Winter 2023/2024

HOMECOMING

EDITOR

Ashley Ennis 1620 S. Hopewell Loop, Atkins, AR 72823 501.269.1144- ashley.ourherald@gmail.com

OFFICIAL BOARD

Chairman- Dee Jay Shoulders 707 Ronnie Rd., Madison, TN 37115 615.423.0040- djpreachit@bellsouth.net Vice-Chairman- Richard B. Burks 11900 Road 171, Philadelphia, MS 39350 601.656.7210- rbb4543@yahoo.com Secretary-Stacy Lisenbey PO Box 513, Plainview, AR 72857 479.393.8858- slisenbey@gmail.com

OFFICERS

WELCOME

Welcome to your Herald. A place to proclaim what the Lord is doing in His church and in His body of believers. This is the voice of our association, a chance to tell what we have seen and know to be true. We hope you feel at home here. Sit at the table and eat with us- there is something for everyone.

Our mission is to connect the body of Christ through fellowship, accountability, and shared resources to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world around us.

Ambassador at Large- Richard Humphreys 179 Millbrook St, Percy, AR 71964 870.310.1677- rickhumphreys2@yahoo.com Youth Director-Dee Stone PO Box 57, Plainview, AR 72857 479.272.4755- wiredwithjesus@gmail.com Missionary Secretary- Clifton Beecher 1887 Hack Brown Rd, Franklin, KY 42134 270.776.0902- clif.beecher@gmail.com Ladies Auxiliary President- Ashley Perry 180 Honeysuckle Road, Franklin, KY 42134 270.776-2219- ashperry08@yahoo.com Promotional Arm Director-Aaron Wojcik 132 Grindstone Dr, Gallatin, TN 37066 931.252.4212- aaronwojcik3@gmail.com

PRESBYTERS

Arkansas- Dennis Bledsoe 22660 130 Lot #28, Bryant, AR 72022 501.326.5411 calvin.bledsoe@outlook.com Kentucky- Stephen Perry 180 Honeysuckle Road, Franklin, KY 42134 270.293.1131 sgperry1981@yahoo.com Missouri- Travis Hollingsworth 3235 W. Madison St, Springfield, MO 65802 417.818.3109 moprecher@yahoo.com Mississippi- Antoine Stokes 1609 Robertson Rd, Louisville, MS 39339 662.803.3878 stokesantoine@yahoo.com

EDITOR'S NOTE The editor reserves the right to shorten, refuse and or hold any article, or part thereof that is deemed contrary to the spirit of the association.

The Editor and the A.B. of C. receive all articles in good faith, all authors are responsible for the authenticity and veracity of material they submit for publication in Our Herald. This magazine is published quarterly, the subscription price is $15.00 per year. Please contact the editor for any further information you may require.

Tennessee- Jonathan Denton 202 Lake Terrace Dr, Hendersonville, TN 37075 615.293.5530 jtdenton21@gmail.com

A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR The name of this issue is “Homecoming,” which might sound a little more like a high school dance than the theme for a ministry magazine, but it always amazes me to see how one word can be applied so many ways when it gets filtered through the different hearts and minds that make up the body of Christ.

One day soon and very soon we will move from having an earthly understanding of what it will be like to make Heaven our home, to the eternal reality of worshipping the One we adore in a world without end.

The book of Revelation describes the happenings around the throne room of Heaven. What a busy place it is. A room full of lightenings and thunderings and voices, with Jesus right at the center. “Those beasts” who stand around the throne never rest because they are continually voicing glory, “saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” I wonder if each time they say it, it is as though they could never say it enough. With each praise that echoes out of their mouths it must be like their cup is overflowing onto that sea of glass and washing its way right up to the feet of Jesus.

As soon as the sound of their praise hits the air, there is an immediate response from the elders who circle the throne. Those dignified elders hear the collision of truth as it meets Truth and they forget themselves. They forget they are special. They forget they are dressed in white and seated on thrones.

Instantly wanting nothing to do with anything that resembles self, they throw their gold crowns at the feet of the One who lives forever and ever because how could you sit beside Jesus and wear a crown?

The cover of this issue tells the story of every Christian that has ever come to Jesus. A life of bondage and then the freedom that comes from the living Word of God. It doesn’t matter the crime, Jesus paid it all.

Around the throne of Jesus, there is a rainbow. Rainbows are caused by the dispersion of light by rain or other water droplets in the air. When God set his bow in the clouds for Noah, He said “...I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature...” Perhaps He uses this same reminder in the throne room waiting patiently for the day He collects His bride.

The elders who cast their crowns speak His rainbow promise into the air, saying “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

I pray this issue causes you to think of going home in a myriad of ways, but while we wait let’s work, praise, and cast our crowns.

In everything, always, more Jesus,

I can see them lying there with their faces to the ground, full of anointing, covered in humility, driven to worship. This is the place they have chosen to spend eternity, not seated on a throne, but on the ground praising God.

I am available to minister and may be reached at 501.269.1144.

Editor’s Correction from last issue: In the Fall issue I labeled Emily Dunlap as Emily Lisenbey. She is married to Sam Dunlap, who is wonderful.

Ashley Ennis NEW SUBMISSIONS

Please send all new submission to: ashley.ourherald@gmail.com Spring 2023 Submission Deadline: February 12, 2024

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Please mail $15 check or money order to: Ashley Ennis 1620 S Hopewell Loop Atkins, AR 72823 Make check payable to: ABofC

CHAIRMAN'S CORNER PASTOR DEE JAY SHOULDERS "STAY ON THE WALL" Here is what I know according to Scripture…two are better than one. A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Lately I have been on a mission to see leaders from all walks of life lay down pressure and also lay down any and all unnecessary burdens when it comes to falling into the trap of comparison. As we know the Word plainly tells us that if we compare ourselves among ourselves we are not wise. I am also pushing hard to see people lay down any jealousy and envy and to realize all of these are distractions from the enemy to keep us off course.

Remember, it doesn’t necessarily take this sin or that sin to sidetrack you as it can be things such as I mentioned that can take you away from your God-appointed purpose. Sadly, it happened to some in the Bible. Whether it was Cain and Abel or Jacob and Esau or Leah and Rachel or Saul and David or the elder brother and the prodigal son…if it happened then it can happen to any of us now if we do not stay on point in our walk with God. We simply are too late in the game to be ignorant (unaware) of Satan’s devices. I literally beg you all…I plead with you all…I challenge you all…to not take that bait. Let God use you as He pleases and be content with that whatever it is and do not allow the adversary to get you off course with trivial things. None of us should be trying to out do—or out lead—(if you will) any other church or ministry.

If you are then it will lead to sad endings and miserable and frustrated outcomes. God has uniquely placed you in the kingdom as He saw fit and He wants you to get busy doing what He has called you to do and then to PRAY and to PULL for others. I read a quote yesterday that said this: "The worst part of success is trying to find someone who is happy for you, "...God has uniquely placed you in the kingdom

Be the someone who's happy for other people, not cynical and questioning.” I immediately said…AMEN AND AMEN in my spirit. I want to say the same to all of you today…put your hand to the plough and work for God and let Him provide the increase. Remember folks that the word speaks of thirtyfold and sixtyfold and hundredfold. We are in trouble when the thirtyfold is jealous of the hundredfold but we are also in trouble when the hundredfold looks down on the thirtyfold. Point being…all of them are needed.

God will not be measuring our ministerial success by how many we run or don’t run on Sunday morning. He looks for obedience. Paul gave us the ultimate example when he said, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” I encourage us all today…keep up the great work. Stay on the wall. Preach the word. But don’t forget about others. Don’t be so consumed with your ministry and the church or ministry you lead that you never have the time to check on others. There is someone somewhere who could use a call or a text or an encouraging word. None of us have arrived. Yes we are pressing towards the mark but we still have work to do and in this work we must have one another and everyone matters. Again this is not ministry vs ministry or a church vs another church (GOD FORBID). But this is ALL ABOUT JESUS and His finished work of the Cross. There is a world that needs us united and pulling in the same direction. Let’s allow God to work on our personal hearts to make that happen now more than ever.

as He saw fit and He wants you to get busy doing what He has called you to do and then to PRAY and to PULL for others."

Maybe today you are doing amazing and there are no issues in any area of your life or ministry and angels speak to you 24-7 and everything is rosy and if that’s the case we rejoice with you and I say enjoy that season and time like never before and thank God for it. But please know there are others who are not in that season and they could use a prayer and not judgment. They could use a pat on the back or a word fitly spoken and not any wonderings of what’s wrong with them.

Some people have simply not lived long enough nor served long enough to have walked those roads…….yet! But according to Jesus it rains on the just and the unjust and both the wise and foolish man faced storms.

It’s called life. Men like Paul, David, Elijah, Job…and yes even our ultimate leader Jesus Christ Himself faced some tough trials and storms and lived to tell about it and also to help us all. I write today men and women of God to say—GOD IS WITH YOU AND FOR YOU. And now He is calling us as Paul said to ‘Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

He then said… Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Wow..that’s perfectly said. I love—love—love you all—and I am pulling for ALL of you and not some of you. I want you all to see harvest and revival and souls added to the kingdom. I want your families blessed and your marriages blessed and your kids blessed and your grand babies blessed. I am praying that as I type this letter today.

The Starfish Story By: Loren Eiseley One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed boy picking up and gently throwing things into the ocean.

Approaching the boy he asked, “Young man, what are you doing?”

“Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die,” the boy replied.

The man laughed to himself and said, “Do you realize there are miles of miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make any difference.”

After listening politely, the boy bent down to pick up another starfish and threw it into the surf. Then, he smiled at the man and said, “I made a difference to that one.”

Ambassador-At-Large BRO. RICK HUMPHREYS "OUR WAY OF ESCAPE"

How many of us would give anything to escape the pressure of today’s world, the demands of life, or something or someone that just keeps nagging us? Everyone? That’s what I thought!

When David was a young and victorious man, he found himself the victim of a plot to kill him.

A jealous king and father-in-law set about to do away with him. The plan was made as to how to do it and was in execution, when the Bible says in 1 Sam 19:11-12, “Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal, David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain. So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped”. An escape avoided sure death. Surrounded, watched and waited for, David escaped! His wife helped him out of his ‘prison’. Death was avoided by being thoughtful, active and quick; surely the right plan of action avoided his loss of life.

In the midst of a world that was so wicked that God wished He had never made man, there was a man named Noah who found grace in the eyes of God. Noah listened to God tell him how to escape the judgment that was coming on the Earth because of all the sin. Noah was told to build a boat. Noah was given a specific plan for the boat to be built by. Laughed at, ridiculed, mocked, and made fun of, Noah kept on building! Rains poured, fountains of the deep opened up water rose, people drowned, but Noah and his family floated above the destruction coming on the Earth. The decision to listen to God and not the world’s sin and pleasure which is so deceptive caused Noah and his family to escape sure and certain death. The boat of life was available to all, but only eight souls were found in it when it was christened to float off.

Peter was captured and put in prison. Acts 12:1-10, “Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals.

And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him”.

Prayer by the church, and an answer from heaven brought angelic deliverance for a man in chains, bound between guards, determined to see to it that he was delivered unto death. The way of escape was prayer to an all powerful, all able, all delivering God! Today the world is a sea of sin. Evil abounds.

Good is spoken evil of and bad is spoken good of.

People can’t seem to determine by looking at themselves what their gender is. Wickedness lurks at every corner. Fear grips most people and worried looks wrinkle eyebrows. Fear not. The Lamb that took away the sin of the world has prevailed!

Judgment is coming on the sinfulness of this world. 2 Peter 3:10-12 says, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? How shall we escape the fire?”

Col 3:2-6 tells us to “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: Stay in Christ Jesus and live soberly, righteously, and holy in this present world of wickedness”.

2 Tim 2:19- 21 reminds us, “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his.

And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work”.

You must build your house in a certain fashion!

Eph 2:19-22 says, “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit”.

Build your house of escape on the Word of God, Jesus Christ. The chains of sin will be broken off.

And singing praise to God will cause the prison doors to open wide for your exodus. You will be ‘let down’ into the freedom of escape from sin and it’s bondage of darkness into the marvelous light of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the way of escape from the sure death of sin. He is the way, truth, and the life and His life is the light of men. Get in Christ, the boat of life, and rise above the sure death of this world at the end of time.

“Build your house of escape on the Word of God, Jesus Christ. The chains of sin will be broken off. And singing praise to God will cause the prison doors to open wide for your exodus.”

Dear Pastor or Church Secretary, The annual church dues of $300.00 are due by January 15th.

To be compliant with our By-Laws, as well as certain Federal and State regulations we are required to maintain an accurate roster of our affiliated churches, and file an annual report with the IRS every February.

Should your church be under the umbrella of the A.B. of C.?

First, know that the Associated Brotherhood of Christians does not believe in, nor condone lordship, official hierarchy or dictatorship over any affiliated ministry or church.

Each church is a local unit within itself. Being affiliated with the A.B. of C. does give your church distinct advantages and security. Your church will be recognized as a 501c(3) organization and have a tax-free status. Contributions made to your church are deductible by donors. Also, several grants and donations from corporations are available but only payable to a registered non-profit.

Secondly, with the current political climate and “woke” agenda we are simply stronger together. As an affiliated church, you will be a recipient of such blessings of legal protection as such the Association may bring to us.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

Please make your check payable to: Associated Brotherhood of Christians or A.B. of C. All minister’s dues, Offerings and Church Dues should be mailed to the following address: PO Box 513, Plainview, Arkansas 72857 In Jesus Name, Bro. Stacy Lisenbey / 479-393-8858

WOMEN+ MINISTRY KARLA SHOULDERS

We recently had the privilege to visit the state of Colorado. We’d heard about its beauty and knew we were in for a treat but let me tell you...words can’t describe the majestic landscape and endless scenery! We took a train ride up to Pike’s Peak where at the top we could see for hundreds of miles. We drove through part of the Rocky Mountain National Park and even enjoyed a beautiful snowfall on the way.

Absolutely breathtaking!

We took lots of pictures but kept repeating how those pictures won’t be able to accurately convey to our family and friends just how pretty it really is. You just have to see it for yourself.

Can you imagine how beautiful and indescribable Heaven will be? We’ve heard about it in God’s word. In Revelation we read about a city of pure gold, walls of jasper and gates of pearl.

Imagine that! If you’ve ever looked in a jewelry store at precious metals and stones and how small they are, who can even imagine a place that is built with these kinds of things?! And above all, we will see Jesus!

It’s exciting thinking about Heaven, and we should get excited but how much are we telling others about how amazing it’s gonna be? Are we sharing Jesus with those around us? Do we really want to take others with us?

I don’t want to get so settled here in this temporary home and my daily life that I forget what’s ahead. I want to share my excitement with those around me so they’ll have a chance to look forward to that beautiful, amazing and eternal home as well.

Just like when we returned from Colorado telling everybody how they have to go and see it for themselves, I want to get a new excitement about Heaven and work toward gathering some people to take with me! It will be worth it all!

PRODIGAL PRODIGAL PRODIGAL PRODIGAL THE PRODIGAL

more interested in receiving blessings from God than they are in being a servant of God. The truth is that when we realize the gift of salvation and the freedom Jesus purchased for us with his death, our desire for blessings of earthly possessions should diminish. A relationship with Jesus really is the best thing.

AARON WOJCIK PROMOTIONAL ARM DIRECTOR

One of the greatest and well known stories in the bible has to be the prodigal son. I know it’s one of my favorites. Everyone loves a story with a happy ending. It’s a story

of

redemption.

It’s

a

story

of

unconditional love. I’ve heard this story preached from about every angle possible and it works so well to speak so many different spiritual truths.

For me personally, this is a story of God’s love

for

me.

Maybe

everyone

you were raised in church and never your

wild

oats”

you

Now, from there we all know what happens. The prodigal chased after fulfillment that couldn’t be gained no matter how much he spent. In the end, his wealth ran out and he was left worse off than he’d ever been.

sees

themselves as the prodigal, or maybe if “sowed

The son demanded the father give him what was his.

Have you ever wondered why the father so willingly gave the son his inheritance? We see that the father’s nature is to allow us to choose Him. This is what make’s God’s love for us so amazing. He loved us enough to die for us, even if we never choose to acknowledge Him and love Him back. The prodigal’s choice in the moment was to prefer the blessings of the father’s wealth over a relationship with him.

don’t

necessarily feel very prodigally. The truth is that whether you cut your teeth on a church pew or not you are a sinner. For all of the new folks here, churches used to have to endure persecution in the form of wooden benches that they had to sit on during church meetings. The bible says our righteousness is like filthy rags. That means your best efforts at living right (your good days you want to post about) is like a nasty, stinky, filthy rag that someone just used to clean up ___________ (I feel like you can imagine worse than I can type here).

The path of the prodigal began with the idea that life was better away from the father. This idea was driven by the belief that he didn’t need the father - only his father’s wealth. Many Christians today are

Many people ask the question, “Why does God allow bad things to happen?” The story of the prodigal son is a great answer for that question. The father could’ve told the son no when he asked for his inheritance. The father knew that it was a bad idea and he knew that harm would come to his son. As a parent, I can’t imagine how hard it had to be for the father to knowingly put his son in harm’s way, but you can’t force someone to love you. For the son, the path of finding true love for the father had to be a long and bumpy one.

So the son ends up broken. He’s starving and has no hope. But then he remembers his father’s house. Now, just like us, he believes that because of his decisions, he doesn’t deserve his father’s forgiveness. He now looks at what he had before and sees it for what it was, but he believes that he can’t just go back to the way it was. He decides that he will work back up to it. So he comes up with a plan to earn back his father’s love. He decides to go home, but at this moment, he can only see his father through his own shame and condemnation.

This is a very real part of the story for me, because countless times, I’ve made the choice to follow after my own lusts even though I knew what I was walking away from. In the end, I felt a lot like the prodigal son…no I wasn’t starving, but I did feel like there was no way I could just go back to the intimacy I had with God before. So, I fell back on my knowledge of religion

and

formulated

the

perfect

combination of prayer, bible study, fasting, and church serving to be able to earn my way back into God’s good grace. But that’s just not how it works. The story shows us that.

I get emotional every time I read this story, because of the picture Jesus gave us of the father’s love for us.

No matter how many times we stray or choose to go our own way, He is constantly ready to receive us back with open arms. He doesn’t require that you work your way back to Him, even though that’s our natural inclination. His love for us is unconditional.

Don’t allow anyone to make you believe otherwise. I don’t believe the son would’ve understood this love if he hadn’t gone his own way. Likewise, we must see ourselves as this prodigal in order to truly appreciate the love that Jesus has for us. Understanding that love will change you. It will change the way you see Him. It will change the way you live. It will change the way you see your failures and it will change the way you see the failures of others. Let’s embrace this love He has for us and let’s share it with the world!

The son was trudging slowly up a hill on his way back to his father’s house. His eyes were down on the ground watching his feet, but his mind was rehearsing the speech he was going to make when he got back to his father’s house. He anticipated the anger on his father’s face.

The coldness in the room. He was probably working on a plan B in case his father wouldn’t even speak to him. But as he took step after step with his mind a thousand miles away, he suddenly hears footsteps right as he feels arms wrapping tightly around him. Before he can even pull

his

thoughts

back

to

what’s

happening in front of him, he sees his father’s face beaming. With tears in his eyes and a smile on his face, his father embraces him again. In shock, the son automatically starts to mumble out the only words he can manage - the ones he’d been rehearsing for hours. He starts to say

NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES WE STRAY OR CHOOSE

something about being a servant and

TO GO OUR OWN WAY, HE IS CONSTANTLY READY TO

sleeping in the barn when his father cuts

RECEIVE US BACK WITH OPEN ARMS. HE DOESN’T

him off with a yell towards the house. “My

REQUIRE THAT YOU WORK YOUR WAY BACK TO HIM,

son is home! He was lost, but he’s come

EVEN THOUGH THAT’S OUR NATURAL INCLINATION.

home!”

HIS LOVE FOR US IS UNCONDITIONAL.

WHAT ONCE WAS DEAD Lori Stevens SECRETARY OF ABOFC NATIONAL WOMEN’S MINISTRY

About four years ago, we bought two small sapling apple trees and planted them. They grew leaves and looked good all that year. The next year, they began to put on leaves and started off looking good, but then a late frost hit, and all the leaves withered and died. That year, those tiny trees stood bare. We figured they were dead but left them in the ground. Then the next spring we went out to dig them up so we could replace them, and when I got down to dig them up, I realized there were buds on the branches. Those two trees were not dead after all, and both came back that year and grew.

This spring they grew again. And got much taller this year. One of them isn’t doing as well. But God showed me something. Sometimes we write things off as dead when there is actually life. And not only life, but eventually, fruit will come forth.

Let’s take a look at Sarah. Abraham was given a promise in Genesis 17, Verses 15-19: “And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her. Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? And

Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee! And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.”

We see God change her name Sarai -my princess to Sarah -mother of nations. She was barren.

Abraham laughed at the idea of her bearing a child. How could it happen? He knew her womb was not only barren, but she was past the age of bearing a child. Her womb was considered dead. She was beyond the physical ability to bear a child. But God had a miracle ready.

In Genesis 18, Verses 11-14, we see the visit of the two angels who reminded Abraha of the promise: “Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.

Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”

Sarah heard this for herself, from the tent and laughed as well. How would this even be possible? The angels quickly pointed out that nothing is too hard for the Lord. The promise was real to her at last. Did hope spring up in her heart at that moment? Did faith arise and grow? There are other examples of barren women given a child when it looked impossible. Rachel, Hannah, the widow who helped Elijah, and Elizabeth. Each of these women should not have been able to have a child. In each of these we see they bore a child. And there was a restoration of life and bringing forth fruit. In most of these cases, that womb that was dead, brought forth life and that life bore fruit beyond expectation.

Sarah was truly blessed. She is the only women in the Bible whose age was mentioned and she was listed as a hero of faith. She became an example of what God can do with impossible situations.

Genesis 23:1 And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the years of the life of Sarah.

Hebrews 11:11-12 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

Sarah bore Isaac because she chose to believe in the Word of the Lord. I think in that moment, God had strengthened her, and a spark of hope became real faith. She knew Abraham had been told she would have a child, but when the angels spoke it and reminded her that nothing was impossible for God, Hope became faith. Not only did she bear Isaac, but she also became the mother of nations. Her child became the many nations.

Hebrews 11:1-3 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Faith in God for what seems impossible. That is what is needed. We all have situations or things that seem dead. It may be someone who has lost their way, a job or financial situation. It may be spiritual. It may even be a church. But what may appear and Christian," impossiblebytoA.W. meTozer and From "That dead Incredible you, God says will be alive and bear fruit. God has a promise for what many would see as dead.

In Ezekiel chapter 37, God led Ezekiel into a valley of dry bones and told him to speak and prophesy over these bones. What happened?

Life came back into these dry bones. God used Ezekiel to speak life into the dry bones and declare prophecy over the people of Israel. Read those last verses again.

Ezekiel 37:11-14 “Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord.”

God told Ezekiel to speak his word over the things that appear dead. We too need to speak the Word over what may appear dead. Call forth the life and spirit to revive in those lost souls and situations that only God can solve. I know a great example of a family member that most had written off. He was addicted to drugs for years and headed to an early grave. He literally died on an emergency room table in one of his worst moments. But God answered his parents’ prayers and called him forth. He was set free by the blood of Jesus, life restored and he became a worker for the kingdom. What was dead came to life and bore fruit in the Kingdom of God. Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

What we speak matters. When we speak the word of the Lord, it matters. God has a plan for all things. We can read many instances of God’s word being spoken and things change. When the disciples stood and spoke the word of the Lord, lives were changed, people were delivered and healed. Souls were saved. And yes, the enemy was angered. But God says power of death and life is in our tongue.

Isaiah spoke about speaking a word in season.

We have the ability to speak Word to those in need and in the right season.

8

Isaiah 50:4 “The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.”

thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,”

He has given us a tongue to use to speak encouragement and life into the weary soul.

We need to know His word and be ready to speak into the brokenhearted, the lost and the hurt. We need to be ready in season with the Word of the Lord.

The people prayed over Peter and John to be given boldness to speak the word of God in the face of every threat and attack. They went forth and reached souls for the kingdom of God. They boldly proclaimed Jesus into the dead lives around them.

When we pray over what seems dead, let us speak life. Let us have hope that grows into faith.

And see what God will do.

Peter and John had been questioned and threatened after healing the man at the gate of the temple. The high priests and threatened them not to speak of Jesus and let them go. They went back to the people and told them what had happened. This is

Those souls came to life and bore fruit. May we understand that we can speak life into situations.

When we pray and speak the word of God into and over the situations, God will bring forth life and bring forth fruit. What once was dead, will be made alive and fruitful.

their response.

Acts 4:24-29 “And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against

Psalm 119:172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.

When we pray over what seems dead, let us speak life. Let us have hope that grows into faith. And see what God will do. I pray that my tongue will speak His word boldly into the situations that most would proclaim as dead. I pray to honor the commandments of God because they are righteousness. What may appear dead will come to life and bring forth good fruit. Speak life.

met the Master. He who holds the wind in the palm of His hand. He who speaks things that are not as though they are. He whose arms can extend to touch eternity past and touch eternity future at the same time. We met Him …and He gave us a glimpse of our heavenly home…we are hungry for a homecoming to this place where we have never visited.

HOMECOMING PASTOR NATHAN LOWE I remember the chorus of a Southern Gospel song entitled “Going Home.”

Going home, I'm going home There is nothing to hold me here I've caught a glimpse of that Heavenly land Praise God, I'm going home.

There is a quote we have all heard, “you can never go home again.” Meaning, whether or not you want it to, time marches on. Even if you want things to stay the same. People change, your circumstances change, and you can't ever recreate the memories of your past. “You try to return to a place of your past but it will never be the same as it was.”

One thing is evident, the world’s view of a homecoming differs greatly from the believer’s view. The world views a “homecoming” as a place in their past, but the believer sees the homecoming as a place in their future.

We all have memories of our past that we would cherish an opportunity to revisit. To step back in time, oh my, what a dream. My grandmother moving around in the kitchen, the smell of baking biscuits, and other endless memories that can bring tears to our eyes. Tears of which we are uncertain if they are hurtful tears of pain, or joyful tears for precious memories. Those past events we can never revisit, never recreate, except in our memories.

As believers, we had a time in our life, when we

We are all traveling on a journey, to an eternal home. Jesus said it is a special place, lined with mansions, and especially designed for our arrival (John 14:1-3).

Years ago, all churches had what they called homecoming services. These services were special, they were the “red-lettered day” on the church calendar. It was a day to renew relationships with those whom they only saw annually and a time to meet new friends and family … of whom they had never met. It was “homecoming!” Negative memories and pain of loss were set aside on that day. It was worship time! Time to celebrate.

One day, what a celebration we will enjoy. The ultimate celebration will begin with the sound of a trumpet and the flight of a lifetime. Can you imagine how we will feel when we catch our first glimpse of New Jerusalem? Walls of jasper, gates of pearl, a street of pure gold, and a beautiful stream of life flowing behind our mansion. You may respond with, “That’s an imaginary dream.” If so, please don’t awaken me.

New Jerusalem! A place…YES…where I will meet new people at the ultimate homecoming. Imagine this, Jesus said I could sit down at the marriage supper with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I do not know them, but I have heard so much of their reputations. I will sit down with these honorary kingdom delegates. I do not believe I could say much on that day, I will feel very insignificant among these giants of faith. But I do want to say one thing,

I want to thank them for the legacy they left me, which gave me encouragement in my journey.

This is homecoming! I will see my family that went on before me. Those who said, “I must leave you for now, but I will see you soon.” What a day, it’s “Homecoming!” Hugs, laughter, rejoicing, and joy, but no tears. On “Homecoming Day” tears are not allowed. It is rejoicing time.

This is homecoming. I will see my parents look, my mother has no arthritis. My grandfather has no crutches. My father-in-law is walking upright, his physical deformities have been removed. No more pain! No more aging! No more death! No more sorrow! We have all come home to New Jerusalem. It is the day I have dreamed of all my life, it is the day my grandfather preached to me about, it is homecoming. All I can say is, I agree with the Queen of Sheba, “the half has never been told.” Preachers failed in describing it, testimonies had feebly come short in telling of its glory, “the half had not been told.”

Are you excited about this homecoming? Are you making arrangements to be there…and not be late?

John 14:1-3…Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

HOMECOMING Mary Lou Forrest The day is quickly approaching The homecoming is very near Those who still walk this earth Will unite with those held dear We are soon to see our Savior To look fully upon His face To hear Him say, “Don’t worry soul.

Come in and take your place.”

All struggles will be over As we pass through heaven’s gate We’ll stand before our maker There’s no longer need to wait The homecoming is not final Only the beginning of eternity The start of “hallelujahs!” ring

One day, what a celebration we will enjoy. The ultimate celebration will begin with the sound of a trumpet and the flight of a lifetime...You may respond with, ‘That’s an imaginary dream.’

If so, please don’t awaken me.

for the One from Calvary I can almost see the banquet spread full for saints of old I hear the sound of choirs sing in praises loud and bold, “We’ve finally ran the race.

Praise God, we’re almost home!”

PREACHERS

FOR LIFE

Retired Arkansas Senator, Eddie Joe Williams, is making a difference in the lives of prisoners by helping them find purpose as ministers of the gospel.

Bro. Eddie Williams attends New Life Fellowship in Sheridan, Arkansas with Pastor Steve Cypert.

I was raised in a small town in south Arkansas in a community called Slabtown where we attended church in an old abandoned service station.

On Sunday mornings Brother Coy Harper would come to church early to fire up an old 55-gallon

barrel stove which inevitably sent wasps flying everywhere. I remember being a six-year-old boy watching my pastor, Brother Tommy Cypert, who at the time was a young man driving from Little Rock to preach to a small crowd of 15-20 in an old abandoned service station. Times were simple, but we loved the Lord.

The foundation of my life was laid by people like Brother Tommy Cypert, Brother Onstead, Brother Penrod, Brother Samuel Johnson, Brother Marvin Thomas, Brother Joe Walker, Brother Dillard, and my current pastor, Bro. Steve Cypert...the list could go on and on.

Long story short, he did it through moral rehabilitation. He knew Jesus could change the prison system with the gospel. He attributed this change to a single phone call.

After his first execution, his mother called and asked if the man who had just been put to death was saved. That question changed everything. Warden Cain was responsible for the execution of this man and he never took the time to ask about his soul. That was the beginning of his journey to bring moral rehabilitation to “Bloody Angola.” I listened to his testimony and caught the vision to bring this program to Arkansas.

That was seven years ago and this past May we graduated 19 fully accredited ministers of the gospel. We now have a fully accredited 4-year Bible college located inside the walls of Varner Max prison, near Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

God has so richly blessed me and my family, from attending church in the abandoned service station where life was simple, to serving the President of the United States. Again, God has so richly blessed me. The foundation that was laid has never cracked. While serving as the Mayor of Cabot and then as an Arkansas State Senator, never once did I forget where I came from. Living a Godly life has its rewards here in the present life today.

After retirement (for the third time), I had a hunger to do more for the Lord. I knew it was time to give back. As a State Senator and Chairman of the State Agency Committee, part of my preview was the Arkansas Dept. of Corrections, otherwise known as “the state prisons.”

I was invited to attend a seminar in New Orleans on prison reform and heard a speaker by the name of Burl Cain who was the warden of Angola State Prison in Angola, Louisiana. He talked about how he helped change the culture of the prison from the most dangerous “Bloody Angola” to one of the safest prisons in America.

Above: The first graduating class of Arkansas Prison Seminary

Most of the inmates are serving life without parole. The reason we select inmates serving life without parole is because we are equipping them to go back into the prisons and preach the gospel for the rest of their lives. The inmates go to college for four years full-time and receive a fully accredited Bachelor’s Degree in Biblical Studies. I give all the credit for this achievement to men like Brother Tommy Cypert and others who have played such an important part in my life.

On November 6th, we will break ground to build a schoolhouse. Currently, there are two classes with a maximum of 50 students graduating, approximately 25 or so every other year. The vision was to have 100 Bible students and to graduate 25 each year. The problem was room to expand. Keep in mind this is inside the fence of a maximum prison where the worst of the worst

are housed, but no matter the crime they have committed there is one thing they have in common with you and me...they have a soul.

They need the gospel. Each field minister after graduation will be placed in groups of two back into the prison system across Arkansas to live a and preach the gospel for the rest of their lives.

Arkansas currently has approximately 17,000 inmates in the system and they ALL need the Gospel.

How can you help? First and foremost pray for the ministry and the ministers, and you can help with a sponsorship of an inmate or a half scholarship to attend college. A scholarship for one student is $4,000 per year. Keep in mind no tax dollars can be used to pay for the college. We have full-time professors who work every day in the prison to teach classes. I know it might seem like a mountain, but to Jesus all things are possible. Nobody thought seven years ago we would be successful, and to be honest I never thought when I was sitting in an old, abandoned service station on a homemade church pew in a small community in south Arkansas, that I would one day serve President Trump. All things are possible if you believe and stay in God's will.

Remember, all 17,000 inmates have a soul and will stand before Jesus one day as we will stand before Him and give account for the talents he gave us.

One Sunday after speaking at a church, a lady came up to me and gave me a $10 bill, a $5 bill, and three $1 bills with some change. She looked at me and said, “This is all I have but please use it for the prison work.” I really didn’t want to take the money but she insisted. As I walked away God spoke to me and said, “I’ve never asked you to give all you’ve got.” The dear sister will never know how her words changed my life.

God bless you all.

Above: Pastor Steve Cypert and Bro. Eddie Joe teaching at the Bible College; Materials being delivered for the new school building; Bro. Eddie in conversation with students.

Please feel free to contact me at goeddiejoe@gmail.com if you would like to help. Also, I would be honored to speak about this ministry to your churches.

From the NLT:

2 Corinthians 12:9-10: “And He said to me, ’My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” KJV

”Each time he said, “My grace is all you need.

My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

The world sees natural strength as a demonstration of character. God sees the opposite. Only when we are weak can we be made strong. Only when we are yielded vessels can the power of His Spirit work in our lives.

In this statement by the Apostle Paul Christ is assuring him He would support Paul in all his afflictions and trials; that he would not suffer him to sink exhausted under his trials; that he had nothing to fear.

Only when we are yielded to Him will God be able to fill us with His power and accomplish His will through us. It’s only by God’s Spirit that His will can be done.

Zechariah 4:6

It is when we are conscious that we are feeble, and when we feel our need of aid, that our Christ our Redeemer will manifest his power to uphold us in and through what trials, troubles, difficulties, afflictions, attacks we may experience in our walk with Him. God Uses the Weak God manifests his greatest power through weak instruments, so that the power may show itself more clearly to be his.

1 Corinthians 1:27 “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.”

We can see throughout the Bible where God use ”the weak things of the world in order to confound the things that are mighty and “the foolish things to confound the wise.”

Moses used a staff to command the hand of the Lord. (Exodus 4:20) Samson used a jawbone to kill a thousand men. (Judges 15:15) David used a smooth stone to kill a giant. ( 1Samuel 17:40) Jesus fed five thousand with only five barley loaves. (John 6:9-11) The widow baked a handful of flour and oil that fed Elijah and her family for weeks.(I kings 17:12) According to the Bible, it’s through the weakness of man and the foolish things of the world that God’s power can be seen.

This is saying that God’s power can work through us only when we reach the end of ourselves and only when we realize that we can’t depend on our own natural strength.

“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the LORD of hosts.”

Jesus Is Our Example Jesus is the supreme example of “strength through weakness.”

He was born in a stable in a small unknown town called Bethlehem.

He was born in a poor family. Joseph being a humble uneducated carpenter.

He was raised in the town of Nazareth as small isolated town of less than 200 people. John 1:46 "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"

He wasn’t raised in a well-know family, and he wasn’t brought up in an important city or country, yet He was the King of kings, the King of the universe and creator of all things.

He certainly demonstrated that God’s power can be seen through the foolish and weak things of the world.

The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 13:4 that Christ was crucified in weakness.

2 Corinthians 13:4 “For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.”

The key is that “weakness” in this context does not mean feebleness or inability, but rather a total relinquishment to God, a total yielding and openness to His will. According to the Bible “weakness” means freedom from self, freedom from what others think, freedom from our circumstances, allowing a total reliance upon Christ. It means being cleansed of all Above: The first graduating class of Arkansas Prison Seminary

known sin and self, so that He can be strong through us.

It’s only through weakness that God’s divine empowerment can be experienced. This divine empowerment comes through God’s Spirit.

Acts 1:8 “… you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;…”

The word power here is the Greek word dunamis, meaning “miraculous ability”.

O what a Savior, O hallelujah His heart was broken on Calvary, His hands were nail scarred His side was riven He gave His life-blood for even me.

Until our souls are broken and we empty ourselves of our only natural strength they will continue to influence, lead and direct us. It is only through yielding and through brokenness that God’s power can be seen. Our selfconfidence and self-dependence must be exposed and confessed and then replaced with God - confidence and God-dependence.

Philippians 4:13

God’s dunamis power, if allowed to accomplish its mission, would lead us first to repentance, then to surrender, and ultimately to being an overcomer bearing fruit. As a result of this total yieldedness to God, we will be able to handle situations we never thought possible, endure circumstances we never could have withstood in the natural, and fight the enemy we never dreamed possible.

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

All self-esteem ( I like what I do and what I am) must be yielded and replaced with Godesteem ( I like what God does through me and what He makes me). Remember, It’s not what we can do for God, but what God will do through us if we surrender our will to Him.

Self-Emptying Galatians 2:20 God is not looking for capable and self-sufficient believers. He is looking for broken, submissive, and humble believers. Remember, Jesus was rejected, betrayed, and then killed. But His humiliation led to His exaltation.

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Philippians 2:5-8 Conclusion “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

The word “reputation” - Kenoo - which means “to empty”. Christ emptied Himself of the glory that He had as God and took upon Himself the form of a servant and became obedient unto death on the cross for our sins.

The secret purpose of the Christian life is to be totally surrendered to Him so that His Spirit of power can direct our lives. By this we will be made, overcomers and will inherit His Kingdom. The secret is God’s power working through us. It’s the key. God will give power to the faint and to them that have not might He will increase their strength.

Isaiah 40:28-29s Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary.

His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.

FOR WE WALK

BY FAITH If you ask Pastor Ronald Owens the secret to his strength, he will tell you it is his dependency on God, the stability of his marriage, and the love of his congregation.

He and Sis. Tracie are what you might call a “power couple.” No, they aren’t writing legislation in Washington D.C. or making movies in Hollywood, they are simply living a life that relies solely on the mercy of God. Pastor Ron was born with a genetic eye disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) which caused him to lose his sight in his late twenties. He says if it weren’t for Jesus he might have had opportunity to give into bitterness and resentment about losing his vision. Sis. Tracie recalls a time before they were married when the Lord intervened on Pastor Ron’s behalf, “Years ago when we were dating, I prayed so hard for him to get his eyesight. God revealed to me that he needed his heart opened more than he needed his eyesight. One day a lady invited him to church and he was saved. When he was younger he went through a hard time. A minister called him out, put his hand over his heart, and told him, ’I know you struggle with your blindness, but you see more with your heart than any person can see with their eyesight.’”

At 52, the Lord called that young man, whose heart he had ministered to many years before, as the shepherd of Jessieville Jesus Name Church. What some might see as weakness, his congregation sees as strength.

Pastor Ron knows the value of a life lived humbly before the Lord, “I don’t judge on the outward appearance as much as if I had eyesight. I rely more on other avenues of discernment. I listen a lot better. It has taught me how to follow the leading of the Spirit. We can put on a pretty good front as far as people go, but because I can’t judge on what I see, I tend to look at things deeper. I want to yield myself just to be used. We get hung up on what other people look at and judge, ‘how people see me,’ and I don’t look to that as much as some other folks would.

I depend on God to guide the church. There is nothing I can do. I lean completely on Him. God didn’t come to save bodies, He came to save souls. God doesn’t depend on our bodies to get the job done.

The woman at the well came with less than nothing and left with everything. That’s the way I feel about myself. She had a good reason to be resentful and cautious and yet Jesus didn’t give up on her.”

Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

10:10 SPIRITUAL John “The thief comes only to steal and kill and WARFARE destroy; I have come that they may have life, PASTOR MATTHEW HUDDLESTON (MISSIONARY TO MEXICO)

Have you ever had a bad week? Most of us have.

The beauty about how God created days is that every day is different. You never experience the same day twice. When we think about spiritual warfare, the first thing that usually comes to mind is casting out demons. However, this is only part of warfare. In reality, much warfare starts in our mind, within our thought processes. If you believe you´ve been defeated then you are.

Statistics show that preachers are quitting at an all-time high and missionaries are dying off. As I look around I don't see my generation running with the baton for the faith.

Many feel they simply do not have the grit to be steadfast in the faith leading the charge. They have already convinced themselves of defeat.

The enemy doesn't have to do anything.

and have it to the full.”

Song of Solomon 2:15 “Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes.”

The Bible often uses picture language to help us understand deeper lessons.

Foxes appear to be innocent but are actually crafty, clever animals. We may think that a beautiful little fox stealing a few grapes isn’t that harmful, but it can surprisingly do a lot of damage. When grapes are first starting to grow, they are delicate and easily snapped off the vine and destroyed.

I believe we have become very accepting of problems, situations, and circumstances, and failed to realize that we are in spiritual warfare.

Spiritual Warfare doesn't start with one huge attack that will take you out right away. But, more like little attacks to make you more accustomed and relaxed in your

We must first win the battle of our mind, so that we can then face the external darts that are thrown our way.

spiritual walk with God, mostly not realizing the big destruction that is ahead of you.

I truly believe people in this day and time are facing more spiritual Warfare in their homes.

Spiritual Warfare is taking place in marriages, kids' attitudes, and the friends that surround them.

I'm not sure if spiritual attacks are more prevalent now than they ever have been, or if I am more aware of my surroundings.

My eyes have been open to what Satan is trying to do.

WE ARE NO LONGER AWARE, WE HAVE BECOME ACCEPTING AND RELAXED… Now we say… "It's the times we live in" “To each their own” “Yes and NO”

Spiritual Warfare doesn't start with one huge attack that will take you out right away. But, more like little attacks to make you more accustomed and relaxed in your spiritual walk with God, mostly not realizing the big destruction that is ahead of you.

Hosea‬‭4:6‬‭NKJV‬‬ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

I'm not saying every little thing is a spiritual attack or warfare.

We are destroyed due to a lack of knowledge.

Example… If we have a new car and we don't check or change the oil for 5 years and the motor blows up, it's not the devil's fault.

From the lack of knowledge and not reading the manual on how to properly care for the car which had great value is now destroyed and without value.

Now is not the time to be relaxed, relying on past years' sermons. We must take account of ourselves. Be sober, be vigilant. No accepting anything Less than what God intended for his kingdom and people.

We must rise.

Names in the Bible

Aaron, Abraham, Absalom, Adam, Angels, Benjamin, Cain, Elijah, Elisha, Esau, Esther, Ezekiel, Gabriel, Isaac, Jacob, James, Jared, Jesse, Jesus, Jethro, Joel, Jonah, Jonathon, Joseph, Joshua, Judah, Lucas, Luke, Malachi, Mathew, Micah, Moses, Naomi, Noah, Obadiah, Phillip, Rachel, Rueben, Ruth, Salome, Samuel, Seth, Silas, Stephon, Tabitha, Tamar, Timothy, Vashti, Zilpah

THE CHRISTIAN ACCENT We all have some kind of accent from the area we come from. We all have a similar accent to the people we’re around all the time. We are all born into a people that have an accent of that area, and when we stay with them we keep that accent.

I have been born again. God has provided all of us a way to get a new birth. Jesus told Nicodemus in the Bible, he had to be born again to enter the kingdom of God. When we truly get born again we have died to this world and become a new creation in the kingdom of God. As we grow as a born again Christian, we take on a new accent by acting and talking like a Christian. When we’re really born again we will think like a Christian and that’s where our actions and words come from. When we really get born again like Jesus said we have to do everyone will recognize the difference by our Christian accent and our Christian lifestyle.

I’M STILL PRAISING YOU Hallelujah! Hallelujah! I’m so glad to say that even though there may come hindrances, I plan to always be Still Praising You, Still Praising You. I want to always go to bed praising my Lord and to always get up Still Praising You. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. You’ve done so much for me, I can never Praise You too much. I can never Praise You too much. It doesn’t matter if start now and Praise You forever, that still won’t be too much. I desire and I want to keep on and on, Still Praising You for all the good things You’ve done for me and especially all the prayers You’ve answered for me. I Thank You for saving my soul. I Thank You for giving me the opportunity to get Born Again after all those years of needing You and not really knowing what I needed. Jesus, You made a brand new me out of the old messed up me that I was. I Thank You, I Thank You, I Thank You and I will be Still Praising You as long as I’m breathing.

GOD IS GOOD DOUGLAS FARMER

IN TONGUES! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! It’s so awesome to be able to speak in tongues, pray in tongues, or sing in tongues, anytime and anywhere we want to or need to. Speaking in tongues is the ability to let our soul speak directly to God. Speaking in tongues bypasses our flesh’s understanding unless God gives us the interpretation and Satan never understands what we’re speaking, praying, or singing in tongues.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! When we’re speaking, praying, or singing in tongues we can do it out loud or silently anywhere. I’ve sung and prayed in tongues while walking in a crowded mall with other music playing in the background.

I’ve sang and prayed in tongues while walking in the park. I’ve sang and prayed in tongues while driving my car. I’ve sang and prayed in tongue in church while others are singing a congregational song.

The closer the relationship we have with God, the more we should want to communicate with Him, and when we’re filled with the Holy Ghost we can do it anytime and anywhere.

I love speaking praying and singing in tongues to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as much as He let me.

DOES YOUR COLLEGE STUDENT OR HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR NEED HELP PAYING FOR SCHOOL?

The Helen Jane Scholarship

The Helen Jane Scholarship is a scholarship of up to $500 a semester. This scholarship is awarded in the Fall and Spring semesters and is available for a student enrolled in a two-year, four-year, or technical college.

Students must be: (1) the child or grandchild of an ABofC licensed minister or (2) a member of a church whose pastor (or church) is affiliated with the ABofC.

The scholarship is non-renewable, but students may reapply every semester.

Applicants must complete the scholarship application and have one letter of recommendation from a current/past employer, teacher, school administrator, or minister/youth minister/church leader (non-relative) who can attest to the applicant’s strength of character.

The Helen Jane Scholarship was established in honor of Sis. Helen Jane Mink to help students who feel led to expand the kingdom of God through their work and ministry.

To receive an application packet for the Fall 2024 semester email: ashley.ourherald@gmail.com

by MAY 12, 2024

AND IF I GO AND PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU, I WILL COME AGAIN, AND RECEIVE YOU UNTO MYSELF; THAT WHERE I AM, THERE YE MAY BE ALSO. John 14:3