“When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.  Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing:  then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them.  The Lord hath done great things for us; where of we are glad.”  (Psalm 126:1-3 KJV)

How awesome is God’s capacity for restoration.  We are no longer under the “Stay at Home” mandate and we can now resume our worship services in the sanctuary.  HOW EXCITING!  This Pastor is looking forward to seeing each and every one of you on Sunday, May 10, 2020, as we “return to the sanctuary.”  What a great day this will be.  We are returning from something we have not experienced before and through it all, God has been faithful. And you, dear members, have been faithful as well. 

You have exhibited a great Spiritual maturity and to God be the glory.  You have reflected that the values out-lined in God’s Word constitute the Church, irrespective of our inability to meet at 16138 West Bellfort.  It is true, the Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad.  I know that when we come together on Sunday, May 10^th, our mouths will be filled with laughter and our tongues with singing and praising.  How great is our God!  “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.”  Know this dear ones, God’s great harvest of joy is coming!

Keep the faith and stay encouraged.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

During these turbulent times where there are dramatic economic declines, politicians and economists debating as to whether we are going into or are already in a recession, gloom and doom concerning the economy, what should be the position of the child of God?  For many, there is the “fear of the unknown,” resulting in self-help actions.  An analysis of ones investments, a review of your financial well-being, worry, worry, worry.  Please understand this, dear ones, “worry,” “let me help myself” does NOT describe the lot of the child of God.  For those who are His, we enjoy perpetual “faith rest.”  We know beyond a shadow of doubt that our God is EL-SHADDAI, the All-Encompassing one.  The One who gives us the rich promises of Psalm 91.  In difficult times, and in good times, the person who “dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty.”  We who are in Him live daily trusting in “Kingdom economics,” not the economics of the world.  It is a “secret place” because not everyone truly knows that He is JEHOVAH-JIREH, He is our Provider, He is our Source, He is our Sufficiency.  For those of us who truly dwell within the shadow of the Almighty, we will say with confidence “He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I trust.” When we really, really, know deep down in our inward being that God is our refuge and fortress, we need not worry or fret.  The Lord God is our Economist.

Hear the Psalmist David as he speaks to the Kingdom Economy:  “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.  He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and His seed is blessed.”  (Psalm 37:25, 26) 

As children of the Most High, we are not intimidated by the fluctuations of the stock market, market declines, recession or depression.  Why not?  Because, on Him we lean and rely, and in Him I/(we) confidently trust!  God will take care of those who are His.  The question is, can you trust Him?  Are you willing to allow Him to do what He alone can do?  Your job, your financial portfolio, see them for what they are, a resource.  God, and He alone is your SOURCE.  We must understand that we are stewards and we must be good stewards  (God does not give more to a bad steward), however, our God is JEHOVAH-ROHI, our Guide, our Shepherd and our Protector.

Be bless in your “Faith-Rest.” God is in control

Pastor J. Amos Jones

THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF JESUS

Luke 4:14-20; Matthew 4:23-25

And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.

And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias.  And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down.  And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

(Luke 4:14-20)

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

And his fame went throughout all Syria:  and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.

(Matthew 4:23-25)

Chant:  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen!  Amen!

The MISSION is EVANGELISM!  In the simplicity of the Mission Statement stands the purpose of the church.  How easy it is in the modern church to lose focus on the primary and to spend an inordinate amount of time in the periphery.  With many programs, activities, social functions, ministries prevalent in the modern church, too often there is not a passion for the lost.  We, in the church, expend a tremendous amount of energy doing “things”.  We are a busy people because that’s what we should be.  However, we must focus on the mission.  Please understand dear ones, programs, ministries are important and needful but the mission is most important!  The mission of Christ is stated in Luke 19:10:  For the Son of Man is come to seek and save that which was lost.  What a significant statement the compassionate Savior made about himself.  Jesus uses for Himself the title “Son of Man,” which in His own thought stood for divine Messiah, He was able to be a Savior, because He had the ability to save; and as the son mankind, He could be a sympathetic Savior who Himself was tempted in all points like as we, but without sin.  He “came” with a mission to this world.  That mission was to search for the lost until He found him; and to save him when he is found.  With what is called “THE GREAT COMMISSION,”  Jesus has now assigned to His disciples of all time the great task  of the Kingdom, that of world evangelization.  The great commission, the Magna Charta of Christianity, has been entrusted to us, His larger body of disciples.

The commission or MISSION to which He sends us is very plain:  “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.”

Christ has commissioned us, (you and me), to evangelize the whole world.  We are to make “disciples “or “learners” of all the nations.  Evangelism is not limited to conversion only.   The whole life individually and socially of the people must be changed by the power of the gospel.  We need the programs, the ministries, the activities, but keep the focus

The MISSION is EVANGELISM!

Pastor J. Amos Jones

CHRIST’S CONCERN FOR CHILDREN

Matthew 18:1-6, 10; Mark 9:37; 10:13-16

At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted; and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.  (Matthew 18:1-6, 10)

Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me:  and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them:  and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.

But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for such is the kingdom of God.

Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

(Mark 9:37; 10:13-16)

Chant:  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen!  Amen!