Belief Statement
We believe in the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, as our Heavenly Father and the WORD proclaim. We believe in His virgin birth; His sinless life; His teaching; commands and miracles; His substitutionary work on the cross; His bodily resurrection from the dead; His exaltation to the right hand of God; His sending the Holy Spirit to indwell and empower us as born again believers and His second coming. Jesus is Lord, Yeshua, Messiah and Adonai.
We accept the Bible as
a written version of the revealed will of God. “Every Scripture is God-breathed
(given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof
and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience,
[and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's
will in thought, purpose, and action), So that the man of God may be complete
and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17(Amp) The Bible speaks eternal Truth on many levels to
our spirits, souls and bodies.
We believe man was created in the image and likeness of God but in choosing
to disobey, fell and incurred physical death in body and spiritual death
as separation from God. Man’s only reconciliation to God comes through
the shed blood of Jesus. Reconciliation is received through repentance
toward God, faith toward Jesus and spiritual rebirth by indwelling of the
Holy Spirit. Man, thus reborn a new creature can walk in eternal fellowship
with God the Father in His Kingdom. That fellowship is intimate communion
in which the believer can hear God’s specific, personal rhema. And “No
rhema from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment” Luke
1:37 We worldly emigrants [WE] are His kingdom immigrant disciples
[KIDs].
We Emphasize
1. JESUS IS LORD, our joyful declaration, exalts Him. We hear, obey and glorify Him as Messiah, Baptizer, Healer and soon returning King.
2. The BIBLE is a written version of the Will of God. We are what it says we are; we have what it says we have and we shall be and do what it says we shall be and do.
3. The HOLY SPIRIT teaches and comforts us in power, fruitfulness and fulfillment in the kingdom forever.
4. The BELIEVER is the anointed of God’s kingdom. Believers, empowered through His gifts, by obedience in His callings bring manifestations of the kingdom on earth as they are in heaven.
5. FELLOWSHIP in the Body of Christ is interdenominational. The Church is the sum of those born again of the Spirit by faith. The local church is a family of Heavenly Father- led families under discipleship of Holy Spirit appointed elders. The Church is a Kingdom under God, not a democracy.
6. LOVE is the essential force of Jesus as it flows into and through us and out into the world. His LOVE is essential for without it man perishes. Satan is a fallen angel and Hell is the holding place for him, his host, and all unbelievers.
7. DISCIPLESHIP is our pattern of receiving from Jesus through the Holy Spirit to become like Jesus. We do this by hearing and obeying His rhema. Jesus is thus lifted up, drawing others to Him lest any should perish.
Repentance, Forgiveness
and Reconciliation
Jesus taught, “Repent, for
God’s Kingdom is drawing near to you.” Matthew 4:17 God gave us His only
begotten Son that whosoever believes on Him shall be saved to abundant
life both now and forever. John 3:16 Once we believe on Jesus and
have been forgiven we forgive those who offend us. When a believer offends
us we forbear to judge and condemn, [FOR] and then we [GIVE] her or him
to God and Caesar. We do not play God by judging and taking revenge. Matthew
18:15-17 We are reconciled to our Creator, His creation and our fellow
humans thereby finding our purpose and calling in His LOVE, JOY and PEACE.
Baptism
Jesus commanded that the first step of obedience in the new abundant life be water baptism. “Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19 Jesus promised believers the Spirit in Acts 1:5. This blessing of Baptism in the Spirit from the Lord is yours today for the asking. “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:13
Compromise and Consensus
Christians are commanded not to compromise with unbelief. The Bible sets forth God’s laws and we are called to refute false teachings, philosophies and rulings of our day. One example is the false finding of a right to abortion in our constitution. (Roe v. Wade) Abortion is murder as life is transferred from the parents to the baby at conception. “A person’s a person no matter how small.” Jesus commands us, “Do not despise one of these little ones for their angels look on the face of My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 18:10
We do not use consensus to
determine God’s will. Works centered programs; age-segregated teaching;
one man leadership of a church; entertainment in place of worship; focus
on a building and land; and numbership drives are all traditions of men
in place of Christ’s commands. We reject such things. Logos and rhema provide
revelation for a believer’s calling and life. Father-led families in fellowship
is our pattern. These families are led by the Heavenly Father and
discipled by Holy Spirit appointed elders.
Healing and Deliverance
We believe that divine healing, accomplished by Jesus on the cross, is a done work in the kingdom and through the Holy Spirit can be manifest today in your body. “Is anyone among you sick? He should call in the church elders (the spiritual guides). And they should pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Lord's name. And the prayer [that is] of faith will save him who is sick, and the Lord will restore him; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. James 5:14-16 (Amp)
Much torment in human life is the failure of man to believe, receive Light and the Truth and to replace the lies and lying spirits in his heart. Deliverance is available today as it has been each day since Jesus paid the price and delivered all who choose to believe and receive. Regular ongoing deliverance from strongholds (lies) in the heart is the process of sanctification. His grace is sufficient.
© Copyright 2004 TREE OF LIFE,
DAVID & MARY ELLA VAUSE