Very oft times when we hear in the Church the Word “traditional”, it is almost always used in a negative sense.  This is unfortunate because many traditions are very positive and are worthy of our adherence.  In II Thessalonians 2:15, The Apostle Paul admonishes the church to:  Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word or our epistle.  Paul tells the people of God to hold tenaciously to his teachings, both orally and in written form.  One of the traditions Paul elaborates upon is found in II Thessalonians 3:6, the tradition of hard work.  (I find this to be a tradition that the entire body of Christ can embrace).

 While in Thessalonica, the Apostle Paul was “hard-work” personified.  Paul, by his own admission, was not lazy, would not accept hand-outs, and chose not to be a burden to anyone.  Interestingly, the tradition of hard-work is as applicable in Kingdom work as it is in secular work.  Hard-work, a tradition found in our neighborhood.  Respect for elders, another tradition in our neighborhood.  Leviticus 19:32:  Show your fear of God by standing up in the presence of elderly people and showing respect for the aged.  I am the Lord.  (New Living Translation).  This is a scripture this Pastor has lived by, even though I didn’t know there was that scripture.)

 Traditionally, the Church has always been very important in our community.  Reverential fear of the Lord and respect for His people and His day has been the norm.  To quote Paul, “stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by Word or our epistle.”

 Be blessed and let the Church be the Church.

 Pastor J. Amos Jones

As Jesus taught in the synagogue at Capernaum, the Bible describes it this way:  “And they were astonished at His doctrine:  for His word was with power.”  (Luke 4:32)  His word was with Power!  WOW!

 Dear Ones, please get this truth in your spirit.  There is power in the Word.  Jesus spoke as one who knew the truth because He is TRUTH.  He, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life, has to speak with authority because He is the Word.  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.”  (John 1: 1, 3)

 There is creative power in the Word.  As people of God, learn to speak the desired results to your circumstance –

•  “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
• “I will succeed in this business endeavor.”
• “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.”

Speak a positive confession into the lives of your children and grandchildren.  (May I suggest you pronounce upon your children the blessing found in Numbers 6:24-26).  There is overcoming power in the Word.  “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony.”  (Revelations 12:11)

We are children of the Most High God.  We are heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ.  The Holy Spirit displays God’s power through each of us as a means of helping the entire church.  If God be for us, who then can be against us?  The Word will work if you will work the Word.  Mark 11:23, “For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.”  The Word tells us that “Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels, when he was arguing with Satan about Moses’ body, did not dare to accuse even Satan, or jeer at him, but simply said  ‘The Lord rebuke you’.”

 Dear Ones, our authority, yes, our power is found in the infallible Word of God.  Love it, learn it, use it, and be blessed.

 Pastor J. Amos Jones

There is an awesome truth recorded in Philippians 4:17 that many very easily pass right by it.  Paul uses commercial language to describe “giving and receiving” (credit and debit) between the Philippians and himself.

 During Paul’s second missionary journey, the Philippian Christians contributed to his ministry with gifts, in fact, Paul says they were the only contributors.  For a period of time, the Philippians had not contributed, not because they were lacking in concern, but they lacked opportunity.  At the time of this writing (the book of Philippians), Paul is in prison and has received a gift from the Philippian Christians.  Paul is genuinely appreciative for the gifts but is not ultimately dependent on them.  Their gifts involves them (the Philippians) in Paul’s troubles.  (A person’s gift to the Lord involves them in Kingdom work)  Paul says to the Philippian Christians; “You gave and gave.”  Please watch this:  The “investment value” of the Philippians gift is not primarily what Paul received, but the “spiritual dividends” they received.

 To Corinthian Christians, Paul says, “God loveth a cheerful giver” (II Corinthians 9:7 [b]).  We do not “give to get”, however, there is the “Godly Recompense:”  “Give, and it shall be given unto you:  good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.  For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”  (Luke 6:38)

 Let me ask you, what is your “investment value?”  Are you receiving “Spiritual dividends” into your Kingdom Account?  Are you glad to receive them?

 Pastor J. Amos Jones

 To our newest members, welcome to the Friendship family.  To our visitors who have chosen to worship with the Friendship family, thank you for sharing our worship experience.  New members and visitors, you are indeed a blessing and we appreciate the opportunity to minister to each of you.  You will find that here at Friendship, we are traditional in the things of God as we are taught in II Thessalonians 2:15:  Therefore, brethren, standfast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

 We believe that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God.  We know that no prophecy is of private interpretation, for the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost (II Peter 1:20-21).  The Bible is God’s message to man. 

 The theme of this message is the same in both Testaments, the redemption of man.  The Old Testament tells about the origin of man’s sin and the preparation God made for the solution of the problem through His own Son the Messiah.  The New Testament describes the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan.   The two Testaments form two volumes of one work.  The first is incomplete without the second; and the second cannot be understood without the first.  Together they are God’s revelation to man of the provision He has made for his salvation.

 Here at Friendship, we still hold to the Bible as our basic handbook.  Having stated that, we are traditional in the things of God, unashamedly I will admit that we are an innovative church family.  We have taken a cue from the Lord Jesus Christ.  Christ has mightily affected society in its organized state.  It is our desire to bring about positive change in the four-corners area.  Our Lord has taught the world the dignity of human life, the worth of the soul, the preciousness of personality.  Because of this, the status of women has improved (they are Ministers of the Gospel here), children are recognized as a primary responsibility for the lavishing of love and care (We have an active Children’s Church).

 Human life, when weak or aged or disadvantaged, is not regarded as forfeiting a right to a place in society, but rather entitled to help (your Benevolent Offering is at work; hence it is not the “Penny Offering.”)  Again, let me welcome you to Friendship.

Be blessed as we follow Him.

 Pastor J. Amos Jones

 A big “God bless you” goes out to President Craig Miller and the faithful members of the FMBC Usher Board.  Your absolute dedication to the Kingdom and to our Lord is the embodiment of  Colossians 3:23:  “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”

Dear Ones, it is apparent that you grasp the message of verse twenty four:  “Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance:  for ye serve the Lord Christ.” 

 Ushers we thank God for you and for your contribution to the worship experience at Friendship.  Through-out Biblical history, Ushers have been called Doorkeepers, Porters, Keepers of the Threshold; whatever the title, the task has remained the same, service for the Master.

 Ushers, your Annual Day program was indeed a blessing and a source of encouragement to all.  To the program participants, thank you so much, and to Sis. Karen Fields, thank you for a superb presentation.

 Dear Ushers, continue to let the spirit of Psalm 84:10 dwell richly in you as you continue in Him.

Pastor J. Amos Jones