Monday, November 16, 2009
Looking for Work...Finding Favor
Ruth 2:2, 8-16
2 And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.
8 Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:
9 Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.
10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?
11 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.
12 The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
13 Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens.
14 And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left.
15 And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not:
16 And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.
Looking for Work…Finding Favor
It’s a good thing to be a hard worker. Slackers aren’t appreciated in any culture. No one wants to be with, under, over or even near someone who doesn’t want to work. It makes the work harder. It can drain your energy and can ruin an otherwise wonderful day.
But, on the flip side, it is easy to slip into pride of work. When you think someone doesn’t work as hard as you do, it’s easy to start to look down on that person. It is also easy to slip into a mindset that you have to work for all you have and you run the risk of becoming too hard to receive anything from anyone. And the truth is you can’t earn favor.
Ruth has a message for the hard workers among us; its okay to look for and expect favor.
She went to the field of her mother-in-law’s kinsman looking for food, but also for favor (verse 2). She needed permission to walk the stalks and find grains left over after the professionals went through and harvested so she and Naomi could eat.
She wasn’t afraid to work for her supper, but she understood that there was a privilege involved that she couldn’t earn and didn’t deserve since she was a stranger. She went to work knowing she had to find favor in the eyes of the supervisor. She couldn’t offer him wages or a fee or anything. She had to be willing to receive.
Because Ruth was willing to receive grace and favor, she received more than she was looking for. She found acceptance (verse 8), appreciation (verse 11), protection (verses 9, 15), material goods (verses 14, 16) and a new spiritual identity (verse 12).
Eventually, she went on to be Boaz’ wife and the Grandmother of David and in the lineage of Christ Himself. She was looking for favor, and found it full of more than she expected.
Can you imagine how overwhelmed Ruth was to move from widow, beggar and stranger to bride of a wealthy man in such a short period of time? That’s how God works. That’s how God shows favor.
His love transcends our place and our background. It even moves beyond our work. His favor takes the unwanted, the cast down, the forgotten and turns us into the celebrated, the exalted, the sought after. He takes the broken pieces and makes us not fixed, but new!
Yes, our works matter. We are known by our works. Proverbs reminds us that even a child is known by his works (Proverbs 20:11). But, we have to accept that we cannot earn God’s favor. Sin has a price, but what God gives is truly a gift, and it is given by His choice, not ours.
Romans 6:23 says “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord.”
What happens to us as a result of our sin is earned like wages on a job. A worker is worthy of his wages, good or bad. But eternal life through Christ Jesus, well, that’s a gift; a gift of God, to be more precise. Hallelujah!
Will you receive the gift? Will you soften your heart enough to accept what you cannot earn? Whether it’s salvation or opening yourself to receive all the God has for you, will you accept?
A book came out years ago called Can You Stand to be Blessed? It discussed the responsibility of walking with God’s favor. Favor doesn’t excuse us from work, but it will change the work you do. The favor of God also changes who you are.
So, are you up to it? Can you stand to be blessed? Can you freely receive the favor of God? You can’t earn it. You only have to receive.
Romans 8:31-32
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Revelation 22:17
17 And 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.
Peace.
Sis. Stephanie Robinson
Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA.
Feel free to share this message. For questions or to subscribe, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com
Fellowship Church
455 HWY 138 Suite C
Jonesboro, GA 30238
Alton Watkins, Pastor
Monday, November 9, 2009
What Does God Call You?
1 Samuel 3:1-4
1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
What Does God call you?
My son and I were having a conversation about names. We were talking about how different people in your life may call you by different names.
For example, family calls me by my ‘pet’ name while almost everyone else calls me by my first name. My mother almost exclusively uses my middle name. As a matter of fact, as a kid, I knew I was in trouble when she used my first name. True for anyone else?
Some people have given me completely different names. I’ve been called everything from Stevie to Steffie and from Stacy to Yolanda (Yolanda?). But my son asked me a beautifully simple, profound question: “Mommy, what does God call you?”
I was driving when he asked, so my answer wasn’t very considered. I told him God can call me anything He wants, just so long as He calls me. But the question stuck with me all day.
What does God call me?
You know things about people based on how they call each other. Intimate friends and family have names that only they are allowed to use with each other. In the military, people address each other based on rank, even if they happen to be close friends. People who have been with Mr. Obama for years now call him Mr. President.
Names are important, but how you’re called can be even more important.
I don’t remember every word my child has said, but I remember when he first called me “Mommy.” It was more than a name. At that moment and from then on, I became something more in his life than just the person who changed his stinky diapers. I was different than anyone else in his life. I became “Mommy” with all that the title includes.
I used to work with an adoption agency and we held special ceremonies to celebrate when the adoption was final. One of the high points of the ceremony was when the kids would write their new name on the wall in a demonstration that they had become part of a family. They had a new name and having that name would forever change their lives.
What does God call me? He calls me:
Chosen, peculiar, royal and a priest
1 Peter 2:9 - But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
Sanctified and justified
1 Corinthians 6:11 - And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
A Son
1 John 3:1-2 - Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
His
John 17:9 - I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
Loved
John 17:23 - I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
And He calls me healed, precious, victorious, blessed, prosperous, protected, finding mercy, blameless before Him, and so much more.
These are the names God calls me...and you...and all who believe on His Word.
What does God call you?
Ephesians 2:18-19
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Peace.
- Sis. Stephanie Robinson
Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA.
Feel free to share this message. For questions or to subscribe, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com
Fellowship Church
455 HWY 138 Suite C
Jonesboro, GA 30238
Alton Watkins, Pastor
1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
What Does God call you?
My son and I were having a conversation about names. We were talking about how different people in your life may call you by different names.
For example, family calls me by my ‘pet’ name while almost everyone else calls me by my first name. My mother almost exclusively uses my middle name. As a matter of fact, as a kid, I knew I was in trouble when she used my first name. True for anyone else?
Some people have given me completely different names. I’ve been called everything from Stevie to Steffie and from Stacy to Yolanda (Yolanda?). But my son asked me a beautifully simple, profound question: “Mommy, what does God call you?”
I was driving when he asked, so my answer wasn’t very considered. I told him God can call me anything He wants, just so long as He calls me. But the question stuck with me all day.
What does God call me?
You know things about people based on how they call each other. Intimate friends and family have names that only they are allowed to use with each other. In the military, people address each other based on rank, even if they happen to be close friends. People who have been with Mr. Obama for years now call him Mr. President.
Names are important, but how you’re called can be even more important.
I don’t remember every word my child has said, but I remember when he first called me “Mommy.” It was more than a name. At that moment and from then on, I became something more in his life than just the person who changed his stinky diapers. I was different than anyone else in his life. I became “Mommy” with all that the title includes.
I used to work with an adoption agency and we held special ceremonies to celebrate when the adoption was final. One of the high points of the ceremony was when the kids would write their new name on the wall in a demonstration that they had become part of a family. They had a new name and having that name would forever change their lives.
What does God call me? He calls me:
Chosen, peculiar, royal and a priest
1 Peter 2:9 - But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
Sanctified and justified
1 Corinthians 6:11 - And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
A Son
1 John 3:1-2 - Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
His
John 17:9 - I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
Loved
John 17:23 - I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
And He calls me healed, precious, victorious, blessed, prosperous, protected, finding mercy, blameless before Him, and so much more.
These are the names God calls me...and you...and all who believe on His Word.
What does God call you?
Ephesians 2:18-19
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Peace.
- Sis. Stephanie Robinson
Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA.
Feel free to share this message. For questions or to subscribe, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com
Fellowship Church
455 HWY 138 Suite C
Jonesboro, GA 30238
Alton Watkins, Pastor
Monday, November 2, 2009
Are You The One?
John 4:21-26
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem , worship the Father.
Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
Are You The One?
I pose the question today to know if you are one of the true worshippers of the Father. Are you one of the ones who worships in spirit and in truth?
In the passage above, we find Jesus talking with the Samaritan woman at the well. There was no reason for someone, anyone, to be at that well at noon. She went there to avoid people. We don’t know specifically why, but the scriptures give some pretty compelling circumstantial evidence.
Yet, Jesus asked for water from her, this Samaritan, this woman. He sought from her so He could give her everlasting waters. The scriptures document that she went on to evangelize the whole city. Jesus spent three days preaching and teaching there.
She knew her truth. He knew her truth. No one lied. No one even observed convention. It was just Jesus and this woman.
And this revelation…the time is now to worship in spirit and in truth.
It is an easy thing to focus on performing; focusing on the “how” of something other than the ‘why’. It’s easy sometimes to get caught up in the details of a thing and forget why we are doing what we do.
This isn’t a call to mediocrity or sloppiness. You only have to look at the details God gave Moses for how the priests and the ark of the covenant should be adorned to understand that there is no devil in details…it’s of God to be excellent and precise.
No, this is about something more subtle. This is about a shift of priorities. It’s like having a mission statement and then moving beyond the mission. The work may still be good, but why are you doing it?
God Himself is looking for us to worship Him in spirit and in truth. Our Savior didn’t say He was looking for us to worship in songs and in dances. He didn’t say He was looking for us to worship in word and in deed. He didn’t give steps or a process to follow to worship. He said to do it in spirit and in truth.
In Spirit – we must worship from who we are as spiritual beings. We can’t worship with our carnal mind because frankly our carnal mind is too focused on selfish gain –even if that gain is simply to please other people.
In Truth – we offer worship from who we are, entirely. Not just our “church face” or our “Sunday face” but completely. As the pop song says, ‘warts and all.’ We weren’t called to clean up for worship. In actuality, the worship has a cleansing affect. But we are called to bring all that we are to our worship.
If we come to worship from spirit and truth, we have the freedom to worship with all that we do. I may not sing, but I might be the best welder on the planet. My ability to weld well comes from God. I worship Him with my welding.
Worship isn’t performance. Performance is always directed inward and is done to please the doer. It’s not a bad thing. It’s just not worship.
Worship is always outward. Worship is done to please the object or person we’re seeking to exalt. Worship is a gift that seeks no reward. Worship is its own reward.
Are you the one? Are you the one who will choose to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth? Are you the one who will lay down your ambitions, your pride, your priorities and stand before God in wholeness and truth and cry out in praise of who He is and not who you are?
Are you the one who will move through your day recognizing that everything you do, every person you meet, even the very air you breathe is a gift of the God who deserves your worship? Your open, honest, warts and all worship?
Oh, your “Sunday face” might get you there. You might be able to move people with a heartfelt performance. But you won’t move God. And isn’t He the point?
Will you open yourself up to true worship? Will you give up your sense of perfection and take the shackles off your soul and let yourself praise God in the way that gets at how you really feel about Him?
Does your soul pant after God and the Kingdom of God like a thirsty deer? Are you hungry for something that is deeper than the first and third stanzas and a 10 minute sermon? Do you long for a more honest, open relationship with God where you don’t just do the ‘do’s’ and avoid the ‘don’ts’ and go through the motions?
If you’re hungry for more, you might be one on the ones. Worship Him! Worship Him with all that you have. Trust me, there’s more available through Him. You can’t come up short. Don’t hold back. Worship Him. Worship Him in spirit and in truth.
Psalm 42:1-2
As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
Peace.
- Sis. Stephanie Robinson
Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. Feel free to share this message. For questions or to subscribe to this mailing, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com
Fellowship Church
455 HWY 138 Suite C
Jonesboro, GA 30238
Alton Watkins, Pastor
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem , worship the Father.
Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
Are You The One?
I pose the question today to know if you are one of the true worshippers of the Father. Are you one of the ones who worships in spirit and in truth?
In the passage above, we find Jesus talking with the Samaritan woman at the well. There was no reason for someone, anyone, to be at that well at noon. She went there to avoid people. We don’t know specifically why, but the scriptures give some pretty compelling circumstantial evidence.
Yet, Jesus asked for water from her, this Samaritan, this woman. He sought from her so He could give her everlasting waters. The scriptures document that she went on to evangelize the whole city. Jesus spent three days preaching and teaching there.
She knew her truth. He knew her truth. No one lied. No one even observed convention. It was just Jesus and this woman.
And this revelation…the time is now to worship in spirit and in truth.
It is an easy thing to focus on performing; focusing on the “how” of something other than the ‘why’. It’s easy sometimes to get caught up in the details of a thing and forget why we are doing what we do.
This isn’t a call to mediocrity or sloppiness. You only have to look at the details God gave Moses for how the priests and the ark of the covenant should be adorned to understand that there is no devil in details…it’s of God to be excellent and precise.
No, this is about something more subtle. This is about a shift of priorities. It’s like having a mission statement and then moving beyond the mission. The work may still be good, but why are you doing it?
God Himself is looking for us to worship Him in spirit and in truth. Our Savior didn’t say He was looking for us to worship in songs and in dances. He didn’t say He was looking for us to worship in word and in deed. He didn’t give steps or a process to follow to worship. He said to do it in spirit and in truth.
In Spirit – we must worship from who we are as spiritual beings. We can’t worship with our carnal mind because frankly our carnal mind is too focused on selfish gain –even if that gain is simply to please other people.
In Truth – we offer worship from who we are, entirely. Not just our “church face” or our “Sunday face” but completely. As the pop song says, ‘warts and all.’ We weren’t called to clean up for worship. In actuality, the worship has a cleansing affect. But we are called to bring all that we are to our worship.
If we come to worship from spirit and truth, we have the freedom to worship with all that we do. I may not sing, but I might be the best welder on the planet. My ability to weld well comes from God. I worship Him with my welding.
Worship isn’t performance. Performance is always directed inward and is done to please the doer. It’s not a bad thing. It’s just not worship.
Worship is always outward. Worship is done to please the object or person we’re seeking to exalt. Worship is a gift that seeks no reward. Worship is its own reward.
Are you the one? Are you the one who will choose to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth? Are you the one who will lay down your ambitions, your pride, your priorities and stand before God in wholeness and truth and cry out in praise of who He is and not who you are?
Are you the one who will move through your day recognizing that everything you do, every person you meet, even the very air you breathe is a gift of the God who deserves your worship? Your open, honest, warts and all worship?
Oh, your “Sunday face” might get you there. You might be able to move people with a heartfelt performance. But you won’t move God. And isn’t He the point?
Will you open yourself up to true worship? Will you give up your sense of perfection and take the shackles off your soul and let yourself praise God in the way that gets at how you really feel about Him?
Does your soul pant after God and the Kingdom of God like a thirsty deer? Are you hungry for something that is deeper than the first and third stanzas and a 10 minute sermon? Do you long for a more honest, open relationship with God where you don’t just do the ‘do’s’ and avoid the ‘don’ts’ and go through the motions?
If you’re hungry for more, you might be one on the ones. Worship Him! Worship Him with all that you have. Trust me, there’s more available through Him. You can’t come up short. Don’t hold back. Worship Him. Worship Him in spirit and in truth.
Psalm 42:1-2
As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
Peace.
- Sis. Stephanie Robinson
Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. Feel free to share this message. For questions or to subscribe to this mailing, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com
Fellowship Church
455 HWY 138 Suite C
Jonesboro, GA 30238
Alton Watkins, Pastor
Monday, October 26, 2009
When Hope Hurts
Hebrews 11:1-3
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
When Hope Hurts
I was watching a T.V. show where the broken hero saw someone who looked like his long dead, beloved wife. It was a take on the plot of Hitchcock’s “VERTIGO.” The hero started to believe that the woman he was seeing was his wife returning to him.
Once he realized the deception, he told his sidekick that for the first time in a long time, he had had hope…and it hurt. His assistant had to remind him that hope wasn’t the enemy but in fact was a good thing.
I understood the line “Hope hurts.” Hope can hurt when it operates by itself. You only have to look into the eyes of a child who gets underwear for a gift when he was hoping for a new race car set. Hope was never meant to operate alone. Having hope alone is like having a car with no gas in it; it ain’t going nowhere.
But, NOW FAITH!
Hope doesn’t activate faith. Faith makes hope real.
When FAITH is in its proper place and becomes the substance, the reality, the tangible, taste-able, touchable part of what you hope for, then hope can’t hurt. Hope springs alive because of faith. Hope keeps us looking to the hills for our help from the Lord because faith fuels what we hope for.
We have hope in our salvation because we receive by faith that Jesus died for our sins. We then hope in everything else (receiving the Comforter, greater works, treasure in heaven, kept in perfect peace, follow after the Spirit and not fulfill the lust of the flesh, grafted into relationship as the sons of God and on and on) because of that faith. Hallelujah!
Faith lives. That’s why we’re told in I Corinthians 13:13 that faith abides along with hope and charity. Faith is an active, living thing. This can’t make sense to the carnal mind. It’s not supposed to. It is truly a spiritual thing.
Where is your hope? Is your hope in things around you? Is your hope in your own personal prosperity? Is your hope in people? Is it in your job? Is your hope in things temporal? Or is your hope, as the song says, in things eternal?
It’s true that we can come up hopeless sometimes. Hope really does hurt when we feel the weight of the world on our shoulders; when we get singed by the fires that rage around us. Hope hurts when we get lost and wander off the path that the Lord has set before us.
But, as Jeremiah wrote in Lamentations, we have to look at those losses, those wanderings and still find where faith abides. Then hope won’t hurt but it will refresh as it fulfills God’s promise to our spirit and propels us to wait until we see the fulfillement in the natural.
Lamentations 3:18-26
And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:
Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.
This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
1 Corinthians 13:13
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Peace.
- Sis. Stephanie Robinson
Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA.
Feel free to share this message. For questions or to subscribe to this mailing, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com
Fellowship Church
455 HWY 138 Suite C
Jonesboro, GA 30238
Alton Watkins, Pastor
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
When Hope Hurts
I was watching a T.V. show where the broken hero saw someone who looked like his long dead, beloved wife. It was a take on the plot of Hitchcock’s “VERTIGO.” The hero started to believe that the woman he was seeing was his wife returning to him.
Once he realized the deception, he told his sidekick that for the first time in a long time, he had had hope…and it hurt. His assistant had to remind him that hope wasn’t the enemy but in fact was a good thing.
I understood the line “Hope hurts.” Hope can hurt when it operates by itself. You only have to look into the eyes of a child who gets underwear for a gift when he was hoping for a new race car set. Hope was never meant to operate alone. Having hope alone is like having a car with no gas in it; it ain’t going nowhere.
But, NOW FAITH!
Hope doesn’t activate faith. Faith makes hope real.
When FAITH is in its proper place and becomes the substance, the reality, the tangible, taste-able, touchable part of what you hope for, then hope can’t hurt. Hope springs alive because of faith. Hope keeps us looking to the hills for our help from the Lord because faith fuels what we hope for.
We have hope in our salvation because we receive by faith that Jesus died for our sins. We then hope in everything else (receiving the Comforter, greater works, treasure in heaven, kept in perfect peace, follow after the Spirit and not fulfill the lust of the flesh, grafted into relationship as the sons of God and on and on) because of that faith. Hallelujah!
Faith lives. That’s why we’re told in I Corinthians 13:13 that faith abides along with hope and charity. Faith is an active, living thing. This can’t make sense to the carnal mind. It’s not supposed to. It is truly a spiritual thing.
Where is your hope? Is your hope in things around you? Is your hope in your own personal prosperity? Is your hope in people? Is it in your job? Is your hope in things temporal? Or is your hope, as the song says, in things eternal?
It’s true that we can come up hopeless sometimes. Hope really does hurt when we feel the weight of the world on our shoulders; when we get singed by the fires that rage around us. Hope hurts when we get lost and wander off the path that the Lord has set before us.
But, as Jeremiah wrote in Lamentations, we have to look at those losses, those wanderings and still find where faith abides. Then hope won’t hurt but it will refresh as it fulfills God’s promise to our spirit and propels us to wait until we see the fulfillement in the natural.
Lamentations 3:18-26
And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:
Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.
This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
1 Corinthians 13:13
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Peace.
- Sis. Stephanie Robinson
Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA.
Feel free to share this message. For questions or to subscribe to this mailing, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com
Fellowship Church
455 HWY 138 Suite C
Jonesboro, GA 30238
Alton Watkins, Pastor
Monday, October 19, 2009
Unrest to Rest
Hebrews 4:11-14
11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Unrest to Rest
Something’s changing. It’s a funny thing being in this Body of Christ because when change comes to any part of the Body, the whole body feels it. Child of God, something’s changing.
We as a Body are in a season of change. Now, there is always change through growth…growth produces a change. But, just as when a child who goes through a sudden ‘spurt’ we are in a season of change.
If you have been feeling this same anxiety, restlessness, I encourage you to press in and see why the Spirit is trying to get your attention. Be prepared for the work, however. God has ways of doing things that don’t make sense to our carnal minds. We give to receive…we labor to find rest…we yield to go forward…we humble ourselves to be lifted up...our weakness is where Christ is strong.
With this change, be prepared to prune some things in your life and be prepared to pick up new responsibilities. That’s part of that ‘twoedged’ response described in Hebrews. Nothing in our lives, our actions or in our minds surprises God. Yet, there are things that we hold on to that will hinder our growth if we do not let them go when our pruning time comes.
Child of God, even during this season, you are still being kept. When the Father prunes our lives, it is to increase something within us. When He forces us out into new situations, it is always for our good and His glory. The question is will we yield like clay in the potter’s hand, or will we fight the change and have to be purged and melted like metal in the fires of a smith before we can be molded into the final shape for use.
No matter where you find yourself today, remember, that you have a ‘great high priest’ so your profession is safe in His nail scared hands. There is no length, no depth that you can go where He has not already been. There is no darkness that He cannot light. There is no gap, no distance that He cannot bridge.
Embrace the change. Dare to believe God for what is being spoken into your spirit. Dare to trust Him. Dare to be obedient to the Holy Spirit. Dare to grow and work and find rest.
Peace.
Matthew 11:29
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
-Sis. Stephanie Robinson
Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro , GA.
Feel free to share this message. For questions or to subscribe to this mailing, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com
Fellowship Church
455 HWY 138 Suite C
Jonesboro, GA 30238
Alton Watkins, Pastor
11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Unrest to Rest
Something’s changing. It’s a funny thing being in this Body of Christ because when change comes to any part of the Body, the whole body feels it. Child of God, something’s changing.
We as a Body are in a season of change. Now, there is always change through growth…growth produces a change. But, just as when a child who goes through a sudden ‘spurt’ we are in a season of change.
If you have been feeling this same anxiety, restlessness, I encourage you to press in and see why the Spirit is trying to get your attention. Be prepared for the work, however. God has ways of doing things that don’t make sense to our carnal minds. We give to receive…we labor to find rest…we yield to go forward…we humble ourselves to be lifted up...our weakness is where Christ is strong.
With this change, be prepared to prune some things in your life and be prepared to pick up new responsibilities. That’s part of that ‘twoedged’ response described in Hebrews. Nothing in our lives, our actions or in our minds surprises God. Yet, there are things that we hold on to that will hinder our growth if we do not let them go when our pruning time comes.
Child of God, even during this season, you are still being kept. When the Father prunes our lives, it is to increase something within us. When He forces us out into new situations, it is always for our good and His glory. The question is will we yield like clay in the potter’s hand, or will we fight the change and have to be purged and melted like metal in the fires of a smith before we can be molded into the final shape for use.
No matter where you find yourself today, remember, that you have a ‘great high priest’ so your profession is safe in His nail scared hands. There is no length, no depth that you can go where He has not already been. There is no darkness that He cannot light. There is no gap, no distance that He cannot bridge.
Embrace the change. Dare to believe God for what is being spoken into your spirit. Dare to trust Him. Dare to be obedient to the Holy Spirit. Dare to grow and work and find rest.
Peace.
Matthew 11:29
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
-Sis. Stephanie Robinson
Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro , GA.
Feel free to share this message. For questions or to subscribe to this mailing, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com
Fellowship Church
455 HWY 138 Suite C
Jonesboro, GA 30238
Alton Watkins, Pastor
Monday, October 12, 2009
It is Good To Say Thanks
Luke 17:12-19
12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
It Is Good to Say Thanks
Sometimes in this journey as we grow in our discipleship, we can forget that gratitude is important. This is especially true within the household of faith because as we mature, we stop looking for acolades and self praise. Afterall, we work to glorify God, not ourselves.
And yet, our Savior was moved by gratitude. In Luke's record of the ten lepers, the one that returned to say thanks, the Samaritan, got more than he expected. He came back simply to thank Jesus for the cleansing. He left whole.
With this in mind, it is my great pleasure to invite you to join us at Fellowship as we say 'thank you' to our Pastor and First Lady.
Pastor Watkins and Mrs. Watkins have been tireless in their dedication to our congregation and to our community. This Saturday, Fellowship will host a picnic from noon until 4 PM in their honor. On Sunday, in addition to our regular Sunday School and Morning Worship Service, we will have a special service at 2 PM to recognize our Pastor and our First Lady. Dr. Phyllis Parker will bring the message for this service.
You and your family are welcome to share in both events. Please email me at fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com if you need directions.
We are grateful to God for the mercy and favor He has shown us by placing Pastor and Mrs. Watkins in a position to lead, guide and feed us through our growth.
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
Proverbs 3:27
Peace.
-Sis. Stephanie Robinson
Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro , GA.
Feel free to share this message. For questions or to subscribe to this mailing, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com
Fellowship Church
455 HWY 138 Suite C
Jonesboro, GA 30236
Alton Watkins, Pastor
12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
It Is Good to Say Thanks
Sometimes in this journey as we grow in our discipleship, we can forget that gratitude is important. This is especially true within the household of faith because as we mature, we stop looking for acolades and self praise. Afterall, we work to glorify God, not ourselves.
And yet, our Savior was moved by gratitude. In Luke's record of the ten lepers, the one that returned to say thanks, the Samaritan, got more than he expected. He came back simply to thank Jesus for the cleansing. He left whole.
With this in mind, it is my great pleasure to invite you to join us at Fellowship as we say 'thank you' to our Pastor and First Lady.
Pastor Watkins and Mrs. Watkins have been tireless in their dedication to our congregation and to our community. This Saturday, Fellowship will host a picnic from noon until 4 PM in their honor. On Sunday, in addition to our regular Sunday School and Morning Worship Service, we will have a special service at 2 PM to recognize our Pastor and our First Lady. Dr. Phyllis Parker will bring the message for this service.
You and your family are welcome to share in both events. Please email me at fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com if you need directions.
We are grateful to God for the mercy and favor He has shown us by placing Pastor and Mrs. Watkins in a position to lead, guide and feed us through our growth.
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
Proverbs 3:27
Peace.
-Sis. Stephanie Robinson
Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro , GA.
Feel free to share this message. For questions or to subscribe to this mailing, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com
Fellowship Church
455 HWY 138 Suite C
Jonesboro, GA 30236
Alton Watkins, Pastor
Monday, October 5, 2009
A Time To Feast
Ecclesiastes 3:1
1To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A Time to Feast
Soloman reminds us that everything has a season (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). For Fellowship, the church body where I attend, we are entering a time to feast.
In November, we will enter our 4th year as a church body. For the forty days leading up to our anniversary weekend, our Pastor has asked that we feast daily on the Word of God so that we can work on strenghtening our spirits for the work that lies ahead.
I invite you to join us in this time to feast. Just email me at fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com and I will send you copy of the scriptures we are feasting on daily during this time.
But, even if you chose not to join our table, please feed your spirit daily. What you feed will grow. If you feed your fears, your insecurities, your pain, that's what will grow. If you feed your faith, your patience, your compassion, that's what will grow.
So, sit down at the Master's table and feast.
Day One
Philippians 3:13-14
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Peace.
-Sis. Stephanie Robinson
Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro , GA.
Feel free to share this message. For questions or to subscribe to this mailing, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com
Fellowship Church
455 HWY 138 Suite C
Jonesboro, GA 30236
Alton Watkins, Pastor
1To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A Time to Feast
Soloman reminds us that everything has a season (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). For Fellowship, the church body where I attend, we are entering a time to feast.
In November, we will enter our 4th year as a church body. For the forty days leading up to our anniversary weekend, our Pastor has asked that we feast daily on the Word of God so that we can work on strenghtening our spirits for the work that lies ahead.
I invite you to join us in this time to feast. Just email me at fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com and I will send you copy of the scriptures we are feasting on daily during this time.
But, even if you chose not to join our table, please feed your spirit daily. What you feed will grow. If you feed your fears, your insecurities, your pain, that's what will grow. If you feed your faith, your patience, your compassion, that's what will grow.
So, sit down at the Master's table and feast.
Day One
Philippians 3:13-14
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Peace.
-Sis. Stephanie Robinson
Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro , GA.
Feel free to share this message. For questions or to subscribe to this mailing, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com
Fellowship Church
455 HWY 138 Suite C
Jonesboro, GA 30236
Alton Watkins, Pastor
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