Faith Without Deeds is Dead

James 2:14-26

•14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
• 19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
• 20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[d]? 21Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"[e] and he was called God's friend. 24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
• 25In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
Jubilee Family Church

Kindred Spirit

Have you ever met someone and felt like you've known them for a long time? I had that experience today with someone I just met. It's interesting how Timothy and Paul had that kind of relationship and Paul makes note of it in Philippians Chapter 2. Check it out from the Amplified

Philippians 2:19,20 Amplified Bible

19But I hope and trust in the Lord Jesus soon to send Timothy to you, so that I may also be encouraged and cheered by learning news of you.
20For I have no one like him [no one of so kindred a spirit] who will be so genuinely interested in your welfare and devoted to your interests.

Timothy picked up the Spirit that was on Paul and caused a kindredness between the two of them. I believe that Timothy took Paul at his word when Paul said, "Follow me as I follow Christ". So often we want a double portion of the anointing but we're not willing to go through the servanthood necessary to receive that anointing. We think, "If I could just get to the meeting where such and such is ministering and he'd lay his hands on me, then I'd get their anointing." I believe there is an element of truth in that but the double portion came upon Elisha because he passionately served the man of God in his life, Elijah. When you have relationships like these they are very precious. I'd encourage you to guard them with all your abilities. Someone that has the same spirit you have can walk with you, help you, receive help from you, and even finish your thoughts for you. Things will move forward in God's kingdom faster when we are all in one mind and one accord. This oneness of thought allows us as God's chosen people to be much more effective to accomplish God's purposes in the Earth.
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Work Day at Jubilee Family Church

It's that time of year again. Patricia and I were discussing two work days that are scheduled for May 3rd and May 10th. We want the church to look sharp for Mother's Day. I want to get the foyer and hallways repainted downstairs as well as get some mulch laid around our shrubbery and trees. If you've got something you'd like to contribute in the way of work or ideas I'd be happy to respond to your comments. If everyone gets involved the work will be very manageable and rewarding. Thanks for all your help. It would be great to get our volleyball net put up. Our parking lot also needs to be resurfaced. I've got a bid from a local company but we may be able to do it ourselves and save some money.
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The Floods in Independence County Arkansas

I believe that God is ultimately in charge of what happens with the weather and sometimes "natural" events are the work of God. This is definitely demonstrated in the Bible at different times. God used earthquakes, floods, fire, rain, drought etc. and would prophetically speak through his man of God to the people who would use natural events as an illustration. I believe the two floods we've experienced here in Independence county prophetically speak that we're to anticipate a flood of God's presence in our churches.
As I was doing some research on the flood and what various prophetic people were saying about it I came up with nothing. The Lord spoke to me and said, "Why don't you speak about this to the people, so I agreed."
Biblically, Noah's flood came as a result of violence in the Earth. God, as you know, decided to wipe out everyone and everything and start over with mankind through his man Noah. In speaking with people about Katrina and New Orleans many people came to the cleansing conclusion based on the sin that goes on in that city especially during Mardi Gras. Any how, I'm not here to bash New Orleans but I do believe that the two floods we're experiencing here are significant.
In conclusion I believe the floods are speaking to us to get ready for an inflow of God's spirit that will bring in a huge harvest. Prepare for people coming into your church. Prepare for God's spirit to draw them. Prepare for their problems and baby Christian zeal. If we're not ready for them they will be swept away. Throw out a lifeline today!
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Synchronizing the Sound

What does it mean to synchronize? To make synchronous in operation. 1: happening, existing, or arising at precisely the same time 2: recurring or operating at exactly the same periods

I saw a program on the discovery channel where scientists in a laboratory used sound waves in synchrony to levitate a ping pong ball. It took them a while to get the sound waves in synchrony but when they finally did the ball actually hung in mid-air! Listen to what happened in the Old Testament when the people shouted and sounded trumpets in synchrony in obedience to the LORD.

Joshua 6:20-21
20 When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so every man charged straight in, and they took the city. 21 They devoted the city to the LORD and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys.

Churches across the mid-South will be participating with us during our worship time. We're believing that their will be a synchrony in the Spirit with our various church bodies causing spiritual walls to fall thus exposing principalities and powers. This exposure will weaken their influence over the minds of people. Pray specifically against the spirit of witchcraft, greed/poverty, pride and humanism.

We'll see you on Friday night!
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Passover Supper

I'm looking forward to the passover supper on Saturday night. Rabbi Cohen is coming in from TX to teach our church the specifics of passover and how it relates to the different things Jesus did in the new testament. Having a clear understanding of the Old Testament from the perspective of an expert in Jewish tradition and history is going to give us a very unique and accurate perspective on the passover. I'm looking forward to it.

Letting the Dog Out

Well today at 6:00 AM I learned that it was my turn to let the dog out. So I did and now I'm awake and can't go back to sleep. This reminds me of a saying I heard a long time ago that says, "work hard, play hard, rest hard." This saying to me means live life to the fullest which is in line with what Jesus taught us in John 10:10. I have come that they may have life and have it to the fullest or as the KJV puts it, "I have come that you may have life and that more abundantly". Abundant life is a covenant promise from Jesus to you if you are a follower of Christ. If you're not living an abundant life I'd encourage you to do some introspecting. Find out what choices you've made and why you've made them. You are in a place in life, ask yourself, "Am I following the voice of my father in heaven?" or just my own ideas or even worse yet are carnal impulses driving you? Be blessed today as you go about and remember that God has promised you an abundant life! Remember Nicodemus? He asked Jesus in John 3 how could a man be born again. Jesus said he had to be born of water and the spirit. Water symbolizes a transformed life and righteous living. The spirit symbolizes the life of hearing God's voice and obeying. The illustration from the Old Testament of someone who lived by the spirit was the prophet Elijah.
1 Kings 18:15

• 7 As Obadiah was walking along, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him, bowed down to the ground, and said, "Is it really you, my lord Elijah?"
  8 "Yes," he replied. "Go tell your master, 'Elijah is here.' "
  9 "What have I done wrong," asked Obadiah, "that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to be put to death? 10 As surely as the LORD your God lives, there is not a nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to look for you. And whenever a nation or kingdom claimed you were not there, he made them swear they could not find you. 11 But now you tell me to go to my master and say, 'Elijah is here.' 12 I don't know where the Spirit of the LORD may carry you when I leave you. If I go and tell Ahab and he doesn't find you, he will kill me. Yet I your servant have worshiped the LORD since my youth. 13 Haven't you heard, my lord, what I did while Jezebel was killing the prophets of the LORD ? I hid a hundred of the LORD's prophets in two caves, fifty in each, and supplied them with food and water. 14 And now you tell me to go to my master and say, 'Elijah is here.' He will kill me!"
  15 Elijah said, "As the LORD Almighty lives, whom I serve, I will surely present myself to Ahab today."

It's interesting to me that Obadiah recognizes the nature of Elijah's life and relationship with the Lord. He knew that Elijah was carried about by his obedience to the Spirit of the Lord. This is one of the key's to living the abundant life God has promised. I think we could all agree that Elijah's life was definitely abundant. Very amazing the things God did through this spirit led man. Well I hope you have a great day and make the most of your time for the Lord.

Loving God, Empowering People

Pastor Tony

Down Time

Hello everyone. I've got a little down time between a meeting and music practice this Thursday evening. I thought I might get to shoot some baskets with the kids and say hello to Andrea but they are at Brooke's dance practice.

I was just thinking about how sometimes we limit ourselves and thus disqualify ourselves from really great things. I want to encourage you to believe in Christ in you, the hope of Glory! He can do great things through you and when Jesus is in charge your limitations are gone. Make Jesus the Lord of every area of your life and watch as his direction and control puts you in position to receive blessings as well as effective ministry opportunities. You are blessed!



Sincerely,



Pastor Tony

Are You Offense Proof?

Well, I thought I'd do a blog to help communicate with everyone. I've been meditating on the Canaanite woman that approached Jesus with a demon possessed daughter. Jesus response to this poor woman was nothing short of amazing.

• 
  Matthew 15:21-28 (NIV)
  21Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession."
  23Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us."
  24He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."
  25The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said.
  26He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."
  27"Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."
  28Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Jesus in essence tells this woman that she's not good enough to have Him perform this miracle for her. She's not an Israelite and he's not been sent to her. She, undaunted, persists and humbles herself in the middle of what could be received by most people as a major offense. If anyone in the New Testament has an excuse to get offended you'd think this woman, being called a dog, has the right. She however, risese above the temptation to get "huffy" and "take her toys and go home". She instead persists, takes the dog comment in stride and receives the recognition from Jesus that her faith demands.
My question to you is... are you offense proof? Can you be offended? If you can then you will. This is a very interesting study and I encourage you to submit your pride and agenda's to the Lord, laying them down at the foot of the cross so you can't be offended. Jesus offends the mind to reveal the heart.