Archive for January 2018
Full Gospel Churches San Antonio Texas
Are you looking for a Full Gospel Church in San Antonio Texas area?
The teaching of Christ is a well-recognized story covered primarily among the first four books of the new testament. While the story of Jesus’ life may have been relegated to a period of just over thirty years, and a few books of the Bible, the power of that Gospel is much greater than any other story in existence. People today still need the Full Gospel. Not just to hear it but to obey it as well. There are benefits to being apart of other believers that adhere to the full gospel. Being a Full Gospel Church is much more than simply putting Full Gospel Church as part of the Church’s title.
The story of the life and death of Jesus Christ is where many people stop, but the power of the Gospel is more than a story of past events. The message of the coming Messiah was prophesied in the Old Testament, with over three-hundred individual prophecies recorded about the coming and life of the Messiah. Christ was born of a virgin. Jesus Christ gave His life willingly upon the cross, becoming a sacrifice for all who follow Him. In layman’s terms, He racked up no charges against his life while he lived on Earth, therefore his payment in the form of sacrificial death was enough to cover the charges against all of mankind if they so chose to believe and obey Him.
All people have sinned in their life and under the Law deserve death because of it. However, we also have a God that loves each and every one of us. Because of that love, He robed Himself in flesh to live a sinless life and to sacrifice Himself to pay for the sins of all others. Regardless of who we are, where we come from, or what flavor of sin the full Gospel Message is available to all who will receive it.
What power lies in the Gospel?
In short, the power to change and to save the world. It has changed the world, from the very moment of creation, to the days of Christ’s death and resurrection, to the very day that you are now reading this blog. Perhaps you have seen the power of the Gospel change the lives of those around you, perhaps you are hoping to see what the gospel can do. For illustration, we have selected two stories about the transformative power of the Gospel; they are both from the Bible. In order to see a clear message of full gospel preaching let’s look to a couple of examples of the apostles preaching from the book of Acts.
Peter’s full Gospel Message
Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Paul’s full Gospel Message
First, we look at Saul, a Roman Jew and a leader among the Jewish people following the days of Christ’s ministry on Earth. Saul spent much of this time persecuting members of the newly founded Christian faith. To accept that Christ was the Messiah was seen as heresy in those days, with many different viewpoints and accusations being leveled at Christ and those who followed him. While on the road to Damascus in an attempt to further persecute and arrest any Christians in the city, Saul was apprehended of the Lord. A light blinded him, and the voice of Christ called out, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” Saul was left blind as the light disappeared, and was directed into the city where he did not eat or drink for three days. At this time, the Lord also commanded a follower of his by the name of Ananias to visit Saul and to pray for Him. Upon being prayed for by Ananias, scales fell from Saul’s eyes and he was baptized. Upon this healing, Saul began to pray, preach, and serve the Lord around the city of Damascus, so much so that he faced persecution from the very people he had once belonged to. This began Saul’s journey as he became Paul, and as he spoke the Gospel to all who would hear it, writing a substantial amount of what would later become the New Testament along the way. Now let’s look at the gospel message that Paul preached to some followers of John the Baptist.
Acts 19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
Acts 19:2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
Acts 19:3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
Acts 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
Acts 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
The Gospel Power
The Power of the Gospel doesn’t just transform the lives of those running from God, or those trying to stamp out the message itself. The Gospel message is hope for all who believe and obey. It is a promise that sin no longer has a hold on the sinner. It is a message that God loves and wants to be loved by each of his children. It is a reminder that not even death can stand triumphant over anyone who follows Christ. It is hope in the bleakest of situations, a light in the darkest corners of the globe, and a lifeline in our weakest of moments. It is, and it has always been, and it will always be. The Gospel is the ultimate power and authority, because it is the message and extension of the One True God.
“One must keep on pointing out that Christianity is a statement which, if false, is of no importance, and, if true, of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is moderately important.”– C.S. Lewis
Come Be apart of Pentecostal Life Church. Pentecostal Life Church Is a Holy Spirit filled full Gospel Church. Proclaiming the Gospel to San Antonio Texas and surrounding Suburbs of San Antonio TX.
The Positive Impact of Holy Spirit Filled Churches in San Antonio Texas
Joel 2:28-29
28 “Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. 29 In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants—men and women alike.
The power of a Spirit filled church is one that has been discussed since before Jesus came to Earth and before the idea of the modern church was born. The verse used above, prophesied the day when His Holy Spirit would fill anyone regardless of age, race, or social standing and was quoted by Peter on the day of Pentecost. On that day, the Spirit of God descended unto the believers in the upper and the believers began speaking in tongues. After quoting from the prophet Joel, Peter delivers the following message to those that had gathered that day.
Acts 2: 38-47
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,47 Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
In Acts we see how the Holy Spirit filled, influenced, and empowered the church. Peter states clearly that the Holy Spirit is is available to all and that everyone should be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. We see further on from his sermon some of the blessings that the Church body received because of their reception of the Holy Spirit as well. After receiving the Holy Spirit, many signs and wonders were performed. Many sold their worldly possessions and provided for others while being provided for themselves. The Lord added to the church daily because of this. That is how the Holy Spirit blessed the early Church in a matter of days and weeks, but how does a Holy Spirit filled church bless modern day Christians?
The Spirit can bless the modern church in many ways, including the ways which it blessed the early Church mentioned in Acts and the lives of the original disciples and apostles. This doesn’t mean that spiritual blessing is limited to the ways it was described in Acts, but that those means are an aspect of what is possible under the influence and impact of the Holy Spirit. It is also important to remember that one of the keys to receiving the Holy Spirit is believing in Jesus Christ and that the Holy Spirit is a free gift available to all mankind. So going forward we will move under the assumption that Holy Spirit filled Churches can be any Church which is full of members who have accepted, obeyed Christ and committed their lives to Him.
Perhaps the first thing that comes to mind of an outsider looking for a Church body blessed by the Holy Spirit. If someone was truly looking for a place where they felt the presence of the Holy Spirit, they probably wouldn’t be looking for a Church body that lacked passion or commitment to the full gospel message found in the book of Acts. One would expect to find a Church service full of sincerity, love, and an obedience to the Word of God and the members celebrating their Lord and Savior and basking in the opportunity to gather with those that shared the same values and beliefs. When a church is Holy Spirit filled, their worship takes on an entirely new meaning. This is the same for musical tastes and styles of any believer, whether they worship from a hymnal or with a full-fledged church band. The presence of the Holy Spirit brings a new sense of meaning to worship, when one can sing and praise their God, and do so knowing and feeling the influence and presence He has in their lives.
Another aspect of blessing on a Church filled with the Holy Spirit is similar to what was seen in Acts on the day of Pentecost. When the Spirit descended on the people, they not only had the ability to understand one another across differing language barriers, but it also gave Peter the wisdom and words that he was to preach in front of them. From the life of Solomon, we know that God is not only able to impart great wisdom on his subjects, but that he is willing to do so as well. A Holy Spirit filled Church often finds that it is blessed with sermons that give deeper meaning than can be found elsewhere. A Holy Spirit filled Church may often also find that there is clarity given on tough decisions, or that difficult questions are answered to them somewhat miraculously. The applications of Spiritual wisdom are nearly endless, and they can be felt greatly in the Holy Spirit filled church.
A third aspect that was discussed in Acts was the strength in relationships felt by those present when the Holy Spirit came down. Many sold their worldly possessions to help their fellow brothers and sisters, and many more experienced an increase in gladness and singleness of heart. There was a unity among the believers because of the Holy Spirit which they shared. This same unity can be felt among the members of a Holy Spirit filled Church body. Whether it is in services, in the friendships they’ve built, or in the works that they undertake together, the blessing of the Holy Spirit flows into their ability to converse, to collaborate, and to touch one another’s lives.
A Holy Spirit filled church will find many blessings that come to it, and those in search of a Holy Spirit filled church can often tell by the means which the Spirit has poured out and influenced the prospective Church. It is truly wonderful to be able to take part in a body united by the Spirit of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
If you are looking to be apart of a Holy Spirit filled Church San Antonio Texas area, then prayerfully consider Pentecostal Life Church. Pentecostal Life Church is a Holy Spirit filled Church servicing San Antonio TX and surrounding suburbs.
The Blessings of Personal and Group Prayer
Prayer is a key element of walking in faith with Christ. Prayer is our most direct and most accessible connection to God. While in the older days before Christ’s life, death, and resurrection speaking to God was a right reserved for the Priests on certain occasions and in certain manners. As followers of Christ we have the benefit that they did not of an open line of communication directly between us and God. We don’t need to have been born in a certain line of succession, and we don’t need to worry about using a middle man, such as a priest, to communicate what we want to say to the Lord. Today we will be discussing two different types of prayer, personal and group.
Personal prayer is what one does when praying alone. Perhaps it’s in a bedroom before turning in for the evening, perhaps it’s done in the car ride to work, or alone in a waiting room. Regardless, personal prayer occurs when a person chooses to pray alone, making it solely a conversation between them and God. Personal prayer is important in everyday life, whether one is blessing their food or prayer for God to make serious changes in their life. The blessings of personal prayer are also immense. Personal Prayer gives us the opportunity to seek God’s help with our struggles in a personal manner. We are blessed to live in a day and age where forgiveness is not bought with the blood of an animal sacrifice, but has already been paid for through the blood of Jesus Christ. Because His blood has already paid the unpayable debt left by our sins, we need to ask for Jesus’ help on a daily basis. While prayer for forgiveness is a blessing of personal prayer, there are several other benefits of it as well. For instance, prayer can be utilized to seek advice or guidance on a personal matter that has proven challenging for us to handle on our own. Perhaps a person is deciding between two jobs in different cities, and wants input on where God is truly calling their life. Through prayer we can bring these questions directly to God; and because we are blessed with the benefit of having received the Holy Spirit into our hearts and in having a connection through the Holy Spirit, he will answer us. Sometimes this answer comes in the form of scripture, sometimes it comes in the form of a feeling, and sometimes it comes in the form of a fellow believer providing guidance and insight that God has placed on their hearts. Whatever form it takes, and it may often take many different forms for different people. Prayer provides communication between us and God. Prayer can bring us many blessings because of this direct connection between an individual and God. Prayer can bring discernment, strength, wisdom, healing, peace, forgiveness and the list goes on. The blessings of group prayer is similar, but the process of it changes slightly.
When one person prays alone, it is a direct and personal communication between an individual and God. When the prayer becomes corporate, some of that intimacy may be lost, but there is also much to be gained. We know from Matthew 18:20 that “For where two or three gather together as my followers, [a] I am there among them.” So, it stands to be reference that if two or more are gathered in prayer, then the presence of Jesus dwells there as well. This exemplifies the power that is present in group prayer that may not be as accessible when praying as individuals. And much like individual prayer, corporate prayer can be used in many situations. Maybe it is something as simple as praying for food before a Church potluck, but it could also be something vastly larger in scale. Perhaps it’s a group of people praying for the healing of a terminal family member, or a Church body praying before it sends one of its members on a mission trip. Whatever the situation, blessings that are present in personal prayer are also present in group prayer, often in a much more noticeable sense.
We see many occasions where prayer is instructed and advocated for in scripture as well. Here are a few examples for your reference:
Ephesians 6:18
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Luke 11: 9-10
9 “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
Philippians 4:6
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Above are three examples from the New Testament ascribing the need for and the power of prayer. The verse from Ephesians focuses on the need to be persistent and committed in our prayers. It is important to continually seek the Lord through prayer. The verse from Luke highlights the importance of that continuity and the blessings that come forward because of that dedication. While there may be doors in front of us that block our paths, we must remember to keep praying, to keep asking, and to keep knocking. God sees and hears this dedication and this desire to seek him, and the doors cannot remain closed against His will. Finally, in Philippians, we see the reassurance of prayer. When we are in close communication with Him, through personal or corporate prayer, we don’t need to worry. Instead, we just have to tell Him what we need, and thank Him for all that He has already provided. The blessings of prayer don’t end there, and neither does the need for it. God has given us a direct line to Him, it doesn’t do us well to ignore it. Instead, take the time and reach out to Him and listen for His answers.
We at Pentecostal Life Church would like to invite you to be apart of our group prayer and worship. It will have a positive impact on your personal prayers and worship. Pentecostal Life Church is a Spirit filled Apostolic Pentecostal Church in a suburb of San Antonio Texas.
Pentecostal Life Church currently meets at 1201 Oak Street, Schertz, TX, 78154
Service times are Sunday 10:30 am & Thursday 7pm.
Should Christians Meet Together Regularly?
In today’s fast paced and technology focused world, this question comes up a lot. What is the point of gathering together in a building once or twice a week when services can now be attended online, electronic fellowship can be achieved through nearly instantaneous communication, and the knowledge within the Bible can be viewed with a simple online search? The answer to this topical question is yes, and an overwhelming “yes” at that. There are numerous benefits to gathering together, worshiping, learning, and fellowshipping with other believers on a regular basis. We will discuss those in a minute, but first let’s examine what scripture says not only about the need to gather together, but the power of doing so.
Hebrews 10: 24-25
24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
In this passage we learn not only one of the core purposes to meeting together regularly in the name of our Jesus, but we receive a call to do so without neglect. By meeting with fellow believers on a regular basis, we are able to motivate and be motivated on a level that would be unattainable without regular interaction in an environment such as the Church. By meeting on a weekly basis, or even more frequently if meeting on a midweek evening in addition to Sunday mornings, we are able to truly become a part of one another’s lives. When you come into contact with an individual multiple times a week, you are able to better understand them. At first, it may just be superficial understandings such as where they work or which side of San Antonio Texas they live. However, as time goes on, we are able to move deeper in our understanding of our fellow Church members. We begin to understand what motivates them, the desires God has placed on their hearts, and even the struggles that plague their everyday lives. By taking the time to meet together at Church in Christian fellowship, we can better assist each other in these times of struggle. By knowing taking the time and energy to physically meet together one can offer the proper advice and support in times of need, and the Church body can effectively encourage one another as we are called to do in this verse.
It is important not to neglect the relationships in our Churches by taking regular meeting times lightly or neglecting them altogether. In a metaphorical sense, the body cannot properly support itself if the foot only shows up when it deems the meeting time convenient for that week. Hebrews calls us to honor this commitment to one another, and to encourage each other even when others choose to neglect that commitment.
Matthew 18: 19-20
“I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. 20 For where two or three gather together as my followers,[h] I am there among them.”
This verse is taken from Jesus’ dialogue, and it carries much significance because of that. The original 12 believers had the benefit of being in physical contact with the Jesus Christ. As modern believers, we do not have the privilege of being in his physical presence. However, unlike the twelve disciples of Christ, we do have the benefit of being a part of a much larger Church body. And while Jesus does not dwell among the Church in an Earthly form at the moment, His presence is still present when the Church gathers in His name. In fact, it doesn’t even have to be the entire church for his presence to dwell amongst those in Christian fellowship. As seen in the above scripture, “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”. It is important to honor our commitment not only between individual members of the Church; but to honor the commitment that Christ gave in Matthew 18:20 by supporting the gathering of any number of members gathered in His name.
Acts 20: 28
“So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood[h]—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders.
Not only does meeting regularly assist in encouraging one another and honoring that commitment that Christ gave his followers, but it also serves as a way to help guard and protect one another from the dangers of sin. This is especially pertinent for those whom God has called to lead. Whether this is leadership within the church, leadership in the workplace, or leadership in the community; God has entrusted you with leadership over (at least) part of His flock. This isn’t a gift that God has given lightly either, the freedom of God’s flock was purchased through the blood He shed upon the cross. It is important to remember that our lives are His, regardless of circumstance. His blood redeemed us, His spirit guides us as we pursue Him. As leaders in each of our respective roles, we are responsible for guiding members of His flock in the proper direction. If we begin to ignore or avoid these responsibilities by skipping Church meetings, avoiding the presence of others, and dodging the gathering bodies, then we have failed to watch over those whom he has entrusted to us.
There are many benefits and necessities to meeting with fellow believers on a regular basis, plus it is honoring the commitments between us and God. This means that we encourage, honor, and protect those that he has placed in our midst.
We at Pentecostal Life Church welcome and extend Christian community and fellowship you.
Pentecostal Life Church is a Spirit Filled Apostolic Pentecostal Church located in Schertz, TX. Schertz Texas is a suburb of San Antonio, Texas.
Pentecostal Life Church currently meets at 1201 Oak Street. Schertz, TX 78154.
Service times are: Sunday 10:30 am & Thursday 7pm.
Apostolic Churches In San Antonio TEXAS
The teachings of the apostles are a foundation of the Christian faith, but why? The Apostles were, after all, just regular people, right? They were followers themselves, following Jesus Christ during his brief tenure on this planet over 2000 years ago. So why are their teachings placed in the same esteem and stature of the prophets and the Messiah? Listed are some reason to be apart of an Apostolic Church San Antonio TX.
Well, a fundamental aspect of the Christian faith is in the divine inspiration of the Bible. As Christians, we believe that the Bible was written by men acting on the message that they received from the Lord. So, while Paul may be the writer of the book of Romans, the knowledge, wisdom, and teachings found in that book were created and inspired by God. We find evidence for this throughout the Bible as well, both with events that occur and with the writings themselves. For example, Moses received the Ten Commandments directly from God on top of the mountain. We also find, specific scriptures that indicate the nature of scripture in accordance with divine inspiration. Here are two of these examples:
2 Peter 1: 20-21
20 Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, 21 or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
The writers themselves acknowledge the source of their works and give due credit to the One who not only inspired them, but who is also the reason for which they are writing. This lends credibility to the topics they speak on, the wisdom they pass on, and the knowledge that they transcribe for fellow believers. This credibility, coupled with knowledge of these individuals themselves and theme of topics and ideas between the works themselves, lends proper credibility to the authors and the books that they wrote.
If the works can be accepted as credible and valid for the time which they were written, how can they still be applicable to the modern audience? After all, most of the letters were written as letters to specific groups of people or Churches. As modern citizens, we have the benefit of modern communication and the extent to which the Gospel has already spread. We have easy access to churches, to copies of the Bible, and countless other sources of information and knowledge about Jesus Christ and the Christian faith. What can possibly be learned from works that are two thousand years old?
First, the opening books of the New Testament, the Gospels, are a record of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. They are our closest source of information regarding what He said and what He did. The books following the Gospels, excluding Revelations, help break down the meaning of His life and how that is applicable to the readers. The later books of the New Testament are in layman’s terms, a break down of the call that Christ places in the hearts of every believer. Through the teachings of the Apostles and the examples in the book of Acts , we are able to better understand the teachings of Jesus Christ and the true depth of his actions.
The list of topics goes on and on, the examples above only covering a fraction of what can be found in the book of Acts of the Apostles alone. These things were written to teach us the fundamentals of the Christian faith, and to build on them into the in-depth topics that help us answer the difficult questions that world is apt to throw at us. The teachings of the apostles equip us for the difficulties of being the minority as believers; submerged in a world that not disagrees with us, but that works against us as well.
The latter books of the New Testament also help to equip us not only as individual believers, but as members of the larger Body of Christ. Paul’s letters to the churches, Peter’s letters, and even the short book of Jude, all have crucial wisdom and practical solutions to the problems that churches faced not only two-thousand years ago, but that still apply to the church today. The applications of the teachings of the Apostles are timeless in the sense that they do not lose influence and truth when removed from their original audiences, but that carry both similar and unique ideas to any who reads through their pages today and tomorrow. Do you live in or near San Antonio, TEXAS, and are wanting to be apart of Apostolic Churches in San Antonio, TX.
We invite you to come and be apart of Pentecostal Life Church. It is our desire to be a book of Acts Holy Spirit filled Church and provided an Apostolic Church in San Antonio, TEXAS and the surrounding. Pentecostal Life Church is in a San Antonio suburb called Schertz TEXAS.
Service Times: Sunday 10:30am Thursday 7pm
Pentecostal Life Church Location: 1201 Oak St. Schertz, TX. 78154