Is there really a “GRACE CONTROVERSY?!?

June 6, 2013June 6, 2013 ~ FATHERS HEART HOUSTON ~ 1 Comment

Biblically, there is really no “GRACE CONTROVERSY!” Paul, in Romans chapters 5-7, emphatically declares that “sin reigned in death, and the strength of sin is the Law!” It is through the ‘abundance of grace’ and of the ‘gift of righteousness’ that we will reign in life through the One, JESUS CHRIST. ( Romans 5:17)

Romans 6:1,2- What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may …abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Three questions here: The are basically answered in Ro. 6:6-9- Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. DEATH HAS NO LONGER DOMINION OVER HIM.

Romans 7:4- Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another–to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.

Since the “old man” ( old husband-the law) is dead, “the woman” (body of Christ) is freed from the Law, being married to Christ! The only way to “Fall From Grace” is to attempt to be JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW. (Gal. 5:4) That is, to try through ‘physical’ requirements to please God, rather than what Gal 5:5 says, “For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.”

Then, the only way to be estranged from Christ, is to do what Jude spoke of in verse 4- For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the GRACE OF GOD INTO LEWDNESS and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

To do this, you have to “intentionally and willfully” walk away from the “true grace” of God through Christ Jesus, who “teaches us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present age,…

So, seeing that the GRACE OF GOD is the “divine favor and empowerment” of the Lord Jesus Christ to overcome sin, there is really no “condemnation, compromising, and controversy” concerning this abundant grace in Christ! You cannot separate the grace of God from the TRUTH!

John 1:16,17- And of His fullness we have all received, and GRACE UPON (for) GRACE. For the law was given through Moses, but GRACE AND TRUTH came through Jesus Christ.

Finally, if all true believers and sons of God, come not only to the cross but ‘through’ the cross, they will realize that they are delivered from sin and death, and no longer want to give it any place in their lives, living victoriously through Jesus Christ our Lord.

I. Timothy 3:16- And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

My Beloved Mother, Ordell V. Becton (Sept. 7, 1925- May 25, 2013)

June 6, 2013June 6, 2013 ~ FATHERS HEART HOUSTON ~ Leave a comment

<img alt="Photo: My dear precious mother crossed over to her eternal reward last night (early Saturday morning at 1:35am) surrounded by her loving family with prayer, singing hymns, and thankful to the Lord for a most godly, virtuous woman!

Pam and I were most honored and blessed to serve her and help especially my Dad these last 6 years, who lost his loving bride of almost "70" years! We are overwhelmed and flooded with such "precious memories" to rise up and call her "BLESSED AND HONORED!"" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-
Tomorrow is the day, Tuesday, May 28, that we lay to rest my precious mother, Ordell Virginia Becton! The family gathered around 11:00am for the first viewing, and then we had visitation tonight! I must say it was even harder than I could… have imagined, but she looked so beautiful and peaceful! We were strengthened to have many friends and more family members come in today for the visitation and share how much mother meant to them! The service is at 2:00 tomorrow at Bailey Funeral Home! Thanks again for all your love and prayers.

LIFE, LEGACY, & LINEAGE! The Life of God is found in families, natural and spiritual! My Mom and Dad trained us very early on to love family, not just life and legacy but the lineage of the bloodline. We would visit our grandparents regurlarly and saw how our parents cared for and looked after them in their latter years. My sweet mother reaped an abundant harvest of that today as she was honored in her home going! She not only left a good legacy, she left a great lineage! Pam and I honor and salute my Dad, my brother Gary and wife Glenda, sister Jane and husband David, and my brother David and wife Cindy! The connection in families is spiritual, and produces a harvest of faithfulness and righteousness in the kingdom of God! TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!

Apostolic Regional Convergence (ARC)

May 21, 2013 ~ FATHERS HEART HOUSTON ~ Leave a comment

Acts 13:1-4- Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers:…As the ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. So, being SENT OUT by the Holy Spirit, …

In the early church, it was prophets and teachers that laid hands on the “emerging apostles” (Barnabas and Saul) to commission and send them out to the cities and regions! In the ‘restoration’ of the latter house, FIRST THINGS FIRST are now being set in order!

Now, for prophets and teachers to function in the ‘corporate anointing’ of the Holy Ghost, apostles (commissioned, sent ones by the authority of the sender), must come together as a TEAM so that ‘apostolic prophets’ and ‘teaching apostles’ can be brought into apostolic alignment in cities/regions to confirm and strengthen the “ELDERS OF THE CHURCH!”

ACTS 16:4,5- And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.

T-OGETHER

E-VERYONE

A-CHIEVES

M-ORE!

The Purpose of Pentecost and the Kingdom!

May 19, 2013 ~ FATHERS HEART HOUSTON ~ Leave a comment

THE PURPOSE OF PENTECOST is to release the passion, power, and purity of the Holy Ghost so that the “firstfruits” of the Spirit will manifest in a corporate unity in the body of Christ! He has given us the “earnest” (gurantee/deposit) of the Spirit into our hearts and sealed us with the firstfruits of the Spirit, so that creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God! (Romans 8:19-23; 2 Co. 1:21,22)

The feast of Pentecost was fulfilled with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2! Pentecost is not a ritual or a denomination, it is the fulfillment of “THIS IS THAT” which was spoken by the prophet Joel! It is through the experience of receiving the power of the Holy Ghost that empowers you for the purpose of “expanding the kingdom of God!”

I Co.4:20- For the kingdom is not in word (does not consist of talk) but in power (of the Spirit).

Not only was the church “birthed” at Pentecost, the Kingdom of God and His Christ was “inaugurated” with signs and wonders and miracles! When Jesus “set down” on the throne of David, he fulfilled what David, not only a king but a prophet, saw concerning the resurrection of Christ. Acts 2:36- “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, Both LORD AND CHRIST.”
The authority that’s in the name of Jesus that “cut the Jews to the heart” was not that He was just “Jesus of Nazareth”, but that He was the “sovereign Lord” (King) and “The Messiah” (the Christ), the Son of the living God!

The FIRST WORD of the Kingdom is REPENT! True repentance brings one to the “Lordship of Christ” where you surrender to Him, deny self, and be raised in the newness of life through being buried with Him in baptism.

The remission of sins in His name means that you have been “forgiven and released” through the blood of Christ and the power of His resurrection by the Spirit of God!! (Acts 2:38) It’s the name of the LORD JESUS CHRIST!!!

EPH. 2:18- FOR THROUGH HIM (CHRIST) WE BOTH (JEW AND GENTILE) HAVE ACCESS BY ONE SPIRIT TO THE FATHER.

Acts 2:32-35- This Jesus God raised up, and of that we are all his witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.

For David did NOT ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “The LORD said to My Lord, Sit at My right hand, UNTIL I make your enemies your footstool.”

You cannot separate the "apostles' doctrine" or teaching from the Kingdom!

Acts 2:42 (ESV)- And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Acts 28:31b-…preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the LORD JESUS CHRIST with all boldness and without hindrance.

APOSTOLIC KINGDOM ALIGNMENT

May 14, 2013 ~ FATHERS HEART HOUSTON ~ Leave a comment

We are in a return to biblical, apostolic kingdom administration of the government of God through:

1) apostles (Steersmen)
2) elders (Shepherds)
3) deacons. (Servants)

These are the threefold gifts of administrations coming in place to help apostolic-based regional equipping centers, churches, and fellowships come into alignment with the kingdom of God!

Eph. 3:8,9- To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, AND TO MAKE ALL SEE WHAT IS THE FELLOWSHIP (stewardship/administration) OF THE MYSTERY, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;

Phil.1:1-5- PAUL and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, TO ALL THE SAINTS IN CHRIST JESUS WHO ARE IN PHILLIPPI, WITH THE BISHOPS (overseers) and DEACONS; Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,…

I Co. 12:28- And God has set (appointed) these in the church:
1) Apostles- Overseeing apostles

2) Prophets- Apostolic prophets

3) Teachers- Teaching apostles

AFTER THAT

:
MIRACLES- wonder-workers

GIFTS OF HEALINGS- then those with ability to heal the sick

HELPS- helpers/servants

GOVERNMENTS- administrators/stewards

VARIETIES OF TONGUES- different (unknown) tongues

I. Timothy 1:11,12- according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my entrust. And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,…(setting me in His service)

RETURNING TO THE FATHER’S COVENANT!

May 7, 2013 ~ FATHERS HEART HOUSTON ~ Leave a comment

After Jacob’s encounter with the LORD at Bethel, he goes to his Uncle Laban’s house and falls in love with Rachel. He agrees to work for her for seven years, and Laban tricks him with Leah! He then works another seven years again for Rachel because of the love he had for her! (Gen. 29) Leah has child after child, and Rachel is barren. Rachel cries out, “Give me children or I die!” (Gen. 30:1) Jacob worked another six years for the flock of Laban.

Jacob decides to take his wives and flee from Laban’s house. Laban had deceived Jacob and changed his wages ten times. Jacob had a dream where the Angel of God appeared to him and said to him, “I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and made a vow to me. Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.” (Gen. 31:13) Of course, Laban comes after him, but the LORD does not allow him to hurt him.

In there heated exchange with one another, Jacob finally tells Laban, “Thus I have been in your house for 20 years: I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times.” (Then, the LORD spoke generationally to him) “Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. GOD HAS SEEN MY AFFLICTION AND THE LABOR OF MY HANDS, AND REBUKED YOU LAST NIGHT.” (Gen. 31:41,42)

Many have been running away from their promise and their Father’s house and have had to serve another one under the guise of deception! Some have fallen “in love” with ministry, and would do anything to be married to their ministry! So, therefore, you have to work twice as hard for it and labor with your own strength. He worked six more years ( the number of man) for a total of 20 years, which is the number for redemption. Laban changes his wages “10” times, which ten is number for “measure of order!” But the LORD still protected him from being destroyed!

That’s why Jacob had to leave, because he had come to his “wit’s end” and it was time for him to be redeemed and time to come back into order. Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar. Here he makes another pillar, as he did at Bethel in Gen. 28. He gathers more stones and set them up as a heap and He and Laban make covenant and eat on the heap. (Gen. 31:45,46) Jacob is still not reconciled with Esau, and he hasn’t had his name change, but He is in position now to fulfill His generational blessing!

It is time to return to the place of your “generational inheritance and blessing” so that the Father can fulfill His purpose and destiny in you! The “heap of stones” is a witness that God has established covenant with Jacob because of his obedience to honor the Father through sacrifice. “Return to the stronghold you prisoners of hope. Even today I declare that I will restore double to you.” (Zech. 9:12)

A Return to Biblical Foundations of the Apostolic Church

April 30, 2013 ~ FATHERS HEART HOUSTON ~ 2 Comments

It will absolutely take a “citywide” church with “apostolic authority” and “kingdom alignment”, built upon the foundation of apostles and prophets to “turn back” the divisive spirit that is trespassing in our city!

Great sermons and great services will no longer “dispel the darkness” alone, it will take “prophetic proclamation” and “apostolic councils and elders” to be “gap-fillers” and “gate-keepers!”

Acts 13:1-4- Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brough up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As the ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, “Separate unto Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit…

Watchman on the wall, what of the night? There’s a new day dawning and the son of righteousness is rising with Healing in His Wings…

EYE 2 EYE!

ISA. 52:8- Thy watchmen shall lift up their voice, with their voices together they shall sing: for they shall see EYE TO EYE WHEN THE LORD RESTORES ZION.

ISA. 58:12- And they that shall be of thee shall (re) build the old waste places (cities); thou shalt raise up the foundations of MANY GENERATIONS; and thou shall be called, ‘The Repairer of the Breach’ and ‘The Restorer of paths to Dwell in.’

Is. 52: 8
Is. 58:12
________
Ps. 110:2(0)- THE LORD SHALL SEND THE ROD OF THY STRENGTH OUT OF ZION: RULE THOU IN THE MIDST OF THINE ENEMIES.

I. Peter 5:1-4- The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed. Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock: AND WHEN THE CHIEF SHEPHERD APPEARS, YOU WILL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF GLORY THAT DOES NOT FADE AWAY.

NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH IN THE CITY: THE SAINTS, WITH THE BISHOPS (overseers) and DEACONS…

PHILL. 1:1- PAUL and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the SAINTS IN CHRIST JESUS which are at Phillippi, with the BISHOPS (Overseers) AND DEACONS:

IS THERE ANY S.E.E.D. YET IN THE B.E.D? (Womb of the church?)

S.AINTS
E.XHORTERS
E.VANGELISTS
D.ISCIPLES

B.ISHOPS
E.LDERS
D.EACONS

ACTS 8:5- THEN Philip (One of the Seven) went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ to them.
Acts 8:12-But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Acts 21:8- And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesera: and we entered into the house of PHILIP THE EVANGELIST, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.

I Tim. 4:13-14- Till I come, give attendance to reading, to EXHORTATION, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. (eldership)
I Tim. 5:17- Let the elders who RULE WELL (bishops) be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
2 Tim. 1:6,11- Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

JIM B.

Eph. 2:20- Having been built upon the foundations of the apostles and prophets, JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF being the chief cornerstone…

THE GATES OF ZION! ( The Gate of heaven on earth.)

April 23, 2013 ~ FATHERS HEART HOUSTON ~ 8 Comments

PSALMS 87:1-3- HIS FOUNDATION IS IN THE HOLY MOUNTAINS. THE LORD LOVES THE GATES OF ZION MORE THAN ALL THE DWELLINGS OF JACOB. GLORIOUS THINGS ARE SPOKEN OF YOU, O CITY OF GOD! SELAH.

Beth-el does not only mean “house of God” but the “Gate of heaven!” When Jacob had his dream of a ladder set up on earth that reached to heaven and there angels were ascending and descending on it. Gen. 28:16-18 says, Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it!” And He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the GATE OF HEAVEN!”

To me, the spiritual significance of Jacob’s dream and ladder, is that many are ‘waking up’ from a dream of going to bed searching for God and their place, to an awareness that the Father is there, right in the midst of them! You may be waking up outside of the camp, so to speak, in a new situation that you are afraid! But you can find the house of God, not church as we have known it, but the place where the oil is flowing and covenant is established in the Father’s House!

The stone that he laid his head on became a ‘pillar’ where he poured the oil and where he made a vow to the LORD that brought the provision of the Lord to him! Gen. 28:21-22- “so that I come back to my Father’s house in peace, then the LORD will be my God. “And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will surely give a tenth to you.”

This is the present truth that church is moving from a feminine, passive gender where there is only comfort and solace and hope, but a place of the Father’s kingdom where the ecclesia becomes the “embassy” of the kingdom as the “Gate of heaven” on earth!

I. Tim. 3:15,16- but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how to conduct yourself in the house (hold) of God, which is the church of the living God, THE PILLAR AND GROUND OF THE TRUTH.
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

Stewardship!

March 24, 2013 ~ FATHERS HEART HOUSTON ~ Leave a comment

STEWARDSHIP concerns us in primarily three areas:

1) TIME

STEWARDSHIP concerns us in primarily three areas:

1) TIME

2) TALENT

3) TREASURE

EVERYTIME, without exception, when the Father is dealing with me in one of these three areas that I do not respond to him in proper stewardship, managing my time, my ministry and my finances, in obedience to biblical principles, I find that I go through “unnecessary” delay, denial, and discontentment!

The breakthrough comes when you realign yourself in what the Father has spoken to you, and then the release comes! Another word that the Father dropped in my heart in meditation that someone may need to hear today!!

Prov. 3:5,6- Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

Apostolic Administrations

March 23, 2013 ~ FATHERS HEART HOUSTON ~ Leave a comment

I. Co. 12:27,28- Now You are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. And God hath set in the church these: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; after thgift then gifts of healing, miracles, helps, governments, different kinds of tongues.

One administration of an apostle is to be a trans- local, moving bond-servant of Christ and a servant leader as a steward and STEERSMEN of God! Then strategies and structures comes through seasoned relationships through the fathering spirit of our Apostle Jesus Christ!!

Steersman is from the Greek word Kubernesis , where the king James translates as governments, or administrations, as a seafaring captain at the ‘helm of the ship.’ To pilot, direct and to steer! ~ Jim Be cton