APRIL MONTH 2012

  ARE YOU IN THE MASTER'S PRAYERS?

 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.  (John 17:8-9) 

Every believer should have an effective and fervent prayer life. We should pray daily and find time to talk to our heavenly father on a regular basis. We should not do all the talking but also find time to listen to what God is saying to us. However because of our inadequacies and our iniquities, there are times when we are disconnected from the Father. Sin cuts off all communication between the creation and the creator. Thanks be to God that we have an advocate who intercedes on our behalf. Isn’t it a blessing to know that the greatest prayer warrior of all is praying for us? “Are you in the Master’s Prayers?”

Jesus is teaching his disciples about prayer and life as a believer since encouraging them in John 14:1 where he said, “let not your heart be troubled”. His message to them culminated in chapter 17, verses 8-9 as he is praying for his disciples and all believers. Jesus prays to the father that he has taught God’s words and they had received them and believed that God’s words were true about Jesus the Son. Jesus stated that because they believed in the word of God and believed in His Son, he was committed to praying for them.  While His death was so that the whole world might be saved, His prayers are reserved for those that hear, receive and believe His words.

Man and woman of God, you must study, hear and receive His word. We all stand in the need of prayer, especially the prayers of the redeemer. I rejoice in knowing that Jesus have, will and is praying for me!  “Are You in the Master’s Prayers?”

DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION

But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. .  (John 20:24-25) 

The Christian faith looks forward to Resurrection Sunday! A highly anticipated Spiritual celebration of the most talked about, written about moment of our faith. We honor His birth during Christmas but without his death burial and subsequent resurrection, his birth would have no meaning. Yet, I can’t help but wonder, how many Doubting Thomases’ show up at church, Sunday after Sunday? How many so call, people of faith really believe that God’s Son died but rose again.  “Do You Believe in the Resurrection?”

While there are many folk who think this question is absurd, the bible records that the Jewish leaders and the Romans paid the soldiers to tell everyone that the disciples stole Jesus body.  There are those today, who believe that there is a God, but question the events surrounding the resurrection. Although Jesus had been very clear that He would be crucified, buried and rise again, one of His own disciples did not believe. Thomas wanted physical and visual proof for himself or he would not believe. He needed to touch the holes in Jesus hands and side. What about you, why do you believe the resurrection? This is a question of faith, a belief in what we do not see or cannot feel, is true faith..

Perhaps all of us should examine our faith, and ask ourselves if we truly believe in the Resurrection. All of the power that God has to save us and keep us is in the truth about the Resurrection. “Do You Believe in the Resurrection?”       

PASTOR SP COURTNEY                     

 ARE YOU IN POSITION

Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! (Psalm 31:19) 

There is little doubt in the minds of the believers that our God is a good God. Most believers will tell you that His goodness and His mercy is a blessing beyond anything they can ask or think. However, many do not benefit from the goodness of God because they are not in position to receive.  “Are You In Position?”

David the Psalmist in Psalm 31 in the earlier verses had confessed His sin, but in verse 19 he celebrates the goodness of His God. We tell  of things that we call good, whether it’s a good car, a good hair cut or a good outfit, but how often do we really acknowledge how good God is? Perhaps it is not because we doubt or ignore His goodness, rather its because we are not in position to benefit from His divine goodness. The Psalmist suggest that God has set His goodness aside and made it available to those that reverence, (fear) him. Additionally, that same goodness is available to those who put their trust in God. Their trust is not hidden but publicly on display for all mankind to see. 

How is your relationship with the Lord? Are you in position to receive the good things that God has in store for you? It is God’s goodness that provides love, hope, peace, grace and mercy. Do you fear God and do those who know you, know that you belong to God? His goodness and his mercy endures forever, but are you in position to experience that goodness. Financial goodness, faithful goodness, and Spiritual goodness, all things that work together for your good are derived out of His goodness.   “Are You In Position?”

PASTOR SP COURTNEY

WILL YOU LIFT YOUR VOICE FOR JESUS

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, (ACTS 2:14) 

There are a lot of reasons to open your mouth in our society today. There are those who open their mouth to defend animals as animal rights activist. Whether as individuals or as a part of a group, there are those who defend children rights and the rights of the homeless. There are those who speak up loudly for persons with disabilities whether physical or mental. There are even those who speak up and speak out on issues such as abortion, civil rights and gay rights. While all of these advocates are very visible, the question today is where is the church? Will God’s people do their part when it comes to lifting their voices for Jesus?  “Will You Lift Your Voice for Jesus? ”

We get excited about our sporting events as well but in this text Peter is excited about who he is and whose he is. After the Holy Ghost came down Peter began to speak despite the fact that just a few days earlier he had totally denied knowing Jesus. Just a few days earlier he had been told by Jesus to get thee behind me Satan. Peter had been out of sync spiritually he had been a disappointment but this was his opportunity and he did not waste it. Where are you in your spiritual walk? Are you in right relationship with God and good standing with His church? It really doesn’t matter where you are, its what you do at the moment that God gives you an opportunity to speak for him will you? Will you ignore what others say that you cannot do and speak up and let the world knows what God has done in your life.   

Can God count on you speaking up about how he saved you, changed you and lifted you out of your dreary past. Can God count on you to study His word and be prepared to give an account of the hope that is within you?  “Will You Lift Your Voice for Jesus?”

Pastor SP Courtney                             

 WHERE DO YOU SIT

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.  (Ephesians 2:6) 

The word sit has two different connotations, in one place to sit down suggest a place of rest, which implies that the believers have a resting place in God. In another place to sit suggest a place of power and purpose, for kings sit on their throne. Which suggest that the King of Kings have provided a seat in the kingdom of heaven for all those who are believers and who obey His Holy word! When you consider your relationship with the redeemer and your kingdom position “Where do you sit?”

The Apostle Paul’s in chapter 2 of the book of Ephesians advises the church at Ephesus that their relationship with their redeemer had caused them to be new creatures in Christ. They were now alive who were dead in sin but now God who was rich in mercy and love because he loved us had sit us together with him in heavenly places. Though we live on earth in the now, we are eternally connected in eternity to our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Yes we are in the midst of trials, and tribulations, we are in the midst of sin, suffering and setbacks they do not define us because we sit in heavenly places.  

God has given us authority to speak eternal blessings in our finite lives. I thank God that a sinner  like me, can claim victory in Jesus. I can testify that heaven is my home, because I already sit in heavenly places. “Where do you Sit?”

Pastor SP Courtney