“For This Cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.”  (Ephesians 3:14, 15).  “This Cause” is really variegated or multifaceted (in the way that many facets of a diamond reflect and enhance its beauty).

 First of all, we thank and praise our Heavenly Father for His divine protection.  We have been, as the Houston Chronicle states, “Swamped By Harvey.”  Hurricane Harvey has been the greatest rainmaker this nation has seen and its results have been devastating.  Some members of the FMBC family were victims of the destructive flooding and they are certainly in our prayers, as are all those who have suffered the effects of this destructive storm.  However, through it all, God has been faithful!  How awesome is our God!  Our Heavenly Father has a covenant relationship with His creation.  Hear Him in Genesis 9:15:  “And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall NO more become a flood to destroy all flesh.”  Flood yes, but we will survive.  “This Cause.”  Hurricane Harvey has produced a spirit of compassion, of caring and a real commitment to service.

 Hear the Psalmist in Psalm 133:1-3 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.  It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard:  That went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion:  For there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.”  “For there”:  Where there is unity, there is focus, where there is unity, there is caring and compassion.  Where there is unity, the emphasis is love, caring and compassion and not hate, bitterness and rancor.  I bow my knee to the Father who can quickly change the social conversation with a destructive storm called Harvey.

 Be blessed as you enjoy His divine protection.

 Pastor J. Amos Jones

 “And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.”  (Luke 4:1)

 And so begins the story of the Temptation of Jesus.  This is an absolutely rich teaching and there is a remarkable life lesson woven in the powerful words of the text.  Note, it begins:  “And Jesus, full of the Holy Ghost, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit for forty days in the wilderness, tempted by the devil.”  And now dear ones, take note what the Holy Writ tells us thirteen verses later:  “And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee…”

 Do you see it?  Jesus went into the wilderness full of the Spirit.  He came out of the wilderness still in the Spirit.  Jesus remained in the Spirit, no matter what happened.  To stay in the Spirit was the real issue Jesus faced in the wilderness.  The wilderness did not offer three different temptations as we might have thought.  It offered one.  A single temptation:  in the shape of different problems, to be sure, but a single testing nonetheless.  The problems were in the area of His physical body (when He was hungry after a prolonged fast); in the area of His soul—His mind, emotions, will (in questions involving His work); and in the area of His Spirit (when He was offered a spiritual shortcut).  For Jesus, the problems were all temptations.  Each had a common denominator.  Each tried, with its particular pressures, to lure Him away from the Spirit. 

 What does it mean to be “in the Spirit”?  We must come to grips with this term.  Paul says, we should “Walk in the Spirit”…(Galatians 5:16).  John said that he was “in the Spirit” on the Lord’s day (Revelations 1:10).  To be “in the Spirit” is to be in the flow of His vital life and power.  To be “in the Spirit” is to become conscious, for a higher percentage of time, of God’s continuing presence in our lives.  To be “in the Spirit” involves a quality of living, because the Fruit of the Spirit is growing: (Galatians 5:22, 23).  To be “in the Spirit” is to exist in a different realm where blessings are not a surprise.  No wonder Satan wanted to seduce Jesus away from being “in the Spirit.”  All of the temptations he threw at Jesus were aimed at that same goal.  It is the ultimate goal of Satan to ensure we do not remain “in the Spirit.”

 Be blessed as you “walk in the Spirit.”

 Pastor J. Amos Jones

Truth is truth, irrespective of the venue used in its presentation.  Be it illustrative, instructive, comedic or humorous, the truth still sets us free. 

 In light of the pre-season hype, the following presentation seems quite apropos.   Though humorous, I am sure that you will, as I did, glean some constructive truths. 

 Be blessed as you observe (metaphorically) Church Football.

 SUBJECT:  Church Football

Quarterback Sneak – Church members quietly leaving during the invitation.

Draw Play – What many children do with the bulletin during worship.

Half-Time – The period between Sunday School and Worship when many choose to leave.

Benchwarmer – Those who do not sing, pray, work or apparently do anything but sit.

Backfield-in-Motion – Making a trip to the back (restroom or water fountain) during the service.

Staying in the Pocket – What happens to a lot of money that should be given to the Lord’s work.

Two-Minute Warning – The point at which you realize the sermon is almost over and begin to gather up your children and belongings.

Instant Replay – The preacher loses his notes and falls back on last week’s illustrations.

Sudden Death – What happens to the attention span of the congregation if the preacher goes “overtime.”

Trap – You are called on to pray and are asleep.

End Run – Getting out of church quickly without speaking to any guest or fellow members.

Flex Defense – The ability allow absolutely nothing said during the sermon to affect your life.

Halfback Option – The decision of 50% of the congregation not to return for the evening service or Bible Study.

Blitz – The rush for the restaurants following the benediction.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

We do praise the Lord and give Him the honor for an awesome and God glorifying session of Vacation Bible School – 2017.  This session of VBS certainly ranks among the best that this Pastor has attended, both in teaching and presentation.  The Publishing Board presented to us an exciting theme for our edification, Celebrate Jesus.  As born again, blood bought, children of the Most High God, how easy it is for us to celebrate Jesus.  To quote from the Adult Student Manual:  “This VBS series seeks to teach the essentiality of Jesus to the process of salvation.  Without Him not only would there not be a creation (for all things were made by Him, see John 1:3), but humanity would not have the opportunity to receive forgiveness of our sins and to become children God.  Therefore, when we understand that His name means exactly what He does – that God saves – we can celebrate and honor Him appropriately.”

 VBS is a very special time in the life of any church.  The Word of God, the Bible, is presented in age appropriate classes.  “For the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the fullness of Christ.”  (Ephesians 4:12, 13).

A big “God bless you” goes out to Sister Lynne Bryant and all of the teachers for a job well done.  To Deacon Alvin Smith, Brother Thomas Barnett and Sister Liz Norris, thank you for great food.  To Sister Janice Wright and all of the Psalmist for excellent music and to Dr. Suntera Scott, and all who assisted her for their creative work in the crafts. 

 TO  GOD  BE  THE  GLORY!        VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL – 2017

 Pastor J. Amos Jones

MISSION.  What is it?  What is the significance of Mission?  Who is it that is “on the Mission?”  What is the purpose of Mission?  Are all members of the body of Christ commanded to be actively involved in Mission?  The answers to these questions and many others are found in your Bible.  Jesus summed up the whole matter of Mission in this marvelous conclusion:  “For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.”  (Luke 19:10)

 Jesus “came” with a mission to this world, oh glorious fact!  That mission was to search for the lost until He found him; and to save him when he was found.  Jesus, in His great high-priestly prayer found in John seventeen, prays for the sanctification of those that are His.  To do this Mission, they must go on in growth and perseverance to maturity.  The ultimate purpose and concern of Jesus in all His petition for them is that they may go forth prepared, as the missionaries of the Kingdom campaign—the great world movement which He has initiated He is sending them (and us) out on the identical mission that the Father had given Him to accomplish in the world.  In Matthew twenty-eight, Jesus assigns to His disciples of all time the great task of the Kingdom, that of world evangelization.  As a preface to the great commission, the Magna Charta of Christianity, which He now entrusts to His larger body of disciples, He makes an astounding claim:  “All authority in heaven and upon earth was definitely given me.”  As disciples of Christ, we must remember that no earthly power has the right to countermand the order or impede the carrying out of the commission He assigns His Kingdom forces.

 The commission or MISSION to which He sends us is made quite clear:  “Go ye therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”

 Be blessed as you go with “great authority.”