Foundational Heart Values and Statement of Faith Our values are the heart standards that we esteem, the ideas and attitudes which make us who we are in God. These foundational concepts will enable us to lay a spiritual framework upon which we can build together. Combined, they become the theme and spirit of our ministry: LOVING THE WORD OF GOD. We recognize that only by the written, inspired Scriptures will we grow and walk in truth and power. All teaching, revelations and prophecies will be held to the light of the written Word of God and judged accordingly. We believe that our delight must be in the law of the Lord. Psalm 1:3; 19:7-11, Luke 4:4, Jer. 23:28, I Tim. 3:16-17, I Pet. 2:2, II Pet. 1:19-21. LOVING GOD. FIRST LOVE devotion to God will be the goal of our lives. The very ability to love God is made possible by His FIRST LOVE for us. Our supreme passion will be an absolute surrender to Jesus Christ as the one and only way to the Father. We have decided that nothing will distract us in our pursuit of Christ-likeness. We love HIM, we will follow HIM, and we long to be like HIM! BRIDE OF CHRIST We have a deep conviction that God is preparing for His Son a pure and spotless Bride that is fully alive with passion for the Man Christ Jesus. The revelation of the bride of Christ will be a people known by their sincere and pure devotion to Christ. II Cor. 11: 2-3, Eph. 5:27, Gal 4:19, Rev. 19:7. HUMILITY AND A CONTRITE HEART. The Lord will resist those who walk in pride but He will pour out His grace upon the lowly and contrite of heart. Meekness is a virtue the Lord esteems and we choose to value what pleases His heart. We will ask the Lord for grace to take the lowest place, so that others may be edified. This is how we endeavor to live our lives worthy of our calling. Eph. 4:1-3, Col. 3:12-14, Isa. 47:15; 66:1-2, Matt. 11:28-30, Job 22:23-30, I Pet. 5:5-6, Gal. 6:3 A LIFE OF WORSHIP AND INTIMACY WITH THE FATHER. We believe that worship is the full time ministry of every Christian. We will seek grace from the Father to make worship (intimacy) a lifestyle by encouraging those to develop a daily life of intimacy and communion with God through His Spirit in prayer. Mark 14:3-9, I Thes. 5:16-18, Rom. 12:1-2, Ps. 27:1-8, Ps. 42:1. THE CROSS. We will take seriously the exhortation to "take up our cross daily" and let Christ live in us and through us. More than an emblem, for the believer today, the cross speaks of the "putting off of the flesh". In order to share in the life Jesus has now, we must share in the death He died -- even the death of the cross. II Cor. 4:7-12, Luke 9:23-27, Phil. 2:5-11. CORPORATE INTERCESSION. (what and why) Night and day intercession will be a priority for all those committed to E-HOP. We will ask each member to participate in corporate intercession as we determine to be those who learn to function in night and day prayer. (I Thess. 5:17, Rom. 12:12, Luke 18:1.) Night and day intercession for revival must become the norm for the end-time church. Those involved with E-HOP will be expected to esteem private and corporate prayer as a sacred priority. We commit ourselves to becoming co-laborers with Jesus Christ, escorting the will of God to the earth by believing prayer- (I Thes. 3:10, 5:77, II Cor. 6:1, Isa. 56:7.) We will trust God to see this house of prayer established in the region with 24-hour a day ministry to God in worship and intercession, with the prophetic spirit of the Tabernacle of David - (I Chron. 11:6-25.) This will only be accomplished in unity with other churches, ministries and worshippers in the community. His house of prayer is to be for all ethnic groups, breaking down every dividing wall between Black, White, Hispanic, Asian, Jew and Gentile, rich, poor, evangelical, charismatic, male and female, young and old. (Gal. 3:26-28, Mark 17: 1 7) FASTING. Part of our discipleship to Jesus will involve short and extended fasting. We believe that fasting is not a way to make God hear us but opens the way for us to hear God. Each of us should consider the degree God would have us involved in fasting. A SACRIFICIAL LIFE STYLE. Embracing sacrifice and self-denial will become a life style choice for those associated with E-HOP. Our goal is to become the delight of Jesus Christ on the earth and to manifest the same spirit of sacrifice that led Him to lay down all, on behalf of others. MATURITY, WISDOM AND, CHARACTER. It is not enough simply to attend church -- God is seeking to form Christ within each member of His Body. We esteem and value the anointing of the Holy Spirit, we also esteem the FRUIT of the Holy Spirit (Christ-likeness). We are convinced that "anointing" must never take precedence over godly character. (Gal. 4:19; 5:22-23.) HIDDENNESS. God values secret works of righteousness. We choose to esteem the principle of serving in "hiddenness". Character will be formed as we wait and allow others to be praised and recognized over ourselves. COMMUNITY. It is our belief that God expects every believer to become a functioning and vital part of the ministry of the body of Christ. This would include faithful attendance, serving, financial support, and a basic commitment to the vision of the community. The community of believers becomes the context from which visible Christianity is put on display. The Body is built up as each member does his/her part. "Koinonia" is the Greek word for fellowship, Our desire is to become a "house of friends", built upon kingdom principles of love, deference to one another, forbearance, honor, a sense of belonging, openness and transparency. We will bear one another's burdens, show hospitality, give encouragement, remove loneliness, and become our brother's keeper. (I Cor. 13, Acts 2:41-47; 4:32-37.) EVANGELISM. A commitment to win the lost is crucial for the life of any believer. We will delight ourselves in sharing Christ with loving boldness and with Spirit-filled courage. "Servant" evangelism and "lifestyle" evangelism will be our connection to being laborers in the harvest. We see this as the responsibility of every member. MISSIONAL. The End Time Bride must be active in local and world missions as the mission gives glory to God with acts of mercy and service in the name of Jesus. Establishing a legitimate partnership we endeavor to support missionaries through finances, activity and deliberate intercession We also desire to send laborers into the harvest field with the reality of the author of the Great Commission. We will develop the cry of our hearts to be, "Here am I, Lord, send me." (John 4:34-38, 11 Cor. 5:14-21, Pet. 3:9-12, Isa. 6:1-8.) MAKING DISCIPLES. Our desire will be to equip every convert with the knowledge of God, the giftings of the Spirit, and absolute surrender to the life of Christ. We take seriously our call to equip the saints for their work of ministry and to present each believer complete and mature in Jesus Christ. (Eph. 4:11-13, Col. 1:28-29.) By God's grace, we will disciple believers to Christian maturity. We seek to develop new leadership for works of ministry within our community and to the regions beyond. (Matt. 28:18-20, Col 1:27-29, Eph. 4:72-13, 11Tim. 2:2, Rom. 15:77-27) In our intercession under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, we desire to change the atmosphere of a region so that existing churches grow in membership and numerous new churches will be planted with the "one thing" mandate of their hearts. (Acts 13-74, Eph. 4:11-13, Titus 1:5) FREEDOM AND ORDER. We choose to value both the liberty of the Spirit and Biblical order in our corporate gatherings. We will value deeply the Holy Spirit's spontaneous intervention in our midst regardless of the implications. Order and liberty need not contradict each other in our public meetings. We will encourage the freedom of the Holy Spirit in our worship. (I Cor. 14:26-40, II Cor. 3:16-18, I Thes. 5:19-21.) ESTEEMING ISRAEL. A vital part of our DNA as a Body will be honoring the nation of Israel and Messianic Judaism. We will seek to bless them with our prayers and finances as God's full purposes for Israel are realized. UNITY OF THE BODY. Our impact increases as we walk in unity with one another. We believe that the key to establishing a regional House of Prayer is the uniting of hearts around Christ Jesus. The joining of our lives and ministries must first be in spirit as we build relationships of trust and friendship. Our prayer is that God would free us from all suspicion, jealousy and self-righteousness as Jesus makes us one. (Phil 2, John 13 and 17) COMPASSION. By showing the love of Christ in caring for the poor, the needy and the oppressed. This includes providing for the orphans and widows among us and to administrate a practical serving of material needs. (John 3:76- 78, James 1.27, I Tim. 5:3-16, Isa. 58: 6- 11, IICor. 12:15.) WE BELIEVE that only the sixty-six books of the Bible are the inspiried and, therefore, inerrant Word of God. The Bible is the final authority for all we believe and how we are to live. (Mt. 5:18; Jn.10:35, 17:17; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21) WE BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man; that He was conceived and born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and offered Himself as a penal, substitutionary sacrifice for sinners. By His blood shed at the cross, He obtained for us eternal redemption, the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting. He was raised bodily on the third day and ascended to the right hand of the Father, there to make intercession for the saints forever. (Mt. 1:18-25; Jn. 1:1-18; Rom. 8:34; 1 Cor. 15:1-28; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:10-14; Eph. 1:7; Phil. 2:6-11; Col. 1:15-23; Heb. 7:25, 9:13-15, 10:19; 1 Pet. 2:21-25; 1 Jn. 2:1-2) WE BELIEVE that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. No ordinance, ritual, work or any other activity on the part of man is required or accepted in order to be saved. This saving grace of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, also sanctifies us by enabling us to do what is pleasing in God's sight in order that we might be progressively conformed to the image of Christ. (Jn. 1:12-13, 6:37-44, 10:25-30; Acts 16:30-31; Rom. 3:1-4:23, 8:1-17, 31-39, 10:8-10; Eph. 2:8-10; Phil. 2:12-13; Titus 3:3-7; 1 Jn. 1:7, 9) WE BELIEVE that the Lord Jesus Christ baptizes believers in the Holy Spirit, in whom we are also sealed for the day of redemption. The Holy Spirit regenerates, forever indwells, and graciously equips the Christian for godly living and service. Subsequent to conversion, the Spirit desires to fill, empower, and anoint believers for ministry and witness. We also believe that signs and wonders, as well as all the gifts of the Spirit described in the New Testament, are operative today and are designed to testify to the presence of the kingdom and to empower and edify the Church to fulfill its calling and mission. (Mt. 3:11; Jn. 1:12-13, 3:1-15; Acts 4:29-30; Rom. 8:9, 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:12-13; 2 Cor. 1:21-22; Gal. 3:1-5; Eph. 1:13-14, 5:18) WE BELIEVE that the one true God exists eternally in three persons-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit-and that these, being one God, are equal in deity, power, and glory. We believe that God not only created the world but also now upholds, sustains, governs, and providentially directs all that exists and that He will bring all things to their proper consummation in Christ Jesus to the glory of His name. (Ps. 104:1-35, 139:1-24; Mt. 10:29-31, 28:19; Acts 17:24-28; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 1:9-12, 4:4-6; Col. 1:16-17; Heb. 1:1-3; Rev. 1:4-6) WE BELIEVE that when Christians die, they pass immediately into the blessed presence of Christ, there to enjoy conscious fellowship with the Savior until the day of the resurrection and the glorious transformation of their bodies. The saved will then forever dwell in blissful fellowship with their great triune God. We also believe that when unbelievers die, they are consigned to hell, there to await the Day of Judgment when they shall be punished in the lake of fire with eternal, conscious, and tormented separation from the presence of God. (Mt. 25:46; Lk. 16:19-31; Jn. 5:25-29; 1 Cor. 15:35-58; 2 Cor. 5:1-10; Phil. 1:19-26, 3:20-21; 2 Thes. 1:5-10; Rev. 20:11-15, 21:1-22:15) WE BELIEVE that water baptism and the Lord's Supper are the two ordinances of the Church to be observed until the time of Christ's return. They are not a means of salvation, but are channels of God's sanctifying grace and blessing to the faithful in Christ Jesus. (Mt. 26:26-29, 28:19; Rom. 6:3-11; 1 Cor. 11:23-34; 1 Pet. 3:21) WE BELIEVE in the literal second coming of Christ at the end of the age when He will return to earth personally and visibly to consummate His kingdom. We believe the Church will be raptured before the wrath of God is unleashed upon the earth in Holy judgment. We also believe in and are praying for a great end-time harvest of souls and the emergence of a victorious Church that will experience an unprecedented unity, purity, and power in the Holy Spirit. (Ps. 2:7-9, 22:27-28; Jn. 14:12, 17:20-26; Rom. 11:25-32; 1 Cor. 15:20-28, 50-58; Eph. 4:11-16; Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Thes. 4:13-5:11; 2 Thes. 1:3-12; Rev. 7:9-14) WE BELIEVE that Adam was originally created in the image of God, righteous and without sin. As a consequence of his disobedience, Adam's posterity is born subject to both imputed and inherent sin, and all humans are therefore by nature and choice the children of wrath, justly condemned in the sight of God, wholly unable to save themselves or to contribute in any way to their acceptance with God. (Gen. 1:1-3:22; Ps. 51:5; Isa. 53:5; Rom. 3:9-18, 5:12-21; Eph. 2:1-3) WE BELIEVE that the Church is God's primary instrument, through which He is fulfilling His redemptive purposes in the earth. To equip the saints for the work of ministry, God has given the Church apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. We also affirm the priesthood of all believers and the importance of every Christian being joined with and actively involved in a local community of the saints. We believe that women, no less than men, are called and gifted to proclaim the gospel and do all the works of the kingdom. (Mt. 16:17-19; Acts 2:17-18, 42; Eph. 3:14-21, 4:11-16; 1 Tim. 2:11-15; Heb. 10:23-25; 1 Pet. 2:4-5, 9-10) WE BELIEVE that God has called the Church to preach the gospel to all nations, to especially remember the poor and to minister to their needs through sacrificial giving and practical service. This ministry is an expression of the heart of the Lord Jesus Christ and is an essential part of the kingdom of God. (Isa. 58:6-12, 61:1; Mt. 5:1-7:28; 28:18-20; Lk. 4:18, 21:1-4; Gal. 2:10; 1 Tim. 6:8) WE BELIEVE that Satan, originally the great and good angel Lucifer, rebelled against God, taking a multitude of angels with him. He was cast out of God's presence and is at work with his demonic hosts to establish his counter-kingdom of darkness, evil, and unrest on earth. Satan was judged and defeated at the cross of Christ and will be cast forever into the lake of fire which has been prepared for him and his angels. (Isa. 14:10-17; Ezek. 28:11-19; Mt. 12:25-29, 25:41; Jn. 12:31, 16:11; Eph. 6:10-20; Col. 2:15; 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6; Rev. 12:7-9, 20:10)