C H O F Ministry

Tag: Pastor

  • “The Obligation of a Cleric”

    12 4 2019 1 Pet 2 5 The Obligations of Clerics
    Praise the Lord Everyone!!! 😀

    You know, Christians are assigned similar spiritual attributes as the Old Testament priests. Peter considers believers as holy priests (pastors, minister, elders), but actually there are many Christians who don’t know what that means because priests aren’t as active in our common daily activity in our society today.

    The main purpose of an Old Testament priest was to submit appropriate sacrifices to God on behalf of the people. Priests were selected by God Himself, specially cleansed through approved rituals, clothed in a specified fashion, and anointed with oil as symbolic of God’s Spirit upon them. They were expected to obey God, love His Word, and walk with Him.

    Beloved, faithful priests had an encouraging influence on believers and unbelievers. Malachi 2:6 (NCV) says: “and they kept many people from sinning.” Verse 7 adds that “A priest should teach what he knows, and people should learn the teachings from him, because he is the messenger of the Lord All-Powerful.”

    Those credentials are similar in Christians, whom God considers as the only true priests (pastors, minister, elders). You were chosen by Him from before the foundation of the world – refined, restored, rejuvenated and restarted by the Holy Spirit. Beloved, You’re clothed with the righteousness of Christ and anointed by the Holy Spirit. 1 Pet. 2:5 says: Your purpose is “to offer spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.” Rom. 12:1 informs you to present your body a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. In other words, obedience, love for the Word, and a close relationship with God should characterize your life. Saints and sinners should see Christ in you and be inspired by what they see.

    Beloved, the priesthood of believers is a high and holy calling to which no one is suited apart from God’s grace and power, and I assure you that He who called you will accomplish His good pleasure in you. So, I encourage you to stay committed to the goal God has placed before you each day as you lean on His resources and trust in His sufficiency. Amen? Aaamen. ✝️❤️😊

    CHOF Ministry’s Mid-Week Prayer:
    Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the ministry you have assigned to me. Father God, please continue to use me and CHOF/BWFHJr ministry, along with my fellow clergy brothers and sisters and their ministries today as we provide and influence others selflessly according to Your directives. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen and Amen.

    Beloved life is very short. It comes and goes like an unannounced gust of wind. None of us know the hour or day when that gust of wind will be permitted to enter our room and blow out our earthly light. So today, reach out and touch someone you love and tell them you love them, BECAUSE TELLING THEM LATER JUST MIGHT BE TOO LATE.

    I LOVE YOU ALL!!! Have an “Amazing” Wednesday. 😀

    Please visit the Christian House of Faith, CHOF:
    CHOF Ministry on Facebook
    http://www.facebook.com/christianhouseoffaithchof
    and
    Bishop W. F. Houston Jr. Ministry on WordPress
    http://www.bishopdrwfhoustonjr.wordpress.com

  • “Don’t Be Hurried into Anger”

    Listen To God's Word
    James 1:19-20 “Let everyone be . . . slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God”. These are awesome Bible verses that help me stay saved. 😀

    Beloved, have you ever began reading your Bible, perceiving all is well between you and the Lord, only to have the Word unexpectedly cut deep into your soul to expose, describe, characterize and categorized a sin you’ve ignored or tried to hide? That usually happens because God wants to eliminate immorality in His children. The Holy Spirit uses the Word to infiltrate the concealed pauses “interruptions” in our heart (mind and emotions) to do His convicting and cleansing work. Now, it’s how you respond to that procedure that will be the indicator of the authenticity of your faith.
     
    The “anger” referred to in our morning scripture refers to an adverse response to that procedure. It’s a deep inside “down to the core” antipathy escorted by an intrepid refusal. Sometimes that antipathy can be indirect. Paul described those who “will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires” – (*1).
     
    These are the people who tensely go from church to church, ministry to ministry in search of someone who’ll tell them what they want to hear—or a congregation that wants a pastor who’ll make them feel good about themselves (an altered message) instead of preaching the Word (an unaltered – immature word) and setting a high standard of holiness.
     
    You know, every now and then antipathy toward the Word stops being indirect and turns to downright up in your face hostility. That’s what happened to Stephen when the crowd he confronted covered their ears, drove him out of the city, and stoned him to death. – (*2). Throughout history there have been many others that have felt the lethal misfortunes of those whose antipathy of God’s truth turned to detestation for His people.
     
    You see, to be a recipient of the Word consist of being swift to perceive what it says and unhurried to anger when it disagrees with your personal opinions or confronts your immorality. Beloved, today is your boldness covering an immoral principle? Are you defiant to what God is saying to you through the Word? Do you welcome its criticism and aware of its warnings, or do you secretly feel hostile about it? When a Christian brother or sister challenges an immoral principle in your life, do you accept or reject their advice? Amen? Aaamen. 😀
     
    Beloved, life is very short. It comes and goes like an unannounced gust of wind. None of us know the hour or day when that gust of wind will be permitted to enter our room and blow out our earthly light. So today, reach out and touch someone and tell them you love them, BECAUSE TELLING THEM LATER JUST MIGHT BE – TOO LATE.
     
    Beloved, I thank for your unconditional love. 😀
    I LOVE YOU ALL!!! Have a “Tremendous” Wednesday.
     
    CHOF Ministry’s Cross Reference Scriptures
    *1. 2 Timothy 4:3
    *2. Acts 7:57

  • “Stay Focused On Your Calling”

    Bishop Houston's Monday Morning Blog New Poster

    Praise the Lord Beloved!!! Happy Monday to you all.
     
    I attended a church program on yesterday, and I left there shaking my head in dismay. I’m seeing more and more men and women in the pulpit with the “it’s all about me, look at me, how did I sound, empty vessel messages. Beloved, THE CHURCH BELONGS TO JESUS!!!
     
    It’s not owned by its denomination, its benefactors, its members nor its affiliates, its staff or its lead pastor. Jesus said He would build His church – and He’s not about to give up that ownership to us or our ideas.
     
    You know as a preacher, this is a lesson I need to repeat to myself of repeatedly. I didn’t won’t to touch this issue this morning. I wrestled with it and it was also like fire shut up in my bones. So, encouraged by the Spirit of the Lord and my lovely better half I’ve decided to share it with you through my blog.
     
    Beloved, many spiritual leaders have flat ignored why the church exists!!! OR – they have been misinformed.
     
    This morning, I have a news flash church/ministry leaders, pastors, preachers ect… The church doesn’t exist to give us an audience for our ideas, projects or egos. It exists to fulfill Christ’s purposes. Our role as church/ministry leaders, pastors, preachers ect.., is to equip the church/ministry members and its affiliates to ratify those purposes, both inside and outside the church/ministry walls.
     
    My Beloved cleric brothers and sisters (members of the clergy) our churches/ministries the church exists to make Jesus known, *NOT TO MAKE PASTORS FAMOUS!!!
     
    Yet, “WE” (I’m not above this approach either) keep making the same mistakes over and over again. “WE” (try to) take control because we feel without our strong hand on the wheel (we think) our church/ministry will fall to pieces. The budget won’t be met. The membership won’t grow. The five or ten-year vision won’t be realized. HELLO SOMEBODY!!!!! I know some of you out there know just what I’m talking about!!! 😀
     
    As church/ministry leaders, pastors, preachers ect.., we must know our roll. I’m speaking to churches and ministries of every size and type. From the captivating founding pastor of the high-energy, non-denominational megachurch, to the long-term, traditional male-controlled pastor to the centuries-old religious congregational pastor.
     
    Sure, many of us that are called according to God’s purpose are visionaries. We have big ideas. Impressive plans. Electrifying opportunities. And it’s tempting to use the resources at our disposal – namely the people, building and finances of the church/ministry we pastor to bring those endeavors to fruition. It’s not our job to get a group of people to agree with us and carry out our vision. No matter how good that vision might be.
     
    My Beloved cleric brothers and sisters (members of the clergy), it’s our calling to help the church/ministry body discover or re-discover God’s purposes together, then participate in them as the Holy Spirit leads us all. So, if we want to build a platform, a project or a ministry based on our ideas, we need to start a para-church ministry or a for-profit business. Not use a church/ministry body to carry them out for us.
     
    My Beloved cleric brothers and sisters (members of the clergy) we need to stay focus or for some, need to get refocused on the church Jesus brought into existence and called us to lead. The focus should never be on the cleric brothers and sisters (members of the clergy), but on Jesus.
     
    *Not on the preaching, but the equipping.
    *Not on the presentation, but the discipline.
    *Not on the music, but the worship.
    *Not on the building, but the gathering.
    *Not on the platform, but the people.
    *Not on the packed (or vacant) seats, but on the empty cross.
     
    Have a blessed Monday and an Awesome rest of your week.