MPOWERMENT
A First Church of God Publication | Issue 28
satisfaction in a busy World
Beloved, I pray that you are walking in Divine Favor in every area of your life. One of the most challenging places to be in life is that place called, in-between. All of us have been there and we can all testify it is not an easy place to navigate and it is not a favorite place to be. I suppose that one reason In-between is so challenging is because we are neither where we started or where we are going. In-between is that place between departure and destination and it is a place we must navigate carefully. As we come to the end of one year and the beginning of another, we find ourselves in an in-between place, closing one year, commencing another. Let me suggest what we might be able to do as we move through this time. • Be grateful - thankful for all that has been • Be guarded - mindful of our actions and decisions • Be guided- allow God to order our steps and direct our path. Know that I am praying with and for you.
Blessings - Bishop
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The Bishop Speaks
- Bishop Timothy J. Clarke
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Empowerment Issue #28
Bishop Timothy J. Clarke Executive Publisher & Chief Executive Officer
Brother Edmund Davidson Publisher
Sister Deborah Thompson Editor
Sister Qwinita Bell Contributor
Sister Michelle A. Sutton Contributor
Brother Carlin Armstead Contributor
Sister Villia Davidson Senior Advisor
Attention Want to EMPOWER others? We are looking for writers, reporters, editors, and graphic artists to spread the Word! Please contact brother Edmund Davidson at edavidson67@gmail.com for more information.
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EMPOWERMENT
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satisfaction in a busy World by Adam Mabry
We’re told this is going to be the year when you—yes you—get fit, or save money, or eat healthy, or start reading, or stress less. Hey—this is the year when you can do all those things. New year, new you.
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Or perhaps, as Christians, our aspirations for the year ahead take on a different hue. I want to be more present with my family, stop sniping at my housemate, love people better, and love God more. Anything is possible. Until, of course, it isn’t. As much as I might have been inspired by yet another viewing of Ebenezer Scrooge’s dramatic overnight transformation in A Christmas Carol (the Muppet version, of course), I can’t seem to get the magic to work on the night of December 31 in quite the same way. Estimates claiming that as many as 80 percent of people will have given up on their resolutions by the end of January suggest I’m not the only one. The truth is, you won’t wake up on January 1, 2025, as a different person. But you could on January 1, 2026. That’s the slow but significant process of sanctification.
of our lives where we experience a near-instantaneous old-self to newself transformation in our struggle against sin. But in God’s wisdom, that’s not how it normally works. Instead, we continue to “work out [our] own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12) as we’re changed gradually “from one degree of glory to another” (2 Cor. 3:18). And in the slowness of the process—as we fail and repent and renew our resolve on repeat—we glimpse God’s patience. Sanctification Is Significant Sanctification may be slow and sometimes hard to observe, but it’s significant. In the Spirit’s power, we really can change. Discipleship is what Eugene Peterson described as a “long obedience in the same direction”—which means that if we keep going, over time, we end up in a very different place.
My 4-year-old nephew changes imperceptibly from month to month Sanctification Is Slow when I visit. But when I look back on Sanctification—the process of becoming more and more like Jesus photographs and videos from a year ago, the difference is unmistakable— over the course of our Christian he’s become more articulate, more lives—can seem painstakingly slow. capable, and somehow simply more God could’ve designed it so we’d him. The same is true as we grow up be zapped on day one to sinless perfection, without any fleshly desires into our salvation as God’s children. or affectional deficits. But in his That means on January 1, 2026, you wisdom, he didn’t. can be a new you: a version of you who’s more “renewed in knowledge To be sure, we’re no longer slaves after the image of [your] creator” to sin (Rom. 6:18). There’s a sense in which we have been sanctified (1 Cor. (Col. 3:10), or two or three degrees more glorious than you are now (2 6:11). And there may well be areas
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Step by Step The new you of 2026 starts today. The difference between a 3-year-old and a 4-year-old might be striking, but it takes a whole lot of snacks and story times to fuel the growth.
from—a long-lapsed Bible reader, for example, may be wise to begin small and build up, rather than attempting to go straight into full Murray M’Cheyne mode from a standing start. But don’t let this be another year where you know all this stuff would be good for you but somehow never quite get around to actually doing it.
So too with sanctification. Our growth in holiness will be helped by harnessing the power of everyday habits. So in the coming year, among whatever else you set as your goal, resolve to embrace afresh the ordinary means of grace God has provided you.
Your habits may not look dramatic. But the fruit will follow. So look with hope to the slow but significant change God wants to work in you in this next year—and imagine what he can do with 20 years. In his grace and by his power, the change can be unmistakable: next year, new you.
Cor. 3:18). More loving, more wise, and somehow simply more you—more the person God created you to be.
• Resolve to read God’s Word: hearing his voice, beholding his character, and seeking to do what he says. • Resolve to pray: sitting in his presence, giving thanks for his goodness, and uplifting your concerns.
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Do your best (study) to present yourself to God as one • Resolve to press into church approved, a worker who does community: sitting under not need to be ashamed and the preaching of God’s Word, who correctly handles the worshiping with the saints, bearing word of truth. their burdens, serving and being served in word and deed.
Most of us will be helped by structure—some concrete plan for how we’ll turn our aspirations into actions. We’d also benefit from being conscious of where we’re starting
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2 Timothy 2:15 New King James Version
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Taking A Scriptural Glance at Mone
in a World of Wealth, Poverty, and by Carlin Armstead
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ey, Generosity, and Justice
d Economics
The Bible offers a balanced understanding of wealth, poverty, and economic justice — one that transcends time and culture. In Scripture, money is not portrayed as evil, but as a tool revealing the heart’s posture toward God and others. Through both prosperity and scarcity, God shapes character, tests integrity, and calls His people to live with compassion, generosity, and justice. Stewardship of Wealth: A Divine Trust Scripture teaches that wealth is a divine trust, not a personal entitlement. Proverbs 13:22 declares: “A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.” This verse reminds us that true wealth goes beyond material possessions and encompasses legacy, integrity, and generational impact. God expects His people to build systems of blessing that reach beyond their lifetime, ensuring that prosperity serves both present and future generations. At the same time, 1 Samuel 2:7 humbles us with this truth: “The Lord sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts.” Wealth and poverty are under God’s sovereignty, and each condition offers a spiritual test. Those blessed with abundance are called to generosity, while those facing lack are invited to trust in God’s provision. In both, God is at work shaping faith and dependence upon Him.
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Poverty and Faith: God’s View of Values In the world’s eyes, wealth is power. But James 2:5 reveals a divine reversal: “Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?” Poverty, in God’s economy, is not a mark of failure but a platform for grace. The poor often display faith by depending fully on God’s provision. The Apostle reminds believers that spiritual riches outweigh material gain. Those who have few possessions can still enrich others through love, wisdom, and faith. Generosity and Justice: The Call to Economic Integrity Wealth must never come at the expense of justice. Proverbs 22:16 warns, “Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.” God doesn’t honor systems that exploit the vulnerable or favor the powerful. True prosperity aligns with fairness, generosity, and ethical responsibility. In Luke 4:17-19, Jesus declares His mission with words that echo economic liberation:
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“The Spirit of the Lord is on me. . . to proclaim good news to the poor. . . to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” This passage affirms that the Gospel has social, economic, and spiritual dimensions. Jesus’ ministry was not only about saving souls but restoring justice — calling for systems that value human dignity and restore balance in society. Applying these teachings today means embracing stewardship over selfishness and justice over greed. Churches and individuals alike are called to use resources for empowerment — creating opportunities, supporting fair wages, and uplifting communities.
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Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.
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- Proverbs 19:17
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Blessings
We Get
From Serving
1 Corinthians 12 compares the church to a human body. Just like our bodies are made of many parts serving specific functions, the church is made up of people with different skills and abilities. Alone these pieces aren’t very useful, but together we create something beautiful. 2. Serving allows us to experience miracles.
by Veronica Sexton In John 2, Jesus was at a wedding
We all want our lives to matter. It’s the reason we do the things we do. We chase promotions and leadership positions because we want to make a difference. We encourage our kids to go to college, get a good job, and make lots of money, in hopes that they, too, will make a difference. There’s nothing wrong with wealth or influence, but those things alone won’t change the world and they aren’t what we were made for.
and the couple was running out of wine for its guests. He tells the servants to fill several big jars to the brim. When they served the water to the guests, it was wine! The guests never knew what happened; the servants were the ones who witnessed the miracle. The same is true for us when we serve. 3. Serving allows us to experience the joy and peace that comes from obedience.
1 Peter 4:10-11 says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have We were made to build the church received to serve others, as faithful (Ephesians 4:11-13). God made stewards of God’s grace in its various each one of with unique talents, forms... so that in all things God may personalities and skill sets. And when be praised through Jesus Christ.” we ask Jesus into our lives, we’re Serving is a form of worship, a way to given at least one spiritual gift. We get express gratitude for what Jesus has the most joy and make the biggest done for us, and to share the love difference when we use our Godand grace we've been given. given talents, gifts and abilities to build the church (Ephesians 4:14-16). 4. Serving helps us to be more like Jesus. 1. Serving allows us to discover and develop our spiritual gifts.
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We shift our focus off of ourselves
onto others through serving. We begin to see others as Jesus sees them. And we see Jesus IN others (Matthew 25:40). 5. Serving surrounds us with other Christians who can help us follow Jesus. When we’re working side by side with other people, a bond inevitably forms. This was part of God’s plan for how the church is supposed to work. That’s why Hebrews 10:24-25 instructs us to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together… but encouraging one another.” 6. Serving increases our faith. As we move out of our comfort zones, God increases our faith by revealing new potential — in ourselves and in His Church. When we see what He can do when His power is at work within us, we begin looking for the doors He’s opening rather than pushing our way through the one’s He’s closed (Ephesians 3:20). 7. Serving allows us to experience God’s presence in new ways. Encouragement and healing go hand in hand. As we encourage others and they find healing, we’re encouraged. It’s the reason so many people who go on mission trips say they came home feeling like they got more than they gave.
8. Serving is good for your soul. Studies have shown that volunteering is so good for the mind and body that it can ease symptoms of stress and depression. Tapping into our gifts and passions builds self-confidence, energy, and strength. Serving others can also be the best distraction from our own worries. We make all sorts of rational explanations for not serving: ...I don’t have time. ...I don’t know what I would do. ...I don’t have any special skills to contribute. ...They don’t need me. But the reality is the Lord doesn't call the equipped; He equips the called. God used men and women with similar doubts to change the course of history. Moses didn’t think he was a leader or speaker, but God worked through Moses to bring Israel out of slavery. David was the youngest (and therefore most insignificant) of all his brothers, but God worked through David to defeat a giant and eventually made him a king. Paul used to kill Christians before he met Jesus, but he went on to become one of the most highly-regarded and prolific writers/church planters in history.
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