Notes from Mountainair, New Mexico Convention, July 2024

He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches in New Mexico. (Makes it more personal).

When Jonah fled from the Lord, he went 2500 miles in the opposite direction. (Same distance from here, Mountainair to Bangor, Maine, for example.)

God sent a wind, a storm, and a fish to help Jonah fit into the will of God. If we can turn ourselves to God, He can save us. Every one of the workers feels like a fish has spit us out at some point, just like Jonah’s experience. Just press in if anything makes us squirm in this meeting.

What Jesus didn’t say speaks volumes.

What is vain? Something that doesn’t have a lasting future. The work of God is not vain.

Everything living takes work and needs feeding. Your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Mirage – people give their lives to things only to find there’s nothing there.

Unbelief and disobedience go hand in hand. Who is going to declare His generation?

God is looking for people who are willing. He is not asking if we are able.

No child wants to be a whiny complainer. They weren’t born that way.

Study of “we have” in the Bible. Do a search for it in quotes and you will be surprised by the number of “we haves.”

2 Cor 4:1 We have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not.

We have this treasure in earthen vessels. Do we value this gospel? Do we see it as a gift? Has it been a gift to you? It is a gift that keeps on giving.

Someone asked, “How do I get into this?” You don’t get into this. It gets into you.

1 Jn 3:14 This is how you know you have salvation. “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.”

We don’t have to dye our hair or go out and buy a sports car. As the world is afraid of aging, often they do something to deny their age. We look forward to going home.

The only reality is our life with God. Real life is here. Fantasy is going back to work, school, and so on. God’s people live in two worlds: the present world and the future world. When we pray, we are praying for the future world and enter into that in prayer.

In Revelation: he that overcomes shall no longer go out (re. the door).

When we’ve done all we can, then the grace of God kicks in to help us do what we can’t.

‘I have a friend’, your child may say when they come home from school. Who is your friend? You are interested in what they are like. Sometimes for good, sometimes for evil are their influences. Hymn: Don’t be led captive by friend or by foe. Jas 4:4 Friend of the world. What is the world? World collectively is the souls of men who have said No to God by what they are saying or doing,  choosing their own way. We put ourselves in the enemy camp when we have those friends. Abraham was called a friend of God. He chose wisely to be a friend of God. Genesis 12:1. Just go. I will make of you a great nation. He didn’t even have any children then, but God directed him to “Just go.” It’s not about your family. It’s just me and you. Jesus asked, “Who is my mother, brothers, sisters? Those that do the will of the Father.”

“Stick and stay”, my first coworker would say.

I love you. Lisa VDB started out.

Isaiah 52:7 The workers’ feet. They walk together. They are the lowest part of the body. Washing the feet. They don’t talk but they walk. Just go!

Follow in the footsteps of Jesus. They point forward to our goal. We need each other. Can’t separate the other members without the feet. They help balance the body. Planted on the rock. Align with the head/Jesus. 1 Sam 25:41 Abigail wanted to wash the feet of the servants. There is rest for my feet in prayer. Rom 10:14 Your feet shod with the gospel of peace (shoes). The gospel of good news. Deut 29 The shoes did not wax old of the children of Israel.

We need a live conscience.

What is the purpose of my life on this earth? God has put us here so we can love Him, serve Him and glorify Him.

You can’t sow to the flesh and reap eternal life.

Expectations. Hope is the thing that makes a relationship wonderful. In the Bible, the meaning of hope is stronger. Expectations can cause us joy and sorrow.

Matthew 18 If you have trouble with a brother, there is an expectation to make the fellowship right. First thing, you go talk to him. If that doesn’t settle it, the second thing is take 2 or 3 to talk with him again (witnesses of the visit). There is safety in the group as you have chosen those right in the meeting that are strong with the Lord. If neither of those talks work, you let him go. Our expectations need to be adjusted.

1 Cor 5 Don’t have fellowship with someone who isn’t doing right in the truth. We need to feed them as they are struggling.

Continue, keep going forward.
When I look at Jesus on the cross, I see me. I should be there. We bear our Master’s name.

John 14:14 If you ask anything in my name, I will do it. It must be in the will of God. v15 If you love me you will keep my commandments. To wash another’s feet is to help another. Show that you care. You want to be a refreshing spirit to another. We have no responsibility for washing our brother’s feet if we don’t sincerely care for him. Let the Lord help him heal a little bit until you can have fellowship again.

2 Corinthians 11:27-28 Paul knew the Corinthians well. He took their care personally. He was with them for 1½ years. Acts 18:11 He was in peril with false brethren. There were some that went around to spoil the belief of what Paul had done. Gal 2:2-4 Encourage another by assembling together.

Define grace: The favour and help of God that we don’t deserve. Jesus didn’t speak of grace. Everything about His life was the expression of grace. Paul said by the grace of God, I am what I am.

How we care for one another is how we serve God.

Eph 4:1 Walking worthy of our vocation. We don’t see people fighting for the lowest place. Lk 14:9 Lowest room. Meekness; not an agenda to promote. Moses was meek. Forbearing one another in love. Putting up with one another. Paul said do it because you love someone. Be patient with them in their struggles. Endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. All should be considered a valuable gift to us: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors (shepherds) and teachers.

A young person said, I don’t feel like I’ve heard the voice of God. What should I do? Lk 11:28 Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Mt 5:14 You are the light of the world. Jn 1:4 In him was life and the life was the light of men. Feeding your soul on things eternal. It’s not an option. It’s not an obligation. It feeds the life in your soul. We are a city that can’t be hidden. The candlestick. The focus turned to that IN the house. Fellowship. The closer you are to the light the clearer you will see. Being close to those in the fellowship meeting opens things up.

1 Jn 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

Being here, I am reassured I have life. I’m alive! Noah. Olive leaf brought by the dove. In the midst of death there was life. I want to keep this life alive.

Dan Helenek (from PA). I love you all! Story of a man who withdrew into himself when he was going to die. He drew away from family as he grew closer to God. When my father died I asked God how I could deal with it as he died outside the faith. God’s answer to me was I loved your father more than you did. After getting that message, I could let go, and let God! It was an answer of peace and comfort to me.

Things God loves and hates. We feel that way too. Prov 6:14 He that soweth discord among the brethren God hates. Heb 1:9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. Right judgment and seek the truth.

The gospel is about changed lives. My kingdom is not of this world. Aren’t we glad of that? Do you know what scriptures apply to you? Read the Bible with who is this written for? Rightly dividing the scriptures. Jn 18:37 Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice.