Ministry Objective: Recovering From the fall
Satan has established a deceptive world system that wars against the kingdom of God. It is a kingdom of sickness, death, poverty violence and hatred spurned by pride and fear. We were all born separated from and hostile toward God in our minds. (Eph. 2: 11, 12; Col. 1:21) We were all born slaves to Satan and victims of our human nature with its lust and desires (Eph. 2:1-3). Our behavior since birth has been proof of this truth that is why we naturally gravitate toward sin. Therefore you are not responsible for the condition in which you were born; those issues you find yourself struggling with; but you will have to take responsible for the condition in which you die.
Establishing Identity: We live in a world system that identifies people by their condition, skills, abilities, occupation, hobbies, physical characteristics, etc.; the list goes on; which has created an identity crisis in the lives of most people. How a person sees him/herself is essential to the quality of life that they will live. Understanding who God created you to be before the fall will help you understand who and what sort of person you have become since birth, and how and why you relate to others as you do." This will allow you to see the effects of Adam’s decision to disobey God on your mind and the mind of all mankind. You will then recognize the importance of reprograming your mind to take control of your body to carry out God’s plan for your life.
Establishing Kingdom Authority: When Adam disobeyed God he and all mankind after him lost their authority to carry out God’s will for their lives to Satan, making Satan the ruler of this world. Adam’s disobedience also sold all mankind into slavery to Satan and disobedience. (John 14: 30; Rom.6:20, 21) In order to carry out God’s will for your life you must first understand what authority you have and how to operate in it. Authority is the key because spiritual character is not measured by the impressiveness of words, but in the power of the life. (Matt. 7:21-23). The Church – God’s people are the subjects of the kingdom. So the kingdom authority is where God rules in the hearts of believers and His believers rule over their circle of influence. God’s authority is the only authority that Satan and his demons will submit to. As a believer your God given authority gives you the authority to carry out God’s will for “YOUR” life. (1Thess. 4: 3-7)
Renewing the mind: God gave Mankind a mind to develop the principles and truths that must be practiced to develop the attitudes, habits, beliefs and ideas to carry out God’s plan for his/her life. Therefore we must train our mind in the ways of righteousness. We believe that every genuine believer experiences justification before God. Therefore, having been justified, we believe that in the daily life of the believer he/she is being progressively conformed to the likeness of Christ. Scripture teaches that with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Eph. 4:22-24)
Regaining Self-Control: As a result of the fall mankind was sold into slavery to his human nature with its desires and lust, driven by the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and the boastful pride of Life. In order for you the inner man to gain back control a strong relationship must be developed with the Holy Spirit. We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. We believe that the Holy Spirit is the supernatural and sovereign agent in regeneration. It is His work to indwell, sanctify, instruct, empower for service, and seal until the day of redemption all who believe on Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide. This is the process of regenerating the inner man; that part of you that make you like God. He is the only part of you that will submit to the Word of God. Regaining self-control is achieved by building up your faith in the Word of God. Faith must be more than belief in certain facts. Faith must result in action, which leads to growth in Christian character and the practice of righteous living. It is here that you beat your flesh into submission to the Word of God. The inner man, mind and body have the responsibility to represent God’s character to a lost and dying world in unity.
Restoring the Family: When you were born-again you were born into the family of God. (Gal.4:4-7) Family is the foundation for society. God works through the family and is connected to the structure of the family. The family was established to reflect the character of the church; as the husband and wife reflect the union of Christ and the church. God’s blessing pipeline is the family unit; that is why the welfare around our families is often so severe: If you weaken or destroy the family, you cut the pipeline of wealth and usually the next generation starts in the hole, not even. 29 Our spiritual family line, humanly speaking, begins with father Abraham. God told Abraham that stewarding his family and its wealth, by governing righteously, was crucial to his being able to walk through life in God’s covenant promise. (Gen. 18:18, 19)
Restoring Stewardship: How then does this concept of stewardship apply to us as Christians? First, and foremost, we are to understand that everything belongs to God! God is the Creator of all things, visible and invisible. He created the universe, our world, all aspects of nature, including us. Life only happens when God decides that it is to happen. Simply stated, the doctrine of stewardship, as taught by Christ, means that all that we are and all that we have comes from God. Thus, a person’s duty is to return as much as possible during his lifetime. Yes, God has made us stewards of everything we possess! Not only our money, but our time, our breath, our very life, all that we have – has been given to us by God. Life is a gift from God. All that we have in this life is part of that gift. Stewardship reinforces this belief and reminds us that our time, talents, and resources are the gifts through which we show our love and appreciation to God. (Ref: Bishop Demetri) Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Ruling well over what you have now, becomes the stepping stone into your future and levels of responsibility you will carry. God makes us grow by giving us responsibility, and responsibility begins with exercising proper management over what God has entrusted us with... The measure of your spiritual maturity is how you care for what God has entrusted to you.