). Patience is defined as constantly, consistently remaining the same regardless of what happens; God rewards this kind of unwavering belief in Him.

Christians living in the world without being part of it face many spiritual traps the devil has laid out. People determined to choose their own path in life are the ones most likely to fall into these pits. They stubbornly persevere in their efforts to deliver themselves but make no progress. However, the picture is different for believers who patiently persist. “Stand firm with patient endurance and you will find your souls’ deliverance” (Luke 21:19, TPT).

There’s nothing wrong with resolutely persisting, as long as we set ourselves on the right thing. It’s impossible to see every situation brewing that can derail our carefully-laid plans and stall our progress. Persevering in what God tells us to do spares us from train wrecks up ahead. Letting Him call the shots gives us success.

THINKING LIKE CHRIST

Creflo Dollar 

We live in a fallen world caught up in perverse, twisted values. The prevailing “anything goes” mindset around us has no concept of right and wrong. The message we get is that it’s okay to think whatever we want. In this kind of environment, the difference between the world’s way of thinking and God’s way of thinking is like night and day.

It’s critical to understand how important our thought lives are. What we expose ourselves to influences how we think, and how we think determines how we feel. This can explain the anger and strife we see everywhere around us, and the confusion as to where all this negativity comes from. We’re in a spiritual battle; thinking like the world blinds us to the fact that a war is even being fought, but thinking like God opens our spiritual eyes and gives us a fighting chance. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12, NIV).

Most people put more faith in what the world says than what their Bible says; it’s no coincidence that these people struggle through life and wonder why they’re so unhappy. We’re living in the age where self-made “experts” tell us that what we once considered wrong is now right, and what was right is now wrong. The truth is that the morals that God outlined in His Word from the beginning will never change. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8, NKJV). Jesus is God’s Word in human form; therefore, to get a handle on what’s happening around us and rise above it, we need to learn to think like Christ.

God loves us very much and wants the best for us. However, He holds us accountable for our actions. The world has chosen to reject Him, at its own peril.

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel (Isaiah 5:20-24).

We’re seeing this prophecy coming to pass right now.

The things that worldly philosophies accept as true is plain nonsense to God. To think like Christ, we must begin to renew our minds according to His Word. “Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ” (Colossians 2:8, NLT). Bringing our belief system into alignment with God’s is a lifetime process, but it gives us victory in a defeated world.

We must never get tricked into wrong-thinking; the stakes are too high. Using God’s Word as our guide helps us avoid the pitfalls others have fallen into. We stay on safe ground when we compare everything we hear and see in the world to what He says.