Dogma

Our dogma revolves around the great biblical truth that there is One God, also called “monotheism.” In his book, The Oneness of God, David K. Bernard, J.D. defines monotheism in this manner: “The belief in only one God is called monotheism, which comes from two Greek words: monos, meaning alone, single, one; and theos, meaning God.” Ralph V. Reynolds simply stated that “there is only one Supreme Being who is God; He cannot be multiplied nor pluralized.” He further declared, “There are over fifty passages of Scripture that teach that God is one and that there is no other.”

In fact, the Word of God naturally assumes this universal truth. Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created..." God here is the transliterated form of Elohim, which means “plenitude of might,” or more simply, “one God whose characteristics are many.” This thought is carried further in Deuteronomy 6:4, "Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God is one LORD." In Colossians 2:9 we are told that in Jesus dwells all the fullness of the Godhead (all the characteristics of God) bodily, and we (the Church) are complete in Him (Jesus).

When addressing Timothy, Paul wrote of a mystery, but then he further explained what that mystery was, "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory” (1 Timothy 3:16). Only Jesus Christ fulfills those six points. Therefore, Jesus Christ of the New Testament is Elohim of the Old Testament, which further explains why we are told that Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God and that all things exist and consist by him, Colossians 1:12-17.

So, we are dogmatic in our belief that there is only one God and Jesus is His name. He is our Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, and Savior. Isaiah 9:6, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Only Jesus fulfills this messianic prophecy. He is the Father in Creation, the Son in Redemption, and the Holy Spirit in us today. Keep this great truth in mind and heart as you celebrate this Christmas season. Merry Christmas!


____________
SOURCES:

Bernard, David K. J.D. The Oneness of God. St. Louis: Word Aflame Press, 1983.



Reynolds, Ralph V. Truth Shall Triumph. Hazelwood, MO: Pentecostal Publishing House, 1965.

Engraved In the Palms of His Hands - E. S. Harper

Christmas is nearly upon us and I have been remiss in actually writing anything this year.  So, in the spirit of the season and in consideration of my lack of literary presence, here's my gift to you this Christmas -- a sermon, which my pastor (Edwin S. Harper) preached earlier this year.



 Title:
Engraved in the Palms of His Hands.mp3

Also:
http://k007.kiwi6.com/hotlink/08338g98sb/Engraved_In_the_Palms_of_His_Hands

OR:
http://kiwi6.com/file/08338g98sb

Speaker:
Rev. E. S. Harper

Text:

Bishop & Mrs. E. S. Harper

Isaiah 49:14-16, "But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me."

John 20:25, "The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe."

Mantle 2010: C. Shawn Tyson

Elder C. Shawn Tyson preaching "The Agony of Unity" on Friday, November 5, 2010, at Mantle 2010 in Huntington, WV.

Mantle 2010: David Myers

Here's a clip of Pastor David Myers preaching "When Bones Begin to Worship" on Friday, November 5, 2010, at Mantle 2010.

Greene's Break Time Question of the Day: 002

Greene answers the question,"What is the importance of God’s timing in the believer’s life?"

Mantle 2010: Information and Invitation from Host Pastor

Mantle 2010: Shekinah's Reconciliation Before He Comes

Distric Elder C. Shawn Tyson Invitation and Wecome to Mantle 2010.

Apostolic Life Cathedral is, once again, hosting the Mantle Conference in Huntington, WV, on November 4-5, 2010.

This year's theme: Shekinah's Reconciliation Before He Comes.

Mantle was born out of a desire to bridge the gap between our Apostolic heritage and our future. We do this by placing seasoned preachers and pastors together with young ministers of the Gospel in an atmosphere of anointed worship, preaching, and ministry.


It is our desire that relationships will be developed between the elder ministers and the younger ministers, like Elijah and Elisha.

We want to see the Apostolic Movement, as a whole, continue forward with the same commitment to Christ and the Gospel as our forefathers had - Mantle works to aid in this endeavor.

If you have any questions please call: 1-304-781-2015, or email: outreach@lifecathedral.com
Evening Speakers:
David K. Bernard
C. Shawn Tyson
N. A. Urshan, II
Rodwell Anderson

Day Speakers:
Clarence Moore
David Myers
Kristin Saunders
Dan Garlitz

The Conference begins on November 4th at 7:00 p.m.  The day sessions begin at 9:00 a.m. on November 5th with the evening service beginning again at 7:00 p.m.

Location: Apostolic Life Cathedral, 350 Staunton Street, Huntington, WV 25702

Video Clips from the 2009 Original Mantle Conference:
http://www.youtube.com/user/TShuga#p/u/9/zvZnUra-IZo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJvduFrCwzM

While You're Waiting

I was going about my daily activity recently when this thought entered my mind: “while you are waiting, God is shaping your life.” I believe that this was God's way of speaking to me in that moment. So, bear with me as I try to convey this idea in a clear and concise manner.

Joseph was an immature younger brother and it's possible that he was also a spoiled son doted upon by his father. He had a dream, but he was not ready to receive the fruition of that dream. So, God, in His great wisdom, allowed the 17 year old to be put into precarious situations and he did not see his father until he was 41 years old, at which time his dreams were fully realized. Each trial in Joseph’s life added responsibility and served to increase Joe’s maturity and integrity preparing him for the role he was to play in his dream.

Just as Joseph was not ready, we sometimes find that while we are impatient for fulfillment, we are not quite ready for what God has promised us, or given us in dreams and visions. Therefore, while we are waiting, God is shaping and preparing us to receive the fullness of His promise.

Instead of becoming impatient, we need to learn how to let God shape us. All too often, we can get in the way of God’s plan by allowing the flesh to rise up and prolong the shaping that God’s hand is doing on our inner man as the Great Potter molds us into a vessel that He can use, and if we’re not awfully careful, we can get in the way of the Master’s preparation.

Joseph is a great example to us of one who suffered for his dream, but we read in no passage where he complained or charged God foolishly. In fact, the Word of God indicates twice God’s continued presence even in circumstances where the carnal mind would doubt His proximity (Genesis 39:2 & 21 “…the LORD was with Joseph…”), but Joseph teaches us a principle that will serve us well when our ambition collides with God’s timing.

I admonish you today to trust God in your time of preparation and allow the maturing process to complete its cycle because while you're waiting, God is shaping your life.

Create In Me A Clean Heart -Ps. 51

Pastor Nathaniel P. Urshan & Rev. M. J. Anderson singing together in Moriah Apostolic Church.


I shot this on February 3, 2008, and apparently forgot to post it on my blog. It's one of them songs/prayers I always go back to. Hope you like it as much as I do.

Bishop James A. Johnson Concerning our Pentecostal Fathers

Recorded on 3-28-2010
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbVXsi0vRcw
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEpzypbwzXg&NR=1
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAJA5Sygreo&NR=1
Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5P8El9ULGk&NR=1

Here's an interesting quote from Part 2: “If you do not have confidence in the fathers then most likely you are going to be out on your own limb, plotting your own course, traveling your own road, devising your own lifestyle. You must be able to find some of your fathers whose faith you’re willing to follow in order to understand how you are supposed to walk. I have, among my collection of things, a particular book that contains quotations from some of our Pentecostal fathers, and I’m willing to tell anybody, ‘I am not a self made man, and my doctrine is not my own.’ There are men of God who were before me that I had respect for, and I respected things they taught and things they said to me personally. If you don’t have confidence in the fathers then you’re liable to get messed up in your mind at anytime. Find some of the fathers in whom you have confidence and try to adhere to their teaching.” –Bishop James A. Johnson (3-28-2008)

Jesus Christ: Sonship

The Purpose of Sonship

God has always desired to fellowship with man, but sin came into the human family and separated God from man. The purpose of Sonship was so that God could provide the best means by which He and man could regain their fellowship, and to give dominion over the earth to man again. This fellowship is the result of the sacrifice of the Savior on Calvary. He could only do this by providing complete redemption for mankind. He is the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world, Rev. 13:8. In short, the Sonship is about God and man engaging in a loving and healthy relationship that is void of any hindrances (sin), which would separate each from the other. For that to take place a Mediator (the Son) had to provide reconciliation between God and man. This Mediator was realized in the person of Jesus Christ.

Who Fulfilled the Sonship

Jesus Christ fulfills the Sonship. In Colossians 2:9 we are told that in Jesus dwells all the fullness of the Godhead (all the characteristics of God) bodily, and we (the Church) are complete in Him (Jesus). Paul did say that the Gospel message was a mystery, but then he went on to explain what the mystery was: "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory” (I Timothy 3:16). Only Jesus Christ fulfills these six points. Thus proving the adage, “Jesus Christ of the New Testament is Jehovah of the Old Testament.”

T.W. Barnes - Saying the Name of Jesus

 

 

 

According to T.W. Barnes, many people pronounce the name of Jesus without really knowing how to say it. He specified four ways to say the name of Jesus:

1. Say His name with love; the early church had great success, because they loved not their lives, they loved that Name. Love is powerful. Their love gave them reverence for the Name.
2. Say His name with vision. Say it seeing the invisible. A woman said, "I resist the devil and he doesn't leave." Bro. Barnes asked her, "What do you look for? The Bible doesn't say resist him and see him sitting on your shoulder; when you resist him you should see him running. The devil no doubt left you when you said in Jesus Name, but since you did not expect him to go, your thinking made you as miserable as if he stayed with you."
3. Say His name with faith. Religious leaders in Israel asked the disciples, "How did you heal the man crippled from his mother's womb?" Peter answered, "...by the name of Jesus Christ..."
4. Say His name while living a life of sacrifice. The disciples sacrificed everything for that name. We need to love it enough that no sacrifice is too great to make for Jesus.

-Nona Freeman, A Prophet in our Time (2007)

 

********************************

 

 

Why is there so much power in the Name of Jesus?  T.W. Barnes attributed it to the following reasons: 

1. His Word is in it – John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word…”
2. His Blood is in it – Jesus is a blood name that redeems all people from sin and the effects of sin (sickness, disease, mental disorders, etc.).
3. His Spirit is in it – The Holy Ghost that you received when you spoke in tongues the first time is that Spirit of Christ in you.
4. The authority of heaven is in it – All power in Heaven and earth belongs to Jesus Christ.
5. His faith is in it – He made everything by the power of His own Word; He spoke it and it happened.

-Nona Freeman, A Prophet In Our Time (2007)

Bishop Morris Golder - The Perfect High Priest

I'm not sure when this was preached by Bishop Morris Golder, but it sure is a great message about Jesus Christ entitled, "The Perfect High Priest."

Part A:


Part B:




Thank you, Bro. Crosby, for posting the audio!

Pamphlets from Oneness Pentecostal Writers (Part 2)

A while back I posted some pictures and talked briefly about pamphlets from Oneness Pentecostal writers.

Today I am posting another excellent pamphlet, in its entirety, written by the late Rev. David F. Gray, entitled "Chart of the Seven Men and the Two Natures the Secret of Victory Over satan and Power with God," which he wrote and published in 1957.

Read and enjoy!

Title: Chart of the Seven Men and the Two Natures

Author: David F. Gray

Publisher: David F. Gray

Year: 1957

Description: The secret of victory over satan and power with God.
 

"Save Yourself" - Robert Bayer (Part 1)

1977 sermon from a Great Apostolic preacher -- The Walking Bible.

This Too Will Pass: By Rev. James Cleveland and Charles Fold

My brother - Phillip - and I have fun singing this song together.

One of the bad things about moving to a different State is missing those times of worship together with friends and (especially) family. So, treasure every moment you share in worship with your loved ones.

2010 WV YC - "I Am Free"

Been a while since my last post. God is at work in Huntington, WV healing, delivering, and pouring out His Spirit.

Here's a clip from the West Virginia Youth Congress I attended in Morgantown, WV last week.

For more clips visit: http://www.youtube.com/user/buckeye086