Suffer the Children

Mark 10:13-16
13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

Suffer the Children

School started today in my son's district. Same for several other counties in our area. Some children went back last week. Some won't start until September. Others never stopped since they go year round.

Yet, what about their spiritual development? Is going to church enough? What do they know about the Christ you serve? Do they see what Christian service looks like?

No, we aren't to be ruled by our children, but they do have important lessons to teach us about humility, receiving, joy. And yet, we...not just parents, but anyone who knows a child, are responsible for their well being...physical, mental and spiritual. What they come to know, they come to know through us.

Jesus litteraly embraced children. I'm moved in particular by the image in verse 16 above - And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. Not just a passing word or a pat, but an embrace. And these children took in all that He gave.

Jesus told us they are an example to us of how to receive the Kingdom. Then, He showed them how the Kingdom gives. In being 'Christ-like', we should strive to do the same.

Whether you're a parent, a relative or just a friend of a child, remember they are looking at you to live the example of what they learn and hear about in church. Children are often great little lie-detectors, but that doesn't mean they know how to follow truth. That's our job. We should pursue truth for our own salvation, but know that our efforts help make the path clear for them.

Suffer the children to come to Jesus. Make the way plain, and the path clear. If you don't know the way, we have maps and "JPS" (Jesus Positioning Systems) at the ready at Fellowship that we'd be happy to share. It doesn't matter where you are in your life, your walk, or your growth. Just come.

Matthew 11:25-30
25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

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.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden isl light.

Praying for peace in your schools, as wel as peace in your hearts.

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 W, Ste C

Jonesboro, GA 30238

Alton Watkins, Pastor

Gifts of the Spirit

1 Corinthians 12:7-11

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Gifts of the Spirit

We started this study in our Disciples Class last Wednesday night at Fellowship. We are exploring the gifts of the Spirit for the next few weeks. However, one point kept coming up in the discussion and promises to be repeated.

Verse 11 in the passage above says 'But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.' All things as the Father commands. He does it at His own will. That's that part of this fellowship we have through Christ with God that is most important for us to remember...as HE wills. We have no control of when the gift starts, stops or what happens as the gift operates. That's God's business.

The posture of a disciple is yeilded, open. Like the lump of clay in Ezekiel, we are subject to the Master's shaping and firing as He wills. The purpose of our 'shape' is determined by Him, not us. Same for how we're used. Can you imagine if you reached into your cabinet for a pitcher, and it somehow refused the iced tea you were trying to put in it because it thinks it was made for only milk? You'd throw it out. It wouldn't be fit for your use if the pitcher somehow got to decide how it would be used.

Is your vessel yeilded? Are you open to what God has for you? Are you ready to receive, regardless of what He presents? Jesus left Glory and found Himself debased, beaten and killed...just as the Father designed. In return, His Name is above all names and His inheritance is all who would believe on that Name. His obedience redeemed me. It redeemed you, if you've received it.

God blesses whom He will. He is God. He is Master. He is Creator. He chooses how He will use those who serve Him. He chooses when and how the Holy Spirit will behave for Him. Our call is to obedience, humility and reception of all that He offers from assignment to grace.

Won't you choose to receive from God? He has nothing for you, except His best.

I invite you to learn more about these precious gifts during our study on Wednesday nights at 7 at Fellowship. I also hope you'll join us for service Sundays at 11:30 if you are not already involved (yes, involved, not just attending) another church family. We're growing, but there's always room for you.

Romans 12:1-5
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Peace.

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 W, Ste C

Jonesboro, GA 30238

Alton Watkins, Pastor

Seeing Through His Eyes

John 4:9-10

9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

Seeing Through His Eyes

The Woman at the Well is a familiar account among most believers. Jesus meets this woman and she tells the whole city to come see Him.

There were so many reasons this encounter was odd. No one gathered water at noon. It's the Middle East...it's hot and lugging water is hard work even when its cool. Jews didn't talk to Samaritans. Men didn't talk to women who weren't related to them. Jewish men had no dealings with Samaritan women in public.

Yet, here they were.

It wasn't Jesus' teaching at the well that compelled her to evangelize the city, however. Jesus saw her in a way she'd never seen herself. He saw who she really was, not what she was. And He wanted to give her something precious...Himself.

This woman knew her situation. She wasn't a well respected woman. If she was, she would have gathered water in the cool of the day with the other women. She accomodated how others felt about here by staying out of their way. She didn't bother Jesus when he lounged at the well because He was Jewish and she wasn't. He wasn't a man of her klan so there was no need for interaction, from her perspective. She was prepared to be ignored. She expected it and was comfortable in it. She knew her facts.

He knew her truth.

Jesus isn't intimidated by our facts. He isn't concerned about our backgrounds, our family history, our situations. He knows things about us we haven't even thought about. And He sees us in that truth.

We all go through conditions, seasons, experiences that may temporarily alter who we think we are. Maybe a divorce brings a feeling of failure. Loss of a loved one ushers in dispair. Sickness walks hand in hand with depression. Perhaps lonliness drives us into an illicit relationship. These are real conditions. But they are not who we are.

Jesus sees us for WHO we are...not HOW we are.

Loved ones, receive the lesson still being taugh through this bold woman. Who we are isn't determined by how we are right now. Who we are is best seen through the eyes of our Lord. He sees past our condition. He sees past our dissapointments, our weaknesses, our troubles and wants us to see what He sees. He has enough grace to accomodate whatever we think we can't bring to Him. He's prepared to wash it away with His very blood.

Paul encouraged us in his letter to the Philipians, chapter 2, to 'let this mind be in you that is also in Christ Jesus'. We should strive to see others in the same love that Christ sees them. They way to do that is to start by seeing Him, and then seeing ourselves the way Christ sees us.

Seeing as He sees. Being one with Him. Loving as He loves. Being like Him...Christ like...Christian. This is our walk.

Won't you walk with us, at Fellowship?

John 17:20-26
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
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.
24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

New eyesight, and peace.

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 W, Ste C

Jonesboro, GA 30238

Alton Watkins, Pastor

Look Beyond the Hills

Psalm 121
1 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.

Look Beyond the Hills

I lost an aunt a week ago Sunday. We gathered as a family and celebrated her life last Friday. This was one of the passages read at the service. One of her sons, my cousin Terry Stephens, expounded on this passage. He is an associate pastor in Minnesota. His is a very fortunate congregation.

There is nothing and no one on Earth who can do what God can do. We can, as the song says, search all over but we still couldn't find nobody (pardon the grammar) greater than the Lord. No matter how high the hill, how deep the sea, there is none greater than God.

And He is your Keeper, your Shepherd, your Preservation, and thanks to the sacrifice of His Son, your Savior.

My Aunt Betty made her choice years ago about whom she would serve. Nothing said Friday afternoon could either enhance or detract from her choice to serve Christ. The question is, when you look to the hills and see the storm gathering in the distance, will you be swayed by the coming storm or know that your help comes from the Lord Who will not suffer your foot to be moved? Will you rest knowing that He will preserve you from all evil, or cower in the face of your enemy?

It's a simple, yet profound choice with eternal consequences. But more importantly, it's your choice. You have to make if for yourself and no one else.

Look beyond the hills. Look beyond what you know to Whom you're known by.

Look to Christ.

Matthew 17:1-8
1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

Joshua 24:15
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Peace and clarity.

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 W, Ste C

Jonesboro, GA 30238

Alton Watkins, Pastor

The Price of Peace

Isaiah 53:4-6

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

The Price of Peace

I am a warrior. Well, I was. I used to be in the Navy. Now, I never saw direct combat. I wasn't deployed to a ship. But we were all trained the same way, whether our job was to direct the fire, report the fire or to be in the line of fire. We all served. Where and how we served was left up to our commanders. I had no say in whether I was in Afghanistan or Augusta, GA. Regardless of assignment, I was to do my job along with the other soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines around me.

One of the many things my time in the military taught me very clearly is that peace is never free. Peace costs. Whether it's peace for a nation, or peace in the house, it costs something. The price can range from compromise to blood, but it has a price.

This passage from Isaiah is oft quoted, but I know I didn't fully understand it. The chastisement of our peace...the penalty of our peace...the price for us to have peace...was upon Him; the Precious One, Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of the very peace He paid for with His own blood. He bore what is rightfully our punishment and left peace in the wake.

That's some price.

Dear ones, there is peace. Despite the storms, we have peace. It's been bought and paid for, right along with our salvation and our restoration to God. Peace is as available as healing, and all the other gifts of Christ.

And, like all those other things, we have to receive it. But, as Isaiah recorded, we like sheep have gone off in our own thing, ignoring, underappreciating or even refusing these gifts. And even the price of our straying was paid.

The price for your peace was high, but it's been bought and paid for. You have no debt with God thanks to Christ.

If I offered to pay for your dinner, wouldn't you go ahead and eat it?

If you got to the end of a vacation and someone paid your bill, would you accept it?

If you were found guilty of a crime, and someone else chose to fufill your sentence...?

Your bill has been paid. The table has been set. There is peace available because your sins have been forgiven. What will you give Him in return?

Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.


Revelation 22:17
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.

We have the inviation at Fellowship. We would be happy to have you join us at the Bride Supper of the Lamb. There's room for you in our carpool.

Peace...paid for, complete and total peace.

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 W, Ste C

Jonesboro, GA 30238

Alton Watkins, Pastor

The Lord Be With You....Be With The Lord

Exodus 33:12-18

 ¹² And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.

 ¹³ Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.

 ¹⁴ And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

 ¹⁵ And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.

 ¹⁶ For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.

 ¹⁷ And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.

 ¹⁸ And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.

The Lord be With You...Be With the Lord

Moses had a special way of dealing with God.  They talked.  Like, Abraham before him, Moses spoke with God the same way friends and relatives speak with each other now.  It was an actual, special relationship.  Moses understood that God was with him....and Moses, in turn, was with God.

Its interesting how we overlook the opportunity that we have in this 'special' relationship with God.  Unlike, Moses, we have the privilege of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  We actually come to God cleansed by the very blood of Jesus, and are presented to Him, a clean, righteous and holy son of God...not a servant, fully accepted.

Dear friends, God is with you.  He has arranged the path of salvation and redemption by paving it with the very blood of His only begotten son.  Like this passage, He has strongly demonstrated that He is with us.  He has shown his Glory.

We have a special relationship, but like all relationships, it takes some work.  It takes communication.  God is with us.  Now, we are challenged to be with Him.

Will you be with God?  Will you accept the gift of Jesus?  Will you open up to Him, His leadership, His grace, His peace, His will?

At Fellowship, we are all about building relationships.  We would love the opportunity to help and and encourage you in this very special relationship.

Matthew 28:18-20

 ¹⁸ And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

 ¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

 ²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

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 W, Ste C

Jonesboro, GA 30238

Alton Watkins, Pastor

Accept The Gift

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.

Accept The Gift

Yesterday was not only Father's Day (Happy Belated, Dads), but it was also Juneteenth. Juneteenth, for those who may not know, celebrates the Emancipation Proclamation. President Lincoln signed it January 1, 1863, but without the benefit of email, telephones, TV or radio, or a collectively cooperative legislature in all states, most people being held as slaves didn't find out about it when it was signed. It didn't become a reality for them until June 19th, 1865, or 'Juneteenth'.

The proclamation made African Americans held in slavery legally free. There were ensuing legal battles, but in the purest interpretation of the law, they were no longer slaves. Funny thing was, not all of those who were now free, left their captivity. Many stayed right where they were, working just as they had before for many more years. They stayed slaves despite being free.

Its a wonderful illustration of our debt to sin. Before Christ's self sacrafice, mankind was a slave to sin. We were condemed to eternal separation from God. But Jesus literaly made Himself payment for every debt to sin for all eternity for all mankind, permanently reuniting us to God. But many simple choose to stay enslaved.

Beloved, accept the Gift. You can't earn this redemption. All that was needed to be paid was paid. There is nothing else for you to add to it. You can't earn Jesus' love. He already has extended it toward you. It cannot be increased or decreased. It can only be accepted. His love for you is as eternal as He is. You cannot create righteousness before God. All you can do is accept the Gift of Christ, His love and His righteousness. And in your acceptance is not only for eternal forgiveness, but for life itself.

The Emancipation Proclamation is barely 5 handwritten pages long. Just 699 words. It changed the course of an entire nation. The struggles that ensued are still being studied and followed today by people seeking justice and freedom throughout the world.

The scripture reference above, John 3:16, is only 25 words long, but it changed the course of human history, throughout all time.

Will you let Him change your life? Will you accept the Gift and all the life that comes with Him? We will happily help you receive, grow in and use the Gift at Fellowship.

John 3:17
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Freedom and life.

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 W, Ste C

Jonesboro, GA 30238

Alton Watkins, Pastor