DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to my son Eric Anthony Davis and Eric Anthony Davis, II.  From Eric, I have learned more than from any person on the face of the earth.  I have learned God can be trusted with everything I have.  Eric was murdered when he was a junior in college, on his way to becoming an outstanding lawyer.  Some may ask how I know he would have been an outstanding lawyer, well, all he did in his life time was outstanding.  I am sure he would have been outstanding in law also.

            This book has greater meaning now because I know so much more about the Holy Spirit, in terms of His operative comforting power.  I have been the benefactor of the comforting power of the Holy Spirit during the time of Eric's death.  I am writing this dedication only one week after my son was murdered.  I still have the loss of my son's presence. There is still a hurt in my heart, and I am still lamenting his home-going to be with the Lord.  Yet, in the midst of all this, I am being comforted by the presence of the Holy Spirit.  I would never have known the operative comforting power of the Holy Spirit without having received from Him at this time.

            Eric Anthony Davis, II is the son of Pastors Clarence Jr. and Sheri Davis.  Eric II was growing in his mother's womb when the death of Eric Anthony occurred.  It was unknown that the baby was a boy at the time of Eric Anthony's death.  Once it was known the baby was a boy, Clarence Jr. and Sheri wanted to raise up seed in their brother's name.

To Eric II, I dedicate this book to you before you can read it.  May it bring joy to your heart and spirit once you hear it as your father and mother read it to you.  You, my grandson, are the hope of another generation of Davis'.  Live as a man of God.  The seed of your ancestors is living in you and depending on you to bring another son into the world to continue our seed.  Guard your seed with your life.  Do not spill it on the ground nor release it in anyone but your wife.  We will require a report from you when you arrive in Heaven.

            I recommend to anyone who has never received the in-filling of the Holy Spirit to ask Jesus to baptize you with the Holy Ghost NOW.  Allow the Holy Ghost to come into your life and live big and powerfully through you now.  He will do just what you ask Him to do.  You are the key in this action, YOU must ASK and then You must RECEIVE from Him today.  My prayer is that all the Eric’s of the Christian world will read this book and apply the content to their lives.  Eric was an anointed, called man of God who did not answer the call.  Please, my friends, answer "the call.”

PREFACE

            All over the world God's Spirit is moving in the earth today to call out a people for His name.  God is preparing the world for the second coming of Jesus Christ.  He is ordering world events and watching over His Word with a careful eye to perform it.  God is at the same time preparing the Bride of Christ for a marriage that is not too far off in the distant future.  That Bride is the Church of Jesus Christ.  God is moving by His Spirit in these days to get the Church ready for the coming of the Lord.  The Bride that Jesus returns for is to be a glorious, wrinkle-free bride that reflects the glory and image of her heavenly husband.  In these days of preparation, God wants to bring the Church to a place of strength and power in the earth.  He wants the Church to actually become all that it was intended to be.  He wants to use the Church as a powerful instrument in the earth to extend His Kingdom and purpose.  He wants to build a faith in His people that can make all of this possible.

            This book is intended to help the Body of Christ better understand God's glorious purpose in the Church and their individual part in that purpose.  It is intended to give the people of God a vision from God's perspective rather than man's.  It is intended to feed the faith of the family of God so that we might begin to see the Church of Jesus Christ actualize all of the potentials God has purposed for it.  This book is designed for the serious Bible student.  For this reason I would encourage the reader to have his Bible nearby while reading this text, looking up and meditating on all of the passages cited.  As you are faithful, God will surely build into you a new love for His Church and a new desire to see it established as a place of refuge in these last days.  God bless you as you read!

                                                            Dr. Clarence E. Davis, Author