January 10, 2021

In light of the enormity of the recent elections, both locally and national(s), may I remind you that, as believers, we possess dual citizenships.  We, as citizens of this great country, pledge our allegiance 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 Caesar’s; and unto God, the things that are God’s”, there is no conflict.  When the citizenry of these United States really live out “We hold these truths to be self-evident:  That all men are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  That, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their powers from the consent of the governed.”  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 men.  Let us therefore, follow after the things which make for peace, and things with which one may edify another: (Romans 14:17-19).  When we are “doers of the word”, then, change will have truly come to America.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

January 3, 2021

You can begin again.  Even if life has dealt you tough times and there appears to be no improvement looming on the horizon.  Perhaps you are sitting where Habakkuk sat when he said: “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord.  I will joy in the God of my salvation”. (Habakkuk 3:17-18).  Whether the year 2020 was a good year for you or not so good, if you were in abundance or you had a lean year, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord”.  My joy and your joy is not contingent upon our circumstances, but rather, our joy is borne out of our relationship with our heavenly Father, through the Lord Jesus Christ.  You can begin again.

¨ First, recognize your spiritual blessings in Christ.  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all   spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:  (Eph. 1:3) God has a blessing for you (and me).

¨ Secondly, understand your election. “According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:” (Eph. 1:4).

Do you see it?  In His love, the Amplified Bible says, He actually picked us out for Himself as His own, that we should be consecrated and set apart for Him.  As we prepare to enter into a new year, KNOW WHO YOU ARE IN GOD.  Know that in His eyes, we are special. As word people, dear ones, take this word as an anthem for the year 2021: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”  (Matt. 6:33).  Keep hope alive in two thousand twenty one.  May you have a blessed year.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

December 13, 2020

On today as we celebrate with the choir, this, their Annual Day, we also want to thank them for their continuing service to the kingdom of God.  We know that the choir members, like King David in Psalm 19:14, desire that their words and actions and even their thoughts will please God.

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”

 When our focus is on Him and our singing is unto Him, we become a Psalm 96 choir (and that’s who you are choir).

“O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth.  Sing unto the Lord, bless His name; shew forth His salvation from day to day.  Declare His glory among the heathen, His wonders among all people.  For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised:  He is to be feared above all gods.  For all the gods of the nations are idols; but the Lord made the heavens.  Honour and majesty are before Him:  strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.  O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before Him, all the earth“(Psalm 96:1-6, 9). 

To the member of the choir, thank you for your service to Him and let us continue in Him.  For we know that the best is yet to come.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

December 6, 2020

What are you thankful for and about?  For many the answer is quite predictable.  We are thankful for life, health, and for the many blessings our heavenly Father has bestowed upon us.  We are thankful to Him for our salvation, for our relationship with Him through our Lord Jesus Christ.  We thank Him for our spouses, our children, grandchildren, etc.  Those answers are obvious.  The more probing question is are we thankful when things are not so pleasant?

The Psalmist gives us the answer:  “I will bless the Lord at all times:  His praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Psalm 34:1).  In good times and in times that are not so good, we know that God is working a work in our lives.  In times of adversity our character is being developed and our faith strengthened.  In the down times of life, God demonstrates His awesomeness.   Hear the Apostle James: “Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy.  For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything” (James 1:2-4 NLT).  Dear Ones, for this I give Him thanks.

Pastor J. Amos Jones