Minister's Mansion

What God Has for Me.....

2 COR. 11: 21  Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

Friends,

So often we sing "What God has for me, it is for me!" under the mistaken thought that it must somehow all be sunshine and roses.  We reach for the glitz, the fluff, and the surface blessings that make our life better.  That is an emotional worship and an emotional Christianity based on a false understanding that God never has challenges for us.  The true will of God is always confirmed by God and God's Word.  Those living in the true will of God understand that circumstance does not dictate salvation.  Salvation is an act of faith and mercy combining to provide you with a way out of this life and into the presence of God.  What is for you will be confirmed by God as you come through the challenges of life, and overcome them through the FAITH that God means well.

Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

It does not say that all things ARE good, or that only GOOD THINGS will come your way!  It says God works out those things in our life FOR our good.  Things that you encounter (circumstance), will be worked out by the God of circumstance.  His purpose will work out as you accept and walk in what he has for you.

 JAMES 4:14  Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

AND - LUKE 17:33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

The key is in the wording.  Your life.  His life.  Once you begin to believe that you own what is given you, that your life is actually YOURS, it becomes too precious to believe that God would send harship to you, and if he did he must somehow be punishing you.  Nothing could be further from the truth!  God wants the best for you, and wants all things to work out for your Good!  But until you sacrifice it; until you recognize that it is HIS life he gives you - you will never be able to overcome in the true fashion that rises above emotionalism!  You must live in the moment without letting the moment overwhelm you. 

The separation of the flesh and the spirit is the key to victory.  Losing the love of this life and gaining love for the life he has for you, hidden inside him, is what will separate you from the emotional beings that fall when the challenges hit.  And, friend, the challenges are going to hit.  You will no doubt be afflicted by illness, unemployment, bad friends, false friends or just plain enemies.  You will find yourself crying out for direction, deliverance, hope.  You have a choice:  Accept this challenge as the will of God for your life - or quickly fall away when the going gets rough.  Paul made a decision.  He chose to set aside WHAT was happening and focus on WHO would bring him through.  He had eternal vision, the sight that kept him moving forward when he knew certain death was at the end of his journey to Rome!  He had the grit and determination brought on by the unshakeable faith that, come what may, God was in control and he would be delivered in the end!  Praise God!  We pray for you to have that faith.  We pray for you to develop the stable situational awareness that moves you past emotionalism.  Let God be God and give you the chance to overcome emotions and see your challenges as just that - a challenge to overcome through faith in God.

In love,

Elder Mark and Sister Dana

WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

 

Dear Friends,

 

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The link above leads to my new book - 'WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT'. It is 30 Bible studies of faith that will help you continue in God and learn how to know God's voice. We hope you will purchase this book. It is a labor of love and a full 10% of all proceeds will go to supporting the much-needed HOMELESS SHELTER in Presque Isle, Maine, my hometown.  

We have been so blessed by your patronage here, and as you know we never ask for support for this website. But I have written Words of Encouragment with the hope that you will share it as a gift for someone who may need to be uplifted, or as a tool to keep someone focused on God.

We truly believe that God loves you! We also believe that his true Church is coming out through the struggles of life. To that end, we offer our first printed effort at support against spiritual strife. May God richly bless you, and thank you for supporting your administrator's ministries here in Maine and around the world!

 

In Love,

 

Elders Mark and Dana Neddeau

Our Fundamental Doctrinal Statement

Our basic and fundamental doctrine is and shall be:

Repent of your sins, be baptized (fully immersed in water) every one of you in the Name of Jesus (the) Christ for the Remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, with the initial sign of speaking in other tounges as the Spirit Gives the utterance.

ACTS 2:38

IF the Root be HOLY

ROMANS 11:16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

Friends,

One of the smallest words in the Word of God is yet one of the most powerful. 'IF'. It sets conditions that must be met before certain other conditions can be. It makes or breaks the moves of man and God alike. If supposes that, considering certain conditions exist, certain things can become a reality and certain reactions can take place. Without IF the word THEN, or any other condition, is meaningless.

"If the firstfruit be holy." "If the root be holy." Again - to our view here, the words firstfruit and even root are important, but not nearly as critical as the treatment of the conditions. In order to receive a holy lump (the completed sacrifice), or holy branches (the outreach of the effort or heart of the matter), to be in existence, there are conditions.

Condition 1: HOLINESS. Holiness is the prime condition for God to receive the sacrifice. Holiness is the key to the branches being grafted into the greater vine of God and his children. Holiness is the key to God himself. Without holiness no man shall see the Lord.

MATT. 7:23And then will I profess unto them , I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

You must be sure that your efforts and your very core are dedicated to God's purpose. Identity is found in Acts 2:38, but it is rooted far beyond that obedience. It is found in your motives! Identity is found not just in the bloodline, but in the holy and separated effort of your heart.

"If the root be holy." What is your root? It is your heart. It is made up of your mind and soul. That combination that thinks, reasons, and responds. If your heart - the core - be holy, then everything that eminates from it will be. Everything that you produce stems from your heart. If your heart is in your work, you will do well for your employer. If not, well....

Condition 2: TRUTH.

1 Cor. 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

It is critical that we examine our heart and understand the very core of our reasoning and response. Why are we doing what we do for the Lord? Is it just for approval? Is it just for acknowledgement, or due to training, or for family tradition? Why do you do what you are doing for the Lord? So many of us say it's due to love. Oh, surely we love the Lord and are grateful; but are we honest with ourselves when we say that love is our prime motivator? What is love? How do we know if what we do is merely obedience born in tradition or fear, or out of a true heart of holy love and reverent respect? I will say this as honestly as I can: Love is learned. Love is earned. Love is grown in the heart out of the hope that what you are doing is met with answered prayer, provision in life, and the reality of a God who loves us first.

Rom. 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed ; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

If we are honest with ourselves we will recognize that we did NOT love God first, nor at first. We grew to love God as the Holy Ghost was introduced to us, and shed abroad within us. That love affair, with all its great miracles and works, developed a faithful following in us, and a willingness to please God. That desire developed a singluar purpose. That purpose is to be faithful, to be separated unto God's will, and is translated as Holiness. In that context and from that work comes the holy root we speak of today. If your root is holy that is, separated unto, focused upon and dedicated to God, you cannot help but be victorious in everything you do. Your branches - the outreach of your heart and effort - will be holy and thus successful. Your sacrifice will be accepted as a holy LUMP of the singular effort. You will be received.

God is so good and he knows and tolerates the fact that we often lie to ourselves first. We believe that we can perform our rituals and our expected works with the usual results but forsake the truth of God's promise to forget our name. Without the truth of self-examination and root protection and segregation, we cannot hope to please God and make the grade, as it were.

So; if. If the root be holy. Can you say today that what you are doing for God is from HOLY purpose? Is it from the desire to please only him, when his desires even place you in discomfort, or danger? If so you can be sure of this fact: the branches - everything you produce and that stems from you - will be holy, as well! God will be pleased and you will be accepted in the end.

In Love,

Elders Mark and Dana Neddeau