Overseer's Insight: January 2013

Dear Saints

 

Happy New Year

It is hard to believe, but we have entered into a brand New Year.  Though we may be uncertain of what the New Year holds for us, one thing we can know for sure, and that is “We are one year closer to the Coming of the Lord!  We don’t have to rely on man’s wisdom or man’s prophecies (e.g. the Mayan Calendar) to know that our Lord will come one day as a “thief in the night.”  Therefore, we are instructed to watch and always be ready, “for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh.” (Matthew 24:44). What will the New Year hold for you?  Possibly you have some uncertainty about your job, where you will live, or what your financial picture will look like.  It is true, none of us know what tomorrow will bring.  What I do know for sure is that my hope and my future is in Him.  Our Lord has promised us that HE would never leave us or forsake us.  We can totally rely on Him for everything.  If you have some doubts or apprehensions about what the New Year holds for you, I would encourage you to remember Jesus’ promise to us in John, chapter 14, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in  God, believe also in Me.”  Yes, He specializes in caring for hurting and troubled hearts.  So, why not begin today by believing and trusting in Him fully as we enter into the New Year?!

 

Teen Retreat

January 18-20 are our dates for Teen Retreat.  This year will be our very first Retreat in our New Campground, Camp Roganunda!  Please encourage all youth to attend.  I am a firm believer that Camps and Retreats change lives.  For more information about Teen Retreat, contact Bob and Donella Gaines at 509-658-1013 or e-mail them at camproganunda@gmail.com.

 

Adult Retreat

Our Adult Retreat Theme is: “Anointed For Service.”  We are expecting an awesome time (February 1-3, 2013) 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: 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!!!

Prayer and Fasting

The New Year begins our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting in the Church of God of Prophecy.  Bishop Randy Howard states that this is year number 7 where our churches from all over the world will take part in joining together in starting the New Year with prayer and fasting.  Please pass the word on to your family and friends in the faith that they will join us in this special time of Seeking.  We must have Him in all that we do to build the Kingdom of God.

Stewardship Month

January in the Church of God of Prophecy is “Stewardship Month.”  The Lord desires for all of us to be good stewards.  He wants us to be faithful with our tithes and offerings, and He wants us to be good stewards of all that He has given us.  Though our economy may be down, this is the time to be faithful and prove Him that “He will not open the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing.” Faithful stewardship is how we trust the Lord for His Divine Providence and care over our families and our churches.

Lay Ministers

All lay ministers are asked to send in their lay minister’s certificates to my office, 7319 199^th St. Ct. E., Spanaway, WA 98387 by the first of the year, so they can be issued a new one for 2013.  Their current certificate is only valid for 2012.

 

Events Calendar for 2013

January                       Stewardship Month and 21 Days of Prayer/Fasting
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

 

In last month’s Lamplighter, I presented the Introductory section for my annual address, “Designed For God’s Greatness.”  For this section, I will begin with the various ways in which He has Designed Us For His Greatness, namely, we were “Designed To Work In The Harvest.”

 

I.  God Designed us to Work in His Harvest

A.  Believe it or not, God Designed us to be Laborers in His Great Harvest Field.  Yes, we are to Pray for Laborers in the Harvest.  But, part of that Prayer, may be, “Lord, I know the Laborers are few, so SEND ME!”

 

It is interesting to me that one of the very last things that the Lord said before ascending into Heaven is:  “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I with you always, even unto the end of the world.” 

 

Notice the strong emphasis that Jesus places on the word, “Go.”    This word “Go” does not mean just “Go” as in “Go,” it literally means “GO AND CONTINUE TO GO ON YOUR JOURNEY!”   

In other words, “Go” is not a one-time event.  Jesus intended for us to “Go” into the Harvest Field CONTINUALLY!!!  (We don’t say, “Oh, I went last year, so I have done my duty!”)  Also notice, that if we follow the “GO” of Jesus, we will receive the “LO” of Jesus.  That is, if you “GO” you can expect the “LO!”  “GO, and LO I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”  Do you want to experience the presence of God?  Then do the “GO” and the “LO” will come!  However, if there is “NO GO ----THERE IS NO LO!!!”

 

B.  Let’s  look at some Bible Examples of “Going.” 

1.  The Samaritan Woman:  John’s Gospel tells us that after Jesus had the discourse with the Woman at the Well, that immediately she left her waterpot.  (Her Waterpot was not of importance to her NOW!  And remember Water is really important, however that day she found the true living water.)  She went her way into the city and said to the men, “Come see a Man, which told me all things that ever I did:  is this not the Christ?!  Then they went out of the city, and came to Him.  And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on Him for the saying of the woman , which testified, He told me all things that I ever did.”  - And I don’t believe the Woman at the Well was silent from that day forward!  SHE is an EXAMPLE of what it means TO GO!!! And to CONITNUE TO GO!!!

 

2.  The demoniac of Gadara: 

You remember the story of demoniac of Gadara.  He had the legion of devils that Jesus cast out into the swine.   After his remarkable healing, this man wanted to follow Jesus.  But Listen to what Jesus told him:

 

Mar 5:19  Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

Mar 5:20  And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

 

Look what this man did.  Immediately, he followed the “GO” Commandment of the Lord.  He went to his friends and told them what Great Things the Lord had done for him.  Here, “Publish” means “To Proclaim” or “To Herald”, “To Preach.”  Sometimes we want to GO where we want to go instead of GOING WHERE JESUS WANTS US TO GO!!!

 

C.  I believe God is giving us some Open Doors, AND WE MUST GO THROUGH THEM.

1.  Paul said, “I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost.  For a great and effective door has opened to me.”  (I Cor. 16:8-9).  “Effective” = Powerful and Operative.

 

2.  Paul involved others by asking for them to pray for open doors so he could minister the Gospel of Christ.  “Praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ….” (Col. 4:3). 

 

Will you join me in praying for more souls?!  Will you join me in praying for more Open Doors? 

Pray for More souls in our Churches and for more Churches being established.  Over the last three years, we have established four churches.  But there are many more that we want to Organize with the Church of God of Prophecy.  Others are out there that want to join with this marvelous Body.  We have new Spanish Mission Works in Anchorage, Alaska and in Rainier Valley, Seattle.  We have just started a new Spanish Mission in Bremerton with Pastor Julio Ruiz and his wife, Sister Maura.  We are starting new works in Spanish in Sumner and Tumwater with Pastor Ruben Aguilar and in Spokane with Pastor Alvero Gomez.  We have the possibility of reaching an Indian Church in Seattle, and a Korean Church in Tacoma.

 

D.  Reaching Your Community

1.  What are you doing to Reach your Community?   I asked this Question last year.  If your Church was to close its doors, would the Community it is in even know it was closed?

If we are not reaching our Communities, WHY NOT?!

Once a month Pastor Rob and Rivers Fellowship have a unique Community Outreach.  They call it “Worship ain Workclothes.”  On One Sunday out of the Month, they go into their Community and lend assistance.  If a lawn needs mowing, garbage needs taken out, yes even if toilets are needing repair, they are there to help.  If people need prayer, they are there to pray.  One Sunday they passed out batteries for smoke detectors (The Church does not make a quid pro quo agreement with those they help.  They do not say, “Well, we have mowed your lawn, we expect to see you in Church next Sunday!)  No, they just demonstrate love and care, and let God deal with the rest!  Amazing, huh? 

 

2.  Don’t strive to be the Best Church “In the Community.”   Rather, strive to be the Best Church “For the Community!”  (There is actually a book on this very thing.)

SO, ARE YOU JUST SITTING, WARMING A PEW, OR ARE YOU GOING AND REACHING SOULS FOR JESUS?!