That’s why we love being part of a church that is not stuck on what is happening right now, but we are fixed and our eyes are set on what is ahead.
No matter which side you’re on—more summer days or come on sweater weather—you’ll love looking back at some special moments and good times in Connersville, remembering how the Lord moved.
Happy alert. A lot of our churches were there. Our Apostle was there. Most of the ministry was there. Warning: it gets real. This one goes out to the ones who are proving themselves.
Chances are you’ve got a lot on your plate these days (we get it). For a few minutes, put aside scrolling Netflix for the “one”. We’ve got a couple videos that will pull you in . . . now all you have to do is choose a snack. You’ll even forget you had stress. Breathe innnnn, breathe out.
A quick sidebar: watch out for wolves.
Are your doors locked? It sounds personal, but I assure you, we’re asking something far more important than about a physical structure in which you reside. Are you letting anything into your house that should not be there? Is somebody sitting at the table who does not belong inside your house? Are you listening to something that you should not be entertaining? As David once said:
“I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.” (Psalm 101:3).
How do you know a wolf? They are theives. They steal. They rummage. They devour. They have no integrity.
When you allow them inside your house, all of a sudden, you’re wrapped up, you’re in the middle of it, and caught up in something that is cutting you away from the vine. What could be worse than being in a church, you’re doing things, but you’re disconnected from the true vine?
Stay in the vine where you were grafted.
It seems unlikely that the average reader of the King James Bible can be expected to have researched and understood the relevance of the five-fold ministry—most of us did not hear about it until we came into the Body of Christ—yet you would be ill-suited to grasp the full meaning of Ephesians 4, not to mention the foundation that rests on it, without having done so. The office of the apostle is of great importance. And yet, so much depends on that one word and its tangled history in religion, but it’s clear for us here. Thank God we are operating just as the early church did, under a five-fold ministry, functioning and strong. For anyone wondering, that includes our Apostle, Brother Nobles.
Take another look at the early rain church.
The early rain saints paved the road that we’re traveling, and we’re locking arms with them (metaphorically) as an unstoppable army. The Church is on the move and working in the same climate—under a five-fold ministry, the Holy Ghost, and truth. Great things happened when the early church gathered, as it does when we gather. So, don’t do this weekend alone🙂
The political fire was not the only thing blazing today. It was another sweltering day where we are in the eastern Carolinas. Now it’s time to enjoy the softness of the night sounds . . . unlike the day, night gives more than it takes.
Keep the wonderful teachings and memories of Connersville close🧡
Share this with a friend who knows when it comes to fellowship, we’ve got the moves. We’re talking board games and basketball🏀
By Sister Trecinda Kinsey
Every time God’s people get together, something wonderful happens. Our last meeting in Connersville was no exception. When we arrived, it was evident that Brother and Sister Gill and the saints there had worked diligently to make us feel welcome, and they anticipated all our needs so beautifully.
It all Started when . . .
Brother Sam Richardson opened the meeting by welcoming us all. He always speaks from the heart and with such sincerity, that you can feel his excitement. It was clear that he was not the only one excited when the testimonies started flowing. One after another, people were standing to their feet to share what wonderful things God has done in their lives. If you wanted to speak you had to be quick, because there was such an amazing energy in the room and so many people wanted to share their testimony.
By Morning . . .
Brother Gavin was speaking about faith. He encouraged us to not be a bystander, but to settle in and be taught. Today is a new day! Commit your life to Him. Psalm 37:3 states: “Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shall thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.” To dwell means to stay there. I cannot be fed if I am not here. We can’t sit among this people and be idle. Sometimes it is not enough just to have faith; we have to show it. If we don’t know anything else to do, just be here! Keep walking through the doors. God rewarded the saints mentioned in Hebrews for their faith; what makes us think He won’t do the same for us?
From Our Apostle
Brother Nobles was the next to address the congregation. He said there is nothing separate about a body; it is unified. When in the Body of Christ, we should be readily available all the time. If I am not here, how can I be used when needed? When here, we need to stay engaged in the service and what God is doing.
Brother Nobles then went on to speak about how this is a time of proving, and there are several areas that God will prove us in. (This is not so that God will know where we stand, but so that we will know ourselves.) These areas of proving are:
- Our Dedication — I may convince myself that I am serving God, but if I am varying from what God is telling me to do, then I am not. It is easy to stay dedicated without adversity. Adversity will either further unify us, or pull us apart.
- Our Love for God and His People — These two cannot be separated. I cannot love God without loving His people. It should be recognized that there is a different kind of love here. This love should not be natural. We should love each other spiritually.
- Our Thankfulness — Am I still thankful that I am in the Body of Christ? Am I telling Him this by the life I live? Psalm 100:3 states: Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” If I come into services late with a lazy mindset, I am not coming in the way this Scripture describes.
- Our Joy — We can’t wait for conditions in our life to be perfect to have joy. Philippians 4:6 states: “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Joy and thanksgiving go hand in hand, and they will bring peace. If I lose my joy, I have lost my strength in Him; if I keep my joy, I am still strong in Him.
- Our Sacrifice — Are we willing to make the right sacrifice? Sometimes, being thankful is a sacrifice.
Who Was Abounding?
Brother Byrd. He said we are a strong people because our foundation is strong, and our ministry is strong. I Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as we know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” Stedfast = strong. We can win the battles we face, naturally and spiritually. We should also have the strength to help other saints. Saints teach other saints by example. Everyone will follow someone, or something. I should follow God’s ministry. If I am lazy in the natural, I will be lazy spiritually. God gave us the very best, se we should be willing to give Him our best. My revelation will make me unmovable like I Corinthians 15:58 says. Abounding is to do more than is required (in giving, reading, prayer, and working in the church.)
Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” A treasure is valuable to you and something that you keep close. How much can God trust me with? Who am I fellowshipping? The people you are around will influence you. Fellowship takes sacrifice.
To build God’s church, we have to find favor with God. In Acts 10, Cornelius found favor with God. How did he do that? He was devout, Godly, and lived a righteous life. He gave, (God looks at how we give. Are we giving according to how God is blessing us?) he had a prayer life. Cornelius prayed until he touched God. The Scriptures don’t tell us how long that took.
What Happened That Night?
Brother Everett Gavin Jr. spoke about liberty. There is an element that the world cannot stop; that is the Body of Christ! Galatians 5:1 states: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Focus! What can’t I give up for eternal life?
The people responded with such enthusiasm and there was a beautiful outpouring of the Holy Ghost! What a wonderful way to end the day!
It Just Gets Better.
Saturday morning began with Brother John Shepard posing a question: “How do I know that I’m in the Body of Christ?” It is a revelation. God has to open your eyes. He didn’t call us out to leave us somewhere.
Another way I know that I am in His church is that the truth is here. This is the Body of Christ, whether I am in it or not. Proverbs 18:10 describes the name of the Lord as a strong tower. The tower is strong whether I am in it or not. We will feel safe under this covering. (That is another characteristic of the church.) Isaiah 30:1 states “Woe to the rebellious children…”. To be rebellious, you have to know the difference. You can’t be disobedient if you don’t know the truth. I may not have to be called out of religion , but out of the unrighteous line.
We can also know that we are in the Body of Christ is because there the Lord commanded the blessing (Psalm 133:1-3). The word “blessed” only shows up in the Bible where His truth is found. Just because the blessing is here, doesn’t mean that I will receive it.
What Has Been Undeniable?
Unity and one voice. Our ministry speaks with one voice, and keeps building together. In that manner, Brother Suggs elaborated on what we need to do to help us to be proven. We said we need to give a little more “vent” to the Holy Ghost. If we close off our vents, the Holy Ghost is still there working. It doesn’t stop it at the source; it just stops me from receiving it. When we vent up the Holy Ghost, we become a spectator and not a participator. I should want to yield to the Lord. My soul should be liberated from this flesh. Lord, let me keep walking with you and let me stay with your Body!
special guest appearance at the fellowship
Saturday afternoon, we had an amazing fellowship at the park. The saints worked hard to prepare a wonderful meal. There was so much attention to detail such as writing some of Elder LaFleur’s famous sayings on the placemats. What a special reminder of a remarkable man of God. That special touch started plenty of conversations at the various tables about him and our experiences with him. His influence is still felt so strongly among us and will always be there!
If You Live in Thankfulness, it Will be Well With Your Soul
As always, the last day of the meeting is always bittersweet. Brother Nobles opened the service. When the Lord rearranges your life, it is always a great thing; but the rearranging in not always pleasant because the carnal man fights it. If I want to prove that I am thankful, I need to do what God called me to do. If I’m not willing to lay down my flesh, then I’m not truly thankful. God won’t take the carnal nature from me. I have to be willing to lay it down. Our sacrifice has to be with a willing heart and acceptable to God. I need to live my thankfulness and not just say it.
When Romans 8 Shows Up
Brother Phillips spoke next about Romans 8:10-16. “And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.”
It’s Who I Am
Brother Gibbs taught us about using the Holy Ghost. It should not be worked up, but worked in. The Holy Ghost should be who we are! He also listed some things that will hurt the ministry: competition, ambition, fear, and pride.
Gone to carolina in our mind
To close the meeting, Brother Gill encouraged us. He said your flesh will hold you back! As has become our custom, instead of saying the meeting was ending, we look forward to when we are able to reconvene again. Let’s pray that in our next meeting in North Carolina, all of the saints will be able to be present and the situations affecting this country will have markedly improved by them.