FH@MV Teens» Bro. Joseph

Let’s Make a Deal

Joseph — Sat, 12 May 2012 15:00:00 +0000

II Chronicles 15:1-15
And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded:And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The Lord is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.But when they in their trouble did turn unto the Lord God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.And in those times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the countries.And nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city: for God did vex them with all adversity.Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the Lord, that was before the porch of the Lord.And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the Lord his God was with him.So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.And they offered unto the Lord the same time, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.And they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;That whosoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.And they sware unto the Lord with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets.And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the Lord gave them rest round about.

I gave the entire passage for context purposes, but the main scripture that I want to look at is the part that I have highlighted. The people of Judah gathered together to make a covenant unto to the Lord that they would seek the Lord with all their hearts and with all their souls. However, they didnt stop at their individual lives they continued with “That whosoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.” They made a covenant that they as individual would get right with the Lord and also said that they would not put up with anyone who wasn’t taking the steps to get right with Lord. They ended with saying, “whether small or great, whether man or woman.”

So, what can we take away? The people of Judah said that no matter what, they were seeking the Lord with all their Heart and with all their soul and they would put to death those who didnt do so, and it did not matter who that person was. As Christians today we get entangled with other people. That is, other people have a large part in hindering or helping our walk with Christ. In Judah they put the hindering people to death, but today we cant just kill them, so what is our option. Today, if we truly want to seek the Lord, we must let those around us know we are doing so and have little to do with those that will hinder our actions. I have a nand full of friends from my past that I no longer have anything to do with, simply because the way they choose to live is not pleasing to the Lord. My relationship with the Lord is more important than simple worldy relationship!! As Christians, can we make a deal to seek the Lord with our whole desire as the people of Judah? Can we make a deal to take those that hinder our walk out of the influential places in our lives? The people of Judah did this and the Lord blessed them. Likewise will be the result if we choose to do the same.

HE IS WORTHY TO BE PRAISED!

Joseph — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 14:10:33 +0000

As I sit here at my desk on this beautiful morning, two things are pretty heavy on my mind. The first thought is lesser in significance, its the fact that I am working on this beautiful Saturday. The secound is the thought that in just three weeks I will be getting married to the love of my life! As I look back over this time of really getting to know Whitney, I can see God’s hand of blessing all over it. So many things had to happen before this was at all possible. Last Sunday our church celebrated the one year anniversary of our joining together as one body, a marriage of sorts if you want to think of it that way. There is no more Forrest Hills Baptist Church and there is no more Mountain View Baptist Tabernacle. It is now Forrest Hills @ Mountain View, the merging of these two church is highly signifcant in my life because without this happening I may have never met Whitney. Many said that an event of this magnitude was never possible, but PRAISE THE LORD, all things are possible with God. After the churches coming together, Whitney and me had a time of getting to know each other over a long distance while she was at college. This was a time where of course we could not date, only get to know each others taste, likes, and dislikes. This was time of deep prayer for both of us that if this relationship was not part of God’s Will, He would close the door. My prayer specifically was that God would close the door or continue to bless it. God didn’t close the door, only opened it wider with His great blessings! Before I became a member of our church a wise man told me that God often shows us His will by the arranging of circumstances. These circumstance arranged, and in my life they all point to marrying Whitney! Today, I praise the Lord for giving me something, once again, that I do not deserve. I am unworthy of such outstanding blessings, but my Jesus is truly worthy to be praised!

Proverbs 18:22 – Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

Jesus loves me! this I know, For the Bible tells me so!

Joseph — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 21:46:24 +0000

Many of the songs and hymns that most of us have enjoyed since our younger years are filled with scripture and Biblical promises of God’s love for man. However, we still often question the degree and depth of God’s love for us. I have put together three simple points that help me to see God’s love for me.

1. God created man for a loving relationship.
Genesis 1:24-31
It’s says in verse 25 after the creation of the beast
… And God saw that it was good.

But in verse 31 after God created man
… And God saw every thing that He had made, and behold, it was very good.

God finalized creation with the grand finale, His masterpiece, made in His image and likeness.
God made man.
Man was the only object in creation that was made for a direct loving relationship with God.

2. God sent His Son to save this loving relationship.
John 3:16
God loved man so much that He had to do something to save the relationship that man destroyed.
- He sent His son Jesus, to die as the ultimate sacrifice for all of the sins of every man.
John 15:13
- this scripture describes the greatest display of love in what Jesus did on the cross for you and me.

3. God wants you in a loving relationship.
Luke 19:10 – For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Jesus came to save all that had fallen from this loving relationship.
By giving Jesus as the sacrifice for sin, God made a way for all people to restore a loving relationship with Him.

Question: Through His actions God has proven His love for you! However, have you responded? If you do not know Jesus as your Lord and savior please come and talk with myself, Bro. Keith, or any of the others in here, we can show you with God’s Word how you can respond and accept God’s gift of love.

A God-given Opportunity

Joseph — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:35:01 +0000

This Christmas and every Christmas we come together with friends and family members to eat, share gifts, and reminisce about the most enjoyable and unforgettable times that we have experienced with each other. For Christians, this should be time that we celebrate the birth of God’s Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus truly is the reason for the season! With that being said, both Christians and non-Christians alike participate in Christmas related activities. This gives us a huge opportunity to share the gospel with those people. The topic is already on the tip of our tongues and on the edge of their ears. Our world and our culture create a focus on the “when and where” of Christmas, when in all actuality we should make the focus be on the “who and why.” This “who and why” is the Gospel! God loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus to be the only and ultimate sacrifice for all of the sins of the world (John 3:16, Roman 6:23). We celebrate God giving His Son on Christmas. Jesus came on a mission from God to seek and to save all that were lost, because there is nothing that we can do to save ourselves (Luke 19:10, Romans 3:23, Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus did all of this because He loves us and all we have do is ask Him into our heart and life to save us (Romans 10:9 and 13).
This year, can we make it a point to tell the whole story? Can we focus on the true reason for the season? People need to know and they need to know now. Our time to tell the story is running out and those who are closest to us, our friends and family members, are the ones who will miss out. Make it a point this Christmas to share the good news of Jesus to others! This will be the greatest gift that you could ever give. He gave it to us and we owe it to them! Merry Christmas!

His perspective? Their perspective?

Joseph — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:14:17 +0000

In my blog today, I want you to look at yourself from two different perspectives. So often, we live our lives based on our own perspective of ourselves. We compare ourselves with others and disregard our comparison to the person that God wants us to be. Consider the following:

1 Samuel 16:7
7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

Place your life in this passage, man looks at your outward appearance, but the Lord looks at your heart. Man only sees what you choose to show him, but God knows everything about you!

God’s perspective – We often walk the walk and talk the talk in front of others. We make them assume that we are exactly where we need to be with the Lord. Oh how easy it is to fool others. However, we cannot fool God. Personally, from the age of 6 to the age of 10 I had everyone around me convinced that I was saved. I looked and acted like a Christian, but from the heart I was not. I had everyone else fooled, but not God and not myself. I taught many different classes at church. Parents entrusted me in telling there children about Jesus, but I didn’t even know Jesus. I had a knowledge, but no relationship! God knew and dealt with me accordingly. In August of 2008 Jesus came in to my heart and life and saved me! The lesson that I learned from this was dont assume that anyone is saved. Anyone can act, but God knows.

Man’s perspective – Do others see Jesus in you? Do they see a priority in your life placed on the things of God? Man looks at the outward appearance.

How you talk:
The Bible clearly states that what proceeds from the mouth, comes from the heart. Are words that are socially considered bad coming out of your mouth? If Jesus is in your heart, they shouldn’t. Can others see a difference in the way you talk?

How you walk:
The Bible talks about abstaining from the appearance of evil. Can you be linked with that which is evil by the places that you go? What about the things that you do? The people that you hang out with? Actions speak louder than words and nobody likes a hypocrite! We need to understand that the activities that we participate in can either help or hinder someone coming to Jesus!

How you dress:
We show a priority in the things we do by how we dress for those things. If you were going to a job interview (if you are smart) you would dress your best. By dressing your best, you put a high priority on that job interview. How you dress when you come the House of God shows what importance you place on your being there! The Bible says that where two or three or gathered, God will be there. Is meeting with God important enough to you that you show it by how you dress for the occasion? In the job world, most jobs have a dress code. The reason for this dress code is because you are representing the company or people you work for. They dont want the testimony of their business ruined by your looking like a bum! If you are doing things on God’s behalf, do you dress like you are representing the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords? Other see how we dress and determine in their minds if what you are doing is important enough for them to try it out. If it doesn’t look important to through you, they will not want to waste their time. Does your attire help or hinder others from coming to Jesus?

It has been wisely said, you are the only Bible that others may read. It is a fact that you are the best Christian someone knows. Will they want to be a part of what you are doing? It all depends on you outwardly proclaim that which is in your heart. Can others see Jesus in you?

Let Us Hold Up Their Hands

Joseph — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:27:20 +0000

Exodus 17:8-13
8 Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9 And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. 10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses ‘hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

We all have leaders above us who have mentored us and have taken their time to encourage us to be what God wants us to be. These people in our eyes look perfect, they seem to do everything right and have a walk with the Lord that we long to model. There is one thing though, they are human, they are sinners, they have struggles, and they have battles just like me and you. The Lord used this passage above to speak to me about holding up the hands of those in leadership positions above me. We must encourage them to walk with the Lord, we must encourage them to continue the work that the Lord has set before them. We must hold up their hands when they are tired and weary! They need support just like me and you. I pray that today we will learn to hold up their hands and be a part of what God is using them to do. I am going to go out of my way to support and help and encourage those who have done so much for me! Will you? Please pray especially for our church leaders today as they continue to make tough decisions that will affect our congregation and our community for the cause of Christ!

A way of escape

Joseph — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 13:03:55 +0000

Currently I’m still studying through the Book of Exodus. To remind you, the word, “exodus” means exit and is the book that describes the children of Israel’s escape from bondage under the Egyptians. Yesterday, while in commute from one thanksgiving meal to another, the Lord spoke to my heart in reference to the word, “exodus.”
As I was driving, I was reminded of this passage:

1 Corinthians 10:13
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Egypt in the Bible, is a picture of the world, it’s riches, entertainment, and sin. God provided a way of escape for the children of Israel from Egypt. Likewise, He promises in this passage that with every temptation, we will have an avenue to escape through. We are all tempted on a daily basis, look for your way of escape, so that you may not fall.

Entrance into the Exodus

Joseph — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:12:23 +0000

If you know what the word “Exodus” means you will understand my title to this post. The word “Exodus” means to exit and is the book of the Bible that describes the children of israel’s exit from Egyptian bondage. Egypt in the Bible is a representation of the world, and it’s riches, entertainment, and sin. This books gives a great deal of parallels to our bondage to the current world’s system. Even many churches today have adapted to the world’s way, in an attempt to fulfill the desires of worldly people today. I am so thankful for my churches stance on this popularism! We don’t care about being popular, we care about serving the Lord and serving Him, His way!! I am currently in chapter nine and the Lord has been using Moses to provide a way of escape for the Children of Israel. The point that is on my heart today is the fact that at every instance and every interaction with the pharaoh, God performs great miracles and pharaoh first tries to challenge these miracles with his magicians, and then hardens his heart against the Lord. Please look at this scripture
Exodus 8:19
Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said.

Pharaoh continued to hardened his heart, but his magicians and sorcerers were beginning to realize that what was happening through Aaron’s rod was from God. The point here is some will realize and some will harden their heart. Everyone that tries to duplicate what God does will quickly learn that with man certain things are impossible, but with God all things are possible! But, some people will see God all working all around them and harden their hearts. They will call it luck or chance, but there is no such thing with God. They will realize now, or they will realize later!
Romans 14:11
11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

Take away:
1. Jesus said to go and share the gospel!
Mark 16:15
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
- don’t assume the people around you have a hardened heart! Share the Gospel! It is not our responsibility to make them say yes, only to share the Gospel!

2. Let them see God through you!
1 Peter 3:15
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Don’t give answers like, luck or coincidence for the blessings you receive! Give God the credit! He did it! People will quickly see that certain things cannot happen without God’s almighty hand.

My prayer today is that people see Jesus through me! He is the only way!

If; Then

Joseph — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 13:49:25 +0000

Leviticus 26: 3-39
Everything in life happens for a reason. This is a fact! The question comes when we want to know the reason. In this chapter in the book of Leviticus God, through Moses tells the Children of Israel if you do this, then I will do this; but if you don’t do this, I will do this instead. In verse 3 it says, “if ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them;” this is followed with a long list of blessings. But, in verse 14 it says,”But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments;” to summarize this obvious covenant, if we are obedient to God, then He will bless us! If you are not obedient, then God will bring a life of misery upon you!
How would you consider your life right now? Are you sitting on the hill tops of blessings or are in struggling in the valley of despair! Look back over your life, have you been obedient? If you find that your are sitting on the bad end of the scale, know that it’s not a permanent place if you dont want it to be. At the end of chapter 26 and in 1 John 1:9 we can regain our right standing with the Lord, simply by confessing and repenting of our sins. Make the fix today, live for the Lord today and He will bless you tomorrow!

Having an Attitude of Gratitude

Joseph — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 15:17:12 +0000

This month in Jr. church our theme is Having the Attitude of Gratitude. At the end of this month many of us will sit down with our families and friends and eat more food in one day than we typically eat in one week (at least I will,lol!) As we get closer to the holiday of Thanksgiving I rings louder in my ears the point of being thankful for the blessings in which God has bestowed upon us. In my daily quiet time I am still studying in the Book of Leviticus and on phrase that has appeared over ten times thus far is “I am the LORD thy God” I often catch these frequently used phrases and highlight each time that they are used. With this specific phrase I believe I have found it’s point of climax. At the end of several of the chapters the phrase is read, ” I am the LORD thy God, who brought the out of Egypt.” at the point at which I read this, it hits me that this phrase was a reminder to the children of Israel of what God had done for them.

MY THOUGHT:
If we constantly remind ourselves of what God has done for us, the rest of our lives as Christians should fall right into place. Let me explain. The book of Leviticus is basically a rule book of sorts. It explains how sacrifices should and should not be handled. Just earlier in Exodus God allowed the children of Israel to leave the bondage and slavery that they lived under in Egypt. If we remember how we’ve been blessed we won’t have a problem doing things God’s way and on top of that we will be thankful for whatever comes in life because we will know that it is for our own good. Today, count your blessings, I promise you’ll have more blessings than you will ever have problems! Let us all learn to have an attitude of gratitude!