Rocket Man

I’m a ROCKET MAN!

No I haven’t been listening to too much Elton John on my way to Israel (well...maybe a little). Rockets and space mission can be a picture of what the Christian life is supposed to look like. What is so special about rockets that no other aircraft can accomplish? They can reach an atmosphere that none other can. This atmosphere has much less weight on the molecules which makes it almost impossible for many aircraft's to navigate. Simply put, a rocket can enter an atmosphere a plane cannot. What does this have to do with us though?

Living a life of personal devotion changes the desires of a person. They crave something greater than themselves; they desire a lifestyle out of this World. As the Lord was speaking to me about the power of change, I quickly realized how the environment of my personal life has changed; which ultimately changes the atmosphere the church (body) operates in. It starts with each of us deciding that changes in our own lives have to happen before the church comes together to be the bride. It should not be up to the staff of a Church to host the presence of the Holy Spirit so church attenders can get “Holy Ghost bumps”. 2 Corinthians 3:6 says, “He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life (NLT)”

The atmosphere changes when people walk pregnant with the Holy Spirit. Being pregnant is having an expectancy of birthing something new. Living a life of intercession changes the atmosphere and hosts the presence and power of God. This begins by living a life where daily personal devotion is put at the forefront of your life. God will begin to strip the facade off and you will begin to live unfiltered. Seth Coleman, our new pastor to Students/Families at Abba’s House, says, “stop covering up who you really are and start living unfiltered. Remember, when you look into the mirror, you are looking at a reflection of God”. I suspect many people were taught how to do ministry before they were taught how to surrender to God.

When we begin to seek God and live an unfiltered lifestyle, then we begin to enter into a new atmosphere of his presence. Devotion is the rocket that helps us live in an atmosphere that was not designed for natural flesh. Also, when a rocket takes off it uses that which is good to orbit and it leaves the stuff that might hurt it or hinder it behind. It is time to let those people, emotions, and bad habits go. Celebrate the Soulmates God has sent you, finish the race with the teammates serving with you in this season, but get rid of those cell mates. Some people can't and won't go where God is taking you and that's alright. For you though, It's time for TAKE OFF! This is a challenge to go higher. Change in your life happens in the thin atmosphere reached through the rocket of devotion.

People that have been breathing in thin air are easy to spot. They are like temperature gauges in the church and are the first to expect the shift that is coming. These are the people that carry the fire of God with them everywhere they go and change the atmosphere and the lives of everyone around them. If you are one of these, then I challenge you to continue to be different and continue altering the atmosphere of the room. If you are in the middle, then I challenge you to spend more time in personal devotion and seek the Lord until you become a rocket. Lastly, maybe you are not even on a walk with Christ, more less trying to reach a higher atmosphere. The first step is to ask him into your heart and to save you from your sin. Then get plugged in with believers that can help you grow and keep you accountable. Lastly, begin your own devotional time and prepare for take off!

Abba’s House is blasting off and not looking back. I urge you to be a rocket of devotion as we accept change and take off to a higher dimension together. I have spent the last 24 hours traveling to the Holy Land. I am heading to the Garden of Gesthemane. I will post some updates from our trip on my social media pages. God Bless You!

Pastor Ronnie

A Heart Filled with Thanks

My father speaks prophetically over the future of Abba's House.  1/22/17

“God cannot change for the better, for He is already perfect; and being perfect, He cannot change for the worse.” ~ A. W. Pink

Sunday was a powerful and emotional day for my family. Not only did I get to baptize a childhood friend and his son and witness three people give their lives to Jesus Christ, I also got to welcome two families into membership of Abba's House, but the Holy Spirit didn't stop there.

I got to be apart of a prophetic shift of mantles in the life of my church. I knew this was going to take place, but had no idea at the power that would fall. It was a surreal moment in my life which I will never forget. I am confident in God's call, his word and his voice. I am humbled and honored to follow one of the greatest pastor's to ever walk this earth. I can't fill his shoes, but I can walk confidently in the shoes God made for me and that is what I plan to do. I honor the past and look forward to the journey God has for this great church.

Jesus Christ is and has been what fuels me to follow him and serve others. His Grace truly is Amazing! There are no words to describe the honor and excitement I have about the transition plan that was made public this past Sunday at Abba's House. Although this plan has been in place since 2012, it became real in the arms of my Father on Sunday morning. I would like to thank everyone for their texts, tweets, kind words of support and encouragement, and for the love that you have shown my family. I'm blessed to have some "true" brothers and sisters in the Kingdom. These last 11 years have been a great journey of education, growth, leadership, travel, missions, service, and miracles for Kelly and I. God has already taken us places we never dreamed we would go and given us opportunities that I never thought we would have. God has eliminated debt, purchased buildings, added an assisted living facility to our property and has built churches around the world right before my eyes. I know there will be more victories and many struggles, but God is Faithful.

 I can't put into words how much I love & appreciate our staff, trustee's, pastor's council, and our church body for their unanimous support of God's plan for the future of our church. It's about "WE" not "ME" and "WE" as Abba's House have much work to do to be the body God has called us to be in this city and around the world. My father is my hero. Everyone that knows me knows that I am my own man, but I love, honor, and respect my parents like no other. Dad and I will be a team as long as we both have breath and I look forward to serving him and this church in my new role and watching God bless him in his as a Father/Apostle to the nations.

I can't adequately describe the way I feel about my parents or the love I have for Jesus Christ, my family, and the wonderful people at Abba's House. So...Here is a video link from this past Sunday for those of you who would like to hear my heart on the honor of succeeding my father. I believe our best days are in front of us. To God Be the Glory!

Growth in the Wilderness

The Growth in the Wilderness

What is the wilderness? Is the wilderness a punishment for doing something wrong? For years the idea of someone going through a wilderness season has meant that the person is in sin, or their life is falling apart and they need time to heal and be cleansed before ministering to others again. The preaching over the past few years has portrayed the wilderness as a trial period that someone goes through when their life is hard. However, Luke 4:1 states, “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness” (NIV). Jesus who knew no sin was being lead into the wilderness, so why are we so scared of a wilderness season in our own lives?

Apostle Matt Pettry states, “The wilderness is a call to a life of devotional integrity”. The daily trials we go through can wear on a person physically, mentally, and emotionally to the point where many times we give in and either: choose sin or fail in devotion and choose compromise-neither are good routes. When we get alone with the Holy Spirit daily through a devotional lifestyle, our lives begin to go through a cutting process that, at times, may be painful and messy. Through the process, Jesus begins to pinpoint areas in our lives that we have not surrendered to him, and like the gentleman that he is, he politely asks that we hand it over to him. He will give you so much more if you allow him to consume every part of your life. Through this laid down lifestyle, Jesus will begin to change feelings, actions, and thought patterns to help you move FORWARD to all God has called you to be.

The word the Lord has given me for this coming year is FORWARD.

Free (from those holding you back)

Open (to new opportunities)

Ready (to follow God's plan)

Willing (to try new things)

Available (for God to use)

Redemptive (to people who have failed)

Determined (to give your all to Christ)

Philippians 3:12 “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” (NIV) To move forward then the call to the wilderness is a necessity. Get away with Jesus and allow him to strip you of everything that is not of him and fill you up so you can then minister in your calling. The wilderness is a season of restoration and preparation so what is deposited in you can then be poured out upon the local body. Remember, if you have nothing to pour, then how can you show a thirsty person how to get water? Allow yourself to be dismantled through the wilderness season and find your true identity in Christ. This will then lead to being re-mantled with new armor. Apostle Damon Thompson states, “Through proximal devotion in the wilderness, one begins to receive the heart of the Father, and through that transfer, we begin to love what he loves and disgust what he disgusts. This makes resisting sin easy." I challenge you today to accept the call to the wilderness and receive everything the Lord has for you in this re-mantling season.

I apologize that I haven’t written more devotionals as of late, but we have been busier than ever and have had some changes to our board in 2016. We hope to publish one a month in 2017. There are many new ways to connect with Ronnie Phillips Ministries International; Download the Abba’s House APP at the App Store on your smart phone. We now have our own YouTube channel (RPJ TV), you can follow me on Twitter @PastorRonnieJr, Facebook: Ronnie Phillips Jr, and we will be adding a ministry page this year. You can also sign-up for monthly updates on this website (ronniephillips.org).

Please make plans to attend our RPMI Wilderness Conference April 27 – April 30, 2017 at Faith Worship Center (189 Hyden Tyler Rd Chatsworth, GA 30705). Services will be at 6:30 each night and at 10:30am on Sunday morning. I am very excited about our speakers this year; Dr.Ron Phillips on Thursday night (4/27), Damon Thompson (4/28) on Friday night, Pastor Eric Clark (4/29) on Saturday night, and I will be preaching Sunday morning (4/30) at 10:30 am and Sunday night at 6:30. I believe North Georgia is in for a move of God like they have never seen before. Please mark these dates and rearrange your schedule to be with us! We will post a more detailed schedule very soon!