2016 1st Quarterly Update
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Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. 6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. 7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm. |
Matthew 6:25-34 is one of my favorite passages. It's like a "life verse" for me. It tells that in all things, God will provide if we trust Him to. He says simply that we should "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."
25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. |
Faith is not Belief, it is the Fruit of True Belief.
Go and Be Blessed.
Let's Grow Together, Ep. 6- The joy of the Lord.Share with you friends. Know someone struggling? Share with them as well.
Posted by Darrin Dinja Miller on Wednesday, January 27, 2016
After telling her about how Christ had died for our sins and how He had transformed my life, I asked if she had ever made a similar commitment to Christ.
Her answer was, "No."
Of course, just at that moment customers came flooding in the doors! So she left to attend to them. When she was free though, she came back and asked, "how can I have that?" What joy it is to hear those marvelous words! I led her through the Romans road and told her if she was willing to acknowledge that she deserved judgment before a Holy God, that Jesus was the Son of God who paid her penalty, ask for forgiveness, and commit her whole life to following Him, that she would be saved.
"Are you willing to do that," I asked. "Yes," she replied, and we prayed together.
There is no greater joy, no greater purpose, and no greater calling than to preach the gospel and lead people into the Kingdom of God. Please, pray for this girl and her mother.
If you would like to learn how to share your story and the gospel anywhere, with anyone, in about 60 seconds, then please contact me so we can expand God's Kingdom together. May God be praised in the name of Jesus.
Where Ministry Begins
The Living Word Bible School
What Now?
New Year, New Goals
Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible. -Tony Robbins
As I am buckling down and considering the course I'll take in ministry over the next 12 months, I'm setting goals to build towards, and I'll be using them to measure my obedience to the Lord. Let me show you where we are going in the marvelous year of 2016.
Establish 10 Home Churches
It's time Christians take ownership for their faith and commission. Planting home churches allow more areas for service, deeper discipleship, and real accountability. It also breaks down the walls of rivalry and denominationalism. The best part though, is that people can still have a church they go to on Sunday or Wednesday other than the home church. My goal is to have 10 thriving home churches and in process many new baptisms by the end of the year, and I am currently training leaders to raise these churches up.
Establish 2 Year Bible School
The school will be mostly free. The students will only be responsible for their books and materials which will be very reasonable. My hope is to have all the plans and staff ready for our first class in 2017.
1st Annual A4TW World Missions Conference
Travel to India
Raise My Salary
Let's Grow Together, Ep. 5- Be like Bereans. Like and Share to encourage your brothers and sisters in Christ!
Posted by Darrin Dinja Miller on Wednesday, January 6, 2016
A Story of Reconciliation
I wonder if this story describes you. Not the past you, but you right where you are, right now....
The Prodigal
Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
- He distanced himself from the Father.
- He spent all he had trying to find fulfillment in the world.
- After he had spent all he had on the world's pleasure, he ended up broke and with nothing to show for it.
- Then, when he was already in a bad spot, it got even worse and there was a famine.
- But, he continued to try and seek fulfillment from the world, and ended up hungry, unclean, and though he was working for the world, no one gave him anything.
Is This You?
You see, the world will always attempt to draw us in with its desires and promises, but they are all lies. The more you give into the world, the more it will take, and when you feel like you're at rock bottom, it'll get even worse. One day, there will be nothing more to give. If this is you, I want you to know that there is hope, and yes, there is a way out.
Go Back to the Father
But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him,“Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” And he arose and came to his father.
- He realized what he was doing wasn't working.
- He was willing to confess that he was a sinner and unworthy
- And he took the steps needed to be reconciled to his father by turning his back on the world and going home.
And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." And they began to be merry.
God is our Father, and He sent His only begotten son into the world to fulfill His law on our behalf, and though He was God in flesh, and perfect in His ways, Jesus Christ died on a cross, and took the Father's judgement for our sins, so that the Father is free to love us, forgive us, and take us in just as the father in the parable does for his son. God promises that all who repent and confess will be forgiven, and will become sons (heirs of God's kingdom) forever. If you're reading this and realize that you have been lost and unfulfilled by the world, Jesus wants to know you, and save you from your sinfulness. He wants to feed you, fill you, and clothe you with righteousness that will be for you eternal life. You can pray and ask Jesus Christ to forgive you and save you right now. Ask him to be your Lord and King, and to teach you to obey and love Him forever, just as He will forever love you. Please, if you are choosing today to pray a prayer like this, or want someone to pray or speak with, Contact Me.
This Isn't You? Then What About The Other Son?
Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’
- The brother did not have the same heart as the father.
- The brother was not a part of the rejoicing and even refused to rejoice.
- Instead of rejoicing in love, he envied the first brothers blessing.
- He was focused on what he had done, and what he thought he deserved.
Is This You?
Go Back to the Father
And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’
Please, if you are making a commitment about something today, Contact Me and let me know so I can pray for you and rejoice together with our Father, or just comment below.
Go and be blessed.
I Had A Dream
For quite some time now I have been studying and praying about the "Baptism of the Holy Spirit," or the "Baptism of Fire." And while I do believe that all Christians must receive the Holy Spirit, and therefore be baptized in the Holy Spirit to be saved, I do not necessarily agree with the widespread doctrinal teaching or proofs of the "Baptism of the Holy Spirit" as I hear it taught. But, that is a whole different story all together. More recently though, I have been considering the importance and role of ordination as a passing on of spiritual authority, or gifts, through the laying on of hands. And though there are several biblical examples, to say that one MUST be ordained by fasting and the laying on of hands by other ordained ministers, in order to do the work of God in the Spirit or with authority, did not seem like an accurate claim. This is mostly because of my own personal experience with God in ministry.
The "Guidelines"
My Calling
Second is confirmation of man. My confirmation has come in many ways. I was allowed to be a leader and teacher with the CMJC for several years, and then received two offers from churches to be hired as the Associate or Youth Pastor. God led me to be the Associate Pastor at Friendship Bible Church where I was accepted by the pastor and board of elders, and voted in by the congregation. I have even had prophetic words spoken into my life for ministry. No one ever said, "this is a prophetic word," rather many things spoken of concerning ministry in my life have come true.
Thirdly, though we did not do a group fast, there was prayer on all sides of this journey, and God has led me in fasting and increased His work through me more several times. More importantly, there has been fruit in all of the ministries in which God has guided me.
Finally though, is the issue of the laying on of hands and spiritual authority. This is where I had to really read and pray. On one hand, there is a biblical model where men pass on certain things through the laying on of hands, but on the other hand, God does all the He pleases. Yes it is good to have the confirmation and confidence that comes from wise men, but isn't that which comes from God alone even greater? I have always felt blessed that the growth and ministry in my life wasn't the result of a single denomination, strict doctrinal guidelines, or one man's teaching, rather it came from an intimate relationship with God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Suddenly, however, I am being told, by a very wise friend whom I love, that a calling from God is not enough.
Then I had the dream.
The Man Who Wasn't There
In my dream, I had no definite location. I assumed, at first, that I was still there at the Waring retreat, though surroundings soon gave way to someplace unfamiliar. I was there in close communion with someone, a man, and there with us was another, standing and mocking me. Suddenly, I was overwhelmed with a sense of worship and surrender, and in that surrender I fell to my knees. Then the man who was with me came and laid his hand on my head. At that moment, I was anointed and filled with the Spirit in such a way that I fell backwards onto the ground, and I was floored by the immense filling and presence of the Holy Spirit.
"Who is this man who anointed me," I wondered.
At first I thought it was a man who was talked about quite frequently at this retreat and was well esteemed, but I realized it couldn't be him, because he had passed away a number of years ago. Then I thought it was my friend whose teaching I had been considering, but I realized that it wasn't him either. I looked up to examine the man who anointed me, just to realize that suddenly I was alone. That man was not there. I could still see the other individual, though now much farther away and fading from focus, but the man who laid his hand on me was no more. He had touched me, anointed me, and I had been filled with the Spirit, yet now there was no man to be seen. With that, the dream ended.
Interpretation
Confirmation and Questions
Go and be blessed.
Darrin Miller
Working for the Lord.
1 Co. 9:14, "Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel."
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