Good Afternoon, Church Family!

Over the last several weeks, we have heard a lot of the scripture, “You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.”

Let’s take a look at some very important words in this scripture: know, truth, set, and free. When you put them in this order, it reveals a very elementary truth (almost like a two-year-old is saying it to you): if you know truth, you will be set free. I know all of us want to be set free of certain things in our lives. As we look closer at these four words, we will be able to see how being set free is possible.

Let’s look at the first word, know. The Hebrew definition of know carries the idea that you are “coming to.” In other words, you are making an effort to come to the Word of God. Not only are you coming to this place, but in coming to it, you are perceiving, understanding, and gaining a knowledge of something. You aren’t coming to this knowledge in a casual way, but you are becoming acquainted with this knowledge in an intimate way.

One of the definitions of intimacy is a close familiarity. For example, look at the intimacy between a husband and wife: a wife knows her husband’s voice, strengths, weaknesses, desires etc. It’s the same with the husband. This intimacy only comes about by spending time with each other. It’s the same way with God! To truly know God and His word, we must spend time with Him and His word. In spending time with Him every day, we begin perceiving who He is and understanding (gaining knowledge) about Him and His ways.

The next word is truth. This word has been preached over and over by Pastor Chip. Truth is the Word of God and what that Word says about any given situation. Truth is Jesus, the mediator and intercessor of this Word. The word of God that we put forth when we pray, decree, and declare are the very things Jesus intercedes for us with. These are also the things the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, helps us to bring forth. Truth equals word, word equals truth. 

Let’s move on to the next word, set. One of the definitions for set is to place into position so that you can start running a race. I loved this definition because, spiritually, we are all in a race for God. We all have a race to run for Him, but if we are bound by things in our lives, we are not able to run our race effectively. But, if we are set free, we can run!

The last word I want to talk to you about is free. I love this word! This word free is Jesus’s whole desire for us! That is why He did what He did. We are free from the power of the enemy the moment we accept Him as our Lord and Savior. We will no longer taste death. When we die, we just move to heaven without the sting of death. There are many freedoms that occur when we accept Him, but we must learn to walk in them. The definition of free is liberty! The definition of liberty is when one has the ability and power to do as one chooses without physical, mental, emotional restraints. Glory to God! God wants us to move in Him, through His word, without physical, mental or emotional restraints.

You mean to tell me, when you know (perceive, understand, and gain a knowledge of) the truth (the Word of God) on a close familiar level (developing daily intimacy with God and His word), you will be free to run your race without physical, mental, and emotional restraints?  I am ALL IN! I am all in on knowing the truth and letting the truth set me free!

My prayer for you today is that you will develop a relationship with the Truth and that Truth will set you free! 

P. Candace

Good Morning, AGC Family!

Last Wednesday night, we continued our message on All In: Marriage and Relationships, and the topic of that message was Communicating in Love. We began the service with the scripture found in 1 Corinthians 1:9 which states, “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” The Voice translation says it like this: “Count on this: God is faithful and in His faithfulness He called you out into an intimate relationship with His Son, our Lord Jesus the Anointed.” You see, God has called us into a relationship with Him through Christ Jesus.

Now, let us take a look at the word “fellowship” - it plays a big role in our relationship with God and our relationships with others. The Greek definition is to participate, communicate, and be in partnership with. In other words, to fellowship we must participate, communicate, and be in partnership with each other and with God. It is more than just sitting down for a meal; it is feeding into and participating in each other’s lives out of a spirit of love. Out of that same spirit of love, we also communicate to each other so much that we create a partnership. This can be done with God and with others, and God has called us to this with Him! What a great privilege and honor. 

God has also called us into participation, communication, and partnership with each other! This brings Him great joy because He is in each one of us! When you love others, you love God. You find this very message In Hebrews 6:10 (NIV): “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” 

Now, there is way more to this message than I am able to go into in this blog, but you can go back and watch Wednesday, January 26th message to receive the fullness of what was taught. I did promise you that I would get you the scriptures we used revolving around the five love languages that we operate in, so below are those scriptures. Take the time to study the scriptures out for yourself.  I believe they will be a great blessing to you!

The 5 Love Languages

1. Words of Affirmation

2. Quality Time 

3. Receiving Gifts 

4. Acts of Service 

5. Physical Touch 

Words of Affirmation: 

Proverbs 16:24 (ESV)

Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (ESV)

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 

Colossians 4:6 (ESV)

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Quality Time: Spending meaningful time with someone

Hebrews 10:25 (TPT)

This is not the time to pull away and neglect meeting together, as some have formed the habit of doing, because we need each other!  In fact, we should come together even more frequently, eager to encourage and urge each other onward as we anticipate the day dawning. 

1 John 1:7 (TPT)

But if we keep living in the pure light that surrounds him, we share unbroken fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, continually cleanses us from all sin.

Receiving Gifts: Giving of gifts as a way tell them you were thinking about them

Hebrews 13:16 (NIV)

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. 

Luke 6:38 (TPT)

Give generously and generous gifts will be given back to you, shaken down to make room for more. Abundant gifts will pour out upon you with such a n overflowing measure that it will run over the top! Your measurement of generosity becomes the measurement of your return. 

Acts of Service: Doing helpful things for someone

Proverbs 19:17 (NIV)

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done. 

Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. 

John 12:26 (NIV)

Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

Physical Touch: Being close to another (pat on the back or hug)

Mark 10:16 (ESV)

And He took them in His arms and blessed them, laying His hands on them.

Revelation 1:17 (ESV)

When I saw Him, I feel at His feet as though dead. And He laid His right hand on me, saying “Fear not, I am the first and the last,

2 Timothy 1:6 (ESV)

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 

I hope the above scriptures are a blessing to you as you develop a closer relationship with God by fellowshipping with Him through His Word. I am going to end this blog with 1 Peter 4:10 (TPT):

Every believer has received grace gifts, so use them to serve (fellowship) one another as faithful stewards of the many-colored tapestry of God’s grace.

Love you all!

Pastor Candace

Dear AGC Family,

Today as I was studying the Word of God, 2 Thessalonians 3:16 really stood out to me, and I felt led to share it with you!

2 Thessalonians 3:16 says, “Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways.”

This scripture really blessed me as I began to think about all that I have been standing against in the last week, and I realized that in the middle of my stand, this scripture is true. Jesus has given us His peace, and that peace is available for us at all times and in all ways.

With every blow that the enemy shoots our way, he is after our peace and our trust in God. If he can get us out of peace, then he can begin to work in our soul and create a storm within our mind. 

The word peace in Hebrew is shalom. The definition of shalom is completeness, safety, soundness in body, welfare, health and prosperity. So, the Lord is saying that at all times we can be complete, in safety, sound in body, welfare, and prosperity because He has already given it to us. In addition, this peace can come to you in many ways (in all ways), and this peace can be yours no matter what is going on. 

You may say, “that’s great, Pastor Candace, but I do not feel any peace in my life!”  

I get it. I totally understand. I have been there also, and there are times in our lives that we seem to be void of peace - when the storms of the enemy are coming on one wave after another, when it seems like we take two steps forward only to find ourselves taking one step back. Ugh!

So, what do we do? The Word said we have peace “at all times and in all ways”, but we may not be feeling that at all! What do we do? We go to the Word of God. When we do not feel the peace of God in our lives, God gives us a roadmap of what to do. That roadmap is found in Psalm 34:14: turn away from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it.  

Step 1: Turn away from evil. That means to turn away from the doubt and unbelief that is removing us from the truth of God’s word. The truth is that Jesus has given us His peace. 

Step 2: Do good. Decide to follow the Word of God no matter what you see, feel, or hear, and  encourage others to do the same.

Step 3: Seek peace. Be looking for peace with a fierce determination until you obtain it.

Step 4: Pursue it. Go after peace at all costs. This is like a hunter pursuing his prey. 

These four steps will bring forth God’s peace in our lives. Yes, it does take determination to do it, but God has equipped us and given it to us! So therefore, we believe it and we receive it!

I pray for you all today, that the peace that Jesus has provided for you will be upon you, in your home, and in your family as you go throughout your day. I pray that you will continue to seek and pursue that peace in all you do!

-Pastor Candace

Good Morning Family!

During my prayer and word study time this morning, I was meditating on the word that Pastor Chip preached yesterday. I told the Father that I will endeavor today to be an “all in” servant of His, and that my ear will be unto Him as I go throughout my day. 

It is one thing to hear the word of God and receive it, but it is another thing to actually do it. Daily, I am working towards the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus; and just as Jesus heard the word, He did the word. 

Yesterday Pastor Chip shared with us two ways that our ear can be more in tune to God. One of the ways is through meditation and the other is through practicing what you have been meditating. So, today, I decided to put that in motion in my life. I started reading the book of 1 Corinthians last week and I just happened to be reading chapters 13 and 14 today. As I was reading, chapter 14 verse 1 jumped out at me: “Let love be your highest goal!” (NLT) So, precious church family, guess what my meditation and practice will be today! Let Love be MY highest goal. The rest of that scripture goes on to say, “But you should also desire the special abilities that the Spirit gives- especially the ability to prophesy.”

I love the rest of this scripture because it points out the fact that all things can be done by the power of the Holy Spirit - like prophecy. You see, The Holy Spirit working with our spirit brings forth the ability to do anything that the word of God says. So, if the word of God says love can be our highest goal, then I am going to give my “ear” to the Holy Spirit and love WILL BE my highest goal. Since love is my highest goal, I am going to look for ways to express the love of God. In doing so, I will put this into practice. 

This is my meditation and practice today. What is yours?

-Pastor Candace