Comments for έπιμένω - epimeno http://www.emmausministries.org/epimeno "...continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast..." (Col. 1:23) Sat, 04 Jul 2009 05:40:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Comment on He who trusts in his own heart is a fool by Bill http://www.emmausministries.org/epimeno/?p=19&cpage=1#comment-3 Bill Sat, 04 Jul 2009 05:40:47 +0000 http://www.emmausministries.org/epimeno/?p=19#comment-3 A good, solid, word, Pastor Tim. In what I firmly believe are the last days, every redeemed Christian needs to draw and stay closer to Christ Jesus and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Only then can we possibly be used to fulfill the Great Commission. And it this is true of all Christians, how much more for those set aside and called to lead. We must guard our hearts and spirits all the more so that Christ may trust us and use us for His Kingdom. May our Lord and Savior richly bless you, your family, and your ministry in Calif. and around the world through your evangelism and missions efforts. Bill A good, solid, word, Pastor Tim. In what I firmly believe are the last days, every redeemed Christian needs to draw and stay closer to Christ Jesus and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Only then can we possibly be used to fulfill the Great Commission. And it this is true of all Christians, how much more for those set aside and called to lead. We must guard our hearts and spirits all the more so that Christ may trust us and use us for His Kingdom.

May our Lord and Savior richly bless you, your family, and your ministry in Calif. and around the world through your evangelism and missions efforts.

Bill

]]> Comment on He who trusts in his own heart is a fool by Timothy Manchester http://www.emmausministries.org/epimeno/?p=19&cpage=1#comment-2 Timothy Manchester Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:22:51 +0000 http://www.emmausministries.org/epimeno/?p=19#comment-2 epimeno, a wonderful word, which also may be a key word for current ministers of the wonderful gospel of Jesus. We ministers have helps for all facets of church life and ministry: leadership development, conflict resolution, sermon preparation, Bible studies, small groups, personal development (intellectually and spiritually), etc. However, all the helps in the world will not cover weakness in personal anointing. This anointing is fueled by daily, healthy relationship with Jesus. It has been to my dismay (when my anointing is fractured by neglect of cultivating intimacy with Jesus) and my joy (when that anointing is in a current state of health) to learn this truth about gifts and the anointing. The anointing in one's personal life fuels success, even in personal areas of weakness. For example, I am not highly gifted in evangelism. Nevertheless, I have seen the Holy Spirit use me to lead souls to Christ when the anointing is present, when intimacy with Jesus is in a current state of health. On the other hand, it has been my experience that no amount of training can cover the lack of anointing. Ministry without healthy intimacy with Christ and the accompanying anointing yields a result much like seed thrown on rocky soil, the plant rises to quickly die because the roots are shallow. I would suggest that today’s modern church ministry involves a high level of gravitation to highly-gifted leaders that sows the seeds of failure, because the emphasis is on the gift, and public display, rather than on the inner character that produces fruit that lasts. The leader realizes this and knowingly or not tends to keep his gift foremost, rather than his devotional life. The leaves of the plant flourish while the roots are dying. This would explain the destruction of so many well-known ministers. Is it the minister’s fault that he yields to his gift, rather than to the Gift-giver, in order to retain his prominence? Yes. But the congregation is at fault as well, for seeking outward displays without requiring, and pursuing for themselves, the inward anointing. The church of Jesus Christ suffers because epimeno, continuing in holiness and anointing and intimacy with Jesus, is neglected in favor of instant gratification, in the pulpit and in the pew. Jesus, let epimeno return as a hallmark of church life! epimeno, a wonderful word, which also may be a key word for current ministers of the wonderful gospel of Jesus. We ministers have helps for all facets of church life and ministry: leadership development, conflict resolution, sermon preparation, Bible studies, small groups, personal development (intellectually and spiritually), etc. However, all the helps in the world will not cover weakness in personal anointing.
This anointing is fueled by daily, healthy relationship with Jesus. It has been to my dismay (when my anointing is fractured by neglect of cultivating intimacy with Jesus) and my joy (when that anointing is in a current state of health) to learn this truth about gifts and the anointing. The anointing in one’s personal life fuels success, even in personal areas of weakness.
For example, I am not highly gifted in evangelism. Nevertheless, I have seen the Holy Spirit use me to lead souls to Christ when the anointing is present, when intimacy with Jesus is in a current state of health. On the other hand, it has been my experience that no amount of training can cover the lack of anointing. Ministry without healthy intimacy with Christ and the accompanying anointing yields a result much like seed thrown on rocky soil, the plant rises to quickly die because the roots are shallow.
I would suggest that today’s modern church ministry involves a high level of gravitation to highly-gifted leaders that sows the seeds of failure, because the emphasis is on the gift, and public display, rather than on the inner character that produces fruit that lasts. The leader realizes this and knowingly or not tends to keep his gift foremost, rather than his devotional life. The leaves of the plant flourish while the roots are dying. This would explain the destruction of so many well-known ministers.
Is it the minister’s fault that he yields to his gift, rather than to the Gift-giver, in order to retain his prominence? Yes. But the congregation is at fault as well, for seeking outward displays without requiring, and pursuing for themselves, the inward anointing.
The church of Jesus Christ suffers because epimeno, continuing in holiness and anointing and intimacy with Jesus, is neglected in favor of instant gratification, in the pulpit and in the pew. Jesus, let epimeno return as a hallmark of church life!

]]>