Training

Middle Class, Where Art Thou?

Posted on May 26, 2012 by mcalmond

It is not the responsibility of Leadership to increase the size of the church. It is not the responsibility of Leadership to grow up and mature the church. It is not responsibility of leadership to do all of the work of the ministry for the church. The mandate of Leadership is to assist, help, pray for, cover (protect) encourage, guide, train, equip, and facilitate. It is the responsibility of the Church to reproduce, to mature, and to do the work of the ministry, in and through the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and through the living and alive Word of God, Worship and Prayer.

However, the church of America is not growing, Christians are not, generally maturing, and the work of the ministry is being done by the oh so very few and watched by the many. This is why the few are so lifted up and exalted. We, as the Church are all called as a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession (1 Pet 2:9). This nation of the USA is our nation and our calling as a Church to reach and influence, for the Kingdom of Almighty God and our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus. In the previous post, “What In The World Are We Doing?”, I wrote of my deepening concern regarding the Church and a few of the general issues I see as severely detrimental to its growth, maturity and healthy development, on a personal level. These issues seem to stem from some basic assumptions being made by those in primary leadership and influence that has caused much of the church’s focus and ministry to become directed toward the lowest common denominator, thus creating a ministry of co-dependency, immaturity and laziness.

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Categories: A Genuine Heart Cry, Accountability, Anointing, Breaking Forth, Christian Maturity, Church Forms, Discipleship, Misplaced Dependency, Priorities, Steadfastness, Training, Word, Work of God | 4 Comments

The Great Commission, Really?

Posted on May 7, 2012 by mcalmond

Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV) Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

When it comes to this text, it seems to me, that too often there is an overly strong emphasis placed upon the word “Go” and not enough emphasis upon the truthful and general call for us all, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, to “make disciples”. In fact, the word “go” is too often treated as an imperative or command in this passage, when in truth it isn’t. Rather it is a present participle. This means that the word go, means going. So when we put it in the context of this passage it speaks more clearly of, as you are going, going forth, or going out, along the way, make disciples. The implied assumption is that you, being a child of the Lord Jesus Christ are already going forth in this world, in your everyday life, and therefore as His Kingdom witnesses, He has a mission for you. The phrase, “Make disciples”, is the imperative or the command here, and not “go”.

It is true that discipleship gets a lot of writing. There are all kinds of books, classes, articles and messages upon this word, disciple, or even attempting to describe and encourage the process of discipleship. In Jesus day it was also a well known concept and practice. Today, this word may more closely resemble our terms for “apprentice” or “mentor”. I personally like the word mentor. It has over the years become very important to me. The idea is that of personally getting involved in the process of training and equipping others to do the same kind of  job or fulfill the same kind of responsibility as the one who is doing the teaching, training, etc.

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Categories: A Genuine Heart Cry, Accountability, Anointing, Authenticity, Awakening, Calling, Commands, Core Values, Discipleship, Exhortation, Grace, Hearing The Lord, In Spirit and In Truth, Mentoring/Discipleship, Mercy, Sacrifice, Training, Transformation | 3 Comments

No, It Isn’t Automatic

Posted on March 16, 2012 by mcalmond

Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV) For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

John 15:8 (ESV) By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

John 10:10 (ESV) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

The Lord knows the thoughts and plans he has for us, but are those thoughts and plans automatic?

The Lord has determined that those who serve him must bear fruit, fruit that will last, but is this automatic?

The Lord has come that we might have life, His life to the full, but is this automatic, here and now?

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Categories: Abiding, Absolute Dependency, Adoption, Alone, Being Built Up, Believer, Character, Church, Core Values, Dying to Self Will, Genuineness, Injustice, Ministry, Obedience, Process, Rest, Sacrifice, Steadfastness, Tenaciousness, Training, Vulnerability | Tags: , , , | 4 Comments

A Dam, A Loch and His Victory

Posted on February 2, 2012 by mcalmond

While ministering in beautiful Scotland, there were a couple of days wherein an American couple (Richard and Susan) and I went to the Highlands. After spending the night in a B&B, we arose to a new a beautiful new day, setting ourselves to go forth and face the day that the Lord had prepared for us. As for myself, I was excited to get on with it and wondered what awesomeness of the Lord Jesus Christ I would be blessed and privileged to partake of. Finally, after breakfast and some pictures, we were off. We headed out to find a road, we were told would, take us further up into the Highlands.

We had, had an urging that we believed to be from the Lord Jesus. We felt Him setting our agenda. So, off we went. It wasn’t long before we found the side road we were looking for and immediately began our assent further up, ever up, into the Highlands of beautiful Scotland.

This terrain was simply awesome. I was so excited to see more of this nation that I had been coming to for so long now. After a brief stop at a park like area, we discerned that we were to continue along the road we had begun. So, we no sooner got out of the car than we were back into it headed along the road and across the Highlands.

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Categories: Abiding, Angels, Anointing, Celebration, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, God Faith, Growing in Faith, His Praise, His Worship, Holy Spirit Seeing, Obedience, Open Eyes, Prayer Walks, Prophetic Revelation, Spiritual Warfare, Standing in Faith, Training, Transcendence, Victory, Waiting on the Lord, Work of God | Leave a comment

Are You Hearing His Word For You?

Posted on December 29, 2011 by mcalmond

There has always been conflicting voices in the earth. There have always been other voices than the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ. And there remain many voices in the earth all claiming to be speaking the words of the Lord Jesus Christ! Yet, in the end we must discern the true voice of the Lord Jesus Christ and obey His voice and not the others, the many, many others. It is true that the Lord maybe speaking many different things to many different people, but are you hearing His voice to you and are you obeying what He is saying to you, today?

John 21:18 (ESV) Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.”…Vs19…. “Follow Me”

John 21:21-22 (ESV) When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”

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Categories: A Genuine Heart Cry, Abiding, Absolute Dependency, Christian Maturity, Church, Holy Spirit Hearing, Knowledge, Mentoring Men, Mentoring Women, Mentoring/Discipleship, Ministry, Noise and Distractions, Now Word, Obedience, Open Ears, Readiness, Separatism, Training, Work of God | 3 Comments

Will The Real Church Stand Up?

Posted on November 5, 2011 by mcalmond

There is truly only one universal church. This universal church is, in spirit and in truth, The True Church or The Body of Christ Jesus. It is made up of many and varied members. These members are those found throughout the world in various local church fellowships, missions, organizations and denominations, etc.; a scattering of salt throughout the world. They may not be fully aware of their place strategically within the Body of Christ Jesus, but as genuine believers in Christ Jesus they should be aware that they are indeed a part of the Body of Christ Jesus. It is in so many ways a church without boundaries, for it is a church of the Spirit. For me, this is the bottom line.

Not everyone who says they are a believer is a believer in spirit and in truth. This is also true of the church, not everyone or every church, mission, organization, etc. is actually a genuine part of the Body of Christ Jesus just because they claimed to be. Having said all of this I am aware of a very real danger. This danger is that one would leap into trying to discern that which is the true church and that which isn’t? I am saying that this is a danger in that we are not exactly called to this. We could say as scripture says, that we shall know them by their fruit and this would also be true for the church or churches as it is for individuals or even nations, etc.

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Categories: A Genuine Heart Cry, Abiding, Absolute Dependency, Anointing, Authenticity, Awakening, Being Built Up, Belief System, Believer, Body of Christ, Boundaries, Breaking Forth, Calling, Character, Christian Maturity, Church, Death, Dependency, Disobedience, Dying to Self Will, Empowerment, Family, Fear of God, Finding the Right Church, Flesh, Genuineness, God's Righteousness, Grace, In Spirit and In Truth, Last Days, Loving One Another, Ministry Motivation, Now Word, Open Ears, Open Eyes, Presumptions, Priorities, Process, Prophetic, Readiness, Repentance, Simplicity, Spirit, Standing in Faith, Steadfastness, Surrender, Teaching, The Power of God, Training, Truth, Word, Word of God, Work of God, Worship | 2 Comments

A Reforbapti… What?

Posted on September 10, 2011 by mcalmond

As I grew up, we moved somewhat frequently. We moved down the road, across town, over to the next town and down into the next state. As we would move, we often were in search of a new church. My father’s personal position wasn’t to search for a church so much as to find our pastor. This is something that I learned from and deeply respect my father for. When a pastor would leave and a new one then came, if it became somehow clear that he was not our shepherd, we would move on. It wasn’t loyalty to the denomination that was important, it was to our pastor, right or wrong. As a result, we spent considerable time in Independent, Baptist, Presbyterian, Missionary Alliance, Assembly of God, Foursquare and few others churches I do not recall. For all of this exposure to the various parts of the Body of Christ, I am today, so very grateful. It has served to give me a very real love for the Body of Christ at large.

As a result of this, I was exposed to many and varied churches, theology and forms of church. My father had received a powerful revelation of God’s Grace when he was young and in the ministry as had my grandfather before him. In fact my grandfather would have been the first in our family to become what might be called, a Bapticostal. Before my dad had the revelation of God’s Grace, my grandfather and my dad would discuss or rather argue this question over and over. Then, one night as my dad was studying the scriptures and getting ready for a meeting the next day, the Lord illuminated his understanding and he finally saw the light of the truth concerning God’s wonderful and powerful Grace. It was for him a true revelation. It was thereafter that my dad would find himself being on the same path as Grandpa, that of becoming a Pentecostal with a clear and powerful revelation of grace. They were the first, as it were, Bapticostals in our family.

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Categories: Abiding, Arminianism, Awakening, Baptism of the Holy Spirit, Baptist Theology, Being Built Up, Belief System, Believer, Benefits, Body of Christ, Breaking Forth, Calling, Christian Maturity, Church, Church Forms, Churches, Confidence, Core Values, Dad, Edification, Empowerment, Encouragement, Faith, Family, Father, Foundations, Genuineness, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, God's Faithfulness, God's Righteousness, God's Love, Grace, Growing in Faith, Hell, Hermeneutics, History, Homiletics, Humility, illumination, Knowledge, Light, Mercy, Ministry, Open Ears, Open Eyes, Paradigm Shift, Pastor, Pentecostal Theology, Prayer, Preaching, Presumptions, Readiness, Reflections, Reformed Theology, Relationship, Remembrances, Rest, Revelation, Righteousness, Signs & Wonders, Simplicity, Speaking in Tongues, Thankfulness, The Power of God, Theology, Training, Transformation, Word, Word of God, Work of God | 4 Comments

I’m No Scholar, I’m Just a Guy

Posted on September 3, 2011 by mcalmond

Acts 4:13 (NKJV) Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.

I can think of no greater compliment than that one was recognized as having been with Jesus. I believe that for me, this is genuinely my goal in life, to become one who is recognized as having been with Jesus. To become one whose life was so changed and impacted by the Life of Christ Jesus that while my other deficiencies may be noted, Christ Jesus is still readily visible and evident in and through my life.

 As was true of Peter and John, I would find myself, in regards to ministry, as fairly uneducated and common. I come from a line, albeit brief line (grandpa, dad and myself), of uneducated and common men who loved the Lord and believed that Jesus had called them to follow Him and so they picked up their Bibles and did so.

 My grandfather was saved out of the Navy shortly after World War 2 under Amy Semple McPherson’s ministry. He believed that he was called into the ministry as preacher of the Lord Jesus. He bought a tent, a flatbed truck (to use as a platform for services and to haul the tent), picked up his Bible and went preaching the Word of God.

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Categories: A Simple Faith, Abiding, Absolute Dependency, Anointing, Authenticity, Baptism of the Holy Spirit, Being Built Up, Belief System, Benefits, Body of Christ, Breaking Forth, Calling, Christian Maturity, Church, Churches, Confidence, Dad, Dependency, Empowerment, Encouragement, Faith, Family, Father, Following Through, Foundations, Genuineness, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Growing in Faith, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit Benefits, Holy Spirit Hearing, Holy Spirit Listening, Holy Spirit Seeing, Hope, Humility, illumination, In Spirit and In Truth, Inspiration, Ministry, Ministry Motivation, Now Word, Obedience, Open Ears, Open Eyes, Openness, Pastor, Pioneering, Prayer, Preaching, Priorities, Process, Promises, Reflections, Relationship, Rhema, Righteousness, Seeking The Lord Jesus, Simplicity, Source, Speaking in Tongues, Spirit, Surrender, Teaching, Thanksgiving, The Power of God, Theology, Training, Transcendence, True Love, Truth, Vulnerability, Waiting on the Lord, Word, Work of God | 2 Comments

Is It All About Knowledge, Really?

Posted on August 27, 2011 by mcalmond

It is how you live in Christ Jesus that is all important, not just what you know. Having said this, there has been many times in and throughout history when this issue of knowledge for knowledge sake, came to a head. It was this issue of Knowledge first, over the simplicity of Knowing Jesus first that seemed to be what the battle was about.

For example, there was a time in the later middle ages when the theologians of that day had gone so far as to create a theology that no one but they themselves could understand or relate to. Their theology had become increasingly complex and stood in direct contrast to the simplicity of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. As this gap widened, so did the reactions of the people. Their reactions were focused upon a theology that was fraught with an over emphasis of subtleties, developing its own exclusive and elitist language with an insistence upon precise definitions and fine distinctions, theologically.

In the book, “Imitation of Christ”, we discover what was the commonly held belief’s of the day, beliefs that were reactions against the theologians and their theology of the day. Here is a taste of it (1.1.3):

“What good is it for you to be able to discuss the Trinity with great profundity, if you lack humility, and thereby offend the Trinity?”

“Verily, high sounding words do not make one holy and just. But a life of virtue does make one acceptable to God.”

“It is better to feel repentance, than to be able to define it.”

“Were you to memorize the entire Bible and all the sayings of the philosophers, what good would this be for you without the love of God and without grace?”

“Vanities of vanities. All is vanity, except loving God and serving only God.”

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Categories: A Simple Faith, A Simple Reminder, Abiding, Absolute Dependency, Anointing, Authenticity, Character, Church History, Communion, Confidence, Core Values, Dependency, Edification, Elitism, Empowerment, Faith, Foundations, Genuineness, Grace, Growing in Faith, His Chosen, History, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit Benefits, Humility, Intellectualism, Intimacy, Knowledge, Ministry, Ministry Motivation, Obedience, Priorities, Questions, Readiness, Reflections, Relationship, Rest, Resurrection, Resurrection Life, Revelation, Righteousness, Rock, Seeking The Lord Jesus, Separatism, Simplicity, Source, Standing in Faith, Steadfastness, Surrender, Teacher, Teaching, Tenaciousness, The Lord Jesus, The Lord's Fullness, The Power of God, Theology, Training, Transcendence, Transformation, Truth, Victory, Word, Word of God, Work of God | 2 Comments

In All Things, At All Times, Being His Witness

Posted on May 28, 2011 by mcalmond

1 Corinthians 7:17 (NKJV) But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches.

Acts 22:15 (NKJV) For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.

I have not Pastored since August 2004. What I have been doing is varied, especially in regards to the ministry call upon my life. However, my life has been mostly filled these later years with simply making a living, although there have been those occasional ministry opportunities, for which I am very grateful. First it was working in a factory and then after being laid off, moving to Ohio and working once again in the construction industry as a carpenter.

I confess to you that these years have also been filled with a wondering of why the Lord has placed us upon the shelf, as it were, and will not let us move in the ministry graces that He has so graciously granted us for over three decades of life. While this remains a question, I accept that this is our call in life for this season, however long (6 plus years and counting) or longer this is to be. I have gained so much during this time and pray that I will continue to gain even more, as we faithfully walk out this path at this time.

One of the things that I have become ever so aware of is that the calling of God extends unto where He has placed us for whatever time and purpose He has placed us there. I mean, if I am working in a factory, then that is my calling and I need to approach this work as His chosen ministry for me for as long as He has me walking that job out. I need to seek Him obediently, dependently, righteously, in absolute surrender unto Him daily, going to and working out my job in a manner that brings Him glory, honor and praise. I need to confess daily to Him that cannot do this job apart from Him and that I need His enabling power to work in and through me at every step of the way. In other words, the only difference between this calling and the ministry calling that I have walked out most of my adult life, is the actual work itself, nothing else.

You see, I still need to be a man who is leaning upon Him, and growing in prayer, the Word, obedience, surrender, witness, righteousness, holiness, truth, godly character, the Spirit, thanksgiving, looking to Him, leaning upon Him and acknowledging my need of Him every moment of everyday, in every step of the way. This is so that in all that I do, say and am, at home, at work and at play, I might be His genuine witness in the earth, 24-7-52.  I want my work to reflect Him. I want my attitude to reflect Him. I want my driving to reflect Him. I want all that I am, at any given moment, to reflect my Lord and Savior, earnestly, genuinely, in Spirit and in Truth.

I acknowledge that apart from He who is my life, breath and ability, I cannot do my job well or even rightly. Therefore, I need Him to empower me, enable me, to help me do what I am being called to do at work, well. And He is, has and I genuinely believe always will. May I continue to look to Him, lean upon Him, seek Him in all that I am, do and say, that In all things and at all times, I may bring Him glory, honor and praise.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NKJV) Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.

We will all be held accountable for how we have lived out our lives in this earth in light of what He our Lord and Savior has given us. May we then, in all things and at all times seek to be those who live out our lives in a manner that brings our Lord and Savior greater glory, honor and praise. We are ALL called, regardless of our jobs, positions or whether or not we like our jobs, positions, or circumstances, to be His witnesses in all that we say, do and are, at home, at work and at play.

Our Lord and Savior is there, where ever we find ourselves, to enable, empower, lead and strengthen us to do our jobs well, whatever they are, how much or little we like them, that we might in Spirit and Truth, be His genuine and positive witnesses in the earth.

Categories: A Simple Faith, A Simple Reminder, Abiding, Absolute Dependency, Being Built Up, Believer, Calling, Character, Commands, Communion, Confidence, Dependency, Dying to Self Will, Following Through, Humility, In Spirit and In Truth, Intimacy, Jobs, Obedience, Perseverance, Prayer, Priorities, Rest, Seeking The Lord Jesus, Simplicity, Steadfastness, Tenaciousness, Thankfulness, The Power of God, Training, Waiting on the Lord, Word, Work | Leave a comment

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