Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.? Heb. 12:1
Is the Church handicapped in the race by carrying weights of carnality? Paul says ?every man that strives for the mastery in temperate in all things? 1 Cor. 9:25
There was a professor of philosophy at USC who was a deeply committed
atheist. His primary goal for one required class was to spend the entire semester
attempting to prove that God couldn’t exist. His students were always afraid to argue with
him because of his impeccable logic.
by Steve Hulshizer
And they were continuing stedfastly in the teaching of the apostles, and the fellowship,
and the breaking of the bread, and the prayers. Acts 2:42 (Strong)
In the New Testament there is only one Church, and all who by faith are
in Christ Jesus are in the Church, and as such are members of Christ?s body. (Eph.
1:22-23). However, there are local expressions of the Church, or local assemblies of
called?out believers. These local assemblies are to reflect the truth of the One
Body, and thus they are to function according to the New Testament Scriptures, gathering
only to the Name of Christ. (Matt. 18:20; Acts 13:1; Rev. 1:4)
by Steve Hulshizer
In a ?twinkling of an eye? this beautiful world came under a
curse. Like Lucifer before him, the man who was created in God?s image and placed
over His creation rebelled, being dissatisfied with the position and provisions his
Creator God had given him. Everything under Adam was affected by his fall. The woman would
bring forth her children in sorrow. The earth came under a curse and thorns and thistles
marred the beauty of God?s creation. Man now had to labor for his needed bread.
(Gen.3:16-19)
Steve Hulshizer
It is a wonderful thing to be enabled of the Holy Spirit to serve the Lord. (I Cor.
12:4-11) However, there are dangers associated with being gifted, as the flesh would
always seek to glorify itself.