Guest Editorial: Tim Kernan

“Now I commit you to God and to the Word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” Acts 20:32

The City of Angels Church disciples greeting Oleg, Yelena, Sophiia, and Lydiia Sirotkin at LAX as they arrive from Moscow via Kiev and Tallinn!

I first came in contact with God’s grace as a student in Montreal’s Concordia University when I was baptized into Christ on June 21, 2001. I totally believed all Scripture, but since Paul had gone onto glory, I considered myself “the worst of sinners.” (1 Timothy 1:16) In my old life I desired to help people, but instead, I was a slave to my lusts and my stupidity. I joined the army hoping to find something worth fighting for, but after serving four years, the only thing I found was profound disillusionment. As a new civilian, I thought that friendships might be what would fulfill me. Again, I was captive to my own weak character and enticed into the wrong crowd, joining my “friends” in immorality, drunkenness, brawling and almost murder. A deep darkness enveloped me. Then I became a Christian freed of my guilt, and I finally found that something worth fighting for: the souls of men. I became an idealist again! Yet, from time to time, I felt unmotivated; I still felt something was missing.

I remember as a young disciple working the night shift as a security guard reading What’s So Amazing about Grace? by Phillip Yancy. I had not begun to fully understand the principle of God’s grace yet, and that book totally blew me away! This is the meaning of the word grace: overflow, extra, bountiful. God is full of grace and mercy; these qualities He put into all things. He didn’t make one star; He made billions of stars! He didn’t make one type of food; He made millions of flavors in incredible abundance! He didn’t make one kind of flower; He made thousands of species in multitudinous shades of the rainbow! God is graceful in power, in wisdom, in detail, in creation, in glory, in mercy and in all ways! A good book can really open your eyes to a great principle!

A couple of months after my baptism, I attended the Pass the Torch Conference in Toronto with thousands of Canadian disciples. I remember seeing 100 disciples singing with all their hearts to a crowd of thousands by torch light in a massive, darkened room at the Canadian Conference Centre. I remember being struck at how the unlimited power of the grace of God had saved all these souls. It didn’t just “save” them; it also brought them together in perfect harmony and joy. That was the night I got – truly “got” – what God is trying to do through the church. And it made me so zealous. Grace attacked me!

For me, grace is a bankrupt student finding a lottery ticket. Grace is a repentant murderer being freed and given another chance. Grace is a friend forgiving a betrayal. Grace can give you unlimited chances to change. Grace can build you up and give you an inheritance. When grace attacks, nothing stays the same.

Mike and Stephen celebrate with Nate after his baptism!

Paul tried to get Timothy to “get it” in 2 Timothy 2:1, “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” “Strong in the grace” means feeling forgiven; feeling grateful, feeling like you’ve got space to breathe and that nothing is coming at you too fast for you to handle. Being “strong in the grace” means you are rested, even when you’re busy. It’s always terrible to see disciples who are not“strong in the grace.” The worries of life, the stresses of change, the guilt of sin, the sickness of heart from unfulfilled dreams, as well as the anger and bitterness from a lack of forgiveness make them lifeless and washed-out. While other disciples are flourishing, they are dying, because of their dependence on their talent, intellect and sentimental relationships. Their independence from God won’t let them take advantage of God’s grace.

On the other hand, those who are “strong in the grace” are joyful, because they trust that God is working through all things (Romans 8:28), even when there are problems. They “consider it pure joy”, because they know that it is making them “mature” (James 1:2-8), and that “God will give them a way out.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) They are humble; they seek advice; and they ask godly people for help after asking God for help (Phil 4:4-7), so that they don’t get overwhelmed and they don’t drag others down either. They use the Bible to do all the heavy lifting they need to do. They are disciplined in their thinking: demolishing arguments, capturing every impure and discouraging thought, and making it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5)

The “Gentlemen of the Westside” rejoice after Henry’s restoration!

One may now ask, “Why have my ‘prayerful plans’ failed?” Let’s not forget, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness,brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.” (2 Peter 1: 3-9)

Peter tells us that because of grace, “for this very reason,” we need to work on our characters. Adding to our “faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self control;” and so forth! It’s a sequence with a promise: if you work on your character, you will be effective and productive as a disciple! Wow, what an awesome promise!

Raul helping Wayne emerge from the saving waters of baptism!

It’s a terrible thing when the “perfect plan” collapses and it falls right down on a weak character! Ouch! There have been many times when I was putting all of my chips down on a plan, and when it fell through, it collapsed right onto my character that was shockingly weak in the faith! Now that’s disappointing! In fact, when I’m not allowing grace to work on my character, God will actively oppose my plan: “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.” (Proverbs 21:30) It doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t plan. Of course we should! Proverbs 14:22 teaches, “Those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness.” It simply means that our plans need to be implemented, fully surrendered to any outcome God desires. God is discipling our characters to get us to heaven.

When our former fellowship collapsed into lukewarmness through the implementation of Mainline theology, I had a plan to revitalize my beloved Montreal Church. My naiveté was woefully exposed as the opponents to “my plan” to rebuild the church were more “sold-out” about their lukewarmness, than I was about my convictions of being sold-out. God was working on my character to deepen my convictions through trials, persecutions, and Scripture study. God allowed me to flee to Toronto, taking only my wife and “another plan” to build a church composed of only sold-out disciples. And though I failed to gather great numbers, God in His kindness, used my feeble efforts to bring into Lianne and my lives: Megan, Trista, Johnny, Phil, as well as Craig & Elizabeth. Humbled, I finally sensed my need as a “remnant disciple” to move to get the discipling and training I needed. Then in 2007, Lianne & I spent three months at the City of Angels Church in LA before our money ran out.

The Spirit sent us to London, and from January 2008 to the present, God has grown the London Remnant Group from six to 31! Lord willing, we will come to LA this summer with characters greatly humbled and our arrogant minds emptied of our own ineffective ideas. Praise God, Michael & Michele Williamson will lead a group of 12 disciples, which the London Remnant Group will join, officially planting the London International Christian Church in September 2010!

The OC Campus Ministry is fired-up about Sam’s baptism!

God wants us to be productive, fruitful and effective through building our characters, not only through our plans, insights and wisdom. Strong plans and a weak character are the downfall of a man, or even a movement! In our family of churches, I don’t want to be a weak link and neither should you! Let’s advance our good plans with power and character. Stay encouraged remembering, “To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, He will give eternal life.” (Romans 2:7) By working on our hearts, God will give us glory and honor here and in heaven! We are going to be fruitful. Right now, are you “strong in the grace” or is your strength present only when things are going your way? What about those you are discipling? Can you help them to build convictions on being “strong in the grace?” Can you dedicate more time to working on their characters with them? God and His church are desperate for people who will “be strong in the grace.” And to our Sovereign God be all the glory, praise and honor!

Tim Kernan