As the people of God, we should never allow the circumstances of life to dictate our lives.  We know that greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world.  At some time prior to the Assyrian campaign of 701 B.C., Hezekiah, King of Judah, was sick until death.  The prophet Isaiah came to him with the message to “Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.”  “Get your will updated, ensure your final arrangements are completed, particularly in respect to throne succession.”

Such were the circumstances confronting King Hezekiah.   Moreover, there is the final declaration, “thou shalt die, and not live.” Look how Hezekiah dealt with this staggering circumstance in his life.  Hezekiah prayed! “I beseech the, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight.” (2 Kings 20:3)  Hezekiah’s prayer is not an appeal for divine favor that is based on good works, but it expresses the realization that the Lord graciously favors those who earnestly serve Him.

Another godly King declared: “The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness:  According to the cleanness of my hands hath He recompensed me.” (2 Samuel 22:21)  While David’s statements may give the impression of self-righteous boasting and a meritorious basis for divine favor, they must be understood in the context as:

• David’s desire to please the Lord in his service as the Lord’s anointed.
• His recognition that the Lord rewards those who faithfully seek to serve Him.

Know this, dear ones, whatever you are experiencing in life, God favors those who earnestly serve Him.  To that end, favor IS fair. 

Enjoy His favor as you seek to serve Him.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

Dear Ones,

 It is good to know that there are blessings in death for those who die in the Lord and blessings for those they leave behind.  The Book of Revelation has seven promised blessings.  They constitute the “Beatitudes” of the Revelation.  The second of these will arrest our attention: Rev. 14:13 (AMP): “Then I heard [the distinct words of] a voice from heaven , saying. “Write, Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!” “Yes [blessed indeed],” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest and have relief from their labors, for their deeds do follow them,” God’s people can produce fruit that survives even death.

 God will remember our love, kindness, and faithfulness, and those who accept Christ through our witness will join us in the new earth. The remaining six scriptures of the Beatitudes of the Revelation are: 1:3; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14, (for your edification.) The words of Jesus found in John 11:25, 26, are certainly a blessing and are of great comfort: “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.  Believest them this? Hear the word of the Lord: “For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.” (Romans 14:8). Amen.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

Blessed are those who morn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4

Our First Lady, Thelma “Odessa” Jones, wife of our Pastor J. Amos Jones was called home to be with the Lord. Arrangements have been made and are as followed:

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Viewing: 10:00 a.m.

Homegoing Celebration: 11:00 a.m.

Both services will be held at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, 16138 West Bellfort St. Sugar Land, Texas 77498.

Please keep the Pastor, his family and the Friendship family in your prayers.

An arrogant, self-absorbed, young man came to an old sage with an intriguing question.  You see, it was the intent of the young man to embarrass the old man who was known for his wisdom.  The young man came to the sage and said, “Old man, the bird I have in my hand, is it alive or is it dead?”  The young man had said to himself, “If the old sage says the bird is alive, I will immediately crush it, and it is a dead bird and if he says the bird is dead, I will open my hand and allow the bird to fly to freedom.”  The old sage answered with the wisdom that only comes from God, “Young man, the life of the bird is in your hand.  You control whether the bird is alive or if it is dead.”

Dear ones, if I may draw from that story, much of our lives are in our hands.  In Genesis 1:26, we are told that: “And God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness:  and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”  Our Heavenly Father has given us dominion, the right to rule and to reign with Him.  Let us understand that “We have been raised up together, and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”

Be blessed as you walk in the awareness of almighty God.

Pastor J. Amos Jones