Ever Feel Overwhelmed

Daniel 3:21

Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

Ever Feel Overwhelmed?

Ever feel like you're in over your head and there's no way to get back? Like you're at the bottom of a hole that just gets deeper?

I used to hate it when I would be going through something and someone would say 'well, look at so-and-so in the Bible...they made it through.' That would irritate me to no end. 'What does that have to do with me?' I would scream in my head while I nodded to the person, secretly wishing they would just go away.

Not very 'evangelistic' of me, is it? Well, hang with me for a minute.

Truth is, its sometimes hard to find comfort when you're in the midst of your furnace. The heat could be coming from any number of things...Maybe it's deadlines. Maybe it's all the responsibilities you bear for your family, your job, your school, your church, and whatever else is stacked on your plate. Maybe you're caring for an ailing parent. Or mourning the lost of something, or someone dear. Maybe it's all of these things. Maybe it's something else. But whatever the source, heat is heat. What's too hot for me may be a temperature you can handle. But where do you go when it's just too hot?

My friends, I can point you to any number of stories and recounts in the Word that tell us time and time again about how God loves us and how He has us through those situations in our life that, at the moment, seem unbearable at worst, and just too much in the least. You know them. You've heard them. But it isn't in the substance, the action of the accounts where you'll find the comfort. That's in the Teller.

The statement of faith that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego made to Nebuchadnezzar was powerful. I believe they meant it. Had they died in that awful experience, their words would have still been a strong testimony to those who heard. But, I also believe that in the instant they realized that their trial HAD NOT consummed them...when they danced in the flames with 'a Man who looked like the Son of God'..that was when they realized God HAD them. That was the moment it clicked that no matter the circumstance, no matter the trial, regardless how hot the flame, they belonged to God and He would handle the outcome.

I wrote several months ago about our family victory cry, 'Can't Lose Shoes'. We say it to remind ourselves that if God is concerned with the small experiences of our lives, like a misplaced child's shoe, why should we even question His attention to the big things of our lives...our hurried pace...our health...our family...our children...our mourning...our sorrow...our pain?

You matter to God. You, all by yourself, were worth the very blood of His only begotten Son. If, at the end of time, you were the only one who believed on the name Jesus, He would count the work worthwhile.

Paul reminded us 'be not weary in well doing' (2 Thessalonians 3:13), but Jesus took it a step further and said '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.' (Matthew 11:29). There is rest for your soul if you take it. There is peace if you choose it.

Remember, your trials are real. The heat is hot. But even in the midsts of the flames, you can find yourself dancing if you just believe that He loves you as much as He says He does.

Luke 12:27-32

27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?

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.

Feeling overwhelmed? There's a Savior for that. Peace and calmness.

My apologies to those who missed the message last week. I experienced technical difficulties that took a bit of time to resolve. All is well now. Thank you for your patience.

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



Just Because You Don't See...

Acts 12:12 (King James Version)

And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.


Just Because You Don't See It....

We had our Men's Conference at Fellowship this past weekend. From what I hear, the first two nights were wonderful. Men of God came to the full knowledge of the obligation of the title. They looked at themselves in the mirror and found men. Praise the Lord!

On Saturday, we women joined in the transformation and celebration. As the praise ensued, I was struck by a testimony that rang true with so many people there. One of the brothers got up and shared that 'he got it'. He was talking about a specific message and he said, 'although I'd heard it for years, I finally got it!'

I found that testimony so encouraging. It is easy to get concerned that the work we do, the prayers we pray, the testimonies we share can get old. Those of us who are chosing to be disciples can freely admit that 'we've heard it before' and to our own failings, deny ourselves the freshness of new revelation.

Saints, if you are called to a work, do that work. It doesn't matter if you actually get to see the progress or not. What matters is that the work is done and that we have faith that God's word 'will not return to him void' (Isaiah 55:11). Like those praying for Peter's release in the scripture above, the focus of the prayer can happen without you seeing it.

There was as song we learned at camp as kids that went:
The sun is always shining
Somewhere, somewhere
Just because you cannot see it
Doesn't mean it
Isn't there...

I challenge you to say SON instead of sun, and change it to HE/HIM. Remember that His work is being done through you. If you let Him shine, then He will handle the rest. In His own words, And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. (John 12:32)

You wouldn't have received Christ if someone didn't do their job. Who will receive Christ because you are doing yours? Therefore, be diligent in what you're called to do. It will accomplish what He wills it to. Be faithful.

If what you do didn't matter, then why would He call you to do it?

Galatians 6:2-10 (King James Version)
2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
5 For every man shall bear his own burden.
6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Don't be weary...

It is the time of year that we celebrate the resurrected Savior! Please know that you are welcomed and encouraged to share this special time with us. Celebrate Jesus with Fellowship. If you do not know Christ as Lord, I pray you will come this Sunday and meet Him for yourself. If you do not have a church home for this special day, I hope I see you there.

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

What Will You Do?

Genesis 4:26

And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord.

What Will You Do?

This verse closes the discussion of Adam and Eve. They had troubles among their sons, to say the least. One killed the other over jealousy. He did this in the very presence of God. Cain was jealous that God accepted Abel's offering and not his. He was jealous that his brother's worship was more pure, genuine than his so he made it Abel's problem.

Eve had a third son and called him Seth. His name literally means compensation. She felt he was compensation from God for the loss of Abel. He must have accepted the pressure of his name because Seth became the first in a long line of men who 'began to call upon the name of the Lord.'

So, events were set for a long line of men of God to worship Him, obey Him, ignore Him, dispute Him, praise Him, hate Him and do everything to Him that they do to the other people around them.

Some obeyed despite their nature. Some sang and became warriors. Some were blinded to see God. Some ruled. Some served. Some cried. Some danced right out of their clothes. Some paid for their disobedience with their lives. Some hid in rocks and caves. Some stood on mountain tops and in the streets proclaiming the Word of the Lord.

However, the question remains, what will you do?

Gentlemen, we are having a men's conference at Fellowship. There will be three services, this Thursday and Friday nights at 7 and Saturday at 1 PM. Women are welcome to join on Saturday, but on those nights, gents, what will you do? What will you do when the offer is made for you to come together with other men who 'call upon the name of the Lord' in order to find out what real manhood in Christ looks like; feels like; walks like; talks like? Will you accept the challenge to grow, or will you let this one get by?

I pray that you will join my brothers from Fellowship as well as men of God from other ministries all over Atlanta. The theme this year is 'Our Time, Our Season'.

Solomon couldn't do what David did. It wasn't his season. Paul couldn't do what Moses did. It wasn't his time. I can't do what YOU have been called to do. But, in Christ, your time and your season can come to fruition.

Its your time. Use it well.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-15


1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;


8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?


10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.


11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.
What will you do?
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

If the King Had Not Given...?

Revelation 19:16

 ¹⁶And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

If the King Had Not Given...?

I don't like to borrow from Sunday sermons, but when my pastor said this yesterday, it rattled in my spirit.

If the King had not given, what would the people do?

He was talking about David and the preparations he oversaw for Soloman to have enough supplies to build the temple.  David couldn't build it because he was a man of war and had too much blood on his hands.  God told David not to build the temple; that was to be Soloman's job.  But David lead the charge to make sure Soloman had more than enough to build with.

David gave, so the people gave.

David was the first great king in the lineage of Christ.  He, like so many others in the Old Testament, were shadows, images in part of the Christ to come.  David, it is recorded, had a heart after God, like Jesus.  He was also a planner, like Jesus.  David planned for Soloman to build.  Jesus planned for you to be returned to Him.

So, Jesus, like David, gave.  He lead the charge of how to give.  Jesus gave all.  He gave all He had for you, for me.  He didn't keep anything for Himself.

What would we do if the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, hadn't given?

No, dear ones, He gave so we must give also.  And we must give all.

We must give our good days, our bad days, our will, our desires, our passions, we have to give as our King did.  We have to give all.

And, we have to do it willingly.

The Word testifies that God loves a cheerful giver.  We think about this with money often in church.  Saints, it also applies to our time, our talents, our thoughts, our goals.  He wants it all, and He wants us to be happy about doing it.

Jesus paid it all.  All to Him, I owe.  Sin had left a crimson stain.  He washed it white as snow.


All to Jesus, I surrender.  All to Him I freely give. I will ever love and trust Him.  In His presence daily live.  I surrender all.

Oh, the truth captured in these hymns.  Lets not get so caught up in singing about the victory we have that we forget the terrible price paid for it.  A price paid willingly.

He gave.  What will you do?

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (King James Version)

 ⁶But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
 ⁷Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Give. 

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

Press!

Philippians 3:14

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

PRESS!

Being a disciple isn't easy. The word itself is related to the word discipline. Whether used as a term for correction or a term for devotion, the bottom line is being disciplined, or a disciple, requires work.

If you want to lose weight, you have to eat less than you're used to and exercise more than you're used to. Its work.

If you want to be good at an instrument, it requires not only that you practice, but that you practice with perfection in mind. Practice doesn't make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect. Its work.

Want to learn a new language? You have to speak it to learn it. Want to run faster? You have to start running and force yourself to go faster. Want to be a better dancer? speaker? husband? wife? They all take concentrated effort. They take discipline. You have to become a disciple of what you want to do.

Its work.

Your life in Christ is no different. When you are born again, you are literally new. Christ births in you a brand new spirit, a spirit like His. But that spirit has to be fed, nurished, exercised, allowed to prosper. And it has to work within a physical body that has carnal feelings and mindsets that have to be overcome by this new spirit of Christ.

In short, its work.

Dear friends, press. Press through to the perfect. Press through to the passion, the design God has placed in you. Press through to your calling. Grab hold of it. Setbacks may in fact happen, but they shouldn't stop your press. Paul reminded us to 'forget those things that are behind.' Forget the gains and the failures and focus on the press. The pressing is where your breakthrough starts. The pressing is what drives your growth.

And that press, like the women who pressed through crowds to get to the Savior, or the centurion and the eunech who pressed through tradition, or Christ Himself who pressed through His humanity to His divinity to create our way back to the Father; that press will only bring you closer to God.

Jesus said 'I am the way, the truth and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me.' (John 14:6). He is the way. The press is the how. At Fellowship, we are ready and willing to show you both The Way and give you the process to do the how. We will work with you while the Lord works on you.

Romans 8:18
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Press on!

Correction from last week: I referenced Psalm 131:14 and I should have written 139:14.

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

Making Toast with a Teapot

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;

Making Toast with a Teapot

You are a chosen generation. God Himself has CHOSEN you. Think about that for a minute...on second thought, rejoice in that for a minute and then I'll finish...

Back? Ok, what I'm getting at is that if you are on the fence about whether God can use you, get off the fence. YOU'RE CHOSEN. You're here, at this time, where ever you are, on purpose. His intent is sure for you. He's just waiting on you to be available.

All throughout the temple instructions in Leviticus, Deuteronomy and Numbers, vessels are prominent in the duties of the priests. Earthen or pottery vessels were destroyed if they were fouled. Wooden vessels could sometimes be cleaned, at other times were burned. Only metal vessels could be recovered if they were exposed to unclean contents, though the recovery often involved fire and scouring.

What I'm getting at is that these tools had no choice in their employment. They were made for a purpose and if they became polluted or unfit for that purpose, they were destroyed.

You are a different kind of vessel. You have a will. You can choose to be availale or not. This free will doesn't change your purpose, but it does impact your effectiveness.

Can you imagine if your teapot got up one morning and decided it wanted to be a toaster? Sounds ridiculous, but if it had a free will, it could. It wouldn't be a very good toaster, but that's what happens when you make choices against your design.

My pastor brought up Psalm 131:14 yesterday in his sermon. That's the line oft quoted about how we are fearfully and wonderfully made. We are hand crafted by God for specific purpose in His kingdom. But, unlike that teapot, we come to Earth equipped with a free will that He will never violate. That means we get to choose what we do, regardless of our designated purpose.

What were you designed for? To show the glory of God. How is that accomplished? By following His will for your life. Not His will for someone else's life, yours.

Will you be a willing vessel, yeilded to the Master's touch and set aside for His purpose? It really is your choice. There are lives depending on you making the right choice. You will never be what you were designed to be away from God's will.

Or will you be a teapot trying to make toast?

Psalm 42:1


As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
(That hunger you feel is your soul panting, longing after God)

Matthew 16:24-28
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
(Jesus made it clear that being His disciple is a choice. The consequences are also clear, but the CHOICE is still yours)

Choose Christ.

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

Previous Lifeline mailings are posted on this blog 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

A Plea for Faith

I've been looking at the devistation in Japan with keen interest. I have a friend who lives in one of the affected cities. I haven't heard from her. We aren't as close as we once were. Time and distance will do that to a friendship. Language barrier makes it even more taxing. But, here I sit with everything she or her family might need, and I can't get in touch with her.

I didn't know anyone in Port-Au-Prince. I didn't have any people in New Orleans. No friends lost on 9-11 or in the Oklahoma City explosions. But I know someone in Japan, and I want to worry.

But I can't.

I was seaching for scripture today (note, I said "I") to write about how we should be connected to these events. Just because we don't know anyone doesn't mean we should be apathetic about the bombings in Libya or the fires that plagued Russia last summer and may well repeat this year. I (again, I) was feeling very self righteous about my plea for everyone to concentrate on how world-engaged I was.

Thank you, Holy Spirit, for correction.

As I looked for the passage in Luke about even sinners love those who love them, but we should love those who don't love us, I was directed to two special places:

Psalm 5:11 (King James Version)
But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

Romans 8:28 (King James Version)
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Our minister yesterday, Min. Ron Watkins, talked about 'let not your heart be troubled' - the encouraging command Jesus gave His disciples (then and now) about what lay ahead recorded in John 14. I was too pre-occupied to let it sink in until today. Or, inkeeping with the message, it was a planted Word that sprouted today, on time and in place.

The funny thing about faith and favor is that it can only be demonstrated during times and seasons when we shouldn't have it. It's easy to claim faithfulness when all the bills are paid, the kids are well behaved, and you're admired on your job. You can claim it, but that's not really faith.

Faith is facing the 3:00 AM phone call and calling out in Jesus' name that everything will be alright when the evidence is to the contrary. Favor is finding out at 8:00 AM it is.

Faith is walking into a meeting with your boss when they laid off the people to your left and your right. Favor is coming out of that meeting promoted, not fired.

Faith is knowing that the loved one you're praying for really is going to be ok, even when you can't reach them. Favor is getting a phone call from them confirming it, despite the complete lack of cell service.

Faith pleases God. Favor is often the demonstration of that pleasure. Jesus Himself was moved by faith...real faith...not lip-service faith, but crawl on the ground to touch the hem of His robe despite the risk of being stoned, faith. And everyone who came (comes) to Him with that kind of faith leaves whole, healed and renewed.

So, chose to activate faith. You know favor...you're the recipient of it daily, whether you realize it or not. But, loved ones, walk with me in faith. Encourage mine when I need it, and I'll do the same for you. Let's move out of worry, fear and anxiety and walk in faith, joy and expectation. Let's give all to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly, even more than we ask or think...

I worried last night. I worried this morning as I looked at pictures on the news. I'm done worrying. I thank God for each of you and for His favor in my life, in your life and in the lives of all we love and call friends.

John 14:27 (King James Version)
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.

Not my peace, but the very peace of Jesus.

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 here 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