Category: Healing

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Where The Leaves Never Fall

I thought that today, with the colors of fall in full radiance, and winter just around the corner, I would share a poem I wrote for my children some time back. Enjoy.

Leaves1

Where the Leaves Never Fall

  The autumn leaves are tumbling off the trees,
The cooling rains dance across the dying lawns.
North winds whisper that frigid days are coming.
Soon the trees will sway barren in the tomb of winter
Beautiful colors will burn brightly only to crumble away
Returning to die in the ground from which they were birthed

For many fall seasons, I hardly noticed the sadness beneath the beauty
No, the cooling days meant fall afternoons of touchdowns and tackles
Crisp apples and chili dogs and joyful conversations behind tailgates
Yes, children and now grandchildren playing football and soccer
Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years one after another
Church and carols and celebrations hurry onward year after year.

Some seats are now empty of those we’ve loved and lost awhile
Their absence leaves a dull ache and void in our lives.
The autumn of aging took some while others left in the bloom of spring
This latest autumn has awakened me to know that life here has its limits
For me, fall has come with its cold breath to say winter is coming
I ask my soul, “Will winter give way again to Spring and the hope of Easter?”

Yes, my heart believes there will come another spring and summer
To revel with my grandchildren and to see them blossom into adults
To discover and preach with power one more great sermon
To love my wife and share the joys and tears as we have for half a century
To see my children live out their dreams…and God’s sweet will
To see the church rise to her fullest potential for God’s glory

The years have taken their toll on my body, yet I feel His strength
When I stand to give Jesus’ message, my youth manifests
All aches and pains leave and I know His presence
The sweet Holy Ghost kisses me with power from the eternal dimension
For a moment, I sense that ageless, deathless world awaiting us all and I know
Fall and winter will yield to the Savior awaiting us where the leaves never fall.

Leaves2

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America Fresh Oil New Wine 2015 Friendship Healing Living It Out In Real Time Spiritual Warfare The Big Event The Life of Faith The Mysteries of God Through The Looking Glass

Come Home

Homecoming 2015

I wanted to take my blog today to share with you a little about a special event coming up in the life of our church, Abba’s House.

On October 11, we will be celebrating Homecoming at Abba’s House. This will be a time of reconnecting with old friends, making new ones, and reflecting on the heritage of the place we call home.

Our special guest for this celebration will be none other than my dear friend and former colleague Pastor Gaylon Wiley. Pastor Wiley served as Pastor of Education at Central Baptist Church of Hixson/Abba’s House from November 1, 1991 – March 30, 2013.  During this time, he helped train over 1500 soul-winners. He and his team averaged over 200 soul-winners over 32 weeks a year for 10 years.  Only God knows how many people were saved! He is now pastoring Cedar Grove Baptist Church in Lebanon, TN.

Preachers often use the analogy of the pebble being thrown into the water. Although tiny, when it strikes the calm water, the ripples it creates can be seen and felt for a great distance.  Recently, Pastor Wiley had a reunion with a man whose family he had ministered to years back. The father’s name was Rafael, and he had abandoned his family in Canada, and gone back to Texas. Pastor Wiley met Rafael, witnessed to him, and led him in the sinner’s prayer to receive Jesus Christ as his Savior. Rafael went back, reconciled with his wife and 3-year-old son, and got his family back together. Pastor Wiley went on to baptize Rafael and his family. That ripple of influence is still being felt today through the life and work of Rafael’s then 3-year-old son… Republican Presidential Candidate, Senator Ted Cruz (TX).

Click HERE to see the full story about that reunion from WKRN-TV in Nashville.

So come home to Abba’s House on October 11. Whether you have been gone for a long time, or have never visited, we want Abba’s House to be a place you can call home. Because no matter where you’ve been, or what you’ve been through, The Father is waiting… and we are too!

For more information, you can visit our website.

You’re welcome at Abba’s House – Come home October 11!

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Seasons Of Life

Looking Glass

I recently heard this interesting thought:

“Some people are in our lives for a season, and some people are in our lives for a reason”.

Actor Harrison Ford once made this observation:

“I have relationships with people I’m working with, based on our combined interest. It doesn’t make the relationship any less sincere, but it does give it a focus that may not last beyond the experience”.

Sometimes, God puts people in our lives that become lifelong friends – those people that are there through thick and thin. Sometimes, they are only there for a short season – a period of time for a specific reason – and then they are gone.

Solomon said:

“To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under Heaven”. ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1

One of the great mysteries of life is having the wisdom to know when a season of life is passing. It’s not a good thing… it’s not a bad thing… it’s just life.

The key to dealing with it is… thankfulness. Being grateful to God for the time He allows us to touch the lives of others, and be touched by them in kind.

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The Consequences of a Random Act

Looking Glass

A friend of mine recently told me this story…

I was sitting in a restaurant when I noticed a couple of police officers enter. It was lunch time and, obviously taking a break, they were promptly seated across the busy room. I didn’t think much more about it, and went back to my meal and conversation. After a while, the officers finished eating and rose to leave. They passed by my table, but stopped before they reached the door to talk to the manager. I noticed the manager point back toward my table, at which point the two officers began walking back in my direction. Just before reaching me, they stopped at the table right next to mine. There was a family — dad, mom, and a couple of kids — sitting enjoying their meal, when I overheard one of the officers speak to the dad.

“Excuse me… I feel like maybe we weren’t supposed to know, but somehow that got lost in the translation,” the officer said to the father.

The father smiled knowingly and shook his head. “You weren’t.”

“Well, that was very kind, and we just wanted to come back and say thank you,” the officer replied.

“Yes… Thank you, sir. That was a very nice thing to do. We really appreciate it,” the other officer said.

“Well, I just wanted to say thanks to you guys for your service and for all you do,” the man said.

“Wow! If I’d have know you were buying, I would have gotten desert,” the first officer joked.

They all laughed, shook hands, the two officers exited, and the family went back to their meal. Several minutes later, I rose to leave and happened to find myself standing next to the man at the doorway.

“Excuse me for asking, but I overheard what you said back there to those officers. Do you know those guys?”

The man smiled at me and said, “Nope. Never met them before.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, why did you do that?” I asked.

“Those guys get a lot of bad press for doing a very, very difficult job,” he said. “I’ve had several friends who were policemen, and I have a great deal of respect for the job they do. I just figured buying their lunch was the least I could do to say ‘thank you for keeping us safe’. I wanted them to know that they are appreciated.”

He went on to tell me that, when he paid the manager, he told him he wanted it to be anonymous. However, it was a Asian restaurant, and the manager’s English was not very good, so his anonymity got “lost in translation” (as the officer said).

We hear a lot in the news about the negative stereotypes of “bad cops”. However, the overwhelming truth is that police officers are good men and women who have to carry out a tough job. In today’s media, deference is too often given to the perpetrator, and good officers are guilty until proven innocent — before facts are established, and before the truth can be ascertained.

In Romans 13, Paul writes…

For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

When we show respect and honor to those in authority, we have no reason to fear. Godly authority is there for our protection, in order for us to be allowed to live our lives in relative peace and safety. In the vast majority of stories I hear about violence involving police officers, those two things are always missing — respect and honor. Does that justify unwarranted “excessive force”? Not at all. But sadly, in the age of hostile news media, unfiltered social media, and “instant everything”, images mocking violence against police are posted online at lightning speeds, and only exacerbates how police feel they are being unjustly perceived, and magnifies a culture that has lost its moral compass, respect for authority, and reverence for God.

With all of the negative things we hear about police these days, and the repercussions that officers are experiencing with recent random attacks and killings, I wanted to share this positive story of good will. Actions have consequences, and all too often, we hear about the consequences of a random act of violence, or of a sequence of events that ends tragically…

It could be that the consequences of this random act of kindness are that a couple of officers spent the rest of the day feeling appreciated, and a father set a good example for his children.

It could also be that this story inspires someone reading it to go out and commit a random act of kindness today.

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Breaking The Code: Hope For The Last Days

I recently talked to a very prominent leader in the energy business. There has been found in America another huge oil and gas reservoir that is as large as or larger than the Dakota discovery. The Dakota discovery and the fracking there has moved America toward energy independence. These new finds will make our nation an economic powerhouse.

IMG_5198America is awash with energy resources, so much so that if the government allowed us to bring them up, our wealth as a nation would dwarf the rest of the world and turn our nation back to its place of economic authority.

This would take our enemies’ hands from around our throat and bring down energy costs. America would experience the greatest boom in its history. I believe God is ready to bless America and the world if we will begin to stand by faith on the principles that we know work. I believe in the Rapture and Second Coming, yet it is time we put our hands down and understand we are not leaving this world as losers.

Jesus said, “Occupy till I come” (Luke 19:13, KJV).

How then can we live confidently in these last days?

We can embrace biblical hope!

CandleSeveral years ago there was an article in Parade magazine that made an impact on me. It was the story of self-made  millionaire Eugene Lang, who greatly changed the lives of a sixth-grade class in East Harlem, New York. Mr. Lang had been asked to speak to a class of fifty-nine sixth-graders. What could he say to inspire these students, most of whom would drop out of school? He wondered how he could get this group of predominantly black and Puerto Rican children even to look at him. Scrapping his notes, he decided to speak to them from his heart. “Stay in school,” he admonished, “and I’ll help pay the college tuition for every one of you.” At that moment the lives of these students changed. For the first time they had hope. Said one student: “I had something to look forward to, something waiting for me. It was a golden feeling.” Nearly 90 percent of that class went on to graduate from high school.

Hope is such an interesting word. By definition it means “to desire with expectation of fulfillment; to expect with desire.”

All real hope must have a foundation to stand on. I might tell you that I hope to play center field for the Atlanta Braves next season, but you and I both know that is not hope based on a firm foundation—that’s called wishful thinking.

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” ~ Proverbs 13:12

Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica about the end times. Many in his day were afraid they had missed the Rapture. Their deferred hope was making their hearts sick and fearful. Although his main focus was on the theme of judgment, Paul continued to encourage the church constantly about their future hope:

• He gave them hope and joy about the return of Jesus (see 1 Thessalonians 2:19).
• He exhorted them to live holy lives in anticipation of His coming (see 1 Thessalonians 3:13).
• He declared that we do not have to be shaken or disturbed but that we can live in hope (see Titus 2:11–13).

We Are Called to Live in Hope and Not Fear.

CoffeeAs a pastor for more than four decades, I have witnessed many changing events in the world. As I pen these words, ancient hatreds continue to boil to the surface in the Middle East. The war in Iraq has left many confused and dazed as to our purpose for being there. The war in Afghanistan continues to drag on, while Iran thumbs its nose at the international community. It continues to build a nuclear weapon for the purpose of annihilating Israel. Many believers have failed to recognize the conflict is being waged on a higher level. It is a conflict of immense spiritual proportions.

The world is on fire. People are living in fear and without much hope. Sad to say, this sense of hopelessness has infected the church. Instead of believing that darkness will overwhelm us, we in the church must recognize that the truth of the Word of God will always triumph over the infernal forces of the enemy!

Hiram TombMy purpose in writing my new book, The Hiram Code, is to give hope back to the body of Christ and outline strategies that not only will enlighten you, but also give you a clear direction for the future. In it, you will discover…

• A clear “sound” has been released to this generation—a sound of hope and not fear;
• God is not finished with the nation of Israel;
• The connection that exists today between the ancient civilization of Phoenicia and Israel;
• Who King Hiram was and why he was important?
• The lessons we can learn from Isaac, and how he was able to walk in the hundredfold blessing;
• How to face your giants;

• … And so much more!

My prayer is that the truth in The Hiram Code will replace fear with faith and we will have a hope firmly grounded in the truth of God’s Word that will cause us to remember we are on the winning side!

~ Adapted from my new book, The Hiram Code
Copyright © 2015 Ron Phillips
Published by Charisma House
Charisma Media/Charisma House Book Group

Creación_de_Adám hands

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The Big Event… A Final Word

Words cannot begin to express what God did at this year’s Big Event. With our theme being spiritual warfare, everyone from our speakers to our attendees came with great anticipation for what we believed God was going to do. With every session, the truth went forward, lives were touched, prisoners were set free, and people walked away with a new-found sense of who they are in Christ, and what freedom in Christ is all about.

I cannot say enough about our speakers! Throughout the conference, there was unparalleled unity in the messages delivered as each man poured out his heart in a very honest, very real way. My sincere thanks go to Perry Stone, Rick White, Bobby Atkins, Sammy Wilson, Tod Zeiger, and my son Ronnie Phillips, Jr. for delivering the Word with uncompromising boldness and faithfulness to the call.

If you attended the Big Event… thank you. It was a pleasure to have you in our House, and to worship and minister with you and to you. Please come back and see us again, and keep Ron Phillips Ministries in your prayers as we fulfill the mandate to which we have been called, to share the love of Jesus throughout the world.

To our special guests, Lester & Holly, and the Remnant Dance Team… thank you for your ministry this week, and for leading us to the throne as you did.

To all of our musicians, worship leaders, choir, ushers, hospitality team, product table and bookstore workers, children’s ministry team, nursery workers, housekeepers, technical workers, and everyone else at Abba’s House who made this possible… we cannot do what we do without YOU! You bless me with your heart for service, and willingness to go above and beyond for the cause of Christ. I love each and every one of you.

To my staff at Ron Phillips Ministries… your tireless work and commitment to excellence is obvious in all you do! Thank you for your partnership in this adventure for the kingdom of God, and your unwavering faithfulness to the task to which we are called.

All my love to my wife, Paulette, and my family… your love and encouragement enables me to do what I do, and I am so thankful and blessed to make this journey of life with you by my side. I love you all more than I can say.

If you missed the Big Event, I encourage you to get the CD, DVD, or Blu-Ray set of all of the speakers. Spiritual warfare is a very real battle. Get the tools and weapons you need to fight the good fight. For more information about how to order, click here.

Angie McGregor with RPM Volunteer of the Year Jeff Herron.
Tod Zeiger
Sammy2
Sammy Wilson
RP1
Pastor Ron Phillips
Ronnie2
Ronnie Phillips, Jr.
Ronnie & Kelly
Ronnie and Kelly Phillips
Rick 2
Rick White
Perry2
Perry Stone
Paulette
Paulette Phillips
Lester & Holly
Lester & Holly
Angie
Angie McGregor
IMG_1945
Bobby Atkins

Youth Tod1 Sammy1 RP Ronnie1 Rick remnant PT3 PT2 PT1 Perry1 Ministry4 Ministry3 Ministry2 Ministry Lester & Holly2 Jeff Jay denise Choir2 Choir1 Boys IMG_1944Alyssa

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Three Days To Go!

Stone-Phillips

I am excited to say that we are just three days away from our annual partner and friends conference, The Big Event.

This year, I am being joined by my good friend Perry Stone, and together, we are going to delve into the area of Spiritual Warfare…

Fear1“Are demons really operating in the world today?”

Fear4“How do I know if I am under demonic oppression?”

JezebelSpirit“How can I identify the spirits of Jezebel, Leviathan, Cain, and Python (and more)?”

Leaves1“How can I walk in FREEDOM?”

It all begins THIS WEDNESDAY (August 19),
and admission is FREE!

As an added bonus, Perry and I are being joined by a lineup of great teachers that will be ministering during the morning sessions. Bobby Atkins, Tod Zeiger, Rick White, Sammy Wilson, and Ronnie Phillips, Jr. will be imparting teaching and ministry during all of our morning sessions. Add to that worship by our own worship department, with special guests Lester and Holly, and the Remnant Dance Team, and this promises to be a week of revelation, ministry, and chain-breaking power you do not want to miss.

If you have already registered, I’ll see you there!

If not, you can still register online by clicking here.

The Big Event Spiritual Warfare Conference
August 19-23 at Abba’s House in Hixson, TN.

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Hope For America

On Sunday, I addressed the people of Abba’s House, the city of Chattanooga, and the nation regarding the terror attack in the City of Chattanooga on July 16, 2015. I invite you to join us in the worship center of Abba’s House as I share the Good News…

There is still Hope for America.

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#ChattanoogaStrong

Yesterday’s terrorist attack on the people of Chattanooga was an attack on our military, our community, and our nation. Four unarmed, brave Marines were gunned down by a twisted individual, and has left our city in a state of shock. It has driven us to our churches and to our knees in prayer for the families of those killed and injured, for our city, our state, and our country.

     It is past time for America to return to God, and for that to happen, it must begin with the people of God, turning to Him in repentance and humility. We invite all people of faith in God Almighty, – the Great I AM – to cry out to Him in worship and reverence, and to fill our Houses of Worship in Chattanooga and around the nation this Sunday as we seek His face, turn from our wicked ways, and ask Him to forgive and heal our land. 

~ Pastor Ron Phillips 

 

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#CharlestonStrong

Emanuel AME2

A week ago, on the evening of June 17, Dylann Roof walked into Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church — one of the oldest AME churches in the nation — with the alleged intention of starting a race war. Hiding a gun in his backpack, he sat and talked with parishioners during their mid-week Bible study. Approximately an hour into the study, Roof pulled out his gun, and began firing. When he left the building, 8 people were dead, with one critically injured who later died at the hospital.

Within hours of the shooting, reports began to fill the airways and internet of the tragic events at “Mother Emanuel“. With 9 people dead and the subject at large, tensions were high as people already began to assume that the shooting was racially motivated. The next day, Dylann Roof was apprehended in Shelby, North Carolina — some 245 miles away. He was returned to Charleston where he was promptly charged with the murders. As news crews and TV personalities descended upon Charleston, and images of Ferguson and Baltimore still vivid in the minds of people across the nation, many on the outside of the situation wondered if this tragedy would spark yet more civil and racial unrest.

The answer came on June 19 when, in his bond hearing, Roof was addressed by the people he had deeply wounded — the people of Emanuel AME and the families of the victims. They spoke of the hurt and pain he had caused in their lives — of the wounds born of his act of hatred. Yet, in spite of the pain in their hearts and voices, they had an overwhelming message for Dylann Roof…

“We forgive you.”

In the following days, as reporters broadcast from outside of the church, what they experienced was a wounded community coming together to worship and heal.

As the “usual suspects” of racial division and disunity began to sing their familiar song of prejudice and fear, citizens of the Charleston area joined hands and hearts across racial divides and came together over the next few days in churches throughout Charleston, including the following Sunday at Emanuel AME, where Reverend Norvel Goff had a message for the world…

“A lot of folk expected us to do something strange, and break out in a riot.
Well, they just don’t know us.
They just don’t know us because we are a people of faith. And we believe that when we put our voices and heads together, working for a common good, there is NOTHING we can not accomplish together in the name of Jesus!”

As politicians and activists began attempting to re-invigorate the “anti-gun” message, the message coming from inside the walls of Emanuel AME Church was one of love, forgiveness, and faith. It was also a message of warfare against the REAL enemy…

“… For those of us that are here this morning, I want you to know that  because the doors of ‘Mother Emanuel’ are open on THIS Sunday, it sends a message to every demon in hell and on earth that no weapon formed against us shall prosper… Some wanted to divide the race — black and white and brown — but no weapon formed against us shall prosper!” ~ Rev. Norvel Goff

There will always be people of every color in America. Because of our differences, and because we live in a fallen world, there will always be INDIVIDUALS — like Dylann Roof — who have a heart filled with racial hatred. However, I do not believe that America is a racist country. In a country with a population of over 300 million, you cannot ascribe to an entire population or people-group the actions or attitudes of an individual or minority. This is not the America of the 1960’s. It is time that all of us — red, yellow, black, and white — take a stand against the voices of fear and division that would try to use these types of tragic events for nefarious and self-serving purposes. It is time for we, as a united people, to stand up and say with one voice…

“No more!”

It is time that we, the church, follow the example of Jesus in heated and uncomfortable deed, and not just in air-conditioned and comfortable word. For the people of Emanuel AME to stand there, two days after such a tragic event, look into the face of the twisted, hate-filled heart that took away the lives of their beloved family members and friends, and say, “We forgive you” — It put the love of Jesus in full color, front-row view for the entire world to see. While those with no understanding of such love asked the question, “Why did God allow this to happen?”, Alana Simmons, the granddaughter of slain Pastor Daniel Simmons, summed it up in an incredible way on Fox New’s Hannity program…

“God allows what He hates to accomplish what He loves.”

What we have witnessed in the people of Emanuel AME is the example of Jesus…

  • In the shadow of His inevitable death, He shared a message that said…

“… Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and PERSECUTE you.” ~ Matthew 5:44

  • In the agony of His own undeserved death, He reached out to a thief dying next to Him and assured him…

“… Today you will be with Me in Paradise.” ~ Luke 23:43

  • As He hung between Heaven and Earth, Jesus pleaded for forgiveness for the very people who had put Him on the cross…

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” ~Luke 23:34

It is an example that the worldly mind will never understand.

Forgiveness silences the critics.

Forgiveness takes the ammunition away from the agitator.

Forgiveness leaves the voices of hatred and assumed offense in stunned silence.

In the aftermath of the events in Ferguson and Baltimore, protesters and politicians were front and center in the media for weeks. In the case of the acquitted officer in Ferguson, although he was proven to be innocent, the false narrative of the tragic event was still being advanced by people with no regard for the truth.

But in Charleston, forgiveness took the teeth out of the story.

Anger never got the front page.

The root of bitterness never found fertile soil to grow.

The forces of hatred and racism never got enough traction to have to be reckoned with.

At the end of the day, Jesus showed up in the hearts, faces, voices, and actions of a group of hurting people who understood love and forgiveness are stronger than hate.

And to those who are trying to keep the story alive by focusing on some of the fringe issues like the Confederate flag or more gun control — please — let’s keep the story where it belongs, for now…

On the lives of the “Emanuel 9”.

If we do that, we might find the message of healing and forgiveness so absent in our culture today.

The message of what it means — REALLY means — to love like Jesus.

For THAT is the message a hurting world needs to hear.