by Pastor Ken Matthias
God is sovereign. He can do whatever He likes, whenever He likes. That said, I personally cannot say I have ever seen a significant move of God’s Holy Spirit without seeing the prerequisites of 1 Chronicles 7:14 present; humble prayer, turning from our wicked ways (repentance), and intentionally and intensely seeking the face of God.
God took Ezekiel to a valley filled with dry bones and asked him, “Can these bones live?” The East Kootenays is a collection of communities lying within a valley full of dry bones (people without the Spirit of God in them). The same question God asked Ezekiel could be asked here, “Can this valley live?”
God tells Ezekiel to prophecy over the bones.
In 1 Corinthians 2:4-5, the Apostle Paul says, “My message and preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on man’s wisdom, but in God’s power.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All scripture is God-Breathed (KJV “given by inspiration of God) and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Prophecy is Holy Spirit inspired/empowered speaking of the truth of God’s Word. Gold told Ezekiel to prophecy. We speak God’s words, not our own. To try and claim, declare, or prophecy something the Holy Spirit has not given you to say is not prophecy; it is bad theology. The Holy Spirit Himself speaks only the words he hears from Jesus (John 16:13). I would be inclined to model speaking God’s truth after the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the most anointed person I know 🙂
But as God challenges us to humbly pray, repent, and seek His face on behalf of this valley, speak life over it. Prophecy the truth of God’s word into it as the Holy Spirit inspires you. In doing so, believe that we are demolishing every argument and pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:5). This is the divine power that demolishes strongholds. (2 Corinthians 10:4).
But like the individual set free from demonic oppression, there is an urgency to occupy lest the demon returns with seven others, stronger than itself. It is not enough to tear down the walls. The Spirit of God must enter in.
1 Peter 1:1-2 teaches us some of the work of the Holy Spirit as He enters in, “… To God’s elect … who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood…”
Foreknowledge always precedes being chosen, elected, or predestined. “For those whom God foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son… (Romans 8:29).” God does not go through a crowd saying, “I pick that one and that one, and not that one or that one.” He simply foreknows which ones will choose to receive Him, and which ones will not.
The sanctifying work of the Spirit helps those who are called; to be obedient to Jesus, and to be sprinkled with His blood.
Being sprinkled with His blood reflects the Old Testament Day of Atonement, where the high priest would sprinkle blood on the altar for the atonement of the people’s sins (atonement meaning to cover over, pay for, or make amends for). This is Salvation.
Obedience to Christ is tied into the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. The word sanctify is in the same group as the word holy; meaning to be set apart. This connects to God’s instruction, “Be holy, for I am holy (Leviticus 11:44).”
Holiness is a choice, not a state of being. You are granted righteousness (salvation) through acceptance of the work of Jesus Christ on the cross, but you are not made holy. You choose to be holy. You choose to set yourself apart for God. But you are not left to make this choice in your own power. The Holy Spirit is set apart to help you with salvation (sprinkling of blood), and sanctification (holiness; choosing to be set apart).
So, we humble ourselves and pray, seek His Face, and turn from our wicked ways. We pray and speak the truth of God’s word over this valley we live in, demolishing strongholds, arguments, and pretensions that have set themselves up against the knowledge of God. And then, we invite the Holy Spirit to enter in, bringing life and salvation to the people, and helping them set themselves apart for God in holiness.
And do not forget; We are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). We are the ones who hold treasure in jars of clay (2 Corinthians 4:7). It is tempting to pray these prayers and speak this truth from the comfort of our home or the safety of our churches, but though we do not belong to this world (1 Peter 1:17), we are called to be light and salt in it. Let us be found faithful.
Last Updated: April 14, 2020 by abundantlifepa.com Leave a Comment
Zoom Live Meeting Information
Zoom is a live audio and video teleconferencing application to be used on your laptop, smart phone, or desktop (with microphone and camera). Up to one hundred people can connect to the same meeting for up to forty minutes with the free version of the program.
It is simple to use, and relatively simple to set up, with any device that has video and audio capability. Joining a meeting is done by responding to an email sent from the host prior to the scheduled time to start. At the scheduled time, you click the link in the email entitled, “Join Zoom Meeting.” If the link in the email does not work, the meeting ID and password are provided so that you can manually enter them in. You do not have to create an account if you are simply joining a meeting. Creating an account gives you the additional ability to host your own meetings.
Zoom-Meeting-InviteDepending on your set up, you may have to click through a few simple questions such as, “Join with computer audio,” or, “Join with video.” Once you have followed through those questions, you will see yourself on the screen along with others if the meeting has already started.
Zoom-Meeting-Invite-2A menu at the bottom of the screen allows for you to set some options if you wish, use the chat function, leave meeting, or share an open windows screen from your computer with others.
If you would like to make sure you are set up, and can access zoom prior to a Sunday Service, please contact Pastor Ken to help you.
Last Updated: April 12, 2020 by abundantlifepa.com Leave a Comment
Easter Sunday Message – Alive Again
Last Updated: April 10, 2020 by abundantlifepa.com Leave a Comment
Sunday Message April 5, 2020 “Where Your Treasure Is”
Last Updated: April 10, 2020 by abundantlifepa.com Leave a Comment
Communion Devotion Sunday April 5, 2020
Last Updated: April 10, 2020 by abundantlifepa.com Leave a Comment
Sunday Message March 29, 2020
A short message from Pastor Ken. Have a blessed Sunday, and take some time to connect with someone today. If you would like to join in, the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada and the World Evangelical Alliance has declared this Sunday as a day set aside for fasting and prayer regarding the COVID-19 virus.
Scroll through the blog posts or use the sidebar to check out previous posts. If you would like to add something inspirational to share with others, please ‘leave a comment’ to this post, or email pastor Ken at office@abundantlifepa.com
Have a blessed day!
Last Updated: April 10, 2020 by abundantlifepa.com Leave a Comment
Dealing with Fear
Wisdom from the Tuesday Ladies Bible Study
If we allow it, our fears and anxieties can launch a coup for control of our minds. The imagery brought forward at the ladies bible study was that of an old tape recorder or video player that keeps replaying the same images and messages over and over, even when you want them to go away. “What is going to happen?” stories, and, “What if?” questions plague the mind and can rob us of the peace the bible promises for God’s children.
We do not want to just hit the stop button; we want to outright delete these plaguing fears.
The biblical antidote for this assault on our mind starts with the last half of 2 Corinthians 10:5, “…take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ.” It is not enough to pray that God would relieve you of those fears; we need to stand against them. We take captive, and we make them obedient to Christ. We seize any thought that goes against the knowledge of God by the throat, cast it to the ground and stomp on its head. Okay, I am embellishing a little to make the point that we forcefully do this. We refuse to allow these thoughts entry into our heart. And if they already have gained access, the first part of 2 Corinthinans 5 comes into effect; “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God.” This is the removal of strongholds. We do this with weapons of divine power; prayer and the speaking of God’s truth against those lies in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Once this is accomplished, we need to fill the space created by the removal of fears and anxiety with the presence of God and the truth of the Word. Reading it, studying it, memorizing it, speaking it out over your life. Praying it into the situation you previously found yourself fearful over. The time you wasted worrying over something, dedicate that time to praise and worship.
Great wisdom from our great ladies!
If you would like to share some inspirational thoughts, or a devotion here with all of us, please either “leave a comment” using the link at the top right of each blog post, or send me an email at office@abundantlifepa.com
God bless all of you this week!
Pastor Ken (currently coming to you from the land of 74.9 cents per litre gas!)
Last Updated: April 12, 2020 by abundantlifepa.com Leave a Comment
Online Church Information (during COVID-19 restrictions)
While Abundant Life Pentecostal Assembly takes time to do our part in insulating (I prefer the term insulate over isolate… We are never alone!) to stem the tide of the COVID-19 virus, we are working towards creating multiple options for us to engage with one another in creative and meaningful ways.
Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “Let us consider how we might spur one another towards love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the day approaching.”
We have been seeking God for discernment as to how, as a church, we honour God’s word to gather together, pray, and worship together, while not sending a message to our community that could be seen as the church not caring, or recklessly endangering others. Join us in seeking God’s direction for navigating this unparalleled time.
The word God highlighted to me a while back was, “This is the day that the Lord has made; rejoice and be glad in it.”
This day is no different than any other. Our call and mandate remain the same as it always has been. It might just be a bit more obvious now 🙂
The website’s ‘BLOG’ section will have inspirational thoughts and writing, video links, and each Sunday, there will be a short video message. We would encourage you to engage with these resources, even if you choose to stream services from a larger church at this time. This is a way we can keep connected locally.
Starting April 19, 2020, we are encouraging everyone to view the Sunday message together, starting at 10:30 am. This is to provide opportunity for us to host a ‘zoom’ meeting following the message for anyone to join to have a short discussion based on the message, ask for prayer, and simply connect with one another. Instructions on using zoom will be posted on this blog page by the end of Tuesday, April 14.
Please continue to support the church as well. Our commitment to obey God’s word to give to the Lord should never be affected by world events. We have considered the best way to do this: We would appreciate if you could bring your tithe and offering to the church office in the last week of the month, in the mornings of Tuesday to Friday (This is to limit the number of times ladies have to come into the church to count). Please, if possible, use a cheque instead of cash (a cheque is cleaner, and not as risky if it needs to be left at church for a time). If these conditions cannot work for you, please contact Pastor Ken on his cell phone to arrange something different.
Please submit inspirational thoughts and references, video recordings of greetings to others, and what you and your family have been doing, to be posted in the blog section as well for others to connect to. Make sure to use the sidebar links and scrolling to see previous content.
We would encourage everyone to make effort to reach out to others at this time. Connect with one another during this time of insulation. There are some in our congregation who will not be able to connect online, so a phone call is a welcome gift of love at this time.
God Bless, this is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!
Pastor Ken and the Church Leadership Board;
Last Updated: April 10, 2020 by abundantlifepa.com Leave a Comment
The Sanctifying Spirit of God
by Pastor Ken Matthias
God is sovereign. He can do whatever He likes, whenever He likes. That said, I personally cannot say I have ever seen a significant move of God’s Holy Spirit without seeing the prerequisites of 1 Chronicles 7:14 present; humble prayer, turning from our wicked ways (repentance), and intentionally and intensely seeking the face of God.
God took Ezekiel to a valley filled with dry bones and asked him, “Can these bones live?” The East Kootenays is a collection of communities lying within a valley full of dry bones (people without the Spirit of God in them). The same question God asked Ezekiel could be asked here, “Can this valley live?”
God tells Ezekiel to prophecy over the bones.
In 1 Corinthians 2:4-5, the Apostle Paul says, “My message and preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on man’s wisdom, but in God’s power.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All scripture is God-Breathed (KJV “given by inspiration of God) and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Prophecy is Holy Spirit inspired/empowered speaking of the truth of God’s Word. Gold told Ezekiel to prophecy. We speak God’s words, not our own. To try and claim, declare, or prophecy something the Holy Spirit has not given you to say is not prophecy; it is bad theology. The Holy Spirit Himself speaks only the words he hears from Jesus (John 16:13). I would be inclined to model speaking God’s truth after the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the most anointed person I know 🙂
But as God challenges us to humbly pray, repent, and seek His face on behalf of this valley, speak life over it. Prophecy the truth of God’s word into it as the Holy Spirit inspires you. In doing so, believe that we are demolishing every argument and pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:5). This is the divine power that demolishes strongholds. (2 Corinthians 10:4).
But like the individual set free from demonic oppression, there is an urgency to occupy lest the demon returns with seven others, stronger than itself. It is not enough to tear down the walls. The Spirit of God must enter in.
1 Peter 1:1-2 teaches us some of the work of the Holy Spirit as He enters in, “… To God’s elect … who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood…”
Foreknowledge always precedes being chosen, elected, or predestined. “For those whom God foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son… (Romans 8:29).” God does not go through a crowd saying, “I pick that one and that one, and not that one or that one.” He simply foreknows which ones will choose to receive Him, and which ones will not.
The sanctifying work of the Spirit helps those who are called; to be obedient to Jesus, and to be sprinkled with His blood.
Being sprinkled with His blood reflects the Old Testament Day of Atonement, where the high priest would sprinkle blood on the altar for the atonement of the people’s sins (atonement meaning to cover over, pay for, or make amends for). This is Salvation.
Obedience to Christ is tied into the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. The word sanctify is in the same group as the word holy; meaning to be set apart. This connects to God’s instruction, “Be holy, for I am holy (Leviticus 11:44).”
Holiness is a choice, not a state of being. You are granted righteousness (salvation) through acceptance of the work of Jesus Christ on the cross, but you are not made holy. You choose to be holy. You choose to set yourself apart for God. But you are not left to make this choice in your own power. The Holy Spirit is set apart to help you with salvation (sprinkling of blood), and sanctification (holiness; choosing to be set apart).
So, we humble ourselves and pray, seek His Face, and turn from our wicked ways. We pray and speak the truth of God’s word over this valley we live in, demolishing strongholds, arguments, and pretensions that have set themselves up against the knowledge of God. And then, we invite the Holy Spirit to enter in, bringing life and salvation to the people, and helping them set themselves apart for God in holiness.
And do not forget; We are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). We are the ones who hold treasure in jars of clay (2 Corinthians 4:7). It is tempting to pray these prayers and speak this truth from the comfort of our home or the safety of our churches, but though we do not belong to this world (1 Peter 1:17), we are called to be light and salt in it. Let us be found faithful.
Posted: January 28, 2020 by abundantlifepa.com Leave a Comment
Last Day of Fast
Good morning!
I want to say thank you to all who joined our time of fasting and prayer in some way these last ten days.
God is good. It has been clear that He is speaking to many of us similar things. He has revealed that there is a destination He is calling us towards that will involve each of us to let the Holy Spirit search our hearts to see what ‘blockages’ need removing, so that the track is clear ahead.
We need to continue to ask the questions that need to be asked to see forward movement in our own lives, and our church. Though the corporate fast is over, continue to press in with God in humility, repentance, holiness, worship, and prayer.
Continue to pray to the Lord of the Harvest that He would send workers into His harvest field. Pray in faith against every stronghold (of thought) that would set itself up against the knowledge of God. Continue to pray that God would fan into flame His gifts that He has given His people. And pray that God would move in our midst in such a way that no one could ever say, “Where is their God?”
God bless all of you. I love our church. Keep up the good fight to our dying breath, and, “never give up, for at the proper time… we WILL reap a harvest.”
Posted: January 25, 2020 by abundantlifepa.com Leave a Comment
Day 7
Day 7 of the ten-day fast.
Good afternoon! Blogging is a lot like praying. Putting out words in the hopes they will be heard 🙂
I have always been the type of person that does well after receiving clear instructions. Even from an early age, I enjoyed being given a task, and figuring out how to do it even better than what was expected of me.
As a pastor, I generally am responsible for determining what tasks I put my hand to. But, I still have a boss… my Father in heaven. If I do not take the time to sit at His feet and hear in my spirit His instructions for my day, I flounder, and weaken, trying to come up with it on my own.
This time of fasting and prayer has reminded me of the clarity God can bring when we position ourselves close to Him through humility, repentance, prayer, praise, and worship.
Thank you Father for the great times together!
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