As Christian believers of the House of Prayer Christian Churches of America, Incorporated, we make the following declaration of the things which are “Believed Among Us” (Luke 1:1), so as, there will be no division or differences among us, and that all out churches preach, teach, and proclaim the following, doing so in love and by the direction of the Holy Spirit, and by the Word of God.
I – THE SCRIPTURES: We believe that the Scriptures, (The Bible), are the inspired Word of God, and that they are to be taught and believed in their entirety – (II Timothy 3:15) (II Peter 1:21) That the Scriptures will give us a complete revelation of God’s divine plan of Salvation and His will toward man, and that this is to constitute the complete rule of Christian Faith and the practice of the same.
II – THE GODHEAD: Our God is a Trinity – manifested in three distinct Persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, being co-existent, co-equal, and co-eternal.
III – SALVATION: Salvation for man, (which is fallen from his perfect and sinless state through Adam), is attained by the grace of God, through Jesus Christ His Son, by His death upon the cross, through the Holy Spirit’s conviction, by repentance, and through an experience of the New Birth. This is accomplished by grace, and is made effectual through faith in Jesus Christ by accepting Him as our Personal Savior. (Titus 2:11) (Romans 10:13-15) (Luke 24:47) (Titus 3:5-7)
IV – THE CHURCH: We believe that the Church is the Body of Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:18) (Ephesians 4:15) and that Jesus is the Head. Its earthly members are made up of believers, born again by the Spirit (John 3:6) and by the Word. (I Peter 1:23). To the Church is delegated authority, instructions, offices, and rules to govern it, and its members, so as to allow it to fulfill its mission in the fulfillment of Christ’s great commission. (Matthew 28:19) (Mark 16:15-20)
V – MINISTRY: God, through the Holy Spirit, definitely calls and sets aside such as He desires to serve as Ministers of the Gospel. No one should under any circumstances be ordained to any office unless the calling is distinct and evident.
VI – WATER BAPTISM: Baptism in water is by immersion, and is a direct commandment of our Lord (Matthew 28:19) and is for believers only. (Romans 6:4) (Colossians 2:12) (Acts 8:36-39)
VII – BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: The Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11) is a gift from God, as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ, to all believers in this dispensation, and is received subsequent to the New Birth. (John 14:16-17) (Acts 1:8, 2:4, 2:38-39). The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is accompanied with the speaking in tongues as the Holy Spirit gives utterance, this being the initial physical sign and evidence. (Acts 2:4)
VIII – SANCTIFICATION: The Word of God (The Bible) teaches that without holiness no man can or shall see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). We believe the Doctrine of Sanctification to be a definite, yet a progressive work of grace in the believer’s life, starting at the time of the born again experience in the believer’s life. (Hebrews 13:12) (II Thessalonians 2:13) (I Peter 1:2) (Ephesians 5:26) (John 17:17) (I Corinthians 6:11) (I Thessalonians 5:23)
IX – THE LORD’S SUPPER: We believe that the ordinance of The Lord’s Supper is a commandment of our Savior, and that its time or frequency of observance is left to the discretion of each congregation. (I Corinthians 11:26)
X – DIVINE HEALING: Healing is for the physical ills of the human body. It is wrought by God, through the power of God, by the laying on of hands and by prayer, through faith. (Mark 16:18) (James 5:14-15)
XI – THE COMING OF THE LORD: We hold that the coming of the Lord is imminent and is the blessed hope of the Church. We also hold that the rapture is to occur prior to the tribulation.
XII – RESURRECTION OF THE JUST AND UNJUST: The Scriptures teach that the just (those born again, being justified by Jesus Christ) shall be raised by Jesus Christ unto eternal life and rewards. The unjust, (those who have rejected Jesus and His plan of salvation), shall be raised to judgement and eternal punishment.
XIII – HELL: When one dies in his sins without Christ, he is hopelessly and eternally lost in the Lake of Fire, and therefore has no more opportunity of receiving Christ as Savior, being eternally lost. (Hebrews 9:27)
The Lake of Fire is literal, (Revelation 19:20) and the words eternal and everlasting describe the duration of the punishment of those that are lost.
XIV – RELATION TO WAR: We believe that our government was and is established by God, and whereas we are thankful to the government of the United States of America, for the freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and whereas we understand and believe that the Word of God does not command or teach, either by example or statement, that we should not protect or defend our way of life: be it resolved that during time of war or necessity, we will serve our government, bear arms, protect our citizens from enemies who try to overthrow our government and our country, and to serve in whatever role necessary.
XV – TITHES: We recognize the scriptural duty of all people, as well as ministers, to pay tithes unto the Lord. (Hebrews 7:8) Tithes should be used for the support of the active ministry and for the propagation of the Gospel and work of the Lord, and are not to be given to charity or used for other purposes. (Malachi 3:7-11) (Hebrews 7:2) (I Corinthians 9:7-11; 16:2)
XVI – PRAYER: The Word of God plainly teaches that men must pray everywhere without wrath and doubting. (I Tim. 2:8) We believe that prayer is a vital and necessary part of a believer’s life, and, therefore should be exercised without restriction, according to Scripture. (Luke 6:12) (Luke 18:1) (I Thessalonians 5:17)