by Pastor Wes Wingo

We learned last month that the Apostle Paul told Timothy to “Fight the good fight of faith and lay hold on eternal life.” He called it a “good fight” because it is a fight we win. Jesus already battled the enemy and obtained the victory for us, but we must become the enforcers of that victory in our own lives.

You and I have been called into the army of God for the purpose of living as His children, declaring the Good News of the Gospel and fulfilling the Great Commission. Jesus summed it up in Mark 16:15-20 with these words: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved . . . these signs shall follow them that believe . . . they shall cast out devils . . . speak with new tongues . . . take up serpents . . . if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them . . . they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover . . . They went forth, and preached . . . the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.”

Take a look at that last verse again. It says: Jesus worked with them confirming the Word with signs following. How great is that! Jesus was right there with them confirming His Word and healing all who were oppressed of the devil. Just take a look at Acts 10:38 to see how this played out in the lives of the disciples, and how it can play out in our lives too.

And, 1 John 3:8 says, “. . . For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” The devil fights against the children of God because we are destroying his works! It is our purpose. And that’s why God equips us and Jesus works right alongside us as we carry out His orders.

We’re Equipped

The bottom line is that we are equipped to walk in victory. Second Timothy 2:4-5 also tells us there are rules to this fight and not to be entangled with the affairs of this life. We are fighting a spiritual battle, and though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. Our weapons are not carnal but mighty through God for pulling down strongholds. To win, we must cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (see 2 Corinthians 10:2-5).

That means we’re in a battle of the mind—a battle of knowing what is truth and what is a lie—knowing what is rightfully ours and laying hold on it in the spiritual realm. Scattershot hopes and prayers won’t work. We have to aim at the target and make a direct hit in faith and with the Word to win.

Next month, we’ll tackle the subject of praying strategic prayers and putting on the supernatural armor God has given us. Don’t miss it!

The Apostle Paul told his protégé Timothy to fight! Why would he do this when the Gospel promotes love and good will? Because Paul knew there was an enemy stalking the land who was trying to keep Timothy from seizing something valuable and precious that belonged to him. Paul knew something many people don’t realize. He understood that that Timothy (and all Christians) had been given dominion, or authority, in this earth. He knew Adam had sinned in the Garden of Eden and given up his rightful place to the enemy of mankind, Satan—but Paul also knew Jesus Christ came to earth, defeated Satan and restored that authority to man.
To get a visual image of this, think of a bully swaggering up and snatching away a precious gift a dad had placed in the hands of his child. How would that parent react? He would thump that little thief on the head, grab back the gift and return it to his son. But suppose the tyrant was still around later when Dad wasn’t. No doubt the bully would try to steal the gift again. He would pester, heckle and torment the child, try to bargain with him, or even force him into giving up his precious gift. Sooner or later though, the child would get wise to the thief’s tricks. He’d be strong enough to defend and protect what rightfully belonged to him.
The Gift of Authority
That’s what the battle is like in the spiritual world. The issue of world dominion has already been fought and won by our Lord Jesus Christ. Yet Satan still tries to bully us; and we must contend with him. But like that child growing up, we’ve been getting wiser and stronger. We are learning how to “fight the good fight of faith” so we can walk in the gift of authority that has already been given to us. We are learning to be victorious and “lay hold on eternal life” as Paul went on to say in 1Timothy 6:12.
How do we actually fight that good fight of faith? What do we have to do to win? That’s what we’ll talk about next month. We’ll learn how to seize that victory Jesus has secured for us.
After all a “good fight” is a fight we win! Now Paul wouldn’t have said that if he didn’t know God “always causeth us to triumph in Christ . . .” (2 Corinthians 2:14).

“I can’t go to church, it’s full of hypocrites,” is a statement often heard and said. But have you really considered what it means to be a “hypocrite”?

The harshest words spoken by Jesus were directed toward hypocrites—legalistic, religious leaders of the day (Matthew 23). He rebuked these men for being prideful and focused on rules, appearance, titles and position. “Hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs” He said, “—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity . . .” (Matthew 23:27, NLT).

Immediately after that strong statement, scripture tells us Jesus grieved over His people, saying, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me” (verse 37).

In other words, the Lord loved and wanted to help these hypocrites. All it would have taken was a willingness on their part to allow Him to do so. The same is true for every person today. Humility will get us everywhere with God. No doubt there are hypocrites in churches, just like there are liars, murderers, back-biters, adulterers, covetous people . . . SINNERS in churches! Why is that so? Because sinners live among us — they are us! The Church actually is a hospital for sinners.

Christians are not called to judge others. The Lord made that plain enough when He addressed the crowd gathered to enforce the law and kill a woman caught in adultery. He said, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her” (John 8:7).

We need to throw down the stones. Let the rocks drop. And focus our attention on loving God and loving others. Church is all about coming together as the family of God, learning His Word and His ways, and providing support for each other as we grow in the Lord. Our church life should be the most rewarding and uplifting experience of each week. It should be a place that will help us overcome our weaknesses, and become healthy, spirit, soul and body. A consistent church life will strengthen us and help us stay on the right course.

Jesus said people would know we’re His disciples by our love for one another, not by our judgment of one another’s faults. Let’s not be robbed of this great gift as the family of God by being consumed with the flaws in others. None of us are perfect . . . only forgiven.

Words Are Nuclear!
I know there are times when we may feel we need to “vent” to someone in order to get a clear perspective on a situation. But be sure you know that person’s character before you open your mouth and reveal personal details about your life. Proverbs 11:13 says, “A talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter” (New King James Version). A friend who will hold confidential information and not have to tell at least one other person is a rare find. If you’re not careful about who you tell, before you know it, your story will be retold to “just one person” so many times that it becomes blown out of proportion beyond recognition. Words can be nuclear! Gossip stirs up strife, destroys reputations and rips relationships apart.
In other words, gossip and wrong words hurt people. Did you know that one negative word about an individual will taint the hearer’s perspective of that person? Proverbs 18:8 tells us, “The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly” (King James Version).
On the other hand, James 3 tells us if we can control the tongue, we can be perfect. Imagine that! Folks, the grapevine has to stop somewhere. Proverbs 26:20 says, “Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no talebearer, strife ceases” (NKJV). The heart of the Lord is love. Let’s do what Jesus said and love our enemies, bless them that curse us, do good to them that hate us, and pray for them (see Matthew 5:44).
And, let’s talk of the goodness of God and rejoice and praise Him for the wondrous things He’s done! Let’s not be part of the problem, but part of the solution. We can cut that grapevine off at the root! When we do, we’ll discover “how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1, KJV).

Chris Atkinson, Pastor

Centennial Baptist Church

I am a prayer minister in the body of Jesus Christ, and I am a member of Florissant Church of Christ. I have been in this ministry for the past ten years. I have experienced the power of God through prayer and I have seen God do miracles.  God is still doing miraculous things through prayer today. I have had the privilege to be involved with Angel Food Ministries through Centennial Baptist Church and Pastor Chris Atkinson. I am part of a prayer group on distribution day that prays for the people who volunteer and pass out food, as well as the people who come to pick up their food. I?ve seen God?s hand at work in the lives as we have prayed for them on distribution day. We serve a good God, SEEK, ASK, BELIEVE and we will receive.

Brother George Barnes

G.R.I.P.E.

Get Attention

People have an innate desire to connect with others.  It is human nature to want others to notice us.  In an attempt to try and connect, people often open conversations with complaints.

Remove Responsibility

A person will often complain to you as a means of playing situational “hot potato.”  Their complaining to you is a way of saying, “The problem was mine; it’s now yours, you deal with it!”

Inspire Envy

Complaining is a form of bragging.  When a person complains they are implying that they do not possess whatever negative attribute they are complaining about.  The complaint is a testament to their superiority; they are bragging.

Power

People use complaints as a way of lobbying for a majority position of control.  They are trying to sway you to their side thereby giving their position more power and authority.

Excuse Poor Performance

A person may complain of a scratchy throat before singing in public.  A child may complain of a stomach ache before a test.  These complaints are often attempts to lower the expectations of the person they are complaining to and to pre-excuse possible poor performance.

Do you see in these internal motivations reasons why you complain?  How about your friends, family or coworkers?

Watch for these things and when you are tempted to complain, draw a deep breath and count your blessings instead.

I already have it scheduled for Jan. magazine. Carroll is getting me more info, and I will interview these folks, and get quotes from you to include in the article. Hopefully that will also give us a few months to get great feedback from those who have ordered the Special! Also in next month’s newsletter to host sites, I’ve planned for us (you) to “talk it up” a bit more to HS directors—and give them some added info about the product, etc.

Dan and I got our first AFM orders this weekend. We also distributed Senior Meals at the retirement community. It was a blessing to pray with a few Seniors—so many are so lonely. Met a few volunteers from Angel Food too—really sweet people who love the program. As we were standing in the parking lot getting ready to take meals in, a couple pulled up to check on becoming residents. I spoke with them, and told them we were with Angel Food and began telling them about AFM—she said, “Oh Honey, we just picked up our Angel Food this morning in North Richland Hills! We couldn’t live without it.” And then she went on and on. It was fun to hear, once more, unexpectedly, how AFM is touching lives and making a difference!

God bless,

Kim Clement

Managing Editor

Angel Food Ministries

770.866.437

Dear Pastors Wingo,

My name is Melissa Murphy. I live in Irvington, Alabama and though not able to serve through my own church, I am blessed to serve here at First Baptist Church Grand Bay. I am writing this to share with you how and why I think this is such an awesome ministry.

During this month, on one of my days taking orders a phone call came into the office of the church concerning AF. I took that call. The lady explained that she had just brought her mother home form the hospital and could not leave her to come to the church and place their order. After finding out that they did not have a computer to do this on line I ask where they lived. It wasn’t to far down the road so I said I would gladly come to them…. I have been sitting here for ten minutes trying to find a way to convey what I found without taking away from their obvious love for one another and what seems to be ignorance of their situation. (Ignorance, I really don’t like that word). Set back off the road, on a wooded lot was a small maybe two bedroom house. As I got out of my car I saw Deborah and her son. We introduce ourselves. She introduced me to her charming, twentyish, severely mentally challenged son who wanted to play hide and seek with me. Finally, we got to the business of AF. Once that was completed and I was once again in my car, after backing out the drive I sat and prayed to God to bless this family and to thank him for every thing in my life. For there by the Grace of God go I.

I will never take another breath of air without smelling the stench, I will never take another bath without seeing their dirty feet, I will never enjoy watching my grandchildren play “hide and seek” without seeing Jason’s smiling face nor enjoy the simplest pleasures without thinking of this family.

This is in no way a condemnation of this family. It is in fact what I believe God wanted me to see. Not simply sit behind a desk and take orders but put myself out there where the people are.

I have from the first time I read about Angel Food Ministry wanted to be involved. I want to thank you both for all you do in the name of God and for this ministry. May you continue to grow in this time of economic crisis so that you can touch other families like Deborah’s.

Yours in Christ,

Melissa Murphy

This prestigious award is given to one church each year for humanitarian work in their community and throughout the United States. Emmanuel Praise Church was nominated along with 15 other churches across Georgia known for their outreach and benevolent impact on their community.

The Gospel Choice/Pepsi Bottling Group’s Award was presented Monday, Sept. 29th at the World Congress Center in Atlanta, as Executive Pastor Wes Wingo from Emmanuel Praise was on hand to accept the award. Pastor Wingo was thankful to receive the award on behalf of the church and Angel Food Ministries.

“One of our founding core values at Emmanuel Praise has always been to lend a helping hand to families in need. God has blessed this church as we have reached out to help feed thousands in our local community and millions across America,” Pastor Wingo said.

Founders, Pastors Joe and Linda Wingo, began feeding 37 families in need from the back porch of their farmhouse in 1994. Since then, Emmanuel Praise Church has impacted the lives of millions of people through the founding of Angel Food Ministries. Each month, hundreds of thousands of families across the United States are impacted by this food ministry. Throughout the local community and the nation, Emmanuel Praise Church and its Pastors are known for their great generosity and compassion for the poor and hurting.

Emmanuel Praise Church is truly humbled and honored by the voters who chose them as this year’s Gospel Choice Church of the Year recipient.

Oh Happy Day!