Now Faith!

Now Faith! by pastor Rich Allcorn

In Hebrews 11:1, the Bible says that "Now faith" is what we need.  "Now faith" is the evidence of things hoped for, the assurance of things not yet seen!    (ref:  Hebrews 11:1)

Have I got your attention?  Let's take a look at this "now faith".  From what we just read, "now faith" is evidence ... "the" evidence, of what you're hoping for!  What is evidence? 

ev- i - dence  [ev-i-dins] noun

1.  that which tends to prove or disprove something; grounds for belief; proof.
2.  something that makes plain or clear; an indication or sign: His flushed look was visible evidence of his fever.
3.  Law . data presented to a court or jury in proof of the facts in issue and which may include the testimony of witnesses, records, documents, or objects.

Evidence of your "now faith" is the "proof", to "make plain or clear" what you've prayed for! 

The Bible also says that "now faith" is the "assurance" of things not yet seen!  What is assurance? 

as·sur·ance  [uh-shoor-uhns] noun

1.  a positive declaration intended to give confidence: He received assurances of support for the project.

2.  promise or pledge; guaranty; surety: He gave his assurance that the job would be done.

3.  full confidence; freedom from doubt; certainty: to act in the assurance of success.

4.  freedom from timidity; self-confidence; belief in one's abilities: She acted with speed and assurance.

5.  presumptuous boldness; impudence.

6.  Chiefly British . insurance.

Now please take notice as this word's definitions really opens up some understanding here!  "Assurance" is a "positive declaration" to give evidence (or proof); a promise or pledge; full confidence; freedom from timidity (or boldness); and please notice the last one listed as "chiefly British" ... is your "insurance"?  That is a "sealed, secured backup that you will succeed" ... insurance!  

One could summarize "assurance" as your "declaration", your "promise", and your "boldness" in believing what you have applied your faith towards!  You have "insurance" that your faith "will succeed" ... because you have "assurance".  The "evidence" is your proof, that your faith has already succeeded! 

So your "now faith" is the "evidence", the "proof", the "insurance" ... that the things you've "hoped for" ... things that are "not yet seen" ... have already come to pass!  They are "done"!  It - is - established ... even before it has even happened!  And your evidence, your proof, that what you've prayed for ... that what you're "hoping for" ... has already come ... is in your confession, your boldness, and your actions! 

Take this and study it ... chew on it ... digest it! 
And glean all that you can ... until next week! 

Check out our series for the month of July where we consider the "working man" ... and we find whether the "Ward Cleaver" work routine works, or is it just a fantasy that we've been sold that keeps us in bondage. 

See ya' next week!!
Make me proud! 
- rich -


NOTE:  If you are a musician, and want to sing or play in a band, we need you!  If you've got any experience running a sound board, we need you!  If you can usher, or set up and take down P.A. equipment, please ... we need you! 

Contact me at: pastors@wordchurch.info
or call the church office at: (512) 782-9775

Following Your Dreams!

Following Your Dreams! by pastor Rich Allcorn

"Everyone has a dream, a goal in life, in which we work towards.  We strive to achieve this dream, this goal, and if we are lucky, we make it." 

That is the way the world sees success.  Luck, and a routine.  But does it really work that way?  Sometimes maybe, but not or most.  Most of us spend our lives punching a clock for somebody else ... working a "job".  We don't really strike it rich, but we "make ends meet".  In otherwords, popular to hear this or not, we "survive".  We "make a living"! 

Do these phrases sound familiar?  I hope so!  Most folks use these phrases heartily to include themselves in the rest of the crowd that is "working" ... to make a living.  "Back to the ole grindstone", they always say! 

Is this what God intended for man?  Certainly not! 
GOD created man ... for fun!  He was created to be a creature, not of habit, but one of change, of variety ... alive and growing, ever changing, and having 'fun' along the way!  You see "life" itself indicates "change".  The daily routines that we teach our kids that are "good for us" are not at all the way we are designed.  God has created man to be "ready to believe" in Him and His promises "daily".  That indicates that things are anything BUT routine! 

Do you need faith and trust in God to draw a weekly paycheck?  If your salary is regular, with vacations and health plans, and such, is that truly reality?  Ask any businessman who owns or operates his own business and he will quickly tell you, "No way!  It's a dream ..."  Oh you get your paycheck and your regular vacation time, but only because somebody else has taken up the slack and pulled it together for you ... so that there was enough money to "regularly" pay you your salary, and to "routinely" pay the expenses of having you come to work.  But I assure you, the money does not come in that way!  In no uncertain terms, the money comes in sporadic, in bunches, and groups, at random times, and with big deals closed, and sudden payments from clients.  It comes in at various rates, each and every day.  Some days, or even weeks, there is no income! 

Have I got your attention? 
Check out our series for the month of July where we consider the "working man" ... and we find whether the "Ward Cleaver" work routine works, or is it just a fantasy that we've been sold that keeps us in bondage. 

See ya' next week!!
Make me proud! 
- rich -


NOTE:  If you are a musician, and want to sing or play in a band, we need you!  If you've got any experience running a sound board, we need you!  If you can usher, or set up and take down P.A. equipment, please ... we need you! 

Contact me at: pastors@wordchurch.info
or call the church office at: (512) 782-9775 

We're Not From This Planet

Remember, the story last week about John and his trip to Canada?  Well, new developments arose and he had the opportunity to travel to Arkansas with some friends for a couple of weeks!  So, when he arrived from Canada, we had a wonderful reunion, while we washed his clothes and packed his bags ... and he left the following morning for Arkansas!

During this time John begin to feel home sick ...  We used SKYPE to talk to him.  He would call us on his little notebook computer (netbook) and we could see him, and he could see us.  The visits were great!  But it didn't help his missing us until, on Father's Day, since he had to be away from us on that day, we took the notebook computer with us and set it up in the kitchen while we were cooking! 

He got to watch us and visit with us ... and he even watched TV and played with his friend in Arkansas, all the while occasionally looking over to his PC and seeing us and hearing our conversations.  It made him feel 100% better! 

You know, "we" as Christians are NOT from this Earth.  Oh, we were born here, but our spirits were "re-born" when we received Jesus as our Lord!  When that happened, we became new creatures!  And, though we've never been there, we long for heaven!  It's a good thing to know that, like with John and using SKYPE to e-visit with us, we too can e-visit with Heaven!  We won't need SKYPE though ... just some time alone with the Father. 

If you will spend time in prayer, with God, and fellowship, it's like you've "been there" when you get through!  Try it some time and see that the "presence" of Heaven goes with you! 
As you finish reading this, please remember pastor Danny and his daughter "Abby" in your prayers!  This is important!  She has an assignment from the Father ... here in the Earth, and no demon or devil is going to interrupt that plan of God, with anything that would hinder or stop her!  We "believe" that she is totally and completely healed and whole ... in Jesus name!

Make me proud!




NOTE:  It is important that you are actively learning and growing in the knowledge of the Lord. If you are not currently in a church where they are preaching the word of God, please consider coming by for a visit! 

Trusting in God

Just last week our 12yr old son, John, left for a trip to Canada.  He traveled with a tour group from his school to Montreal and Quebec City.  This was a leap of faith for us, just in letting him go with them ... but WITHOUT US! 

The first night he was there he called us.  We had a "Canadian plan" set up on his phone so "he" could call us just like here, with no extra charges or phone bill surprises!  Anyway, we were visiting with him and he was so excited!  He was telling us about all that he had seen.  As he was talking to his Mom he suddenly said, "Mom, can you hold on just a minute ... "  He sounded worried, like something was wrong.  His Mom said, "John!  What's wrong?"  Now we could hear him breathing really fast, and it sounded like he was running!  You could hear him say, "Mom ...  I ... can't!"  and then the line went dead! 

Here we were, sitting there in our den ... our son is thousands of miles away, in another country ... and now it appears that something has gone wrong?  Was he lost?  Was someone chasing him?  Oh the devil was having a hayday with the various "possibilities" on this one!  And I assure you, he was speaking each of them into our ears as we waited!  We just sat there, looking at each other ... dumbfounded! 

What do you do?  Well, being a mother, the first thing pastor Jane did was, "I'm going to call him back!", as she was holding back the tears!!  Now I was hearing the same voices in my head that she was hearing!  However, I have a very good understanding of the spirit of fear and what it can do! 

I said, "Stop!"  Then I firmly told her, "Get a hold of your feelings on this ... NOW!"  I immediately sent a "text"!  The text to his group leader was simple:  "John is lost!"  Then I texted John and said, "Call me ... NOW!"

Then came the longest moment of silence I believe I have ever known.  What was only moments seemed like an eternity!!  As we waited, Jane was in tears, and starting to go into a panic attack.  I don't know what all goes through a mother's head in this situation, but I DO KNOW that fear opens doors to the devil, and I currently had his head stuck in the door, and I was pressing it hard!  He wasn't happy!  But neither could he get in, to my mind and my heart, or into my wife!  I was not about to let that happen!! 

I said to pastor Jane, "Honey, you have got to decide WHO are you going to trust?"  She took a deep breath ... a cleansing breath ... and let it out slowly.  You could still see it in her eyes, though ... she was terrified!  But she refused to say anything more, to ensure that she did not step into fear either!

Another moment of silence.  If we had owned a wall clock we would have heard it ticking ... tic-toc, tic-toc ... in the silence ... as we waited! 

Suddenly "my" cellphone rang.  The contact name said "John Allcorn".  I answered it.  There was a quiet voice on the other end.  It sounded rather sheepish, like he'd just had a scare and was getting over the adrenaline rush.  He said, "Dad?"  He was safe.  John was safe!  

After visiting with him, it turns out that he was talking to us on the phone and looking around, and he got separated from the group!  He started to panic!  He was running trying to find them, holding the phone in his hand.  His finger hit the hang-up button as he was frantically running, looking to see where they'd gone.  And they had already noticed him missing and were waiting for him, so there was no problem.  To him, though, he was for a few moments ... all alone, in a strange country, with his parents literally thousands of miles away! 

What do you do when you suddenly find yourself in a predicament?  Either on John's end - "lost" - or on our end, "with your little baby ... possibly lost, or running for his life, and thousands of miles from your protection"?  What do you do? 

This is important, because WHAT you do, will affect the outcome!  Faith is the force in the Kingdom of God that works on your behalf.  Fear is the perversion of that force, the opposite of that force, and it works "against" you! 

It is important in a crisis that you (1) do not fear, and (2) that you carefully select your words!  You will either say something to enable "faith" or something to open the door to the devil and all that he's been saying that "could happen"!  Is GOD faithful?  Do you trust Him ... with your son, or YOUR life?  Really?  Do you rrreally trust Him? 

Today is the time to "get into the Word" and feed your spirit man ... with faith.  Because when you are faced in a crisis situation ... an opportunity to choose faith or fear, which is it going to be?  Is your heart full of television, and examples of the very worst things that could happen?  Or it is full of faith examples of folks who have believed God and "seen" the deliverance of the Lord?  Yeah, think about it!  As for me, I was glad that my heart was "locked-in" to faith ... and my Daddy's ability to deliver me (and my son).  Will you be ready?

By the way, John finished his trip, and had a wonderful time!  But we were so, so happy to hold him in our arms once again at the airport!  Thank you so much Father ... you are faithful!

We'll be teaching on this soon!  Look us up! 
Make me proud!




NOTE:  It is important that you are actively learning and growing in the knowledge of the Lord. If you are not currently in a church where they are preaching the word of God, please consider coming by for a visit! 

Once Saved - Always Saved?

In Joshua chapter 1, verse 5, the scripture says this: 

"... As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. " 

Once saved - always saved?  I've always heard this discussion, and often pondered it, but never really took the time to address it until I was asked, personally, to comment. 

You see, I have never had a problem with my salvation, or losing it.  Some however are either in fear of losing it, or feel that they can only keep it by works.  Others feel that you can, if you're not good enough, lose your salvation.  However, the Bible does not support this discussion, not in any way, when it pertains to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and a "Believer" who is saved by that blood sacrifice of Jesus. 

The question posed to me was this: 
"Do you believe 'once saved always saved'?" 

My answer, coming straight from the Holy Spirit, was an enlightenment even to me, as it came out.  The answer was this:  "It is impossible for one to 'lose' one's salvation.  You have to 'lay it down', and that my friend is an entirely different matter." 

The Bible teaches us, as Joshua 1:5 will support, that God will never leave us or forsake us.  There is no debate about this.  It's clear and simply.  He did not use an "if", an "and" or a "but", He just said "never".  That settles that! 

There is a scripture in the Bible that speaks of the "laying down of one's salvation".  In my entire life, I've only met 1 individual in this state.  But, if were up to God, you can rest assured that "HE" will never under any circumstances allow "anything" to come between you and Him.  The only one that can do that ... is you. 

I was then asked about a scripture in Revelation 3:5 that refers to your name being "blotted out" of the Lamb's book of Life.  I was thrilled to hear the Holy Spirit's interpretation of how this one applies!  "You see, you are foreordained from before the foundations of the World ... I have already 'seen' you, and have planned for your future, a bright and wonderful future!  And your name has been written in the Lamb's book of Life from the very beginning!  But there are times when a man will not choose to accept the gift of Jesus' sacrifice ... a time which, with much sadness and tears, the name must be removed from the book, and their soul condemned to eternal damnation.  But the Father did not intend for it to be this way.  He, living by faith Himself, is 'believing' that a man will follow and receive Jesus, and learn to fulfill the plan of God for his life." 

I am looking forward, very soon, when I will be teaching on this and elaborating on these questions, and the answers that come for them.  If, though, you are only able to read this eNewsletter, remember this: 

God loves you!  He loves you so, so very much ... that He gave you His very, very best ... in Jesus!  And He has gone to great lengths to separate you ... from your sin!  And NOT ... from Him.  Trust and know that God's love for you is more than you'll ever know.  If you are experiencing problems, whether in health, in finances, or in relationships ... know that it is not God who is sending these your way.  These are a result of something you "did", or "didn't" do ... and He has the answer to overcoming it!  The great thing is ... He'll tell.

We'll be teaching on this soon!  Look us up! 
Make me proud!




NOTE:  It is important that you are actively learning and growing in the knowledge of the Lord. If you are not currently in a church where they are preaching the word of God, please consider coming by for a visit!