“For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” (Malachi 3:6) We thank God that who He is, is who He has always been, and who He has always been, is who He will always be. He is the great I AM.  He is not subject to the whims or capricious ideas of a fickle society.  His immutability allows us to know Him in a real and personal way. We know that He loves us with an unconditional love, therefore we can trust Him in every facet of our lives. We know that He is Jehovah- Jirah, “the Lord provides” and will always be so.  Provides: “pro” means before: “vide” means to see.  He is the God who provides, i.e., the God who has seen all our needs and has already met them.. Just as God provided for Abraham in Genesis twenty-two, so He will do for you in 2023.  He does not change. In Exodus 15:26, the Lord said to His people: “If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.”

Just as He was Jehovah-Rophe at the bitter waters of Marah and Elim, He is still “the Lord who heals you.”  He can be to whatever your circumstance is today, what He was to bitter waters.  God promised that if the people obeyed Him they would be free from the diseases that plagued the Egyptians.  Rophe means to heal, restore, and cure.  God does not change!  What He was, He is.  What He is, He will always be. You can, dear ones, trust Him in everything. He is a keeper.  Praise God for His immutability.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

On today we are continuing in our our celebration of, and for, women. Women have always contributed significantly to the work of the Kingdom, but have not always received the proper recognition. In fact, in the Baptist church we have bordered on female discrimination. This, of course, is not the position of our Lord. Jesus raised women from degradation and servitude to full fellowship and service. In Luke 8, we find women accompanying Jesus and the disciples as they travel throughout preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the Kingdom of God. In Jewish culture women were not supposed to learn from rabbis. By allowing these women to travel with Him, Jesus was showing that all people are equal under God. These women not only traveled with Jesus, they supported His ministry with their own money. (Luke 8:2, 3) Jesus elevated the status of women in the Kingdom, a direct contrast to the customs and mores of the Jewish culture. Jesus recognized the enormous worth of women to the Kingdom and this pastor certainly shares in that recognition.  As pastor I am grateful and appreciative to the Father for the wonderful, loving women of Friendship and for women in general.

In Acts 16:11-15, Luke highlights the story of Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira. Lydia was a marvelous person who loved the Lord with all her heart.  To this pastor, Lydia is a personification of the many women of Friendship who love the Lord with all their heart. Women, co-laborers in the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ.

To God be the glory!

Pastor J. Amos Jones

Revelation Knowledge. Much is said about it, but do we really understand the enormity of the phrase? We certainly are aware of academic knowledge. There are a number of educators and former educators in this congregation whose lives have been directed to the imparting of knowledge to their generation. This pastor knows it is the will of our Heavenly Father that our young people excel, develop their personalities, and that they be the best that they can be. Thus, the need for “revelation knowledge.”

God making Himself and relevant truths known to men. While it is customary to divide the subject matter into “general” and “special,” the purpose here is to point out the need for a knowledge beyond that which can be perceived in the sensory realm. Consider Paul, the great apostle to the Gentiles.  Born of purest Jewish blood (Phil. 3:5), the son of a Pharisee (Acts 23:6), Saul was cradled in orthodox Judaism. At the age of thirteen, he was sent to  Jerusalem and completed his studies under the famous Gamaliel. (Acts 22:3)  Being superior, zealous student (Gal 1:14), he absorbed not only the teaching of the OT, but also the rabbinical learning of the scholars. With all his brilliance, all of his academic knowledge Paul still  needed “revelation knowledge.”‘ When the Apostle met the Lord Jesus on  the road to Damascus, he received “revelation knowledge.” With that knowledge he surrendered instantaneously and completely to Jesus. Now Paul says to us: “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.” (Ephesians 1:17).

Be blessed as you walk In Him and are enlightened with revelation knowledge.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

Question? Are there times when we should not obey the governmnet?  We should never allow government to force us to disobey God.  We are instructed to “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.  For there is no power but of God:  the powers that be are ordained of God.  Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, reisisteth the ordinace of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power?  do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same”.  (Romans 13:1-3).  Jesus and His apostles never disobeyed the government for personal reasons; when they disobeyed, it was in order to follow their higher loyalty to God.  We who are believers, possess dual citizenship.  We are citizens of the United States of America, and importantly, we are citizens of the Kingdom of God. It is the  resonsibility of every believer to do his best to make the state better.  We must learn that politics is not a dirty word.  As believers, we must elect Christians, or other high-principled leaders to public office.  That’s right dear ones, we must vote in every election.  Research the candidate and vote wisely.  Moreover, my brothers and sisters, you are salt and you are light.  If Christians make no effort to affect the world around them, they are of little value to God.  When authorities are unjust, good people are afraid. Verse three refers to authorities who are doing their duty.  When these officials are just, people who are doing right have nothing to fear.  As the “Fuctioning Church”, we must “occupy until He comes.”

Pastor J. Amos Jones

A pastor’s reflections in the aftermath of a church anniversary. A anniversary is a marvelous occasion. It is a time of celebration, a time of thanksgiving, a time of reflection, a time of remembrance and a time of appreciation. With eighty-three years as a backdrop we can say “What an awesome God we serve!” The Psalmist has said well: “Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the Lord, O my soul. Praise ye the Lord.” (Psalm 104:35) For all of our years God has been faithful. We are not so arrogant that we believe we have done all this independent of God. We have always, and will always, depend on Him. And so the anniversary reminds us to be grateful in all things and to thank Him for His perpetual presence. He has been with us all the way. This journey has clearly shown this pastor that it is not by might, nor by power, but by His spirit.

During the anniversary, we fondly remember wonderful people whose lives have impacted us in so many ways. This pastor finds great joy in our relationships with the members of Friendship, both members now and those who have gone to be with the Lord. What wonderful people! “I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (Psalm 34:1) The anniversary reminds this pastor to thank you, dear members of Friendship, for your friendship, your fellowship, and your followship.

Let us continue.

Pastor J. Amos Jones