How many of us can now remember our parent(s) asking, “Are you listening to me?” Or instructing us, “You better listen!” I will lead by saying, “I can!” Not only were we not listening at times, but we also weren’t hearing and heeding (obeying) their advice, instruction, correction, or warning concerning life. But I know had I listened, heard, and heeded my parents’ teaching, I would not have experienced some of the things I put myself through. But, PRAISE GOD, He works all things together for the good of those who love Him!
You may ask, “What does that have to do with the topic?”
When we were children, we put our faith in our parents. We put our trust in them without even thinking about it. We believed that they would provide for us. Our dependence was on them to protect us. Intriguing, we have this element within, called faith, by virtue of being created in GOD’s image—a seed waiting to be nurtured and developed.
And so, it is with GOD and His Redemptive Work through CHRIST JESUS. Our ability to believe, trust, and depend on Him for all He has promised must be cultivated by our faith in Him and His Word. We are to cultivate our “measure of faith” distributed to us by GOD. “Faith comes from GOD” (Dr. Oscar J. Nelson Dowdell-Underwood). Our faith starts as the “mustard seed” sown in the ground that Jesus spoke of in Luke 17:6. How is our faith cultivated?
The inspired Word of GOD says:
“So then, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of GOD.” Romans 10:17
“But how will people call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a PREACHER (messenger)? And how will they preach unless they are COMMISSIONED AND SENT [for that purpose] . . .?” – Romans 10:14-15
Now, at this point, some will either stop reading or begin to dispute this article. How often have you heard or said, “I can hear GOD for myself.” “I read my Bible!” “I don’t need man to tell me what GOD is saying.” We do good to read and STUDY the Word of GOD. However, the following is GOD’S inspired Word, not my own. And His WORD is TRUTH!
“THEREFORE IT IS SAID, When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive AND HE bestowed gifts to men . . . And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles (SPECIAL MESSENGERS), some prophets (INSPIRED PREACHERS AND EXPOUNDERS), some evangelists (PREACHERS OF THE GOSPEL, TRAVELING MISSIONARIES), some pastors (SHEPHERDS OF HIS FLOCK) and teachers.”
Ephesians 4:11
JESUS, Himself, did the appointing of gifts to us and for us, INSPIRED (anointed) PREACHERS that HE bestowed His gift upon! And for what purpose?
“His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the church), [THAT IT MIGHT DEVELOP] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [FULL AND ACCURATE] KNOWLEDGE OF THE SON OF GOD, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ’s own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him.”
Ephesian 4:12-13
The Word of GOD is not a “have it your way” order. His order or way of doing is established for us so we can experience His Jeremiah 29:11 life.
“For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
Again, the Word of GOD says, “Do not withhold good from those whom it is due, when it is in your power to act” (Proverbs 3:27). With a heart of gratitude and thanksgiving, by the Power of the HOLY Spirit, I take this opportunity to honor my APOSTLE, PROPHET, EVANGELIST, PASTOR and TEACHER, and spiritual father, Dr. Nelson Dowdell-Underwood, founder and Senior Pastor of Cathedral of Praise Ministries, Int’l – home of The Destiny Dome Embassy (DDE@COPI). With all my heart, I believe it to be pre-ordained by GOD for me. Why? Because GOD knows all things. He alone is OMNISCIENT! He knows His plans He has for me and who He had already called, chosen, anointed, and sent forth to feed, nurture and develop my GOD-given seed of faith and potential. His gift, in the person of Dr. Nelson Dowdell-Underwood, is for my perfecting and equipping that I may be established by faith in the Word of GOD, see with my spiritual eyes the fleshed-out LOVE of GOD, and be developed for the work of building up and encouraging CHRIST’S Body and the unbeliever, by proclaiming The GOOD NEWS, The GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST!
Until we meet again in Cyber Space,
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing [THROUGH THE EXPERIENCE OF YOUR FAITH] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promises”
(Romans 15:13).
Betty Hines is a native of Southampton County, VA. She currently resides in Ft. Wayne, IN, serving as an Administrative Assistant in her church after she retired from 20 years of employment in Administration/Leadership in a local company.
She is very compassionate concerning the well-being of others, which is her reasoning for her Christian ministry studies at Cornerstone Christian Bible College, Int’l, where Dr. Oscar Nelson Dowdell-Underwood is the founder and President in
Ft. Wayne, IN. Her passion is to delve deeper and deeper into the Word of GOD to get the revelation needed to serve GOD’S people by intimately knowing GOD and His purpose and plan for all of humanity.
“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Glory of the LORD as the
waters cover the sea.” – Habakkuk 2:14 NIV