Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Members of the Body of Christ




Members of His Body
March 3, 2011
By Bishop Rick Wallace

24Then [God] is gracious to him and says, Deliver him from going down into the pit [of destruction]; I have found a ransom (a price of redemption, an atonement)! Job 33:24 AMP

Divine healing is just divine life. It is the headship of Christ over the body. It is the life of Christ in the frame. It is the union of our members with the very body of Christ and the inflowing life of Christ in our living members. It is as real as His risen and glorified body. It is as reasonable as the fact that He was raised from the dead and is a living Man with a true body and a rational soul today at God's right hand.
That living Christ belongs to us in all His attributes and powers. We are members of His body, His flesh and His bones, and if we can only believe and receive it, we may live upon the very life of the Son of God. Lord, help me to know "the Lord for the body and the body for the Lord.'
--A. B. Simpson

"The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty." (Zeph. 3:17). This text of scripture carries such truth and that truth itself bears a wealth of promissory influence. We can find so much hidden in this simple, yet profound phrase. The Lord thy God in the midst of you is mighty. This passage in the book of Zephaniah is actually eschatological in that it speaks of future and final events; however, it still has application in principle. God is God in all that he does and in all that He is. The Principle in mind here is that God is always faithful and providential to his people. This scripture also points to the might of God to stand in the stead of his people. This is the reason Paul could say that he would rather boast in his weaknesses; because he understood that in his weaknesses the power of God was manifested in completion. This means that at those moments when you are not able to stand on your own, those moments when the problem seems larger than life, those times when the minimal hope that you have is waning, God shows Himself in awesome and powerful ways in those very moments. It is in your darkness that the power of God functions greatest.


God never superimposes Himself into your situation. When you are functioning on your own and in your own power, God allows you to do so, or at least allows you to try. What God is waiting on is that moment of brokenness, that place in which you realize that you are not equipped to handle the situation on your own. Listen to what King David says:
15O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
    16For You delight not in sacrifice, or else would I give it; You find no pleasure in burnt offering.(C)
    17My sacrifice [the sacrifice acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart [broken down with sorrow for sin and humbly and thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise. (Psalm 51:15-17 AMP)
David is praying to God concerning his sin with Beersheba and he makes a profound statement being that this is an Old Testament undertaking. He acknowledged that what God truly desired was something he could work with. He wanted a spirit that had been broken of its arrogance. He needed a soul that had been sifted of its implacability. He needed a mind that was now open to truth instead of deception. He needed someone that would put their own self aside in order to allow the Lord to do what it is that he does. It is interesting here that David knew that even what he did in his sin with Beersheba God was able to remove the stain of guilt and make him once again clean. This does not in any way imply that the consequences of his actions were removed. We know that David literally dealt with the consequences of those actions for the remainder of his life. What I am more focused on here today is the fact that David understood that it was through God that healing came.
When I say healing I mean healing in the biblical sense. In the biblical sense there is a difference from a cure or resolution and complete healing. The cure is the removal of the ailment, whether it be physical, spiritual, or psychological; whereas, healing is the complete restoration of something to its original and intended state. For instance, you can be delivered from an addiction, but still not have the peace and settlement you once enjoyed. You have been cured, but he healing is not yet complete. Now there are definitely some 12 steppers out there wanting to remind me that there is no cure for chemical dependency; once an addict always an addict. To that I simply quote scripture:

"So if the Son (BB)makes you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36 NASB)
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 cor. 5:17 KJV)

We need to stop believing everything that enemy tells us and start to trust in the Word of God. God said it is His Word that accomplishes His will.
 11So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
If God has revealed it to us in His Word, than we need to stand on it and stop allowing outside influences to impose their philosophies upon us. Either God is God and He has the power to heal and deliver or He is not and He doesn’t. The question is will you trust him. Our opening scripture says, I have found atonement or redemption. The magnanimous work of Christ at Calvary provided what is known as substitutional atonement. This means that Christ step in on our behalf and with that provided the expiation (to pay the price or redeem) necessary to reconcile us to God. Scripture tells us that when we receive Christ as our Lord and Savior we are placed positionally in Christ. What this means is that in the same way that we were seminally present in Adam at the fall and therefore considered guilty of the sin he committed, we were spiritually present with Christ when that sin was atoned for.
12Therefore, just as through(X)one man sin entered into the world, and (Y)death through sin, and (Z)so death spread to all men, because all sinned--
 13for until the Law sin was in the world, but (AA)sin is not imputed when there is no law.
 14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned(AB)in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a[a](AC)type of Him who was to come.
 15But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of (AD)the one(AE)the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by (AF)the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.
 16The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand (AG)the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification.
 17For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned(AH)through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will(AI)reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
 18So then as through (AJ)one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one (AK)act of righteousness there resulted(AL)justification of life to all men.
 19For as through the one man's disobedience (AM)the many(AN)were made sinners, even so through (AO)the obedience of the One (AP)the many will be made righteous.
 20(AQ)The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, (AR)grace abounded all the more,
 21so that, as (AS)sin reigned in death, even so (AT)grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
This position in Christ comes with some awesome benefits. The power available to us through our position is infinite. Yet we so often sit around defeated and accepting whatever the enemy throws our way. Being placed in position with Christ means that we have become one with Him and share in who he is and what He has.
16"(AN)They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
 17"(AO)Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.
 18"As (AP)You sent Me into the world, (AQ)I also have sent them into the world.
 19"For their sakes I (AR)sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be (AS)sanctified (AT)in truth.
 20"I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word;
 21that they may all be one;(AU)even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, (AV)so that the world may believe that (AW)You sent Me. (John 17:16-21 NASB)
In the word atonement is a truth that the enemy definitely does not want you to see: When atonement is made it removes the curse associated with the sin that brought it about in the first place.
8The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "(L)ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU."
 9So then (M)those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.
 10For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, "(N)CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM."
 11Now that (O)no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "(P)THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."
 12However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, "(Q)HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM."
 13Christ (R)redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, "(S)CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON(T)A TREE"--
 14in order that (U)in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we (V)would receive (W)the promise of the Spirit through faith.

The curse has been taken away. We are no longer under curse; so why then are so many of us still walking in them? We need to walk in the newness of transformation and redemption.
I want each of you to understand that the enemy is working to rob you of your inheritance. He is looking to convince you that you are without hope. I am here to tell you now that as you reside in Christ walk in your position with Him. Allow the Spirit to guide you. Whatever you are dealing with, give it to God. Walk in the power of your calling and stand in the strength and power of God. The Lord God in the midst of you is mighty. This does not only point to the power of God, but also to the fact that He is in the midst of His people. He is always present. God is looking to heal your land. This means He desires to restore and rebuild all that has been taken and destroyed by the spoiler. I urge you to submit to him and allow Him to work through you and He will also work in you. Stop meandering through the maze of mediocrity. Stop living in the shadows of doused hopes. Stop living under the weight of fear and guilt. Step out on faith, walk in your purpose, pursue your destiny,  and live in your aristocratic appointment.

Claim your victory in every situation.
I pray that you have been blessed and that your are encouraged to continue the course.

Sincerely,

Bishop Rick Wallace
Founder & President
Rick Wallace Ministries
100 Men of Purpose

I invite each of you to join me on my blog www.theinvisiblefather.blogspot.com and read my contributions as well as leave your own comments. I would love to have your input.

Also you can purchase the Video DVD of my Sermon 8 in 8: Eight reasons to give praise in Romans chapter 8. Just click the "Buy Now" to the right of this page. Thank you. 


Sermon 8 In 8

Hello All,

I would like to make you aware that I am now selling copies of my full length sermons on Video DVD from this sight. The proceeds from these sales will go for the furtherance of the ministries goals. I believe that this sermon will bless you in an unbelievable way. Simply look to the right of this posting for the Buy Now Tab and choose the number of Discs you desire to purchase and press Buy Now. Your support of the ministry will be immensely appreciated.

Sincerely,

Rick Wallace

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

A World Apart

We are called to come out from among the World; not is a sense of alienation, but in the sense of distinction. It is become increasingly lucid to me the immense impact that secularism has had on this nation and the Christian faith over the past forty years. We have moved so far from where we once stood that what was clear to us just a decade ago has either become blurred on totally blocked out. The once clear distinction of the believer from the world has been marred by acceptance of what is not acceptable. The lines have been blurred by the ambiguity of  transcultural commingling.

We as Christian believers have lost our way in such a way that the immensity of our social impact has dissipated. We have in many ways gone from the aristocrat to being just one of the boys. Don't get me wrong, I have told you many times before that I do not preach from the platform of perfection, but from the oasis of a transformed heart. With that being said, I do not speak on this issue with a judgmental tone, but simply as one bringing forth revelation. In everything I preach I preach as it is given to me by the Holy-Spirit. We are being called to walk in our uniqueness as a peculiar people called out by God.

We are at a pivotal point in the history of the faith. The world is watching to see what we will do. I was speaking with a friend today and we were discussing he subtle way that the enemy is infiltrating the ranks of Christianity and ultimately dismantling the moral foundation of a nation that was once rich in its Christian heritage. The subliminal messages that are in the music we love to listen to, the subtle suggestions we find in the TV shows we watch, and the many media and marketing avenues that have targeted our children. if we don't take a stand now we will be overrun. The Christian nucleus of this nation was so strong at one point and time that it was the overwhelming influence in every major sector of society. From politics to media, the power of Christian influence was felt. We voted our faith and we stood unwavering on Christian values. We are not only at a point where we have abandoned so many of these principals, but we have done it with no embarrassment or guilt whatsoever. The world has sold us a corrupted an worthless bill of goods and we have happily accepted it.

The Word of God used to be the substratum of the Christian faith now we find all sorts of secular philosophies intertwined in our beliefs. Once again, let me be lucidly clear, I am not speaking so much to the Christian that is struggling with his weaknesses, because he knows that he has not arrived and is seeking the complete transformation. Being aware of your need to change ultimately brings you to a point of decision. That decision is whether or not to trust God and the power of the Holy-Spirit to completely change and renew you. It is for most and progressive walk on a continuum toward spiritual maturity and ultimate sanctification. Who I am speaking directly to here is the believer that is claiming Jesus and yet accepting false ideologies taught by deceptive men. Not the believer that is striving, but the believer that is content in his waywardness.

This is the time that we must rise up and live in our destiny. This is the time when we must stand when others fall away. This is the time when we must press forward in purpose and refuse to relent in the face of adversity. This is the time when we must never allow the outward circumstances to dictate the inward conviction. It is time to be the committed believers we were designed to be. I call on each you to come and join me, not simply in word and acknowledgement, but join in the battle to take back our nation. Be a part of a movement that will revive the waning hopes of every yearning heart in this country. It is time to stop talking about the commitment and it is past time to move in purpose. Each of you were designed to play a role in the execution of the plan of God. Somewhere somehow we have moved off course. It has become about self-fulfillment It has become a what is in it for me movement.

Let me tell you something, if you think that Christ died to present you with eternal life so that you can sit around and suck everything out of the kingdom without contributing anything, you are sadly mistaken. As you will see by my next sermon, that the Word promises that without the bearing of the cross, there can be no wearing of the crown. Here is your wake up call: It is not about you my friend, you were created, saved, and preserved for service. I ask you now who is willing to unite is this cause of revival?


Thank you,

Bishop Rick Wallace

P.S. To all those that are in the Dallas area, Bishop Rick Wallace will be conducting a live offsite Bible Study on the book of Romans at Panera Bread 3826 Lemmon Ave, Dallas, Texas - (214) 443-0880. The first Study will be on Saturday, April 2, 2011 at 11:00 am. For those that are interested please inbox Bishop Wallace. We look forward to seeing you there as we unlock the power of God in His infallible Word.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Invisible Father Video

Sending a Message to the World

 I have been told that my book The Invisible Father has great content and would be an awesome blessing, but the market for the book is unique. The demographic audience that the book would appeal to is difficult to reach. I see this as a problem. This is why: We have a massive epidemic in the way of absentee fatherhood on our hands and it affects this country as a whole, believers and none believers alike. It affects the wealthy and the poor, either directly or indirectly. IFS is an indicator of the direction this country is headed in and swiftly. The inner yearnings and cries of our youth that are being expressed in acts of suicide, teen pregnancy, gang affiliation and more are the direct result of absent fathers. Yet, we are content with minimal attention given and even less action taken to rectify the situation. We have to send a message that our children matter. We have to send a message to advertising and marketing agents that Christians would much rather read a book that is biblically founded and addresses a spiritual and social issue of great concern than to read the next great sex novel. Yes, that is probably what the world desires, that next great Zane masterpiece, but is that what the people of God should yearning. Shouldn't we be about our fathers business. We are told to expose the deeds of unrighteousness by our righteous acts. I am asking each of you right now to help me make the publishing of this book a reality. You will be helping me attack one of the most pernicious machinations ever devised by the enemy; the destruction of an entire generation through filial abandonment. Please visit www.gofundme.com/The-Invisible-Father

I thank each of you in advance for your help.

Bishop Rick Wallace

Sunday, March 20, 2011

The Publishing Of The Invisible Father: Reversing the Curse of a Fatherless Generation

To each of you that will read this blog. I pray that you are blessed by what you read. I further pray that you are inspired to become engaged in the battle to defeat IFS (The Invisible Father Syndrome). This growing epidemic has crippled a nation and almost single handedly destroyed an entire generation. I would love to have your support in publishing my book addressing this issue. For those of you that are not able to help in the way of finances, we still need you to become involved; this nation's youth needs believers to be involved in their development. We are witnessing a generation evolving out of self-progression, meaning they have basically been reared by Wii's and Play Stations. If we don't do something soon we will find ourselves being a part of the greatest spiritual decline since the founding of the church nearly 2000 years ago. Trust me, that is saying a lot.

So I ask you to be a part of movement that will inspire and encourage a nation that is in desperate need of a morality boost. A nation that has found itself in a place where men have found it acceptable to procreate and then abandon their progeny. I believe that in moments like this is when Gods moves the mightiest. In situations where people have given up hope; in situations where it seems that there is no recourse. This is where the men of God must stand up and be accounted for. We must send a message with our actions and our lifestyles. We must send a message with our commitment to living for God. We must become the example by which the world walks. We have not, in quite a few years, lived up to our design as Christian men. We can no longer let this be the case. We have to be active and accountable.

I personally invite you to be apart of this movement. For those that are interested in supporting the book, please visit www.gofundme.com/The-Invisible-Father


Thank you,


Bishop Rick Wallace
Founder & President
Rick Wallace Ministries
100 Men of Purpose

Invisible Father Video

Friday, March 18, 2011

Invisible Father Video

The Invisible Father Syndrome

This is an excerpt from my book: The Invisible Father: Reversing the Curse of a Fatherless Generation:


“But if anyone does not provide for his own and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” 1 Tim 5: 8


Where is my father? Why isn’t he here? Does he love me? These are only a few of the questions that flowed constantly through my mind as a young child. See, I never knew my father; the first time I saw my father was at his funeral. I remember it as if it were yesterday. As the coffin descended into the ground, any possible chance of a long desired relationship with my father vanished before my eyes. I was fourteen then. For the majority of my life I have battled many demons in an attempt to come to grips with the fact that I have never and will never know my father.

After my father’s death, I convinced myself that I was fine. I told myself that I could do just fine without my father, but reality said different. Although I was reared by my great-grandparents and provided with a loving and nurturing environment, I could not shake the heartache of not knowing who my father was or better yet, not having an understanding of why my father chose not to be a part of my life. Although I was immensely precocious as a child, I still lacked the capacity to apprehend the circumstances that surrounded me.

I mentioned the fact that I was reared by my great-grandparent, both of whom have since gone to be with the Lord; my grandfather in 1992 and my grandmother in 2010. As nurturing as my grandparents were, not even they were able to totally eradicate the pain I felt due to my father’s absence.

The one thing I am most grateful to my grandparents for is introducing me to Christ. Through the constant intake of Biblical Doctrine and consistent hands on teaching, I developed a personal relationship with Christ, which is the true foundation of Christianity. The Bible says, “Train up a child in the way it should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Prov. 22:6).  My grandparents lived and functioned daily under this principle.

My personal relationship with Christ has empowered me to move past the pain and difficulty of not knowing my earthly father; it has allowed me to have access to my heavenly Father, which provides me with the strength and stability to victoriously endure the vicissitudes of life.


2.

Having said all this, I would like elucidate the fact that this book is not an autobiography on the life of Bishop Rick Wallace. I am giving you some background information to add lucidity to the perspective from which I write.
                                                           

Unfortunately, my situation is by no means an anomaly in today’s society. The past few decades has witnessed an exponential increase of fatherless homes. As men, we have found it acceptable to procreate and then abandon our progeny. The once inherent sense of pride and responsibility fathers had in and for their offspring have been replaced by an enormous and perpetual state of irresponsibility. Far too frequently mothers have been forced to assume the responsibility of taking on dual roles in the home.


I decided to write a book from a biblical perspective that addresses the issue of absentee fatherhood. I am looking for those that would like to discuss the topic, be a part of the movement to bring Christian fatherhood back to the forefront. Those who have suggestions.