MAY 2013 - Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ

The EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVERICK HILTONMay we so lovethe Church thatit transforms thelives of our childrenfor generations tocome. Thank Godthat through gracewe all share thesame promise.To Jerusalem,which is above isfree, we honor themother of us all!In Galatians chapter 4, the Apostle Paul contrasts the covenant God made with Hispeople and the covenant He made with Haggai, the bondwoman who served Abraham.One covenant was made with a bondwoman; the other with a free woman. Onecovenant was made after the flesh; the other covenant was made after the promise. Onecovenant was made on Mt. Sinai; the other was made in a much better place, Jerusalem.In verse 26, Paul declares that “Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother ofus all.”In the flesh, I was never privileged to claim an Apostolic heritage. Throughout myyouth until now, I have been blessed with friends whose faith has been handed downthrough many generations. The beauty of such an heritage has always appealed to me.One day, I hope to see my children, grandchildren and more walking in this marvelouslight.Yet, I am a product of bus ministry and a loving church family. The home I grew upin was not only a broken home but it was also a divided one. It was a home where a youngperson earnestly seeking to honor God and parents would sometimes feel forced to choosebetween the two. Even today, I am convinced that there are more teens and young adultswho are confused and feel torn in this manner.One of the most wondrous things about the Church is its composition. While it iscomprised of those like my dear wife who is a fourth generation Pentecostal, it is alsoopen to “whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Paul was trying to impressupon the church at Galatia a point that should come as a powerful revelation to anyonewho has ever been confused about the honor that is due God, the Church and our parents“after the flesh.”The Apostle Paul taught the Galatians that when they were born after the Spirit, theybecame the children of promise. Whether your earliest memories are falling asleep on achurch pew as a toddler or, like me, you came along later, it makes no difference. You see,Paul was not contrasting those with heritage and those without. He was making the muchbroader point that we all have become heirs through the spirit of adoption.To every young person who lives in a home divided with believers and nonbelievers,allow me to boldly declare this point to you. It is not important how you became childrenafter the bondwoman. That is, God does not hold against you the deeds of others. Rather,what is important to God is that we all become children of the free woman.Think it not coincidence that Paul said that Jerusalem is our mother. The children ofpromise owe a debt of honor to the Church. May we live in a way that brings glory to theoffice of motherhood. May we be faithful to visit, spend time and take care of the churchwherein we were born. And may we so love the Church that it transforms the lives of ourchildren for generations to come. Thank God that through grace we all share the samepromise. To Jerusalem, which is above is free, we honor the mother of us all!6 Apostolic Witness