Don't Eat That!

Genesis 3: 1-6

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Don't Eat That!

There was a song we used to teach the younger children in Sunday School. The words went something like:

Be careful little ears what you hear
Be careful little eyes what you see
Be careful little mouths what you say
For the Lord is up above
And He's Looking down in love
So be careful...


Of course, being great big, grown up, sophisticated adults, these nursery rhymes shouldn't really be our focus. Or should they?

Our Savior taught that it isn't what goes in to a man that defiles him, but what comes out (Matthew 15:11). He was teaching that it isn't all the rules we follow that make us righteous but what's in our hearts and what we express that is really important.

But how does that stuff get in us? By what we take in.

My pastor was talking to some young people this weekend about learning and how it was important that they take in those things that will profit them in the long run. When he mentioned diet, the Holy Spirit dropped this picture from Eden in my spirit. If we take in junk, we get junk out. Take in good, good comes out.

By taking in dishonesty, deceitfulness and lies, Adam (they were both called Adam at that point...look it up) produced disobedience, shame, blame. When we take in good things, lovely things, pure things, then we nurish our spirits with the the things needed to produce good fruit.

Loved ones, that nursery rhyme still applies. Be careful what and who you listen to. Be careful how you choose to feed your spirit. Be careful what and who you pay attention to. The Lord isn't above looking down. He's right there with you through every experience. He's still looking in love, but does the love go both ways or just from Him to you? Are you trying to run this saved journey on a diet of trash and junk food? Or are you nourishing yourself with the Fruit of the Spirit? The oil of annointing? The Water of the Word? The meat that comes from solid teaching and preaching?

So, be careful little ears what you hear...eyes what you see...mouth what you say!

Psalm 84

How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!

My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.

Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.

Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.

Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.

Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.

They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.

O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.

Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.

For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.


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 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