Heard from the Pulpit...

By Carol Warfield

I got to thinking about all the wonderful men of God I've sat under during forty plus years of serving God. We need the Word of God, the Holy Ghost, and a true man of God to lead us. I am so thankful for these six faithful ministers who have guided my life and my walk with God. Many of the sayings they've used while preaching have stuck with me. I'd like to share several of them with you...

1. The first thing a saint will do when they become weak is begin to beautify themselves.
2. God is more concerned about our attitude than our troubles and situations, because trials will make you better or bitter.
3. To question why will not change your difficulty.
4. It's not that I can't - but I won't!
5. Because sin is not executed speedily man's heart is set on doing evil. (Ecclesiastes 8:11)
6. Prayer is never the easy way out, never for God to do it for us. Prayer is the hard way, it provides you the power to go through, it enables us to handle the problem.
7. In this life, nothing is forever.
8. Everything that's in the Word of God is for you, it's designed for you.
9. Sons are born, but disciples are made.
10. God doesn't take - He gives!
11. The eyes of faith see the result before it ever happens. The eyes of faith look up, while the eyes of man look down.
12. Faith brings perfect peace to our souls.
13. Creation itself is the proof of God.
14. The church must not be like everybody else. If the world does it, don't do it! (Leviticus 18:1-3)
15. If you keep the faith, the faith will keep you.
16. The thing that is the hardest for you to give up, that's the thing that will pull you back into the world - if you don't guard against it.
17. Flesh will never say no.
18. If you don't kill pride - it will kill you. (Proverbs 16:18)
19. Almost right is wrong.
20. Faith with love said, We can do anything. But compassion says, We must...!
21. Only dead things need paint; the barn, the house, the car, etc.
22. God will not accept anything less than our best; in prayer, in worship, in praise.
23. We cannot love people to heaven - they must obey the Scriptures.
24. Our conscience is a watch-dog for our soul.
25. Research proves all issues of holiness, both inward and outward, are essential for salvation.
26. If the Bible does not directly deal with an issue, we must trace it to it's original uses and purpose to discover whether or not it is of God.
27. Love gives, lust takes. Love is patient, kind, and understanding, lust is rude, crude, and very demanding.
28. If you are not winning them, they are winning you.
29. My friends, my God is fantastic. There are no words that describe Him. That's why I just take off shouting. It helps me to express how wonderful He is, and how crazy I am about my Lord. I'm not ashamed because He made my emotions and I'll use them as long as there is breath in my body and strength to do so - to glorify my God
30. Brains - Use them!
31. They don't know "come here" from "sic 'em!"

If you listen as the man of God speaks, you will gather fragments and crumbs of wisdom that will help you. You'll find they come back to your mind at needed moments, bringing encouragement and reminding you of the good things you have heard throughout your life as a child of God. It pays to serve Jesus!

Thirst!

By Melvin Butler

Text:  John 4

I Corinthians 10:4 says Israel drank from a spiritual rock, "and that rock was Christ."

Moses' faith was continually tested...

• The promise was, "I will deliver you from Egypt." The reality was that they were stuck between the Red Sea and the baddest army in the world! But God parted the Red Sea and delivered them from their enemy.
• The promise was, "I will take you to the Promised Land." The reality was that they were thirsty and there was no water in the desert! But God brought them water from a rock (which was Christ).

The Samaritan woman was trying to fill the hunger in her soul, (fill the void,) but nothing and no one else could meet her need. The void in each of us can only be filled by Jesus. He touched her at the core of her need. Her response? "I gotta tell somebody!"

Psalm 61:1-5 says, "Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I."

• From the ends of the earth - Drink!
• When my heart is overwhelmed - Drink!
• If you're thirsty - Drink!

Jesus said, "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" (John 7:37b-39)

If the water source was on the outside, maybe the world could get to it. But because it's on the inside, the world cannot give it to you, nor can it take it away. Our job is that of a "water bearer!" Our message is - Drink! and you'll never thirst again!

Editor's Note: Bro. Melvin Butler pastors an independent Apostolic church in Detroit. He is a long time friend of Pastor Ken Foreman.

Lord, Evermore Give us This Bread!

By Dwayne E. Christensen

Text:  John 6:28-34

There is nothing like the smell of baking or fresh-baked bread. Bread is a staple throughout the world. In the olden days, they didn't eat "boughten" bread; they only ate "home made" bread. Spiritually speaking the Word of the Lord is likened unto bread.

How important it is to "hear" the Word of the Lord! The closer we get to the coming of the Lord, the more we need to hear the preached Word. The Old Testament prophet spoke of a "famine for the hearing of the Word." Question: Do I love to hear the "pure" Word?

Jesus was the embodiment of the Word. ("The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.") Be careful not to let dramas. skits, etc., to replace preaching. Preaching will never be obsolete! It pleases God "by the foolishness of preaching to save them that are lost."

"Evermore give us this bread!" Jesus said, "I am the Bread of Life!" Don't base your walk on emotional touches. "The ear tries words as the mouth tastes meat." (Job 12:11; 34:3) Know that cooks like to feed hungry people. You and I have to have a hunger for the Word in order to truly feed on it. Preach the Word! Balanced nutrition is tasty, filling, and nourishing. Note that anointing cannot be equated with noise or repetitiousness. When the true bread is brought forth it feed the inner man a true feast.

The resurrection power dwells in those who are full of the Holy Ghost and addicted to the Word - The Bread (the Word) and Water (the Holy Ghost) of Life! If you've got to move anything, don't move the preaching and the preached Word! God says, "My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge."

Teaching, preaching, treaching, screeching... however you get it... enjoy it, appreciate it, value it. Give it your best attention, efforts, acceptance, appreciation, loyalty, and cheerful, willing obedience. "Lord, evermore give us this bread!"

Editor's Note: Bro. & Sis. Christensen pastored the church in Windsor for twenty-seven years. They are currently pastoring the Pentecostals of Mississisauga, Ontario. Their love and appreciation of the Word and for souls is known far and wide.

  

The Success of a Pastor

By Jamison Jones

For me, success will come when I can do as the unnamed servant of Abraham, who went to find a bride for his master.

He was unnamed, so his anonymity would bring glory to his master, and not himself.
He was unselfish, as he gave everything to his master’s pursuit.
He sacrificed himself, his plans, aspirations and ambitions to fulfill his master’s request.
He made a journey of faith to a place he’d never been to reach a bride he’d never met, and brought her back to a place he’d never leave.
He prayed for direction and wisdom, and received it.
He never complained, profaned or shirked his duties.
He cared for and protected the bride on the journey… careful to preserve her for his master.

After all his sacrifice, passion, toil, and obedience, he simply bowed out of the way and let the bride dance with her husband.

To me… that’s the success of a pastor.

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Editor's Note: Jamison (Jay) Jones pastors The Pentecostals of Kentwood, Michigan. He also serves as District Home Missions Secretary and editor of the Michigan District News.

   

Repenting For Others

By A. Brocc Chavis

In Jeremiah 31, the writer speaks of Rachel, who refused to be comforted while her children were lost to the land of the enemy. The Lord mentions the lamentations and bitter weeping of this resolute voice from Ramah. The city of Ramah was where Jacob's wife Rachel was buried. In life, she was a woman barren for many years, who pined for children. She was only blessed with two in her latter years, dying soon after the birth of the second.

In verse 16 and 17, the Lord says there is hope because her work (of weeping for her lost children,) would be rewarded and that they would be restored...

Daniel repented for Jerusalem for 17 verses in Daniel 9. Bear in mind that he was faultless, blameless, and he wasn't even in Jerusalem; he was in Babylon.

Job was said to make sacrifices for his children "continually," for in his words, "it may be that they have sinned against God and cursed Him in their hearts." (Job 1:5)

On the Cross, some of Jesus' last words were, "Father, forgive them..."

The Biblical precedent is there. Although an individual must repent for themselves, God can begin to restore them through the repentant, intercessory prayers of other.

Begin repenting in daily prayer for lost family members, backsliders, and souls you are reaching for... Repent for your community. Like Daniel, ask God to forgive your community.

My prayer for you who read this is: "Lord, give us a spirit of Rachel, that we will refuse to be comforted knowing we have lost family in the land of the enemy."

What could happen if your entire church began to repent for specific souls and our community? God will not turn a deaf ear. He has given us the ministry of reconciliation. He will begin to touch lives and set in motion divine actions that will result in backsliders praying through and lost loved ones being saved. There are hungry souls in our community who have a desire to change. We are laborers together with Christ in His harvest field.

What could happen if you really believe God can? If God honored Rachel, Job, and Daniel; and if He prayed for the forgiveness of others Himself, then what have we to lose?

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Editor's Note: A. Brocc Chavis pastors the United Pentecostal Church in Spring Lake, North Carolina, and serves as District Youth President. First written as a letter to the church in Spring Lake, this article was submitted to Apostolic Writers Online! for publication.

The Shepherd

Note: October is Pastor Appreciation Month!

When Christ the Good Shepherd calls a man,
It’s always a part of His purpose and plan;

He’s called him to gently lead His flock,

To build their faith on the Solid Rock.

He chooses a man after His own heart,

Who will carry the load and do his part;

Who’ll feed the flock with the finest of the wheat,

And lead them to living water, still and sweet.

Finding green pastures and cool, restful shade,

A rod and a staff are his tools of the trade;

Always on guard ‘gainst the flock’s bitter foes,

Deflecting, protecting, wherever he goes.

Sometimes the path is rugged and steep,

Sometimes the valleys are dark and deep;

But the Chief Shepherd’s promise is faithful and true,

"Cast your cares upon Him, for He careth for you."

He’ll not forget your work and labor of love,

Toward His Name and His saints – ‘tis recorded above;

For diligence, full assurance, and hope to the end,

With faith and patience mark the Chief Shepherd’s friend.

In ev’ry word you say and ev’ry deed you do,

Know He cares for His flock and His shepherd too...

And when the task is over and the battle is won,

He’s promised the faithful will hear His "Well Done!"


MJKinnee
October 2011