No Flesh Shall Glory in His Presence

 

xodus 20:22-26   And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.  Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.   An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.   And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it. Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.

           

            In these scriptures we find the provisions for approaching God.  God told Moses, “ say unto the people see how that I have talked with you from heaven”  meaning  “I have,  as an Holy God ,spoken to you from an holy place.”  So pay attention.  These are truths. 

The first thing we find in approaching God is: Thou shalt have no other gods before me.  We also find that God is not impressed with expensive or fancy frills.  This is why the apostle Paul stated that women should dress in modest apparel.  Men should also realize that God is not impressed with a three piece suit.  We find that out when John the Baptist arrived on the scene.  His attire was camel hair and a leather girdle.  Jesus said that there was none greater than John the Baptist and also that he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John.

            Those that are in the Kingdom of Heaven are clothed in righteousness.  God told Moses, “An altar of earth shalt thou make me and if it be of stone you cannot carve out the stone.”  He also told Moses, “Thou shalt make it in a place that I have chosen and set my name there.”  What God was trying to convey unto man was that He knew the heart of man and that man operated out of pride (flesh).  It’s not how fancy a church or building is.  If it’s built out of pride, God would not honor it.  A servant of God was not graded on his attire.  It was the inside of man, the heart of man that man is judged by. 

            Scripture says as a man thinketh in his heart so is he.  The Apostle Paul states that it is not what goeth into a man that defileth him but what cometh out.  Man cannot just build a church where he wants to.  It won’t work.  Just like I have told you many times, if you manufacture it you will pay for it; but if God manufactures it, He will pay for it. 

            In conclusion I will leave you with this: the scripture says acknowledge the Lord in all thy ways and He shall direct thy steps.  You do this in your walk, your talk, your dress and your actions.  God will answer His promise to you as He promised Moses.  He said I will come unto thee and I will bless thee.

            This is Memorial Day weekend, so let us take time to reminisce back on all the memories of not only our loved ones that have gone on before but also on God’s promises and God’s blessings of our Christian truths.  May God richly bless you and comfort all those who have lost loved ones.

           

Love in Christ,

Your pastor,

Charles A. Clark

 

Pray Continually

By Brother Mark Simmons

 

e all have lost loved ones, and they are passive about coming to the Lord.  It is up to us to continually pray for them and ask Jesus to change their heart, mind, and soul.

 

What we have to have is a faith that won’t give up; a prayer that doesn’t quit, even if the answer doesn’t come quickly or if the person gets worse instead of better.  We have to continue to pray even when the situation seems impossible to solve.

 

The Lord wants a church that won’t give up on our petitions to him.  How many prayers have we given up on?  Do we give up on praying for our children? If we give up on prayer then we have given over to Satan and we are saying that God doesn’t answer our prayers?

 

Acts 6:4, “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.”  We have seen, heard, and felt the promises of God.  We have witnessed God’s answer to our prayers many times.  This should excite us and should make us pray more often and more patiently.

 

We often find that people become passive about their walk with the Lord because they have not really listened to the word or the warnings that pastor Charles gives us each week.  Nothing seems to get through to them.  I believe that only the Holy Spirit which is in each of us can reach their hearts.

 

 

Sin’s Cost

By Brother Duane Bailey

 

oshua 7:1  “But the children of Israel committed a tresspass in the accursed thing;  for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Juda, took of the accursed thing:  and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.”

God had just toppled the walls of Jericho for the Israelites.  They had followed God’s plan to a tee.  They had not missed a step.  They had marched when they were told to march.  They had blown when they were told to blow.  They shouted when God had told them to shout.  And God brought the massive walls down all around the city.  The Bible says that it “fell down flat”.  I think that it just sank into ground so that there was not even any ruble that they had to cross over.  God worked a miracle and delivered a great victory in the hands of Israel. 

Only one problem, Achan had taken of the belongings of the people of Jericho which God had told them not to take.  Just before the beginning of their final march around the city, Joshua had warned them that God was making the city and everything in it accursed for the Lord and not touch it unless they make themselves accursed as well.  But evidently Achan came across some “stuff” he could not resist. 

So the next time Israel went to battle, they sent just a few thousand men to small Ai, because it didn’t seem like it could put up much of a fight.  But Ai put Israel on the run.  Not because how well they fought, but because God’s angered was kindled against Israel.  As they fought 36 men, lost their lives and the people’s hearts melted.  Joshua was upset at God because God “allowed” this to happen to Israel.  He fell on his face and put dust on his head.  God told him to get up and asked why he was laying on his face.  Then God told him why Israel had lost the battle.  Someone had sinned.  When God finally pointed out who the culprit was, they brought Achan, his family, all of his animals and even his tent and laid it out to the Lord, everything he had.  They stoned him with stones, then burned them and then piled a heap of stones on them. 

One man’s sin cost so much.  The lives of 36 men in battle, the lives of his wife, his children and his animals, all lost because Achan’s sin.  Ecclesiastes 9:18 says “Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroyeth much good.”  No matter how wise Joshua and all of the people of Israel were, one sin was able to undermine their whole objective. 

Sin kills, sin destroys, and sin undermines all that it comes in contact with.  Achan took his sin home with him.  He had become accursed.  He touched his family making them accursed and touched his animals making them accursed.  All had to be destroyed. 

We have to guard against sin in our lives.  Not the mistakes that we make from time to time.  But premeditated sin, the sin that sets in front of us and we think about and go out and do it anyway.  That is presumptuous sin.  That is stepping over the lines that God has drawn in our lives.  And when those lines are crossed danger lies ahead for the sinner.  It’s bad when sin destroys the sinner’s life, but it rarely stops there.  There are always other lives that are affected.  Those lives may not be destroyed, but there are hearts that are hurt.  Relationships severed.

God hates sin and he calls us to hate sin as much as he does.  Looking at our world and what sin has done to it should make us want to run from sin more than ever before.  Let’s live our lives free from sin and its destructive power.          

 

Always Seek Jesus

By Brother Pat Sutphin

 

f you didn’t read it, last month I submitted a story sent to me by a friend about a dad and his daughter.  The dad had given the daughter a puzzle to work on, really to make her ‘go away’ because he was busy with work.  The little girl turned the puzzle pieces over only to find a broken picture of Jesus which led her to quickly put the puzzle together.  The puzzle was a picture of our country, the United States.

 

She then professed to her dad that she had found Jesus and our country should do the same and it would come together.  Since we have taken God out of our government, and our schools, it would seem apparent that there must be some correlation to all of this havoc and chaos we are seeing and experiencing the world over.  Instead our society or ‘popular culture’ has went so far as to create a saying that it is no longer ‘politically correct’ (what does this really mean) to wish someone a Merry Christmas because of Christ’ name in the greeting.  As Christians that know the Truth we should absolutely choose to go the other way.

 

Matthew 7:7  Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

 

The truth is that we should look to find Jesus in all we do. From your jobs, to your travel - daily, school, decisions about or for your children, for your physical, mental, financial or health decisions.  If you are truly committed to the Lord and you can discipline yourself to seek him in all you do, he is there and will be every time.

 

Isaiah 55:8-9  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

 

Many times you will not like what you find or hear him say.  It’s then that the old flesh will stand up and lead us astray.  It may take some time but we will wake up in a mess and only then seek Jesus to get us out.

 

Matthew 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 

Even sometimes we will find ourselves asking in our minds, well ‘where’s Jesus at when I need him’.  Let me tell you he is there.  He is standing right beside of you maybe looking at you saying ‘Okay, let’s see if you really have faith’.  Will you still stand at all costs in the name of Jesus?

 

Ephesians 6: 13-14

 

Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and have done all, to stand. 14) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness.

 

Stay the course and keep the faith.

 

 

Day by Day

Written by Eloise Speer

Submitted by Sister Brenda Bailey

 

Mark 4:35,37 “And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.  And there arose a great storm…”

 

            Some people try to paint a picture of complete tranquility for Christians.  Once you start living for Jesus, you won’t have any more troubles and problems.  But this is not what Jesus said.  He said we would have persecution, and we would have trials and tests.  Yet, He promised to be with us in the midst of every trial or test.

            Just because we are in the center of God’s will does not mean we will never be in a storm.  Jesus’ disciples were certainly in His will.  They were crossing the lake at His command.  Yet, they were in a terrible storm and feared they might even be in danger of drowning.  There was a storm with Jesus right in the ship with them.  He was even asleep.  You say He does not care; He does not hear.  Notice, as soon as the disciples cried out to Him, He answered.  Jesus can calm the storm any time, but be sure He will not come until we bid Him come.  He will not be late nor will He calm the storm until we become sincere in our prayers.  He often lets us weather the storm for longer than we think is necessary.  Jesus knows when we have been strengthened by the storms of life.  He knows when we need calm seas with a contrary wind.

            Jesus has said to everyone who is born again, “Let us cross over to the other side.”  There may be many storms to hit our ship, to toss us severely against the things Satan has strewn in life’s stream, yet we can hear Jesus say, “Let us cross over unto the other side.”  The secret of our safety is in that little word “us.”  As long as Jesus is with us, we will be able to make it safely to the other side.”  Do not fear the tempest, just trust in God’s power to take you through any storm.  Often when Jesus wants to show us His power, He intensifies the storm.

 

Jeremiah 25:4

 

The Beauty of Mathematics

And the Love of God!

 

From “The Voice” March 2010

Submitted by Sister Joan Lester

 

From a strictly mathematical viewpoint:

What equals 100%?

What does it mean to give MORE than 100%?

Ever wonder about those people who say they

Are giving more than 100%

We have all been in situations where someone

Wants you to

GIVE OVER 100%

How about ACHIEVING 101%

 

What equals 100% in life?

Here’s a little mathematical formula that might help answer these questions:

 

IF:

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Is represented as:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

 

Then:

H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K

8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11=98%

And:

K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E

11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5=96%

 

But:

A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E

1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5=100%

 

Then, look how far the love of

God will take you:

L-O-V-E-O-F-G-O-D

12+15+22+5+15+6+7+15+4=101%

 

Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that:

While Hard Work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, It’s the Love of God that will put you over the top!

 

Happy

 

Dad’s

 

Day

 

June 20

 

 

 

Pressures Will Come Our Way

By Sister Lynn Conley

 

Scripture Text: ‘’My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children’’. (Hosea 4:6 KJV)

 

Pressures make known to everyone what’s inside us or who is inside us. When you apply pressure to the orange, you’re supposed to get orange juice. What will come out of us when we are squeezed? Many times our true colors are shown to everyone. People will remember the bad of someone before they do the good - no matter if it’s the truth or not. Many times people just feel their best hurting someone else’s character. Good people of God need to stop the mouths of those kinds of people and not give in to their wicked actions and ways. We should choose our friends by the way they treat us and others. Don’t choose your friends by the house they live in, the style of clothing they have chosen to wear, or their position on their job. True love for someone or something will always show up. It’s doesn’t matter who is around love shows through someone.  At some point in our lives we have felt rejected. We have felt like we are ready to throw in the towel in and just give up for what we know down deep is right. We just want to give up and stop trying. We need to just get mad at the enemy and stop letting him control us. Some think that they will never pay for anything they have done. In the Word of God it records, ‘’Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.  And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him’’. (Malachi 3:16, 17 KJV) Stay Strong Friends!

 

Let us all remember in our prayers daily: All the many individuals suffering with all kinds of pain and heart aches. All the individuals with cancer, heart related problems, diabetes, mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually sick people everywhere. All those individuals that have the authority over our churches, our communities, our jobs, our government, our politicians, our leaders, homeless individuals, the many people who have lost their loves ones, all the elderly in the nursing homes, the shut ins… that each day that someone will give them all a kind word, and a phone call or a card in the mail from their children. Let’s not forget all the little children with cancer at St. Jude’s hospital, the trauma units, burns units, all those individual are in financial ruin. Our service men and women as they are in harm’s way, they are protecting our freedom.