Dear Saints:
During the month of October we had our Gordon-Conwell School
in Kirkland. The class that was taught was “Church and Community” by Dr.
Eliana Runyon. This was an outstanding class that stretched our minds and
caused us to think outside the box (the church). One of our textbooks
challenged us to be the best church for the community, not the best
church in the community. When you are focused on being the best
church for the community, then you will look beyond the four walls of the
church for ways that you can minister to a community in need. Our
professor taught us that it only takes small steps to reach the
community. The whole idea is to first get outside of the church.
Our goal of reaching the community is encompassed in the Lord’s Prayer, when
Jesus stated, “Thy Kingdom Come.” In other words, Jesus’ prayer was that
Shalom, in all the fullness of the word, would infiltrate our communities and
our cities.
As always, we are so thankful for the Kirkland Family Church
providing a wonderful facility for us to learn in. We are also
appreciative of the lunches that were provided. Thank you Sister Kaye and
Sister Josie for all of your hard work in preparing the meals.
Please look forward to our next School in the Spring of
2012. If you have any questions or are interested in enrolling in the
Seminary, contact Dr. Don Knoblich at: dknoblich@aol.com.
Regional Ladies Retreat
As you learned at State Convention, the Regional Ladies
Retreat will be held at the Red Lion at the Quay in Vancouver, WA on November
4-6, 2011. This is the Retreat that is directed by Sister Cathy Payne,
International Women’s Ministries Director. So, ladies, mark this date on
your calendars and get ready for a Fantastic Retreat!
Adult Retreat
This year, as in past years, Adult Retreat will be held at
Pacific Beach. The dates are for February 3-5, 2012. Our Retreat
Theme is: “Designed For God’s Greatness.” All of us are part of a
wonderfully designed plan of God. We are expecting an awesome time in the
Lord! International World Mission’s Director, Bishop David Bryan and
his lovely wife, Sister Rosita will be our special guest speakers at this
year’s Retreat! They both are so excited to be with
us. Applications have been sent to the pastors and have been sent out
individually. You can also download an application by going to the
State Website at: wacogop.homestead.com
Applications should be sent in no later than November
30th, 2011. This is going to be a Great
Retreat!!! Please don’t miss it!!! We look forward to seeing you
there!!!
Events Calendar for 2011
November
4-6
Regional Ladies Retreat (Cathy Payne) - Vancouver, WA
November
11-13 Pastor's Wives Retreat -
Cannon Beach, OR
November
30
Final deadline to send in Adult Retreat Applications.
“Driven By The Spirit”
Bishop/Dr. Don Knoblich
Excerpts (State Convention Annual Address)
For
November's Lamplighter, I am going to begin a series of messages
that come from
excerpts from my State Convention Annual Address. The Theme of
the State Convention was "Driven By The Spirit."
For this
month, I will begin with the Introduction:
Introduction:
Why this Theme? “Driven By The Spirit?” This was the Same theme as used in Adult
Retreat. Also, if some of you might
remember, the Theme of last year’s General Assembly was, “Pursuing The Spirit.”
I. Scriptural Texts
Two seemingly simple passages of
scripture, yet so powerful!
“And immediately the Spirit driveth Him into
the wilderness.” (Mark 1:12)
“And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost
returned from Jordon, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.”
(Luke 4:1)
But, What is it that proceeded these Passages?
1. Here, we see that Jesus had just been baptized
in the River Jordon by John the Baptist. Remember, the word “Baptism”
means a full immersion into. The Father spoke and said, “This is My
Beloved Son, In Whom I am well Pleased.”
2. Note that Jesus was “Full of the Holy Ghost.”
It therefore appears that there is a direct
correlation or connection between being “Baptized” and being “Full of
the Holy Ghost” and being Led (being Driven) by the Spirit.
“Led” and
“Driveth”
Luke uses the word that Jesus was “Led” by the
Spirit and Mark chooses “Driveth”, i.e., that Jesus was Driven by the
Spirit.
“Led” as used in Luke’s passage (Greek =
ago) means to bring, to drive, to lead. The word “Led” as
used by Luke, seems more “passive.”
However, Mark’s usage of
the word “Driveth” is much more sharp and direct. The word here in the
Greek literally means, “putteth” or Hurrieth Him forth” or “impelleth Him.”
This word suggests that Jesus was under the mighty contstraining impulse of the
Spirit!
By being “driven by the Spirit.” I don’t want you
to have the impression that Jesus was “Forced by the Spirit” against His
will. That He was totally helpless, with no control. No, Not at All! IT
IS JUST THAT JESUS WAS SO FULL OF THE HOLY GHOST THAT HE WAS TOTALLY
MOVED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD!!! In other words, He was so imbued, so
infused, so immersed, so consumed by the Spirit that He totally was in the
Spirit’s Hands!
Like when a garment in dyed, it becomes totally imbued,
infused in that color!!!
And dear Brothers and Sisters, that is what God intends
for all of us, He wants us to be so Full of the Holy
Ghost that:
-When HE talks, we talk
-When HE moves, we move
-When He goes to the right, we go to the
right
-When HE goes to the left, we go to the left
-When HE goes straight, we go straight
-When HE goes backwards, we go backwards
You see, We are in total, complete control of our will,
yet our will is totally submissive to Him, that is, we are subject to
Him in everything, and thus we become the moving, breathing, living body of
Christ on Earth!
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