To prepare each member of the body of Christ to be released into their own ministry.
Praise & Worship
We believe in covering the very Throne of God with Praise and Worship as music was created to do. This involves having a spirit of worship and praise as David did which includes dancing, singing, clapping, shouting, and at times jumping. (Psalms 149:3, Psalms 150:3-6)
Enjoy our freedom of worship.
Statement of Faith
We believe in one God, Maker of all things and being in the Trinity of Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. We believe that the Son of God, Jesus Christ, became incarnate, was begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and is true God and true man. We believe in the resurrection of the dead, the eternal happiness of the saved, and the eternal punishment of the lost.
We believe in personal salvation of the believers through the shed blood of Christ. We believe in the Bible, in its entirety, to be the inspired Word of God and the only infallible rule of faith and conduct. We believe in divine healing, through our faith, and healing is included in the Atonement. We believe in the Christian hope - the imminent, personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We believe in the baptism in the Holy Spirit, accompanied by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives utterance (Acts 2:4) from the new birth, and in the nine gifts of the Spirit (I Cor 12:7-10) as now available to believers. We believe in sancitification by the blood of Christ, in personal holiness of the heart and life.
We are nondenominational.
Beliefs of Faith
Section 1. The Scriptures Inspired
The Bible is the inspired Word of God, a revelation from God to man, the infallible rule of faith and conduct, and is superior to conscience and reason, but not contrary to reason. (II Tim. 3:15-17; I Peter 1:23-25; Heb. 4:12)
Section 2. The One True God
The one true triune God is comprised of The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit, who are eternally self-existent, self-revealed and function as one entity. Jesus Christ, who is God manifested in the flesh, is the second member of the Godhead, co-equal and co-eternal with The Father and The Holy Spirit. (Matt. 3:13-17; John 1:1-14; John 3:16-17; John 14:6-18; I John 5:5-10)
Section 3. Man, His Fall and Redemption
Man was created, by God, good and upright, and to bring glory to God; for God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness”. But, man, by voluntary transgression, fell and his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ the Son of God. (Gen. 1:26-31; Gen. 3:1-7; Rom. 5:12-21)
Section 4. The Salvation of Man
(a) Man’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
On the cross Jesus Christ became sin and sickness providing both salvation and divine healing for all mankind;
(Psalm 103:3) being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. “For by grace
are ye saved through faith....” “The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of
faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart
that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteous-
ness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Rom. 3:24; Eph. 2:8; Rom.10:8-10)
(b) The Evidences of Salvation
The inward evidence to the believer of his salvation, is the direct witness of the Spirit, (Rom. 8:16). The outward
evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness. “And this is his commandment, That we should
believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.” (I John 3:23)
(c) Faith and Works
Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ and not by human works: however, our works will determine the rewards in
eternity. (Rom. 10:9-10; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7; Rom. 14:10-12; and II Cor. 5:10)
Section 5. Baptism in Water
The ordinance of baptism by a burial with Christ should be observed as commanded in the Scriptures by all who have really repented and in their hearts have truly believed on Christ as Savior and Lord. In so doing, they declare to the world that they have died with Jesus and they have also been raised with Him to walk in newness of life. (Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38; Acts 10:47-48; Rom. 6:3-5)
Section 6. The Lord’s Supper
Communion is the commemoration of the broken body and shed blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and as an ordi¬nance shows His death, burial and resurrection, and looks for¬ward to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. All Christian believ¬ers, regardless of church affiliation, may partake of the Lord’s Supper with the admonition to prepare by deep self-examination so as not to receive unworthily.
Communion is a specific time to thoroughly examine each past word, thought, action, attitude, and motive in the light of Christ’s way of life.
“And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me... But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.” (ICor. 11:23-31; Luke 22:7-20)
Section 7. The Promise of the Father
All believers are entitled to, and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the Baptism in the Holy Ghost and Fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian church. With it comes the endowment of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry. (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8; Acts 19:1-6; I Cor. 12:1-31). This wonderful experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth. (Acts 2:38; Acts 10:44-48; Acts 11:14-17; Acts 15:7-9)
Section 8. The Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit
The full consummation of the Baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is evidenced by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance, and by the subsequent manifestation of the spiritual power in public testimony and service. (Acts 1:8; Acts 2:4; Acts 10:44-46; Acts 19:2,6)
Section 9. The Church
(Gr.- ekklesia) The church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, separated from the world, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of the great commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the general assembly and church of the first born, which are written in Heaven.
The local church is the community of Christians in unity and fellowship for the purpose of proclaiming the gospel to the world. The Biblical mandate is for all believ¬ers to come together to worship God, grow spiritually, and provide a framework of mutual edification for the good of all. (Heb. 10:24-25; Heb. 12:23; Acts 16:5; Rom. 12:5; Eph. 1:22; Eph. 2:19-22;)
Section 10. Total Prosperity
(a) Spiritual John 3:3,11; II Cor. 5:17-21; Rom. 10:9-10.
(b) Mental II Tim. 1:7; Rom. 12:2; Isaiah 26:3.
(c) Physical Isaiah 53:4,5; Matt. 8:17; I Peter 2:24.
(d) Financial III John 1:2; Malachi 3:10-11; Luke 6:38; II Cor. 9:6-10; Deut. 28
(e) Social Proverbs 3:4
Section 11. The Blessed Hope
Jesus is coming again to gather all His saints to Himself. (I Cor. 15:51-52; I Thess. 4:16-17; and II Thess. 2:1)
Section 12. The Lake Of Fire
Those who have not accepted the redemptive work of Jesus Christ will suffer eternal separation from the Godhead. The devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, and anyone whose name was not found written in the Book of Life, shall be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. This is the second death, the lake of fire. (Rev. 19:20, Rev. 20:10-15).
Section 13. The Millennial Reign of Jesus
The return of our Lord Jesus Christ with His Saints to rule and reign for one thousand years on earth as the Scriptures promised. (Rom. 11:25, 27; II Thess. 1:7; Rev. 19:11-16; Rev. 20:1-7) After this, there shall be a new heaven and a new earth (Rev. 21).
Supplemental Statements Of Faith And Doctrine
I. Angels and Demons
Satan and a host of spirit beings called demons are in a state of continual war with God and human¬ity; being of a nature so corrupt as to be beyond the possibility of redemption. Man relinquished certain of his rights to Satan who temporarily rules as the god of this world. God is surround¬ed by a host of angelic spirit beings who do His will as minis¬tering spirits for those who shall be heirs of salvation. (Eph. 2:2; I Pet. 5:8-9; I John 3:8; Heb.1:14; Ps. 34:7; Ps.103:20; Matt. 25:31)
II. Last Things
When considering the doctrine of last things we must express a Biblical position on Death, the Second Coming of Christ, as well as Heaven and Hell.
A. Death
Physical death is the separation of the soul and spirit from the body, until the resurrection. All of mankind will be resurrected; the
believer to the resurrection of eternal life, and the sinner to the resurrection of damnation. At the point of death, the believer’s
spirit and soul goes into the presence of the Lord, while the sinner’s spirit and soul descends into conscious torment in hell.
(Luke 16:19-31; Heb. 9:27; II Cor. 5:1-8)
B. The Second Coming of Christ
The Second Coming of Christ is personal and imminent. The Lord Himself will descend from Heaven. “Therefore be ye also
ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (I Thess. 4:16-17; Titus 2:12-13; Matt. 24:36, 44; Acts 1:11)
The coming of Jesus Christ with His saints will end the great tribulation and establish the millennial kingdom on earth, when
Christ shall rule and reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. (Rev. 1:7; Zech. 14:4; II Thess. 1:7-10, 2:8)
C. Heaven
Heaven is the habitation of the living God, where Christ has gone to prepare a place for all of God’s family, where they shall
dwell eternally in joy and security with Him. (I Cor 2:9; John 14:2-3; Rev. 7:15-17; Rev. 21:4; Rev. 22:5)
D. Hell
Hell is a literal place of bitter sorrow, remorse, and woe, prepared by God for the devil and his angels. There is also a
bottomless pit and outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. There is a lake that burns with fire and
brimstone into which shall be cast the unbelieving, the abominable the murderers, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, and those
who have rejected the love of Jesus Christ, whose names are not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. (Matt. 8:12; Matt. 22:13;
Matt. 25:30,41; Mark 9:43-44; Rev. 14:10-11; Rev. 20:1-3,10,14-15; Rev. 21:7-8)
III. Resurrection of the Dead
This doctrine must include statements on the Resurrection of Christ, Believers and Unbelievers. Also included is the Millennial Reign of Christ and the New Heaven and the New Earth.
A. Resurrection of Christ.
We believe in the literal bodily resurrection of the Lord, Jesus Christ. In His resurrection He became the firstfruits of the
resurrection of the righteous. (Matt. 28:1-7; I Cor. 15:1-21)
B. Believers.
Upon the return of Jesus Christ, the bodies of believers will be raised in an eternal spiritual body like Christ’s for when we
see Him we shall be like Him. (I Cor. 15:52; I Thess. 4:16-17; I John 3:2)
C. Unbelievers.
The spirit and soul of all who have not been born-again abide in hell until the Great White Throne Judgment. This is the
resurrection of damnation where unbelievers will be cast into the lake of fire, which burns with fire and brimstone forever.
(Matt. 25:46; Rev. 20:11-15)
D. The Millennial Reign of Christ.
The Second Coming of Christ, which is our blessed hope, is the return of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, with His saints to reign
on the earth for one thousand years. This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel and the establishment of
universal peace. (Rom. 11:26-29; Rev. 19:11-20; Rev. 20:1-6)
E. The New Heaven and the New Earth.
According to His promise, we look for a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness and where pain,
sorrow, crying, and death will pass away forever. (II Peter 3:13; Rev. 21:1-7, 22-27; Rev. 22:1-5)
Our Charismatic Distinctions
I. Spiritual Life
Having received the initial Baptism with the Holy Spirit, the believer should experience a continual renewing of this power from on High. The Holy Spirit is easily grieved by coldness, prayerlessness, idle conversation, worldliness, and a judging and criticizing spirit. God desires that we walk and abide in the Spirit with the objective of conforming to the image of Christ. Every believer should continually make progress in love, giving, wisdom, purity, faith, pa¬tience, godliness, and brotherly kindness. (Acts 4:31; I Cor.3:17; Gal.5:16-25; Eph.4:30-32; II Pet.1:3-7)
II. Baptism of the Holy Spirit
Spiritual gifts are for the edification of the saints and the upbuilding of the Church. The Holy Spirit has the following gifts to bestow upon the believer: the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, divers kinds of tongues and the interpretation of tongues, which He divides to every man severally as He will. These gifts should be coveted earnestly by all spiritual believers and exercised in the spirit of love. (John 15:4,8; I Cor.12:7-11,31)
III. Fruits of the Spirit
The measure of the outworking of Christ’s character is love, joy, peace, long-suffering (patient forbearance), gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance (self-control). This fruit is eternal whereas the gifts of the Spirit will pass away; thus, these attributes of the Christian character are what will be taken into eternity. (Matt.7:16-20; Gal.5:22-23; James 3:17-18)
IV. Sanctification
The Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe in the doctrine of sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of regeneration and continuing until the consummation of salvation. (I Cor. 1:30; II Cor.3:18; Phil. 3:12-14; I Thess. 5:23; Heb.12:14)
V. Laying On of Hands
We believe that power (anointing) can be transmitted from one person touching another. Laying on of hands was practiced by the Levitical Priesthood. Jesus practiced it as a blessing, and it is our grounds for baby dedication instead of infant baptism. Laying on of hands is done for healing; to confer office, to receive the Holy Spirit, to receive anointing to ordain and consecrate, and to receive necessary ministry tools.
(Mark 10:13-I6; Acts 6:2-6; Acts 8:16-18; I Tim 4:14)
VI. Divine Healing
Healing for sickness and diseases in man is wrought by the power of God through the prayer of faith, often accompanied by anointing with oil and laying on of hands. It is provided for in the Crucifixion of Christ, and it is the privilege of every believer today. (Isa. 53:4-5; Matt. 8:17; Mark 16:18; James 5:14-20; I Peter 2:24)
VII. Deliverance
A variety of human problems in the spirit, soul or body of man’s being can be attributed to demonic influence. We believe Christians cannot be possessed spiritually once God’s Spirit indwells the human spirit, but the devil can attack the mind, will, emotions, or the body of a believer. God empowers all who believe to set the saved or unsaved free from the powers of darkness through the name of Jesus Christ. (Matt.8:16; Mark 3:14-15; Luke 10:19-20; James 4:7)
VIII. Confession
The power of the spoken word of God brought all of creation into existence. With a similar principle, man’s spoken words become agents of faith or doubt, blessing or cursing, life or death. Every believer needs to be aware of this divine principle and learn to speak God’s words that have faith and life rather than idle words which produce death. “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Prov.13:3; Prov, 15:4; Prov. 18:21; Matt.12:33-37; Heb.10:23; James 3:2-18)
IX. Priesthood of Every Believer
Through the mercy of God, we as His people have become a chosen generation, a royal priesthood and a holy people made to show forth the praises of God. Every believer/priest has the right to go directly to God in Jesus’ name for his needs rather than rely upon a human mediator/priest. (I Peter 2:5,9; Rev.1:5-6)
X. Prosperity/Success
God desires to bless His people with spiritual and physical blessings for the purpose of establishing His covenant upon the earth. While many have fallen into sin by coveting earthly riches, His will to prosper His people is clear throughout Scripture. (Deut.8:18; Josh. 1:8-9; Ps. 34:10; Ps. 35:27; Luke 16:10-12; III John 2)
A. Definition of Prosper, prosperity, prosperous
To grow or increase; to thrive and make gain; to advance in growth, wealth, or anything good and desirable; successful
progress or attainment in any enterprise; to be favored.
*Since the natural human disposition is to abuse the blessings of providence, rendering prosperity dangerous; and
differentiating between prosperity in life and riches in material wealth, the following is an effort to clarify the general
position of this ministry concerning the subject of prosperity and success.
Prosperity then is not measured in how much a man possesses, but in how wisely he uses what he is given. Prosperity is
giving a concentration of energy and creativity on God’s purpose for your life. Prosperity is being able to visualize what God
intends to do, and utilizing God’s power to do what we ought, (Eph.4:1-3; Heb.11:1).
Prosperity is operating in, and with the grace of God. (Grace is the active force within us, giving us the desire and the
power to do things God’s way, Phil.2:13; Heb.12:14-15) Prosperity is having the desire and power to reproduce ourselves
spiritually, (John 20:21-23; Mark 16:15-20). Prosperity is the ability to detect principles of life in Scripture and apply them
to daily living, (Prov.1:5-6). Prosperity is the security of being able to build our life and affections around someone who can
never be taken away from us, (Col.3:13). Prosperity is being in a position to be instrumental in the reproduction of Christ’s
character in others, (Gal.4:19). Prosperity is discovering the foundation of life and learning to see life from God’s point of
view, and thereby being able to respond to life situations from God’s perspective. (II Peter 1:3; II Tim.3:15-17; Col.1:9-10;
Prov.3:13-18)
Ultimate prosperity would be: To be able to access God’s power to meet any need, at any time, for anyone, in any situation.
B. Success
Success is measuring what we are by what we could be, and what we have done by what we could have done. Success is
achieving the full potential God planned for us (Col.1:26-29). Success is being able to construct a solution to a difficult
situation from existing Scriptural revelation (Prov.2:1-9).
The dictionary defines success as a favorable conclusion, or accomplishing an intended goal; however, in light of scriptural
insight success is more of a favorable journey than an arrival at a destination.
Note: Taken from the Beliefs of Faith, Page 4, Section 10.
C. Total Prosperity
Man is a spirit being. Man has a soul, mind, will, and emotions. Man lives in a physical body.
(1) Spiritual - John 3:3,11; II Cor. 5:17-21; Rom. 10:9
The spirit of man is eternal. All persons are born with the sin nature of Adam lodged in their human spirit and are doomed to eternal damnation and torment in the lake of fire, with the devil and his angels. By accepting the substitutionary sacrifice and Lordship of Jesus Christ, The Messiah, an eternal covenant is established by which the same spirit-person will spend eternity with God. (I Cor. 2:9-10; Eph. 3:14-21)
(2) Mental - II Tim. 1:7; Rom. 12:2; Isaiah 26:3
Without God we are without God’s wisdom and understanding. Our intellect is limited by natural limitations of the fallen nature, and is basically limited to what we are able to learn by and relate to the five physical senses and our imagination (Isa.55:8-9). When we are born again, our soul is delivered from the powers of darkness and translated into the Kingdom of God’s Son. We are able to relate to God on a personal level. Our will and our emotions are set free to respond to God’s influence. He imparts to us His wisdom and understanding. He imparts to us the mind of Christ (I Cor.2:9-16; Eph.4:11-24). Our thinking processes are open to supernatural revelation, reasoning, and evaluation, not available to the natural man. The believer’s covenant removes him from the power of fear, anxiety, and torment (Deut.28).
(3) Physical - Isaiah 53:4-5; Matt. 8:16-17; 1 Peter 2:24
If God’s original creation was declared “good” and every herb and tree bearing seed was given for food; then there were no food allergies. Before the fall of Adam & Eve they had full dominion over every living thing on the face of the earth; therefore there could not have been bacterial and viral diseases (Gen. 1:26-29). Sickness was unknown before Adam yielded to sin. Jesus’ substitutionary sacrifice was to reverse the consequences of Adam’s sin (Rom. 5:15-19; I Cor. 15:21-22). In Christ Jesus we have a covenant that includes health and healing. Naturally and divinely provided health is legally available to those who are in Christ and believe and appropriate it by faith and obedience. The one ministry common to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is the healing ministry. (Ex.15:26; Ex. 23:25; Ps 103:2-5; Prov. 4:20-22; Mark 16:18; Acts 10:38; I Cor. 12:28; Jas. 5:14-15) A Biblically based diet, exercise, work, rest, recreation, life and health program is expected to produce a life expectancy of 120 years (Gen.6:3).
(4) Financial - Deut. 28; Malachi 3:10-11; Luke 6:38; II Cor. 9:6-10; III John 2
Financial prosperity is differentiated from riches in the Scriptures, and therefore must be differentiated in our thinking, motives, objectives, and actions. Financial prosperity is promised to those who fulfill the requirements of desiring, obtaining, using, dispersing, and saving, according to God’s general revealed principles and plan, and includes God’s personal plan for the individual. To compromise God’s principles, plan, and methods is a departure from Godly prosperity. Financial prosperity is relative to God’s purpose for your life and not to be compared to the riches of the world and of the sinner.
(5) Social - Proverbs 3:4
When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him (Prov. 16:7). When we become Christians, we are then able to truly walk in love and be at peace, giving deference toward all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith (Gal. 6:1-10). The love walk starts with the closest relationships and extends outward; therefore husbands love their wives, even as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it, and wives reverence their husbands. Husbands/fathers lead their families in the love walk; by demonstration and children respect and obey their parents. We are then able to love, be at peace with, please, and edify our “neighbor” (Rom. 15:2; Eph. 5:15-33; Eph. 6:1-9; Col.3:1-24; Col. 4:5-6; Titus 2:1-15; Jas. 2:8; I Pet. 5:14; II Pet. 1:2-11). In Christ Jesus we are able to put off the old man with the carnal ways and put on the new man and walk in newness of life (Gal. 5:13-14; Eph. 4:11-32; Eph. 5:1-2). We have true fellowship with one another as we experience the love, light, joy, and fellowship of the Lord (John 15:7-17; Rom. 13:8-10; Phil. 1:2-11; Phil. 2:1-18; I John 1:3-7; I John 3:14-24; I John 4:9-21; I John 5:1-5)
Special Note:
All of the statements are for the purpose of gaining a working knowledge of the basic, foundational beliefs and charismatic distinctions of the Spirit of Prophecy Church.
They are for the purpose of defining our Statements of Belief and not for new revelation, arguments, or debates.
All ministers and workers involved in, or representing the ministries of the Spirit of Prophecy Church or its related ministries are expected to be in basic agreement with these foundations.
Acceptance of any type or form of certification from the Spirit of Prophecy Church implies agreement with these beliefs, statements, and distinctions.
Last Modified: 05/20/2012 02:01 pm
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