“Rejoice Always” (I Thess. 5:16)

Rejoice is a pretty commonly known but less understood “Christian” word. It may be helpful to understand that the “re” at the beginning of rejoice holds a great clue. To rejoice means to recall to mind the joys and blessings in your life from the gracious and powerful hand of the Lord. Keep bringing those joys to the surface of your mind and heart. By the way, emphasis is added in this verse by repeating the charge a second time. That’s how important it is.

“Pray Without Ceasing” (I Thess. 5:17)

Although Our Heavenly Father loves to answer our requests, the primary purpose of prayer is establishing a love connection to Him with our heart, not to do our bidding. He serves us, but He is not our servant. Interestingly enough, the primary source of the Islamic prayer pattern finds it’s roots in early Judeo Christian ethic. The Hebrews and the Early Church consciously prayed several times a day toward Jerusalem. Islamic prayer turned that to 5 times a day toward Mecca. Without offering this as a point of condemnation, let me ask the question, “Would it not bode well for blood bought New Creation children to return to a more conscious devotion to such a primary link with their God?” Without a sense of “legalism” a more “face set like flint” to pray – even multiple times – daily must come back in vogue for the child of God.

This will become increasingly appealing when…

Prayer is much more than crying out crisis requests. The reason…

Crisis cry requests have the need as the focus of heart and mind. Whatever one focuses upon grows in their consciousness. Worship, embracing God kind of prayers nurture the awareness of God’s greatness. Trust begins to overtake the discouragement. Peace begins flooding the soul. When peace floods the soul, there isn’t room for anything else to occupy the space.

That’s why the habit of continued rejoicing and prayer builds a great defense against the onslaught of discouragement. That’s why the defeating of discouragement best happens before it attacks.
I hope this simple lesson will be powerful in your daily life as you begin to practice it with me.

Gary

Signs have a necessary purpose in the natural world.  They can also be equally useful in the spiritual world.  By themselves, spiritually, they must be pointing to Jesus or the "signs" would be "lying signs."  But, apparently, "signs and wonders" is one of the tools God designed to point the way to His Son.

Therefore, "signs" can more fully show us the way and witness of the heart of God. 

Some might say, "healing and miracle signs" are like frosting on the cake.  The Word of God is the cake, and that's what I need, and that's all I'm interested in."  Okay.  But, isn't cake with the frosting even better?

Other's will say, "Following signs can be dangerous.  The devil can perform miracles."  Again, okay.  True enough.  That's why we must base our beliefs on the Bible, and a relationship with the Living Word, Jesus.  However, it was God, Himself that included signs and wonders in the package.

We serve a supernatural God, not a cerebral God.  He's a full package.  God is so great that He's bigger and more full than anyone's wildest imagination.

Gary Ellis, Senior Leader
Sanctuary Revival Center Church
Davenport, Iowa

The Vine has a purpose and the branch has a purpose.  Neither does each others "job."  We (the branches) can't do anything without the life of the vine.  We cannot produce fruit without fruit engendering sap.  However, have you ever seen a bunch of grapes stuck flush against the vine?  Nope.  The characteristics of the branches are necessary to properly produce great grapes.  We can't do Jesus job for Him.  He won't do ours.

Gary Ellis, Senior Leader
Sanctuary Revival Center Church
Davenport, Iowa

The Vine has a purpose and the branch has a purpose.  Neither does each others "job."  We (the branches) can't do anything without the life of the vine.  We cannot produce fruit without fruit engendering sap.  However, have you ever seen a bunch of grapes stuck flush against the vine?  Nope.  The characteristics of the branches are necessary to properly produce great grapes.  We can't do Jesus job for Him.  He won't do ours.

Gary Ellis, Senior Leader
Sanctuary Revival Center Church
Davenport, Iowa

Gary Ellis, Senior Leader
Sanctuary Revival Center
Davenport, Iowa

The correct answer according to the Bible is....."O"

It takes zero sins to be a sinner.  Mankind was born into the bloodline of Adam.  Adam's spiritual genetics passed it on to all mankind before man, woman, or child "did" anything.

However, at The Sanctuary Church in Davenport, Iowa we teach another part the the "blood line" truth.
The Good News (Gospel) is that it also takes zero acts of righteousness by a man, woman, boy, or girl to become righteous.  We all inherit a "new blood line" as a free gift of grace by the righteousness that Jesus accomplished by His act on the Cross.

Personal participation in the "new blood line reality"...this "new birth"... is a matter of free choice.

It's about which bloodline you are in...by birth or re-birth.

The Good News:  Righteousness that's good enough to be in God's family is about BIRTH not BEHAVIOR. 

Embrace your righteousness in Christ Jesus and discover freedom, joy, peace, and everything God's Kingdom offers.

Gary Ellis, Senior Leader
The Sanctuary Revival Center
Davenport, Iowa
"Church Without Religion"

As an example of a spontaneous prophetic song, I've attached "Hear The Sound" sung during our time of musical worship by Natalie and the worship team.

Gary Ellis, Pastor
Sanctuary Revival Center
A Church Without Religion