Cleanse.Fill.Pour.: On that day...scattered

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

On that day...scattered

I just had Bible Study this morning and we were in Acts 8. If you don't know the history, check it out. Stephen has just been martyred (in Acts 7) and "on that day" a great persecution started in Jerusalem and the believers were scattered. Everything changed that day for the average Jewish Christian-they were torn from their safe and comfortable life, whatever that may have looked like and scattered. My first response? How horrible! How would you have responded? Me? I think I would have responded in total panic and fear...scattered to who knows where and then my tendency would have been to close myself into my "new" home and be silent, questioning God. "Where are you in this?"

What was the Lord doing? He was literally scattering His Church to fulfill His Great Commission (Acts 1:8). What was the tool? Persecution. What was the reason? The gospel going into all the world. The gospel was to be "scattered" and that happened by means of the believers being literally scattered, because of persecution. What does the Lord use in our lives to accomplish His Purposes? Sometimes...troubles, trials, sometimes scattering. How will we respond? Panic and fear? Or faith and boldness? Check out Philip in Acts 8. What an example of a man filled with faith not fear. What an example of the gospel of Jesus Christ infusing life into the scattering experiences.

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Purpose of Cleanse.Fill.Pour.

Cleanse.Fill.Pour. is a women's ministry specifically designed to encourage women. Our desire is to see you grow in discipleship...to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 2:21 says, "Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself (herself) from these things, he (she) will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work."

Our prayer is that this would be used as a small tool to encourage women to be useful "vessels" for the Lord to use... in their marriage, with their kids, in teacher appointments, in the workplace, in their churches and all throughout their sphere of influence, that they would be Cleansed. Filled. and Poured out to others.

Statement of Faith of Cleanse.Fill.Pour.

1.We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

2.We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Gen. 1 and John 1)

3.We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.(all of the Gospels)

4.We believe that Salvation is by grace and faith alone in the finished work of Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9) and that Jesus Christ is the Only Way to have a right relationship with God. (John 14:6)

5.We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful people regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.(Ephesians 1:13-14)

6.We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.(Romans 8)

7.We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.(all of the Gospels)

8. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in Christ. (1 Corinthians 12)

Curriculum Available with Online Study Tools

"From out to IN" Our Position in Christ now available! This is my first book based on the book of Ephesians but starting "In the beginning..."

"In Christ...walking by grace and faith" an in-depth study on the book of Ephesians. This 15-week study looks closely at the idea of walking by the same grace and faith that we are saved with! What does it mean to BE and then to DO? We are called to BE who we are in Christ and out of that we DO, not vise versa!

"Free Indeed" a in-depth look at the book of Galatians. A 12-week study closely looking at what was truly accomplished at the Cross of Christ. What does that mean for us? What is the source of our growth now? Freedom, what is it!?

"The Relationship"

For more information or to get materials...email cleansefillpour@aol.com