Sunday, February 5th
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Overview:
During the last several weeks our “gatherings” have centered around discussions focusing on the practical aspects and implications of the “course direction” for the ministry of the First Alliance Church (FAC). The mission statement of the ministry is critical to anything we do as a group…
“The First Alliance Church exists to demonstrate the love and compassion of Christ through the visible and tangible ways we live our lives in the communities of New York City.”
In order to fulfill this mission/call each individual believer, committed to the ministry of FAC, must have a personal and intentional relationship with the “Master.” In other words, a religious form of Christianity does not line up with a Biblical description of Christianity. It is not about religion, but about relationship; it is not about church attendance, but about being the Church; it is not about how we feel inside, but about what others see in your life; it is not about what I want from God, but about how I can join in with God in what He is already doing.
To have the type of relationship described above you must have the following four ingredients present:
1. You must know the person you are having a relationship with; you must be well informed; the Bible provides this for us;
2. You must talk to the person you are having a relationship with; this is to be conversational in nature, a two-way communication; Biblical prayer is a two-way conversation between God and man; you must change your view of prayer from asking to conversing, and then cultivate the discipline of listening;
3. You must be invited in the relationship; as you invite someone into your life, they in return must invite you into their life in order for the relationship to be genuine. Reflect on the following verses in order to refresh your conviction about the fact that you have already been invited;
a. Matthew 11:28-30
b. John 15:1, 4-8
c. Revelation 3:20
4. You must experience life with the person you are having a relationship with; this aspect is the most critical part of any relationship because as life is being experienced, the other three aspects are naturally expressed and celebrated.
Challenge:
Devote time this upcoming weekend, and in the days that follow, to deepen and broaden your relationship with the Master. This can be accomplished by focusing in any one of the four aspects mentioned above or by consciously and intentionally become aware of His divine presence in your life and in the lives of those around you.
Your servant, following the steps of the Perfect Servant,
Pastor Angel