The Good News Bulletin
Editor Sis Sherry
 
 
From Elder Lisa’s heart...
Blessings upon you and your families in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!  We have entered a season of celebration as the Ephesians 3:20 Ministries celebrates its 12th year anniversary!  It was Sunday, August 3, 2013, when I and my daughter, Sis Tyler, rolled the blue wagon into the TV room of the Pillars of North County, and the Ephesian 3:20 Ministries Worship Experience began.  God established this ministry, with its mission to “Create a space for God to do exceeding and abundantly above all for God’s people through the preaching and teaching of the Holy Bible. And to provide spiritual counseling to touch and change hearts, renew minds, and revive the righteous spirit within.”  We have served hundreds of souls since then, some missing their home churches and finding a HOME with us, some doubting the need for church and then finding HOPE with us, and others yearning to learn more about God and found the TEACHING of His word with us.  Ambassadors, the labor of sharing the GOOD NEWS of Jesus is our portion, and God has FAVORED us to be healthy in spirit and focused on His people. 
God favored us with a powerful message on Communion Sunday titled, “Perspective Restored,” based on Daniel 4:13-16, and 19-27.  With the focus on “restoration,” which means to “bring something which has been broken, or torn down, back to its original state.” In this passage from Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that frightened him, and he called for interpreters to explain its meaning.  Daniel appeared before the king and told him that he had become like the tree in his dream, great and strong, and full of pride, but he would endure the same fate of the tree in his dream. He would be reduced to living with the animals, eat grass, and be drenched with dew, until he acknowledged God as the most-high and all-powerful God—in charge of everything, sovereign in all His ways, and in charge of every realm of life.
King Nebuchadnezzar had to reconnect to God, renounce his sins, and endure seven years of eating grass, in order to have his Perspective Restored.  It’s the same for all of us!  God wants us to acknowledge who He is and that God is has all power. We accomplish nothing outside of God’s provision.  Pride is an issue; do not think so highly of yourself (i.e., what you have achieved, who you know, or where you live).  We must recognize God for who He is—all powerful, sovereign, and all knowing.  Thankfully the king’s roots were intact… are YOUR roots intact?  If not, reconnect to God, renounce your sins, and be restored! 
On the third Sunday, after completing 12 days of fasting and praying in conjunction with our 12th Anniversary of Ministry, we were informed by Sis Lydia’s scholarly review of our Sunday School lesson.  Then, God favored us with a message titled, “A Faithful Minority,” based on Romans 11:1-6 (NIV). God wants us to remain faithful and committed to Him and not hard-headed and stubborn in accepting His grace.  All of us have been reserved for use by our God!  And we learned that being in the “minority,” does not mean we are weak and unfavored. 
In this passage from Romans, Paul writes about the “remnant” of the faithful ones whom God had reserved for himself.  This remnant was unwavering in their commitment to God and stood firm in their belief of His promises.  They were not wishy-washy in their faith walk.  They had adopted the character of God and were unwavering in their commitment, and God could depend on them.  Likewise, we have been selected by God to be part of His “Faithful Minority.”  We must look and behave like His Faithful Minority: stop talking and worshipping false gods, stop seeking guidance from false prophets and Tarot card readers, and stop reading our daily horoscopes. Only God knows and is equipped to protect your future!
Finally, as God’s Faithful Minority, we cannot stop testifying about His goodness, must continue to be a witness of His glory, be willing to change our character, so we act and look more like God, and stay in love with God—the only true and real love there is. We are a peculiar people (I Peter 2:9 KJV), and God wants to trust us to stand up and stand out—FOR HIM!
 
The months we are GRACED with a fifth Sunday is an additional opportunity to worship and position ourselves for deeper reflection and revelation from God. The number five in the Bible is connected to GRACE. As a bonus, we took time to celebrate our 12th year anniversary and what better way to celebrate... to receive from the word of God in 1 Peter 2:1 -12 imparting the joy of being the living stones, replicating Jesus Christ, the chief cornerstone of our faith. We are sanctified to be the spiritual houses reflecting how special we are God. Just as many of our Ambassadors desired more of the delicious  cake we served in our celebration time, God desires us to continue to come back for more and understand who we are designed to be loyal, obedient servants of God, his holy church. Therefore the challenge daily is to abstain from sinful desires that war against us and glorify God by doing what is good and pleasing.. living like His chosen people and royal priesthood. By the GRACE of God, we are not stumbling blocks, but living stones. Grace upon grace to you.

                                                         Happy Birthday blessings to those born in September
                                                                                  Sis Sherry—September 7

From Elder Lisa’s heart...

Blessings upon you and your families in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!  As we continue to pray for our beloved City of St. Louis, our hearts now grieve for the victims impacted by the devastating flooding which occurred on July 4 in the Texas Hill Country.  With 129 confirmed dead, including 36 children, search and rescue teams continue to search for more than the 160 who are still missing. In times like these, the Bible assures us that God is present and active during suffering, offering comfort, strength, and a purpose for pain. Passages like Psalm 23:4 (KJV), “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me” and Psalm 34:18 (NIV), “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” highlight God’s nearness and care during these difficult times. As believers, we are called to trust in God’s goodness and sovereignty, even when we don’t understand the reasons for our suffering.  

Today, our “warfare” ranges from physical battles to spiritual conflict; and following the Independence Day holiday, our call to action as “Ambassadors of Christ” is not to be independent from God, but to fully rely on Jesus. Unfortunately, some folks think they are too grown to be told what to do, but that is not a healthy response if you are a follower of Jesus. As believers, we must be sensitive to “spiritual inner conflict” and exercise the authority given to us by our Holy Spirit power.  Speaking of warfare, the Holy Spirit shifted our message for Communion Sunday, and we were led to deliver a message titled, “Reliance is on God: Depending on Christ.”  Based on Galatians 5:1-6, in this passage, the Apostle Paul highlights the gift of Jesus’ sacrifice, which liberated us from bondage so we could accept the freedom of being saved and the forgiveness of our sins.

Bondage, such as addictions to alcohol, drugs, or sex, are exposed as lies that we must reject as we accept Christ's liberation. James Strong (Strongs Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible) defines “bondage” as “being in a state of captivity, servitude and/or spiritual oppression.” Let us not be oppressed by the bondage of anger, envy, or low self-worth. Choose today not to be enslaved, but rather, to walk as freedmen. Rebuke self-indulgence; and make sacrifices not by your own strength, but accept the help offered by Depending on God and Reliance on Jesus. After the sermon, comments I received from some residents, as well as online, confirmed that the “warfare” is real and they have experienced it first-hand. So, remember to rely on Jesus and do not take your freedom for granted.  

On the third Sunday, following a few technological glitches and a spirited Sunday School discussion led by Sis Lydia, our heavenly Father encouraged us all with a dynamic message based on Romans 4:18-21, titled “I Still Believe.” The devil did not want this word to come forth, so he sent numerous technological challenges to keep us from hearing this message, but God’s will prevailed!  In this passage from Romans, we are reminded about the challenges that Abraham faced while holding on to the promise He had received from God (that he and his wife, Sarah, would conceive and have a child despite their age).  Despite his old age and Sarah’s dead womb, Abraham did not let the circumstances around him change his stance and belief that God would do what He promised. 
 
If you have a promise from God and you still believe it will come to pass, then God is still going to do it.  Whatever you may be facing now, know that God is strengthening your faith.  Signs and wonders are still coming!  And what is your responsibility while you are waiting? As a BELIEVER it is your duty to: 1) worship Him with all your heart, mind and soul; 2) work as Jesus did to serve, support the vulnerable, the broken, and the weary 3) war against the devil whose full-time job is to get you to abandon your walk with God and give up on your promise; 4) walk in God’s will and His way; 5) witness and continue to tell your story; and, 6) watch for the signs and wonders that are still coming!  Your promise may appear dead, but it is very much alive!
 
The month of August represents a BIG celebration of all GOD has called us to do and allowed us to continue in building GOD’s Kingdom. “Thy Kingdom come, Lord your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven” as the Apostle Matthew penned in the sixth chapter, tenth verse of his Gospel, and God has imparted strength and focus to us as we enter into our 12th year anniversary of  the Ephesians 3:20 Ministries and 15th year anniversary of the Faith in Healing Prayer Line. As we enter this time, join us in fasting and praying August 1 –12. Fast from your waking hour until 12 noon (CDT). If you are able to participate in a TOTAL FAST (water only) great, if your health does not permit a fast from food then elect to abstain from something you believe is a ‘must have’ (e.g., television, social media, caffeine, sugar, bread), you get the idea

Each day at 12 noon we will gather via Zoom to pray corporately. We are believing God for an impartation of greater discernment, wisdom, direction, and provision, as well as your personal requests. In these past years, we have served thousands of souls both in worship and prayer. Allow me to testify that saying “YES” to God each time has been an overwhelming blessing. Your YES to GOD will create the same impact of God abundantly growing you, immeasurably, more infinitely, beyond what you could ever imagine or think to ask. AND you have been given the POWER of God’s Spirit to get it all done. Hallelujah somebody!!
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Love and peace.
 
 
Happy Birthday blessings to those born in August
Bro Richard Walton August 2
Sis Adell  Hubbard August 4


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