April 4, 2017

As we prepare for Easter this year, let’s not stop at buying that new Easter outfit for the family, the new Easter baskets for the little ones and the food for the big Easter family meal. These are just everyday type of preparations. We need to focus on preparing for the Spiritual Easter; the one that centers around our three best friends, God the Father, Jesus his Son and the Holy Ghost.

Yes, they should be our BFF’s (Best Friends Forever). If we listen to them, ask for their guidance and follow their directions then we will become everything that they know we can become.

When they created the whole creation, they knew everything as we know it, the good and the bad, things that we have to live through and they prepared a way for us. A way that if we follow it will make our lives so much easier even though we may not think it as we go through all the trials and tribulations that is ahead. They would be so much worse without our dearest friends. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV) “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.” Brothers and Sisters in the Lord, this does not mean that we will not have to go through it but that it will never become harder than we can bear it as long as we hold on the Word of God.

We need to prepare ourselves to be the faithful stewards of the gift of salvation that Jesus gave us by giving his life and shedding his blood for us. If we are the faithful stewards that God knows we can be then we will have a powerful witness to lead others to that same cross for that same cleansing that Jesus prepared for us.

Let us ask ourselves this question: Am I where God wants me?

If not then ask God how you can get yourselves where you are in his perfect will.

Hebrews 2:3 (KJV)
 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

Happy Resurrection Day

C. I. Wilson

3/29/2017

Rev. Mack Mitchell Jr., a member of the IFGEA communicated his desire to be used of God in our churches and to help you know a little about him I requested a sample of his preaching so that you our pastors can experience a little of his preaching. Below is an excerpt from one of his sermons. If you like what you read and would like to communicate with him contact the headquarters for more information.                    -                       C.I. Wilson

 

I do not subscribe to the notion that once saved we're always saved because it just isn't so. As a young man, I followed a preacher who preached that hell was hot and heaven was wonderful. My, now, brother-in-law, and I would accompany the preacher to downtown Fort Worth where he'd preach up one side of Fourth Street and down the other. I was convinced that he could've walked on water. Later on in life, the preacher became a boozer and a womanizer. To my knowledge, he was unrepentant at the time of his passing.

Jesus tells us in Luke 9:62: "No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."   

Does that mean if we back slide, we'll be lost forever? Not unless we refuse to repent.

In Mathew 18: 12 - 24, Jesus tells about the good shepherd who left his flock to search for the lamb who had strayed.

In summation, we must strive daily to walk the straight and narrow road that leads to God's throne. We should never look back for there's nothing worthwhile behind us. If you have stumbled and fallen, remember our Master is waiting with open arms to embrace and forgive you.

Mack Mitchell Jr.

March 25, 2017

This is a song that we heard about 2 or so years ago and my husband said that it described him very well. - C. I. Wilson

 

The old preacher man stood there in the pulpit

The church house was empty, almost

His eyes filled with tears, his mind filled with memories

Of not so long ago,

When the church house was full not one pew was empty

The altar was stained with saints tears.

As he stands there this morning sounds out the warning

Once again letting them know

 

There’s a heaven to gain

And a hell to shun

The way is still straight

There’s a race to be run

And you can live as you please

But you must pay the cost

 

And the highway to heaven still goes by the cross.

Some of his members thought he was old fashioned

Not willing to change with the times

So they found other churches more modern then Preacher’s

That were willing to let thing’s go by

But the old preacher stood for what he believed in

And what he had preached for 40 years

As he stands there this morning

In a near empty church house

The opening remarks are these words:

 

There’s a heaven to gain

And a hell to shun

The way is still straight

There’s a race to be run

And you can live as you please

But you must pay the cost

 

And the highway to heaven still goes by the cross.

            We make our life the way we want it by our actions and reactions.   When you serve God and strive to do His will (put His will before your will) in your life you will find that, more good things come your way and that your attitude changes for the better.  Some of us have a stubborn streak where we want our way no matter what and this hinders a blessed life. Where others actually reach out to God for change and this is something that helps a Christian grow faster.

            Some of us want our opinion to be known no matter whose feelings get hurt.  Others are quite and wait on hearing God's opinion about all things so they are growing faster.

            Some of us put other people down and themselves up with the attitude that 'I am better than you' which hinders a good working relationship with others.   Then there are those that listen to what others say with an attitude of 'Wow, that is a great idea" so they lift people up and God smiles on them.

            We have all seen and maybe even shown the bad attitudes that help keep the Blessings from God away.   God would love to see and hear each one of us with a spirit of humility, helpfulness, prayerfulness and a willingness to put God first in all areas of our lives.   With this type of person filling every church and taking God with them outside of the church - how happy would God be?

            How many of us would love to hear from God the way Jesus did the day He was baptized?   "And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."   Matthew 3:17 (KJV)

            One of these days if we are faithful to God and His will in our lives we will hear words like that.   At the Great White Throne of Judgment we will hear one of two decisions"

            Depart from me for I never knew you.

                                    or

            This is my beloved child, in whom I am pleased.

Which will you hear?   Only you can make that decision.   It is your choice to choose between living for God and living for Satan.   For a blessed life, even among trials and tribulations, you have to choose to live for God with your whole heart and spend your life pleasing Him.

 

            Heavenly Father, thank you for giving your son, Jesus, as the supreme sacrifice so that we can have the choice to make Heaven our home.   Please give each one of us a desire to serve you to the best of our ability.   Amen.

February 28, 2017

An old song states, ‘Those were the days.’ When I think of this, I think of a time when I was young in the Lord and how God moved in our midst. How God would come down and take over a service and have His Holy Way.

I hear people sometimes talk about what they have seen God do in a service. How people would pray and seek after God. How the services were not ruled by a time clock. They seemed to have more time. Time to fellowship, time to enjoy the Lord, friends and the people around them.

If God has not changed then we have. Maybe we need to look at our lives. Take stock of what we want and what we need. If we should look very hard, I think we will see that some of our needs are not needs at all. We will see them for what they are, only things we want, not have to have. God help us to be satisfied with our needs met by God’s grace. Then we will find more time for the important things. God. Family. Fellowship.

I remember when I first got saved; how God moved. I did not really know what all happened to me. I just knew I was changed on the inside, but not being raised in a church, it was all new to me. When I accepted Jesus as my Saviour that night, I stayed at the altar asking God to fill me full. I see so many go to the altar, stay a few minutes then get up and say they were saved. Then the next day they were right back doing the same old things. God give us altar workers, people who are willing to pray with souls at the altar. When I was praying the night I was saved there were brothers gathered around me, praying with me, for me, and encouraging me to stay till I got all God had for me. Therefore, I stayed, prayed, and received from God. Today we have no altar workers to encourage those praying, to let people know they are not alone. Some people do not even know how to pray, I did not. I am thankful for brothers in the Lord who helped me break through to a real touch from the Lord.

People are hungry for the love of God. They know that something is missing in their lives. They just do not know what it is. We know what it is, so why don’t we help them to find Jesus real in their life. There is nothing that can take the place of our altars in the churches and the altar workers who are concerned about the lost finding Jesus as their Saviour. Ask God to make you an effective altar worker, to give you a burden for the lost and dying souls.

Bro. David D. Wilson

Used by permission of the author from his writings of the past.