All posts by AOCM

My name is Pastor Tony Catron I graduate from K.S.U. with a degree in electronic/electrical engineering. While doing that I became a Junior Deacon and also a musician in my dad's ministry in Cleveland, Ohio. Years later, my career took me to Michigan where I worked as a Electrical/Electronic Engineer. While in Michigan I became a Minister, then later went to Seminary training at Birmingham Bible Institute and became an Elder at a large Pentecostal church in Michigan called LLCC. I was called to the ministry by God. So I headed up an outreach ministry based on the End Times, dealing with restoration in people lives. Then my dad called me back to Ohio to help him Pastor his church. During that time, God changed my outreach ministry, turning it into a full-time restoration ministry. He gave me the name Ark of Covenant Ministries and the rest is history.
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The Conflict of Your Christian Life

James 2:1-26, James 3:1-18

We constantly have some sort of conflict that takes place in our lives; jobs, neighbors, families, etc. As believers in Christ we are constantly conflicting. The Easter holiday is upon us, and as Christians we are conflicting with each other concerning whether or not Easter is a valid and biblical holiday to celebrate. On one end of the spectrum we believe Easter has direct ties to Jesus death, burial, and resurrection. On another end of the spectrum, we believe that Easter is steeped in extra biblical traditions that have infiltrated the biblical Feast days of Passover and Unleavened Bread. As believers, we have to get back to what is Biblical.

Who is a Christian, who isn’t a Christian? James 2:1-15 says we should not have respect of persons, yet we do. We should give the needy what they need, yet we don’t. If we have the necessities for ailing people, we should provide them. Yet, we’d rather pray that they get food, or clothes, when we have food and clothes ready to give to them. Then on the other hand, we turn around and ask God for something. Do you think He’ll give us what we’ve asked for if we can’t help the needy for necessities that we have readily? Further, do you think the person you are praying for will even turn their mind to think on Jesus? This becomes a conflict of your salvation and puts your compassion in question.

Faith without works is dead.

These two can not exist a part from on another. If you are a believer, then why are you doing things opposite of what a Child of God does? Here are a list of things that Christians may go through in their walk that cause them to have conflicts:

1) Christian behavior Romans 13
2) Sin Romans 6:1
3) To live holy or not, that is the question, James 2:1-26, 3:1-18, James 4:1-17
4) Flesh and spirit, Romans 8:1,2,4-14
5) The voice of Jesus, People have conflict with this because they can’t determine if its Jesus or not talking to them. Matthew 16:17, John 10:27, Act 9:1-18, Job 1-7
6) Lust, James 1:14-15, Ephesians 2:3, 2 Timothy 2:22, Titus 3:1-4, James 4: 1-10
7) To pray or not to pray, Matthew 6:7, Mark 11:24, Luke 18:1, Luke 22:40-46, 1 Thessalonians 5:17

The word conflict means war or clash. The greek word for conflict is athlesis, which means a combat, struggle or fight.

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Peace Breakers and Promise Shakers

Peace Breakers
Psalms 12:1-8

Peace: A state of calm and quiet, freedom from disturbing thoughts or emotions. The hebrew word for peace is Shalom.
Shalom means complete welfare and health.
The verb of the word Shalom is Shelem which means to be complete, and sound.
In 1 Kings 9:25, there is a display of a peace offering up to God. This was shalam. Shalam means to make peace. Proverbs 16:7 has an example of this as well.

Christ came not send peace on this earth but a sword as in Matthew 10:34. Jesus is concerned about our personal peace because through individual peace does one obtain unified peace. Before individual peace can take place you must first rebuke those things that cause you not to have peace. In Mark 4:39, Christ rebuked the wind and sea and it stopped.Then you need to operate the same as Christ did against all situations that come your way to disturb your peace. You need to tell that situation to be at peace. You have to, in your mind, look at that situation and speak peace and calmness into it. Your making up scenarios in your own mind of things that haven’t even happened, causing your inner being to be at war with itself. Sometimes you just have to say “mind be quite, be still, be at peace.” Christ will rush in and stop the chaos right then and there.

Ephesians 2:14, “for he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;” The second chapter of Ephesians talks about being at peace. God is our help, our glory, and our need…HE IS. When you are in your moments alone, ask yourself, why am I going thorugh all these thoughts in my mind? Because your not at peace. You are at peace when your mind is stayed on Christ. But when your on every situation you can’t reslove by your own power, you’ll allways be worried, fearful, and upset.

Philippians 4:6-7, “be careful for nothing;  but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Promise Shakers
2 Thessalonians 2:1-2, “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.” There are people who like to shake your world, but as in Hebrews 12:26-27, we’re reminded that no matter how people treat us, no matter what people say should not shake us. Because the world  is coming to an end, that should not shake you. If that disturbs you, you need to sitt back and think about where you are in Christ.  We can not be soon shaken by what people say, how they receive us, or whether they love us, or for any situation.

Promise means a pledge to do or not to do. The greek word for promise is epan-gelia. It is a law term which denotes a summons.  Shake means to move or cause to move or disturb emotionally. There are people who will distrub you emotionally and mentally, and take your peace. By taking your peace they disturb your relationship with God. The author of the confusion of peace is Satan; You will be moving yourself in to his realm, therby enabling him to cause others to destroy your peace and your relationship with God. You need to watch where and what you place your attention and emotions on. Fear will cause your peace to be distrubed, anger will cause your peace to be distrubed. Satans main job is to cause you to loose it and delay God’s promise for your life.

Always be reminded of Hebrews 12:14, “follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.”

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You Need to Let it Go

Philippians 3:13

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.

Memory: The power or process of remembering.

If your not careful, your past may become your future. If you are being bound by issues of the past, then those same issues will cause you to be bound in your life in Christ. The only way to obtain forgiveness for these things that cause you to be bound is to place them before God. Not asking for forgiveness leaves it to harbor in your life, and show up in your personal relationships. For example at work, with your children or with your family.
We as a people, if things seem to be going good for our benefit, we tend to block out everything concerning our hurts pains and anguish, right out of our minds. Sometimes we will even hold memories against one another, for the purpose of manipulating or controlling; and such is sorcery. The greek word for control or sorcery is pharmakeia which is where we get our modern word for pharmacy. Pharmakeia equals drugs, magic and witchcraft.

1 Samuel 15:23

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou has rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee…

Many of us have been practicing witchcraft and sorcery unbeknownst to us. If you continue to do these things they become apart of you. And it becomes a cancer that you spread to others around you. Here are a list of things associated with sorcery:

1)You’ve heard the phrase “I hate you.” The word hate or hatred in greek is echthra, meaning hostilities and bitterness. When you see this it is contrary to being a Child of Christ.
1 John 3:15
Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

2) Jealously. The greek word for jealously is zelos meaning heat, envy, indignation, emulation, or from the term zeal which means hot or boiled.

3) Dissension. Greek word for dissension dichostasia meaning division and sedition. This word is only mentioned in the bible 3 times in the new testament. Each time it talks about sin. Division and sedition are the tools that Satan uses often; bringing something or someone into your life that causes you to have second thoughts, and in Christ, you can’t have second thoughts. He tries to divide and conquer you for the purpose of breaking you down making you give over to his will. If you are overloaded  with stress, you cant reason, and aren’t receptive to wisdom beneficial to your growth.

4) Fornication. Greek word is pornia which is sexual impurity, and where our modern word porn comes from. It can be spiritual. This includes premarital sex, homosexuality or any sexual activity outside of the sanctity of marriage.
1 Corinthians 6:15-20

5) Uncleanness. Akatharsia meaning impure or foul; demonic.
2 Corinthians 7:1
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

These are the questions you need to ask yourself:
a) In any situation, what is your response? Would it be pleasing to God or man? Colossians 3:23 “and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men”
b) What would be the consequences of that situation? Galatians 6:1-18
c) Will it be a stumbling block to others? 1 Corinthians 8:1-10
d) Could you thank God for it? Colossians 3 emphases on verse 17
e) Would you be able to ask God to bless it? Proverbs 10:22
d) Would yo want to be doing this when Jesus returns?
f) Have you sought Godly council or advice?
If you answered no to any of these above, then you need to seek the face of God before you go any further.

In conclusion, it is for each child of God to walk out their faith in Him.

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We are Who we Serve

Happy Sabbath to all! A day of rest, that is surely needed among the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives. Praise and worship this morning was nice and set the tone for us to hear what God has in store for us.

“We are Who we Serve: But I invite you to abundant life” is our topic today out of Isaiah chapters 53, 54, and 55. Are you tired and there seems to be no peace in your spirit? Things just feel out of balance? No fulfillment in your life, in your being? Looking for love that makes your life complete, alive and at peace? That will quiet those quiet moments? A peace not as men call it, but a peace that will hug you when your down and out, or when you feel like your not even worth being alive? A peace when your mind has so many conflicts. Too many decisions so many questions. There is a peace, a peace that passes all understanding.

Isaiah 53:1-12, 55:1-13
Isaiah 53:5- “but he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” The word chastisement means to punish bodily. In the greek its spelled PAIDEUO meaning to train children. The word stripes means strokes or blows with a hammer, the mark or print of blows in the skin. Iniquities means wickedness or wicked acts.

All this was done to him for us. He suffered all the pain, crying and headaches that we would have had to experience, and experienced for Himself on our behalf. Because He suffered for us, we should not have to struggle. All we have to do is live for Him. We lack faith, when we don’t see an opportunity for faith, we should sill have faith. Its hard these days to really hold on to something that we can’t see, because we want to do it our way. Thats why the word says lean not to your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path. We have to stop questioning His motives.

Isaiah 54:4-17
“Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood anymore. For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called” 4-5.

The name Christianity has become synonymous with fanatical, uncaring, unloving, vengeful people. The name Christian really turns people off today. So how will we be able to invite  people to Christ; how are we going to overcome that stigmatism of Christianity that the world sees? In some ways we try to defend being a Christian. The term really means Christ like. When the world sees Christians (or people posing as being Christ like) acting a certain way, they say if this is the way God is, I don’t want to be a part of that God. Majority of times its a male who is seeing and saying these things. Even in the church, there are mostly all women in the church. If you see men, you’ll see them as musicians, a few deacons, a few ministers, security, or janitor. But in the actual service, you’ll see few, the church is full of women, which is not bad its a blessing. But God wants to bring men to cause that oneness to be there. So it leads you to the point; what are we doing to recover the whole family, the men to the house of God? We teach our women and children. Even in Isaiah 54:13 “And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.” We need to walk boldly in the words of God as a true Child of God, I don’t’ use the term Christian, but Child of God. We need to let men know that God needs them, young and old alike. So you need to welcome them to a life in God, showing them that they are needed and loved by God. In Isaiah 54:17 “no weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.” There is power in this verse for both men and women.

God is not so much concerned about your money or clothing or food to eat or money you may have to give. Isaiah 55:3, 6,7 “incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his ways, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” This is not being told to men. When a church has a strong men foundation it makes for a strong ministry.

In conclusion, we need to begin to not talk like the church, but walk like the chruch. No matter what comes against us remember this “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, for whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord which made heaven and earth” Psalm 121.

If you have questions concerning what we’ve talked about today, comment below or email us ataocministries@yahoo.com.

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Too Many Incompletes in Our Lives

James 1:1-20, 2 Corinthians 8:10-20, John 19:30

How many things have we started and left unfinished? “I’ll get to it later, I’ll do it tomorrow,” yet later and tomorrow for those things never comes. Time can be your best friend or your worst enemy.

Complete means to bring to an end, fully carry out, to make full. The greek word for complete is epiteleo or exartizo; to fit out or make exact. When Jesus looked up and said it is finished, He didn’t wait for the next day to say it; he didn’t hesitate. He came and completed what He was tasked to do by God.

So, as in the natural, is in the spiritual. When you wait until the last minute, you rush, and when you rush, your work is not done properly. 2 Corinthians 8:10-20, is an example of Paul trying to tell a group who had started a task a year prior to continue on in what they started to “perform the doing of it.” When you fail to complete a project in your life, it affects the outcome of other things in your life. Tomorrow may be too late, we know not the day or hour the Son of Man comes. How would you like Jesus to come in the middle of your incompleteness?

If your tasked to go 100 miles to pick up a very important supply shipment for people who are in need and you say I’ll do it tomorrow, instead of right then and there, what do you think the outcome will be? When you start out, you find you only make it 50 miles because the road that you normally travel on, is under construction. Now, those people in need, aren’t helped and harm befalls them, simply due to your incompleteness. You’ve not completed your task. If the Lord has given you a gift to restore and bring health back to people, and you put off using it, you yourself may fall ill and end up not utilizing your gift. So it behooves us not to procrastinate, but COMPLETE it, with the utmost urgency. The same in the natural, is the same in the spiritual.