Abiding In Christ!

.....John 15: 1-8 says, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine dresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples."

.....This passage of scripture speaks a lot about abiding in Christ. Let's look at this in a human perspective that fits us for today.

.....Suppose a person is weak. He has fallen into temptation and sin. For example - An Addict or An Alcoholic. He has made a real mess of things; and he is on his way down to a degenerate mind and heart, giving up on life, even to the point of suicide. Now suppose that he has a friend of a strong, lovely, and loving nature, who rescues him from his degraded situation. There is only one way in which he can retain his reformation and keep himself on the right path.

How you might ask?

.....He must keep contact with his friend. If he loses that contact; all of his weakness will eventually overcome him. The old temptations will rear their ugly head again, and he will fall. His salvation, ( or victory), lies in his continual contact with the strength of his friend. Many times a down and out person has been helped by someone, and while in their presence was safe, but when they went out on their own, they fell, or messed up.

.....The main point I would like to bring to your attention today is that we must keep in touch with strength of our friend, Jesus Christ. Abiding in Christ means something like what I have just explained. The secret of the strength and life of Jesus was His continuous contact with God. Again and again, He withdrew into a solitary place to meet and commune with Him. We must do the same with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We cannot do this unless we take deliberate steps, and decisions to make make it happen.

.....An example of this would be to set aside a specific time, like first thing in the morning, to pray and devote that time to God through studying His word, establishing your relationship with Him, and gaining focus for what may lay ahead of you for the day. This ultimately allows us to "Walk in the Spirit", not fulfilling the lust of the flesh.

.....For most of us, we will need a constant contact with Him, and a complete lifestyle change. It will mean rearranging our lives completely in such a way that there will never be a day when we give ourselves a chance to forget Him.

.....Our Christian Discipleship Program is about changing men's lives forever and making Disciples for Christ. There are two distinct things about being a disciple:

1. A disciple enriches his own life; his constant contact with God, through Christ, makes him a fruitful branch.

God's expectation for us is to bear fruit, not to produce it. Our faith is known to others through the good deeds that overflow from our character which is developed through Truth, and Relationship.

2. This in turn brings glory to God; the sight of His life in us turns men's thoughts to God, who created us to be in His image and likeness.

For the greatest glory of Christian life is that by our life and conduct, we can bring glory to Him.

.....One thing is clear from this passage of scripture. What Jesus calls us to do is impossible, without Him. Not difficult, not simply a struggle, not just hard, it is impossible. For apart from Him, we can do nothing, not a little, not a few things, but nothing.
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FREEDOM IN CHRIST MINISTRIES, INC.

.....The federal government estimates that there are over 22 million drug addicts, and alcoholics in the United States. Today, more than ever, with the enormous problems society faces from drugs, alcohol, crime, prostitution, depression, homelessness, etc., problems for which the world has little or no remedy... Faith-based ministries are leading the way with new and innovative ways to deal with these issues. Secular treatment programs only looked at the symptoms. Their treatment is never penetrating enough to introduce real healing and true behavioral change that is needed for most individuals to gain freedom from life controlling issues. The federal government's own research indicates that secular treatment programs have a 5 to 10 percent success rate while Faith-based programs have an 86 percent success rate.

.....Freedom In Christ Ministries has a complete program. A God empowered, Christ centered, and Holy Spirit inspired "Bible based program" designed to free the total person (spirit, soul, and body) from drugs, alcohol, and other life-controlling issues. (Anything that masters a person's life.)

.....The mission of the ministry is to provide adults and families with effective and comprehensive Faith-based solutions through a Christian Discipleship Program. The program has four phases and is from 90 days to one year long. Our objectives are to enable and empower students to find freedom from addictive behavior, become socially and emotionally healthy, physically well, and spiritually alive. This program is designed to produce graduates who function responsibly, and productively in society, establishing healthy relationships in the work place, the family, the Church, and the community. Leading individuals away from being a burden to society, to becoming a blessing in society. Equipping them with the tools needed to prosper in all things throughout their life.

.....This Discipleship Program has qualified and committed staff and volunteers dedicated to completing the goals and mission of the ministry. A caring ministry of real people, working, and praying together, helping those to grow in faith and in the knowledge of God through a Biblical approach in the study of life-controlling behaviors, encouraged sharing, and practical application. The staff has compiled valuable insights to combat these problems through the Word of God.

The ministry curriculum consists of lecture-style classes divided into two different segments:

Group Studies - which consists of a practical lineup of lecture style classes to teach practical Christian living skills.

Personal Studies - which consists of individualized study courses designed to meet the specific and targeted needs of each student.

.....The curriculum is designed to renew the mind and helps each student develop self-confidence, a balanced self-image, accountability, and dependability, thus producing a permanent behavioral change.

.....The ministry teaches The Six Steps to the Throne of God, Paul's System of Truth, and the Doctrines of Christ. Curriculum is listed below:

Six Steps to the Throne
Crucified.
Died...
Buried..
Quickened
Raised..
Seated

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Paul's System of Truth

(The Seven Pillars of Truth)

What is Man?

Who Adam was and What Adam did.

What happened to Jesus and His redemptive work.

The believers identification with Christ.

Who we are and what we now have in Christ.

How spiritual maturity comes.

The present-day Priestly ministry of Christ.

Doctrines of Christ

Repentance from Dead Works
Faith towards God
Doctrines of Baptisms
Laying-on of Hands
Doctrine of Resurrection
Eternal Judgment

Advanced Studies

The Law Fulfilled

Believers made Righteous

Force of Sin put Away

Deaths Debt has been Paid

Judged in Christ

Curse is Reversed

Satan's Power Destroyed

Man Reconciled to God

Eternal Life made Available

Blessings of Abraham

Dominion and Authority

Returned to the New Man

Kingdom of God Established on Earth

Health and Fitness

.....The ministry addresses and educates the students of the benefits of a well balanced diet, regular physical exercise, providing access to exercise equipment to the students in this program. The ministry also has engaged physicians and dentists that will donate or discount services for the students if the need arises.

Vocational Training Program

.....Our vocational training program works with other businesses, general contractors, and individuals, teaching the students different vocational skills, i.e., carpentry, drywall, painting, flooring, roofing, siding, plumbing, electrical etc., in the residential and commercial construction industry, (new and remodeling). Also skills in the horticultural industry, i.e., lawn maintenance, landscaping, irrigation. The goal here is to equip the students with the ability and skills to find work or start a business and become productive members in society upon graduation.

Outreach Program

.....The ministry also does volunteer work in the community such as providing services for the elderly or handicap individuals in need of remodeling or repairs in their homes to fulfill their needs. Our ministry believes in reaching out to others and being a blessing to the community, i.e., building ramps, widening doors, installing handicap tubs and showers, handicap accessories, and winterizing homes to help keep utility bills down.

.....The vocational training program and outreach program will teach students a solid Christian work-ethic that will give them a foundation of responsibility, a positive attitude, and integrity in how a job is to be done when they return to the work force.

Aftercare - Re-entering Society

.....Upon completion of any of the four phases of the discipleship program, the ministry will help the students find employment, and become involved and accountable in a local church for further mentoring and growth. This aspect of the ministry is one of the keys for reinforcing the positive behavioral changes leading to a successful life.

.....Your donations to Freedom In Christ Ministries, Inc. allow people with life controlling issues to have the opportunity to receive the help they really need. God's Help. Through a Faith-based program designed to free the total person (spirit, soul, and body).Your giving shows God's love to them... helping them... Breaking the Chains of Life Controlling Issues.

.....Freedom In Christ Ministries, Inc. is a non-profit organization and every contribution is completely tax deductible. May God Richly Bless You.

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