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GWEA Monthly Messages
Volunteer to be Perfect like our Heavenly Father
REVEREND GORDON WILLIAMS, JUNE 2018
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"Therefore be imitators of God as dear children" (Eph. 5:1).
Father's Day is a great opportunity to honour our fathers. It is also a time to pay great honour and respect to our Heavenly Father. He's our "model" Father, and the perfect example of how human fathers should behave (Gen. 1:27).
God gave us two perfect mentors (or counsellors ) - the first being Jesus (1 Jn. 2:1), and the second being the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:15:6; 16:7-15). Both Jesus and the Holy Spirit are responsible and have been appointed to transform us to be more like our Heavenly Father.
When we receive Jesus as Lord and Saviour, and are Baptized in the Holy Spirit, only then are we fully equipped to be the good parents God wants us to be! (Rom. 12:1:8; 1 Cor. 12:8;10; Gal. 5:22:23)
Every family in this world is "dysfunctional". The bible tells us that "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). After we experience the forgiveness of sin and receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (with the evidence of speaking in tongues), we will become "functional" as a family (Mk. 16:17:20; Acts 2:4). "Our ways become His ways" (Rom. 12:2) and our families continue to change into God's likeness "from glory to glory" (2 Cor. 3:17:8).
Jesus set a high standard for each Christian, and especially fathers, to be "perfect" like our heavenly Father. "You therefore, must be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matt. 5:48). This is not a commandment, but Jesus asking us to "volunteer" to be like Him. When a person receives the Holy Spirit, "God's agape love is poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us" (Rom. 5:5). God's perfect love grows within us to develop the "Fruit of the Spirit" (Gal. 5:22-23) and to have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16).
Paul defines God's agape (uh-gah-pay) or perfect love as: "Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not keep a record of wrong but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, endures all things" (1 Cor. 13: 4 -7).
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When fathers receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, they can volunteer to be perfect just as our Heavenly Father. The Greek word for perfect means to fulfill God's plans for our lives.
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jer. 29:11).
Forgiveness is ministry. It also means that when we do something wrong, we can ask for forgiveness both from Jesus and the people we have hurt or offended. Just as God forgives us, we must also forgive others. "Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you" (Eph. 4:32).
Remember, it is the Holy Spirit who shapes the family of God (Jn. 1:12;11:52; Rom. 8:16). We need to seek the Holy Spirit's guidance every day (Eph. 6:18; Rev. 2:7,11,17,29; 3: 6; 13, 22) to fulfil His plan for our lives.
"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints" (Eph. 6:18).
Please continue to pray for your earthly fathers that they can be more like our Heavenly Father, Jesus - our Saviour, Lord and Brother; and the Holy Spirit - our Counsellor and Mentor (Matt. 28:19).
 If you would like to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, healing, or encouragement, I invite you come to one of our house meetings or contact me.
Together lets testify about Jesus' grace to our family, friends, co-workers, acquaintances - anyone and everyone! Let's tell them about the signs, wonders and miracles He has done in our lives! And be sure to bless your father today and everyday!
Happy Father's Day!
 Copyright 2018. The Gordon Williams Evangelistic Association. All rights reserved
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"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." (Psalm 139:13)
All fathers and mothers are entrusted by God to prepare their children in order to accomplish God's plan for their lives. Many forget that Jesus had an earthly father as well, named Joseph, who adopted and guided him spiritually speaking (Lk. 3:23). Joseph helped prepare Jesus for ministry and to be our "Saviour of the World" (Matt. 1:20:21; Lk. 2:11).
Apostle Paul explained, the head of every man is Christ (1 Cor. 11:3). Husbands should act like and represent Jesus when governing their families. This doesn't mean that they are the "boss"! It means that husbands should "volunteer to minister to his family" (Eph. 5:21: 22). The translation, "wives and children should be subject to the husband" is an incorrect translation of the Greek. It should read "to volunteer to minister to one other."
"Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children." (Eph. 5:1) Paul wrote in the bible, Husbands love your wives at least four times in the scripture, and with "agape" love or God's perfect (complete) love. As a imitator of God, a father must know Jesus Christ as his Saviour and Lord, and be "Baptized with the Holy Spirit." We were designed in His image and entrusted with our families under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
"God's agape love is poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who is given to us" (Rom. 5:5). Only then can we be the type of father Jesus wants us to be - capable of effective ministry to our families.
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