Much has been said about knowing God’s purpose for our lives.  Indeed, we should seek His purpose for each of us, and live our lives with purpose and on purpose.  Having said that, have you considered what the Lord requires of you and of me? 

 First, let me say that the Lord is essentially concerned with the ethical, not with externals.  “Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God.”  (Matthew 5:8)  In chapter six of the book of Micah, we are told what the Lord requires of His people.  In verses 1-5, we find the Lord’s case, His controversy, with His people, Israel.  How they have turned from Him.  In verses 6-7, there is a listing of the external measures that one might employ in his/her feeble attempt to circumvent God’s way.  God had shown to His people then, as He has shown to His people now, what He requires of us.  Here they are:

1.  “To do justly.” Just do right!  Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.”  (Proverbs 14:34)  “But in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him.”  (Acts 10:35)
2.  “To love mercy.” Love kindness and mercy!  “Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart.” (Proverbs 3:3)  “Blessed are the merciful ; for they shall obtain mercy.”  (Matthew 5:7)
3.  “Walk humbly with God.” “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3)  If ye walk in my statutes and keep my commandments, and do them.”  They will receive the blessings of verses 4-12.  (Leviticus 26:3-12)

 Be blessed as you do what is right, love mercy and walk humbly with the God of the universe.

 Pastor J. Amos Jones

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, grand-children, 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

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, grand-children, 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    

 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

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