7/15/2019

Leviticus 19:18 (KJV)
 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

 Matthew 19:19 (KJV)
 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

 Matthew 22:39 (KJV)
 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

 Mark 12:31 (KJV)
 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

 Romans 13:9 (KJV)
 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

 James 2:8 (KJV)
 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

The BOLD portion is my emphasis.

In six different passages of the Bible do we read the words “thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” and to this day, the world as a whole does not follow this precept or commandment from God. We say that we do love our neighbors, however a lot of times our actions do not back our words up.

We say we love their souls, not their actions – do we tell them about Jesus or let someone else do it.

We say we love those around us – so we only go around our friends and family.

We hear of abuse; child, adult, senior, spousal, religious and several other types - we shut our eyes to most of not all abuse.

I was reading an article called “5 Types of Pastors Who Bungle Abuse in the Church” which made me think about all of us who do not know how to tell if someone is being abused and what to do when we do recognize it. Please take the time to read the article and pray about what you should do when you see abuse.

Levit

https://factsandtrends.net/2019/07/09/5-pastors-how-abuse-gets-bungled-in-the-church/?ecid=PDM182784&bid=1381568573

C.I. Wilson

7/8/2019

I was reading an article today by Fran Trascritti called 4 Tips for Handling Church Conflict. (https://factsandtrends.net/2019/07/08/4-tips-for-handling-church-conflict/?ecid=PDM182639&bid=1370347563 ). You might be interested in reading it so I have included the website.

It brought out some things that we need to remember:

1. There will be disagreements among Christians
2. There is a probability that the interpersonal conflicts/disagreements will transfer over to our church brothers and sisters
3. There is a possibility that it will include the pastor and/or family
4. That problems among Christians is not new to our generation
5. There is a way that all disagreements can be resolved peaceably

The 4 ways mentioned for handling church conflict can and will work in ALL conflicts. If, and this is a big “if”, we really want to be “Christ-Like” in our dealings with others.

1. If we really want to be like Christ then we will not be holding on to “I am right and you are wrong” thoughts.
2. We will be doing our best to have a “What would Jesus do in this situation” attitude.
3. We would be praying for God’s will.
4. If necessary, we would go to a non-involved person to be a mediator.

While following the 4 tips found in this article which are:

1. Remember the gospel
2. React by listening
3. Recapture by paraphrasing
4. Reframe with the Word

C.I. Wilson

7/1/2019

While I was in Camp Meeting the Lord gave me a thought about our Heavenly Language. When we give our hearts to Christ the spirit of God enters in, otherwise we would never be able to live for Christ and show others Christ within us. If we stop here then we would always remain without one of the most important tools that God has given us. The Holy Ghost. In Ephesians 6:11-18, it talks about putting on the “whole armour” of God:

1. Loins girt about with truth
2. Breastplate of righteousness
3. Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace
4. Shield of faith
5. Helmet of salvation
6. Sword of the Spirit

After we have the “armour of God” we need to have the Holy Ghost so that we might know the orders that come from Heaven. The evidence of being filled with the Holy Ghost is the speaking in an unknown tongue. The Holy Ghost communicates with God through this language.

Unless we keep an ongoing relationship with the Holy Ghost and this language that He has given to us, we will not be able to slip into this form of communication when it is needed to protect us or to relay to God something that is urgent to us. Remember the old saying, “if you don’t use it, you will lose it.” This is one tool that we do not want to lose because it makes living the Christian life so much easier.

When we get this language just as getting any other earthly language, we do not speak it fluently, we have to practice it all the time, with the knowledge that we will never be 100% proficient until we enter Heaven. How do we practice this language? We pray every day until we speak in this “Heavenly” language. When was the last time you spoke in your “Heavenly” language?

Ephesians 6:11-18 (KJV)
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

C.I. Wilson

N.e.w.s.l.e.t.t.e.r.

Matthew 25:36- I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

     The letters that spell out the word “newsletter” are relevant to your relationship with the Lord (Malachi 3:6). They are also letters that represent God’s everlasting love for humanity (Jeremiah 31:3). Furthermore, these letters also represent a right relationship with your God (Ephesians 6:13).

     The letter N in newsletter is for the word name. Your name is important. The Bible says that God knew us before we were conceived in our mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5). E is for earth. Christians are the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13-16). W is for worship. We must worship God in spirit and truth (John 22-24). S is for suffering. If we are going to live Godly lives; we will suffer persecution (2^nd Timothy 3:12). L is for light and Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12). He also expects for us as Christians to be a shiny light to this dark world. E is for evil. The Bible tells us to abstain from all appearance of evil (I Thessalonians 5:22). T is for tempt. God will not allow us to be tempted without providing us an escape (I Corinthians 10:13). T-is for the word teach also. As Christians we should be ready, willing and able to teach what we know about the Word of God (2^nd Timothy 2:2). E-is for example. We should be a Godly example to those without Jesus Christ (1^st Timothy 4:12). And last but not least the letter R is for righteousness; we are the righteousness of Jesus Christ (2^nd Corinthians 5:21).

     The 10-2 Ministry has started a photo album. This album is representative of our fathers, mothers, husbands, wives and sons that are incarcerated.

   The album was dedicated to Harold McKinney. When God impressed upon the 10-2 group to start a letter writing ministry for the prisoners, we ask for volunteers to help us out. Harold was the first person to volunteer. Harold did not ask for any support from the 10-2 group or the church for stamps to write his letters. Harold said, “this is the least that I can do to encourage someone and tell them what God had done in his life. Harold was always open and honest in what God had done in his life. He was what the “people” would say, he was real! You knew what he believed in and he stood on his word.

     Harold is sorely missed by the Sterling family but he is rejoicing with his Savior in heaven. Many will meet him there because of his life and what he gave to them. By showing the “way” to the Lord, many of Harold’s friends came to salvation.

5/28/2019

2 Chronicles 20:14-17 (KJV)
¹⁴  Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation;
¹⁵  And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.
¹⁶  To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel.
¹⁷  Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.

Back in 2013 the Lord gave these scriptures to my Grandson who was going through a testing, trial or battle. When you think about these verses in connection with your life, they will bring a message from God to your heart and soul.

Verse 14 let’s us know that God knows who we are, where we came from and what we are doing. We try to convince ourselves that we are not someone important or special to anyone. However, we are important to those who loves us. We may not be important to friends, co-workers or even family members. Never-the-less we are important to Jesus and His Father (God). When you love someone, you make a point of knowing and contacting them frequently.

Verse 15 tells us who the message is to. Now the author or scribe did not know your name, however God did and knew you needed to hear this and that is the reason it is in the Bible. So put your name in it where it will read like this: Thus, saith the LORD unto __________, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. When you do it will bring home just how much God cares for you and what you are going through. Just remember this works for God’s children, if we will turn our battles over to God’s infinite wisdom and control, HE will care for us in all situations.

Verse 16-17 lets us know that when we turn our life/battle over to HIM, He will give us the information we need, when we need it. Notice He even reminds us that the battle is “HIS” and not “ours”. He will tell us where, when, and how we are to act during our trial or battle. However, I think the most important thing for us to remember is that when we turn our battles over to God then we are to stand where God states to stand and don’t move or try to help God. Then we are to “see the salvation of the LORD”. When we “see” the work of God in our lives then we should remember it because it will build our faith in God.

C.I. Wilson