White Stones

Declare a holy fast; call a solemn asssembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.

Do not hold against us the sins of past generations; may your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need. Help us, God our Saviour, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake.

Joel 1:14 NIV; Psalms 79:8-10 NIV

Century—a big word all on its own. One hundred, year after year, those who served before now in the presence of Jesus, and we, continuing the work but also inviting change and the correction of the days ahead.

“We are ACOP and what we become in our second century is up to us—we have no destiny apart from our shared destiny.”

ACOP President Rev. Wes Mills—ACOP 101 Revive • Recalibrate • Recommission

Drawn from the scriptures, our future is good…

Now, if anyone is enfolded into Christ, he as become an entirely new person. All that is related to the old order has vanished. Behold, everything is fresh and new. And God has made all things new, and reconciled us to himself, and given us the ministry of reconciling others to God.

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 TPT

All that is related to the old order is vanished, that includes our identity—which was discussed during the Solemn Assembly—names are about identity and identity brings purpose. What name did you allow the Holy Spirit to give you?

Sin vanishes too, along with Satan’s power—

So, we can boldly declare that NO…

1. Denominational distinctive will be placed above the mission—Gone!
2. Independent and insular attitudes—No more sowing to the wind!
3. Neglecting to prioritize evangelism and disciple-making—Plunder Hell!
4. Mishandling of sexual sin—Biblical Correction!
5. Resisting the work of the Holy Spirit—Fresh and New!

The religious works of trying to please God disappear when we become enfolded into Christ. Keeping the main thing—the main thing! The confidence we have is grounded in the truth that we are not reformed or refurbished (the old just waiting to break through), but we are made completely new, enfolded into Christ and the indwelling, or permanent presence of the Holy Spirit.

ACOP has remained faithful to the Word of God—desiring to know the scriptures and the power of God. We have faithfully lifted up the name of Jesus and championed the message of the Grace of God.

We have also faithfully sent out Global Workers, and even sent out youth and young adults through Street Invaders and LifeForce Teams.

We won’t stop doing these things—but, behold everything is fresh and new! We have renewed our covenant with the Lord and we resolve that by God’s grace our future will be different from our past.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomems I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone an new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.

Revelation 2:17 ESV

White stones, new names, shared destiny, and the ministry of reconciling others to God—what a century ahead!