Dear Beachside Family and Friends
I'm expecting great things in 2017. The Word of the Lord has been spoken by a number of Christian Leaders I respect and support, and the preponderance of inspired utterance speaks well for this new year. " A year of fabulous outpourings from heaven, and the faithful shall flourish, it will be like days of heaven on earth" sum up the Words we have heard from the Lord.
At Beachside Fellowship, the Lord has declared 2017 the "Year of AUTHORITY". Now is the time for believers to rise up and live in the AUTHORITY granted the Church in Jesus' Name. It's time to stop acting like captives of the devil, and use our power to set thedear captives free. Let's motivate ourselves to force satan and his demonic servants to back down, and restore an attitude of Victory and Success in our churches and in our nation.
In order to accomplish this we must be Christian. Attending church does not make us Christian, although every Christian should attend church. Being Christian is more than saying "Jesus is my Lord" Jesus addressed this in Luke 6:46: "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" What does Jesus say? What does He expect from believers? He informs us of His expectations in Mark 16:15-18. "And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
During the year of Fabulous Outpourings from Heaven, let's do the things Jesus expects us to do. Christians should be proclaiming the good news, casting out demons, speaking and praying in heavenly languages, living free from deadly attacks of poisonous creatures and substances, and laying hands on the sick and seeing them healed. These signs should be the rule, rather than the exception in the lives of believers. Please note that I am NOT saying that anyone has to do these things in order to be saved, but that the saved should do these things in order to accomplish what Jesus calls them to do. Jesus said ' these signs will follow believers". If we are the believers that Jesus speaks of, then these signs WILL follow us.
Sometimes we read the verses I have mentioned. And think "Jesus just meant that for pastors and ministers". Certainly pastors and ministers should be believers, but the Bible tells us we are all ministers. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, (2 Cor 5:17-18) Every believer is a minister!
I do not write to offend anyone who is a born again believer in Jesus. I mention these commands of our Lord simply as a challenge for us all. Will we be Christians in 2017? Will we do what Jesus says and preach the Good News, cast out devils, and lay hands on the sick? We will never see the miraculous without actually believing in miracles. We will never experience the power of God in our lives without being bold enough to take action. Let's be Christians in 2017. Let's believe the Word and act on it. When we do, signs and wonders will follow us!
Pastor Ramon
