FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK December 18, 2022

Many of you know that I have been, and is now, the primary caregiver for my wife. The truth is, and on a larger sense, I (the Pastor) am a caregiver for all of you. It is the responsibility of the pastor to watch over the souls of the people. The charge to be a caregiver for God’s people is found in I Peter 5:1-4. To encapsulate that charge to the pastor, I need only say that the pastor is “to lead and to feed.” Look for these characteristics in the caregiving pastor:

(1) They realize they are caring for God’s flock, not their own.

Peter identifies ownership in verse 2, “flock of God.” In John 21, God’s people are referred to as “my lambs” and “my sheep.” This pastor is acutely aware of God’s love for His people. “For God so love the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16).

(2) They lead out of the desire to serve, not out of obligation.

(3) They realize that it is the will of God that none should perish, but that all should come to repentance. The caregiving pastor will ensure that God’s people are taught the infallible word of God. “The gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.” (Romans 1:16) The caring pastor leads by example, not force. In Christian leadership, authority is based on service, not power.

Know this dear ones, we are working to this end, “the perfecting of the Saints, the edifying of the body of Christ, the knowledge of the son of God bringing you into a mature Christian.”

Be blessed as we walk in Him.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

https://fannersoftheflame.org/2022/12/18/5865/

CHOIR ANNUAL DAY

A big God bless you goes out to all of the choir members as we celebrate with them on this, their annual day. The Psalmist tells us to “Sing a new song to the Lord! Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Sing to the Lord; praise His name. Each day proclaim the good news that He saves. Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things He does.” (Psalm 96:1-3 NLT) It is obvious that the Psalmist had the choir at Friendship in mind when he penned these words. Thank you choir for how you sing unto the Lord. You are indeed worshippers, not performers. To God be the glory! In your singing there is the proclamation of the Good News of His salvation and the declaration of His glory. Individually, think about your singing. In Psalm 13:6, David says “I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.” We all can attest that God has blessed us abundantly. In Psalm 57, there is a record of David’s thoughts when he fled from Saul, and the truth be known, we all have had some disconcerting moments. In difficult times we can join David and say: “My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast and confident! I will sing, yes I will sing praises [to you]!”

Again choir, thank you for your marvelous (and melodic) contribution to the praise and worship at Friendship. God bless you and this Choir Annual Day.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

There is recorded in Galatians 2 an event that occurred in the church at Antioch of Syria that I refer to as a “clash of Titans.”  Although Peter was a leader of the church, he was acting like a hypocrite.  Paul knew he had to confront Peter before his actions damaged the church.  Therefore, Paul publicly confronted Peter.  Sometimes sincere Christians, even Christian leaders, make mistakes and need to get back on track.

Dear ones, it’s easy to rate people on the basis of their official status and to be intimidated by powerful leaders.  However, when both parties are at the top of leadership, their actions are always under scrutiny. The church leaders in Jerusalem, James, Cephas (Peter), and John realized that God was using Paul to reach the Gentiles, just as Peter was being used so greatly to reach the Jews. “But when Peter was come to Antioch, I (Paul) withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.” (Gal.  2:11-12)  While we can see the “clash of the Titans” between Peter and Paul, internally Peter is having a “clash of the Titans,” i.e., Truth and Tradition. They met head-on, and Peter chose tradition.

Peter knew the truth. Hear him in Acts 10:34-35: “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him.” In our society today, there is a continued clash of truth and tradition. Let truth prevail.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

(Reprint from November 14, 2014)

As we continue in this season of Thanksgiving, it is this Pastor’s prayer that you indeed did take an introspective review of your “Thanksgiving quotient.”  Even a cursory look into the Psalms reveals the imperative to “give thanks unto the Lord.”  Please take note:

• Psalm 105:1  “O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon His name: make known His deeds among His people.”

• Psalm 106:1  “Praise ye the Lord, O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever”

• Psalm 107:1  “O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever.”

It is obvious that this is one who lives his life with thanksgiving and gratefulness.  It is this Pastor’s desire that every member of F.M.B.C. will exemplify the “Lifestyle of the Thankful and Grateful.”

Thankful:  Grateful acknowledgement of something received by or done for.

Grateful:    Thankful appreciation for benefits or favors received.

May I remind you that: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights…” (James 1:17)

Be blessed as you continue in Him.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

How often do you hear the phrase, particularly here at Friendship, “God is a good God”? Answer, very, very often. The truth is, God is a good God, and He is worthy to be praised. Think about, dear ones, and join this Pastor in extolling the great and gracious God of the universe. First of all, listen to what the Apostle Paul tells us about His goodness: “Or despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Romans 2:4). It is His goodness that begins the salvation process. The Psalmist says “Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes” (Psalm 119:68). It does not require an in-depth study of scriptures to know that God is a good God.

Psalm 100, a Psalm of praise, leads us thru the praise process, and then in a summary fashion concludes with this; “For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations” (v.5). His truth tells us that no matter what happens in this life, how dire circumstances might be, God will cause there to be: “The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the Lord of hosts: for the Lord is good; for His  mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifices of praise into the house of the Lord.” (Jeremiah 35:11) Let’s keep on praising the Lord, for He is good.

Pastor J. Amos Jones