Only What You Do for Christ....

Matthew 1:5

⁵ And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;

Only What you Do for Christ

Rahab (or Rachab as she's mentioned in Matthew 1) was not a Hebrewess by birth.  She was living in the city of Jericho when she provided protection to the spying team from the Nation of Israel.  She was what we would call a 'working girl' in Jericho who lived on the wall with her family.

Now, the Bible mentions her profession while she lived in Jericho.  It talks about who in the city knew of her.  But, in the passage above, she's remember in the lineage of Christ.  In James and in Hebrews, she's remembered for what she did for the spies and ultimately the Hebrew people.  Oh her previous job gets mentioned, but it is what she did for the people of God that gets remembered.

This is what stood out for me when we were doing a study of notable women in the Bible for a recent Tea sponsored by our Mother's Board.  I had always heard the phrase 'only what you do for God will last' but I had internalized it differently.  I always thought that it meant the things we consciously do 'for God' (like we could do anything 'for' God).  But it's bigger. 

There are things that we all have in our past and even in our present that we're not too proud of, especially when we're walking as disciples.  We meet and sometimes succumb to challenges.  We sow weeds in our gardens intended for good seed.  These things matter and will of course have an impact, but it is what we do with a willing heart toward Christ the REALLY matters.

When we let the Holy Spirit have His way through us, when we yield our will toward Christ and away from our own selfish desires, we put ourselves in a position to be part of Kingdom Building.  Whether we are sharing a Word of Wisdom, or completing some mundane, administrative task, when it is an act of obedience it will last.  And it will prove to be an important part of the overall plan of God.

None of that other stuff matters.  Only what we do for Christ matters.  So, today, and everyday, make the day matter.

Oft said, and always true:

Romans 8:28

²⁸ 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.

Lifeline is produced from the Evangelistic Ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. You are encouraged to share this message. The Fellowship Church website (www.fcchosengeneration.com) includes a link to the Lifeline Blog (www.lifelineatfellowship.blogspot.com) where you can find previous messages.

Evangelist Robinson also posts her entries on Facebook and Twitter. To subscribe to the mailing, or for questions and comments, tweet (@evangeliststeff) or send email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com. Fellowship Church can be reached at chosen.gen@att.net.

Fellowship Church

Where Passions Become Reality

Because You Are a Chosen Generation

455 Hwy 138 W. Suite C

Jonesboro, GA 30238

Between GA Hwy 85 and US 19/41

Across from EJ Swint Elementary School

Church Website - http://www.fcchosengeneration.com

Shifting Focus

Psalm 121

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

² My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

³ He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

⁴ Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

⁶ The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

⁷ The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

⁸ The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Shifting Focus

There is a tenet about the Christian walk that is true whether we met Jesus for the first time yesterday or if we've been walking in 'The Way' for decades...there is an enemy and it is his job to keep us distracted from our work in Christ. If he can't keep us from restoration, he wants to make sure that we are as ineffective as possible in our callings.  That's his job.  It's his only job and he's dedicated to it.

We can spend alot of energy battling the imps and demons that are put in our path.  What we have to realize is that engaging in the battle can be as destructive as the arrows and fiery darts he throws.  Truth is, regardless if the battle is something from the outside, or something from within, that's not our battle.  That's the Lord's.

Too often, we can get caught up on the wrong side of wanting to be righteous.  It is important to recognize that we have shortcomings in our walk in Christ and that we will live down to those shortcomings from time to time.  But as tempting as it is to wallow in the self pity that often follows one of those experiences, we have to resist and focus back on Christ.  I know if feels like humility, but more times than not its just plain old guilt that we're really feeling.  And guilt can be just as distracting as an unplanned attack.

Regardless the circumstance, we need to focus on Christ.  Not our own abilities, or inabilities...not our situation...not even the facts of the matter.  We need to focus on truth and the truth of God.  This is how we resist the enemy and this is how we transform by renewing our mind.  It isn't always easy, but it is always fruitful.

When the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water, Peter asked if he could come out.  Jesus told him to come and Peter stepped out of the boat on to the water.  The storm didn't change.  The water didn't change.  But Peter was focused on the Master and was overcoming the 'facts' that were all around him.  When he took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the 'facts', Peter changed.  He stopped overcoming and became overcome.

Bills, children, parents, jobs, sicknesses, bad habits, co-workers; there are many different things in our daily lives that can give us a whole litany of facts that should set our heads spinning.  The truth however is calming and will keep us at perfect peace.

I'm not suggesting that we ignore what's going on.  Only that in the midst of it all, focus on Christ.  That's where the peace is.  That's the answer to the question. He is the path away from what's destructive in our lives and the path to provision.

Let the fire rage.  Keep your eyes, your mind, your focus on Christ.  He'll either squelch it, lead you out of it, or join you in it.  Regardless, it will not consume you as long as you let Him consume you first.

Matthew 14:25-31

²⁵ And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

²⁶ And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

²⁷ But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

²⁸ And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

²⁹ And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

³⁰ But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

³¹ And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Philippians 4:8

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Peace.

Lifeline is produced from the Evangelistic Ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. You are encouraged to share this message. The Fellowship Church website (www.fcchosengeneration.com) includes a link to the Lifeline Blog (www.lifelineatfellowship.blogspot.com) where you can find previous messages.

Evangelist Robinson also posts her entries on Facebook and Twitter. To subscribe to the mailing, or for questions and comments, tweet (@evangeliststeff) or send email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com. Fellowship Church can be reached at chosen.gen@att.net.

Fellowship Church

Where Passions Become Reality

Because You Are a Chosen Generation

455 Hwy 138 W. Suite C

Jonesboro, GA 30238

Between GA Hwy 85 and US 19/41

Across from EJ Swint Elementary School

Church Website - http://www.fcchosengeneration.com

Don't Worry About It

Psalm 37:34

³⁴ Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

Don't Worry About It

There are medicines and self-help books and retreats and countless other ways the world has provided to deal with stress.  Stress management is a multimillion dollar industry, at least in this country and probably in many places around the world.  And for good reason - stress can kill a body.  From high blood pressure to heart attacks to systemic pain, stress is often at the bottom of many chronic diagnosis.  The added burden of paying for relief can often add more stress.

As children of God, those of us who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we are supposed to take a different tack.  Over and over again in the Word of God, we're told, often commanded, on what to do with worry.  From 'wait' to 'cast' to 'fret not, fear not', we are openly compelled to dismiss the concerns and focus on who God is.  Why?  Because our Father knows what worry can do to our physical beings.  Also, because our Father has already worked out the resolution.

Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that God's thoughts toward us are "thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end."  He literally always has our best interest at hand.  Regardless of what we bring to Him, regardless of the condition we present, His desired outcome for us is for peace and not evil.  Hallelujah!

So why worry?  That's what the Holy Spirit asks us all the time.  Why do we worry with the things of the world?  Actually, the real question should be, Am I in the will of God?  Are we doing what we were designed to do?  Are we pursuing the plans that He has laid out for us or are we doing everything in our power to be contrary? 

Living contrary to the will of God?  Now that's cause for stress.  Psalm 50 outlines that with the same energy that Psalm 37 comforts.

Regardless of the obstacle, there is a way out.  It starts at the feet of Jesus and is accomplished in the shadow of the Holy Spirit.  Yielding to the Father's will will lead us not only out of trouble, but will keep us in the midst. 

Dear ones, take the time today to just give up.  Give up worry.  Give up disobedience.  Give in to the compelling call of the Savior.  Then watch how things change around you.  Some will be fast.  Some will take time.  Some may resolve in ways that you never imagined.  It won't always be easy, but it will always result in peace and not evil.

And as far as the details, don't worry about it.  God's got you.

Psalm 37:3-7

³ Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

⁴ Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

⁵ Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

⁶ And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

⁷ Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

Peace.

Lifeline is produced from the Evangelistic Ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. You are encouraged to share this message.

The Fellowship Church website (www.fcchosengeneration.com) includes a link to the Lifeline Blog (www.lifelineatfellowship.blogspot.com) where you can find previous messages. 

To subscribe to the mailing, or for questions and comments, tweet (@evangeliststeff) or send email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com. Fellowship Church can be reached at chosen.gen@att.net.

 

Fellowship Church

Where Passions Become Reality

Because You Are a Chosen Generation

455 Hwy 138 W. Suite C

Jonesboro, GA 30238

Between GA Hwy 85 and US 19/41

Across from EJ Swint Elementary School

Church Website - http://www.fcchosengeneration.com/

Gratitude

Gratitude

Luke 17:11-19

¹¹ And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
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.

As I was driving in this morning, I saw a car with GIVETHX on the license plate.  I started humming the song by the same title (give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One...).  It got me thinking about how I say thank you to the Father.

We've been hearing alot at Fellowship about doing things from the heart.  Sunday school lessons, sermons and disciples studies of  late have had a definite focus on sincerity and fellowship with the Father.  We've talked about sincerity in action, sincerity in praise and worship, so I wasn't surprised when the Holy Spirit dropped a nugget about sincerity in thanks this morning.

I love this passage in Christ's walk.  Ten people, all with the same issue take it to the Master for a change.  All ten get their issue resolved but only one turns back to offer thanks.  What's the result?  The one was made whole.  Everyone got healed, but this one was made whole.

Its sad sometimes how we'll enter into worship, do the works, go through the process of walking in faith, but we'll settle for the least amount of relationship. Salvation is good enough for far too many of us.

Don't get me wrong; salvation is AWESOME!  But there's so much more available in this relationship with Christ.  And its on the other side of our willingness to be open and sincere before Him.  It's on the other side of our choice to be in fellowship with Him.

Give thanks.  Just let what's in your heart pour out before the Savior.  We are safe in His hands.  He will handle our openness and our humility with loving arms and tenderness.  Correction and conviction come from a heart that was willing to suffer and die just to have the relationship.  We are safe with Him, not just saved by Him.

Psalm 8

1 O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

² Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
³ When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
⁴ What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
⁵ For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
⁶ Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
⁷ All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
⁸ The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
⁹ O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

Known by God

(Week 13)

Jeremiah 1

4 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I

sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.

7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.

Here we find one of the most hidden truths in the Bible. The truth that we are not only known by God, but there is a very real truth to the fact that God birthed us into this world, at this appointed time for a reason.

Luke 12:7 tells us that God know the very smallest of details about us.

6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?

7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

This week let us spend time with our Lord, so that we can uncover the true purpose of our time here on earth.  Each of us are here for God’s will.  Jesus himself had a reason and time of purpose for being here on earth.

Luke 4:

18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Where would we be if Jesus had not known, and most importantly lived out His reason for being here. Who will not be impacted by our not knowing and again most importantly, living out (Following Christ) our reason for being here.

God is no respect of person, (Romans 2:11).  If  Jeremiah had a reason, so do you, so do I.

Now let us live out our reason.

For the next few weeks we are sharing all of the feasting scriptures Fellowship is enjoying this year. Previous feasts are available at the Fellowship website (http://www.fcchosengeneration.com/).

The Cost of Love

(Week 12)

John 3:16-17

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.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Someone once said that “love don’t cost a thing.” Well tell that to those who have given up so much for those they love. Many parents have given up on their dreams to help a child fulfill their's. Many soldiers have given up their freedom and yes, life for the country they love.

Here in this set of scriptures we see how God Himself gave His only begotten Son; to a world and a people that He loves.Yes, love costs; in most cases it costs a great deal more than what it receives back in return. This week take some time to reflect on what was truly given for you and I. How great that love truly is. Not only did God the Father give in His love toward us, but so did God the Son.

John 15:9-13

9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Yes love costs, but it’s free to receive. But it cost to give. How much are you and I willing to receive the love of God - When it cost Him so much to give?

Lifeline is produced from the Evangelistic Ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. You are encouraged to share this message. The Fellowship Church website (www.fcchosengeneration.com) includes a link to the Lifeline Blog (www.lifelineatfellowship.blogspot.com) where you can find previous messages.

Evangelist Robinson also posts her entries on Facebook and Twitter. To subscribe to the mailing, or for questions and comments, tweet (@evangeliststeff) or send email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com. Fellowship Church can be reached at chosen.gen@att.net.

Fellowship Church

Where Passions Become Reality

Because You Are a Chosen Generation

455 Hwy 138 W. Suite C

Jonesboro, GA 30238

Between GA Hwy 85 and US 19/41

Across from EJ Swint Elementary School

Church Website - http://www.fcchosengeneration.com/