COURTS OF PRAISE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

What we Believe

1. We believe in the proclamation of both eternal power of Calvary and the potential power of Pentecost; the baptizing power of Jesus Christ for salvation because of Calvary, and the filling controlling power of the Holy Spirit for service and Holy Victorious living because of Pentecost (Ephesians 5:18 ; Acts 20:27).

2. We believe in the perpetual and continuing ecclesiastical value of all spiritual gifts for the edification of the body of Christ until the end of this Church Age, which will be consummated by the return of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13,I Corinthians 12-14; Romans 12).

3. We believe in the Divine personhood of the Holy Spirit and His present-day ministry to Believers, including the sovereign distribution of spiritual gifts, which empowers Believers for service in the Contemporary Church (I Corinthians 12:7-11).

4. We believe in Jesus Christ as the Sovereign Giver of spiritual gifts to the church. We further believe spiritual gifts are given for the perfecting of the Saints, for work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the Body of Christ and are given without regard to ethnicity, social class, or gender (Ephesians 4:7-12; Galatians 3:26-28).

5. We believe in the full autonomy of the local church as an independent entity under the Lordship of Christ, through pastoral authority, with regards to: A) government, polity, and operations (Titus 1:5; Acts 15:1 – 35), B) discipline (I Corinthians 5:5; Matthew 18:15-17; II Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15) and C) with the added value of the Episcopacy as a covering (Titus 1: 5; Acts 15:1-35).

6. We believe in the value of biblical terminology for leadership in the contemporary church: Bishop, Overseer, Pastor, Minister, Elder, and Deacon. We believe all of these are designations for servant-leaders (Jeremiah 3:15; Acts 20:28; II Corinthians 6:4; I Timothy 3:1-7).

7. We believe in the formal and intentional praise and worship of Almighty God as a proper, spirit-led, corporate acknowledgement and response to His person and work (Psalm 46-50; John 4:23, 24).

8. We believe in Jesus Christ as the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit, who brings men and women at salvation into relationship with Himself and His Body, the Church. We further believe that it is the baptism of the Holy Spirit that places one into the Body of Christ. All Believers have been baptized by Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11; John 1:33; I Corinthians 12:13).

9. We believe in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit for all Believers and that the Holy Spirit verifies and validates the Believer as part of the Body of Christ (Romans 8:9).

10. We believe in the spirit-filled life as desirable, valuable, and an issue of obedience for all Believers who are commanded to be filled with the Holy Ghost. We acknowledge that within the Body of Christ, the term, “filled with the Holy Ghost” is often used interchangeably with the term, “baptism of the Holy Spirit.” When referring to the controlling presence and power of the Holy Spirit, as a result of the submissive will and desire of the Believer, we allow such alternation of terms. We believe it is the will and command of God that every Believer be “filled,” “walk in,” be “led by,” and “live in” the power of the Holy Ghost (Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5:16, 18, 25).

11. We believe that it is God’s desire that all Believers live under the “Divine Direction” of the Holy Ghost. We believe that the filling of the Holy Spirit is an ongoing ministry of the Spirit in the life of the Believer, that enables the Believer to live a life of power, victory, and glory to God (Acts 1:8, 2:4, 4:8, 4:31).

12. We are Trinitarians who believe in the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit as ONE Triune God. (John 10: 30, I John 5:7-8, 2 Corinthians 13:14).We believe the Holy Spirit fills and empowers Believers for service in the Kingdom of God. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is the result of continuing submission to Divine power and control (Acts 1:8; Ephesians 5:18).

13. We believe all Believers are to be baptized (Fully Immersed) in the Name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and all Believers should be filled with the Holy Spirit.  (Matthew 28:19-20, I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 5:18, Acts 2:38-39, Colossians 3:17).

14. We believe that it is God’s desire that all Believers live under the “Divine Direction” of the Holy Spirit. We believe that the filling of the Holy Spirit is an ongoing ministry of the Spirit in the life of the Believer, that enables the Believer to live a life of power, victory, and glory to God (Acts 1:8, 2:4, 4:8, 4:31).

A) We believe the baptism of the Holy Ghost and the filling of the Holy Ghost are distinct, separate, valid, and valuable ministries of the Holy Ghost which may occur simultaneously at salvation.

B) The baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs once and for all at salvation.

C) Being filled with the Holy Spirit should not only be a continuous reality, but an ongoing characteristic of the believer’s consecrated holiness (Matthew 3:11; John 1:33; I Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 5:18).

D) We believe in speaking in tongues, as our heavenly language, that builds us up in our most holy faith. Tongues is an indicator, not a qualifier.
(Jude 20, Acts 19:2-6; Acts 2:1-4; 1 Cor 14:14-15)

E) We believe in Transubstantiation of the Holy Eucharist. We believe that (Real Presence) is found in the Eucharist after the Consecrating of the elements because the Church is the Bethlehem (Hebrew-The House of Bread) of Jesus Christ (John 6:54-56).

The Church (the ekklesia) is where the presence of Christ may be found.