The Birth Of WHitestone Fellowship      Back in 1993 John Glenn was teaching the Alpha Series in several places on the coast of Palm Beach, Martin, and Saint Lucie Counties. Many heard the good news and wanted more of what they heard.  There was excitement, renewal, and joy on the coast.  People met in their homes, attended Family Worship Center where John was preaching each Sunday, and studied the Alpha Series on video. I studied in all of these settings and God began to set me free from bondage under the law. After a while, John and the leadership at Family Worship Center began to see that the goals of Alpha Ministries and the goals of FWC were different.  John resigned Family Worship Center.  The core group of people that shared John’s vision for gospel outreach was from various places—the majority at that time on the coast of the three counties mentioned above.  Thus, we began meeting at Bessy Creek Elementary School. The group thrived.  John appointed elders and the leadership was together. It was there that Ed and I, as elders were trained and groomed for leadership.  After three years, God spoke to John about creating a training center in the acreage in Okeechobee now known as  Freedom Ranch. At first, I was excited and my wife Carrie and I were open to anything God had for us—even moving out to Okeechobee; however, God made it clear to us that we were to stay on the coast. God also spoke to Ed DeVries about continuing to meet as a church on the coast. After talking with Ed, John, and others, it became apparent that God had grown the church His way—horizontally. Enough of us were at the place where we were ready to turn the corner.  We wanted to share the good news.  The Stuart office was the perfect place for our group. John had taken us this far, and Ed and I began to shepherd the flock under John’s tutelage. Because we recognized the unity of the Spirit and that this was in no way a “church split,” the Stuart group would meet at the ranch the 4th Sunday of each month. As time went on, I recognized the need for the church in Stuart to become financially independent and self-governing.  John’s focus needed to be on the development of the training center; it was time for us to fly solo for the effectiveness of the gospel.  However, there is a certain law of physics that says once an object is in motion it tends to stay in motion unless confronted by an equal or opposite force.  It is true in human nature as well. It was not until John recognized that Alpha Ministries had to shut down the Stuart Office to maintain its effectiveness did the leadership in Stuart recognize the need to form our own Identity and define our ministry.  God impressed it on my heart to remain on the coast teaching the gospel, emphasizing three truths: Our new Identity, complete forgiveness, and eternal security in Christ. Our mission statement is as follows: Mission Statement To teach believers their new identity, complete forgiveness and eternal security in Christ Jesus. To teach families to recognize and experience the power of Christ in their daily lives enabling them to love one another fervently. To share the good news with the lost and hurting.                         As the group met to discuss the possibilities, Sal Nofi offered a room in his pool store for us to meet. Although this room is not practical at this time, Sal’s offer provided a catalyst for the body to visualize its future. Sal’s initiative demonstrated the body’s willingness to take ownership.  We chose the name White Stone Fellowship from the book of Revelation where Jesus gives us a white stone with a new name on it.  This new name signifies our new identity in Christ.  It is fitting for us because God has formed us as one body and has given us a new identity.             Although the exact, physical location is uncertain at this point, we know we will go on as a body of believers, encouraging and building one another up in the faith. The office in Stuart has been our home, and our desire is to stay there.  We are hopeful the Father will provide our needs to continue the outreach.               Presently we meet on Sundays at 10:30 AM, offer pastoral counseling throughout the week, and offer various classes and support groups on week nights. We have had several coffee houses in the past and will plan more for this fall and winter season.  We will offer various seminars on such titles as The Principles of Bible Study, The Finality of the Cross, Your New Identity and Marriage. Also, we will teach the Alpha Series and Family Classes. The first seminar is as follows: October 1st and 2nd –Principles of Bible Study               White Stone Fellowship is a direct result of John Glenn’s teaching and preaching ministry here in South Florida.  In other words, God used John’s ministry to plant His church here on the coast.  This is in no way to be viewed as a church split.  Personally, I consider John Glenn a true friend, mentor and pastor. He stood by me and lived out what he believes in various situations.  We will continue to fellowship and work together. We are individual ministries; yet, we are one.  Thank you all for your support.      Receiving Your Manhood   by bill lloyd                             When I was growing up, being a man was very important to me. I remember as a very young boy hearing my parents’ Four Seasons record singing, “Walk like a man,” and thinking, “I want to be a man...I am going to be tough.” I grew up around football, booze, war heroes and a dad that worked hard labor every day. Dad was my first hero. I thought he could do anything.  He was athletic, hard working, and clean cut. My earliest memory is my dad crawling on his knees to play with me. Sometimes we would play football, and I would have to run around him. He would grab me with one hand and lift me off the ground. We would laugh, and I knew I was loved.   I remember my mom had to pick him up somewhere, and the street was deserted, and he took off running, like he was racing the car, and I thought he ran so fast. General George Patton was my next hero, the first man I imitated.  I remember walking the beach with my cousins, quoting Old Blood and Guts, cussing. I thought that made me a man. I stood on the beach with my dad’s binoculars, turning to my cousins and saying, “My men have lost their fear of the Germans—I pray to God they don’t lose their fear of me.”    Billy Jack, the Half Breed protector of the hippie school was my next hero. I admired his ability to look men in the eye and say, “You are a liar.” Of course, I loved his karate moves and practiced on stacked garbage cans in my garage. I fought a kid once, and won. It was just plain craziness that helped me win the fight. My kicks were not skillful, but I was a big wannabe, and I wanted it so bad that I tried my hardest—I thought that made me a man. Arnold was next.  I started lifting weights and getting big. I read his book, changed my diet and adopted his confidence.  At the same time, I discovered the music of Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young, and one of my best friends discovered the great philosophers, and I remember him quoting, “A sound mind in a sound body.”  They used their minds. I remember thinking, “I will have the strength of Arnold and the lyrics and smarts of the Boss.” I would have a sound mind in a sound body—I will be the ultimate man. Needless to say, the combination of Arnold Schwraznegger, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen hindered my quest for true manhood; although, I must admit that Springsteen’s empathy helped me later on in life to understand my humanity better. With my guitar in one hand, and my dumbbells in the other and a harmonica around my neck, I set out to conquer the world. I knew there was more to life than the material world, and had a notion “A notion deep inside that it ain’t no sin to be glad you’re alive.”  Deep down inside, I felt I was destined for greatness...to be like one of my heroes, for they were mortal souls just like me.  I was in college when it dawned on me that I did not know God.  I asked Him one night why I didn’t know Him and told Him that I thought he must not like me because I did not know him. So, I told Him that I wanted to know Him if He was real.  Well, that unleashed a chain of events, and I’ll try to provide you with a “Reader’s Digest” version: 1.      I drove home from college the next day, and got home late in the evening.  My sister told me, with a smile, that Jesus was her Lord and Savior. Now, I would have dismissed it if it wasn’t for that smile.  My sis has a great, happy, Peppermint Patti type smile. Before I left for college late that summer, she had suffered from depression, and was a bit anorexic.  I had not seen her smile like that since we were kids.  I asked her to tell me more.  She did.     2.      When I went back to college, an old roommate called me to ask me what I though of Dylan’s conversion to Christianity.  I told him that the music sucked, but my sister was saved, and I was thinking. He got all excited, came over, gave me a Bible, and told me about Jesus. 3.      Another person called me and came to talk to me about Jesus.   This may all sound good, and it is, but at the time, I was gravely disappointed. When I asked God to show me Himself, I expected some type of Eastern philosophy where  I would fast, walk on coals, get bitten by snakes(like Billy Jack) and meditate on some rugged mountain(remember the manhood thing)  I was brought up Catholic, so I knew about Jesus.  And, I thought He was weak!  I mean, He lost.  The Romans beat him up.  There was no miraculous escape, no karate moves on Pilate, and no posse to come in and whip the Romans (Eastwood in the Pale Rider). So, I had dismissed Jesus very early on in life.  However, as I read the Scriptures, and as I really understood why Jesus died, and He let them do that to Him for me, I discovered that Jesus was the bravest, the toughest, and the greatest man that ever lived.  In fact, He was the only True Man—The Son of Man.    As I sought out to “follow Jesus” I became disillusioned with the 2 dimensional, cardboard, non-existent character that the church held up for an example of a Godly man.  There became an intense struggle between flesh and Spirit.  I was emasculated by religion.  True hope came when I realized I was not my flesh, and that God had joined me to His Son inseparably, and my union with Christ provided me the power I needed to be the man God intends me to be.  In other words, our manhood is something we receive when we receive Jesus Christ. I John 2:6 says that anyone who claims to be in Christ “must walk as Jesus did.”  Studying the humanity of Jesus will help us understand just who God has made us to be, and  the true source of our manhood will be revealed.   Jesus Was Dependant       Jesus stated that by himself he could do nothing!  The eternal Son of God laid aside his Deity and relied 100% on the Father.  God made us dependant beings.  All the talk of our day about rugged individualism is rubbish.  We are dependant, and were made to depend on God. You have probably heard someone say, “God is a crutch for the weak.”  Well, I have news for you: God is not a crutch, He is our life support—He is our ambulance, our Regenerator, our Respirator, our very life support. Don’t get offended when people say that—Paul said that he sought to boast about his weakness.1  The next time someone says that, agree or correct them that He is much more than a crutch, and ask them what there depending on.  We were made to depend      on God to for every aspect of our lives, so lets look at our dependence.   Personal Needs      We all have a need for love, acceptance, forgiveness, empowerment, meaning and purpose.  Men, especially need to feel adequate.  I don’t care how tough you might be, or how macho you are.  There is a need deep down in your soul for love and acceptance.  If we don’t get those needs met by God, we will look to a myriad of sources to meet that need—sex being the number one source. * Those sources will often fail us, hurt us, and cripple us for life.  God created us with those needs, and it is part of being a man.  However, it is this weakness that can make us strong.   Think of it, if you allow God to meet those needs for you, you are in a position of strength. On a daily basis, you can know that you are unconditionally loved, completely accepted, and totally forgiven on the basis of Christ’s work on the cross.  You can affirm yourself in these truths and lacking no good thing, you can be in the position to love others.  Because the same power that raised Christ from the dead is alive in you. Part 2    What separates the men from the boys?  Do you remember hearing that growing up as a kid?  I remember.  The first time I heard it was at Pop Warner football practice.  We started out with conditioning.  Running, calisthenics, and strategy were covered the first couple of weeks of practice, and then came the pads.  “Tonight we are going to start hitting—tonight we are going to separate the men from the boys,” bellowed Coach Tom. So the ability to dish out physical punishment, and the ability to take physical punishment was Coach Tom’s way to separate the men from the boys.  In our last article, we looked at Jesus as our model for true manhood.  We found that Jesus depended on the Father, and to be a man is to be dependent on God. A true man depends on God to meet his personal needs for love, acceptance, forgiveness, meaning and purpose.  As God meets our personal needs we are empowered to walk in the Spirit allowing God to express His power in our weakness.  Likewise, Jesus is the answer to our question at hand, “What separates the men from the boys?”  I’ll give you the bottom line first and then explain: Knowing your true identity is what separates the men from the boys.             There is an incident in Jesus life that is essential to our understanding of what it takes to be a man, or better yet, what God has done to make us a man. Luke 2 tells us that when Jesus was 12 years old he was left behind in Jerusalem for 4 days.  When they finally found Jesus, he was teaching in the temple, and the teachers and elders were amazed with him. When his mom told him they were searching all over, Jesus, answered, “Why were you searching for me?  Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”   Jesus was not worried that he was left behind; he didn’t need someone to tell him what to do, and in that instant, he entered manhood—He knew His true identity; He knew who his real Father was. And in doing so, he “grew in stature and wisdom, and in favor with God and man.” Knowing our true identity empowers us to grow into the man God has made us to be.              Adolescent psychology tells us that 4 important questions must be answered during adolescence, and the top of the list is “Whom Am I?”  Jesus settled that question early on when he realized who his true Father was; that separated him from the boys. To be true, strong men, we must find our identity in our relationship to God through Christ. God, through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ has given us a brand new identity. Our new identity includes complete forgiveness, total acceptance, full sonship and an inseparable union with Jesus Christ.   Complete Forgiveness             Most people see forgiveness as God letting our sins slide—letting us get away with it.  However, the root of forgiveness means to send away.  This means that we have been totally separated from our sins.  We are no longer identified with them whatsoever. All of our sins were nailed to the cross in Christ along with our “old self.”  We were buried with Christ in baptism and raised with Him into newness of life.  (Romans 6) The new creation—your true identity, the Spirit Man is raised with Christ, and your sins were nailed to the cross and buried with Christ. God sees only the Spirit Man who is joined to Christ--holy, blameless and separated from sin. (Ephesians 1)  Consider the following verses from Romans 6:                         “The death he died he died to sin once for all, but the life                         he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves                          dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.”   We are instructed in this verse to identify ourselves with Christ Jesus. There is only one way to interpret “dead to sin.” If you’re dead, you can’t do it! That sounds shocking, but if we are alive in Christ Jesus, we can’t sin because Jesus can’t sin.  If our spirit is joined to Jesus Christ inseparably, how can we sin?—Jesus would be sinning also.  The verse goes on to say, “Do not let sin reign in your mortal body.”  Again, sin is a separate entity from you—it is not you. Later in Romans 7, Paul says quite clearly, “It is no longer I that do it, but sin living in me.” So your complete forgiveness provides you with this new identity: “Dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.”   Total Acceptance             Every child wants to be accepted by his parents.  Some parents make the child work hard for it, and some never give it which leads to problems later in life.  The good news is that God accepts you—you are an accepted child of God. Righteousness is the biblical word for acceptance.  2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us that “God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.” Jesus did for us what we could never do for ourselves: He made us righteous. God now accepts us just as He accepts Jesus Christ.  Will Jesus ever be rejected, ridiculed, or belittled by the Heavenly Father? No, then neither can you according to this verse. So, your new ID says you are just as righteous and acceptable as Jesus Christ.   Full Sonship             “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”  This bold declaration from the 1 John tells it all.  That is your lock, stock and barrel new identity—a child of God. God has covered all the bases in making us His children; that is He has both given birth to us and He has adopted us.  This is important because under the Roman law of the day, a father could disinherit a natural born child; however, a father could never disinherit an adopted child.  John 1:12 says that we have the right to call ourselves children of God and that we are “born of God.”  Moreover, Romans 8 tells us “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption. And by him we cry ‘Abba, Father.”  As both adopted and birthed children of God, we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.  You know what an heir is—the one who gets all the stuff which is great if you father is rich. Being joint heirs with Christ means we have, are and will inherit everything that Jesus’ inherits!   Inseparable Union with Christ Jesus             “In that day you will know that I am in the Father, you are in me, and I am in you.”  Look closely at what Jesus is saying here, and ask yourself, where am I and who am I.  You are in Jesus and the Father, and Jesus is in you.  Who are you identified with? Jesus. How does God see you?  The same way He sees Jesus.  There are many more verses that explains and illustrates this great truth, and they will be listed at the end of this article, but for now let us look at a modern story that illustrates how knowing our true identity will empower us as men.             Jim Carey starred in a movie called the Truman Show.  He was Truman.  Truman was born inside a big studio bubble owned by a TV station.  Inside the bubble was an entire town, filled with actors and sets. The TV audience watched Truman’s birth; they watched him grow up, and they tuned in every weak.  Truman was the only one that did not know everything was staged.  He never left the town because it was surrounded by water. He was told since he was very young that his father drowned in an accident and he was deathly afraid of water.  But little by little Truman began to see the truth.  The producers and actors tried really hard to manipulate him and keep him from seeing the truth, but once he knew it was a lie—once he knew his true identity, they could no longer contain him, and he burst out of  the bubble. Satan has lied to us over and over again about our identity. He did it to Jesus. “If you are the son of God ” he said over and over again.  “If you were really a Christian If you were really a child of God ” is what he tells us.  So we try harder to be a good Christian.  To make matters worse, legalistic pastors, churches, seminars, etc. send us off in all directions trying hard to get what we already have in Christ. It stops when we know our true identity—no one can manipulate and control us when we know who we are.  Likewise, we don’t have to manipulate others to make us worthy—to meet our needs. Instead we can love others like Christ.  We are free to hear the Father speak to us—we are free to walk in strength—we are free to love others.             So a true man understands the following: He is dead to sin. He is alive to God is Christ Jesus He is the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus God is his True Father He is an heir of God He is a joint heir with Christ He is completely forgiven (past, present and future)               As we understand these truths, we are free to love others.  Loving others is the sign of a true man.  The masks can come off as we make ourselves vulnerable to our wives, kids, neighbors and friends. They will see and notice the love, and they will sense its power.  God gives us our new identity and makes us secure for one reason—to love others.  The recipients of your love will see you as strong, secure and free, rather than weak, manipulative and proud. Try it out Believe your new identity daily, and ask God to show you how to love others.  You can’t lose.   For further study, read the following verses: Romans 6: 5-14 Romans 8:25-20 Colossians 2:9-14 Colossians 3: 1-4 Galatians 3:26-29

Freedom-Just Another Word or Your Reality? by Bill Lloyd What is freedom? Our country values freedom. Soldiers are now fighting for our freedom.    There are many misconceptions concerning the true definition of freedom.  The USA is probably one of the freest nations that ever existed in the history of man, but individually most citizens live in personal bondage.  Many citizens of this great nation are enslaved to things such as drugs and alcohol; others are enslaved to anger, fear, doubt, depression and various other emotions, and some of our fellow Americans are behind bars. So, just because we are citizens of a free nation does not necessarily mean that we are taking advantage of our freedom on a daily basis.  Likewise, the Christian Life is to be one of freedom, but so many saints live in bondage to various taskmasters. They have been freed from these thieves and usurpers of freedom, but they have not taken advantage of it.  Jesus said that it is the truth that sets us free.  So, if it is truth that sets us free, it must be lies or ignorance of the truth that puts us in bondage. Therefore, we must learn about our freedom and apply it to our daily lives.  Fear is the biggest obstacle that keeps Christians from experiencing true freedom.  The sad thing is that the things we fear are the very things we have been freed from.  For example, we have been freed from punishment; however, many saints live in fear that somewhere or somehow they will be punished.  We Are Free From Punishment   The ultimate punishment is hell, and Christians know that they are never going there.  Or do they?  Are you afraid that you might not make it to heaven after all?  So many saints buy into the lie that somehow they can lose their salvation—that somehow they can blow it and be lost.  This demonstrates a faulty understanding of the gospel, and actually cheapens what Christ has done.  Christ is God.  His sacrifice was either good enough to make certain we get to heaven safe and sound, or it was lacking.  There is nothing lacking in God, and His sacrifice is perfect. If you received Jesus Christ, you have the right to call yourself a Child of God, and thus, Heaven is your home, nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus, and you are already seated with Christ in heavenly places.  One misunderstanding that causes this fear is that we think our flesh is going to heaven—that is, we think that we are going just as we are now in this sin cursed body with our limited thinking and perspective. Our flesh or sinful nature or indwelling sin (the Scriptures use these terms interchangeably) has been condemned. Moreover, God separates our flesh from the “new creation” He has made us to be. The new person who God made us to be is going to heaven. Our flesh, with our sin cursed body will rot in the grave. God promises us in Romans 8 that He will complete all phases of our salvation. “Those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”  Those he predestined, he also called-Simply put, it was God’s initiative, his idea, and  we would not even think about Him if it wasn’t for His initiating love. Those he called, he also justified-God has completely forgiven and has removed all our sins, and we have been made righteous. Christ was punished for our sins, “the punishment that brought us peace(justification) was upon him.” Those he justified, he also glorified- Glorification refers to the time when God will give us a new, spiritual body in heaven. The new person that God has made us to be will inherit this new body. God is so sure that we will receive our new bodies and be in heaven that he speaks of it in the past tense.  In his eyes, it has already occurred. You are going to heaven and will never be punished—ever! Now, please don’t give me any hypothetical situations about the person who received Christ and then murdered his family, committed adultery and “does whatever he wants.”  God is not concerned about a hypothetical person.  He has given you the gospel. What are you going to do with the “good news”?   We Are Free From Sin    Today's church is much too preoccupied with sin.  Is it a sin to do this or that is the common question.  Sin consciousness hides the truth of the gospel because the truth of the gospel declares that our sins have bee taken away. When something is taken away, it is no longer seen.   The Old Testament uses beautiful imagery to describe and prophecy what God has done with our sin problem.  He has "tread our sins underfoot", " removed them as far as east is to west," throw them into the sea, put them behind his back never to be remembered again, and has swept them away like a cloud.  The New Testament, however is much more literal and much more detailed as to God's remedy with our sin problem.  We are free from the penalty of sin, the presence of sin, the power of sin and the preoccupation with sin.             Dead to Sin             Romans chapter 6 deals with the question of the hypothetical mention earlier.  Since God deals with us on the basis of grace through Christ's perfect life, sacrificial death and life giving resurrection, should we go on sinning?  Paul's answer is" God forbid!" Like, what are you kidding?   The way he answers this question is imperative to our understanding God's attitude toward sin and how to live the Christian life.  He does not give us a list of do's and don'ts.  He does not warn us that we will lose our salvation. He does not imply that such a person is not really saved. What he does do, however is call us to faith in the gospel. His answer is to believe what God has already done about our sin problem and apply it to our daily lives.  He makes the declaration that we died to sin, and since we died, we have been "freed from sin."  A dead person no longer is associated with earth.  They are not conscious of things.  They don't worry about money, auto bills, rent checks or anthrax.  They are free from this world, no longer associated wit hit.  Likewise, we are free from sin.  We are no longer conscious of sin.  "Hold on! What do you mean, I am very conscious of sin," might be your reply.  "I sin every day, and I am very aware of it."  And if you are really messed up in the mind you might say, "I see Christians who sin all the time.  They are not 'sold out' like me."   Romans 6:5-7 says, "We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-because anyone who has died has bee freed from sin."  The old self, the person you usually identify yourself with has died.  Everything dysfunctional and sinful about you was crucified with Christ. Your job is faith. God says that you are free from sin, so you don't have to think or worry about it anymore.  God has taken over for you and has dealt with it.  Become Christ conscious and thank him daily for dealing with your sin problem.  Get your eyes off of yourself and your obnoxious, pitiful performance and put your eyes on Christ.  "The death he died to sin, he died once for all.  Likewise, count yourself dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus."  Not worrying about sin does not lessen the severity of sin.  Thinking that we can solve the sin problem or control it somehow lessens the severity of the sin problem.  God is so serious about the sin problem that he demands death, not rehabilitation.  "And so he condemned sin in sinful man that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us."   God has declared and has carried out capital punishment regarding the sin problem. Walk in the freedom that God has given you regarding sin.   We are Free from Accusation We all know Satan is the accuser of the brethren.  So it must follow that if we are free from sin, we are free from accusation. Colossians 1:22 tells us that God "has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation. "  Think of it this way.  Satan had a gun and so did you.  His gun was your sin and his deception in accusing you about them..  Enter Jesus.  He walks up to Satan and takes his gone away, and you are still standing there with a bazooka.  Who wins?  The bazooka is the gospel.  Satan's weapon has been taken away-he has been disarmed.  "When you were dead in you sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ.  He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations that was against us and stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to a cross. And having disarmed the principalities and powers, he made a public spectacle over them, triumphing over them by the cross."  Jesus freed you at the cross.  No longer can Satan accuse you.  You are also free from accusation because Paul makes a very bold statement that most Christians are scared to death to believe.  When talking about his inability to keep the law, Paul says, "As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but sin living in me."  Did you hear that?  Paul is saying that there is a difference between his flesh and the new person God has made him to be and that new person does not sin!  You may say, it sounds like God is letting us off the hook? Guess what?  God is letting us off the hook because he put Christ on the hook and showed no mercy! A parasite or tapeworm can live in your physical body, but that parasite is not you! Likewise, you have sin living in you, but that is not you! The problem is that Satan accuses you with first person pronouns. He says, "I want to do this or I did that, or my desire is." And he fools you into thinking they are your thoughts. Again he says, "Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it." God says it twice which means he really wants us to get it.  God separates us from our sin and no longer identifies us with sin.  It is a miracle!  We want signs and miracles and ignore the biggest miracle of what actually took place at the cross.  "God made him who knew no sin to become sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus."   Instead of wallowing in sin, asking God to help you be a good Christian, and trying to do something that God has done already, thank Him that you are righteous, holy, blameless and free from accusation--in other words, become Christ conscious rather than sin conscious.  You are free.   We are Free from the Law This is another concept that Christians are scared to death to believe because they mistakenly believe that they need a set of rules and regulations to keep them from wandering away from God.  They also mistakenly believe that God wants them to follow a set of rules and regulations to please him.  To the contrary, Galatians declares we fall from grace when we seek to follow the law.  Moreover, Romans 7 declares that when we try to keep the law, sin gains more power in our lives.  This goes contrary to our natural thinking and everything we've been taught since birth, but that is why we live by faith. We are free from the law so that we can have a relationship with God and hear his voice on a daily basis. Galatians 3:23 says, "Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.  So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.  Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law."  Does the law enable us to enjoy the freedom Christ has brought us? The purpose of the law is to show us our need for a Savior.  Once you see that you can not ever keep the terrible requirements of the law and accept Christ, you have entered into grace--a brand new lifestyle; a brand new way to approach God, and a brand new way to read and interpret the Scriptures.  Christians who try to keep the law or relate to God through law are in bondage! The reason is simple.  The new person you are is called to live by grace through faith; therefore, your flesh is the only thing that responds to the law, and your flesh can do nothing but sin and keep on sinning.  The new person you are is called to live by faith and respond to God's voice. Yes, you have the freedom to hear God's voice for yourself.  You are free from the law's demands.  You are free from any law system.  People that live in a dysfunctional relationship have all sorts of rules and expectations for each other that constantly cause conflict and dissatisfaction.  People that live in a healthy relationship have mutual love and respect for each other.  They communicate openly and honestly and focus on loving each other unconditionally.  You can't do that with a law system.  God wants you to enjoy a healthy relationship with him, so he has freed you from the demands of the law.               This article has only scratched the surface of the freedom God has already provided for us. Study the Scriptures, particularly Romans 6, 7 and 8.  Ask God to show you the truth of the gospel and the truth of your freedom in Christ. Apply and take advantage of your freedom and watch God love others through you and be blown away by the Abundant Life.   Suggested Readings What God Wish Christians Knew About Christianity                         Bill Gillum Classic Christianity                                                                                    Bob George Alpha Series                                                                                               John Glenn   The Unforgivable Sin? by Bill Lloyd    Have you ever worried that you have committed the unforgivable sin?  As a Christian, have you ever worried that one-day you might commit the unforgivable sin? Where did the term, “unforgivable sin” originate?  Did you ever wonder just what the unforgivable sin is?  Is it something specific, or is it a certain number that you reach where God disowns you, sort of like the straw that broke the camel’s back.  The answer to these questions is simple.  If you are a Christian, it is impossible to commit the unforgivable sin.  The term “unforgivable sin” comes from Jesus teaching in Mark chapter 3 and is specifically defined in Mark 3:30. The term originates from Jesus statement in Mark 3:28: “I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.”  It shows how dark human nature is when we focus on one part of that statement and worry about the unforgivable sin and ignore the first part.  Jesus declared the entire human race forgiven in this one statement: All the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them.  That is glorious news!  Here we have a declaration of unconditional, total forgiveness.  Jesus declared with authority that forgiveness is a done deal.  So, what about the second part of the statement, the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?  It is clearly defined in verse 30:        Mark states, “He said this because they were saying, ‘He has an evil spirit.’  You see, the religious leaders did not like all the commotion Jesus was causing.  They attributed his miracles to Satan.  They said that it is by the prince of demons that he drove out demons. The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is denying the true identity of Jesus Christ.  It is saying that Jesus is not who he says he is, and since Jesus declared Himself to be God, it would be an evil statement if it were not true. But it is true, and to reject Christ, is to reject the only remedy and answer to our sin problem.  Jesus’ statements in the upper room add support to this truth.  He describes the ministry of the Holy Spirit. “When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin  and righteousness and judgment.  In regard to sin because men do  not believe in me ”(John 16:8) Jesus defines sin as not believing in Him. It is funny that Jesus has boiled it down to that, but the church has always added and refined its definition of sin. The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is denying and rejecting God’s answer to our problem.   Now, it makes much sense to say that it is impossible for a Christian to commit such an act.  They are past that point.  They have received Christ as Savior and Lord and believe He is the Son of God.  Their job then is to rejoice in the magnificence of the first statement: “All sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them.”  All means ALL, past present and future—the worst of the worst and the ugliest of the ugly.    The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees   by bill lloyd          Jesus told the disciples to be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The event is recorded in the 16th chapter of Matthew right after Jesus had just finished feeding the four thousand, and the Pharisees and Sadducees came and demanded a sign. This yeast, the demand for a sign from God, is not just a pharisaical delight.  We eat it in our day.  On a corporate level, the church seems excited about the latest "move of the Spirit".  Meetings are jammed packed with Christians going to get their miracle from God.  Skeptics, agnostics and atheist want God to "prove to them" that He exists. And on a personal level, we look to our circumstances, our wallets, and our standing with others for proof that God loves us.     How does God view all of this?  What is his answer.  Is He sitting in heaven getting a laugh out of it all?  Is he sitting with arms folded refusing to reveal himself?  Did you ever wonder, "Why don't we get a burning bush, a pillar of fire, a parted sea or some fire from heaven?"  God has an answer; His Name is Jesus.   "In the Past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things and through                                                         whom he made the universe."        God has spoken to us loud and clear.  He has revealed Himself in the flesh.  Our generation has been given something much better than the manifestations previously mentioned.  We get the sign of Jonah.  In Matthew 16, Jesus told the people that no sign would be given them except for the sign of Jonah.  Jesus later defined what he meant by the sign of Jonah by saying, “Just as Jonah was three days in the heart of the earth, so will the Son of Man be three days in the heart of the earth." So, the sign we have is the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, specifically the resurrection.  Examining each work of Christ reveals that Jesus is God’s sign to the world.  What does he speak through His Son?   He Speaks Love    Paul tells us in Romans that God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  God so loved the World that he gave His only Son.  Notice that God does not say that he demonstrates His love for us in this: He changes our circumstances when we want him to do so.  OR, He never lets us suffer.  OR, He gives us lots and lots of stuff.  NO—God’s proof to us that He absolutely loves us is the fact that He gave His Son for us.  What more could we ask for...Parents, try to give your child’s life for people who could care less about you.  That is how much God loves us.   He Speaks Acceptance      We have a deep personal need for acceptance, and although the Bible doesn’t use the word acceptance frequently, Jesus Christ fills that need and the Bible constantly talks about that.  Righteousness is the Biblical word for acceptance.  2 Corinthians tells us that “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.”  We are as acceptable to God as Jesus Christ is.  God totally accepts us on the basis of the work and person of Jesus Christ.  We need not look to our performance, the approval of others, or our circumstances to see if we are accepted by God.  According to the gospel, we are completely accepted by God.   He Speaks Forgiveness   I’ve seen some Christians feel like they have to beg God for forgiveness or promise God that they will “do better” in order to be forgiven.  However, God has spoken forgiveness to us on the basis of the work of Jesus Christ.  “In Him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”  Forgiveness is found in Christ, and we can not have it apart from Christ.  “But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Heb. 9:26) We often equate forgiveness with a feeling, the forgiveness of others, or whether or not we can forgive ourselves; however, God bases forgiveness on the work of Christ.  Jesus said, “It is finished!” and that is God’s sign that we are completely forgiven, past present and future.   He Speaks Meaning, Purpose and Adequacy      Romans Chapter 8 tells us that the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead is living in us.  In other words we have the very same resurrection power of Jesus Christ living in us.  That is God’s sign. “His Spirit bears witness with our Spirit that we are God’s children.  Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.”  We can’t make ourselves any more important than that.  Our life has meaning and purpose because of Christ.  We are adequate because we have the very resurrected Christ living in us.   Jesus Christ has met every deep personal need we have in our souls.  Deep down in the essence of our being we hunger and thirst for these things, and deep down in our souls we are joined inseparably to Christ by the Spirit.  We have to go there by faith.      Putting on the Armor Bill LLoyd        When we think of the armor of God, we often think that we have to put it on to go into the world where the devil reigns; however, Paul’s exhortation to put on the full armor of God is right after his instructions on relationships—particularly family relationships.  The end of chapter 5 instructs wives to submit to their husbands, for husbands to love their wives, and Chapter 6 instructs children to obey their parents, fathers to encourage their kids, and for employees and bosses to treat one another with respect.  It is in this context that Paul tells us to put on the armor of God.  The armor of God is nothing less than Jesus Christ.  In other words, it is through the power and provision of Christ that husbands are going to love their wives, wives are going to submit to their husbands, and children are going to respect their parents.  There are, however, several practical applications to the family regarding the armor of God.     First, it is to defeat the devil’s schemes.  The devil seeks to destroy the family. Paul tells us that it is not “against flesh and blood” that we struggle.  The old expression, “my own flesh and blood” when talking about family is implicated here.  Many times when we are in conflict with another family member, we think it is the family member’s behavior that is the problem.  We are unaware of the rulers and powers of the dark world that are at work.  The weapons of these dark forces are lies, false assumptions, and distorted, twisted religious ideas.  We defeat these lies with the truth of the Gospel.      If it is lies that put us in bondage, it is truth that sets us free.  Jesus said, “I am the Way the Truth and the Life”, and He tells us the Holy Spirit will lead us into all Truth.  The belt of a Roman soldier’s uniform held the rest of it in place.  The Belt of Truth implies that in each situation, we need God to tell us and show us the Truth.  Replacing the lie with truth will temper the emotions involved in conflict. This will cause parents to focus on why the child is behaving poorly instead of what they are doing.      Usually, in a conflict, we want to convince the other person we are right and they are wrong.  The gospel declares that we are righteous in Christ apart from the law(behavior). Putting on the Breastplate of Righteousness gives us what we need to avoid the trap of such a power struggle.  The truth is that on the basis of the gospel, both parties involved are right because they have been made righteous by Christ.  So before entering into an argument about who is right, start with the premise that we are both right, worthy, and acceptable to God regardless of the outcome of our conflict.  This will allow us to then ask God what He wants in each situation without the pressure of justifying ourselves.      Likewise, having our feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel peace tells us that in each situation we need to be ready to apply the gospel.  It is from the Prince of Peace that we have true peace.  It is the same for the Helmet of Salvation. We no longer have to save ourselves in these situations.  We are saved, our personal needs are met in Christ.  We can forget about ourselves and do what is best for the other person.     Satan is the accuser of the brethren.  He will always attack our identity and the identity of the other person.  Taking the Shield of Faith to extinguish the fiery darts of the evil one means that we believe the gospel for ourselves and for the other person as well.  In other words, we identify that person on the basis of their union with Christ and not their behavior.  This type of faith is essential to healthy family relations.      A swordsman is trained to use the sword carefully and skillfully, so a careful and skillful application of the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, is needed.  It can’t be used as a club to shame and force compliance; rather, it can be used to build up the family and “present them perfect in Christ.”        The good news is that God not only provides useful tools for the family, but He provides the power to put those tools use.