WHAT GOOD IS IT
Sis. Leatha Augustus
Pearl of Great Price Tabernacle
People are looking for so much in this world today. People serve God for a long time, then they get older and think they don’t need God anymore. They turn their back on God and walk away, but still believe they are going to heaven. How is anyone going to heaven that has turned from God, and stopped serving him?
Job 27:8; For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he has gained, when God takes away his soul?
They are hypocrites, and God will take away their soul. People are not realizing that what good is it if they win the lottery, they cannot buy their way into heaven. They can do everything in this world that they want to, but what good is it if they lose their soul.
Ezekiel 22:12; In thee (Jerusalem), have they taken gifts (bribes) to shed blood, thou has taken usury (interest) and increase (profits), and thou has greedily gained of they neighbors by extortion (oppression), and have forgotten me, saith the Lord God.
What good is it if people do all the ungodly things, and still don’t have anything to show for it, not even the salvation of the Lord.
V.13a; Behold, therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou has made. Though you gained it, God can take it away. It’s like putting your money in pockets with holes in them. You may have some now, but you can’t take it with you. Once you leave this world, everything you had is left behind.
So strive for what is good, strive for things that will get you to Jesus, not these things that the world is seeking after. Seek for the things that be of God. The enemy is fighting, trying to get Saints to turn against God, and if they do, they have no hope, no help. Hold on to God no matter what the enemy brings your way. Put your trust in God, let him lead you, guide you, and walk the strait and narrow.
Matt. 16:26; For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
There are people who sell their soul to the devil, some for fame, fortune, some for all the pleasures of this world. But what good is it when they die lost and go to a burning Hell, where the fire is not quenched, and the worm never dies.
Matt. 25:24; Then he which received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee, that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not strewn.
He knew his Master was a hard man, and the Master said, “Why didn’t you use the talent I gave you.” What good is it if we don’t use what God has given us.
Matt. 6:33; But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
People are looking for everything this world has to offer, but Jesus said we are to seek first the kingdom of God. He will give you what you need, what good is to keep adding things in this life, but don’t have God, or to store up everything here and lose your soul as the rich man in Luke 12:15-20. God called him a fool! What good did it do him to store up and do all that labor just to miss out on God.
We have got to get it right on this earth, before we stand before God. We’ve got to be obedient to Him and His Word. If we lose our soul, What good was all this?
HUMBLE
AUSTIN PETTIT
PEARL OF GREAT PRICE TABERNACLE
Humble: not proud, not arrogant, it can also mean not thinking of yourself.
Exodus 10:3; And Moses and Aaron came unto Pharaoh and said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, how long will thou refuse to humble thyself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me.
2 Chronicles 7:14; If my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from thy wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
This means that people are supposed to be turning from their wickedness, and ask the Lord for forgiveness, and the Lord will forgive and heal, but people have to humble themselves before God first.
God created us to be humble, to respect each other, and to respect God. So remember to always stay humble before the Lord, and do what is right.
Walk By Faith
Pearl of Great Price Tabernacle
Sis.Shellie Drayton
Faith: confidence, belief in the truth, belief not based on logical proof or material evidence.
God has given every man a measure of faith, so you have faith. God has a people that will believe His word, no matter how crazy this world gets. We walk by faith and not by sight. The enemy will try to distract you, look what’s going on before you, but all this stuff is temporary.
Don’t worry about what you see happening in the world, walk by faith.
Hebrews 11:1; Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
We’ve got to believe, even when we can’t see anything changing. We walk by Faith, not what we can see, not what we can feel, we walk believing God and what His word says. The Lord
knows what lies ahead of each one of us, He knows all and sees all, so why are we so fretful and fearful. God is a big God, and He knows the end from the beginning, He knows where we
are going to be, what we are going to do, what we are going to go through, and what our children are facing. Put your children in Gods hand, let Him direct their path, and draw them.
He knows how to pull on their heart, and draw them, and turn them around, so just walk by faith in everything and let God have his way in your life.
James 1:3; Knowing this that the trial of your faith works patience.
There are witnesses all through the Bible, that were tried, Joseph was cast in prison, Abraham was told to sacrifice Isaac, and we are tried as well.
James 2:17; Even so Faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone. V. 20; But will thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? V. 26; For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead.
James told it like it was. Faith is an action word, we got to put some works with our faith. We are surrounded with such a cloud of witnesses who have already gone on before us. They all walked by Faith and died In Faith, still trusting God.
Romans 5:1; Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus, Christ.
Matthew 17:19-20; Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, because of your unbelief, for verily, I say unto you, if you
have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say, unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove, and nothing shall be impossible onto you.
Romans 10:8; But what says it? The word is near you, even in your mouth, and in your heart, that is, the word of faith, which we preach.
Exercise your faith, believe God for anything and everything, put your faith in action! Build up your faith by praying in the Holy Ghost.
Pray for the sick, believe God to heal, and save, set free and deliver. Without faith, it’s impossible to please God, we must believe that he is God, and he rewards them who diligently seek Him! Continue to Walk by Faith
HOLD ON
Sis. Leatha Augustus
Pearl of Great Price Tabernacle
No matter what we face, or go through, just hold on, knowing that Jesus said I am the same, yesterday, today and forever. I do not change. I will never leave you nor forsake you.
Hold on to His words, hold on to Jesus, know that he is there with us, and he’s there for us.
Hold-- to take or keep in the hands or arms. To keep in a certain place. Not lose or let go of.
We are to quick to let go of what God has done for us. Battles come, and we wonder what are we going to do. Not looking or holding on to the one that says “I will take you through all of this.”
We don’t have to worry, we just got to hold on to the Lord. His hand is outstretched, grab ahold of his hand and hold on. No storm, no trial, no battle, or nothing can take you away if you hold on and hang on.
Isaiah 26:3; Thou will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in thee.
If we walk in perfect peace, nothing will bother us, we can overcome anything that comes our direction.
Psalm 139:10; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
It seems like the battles are getting harder, and we don’t know what each one is going through, but we know that we have got to hold on! We can’t give up, and we pray one for another, and God does answer prayers, and he will take care of us. If you have to walk through the fire, hold on, don’t bow to the wiles and lies of the enemy.
Hebrews 4:14; Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession (confession).
Revelation 2:25; But that which you have already, hold fast till I come.
Hold fast to what God has already given you, he’s given you life, peace, a mind to serve him.
He’s helping us, he’s holding on to us, there’s nothing too hard for God.
God moves by faith, trust him and hold on to him!
Matthew 24:12-13; And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold, but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
James 5:11; Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
The enemy will come to your mind when things get so hard and tell you that God isn’t going to do this for you, but we know that the devil is a liar. God will do what he said, he is faithful. Just hold on,
What a mighty God we serve, hold on to his hand, don’t let go. When it seems like there is no end to the road you are on, just continue to walk this straight and narrow and hold on to God’s hand, he will lead you, and walk with you. Don’t let anything get in the way between you and God. HOLD ON!
The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved
Griffin Pettit age 12 Pearl of Great Price Tabernacle
John was a disciple of Jesus. He wrote five books of the New Testament. He talks a lot about love. St. John is a perspective of the life of Jesus, 1-3 John are instructions, and Revelation, which is a lot of future events. John was taken to the island of Patmos because of his testimony of Jesus. This is where he wrote the book of Revelation. But my favorite book is the gospel of St. John, it has the most popular verse, John 3:16; For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Revelation 1:4; John to the seven churches in Asia, grace to you and peace from Him who IS, and who WAS, and who IS to come. And from the seven Spirits who are before His throne. John is writing letters to seven churches in Asia and Jesus told him what to say.
St. John 1:1; In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
1 John 1:1; That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word.
It’s cool how John got Revelation and how he got to see all these things that will come to pass. We have the Bible to know what will happen at the end, and since we are his people, we will rejoice!
In Matthew, Jesus called four men to follow him, and immediately they left their boats, and their father and followed him, one was John, who would become his disciple and Apostle. John portrays Jesus as deity, the Son of God. His gospel is really good to read.
We need the Old Testament and the New Testament. We need to tell everyone about Jesus, because we are just nobody trying to tell everybody about somebody that can save their soul. Let’s make heaven crowded, Amen?
Get Down from that Tree
Griffin Pettit age 12 Pearl of Great Price Tabernacle
Jesus was passing through Jericho. There was a chief tax collector there named Zacchaeus, who was rich. Zacchaeus was a short man, and wanted to see Jesus, so he climbed a sycamore tree. This man was a Tax collector. Tax collectors were not popular with the people because they took their money to pay taxes to Rome. Zacchaeus was very short and didn’t have the advantage of seeing over people, so when he heard that Jesus was coming, he started trying to find a way to see Jesus when He passed by.
Luke 19:1-7; And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little
of stature. 4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. 5. “And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.”6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. 7. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, that he was gone to be a guest with a man that is a sinner.
Jesus really cared for him, that he would tell a sinner that he is eating at his place. Because Jesus sees what’s in our heart.
For God so loved this world, he gave His only son. Jesus came to die on that cross and to heal and save lost souls. Jesus is the one who you worship.
V.8; And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. 9. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he is also a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which is lost.
Jesus knew Zacchaeus was hated by many, but Jesus got him saved. When you see people like Zacchaeus being curious about the Lord, do what Jesus said,“Go tell the world about me.”
Keep Yourself in The Love of God
Pastor Sue’s Pearls From Above
Jude 1:20-21; But you, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
According to v.1; Jude was writing to those that are sanctified by God the Father, those who are kept in Jesus Christ, and called.
He was writing to those who are saved, and appealing to them to contend earnestly for the faith that was handed down once for everyone. V.3
He was writing to those who were growing in faith, praying in the Spirit, and looking for the return of Jesus. He was encouraging them to Keep yourself in God’s love.
This short letter of Jude is for everyone in this day and hour as well, who are also saved, sanctified, and called.
There are wolves in sheep clothing out to devour the sheep. There are some who came in unaware, ungodly people, changing the gospel of grace into something sensual, denying God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Because someone was saved out of Egypt, doesn’t mean they will enter into the Promised Land, unbelief will always block the entrance.
Jude goes on to describe these people as filthy dreamers, who reject authority, and speak evil of things they don’t understand, and the things they do know, they are corrupted by them.
But YOU, beloved, you stay safe in God’s love. You dwell in Him, You hold fast to what you have been taught, You keep the faith, You stand firm against the wiles of the ungodly who change the gospel of Jesus Christ, those who preach another Jesus, those who are spots among the believers. You, beloved, you separate yourself from these mockers who walk after their own desires, complainers, fault finders, who speak flattering words to gain admiration from others. You watch out for those in opposition to the truth, use discernment and let the Spirit of God lead you. YOU watch and pray, and stay connected to the vine, and the enemy won’t be able to deceive you, or cause you to fall, because as Jude writes in his closing letter; V. 24; Now unto him that is able to keep YOU from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
God bless
ANGELS PROTECT TOO
Austin Pettit..age 10
Pearl of Great Price Tabernacle
Angels are heavenly beings sent from heaven to help humans on earth. They are Gods special messengers. Angels are not equal to God, because they were created by God. He tells angels what to do. Some of their jobs are delivering messages for God, protecting God’s people, helping the thirsty, and praising God’s name.
Psalm 148:2; Praise ye him, all his angels, praise ye him, all ye hosts.
Psalm 148:5; Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created.
Psalm 103:20; Bless the Lord, ye his angels that excel in his strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
Now moving on to Luke 1:13; But the angel of the Lord said unto him, fear not Zechariah, for thy prayer is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
Daniel 3:28; Then Nebuchadnezzar spake and said, blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
Moving on again to Genesis 21:17-19; And God heard the voice of the lad, and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven and said unto her, what ailieth thee Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad and hold him in thy hand.
For I will make him a great nation. And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water, and she went and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad a drink.
Now to Revelation 12:7-9; And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels, and the dragon prevailed not, neither was their place found anymore in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the devil and satan, which deceives the whole world. He was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
The Bible says he fell like lightning, I’m sure he hit the ground hard. Amen
God Loves You
God Loves You
Pearl of Great Price Tabernacle
Griffin Pettit; age 11
No matter what happens, God loves you.
Jesus died on the cross for us. That’s one example.
John 3:16; For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Romans 5:8; But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
That proves that God loves us and takes mighty good care of us and there are more verses but no matter what, God loves you.
1 John 4:8; He that loves not, knows not God; for God is love.
If you are in a bad place in your life like getting your wisdom teeth pulled, now that may hurt but going down to Hell is much worse than anything. Count your Blessings.
He wants you to go to heaven, he wants you to be his child, he doesn’t want to say “I don’t know you, Depart from me.” He wants you badly, he wants your worship.
NO matter if you have Leprosy, no matter if you have a disease, all of that will go away one day, unless you don’t know Jesus. God will be your everything like he already is. He loves the little children.
I know the man who brought you out of that sickness, He loves you, I know a man who brought you out of jail, He loves you, and I know the Name of Jesus, There is power in the name of Jesus.
Ephesians 3:19 And to know the love of Christ , which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.
John 4:19; We love him, because he first loved us.
My favorite verse about Gods love is, John 3:16, thats probably the most popular verse.
JOEL 2:12 THEREFORE ALSO NOW, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning. Which means Invitation to return, which is suggesting that a relationship is broken and needs to be right. I’m getting this from research.
So what Joel is saying through God is turn to him with all of your heart and love him so much, fast, and weep, and mourning. Mourning means sorrow, misery. When you don’t have a relationship with God, your heart is cut off from Him, your spirit man is dead.
Joel 2:13; And rend your hearts and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and repents him of the evil.
Joel is saying go back to God, really I’m thinking he is just telling the people to stay with God.
God should be first in your life. He loves you so much and if you don’t love Him with all of your heart, ask Him to help you love Him like that. He will do it. We are praying for you to love Him.
Count Your Blessings
Pastor Sue’s Pearls From Above
IN EVERY THING GIVES THANKS, FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS CONCERNING YOU, 1Thess. 5:18
In everything gives thanks, in other words, in spite of everything, give God thanks for his help, strength and hope.
Count your blessings, bring back to your remembrance what God has already done.
Get your focus off of what prayers haven’t been answered yet, and remember what God has already done. If He’s answered prayers, took care of you, protected you, helped you, healed you in any way at any time from anything, then He will do it again.
Psalm 29:11; The Lord will give strength unto his people, the Lord will bless his people with peace..
Psalm 36:7-9; How excellent is thy loving-kindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They are abundantly satisfied with the fatness (fullness) of thy house, and you shall make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life, in your light shall we see light.
Isaiah 54:10; For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from you, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that has mercy on you.
The first psalm says, we are blessed with Gods strength and peace, the next psalm says we are covered by his shadow, we are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of all that is in his house. We are blessed that we are able to drink of God’s river of pleasure, because in him is the fountain of life and light.
All this is possible because of his loving kindness towards his children, as God said in Isaiah, that his kindness and peace shall not depart or be removed from us!
Give him thanks that he loves you so abundantly, you are blessed with Gods peace, his loving kindness, his presence, his house full of goodness, rivers of living water. Count your blessings..name them one by one!
Bring back to your remembrance every time he picked you up when you fell, when his mighty hand held back evil forces, his hand stopped danger, and death, when he pulled you back to the fold when you started straying, or when you did stray from him, and he let you go your own way for a time, then left the ninety nine, and found you again, because it’s not His will that you should perish and go to Hell!
Psalm 40:1-5; I waited patiently for the LORD, and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet up on a rock, and established my goings, (steps), and he has put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God, many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. Blessed is that man that makes the Lord his trust, and respects not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies, (your trust is in the Lord and not man). Realize that GOD has been faithful, and you will see that all along, it was the LORD by your side.
God bless.
STAND
PEARL OF GREAT PRICE TABERNACLE
Sis. Shellie Drayton
Whatever the enemy has taken from us, we are going to take it back. All the territory the devil has taken from us, we need to take it back. We are going to stand our ground. We are going to make it. No matter what it looks like, seems like, or feels like, we will believe the report of the Lord. We all have battles, and testings, and some of it is life in general, and some is the devil, and we have to know the difference.
Ephesians 6:11; Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles (cunning, trickery, or deceitful strategy) of the devil.
The devil is always looking to trick or torment your mind about something. But we are not ignorant of his devices, we know when our mind is wondering too much in the wrong direction, that is why the scripture says to keep our mind stayed on the Lord, and he will keep us in perfect peace. It seems there are too many distractions to cause us to get our mind off of God but NOW is the time to Stand.
Ephesians 6:13; Wherefore take unto you, the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. V.14. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breast plate of righteousness.
Philippians 4:1; Therefore, my brethren, dearly, beloved and longed for, my Joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
So many people profess they know God, but they are not possessing anything of God. No armor of God, no Truth, no Righteousness, and they are not able to stand.
Romans 5:2; By whom also we have access by faith into this grace, where in we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
1 Thessalonians 3:8; For now we live, if you stand fast (firm) in the Lord.
2 Thessalonians 2:15; Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which you have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
Paul was encouraging them to stand fast, and hold on to what had been taught to them.
We also need to hold fast to what we have been taught of the Lord, stand firm in God, no matter what the devil does.
Galatians 5:1; Stand fast therefore, in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Don’t go back and put on anything that God has delivered you from. Stand and stay free in Christ Jesus. Stand your ground against the devil!
When Joshua needed more time to fight the enemy, he spoke to the Lord, and said, Sun, stand still upon Gibeon, and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon, Joshua 10:12.
And the Lord God did as Joshua requested, and they won the victory! Stand on God’s Word, believe his Word, obey his Word.
1 Corinthians 16:13; Watch you, stand fast in the faith, quit (act) you like men, be strong!
Don’t let anything deter you, endure hardness as a good soldier! God is on your side!
COMFORT ONE ANOTHER
PASTOR SUE’S PEARLS FROM ABOVE
St. John 14:16, Jesus is telling his disciples that the Father will give them another comforter, that will abide with them forever, the Spirit of Truth.
This word Comforter means One called along side to help, an advocate, intercessor, the one who will lead them into all truth.
The word comfort has this same root, but also several different meanings, as in console, consolation, entreat, admonish.
In Acts 11; after the death of Stephen, the persecution sent the saints in Jerusalem scattered to other areas, but they continued preaching the gospel. One of the places was Antioch of Syria, and the elders sent Barnabas there to help and strengthen the saints.
Luke says in Acts 11:23; Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
Barnabas (whose name means consolation), encouraged them to hold on to the Lord.
When Apostle Paul said to “Comfort one another,” he was exhorting to saints to encourage and strengthen one another.
Yes, there’s trouble on every side, yes, there is heartache and pain, yes, evil is everywhere, sickness, chaos, turmoil and torment, but God is still moving, he is still working all things for our good, he is still in control, and knows all things, and as Jesus encouraged his disciples, to “Be of good cheer,” we should be lifting one another up. Helping our fellow saints to stand, praying one for another, reminding them that God is with them, he hasn’t left them. Encourage one another to stand strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might! Hold onto Jesus! Don’t let go, don’t turn away from him, don’t ever stop trusting him! He is for you! He is our help and strength, keep going forward, cleave to him! Be encouraged and strengthened in Jesus. He will not fail you!
Isa. 40:29; He gives power to the faint, and to them that have no might, he increases strength.
Psalm 18:2; The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my strength, in whom I will trust, my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
Psalm 27:1; The LORD is my light and my Salvation, whom shall I fear, The LORD is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?
There is too much criticism and hurt in the Body of Christ, God has not called us to devour one another, but to stand strong and lift one another up in Christ Jesus.
Lift up the hands that hang down and strengthen the feeble knees.
When Israel was in battle against the Amalekites, Moses lifted up the Rod of God, and Israel prevailed, when he got tired and his hand started falling, the Amalekites prevailed, so Aaron and Hur lifted up the hands of Moses, and the battle was won! Do you see what encouragement and strength in the Body of Christ can do one for another?
We will fight together instead of against each other, we will win this battle, we will be a help to the hurting and bruised, we will lead the young converts in the Truth, we will pray together, sing together, worship and praise together, help one another, encourage and strengthen, console and comfort each other. We will make it to Heaven together.
God bless.
Remain Calm
Griffin Pettit, age 11 Pearl of Great Price Tabernacle
When the decree was made saying if you ask any petition of any god or man for thirty days, besides the king, you will go to the den of lions, Daniel still prayed three times a day to the God of Israel. He remained calm and faithful, and it turned out well for him. His friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, also had to face the fiery furnace because they would not bow down to Nebuchadnezzar’s statue, and they said, If God doesn’t save us from this furnace, we still won’t bow. And God saved them out of the furnace because they remained calm and faithful. Daniel got rewarded because he interpreted a dream from the king. David had confidence in God, when he faced Goliath, he remained calm because he had already fought with a lion and bear, and had defeated them. They were calm because they had confidence in God. Job also trusted in the Lord. We can remain calm because we know that God is with us, no matter what happens or what you go through, just always remember that God is with you. Every stage of your life, God is there, so remain calm and faithful in him.
PEACE
Sis. Leatha Augustus. Pearl of Great Price Tabernacle
Peace: Freedom, soundness, healthy, secure.
Numbers 6:26; The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
Isaiah 26:3; Thou wilt keep him in perfect (complete) peace, whose mind is stayed (steadfast) on thee, because he trusted in thee.
God will give you complete peace when your mind is stayed on him, no matter where you are.
We need peace in this day and hour, without the peace of God, we won’t make it.
But we are still holding on because God has given us the peace to do it.
The devil, and this world tries to steal our peace, like a wild dog coming after you, to cause you trouble, but stand strong and tell that old dog to get out of here. Stand still and let God handle the dogs of this world, and he will destroy them.
Apostle Peter, in both of his epistles, sends greetings of grace and peace to the believers, let it be multiplied unto you, through the knowledge of God, and Jesus our Lord.
We can have peace through trials, we can have peace through temptations, we can have the peace of God in our lives.
God has given us peace, no matter what we face in this world.
2 Corinthians 13:11; Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
If you live in peace, our God of peace will be with you, but if you live in turmoil, you don’t know which way to turn or what to do, and there is no peace.
St. John 14:27; Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
The world doesn’t offer peace, it can give you wealth, material things, fame, but it can’t give you the true peace that only comes from God.
Philippians 4:7; And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
When we lose a loved one in death, God’s peace can keep our heart and mind. He can bring such a peace that we don’t quite understand it all.
2 Thessalonians 3:16; Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.
We do get down sometimes, and overwhelmed, but we got to look up and declare, Lord, you are the God of peace, you are God of all comfort, you give me what I need. You take me through what I need to go through, you are there with me, I am not alone. All we have to do is ask God, and he will bring us such a peace that passes our understanding.
He will lift his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Remain Faithful
Griffin Pettit, age 11 Pearl of Great Price Tabernacle
Job 1:1; There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and he was perfect and upright, and one that feared God and eschewed evil.
Job has seven sons and three daughters, and Job was very strong in the LORD, but his children did sin.
Job 1:4; And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day, and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and drink with them.
Job 1:5, And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all, for Job said, it may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts, and thus did Job continually.
So just because someone loves the LORD, doesn’t mean their children do, because his sons and daughters feasted, and may have sinned in their heart.
In this same chapter, satan comes before God and 1:6; says Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and satan came also among them. V.7; And the LORD said unto satan, whence comes thou?, and satan answered the LORD, and said, from going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
He’s wanting to say to God that he sees Job, and he’s wanting to get him away from God, and God knows that Job will still be faithful and right, so he allows satan to hurt everything but do not kill Job.
Job lost everything, his friends turned against him, his children died, his wife told him to curse God. The devil wanted to hurt Job, to see if he would turn against God.
In chapter 10; it seems like Job is asking, why is this happening. But after all this happens, God comes in a whirlwind, and talks to Job, (ch. 38), and Job remained faithful to God, so God gave him even more than what he had in the beginning. When the devil attacks you, remain faithful to God.
LOOKING BACK
PASTOR SUE’S PEARLS FROM ABOVE
Every new year, we are told to leave everything in the previous year and start fresh, but I want to encourage you to LOOK back! Not on hurts, bad times, loses, failures, etc., but on how God brought you through it all! He didn’t just bring you through last year, but every year you have been on this earth. Some years were harder than others, but you still made it, because the Lord was with you.
Look back on previous years, even 20 or 30 years ago, and remember what God did for you or someone close to you, remember how he was always there, always with you, always bringing you comfort, peace, help, hope!
Remember all the times he healed sickness, diseases, hurts. Remember how he brought comfort through loss, peace through pain, salvation to hearts.
Remember how he showed up at the midnight hour and dried your tears.
Remember all the times you didn’t know how you were going to make it, or how situations were going to work out, and you called upon the name of the Lord, and he turned things around for you, he showed you what to do, he made a way that no one else could do. Remember the times he brought calm out of chaos, restored your family, brought loved ones closer together. Saved marriages, and relationships.
Remember when he saved you from car wrecks, or accidents that should have caused you great harm. Remember healings when the Dr.’s gave no hope.
Remember the food on your table, because he moved on someone to bring you groceries, or sent someone to help you in time of need! Remember that through it all, you learned to trust in Jesus, and looking back on all he has already done for you, will increase your faith, bring more assurance and hope that he will continue to bring you through even in the days ahead.
Our Father is faithful!...God bless
REJOICE
Sis. Leatha Augustus
Rejoice—to be made glad, to delight in.
Rejoice is found in the Bible over 450 times. If it’s recorded that many times, then God must want us to do it. God wants us to rejoice in him, praise him, magnify his name. He told us that we would have some hard times, but he’s with us, and rejoice that he will bring us through. God told israel to rejoice when they were going into battle, because he would fight for them. Let’s rejoice about what God has done, and what he is going to do.
Deuteronomy 26:11a; And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the Lord thy God has given unto thee, and unto thine house...30:9; And the Lord thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, and in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good, for the Lord will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers.
God rejoices over us, delights in us, we are his children. We can thank him for all his goodness, and rejoicing over us. We know the Lord is going to take care of it.
1 Samuel 2:-2; And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoices in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord, my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies, because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none holy as the Lord, for there is none beside thee, either is there any rock like our God.
Who is our greatest enemy? We all know it’s the devil! The adversary! But God will not let him destroy us. Without God’s help, where would we be!
Psalm 58:10; The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance, he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
Psalm 63:7; Because thou has been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
Psalm 68:3; But let the righteous be glad, let them rejoice before God, yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
Are you righteous? Then be glad and rejoice before God your Father, he is faithful that called you unto himself!
Philippians 4:4; Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say Rejoice!
Saint of God, praise him, worship him, and rejoice in the Lord your God.
We Have Seen His Star
Pastor Sue
Pearls From Above
It has always been assumed that the wise men from the east were Persian, or Babylonian pagans. Matthew 2 gives us this story, Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod, the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying “Where is he that is born King of the Jews, For we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship him.”
Is it very probable that they were Jews descended from the Babylonian captives.
We know from scripture that there were many Jews who chose to stay in Babylon and the east when Cyrus released them to go back to Judah and Jerusalem. We know that Daniel was called a wise man whom Nebuchadnezzar relied on during his reign. Jewish wise men (scholars) would know this also, and that Balaam (Numbers 24) prophesied there shall come a Star out of Jacob. They knew a messiah was coming, according to scripture. The Jews followed Judaism, studied the Jewish calendar for feast days, sun, moon, and stars for times and seasons, they knew the Old Testament scriptures concerning the birth of a coming king. The phrase king of the Jews was in reference to the Messiah. They said they came to worship this newborn king, something only a Jew would do. They knew scripture said he would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). They brought gold (referencing his kingship), frankincense, used in the tabernacle of Moses and Solomons temple by the high priest in worship (referencing to his high priest hood after the order of Melchizedek ), and myrrh (referencing to his future death and burial). All these are something only Jews would know concerning the coming Messiah. So then why did they go to Jerusalem instead of Bethlehem? Because it had taken them several months or more to travel from the east to Jerusalem, and they were probably expecting to see this new king of the Jews already in Jerusalem, and we notice in v.2, that the wise men made it clear that they were there to worship the one that was BORN King of the Jews. Herod was put on the throne over the Jews by the Romans, he was from the lineage of Esau, that’s why he was troubled, and why he sent soldiers to kill the children age two and under. If we are saved and Born again of the Spirit, we have also seen his star, for Jesus is the root and offspring of David, and the bright and morning star (Revelation 22:16)…God bless.
A Prepared Place for a Prepared People
Sis. Shellie Drayton.
Pearl of Great Price Tabernacle
PREPARE: To make ready in advance, for a particular purpose, event, or occasion.
People prepare for everything except eternal life. They just don’t think about where will they spend eternity! People don’t realize that they are one breath away from heaven or hell!
But we are going to talk about the good places in Jesus Christ. We’ve got to prepare ourselves for what lies ahead.
1 Corinthians 2:9; But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him.
There is a place in God with your name on it, that he has prepared just for you. In every trial and test we go through, God prepares us for that place. Enter in to the place he has for you. Prepare our hearts and he will bring us into the place he has prepared for us. Even In our struggles, he is preparing us to stand strong in him.
Going into the military, they will train you and prepare you to fight. It’s the same way in God, he is preparing his people to come into the place he has prepared for you, for his kingdom.
Rejoice in your trials and tests, for God is counting you worthy, he’s preparing you for heaven. He will equip you with what you need to prepare yourself for any ministry or calling he places on your life.
Hebrews 11:16; But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
Not only has he prepared us a place in him in this life, but he has also prepared us a heavenly place that we shall forever be with the Lord! A city, a mansion, whose builder and maker is God!
Luke 1:17; And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
All through the Bible, God was preparing a people, his chosen, his elect, to fight, to go to battle, to proclaim the Word of the Lord.
Every day people prepare to go to work, kids for school, prepare for exams, prepare for appointments, prepare meals, prepare for holidays, so why can’t we prepare for a place in God? God is looking for a strong people that will stand on his word, and believe him for anything and everything.
Matthew 25:34; Then shall the king say unto them on his right hand, Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
From the beginning of time, God already had it in his plans.
Proverbs 30:25; The ant are a people not strong yet they prepare their meat in the summer.
If God gave the ant sense enough to prepare, to make ready, then we have no excuse. Don’t let the Lord catch you unprepared, don’t let the Lord have to say Depart from me. Get prepared and stay prepared, for there is a place in God.
My Heart Won’t Fail
In Luke 21, Jesus gives events that will happen before his return, v. 24-25 he says, And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars, and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and waves roaring., men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Men’s hearts, humanity, fainting from fear, passing away because their heart can’t take what they are seeing, hearing, or the events taking place. Fear of the known as well as the unknown. According to the American Heart Association, a person can literally be scared to death, die from fear, and we know that to be true because Jesus said two thousand years ago that it would happen.
1 John 4:18, Apostle John said fear has torment. Fear is a spirit that will control a person’s mind, and life, but God does not give a spirit of fear, he gives us a healthy mind. It is normal to be startled or shook up when something suddenly happens, it is normal to feel some kind of fear in certain circumstances, that is human nature, but then the fear will lift and we go on as normal. But a spirit of fear takes over and latches on to someone, and they have no control over it. Apostle John also said, there is no fear in love, but complete love casts out fear, and anyone who lives in a constant state of fear has not been made complete in love.
This love is God’s love for us, not how much we love him. If saints of God could truly see and realize just how much God, the Father loves them, they would live completely in His love and walk in His peace that passes all our human understanding, and be filled with joy to overflowing. All through the Bible, we read the words ‘Fear Not.’ Jesus said he would never leave us nor forsake us. His peace he left with the apostles, also belongs to us. He said don’t let your heart be troubled or afraid. He said don’t worry about anything. He knows us so well, that he knows how much hair we have. He said we are more valuable than sparrows to him. He said he is preparing a place for us, that where he is, we will be also.
Men’s hearts failing them because of fear, but my heart won’t fail, as Apostle Paul said, for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
God has me, he loves me with an everlasting love.
You drew near in the day that I called upon you, you said “fear not.” Lamentations 3:57.
My heart won’t fail, because my Father does not fail!
God bless.