HE IS ALIVE! This proclamation has thundered a message of hope across the centuries “He is risen as He said He would!” Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. (John 2:19). He is faithful to His word. In all things, Jesus can be trusted to keep His word. He said He came that we might have life and that we might have life more abundantly. For your life and for my life, Jesus has regard for its preservation, protection, perpetuity, provisions, punishment, and ultimately its perfection in glory. Because He lives, we can have life in its fullest measure. As the people of God, we have resurrection power. We can (and we should) experience His resurrection power in every facet of our lives. That power will keep us and it will deliver us out of life’s difficult circumstances. If it is a dying relationship, He is able to resurrect it. Be it husband and wife, parents and children, neighbor and neighbor, but most of all, mankind and his God. Fractured relationships are not the will of our heavenly Father. Jesus died for our sins, and He rose for our justification.

“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin: and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:55-57).

Dear Ones, we have the victory, now walk in resurrection power.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighted in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.” (Psalm 37:23-24). How awesome is our God in the oversight and direction over the believer. We can trust God to provide for the believer the following, but not limited to: Protection, direction, inspiration, and maturation. King David, the writer of this Psalm, could speak authoritatively concerning trusting and waiting on the Lord. When David fought Goliath, the people saw a well-trained giant, but David saw only a mortal man defying Almighty God. When Saul sought to dissuade David from fighting the giant, listen at David’s response: “And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. (1 Sam. 17:34-35).

Dear ones, just as with David, God watches over and directs every step that the godly takes. As you trust and follow the Lord, know that He has and that He will protect, direct, and inspire, and importantly, He will grow us up. Note 1 Samuel 17:33: “And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.”

Be blessed as you walk in Him.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

(March gladness continues). Out of this Pastor’s recent health challenge comes a monumental “gladness.” This Pastor is glad (grateful, thankful, appreciative) about the faithfulness of God. Our Heavenly Father has at His disposal all that there is in this people planet, and it is available to bless His people. Medical personnel, doctors, nurses, technicians, food preparation people, custodians, transporters, an awesome array of medical equipment, collectively, all of the aforementioned are parts of God’s instrumentality. The loving God orders our steps and gives us a Romans 8:28 result, (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).

We are glad that at the time of sickness, disease, accidents, God directs one to the care of caring, knowledgeable medical personnel where He can work through them. Hear the word of God: “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.” (Mt. 4:23) The writer of the book of Hebrews tells us “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and for ever” (13:8).

Dear Ones, I am glad that Jesus is the consummate healer. And what He has done, He can do it now. Be blessed as you walk in divine health.

(Repeated post from March 3, 2009)   

Jesus, the Master Teacher, tells us in Matthew 5:13, that we, as Christians, are the salt of the earth. What a profound statement, but then to that Jesus poses a rhetorical question: “but if the salt have lost his savor (strength), wherewith shall it be salted”? Jesus underscores the reality that salt has the power to make a difference. Dear Ones, the Lord has strategically positioned us in the world to make a difference. In the ancient world, salt was used to flavor, preserve, and purify. As a flavor enhancer, salt adds zest and brings taste to what would otherwise be bland and disappointing. The overall climate of our nation is one of fear. The economy, the mortgage melt-down, the bank bailouts, unemployment, and this and that, all give cause for concern, however, we know in whom we have believed. As Christians, we are confident and optimistic that during these dark times: “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined” (Isaiah 9:2). To the Christian I say, “get out of the shaker.” Salt is only effective when it engages its surroundings. Salt left in the shaker is of no use.

During these dark times, this should be the finest hour for the Church of the Living God. We know that our God, Jehovah-Jireh, is our source. The Lord will provide! Because of all we have in Jesus, our lives are rich and free. We are as Christians, not negative, not stagnated, not embroiled, in the fear and worry of the times, but rather confident in the Creator of the universe that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the Power that worketh in us.

Beloved, as salt, please “get out of the shaker”!

Pastor J. Amos Jones

March Gladness (continued).  I am glad that as belivers, we possess dual citizenship.  We, as citizens of this great county, pledge our allegiance and fidelty to the United States of America, however, we are also citizens of the Kingdom of God.  Moreover when we “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Casear’s; and unto God things that are God’s”, there is no conflict.  When the citizenry of the United States really live out: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursit of Happiness. That, to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” (Lofty words,we are not yet there, however, I am glad that we have this exercise in democacy to show us what we can be.) When the believer truly embraces this word: “For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.  For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of man.  Let us, therefore, follow after the things which make for peace, and things with which one may edify another” (Romans 14:17-19).  The phrase “Thy Kingdom come” in the model prayer, is a reference to God’s spiritual reign.  God’s Kingdom was announced in the covenant with Abraham (Mt. 8:11), is present in Christ’s reign in the hearts of believers (Lk. 17-21).  This preacher is truly glad (joyful) concerning the belivers “dual citizenship”.

Pastor J. Amos Jones