The Illusion of Life

This is from Tuesday, February 23rd

Psalm 2: 1-4

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,

Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision.

The Illusion of This Life

I watched a magic show yesterday. It got me thinking about the things that challengs us in this life. In the light of truth, most of what consumes us daily is just a trick...a vain attempt to get the best on God and His annointed.

Paul reminded us that there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God. Not His adoration. Not His appreciation. His love. That's a love where all the promises are true, and God remains consistent in all things.

Yet, when faced with the distractions and illusions conjured up by the enemy, we grow faint and cry out in despiration. It's like we're caught in a magic trick and we think we can't get out. But make no mistake dear one, it is a trick.

Jesus died to make you one with Him and the Father and to make the way for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Anything that isn't of the Father is counterfeit...a trick. You might not know how it works, but it's still a trick designed to deceive you and to keep your eyes off the truth...off the Father and His Son.

God laughs at this attempt and calls it vain. You are His and nothing and no one can change that. And that's not a trick.

Psalm 2:10-12

Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

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

FellowshipChurch

455 HWY 138 Suite C

Jonesboro, GA 30238

AltonWatkins, Pastor

The Secret Weapon

James 5:16

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

The Secret Weapon

Prayer is a not so secret weapon, but there's a catch to its operation. You have to have faith. Almost everytime Jesus healed someone, He reminded them that it was 'according to their faith' that they would be healed.

Pray for one another, but pray believing. Pray expecting. But most importantly, pray the will of the Father. Then, not even Hell stands a chance before you because you come in the make of the Lord.

Matthew 16:13-19

When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

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

Give Your Heart

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Give Your Heart

I have no better valentine to give you than to remind you that your are "so loved" by God that He gave His very heart for you by giving His son.

Do you love Him enough to do the works He calls you to do and not just the works you want to do? Can you give your whole heart?

John 21:15-17

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Dear one, give your heart, your whole heart to the Father and know eternal life and true love.

1 John 5:20

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.


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

The Sixth Time Around on the Seventh Day...

Joshua 6:14-15

And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.

And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.

The Sixth Time Around, on the Seventh Day...

This passage has come up alot lately at my church. Those of you who were at Fellowship yesterday will recognize it from Pastor's sermon.

First, a little clarity. The children of Isreal didn't just go around Jericho seven times. Joshua was told to take his men of war and the priests with the rams horn trumpets and the ark of the covenant around the city once a day for six days. On the seventh day, they were to go around seven times and the SHOUT!

I can imagine that with the warriors and the priests and all the people who made this trek daily, and then started on that marathon walk on the seventh day, that by the sixth lap on the seventh day, they might be getting a little weary. It's a hard thing to stay focused and obedient especially when the Lord calls us to do tedious tasks.

I mean, think about it. Would you want to walk around the perimeter of Atlanta? Would you want to walk around the perimeter of Riverdale or your own city? I know it can be daunting for me to get around a track, let alone the circumference of a WHOLE CITY! And then to have to do it EVERYDAY for six days! AND SEVEN TIMES ON THE SEVENTH DAY?!! It's a simple act, but still. That's alot of walking.

But, there is something about having a promise from God.

There is something about moving in obedience and with faith that will propell even the most tedious act into an act of joyful anticipation. When we know that we have a promise we will do the steps because were are certain of the outcome.

I am sure some of the group making their way around Jericho got a little discouraged and disgruntled about this labor. But I am also sure that some faith warrior on their left or right encouraged them by reminding them that they had a promise and that if this is how the Lord God was going to deliver the spoils of Jericho, then walk on, my brother, walk on!

Saints, it can be a hard thing to walk in obedience. But, like any army in the midsts of the battle, obedience, even in the mundane is absolutely vital.

Because this is spiritual warfare, obedience is almost always contrary to our natural desires. It can be tedious. It can be boring, especially when it gets repetative. But, walk on, my brother. Walk on my sister. 'Cause when you reach the time and place where the Lord wants to deliver on His promise to you...to break down the walls that are keeping you from your destiny; when you get to shout out all that pent up anticipation and see the barriers come down in your presence and you are showered with overwhelming favor, you'll forget all about the tedium of the obedience.

So, go ahead, walk on. Keep building that "praise on the inside that you can't keep to yourself". Because, when the time comes to shout, even the gates of Hell won't be able to prevail against you.

Joshua 6:16

And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.

Peace and Victory!

-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

Submission in Freedom

Genesis 11:4-6

And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.


Submission in Freedom


In the passage about the Tower of Babel, The Father Himself notes that when we as people are united, there is nothing we cannot do...that is, if we have a will to do it.

It's that beautiful gift He gave us, that free will in action. We truly can do anything we put our minds toward doing. It may take time. It may take sacrifice. It may not be easy, but we can do anything we are committed to do. And when we are joined..of a common language..."on the same page" as people like to say now, even Heaven can be in our sights.

These builders were doing what they could because they could. Why not, afterall? They had the means, the strength and the conviction to do it. Everyone agreed and participated according to their gift and input.

But no one asked God if they should.

Even today, we move in our own strength for various things. We pursue careers and avenues of service because we can. But, as children of the Most High God who have come into relationship through the Blood of Christ, we have a responsibility to ask the Father.

Just because I can do something, just because I am able, doesn't mean I should do that thing.

There is a popular song that says "what you won't do, you'll do for love." Some of us know all too well how true that statement is.

So, do you love the Lord enough to do what He says in your life even if it is contrary to what you want? Can you wait and follow a path laid out for you even if you really want to go another?

It doesn't have to be a choice between obvious good and obvious evil. What if it's a choice on how and where to serve? What if you want to stay at the church where your family has attended for years, but the Spirit is compelling you to move to another congregation? What if you truly are a blessed singer and long to make that your career, but the Spirit is telling you not to go after your dream?

In Jeremiah 29:11, the Lord spoke and said "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

He didn't say, 'I know the thoughts that YOU think of you.'

Saints, God loved you so much that He GAVE His only son. What will you do for your love of Him? Do you love Him enough to put His thoughts and His plans first? What you won't do, you'll do for love.

1 Corinthians 2:2

For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.


Proverbs 14:12

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.


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

In the Master's Hands

Isaiah 64:8

But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.


In the Master's Hands

There was a contemporary Christian song that was popular a few years ago that talked about an abused violin that was being sold for a few pennies until a master violin maker got his hands on it, cleaned it, polished it, repaired it. At the end of the song, the auctioneer was calling for bids of thousands of dollars. In the master's hands, trash becomes a masterpiece.

This song came back to me during my pastor's sermon yesterday. He made reference to the value of a car. He was talking about how we value earthly things and used the example of how cars depreciate as soon as they come off the lot. He talked about they way some people choose to take a luxury vehicle and lower the value by adding unecessary accessories (spinners, neon lights). His point was that even though the owner may enjoy these things, the car maker sees these as things that lower the overall value of the car. That's when he said "The maker knows the true value of the creation."

I grunted so hard, I interrupted the sermon. Sorry, Pastor.

The Maker knows the true value of the creation. How profound.

We keep adding all these things to our life. We are deceived by the world around us into thinking that there is something on the outside that will fix the inside. We decorate our bodies with jewels, tatoos, and fine clothes. We lose weight, we gain weight, we add degrees, we follow cults, we buy cars, houses, timeshares, memberships; we spend time and money trying to find something on the outside to fix that hole, that longing on the inside.

And the truth is, its only in the Master's hand that we reach our true value.

The Hands that made us put a place in us where only He fits. We aren't whole until we are completed by God. And we will never know fulfillment until we operate in the office God has appointed us to.

Jesus was born to be the Savior. That was His purpose and His design. Had He chosen to be an earthly king instead of completing the work that the Father had sent Him to do, you and I would be lost forever. He yeilded Himself to the Master, and in the Master's hands, Jesus became the Way to the Father for us all.

Are you the potter or the clay? Choose to be the clay and put yourself in the Master's hands.

He knows your true value and worth, and your price is precious...precious blood to be exact.

Jeremiah 18:1-6

The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,

Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.

Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.

And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.


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

When Darkness Comes...

Luke 7:20-23

When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.

Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.

And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.


When Darkness Comes...

The Scriptures are filled with accounts of hoplessness that is encouraged and then fufilled.

Adam and Eve lost one son to murder and the other ran away out of guilt. Soon after, Seth was born.

Abraham and Sarah were promised a son, but Issac didn't show up for decades after the promise was made.

Ruth and Namomi were both poor widows with no hope. The Tishbite woman was starving. The woman with the issue of blood had been sick for 12 years.

We read and hear about these accounts and we are fortunate because we get the good news in the next paragraph or chapter. We are on the other side of the miracle, the lighted side, so we can see the results.

But, we have to know that there was times of doubt and that all of these people went through. Like us when we are trapped in our sorrow, everyone of them spent time in the darkness of total loss before they saw the light of the miracle.

John the Baptist had spent his whole life heralding the arrival of Jesus. He saw Him coming, literally and figuratively. But, held up in a dark prison for telling the truth, he had a moment of doubt. He sent his disciples to Jesus to make sure that He was in fact, The One.

Martha and Mary buried their brother, Lazarus 4 days before Jesus arrived. If he died on a Sunday, Jesus didn't show up until Thursday. I am certain that somewhere between Monday night and Tuesday morning, they realized that Lazarus was truly dead and that he wouldn't come back and that, in their minds and hearts, Jesus had let them down. They didn't know the Light had come to turn their mourning into dancing even when Jesus was in the room.

They were in the shadow of their miracle.

When light first comes in, it casts long shadows. Those shadows disapate as the light is lifted high. But, like sunrise, at the beginning, there is still alot of darkness, and if you're behind a mountain, or under a burden, you might not see the light at all. Where do you think the phrase "darkest before the dawn" comes from.

Dear ones, there is no shame in disparing in the darkness. Our Savior Himself had to be encouraged as He faced His final hours. He was caught in the darkness that preceeded the dawn of His resurrection. He dispaired. He was encouraged. He went on fufilling the will of the Father. We have eternal life from the light of His obedience.

It's a wonderful thing to be on the mountaintop, but the most beautiful flowers, the life-giving rivers and the richest soil where things grow and flourish are usually in the valley. So, if you find yourself in darkness today, or if you love someone who's in the valley, remember, the light is coming. Just hold on, and keep looking to the top of the hill. If you don't have the strength to hold on or look up, then make sure you have friends and loved ones who can do it for you. It's okay to mourn a broken heart. Just be open to receive when the healing comes.

The sun is coming. It's here. You just can't see it yet. It's on the other side of your miracle.

John 11:39-44

Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.


Psalm 121

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.


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