Greetings Saints,
Today is March 31. As of midnight I will no longer be the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church, Main St. in Charlottesville, VA. After sixteen years God has now called Co-Pastor Gardenia and me to a new ministry field in Atlanta. It also marks the beginning of a transition season for First Baptist as they begin seeking the Lord for who their next leader shall be. I hope you will join me in praying for God's peace, power, protection, provision and prosperity over First Baptist. We pray that they will hear from God in choosing the next Pastor, and that they will show honor to God by the way they love and treat their Pastor even as the Pastor shows honor to God by the way he/she loves and leads the church. This past Sunday I preached my final sermon there as Pastor. It was a good service and it was so good to see everyone, especially those we had not seen in a very long time who returned for this service. Now I simply bid so-long.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support of Transformation Ministries International of Atlanta. I will keep you updated on the events and growth of this new ministry plant here in the Atlanta Metro area. I also ask your prayers for an upcoming missions trip to Liberia this summer. I will be going as a part of a team sponsored by The Joseph Alliance with founder Dr. LaVerne Hanes Stevens. I will share more specifics as we get closer to that June trip. Also, look for the launching of two new ministries this summer as a part of Dr. B. A. Beard Ministries. Lastly, I've begun work on my next CD project. I'm excited about this new music. I thank God for the inspiration for this new music. It will be awhile before it will be ready but it's coming along.
Some other exciting things are coming but I'll reserve that for future blogs. Be forever blessed and I share more next time. God Bless You All!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
TRANSFORMING YOUR WORLD
Greetings Saints,
Co-Pastor Dena and I are in Pittsburgh, PA on business this week. The trip also provides us with the blessing of seeing and spending time with family. This weekend we will be in Charlottesville, VA for my final sermon formally as Pastor of First Baptist Main Street. Pray for our safe travel and the delivering of God's Word on Sunday. If you will be in the Charlottesville area, stop in and worship with us at 9:30am Sunday, March 29th.
One portion of the message this past Sunday at TMI-ATL was taken from 1 Corinthians 13 which is commonly referred to as the "love" chapter. However, beginning at verse 8 and forward Paul states, "when I was a child I talked like a child, I thought like a child.....but when I became a man I put away childish things." Among other things, this text should remind the believer to grow-up from natural and spiritual immaturity. One only needs to spend but a few minutes in many of our churches and we are quickly confronted with immaturity. A small child thinks mainly of what he/she wants. The child might cry, throw a tantrum, complain or fight others to get what they want. Some grade school children will put down and mock others they don't like or agree with; they may brag that they have more candy, money or friends than someone else. But do we not hear adults, yes even believers throw adult tantrums, complain and fight others for what they want? Do we not hear adults mock, gossip on and put down others they don't like or agree with? Do we not hear adults, yes even believers, brag about their careers, money, position, education, homes, cars or who has the most members in their church? God has called us to maturity. The writer of Hebrews laments over the fact that he wants to feed the people the solid (mature) food of the Gospel but the people were still on, and still desiring milk. The church seems to be losing ground in many places because their focus is on the wrong things. God requires us to grow and mature even as Jesus grew from a child born in a stable to one worthy to be called King of Kings. Those who are worldly cannot be expected to grow past the incubator of the world's systems and principles. However, the child of God is expected to grow in the ways of the Lord, to be like Christ in character, integrity, love and personhood. We are to live by His Kingdom principles; principles which are far superior to the world's. "When I became a man (mature in Christ) I put away childish things." To grow up is to think unselfishly. To place the concern of others before your own. To love unconditionally and to give sacrificially. The Bible says God is Love. Love is a mature way. Paul says ".....now there are these three, faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love." Be real with God and yourself. Are you immature? Let God help you grow up into the "New" creature you are destined to be, and not just a reformed, but same old you. God and the world are waiting for you!
Peace.
Co-Pastor Dena and I are in Pittsburgh, PA on business this week. The trip also provides us with the blessing of seeing and spending time with family. This weekend we will be in Charlottesville, VA for my final sermon formally as Pastor of First Baptist Main Street. Pray for our safe travel and the delivering of God's Word on Sunday. If you will be in the Charlottesville area, stop in and worship with us at 9:30am Sunday, March 29th.
One portion of the message this past Sunday at TMI-ATL was taken from 1 Corinthians 13 which is commonly referred to as the "love" chapter. However, beginning at verse 8 and forward Paul states, "when I was a child I talked like a child, I thought like a child.....but when I became a man I put away childish things." Among other things, this text should remind the believer to grow-up from natural and spiritual immaturity. One only needs to spend but a few minutes in many of our churches and we are quickly confronted with immaturity. A small child thinks mainly of what he/she wants. The child might cry, throw a tantrum, complain or fight others to get what they want. Some grade school children will put down and mock others they don't like or agree with; they may brag that they have more candy, money or friends than someone else. But do we not hear adults, yes even believers throw adult tantrums, complain and fight others for what they want? Do we not hear adults mock, gossip on and put down others they don't like or agree with? Do we not hear adults, yes even believers, brag about their careers, money, position, education, homes, cars or who has the most members in their church? God has called us to maturity. The writer of Hebrews laments over the fact that he wants to feed the people the solid (mature) food of the Gospel but the people were still on, and still desiring milk. The church seems to be losing ground in many places because their focus is on the wrong things. God requires us to grow and mature even as Jesus grew from a child born in a stable to one worthy to be called King of Kings. Those who are worldly cannot be expected to grow past the incubator of the world's systems and principles. However, the child of God is expected to grow in the ways of the Lord, to be like Christ in character, integrity, love and personhood. We are to live by His Kingdom principles; principles which are far superior to the world's. "When I became a man (mature in Christ) I put away childish things." To grow up is to think unselfishly. To place the concern of others before your own. To love unconditionally and to give sacrificially. The Bible says God is Love. Love is a mature way. Paul says ".....now there are these three, faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love." Be real with God and yourself. Are you immature? Let God help you grow up into the "New" creature you are destined to be, and not just a reformed, but same old you. God and the world are waiting for you!
Peace.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
TRANSFORMING YOUR WORLD
In Matthew 3:2 Jesus declares "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!" Again, He declares "Seek first the Kingdom......." (Matt. 6:33). How can so many believers be in church but so far out of the Kingdom of God? There are perhaps a number of reasons. Certainly they cannot all here be addressed. However, let's consider the following. A church-minded church does not understand the principles of God's Kingdom because they are following the principles of the church, modeled after worldly principles. The result? according to Sunday Adelaja author of "Church Shift" the following will result: (1) Church in-fighting. We are the light of the world but too much light burns the eyes. When believers see ministry as what happens in church but does not understand the Kingdom mandate to transform the world (outside the church) then the church blinds each other with its own individual perceived glory, thus in-fighting. (2) Egocentric Leadership. Leaders become overly impressed with their own sense of importance rather than celebrating the importance of serving the Lord according to His principles. (3) There develops a focus on the size of the congregation rather than on advancing he Lord's work. (4) Egocentric Followers. The congregation becomes more concerned and consumed with what they want to hear in sermons, how the pastor and leaders gratify their personal needs and desires with little concern for what God desires. This is exactly why the Apostle warns the church to not be conform to the ways of the world but to be transformed by the renewing of their minds (Rom. 12:2). In other words, think the Word, Will and Ways of God and not the way of the world.
So how can believers live by the principles of God? Well, remember God's Kingdom principles are superior to the worlds. Honesty is greater than dishonesty, mercy is greater than vengeance and love is greater than hate. Positive, affirming talk is greater than negative, condemning talk. Jesus said to love our enemies, bless those who persecute you because His ways are superior. Paul said: "do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Rom. 12:21).
Many believers don't fully reject the world's principles, rather they establish partial friendships with the world. Many gain influence in church by using kingdom of darkness principles. They use negative attitudes and talk, anger, disrespect for others, secrecy and so-on. The devil directs their actions without them realizing it. They believe they are, or should be in charge and actually believe they are doing God's work. In reality they are serving Satan. There needs to be a daily repentance from worldly thinking and practices.
The greatest way to begin to live by kingdom principles is summed up in the one word that easily describes all of the principles of the kingdom of God......LOVE! Love God, love people, love your enemies, Love conquers all!
So how can believers live by the principles of God? Well, remember God's Kingdom principles are superior to the worlds. Honesty is greater than dishonesty, mercy is greater than vengeance and love is greater than hate. Positive, affirming talk is greater than negative, condemning talk. Jesus said to love our enemies, bless those who persecute you because His ways are superior. Paul said: "do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Rom. 12:21).
Many believers don't fully reject the world's principles, rather they establish partial friendships with the world. Many gain influence in church by using kingdom of darkness principles. They use negative attitudes and talk, anger, disrespect for others, secrecy and so-on. The devil directs their actions without them realizing it. They believe they are, or should be in charge and actually believe they are doing God's work. In reality they are serving Satan. There needs to be a daily repentance from worldly thinking and practices.
The greatest way to begin to live by kingdom principles is summed up in the one word that easily describes all of the principles of the kingdom of God......LOVE! Love God, love people, love your enemies, Love conquers all!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
TRANSFORMING YOUR WORLD
Both Isaiah (Isa 52:7) and the Apostle Paul (Rom. 10:15) declare "how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news (gospel). Joshua 14:9 says: So on that day Moses swore to me, "The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly. The feet of those who serve the Lord are precious to Him because their desire is to advance His Kingdom in the earth. Everywhere they go they carry God's Word and power. They carry the potential to reclaim territory that the enemy has stolen. Perhaps that is in part the reason the Apostle Paul was beaten three times with rods (2 Cor. 11:25). Beating with rods involved the Prosecution stripping the accused naked, binding them so they cannot move, laying them flat on the ground and then with rope, raising the victim's feet up. They would then beat the bottoms of their feet. Often, persons beat in such manner were left unable to walk. Paul was so excited about Christ that he walked to many areas to proclaim Jesus Christ and to advance His Kingdom. Beating his feet was an attempt to stop him from advancing the work of the Lord. However, Paul understood the need to reclaim the land for the cause of Christ. As ambassadors for Christ it is the calling of every believer to go into all the world. We are the church and therefore wherever we are, the church is there. Unfortunately, going outside of the walls of the church is of little concern for many in the body of Christ, not to mention going into all the world. We must never forget that we represent Christ everywhere we go. We also must be intentional in our resolve to reclaim the land for Christ.
If you are in the South Atlanta Metro area, join us this Saturday for the first of several prayer walks. This weekend's walk will be in select areas of Union City, just off exit 64 of Interstate 85 South. This weekend's walk is being sponsored by Transforming Women in Christ (TWIC), the women's ministry of Transformation Ministries International of Atlanta (TMI-ATL). If you cannot join us, please pray for us that God will do great works by the power of His Spirit. The walk will begin at 9:30 am. For more information call us at 678-767-4544, send an email to twic@ymail.com, or visit our website at www.tmiministries.org.
If you are in the South Atlanta Metro area, join us this Saturday for the first of several prayer walks. This weekend's walk will be in select areas of Union City, just off exit 64 of Interstate 85 South. This weekend's walk is being sponsored by Transforming Women in Christ (TWIC), the women's ministry of Transformation Ministries International of Atlanta (TMI-ATL). If you cannot join us, please pray for us that God will do great works by the power of His Spirit. The walk will begin at 9:30 am. For more information call us at 678-767-4544, send an email to twic@ymail.com, or visit our website at www.tmiministries.org.
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