The Seeds of Apostasy

A very good word. Have a great day!

- Pastor

THE SEEDS of APOSTASY
-by Paul Holdren.

John Wesley recounted that within every revival were the seeds
of apostasy. By this he meant that with revival came righteousness,
with righteousness came favor, with favor came prosperity, and with
prosperity came the temptation to self-reliance. The temptation of
self-reliance is the first step away from God. It is sad that people
are willing to serve the illusion of prosperity by means of self-reliance.

As Americans we can definitely see how this insight fits our country.
Our land was birthed with the ideal that a nation should have the
freedom to worship the true and living God according to one’s
conscience. The Almighty had blessed our nation with righteousness.
With righteousness came national favor, with favor came prosperity,
and now we, as a nation, bear the burdens of decline resulting from
our own self-reliance. As American Christians we can see how the
Spirit of the Lord could speak of a church that sees itself as
“increased of goods and have need of nothing” (Rev. 3:17).

When idolatry’s seed of self-reliance yields its crop of perversion,
poverty, and struggle—many who claim to be worshippers of
Almighty God will turn to other gods. These gods are the gods
which originate in the satanically manipulated carnal heart. These
gods are conceived in the human imagination and constructed by
human hands. These gods of imagery are bombarding Americans
now, seducing us in a downward spiral of the media’s ongoing
promotion of abomination against God.

Our present “it’s the economy” or “it’s health care” politicians have
replaced Jeremiah’s prosperity prophets, giving us a false sense of
security by proclaiming blessing and peace upon the land. Our
“soft-sell” preachers are proclaiming health and wealth, while the
glory is preparing to depart from our places of worship. “Change
that makes a difference” will not come by the hands of men.
“Change that will make a difference” will only come when we cast
our idols down at the foot of the cross.

Where are the believers like Ezekiel today? Where are the watchmen
on the wall of a nation’s destiny—crying out that the enemy is
coming, that the glory is lifting, and that God is turning His back?
Political correctness tells us not to speak in such a manner.
Religious convenience tells us not to prophecy such, for the people
have ears that need to be tickled (II Tim 4:3). As passionate believers,
we cannot help but speak a word of warning. As passionate oracles
of the truth, we must speak the promise of restoration grace in
order that many may be given the opportunity to cast down their
idols and return to the God of our fathers.

Money, Barrels, and Bob Evans

Today was Sonya Money's last staff meeting with us and this is her last official week as Treasurer of KP. What a wonderful job she has done. We will miss her and Amos too. They are KP giants in my estimation. Even before they moved back from Florida, I heard so much about them from the KP congregation members...nothing but good things of course. And I have to say, it is all true. Amos and Sonya have worked untiringly at the church. They love KP and I know its very hard for them to leave. This coming Sunday evening we will take some time after service and honor them. I think it would be very appropriate if you would like to express your love and appreciation with a card and/or a gift inside. Of course, if you cannot afford it, don't worry about it. Hugs, pats on the back, and kind words will do just fine.

Well, we our getting our barrels out now. If you can help us to place a barrel somewhere where there is public traffic, please come by and pick one up. We have about ten left and we need to get them all out this week. If not, you can at least bring your old shoes to the church and help us fill barrels. We have about two weeks to try to get a semi-truck full of old shoes. It could mean as much as $25,000 for missions.

Wow, we had a great men's cell this morning at Bob Evans. This morning they sat a big group of store managers by us as we went through our lesson and prayed. I love when they do that. About every week, we have someone sitting near us that is listening and watching, including waitresses. It gives our cell an opportunity to shine the light of Christ both in word and in our actions.

Hey, have a great Wednesday!

-Pastor

Sunday Wrap Up

Man, it feels great to get a little rest. It was a wonderful weekend, but a busy one. The worship service last night was wonderful. Six months ago, I first talk to Natalie about putting together a Saturday evening praise & worship service. We had wanted to do it this summer and had scheduled Ed Cloninger and his Middletown church worship band to come and lead it. But we had to cancel, due to the Tommie Zito ministries coming in that particular week. The original plan was to provide a service that would include not only KP people but also worship leaders from churches in the area. We just don't want this to be a Kings Point thing, but a service where the body of Christ can gather and have some quality time in praise, worship, prayer, and prophetic ministry.

This morning's service was awesome. Sister Lola, Mike, and Ken, all did an awesome job giving us an inspiring view of Kings Point over the last thirty years. We are all blessed to be a part of a body of Christ that has been used of God to shine the light of Christ brightly throughout the tri-state area and beyond. I think we have a tendency as fallen beings to look at God's church through gray colored glasses. We often see the faults and not the fruit. We see the problems and not the potential. But one day Jesus is coming back after a His church. It will be spotless, pure, and undefiled church. Not because its perfect and without problems, but because the precious blood of Jesus has cleansed His church and made it pure and holy.

On a final note, the breakfast and dinner today was great! Thanks to Gerry and Wilma for providing a delicious breakfast...biscuits and gravy, eggs, sausage, and fried apples. If you missed it...you missed a free breakfast that was better than Cracker Barrel's. Thanks to everyone who brought food to the dinner and pitched in and helped prepare and clean-up. A great team effort!

It's time to take a nap. Everyone have a great week!

-Pastor

Friday Countdown...

I arrived back safely from Michigan about an hour ago. For you that heard, my mom is doing fine. She is home from the hospital. They still don't know if it was an heart attack or what. But she is resting and doing fine. Thanks everyone for your prayers.

The pastors encounter was good. We had to leave early to make it back to Indy for little Faith's surgery (Tim was riding with me). Tim just e-mailed us and said she come through surgery well. A pastor's encounter is much different the kind of encounters we do. Pastor's encounters are done mainly around a round table of pastors. Pastors are encouraged to open up after the sessions with other pastors. The cross session is really about the only session other than the vision session where there is ministry around the altar. Pastor's encounters are done in a little over a day. [I like our encounters much better!]

Please come out and join us this weekend as we celebrate thirty years of ministry together at Kings Point. I am looking forward to our praise and worship service Saturday night. I'm ready to get into the presence of the Lord and just rest after a long week of running. Then, Sunday ought to be a great time. Breakfast and dinner under the tent. And the worship service will be unique but I believe everything we do will bring glory to God.

Well, I've been fighting a cold and can barely hold my head up. See ya Sunday!

-Pastor

Encountering God

I am in an encounter for pastors today in Michigan. I am really looking forward to this time with God over the next day and a half. This morning as I was prayer walking, I could already feel the presence of God stirring up a hunger in me to worship Him today. I always feel a little guilt when I am away from the church and my family. But the Lord helped me with that this morning telling me that this is my time with Him as a worshipper. His Spirit reminded me that I need to trust Him with all of that back home...so thats what I will do while I am here.

Love you all!

-Pastor

Are You Among the 7000?

by David Wilkerson

We know that all through the Bible, the number seven is equated
with God's eternal purpose. Therefore, I believe the number of 7000
that God quoted to Elijah in 1 Kings 19:18 simply denoted everyone
who made up his remnant. The people he sets aside for himself
could number 70 or 7 million. What matters is that they are wholly
given to him.

So, what are the characteristics of the remnant? Here are three
defining marks:

1. An unchangeable commitment to cling to the Lord. Every remnant
believer has made a single-minded choice to swim against the tide
of evil. At some point, you have to make a commitment, declaring,
"I don't care what others say or do. I am the Lord's. And I won't give
in to the wicked spirit of this age."
2. A willingness to identify with the poor. While society's trend is
to associate with the rich and successful, you align yourself with
the suffering class. Obadiah was a godly man serving in Jezebel's
house. He was determined to fear God and no one else and he
proved that his heart was right and was with the poor by taking
care of 100 ragged, suffering prophets (1 Kings 18:4).
3. A reliance on hope. The 7000 in Elijah's time endured because
of their hope in a coming day of deliverance. Likewise today, the
church's blessed hope is the soon return of Jesus. With one trumpet
blast, all wickedness will end. Our Lord will do away with all killing
of babies, all blatant perversions, all ethnic genocide.

Do these three marks characterize you as a part of God's holy
remnant? If so, God boasts of you, "This one has given his heart
to me. He's focused on me. And he is wholly mine!"

We are to evangelize, minister and work while it is still day. We are
also to live in the hope that King Jesus is coming. And he's bringing
a new world with him, where he'll rule from his eternal throne.

Sunday Wrap Up

What a fun day today was as well as the entire weekend. The Children's Encounter was great. I got to pray with kids today in the Vision session. Children had a powerful encounter with Jesus Christ as many of them were filled with the Holy Spirit today and sent out to do ministry. Debbie Jett and her team did a wonderful job! I know they are all super tired, but I think each one would tell you it was worth it.

This morning's service at Kings Point was just an awesome time in the presence of God. The word from the Lord was "brokenness." It was a beautiful sight to see people getting out of their seat spontaneously and kneeling before the cross.

I think we all enjoyed Garry Myers testimony and his sharing about what God has called him to do. Thank you so much for giving in the offering. Wycliff Bible translators maybe the most effective ministry organization in the world for getting God's Word into countries in their own native language. Please remember Garry in your prayers as he goes to Chad, Africa.

Tonight's praise and worship was again a powerful time. I appreciate Brother Ron preaching tonight. His message on putting first Christ was what our body needed to hear. Our meeting with the parents of our teens was ground-breaking. I truly believe God has great things in store for our youth ministry.

If you are helping us with the shoe fundraiser. Please come to the church and get your flyers and posters to give out to your business, churches, etc. You can get them in the kitchen. Barrells will be available on Tuesday n the Grubb wing hallway. Please pick up yours this week.

Thanks! Have a great week!

-Pastor