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It's not about music....
It's not about entertainment..... It's About Ministry!
It's very important to us that we ensure that everyone we
meet throughout our travels understands our "heart". It's
so easy to hear the music and miss the message. We are committed to
ensuring that our message is much louder than our music. It would be
very easy for us to fall into a trap of "self-centered"
ambition. We pray daily for God to guide our paths and to remove the
selfish pride and self-centered ambitions from our hearts so that we can perform and work
ONLY for His glory and the advancement of His kingdom.
Our hearts desire is that we can show a young person the
power of God through Jesus Christ, His son. For us, the ministry
doesn't just occur on a stage. We want our ministry to extend much
further. Whether it's a young person at a concert, an attendant in a
hotel, or a cashier in a convenience store, we pray that our love for
Jesus Christ shines through wherever we go. We pray that God will provide us
opportunities, on or off stage, to help someone, to show them what we've
experienced. We all have experienced the saving grace of Jesus Christ and
we all boldly claim to be born again believers and we desire to share this
story with everyone we meet.
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What Does Floodgate Believe?
We believe
in God the Father, creator of all things, seen and unseen. God as Father rules the universe and the creatures therein; He also directs the path of human history according to His purposes and will.
We believe in God the Son, Jesus Christ, who, being fully God and fully human, was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died obediently on the cross, was buried, rose from the dead three days later, and ascended to the right hand of the Father forty days after His resurrection. We further believe that he will one day return to judge the living and dead and set up his eternal kingdom.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who indwells believers, empowering them do the will of the Father, convicting of sin and instructing in righteousness.
We believe that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit exist simultaneously within the Godhead, constituting the Trinity. Throughout history, God has revealed himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, with
distinct personal characteristics but without division of substance.
We believe that man is created in the image of God, but is in a fallen state due to Adam’s sin and is no longer capable of a relationship with God apart from God’s grace. This relationship is only restored by the salvation of the individual by God. We believe that faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son, in his death, burial and resurrection is the only means of salvation and is not a work of man but a gift of God.
We believe that the Bible is God’s inspired Word, is to be interpreted responsibly under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and is the believer’s only authoritative guide for matters of faith and practice. It is upon this word that we base these beliefs.
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OUR CODE OF CONDUCT
1. I will love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength, seeking to
make the most of the talents and abilities He has given me. I will acknowledge that what He has given me is His gift to me, and what I do with
it is my gift to Him. I will seek His Word for guidance as to His will for my
life, and consider worshipping and obeying Him my first priority. I will shun
all idols, or false "gods," that would appear able to supply my needs if I
agree to compromise my commitment to the One True God and my Lord Jesus Christ.
2. I will love my neighbor as myself, considering the effect of my words and
my actions on my neighbor's wellbeing. I will acknowledge that my "neighbor"
is the one near me, at various times geographical, familial or preferential. I will avoid the human tendency to stereotype and be prejudiced toward others
of different faiths, races, nationalities, genders, etc., and relate to individuals on the basis of their own words and deeds. I will follow God's
example, loving every individual and seeking to bring them to a saving knowledge of the truth of Jesus Christ. I will live in such a way that if
everyone followed my example there would be peace and good will among men.
3. I will acknowledge the spiritual battle raging between God and the Devil,
and never knowingly give the Enemy an opportunity to lure me into sin against
God, self or neighbor. I will stand against Satan's wiles with the written
Word of God and the power of holy spirit." If I find myself "held captive by
him at his will," I will exert every effort to "escape" and help others to do
likewise. I will shun addictive and dependent behaviors that would enslave me
and render me self-centered and unproductive, especially those associated
with destructive chemical substances.
4. I will actively work to manifest the fruit of the spirit as the basic godly attitudes and character traits that ought to govern my life, and give
particular attention to those traits that are most difficult for me to evidence. I will not follow my "nature" into sin, making excuses and
rationalizing my inappropriate behavior, but will live by the power of the spirit to obey the Word of God.
5. I will recognize the authority of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, and responsibly submit to all godly authority as defined by God's Word, while not
allowing myself to be tyrannized by any misuse of authority. I will submit to such authority in accordance with the limits of my conscience as it is
educated by the Word of God. I will renounce envy, rebellion and self-will, and seek to serve and not to rule. When I am in authority, I will use that
power to serve and not to dominate. In all my relationships I will choose
behaviors that encourage godliness, peace and reconciliation.
6. I will maintain holiness in my sexual life, whether in or out of marriage,
acknowledging that sex and one's attitude toward it is profoundly spiritual
and will strengthen the bonds of either matrimony or iniquity. I will shun
pornography and all illicit sexual activities as demeaning of God's design for sex within marriage, which testifies to His goodness and love for
mankind.
7. I will not gossip (passing on destructive rumors), but will lovingly speak the truth as I have personally experienced it, with a goal of edifying
others. I will speak words that minister grace and a good reputation for
others to live up to. I will not be party to character assassination or the ungodly judgment of another's heart. If I believe that I have been trespassed
against, I will follow the pattern of Matthew 18:15-17, and go first to the
one I believe wronged me before discussing the offense with others (pastoral counseling excepted).
8. I will not covet nor steal that which belongs to another, but will work diligently so that I have to give to
others. I will make every effort to return lost items to their rightful owners, and seek to be a lender more than
a borrower. Anything I do borrow, I will return in better shape than I found
it, or replace it. I will not be a slave to the acquisition and preservation
of money, but will use it as a means to bless and provide for those I love.
9. I will not seek vengeance against those who wrong me, but will forgive them and seek reconciliation according to the principles of God's Word. I
will reject small-minded and petty attitudes that demand of others what I am unwilling to give. I will acknowledge the evils of misjudgment and recognize
that what I detest in others lives in me as well. I will recognize that identifying the root of sin in my own life is a more compelling project than
presuming to correct others without first correcting myself.
10. I will do good to all men, seeking opportunities to be of service and show the love of God that dwells in me. But I will be especially good to my
fellow Christians, recognizing that they are God's people whom He has graced as my equals. I will do my personal best to be united with them against our
common foe, in accordance with the standard of God's Word and the one spirit that empowers us all.
*our code of conduct is adapted from the
original Christian code of conduct developed by Christian
Educational Services.
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Why Floodgate?
- We took the name, Floodgate,
from Malachi 3:10:
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my
house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I
will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing
that you will not have room enough for it." (NIV)
God is telling His people that they should bring
their tithe to the store house, which is today's church. They were commanded to give a tenth of everything they
owned. Everything! So, what does
this have to do with a band name or music? We believe that God
is speaking about much more than just money in this scripture. We believe
that He is talking about a principle that applies not only to our
possessions but also to our entire living. God wants us to completely open ourselves up to
Him; physically, mentally, and
emotionally. When we completely open ourselves to Him and give Him our
hearts in true worship then He also opens Himself
completely up to us. As Malachi 3:10 says, "see
if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much
blessing that you will not have room enough for it".
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- It is our desire to open ourselves up to God
and to show others the truth that God has shown to us. A life of true
happiness and fulfillment can be obtained through the power of God through
Jesus Christ.
To God be all the glory and honor! He is worthy!
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