Fresno Revival Fellowship

Means to an End by Pastor Dave

by Kraig Hill

by Pastor Dave

Click to listen: Is God Really Among Us? by Pastor Ward

This past month was a great time of rejoicing, fellowshipping, and outreaching. We had a prayer and fast too which was very uplifting and encouraging as Pastor Ward wanted us to think about what our favorite thing is to do. The Lord should be our favorite one each day. We have to let God be first in our lives. Jesus’ favorite thing was to do God’s will and finish it. We must do His will and finish His work as Jesus is still doing this. Let the Lord be preeminent and greatest in your life. Let the Lord show you His power. Three brothers gave short talks using their favorite scriptures. Pat used Proverbs 3:5 and Romans 8:28. He mentioned that whatever we go through in trials that God will work something good out of it. He also mentioned that our testimony is powerful and giving it is a treasure to others. Raymond used Psalm 46:10 and Job 37:14 and how we should stand still and consider the wondrous works of God. We need to be still, pray, read God’s word and know that He is God. He also mentioned that the gifts of the Spirit are far better than any Christmas gifts. Dave R. used Psalm 119:67,71, & 75. He mentioned about a very difficult trial he went through for about 9 months and that it was good to learn about afflictions. Through this the Lord helped him to learn about faithfulness – to keep praying and looking to Him and He came through with a healing.

We also had a fun activity night where we played charades – acting out scriptures or choruses and also a Bible quiz. This night the main snack was ice cream with others bringing toppings, fruit, etc.

Our Brazil lunches are a great success and have brought in quite a good amount. This last amount was no different. It has been a great way to be involved in helping our brothers and sisters in Brazil. What a great effort put in and many thanks to all those involved in preparing and serving these lunches. Also the monthly donations put in through the mission fund envelopes here in Fresno have helped enormously for 2006! Praise the Lord, another great way to share what God has given us to help those in need!! THANK YOU to all those who contributed in Fresno as well as others in the US and Canada, and overseas that sent money. It is such a blessing for Brazil and a great blessing for us to see the Lord’s work continuing on with many miracles! May the good work continue!!

New Year’s Eve was a great time of rejoicing! It was a fun night of fellowship and games and then choruses and short testimonies of something the Lord has particularly blessed you with during 2006! Then we prayed in the new year and are all expecting to see many more wonderful miracles through this year!

“But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven: A land which the Lord thy God careth for: the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.” Deuteronomy 11:11-12.

May it be another year full of God’s blessings for all!

Heard from the talks:

• We’re here to generate spiritual life.
• Sometimes God does things against the natural grain of us but for His purpose.
• God is expert at turning sorrow into joy! He gives you fullness of joy.
• The world is seeking happiness in different directions but our happiness should be in the Lord!
• We should guard our hearts and have peace no matter what our circumstances.
• Satan sets traps. He is a terrorist and wants to kill you.
• God created music to praise Him!
• We are celebrating Jesus Christ through choruses and in everything we do.
• We never have a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery – let’s take care of today and do God’s will!
• People in the world shop for gifts but what they really need is the gift of the Holy Spirit.
• A good offense is having a great defense. A great offense is rejoicing even when things are tough – still watching and waiting.
• A good defense is reading, praying, and having fellowship. Make sure the love of God is surrounding you.
• Lose sight of yourself – deny the flesh.
• The Bible is the best selling book and also the most powerful, most persecuted, valued, feared book of all times. We’re part of this powerful book that has changed our lives. Man cannot destroy it. Treasure it and hunger after it!

He who is enslaved to the compass has the freedom of the seas.

This is a saying I heard recently. I would like to consider this saying and relate it to our walk in the Lord. Imagine yourself to be a Captain aboard a ship. In your care is committed a ship with all the lives and cargo aboard. This is a very important responsibility. Now consider what kind of a Captain you would be if you did not know how to use a compass. The massive ship would be in great danger with all the lives on board. Navigating without a compass through waterways, reefs and not to mention getting where you want to go all of a sudden threatens the voyage. A captain must know the compass inside and out in order to succeed in his job. As the above saying describes one must be enslaved to the compass if he is to survive on the seas. This knowledge of the compass opens up a freedom of passage to any mariner for he can go anywhere and be safe.

• Titus 1:1 ¶ Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
• 2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Paul declares himself to be a servant. Another word for servant is slave or bondman. Some may say I don’t want to be a slave to anyone but Jesus is not just anyone. Jesus is the one who has saved our soul and he daily continues to forgive and empower our lives through God’s Spirit. As we pursue godliness a door of opportunity and freedom opens up in our life. The Captain is able to navigate dangerous waters with his compass. We too through Jesus are able to receive wisdom to navigate the dangerous waters of our life.

• 2 Cor 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
• 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

When Jesus gave us his Spirit he gave us freedom or liberty from our sins. Freedom from our sins enables us to enjoy God’s peace each day and his blessing. I rejoice to be enslaved to Jesus Christ because when I serve him I see his power guiding my life. We are free to live life on earth with Jesus our compass leading the way before us. Trouble strikes and Jesus is right there to help us. Recently my back was injured and I felt pain but at the same time I knew the Lord was helping me through his comfort. I wanted an immediate healing but that did not happen. There was trouble in the waters of my life through this back pain. I had to get out the compass of my life which is looking to Jesus and trusting him to guide my thoughts and heal my pain. This is the freedom of the saints to be able to look away from our troubled waters and see such beautiful hope and help in Jesus.

The word glass above means a mirror. The mirror which shows us the glory of the Lord is the word of God. Here in God’s word we see his glory and we are being changed by the Spirit of God to be in the image of his glory. The glory of the Lord is shown to us in many ways such as God cleansing us from sin daily, the gifts and fruits of the Spirit moving mightily in us, being sons and daughters of God, seeing souls saved around us, hope for the future beyond the grave. I could mention so many more examples of the glory of God in our life. Why don’t you add to my list examples of the Lord’s glory in your life. The list you would come up with would be a list of the freedom you have in the Lord. With Jesus as our compass the freedom of the seas lies before us. The Lord promises to daily chart our course in life by changing us into the image of his glory. Praise God with all your heart when you see the treasure of his image in your life.

• Heb 10: 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
• 32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
• 33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazing stock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
• 34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
• 35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.
• 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Fall into the Lord’s hand brothers and sisters with a respectful fear of God in your heart. We have all come a long way in the Lord. God has guided us through many troubled waters. The compass of the Lord shows us our home is in heaven. Enjoy this great freedom God has given us for it is an amazing gift. Be confident and patient God is going to reward us with his promise. My back may still hurt at times but doing God’s will must be my goal. Reproaches and afflictions I know lay before me as the storm clouds gather on the seas. Praise the Lord we are not alone because we have chosen to be the servants of the Lord.

God bless, Pastor Ward.

by Pat Billingsley