Jenelsie's Corner (#171)

My Grace and Truth Family,

Oh, that we would be strengthened to live in the vision given to us as a ministry:  “Jesus Christ:  the Son of God is Lord…that in all things HE might have preeminence.”  Our purpose for existing as ‘Grace and Truth’ is so that we will fulfill the calling to present, express, and demonstrate the reality of JESUS as LORD!  Step by step each of us, whom He has called, is persuaded of His Lordship.  Then our message as a body is the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  He also deals with us (as a body) in steps, causing us to walk by faith and not by sight.  The ministry of Grace and Truth is the witness that JESUS IS LORD!

Let us be reminded even at the close of this year that He who has begun a good work in us will continue…will continue…will continue.  All of His work in us is for His praise.

“Giving ourselves away” is our reasonable service to the One who has chosen us.

Blessed be the name of our LORD!

Your sister,

Jenelsie Howell

Pastor’s Wife

Jenelsie's Corner (#169)

My Grace and Truth Family,

What grace we have as believers in the fellowship with the Lord Jesus.  He is our “gate” to God Almighty--Jehovah, the Great ‘I AM that I AM”. 

On last Sunday, our Lord declared, for our hearing again, that our God is also our FATHER, even our DADDY!  Throughout the week, each time I heard Him with replaying the tape, the words, “Father and Daddy” rang out to me.  HIS declaration of who HE is brought me comfort, just in the time of feeling overwhelmed; brought me strength right in my weakness; brought me hope in my despair.

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons (daughters) of God…And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying Abba Father…And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ…Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?  Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?...How much more shall your Father (WHO has now come in to sup with you) which is in heaven give good things to them that ask HIM.”

Hallelujah!

Your sister in Christ Jesus,

Jenelsie

Pastor’s wife

Jenelsie's Corner (#168)

Dear Grace and Truth,

The Lord gave us a vivid picture of how the Holy Spirit works in us as new creatures while we were in service at Ozzie’s Restaurant.  During the comely time of worshipping our Lord, the spotlight was placed on Jacenta for our learning.  Pastor explained that when she yielded herself to bring praise to the Lord, the sound began as a weak, trembling voice.  Then the WORD was manifested right before our eyes: “…for when I am weak (from standing under hardships, pains, pressures, and distresses), then am I strong (in Christ Jesus being joined to me and His Spirit working within).”  The same power which raised our Lord from the dead strengthened her body to produce loud, bold praise in song.  The Holy Spirit did not stop short of performing the WORD and magnifying the SON.

For Grace and Truth as a body of believers, 2 Corinthians 12:10 (referred to above) is foundational.  Consequently, our Father has chosen situations and times, whether openly or privately, to establish the truth of His WORD, “driving the point home” time and time again.  His faithfulness is amazing, and He does not weary in presenting His church as witnesses to HIS LIFE being IN US, the body of Christ.  So when your time comes to “represent” HIM, rejoice and be glad.  The Holy Spirit is well able to bring forth praises of thanksgiving and adoration out of your belly where HE resides.  What a WONDERFUL LORD!  Hallelujah!

Love in Christ Jesus,

Sister Jenelsie

Pastor’s Wife

Born Of A Virgin: Part 2

GTF Elder C. Edward Smith

We are learning that as “the word was made flesh,” such that we could “behold” His glory; it is Abba's purpose that Christ be BORN/brought forth/seen/manifest IN us, and thru us; that the glory of His life would be revealed IN us.

The pattern (“that God was manifest in the flesh”) was inescapable, such that the outcome (that we be “born again” of the incorruptible “seed” of the “word” of God) would be inevitable.

[1 Tim 3:16; 1 Pet 1:23]

It was said, in our hearing, that 'just because we're in a committed relationship (that is, 'on speaking terms') with the Lord, that doesn't insure that we have obtained His salvation.'

Do the words “Depart from me, I never knew you” ring a familiar bell?

Sermon note. 'You won't apprehend (spiritual things) until you receive (the Spirit).'

Jesus said: “Except a man be BORN again...of the Spirit, he cannot see (nor enter into) the kingdom of God.” [Jn 3:3, 5]

Just as the Lord God “prepared (an undefiled) body” to carry His “Word” to full term, and bring forth/deliver the “fruit” of the womb; in the same manner our body, soul, and spirit are sanctified/set aside/cleansed by the blood of the Lamb/Christ Jesus to carry the engrafted “word” in our earthen vessels until Christ be fully formed IN us, and made manifest/brought forth; and we become “fruitful in every good work.”

For, you see, just as Mary was God's “virgin,” so the church is Christ's “virgin” bride.

ThenSingsMySoul:

EMMANUEL, EMMANUEL,

YOUR NAME IS CALLED EMMANUEL.

YOUR'RE GOD WITH US,

REVEALED IN US;

YOUR NAME IS CALLED EMMANUEL

[Matt 1:23]

Born Of A Virgin: Part 1

GTF Elder C. Edward Smith

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When, as His mother, Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.”

[Matt 1:18]

I awakened the morning after the Lord's day with these musings, bubbling in my spirit, concerning the unique distinction between Christ's (virgin) birth and Adam's (supposed virgin) birth; because there was no man or woman to disperse or conceive “seed.”

Whereas the first Adam was a “created” son, “made a living soul;” “formed from the dust of the ground;” Christ, the last Adam, “from heaven,” God's “only begotten Son” (the promised “seed”), was  “made a quickening Spirit.”                                                           [1 Cor 15:45, 47; Gen 2:7]

Therein is the  centerpiece of the “miracle” working power of God; the “Word,” which became the “seed” conceived in the womb of Mary, “was made flesh” for all the world to SEE.

Can you wrap your mind around it? Or can you receive the revelation of it in your spirit? The Creator, as only He could, became a “partaker of (the) flesh and blood” that He created ...that we might be made partakers of His righteousness.

[Heb 2:14; 1 Cor 1:31]

ThenSingsMySoul:

THIS, THIS, IS CHRIST THE KING

WHOM SHEPHERD'S GUARD AND ANGEL'S SING

HASTE, HASTE, TO (CROWN HIM LORD)

THE BABE, THE SON OF MARY!

To be cont'd 

Be Born IN Us Today!

Be Born IN Us Today!

“Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail th' encarnate Diety,” the “word was made flesh;' for all mankind to see. [Jn 1:14]

The angels had a mighty miracle to herald on that holy night: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” [Lk 2:11]

Why was He born? To “save us from our sins;” and to prepare His Bride, for Himself. After all, “we are His workmanship...” [Matt 1:21; Rev 21:2; Eph 2:10]

It was prophesied of Him that “He shall purify the son's (and daughters) of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness...” for none but the righteous shall see God. [Mal 3:3]

Thus we cry: “O holy child of Bethlehem! Descend to us we pray; Cast out our sin and enter in, BE BORN IN US TODAY.”

And the Lord wouldn't have it any other way; for it is His “good pleasure” to give Himself to us ...so much so that He covenanted to wash us, and cleanse us, and put His Spirit within us, and “cause” us to walk pleasing in His sight; that “He might present (us) to himself a glorious (Bride), without spot , or wrinkle.” [Eze 36:25-27; Eph 5:25-27]

ThenSingsMySoul:

PLEASED AS MAN WITH MEN TO DWELL,

JESUS OUR EMMANUEL.

HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING,

GLORY TO THE NEW BORN KING!

And I Saw

GTF Elder C. Edward Smith

“And John bare record, saying, I SAW the Spirit ...descending and remaining on Him ...which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. AND I SAW, and bare record that this is the Son of God.”      [Jn 1:32-34]

Coming to what pastor calls 'the comma' in what Abba is speaking (by His Spirit) in the midst, regarding “Seeing IS Believing;” we turned the corner  toward His “purpose,” or the “why” of His speaking.

[cf Eph 3:11] (re. “the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord)

We were reminded that the “word” is sent, out of “the purpose” of the Lord, to “reconcile us, and enable us to continue in the faith; grounded and settled in the “hope” of the gospel.”

[Col 1:21-23]

Why? Because, it is written: “He that is entered into His rest hath ceased from his own works,” and Abba's speaking is toward the end that we might be enabled to “rest” IN HIM, and His “finished” work. For “faithful is He that calleth (us), who also will do it.”

[1 Thes 5:24]

ThenSingsMySoul:

AND I SAW HIM, HIGH AND LIFTED UP;

WITH POWER, AND GRACE, AND AUTHORITY.

AND HE SHALL REIGN, IN THE MIDST OF US,

FOR EVER, AND EVER, AMEN!