“...He rose up and came into the city….” ACTS 14:20
If you're going through a time of difficulty or hardship, read these words: “Then Jews...came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city” (v. 19-20 NKJV). Notice two phrases: “supposing him to be dead” and “he rose up.” Paul was stoned but not silenced; beaten but not defeated. Paul wrote on one occasion, “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NKJV). Imagine Satan standing over Paul like a referee standing over a boxer who's on the canvass. On the count of nine Paul gets up and says, “I may be down, but I'm not out!” Paul was an optimist to the heart, a self-encourager and someone who knew how to lift himself and those around him.
Contrary to popular belief, pastors have a tough job! They get more kicks than kisses. If he preaches from notes he's dry; if he's extemporaneous he's too shallow. If he spends too much time in his study he's neglecting his people; if he makes too many home or hospital visits he's not delegating properly. If he's attentive to the poor he's spending too much of the church’s money; If he suggests improvements he's trying to run everything; if he doesn't he has no vision or does not care. If he preaches against wrong he's judgmental; if he doesn't he's too worldly. If he preaches for an hour he's long-winded; less than that, he has nothing to say; If he fails to please everybody he's hurting the church; if he tries to please everybody he has no convictions. If he preaches tithing he's money-hungry; if not, he's failing to develop his people. If he preaches on a regular basis, people get tired of hearing the same person; if he invites guest preachers he's dodging his responsibility. You get the picture right? For 30 years, Dr. George and Sister Cook served this great church with greatness. Thirty years of preaching and teaching means that Pastor Cook has preached more than 1560 sermons in this pulpit. We are better servants of God because of their ministry. The bottom line is, God gave to this wonderful church a pastor and wife team, in the name of Rev. George Cook and Sister Ruby Cook to help develop the members of the church to do the work of the ministry (Eph. 4:12). And it is obvious that by the grace of God, they have done their job well.
So, we pause today to take another opportunity to show our love and appreciation to Rev. Dr. George and Sister Ruby Cook for 30 years of devoted ministry, here at Greater Mt. Sinai Baptist Church. We want to celebrate with the Cooks, as they continue to transition into the next chapter of their ministry as Pastor Emeritus George and Sister Ruby Cook. #TeamCook. To the Cooks: This is your day, we honor you and we love you.
Rev. Dr. Major Stewart, Pastor Greater Mt. Sinai Baptist Church Sunday, August 26, 2017
“And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.” Luke 22:31 (KJV)
Out of all Christ's disciples, Peter was the one who believed that failure couldn't happen to him. But it did, and in a big way. Jesus told him, “...satan has asked to have you, to sift you like wheat, but I have pleaded in prayer for you that your faith should not completely fail. So when you have repented and turned to Me again, strengthen and build up the faith of your brothers” (vv. 31-32 TLB). Notice three important truths:
“……… but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. “ Hebrews 4:2 KJV
A catalyst facilitates change; it makes things happen! For example, Alka-Seltzer without water has no effervescence, flour without yeast produces no bread, seeds without sunshine means no flowers, blue without yellow means no green, a spark without air produces no flame. Faith makes God's Word work in your life. Without it absolutely nothing happens. Talking about the Israelites, The Hebrew writer said, “ For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.”
“When the storm has swept by……. but the righteous stand firm forever.” Proverbs 10:25 NIV
A couple of weeks ago, I was walking in our neighborhood, about 2 miles away from our home and was caught in a rain storm. Well, you know how I looked by the time I made it home….soaking wet! Two things I failed to do, number one, I did not listen to the forecast. And number two, I did not take with me an umbrella to shelter me from the rain.
“...God...calleth those things which be not as though they were.” Rom. 4:17b
Someone has said, “It is not what others call you, it’s what you answer to that matters”. What really matters is what God says about you! You must believe what God says about you, over what everyone else says! Stop listening to those who always seems to have something negative to say about you or about what it is that you are doing. Definitely stop listening to those people who claim you'll never amount to anything. So what, you made a mistake. So what, you might've had a bad childhood. So what, you may have experienced a bad or failed marriage or career. The Bible says, “...Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before [you]” (Philippians 3:13 KJV). The Bible doesn't say that WE call those things which are not as though they are. Nor does it say OTHERS have the power to speak things which are not as though they are over your life. No, it is GOD, through His Word, Who speaks into existence His will for your life. And I don’t know about you but I am glad about that.
“…. I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth…..” Matthew 25:25 KJV
Matthew 25:14 through 30 records a parable about the master of an estate who gave each of his servants a sum of money to invest for him. One man got five talents, the second man received two talents, and the third man one talent. The servants with two and five talents turned a respectable profit, while the man with one talent told his master, “I was afraid, and…hid your talent in the earth…”. One of the major lessons in this story is that fear makes you unproductive!
