Bonds of Fellowship Colossians 2:1-2

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Wednesday, October 1st 7:00pm
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Thursday, October 2nd 7:00pm
Pastor James Chandler, Marvelous Light Christian Ministries, Lithia Springs, GA
Friday, October 3rd 7:00pm
Bishop Steve O. Bulloch, Grace Full Gospel Church, Savannah, GA
Sunday October 5th 10:30am
Pastor Marsha Buford, House of Favor Full Gospel Ministry, Savannah, GA
Sunday October 5th 6:00pm
Pastor Marland Montgomery, Seed Planters Community Church, Forest Park, GA
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I have set before thee life and death, blessings and curses: therefore choose life
that both thou and thy seed may live. Deuteronomy 30:19
FOUNDER……………………..… Rev. Dr. Edwin E. Ford
EDITORIAL
Columnists……………………….. Pastor Edwin E Ford
Elect Lady Tracy Ford
Editor in Chief …………………... Ronaye K Horton
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eep Speaking the WORD!
Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign
upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. [Deuteronomy 11:18]
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those
things which are behind, and reaching forth
unto those things which are before, [Philippians 3:13]
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It’s An Open Way 2009 Ronaye K Horton6
GOLD NUGGETS
Put yourself in a place needing a miracle from God. -Dr. Ford
Letter from the Editor
C
o n t e n t s
Stay on Board!
3 Keep Speaking the Word
Philippians 3:13
4 Calendar of Events
12 Heart Food
It’s Not Too Late for You
Elect Lady Tracy Ford
18 Conductor’s Column
Breaking the Chains Part II
It’s All About the Mind
Reverend Dr. Edwin E. Ford
26 The Preacher’s Corner
Bonds of Fellowship Colossians 2:1-2
Reverend Dr. Edwin E. Ford
In Every Issue
Calendar of Events
Conductor’s Column
Heart Food
The Preacher’s Corner
Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their
words to the end of the world. In them hath He set a tabernacle for the sun, [Psalm 19:4]
O
ne of the major challenges of
our earthly existence is to not
allow our circumstances to
define who we are or what we become.
[Breaking the Chains Part II p18]
This is true, when people tell you how
unreal you are, concentrate on the word
that tells you: For he hath made him to
be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we
might be made the righteousness of God
in him. [2 Corinthians 5:21] When the
blessing God has commanded is continually withheld, concentrate on the word
that says: And God is able to make all
grace abound toward you; that ye, always
having all sufficiency in all things,
may abound to every good work. [2 Corinthians 9:8] God is faithful and will perform his word. Continue breaking the
chains by speaking the word people of
God!
The Conductor is here to help guide you
to a life grounded in Jesus Christ. Are
you on board?
Write to us, we want to hear from you.
Let us know that the God’s anointing has
broken the chains in your life. 7
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And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out
devils; they shall speak with new tongues; [Mark 16:17]
GOLD NUGGETS
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Heart Food
Elect Lady Tracy Ford
It’s Not Too Late for You
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one
thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching
forth unto those things which are before, [Philippians 3:13]
H
ave you ever heard
the saying, “You
can’t unscramble
those eggs?” And this is true,
once it’s been done you cannot change it. You have a few
choices: eat them, throw them
away or get some new eggs
and start over. We have all
done things in our lives we
wish we could change but
can’t. But it’s not the end of
the world, pick up the pieces,
if they are reusable or start
afresh. Sometimes things are
better the second time around
anyway. The good news is
that nothing we did caught
God by surprise. It did not
change His mind about us.
As a matter of fact, He
already knew we would
do it before we did it.
There is a movie called, “I
Know What You Did Last
Night” and the enemy
uses this same strategy to
keep God’s people bound.
Shame and embarrassment of your past. It’s hard
for some people to bounce
back and let go of their past
but until we let the past go,
we will not move forward.
We must let our new mind in
Christ replace those old
thoughts and memories. Being pulled in two directions
will take us nowhere, we
have got to let go of something. Forgetting those things
which are behind and reaching forth to what lays ahead
should be our new mindset.
Anything new does not have
a past. As new creatures in
Christ, we have never been
this way before so we can not
compare new with anything.
Just follow the leader. [2 Corinthians 5:7, Philippians
3:13]
imprison them to Jerusalem.
But God had another plan;
while he was on the way,
suddenly a light from heaven
flashed around him and he
fell to the ground. He heard a
voice saying, “ Saul, Saul,
why do you persecute me?”
And Saul answered, “Who
are you, Lord?” the Lord replied “I am Jesus, whom you
are persecuting,” The men
traveling with Saul heard the
voice but didn’t see
anyone. They led him to
Damascus because
when he got up off the
ground he could not see
anything for three days.
Meanwhile God was
dealing with one of His
disciples in a vision
named Ananias about
going to find Saul and
placing his hands on
him to restore his sight.
Ananias reminded God what
kind of man Saul was from
the reports that he had heard.
(Did God not know!) But the
Lord told him, “Saul is my
chosen instrument to carry
my name before the Gentiles,12
As new creatures in
Christ, we have never
been this way before so
we can not compare
new with anything.
Just follow the leader.
Acts Chapter 9 tells us about
Saul’s conversion, his turn
around experience. Saul had a
plan to go to the synagogues
in Damascus to find those
belonging to the Way and
Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that
didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of
the married wife, saith the LORD [Isaiah 54:1]
Do not despise where you are in life.
(Continued from page 12)
their kings and the people of
Israel.” As Ananias obeyed
the Lord, scales fell from
Saul’s eyes and he received
his sight again and was filled
with the Holy Spirit. After
many days Saul started
preaching that Jesus is the
Son of God, but all who
heard him did not receive
from him. They remembered
his past and some planned to
kill him.
any man, not for their approval or input. He knew God
had called him and he did not
allow the opinion of men to
stop him from obeying God.
Even though everybody
might not receive from you
because of what they know
about your past. Keep obeying God. In due season they
will listen to you. Just know
that you have been called by
God and your mission is to
please Him, not man.
Do not despise where you are
in life. To you it may seem
that you are so far off track
but with God you can be right
on schedule. God can truly
take a mess and turn it into a
message. God needs witnesses everywhere, He wants
His glory to fill this earth.
People everywhere need to
hear the Gospel. Your sphere
of influence may not be mine
and vice versa but the goal is
the same, souls. God needs
witnesses in your school, in
your class, on your job, in the
suburbs, and in the ghetto.
Can He use you where you
are? Instead of seeing our
position as a bad thing because it’s uncomfortable, why
not see your position as an
honor representing Christ.
You may be in jail or prison,
and of course no one would
on purpose put themselves
behind bars, but if you are
there will you be a mouth
piece for Him? That is your
pulpit to proclaim the Gospel.
The bible says at Saul’s conversion, he did not consult
In Galatians Chapter 1 Paul is
sharing his testimony, he is
an apostle sent not from men
but by Jesus Christ and God
the Father. Paul had a past, as
we all do, a life in Judaism.
He intensely persecuted the
church of God and tried to
destroy it. He was so good
that he was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of
his age and he was extremely
zealous for the tradition of his
fathers. In other words, Saul
was very good at killing
God’s people. You may ask,
Is this the same Paul who
wrote most of the New Testament? You got it!!! That
same Paul. He was passionate
about killing God’s people,
but God has now called him
to preach to those he was killing. I know that is hard for
some to believe but true. So
be encouraged, it does not
matter what you have done,
it’s not too late for you. If
God can take a Saul, a murderer, and turn him into a
Paul, can He use you too? We
all know somebody who we
GOLD NUGGETS
do not see serving God. They
seem to be so adamant about
what they are doing and what
they believe; seemingly a lost
and hopeless case. BUT
GOD takes what seems impossible and does the possible. As with Saul, his life
went from one extreme to
another. God took someone
who was a murderer of His
people, to now love on His
people by preaching Christ.
AMAZING!!!!!
God knows the material that
He is working with in all of
us, that is what makes the
finished product so wonderful. Jeremiah 18:1-6 The potter took a vessel already
made and perfected it. The
vessel he was shaping was
marred in his hands and he
remade it into another vessel
to his liking. Pottery can be
used for different reasons.
Carrying, storing, serving, or
if painted, used for decorations, what can God use you
for? A real potter kneads
clay to remove impurities and
air bubbles. God, our potter
also removes impurities to
make us useful for His service. While we are on the
wheel having impurities removed it may not feel good
but it’s necessary, God knows
what He is doing. He’s turning us into another man, meet
for the master’s use.
God Bless,
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GOLD NUGGETS
peaking the
WORD?
Running over with blessings
Take Financial Authority
God wants me wealthy with a reason
I’ll speak this word until I’m running over with
blessings
I’m on my way to a wealthy place.
God wants me to have money with a plan
I’ll speak this word until I’m running over with
blessings!
Thou has caused men to ride over our heads,
We went through the fire, we went through the
water, but thou brought us out into a wealthy
place.
There’s money in my mouth. I’ll speak it out
of my mouth.
I believe that I receive, Double, Double, in
every area of my life this year.
I call my house and all my assets paid for,
I believe that I receive super natural provision
today.
I command the blessings of God and the favor of God to over take my life and my family’s life.
Send now prosperity.
Thank you Lord for meeting all my financial
needs so that I have more than enough to give
into the Kingdom of God.
Ford
I believe that I receive, Double...
S
God never wants you to live within the limitations. – Dr.
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The Practicality of Faith: A Lifestyle Not a Science
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour
[1 Peter 5:8]
A
ll God needs for you
to do is make up in
your mind that you
will not be a victim anymore. With victory begins a
quality decision. To receive
any promise of God it requires a step of faith. Since
Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith, we must
begin by seeking him for the
answer.
In the natural world, when
you are doing business,
the more
you know
about a product or services the less likely you
will be taken advantage
of. The same is true
about your adversary,
the more you know
about him, the devil, the less
he will be able to get over on
you. Our text says he prowls
around like a roaring lion
looking for a victim. First,
let us define a victim: someone who has suffered loss by
being swindled or duped by
some act, condition or circumstance. Therefore, Satan
is searching for individuals
who appear deceivable, and
easy to take advantage of.
Notice the text gives you
some insight on the devil’s
limited power, because if he
has to look for someone,
then it means he cannot destroy everyone. The victims
of his sinister plans will be
those who do not possess a
solid understanding of the
word God. The Bible says
my people are not destroyed
because we have a mean
devil, but because of a lack
of knowledge.
spouse. He is not a flesh and
blood individual, though he
may manifest himself
through various people, but
he is a cruel maniacal, spiritual force that operates
through the force of fear to
steal, kill, and destroy. He
has so shrewdly wrapped
himself up in this world’s
system that most people do
not even believe he still exists. The world has embraced Satan today as if he
is not the Prince of
Darkness.
This cycle of victimization
can be destroyed, but it
begins by receiving the
anointing that comes
through God’s word.
This cycle of victimization
can be destroyed, but it begins by receiving the anointing that comes through
God’s word. We must possess a practical understanding of who the enemy is and
how he operates. No better
way to do that then to first
establish who he is not. He
is not some fictitious red
man with horns and a long
tail, he is not a race of people, and he is not even your
Fear, as we noted, has
suddenly become a
very marketable commodity. Its lineage has
marred societies, separated races, divided kingdoms and terrorized communities. Fear is a ruthless
and savage foe that only
seeks to paralyze and destroy its opponents. You
wonder how something that
is so hideous can be embraced and accepted by our
society. Well, I will tell you
how- by making it an acceptable way of life. Satan
does that by disguising fear
in a package that would ap17
C
Reverend Dr. Edwin E. Ford Sr.
onductor
Breaking the Chains Part II
It’s All About the Mind
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. [Romans 12:2]
O
ne of the major challenges of our earthly
existence is to not
allow our circumstances to define who we are or what we
become. Be not conformed,
means to not move in the same
dimensions anymore. It is not
always in it or even on the
steps, but through mere association your life is still being
conformed by what the world
is doing. Now if you are not
careful the way of the
worlds’ (cosmos) thinking is
perpetually shaping the way we
think, it’s the order of things.
Don’t be caught in conformity
of the thought patterns of your
day and allow them to dictate
who you are or how you behave. The question we need to
ask ourselves as Christians is
are we going to allow this
world define what the Bible is
to us, or are we going to let the
Bible define what our culture
should be like. It’s disheartening to know that Congress is
now redefining what a marriage is in our society when the
Bible already defined marriage.
The world thinks on a different
level than the church, the world
revolves every four years compared to the church which revolves approximately every
twenty years. It is belief that
dictates behavior therefore if
we believe wrong we will behave wrong. Thus if you don’t
believe that praise and worship
would make any difference,
then all you do is watch the
praise leaders and sing songs.
If you don’t believe the clapping of hands does something
spiritual, all you will be doing
is keeping the beat to the music. The bible teaches, when
you clap your hands, it signifies you are in agreement.
[Psalm 47:1] When you clap
your hands when someone
speaks a word of faith, you
clap to connect that word to
your spirit to manifest it in
your life. If you don’t believe
that works, then you will not
do it to bring manifestation in
your life; you behave what you
believe.
Often in church we have tried
behavior modifications. We
thought if we could change
what the people wear, change
what they do, or change their
language we could somehow
make them Christians; substituting salvation by transformation with behavior modification
produces an even more carnal
Christian at best. [Matthew
23:15] Jesus said when you try
to reach a man to do something
that is not in him, you make
him twice the son of the devil
he was before he started. That18
is why we end up with church
It’s one thing to have enough for the people, but do you have enough for the forces
you have to deal with? You need more than you think you need. –Dr. Ford
(Continued from page 18)
folks who are meaner than
folks on the streets. Religious
behavior outside of the revelation on why I should behave in
that manner leaves people
more educated, but frustratingly unable to experience the
life of God. Why, because
modifying their behavior will
never make them a Christian.
That is why you cannot legislate morality. Ideally changes
do not come from outside a
man, but inside of man. Solomon said as a man thinks in his
heart, so is he. [Proverbs 23:7]
think naturally, this makes it
impossible to get kingdom
things. If you are not born
again, the way you think naturally will lockup what you are
receiving from the spirit and
word of God. Here is why.
How you perceive a situation is
more real than what is actually
going on. Literally you do not
see with your eyes, the truth is
you see through your eyes. If
all your life you have been told
a color was one way and one
thousand other people tell you
that it was really another color,
your eyes will still see the way
GOLD NUGGETS
new thinking, when favor
comes they will dismiss it saying it was too easy - it must not
be God based on the perception. False religious teaching
has programmed the majority
of the church for little. That is
why statistically the average
church in America runs two
hundred seventy eight people.
The thing that is holding up
revival is not the ungodly evil
world. That is what we have
been told; but it is church people, carnal thinking Christians.
People who judge God by their
own experience, and not based
on his Word.
What do you
mean? I have
never seen that,
so I do not know if that can
happen or not.
Solomon said as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.
[Proverbs 23:7]
If it is in his heart not to lust,
he is going to tip around looking at everything that he should
not look at. If it is in his heart
to be greedy, he is going to
hold on to everything he can.
Why, because it is his heart
that dictates his life. Proverbs
4:23 says the force of my life
are tied to what happens in my
heart, and I paraphrase. [John
3:3] Jesus answered and said to
him, most assuredly, I say to
you, unless one is born again,
he cannot see the kingdom of
God.
The reason Jesus admonishes
that a man is to be born again,
is so he can see (perceive) the
ways of the kingdom. You cannot receive spiritually and still
they have been trained to perceive. So if you have the wrong
perception, you will have the
wrong thinking. If you have
wrong thinking, you will never
be able to manifest what has
been promised from the truth
of God’s word.
The body of Christ has been
the biggest victim of this
missed
information.
The
church for the most part has
been programmed for lack.
Traditional and religious thinking has programmed the church
for struggle. They have been
taught if it ain’t hard, it ain’t
God. We must also be taught
that sometimes God will move
in our favor. If the believer
fails to renew their mind to
We must make a decision that
we are going to break the
chains that bind our soul. Prosperity is a secondary consequence of a soul that is free. If
I believe it is in his word, I am
not judging God by what I believe; my belief is based on the
report of the Lord.
Isaiah 55:8 reminds us if you
do not think like God thinks;
your ways and results will not
be like His. It takes the church
to deceive a believer; the world
cannot do it. Jesus said your
traditions have made the word
19
(Continued on page 22)
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(Continued from page 19)
of God of none effect. The
world does not have a problem
with mega, thinking big and the
next millionaire. It is only the
church of Jesus Christ. Billy
Sunday, one of the generals of
the Christian faith once said, “I
want to be a giant for God.” It
is only when we break the unrighteous chains that bind our
mind, will and emotions (soul)
that we will be like Nicodemus
and see the abundant kingdom
of God; a kingdom that stays in
the more than enough zone. But
you as believers will never
know until you break every
chain: spiritual, physical and
soul. Dare to believe, if God
says yes, nobody can say no.
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If you don’t have anything that is a burden or yoke, the anointing is not qualified to act on it.
-Dr. Ford
GOLD NUGGETS
25
ecclesia
Preacher’s Corner
The
Practical Ministerial Insights
Bonds of Fellowship
Colossians 2:1-2
26
Bonds of Fellowship Colossians 2:1-2
The Preacher’s Corner: Practical Ministerial Insights
Summary
Continuing our study on the Fellowship with God, we move to Bonds of Fellowship. Our study this
month discusses how our fellowship with God holds us together. As the body of Christ we share the
same savior, One who has shared in all of our infirmities. He knows the hurts and fears we keep silent,
our shared savior knows the cares and concerns of each and every part of his body. Our shared savior
offers salvation daily. The day you walked away defeated, our shared savior speaks to you before you
even get home, try again! As we studied last month in Fellowship with God, the nature and need of
man require fellowship with God for newness of life, which means bounds, fastens, and confines are
necessary.
Continue in the your outline for more Bonds of Fellowship: salvation, spirit, scriptures, and service.
When we choose to remain in fellowship with God, we receive the blessings of fellowship, such as salvation, joy, and peace. Otherwise, we choose to allow barriers to overcome our thoughts causing us to
speak ungodly disassociating with God. We must keep in mind to remain in fellowship with God, this
is also our fellowship with the body of Christ.
This month we thought it appropriate to suggest the following song to accompany your message: Bless
be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love.
I.
We have the same Savior
A. Compassionate
1. Touched with our infirmities [Hebrews
4:15]
B. Caring
1. Allows us to cast all our cares upon him
C. Cleansing
1. Offers Salvation - Daily
D. Calling
1. Calls us to go after the call to salvation
II. The Same Salvation
A. Easy—Who-so-ever (Available to all)
B. Everlasting
C. Enjoying
III. The Same Spirit
A. Convicting
1. Reproves of sin
2. Judgment
3. Righteousness
B. Controlling
1. Teaches, Guides, Influences
2. Thinking and Speaking
3. Attitude and Motive
IV. The Same Scriptures
A. God’s Word -Confusion among Christians
is lack of Bible knowledge
B. Show God’s will
1. All men to be saved—then follow him
C. Teaches God’s Way
1. Truth, Mercy, Love
V. The Same Service—Win the Lost
A. The Master—He is the Potter. We are the
clay
B. The Motive
1. Love for him
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If you ever want to see God, stretch the limits. –Dr. Ford
GOLD NUGGETS
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GOLD NUGGETS
God starts where you end. When was the last time you had a miracle? –Dr. Ford
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