Monday, December 5, 2016

Bless The Blockers

Dear Heavenly Father Above,
Thanks for blessing me with the chance to bless and minister to others. I have had a rare privilege to teach and instruct many children over the years in prayer and in Your Word, Lord Jesus. I still love teaching children, and I thank you for the current class I have.

I pray you bless each one as they grow. Bless even the ones who have grown up now, yet have chosen to ignore me. Bless those ones who have unfriended/blocked me on social media. They may block me, but they sure can't block you Lord. They also cannot block my prayers for them. I always pray for their best and for their health and for their blessing. I pray they will have a heart for you, even if they no longer want me in their life. I served my purpose.

And Lord you alone know why they distance themselves from their childhood mentor and pastor. But I actually am grateful to be blocked. And the reason is, because now I identify more closely with you Lord Jesus.  You were abandoned, and denied by your closest companions. It must've been painful. It must've stung. I understand that a little better now. And yet, I am no victim. Just like You Lord, I am an overcomer! I follow You all the way!



SO I say BLESS the blockers oh Lord, In Jesus' Mighty Name. They can't block my prayers for them. You are an unstoppable God. You are the One and Only God.
 They are just starting out as adults, and they are trying to find their way. Some have gone away to learn new things. Bless their endeavours.
 I pray you guide their path even when they do not realize you are doing so. And when they do return back this way, may they sense the immense love of God, by Your Holy Spirit. My time in their life may be finished, or it may be limited. But Your time in their lives is just beginning. You ARE their LIFE, whether they understand that or not. May they remember and recall the old days, their times in my Sunday School class, learning to pray to Jesus, and learning to read His Word. May they recall the excellent Christian teachings and upbringing of their own parents.

The pain is not greater than the love I feel. That love comes from God. And I willingly forgive any pain these young ones caused. I was surely surprised by the direction that pain came from, but I willingly forgive and let go.
 I am sure I have unwittingly caused You grief at times too, Father. I ask you forgive me also.

May these young ones (who are now young adults) be bound to the MIND and the WILL of the Father, In Jesus Christ. May they be protected from evil and temptation. Glory to You, Father, for you are WORTHY to be PRAISED.
In Jesus Name, Amen!

-PC

Dec 6 2016 12:06am EST

Friday, November 25, 2016

"Multiply and Fill the Earth" How Did Jesus Fulfill This?


We know that Jesus came in the flesh and fulfilled all the Law and the Prophets. He fulfilled the Old Testament to perfection with perfect and sinless obedience to the Heavenly Father. (Mat. 5:17; Luke 24:44)

So let me ask a question: How did Jesus, a single and childless man, fulfill God's command at Creation to "multiply and fill the earth"?

Genesis 1:28 (Geneva)
28 And God blessed them, and God said to them, Bring forth fruit, and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and rule over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the heaven, and over every beast that moveth upon the earth.

We know that Jesus was single for His entire walk on earth, and we know He did not produce any natural Children. Yet He fulfilled ALL the Law and the Prophets. He fulfilled the whole Book of the Old Testament.
So how did He fulfill Genesis 1:28?

The answer is found in these Scriptures.
Jesus is speaking in this one:
John 3:6 (Geneva)
 6 That which is born of the flesh, is flesh: and that that is born of the Spirit, is spirit.

Also John 1:12-13 tells us how Jesus gained children and filled the earth with His Seed:

John 1:12-13 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
12 But as many as received him, to them he gave prerogative (the right) to be the sons of God, even to them that believe in his Name,
13 Which are born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Jesus tells us who His spiritual children are! He is speaking here:
Revelation 21:5-7 (Geneva)
5 And he that sat upon the throne, said, Behold, I make all things new, and he said unto me, Write: for these things are faithful and true.
6 And he said unto me, It is done, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end: I will give to him that is athirst, of the well of the water of life freely.
7 He that overcometh, shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my Son.
So did you catch that?
Jesus Christ has MULTIPLIED and FILLED THE EARTH as the LAST ADAM. He has filled the earth with His Spiritual children.... those who have RECEIVED CHRIST and are OVERCOMERS in Jesus.


The First Adam, (Genesis 1-3) was a natural man, who had a natural wife, and had natural children. He sinned, and thus his entire line was tainted with sin.
The Last Adam is the Lord from Heaven. He is a spiritual man, with no natural wife, no natural children, yet He FILLED THE EARTH. He did it with SPIRITUAL CHILDREN. He has a SPIRITUAL BRIDE, the New Heavenly Jerusalem (not the old one). (See Rev. 21.)

We are no longer bearing the image of the first Adam, who failed. We are now following and reflecting the image of the Last Adam! (For more, read 1 Corinthians 15:45-49)

We no longer rely on natural children to carry on our lineage. We rely on the spiritual heritage of Christ. He shall never die... and His Spirit-born children will never die either! We all shall live forever (John 11:25-26).

Jesus certainly upheld Biblical marriage and natural childbirth. But it is not meant to be a command used to make the single or the childless feel guilty. Listen to me: Jesus Christ was childless and single in the natural. Yet He is our LAST ADAM. He has an EARTH and a HEAVEN that is FULL of His Spiritual Children!!!

Now, instead of putting heavy emphasis on Genesis 1:28, we put emphasis on Matthew 28:18-20. Go and teach all nations. That is the LAST Adam's command and it is as important as Genesis 1:28, if not moreso. Natural birth is very important and we must uphold that. But we must not stop there. We must also preach the New Birth, being born in the Spirit according to Jesus in John 3.

The Apostle Paul and the Apostle John both realized that they were now the spiritual sons of Jesus Christ and they raised up more spiritual children themselves. So even those of us who are childless, like Jesus and Paul were, can raise up spiritual children in the local church. It's what I have been doing for the past 16 years... thanks be to Jesus for that privilege. I have blessed many people, spiritual children, and I try to follow Christ's example.

Matthew 19:13-15 English Standard Version (ESV)13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, 14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” 15 And he laid his hands on them and went away.

1 Timothy 1:1-2 English Standard Version (ESV)
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,
2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
John also raised spiritual children. It was His love-language to the churches He cared for.
1 John 2:13 (Geneva)
I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome that wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
---


 So I encourage you not to feel guilt just because you don't feel led to have children, or you don't feel led to be married. You are not less of a Christian if you cannot bear natural children or have chosen not to produce them. You have a ministry in the local church, something God has specially designed for you to do. You can BLESS and RAISE spiritual children! It's the New Testament truth.
If you are already pregnant and expecting, then by all means, protect and cherish your child and let that child be born. I am FOR LIFE. Raise that child in love and in the Word of God.

But at the same time, the precedent has been set by our Last Adam. You are not a bad person just because you don't raise a natural family or cannot bear children. If you accept Christ, then you are ACCEPTABLE in the BELOVED! You are His loved child and you can carry on His legacy, by raising up people in the faith. Marriage and natural pregnancy remain important... but raising the spiritual family, the local churches, is now Christ's major focus.

Jesus has fulfilled Genesis 1:28 with spiritual children, and here is proof:

Ephesians 3:14-15 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 (Of whom is named the whole family in heaven and in earth)   


Be blessed,
Pastor Curtis
Fri Nov 25 2016 2:18pm EST

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Childless People are Blessed Too- in a different way

Here are some Scriptures I would like you to consider if you are childless.
And, for those who do not know, I was once married. And by entering the marriage, I knew I would be childless. A certain medical condition made it impossible to have natural children. I believe in miracles and at the time I married my ex-wife, I believed that the Lord could help us get pregnant if we asked Him, despite the glaring sterility we were faced with. I made the decision to love her even though I knew she could never give me children. And I married her knowing full well I would likely be childless for life. I was ready for it. I accepted it. And eventually, despite my faithfulness and love, my ex-wife abandoned me and we ended up divorced sadly. Years later she would apologize to me, and I fully forgave her, and released her back to the Lord. I have no further dealings with her, and she is free from any debt she owed me. That is what forgiveness is. Forgiveness is freedom from a previously owed debt. I want to be forgiven by my Heavenly Father, in Jesus' Name. So I forgive, with full sincerity and full release of debt. It is liberating.

And yet.... after 4 years of marriage and stress and abandonment, and 7 years of divorce and loss, I am here, thankful. I am serving the Lord. He maintained me. And He has blessed me to bless others, both children and singles and other Christians as well. I minister in a local church. I have been doing so for 16 years. I bless children without having any of my own, and I am still completely happy and
content in that. I still have no natural desire to produce children. And I am so thankful to the Lord that my exwife and I did not produce children- those children would have had to suffer through a divorce, and that is always a nightmare for children.
 My only desire is what Jesus said:

 John 4:13-14 Geneva Bible
13 Jesus answered, and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water, shall thirst again:
14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him, shall never be more athirst: but the water that I shall give him, shall be in him a well of water, springing up into everlasting life.

Matthew 10:42 Geneva Bible
42 And whosoever shall give unto one of these little ones to drink a cup of cold water only, in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

Jesus Christ, who had no natural wife or children, desired to bless the children who came to Him. I wish to continue to bless children in that way:

Matthew 19:13-15 English Standard Version (ESV)
13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, 14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” 15 And he laid his hands on them and went away.
I desire to keep giving the little ones a cup of living water. It's what keeps me going. It inspires me. I realized that my childlessness blessed me with an ability to selflessly serve the Lord with undivided distraction. When one has natural children, you can believe there will be distractions. There will be blessings too. But a lot of heartache and loss as well. Some children rebel against the parents. Some parents disown their children. And a lot of it is because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Read very carefully what Jesus says in Matthew ch. 10. It is a sobering statement, and it should make those of us who are childless more grateful that we have such a gift.

Read on:
Matthew 10:34-39 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
34 Think not that I am come to send peace into the earth, but the sword.
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
36 And a man’s enemies shall be they of his own household.
37 He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me. And he that loveth son, or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me.
38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
39 He that will find his life, shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake, shall find it.


This is not to diminish the precious gift of having a baby or a child in the natural family. Each child is a blessing, and if there were no children, then I would have no ministry!

So this passage does not diminish the blessing of having children, but rather, it is to give us disciples of Christ a wake-up call to the COST OF DISCIPLESHIP.
Bottom line: The more natural family you have, the more it will cost you to follow Jesus. The less natural family you have, the easier it is to follow Jesus without distraction. Childlessness means less chance for persecution from family members.

God has given me this ministry and part of it is blessing children, giving them a cold cup of water in Jesus Name. The living water of Jesus Christ is what I provide them... the water that Christ Himself provides to me. I am a well. You are a well. God fills us as vessels so we can pour out to others.

Now I want you to consider, from Scripture, that it is not just those with natural children who are blessed. But those without their own natural children are also blessed. They are blessed in a different way.

Read what God's Word has to say about blessing the childless:

Luke 23:29
For behold, the days will come, when men shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.


Isaiah 56:4-5 English Standard Version (ESV)
4 For thus says the Lord:
“To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,
    who choose the things that please me
    and hold fast my covenant,
5 I will give in my house and within my walls
    a monument and a name
    better than sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name
    that shall not be cut off.


 Now in Luke 23:29, the context is that the women were lamenting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ as He was carrying His cross. Yet He turned and told them to weep for themselves and their own children instead. Life was about to get a lot harder for those of Jerusalem with children. It was soon after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ that God sent Titus the Roman leader to destroy Jerusalem and all who were in it perished. By that time, the Christians had already escaped because of the warning Jesus gave long in advance. But those who were childless had an easier time escaping and had less to lose if they were perchance killed in the raid.

Now looking at the blessing of the childless people in Isaiah 56:4-5:
These eunuchs, unmarried/childless men, were dedicated to the Lord. The Lord promised to give them a name and a monument that was "better than sons and daughters." Why is the name better? Because it is eternal!

You don't have to rely on natural children to continue your family name and lineage when you already know you yourself are going to live forever as an overcomer in the Heavenly Temple of God! You are not passing on a natural name. You are continuing the family name that lasts forever. You are in the lineage of the ETERNAL FAMILY NAME of Jesus Christ! In Christ, you shall never die, even if your body passes away. You will get a new, incorruptible body at the resurrection of the saints, when the Lord returns!

You don't have to rely on raising your own kids, when you can give the little ones, the children in church, a cup of cold LIVING water in the Lord's Name. You can help to raise SPIRITUAL CHILDREN... that is, children who are adopted into the family of Christ.

The NAME and the MONUMENT promised to the childless men of God in Isaiah 56 sounds a LOT like the eternal NAME and the PILLAR promised to the overcomers by Jesus:

Revelation 3:12-13 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
12 Him that overcometh, will I make a pillar in the Temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the Name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and I will write upon him my new Name.
13 Let him that hath an ear, hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches.

Also, by overcoming the World system's corruption, and your own fleshly corruption, and the devil's lies, you will be given a NEW NAME:

Revelation 2:17 GENEVA BIBLE
Let him that hath an ear, hear what the spirit saith unto the Churches. To him that overcometh, will I give to eat of the Manna that is hid, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth, saving he that receiveth it.

So I want to really encourage you. Your success as a disciple of Jesus Christ has nothing to do with bearing children. In fact, if you are childless, you have the advantage of serving Jesus without distraction, and without the possibility of internal persecution. Now we know persecution will come to all genuine believers... from somewhere. But satan generally likes to stir it up from inside families. So if you are unable to have children, or if you have decided to give your all to Jesus without having children, then just know that the Lord is on your side. He does not ignore you or put you on the sideline.
There is so much emphasis placed on family in the church, that those of us without a natural family sometimes feel ostracized. I don't think it is intentional. But the fact is, God blesses and uses childless people as much as he uses families. And no matter what your natural status is, we can ALL be a part of the Heavenly Family through Jesus Christ our Lord!

God bless you,
Pastor Curtis

Monday, October 24, 2016

Embracing the Season of No Embrace (God works all things for Good)

Ecclesiastes 3:5 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones: a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embracing.
 


Over the years I have discovered that divorce has helped me. God works all things together for Good for those who love Him who are the called according to His purpose. (See Romans 8:28) He even turns a negative loss like abandonment and divorce into something beautiful.
Now as I see people getting married, I am happy for them. I am truly glad to see couples in love and getting married and serving God.

And I am happy for me too.

Because I'm single.

Getting married is right for them, in their season. And singleness is right for me, in this season.

Understanding seasons has helped me to maintain a proper attitude toward the romance and marriages of others. It is tempting to want to feel sorry for myself. But I choose.... CHOOSE.... not to do that. It is rather self-centred to make someone else's marriage about "ME".

So my choice is to feel glad instead. Because I know what kind of work goes into marriage, and I know what happens when one marries a false person.

My divorce motivates me to love the Lord fiercely.

My divorce motivates me to fearlessly explore and experience completion (nothing lacking) in Christ, as a single.

It motivates me to minister to other divorced Christians with grace and compassion. 
 
Do I think I will marry again someday? Oh, more than likely I will, years down the road. Marriage is a beautiful God-ordained institution between one man and one woman.
 When the seasons change, I will remarry.

And that's the key... we must strive to understand God's seasons. They don't operate the same way as the natural seasons do. When a season changes in the natural, everyone experiences it. But when seasons change in your life, they are individual changes, not necessarily changes for everyone in your community. That is the beauty of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. God has individual destinies for each of us, within His larger destiny for all His children.

 I don't feel bad about others getting married now, because marriage is a season... it's the season that some people are in. It's the right season for them to be in.
 
And... Singleness is another season, one that many others are in. It's the right season for me to be in now.
 Once we understand that God works in seasons and that not everyone has to do or be the same thing, at the same time, then we can feel more contentment and peace with where God has led us so far.

Over these past 7 years, I have embraced the season of no embrace.
 
That is a miracle.
 
For someone like me who almost idolized marriage when I was a young man, this is a true breakthrough. Don't get me wrong, Biblical marriage is good. But I took it to extremes when I was young. I thought God's whole plan for me revolved around marriage (and this is before I was actually married).

 God did not cause my divorce, but since it did happen, He has turned it for a good purpose. He has used it to challenge me to read what the Bible says about singleness. He showed me that singleness is a seasonal gift. And now, He has succeeded in changing and balancing my perspective on the two gifts (singleness and marriage). He proved to me that singleness is a good season and a gift, just like the season and gift of marriage. God, and His Word, changed my thinking. Praise God.

 
And now, as I have embraced this season, I find that God has filled my arms and my heart with His very own pure love. He has met me here in this season. His love is real. To embrace the season of no embrace is to trust Jesus Christ's unique plan for my life, and to believe what He is doing is right for me, and for His purposes. I choose to embrace His plan and to embrace the pure Love of God.
 
-Pastor Curtis
Mon Oct 24 2016, 11:03PM EST

Monday, October 17, 2016

The Good Scriptwriter writes good and evil into the plot

Did you ever wonder why book authors and script writers use conflict in their stories? Why?
Why is it that our most memorable books and movies have conflict, and antagonists? Why not just have "good guys"? Why create the "bad guys" or employ them in your story? Why do we love stories of good overcoming evil so much?


 
 
Basically, the function of an antagonist is to give the hero someone or something to overcome. A victory is not a victory without there being some form of struggle where the hero overcomes evil.
 
God is the Creator, and the master author. He is the genius scriptwriter, holy, just and wise beyond our understanding. And he has created two general kinds of vessels -

1) vessels of honour and
2) vessels of dishonour,
All vessels are created by God for His sovereign use.
 
2 Timothy 2:20 English Standard Version (ESV)Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.
 
God uses all kinds of rulers and all manners of vessels. He writes both protagonists and antagonists into His story (history).

In the book of Habakkuk, we see that there is a distinction made between the concept of establishing a government and the concept of approving that same government. God set up this vessel of dishonour known as the Chaldean government. He does not approve of wicked governments, but He will sometimes use them to establish right thinking in His own people. God established the Chaldean government as a chastisement to disobedient Judah. Judah had been rebellious for years and refused to listen to God's gentle warnings to repent. So as a result, after years of being ignored and betrayed, God brought temporary discipline to His children.
Habakkuk 1:12 ESV (God establishes the Chaldeans as a reproof)
12 Are you not from everlasting,
O Lord my God, my Holy One?
We shall not die.
O Lord, you have ordained them as a judgment,
and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof.
Yet God, in His uncompromising and pure holiness immediately pronounces woe on that same Chaldean government in the next chapter.
Habakkuk 2:6-10
Woe to the Chaldeans
6 Shall not all these take up their taunt against him, with scoffing and riddles for him, and say,“Woe to him who heaps up what is not his own— for how long?— and loads himself with pledges!”
7 Will not your debtors suddenly arise,
and those awake who will make you tremble?
Then you will be spoil for them.
8 Because you have plundered many nations,
all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder you,
for the blood of man and violence to the earth,
to cities and all who dwell in them.
9 “Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house,
to set his nest on high,
to be safe from the reach of harm!
10 You have devised shame for your house
by cutting off many peoples;
you have forfeited your life.
 
How about division of The ten Northern Tribes from the 2 Southern Tribes? How did the wicked man Jeroboam break away from the southern kingdom of Judah and become king of the Ten Northern Tribes? God tells us in His Word:
1 Kings 11:31 ESV
And he said to Jeroboam, “Take for yourself ten pieces, for thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I am about to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon and will give you ten tribes

God is absolutely sovereign over all peoples and nations. It is our place to pray for the leaders, to stand for righteousness in Jesus Christ, to act and do good, to vote, and to pray for the Heavenly Father's will to be done. He is righteous and His nature cannot mix with wickedness. Yet He ordains these rulers, vessels of dishonour for temporary use... so that we can learn to be OVERCOMERS. Jesus is the Hero of His Story (history) and the main protagonist. And those who follow Jesus follow Him in His role as protagonist. Now we can be protagonists through Christ. Anyone who repents of their sins and evil ways and calls on Christ for forgiveness will be saved by Christ's pure, undeserved grace. It's not just governments which fall into evil... ALL humans have fallen into evil. All of us desperately need the Saviour, Jesus Christ. He can wash you clean in His blood today, if you call on Him.

So God places all the different kinds vessels in nations for strategic reasons. There are a variety reasons such as judgement, or to stir His people out of spiritual complacency and indifference, or to bless obedience, etc. History shows that persecution actually stimulates the growth of the church. Look at the church in early pagan Rome. It exploded in growth despite being a relatively new establishment with few supporters at the start. The emperors persecuted it intensely. Those Roman officials were placed there by God. God placed them there, and then removed them again. 2 Timothy 2:20 tells us some vessels are made for honourable use, and some have been made for dishonourable use. Keep in mind, God is the potter, we are the clay. He is sovereign and just.

AND YET ... if any person will repent, and purge themselves of evil ways, they too can become a vessel of honour for God. God uses ALL the vessels in the house, in His holy and perfect and just plan. The blood of Jesus can cleanse any person, any ruler, anyone with genuine repentance, and love for God. 
 
Jesus is the protagonist and Hero, and He has already defeated the enemy, satan, by dying and rising again from the dead! (Heb 2:14)
 
God bless you!
Pastor Curtis
 

 


  

Sunday, October 9, 2016

"Loved and Single" - A Short Story

Loved And Single
A Short Story By Curtis J. Alexander.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The man sat down. He thought and he prayed. He was glad that it was all over. He reflected often on the gratitude he felt. He was grateful for peace.

The pain, the strife, the lies he was fed: all of it was gone. God had set him free from her storm. Here he was, now alone, and blessed. He was sipping his hot coffee, reading his 1599 Geneva Bible.
The silence in the halls was an invitation for him to sing and play piano. The empty bedroom, an invitation to stay up later and study God's word or create a new music video.

Oh there was depression for a time. And he went low. He sank down for a time. Had it not been for the Lord, I am sure he would still be in the pits of pity and despair today. But the Lord hoisted him out of those dark days. He brought him into the light.

The man learned not to trust in women or in things or in marriage. He learned to trust in God and God alone. Women can fail. So can men. Marriages can fail. But Jesus never fails. God never fails. God is Love. Love never fails.

Jesus Christ was and is his completion. Jesus completed him. He had known Jesus as Saviour since he was a small child. But this realization of completion came to him in stages as the Holy Spirit would gently pull back the curtain on his understanding of singleness and the Word of God. The man took 2 years to recover from divorce. After that, he began to reopen himself to the possibility of dating again. Yet dating would be sparse, almost non-existent. And in that sparseness came a dense forest of revelation from God, about God. In that sparseness, came a flood of freedom to the man. Freedom from old sins. Freedom from depression. Freedom from a dependance on romance or marriage. Freedom from a dependance on the idea of soul mates. Freedom to create in a variety of ways: music, photography, poetry and lyrics. Freedom to minister to and love God's people at the local church above the train station.
God had indeed taught the man what it means to be fully dependant on Christ alone. In Christ alone was his sufficiency. In Christ alone was his all. And in Christ alone was the courage he needed to walk the walk of a single, divorced pastor. He was growing in his walk as a disciple of Christ. He refused to be defined by the woman who abandoned him in marriage. She had been viewing God as the enemy. And as a result, he suffered for it. So, he refused to let his identity be found in those who could not or would not love him. He refused to be defined by the woman who married him in pretence and had no intention of remaining with him and honouring her vows. Instead He found his identity in his maker and saviour, Jesus Christ. He welcomed the Love of Christ with all his heart, spirit, and mind.

The man grew stronger in Jesus, and in His Love. He moved on in life. He made mistakes too. And learned from them, in grace. As the years rolled by, more new songs emerged from his tongue and his fingers. His didactic music videos lit up a small corner of the internet. He continued to be used by God in the local church family. And single believers began to ask for his ministry. So he began to ask the Lord for guidance and started to teach the singles how to live as a single for Jesus. He relished it. He realized that his life experiences would now be valuable and helpful in expressing compassion and love to those who did not experience a happy marriage and to those who did not experience any marriage at all. He threw himself into teaching the singles ministry.

With some powerful heart-level healing from God, some new light from the Lord, the man would now be ready to walk this new chapter of his life. He would honour his theme verse in 1 Corinthians 7:17... to walk as the Lord called him. He made the decision to leave the door open to a new marriage someday. Perhaps that would be years from now. It did not concern him, because he already found completion in Christ. He found all the love he needs. Through the loss and pain of abandonment and divorce, this man discovered that Christ was all He ever needed. Christ was and is more than able to love the man and fulfill him in every way possible.

This is the continuing story of a man who is loved and single.
 


--
CJA Oct 9 2016 4:23pm EST

Saturday, October 8, 2016

God's Sovereignty


God gives rulership to whoever He wants, no one can stop Him or avert His good and righteous plan.
As A.W. Pink once wrote:
"The sovereignty of the God of Scripture is absolute, irresistible, infinite. When we say God is sovereign, we affirm His right to govern the universe, which He has made for His own glory, just as He pleases... He is under no obligation to give account of His matters to any." (A.W. Pink, The Sovereignty Of God, pg 21)

A Pagan ruler Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, was given revelation about God's sovereignty: 
Daniel 4:29 GNV
"And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass, as the oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou knowest, that the most High beareth rule over the kingdom of men, and giveth it unto whomsoever he will."
See this absolute sovereignty stated again in the New Testament in Romans 13:1-3
Romans 13:1-3 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
"1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers: for there is no power but of God: and the powers that be, are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist, shall receive to themselves condemnation.
3 For Magistrates are not to be feared for good works, but for evil. Wilt thou then be without fear of the power? do well: so shalt thou have praise of the same."
Same passage in the ESV:
Romans 13:1-3 English Standard Version (ESV)
1Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,
God has sovereignty over all nations at all times and works His multi-faceted plan in ways we cannot fathom. Many of us have a list of things we think need to happen in Canada, (or in another country like the US) but God alone knows ALL that needs to happen in our nations. Remember that if you don't like who is leading, pray for them and remember that God set them there to accomplish HIS will (not theirs). These rulers may think that they are accomplishing their own will but just keep in mind that God is working His own will, and doing what needs to be done to wake up His church and His people. We should always pray that God puts the right people in power. And He will answer those prayers, even when we can't understand God's choices.
Habakkuk 1:6 GNV
"For lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and furious nation, which shall go upon the breadth of the land to possess the dwelling places that are not theirs."

We can rest assured that God does what is best and will sometimes place wicked rulers in power for a season. In the Bible, this is often how God dealt with His people when they refused to repent from continuous sin on a national level.
 Sometimes and in some seasons, He places righteous rulers in power (2 Chron. 34:1-3). It all depends on what God, who is always pure (Hab. 1:13), righteous (Psa. 25:8), and holy (Psa. 99:5) , wants to do. Study the Scriptures, and ask The Holy Spirit to teach you the will of the Lord. Rest in the peace of knowing that God, your Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ, is in charge and is taking care of you! 

Luke 12:7 GNV
"Yea, and all the hairs of your head are numbered: fear not therefore: ye are more of value than many sparrows."

No election result, or plot, or political corruption, or other device of humans can stop or change that fact.

Proverbs 19:21 GNV
"Many devices are in a man’s heart: but the counsel of the Lord shall stand."
 
God Bless
Pastor Curtis
Sat Oct. 8, 2016 10:15pm EST

Sunday, September 11, 2016

Slow Down and Read

Stop and meditate on each point that Jesus makes in this ONE bible verse. Slow down and read every line. Holy Spirit please reveal your Word to us, in Jesus' Name.
John 15:16 (Geneva)
a) Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
b) and ordained you...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
c) that ye go and bring forth fruits...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
d) and that your fruit remain...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
e) that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my Name, he may give it you.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
In general a Christian's favourite part of this verse is usually part e. But stop and read the context and the conditions of this promise. The verse is all one sentence, a single complete thought that houses several different important points.
He chose you... it was not you who chose Jesus. He chose us and ORDAINED us (set us in order, arranged us). He wants us to GO and bear FRUIT (Gal. 5:22-23). Not only that but He wants our fruit to REMAIN ( be constant). In that context, we can ask the Father for anything in Jesus' Name, and He will grant it to us, in His due time. 
Blessings!
Pastor Curtis 
9-11-16 4:37 PM EST

Sunday, August 14, 2016

"A Sound of Newmarket" for Jesus

One of the ministries our church supports and is connected to is the ministry of a Prophetic Minstrel named Jackie McArthur from Northern Ireland. He plays a variety of instruments including the guitar, and he writes much music. The prophetic word often flows spontaneously from his music.
He pastors a congregation in Belfast. He has visited our church on numerous occasions and preached, performed his songs and prophesied. Here is a video featuring an example of Jackie's music:



Upon hearing some of my own original music Jackie had this to say:

He called my music a "Sound of Newmarket" (Newmarket, ON is my location) much in the way his music is a "Sound of Belfast". He also told our congregation something very important that I have cherished:
He challenged our people by saying: "If you don't like Pastor Curtis' music, then it's up to you to write something better." It's not that people have truly complained about my music. No. Actually, I generally get compliments and encouragement about my songs, both locally and internationally. The point of Jackie's statement was that I don't have to be the only local person making these songs, that the Holy Spirit is able to inspire anyone. And many of those who He inspires will be songwriters and/or musicians.
Every song is a risk. Every time I share something new, it is a piece of my heart on display for the Lord and for others to hear. It opens one to the risk of criticism and one must learn to overcome their fear of being disliked. Sometimes, people don't like my songs, or how I record/perform them. And this is perfectly fine... because I wrote it for the Lord, and I feel His pleasure when I create and sing my songs.

Of course, I am always striving to learn and grow, so I am willing to hear constructive advise from fellow Christian musicians who also put themselves at "risk" by sharing their own music. I am courageous enough to keep sharing my heart using music, and allowing my own unique musical flavour come out. And I truly HOPE that my music stirs others to write and create for the LORD! If someone thinks they can write a better song than me, GREAT! If you do it for the LORD, then my song has accomplished its task in your life!!

So in the end, if someone does NOT like my music, then that's ok, as long as you still love Jesus and worship Him.
It's ok to have differing styles or tastes in musical genres because styles are not the main thing- the Lord is the central focus.
So don't expect me to change my style. I'm not changing my musical flavour for people. I will share what the Lord lays on my heart, whether people approve or not. My approval comes from the Lord, not public opinion. I appreciate compliments, but in the end, the music is meant to stand out and challenge people to read their Bibles and remember the Word of God and to follow Jesus. And if you think you have a better song, then GO for it. Instead of suggesting that I write your music, get busy and write it yourself, for Jesus!

In other words, all believers have the Spirit of God and it is not up to the pastors (like me) to do "everything" in the church. All believers are part of the priesthood (Rev 1:5-6) of Jesus the High Priest (Hebrews 7:17) who is after the order of Melchisedec. And Jesus is the Chief singer. (Heb 2:12). So our Melchisedec priesthood is a musical one, and all believers are a part of that priesthood.

I have written and recorded at least 30 original songs in the last 8 years or so, and most of them have made it onto my youtube channel in music-video format. Some are being used in live worship at our church.

Here is one of my most viewed videos, "Jesus High Priest":


And here is my very latest original song, "The Perfect Reason" published Aug 12/16:

 
 
The point of my music is:
a) To glorify The Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour and Lord and King.
b) To encourage/instruct/teach people using Biblical, didactic music.
 
The Bible says:
Ephesians 5:18-20 English Standard Version (ESV)
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
 
I enjoy experimenting with a variety of styles, electronic, classical, western, contemporary etc. But my main focus is always on the Word of God, finding ways to sing it to edify myself and others while praising God. My music is very didactic, and I have been told it sometimes sounds like Messianic Praise due to my use of specific rhythms and minor keys. I sometimes get inspired to create lyrics and music about Bible verses that are not usually sung: such as Romans 13:13 or Romans 8:24 or Hebrews 7:17. I have even been invited to use some of my original music in worship services in our church. I have humbly counted that to be an honour and privilege. My style generally does not contain as much "emotional" content as it does "Biblical" and "instructional" content. It is not for entertainment but for edification.
I am not a "professional" artist, and I am fine with that. I am singing and creating for Jesus to the best of my ability, in His Spirit.  
 
Aside from myself, we have had many local musicians come through and share their unique style in the Lord with us. Here is a fellow Canadian Christian, living in Ontario, Peter Nemeth, sharing his original song "Who Will" with us on the Hammer Dulcimer:
 
 
 
So... what is the LORD speaking to you? What has He laid on YOUR heart to do for Him? Music? Art? Service? Ministry? What ever the Lord gives to you, do it with all your might for His Glory. Do it in the Name of Jesus, so that the churches might be encouraged and built up in the faith!
God bless!
Pastor Curtis
Mon Aug 15 2016 12:03am EST
 


Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Singles: Glorify God with your Sexuality

I have a question for you. One that I have wrestled with myself.
Why would God give you a precious gift only to ask you to temporarily lay it down for Him (for a long season or a short one)?
Are you motivated by pleasing God, or by pleasing self?




1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (GENEVA)
"Know ye not, that your body is the temple of the holy Ghost, which is in you, whom ye have of God? and ye are not your own. For ye are bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit: for they are God’s."

2 Corinthians 9:7 (GENEVA)
"As every man wisheth in his heart, so let him give, not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."
 
Genesis 22:11-12 (GENEVA)
"11 But the Angel of the Lord called unto him from heaven, saying, Abraham, Abraham. And he answered, Here am I.
12 Then he said, Lay not thine hand upon the child, neither do anything unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing for my sake thou hast not spared thine only son."

I've come to a conclusion. I've decided I want to lay my life down for Jesus. I cheerfully and willingly give Him my self. I give Him the gifts that He first gave me (for we can give nothing to Him except what He first gives us!)
Sexuality is a good and God-ordained gift. He designed it, and tells us how to use it. Since sexuality is built into the good design of our bodies, It is primarily to glorify God.... according to Paul in 1 Cor. 6:19-20. Marital sex glorifies God and sexual purity glorifies God. Both married disciples and unmarried disciples can practice sexual purity, and thus, glorify God. But there is something very precious about total and willing surrender to God in a season of singleness. One must walk the path to truly understand it. I am walking and learning in this path.
God gave me a revelation that has helped me. Rather than focusing on what I cannot do as a Christian single (cohabitate with a woman outside of marriage, or have unmarried sex,  etc etc.) or on what I MIGHT be able to do, I have come realize that God doesn't want to TAKE anything away from me, including sexuality. It is a valuable and beautiful gift. He delights when His son or daughter CHOOSES to give a gift to God with a CHEERFUL heart. It takes a change in attitude, and a change in focus. If I choose to give it ALL to God, then it no longer matters what is permissible or not regarding sex acts. All has been cheerfully given to God.... for a time. When God changes the season to a time of marriage, you will know!!

Singles who are Christian have a particularly challenging life because we are caught between two worlds... a world of sanctified sex in the marriage union, and the realm of worldly sex where people have fallen into sin. Keep in mind, I have known pure marital intimacy. I have been single again for almost 7 years. In my time as a single, I have been practicing sexual abstinence. So I have an understanding of both sides of this two-sided coin. But God has been helping me to increase in purity.

We as singles are surrounded by all kinds of things pointing toward sex.... good sex and bad sex. Focusing on good sex (in marriage) when we have no prospective mate can leave us feeling empty and unfulfilled and impatient. And focusing on bad sex (sin) leaves us a bit cynical and distrusting and maybe even feeling hopeless.

 But never spurn the gift God gave you. Never ask Him to take it away... like I once did at a time when I was feeling hopelessness in my singleness. God has no pleasure in taking things away when He placed them squarely in your domain. He gave you sexuality as a gift and a responsibility.

 But He does delight when we cheerfully lay our beautiful gift down for Him. Abraham willingly gave what God desired, until God told Him to stop.
Are we willing to give God what God desires? He desires holiness. He desires obedience and trust. He desires the Fruit of the Spirit, including self-control. He desires the very BEST for each of us.

So as I contemplated this, the Holy Spirit reminded me that my focus should be on making USE of my sexuality for God in a pure way: complete surrender. I make use of it, and it does not go to waste, as far as God is concerned. It is so precious that I lay the gift on the altar for God. It is just for a season, not necessarily for a lifetime.

Our bodies are always meant to bring glory to God first. God's glory has a higher priority than anything else. That is why I believe God has allowed me to walk in a season of singleness for these past 6 1/2 years. He wanted me to discover the true joy of being a cheerful giver of my own body to Him for His glory.

I GIVE the gift from a willing heart, and that makes the giving so much easier. I used to focus on all the things I CAN'T do or all the things I MIGHT be able to do. I used to perform mental and scriptural gymnastics to find justifications for behaviours that were neither prohibited nor expressly allowed in Scripture (example: masturbation).

But now, the Lord has taught me that my gift is beautiful and valuable, and that it is put to GOOD USE by giving it up completely and freely to God. That is part of how we glorify God in our bodies. Complete surrender. Practicing this has brought my heart to a place where I receive new confidence in Christ, and joy from God.

If you don't want to surrender out of love for GOD, then your habits will not change! Sexuality is a heart issue at its core. And as I discovered, God is gentle and patient. Don't worry if you aren't at this point in your life yet, where you feel you can surrender it all to Him. Give it time, and keep walking and growing deeper in your relationship to Jesus. Let His love slowly change your heart. Let Him show you the secret treasures of singleness.

These days, I find myself caught up in the inexplicable joy of letting God have all my being. To the flesh, it makes no sense. But in the Holy Spirit, it is a reasonable and lovely sacrifice.

 By giving it all up for God, I find peace, and assurance that my sexuality is going to good use! It is CURRENTLY doing the MOST IMPORTANT THING in the universe: Glorifying God!

Surrender is only meaningful to God when we do it from our own free will and love of Jesus. And He does not force us to give anything.
 If we stop a behaviour begrudgingly, then soon enough we will find ourselves falling back into those very same fleshly habits once again. Why? Because we are focused on what we CAN'T have. We know sex is designed for marriage, for mutual spousal enjoyment, and also for procreation. But we often miss the fact that it is useful when we are single too. We can practice purity, and surrender our gift to God for His glory.

It is time to shift the focus up toward God and His high calling. Jesus is calling. He wants you to know He loves you and designed you and He saves all who call on His name and turn from sin.

There is surprising joy in giving up all sexuality into the care of the Lord God. It remains your sexuality, but you have now entrusted Jesus with its care and protection every day. You no longer try and please yourself your own way, but sincerely want God to be pleased instead. That shows just how much you value your sexuality.
 This delights Him. As a single, this is a powerful way to bring God glory. Sexuality is useful in singleness because of this.

Now if you want to get married, go for it, in Godly wisdom. Jesus did not prohibit marriage. But He also did not require it either. The choice is really up to you. Just be sure to follow the discipleship call regardless of what choice you make. If you do choose to get married, your gift of sexuality will be put to good use in the sexual union of husband and wife. That honours God.

 But as long as you remain single, and sexually pure, you can still put that gift to good use today. Give it all to God's care. Jesus said, where your treasure is, that is where your heart will be. Let us surrender the gift of sexuality to God.

May we realize that such a willing and cheerful gift each day will bring glory to God each day. And that is the reason we were put on earth, to bring glory to God the Father. There is no better honour.
I am still learning and growing in this, as we all are, and I hope to encourage you with a taste of my own journey with Christ.

God Bless,
-Pastor Curtis
 Jul 13, 2016 11:57PM EST