- Isaiah 43:18-19
You can't fully embrace the future if you continue to hold on to pieces of the past! Forget the former things! Do not dwell on the past! Let go and accept the new thing God wants to do in your life!
Riverview Missionary Baptist Church A Multi-Ethnic Congregation |
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Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
- Isaiah 43:18-19 You can't fully embrace the future if you continue to hold on to pieces of the past! Forget the former things! Do not dwell on the past! Let go and accept the new thing God wants to do in your life!
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Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. - Colossians 4:2 NLT
When you focus on the things you don't have you begin to undervalue the blessings God has given you. This allows feelings of resentment and being shortchanged to build up. It can happen in our prayers when we only make requests. Take a moment today to think about how you have been blessed whether it is financially, through health, a word of encouragement, employment, warmth, food, family, etc. Don't look at a glass half empty and wish it were full, be grateful you have a glass to begin with. When you realize how blessed you are, you truly feel loved by God! 'And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.' - John 20:22
After Christ rose from the dead, and prior to ascending to Heaven, He went back to His disciples and He imparted a gift. The gift of the Holy Spirit. He breathed the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us. Have you ever been frustrated or in a trying/ demanding situation and just needed to step back and breathe to regather yourself? What are you breathing? Breathe in the Holy Spirit and let it lead you! Jesus gives a new meaning to a breath of fresh air! Lord breathe on us! Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. - Proverbs 26:4
People around you acting a fool? Trying to stir up mess? Instigating situations? Raising conflict or gossiping? Let me help someone today: You need not play into anyone's foolishness! Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin”? Proverbs 20:9
Often times I hear from others that they don't feel good enough to come to church or give themselves to Christ. Some have said it's as if they are a broken gift and why would they want to give that? They feel as though they need to try to fix and clean themselves up before they move forward. But let me ask this: Would you try to clean yourself with a dirty and stained cloth? The blood of Jesus is the only thing that can purify our hearts and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We are all natural born sinners and therefore we can't be pure on our own. The Bible declares that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; even from the back pew all the way into the pulpit, all have sinned. Sometimes we take cold medicine to get better before going to the doctor. Sometimes we use fix a flat in a tire prior to replacing it. Although these attempts may work, they are only temporary, but Christ is the chief physician, and only He can heal us, fix us, cleanse us, and purify us! Thank God for Jesus! A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. - Proverbs 17:17
Do you know some people who are only your friends when you have something to offer them? They may be around in the noonday but as soon as you come to a midnight hour they vanish? When man fails you, understand that Christ is a friend that loves at all times. He will never leave you nor forsake you. You can call at anytime on the prayer line, and He will answer the call! Say this with me: "I am a friend of God, He calls me friend!" Something weighing you down? Feel like you are in over your head? Does it seem as if you are drowning in your situation?
Fear not! It may be the darkest before dawn but there is a lifeguard on duty by the name of Jesus, He walks on the water and He will pull out the darkness into His marvelous light. If you find yourself sinking, call on his name, trust and believe, and He will save you! 'Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” - Matthew 14:25-31 A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to participate in the National Kidney Foundation’s Albany Kidney Walk held at the Crossings of Colonie. It was a beautiful day and a wonderful gathering of the community to raise awareness and funds for Chronic Kidney Disease; hundreds of people joined the in the festivities and shared their personal stories, myself included. As I got up to speak I started by giving glory to God the Father and His son Jesus Christ and testified how for 8 years it was Him and Him alone who has kept me healthy. I encouraged all those under the sound of my voice that no matter what situation they are going through, no matter what stage of failure they are in, no matter what the doctor may say about their prognosis, that they should remain hopeful and have faith and they too could be delivered and healed just as I was. I concluded by getting everyone excited with chants and finally stated “be blessed and be a blessing”
I can recall a time where I wasn’t in the presence of others who encouraged me to persevere no matter the situation or circumstance, but rather they talked about me. During the start of my high school career when great swelling took over my body, I can recall people talking about how fat I had become. They didn’t care to find out that my kidneys were no longer functioning to the ability they once were, and that medication to prolong failure caused me to bloat. I remember people talking about how I was unable to shower and would call me dirty. They didn’t care to know that I had catheters surgically placed in different parts of my body so that I could dialyze and remain alive; they didn’t care to know that the open wounds produced by the catheters were inviting to bacteria and infections and that they needed to be kept sterile. I remember hearing stories about people talking about me being in the hospital, using hateful words and racial slurs, and hoping that the kidney would fail or that I would die; They didn’t care that I had underwent a major surgery and that death was a very real possibility; they didn’t care that I was going through the most crucial week of my entire life. Although there were many who talked and didn’t care to find out what was really going on, there were a few who did. There were a few who took time to understand all the medication that I was on; how it slowed me down and was fatiguing to my body and worked dispel my negative feelings toward my weight. There were a few who took time to understand that I could sponge bathe; who took time to understand that dialysis was a long and tiring process that is often depressing and helped to encourage me with kind words. There were a few that actually took time to come and visit me after my transplant both at the hospital and at home. Not only did these few people bless me with their words of encouragement and not talk about me, but they…prayed for me. I believe many of us have lost sight of God’s word which tells us to be a blessing so that we may receive a blessing. (“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” - 1Peter 3:9). I also believe that many have forgotten that we are to pray for one another, (“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16) even for our enemies and those we don’t like (But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you - Matthew 5:44). Too often do I hear others talking about another’s situation or circumstance to others. Many times those talking about others didn’t take the time to understand the situation or circumstance and rather they speculate. Other times, when they know a little they fabricate, and if they do know and are talking then they just hate. Brothers and Sisters we have been called to love one another as Christ has loved us (John 13:34) and love does no harm to a neighbor and therefore is the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:10). We are called, as often as we have the opportunity, to do good to all people, especially to those in the household of believers (Galatians 6:10). The tongue has the power of life and death (Proverbs 18:21), what are you speaking? If we continue to talk about others circumstances and situations and use it against them rather than taking time to understand and do the greatest good by praying for them in the name of Jesus and encouraging them to persevere then we are tearing others down, not building them up, and more importantly, we are not living up to the calling. When approached by the teachers of the law and Pharisees seeking to stone an adulterous woman caught in the act, Christ did not engage in the conversation (John 8:1-11). Even as they questioned more he did not give in, rather he responded “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” He then told the woman that He did not condemn her and told the woman to leave her life of sin. We as followers of Christ should be watchful not to give in to gossiping, condemning and tearing down as well; rather we should restore that person gently (Galatians 6:1), and pray for them. God answers prayer, not gossip. If we spent less time gossiping about others and their (potential) situations and circumstances and more time praying for others, how strong would the body of Christ be and how much greater would we get along? Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down (Proverbs 26:20). Can you imagine how much better off everyone would be as a result? We need to strengthen our confidence in God and know that when we ask anything according to His will, He hears us and He answers (1John 5:14-15). Last time I checked, my Bible says that it is Gods will that none perish, but all come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). The t-shirts given out this year at the kidney walk contained a simple phrase: “Don’t just talk about it, walk about it!” Brothers and Sisters let us cease from talking about others to tear down, condemn, start quarrels, spread rumors, lies and gossip. Rather, let us walk about it by taking time to talk to one going through a trial, situation or circumstance and encourage them, and then pray about it. Stop talking. Start praying. On Saturday, May 11, 2013, Riverview had a mother/daughter luncheon. This is the speech that I shared for my M As a child, I was the healthiest. My sisters had sudden infant death syndrome and sleep apnea, and my brother had terrible asthma. Naturally, I believed I would go very far. But when my kidneys failed at the age of 14, and swelling took over my body…I began to question that. When I spent my 15th birthday in the 7th floor of Building C at Albany Medical Center doing chemotherapy treatment to prolong kidney failure, I began to believe it. Over the next several years, the road was long and steep. There were some good moments on the road – I began to feel the healthiest I had been in years…But then on my 18th birthday I was told that my kidney function had decreased to the point where I needed dialysis – I had two surgeries on my 18th birthday weekend followed by over four months of dialysis at the hospital and at home. At times I felt like…what’s the point? At times I believed the doctor’s words that this chronic disease would be the death of me…At times I wanted to give up…But John 8:44 says the devil is a liar! And Isaiah 53:5 says with his stripes we are healed! And I thank God for my praying mother. For my mother that knows the Lord. For my mother who made me know of Jesus at a young age. For my mother who encouraged me to start going to Riverview and a youth group in Coxsackie where I learned more about my Jesus. And in the midst of my storms, in the middle of my trials, in the troughs of the valleys, in the many rooms of the several wings of the hospital, my mother was with me, every step of the way – Loving me, caring for me, supporting and encouraging me. My mother never stopped praying for me in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost. I believe in the power of prayer – I have seen it first hand. My mother believes in the power of prayer – I am her standing testimony. And on this mother’s day weekend – If I had to choose a scripture verse that exemplifies my mother and all she endured during my health crisis, it would be 1 Samuel 1:22 which reads: “For this child I prayed; and the Lord has given me my petition, which I asked of Him.” So Mom - or maybe I should call you Hannah, thank you and I love you do no justice at this moment. Just know that because of your love, because of your dedication, because of your prayers – I have come this far… There is no turning back! I’m not as good as I’m going to get, but I’m better than I used to be! I will go far in the name of the Lord…And like Samuel, your son will be a man of prayer, and distinctive among the people! As a child I loved our family trips to visit my mother’s family in Bethlehem Pennsylvania; I still love to visit today. Many of my favorite childhood memories stem from playing Uno with my cousins and Aunt Sandy, games of pool in my Uncle Jack’s basement, Family BBQ’s in my Uncle Fito’s backyard and fishing on the lake. One of my favorite things about visiting was being exposed to a different language. My mother and her family are Puerto Rican, and Spanish is their first language. I always dreamed of being fluent in the language as my mother and her siblings are; being able to express myself readily and effortlessly, words flowing smoothly and graceful from my mouth in another language that not everyone understood. I thought of how greatly it would benefit me to be bi-lingual in my future; even with being exposed to the language by family and taking years of Spanish class throughout my life I realize the fluency never came because I didn’t consistently exercise speaking in the language, nor did I consistently hear it. The saying ‘if you don’t use it, you lose it’ is a very true statement.
I still believe that it would greatly benefit me to be bi-lingual in Spanish, and at times I get upset that I am not, but God has spoken to me and told me there is an even greater language to be fluent in; a language that will benefit not only myself but bless others as well: He told me to be “fluent in Faith”. You must understand that when you are fluent in a language, you not only can speak it smoothly and effortlessly, but you can understand it just as well. Now faith isn’t a language that everyone speaks, and sometimes it is not a language that everyone can understand. We know that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). It is by faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible (Hebrews 11:3). Faith, as Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. put it is like “taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase.” It is by faith that we know to lean not to our own understanding, but in all our ways acknowledge HIM, and He will direct our paths (Proverbs 3:5). It’s by faith that we believe that with God nothing will be impossible (Luke 1:37). How fluent are you in Faith? How can you become fluent in faith you ask? Think about a child who first coos and babbles; the child doesn’t continue to coo and babble their entire life, but there comes a time when the child learns to talk. As the child listens to those around them, they begin to speak the language they have heard. In the same manner faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). You my Father’s children must be conscious of what you are hearing and what you are listening to because before you know it you will be speaking that language being poured into your spirit. The world speaks a language of doubt. It speaks a language of negativity. The world will say that after the first step in the staircase that you can’t fully see you will stumble and fall. The world will tell you that the situation you are going through right now is insurmountable. The world will make you believe that you will never get out of the storm that has been brewing in your life. The world wants you to believe that no one understands…that no one will extend to you a helping hand. But faith speaks boldly and says though we may stumble, we will not fall, for the LORD upholds us with His right hand (Psalm 37:24); it is by faith that we can confidently say that God will go before us and be with us, even in whatever situation you are going through, no matter how high the mountain is in your path or how low the valley may be when you descend, God promised that He never leave you nor forsake you, that you need not be afraid or discouraged (Dueteronomy 31:8). Faith understands that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). Faith understands that God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? (Numbers 23:19) Take a moment to think…Are you the child that continues to coo and babble today, helpless and dependent on the wrong people, continuing to sit in life’s diaper of a mess because you are too concerned and focused about all that’s going on around you and what you are going to miss in the world and not listening to the right voice? Are you speaking the language of doubt? Or are you ready to become fluent in faith? Both speaking and understanding the language, recognizing it when it is spoken and exercising the language in your life on a daily basis? You don’t have to stay whatever situation you are in, you don’t need to continue to believe those negative things you were fed about yourself. God created your inmost being, He knit you together in your mother’s womb; you are fearfully and wonderfully made! God’s works are wonderful. (Psalm 139:13-14), And God knows the plans he has for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). Who are you listening to? Christ said my sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27). The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life (John 6:63). Will you listen to God’s voice? Will you decide to truly know Him and follow Him? Will you be fluent in faith? Lord God we thank you for your word, and we thank you that you are a God that does not lie or change His mind, and that you are a God that seeks to prosper us and give us a hope and a future. Lord we confess that it is so easy to speak and listen to the negativity and doubt in this dark world and so we pray now in the name of Jesus that you will continue to help us walk in your beautiful light, that you would strengthen us and give us to courage to be fluent in your language of faith O God, to speak it daily in our lives and in the lives of others in need of encouragement. Lord tune our ears to not just hear Your voice but to hear it loud and clear that we may hear Your words and be fluent in faith. In Jesus name. Amen. |
By: Deacon Elijah Fagan-SolisArchives
November 2013
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