(Reprint from February 11, 2018)

During February as we reflect on Black History, there are parallels in Jewish History as presented in the book of Esther that are captivating to this Pastor. In the intricacy of its plot and the beautiful drama of the book, Esther shows how Divine Providence overrules all things; even in a distant, far country, God’s people are yet in His hands. The book reminds us that the fate of the Jews was not in the hands of their enemies, but of Almighty God. They placed their trust in God who would raise up an “Esther” who would “come to the Kingdom for such a time as this.”

In the far country of slavery, the ugliest testimony of man’s inhumanity to man, the anti-biblical concept of man having dominion over another man, even there was His providence in the midst of His people. It is amazing how through the studying of the scriptures that Africans found themselves an important part of the human race and from those early days of slavery until the early 1900s black children would hear their parents say to them “He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory.” (1 Samuel 2:8a)

For the Jews, there was Esther and for African-Americans, there was Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman. There have been great persons of all races, classes and gender who were martyred for the cause of freedom. Freedom is not free! In the book of Esther, there is the inexorable working of divine judgment. Haman was eventually hanged on his own gallows. Dear Ones, let me share three requisites from the Word of God:

• And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
  (John 8:32)
• If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
  (John 8:36)
• And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall
  reap, if we faint not. (Galatians 6:9)

Be blessed and let us continue.
Pastor J. Amos Jones

(Repost from February 4, 2018)

     BLACK religion in America, conceived against a background of slavery and segregation, gave the black man an opportunity to be free while in chains.  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 8:31b-32)  The Word of God presented a gospel of future hope and a theology of the suffering servant.  Black religion has been unique to people of color and it ties them to each other in times of stress by a racial bond which cuts across all other variables.  A chronology of black religion links it with the coming of Christianity to Egypt, 354-543 A.D., thus to the West Coast of Africa and on to America via the slave ships.  Early Colonial law decreed only non-Christians as slaves.  When slaves were found to be Christians, the law was changed.

At first, benevolent slaveowners permitted slaves to practice religion, baptizing those who had not been baptized.  Slaves generally worshipped in a segregated section of the white church attended by the owner.  This pattern of segregation prompted many blacks to organize their own congregations.

    During the American Revolution, and prior to the great slave rebellions which later put a ban on the formation of black churches, several large Baptist congregations were established.  The first was founded in Silver Bluff, S.C., in 1773.  Between 1776-1786, Baptist churches were organized in Va. at Petersburg, Richmond and Williamsburg.  Under the pastorship of Andrew Bryan, a slave, the first Baptist church was built for black worshippers in 1796.  Negro churches grew out of the expulsion of black worshippers from the white churches.  Without schools or social centers, the black churches became focal points for community activities, and from the churches emerged distinguished leaders.  Richard Allen, Absalom Jones, James Varick, John Chavis, Lemuel Haynes, Martin Luther King, Jr., Jesse Jackson, Andrew Young, and Benjamin L. Hooks, to name a few.

     Many prominent black ministers were educators.  Benjamin Mays was President of Morehouse College from 1940-1967.  Bishop Isaac Lane founded Lane College (TN.), and Daniel Payne was the first Negro President of Wilberforce.  But now Dear Ones, “This is the generation of them that seek Him.”  (Psalm 24:6a)

     We are the ones who are allowed to stand before the Lord and worship the God of Jacob.  To God be the glory for all He has done!

Pastor J. Amos Jones

“Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian” (Acts 26:28). This Agrippa is  Herod Agrippa II, son of Herod Agrippa I and a descendant of Herod the Great. When Paul spoke before Agrippa with such power, Agrippa’s response was “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”  What an opportunity missed. So close yet so far away. Agrippa could have broken a string of despotic leaders, unfortunately his response was “almost.” Dear Ones, almost is to never fully achieve. It is lowered expectations. It is a willingness to settle for less than the best. Like great-grandfather, like grandfather, like father, like son-such is the story of Herod Agrippa II. He inherited the effects of generations of powerful men with flawed personalities. Each son followed his father in weaknesses, mistakes, and missed opportunities. Each generation had a confrontation with God, but each failed to realize the importance of the moment. Hear what the Lord God says to His people: “Now it shall be, if you diligently listen to and obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all of His commandments which I am commanding you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. The Lord will make you the head (leader) and not the tail (followers); and you will be above only, and you will not be beneath, if you will listen and pay attention to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I am commanding you today, to observe them carefully” (Deu. 28:1 & 13 AMP). Know this, child of God, almost is not an option for the believer.

Pastor J Amos Jones

On today we celebrate and honor our Deacons and Trustees as they affirm their Christian servanthood. Join the Pastor as we examine this day.  Affirm: To say positively; declare firmly; assert to be true.  Affirmation: The act of affirming or declaring, a confirming. On this day the Deacons are saying unequivocally that they are servants of the Most High and to the people of His church. The office of Deacon was born out of a need to organize the distribution of food to the poor. The Apostles needed to focus on preaching, so they chose others to administer the food program. The Apostles’ priorities were correct. The ministry of the word should never be neglected because of administrative burdens. Those men chosen did not take this administrative task lightly. Notice the requirements for the men who were to handle the food program. They were to be well respected and full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. Spiritual leadership is serious business and must not be taken lightly by the church or the leaders. Deacons must be honest, spiritually mature, caring, with an Act 6:3 sensibility.  On this day the Deacons are declaring that is who they are, Biblical Deacons.

And for our Trustees, they are administrators like Joseph in Genesis, chapters 41-47. To the Deacons and Trustees, the church honors your commitment to the Lord Jesus and His church.

Be blessed as you serve in spirit and in truth.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

Lord what wilt thou have me to do?”  The question posed by the Apostle Paul to the Lord Jesus is certainly apropos for the believer as we enter into the year 2023.  Are we where the Lord wants us to be?  Am I working the work that the Lord has ordained for me at this season of life or has the assignment been changed or modified?  The Apostle Paul, after a divine encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ, knew he needed an update from the Lord.  He has been transformed by  God from a persecutor of Christians to a preacher for Christ.  As with Paul, the Lord will ensure you are where you ought to be.  In response to Paul’s question “The Lord said unto hi, arise and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thee must do?” (Acts 9:6).

Folks, the Good News is that forgiveness and eternal life are gifts of God’s graced through faith in Christ, and they are available to all people, even “the chief of sinners/”  Please notice, the Lord used a third party to give Paul his answer.  To Anaias God gave the scope of Paul’s assignment:  “…he is a chosen vessel unto me to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings and the children of Israel:  for I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake” (Acts 9:15, 16). 

Know this, dear ones, God has an assignment for all believers.  The question is, are you where you ought to be?  If you are not sure, ask the “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”

Be blessed as you walk in Him.

Pastor J. Amos Jones