Overseer's Insight: December 2012

Dear Saints,

 

Christmas

 

The prophet Isaiah gives us a wonderful prophecy of Jesus Christ’s Birth.  Listen to his words:

 

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”  (9:6).

 

Think about it, “unto us” a child is born and a son is given!  That makes it personal!  Yes, the Father gave His Son, unto you and unto me.  Our Lord Jesus Christ was born and given to all mankind.  There is no greater gift than one can have, than to receive the Christ Child.  And look at just a few of His Titles: He shall be called, “Wonderful,” “Counselor,” “The Mighty God,” “The Everlasting Father,” and “The Prince of Peace.”

 

It is my prayer for this Christmas Season that you and your family will experience the fullness of God, in all that He has to offer to you.  May you find Him as being “Wonderful.”  May you find Him as being your “Counselor.”  May you experience Him as the “Mighty God” and “Everlasting Father.”  And especially, may you find Him as the “Prince of Peace.”  If there is ever a time, if there is ever a season to find Peace, may you and your family experience that Peace during this special time of year.

 

Adult Retreat

 

This year, as in past years, Adult Retreat will be held at Pacific Beach.  The dates are for February 1-3, 2013.  Our Retreat Theme is: “Anointed For Service.”  Whether we may realize it or not, we are all gifted and called by God for His service. We are expecting an awesome time in the Lord!  Western Canada National Overseer, Bishop Walter Doroshuk and his lovely wife, Sister Claudia will be our special guest speakers at this year’s  Retreat!   They are both so excited  to be with us and we are excited to have our neighbors to the North of us with us.  Applications have been sent out individually and will soon be sent to the pastors.  You can also download an application by going to the State Website at: www.wacogop.org

 

Applications should have been sent in no later than November 30^th, 2012.  This is going to be a Great Retreat!!!  Please don’t miss it!!!  Pass the word on to others.  We look forward to seeing you there!!!

 

2013 State Convention

 

Please mark your calendars for next year’s State Convention at the Kennewick Red Lion Hotel.  The dates are August 23-25, 2013.

 

During the 2012 State Convention, I presented the theme, “Designed For God’s Greatness.”

 

Right below the “Events Calendar,” I have inserted the introductory part of that message for your enrichment.

 

Events Calendar for 2013

January                       Stewardship Month
January 18-20             Winter Teen Retreat - White Pass (Shelly Symonds, Director)

January 24-27              Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary - Salem, OR

                                     (History of the Church of God of Prophecy - Dr. Ortiz

February 1-3               Adult Retreat - Pacific Beach (Don & Mary Knoblich, Directors)
February 15                 District Convention - Tacoma (Rick Bear, District Overseer)
February 16                 District Convention - Brush Prairie (Franklin Smith, District Overseer)

 

March 16                     District Convention - Tri-Cities (Leonard Lord, District Overseer)

March 23                     District Convention - Kirkland (Roger Jones, District Overseer)

 

August 23-25              Washington State Convention - Kennewick (Red Lion Hotel)

 

“Designed For God’s Greatness”

Bishop/Dr. Don Knoblich

 

DESIGNED FOR GOD’S GREATNESS

Introduction:

During Adult Retreat last year, we presented the Theme:  “Designed For God’s Greatness.”  I just have not been able to get away from that theme.  You see, you and I were made in His Image, by Him, and for Him, For His Greatness and Glory!  We were Designed for His Greatness!

 

A.  Listen to what John the Revelator tells us in Revelations, Chapter 4: 9-10 

9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

John tells us that the 4 Beasts and the 24 Elders fall down and give glory and honor to Him that sits on the Throne.  They worship Him that lives forever, (forever and forever!)  WHY?

Because:  “THOU Art Worthy,” and
Because:   “All things were created by Him and for Him, for His pleasure.”

The word “created” indicates “proprietorship.”  It indicates “ownership.” That is, Since HE created us, we are His!  Designed to Glorify Him!

B.  David tells us in Psalm 139:14-16 that “We are fearfully and wonderfully made.”
14  I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. 15  My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

He goes on to tell us that “in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.  David was saying, “In Thy Book all my members were written.”  That is, GOD had you totally Designed!!!

David goes on to say, “When I was non-existant, I was already fashioned by You, O’ Lord! You see, God knew you and formed  (That is, He designed you) before you were in the womb!

Now, Look at His “DESIGN” Words:
“Fashioned” means moulded into shape or being squeezed into shape as a Potter would do with clay.
“Curiously wrought” means  to embroider with color. 
So you see, God both moulded  and squeezed you into shape and He Embroidered you.  And He did all of this before you had any “substance” or  “body.”

C.  With all of this Great Design, It begs the question, “Why were we “fearfully and wonderfully made?”
John gives us part of the Answer in his gospel, chapter 9.

You remember the story of the man that was blind from his birth.  The Disciples asked Jesus, “Who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?”

Then Jesus gives a remarkable answer,  He says,
Joh 9:3  Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

In other words, Jesus was saying, this was the Design of God, that through it all, His works would become apparent.  Notice that the “works of God should be made manifest “in him.”  And HIS works are to be made manifest “in you!”  And why is this important, because it goes back to the idea that we are created (designed) to manifest the works of God, that is, to bring Glory to Him!

This is also why the Apostle Paul tells us, “Whether therefore ye eat,  or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God!  (I Cor. 10: 31). 

From these Scriptures, we can clearly see that we were Designed To bring Glory and Honor to Him!  Not only are we Designed for God’s Greatness on Earth, we are Designed for God’s Greatness for Eternity in Heaven.

What I also want to make so very clear to you, is that you were not a mistake in the Plan of God for your Life!

He Designed you for His Greatness!