"It's Time To Come Up Higher!"

Happy Sunday!

Bishop Alexis A. Thomas preached, "It's Time To Come Up Higher!" He used Revelation 4:1 as his reference scripture.

My mother used to say, "You raise corn, and you rear children". Bishop echoed that sentiment and reminded us...we were reared with discipline and order. We had structure and guidelines. We were reared with expectations, etiquette, respect for elders, and authority figures. Thank you, was non-negotiable. You did what you were told, and stayed out of grown-folks conversations. We were so blessed to have people in our lives that refused to allow us to be less than the best. Of course, we didn't like it or appreciate it at the time but we see the benefit in our lives today.

The Apostle John was banished to the Isle of Patmos for preaching the Gospel. Marvelous things were revealed to him there. Revelation 4:1 says, "Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” (New Living Translation)John had experienced the ministry and miracles of Jesus first-hand. He was part of twelve disciples and became one of the first Apostles. He had seen many wonderful things, but his guide instructed him to come up higher, and see more!

No matter where you are in life at this moment, God says, "Come Up Higher!" You may have several advanced degrees, a successful business, and a thriving ministry, but there is still more you can accomplish! Erma Bombeck said, "When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me".

Our enemy wants us to be comfortable, mediocre, and average. God reminds us in the Word, "But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted." 1 Peter 2:9 (Message Translation)

The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 3:13, "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (King james Version) We tend to use this scripture to say we are forgetting the bad things, and pressing forward to the good things. But consider this, the Apostle Paul was encouraging the church not to rest on their "laurels" or the accomplishments of the past, but to continue to move forward, come up higher! He even wrote, "We couldn’t carry this off by our own efforts, and we know it—even though we can list what many might think are impressive credentials. You know my pedigree: a legitimate birth, circumcised on the eighth day; an Israelite from the elite tribe of Benjamin; a strict and devout adherent to God’s law; a fiery defender of the purity of my religion, even to the point of persecuting the church; a meticulous observer of everything set down in God’s law Book. The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I’m tearing up and throwing out with the trash—along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn’t want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God’s righteousness." Philippians 3:2-9 (Message Translation)

It's Time To Come Up Higher! Bishop encouraged us to start immediately! If you have been habitually late for work, start by being early tomorrow. Read a book, take a class, volunteer, or just clean out that hall closet. It's Time To Come Up Higher!

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Doors Are Opening!

Happy Sunday!

Bishop Alexis A. Thomas preached, "Doors Are Opening!". He used Revelation 3:8 as his reference scripture.

Life is good, and yet sometimes life can be hard. Each day we must struggle for our own personal faith. The Apostle Paul wrote to his Son in the faith, Timothy and said, "Fight the good fight of the faith!" 1 Timothy 6:12 (Voice Translation)

What is the good fight of faith? I'm glad you asked. Hebrews 11:1 says, "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." (New Living Translation)
So the Good Fight of Faith is fighting to keep believing, no matter what it looks like. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, "For we walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7 (King James Version)

The enemy doesn't really want your money, the enemy doesn't really want your health, and the enemy doesn't really care if you go to church every Sunday! The enemy ultimately wants to get you to stop trusting GOD! He wants to alter your High Opinion (Worship) of God. Think about it. The serpent in the Garden of Eden said to Eve, “Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?” Eve said to the serpent, “Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. It’s only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, "Don’t eat from it; don’t even touch it or you’ll die." The serpent told Eve, “You won’t die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you’ll see what’s really going on. You’ll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil.” Genesis 3:2-5 (Message Translation)

The enemy has always wanted you to take your eyes off God. He has always wanted to be worshipped. Isaiah 14:12-15 says, "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit." (King James Version)

Doors Are Opening! Doors are opening! Doors are opening, for YOU! The enemy will fight your faith. He will whisper in your ear, and ask you to question what God has said. He will torment you at your lowest point, and try to get you to give up. But don't give up! Never give up! Numbers 23:19 says, "God is not a man—He doesn’t lie. God isn’t the son of a man to want to take back what He’s said, Or say something and not follow through, or speak and not act on it." (Voice Translation) God's Word and His Promises are TRUE!

Philippians 4:19 says, "You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus." (Message Translation)

2 Corinthians 9:8 says, "God is ready to overwhelm you with more blessings than you could ever imagine so that you’ll always be taken care of in every way and you’ll have more than enough to share." (Voice Translation)

Philippians 1:6 says, "There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears." (Message Translation)

Isaiah 54:17 says,"No weapon that has been made to be used against you will succeed. You will have an answer for anyone who accuses you." (God's Word Translation)

Even Jesus had to fight the good fight of faith, but he knew the secret! In Matthew 4, the enemy tried to tempt Jesus. "But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say..." (New Living Translation) Jesus knew that this fight can be won by using the Word of God to defeat the enemy! Study the Word, Memorize the Word, and use the Word against the enemy.

Love and prayers, Cynthia

When Greatness Meets Favor

Happy Sunday!

Bishop Neil C. Ellis, Pastor of the Mount Tabor Full Gospel Baptist Church in Nassau, Bahamas was our guest speaker today! He preached, "When Greatness Meets Favor". He used Joshua 17:17, Psalm 102:13, Revelation 3:8, and Ecclesiastes 7:8 as his reference scriptures.

God wants to do a major thing in your life! He never intended for this(this place, this level, this situation) to be all(all that you have, all that you are capable of, or all that you experience) . In Jeremiah 29:11 he said, "I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for." (Message Translation)

Moses was dead. The Children of Israel were now in the Promised land. It was time to divide the land. The descendants of Joseph complained to Joshua that their allotment was too small. Joshua agreed and told the people, “You are a great people and have great power; you shall not have only one lot," Joshua 17:17 (New King James Version)

2 Timothy 3:16 says, "Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us." (Message Translation) So see yourself in that previous scripture! You are a Great Person! You have Great Power! God has more than one blessing for you!

Proverbs 18:21 says, "Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose." (Message Translation) Did you get that? Another translation says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." (King James Translation) You get to choose! When my children were young, every year I got bronchitis.  If you have ever had it, you know it’s no fun!  I used to say, "I get bronchitis every year". And every year I got bronchitis. Until I learned that my words have power.  God created us in his image. He spoke and the whole universe was created. Scientists even say the universe is still expanding. God's Words caused that! He designed us to have authority and dominion. He wants us to speak words of Life!

Psalm 102:13 says, "You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for the time to favor her, Yes, the set time, has come." (New King James Translation) Years ago the Winans sang a song called "It's Time" The lyrics said, "It's time to make a change and we are the people who can do it!"  It's time!  Ecclesiastes 7:8 says, "The end of a thing is better than its beginning;" (New King James Version) No matter what you have experienced, it's time for things to get better!  It's time for Favor in your life.  Bishop Ellis defined favor as, "A bowing, a bending, or a leaning in the direction of the undeserving."  Revelation 3:8 says, “I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door, which no one can shut." (Voice Translation)

You are a Great Person, You have Great Power, you will have more than one Blessing, it's time for Favor in your life and God has opened the door!  What will you do?

Love and prayers, Cynthia

It's Time to Get Up!

Happy Sunday!

Reverend Elton Ford preached, "It's Time to Get Up!" He used St. John 5:1-9.

"Some time later came one of the Jewish feast-days and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. There is in Jerusalem near the sheep-gate a pool surrounded by five arches, which has the Hebrew name of Bethzatha (the Pool of Bethesda). Under these arches a great many sick people were in the habit of lying; some of them were blind, some lame, and some had withered limbs. (They used to wait there for the “moving of the water”, for at certain times an angel used to come down into the pool and disturb the water, and then the first person who stepped into the water after the disturbance would be healed of whatever he was suffering from.) One particular man had been there ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there on his back—knowing that he had been like that for a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to get well again?”

“Sir,” replied the sick man, “I just haven’t got anybody to put me into the pool when the water is all stirred up. While I’m trying to get there somebody else gets down into it first.”

“Get up,” said Jesus, “pick up your bed and walk!” At once the man recovered, picked up his bed and walked. (Phillips Translation)

This Bible story is one of my favorites! Each time I hear it read, or preached, I get more out of it.

Time Management is big business. We have watches, alarm clocks, cell phones, day timers, and much more to help us stay on track and be on time. But even with all these things we are still late! Oh, maybe we aren't late for work, or late for that important business meeting, but we are sometimes late spiritually. Jesus asked the lame man if he wanted to be well again. What a strange question. But think about it, Jesus never asked a question because he didn't know the answer. Jesus asked the question for the man's benefit. What did the man say? He made excuses just like we do. He said, "I just haven’t got anybody to put me into the pool..."

The man wanted a helper not a healer. We do it too. We want God to help us out of our situation, but we don't realize he wants to heal us so we never have to deal with that situation again.

The scripture doesn't say what caused the man's illness. Whatever the reason, someone else brought him to the pool and laid him there. They brought him to the brink of healing and left him to fend for himself. Maybe you can understand. No one could, or would help him. The Psalmist wrote, "I look up toward the mountains. Where can I find help? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth." Psalm 121:1-2 (God's Word Translation)

Maybe you have been abandoned, abused, and afflicted and you’re laying by the pool of life waiting for a miracle. Your Miracle has already come! Jesus has arrived and he wants to know if you really want to be well? Do you really want to be whole? Do you really want to be delivered? Or will you continue to hold on to the past with its unforgiveness, regret, sadness, and poverty just because you don't have a human being to put you in the pool. It's Time to Get Up! You were designed by God to be the head and not the tail. Don't believe the enemy! You are a child of the King! He sent his son to die for you so that you could live the Good Life. You read it, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:8 (New Living Translation)

Let's get up this week! No excuses! One step at a time, one task at a time, and one day at a time.

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Guilt

Happy Sunday!

Bishop Alexis A. Thomas continued his series, "7 Deadly Emotions" today with emotion number six "Guilt".He used Luke 15:20-21 and Galatians 6:1. Bishop entitled the message, "I'm Guilty, but I'm Not Guilty!"

We are fascinated with television shows about Law and Order. We are drawn to courtroom dramas, whether real or fiction. We want to believe that we can judge whether the defendant is innocent or guilty. So many times, I have been caught screaming at the television as if the characters can hear me. "He's guilty! I just know it!" This is nothing new! Jesus even had to warn his disciples, "Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor." Matthew 7:1-5 (Message Translation)

Luke 15 tells of about three lost things; a sheep, a coin, and a son. Read it for yourself. The sheep got lost because of his nature. He wandered too far away and couldn't find his way back. Jesus asked the people if they would leave the 99 sheep and look for the lost one. Of course they would and Jesus said, "Count on it—there’s more joy in heaven over one sinner’s rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue." Luke 15:7 (Message Translation)

The coin was lost because of the negligence of another person. If you have ever been hurt or disappointed by church folk, or folk in general, you will understand how this coin felt. It wasn't even his fault, but he was lost...lost in the house! But even though the coin was lost in the house, it was still very valuable to the woman. You've probably seen the demonstration with the hundred dollar bill. The team leader or preacher shows you a crisp clean hundred dollar bill. He asks if anyone wants it. Of course, everyone does! He crumbles the bill up, and then he asks again. Yes, we still want it! He steps on it and attempts to smash it into the floor. Yes, we still want that hundred dollar bill! WHY? I'm so glad you asked. The value of the bill was not diminished by what it had been through! It was still worth one hundred dollars! GUILT is used by the enemy to trick you into believing that because you have made a mistake you aren't valuable. DON'T listen to the enemy! You are so precious! So valuable that God gave Jesus as a sacrifice for all the horrible things you may have done and any dirty thing you could ever do in the future! Romans 5:8 says, "God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." (New Living Translation) Did you get that? God didn't wait for us to get ourselves together to send Jesus. He sent Jesus while we were still in the wrong!

The third thing lost in the 15th Chapter of Luke, was a son. The son left by choice! The son was convinced that he knew more than his father. He wanted to see the world and live it up! He found out that it's hard out there for a sinner! As my mother-in-law, Minnie Pruitt used to say, "All that glitters ain't gold!" Life is hard for everyone, but Christians get help and support from our Father God. What? You don't believe me! Read this, "The righteous person has many troubles, but the Lord rescues him from all of them." Psalm 34:19 (God's Word Translation)

Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (King James Version) We have all sinned! Of course we have our own rating system for sin. Murder, Adultery, and Stealing rate high on our imaginary sin scale...but what about the over 600 other commandments in the bible? Proverbs 6:16-19 amazed me years ago when I first read it...Listen..."Here are six things God hates, and one more that he loathes with a passion: eyes that are arrogant, a tongue that lies, hands that murder the innocent, a heart that hatches evil plots, feet that race down a wicked track, a mouth that lies under oath, a troublemaker in the family." (Message Translation)

Perhaps, you didn't see yourself in that scripture, but keep reading and like The Apostle James said, "But you must never stop looking at the perfect law that sets you free. God will bless you in everything you do, if you listen and obey, and don’t just hear and forget." (Contemporary English Version)

I'm guilty but, I'm not guilty! Jesus paid the price so I could walk free. He doesn't remind me about what I did or condemn me..."No condemnation now hangs over the head of those who are “in” Jesus Christ. For the new spiritual principle of life “in” Christ lifts me out of the old vicious circle of sin and death." Romans 8:1(Phillips Translation)

Don't let the enemy torture you with GUILT!

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Low Self Esteem

Happy Sunday!
Bishop Alexis A. Thomas continued his series, "7 Deadly Emotions" today. Emotion number five is "Low Self Esteem". Bishop used Numbers 13:31-33 as his reference scripture. Bishop entitled the message, "This Is the Smallest I Will Ever Be!"

"But the men who had gone with him said, “We can’t attack those people! They’re too strong for us!” So they began to spread lies among the Israelites about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored is one that devours those who live there. All the people we saw there are very tall. We saw Nephilim there. (The descendants of Anak are Nephilim.) We felt as small as grasshoppers, and that’s how we must have looked to them.”- Numbers 13:31-33. (God's Word Translation)

Our enemy wants to keep us small! He is in the "Ministry of Reduction". He strategically assigns imps to our lives and their sole purpose is to keep us from realizing who we really are. The enemy wants to you to believe the negative reports instead of the truth of God.

Think about it. God's Word says, "anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" How many times has the enemy tried to make you think you are are the same old sinner you used to be? Sure, we make mistakes but what does the Word say? "But if we confess our sins, God will forgive us. We can trust God to do this. He always does what is right. He will make us clean from all the wrong things we have done." 1 John 1:9 (Easy-To-Read Version)

What about this? God gave you a vision of what you can do or what you can become. The enemy uses family, friends, co-workers, and even your enemies to tell you, "You Can't Do That!" But what does the Word say?"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13 (King James Version)

In the reference scripture, ten of the Israelite spies came back with a negative report. They lied and convinced the people that they could not go in an possess the Promised Land. Did you hear that? It was the "PROMISED LAND!" God promised the land to them! Just because they couldn't figure it out intellectually, they missed out on the blessing. You know the story. That bunch wandered around in the wilderness for another 40 years, just long enough for the nay-sayers to die off!

No matter what you see with your eyes, always remember the "Promises of God". What did you say? You don't have any promises? Well, get in your Bible and find some! Check these out.

Psalm 23:1 - "The Lordis my shepherd; I have all that I need." (New Living Translation)

Isaiah 54:17 - "But no weapon that can hurt you has ever been forged. Any accuser who takes you to court will be dismissed as a liar. This is what God’s servants can expect. I’ll see to it that everything works out for the best.” (Message Translation)

Ephesians 3:20 - "Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." (New Living Translation)

Psalm 84:11 - "For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly." (English Standard Version)

2 Corinthians 9:8 - "And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others." (New Living Translation)

YOU are awesome! YOU are intelligent and capable!YOU are Blessed! YOU have wonderful gifts and talents to offer to humanity! YOU are unique. YOU are valuable! YOU are Loved! YOUR future is brighter than your past! YOU can do it! YOU can make it! YOU have what it takes! YOU can succeed!YOU are Beautiful!

"Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies." Philippians 4:8-9 (Message Translation)

Love and prayers, Cynthia

FEAR

Happy Sunday!

I missed you last week! I was traveling and celebrating with my immediate family. I hope you had a safe and enjoyable holiday.

I will have to listen to Bishop Alexis A. Thomas' sermon from last week and fill you in on the third "Deadly Emotion", Depression. However, today Bishop preached on the fourth "Deadly Emotion", FEAR. He used St. Luke 1:30 as his reference scripture and his topic was, "Don't Be Scared!"

Our enemy has so many tricks. He wants to gain access to the helm of our lives and use our emotions to twist us and turn us. The Apostle Paul wrote, "We’re not oblivious to his sly ways!" 2 Corinthians 2:11 (Message Translation) The enemy uses fear to immobilize us, to stagnate us, and to put us in a fear induced coma. Fear is the opposite of Faith. One minister said, "Fear is False Evidence Appearing Real".

Fear is not natural! 2 Timothy 1:7 says, "You see, God did not give us a cowardly spirit but a powerful, loving, and disciplined spirit." (Voice Translation)

There are three things the enemy wants you to think. These three things bring Fear into our lives.

1) The enemy wants you to think that GOD's Word is not true. The enemy wants you to FEAR that God will not come through for you. The enemy knows that your prosperity is vitally connected to your FAITH. Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (King James Version) 2 Chronicles 20:20 says, "Trust in the Eternal One, your True God, not in your own abilities, and you will be supported. Put your trust in His words that you heard through the prophets, and we will succeed." (Voice Translation) Did you get that? The enemy wants you to doubt the Word and doubt the messengers. Why do you think negative reports about preachers get so much publicity? The enemy wants you to be suspicious of all the ministers of the Gospel, because he knows if you don't believe the Word they preach you won't prosper. Read it for yourself and read it in another translation or two. Don't get me wrong. There are bad people in every profession. The Apostle John wrote, "My dear friends, don’t believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you. Not everyone who talks about God comes from God. There are a lot of lying preachers loose in the world. 1 John 4:1(Message Translation) That's why it is so important to attend a Bible Believing, Bible Teaching, and Spirit-filled Church. Your very life depends on it!

2) The enemy wants you to FEAR that you will face a situation in the future that you will be inadequate to handle. ATTENTION ALL READERS! You will face situations in this life that you are not adequate to handle! Life is hard, but GOD is GOOD! God did not intend for you to handle everything yourself. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." (New Living Translation) The writer of Psalm 34:19 wrote, "The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time." (New Living Translation)
3) The enemy wants you to FEAR Death. Hebrews 2:14-15 says, "Since the children are made of flesh and blood, it’s logical that the Savior took on flesh and blood in order to rescue them by his death. By embracing death, taking it into himself, he destroyed the Devil’s hold on death and freed all who cower through life, scared to death of death." (Message Translation) Death was not God's perfect plan for man, but because of Adam's sin in the Garden of Eden, death entered the picture. God sent Jesus to our rescue! He lived a perfect human life and paid the ultimate price for our wrongdoing. When you accept his sacrifice, and believe that what he did is enough you no longer have to fear death. Sure, we all have to face death, but we don't have to Fear it. John 3:16 says, "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him. (Message Translation)
Let's cast down FEAR this week!
Love and prayers, Cynthia