Tuesday, September 20, 2011

YEAR OF ANOINTING

He, like all other Jewish man who turned thirty, came to the House of God on his first Sabbath after he turned thirty as was the custom of all Jewish men. For as long as seemingly time would tell, the Hebraic teaching offered the standard that a male child who was born, stayed under his mother’s care until he turned twelve. Then he would shift his tutorage from his mother to his father. The boy would then learn his father’s trade and learn the art of leadership through submission, responsibility, accountability and productivity.


When this same “boy” would come of age – 30, he would then be recognized as an independent grown, trained man who would then chose to become what he had dreamed of and felt he was born to do. Whether this career was following his father’s occupation or not, he had the power to choose – but only if it were in connection with the dream and vision he held his whole life. Some young Hebrew man would choose a field that was rejected and questioned by his family such as Joseph, Elisha, David and John the Baptist. But the choice was there’s.

When Jesus walked into the temple that day as all Hebrew men who turned thirty, he was about to decree his purpose and calling in life to his family and the world. The Hebrew boys were taught that there was a Bible verse that could describe their very reason and calling in life. Many would find one and memorize it and quote it to others for years, while some would keep it to themselves till that day in the Temple when they would announce it to their people.

The Temple Priest would offer the men who turned thirty the opportunity to come to the podium and read their verse and expound on what the purpose in life held for them. Unlike the bar mitzvah at age 12, this “Manhood” declaration was no party, simply a decree. When Jesus walked to the podium that day, he opened the Bible to Isaiah 61 and read, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach…” His decree was to the point, He was born to preach, heal, save, deliver and set free all those incarcerated by sin.

We here at Promiseland (formally Bible Truth) Church are celebrating our Anniversary this month. We’re finishing our 30th year of Spiritual birth and moving into our defined calling. Promiseland is now a grown man. No longer can we sit back and allow Mom or Dad to decide for us. No longer can we simply wish life were better. No longer can we sit by dreaming of what it could be like. Today, we must walk to the podium and declare to the world what WORK we will give our lives to accomplish.

Like Jesus, we all were born to die for a cause. What cause is yours? What burden compels you? What dream awakens you? What passion moves you forward daily? From Promiseland beginning, we knew we were not here to follow the model of a “normal” church. We exist to get into the dirty ditches of sin, sickness, brokenness and failure and pull men and women from the clutches of hell. We came into this world to fight the devil for souls. Our voice would become their voice. Our ears would hear God for them. Our hands would be the hands of God to touch them. Our eyes would gain the revelations of God and explain them. PROMISELAND, this year is our Year of Anointing.
© 2011 By Dr Tim McClure

A NEW BIKE
I was visiting a friend in their home one afternoon. While I was talking to them, their four-year-old little girl, Michelle, tugged on my pants leg and excitedly exclaimed, "I got a new bicycle. Do you want to see it?" I said, "Sure, Michelle." So off to the backyard we went. Upon getting there, I saw a brand-new girl's bicycle. "Wow, Michelle! That's a beautiful bicycle, Can you ride it?" "Yeah, I can ride it," she said, and then with a sad face she pouted, "but it's broke." I looked at the new bicycle and couldn't see anything wrong with it, so I asked her, "What's wrong with it?" "I don't know," she shrugged, "but every time I ride it, it falls down!"

NEW
Take a tour of the ALL NEW Promiseland Church web site: http://www.promiseland.org/
* New Format – New Pictures – New Layout
* Audio – listen – Events Page – Latest Happing in and around Promiseland.
* Check it out – Tell a friend … more updates coming…

COMING EVENTS
September 2011 – Anointing – Theme for August, 10:30 AM Sunday’s
Sept – Youth JAM Night – Friday @ Café 7-9 PM call Kent 321-750-9925
Sept - Wednesday nights – “Think like Jesus” Pastor Dan. - 7-8:15 PM
Sept – 4 Giveaway Sunday Kickoff – For more information, go to www.promiseland.org/events
Sept 16, 18 – Fusion Groups - @ a place near you – call 321-216-8030
Sept 24-25 – Anniversary– Guest Pastor Anthony Knotts Sat 7pm Sun 10:30am

October 2011 – Commitment – Theme for Oct, 10:30 AM Sunday’s
Oct – Youth JAM Night – Friday @ Café 7-9 PM call Kent 321-750-9925
Oct - Wednesday nights – “Selling like Jesus” Pastor Tim Jr. - 7-8:15 PM
Oct 2 – Give Away Rewards – Promiseland 10:30 AM
Oct 21, 23 – Fusion Groups - @ a place near you – call 321-216-8030
Oct 23– Pastor Appreciation Sunday - Promiseland 10:30 AM
Oct 30 – Commitment Sunday - Promiseland 10:30 AM
Promiseland Church
1855 Lansing St. Melbourne, FL 32935

http://www.promiseland.org/

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

FRAGRANCE OF GOD’S PRESENCE

Roger, Jerry, Mark & the rest arrived for the family reunion. They all hadn’t seen each other for more than 2 years. As Jerry walked into the room, little Bobby ran up to give his Uncle Jerry a hug. As Jerry picked Bobby up & hugged him, he looked at him and said, “Boy you smell just like your Uncle Ray. He must have already hugged you; you have his cologne smell on you.” We’ve all been there. Walk into a room from long ago and that same smell brings back memories. I used to be able to walk into my grandmother’s house and tell you who had been there – especially one of my Mom’s friends who used to wear that Wow perfume (when you smell it you said, Wow what is that?) I used to work with a man in Maryland hanging drywall who bathed with a refreshing soap sent; on the construction site in the morning, you knew when he came in one of the condos because you could smell him fifty yards away.


When making the Holy Anointing Oil, God instructed Moses to blend the pure sweet olive oil with a mixture of spices. The perfect blend of the exact weight amount would stir together for a fine perfume aroma that would linger for hours, sometimes days. Moses instructed the priest to use this Holy Anointed Oil to anoint the furniture of the Tabernacle. Upon week after week of use, the certain aromatic blend became associated with the supernatural working of God. Later, upon smelling the sweet aroma of the Holy Anointing Oil, literally everyone began to associate it with the “Fragrance of God.” When Solomon pinned the story about Messiah romancing his bride, Solomon wrote of our Savior “smelling his sweet perfume” (Song 4:10).

When the Bible portrays God to us in similes such as “God’s fragrance” the Bible is merely trying to help us identify with God through our senses. Since we humans are limited inside our bodies, we are forced to understand God through means that our humanity can relate. Thus, when the Bible uses language such as “smell God’s fragrance, See God’s hands at work, feel the touch of His Spirit or hear the voice of God or taste and see the Lord is good;” the Bible is allowing us to understand God in our personal world. Even Paul wrote; “For the invisible things of God are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made” (Rom 1:20).

God’s very presence can be sensed by our inner spirit man through the metaphor of our sense of smell. Just as we can sense certain atmospheres by the smell, so can we sense God’s presence. Just as we can sense rain is about to come through the smell of rain in the air, so can we sense the moving of God’s Holy Spirit about to pour out upon a church service. Just as we can smell someone is cooking, so can we sense God is preparing something to nourish us with.

Just like we have the sense of smell to interpret what is near or around us, we also have the inner spiritual ability to sense when a good presence is around us and an evil presence is near. Paul taught us that we are to “have our senses exercised” in order to judge good and evil (Heb 5:14). Just like we can develop our sense of smell to detect certain fragrances, so must we develop our spiritual senses to detect the supernatural presence of God when he comes into our midst.
© 2011 by Dr Tim McClure