Pastor Steve Perez | January 1, 2024
The Fountain Apostolic Church
New Year's Launch Service
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Identifiers – noun; a person or thing that establishes the identity of someone or something
Joseph was identified with the coat of many colors; he was favored by his father.
Samson was identified by his Nazarite vow and his uncut hair; he was seen for his great strength and courage to fight the enemy
Job was identified by his great wealth; he was shown with favor because he was a “perfect and upright man”
The Challenge of the Identifiers:
Each one of these identifiers were challenged.
Joseph lost his coat of many colors; he had to find out if his favor was in the coat
Samson lost his hair and had to find out if his power was only in his hair
Job had to seek deep down inside himself to see if his wealth determined his perfection and uprightness
Each one of these stories had to learn the valuable lesson that the strength of the gift was not in the identifier but the giver of identity.
Joseph found out that the coat was a symbol of what was in the inside of him. The coat did not qualify him but God qualified him.
Samson learned as he stood blind, no hair and ready to die that his strength was his ability to call on the Lord
Job seen that his belief in his redeemer was greater that what his eyes could see in that moment
The church was called out by Christ “my church” or “my called-out ones.” This identifier “church” that is used so loosely today. We see on every corner that there is a “church”. But in the hour in which we live there is a striping away of the identifier of church. With every type of churches “his church” is having to be reminded from where its identity comes from. The “my church” from Matthew is not the same as we see in general view today. You the “my church” has some important characteristics.
The church of the Bible is built on a sure foundation.
The Rock – the Jesus name doctrine; we are not the same as these non-denominational movements who do not recognize the name of Jesus. The name is what separates us. Baptism in Jesus name is style relevant; calling on the name of Jesus for healing is still where power is from. This is the only church “the gates of hell can’t prevail against”
The Holy Ghost – the church grew because when the Holy Ghost fell it was a sign that changed the religious world. But this church was not silent it was loud and maybe even a little embarrassing. The reason I say this is because when Peter stood up in Acts 2 he had to let them know that they weren’t drunk as they supposed. The true church looks a fool sometimes. We look like we are drunk or out of our mind because we are filled with his spirit and because of the move of the spirit the church grew.
The Fellowship – the church grew as they stood with one another; they fellowshipped, ate and shared the good news. Because of this attribute the world could not get into the church. They always supported, uplifted and encouraged each other.
These three characteristics are under attack. This is why there is such a great falling away from the truth. The religious world has tried to infiltrate the church and have it compromise these principals.
There is a phrase in the Old Testament that stands out to me, “these are the generations or sons…” it is the recording of the lineage of a family. I wonder sometimes as we look out into this crowd can we say, “these are the generations of the… family “.
As a church we must stand on the Rock of Ages, the doctrine of the Oneness of God. This revelation must be foundational to who we are.
We must be guided and demonstrate the power of the Holy Ghost.
We must be in fellowship with one another.
