The Present Truth Magazine (Email)
January 2008

FROM THE EDITOR’S HEART

The beginning of a new year is always a good time to stop and reflect on the past and think about the present and future. I call it quality “Selah time.” Selah is the term the psalmist used to tell the reader to pause and ponder. When I Selah, I am taking the time to mix the Word with faith—letting the Word take root in my heart so that it can produce lasting fruit. 

…receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls (James 1:21).

… those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience (Luke 8:15). 

As I contemplate God’s Word and how my life is an extension of His, a question comes to my mind that our pastor recently asked our congregation, “Why did God save us?” The ultimate answer—so that we can learn obedience. This is the first step in the kingdom flow chart: 1) Learn obedience, which will 2) establish His covenant kingdom on earth, so that 3) His creation reflects His nature/character.   

When I do not actively mix the Word with faith, a downward spiral occurs, which starts with pride—that leads to deception, then rebellion, and ends with destruction.  

In 2008 as we mix the Word with faith during our Selah time, I believe we will have fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore (Ps. 16:11).

Sincerely in Christ,
Christa Clark
Editor

THE LAST DISCIPLE is a well-written novel that is a good alternative to the left-behind series.  It is written from what we consider a partial-preterist viewpoint; i.e. that the great-tribulation and most of the book of revelation was written about and fulfilled in the first century.  Reading it is an excellent way to both enjoy a novel and gain a scriptural understanding of how Jesus' and His apostles prophecies were fulfilled in the first century.
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5 Powerful Booklets

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or view them individually:

Spiritual Israel: Then and Now

Armageddon

Holy Spirit and Humanity

Divorce, Remarriage, and Apostolic Doctrine

The Perpetual Lie About Lucifer

Announcements:

You can now listen to our Sunday Sermons online!  Click on our Sermons page.

We are also making some of our sermon series available for purchase on the web.  These are messages that have been brought by the pastors of our church that we believe would be beneficial to the body of Christ at large.  Subjects include:

*Who is This Babylon: Teaching through the book of Revelation from a past-fulfillment covenantal perspective.

*The Power of Positive Thinking: How to be Holy Spirit led, Bible inspired, positive thinkers in Christ.

*Wealth, Riches & Money: Teachings on finances & stewardship.

*God, Man, & Miracles: How miracles can be experienced today with many practical examples.

*Hebrews: Covenants in Contrast: An in-depth study of the book of Hebrews from the past-fulfillment covenantal perspective.

By way of encouragement, we continue to receive regular additions to our magazine, as well as e-mail newsletter, Present Truth Newsletter.  We have also been receiving e-mails from all over our nation and the world from people whom God has in the process of reform.  God is continuing to reform His church and He is faithful to remind us through the testimonies of His people!

For Further Study

SPIRITUAL ISRAEL: THEN & NOW
There exists a great debate today as to who the true Israel of God is.  Is it a small nation of people in the middle east, or is it a spiritual people? Spiritual Israel: Then & Now is a reader friendly, yet thorough, study of Israel from the covenantal perspective.  Today, all who are in Christ make up the Israel of God....
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Dear Present Truth Magazine Subscriber:

We are glad to have you as a subscriber to our Present Truth Magazine.  Below you will find articles from individual authors who have written for our magazine.   Our prayer for all who receive read these articles is that the Lord "...may give to you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” (Ephesians 1:17-18).

 Believers Behaving Like Mere Men
By A. Wilson Phillips 

Recently, while watching “Nova” on PBS, I saw again how Christians who get caught up in political debates are “behaving like mere men” (1 Cor. 3:1-3).  

The documentary was about the divisive court case in Dover, Pennsylvania, over the teaching of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution in the public schools. The debate centered around the wishes of some Christians who want the school board to institute into the curriculum the theory of intelligent design as science alongside Darwin’s theory of evolution. 

Some Christians from both sides of the issue brought in some of the most high-powered lawyers in the nation to argue their case before a federal district judge, who was said to be a political/social conservative appointee of President George W. Bush. 

Ultimately, the judge ruled that the intelligent design people were trying to get their creation bias instituted into the public school curriculum as a religious belief, and it was not a true scientific theory like that of Darwin’s theory of evolution. The judge based his ruling on the Constitution’s establishment clause in the First Amendment. 

The First Amendment to the Constitution of our nation says, 

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”  

Today, in our multicultural society, the establishment clause issue continues to be debated in our courts and will make many lawyers a good living. 

My problem is similar to the apostle Paul’s in criticizing the Corinthians for not growing up into maturity in Christ. He said, 

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,

Nor have entered into the heart of man

The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God…And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal (natural), as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? (1 Cor. 2:9-10, 3:1-3). 

I believe we should be honest about our bias. I believe that: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” and that He created man (ah-dahm') in His likeness and image (Gen. 1:1, 26). 

In Hugh Ross’ fine scholarly book A Matter of Days, he brings to light that the Hebrew word “yōm,” usually translated “day,” is better seen as “epoch” rather than the literal 24-hour day. A day on earth might be one thing, a solar day another, and a day in the universe another entity altogether. 

Throughout six creation epochs, God created millions of new species. During the seventh epoch, He rests, that is, He ceases from creating new life forms. 

There is certainly scientific evidence that there is evolution of species within creation. Currently, multiple species go extinct every year. 

This is no time to fear. Scripture says,  

And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man (1 Cor. 15:45-49). 

The spiritually mature in Christ will not fear scientific discoveries. Our transcendent Creator is involved in creation. “And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist” (Col. 1:17). God alone is immortal. He has abolished spiritual death through the death, burial, and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Through the new birth, we receive immortal life now (2 Tim. 1:9-10). 

But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him…for in Him we live and move and have our being (1 Cor. 6:17; Acts 17:28).  

We are presently sons and daughters in our Father’s kingdom. 

Father God desires that His new creation sons and daughters represent Him with integrity in dealing with all the sciences. We must especially be sensitive to Father God’s leading in dealing with stem cell research and other scientific issues.

One day we will expire (die physically) and transition into our spiritual bodies (2 Cor. 5:1-5; 1 Cor. 15:44). Truly, the best is yet to come. Let us grow up and behave like our elder brother, Jesus Christ, and not behave like mere men.

A. Wilson Phillips is the co-founding and senior pastor of Abundant Life Covenant Church.

WAIT FOR ME
By Richard K. Clark 

Children are notorious for bursts of energy often paired with inquisitiveness that can lead them into harm’s way. Our son Kyle was one such child. On one occasion, he was with his mother Christi and Aunt Cheri at the mall. He was often instructed to wait for his mother but was still in the process of learning this lesson. Suddenly his mother and aunt could not find him … They looked, they called out, they even solicited others for help, yet no Kyle. Ultimately, Cheri discovered a young boy hiding in one of the clothes racks, and to Christi’s relief, he was a match for our son.   

This propensity to run and hide was inherited from Kyle’s first mom and dad, Adam and Eve. When they sinned against God, they ran to hide from Him. As has been His pattern with all His children, God went looking for them. Of course, the Almighty God is pretty good at finding what He’s looking for. He finds us with His loving Word and Spirit. He then begins the process of teaching us to wait for Him!   

But those who wait on the Lord

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint (Is. 40:31). 

The concept attached to the scriptural word “wait” involves a high expectation, an anticipation that points us back to God as the source of whatever we need. It is more than just passing time. Jesus told his disciples to have their waists girded, their lamps burning, and to be watching and waiting for His coming (Parousia) in their generation.   

Waiting for God requires faith; it involves hope and perfects patience in our hearts. Since we all came from Adam and Eve, we’re not good at waiting, so we must take on the new nature of Christ—the perfect waiter. He learned to hear the voice of His Father, and He was resolute to obey Him. The Word and Spirit of God will orchestrate our circumstances to transform us into the image of Jesus, from one glory to another to another. Along the way, we will hear the Lord say again and again, “Wait for ME!” 

For they shall not be ashamed who wait for Me (Is. 49:23).
 

Richard K. Clark is an associate pastor of Abundant Life Covenant Church.

Paul’s Glimpse of the Future
By Benjamin Davis 

It is often said that hindsight is 20/20, but foresight is not so good. I’ve often experienced this to be true, even in my walk with the Lord. Though He knows the future perfectly, He doesn’t always reveal it entirely to us. Rather, at times, He just asks us to trust Him and take it one step at a time. That said, there are times that God gives us a peek of the future, a glimpse that brings faith and knowledge of things yet to pass. 

Paul had such a glimpse when he was writing to the Ephesian church:  

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen (Eph. 3:20-21). 

There are several unique things about this passage. Firstly, Paul compounds a couple of Greek words to come up with the concept “exceedingly abundantly.” The following are some other translations’ attempts to bring Paul’s wording into English: 

…immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine (NIV) 

…so much more than we can ever ask for (TEV) 

…infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope (NLT)

…superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams] (AMP) 

The second unique thing about this passage is Paul’s generational prediction. In the New Testament, the apostles were focused on the imminent return of the Lord. This expectation kept them focused on their own generation, preparing the people for the coming great tribulation they would face. The result is that the New Testament apostles didn’t make many generational prophecies or predictions like the Old Testament prophets did. In Ephesians 3:21 Paul makes an exception. 

Ephesians 3:21 is the end of a written prayer for the Ephesians. Paul prayed that they would be “strengthened…through His Spirit in the inner man,” and that Christ would “dwell in your hearts through faith.” In capping off this prayer, God gave Paul a glimpse of the future, saying this will be happening not only in their generation but “to all generations.” Thus, Paul sums up the next 2000 years to bring us to today: Christ working in each generation, bringing glory to the Father as each generation experiences His presence and power in the church.   

Paul died at the hands of the Roman Emperor Nero before the great tribulation was over. He did not live to see his generational prayer and prediction come to pass. However, before he died God gave him foresight that required exceedingly abundant thinking and praying. His prophecy and prayer has been working from generation to generation as God has used this passage to work in His church.  

As we set goals for this new year, I believe God wants us to think “exceedingly abundantly” about the future. He desires to give us glimpses of faith for the gospel to be experienced by our generation and generations to come. As we stay open for Him “to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think,” He might even give us a glimpse of faith for the next 2000 years.

Benjamin Davis is an associate pastor of Abundant Life Covenant Church

THE VALUE OF WORK
By Jonathan Clark 

When I got my first job at the age of sixteen as a dishwasher at a local restaurant, I learned the truth conveyed in Proverbs 14:23: “In all labor, there is profit…” Working provided me with extra spending money and gas money. As I have continued to work at various jobs over the years, I have learned that working is profitable in many different ways. 

Working a job allows me to eat, as Paul emphatically taught his Thessalonian disciples: “If anyone will not work, neither let him eat” (2 Thes. 3:10). 

Working a job can keep me out of trouble. 

Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need (Eph. 4:28).  

According to this scripture, if I have caused trouble, laboring with my hands can also help provide restitution. 

Toiling at a job helps keep me mentally and emotionally healthy. “The sleep of a laboring man is sweet…” (Eccl. 5:12a). When I am working, it is very difficult for me to be totally self-consumed on my own problems. Working requires me to give of my time and energy in helping others, both my customers/clients and my employers. Serving others is therapeutic for my mind and emotions, allowing me to get a good night’s sleep! 

Working a job allows me to prosper.  

He who has a slack hand becomes poor,

But the hand of the diligent makes rich (Prov. 10:4). 

The labor of the homemaker/mother, whose workplace is inside the home, provides abundance and prosperity to her household.  

Working for the King in God’s kingdom has spiritual benefits: “The labor of the righteous leads to life” (Prov. 10:16). He has called me and chosen me for the work that I do. My work is anointed. 

In all labor there is profit. Thank you, Lord, for my job!

Jonathan Clark is an elder of Abundant Life Covenant Church and a physician in Springfield, Missouri.

Confession Brings Possession
By Eva Clark 

One of the most valuable lessons that I have learned over the years is the power of my confession in Christ. In high school, while committed to my church youth group, I would get up daily and recite my confession in Christ. This had been something that we were asked to do as a youth group…  

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I thank You that I am buried with Christ, that my flesh is sealed in the grave, and it cannot rule me today. I thank You that I have been raised with Christ and seated at His right hand, far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named both in heaven and on earth. I thank You that my circumstances are under my feet. I thank You that I am a new creation, the old things have passed away, and all things are new. I thank You that I am the righteousness of God in Christ. I thank You that I am called, chosen, and faithful. I thank You that I am not sufficient to think of anything coming from myself, but my sufficiency is of You. You have made me a sufficient minister of the new covenant. I thank You that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 

Faithfully, I would recite this daily before starting my day. At the time, I didn’t always realize the importance of my spoken words. Our pastor always says that our confession brings possession (Is. 55:10-11). Throughout high school, I developed a positive attitude about life, and I still have it at the age of 28; I believe that a lot of it is attributed to my confession in Christ. Whenever I get a negative attitude about something that is going on in my life, I usually can replay the words and thoughts that I have been speaking, and almost always it turns out that I have had a negative view and confession about my circumstances.  

Recently, I have been reading Joel Osteen’s book Your Best Life Now, and one thing grabbed my attention on the subject of confession. He says,  

Some people say, “Well, my circumstances have me down. You just don’t know what I’m going through.” Actually, your circumstances don’t have you down. Your thoughts about your circumstances have you down. 

What a powerful statement. The Lord has shown me many times that what I dwell on determines how I feel. “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7a). 

In April, I had a miscarriage, and my husband and I were really shocked as we went through this circumstance. We had questions of why and doubt in our minds. I wasn’t dwelling on very positive things at that moment. In fact, I developed such a horrible headache that I got sick to my stomach later that evening. The next day, I got alone with the Lord, and He began speaking to me in my spirit. He said He wanted to strengthen His relationship with me and bring me even closer to Him. During the days that have followed this incident, He has done completely that.  

The Lord is my strength and song,

And He has become my salvation;

He is my God, and I will praise Him;

My father’s God, and I will exalt Him (Ex. 15:2).  

The Lord placed several songs on my heart to help with my confession. Here’s one particular chorus of a song that rings in my heart almost every day:  

Living by faith in Jesus above

Trusting, confiding in His great love

From all harm safe in His sheltering arm

I’m living by faith and feel no alarm. 

God renews my thinking every day and shows me things specifically to speak out and call forth in faith.  

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways,

And My thoughts than your thoughts (Is. 55:9).  

The Lord has shown me that in order to have a positive and fulfilling life, I have to make a daily quality decision and quality commitment to dwell on the good things of God’s Word. 

Eva Clark serves as an administrative assistant at Abundant Life Covenant Church.

SUCCESS IN THE WORKPLACE
By Christa Clark 

Recently I watched a news story on 60 Minutes titled “The Millennials are Coming!” that showed how employers are having to change the way they relate to their employees because the twenty-somethings don’t like to be told what to do. Companies are hiring consultants to train bosses how to coddle their workers and to teach workers how to, of all things, work. I thought about the “training” that the Lord had given me through my parents and pastors—“Get to work on time and do what you’re told with a good attitude, and you will go far.” Success was mine when I followed these words of wisdom. 

Several years ago I had a boss that wasn’t very nice. She was hateful, rude, and extremely demanding. When she was having a bad day, she made sure that everyone else had the same. I felt very justified in grumbling and complaining with my coworkers. After all, she wasn’t even a Christian.  

One day when I was praying, or I should say “whining,” God said, “Why are you grumbling against Me? I am the One that placed her as your boss.” He took me to Romans 13:1-2,   

…For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God… 

The reason I was experiencing frustration was because I was resisting the very person that God had put in my life to grow me up. As long as my boss did not ask me to violate a moral or biblical principle, I was to do what she asked me to do, with a good attitude. On a couple of occasions, she did ask me to do something that bothered my conscience, so I maintained a humble attitude and explained to her that I could not be deceitful to people. I told her that I was always honest with her and everyone else. When I spoke to her in humility and purity of heart, the Holy Spirit always touched her, and her heart was softened. 

Can you imagine what the marketplace would be like if workers understood the sovereignty of God and maintained a submissive, positive attitude toward the authorities in their lives? How would managers treat their employees if they knew God had placed them in their position and He could take them out at any time? 

What if the principle of authority was understood in the church? In the school systems? In the family?  

I have watched as young people in our church have entered into the workforce and been rapidly promoted because of their willingness to submit to God and His delegated authorities.  

I believe that as each Christian comes fully under the lordship of Christ, we will see great things happen in our society. 

Christa Clark is an elder of Abundant Life Covenant Church.

My Whole Heart
By Dianna Gibson 

“God wants our whole heart.” My sister-in-law Angie said this in our discipleship group quite a while back. I have never forgotten it. I agreed with her then and still do. At the time, I believed that God had my whole heart. However, recently I have discovered that there are parts of my heart (my life) that I have unwittingly been holding on to very, very tightly. God, in His mercy, has been prying my fingers off so that He could be the One to carry the load instead of me. He’s much better at it anyway.  

About three years ago, the Lord put it in my heart to go back to school for my masters in nurse anesthesia. I began talking with Pastor Davis about what it would require of me to become a full-time student. Specifically, we were focused on the financial aspect because for a couple of years I would not be able to work. 

I am a single woman living with my three precious dogs. I can’t even begin to tell you how much my dogs mean to me. They are my family. They rely on me, and I on them. I have always been this way. Suffice it to say, I love my dogs. While I was talking to Pastor Davis, he said that he wanted me to consider the possibility that when it came time for me to be a full-time student, that I may need to sell my house and live with one of our church families. The first thought in my mind was, “What about my babies?”  

Then, as if reading my mind, he said, “Dianna, I can think of a lot of people right now who would welcome you into their home, but I can’t think of anyone who would want you and your three dogs.”  

Pastor Davis went on to remind me that the only reason I was going to school was to further God’s kingdom. Then he said words I will never forget. “Dianna, I want you to think about the sacrifice that Christ made to further the kingdom. What are you willing to sacrifice?”  

I knew, without a doubt, that I was not willing to give up my dogs. I knew that it was wrong, but I couldn’t even consider it. However, over the course of about two weeks of talking it over with the Lord, I finally came to the place that I could say, “Yes, Lord. If you require that I give up my dogs—I will do it.” He knows how it would break my heart to lose them, but what He needed from me was to give Him the place in my heart that was occupied by my dogs. 

More recently, God has been dealing with me about another area of my life.  

I am taking the hardest class I have ever taken. I have put in countless hours, and I am just slightly above the class average with barely a “B.” I have never worked so hard for such disappointing results. It has been incredibly frustrating. I have needed a lot of encouragement and words of truth.  

On just such an occasion, I called Angie for words of truth. I was literally breaking under the weight of this class. My first of two tests was coming up, and together they counted for 75 percent of my grade. I had planned every minute I could for studying. The catch was that my parents were coming into town, and I only get to see them about three times a year. Also, my nephew and niece had sporting events I wanted to go to. Finding time to study and spend time with my family was already going to be a challenge—then our instructor gave us a homework assignment! I knew this was going to be a time-consuming assignment. I didn’t have the time for it; I could not figure out how I was going to be able to do what needed to be done. I was completely overwhelmed!  

I called Angie, and while she was praying with me, she said something about me letting go of any agenda I may have. When she spoke those words, Holy Spirit reminded me of my conversation with Pastor Davis three years ago. This time it was Holy Spirit who said, “What are you willing to sacrifice?” I knew immediately that I had been holding on to my time with my family, convinced that I needed it.     

I literally spent the entire day in tears as I let go of those things I had held so dear. I came to understand that I don’t need anything; all I need is to do what the Lord is requiring of me to accomplish His will.  

The peace that flooded my being is indescribable! I felt as if the weight of the world had been lifted off of me. I was literally giddy out from under the weight of trying to meet my own needs. 

Shortly after all of this took place, the Lord opened up a new position at work that allows me to work fewer days, but it pays more. I was so stressed over not having enough time, and once I released what I had been holding on to, time is exactly what He gave back to me. 

By the way, the Lord has worked it out so that I can keep my house and my dogs as I go through school. As I am continually learning, often the very thing that we are holding on to so tightly is the thing that God gives back to us once we let it go. He is not out to hurt us. He only wants to bless us. He really does. We are the ones that put the limit on how much He can. The more we die to ourselves—letting go of all our “stuff” and giving Him our whole heart—the more He can give us, and what He gives is so much better than what we could get on our own. He is just so good!  

Dianna Gibson is a registered nurse in the recovery room at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, Missouri.

Permanently Healed from Depression
By Jeff Kerr

I am 38 years old and the youngest of five children. I grew up in a rural southwest Missouri farming community where everybody knew each other. Our family attended the small Baptist church where my mother taught Sunday school and my father still serves as a deacon. This does not seem like the environment in which one has an emotional disorder; however, during all of my teenage years, I suffered from severe depression.

It was very difficult for me to enjoy the things that I had always loved like singing and playing football. Rare was the moment that I could even smile about simple things. It got so bad that by the beginning of my junior year of high school, this former “A” student was failing three classes. My parents, taking the advice of a therapist, placed me in a psychiatric hospital. The fear was that I might become catatonic if something could not be done. I was given anti-depressant medication. The psychiatric professionals told me that it was very possible that I had a chemical imbalance in my brain and that I would take this medication for the rest of my life.

Some of my well-meaning pastors gave me “dealing with depression” books. They wanted to help; they told me to read and pray.

I thought Christians didn’t suffer from long-term depression. Why could I not bring myself out of this? Why did I sit in my room and weep uncontrollably for hours on end? Why was my mind filled with self-destructive thoughts? These were questions I found that no one could answer. I had resigned to believe that I deserved the depression that I had. I gave up on the church. I was a Christian (I was reasonably sure of that even though my behavior did not show it), but I was convinced that the church did not have the answers or the hope that I needed.

Near the end of my freshman year at Southwest Baptist University, things began to fall apart. Out of concern, my roommate spoke with our dorm’s assistant resident director, Ben Davis. Ben came and spoke with me late one evening. We had a long talk. I remember him telling me that I could continue on my own. I could even graduate and be successful according to the world’s standards, but I would never be fulfilled unless I gave my life completely over to God. He said that I would continue to have an up-and-down life until I let Jesus truly be Lord of my life. Well, I knew that after nine years I was ready for a change. That night I prayed in a way that I had never prayed before. I truly surrendered all to the lordship of Christ. After I had finished, I went and told Ben what I had done. His response to me was, “I want you to consider to stop taking your medication.” I said that I would think about it.

Alone in my dorm room, this thought went through my head:  “I know Ben. I trust him. He has faith that I can stop taking my medication. I have faith that he has faith that I can stop taking my medication.” I felt a peaceful confidence that this was God’s answer to me. I stopped taking my medication and have never taken it since. 

Now I know that this spiritual life is not to be lived alone but with the mutual faith of believers. The healing that came to me after years of depression is now my testimony of the glorious healing power of God.

Many popular talk shows discuss things such as depression and alcoholism. They label these as diseases and tell the sufferers that they will never be healed. The experts’ hopeless solution is a lifetime of medication. That is what I was told, but now I know that is not God’s truth. Innocent people are needlessly being held in bondage because individuals with more education than revelation offer limited relief.

I know that I am healed permanently. I believe God allowed me to go through the depression and the healing process so that I can share God’s comfort, faith, and healing with others.

Jeff Kerr is a support team leader with McKesson in Springfield, Missouri.

POWER HOUSE
Bears Mall
National & Grand, Suite H 

A new ministry that targets 18 to 25-year-olds is gearing up for the upcoming school year. Students, graduates, and those on career paths that may not currently include college are welcome.