Month: December 2017

GET TOGETHER-    We Were Born For This Time

 

 

Es 4:10-15 Then Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a command for Mordecai: “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been called, he has but one law: put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, that he may live. Yet I myself have not been called to go in to the king these thirty days. So they told Mordecai Esther’s words.” And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. “For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Have you ever thought what it would have been  like for you if you had been born at another time? Perhaps if you had been born during the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, or if you had been born during the roaring twenties of the slat century.   Or how about perhaps in England during the times of the Wesleyan Revival, or during the Welsh Revival?  Well most likely if you are reading this you weren’t born during those times. However, you have been born at this time in history. Think about it. Should the Lord tarry at midnight this coming Sunday we will move into 2018.

Queen Esther lived a long time ago probably between 462 and 480 B.C. was the time that   the story takes place of her life as a Queen.  Esther was born a Jew by the name of Hadassah. When she enters the royal harem of the King of Persia she takes the name Esther. It is a Syro-Arabian name meaning a star.

There was a plot by a man named Haman to kill all the Jews living in Persia.   Esther takes a big risk to go before the King on behalf of her people to save them. Her  cousin Mordecai who had raised her challenged her to go. He told her that she could have come to the Kingdom for such a time as this. 

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you have been brought into His Kingdom for such a time as this.  As we go into 2018 there are many challenges for those of us who are called to serve in the Kingdom of God. Often, we are called to take risks as we serve the Lord Jesus Christ in His Kingdom. We take risks when we speak truth. Sometimes there are people who may not want the truth, appreciate the truth, or believe that we have the truth in the Gospel. We take risks sometimes when the Lord sends us to people and places that are out of our comfort zones.

Everyone reading this was born for a purpose. I believe that the fulfillment of that purpose is best realized when people surrender their life to Christ, get involved and get equipped in the local church.  When we do God will use us to advance His Kingdom upon the earth.

I know that there are many believers in Christ today who don’t believe that it is necessary to be involved in the local church. I really believe that it is the will of God for all of those who profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior to get equipped to serve Him in the local church.  If it wasn’t for the four wonderful imperfect congregations that I have been involved in you would not be reading this from my hand right now.

My prayer for you is that in 2018 if you are involved in a local congregation that you will get equipped to serve Jesus Christ in a greater way as you realize more and more that you have come to His Kingdom for such a time as this.

As a believer in Jesus Christ if you are not involved in and getting equipped to serve Him in the local church I pray that you will prayerfully seek His will for where that He would have you to get involved and to get equipped to serve Him for such a time as this.

And if you are one of my many good friends that have not surrendered your life to Jesus Christ I pray that you would know that He has destiny and purpose for you for such a time as this in His Kingdom. I pray that in 2018 that you would find a congregation that you could get involved and get equipped in to serve Him for such a time as this.

 

 

Let Us Pray

 

Lord Jesus we thank You that You have chosen for us to live at such a time as this. We know that You have a purpose for this. We desire to be used in your Kingdom at such a time as this.  May we like Esther be willing to risk it all for the purpose that you have called us for in Your Kingdom.

In Jesus Name

Amen

 

May God bless you in a great and mighty way in 2018 as you serve Him in His Kingdom!

Your Friend/Kinfolk

Preston

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GET TOGETHER-     THE FORGIVER HAS COME

 

Isa 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (NKJV) Mt 1:21 “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.

 

 

Yesterday J.J. and I went to see   J.J.’s and now one of my favorite singers Guy Penrod. He was in Fayette on the campus of Bevill State Community College. It was a very powerful time. the Presence of the Lord was there in a very good way.  Before each song the anointing was on him to do some preaching, as well as edifying, and exhorting the people there.

 

One of the messages that kept coming through him yesterday was that if we are forgiven our past is our past. That is good news!  One of the main weapons that the enemy tries to use to inhibit God’s message that Jesus forgives our sins and gives us a new start is condemnation about our past.  This morning a dear sister shared that word with me and I told her about what the Lord was saying through Guy Penrod yesterday and I believe that is a message that God wants us to grab a hold of.  In Marion and Walker County that means to receive it, believe it, and walk in it.

 

One of my favorite songs that he sung yesterday was “They Baptized Jessie Taylor.”  Here are  some of the  lyrics

Among the local taverns they’ll be a slack in business
‘Cause Jesse’s drinkin’ came before the groceries and the rent Among the local women they’ll be a slack in cheatin’
‘Cause Jesse won’t be be steppin’ out again.
They baptized Jesse Taylor in Cedar Creek last Sunday
Jesus gained a soul and Satan lost a good right arm
They all cried “Hallelujah” as Jesse’s head went under
‘Cause this time he went under for the Lord. https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/oakridgeboys/baptismofjessetaylor.html

I tell you why I like that song. It reminds me that Jesus came to save sinners. It also reminds me that not only does He forgive us of our sinful pasts, but He has a bright and glorious future for us here on earth and in Heaven. It tells me that He can change people. It tells me that He can bring transformation in our lives.

 

 

 

 

I enjoyed every song that Guy Penrod sang yesterday, but there were two Christmas songs that he sang yesterday that brought tears to my eyes. One was Silent Night and the other was O Holy Night. I am not sure which one it was but as I shared in the message yesterday I can remember one Christmas Eve Night before I met J.J. I was driving home from partying to where I lived in the little mining camp known as Hull near Sumiton, Al when the disc jockey on the secular radio station that I was listening to either played Silent Night, or O Holy Night on the radio. I was between the Sumiton Post Office and what is now Bozeman’s Supermarket when the song came on.

 

It brought back memories of when I was a child and was in Christmas plays at the Sumiton United Methodist Church. I can look back now and know that it was the Holy Spirit telling me “boy you need to come home.”  That’s how God speaks to this old Walker- Marion County boy. He speaks in the vernacular that we can understand.

 

I  believe that was the last Christmas that I spent without J.J.  I am so thankful that she pointed me to the Savior when she asked me one night nine years after we were married if I died did I know where that I would spend eternity.  I am so thankful that she pointed me to Jesus Christ. My sins were many and they were terrible. But I praise God that the Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, the Savior of the world shed His precious blood so that we could be forgiven of our sinful pasts.

 

Maybe even today you can hear the Savior speaking to you in your vernacular and He is saying son, daughter, there is no sin too bad, nor are there too many sins that I am not willing to forgive you of. Give your life to Him. You will never regret it.  Maybe you have been praying for someone to come back home. Perhaps this Christmas God will reveal himself to them and they will hear His voice saying this is not the way that you are supposed to be living. Don’t give up! Keep praying and keep believing. By the way if you ever get a chance to go see Guy Penrod it is more than a concert!

 

 

 

Let Us Pray

 

Lord Jesus we thank You that You came to earth to save sinners. We thank You that You forgive us from our sinful pasts and free us to live a great and glorious future here on earth and in Heaven. May You receive Glory and honor during this Christmas season which is not a season without You.

In Jesus Name

Amen

 

J.J.  and I want to say Merry Christmas to all of you. We thank you for your prayers, support, and encouragement throughout the year.

Your Friend/Kinfolk

Preston

GET TOGETHER- Make It A Supernatural Christmas

Isa 7:14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Lu 1:34 ,35Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

I believe that if most people admitted it they really do have a desire for the supernatural. If not, I don’t believe that there would be so many books, so many shows on television, and movies that are from the dark side. To be honest their origin is straight from the pits of Hell.

I really do believe that the Lord designed us to desire the supernatural so that we could experience intimate fellowship with Him through the Holy Spirit. And I don’t believe that there is any limit to what God can do in and through the believer in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit.

The Virgin Birth is one of the most fundamental Christian beliefs. We may differ on some things in the Body of Christ that are non-essential, but this one is a big time essential. In other words, if one doesn’t believe in the Virgin Birth one is not a Christian.

This time of the year many Christians are celebrating something wonderful that happened over two thousand years ago. A young girl that had never been intimate with a man became pregnant. There was no sexual act that took place. The Holy Spirit just came upon her and she became pregnant. The Incarnate Christ was conceived in her womb by the Holy Spirit. It was totally supernatural the conception, and birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

One of my favorite passages in the Bible is the passage when the angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will give birth to the Holy One. He tells her in Lu 1:37 “For with God nothing will be impossible.” When I first became a Christian, this was and has always been one of my life passages. I used to say this “that according to Luke 1:37 there is nothing that is impossible to come from Heaven.”

God is still doing the impossible today. He changes gross die-hard sinners into people who love Him and love others. He still heals the sick today. He still sets captives free today. He delivers people from addictions and sinful lifestyles.

Are you curious about the supernatural? There is a reason. God wants you to know that through the Holy Spirit you can experience the supernatural. The same Holy Spirit that came upon Mary and conceived our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead wants to do supernatural things in you, through you, and for you.

This is how Mary responded when she had her supernatural encounter and was given her assignment in the Kingdom. Lu 1:38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. May it be our response as well. Lord let it be to us according to your word. When we do we will walk in the Holy Spirit and never have to dabble in the dark side again. God wants to use us to do great and mighty things.

Let Us Pray

Lord Jesus we thank you for the Virgin Birth. We thank You for sending the Holy Spirit for those of us who believe to walk in and experience your supernatural presence. Help us to walk faithfully and to see those great and mighty things come forth.

In Jesus Name

Amen

Merry Christmas

Your Friend/kinfolk

Preston

GET TOGETHER- BE A CHEERFUL GIVER

2Co 9:5-7 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation. But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

Last night I got a great blessing out of helping our daughter Jessye ring the bell for the Salvation Army. It was a great blessing to see people come up and joyfully put money in the kettle. They were giving cheerfully and out of their heart.
I am thankful that I Pastor a church that believes in tithing. I am thankful that we have several tithers here and several cheerful givers. If we didn’t you wouldn’t be reading this from me right now because that is the way that the Lord has chosen to allow me to be a full time Pastor We have also been blessed by others outside our congregation who give cheerfully to help with mission work and various outreaches to the community. I know too many cheerful givers to list them all here.
In this passage Paul is writing to the church at Corinth. He is encouraging them to be cheerful givers. He tells them to let their giving be a matter of generosity. The Greek term for generosity is eulogia. In this context it means that which is bestowed as a blessing, benefit, or gift. This is something being given freely with joy. Paul doesn’t want them to feel that they must give out of compulsion. He doesn’t want to manipulate them, or to make them feel like they are under condemnation, but he wants them to experience the true joy of giving.
However, he does tell them that there is a reward for those who give freely. There is a blessing for those who sow abundantly. They will reap abundantly. And yes, there is a great truth that he is teaching here when he says that those who sow sparingly will reap sparingly. I encourage you during this special time of giving to be a cheerful giver. I also encourage you to not let it be just a seasonal thing with you. That is one of the great blessings of this season as we celebrate the Gift that came down from Heaven. But just as Jesus giving was not just a seasonal thing, don’t let yours be either.
On the other hand, there are so many opportunities and needs during this special season so ask the Holy Spirit where that He would help you to be a cheerful giver. Most churches are short handed on volunteers. You would be surprised what you can do by giving of your time. There are many ways that you can give into the Kingdom either through finances, service, or both.
Paul tells us that the Lord loves a cheerful giver. He loves a happy giver! Are you a happy giver? If you are you can be blessed in knowing that you are blessing the Lord with your cheerful attitude in giving. If you are not then ask the Holy Spirit to impart to you the joy of being a hilarious, cheerful, happy giver!
I was touched when one young man came back to put something in the kettle last night. He had already walked to his car and he turned around and came back. He said that it hadn’t been too long since he was a person needing help. He wanted to give back. When you give into God’s Kingdom it will make a difference. Sometimes we may never know until we are in heaven, but it will make a difference. Be a cheerful giver in season, and out of season.

Let Us Pray
Lord Jesus You are the ultimate example of being a cheerful giver. You gave your life freely for us to be saved from our sins. You are reaping now in a big-time way and we know that because of what You have sown that You will reap in an even greater way. Lord today help us to be cheerful givers. Help us to be people with compassionate hearts. We love You so much.
In Jesus Name
Amen

Merry Christmas
Your Friend/Kinfolk
Preston