Have a Worthy House

Matthew 10:11-14 (King James Version)
11 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.
12 And when ye come into an house, salute it.
13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

Have a Worthy House

In today's passage, Jesus sent his disciples out on a mission. He sent them to the 'lost sheep of Isreal' to tell them that the kingdom of Heaven was at hand (Matthew 10:5-8). He instructed them to take nothing and to stay only where they were welcomed in 'worthy' houses.

He gave the disciples a test to identify these worthy houses. He told them to use their peace as the standard...if their peace came upon the house, stay. If not, leave and don't think anymore of it.

Have you ever been in a peaceful house? You know...those friends or family you visit and you instantly feel at home. The physical place may be disheveled and noisy, but there is a sense of acceptance and peace as soon as you walk in the door. Then there are those houses you can walk into that are finely appointed, and well ordered but you find yourself anxious to leave. There's no peace in that house.

Beloved, we are challenged today to consider our houses. Not just the place of our addresses, but a more personal house. Paul shared in his first letter to the Corinthians that our bodies are the 'temple of the Holy Spirit' and reminded us that we have been bought with a price and are not our own (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). So the question remains, is there peace in the house?

John recorded in his 14th chapter that Jesus left His peace with us. His peace. The very peace of God.

Jesus didn't get nervous when there were thousands to feed. He didn't lose sleep over people needing healing. He didn't even worry when Satan himself was among the disciples. Judas' disobedience was necessary for Him to complete His work.

This peace Jesus left us is perfect peace because it isn't dependent on the behavior of man. It rests in God Himself. By being a willing vessel, Jesus placed his complete dependence in God. God, therefore, was responsible for all Jesus' earthly needs including encouragement when He needed it.

By being totally yeilded to God, we, like the children we care for, become totally dependent on God. He, in turn, has the responsibility to meet all our needs. If I depend totally on God, then my coming, my going, my mission, where I sleep, eat, it all becomes God's business to handle. This is the peace Jesus left for us.

How wonderful is that? To be in the complete care of the Most High God. THE Creator of the universe; HE who spoke into nothing and created everything; HE who after giving man a free will created a perfect path to redeption through the saving grace of Jesus Christ, His own Son. This is who cares for you. This is who knows the number of hairs on your head, who puts breath in your lungs, food on your table, a song in your heart, and peace in your house.

I bid you peace worthy of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

John 14:23-27
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Evg. Stephanie Robinson

Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA.
Feel free to share this message.


Previous Lifeline mailings can also be reached through the church website www.fcchosengeneration.com on the Lifeline link. For questions or to subscribe, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com.

You can reach the church at chosen.gen@att.net.

Fellowship Church
Where Passions Become Reality
Because you are a CHOSEN GENERATION!
455 Hwy 138, Ste C
Jonesboro, GA 30238
Alton Watkins, Pastor

I Don't Speak Mayan

Matthew 24:3-4

3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

I Don't Speak Mayan

As my son and I rode home from worship service, he informed me that the end of days was coming next year. We talked about what the phrase 'end of days' meant to him and I asked him where he got his date information. I knew he was refering to the billboards proclaiming a certain date as the end of time or the resurgent interest in the Mayan calendar predictions, thanks to that movie that came out a while back.

Dear ones, I don't own a Mayan calendar. I don't speak Mayan and I can't read Mayan. I have read about the Mayans and frankly, the world ended for many of their enemies when the Mayans invaded. There were people offered in sacrafices who's worlds ended pretty abruptly. And, if I remember my history correctly, there were probably some Mayan people who thought the world ended when their empires started collapsing in the 7th and 8th centuries.

I also know that every era of time has had people who called for the end of the world and yet, we're still here.

Jesus said no man nor angel knows the end. Only the Father (Matthew 24:36) knows for sure. Our real point of focus, according to Jesus, should not be on how or when the world will end, but on what we do while we're here.

Two encouragements: First, read all of Matthew 24 especially with your young people. You might be ignoring it, but they are being bombarded with 'evidence' that the world is ending somwhere between May 21st this year and December 31, 2012. When you're young, this can be the cause of alot of unnecessary anxiety. As Jesus taught, there will be definite signs prior to His arrival, which could be at anytime, but not one moment before His Bride (the Church) is prepared.

Second, consider your life and the lives of those you love. Are you prepared? Are they? Do you know Christ as Savior and Lord? Have you believed in your heart and confessed with your mouth? Have you been bold about your beliefs or ashamed? Will you be found wanting or working if He comes today? Tomorrow? In a century?

We are not supposed to shirk our responsibilities and act as though tomorrow is the end. We are also not supposed to carry on riotously as if the end will never come. As in all things created by God, there is a balance. There's an old saying: Plan like you'll live forever; Love like you'll die tomorrow. It carries some wisdom. Plan for your future with your health, your wealth and most importantly your soul. Set an inheritance for your children's children that gives them food and shelter, no doubt, but also a legacy of Christian service and life in Christ. Let those you love know it daily. Never leave them in doubt about your depth of feeling.

Follow hard after the leading of the Holy Spirit in all that you do and say. His leading will result in an incredible inheritance for your children's children and will lead you squarely into your eternal destiny in Christ. Following Him fulfills the other.

I don't own a Mayan calendar, but the Julian one I follow says today is January 24th, so this is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.

Blessings and peace.

Psalm 118:21-29

21 I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
23 This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.
27 God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
28 Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.
29 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Evg. Stephanie Robinson

Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. Feel free to share this message.

Previous Lifeline mailings can also be reached through the church website www.fcchosengeneration.com on the Lifeline link. For questions or to subscribe, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com. You can reach the church at chosen.gen@att.net.

Fellowship Church
Where Passions Become Reality
Because you are a CHOSEN GENERATION!
455 Hwy 138, Ste C
Jonesboro, GA 30238
Alton Watkins, Pastor

Promises, Promises...

Joel 2:21-26

21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.

²² Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.

²³ Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

²⁴ And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.

²⁵ And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

²⁶ And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.

Promises, Promises...

The promises of God are yea and amen to the glory of God in us, according to 2 Corinthians 1:20. That means He means what He says.

Take a close look at the promises laid out in Joel 2. I especially want to highlight verse 25...."and I will restore to your the years that the locust hath eaten".

I am a biologist by training. I spent a year in college studying bugs. Locusts are strange creatures. They start out as harmless grasshoppers and then after some environmental or chemical trigger, their whole body and social structure changes. They go from being harmless, solitary creatures that children like to catch to a highly destructive swarm. They move as an army, eating everything in site. They eat any organic thing. Old stuff, new stuff, dead stuff. They don't care. They just eat and eat and eat, leaving only the dust of the ground.

Sometimes, in the winter months, its easy to feel like a swarm of locusts has just plowed through your life. The hustle and bustle of the holiday season gives way to blasts of cold, rain, snow and ice. Two weeks ago you might have been surrounded by family and friends. Now you find yourself alone, in an empty house with only the bills from overspending during the holidays to keep you company. Its not a pretty picture, but...

Oh, but the promises of God.

He didn't just say he would bring new crops or just offer us the promise of spring, but that He would RESTORE the years that the locust had eaten. See, when the swarms invade, they eat the plant that's growing as well as the seed it carries. All the prosperity that was held in the seed gets destroyed. But yourFather in Heaven gave His Word that He would not only restore the plant, but the YEARS that the locusts ate. The years behind in starting the plant, and THE YEARS AHEAD that were contained in the seed.

You have complete and total promises from God. He cares about your past and your future. Because that's what its like to be in relationship with someone...they care about all of you, who you are, and who you'll be.

Shake off the cold, loved ones. Set aside your regrets and your disappointments from the past. You Father has promised to restore the years that were stolen. Take a cue from David, who, upon hearing that his son had died, got up, washed his face and moved on in his calling as a King. Choose not to wallow in the pain, but instead, start right where you are and move in your calling, your assignment, your life in Christ.

All that lies ahead for your is restoration, plenty, abundance, peace like a river, joy unspeakable, love, mercy, longsuffering,....

He promises.

2 Corinthians 1:13-20

¹³ For we write none other things unto you, that what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;

¹⁴ As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are our's in the day of the Lord Jesus.

¹⁵ And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;

¹⁶ And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.

¹⁷ When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?

¹⁸ But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.

¹⁹ For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.

²⁰ For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

For a full list of the promises of God, consult your Bible, and then join us at Fellowship. We'd love to explore and realize them with you.

Peace and restoration.

Evg. Stephanie Robinson

Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA.

Feel free to share this message. Visit our church website at

www.fcchosengeneration.com.

For questions or to subscribe, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com.

You can reach the church at chosen.gen@att.net.

Fellowship Church

Where Passions Become Reality

Because you are a CHOSEN GENERATION!

455 Hwy 138, Ste C

Jonesboro, GA 30238

Alton Watkins, Pastor

A Fresh Start

Acts 9:10-15

10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

A Fresh Start

Happy New Year! I mentioned last time about the significance of beginnings and endings. We ended a year last week. Let's begin with a fresh start.

Ananias had good reason to question the directions the Lord passed through this vision. Saul was ruthless in his quest to stamp out this heritic belief in Christ that threatened the established order. He was focused, disciplined and committed to his work. Futhermore, he wasn't just acting in his own sense of morality, he was endorsed by the chief priests to carry out his work. But, the Lord confirmed His direction and gave Saul the strongest endorsement any of us can hope for. He called Saul 'a chosen vessel unto me' and stated his purpose and calling.

In this passage, Ananias and Saul both are showing great faith in their vunerability. Saul, blinded from an encounter that literally changed his whole life's mission, found himself surrounded by the very people he had been hunting, inprisoning and killing. He was fully dependent on them for all necessities while he was in this state of complete subjection. Ananias, who was not present at the conversion, received a vision, like Abraham, like Mary, like Joseph, like Zachariah, and had to take the Lord at His direct word that in coming into contact with this killer Ananias would not only be safe, but would minister and share the Holy Spirit with this man and he would be receptive.

Two men, mortal enemies brought together by God to forge the instrument that would lead to you and I hearing the salvation message. Both men needed and received a fresh start.

It's a new year. A new decade. Have you given yourself a fresh start? My meaning in that question isn't just for salvation. That is a the necessary start in all of this. But, those of you who have already accepted that Christ is Lord and Savior, have YOU given yourself a fresh start?

Are you still holding on to things that keep you from being who you really are now that you've been born again? Has your encounter with Christ actually changed you, or do you still do the same things in the same ways you did before? You are a chosen vessel, just like Saul. You have been set aside by Christ for a particular purpose and calling, just like Saul. And, just like Saul, you have to start moving in it to realize the fulness of it.

Forget about the past hurts and failures. Learn the lessons of the falls, but get up and walk in newness of life, mercy and forgiveness. As followers of Christ, we do not have license to sin, and we are not excused from reaping what we sow, but we do have expectation of forgiveness and favor, coupled with the responsibilities of a calling and work to do. If we define our humility by how guilty we feel about the wrong we did, we decive ourselves and we will never be able to show true humility through being obediant to our callings, no matter what.

Friends, give yourself a fresh start. Let go of any unforgiveness, guilt, anything that didn't come right from the throne of God. If you've done something wrong, do your best to make it right, confess, ask forgiveness and move on. If you've had wrong done to you, forgive the offender and move on. In every failing, every victory, give yourself a fresh start. Move into obediance and leave the guilt, shame, fear, hurt, offense and other ungodly principles behind. They are stale remainders that obscure and hinder you from the sweet smell, taste and reality of a fresh start.

Romans 12:1-2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Here's a formula to help with starting fresh: Reflect. Repent. Renew. Respond. Rejoice.

Evangelist Robinson
Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. - Psalm 100:2


Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. Previous mailings are available on this blog and can also be reached through the Lifeline link on the church webpage, www.fcchosengeneration.com. Feel free to share this message. For questions or to subscribe, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com. You can reach the church at chosen.gen@att.net.

Fellowship Church
Where Passions Become Reality
Because you are a CHOSEN GENERATION!
455 Hwy 138, Ste C
Jonesboro, GA 30238
Alton Watkins, Pastor

Beginnigs and Endings

John 1:1-5

¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

²The same was in the beginning with God.

³All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

⁴In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

⁵And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Beginnings and Endings

Beginnings and endings matter. The Word starts with "In the beginning" and ends with "Amen." How things start and how they end matter to God and should matter to us. We like to think that it's not how you start, it's how you finish, but the truth is, if you don't start sometime, you can't finish.

We will end 2010 and the first decade of this century in a few days. How are you planning to end this time? Are you planning on ending it drunk? Kissing strangers in the street? Do your plans warrant and amen or a 'so let it be' at the end? What about the beginning of 2011? Are you planning on starting this year without any changes?

Loved ones, give yourselves one more Christmas gift this year, this decade and next year. Give yourself Christ. He has made Himself available to you and has gathered the gifts of redemption, salvation, and the favor of God, all tied up with a ribbon of His blood. To gain these gifts, you need only receive. However, you can bring Him the gifts of a yielded spirit, a contrite heart and obedience. That would be just what He wants for His birthday.

That's a great recipe for ending the year. It's also a great one for beginning. "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God." Begin your new year, new decade, new life with the Word. The Word was with God and the Word was God and the Word of God is Jesus Christ Himself. Get the beginning that is worthy of an amen. Worthy of being sealed with the very Name of Jesus, in His blood.

At Fellowship, we will end this year with a New Year's Eve service at 9:30 PM followed by a breakfast. I hope you will join us, especially if you are reading this and you do not have a church to go to Friday night.

But, more importantly, I hope you will join us on Sunday, January 2nd. It's the first Sunday of 2011. It's the first Sunday of a new decade. For some of you, it may be the first Sunday of your salvation.

Our pastor issued a challenge that we contact everyone we care about, and encourage them to be with us on January 2nd. If you are a member of Fellowship reading this, please be there. I care about you. If you are not a member of Fellowship, or any other congregation, please be there. I care about you. If you are a member of another congregation, please be THERE. We all have assignments in Christ, and it is important that we start off each day, each year in place. Be in your place. You never know how the Father intends to use you, but you're of no use if you're not in place.

If you do not know your place, your assignment in Christ, we have room for you at Fellowship Friday night, Sunday morning and all throughout 2011, 12, 13.....

Happy New Year! Happy New Life!!

Romans 12:1-2

¹I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

²And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Revelation 22:12-17

¹²And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

¹³I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

¹⁴Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

¹⁵For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

¹⁶I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

¹⁷And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Evg. Stephanie Robinson

Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. Feel free to share this message.

Previous Lifeline mailings are posted on a blog at www.lifelineatfellowship.blogspot.com and can also be reached through the church website www.fcchosengeneration.com on the Lifeline link.

For questions or to subscribe, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com. You can reach the church at chosen.gen@att.net.

Fellowship Church

Where Passions Become Reality

Because you are a CHOSEN GENERATION!

455 Hwy 138, Ste C

Jonesboro, GA 30238

Alton Watkins, Pastor

Abide!

Luke 2:8-18

8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

Abide!

There were these shepherds. They were doing what shepherds are supposed to do; they were tending to the flock. By being where they were supposed to be, doing what they were supposed to do, they became the recipients of a tremendous blessing. Their obedience to their calling, their occupation..their assignment put them in the position to be the announcers, the callers, the evangelists of Christ's arrival.

The shepards were blessed because of their obediance. I can imagine in my mind some slovenly shepherd who just didn't feel like being on that hill that night watching sheep. My imaginary slackard probably didn't believe his co-laborers when they told him the news the next day. He missed the whole thing because he wasn't in place. He wasn't doing his job. He wasn't heeding his calling. He didn't abide.

You've heard the call. You've accepted your duty. Yep, it can get dull. Yep, it can get tedious. And at busy times of the year, like this one, it's even possible that it can become a burden. Who wants to watch sheep in the rain?

A dedicated shepherd, that's who. One who has chosen to abide and not just 'hang out' for a time.

What you've been given to do is yours. And its okay that you don't "get it" sometimes. Just keep doing what you're supposed to do, and you'll be blessed for your obedience. And, other's will be blessed by your obedience. Chose to abide.

Shepherd your calling. Good days, bad days, rainy days and hot days. You may be witness to a life changing event, just like those shepherds, abiding in the field over 2000 years ago who beheld the Christ as a child with their own eyes. Now that's a Christmas present worth waiting for.

Abide in your field.

Psalm 91
1He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Christ has come! Salvation is at hand! God has sent His Son. Good Will Toward Men on Earth! The Savior, the Lamb of God, His Only Begotten Son has come. He has been launched into His calling and has chosen to come, die and be resurrected for you, for me! Hallelujah!! Merry Christmas!

From Numbers 6:24-26
24The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
25The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

Evg. Stephanie Robinson

Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. Feel free to share this message.


Previous Lifeline mailings can also be reached through the church website www.fcchosengeneration.com on the Lifeline link. For questions or to subscribe, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com. You can reach the church at chosen.gen@att.net.

Fellowship Church
Where Passions Become Reality
Because you are a CHOSEN GENERATION!
455 Hwy 138, Ste C
Jonesboro, GA 30238
Alton Watkins, Pastor

Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men

Luke 2: 9-14
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men

Yesterday was the first Sunday of Advent. For Liturgical congregations, there is a set of sermon topics that are preached each Sunday leading up to Christmas...the Mass celebrating the Birth of Christ. Hallelujah!

The passage above is familiar to most believers and even non believers. In The Charlie Brown Christmas Special, Linus stands on stage and recites verses 1 through 14 of Luke 2, aka The Christmas Story. We read it at our house before opening any presents and before any other celebration on Christmas Day. I was thinking about these verses as I was listening to a recording of a choir singing Glory To God from Handel's Messiah when the Holy Spirit dropped this revelation in my heart.

Peace on Earth. War didn't end with with Christ's birth. Well, let me restate that. War between men didn't stop with Christ's birth. The war that ended was between us and God. It was a war we could not win. Yet, with Christ's coming, God declared peace. We could know the Father and His Son crucified and have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit because peace was declared by God toward mankind because of Christ.

And more than that, through Christ, God's good will came towards us. This is why Jesus is Emanuel, God with us. Not just physically with us, but for us, in agreement with us, offering and enriching life towards us. Wow! Think about that when you're faced with a struggle. Think about all that ended over 2000 years ago when Jesus, the Christ chose to come to Earth as a baby and be delived up as a Lamb to the slaughter as sacrafice for you. With Him, He brought the Peace of God and God's good will into your life.

It is the beginning of the Christmas season for the world, but as a believer, it is Christmas everyday. Everyday we're here, we enjoy the peace of God and His good will toward us. Further, we have the expectation of this same favor throughout eternity with Christ, the Ressurected, Risen King of Glory.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6).

Won't you receive this wonderful Gift? Won't you walk in the fullness of this Gift? You do not have an enemy in God. He declared peace, and made a personal, everlasting sacrifice and sealed the deal in Blood. The very Blood of Christ. It is a precious and invaluable Gift that will last an eternity. It will never tarnish. It will never break. And it's yours for the receiving.

Luke 12:29-32
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

You've got a Present waiting!

Evg. Stephanie Robinson

Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. Feel free to share this message.


Previous Lifeline mailings can also be reached through the church website www.fcchosengeneration.com on the Lifeline link. For questions or to subscribe, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com. You can reach the church at chosen.gen@att.net.

Fellowship Church
Where Passions Become Reality
Because you are a CHOSEN GENERATION!
455 Hwy 138, Ste C
Jonesboro, GA 30238
Alton Watkins, Pastor