“Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian” (Acts 26:28). This Agrippa is  Herod Agrippa II, son of Herod Agrippa I and a descendant of Herod the Great. When Paul spoke before Agrippa with such power, Agrippa’s response was “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”  What an opportunity missed. So close yet so far away. Agrippa could have broken a string of despotic leaders, unfortunately his response was “almost.” Dear Ones, almost is to never fully achieve. It is lowered expectations. It is a willingness to settle for less than the best. Like great-grandfather, like grandfather, like father, like son-such is the story of Herod Agrippa II. He inherited the effects of generations of powerful men with flawed personalities. Each son followed his father in weaknesses, mistakes, and missed opportunities. Each generation had a confrontation with God, but each failed to realize the importance of the moment. Hear what the Lord God says to His people: “Now it shall be, if you diligently listen to and obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all of His commandments which I am commanding you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. The Lord will make you the head (leader) and not the tail (followers); and you will be above only, and you will not be beneath, if you will listen and pay attention to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I am commanding you today, to observe them carefully” (Deu. 28:1 & 13 AMP). Know this, child of God, almost is not an option for the believer.

Pastor J Amos Jones

On today we celebrate and honor our Deacons and Trustees as they affirm their Christian servanthood. Join the Pastor as we examine this day.  Affirm: To say positively; declare firmly; assert to be true.  Affirmation: The act of affirming or declaring, a confirming. On this day the Deacons are saying unequivocally that they are servants of the Most High and to the people of His church. The office of Deacon was born out of a need to organize the distribution of food to the poor. The Apostles needed to focus on preaching, so they chose others to administer the food program. The Apostles’ priorities were correct. The ministry of the word should never be neglected because of administrative burdens. Those men chosen did not take this administrative task lightly. Notice the requirements for the men who were to handle the food program. They were to be well respected and full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. Spiritual leadership is serious business and must not be taken lightly by the church or the leaders. Deacons must be honest, spiritually mature, caring, with an Act 6:3 sensibility.  On this day the Deacons are declaring that is who they are, Biblical Deacons.

And for our Trustees, they are administrators like Joseph in Genesis, chapters 41-47. To the Deacons and Trustees, the church honors your commitment to the Lord Jesus and His church.

Be blessed as you serve in spirit and in truth.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

Lord what wilt thou have me to do?”  The question posed by the Apostle Paul to the Lord Jesus is certainly apropos for the believer as we enter into the year 2023.  Are we where the Lord wants us to be?  Am I working the work that the Lord has ordained for me at this season of life or has the assignment been changed or modified?  The Apostle Paul, after a divine encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ, knew he needed an update from the Lord.  He has been transformed by  God from a persecutor of Christians to a preacher for Christ.  As with Paul, the Lord will ensure you are where you ought to be.  In response to Paul’s question “The Lord said unto hi, arise and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thee must do?” (Acts 9:6).

Folks, the Good News is that forgiveness and eternal life are gifts of God’s graced through faith in Christ, and they are available to all people, even “the chief of sinners/”  Please notice, the Lord used a third party to give Paul his answer.  To Anaias God gave the scope of Paul’s assignment:  “…he is a chosen vessel unto me to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings and the children of Israel:  for I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake” (Acts 9:15, 16). 

Know this, dear ones, God has an assignment for all believers.  The question is, are you where you ought to be?  If you are not sure, ask the “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”

Be blessed as you walk in Him.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

In Luke 19, Jesus tells the parable of the King’s ten servants.  In the parable a certain nobleman delivered unto each of his servants an amount of money with these instructions “Occupy till I come. In the parable there is an account of three of the servants. Two of the servants invested the king’s money and got a good return on their investment, one other of the servants held on to his master’s money and got no return on what he was given.  The king was very hard on this man who had failed to get an increase on the money.  At this point, dear readers, some of you are asking, “Where are you going with this story?” As we go into a new year, we are to “occupy till He come.”  We have been given excellent resources to build and expand God’s Kingdom.  Jesus expects us to use these talents for the expansion of the kingdom.  We must be found working for the Master.  Take a lesson from Jesus as He speaks in John 9:4: “I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”

2023 is a year for being more effective in our witness.  “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me...(Acts 1:8)   As we occupy, let us be mindful of why the king punished the worthless servant.

#1 He didn’t share his master’s interest in the kingdom.

#2 He didn’t trust his master’s intentions.

#3 His only concern was for himself.

#4 He did nothing to use the money.

In the year 2023, “let us occupy till He comes.”   Have a blessed and happy new year.

Pastor J Amos Jones

It is interesting how the gospel writers in the book of John and Luke speak to the advent of Jesus unto this people planet. John tells us that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1). “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). John’s description shows clearly that he is speaking of Jesus, the creator of the universe, the ultimate revelation of God, the living picture of God’s holiness, the one by whom “all things consist” (Colossians 1:17). John shows Jesus as fully human and fully God. Although Jesus took upon Himself full humanity and lived as a man, He never ceased to be the eternal God who has always existed, the creator and sustainer of all things, and the source of eternal life. Luke goes into great detail in pointing out the circumstances of the birth of Jesus. “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2: 4-7 ). In a summary fashion: “When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law” (Galatians 4:4).

Merry Christmas!

Pastor J. Amos Jones