Blog - FCF Canada /page/index.php en sannis@celebrationbiblecollege.com Copyright 2010 2010-09-01T14:04:30+00:00 You Have Seen Well http://www.fcfcanada.ca/blog/you-have-seen-well/ http://www.fcfcanada.ca/blog/you-have-seen-well/ Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Jeremiah, what do you see? And I said, I see a branch or shoot of an almond tree [the emblem of alertness and activity, blossoming in late winter]. Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it. Jeremiah 1:11-12.

What do you see as you observe this great nation?

What do you see as you view your Church or area of Ministry?

The changing of seasons never comes with a great announcement. The person not familiar with our climate might call spring winter. They may not have the perception to see the gentle changes we can see. Those from a hot climate won’t feel the strengthening of the sun that causes us to make comments of its warmth.

Why did Jeremiah's answer to the question bring a favorable reply from God?

God replied favorably because, Jeremiah showed that he was in step with God and the next season of divine activity.

The almond tree is also known as the "HASTENING TREE." It blooms in late winter but is also the first sign of spring. God was pleased that Jeremiah could see the next season.

Duska, and I are excited as we move into the next season.

Are you aware of the subtle changes taking place in your life that indicates the change has begun for you? What do you see? Can God say you have seen well?

-Pastor Bill

]]> You Have Seen Well 2010-09-01T14:04:30+00:00 Himself http://www.fcfcanada.ca/blog/himself/ http://www.fcfcanada.ca/blog/himself/ So many times we complicate the things of God. 

We have a tendancy to define spiritual truths with formulas. 

Well, in Paul's letter to the Ephesians he takes away much of the mystery & implies that it is all about following Him. 

You see, Jesus gave Himself!  He didn’t give Himself “to us.” What I mean is, He didn't give Himself "to people" for the Father, but rather, He actualy gave Himself to the father “for us.”

Many pastors and leaders live frustrated lives allowing the circumstances and issues of the people to determine wether or not they walk in joy.  If we give ourselves to the people and our endeavors “for God” we limit ourselves to our own ability to walk in love.  The effects of walking in love in our own strength are deficient and the joy of ministry is lost.

When we have given ourselves to God first, the common acts of love become infused with the fragrance of Christ.  Your simple act of love “for” the people causes the recipient to experience a divine encounter with love Himself.

Ephesians 5:1-2 says, "Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and gave Himself 'for us' an offering and a sacrifice 'to God' for a sweet smelling aroma."

-Pastor Duska Annis

]]> Himself 2010-08-18T19:26:36+00:00 Restored Access http://www.fcfcanada.ca/blog/restored-access/ http://www.fcfcanada.ca/blog/restored-access/ And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. John 16: 23-24

In studying this verse I have been reminded of a great truth that has been neglected. The truth is that Jesus came to restore access back to God Himself!

Many people are acting like the purpose of Jesus coming was to bring us to Himself. In reality, Jesus came because man was separated from his source: GOD.

Many Christians are praying as though Jesus has to ask the Father for us. Jesus plainly said we are to ask the Father ourselves in His name and He will give it.

At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you. John 16:26

What a wonderful truth that we can ask God Himself in Jesus name and He will do it for us. The reason for this is found in John 16:27, “For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.”

When we accept Jesus and receive His love for us we receive the love of God Himself. The love that Adam was separated from through the transgression has been completely restored. Through Jesus we have been completely restored back to our Father and the household of God.

For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Ephesians 2:18

Jesus came to give mankind access back to God. The benefit of all this is to be celebrated.

Therefore you are no longer outsiders (exiles, migrants, and aliens, excluded from the rights of citizens), but you now share citizenship with the saints (God's own people, consecrated and set apart for Himself); and you belong to God's [own] household. Ephesians 2:19

You are blessed because you have been restored back to God's own household with all the privileges of full citizenship.

-Pastor Bill

 

]]> Restored Access 2010-08-12T19:52:52+00:00 The Value Of Rediscovery http://www.fcfcanada.ca/blog/the-value-of-rediscovery/ http://www.fcfcanada.ca/blog/the-value-of-rediscovery/ "For the Son of man came to save [from the penalty of eternal death] that which was lost." Matthew 18:11

Have you ever had an item of value and lost it?

Have you ever unexpectedly found something you had lost?

If you have then you have experienced the value of rediscovery. It was valuable when you first received it but even more so when you found what might have otherwise been gone forever.

To illustrate this further, people often say "there is no joy like the birth of a new baby." At first thought that seems true but, lets look a little closer. Let's say you are down town Toronto and your ten year old is with you on a crowded street. As you window shop you take your eye off her for a brief moment. The next second she is gone! Abducted! You notify the RCMP. A week goes by; a week of hell on earth. Then, the phone rings and the voice on the other end tells you that she has been found and is well.

You thought you where happy at her birth, but this is a joy beyond explanation.

You now know a little of what it feels like to be God when one of His lost sons or daughters returns to Him.

In the parable of the lost sheep, the coin, and son the same point is made. God feels the loss of mankind that is why we must care about a lost world.

The Church must return to our primary purpose seeking to save the lost.

-Pastor Bill

]]> The Value Of Rediscovery 2010-07-12T18:00:36+00:00 Beyond The Reach Of Change & Decay http://www.fcfcanada.ca/blog/beyond-the-reach-of-change-decay/ http://www.fcfcanada.ca/blog/beyond-the-reach-of-change-decay/ Dear FCF Family,

I trust you are all enjoying the beautiful summer season.

I would like to share the blessings of my personal devotion with you.

1 Peter 1:4 says, "[Born anew] into an inheritance which is beyond the reach of change and decay [imperishable], unsullied and unfading, reserved in heaven for you..."

It is so wonderful to know that what we have is beyond the reach of change and decay. Everything under the curse is subject to change and decay but we are in Christ who never changes.

In verse 10 of 1 Peter 1, we see that the prophets were puzzled by this. Take a look at verse eleven.

1Pe 1:11, "They sought [to find out] to whom or when this was to come which the Spirit of Christ working within them was indicating..."

Look at what they discovered:

1Pe 1:12 says, "It was then disclosed to them that the services they were rendering were not meant for themselves and their period of time, but for you. [It is these very] things which have now already been made known plainly to you by those who preached the good news (the Gospel) to you by the [same] Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Into these things [the very] angels long to look!"

FCF Family, you are now preaching these things! The very things angles long to look into.

What a blessing we have received and what a blessing we continue to be.

I call you blessed,

Pastor Bill

]]> Beyond The Reach Of Change & Decay 2010-07-08T23:49:25+00:00 Alignment With How God Sees You http://www.fcfcanada.ca/blog/alignment-with-how-god-sees-you/ http://www.fcfcanada.ca/blog/alignment-with-how-god-sees-you/ School is out and summer is here!

I am sure you all have plans to enjoy the season. I trust you will have a blessed time with friends and family.

I was just on Grace TV's Encounter program as a part of thier "Summer Of Miracles." The episodes I was on will air July 11th. and 12th. Invite your friends to watch as I am sure they will be blessed.

1 Peter 1:14 says, "[Live] as children of obedience [to God]; do not conform yourselves to the evil desires [that governed you] in your former ignorance [when you did not know the requirements of the Gospel]."

This verse was made ever so real to me as I prepared for the telecast.

There is alot of confusion over works verses obedience in the minds of people. I asked the Holy Spirit to give me words to explain this. Here is what He said:

  1. Works are the efforts of people to please God or to make themselves right with God.
  2. Obedience is bringing every thought in line with what God's Word has to say about us.

It's alignment with how God sees you and what He says about you. When we know what He says about us and how He views us we will conform to that view rather then the evil desires we had when ignorant of the Gospel.

Obedience produces faith; works produces spiritual exhaustion.

Duska and I love you, but we know that God first loved all of us,

Pastor Bill

]]> Alignment With How God Sees You 2010-06-30T12:52:07+00:00 A Report On Our Recent Ontario Regional Meeting by Bill Annis http://www.fcfcanada.ca/blog/a-report-on-our-recent-ontario-regional-meeting-by-bill-annis/ http://www.fcfcanada.ca/blog/a-report-on-our-recent-ontario-regional-meeting-by-bill-annis/ Destiny and Dominion Word Ministries in Toronto was the Host of the Ontario Regional Meeting.

It was well attended by the FCF ministers in Ontario (there were many visiting ministers in attendance as well).

Thanks to Marcus for providing the venue and for the hospitality of his Church.

I taught the first meeting on Friday night from Rom 10:17 on "How Faith Comes." On Saturday morning Joanne Mensah from Waterloo challenged us to be the Church Jesus came to establish on earth.

Duska taught on the power of words which was followed by a very powerful time of ministry to the people.

I closed the Saturday morning session admonishing each to make the adjustments necessary to keep faith operating in our ministry.

We all enjoyed fellowship and lunch together followed by an FCF ministers planing meeting. Many suggestions were made on how we can develop FCF in the Ontario region. Some of these ideas will be developed ASAP.

Many have expressed how much the meeting meant to them stating they felt the heart of FCF and understood the vision more clearly.

Duska and I are thankful for the FCF family in Ontario and desire to serve each member and assist in helping them fulfill their God given call.

]]> A Report On Our Recent Ontario Regional Meeting by Bill Annis 2010-06-23T21:01:36+00:00 A Tribute To Rev. Bob Olmsted by Pastor Bill http://www.fcfcanada.ca/blog/a-tribute-to-rev.-bob-olmsted-by-pastor-bill/ http://www.fcfcanada.ca/blog/a-tribute-to-rev.-bob-olmsted-by-pastor-bill/ Heb 3:6 ……hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

I first met Bob at a Full Gospel Business Men’s meeting in Moncton NB seven years ago. As I listened to the story of God’s grace upon his life I was deeply moved.

I invited him to speak at our Church on the following Sunday. The spirit of humility that flowed from Bob as he ministered made a profound and lasting impression on all present. There was an immediate bonding of our spirits and we both knew God had brought us together.

Bob was soon ordained with FCF and served as our Ontario board member until his time of departure.

He was a man filled with God’s love and as a result became a bridge builder between many in Canada. FCF Canada is grateful for the divine connections he brought about as he traveled the nation. Some of our finest members were introduced to us as a result.

Knowing him has enriched my life. FCF was strengthened in Canada through his example and love for God.

Bob’s greatest legacy is his wonderful family, his wife Charlotte and children and witnessing their love for God.

I had the honor of being present as Bob made his final preparations to leave. He held fast to his confidence in God and rejoiced in hope firmly until the end.
Bob’s presence will be missed but his Godly example lives on.

]]> A Tribute To Rev. Bob Olmsted by Pastor Bill 2010-06-23T20:53:49+00:00