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Editor-in-Chief | Nate Whitley
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DOCTRINAL TRUTHS
The Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ asserts that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and that the fundamental plan of salvation consists of these major doctrinal truths: Belief in the Lord Jesus Christ as the one true God; Repentance from sins; Baptism by immersion in water in the name of Jesus Christ; Baptism of the Holy Ghost with the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues.
EXECUTIVE BOARD
General Superintendent | Kenneth Carpenter
Southern Regional Assistant | Jonathan Vazquez
Northern Regional Assistant | Kenneth Allen
Western Regional Assistant | Robert Wimberley
General Secretary | Josh Wilson
DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENTS
Alabama | Ronnie Allen
Arkansas | Daniel Nooner
Florida | Luis Rodriguez
Georgia | Donald Wineinger
Greater New England | J. Craig Ouellette
Gulf Coast | Phillip McKissick
Heartland | Edward MacDonald
Greater Illinois | Tracy Zimmerman
Indiana | Tim Gill
Kentucky | Phillip Cook
Louisiana | David Poole
Michigan | Shannon Scott
Mississippi | Gary Porterfield
Missouri-Iowa | Anthony Marshall
NY/Mid-Atlantic | Wayne Byrd
Ohio | Mark Hina
Oklahoma | Curt Green
Southeastern | Stacy Garnett
Tennessee | Steve Smith
Texas | Peter Gray
Tri-State | Mark McCool
Western | Robert Jones
West TX/New Mexico | Simon King
West Virginia | Ralph Tisdale
HONORARY SUPERINTENDENTS
Raymond Bishop | Steve Wilson | Robert Martin
World Missions | Matthew Ball
Missions America | Stephen Trachsel
Evangelists | Shawn Garnett
KidzQuest | Nate Roberts II
DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS apostolicwitness.com
Student Ministries | Zach Hammond
Women’s Esprit | Terri Scott
Menistry | James Chessor
Christian Education | Caleb Tisdale
TRUTH IN THE INWARD PARTS
Editorial by Nate Whitley
“Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: And in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom” (Psalm 51:6).
Despite being a man after God’s own heart, David failed significantly. He committed adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, and she became pregnant with his child. In an attempt to cover up his sin, David arranged for Uriah to be sent back to battle and placed on the front line, ensuring his death. The Lord sent the prophet Nathan to confront David for his grave sin. When David heard Nathan’s message, he felt convicted and asked the Lord to forgive his sins (2 Sam. 12:1-14). This event and the prophetic confrontation inspired David to pray the words found in Psalm 51.
In David’s prayer of repentance, he used three words to describe his failure: transgression, iniquity, and sin (Psalms 51:3-5, 9, 13).
TRANSGRESSION
In the original language, “transgression” meant “to rebel.” Another definition for transgression is to “go beyond.” David rebelled and went beyond God’s laws and committed adultery, murder, and a whole host of other sins.
We become transgressors when we go beyond what God has commanded. David could agree with the writer of Proverbs when he said, “Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard” (Proverbs 13:15). Many have experienced the difficult path that transgressions have led them to. David needed to be rescued from the negative consequences of his actions.
INIQUITY
In Hebrew, the word “iniquity” means “perversion” or “crooked dealing.” David’s actions were perverse and depraved. What God declared to be straight, David decided to distort. David’s actions were part of a deeper problem, for he notes that he was born with iniquity: “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalms 51:5).
SIN
The Hebrew definition for “sin” is to “miss the mark” or “fall short.” Paul wrote, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). What mark did David miss, and what mark do we miss? We fall short
of reflecting God’s character. Paul wrote that our sinful nature means we don’t reach God’s glory. God’s glory refers to His divine qualities, including righteousness and holiness. Adam and Eve were created to show God’s glory as His image bearers. However, sin distorts humanity’s ability to reflect God’s glory accurately, so we fall short. However, sin goes deeper than just falling short. Sin stains (Jam. 1:27). Sin is considered idolatry (Col. 3:5). Sin separates us from God (Isa. 59:2). Sin leads to death (Gen. 2:17; Rom. 6:23; Jam. 1:15). But an overlooked characteristic of sin is deceitfulness.
THE DECEITFULNESS OF SIN
The writer of Hebrews warned, “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13).
In Greek, “deceitfulness” means cheating, tricking, defrauding, deceiving, or deception. Deceitfulness is the chief attribute of sin. It seduces a person to believe what is false to be true.
There are at least two ways sin deceives us. First, sin deceives us by promising what it can never deliver. Sin says, “Go ahead, it will be fun.” Sin says, “Go ahead, you’ll enjoy it!” Sin says, “You’ll feel better, you’ll be more fulfilled. Life will be better for you. Go ahead and take it. Go ahead and tell the lie. Go ahead and jump in bed with that person. Go ahead, you need this. It will bring you happiness.” What was it the serpent said to Eve?
“Eat this fruit, and you shall be like God.” Sin deceives us by promising what it can never deliver. In other words, sin tricks us into wanting what we know will destroy us.
Secondly, sin deceives us by convincing us that what happens to others will never happen to us. For example, even if we know that people always get caught when they sin, sin convinces us that we will somehow be the exception.
The worst kind of lie is the lie that you tell yourself and believe. Some are so seduced by sin and lies they repeat
EDITORIAL
the lie to themselves so much that they begin to believe. Sin is inherently a lie. Sin and Satan are closely related. Jesus said, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44).
There is no truth in the devil. When the devil speaks, he speaks lies, for he is the father of lies. The serpent deceived Eve (Gen. 3:13). The devil deceives (Rev. 12:9). But according to Jeremiah, our hearts are deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9).
The Hebrew word for “deceitful” is similar in definition to its Greek counterpart. The word “deceitful” is from the Hebrew word “aqob,” meaning “sly, crooked, insidious, slippery, deceitful, to follow and attack at the heel.” The Hebrew name Jacob derives from this Hebrew word. Does not this describe Jacob? He was a deceiver and trickster. And that’s how our heart does. It tricks and deceives.
THE INWARD PARTS
David’s prayer reveals sin’s power to deceive us inwardly:
“Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: And in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom” (Ps. 51:6).
A related Hebrew word for “inward parts” is “entrails,” which occurs 222 times in the OT and denotes the central part or organs. The animal’s entrails were offered on the Brazen Altar unto the Lord in the OT sacrifices. The inward part of the sacrifice proved the animal’s healthiness or inward vigor. No human eye could perceive the development of life until the victim had been slain and placed on the altar.
David said God desires truth in the inward parts (Ps. 51:6a). The Hebrew word for “desirest” means “take pleasure,” “take delight,” or “great joy.” God delights in
truth with great joy. God takes delight when there is truth in our inner being. Why does God delight in truth in our inner being? Because no one can see our inner being. Like the OT sacrificial animals, there is no way to know if an animal is truly healthy until it is laid upon the altar. The blemishes on the animal’s coat reflect its inner health. Some avoid the altar because they don’t want to expose their inner life.
Humans can hide their inner lives. We can behave, act, dress, and speak to conceal our inner lives. It’s easy to dress up the outward life to hide the inner life. The deception of sin will tell the lie that you’re okay if you look and act the part.
It’s easy to condemn outward sins like murder, stealing, adultery, and even lying. But Jesus showed that inner sins easily hidden like lust, greed, envy, jealousy, hatred, un-forgiveness, and unbelief, are just as evil:
“But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man” (Matt. 15:18-20).
The Hebrew and Greek references to the “heart” are metaphorical and refer to the inner seat of emotions. It is the center of man’s spiritual life. Everything from thinking (Mk 2:6, 8) to grieving (Jn 16:6), rejoicing (Jn 16:22), desiring (Rom 1:24), understanding (Eph 1:18), and decision-making (2 Cor. 9:7) takes place in the heart.
This is why the inner life is so important, brothers and sisters. Truth or error resides in the inward parts. Furthermore, the danger of a diseased inner life is the lure of being a hypocrite.
HYPOCRISY
In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warned about hypocrisy (Matt. 6:1-16). To Jesus, the Pharisees and pious Jews of his day were hypocrites. They performed acts of righteousness, such as praying, fasting, and giving, to be praised by people. Still, their outward behavior didn’t align with their inner thoughts and intentions. He later described their behavior as hypocritical. Jesus said, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness” (Matthew 23:27).
These Pharisees and religious teachers had an outward appearance of piety, but their inner lives contradicted their actions. Jesus accuses them of being inwardly full of greed, self-indulgence, and wickedness. They were hypocrites. Their hypocrisy also demanded of others what they did not demand of themselves.
Hypocrisy in NT usage reflects its use in Greek dramas. In Greek theatre, a hypocrite wore a mask and played a part on the stage, imitating the speech, mannerisms, and conduct of a character portrayed.
Hypocrisy is pretending to be what one is not. In other words, you can pretend to be a Christian but not actually be one. Despite projecting an image of righteousness, deep down, within the innermost parts, you may be deceived by sin.
What is the danger in that, you may ask. You might say, “Who cares, as long as others think I’m saved.” Let’s return to Hebrews 3:13: “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
The word “hardened” originally meant to make dry, stiff, or hard. In the New Testament, it is used figuratively to refer to causing someone to become unyielding, obstinate, or stubborn. In English, “hardening” of the
arteries is known as arteriosclerosis, a serious and potentially fatal physical condition. In Hebrews, the danger of spiritual hardening is even more ominous, as it can lead to eternal death and damnation of one’s soul, not just the loss of physical life.
“A hard heart is a dwelling for Satan. As God has two places He dwells in—heaven and a humble heart; so the devil has two places he dwells in—hell and a hard heart.” - Thomas Watson
The hardening of the heart is the danger of hypocrisy or allowing the inner life to deteriorate with lies. So, you may think what is hidden and covered will eventually begin to reveal itself in your actions.
Jesus said, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil; for of the abundance of his heart his mouth speaketh” (Luke 6:45).
The words that come out of your mouth reflect what’s inside you. Lust may manifest as inappropriate jokes and comments. Hatred will reveal itself through hurtful speech. Envy and jealousy will be evident in your words. If your heart is hardened, it may prevent you from genuine worship and turn you into a critic.
CONFESSION & CLEANSING
A man who stands condemned needs mercy. A woman who knows the gall of guilt and reproach desires mercy. David didn’t need a priest or a counselor. No, David needed God’s mercy. God will give pity upon the poor soul who knows they need saving.
BLOT OUT
David desired to have God blot out his transgressions and iniquities (Ps. 51:1,9). In the original language, to blot
out means to have something removed from a book. David wanted no remembrance of his sin. If there was a record or account of his evil deeds, he desired them to be removed.
WASH & CLEANSE
Sin stains, soils, and those dirty inside must be cleansed. David recognized his need for cleansing when he said, “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquities,” “Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow,” and “ Create in me a clean heart” (Psalm 51:2, 7, 10).
David said, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean.” Hyssop was a plant found growing in the crevices of buildings, and it was bundled together to be used as a brush. During the first Passover, the people of Israel were instructed to spread the blood of a sacrificed lamb with the hyssop on their doorposts. When the death angel passed through the camp, he would see the blood and “pass over” that house (Exodus 12:22).
David didn’t just need his sins washed away; he also needed a new heart and a renewed spirit (Ps. 51:10). The prophet Ezekiel proclaimed that a new covenant would come in which God would give everyone new hearts and a new spirit (Ezekiel 36:26). Sinners can only receive a new heart and a new spirit if they have been born again of the water and Spirit (John 3:3-6).
The inward life of deception and sin must be cleansed and renewed. Truth isn’t just an abstract idea or a particular set of principles and doctrines. Truth is a Person (Jn. 14:6). Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The only way you can find cleansing and healing is through Jesus. To correct lies is with Truth, and Jesus is the Truth. To have new life within is through Jesus.
Nate Whitley General Editor AW
OUTLOOK DETERMINES OUTCOME
General Superintendent
Kenneth Carpenter
Years ago, a carpenter by trade worked for a wealthy man who paid him an average wage for his trade. Along with the average pay was a promise: as long as you stay with me until you retire, I will give you a bonus. I understand my wealth and know it’s just average pay, but if you stay with me until then, I will provide you with a bonus. After years of working for this man, the day came, and the carpenter finally received his long-awaited retirement check of a measly five thousand dollars. A stipulation to that check was one last request from the wealthy man, who stated he must build one final house. The carpenter was insulted, and as he thought over these details, it was to be built on a prized piece of property overlooking the ocean. Once completed, the retirement check was his. In his fury, this carpenter became angry and embittered as he thought over the hard years of labor, only to be rewarded with such a small retirement.
As he began to build, his embittered spirit produced poor craftsmanship, and he even hired men to do less than quality work on this home. When the plumber finished his work, the house was left with leaks behind the walls. As the electrician completed his terrible work, the home was left to be hazardous on all accounts. As the carpenter continued his embittered work, he made sure that every window in the home
was obscured by trees so that it would block the view of the ocean. He made a point to ensure every aspect of this home would be built to reflect his disdain for the wealthy man. Doors and windows were unable to shut, and the floors creaked with the sound echoing the anger of a bitter carpenter. The day came when this man would receive an envelope with his retirement check and a handwritten note. “Thank you for all the years of service. Along with this check, I want to welcome you to your new home that you just built.” The moral of this story is that how we handle pain and letdowns shapes the home we build within ourselves.
In a world full of flaws and obstacles, it is crucial to acknowledge the significant influence our perspective has on the results we encounter. Our outlook truly determines our outcome in life.
Drawing wisdom from the story of Esther, we are reminded of how God’s favor rests upon His people, shepherding them through difficult times through both moments of abundance and trials.
On the brink of seeing her people destroyed through hatred and jealousy, it was Mordecai who reminded Esther — “For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and
deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).
Esther was reminded of the purpose of God’s favor in her life. Even when faced with such adversity, we can see the providential hand of God resting upon His people. If there is one thing certain about favor, it is that it comes with a price. To think Mary, the mother of Jesus, was one of the most favored women to ever walk this earth. Yet, she was reminded that with favor would also come a piercing of her own soul.
Favor brings an unwelcoming attraction from the destroyer that seeks to disrupt God’s plan for our life. The spirit of Haman lives on today and it seeks to destroy through hatred and jealousy.
Jealousy, an emotion all too familiar to humanity, can either spur destructive actions or serve as a catalyst for celebrating the blessings others receive. When faced with insults and anger, it becomes paramount to address these negative emotions to prevent the seeds of bitterness from taking root within our hearts.
James the Apostle said, “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”
As believers, our calling is to pursue perfection in God and His Word, rather than in the flawed nature of humanity. While no individual or congregation may be without faults, there exists a distinct presence of God’s favor and grace upon His people that sets them apart. The world bears witness to this divine presence, acknowledging the special quality of those who walk in faith and obedience. Despite our imperfections, it is crucial to focus on the goodness within ourselves and our community, recognizing the abundant blessings that God has lavished upon us.
Rejoicing in the successes and blessings of others not only signifies maturity and humility but also paves
GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT
the way for receiving blessings in return. By actively supporting and celebrating the victories of our fellow believers, we foster a culture of love and unity within the Church.
Conversely, allowing jealousy to fester within us only breeds self-destructive tendencies and stunts our spiritual growth. As God’s people, we are called to uplift one another, trusting that if it aligns with God’s will, He will meet our needs and desires.
Paul instructs us in Romans 12:15 to “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” He also advises in Galatians 6:2 to “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
In moments of pain and disillusionment, the temptation to become self-absorbed and seek retribution outside of God’s ways can be tempting to the flesh. However, as followers of Christ, we are held to a higher standard of forgiveness, compassion, and grace. Our words and deeds should mirror the character of God, especially as we influence the younger generations who look to us for guidance and example. Despite imperfect people who make up the body of Christ, the Church remains a sanctuary of God’s love and presence. It is still a safe haven where we can find comfort, community, and spiritual growth.
Let us bear in mind that our outlook on life and the world shapes our outcomes. By shifting our perspective to one characterized by gratitude, humility, and faith, we open ourselves to the fullness of God’s blessings and favor in our lives. May we consistently choose to celebrate the blessings of others, to strive for perfection in God alone, and to embody a spirit of love and unity within the Church.
Bishop Kenneth Carpenter General Superintendent
MEALS AND A MISSION
by Stephen Trachsel
There are countless books that offer strategies on how to win souls. Many are in search of the latest program to attract new people to their church. While there’s nothing wrong with using methods or programs to reach out to new people, my personal journey has taught me that few will stay in a church if they don’t form personal relationships with others. Winning souls is about forging lasting connections. The process of reaching the lost doesn’t have to be complex. The first and most crucial rule is to love people. If we can love souls as Christ loved us, the rest is about forming connections with the people we are called to reach.
Jesus set a straightforward example for reaching the lost. Although he reached people in different ways, I highlight one that I personally enjoy: eating food!
If you read about the connections Jesus made with people, you will find many examples in the scriptures of Jesus eating with them at a table. Jesus was all about a mission, and he often used food to fulfill this mission.
by Amy Cannon
In John 12, we read about Jesus eating at the home of his friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. This time for Jesus was a time to enjoy fellowship with friends. He didn’t need to do anything more than eat and relax in good company. It is important to have a table for fellowship. It is important to have people in your life with whom you can share a good meal without the pressure of saving someone out of their despair. Surround yourself with people that can add to you as much as you add to them. It’s healthy to have friends, and Jesus enjoyed the company of friends as much as he could.
Jesus used food and a table for more than just meeting with His friends; He also used meals and a table for his missions to reach the lost. In Mark 2:14, Jesus finds Matthew, the tax collector, and calls him to be a disciple. Immediately, Matthew left his tax booth to follow Jesus in the way. At first glance, people would criticize Jesus for choosing such a lowly sinner as Matthew. Matthew, being a tax collector, would not be popular among his fellow Jews, and he certainly wouldn’t have a desire to follow a righteous man,
or would he? The call of Jesus touched this man’s heart so deeply that he had to share Jesus with everyone he knew. In the next verse, after the call of Matthew, we read of Jesus in Matthew’s house eating food at his table. Who else is there? Other publicans and sinners. Matthew knew no righteous people; he only knew other publicans and sinners. But it was at the table of ministry with “these people” that Jesus could connect with them most naturally, with food. Jesus never wasted a meal; he used these moments at a table to show his humanity and compassion to the ones with whom others would never socialize.
An interesting statement is made in the same verse following this meal at Matthew’s house. It says in verse 15, “and they followed Him.”
Interestingly, Jesus never performed miracles in front of these people to win their devotion. As we can tell in scripture, Jesus simply sat at a table and ate food with them. Jesus took time during a meal to let people know they meant something to Him. Their response was to follow the man who loved them when none else had the time.
If you’re eager to see souls won and your church flourish with new Christians, my advice is simple: start at a table over food. Invite someone for a cup of coffee. Ask a new guest to share a meal with you. Food is a universal need, a common ground that all humans share. Use this basic need to convey a profound truth. If you take the time to share a meal with someone who is lost, you will connect with them on a deeper level than a church service in a building ever could. It’s a simple, yet powerful approach that can make a world of difference.
Stephen Trachsel Missions America Director
by Nate Roberts, II
“The flesh is the flesh. The Spirit is the Spirit.” — “I’m hungry.”
Growing up, I would come home from school, do my homework, spend time with the family, make YouTube videos, or practice my guitar. When the sun went down, I’d boot up my PlayStation 2 and get ready to play some video games. Before jumping into a game, I would go to the kitchen and get one of three things:
• A Nutella Sandwich is two slices of bread with a pile of Nutella between them.
• Devil Squares are one of my favorite Little Debbie snacks. They have nothing to do with the actual devil.
• Pop-Tarts. I enjoy the best flavor of them all: Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon.
One of these three with a glass of milk, and I was set for the night, well, at least for the first few games I played. When I’d finish my sandwich, cookie, or pop-tart, and a little time would pass, I would want more. So, what did I do? I would go back and get more. I could even go for thirds! Then, I would do it all over again the next night. It may or may not be slowly catching up with me today.
I still enjoy playing games, but I’m not getting a glass of milk when I go to the kitchen. Instead, I’m grabbing a bottle of water. I might eat a Nutella sandwich occasionally, but I’m out for the count after one. I can’t eat as much “junk food” as I used to — well, I can — but for some reason, I don’t feel as good as I did when I was younger.
So, I have to watch what I eat. Not only that, but I have to watch what desires I feed. Even though I long for french fries, I may need some
green beans. My stomach may be growling for a burger, but my heart might be begging me to eat a salad for once.
See, it matters not only what you’re eating but also what you’re feeding.
John wrote in Revelation, “They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes” (Revelation 7:16-17).
I’m glad we’ll never hunger or thirst again when we reach Heaven. But what about while we’re here on Earth?
Jesus said, “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).
This is amazing, but we can’t just take it for face value. Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well that if she drank that water, she would thirst, but if she drank of the living water, she would never thirst.
The Bible says we will never hunger or thirst again. But it also says in Matthew 5:6: “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
Now, is the Word of God contradicting itself? Absolutely not. It’s doing quite the opposite.
“Why am I asking God to break chains that He’s already broken when I’m too full of myself to realize that I’m the one holding on to broken chains?"
We’ve established that there is a difference that there is a difference between the flesh and the Spirit. You could take that at face value and leave it at that, but if you break it down, you’ll understand the differences between the two.
Jesus told Nicodemus, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit.” Paul expounded upon Jesus’ words and said, “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Gal. 5:19-23).
The flesh does not do what the Spirit does. The flesh does not produce what the Spirit produces. The flesh does not desire what the Spirit desires. The flesh does hunger for what the Spirit hungers for. The flesh does not thirst for what the Spirit thirsts for.
You can’t be full of yourself and full of the Holy Ghost. When you hear words like being full of yourself, your mind immediately jumps to having an attitude or having an ego — thinking you’re better than everybody else. But that’s not what I said. I said you can’t be full of yourself and full of the Holy Ghost.
How are you full of yourself? That’s when the only thing that you feed is yourself. The only thing you feed is the flesh. No wonder you’re addicted to stuff on the internet when all you do is make dirty jokes, watch shows with suggestive scenes, and listen to music that brags about it. No wonder you’re in the bar room on a Friday night when all you talk about is how hard life is, how nobody likes you, and how you don’t deserve anything that’s ever happened to you.
You are feeding your flesh!
That’s why some people haven’t been filled with the greatest gift that God wants to give everyone — the gift of the Holy Ghost.
It’s not because you’ve sinned or fed your flesh to that point, and God doesn’t want to clean you up. But He knows you don’t plan on even trying to stop.
How can I pray for God to deliver me from lust, yet plan on snapping Sally Sue when I get in my truck to ask her what she’s up to? Why am I asking God to break chains that He’s already broken when I’m too full of myself to realize that I’m the one holding on to broken chains?
I’m feeding myself. I’m feeding that addiction. I’m feeding that desire. I’m hungry and thirsty for the things of the flesh.
That’s why we pray, read the Bible, gather together with the church, and worship. That’s especially why we fast. When I fast, I’m starving the flesh and feeding the Spirit.
I get on social media and unfollow those accounts — feeding the Spirit.
I log into Netflix and take those shows off my list — feeding the Spirit.
I pray when I wake up and before bed — feeding the Spirit.
I praise God in His sanctuary — feeding the Spirit.
I give in tithes and offerings — feeding the Spirit.
The flesh doesn’t want to do any of these things. It doesn’t make sense to the flesh of Nate, but on June 17, 2004, something got a hold of me.
I decided that I didn’t want to hunger after the things of the flesh. I didn’t want to thirst for the things of this world. I went down to an altar and called on the name of Jesus. What did I do? I began to feed the Spirit. I started to worship God. I filled my mouth with praise, and He filled my body with His Spirit.
If you want a move of God in your life like never before, stop feeding the flesh and start feeding your Spirit. If you want Him to heal your family, stop feeding the flesh and start feeding your Spirit.
If you want Him to reveal things to you, to open your eyes, stop feeding the flesh, and start feeding your Spirit.
If you want to be filled with the precious gift of the Holy Ghost, with the evidence of speaking in other tongues, stop feeding the flesh and start feeding your Spirit.
“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst” (John 6:35 ).
Never hunger and thirst for what? For the things of this world!
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6).
I want somebody to know — I want God to know more than anything — that I’m hungry for more of Jesus. I’m hungry for revival. I’m thirsty for a move of God. I’m thirsty for freedom and deliverance in my family.
I’m hungry for the Holy Ghost!
Nate Roberts, II Student Ministries Promotions Director
by Tyler Pruitt
Some of my favorite Bible stories involve cupbearers. The cupbearer held an important position in the hierarchy of the kingdoms of the world at that time, ensuring the king’s safety by protecting and ensuring that no one enacted a plot to murder the king using poisoning. The cupbearer had to be faithful to earn and maintain the king’s trust. One thing you’ll notice about the cupbearers in Scripture is that they are closely related to restoration stories.
Genesis 40 brings us the first example of the correlation between the cupbearer and restoration. Joseph is in an Egyptian prison. Also in the prison are two men, a butler (cupbearer) and a baker. Joseph notices these two men are troubled and asks why they are so sad. They tell him they have both dreamed dreams and cannot interpret them. Joseph instructs them to tell him their dreams, which he interprets.
The butler tells Joseph his dream involving a vine, three branches, and clusters of ripe grapes. Joseph tells him that the tree branches signify three days, and Pharaoh will restore him to his former position within three days. Once again, he will deliver the cup to the Pharaoh as the Pharaoh’s butler.
The baker told his dream, and to his dismay, his dream meant that within three days, Pharaoh would have him killed by hanging. And just as Joseph had interpreted, the butler was reinstated while the baker was executed.
The second instance in Scripture of the correlation between the cupbearer and restoration includes
Joseph. Having been released from prison because of interpreting Pharaoh’s dream and becoming the most powerful man in Egypt outside of Pharaoh, Joseph had an opportunity to test his brothers’ character. Joseph disguised himself and put his brothers through a series of tests to determine if they were the same when they sold him to the Ishmaelites or if they had truly repented and changed from their wicked ways.
The last of the tests he put his brothers through was when he instructed them to bring the youngest brother, Benjamin, on their trip. Joseph ordered the servants to put money in each of his brother’s bags as much food as they could carry, but when it came to Benjamin, he gave special instructions. He told the servants to put Benjamin’s corn money, plus Joseph’s silver cup, in Benjamin’s bag. When Joseph saw his brother’s genuine sorrow and willingness to sacrifice themselves for their brother Benjamin’s and their father’s sake, Joseph’s relationship with his brothers was restored.
The next instance comes in the Book of Nehemiah. Nehemiah was King Artaxerxes cupbearer. He was faithful in his duties as the king’s cupbearer. In those days, the cupbearer had to have a positive attitude at all times because if there was an appearance of sadness or worry on the part of the cupbearer, they could be killed. After all, it could cause the king to believe that an assassination plot was being enacted against his life using poisoning. Thankfully, Nehemiah had not only been faithful in his position as the king’s cupbearer but also earned favor and, most likely, even friendship with the king.
The Book of Nehemiah begins with Nehemiah enquiring about the condition of Jerusalem and being told of the city’s broken walls and the gates that had been burned with fire. The next part is why I believe Nehemiah gained friendship with the king; Nehemiah began to weep and mourn for the condition of Jerusalem. In Nehemiah chapter 2, the king noticed Nehemiah’s sadness and instead of having him killed as he could have done in those days. Instead, the king asked Nehemiah what his request was, and the king granted Nehemiah leave to fulfill the calling of God on his life, to restore the broken-down walls of Jerusalem.
There’s an important moral to this story. Before Nehemiah ever found out his calling, he was faithful in the role of servanthood. To the aspiring minister, worship leader, musician, Sunday School teacher, or whatever role you aspire to reach in the ministry, you must be faithful in your servant role. Study the Word. Invest time in prayer. Worship just as much from the pew as you would from the platform. Preach with the preacher. Witness to others outside the four walls of the church. Be willing to help in any capacity because faithfulness opens the door to the next opportunity.
“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Matthew 25:21 KJV)
Once Nehemiah was granted leave from the king to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, the restoration process began. In 52 miraculous days, the walls
of Jerusalem were restored, despite the best efforts of the enemies of Nehemiah trying to stop him from what God had ordained. Don’t allow the Sanballats, Tobiahs, and Geshams of this world to prevent you from God’s Will and Plan for your life. If God has ordered your steps, He has equipped you or will equip you with what you need to fulfill it. He has yet to start a plan that He will not see through to completion.
The greatest example of the correlation between the cupbearer and restoration is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. At the Last Supper, Jesus took the cup and said, “This is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:28 KJV). The Bible says, “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” (Hebrews 9:22). In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was praying, and His sweat became as great drops of Blood. Then He prayed, “If it be Thy Will, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but Thine be done.” What better way could illustrate the cupbearer’s relation to restoration than God robed in flesh, and the flesh submitting to the Will of the Spirit and partaking of the bitter cup, the Cup of Restoration? Jesus provided the ultimate restoration plan for a relationship between a Holy God and fallen men.
The first analogy between the butler and the baker can directly tie in with the Life of Jesus Christ. The baker was killed by hanging three days after his dream was interpreted. Once the baker’s life was taken from him, it was the end of the bread supply that he provided. The butler was restored three days after his dream
was interpreted, and the substance of his cup continued to flow. Thankfully, Jesus said, “I Am the Bread of Life.” He, too, suffered death, but His hanging on the Cross provided the door to open Restoration to be possible for man. And three days later, He resurrected to life again. The Bread of Life is still available to all humanity. His Blood ties into the life of the Butler because His Blood still reaches the highest mountain and the lowest valley. Like the restored butler, His redemption, forgiveness, and restoration cup still flows to whosoever will! The final tie-in to this story is that Jesus also had a Joseph, His earthly father, in His life.
Ultimately, no matter how you look at it, a cupbearer or a butler is a servant, whichever way you want to say it. The KJV tells us that Jesus came not to be ministered to but to minister. Another translation says that He came not to be served but to serve. Matthew 23:11 tells us that the greatest among you will become the servant. Jesus said He came to seek and to save that which was lost. In other words, He came to serve us.
In a restaurant, a wait staff or servers serve the customer’s needs. Ultimately, Jesus is waiting for those who will decide to give their lives to Him and realize the weight and impact of what He did for all when He went to Calvary.
My favorite part? He not only came to be a servant, but ultimately, He has also called us to serve. He asks us to be living sacrifices to let our lives be an example for others to follow by living according to His Word and the examples that have gone before us.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
(Romans 12:1-2 KJV).
“And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.”
(Matthew 10:42 KJV)
Restoration is the reward of the cupbearer. Man forfeited his relationship with God way back in the Garden of Eden by his sin and his disobedience. But God loved us enough to robe Himself in flesh, come to the earth, and offer Himself the sacrifice for all. Sin entered into existence through one man; however, salvation became possible through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on Calvary. He took our sins and nailed them to His Cross so that you and I could have life and that more abundantly! May we never forget that He gives all the opportunity for restoration! Let’s take that cup to the world and win souls to the Kingdom!
Tyler Pruitt attends First Apostolic Church of Maryville, and serves as the Promotions Director for the Apostolic Witness. AW
THE CHURCH IN ACTION
by Madelyn Causey
For my entire life, the word “missionary” has always been synonymous with “superhero.”
So, if I use these terms interchangeably, forgive me—they’re very similar.
Every year, these superheroes gather on the platform at the General Ministry Conference on World Missions night, and I stand in awe of the men and women who seem to walk straight out of the Book of Acts. They travel to nations around the globe daily and boldly preach the gospel to everyone who will listen. They leave the comfortable and familiar for a country that isn’t their own to reach people they have never met. Paul couldn’t have described it better when he wrote, “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”
(Romans 10:15).
So, in this context, what’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear “some go by giving, and others give by going”? If no one else will say it, I will: When comparing my giving
to the incredible works God has done through missionaries, it’s tempting to think that my contribution isn’t as good. It doesn’t seem as impactful, or maybe not as meaningful to God’s kingdom. But what if I told you that giving, your giving, serves as the very pillar of the church God created? Giving was critical to the early church’s survival and remains essential to the church in the 21st century.
When we read of the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2, it’s easy to limit the birth of the early church to that upper room. As Apostolics, we loudly shout when we hear Acts 2:38 that we sometimes forget what comes next. Shortly after thousands were saved, Luke writes, “And all that believed were together, and had all things in common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.” (Acts 2:44-45) Immediately after its creation, the church began to give:
• to needy saints by selling plots of land (Acts 4:34)
“ As the light of the gospel has spread to every corner of the globe, we, as the Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ, have made it our mission to provide for each other no matter the situation or circumstance.
• to widows, both Hebrew and Grecian (Acts 6:1)
• to Jerusalem and Judea during a global famine (Acts 11:28)
They gave locally and internationally in times of prosperity and scarcity. Paul recorded in 2 Corinthians how Macedonia eagerly sent him back to Jerusalem with an offering to alleviate their famine despite their persecution and poverty. The message the book of Acts gives of the early church is clear: Giving is an irreplaceable characteristic of the church, regardless of our financial situation or how far away we are.
It not only defined the early church but continues to define us today. As the light of the gospel has spread to every corner of the globe, we, as the Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ, have made it our mission to provide for each other no matter the situation or circumstance.
When natural disasters such as earthquakes shook the nations of Chile and Haiti, or typhoons flooded the nation of the Philippines, churches across the country did not hesitate: Support poured in from every church, big or small. When war broke out between Ukraine and Russia and refugees fled across the border, our missionaries sprang into action to provide any support they could offer. But as we grow closer to the day
our Lord takes us home, the church’s needs worldwide continue to escalate. For example:
Myanmar in southern Asia is being torn apart as a result of a bloody civil war, and our ALJC churches there are in desperate need of humanitarian aid.
Haiti is watching its government collapse, and the churches that the ALJC has started are suffering due to a lack of resources and violence in the nation.
Today’s mission is no different than on the Day of Pentecost: to give as every man has need. Saints worldwide don’t just need superheroes—I mean, missionaries—they also need you. When you sacrifice your time and resources, you reach out across thousands of miles to impact tens of thousands of lives through Christ. So, where will you go by giving today?
You can give to these special relief efforts today at https://aljcmissions.churchcenter.com/giving/ (select Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief)
Madelyn Causey attends Forsyth Apostolic Church in Forsyth, Georgia. She is a sophomore at Mercer University and was the recipient of the 2023 Women of Wisdom Scholarship.
C O N T A C T :
J e n n i f e r B a r r e t t
E x e c u t i v e V i c e P r e s i d e n t
W i l s o n U n i v e r s i t y
j b a r r e t t @ w i l s o n u o r g
F O R I M M E D I A T E R E L E A S E
M a r c h 6 , 2 0 2 4
W I L S O N U N I V E R S I T Y G R A N T E D W S C U C A C C R E D I T A T I O N
W i l s o n U n i v e r s i t y , a l e a d e r i n o n l i n e a p o s t o l i c h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n , i s p r o u d t o
a n n o u n c e t h a t i t h a s b e e n g r a n t e d a c c r e d i t a t i o n b y t h e W A S C S e n i o r C o l l e g e
a n d U n i v e r s i t y C o m m i s s i o n ( W S C U C ) T h i s s i g n i f i c a n t a c h i e v e m e n t r e f l e c t s t h e
u n i v e r s i t y ' s c o m m i t m e n t t o p r o v i d i n g h i g h - q u a l i t y , a c c e s s i b l e e d u c a t i o n
W i l s o n U n i v e r s i t y , k n o w n f o r i t s i n n o v a t i v e o n l i n e l e a r n i n g a p p r o a c h , h a s m e t
W S C U C ' s r i g o r o u s e x p e c t a t i o n s f o r i n i t i a l a c c r e d i t a t i o n . T h e u n i v e r s i t y h a s
d e m o n s t r a t e d e x c e l l e n c e i n m u l t i p l e a r e a s i n c l u d i n g a c h i e v i n g e d u c a t i o n a l
o b j e c t i v e s , u t i l i z i n g r e s o u r c e s t o e n s u r e q u a l i t y a n d s u s t a i n a b i l i t y , i m p l e m e n t i n g
p r o c e s s e s f o r q u a l i t y a s s u r a n c e a n d c o n t i n u i n g i m p r o v e m e n t , a n d o p e r a t i n g w i t h i n t e g r i t y .
P r e s i d e n t N a t h a n i e l J W i l s o n e x p r e s s e d g r a t i t u d e a n d e x c i t e m e n t a b o u t t h i s m i l e s t o n e , n o t i n g t h a t i t i s a t e s t a m e n t t o t h e h a r d w o r k a n d d e d i c a t i o n o f t h e
u n i v e r s i t y ' s b o a r d , f a c u l t y , a n d s t a f f
A t t a i n i n g a c c r e d i t a t i o n i s a n a c k n o w l e d g m e n t o f W i l s o n U n i v e r s i t y ' s
e f f e c t i v e n e s s i n m e e t i n g i t s m i s s i o n o f e m p o w e r i n g s t u d e n t s t o b e c o m e w o r l d -
c l a s s l e a d e r s t h r o u g h s p i r i t u a l f o r m a t i o n a n d C h r i s t i a n h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n i n a n
e n v i r o n m e n t t h a t e m b o d i e s t h e P e n t e c o s t a l e t h o s
F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t W i l s o n U n i v e r s i t y a n d i t s p r o g r a m s , p l e a s e v i s i t
w w w w i l s o n u o r g
by Jeff Moses
Someone recently said: “The END is not NEAR...the End is HERE!” We are undoubtedly in the last minutes of the last hours of the last days. While it may seem like everything is falling apart, it is actually falling into place. This is not the gloomiest hour of the Church but the greatest hour of the Church!
After the Holy Ghost was first poured out on the Day of Pentecost, the Jews that had gathered were confused at what had just happened. Acts 2:14 says: “But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: 15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 16 But this is THAT...which was spoken by the prophet Joel...” Peter then quotes the prophecy in verse 17: “And it shall come to pass in the LAST DAYS, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.”
If we stopped at that verse, we might think that the generation of the Apostles was the last generation because Joel said the Spirit of God would be poured out in the “Last Days.” However, most scholars agree that the Apostles did not expect the world to end at that time. Instead, they believed that this “Outpouring of the Holy Ghost” marked the beginning of the Gospel dispensation that would continue
until the return of Jesus. The term “the last days” referred to the closing dispensation of the Church age or the grace dispensation. Acts Chapter 2 was the “Beginning” of the harvest season that would not end until some 2,000 years later at the closing of the Church age!
Just before Jesus was crucified, He prophesied that the Temple and the city of Jerusalem would be leveled to the ground because of the great sin they were about to commit in crucifying their Messiah (which happened in 70 A.D.). The Jews were then dispersed throughout the four corners of the world, and it seemed like they would fade into the dustbin of history like every other dispersed nation before them.
But the Lord also promised them that He would regather them back into their homeland in the LAST DAYS. He would restore the latter rain in its season and all the abundance that was devoured by the curse. He also promised them a “Revival” of both spiritual and natural rain as they had never seen before in Joel 2:23-29. Their increase will be so great that they won’t even be able to prepare for it. Whatever barn size they have, it won’t be big enough, and their storage vats will not be deep enough to hold what God will send them!
This reminds me of the vision that God gave to Bro. Charles Robinette of a “Billion-Soul” revival that is not just coming but has already started! If a Billion-Soul revival is coming, then all our churches combined would be unable to hold even a fraction of them. So, we need to be prepared to have church without buildings.
Preachers and pastors from many different denominations are being filled with the Holy Ghost and receiving the revelation of Jesus’ name baptism. Many of them are baptizing their entire congregations in Jesus’ name. Muslims are having dreams and visions of Jesus, who is telling them to go to that Apostolic Church, and they will tell you what you need to do to be saved! No, this is not the gloomiest hour of the Church. This is our greatest hour!
Wikipedia said: “The Azusa Street revival began when Baptist, Methodist, Mennonites, Quakers, Presbyterians, and even members of the Holiness Movement began to pray for whatever it was that they KNEW they were MISSING because people WERE NOT devoted to their denomination or their tradition. They were hungry for the TRUTH of God’s WORD!” It was a deep conviction and hunger for God that led to that great world-changing revival, and it will still be the same kind of deep hunger and thirst for God that will bring revival in these LAST days!
Tommy Hicks prophesied in 1962 of a great endtime revival that will not be like anything we’ve seen before and will make Azusa Street pale in comparison to what God is getting ready to do on this earth.
Sometime in 1910, Bro. Seymour stood on the platform, took the box off his head, and prophesied. He said: In about 100 years, there would be another revival like Azusa Street, but this time, it would not be in only one place; it would be worldwide. There would be a return of the Shekinah glory and the miracles, but this
revival would not be with just one person or just pastors; this time, it would be with everyone in the body, and this revival WILL NOT END until the Lord returns.
On the opposite coast in New York City, Charles Parham stood up one day and declared the SAME prophecy using almost the exact words. This happened within a couple of days of Seymour’s prophecy. They both prophesied that this modern-day outpouring would surpass Acts Chapter 2, Topeka, Kansas, and Azusa Street. Eyewitnesses said Seymour repeated this revelation more than once before he died in 1922.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are now living in those hundred years when powerful revival is again happening worldwide. He is NOT coming back to harvest a Church with empty silos and vessels with no oil. We have evangelists in this ALJC Evangelist department who are prayed up and ready to be a part of the end-time revival that God wants to send to your city and your Church.
Put them to work, and let this be your greatest revival season yet! Barren places can be fruitful again. Backsliders can be restored. The Final Harvest Has Begun. The 100-year revival (when heaven once again invades the earth) is now underway, and I don’t want it to bypass us!
