Good evening FMBC Members: From FMBC’s Announcement Clerk: In recognition of the last Sunday in October and honoring Breast Cancer Awareness Month, please wear pink for support and representation.

As the people of God, we should never allow the circumstances of life to dictate our lives.  We know that greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world.  At some time prior to the Assyrian campaign of 701 B.C., Hezekiah, King of Judah, was sick unto death.  The prophet Isaiah came to him with the message to “Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.”  “Get your will updated, ensure your final arrangements are completed, particularly in respect to throne succession.”  Such were the circumstances confronting King Hezekiah.    Moreover, there is the final declaration, “thou shalt die, and not live.”

Look how Hezekiah dealt with this staggering circumstance in his life.  Hezekiah prayed!  “I beseech thee, O lord, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight.”  (2 Kings 20:3)

Hezekiah’s prayer is not an appeal for divine favor that is based on good works, but it expresses the realization that the Lord graciously favors those who earnestly serve Him.

Another Godly King declared:  “The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of hands hath He recompensed me.”  (2 Samuel 22:21)

While David’s statements may give the impression of self-righteous boasting and a meritorious basis for divine favor, they must be understood in the context as:

•  David’s desire to please the Lord in his service as the Lord’s anointed

•  His recognition that the Lord rewards those who faithfully seek to serve Him.

Know this, dear ones, whatever you are experiencing in life, God favors those who earnestly serve Him.

To that end, favor IS fair.  Enjoy His favor as you seek to serve Him.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

On today, we celebrate with our Ushers their USHERS’ ANNUL DAY.  Today, we are all ushers and this day is very important to all members of this Church family.

Annual days are a time of reflection and thanksgiving.  We reflect upon the all sufficiency of our loving, heavenly Father who empowers us as we go about performing our assigned tasks.  It is not our “ability” the Lord is looking for, but rather it is our “availability.”  When we make ourselves available to Him, how apropos are the words of this Psalm, penned for the Sons of Korah: 

“How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!  My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.  Yea, the sparrow hath found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thin altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God.  Blessed are they that dwell in thy house; they will be still praising thee.  For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand.  I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness”  (Psalm 84:1-4, 10)

Our love for Him and His house, prompts us to serve His people in His house.  Our Ushers do such a good job because of what God does for them and what God does through them.  As Pastor, I am grateful to Usher Board President, Craig Miller and to all the wonderful, dedicated members who serve with him, for the fine job that they do through-out the year. 

Ushering, as such, is not a glamourous job, but it is a very important job in the house of the Living God!  Ushers are caring people who are willing to work without publicity.  People who will work diligently and cheerfully at their task, knowing that they are working for the Lord, rather than for men.  Thank you Ushers for a job well done and we thank for Lord for our Ushers.

In His Service.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

While it requires no great theological insight to recognize the sovereignty of Almighty God it does require a deep, abiding faith, and absolute trust in Him that He is in control. 

The Psalmist tells us that:  “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; The world, and they that dwell therein.  For He hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.”  (Psalm 24:1,2)

Our God is the Creator, sustainer and Possessor of the whole world, and therefore worthy of worship and reverent loyalty as “the King of Glory.”  This is a message that was lost on some people at a recent precinct convention.  Ignorantly, these people submitted resolutions to control the actions of God through His people.  How feeble! 

As the people of the Most High God, we are governed by His laws and precepts found in His Word, The Bible.  It is not what we say or resolve, it is the acknowledging of Him.  We are required to be good citizens of this country, however, when there is conflict between things of this world and things of God, we side with the Lord. 

Jesus said we should “Render therefore unto Cesar the things which are Cesar’s; and unto God the things which are God’s.”  (Matthew 22:2)  Remember, in every circumstance of life, God is in control.

Dear Ones, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”  (Proverbs 3:5, 6)

Pastor J. Amos Jones

“Pilate saith unto Him, What is truth?  And when he said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in Him no fault at all.”  (John 18:38)

This question, what is truth, posed by a cowardly despot, is really a question asked by many in this cynical generation.  To many people today, truth is relative.  They, like Pilate, see truth as whatever the majority of people agree with or whatever benefits their own personal power or agenda.  When there no basis for truth, there is no basis for moral right or wrong.  Truth is not what I say, nor is it what you say is truth, in Jesus and His Word we have a standard for truth and for our moral behavior.  “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, if ye continue in my Word, then are ye my disciples indeed, and ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.  (John 8:31 & 32)

Jesus Himself is the truth that makes us free.  He is the source of truth.  “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”  (John 1:17) 

God’s revelation (Truth) comes through the life of Jesus.  Jesus is the personification of Truth.  He is the embodiment of Truth.  Jesus is the perfect standard of what is right.  Jesus frees us from the consequences of sin, from self-deception and egocentrism, and from deception by Satan.  He shows us clearly the way to eternal life with God.  As we seek to serve God, Jesus’ perfect truth frees us to be all that God meant us to be.

Dear Ones, let us walk in truth.

Pastor J. Amos Jones