For good morning speak Creek good morning it is good to be in the house of God one more time somebody wanted to come to church this morning and could make it thanks be to God we are in his house again thealist said oh come let us sing to the
Lord let us Make a Joyful Noise to the rock of our Salvation let us come before him his presence with Thanksgiving and Make a Joyful Noise unto him with song for the Lord is great the Lord is a great God and a great king above all
Gods in his hand are the Deep places of the Earth the strength of the hills is his also the sea is his and and he made it and his hand formed the dry land Oh Come let us worship and bow down let us kneel before the Lord our
Maker for he is our God and we are the people of his pastor and the Sheep of his hand today if you will hear his voice Hardon not your hearts as in the provocation and as in the day of Temptation we ought to just enjoy ourselves approaching this season of Thanksgiving and
Consider that God has allowed us to see this season he’s certainly been good to us I I I don’t know about you but I realize all I’ve been been through in my life I realized if it had not been for the Lord on my side where will I be our The Oh Oh GL Glory The GL oh let it rise let the Glory rise among us let the glory of the Lord rise among us Let the Praises of our King rise among us let it rise we cry out to you Jesus y’all sound good come on oh we cry out to you Lord yes Lord let it thank you God we welcome you into our situations God it has not been the best week God but we thank you anyway cuz as you continue to bringe breath into our bodies that we can stand on your word and know that God you are wonderful so
We going to say this Let Your Glory Let It Rise Let Your Glory Let It Rise you say Let Your Glory Let It Rise Let Your Glory let it rise and let your power Let It Rise say let your power let it Lord say let your favor Let It Rise
Say let your let your favor favor let it let it rise come on let your favor Let It Rise let your favor Let It Rise everybody tap your W all right oh and everybody do your Woo we praise you God we cry out Oh oh let it r thank you God we worship you God you are a great God if God has done anything for you this week even if it was this morning you ought to praise him and say thank you Jesus cry out to the Lord thanking him for everything that he has
Done one more time say oh oh Let It Rise you say Oh let it rise thank you God we worship you God cuz you are a great God God you didn’t have to do it but you did God you give us new mercies every day God God we don’t deserve it but God you continue to shallow down your love to us God and so
God we stand today in your presence in your house father God as children of yours God we thank you and we praise you and we just want to keep saying to you over and over that you are a great God you are a great God you are a great God
You are a great God you are a great God I’m going say until you feel it you are a great God you are a great God how great is our God sing with me how great is our God and oh we see how great How Great Is Our God thank you Jesus we continue to praise you God we love you Jesus for all that you do and all that you continue to
Do God because God you didn’t have to do it God but you continue to just shower us with your blessings God so we just want to keep singing to you over and over God over and over God that you are a great God there’s nobody like you God
So we worship you this morning Father God we thank you come on how great is is our God sing with me how great oh how great How Great Is Our God we worship you we worship you Jesus say it again how great our God say with me how great is our
God oh we’ll see how great How Great Is Our God and then there’s this course that goes I know you know it you’re the name of us all name Jesus you are worthy of I praise and my heart will say How Great Is Our God come on and lift that up with me
You’re the name you’re the name above all names Jesus you are worthy of my praise and my heart will say How [Applause] great is our God oh how great how great hallu oh thank you Jesus see how great How Great Is Our God you have to make it personal God
Make it personal to the Lord our great is our God sing with me how great is our God oh we’ll see how great How Great Is Our God you take this time to say what you need to say to the Lord in your own personal worship right now as the music
Plays we thank you Lord we honor you God if God has done anything for you continue to sit down because God has done so much for me I can’t even count it God continues to bless you Jesus and I thank you God even when I don’t deserve it Lord even when I don’t
Deserve it God you continue to pour down your blesses God even when I don’t deserve it you continue to love me God you continue to bring me into your word God your word shows me God that I am your child God and that you love me God
Despite my my friends may not love me my family may love me sometimes but you know but God you always love me your unconditional love I don’t have to do anything to get it from you God you give it to me I don’t have to ask for it you
Give it to me God so I continue to worship you this morning we continue to praise you God so God we thank you oh say How great is our God see with me how great is our God oh see how great no music this time I just want to
Hear the worshippers in the house of the Lord we are setting the atmosphere oh how Great oh y’all can do it one more time one more time for the Lord we going to sing it again say how Great Oh How Great Is Our God see with me how great is our God and all will see how great how great is our God thank you Jesus we worship you this morning God thank you Jesus Thank you April How Great Is Our God Joseph grien uh wrote this what a friend we have in Jesus the make us our our fraternity believe friendship is essential to the soul what a friend we have in Jesus all of our sins and griefs to Bear what a privilege it is to carry
Everything To God In Prayer he says oh what peace we often forfeit oh what needless pains we Bear all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer would you pray with me eternal God our heavenly father truly we praise your holy and righteous name today for you are The
Giver of every good and every perfect gift our creator maker sustainer and provider and worthy of the highest praise you are a forgiver so forgive us now for our many sins BL out our many transgressions create in us a clean heart and renew within us a right
Spirit thank you that you are in these worship services today for we can feel you as you move upon the altars of our hearts we do stand in the need today of your continued blessings and we realize today that you declare that you would never
Leave us nor would you forsake us and so today we come claiming and receiving and believing you for your blessings bless the sick The Afflicted the downcast the burden the B the depressed the oppress those who do not know you in the free pardoning of their sins help us all to
Know to remember and to understand that the wages of sin is death but that the gift of God is eternal life bless now the man of God that you have planted in this Vineyard to Proclaim your holy and righteous word today a God junor bless him now that uh
He will boldly Proclaim your word to us as Sinners and that we will have ears to hear eyes to see receiving hearts and hands and feet to apply your word so that we may not sin against Thee thank you now we love you we adore you we praise your holy and righteous name
In Jesus’s name we pray amen All right he’s all right he’s all Right all Right he’s all right Jesus he’s all right right Jesus he’s all right I try he’s all right well he’s a Doct he’s all right in the sick room he’s all right he’s a lawyer in the courtroom yeah he’s all right oh yeah to try Man Jesus he’s all right Jesus yeah he’s all right Jesus yeah he’s all Right he’s all right I love the Lord cuz he heard my cry and he ped every Grown long as I live and trouble rise I Hast to the throne a try to keep by hand church I’ve got a God to are Glorify his son came down my solely saved and he F me that’s Why he’s all oh he’s all right Jesus yeah he’s all right oh yeah man he all right oh Jesus yes he is y’ he’s all right in the sick room will be right there he’s all right he’s a lawyer in the court room he’s all
Right oh yeah I done tried him man he’s all right Yeah Amen amen this is the day the Lord has made I don’t know about you but I’m glad about it we shall rejoice in the goodness we shall rejoice in the greatness we shall rejoice in the Holiness and the righteousness of our God Amen that was all right if it was
For me but I said our God Amen if you don’t have something to thank God for then take a deep breath bre into your body amen amen we thank God for this yet another day that he have given us amen amen we are grateful and thankful to our
Music Ministry let’s give it up for them one more time having they bless us and Deacon Brown as well with a very uplifted and spirited devotion on this morning and we do greet you all of those that are here in the sanctuary and to those that are online live stream with
Us if you are visiting with us on live stream for the first time I am the Reverend LSA Godby junor senior pastor teacher of the historic Spirit Creed Baptist Church where every single Sunday at 11 o’clock a.m. we do have live in-person worship but we also live stream our services every Wednesday 6
O’clock p.m. we live stream our Bible study so we do welcome you to our online cyber sanctuary and inperson worship on this morning amen first thing I want to do that is in order I want to welcome all of our visitors that are with us amen along
With the men of the sa Omega chapter of Omega Sci-Fi fraternity Incorporated welcome Brothers welcome men of Omega amen we are so grateful and thankful to have you here on this morning worshiping with us as we celebrate our Founders week our achievement week and if there are other firsttime
Visitors any other firsttime visitors with us besides the Omega Man any other first time visitors with us amen would you stand with us just stand the first time visitors the others first time all right God bless you we’re not going to embarrass you by any means we just want
To know who you are we want to welcome you into this place amen amen we call it the House of Hope and the place of prayer amen and so we guarantee you one thing you’re going to be loved on today and there will be a word from the Lord
On today amen so we don’t take it for granted that you pass many other churches to come to the historic Spirit Creek so thank you and welcome my sister amen I want to just share just a couple of facts around this great fraternity of men that I had the privilege of
Becoming a part of back in the spring of 1986 at Mera University is where I met some great young men on campus and I wanted to be a part of what they were doing the omegas 5 attorney incorporat it was the first interational fraternity organization founded on the campus of a
Historically black college on the evening of November 17th 1911 Omega 5 was founded inside the science building later named or renamed third care Hall at Howard University located in Washington D.C the founders were three great and Noble undergraduate Men by the name of Edgar Amos love Oscar James
Cooper Frank Coleman and then joining them was their faculty advisor Dr Ernest Everett just and as Deacon Brown said earlier from the initials the Greek phrase came friendship is essential to the soul it is a Christian organization found founded on Christian principles and our Founders Day is
Coming up on November the 17th and so each year during that week of Founders week we celebrate our achievement week by recognizing nationally and internationally those that have uplifted our community we have a uh essay contest for students uh we have a golf outing where we raise money uh for
Scholarships uh we do many things in the community to help uplift our community and our for cardal principles are manhood scholarship perseverance and uplift and so this is the local chapter of Augusta that I am a part of and my brother selwin and Deacon Brown pleased this chapter right right 76 sa Omega
Amen his brother Deacon herob Brown was on the charter line of the chapter where I pledge at mercen University gammaa amen so a strong Rich history of Omega men here at the historic Spirit Creek Baptist Church and we are so honored to have the men of Omega be here with us on
This morning amen amen glory to God we have a couple of other quick announcements announcement from our Brotherhood director Reverend Ronald Williams wants to remind all that have Brotherhood t-shirts to wear them on Fourth Sunday remember that is our dress down Sunday that is our full youth
Worship service so if you have your new Brotherhood purple t-shirt you can wear it on Fourth Sunday all right there are some other announcements as we normally do we lift up all of the sick and shut in of the historic Spirit Creed Baptist Church and there are many we remember those that
Are in bereavement I want to thank everyone that was able to come out on this past Friday for the homegoing celebration of our dear brother brother Alonso Daniels amen please continue to keep his wife and family lifted and covered in prayer there are many sick
Can shut in I’m not going to call all of those names on this morning for the sake of time uh but there are many please continue to lift up uh brother Webb who’s recovering from surgery also mother Eda Atwell who is recovering from surgery uh she just moved from Augusta
University over to the nursing rehab facility over there by what used to be St Joseph’s Hospital I want to thank our culinary Ministry for the veterans lunching on yest yesterday as well amen we congratulate and we salute all of our veterans don’t forget about our church business meeting on November the
29th 7:00 p.m. don’t forget we will hold in-person live uh bible study on that day at 6 o’clock p.m. and we’ll have our business meeting immediately following at 7 o’clock P.m. don’t forget next Sunday third Sunday we got two new deacons breaking out amen we are going to ordain Deacon and training brother Gilbert Holland and also brother Mike miles amen so come prepared it’s just going to take us a few more minutes than we normally have
On our worship service not going to take a long time but we are going to ordain them the other thing that we are going to do we are going to recognize and honor Deacon Brother Joseph Diggs as a deacon emeritus of the historic Spirit Creed Baptist Church as well
Amen don’t forget we uh kicked off our children’s church last Sunday so we have children’s church today so if our teachers would begin to get ready we’re going to rotate our children out in just a few minutes don’t forget about the brick memorial project don’t forget about our uh historic uh Cemetery
Project and also our historic Sanctuary project project this is a Bible beli and Bible teaching church and you can give sacrificially to all of these needs all right my brothers and sisters I think those are all of the announcements that we have let’s get ready to dismiss our children for children’s
Church all right let’s break out by age groups again in uh who’s going to teach the 4 to7 year olds this morning all right follow Deacon is Janice Haynes 4 to7 year olds next age group 8 to 12 who’s going to teach 8 to 12 all right so St Riley Mily
Brown 13 to 17 who has 13 to 17 12 to 14 I’m sorry 12 to 14 see my wife sister Godby all right all right trustees and ushers you can come on and get ready to take our offering if you want to give electronically you can give by cash app
Or PayPal the QRS codes are on the screen our cash app is dollar sign Spirit Creek Baptist dollar sign Spirit Creek Baptist is our cash app our PayPal QR code is there you can give now of your tithes offering and sacrificial giving take your instructions now from the Trustees Let us pray gracious Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ who brought us back to a relationship with you and let’s fix it so every man can receive the word of God and can understand that all things come from him that we all in his provid in your providential care that we
All can have the love of God in our hearts and as we realize that everything come from you we especially thank you for each economic situ situation that stands before us and we pray for those who do not have but we pray dear God that the love
That you have given us will help us to be better servants in your kingdom and the building of your kingdom we thank you for the opportunity to have brought portion of what you have given us to this edifice today we thank you for the opportunity of giving it and we just pray toar
God that it will be used for the upbuilding of your kingdom in the mighty name of Jesus Christ we pray let us all say threefold My I I You Valleys get low but I got to steps get real slow got to run run friends are gone I got R you got to run run every day I got to run run run run I’ve got to run run while the blood blood running in the I got to run I got to
Run yeah every day I got to run oh yeah step gets real slow I got to run friends are gone I got to run sometimes I seem like I I got to run every day I got to run while the blood running in my L the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Lord let it prove now to be acceptable in thy sight oh Lord you are our strength Lord you are indeed Our Redeemer but these and all blessings we ask in the mighty and precious and holy
Name of your son Jesus the Christ we do pray let every heart say together amen amen a I need some more mic I need some more mic I’ve been preaching and teaching a lot this week thank you thank you there is a word from the Lord on this
Morning I’d ask you if you join me the Old Testament Book of Proverbs Chapter number 18 we’re going to look at one verse verse number 24 Proverbs Chapter number 18 and verse number 24 and it reads this way from the King King James version these are the words of
Solomon a man that have friends must show himself friendly and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother amen that’s enough you may be seated in the presence of the Lord my brothers and sisters for the time as I was together to share for the
Men of Omega SII on this morning I want to share from this subject from this thought the powerful Ministry of friendship the powerful Ministry of friendship most people do not have many close friends because to be a friend is nothing to take lightly but it is to be entered into discreetly
Reverently it takes patience it takes love it takes affection it takes time and trust and perseverance to develop meaningful friendships am I right about it so far and so Pastor gby why is this so important that we take the time to hear a sermon and understand friendship
Well one of the first things that we need to understand is that when God created man he created man to be relational and relationships are by Creative Design and what I mean by Creative Design is that when God made man he made man in a way that he wanted him to understand
Relationship so what God did he did something very different in the Book of Genesis let’s go to Genesis chapter 2 and verse number s he did something there very unique that was different from the rest of creation what God did was he blew himself into man Genesis 2:7 says and
The Lord God form man of the Dust of the ground and breathe into his nostrils the breath of life now I don’t know about you but you know that that was a miracle because only God can do something with dust are you hearing what I’m saying so he Brew
Himself the numma brothers in the Greek this is the vital Spirit it is the soul it is the creative force of a person and the Bible then says once God blew his breath into man then Man became a living Soul so the sigh or the sukus in the
Greek and so God blew himself into man and he blew himself into man not so that man could exist because God merely could have just spoke man into existence are you hearing what I’m saying but but he blew himself into man so he could have a relationship
With him and out of that relationship that man is supposed to have with God is the same relationship that we ought to bring to one another so what man was what man did or what what Man was created to do was to be the model of what is
Invisible and make it or it was invisible and he want to make it visible see here’s the thing beloved Jesus on Earth was the visible manifestation or evidence of the invisible God and now we on Earth we through the power of the Holy Spirit we are the visible manifestation or the
Evidence of the invisible Jesus Christ who went back to heaven and he’s coming back again are you hearing what I’m saying the question is for most of us is that we don’t really fully understand what the relationship with God should fully entitle and so we really truly don’t appreciate or understand
Friendship friendship Is No Light term it is no light title as a matter of fact Let’s Take a Look what Jesus had to say about it let’s go to John chapter 15 and verse number 12 John 15 and 12 this is where Jesus J was speaking and he said this is my
Commandment and what is the Commandment that you love one another how as I have loved you are you hearing what I’m saying and what Jesus is saying here is that I have put myself I have put my love on the inside of you because first John 4:8 it says that God is
Love then I am going to pour that love into you that’s Romans chapter 5 in verse number five with the Bible written by the Apostle Paul there he said God’s love has been shed abroad the word shed abroad in the Greek it means to pour it
In are you hearing what I’m saying it means pour it into our hearts how through the power of theol holy spirit that has been given to each of us as Believers in Jesus Christ and so God’s love and his spirit is on the inside of
You it is on the inside of me so that we could love one another with the love that God has given to you now how is that love Pastor Gabby how is that love supposed to be made known how is it to to be demonstrated it all right
I’m glad you asked that question I want you to go to John chapter 15 let’s go to verse 13 He said Greater Love have no man than this that a man laid down his life for his friends all right let’s go a little bit further let’s go to John chapter 15
Verse4 you are my friends now if you see that word if there in verse 14 if in the Greek is better translated since so you can read it this way you are my friends since you do whatsoever I command you so what Jesus is saying to us here is that
The first relationship that you and I ought to have with him is Lord go to Romans chapter 10 and verse number n Romans 10 and9 say says that if Thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in thine heart that God raised him from the dead the
Bible says Thou shalt be saved in other words you got to confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord let’s go a little bit further let’s go to Philippians chapter 2 and verse number 10 it says that at the name of Jesus how many every knee should bow of what
Things in heaven and things in the earth and things under the Earth go to verse 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is what Lord to the glory of God the father now let me tell you what Lord really means from a Biblical standpoint Lord means
Master Lord Lord means ruler which makes us servants amen so Jesus was saying because you do whatever I command you that that is the servant relationship that you have with me so as my servant I own you I secured you why because we have been what bought with a price amen
With his own precious blood and so you belong to me Jesus said because you’re my servant but what Jesus did is that he elevated the relationship with his disciples from being a servant he elevated it to be a friend y’all not hear what I’m saying amen he elevated
That thing because that is the first and foundational demonstration and manifestation of love it is to be a friend Jesus was saying I have promoted you I elevated you but because as my servant you do whatever I tell you to do but as my friend we are going to be
Close we’re going to be intimate with each other and I am going to reveal things to you that I’m not going to reveal to other other people are you hearing what I’m saying brothers that’s where the Mysteries come from that’s where the secrecy come from our Founders based Omega scii Fraternity Incorporated
Based upon the Bible and biblical principles are you hearing what I’m saying he elevated the relationship and he told him as my friend I am going to be in a different type of relationship with you because as a friend you tell secrets to a friend and I expect that if I’m your
Friend and I tell you a secret I don’t expect you to tell nobody else are you hearing what I’m saying if if you want to mess up a friendship tell something that that person know nobody else know it but you are you hearing what I’m saying you by the end of
Friendship and see one of the reasons that relationship and love is not working in many relationship it particularly in marriages and in homes and even in the church because we have not exercised we have not demonstrated the foundational part of love and the foundational part of Love Is
Friendship I was counseling a couple one time seemed like a beautiful couple husband uh was a Christian man he was Deacon in the church uh he didn’t run women he didn’t drink liquor smoke reer any amen he he he was a delivered man are you hearing what I’m saying he he
Was a good man amen and and his wife wanted to divorce him and I couldn’t understand it I I had to bring him both in and I asked her I said why do you want to divorce your husband I said now let’s just go through the checklist you
Did say he’s a good father he’s a good provider he come home he don’t chase women he don’t drink he don’t do anything of thing he’s a servant in the church tell me please why do you want a devotion husband you know what she said she said pastor all them things that he
Do he would do that even if he was married to me she said he is not my friend he won’t let me be myself so therefore I w’t out see if you have a friend or friend the Bible said here will sticketh with you closer you not hear what I’m saying
Than a brother but you know what if you’re not my friend and I’m just your wife and I’m just your husband then when the thick get thin I’m gone I’m out they got a divorce too still divorc to this day she said you’re not my friend what I’m trying to break this
Concept down to help us even understand from a planer standpoint let’s go to John chapter 15 let’s see what Jesus said in verse 15 Jesus said henceforth or from now on I call you not servants for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth but I’ve have called you friends for all things
That I’ve have heard of my father I have made known unto you I’m in John chapter 15 and verse1 15 in other words as a friend you are on another level with me you’re not just a servant but a friend and see here’s the thing too many people
Today don’t really want a friend they really want a servant they want somebody that they can use up and abuse and get and take from and never sew anything back into your life and so many are really not your friends but they just spiritual shoplifters we we got them in the church
And unfortunately Brothers I ain’t my side Omega I’m talking about what I’m talking about we got him in the fraternity also I was listening to a brother one time and he didn’t realize I was listening to him he would talking to another brother and it was achievement week Founders week you talking about
Yeah you know uh Brothers they gonna have a party and uh yeah they got a golf scholarship you know I get in all that stuff free I just walk in you call yourself a friend we got the same thing in the church I I ain’t talking about Spirit
Creek I’m talking about another church amen we got same thing in the church you hear what I’m saying we we we we got people that come to the church they don’t come to give they don’t come to work they don’t come to serve they come to
Get y’all might well say Amen if you can’t say Amen say ouch I’m going preach it amen they come to get they come to take I I I’mma drop a dollar right there in yeah yeah and you know that’s the reason why God said in the Bible God said you have robbed
Me see see it’s a difference between stealing and robbing see if you steal something then you intend to steal it so that nobody don’t see you but when you rob somebody I’mma take this 44 magnum I’mma put it in your face I don’t care if you see me or not I’mma take your
Stuff people do the same thing with God God looking the whole time God say you rob me yeah you you robbed me because I know how I bless you on that job I know I bless your car to run I gave you a education I made sure
You was provided for amen I made sure you got to work safely amen I made sure you wasn’t even qualified for the job but I let you get the job anyhow so why you going to drop a dollar in the plate and rob me you Robb
Me I sent Pastor gby to preach that word to teach that word to you you sat right there and said I’mma receive I’mma receive I’mma receive but you won’t serve all you want to do is show up for the fish fry I’m going preach it anyhow amen I
Know it’s tight but it’s right are you hearing what I’m saying spiritual shoplifters amen so what Jesus was saying here John 15:15 is that is my friend I’m going to reveal my secrets to you I’m going to reveal things to you that the world don’t know anything about why because
This joy that we have as a friend the world didn’t give it to us and the world y’all better help me in here can’t take it away are you hearing what I’m saying amen go to First Corinthians chapter 2 and verse number n 1 Corinthians 2 and verse number nine it
Says there but as it is written I have not seen ear have not heard neither have it entered into the heart of man the things which God have prepared for them that love him but God he have revealed them he have made them known unto us how
By his spirit for the spirit search of all things yay the Deep things of God the secret things of God are you hearing what I’m saying see here’s the thing about God God is a cosmicrat he’s not subject to the Greek word Kronos he’s not subject to
Time God is outside of time that’s why the Bible say he is the alpha and he is y’all better help me in here the Omega are you hearing what I’m saying in other words whatever the beginning is that is God whatever the end is that is
God and he says I’m going to reveal some Mysteries to you you might be having a problem next week but what I’m going to do as a cosmocrator be anywhere my grandma would say he’s everywhere at the same time are you hear what I’m saying he’ll fix your problem that’s coming up
In two weeks and he’ll give you an assurance that everything is going to be all right are you hearing what I’m saying that’s who God is tell my friendship now amen I told you friendship was deep you don’t play around with friendship amen see when we
Are in position of Being A Friend Of God he will reveal deep things to us you hear what I’m saying we’re not just a slave or a servant anymore but Jesus said I am your friend and that’s why we love to sing the song that deep song earlier what a friend we
Have in Jesus all our sins and griefs to Bear what a privilege it is to carry Everything To God In Prayer oh what peace we often forfeit all what needless pain we Bear all because we do not carry every Everything To God In Prayer you can take
It to him amen whatever it is that you thinking whatever you feeling whatever problem you have amen my grandmother would say she would pray for us for dangers seen and unseen these days we live in now you don’t know where death is death at Walmart death at Dollar
General you got to be careful in the church be deaf in the church are you he what I’m saying death is everywhere amen you need a friend like Jesus Christ let’s go to John chapter 15 and verse number 16 Pastor Gabby how do we get to be Jesus’s friend
If we’re not I’m glad you asked that question he said you have not chosen me y’all hear what I’m saying but I have chosen you you better get that thing right and Jesus said don’t get the big head amen you didn’t choose me you didn’t save
Yourself I saved you are you hear what I’m saying I drew you with the new M I drew you with the spirit to me you didn’t save yourself you’ve not chosen me but I’ve chosen you and ordain you ordain mean what those things that are given to us by order
That you should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain and here’s the thing about fruit see apple trees don’t eat apples peach trees don’t eat peaches but they produce fruit for somebody else to eat that’s what we do in Omega ccii we produce fruit are you
Hear what I’m saying why because we’re friends of Jesus and he’s our friend you didn’t choose me I chose you you that whatsoever you shall ask of the father in my name he may give it to you see he he know when you a friend you’re
Going to pray according to the will of God and if you pray according to the will of God God will give you things according to his will and the last time that I checked the record he said I shall supply all of your needs according to my
Riches and Glory in Christ Jesus he said the cattle of a thousand hills are mine the Gold is mine are you hear what I’m saying he said I bless you exceedingly and abundantly above all that you could ever ask or think when I was at merca University and
I didn’t know how I was going to pay the tuition God made a way out of no way you won’t want to help me in here I’m talking about being a friend powerful Ministry of friendship do you know what Jesus means here when he said
I chose you what he means is that I chose you as my friend because God the Father gave me an assignment for your life let me ask you a question if you are going to be a friend in somebody else’s life why are you choosing them if you’re choosing to be somebody’s
Friend it should be because God has given you an assignment for that person’s life in other words you have something to add you have something to bring to their life the question is morning is am I better off because I’ve been hanging out with you am I closer to God are you pulling
Me away from God what direction are we going in as friends the writer of our text in Proverbs 18 and 24 is none other than a brother by the name of King Solomon he’s the wisest man to ever live on this Earth other than Jesus Christ
Solomon said in Proverbs 18-24 he said a man that have friends must show himself to be friendly notice it’s a command he said you must show yourself to be friendly in in in other words you get what you bring if you want a friend then be a friend it’s the biblical principle of
Reaping and sewing why would you expect to re something that you have not sown you cannot make a withdrawal from the bank if you have not made a deposit it if you want friends then show yourself to be friendly if I am your friend it is because God have chosen me
To be in your life and bring some uplift to your life it is not a coincidence that our fraternity and all of the divine nine fraternities and sororities were founded around the same time mostly on historically black colleges and University campuses why because we as black and brown people we
Were being discriminated against it was a time of Jim Crow it was a time of racial hatred it was a time of hostility much like the time that we’re living in now the social political hostility that we live in as people of color amen brothers and sisters our Founders our
Ancestors they were in a fight for their lives survival and existence they were Binding Together Brothers out of friendship that’s why the church in fraternity we’re always looking for some more friends and our text says there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother amen can I teach
Right here for just a moment can I teach you what this word sticketh mean this word sticketh in the Hebrew it means to be like skin on a bone you you hear what I’m saying see see the fat may go away see see the fluff in a friendship
May go away I remember in school amen there was even some brothers that was like this amen as long as you had the money long as there was Honeys around long as you had gas in your car they want to ride Reverend Taylor I ride
Or die no you ain’t willing to die you just want to ride you want to use me you want to abuse me are you hearing what I’m saying and what he does here he makes a contrast he said there’s a friend that sticketh closer than a brother yeah that
Skin the skin sticks on the bone di B it sticks on the bone see see this word this verse represents a contrast between being lukewarm and having enthusiasm fair weather friends and those who are low they will stick with you through thick and thin but many times as soon as
It got thick you got thin you said you was going to be with me through sink or swim soon as I start sinking you start swimming away the epitome the love of a friends that a real friend will never get away from me not want to nor try to let me
Give you a general biblical definition of friendship it is this a true friendship is a reciprocal relationship between two people who share a bond of mutual respect and affection in other words two souls in one body in the Greek two sides or two sukus in one body see my brother uh over there
You see my brother s went over there amen he is my blood brother he is my spirit spiritual brother in Christ and I am his pastor but he’s also my fraternity brother and he’s my best friend are you hear what I’m saying you don’t get no better than
That are you hear what I’m saying he is my friend amen because he sticketh closer than a brother he like skin on my bones let me move forward in my sermon see you you know why many marriage is not working it because some people are married and they’re married to someone
That is not their friend you might be living in the same house you might be sleeping in the same bed but you are you bringing the ministry of friendship to the other person or to the organization Jesus said the fact of my Ministry is that I’m not just your Lord
But I’m your friend and that’s what Jesus wanted us to know and that’s what you want your husband or your wife or your church member your fraternity brother to know is that I am your friend and I ain’t no thing of type of some hell to be in your life amen and no
Matter what you are going through I’m not going to add to the pain I’m not going to add to the misery of your life if I know you down I’m not going to kick you while you’re down I’m going try to lift you up amen I’mma remind you about manhood scholarship perseverance and
Then I’mma uplift you are you hearing what I’m saying I’ll be there for you let’s go to Romans chapter 15 and verse number two I pray you’re learning something Amen I got this Bible amen that’s all I got amen I got to preach it amen this one been on me for a long time it’s been on for a long time amen he said let everyone of us please his neighbor for his good to edification that’s uplift that’s uplift
Right there let’s go to Philippians chapter 2 and let’s go to verse three let nothing be done through Strife of vain Glory but in loneliness of mind that mean be humble be humble Let each esteem the other better than themsel that’s friendship to build you up that’s uplift
Now let me give you just some practical lessons around help and uplift regarding how to build better friendships and I’mma come to a close amen can I push my points all right the least important word in Friendship is the letter i in the church I have a leadership team
My deacons my deaconesses my trustees and heads of ministry but even in the fraternity we as Omega men we call each other team team there is no I in team if you want to build better friendships then leave me myself and I out of the conversation and
Equation now if you want to destroy a friendship then let the motivation behind your friendship be based upon I I is the least important word in friendship the most important word in Friendship Is We and us want to have a good friendship then we will do what is good and best for
Us no we are not going to do that why we’re not going to do that because that is not good for us brother bosel you know what I’m talking about amen no I’m not going to talk to you that way why because that’s not good for us and most of the
Complaining that goes on in any organization it is because of I I ain’t happy I ain’t please you looking over me you won’t recognize me I don’t like this I I I it will destroy a friendship the most important word is we the two most important words in a friendship is thank
You that’s what friends need to hear thank you carries out the ministry of appreciation Amen in other words thank you says I am not taking you for granted I appreciate you thank you says I’m not taking what you did for me for granted thank you
Says thank you for giving to me what God gave to you for me there’s something wrong where people don’t know how to say thank you we should teach our children while they’re small to to say thank you when I was growing up if Grandma and them gave you a cookie them butter
Cookies Grandma used to keep about 200 of them she would buy or them Penny cookies you know what I’m saying if you got that cookie and you put it in your mouth and you didn’t say thank you grandmama come and snatch it right out your mouth matter of fact she will make
You spit it out you better not swallow it spit it out until you learn how to say thank you you not hearing what I’m saying God is saying the same thing see one of the reasons why you not getting what you’re supposed to get is because you don’t say thank
You I’ll make you spit it out of your mouth you will have it in your hands and you will lose it because you’re not saying thank you I told you friendship is deep you don’t say thank you you don’t make people feel inw welcome and you don’t make them feel encouraged that’s a
Problem you know what aggravated Jesus one of the things that aggravated Jesus Remember when he healed the 10 lepers only one of them came back and said thank you are you hear what I’m saying the three most important words in Friendship is this All Is Forgiven you didn’t want to say nothing
On that let me preach and teach on it then see you must have forgiveness in your heart and friendship do you know why because you dealing with imperfect people there is imperfect plag ship and there’s imperfect Brotherhood and here’s the thing Romans chapter 3 and verse number 23 go to
Romans 3 and verse number 23 the Bible says there for how many all have done what sin and what come short of the glory of God in other words ain’t none of us right from the pull pit to the door amen from the bosel down to the
Person that does the lay work in the fraternity ain’t none of us right so you better keep forgiveness in your heart you better keep forgiveness on your tongue are you hearing what I’m saying none of us right matter of fact God said something about even the righteousness that we do
Have he says it is as a filthy rag Isaiah 64 and6 don’t care about your righteousness I love football and I love you know to watch the defenses because uh they either Play manto Man or they play in in a Zone and what happens is sometime they’ll make a
Mistake and it’s a blown assignment and the opposite team throw a touchdown because somebody made a mistake I come to tell you today that the devil tries to throw a touchdown he tries to stop organizations from being effective when somebody else blows an assignment but here’s the thing
Next man up when somebody else blows an assignment you can’t keep unforgiveness in your heart are you hearing what I’m saying let’s go to Matthew chapter 6 and verse1 14 for if you forgive men their trespasses your heavenly father will forgive also you he’ll forgive your trespass in other words here’s the thing
Never burn a bridge that you got to cross yourself are you hear what I’m saying do do you have forgiveness in your heart are you bringing me closer to the Brotherhood are you bringing me closer to the church are you bringing me closer to be a friend with Jesus
Amen are you adding on to my problems I had a head full of hair when I first met you I had an afro when I first met you now all of a sudden my hair falling out losing weight all types of stuff you hear what I’m saying why cuz you ain’t
Bringing friendship to my life let me try to come to a close the least most important word is I the first most important word is we the second most important two words is thank you the three most important word All Is Forgiven and the fourth most important
Word in Friendship is I want your opinion you know what that says it means I’m willing to listen to you I want to know how you feel about this I want to know what’s going on with you that is why as black folks whenever we go around we always going around talking about
What’s up what’s up you you all right you know you you feeling some type of way what’s up it’s aggravating when you in a friendship and you want to talk about how you feel well if you love somebody then you want to know their opinion and also you
Want to know how you feel about it people feel some type of way in relationships and what they’re saying is just I want to be heard even in pastoral counseling many times people don’t come to me for solutions they come to me because they really just want me to
Listen they want to be heard I’m a registered nurse and I work at Pont it used to be University Hospital intensive care unit for many many years up there and do you know around Thanksgiving particularly in Christmas time there would be people who they either had relatives was in the
Hospital in the past or either they were a patient in the hospital themselves and what they’ll do particular on the night shift they have called the Intensive Care Unit and just want to talk to somebody say you you took care of my mama and my daddy you got a few minutes
Can I talk to you said well I got another patient right now but they’re letting you know loneliness is not good that’s why God said it is not good that man should be alone that’s why you got to have friends none of us are always right I don’t always know exactly what I’m
Talking about but well you at least just listen to me the five most important words in Friendship is that you did a good job my brothers and sisters everybody wants some encouragement even when you cook or grill or fry some fish you want to hear you did a good job on that
Meal I like the way that you bring your check home I like the way you earn money amen I like that you went to work all week you did a good job y’all ain’t saying nothing amen you you doing a good job with your clothes amen you doing a
Good job brushing your teeth amen I’m glad that you smelling better amen everybody needs some encouragement now this for the grown folks in the house amen I like the way you kiss me I like the way you made love to me you did a good job if you want to make
Love again you better give some encouragement y’all don’t want to say nothing up in here up in here everybody needs some encouragement and in a friendship and relationship and a marriage you got to be committed you got to be committed to the other person person’s happiness you
Got to be committed to their health and most of all you got to be committed to their Holiness we still talking about a powerful Ministry of friendship I’m coming to a close amen I told you it’s deep here’s the last one the eight most important words in Friendship is this I
Want to get to know you better amen amen that’s why we have friction sometime in the church we have friction in the fraternity and other places in our community cuz I really don’t know you that’s why we have Fellowship you know what Fellowship is Right fellas in
The same ship going in the same direction are you hear what I’m saying I just want to get to know you better I want to understand you better I’m closing I want to close on the highest level and demonstration of friendship in the Old Testament first I want to talk about the
Epitome of friendship it is the love and the friendship that existed between Jonathan and David in the Bible let’s go to 1 Samuel chapter 18 and verse one and it came to pass when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of
David and Jonathan loved him as his own soul you got to remember Jonathan was the son of the first king of the nation of Israel a tall man by the name of Saul Saul got got jealous of David because they was going around see you
You got to be careful what you listen to amen they was going around and and and and and they told Saul they they said you know Saul killed his thousands but David is 10 thousands he got jealous be careful what you listen to Brothers amen you might get jealous over something that you
Don’t need to be worried about are you hearing what I’m saying you you don’t know what’s going on in another person household you don’t know how that person got what they drive amen you don’t know how they got that house you go in there might not be no furniture on the inside
You don’t know how he got jealous and he wanted to kill David and what God did he put Saul’s son Jonathan together as a friend with David and here’s what he did if you’re listening say Amen this is the biggest point of the whole sermon right here Jonathan
Automatically was going to be the next king of Israel he was the oldest and the only son of Saul so the kingship would have came to him but what he did was he gave up kingship for friendship he gave up kingship for friendship let me show it to you let’s go to First
Samuel chapter 23 verse 16 1st Samuel chapter 23:1 16 and Jonathan Saul’s son arose he went to David into the wood and strengthened his hand in God see what type of friend he was and he said unto him fear not for the hand of Saul my father shall not
Find thee and thou shalt be king over Israel and I shall be next unto thee and that also Saul my father knoweth Verse 18 says and they too made a covenant before the Lord and David Abode in the wood and Jonathan went to his house he gave up kingship for
Friendship that’s the epitome of friendship in the Old Testament but finally as I close there was another person in the New Testament who also gave up kingship for friendship that was Jesus Christ he left a Heavenly place to come down to a hellish place he didn’t have to leave
Heaven but he came he gave up his kingship for friendship you might as well stand with me amen I come to tell you today that my hope is built on nothing less than than Jesus blood and righteousness I dare not trust the sweetest frame but I holy lean
On Jesus name on Christ the solid rock We Stand because all of the ground come on Brothers I say all of the ground come on members I say all of the ground is sinking sand say thank God for Jesus Christ thank you are for Jesus Christ Greater Love have no man than
This than a man laid down his life for his friends that’s what Jesus did for us Romans 10:9 said if Thou shalt confess with thy mouth oh Lord Jesus and believe in thine heart that God rais him from the dead the Bible says Thou shalt be saved the most beautiful verse in the
Bible for me one of the Romans 10: 13 it says whosoever that’s anybody whosoever de yes sir whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved it don’t matter what you did in the past it don’t matter who you did it with it don’t matter how many times you did
It we are forgiven people because of the friendship of Jesus Christ God said I’m going to send my son my only begotten son and he going to give up his kingship for friendship that’s good ain’t a real oh my God Glory Hallelujah if there’s one here
Today who wants to come and give their life to the Lord is there anybody on my left who needs to come and make that decision come quickly now come quickly anybody on my left who needs to come and make that decision all we’re going to do
Is pray the Prayer of Salvation with you is there anybody on my right anybody on my right who needs to come and pray the Prayer of Salvation come on give your life to the Lord is anybody here today who needs to make this decision the Bible says in the day that
You hear my voice Harden not your heart what that mean is don’t say no When God is saying yes anybody here today who needs to make that decision if you want to pray the prayer salvation come down this aisle and we’ll do it with you here’s a second invitation maybe
Everybody under the sound of my voice and I pray that it is the truth that everybody under the sound of my voice is saved but maybe you don’t have a church home maybe you need a place where you can grow maybe you need a place where you
Can be loved and cared for maybe you need a place where you can have a relationship with a pastor if you die right now and you don’t know who would do your eulogy that mean you don’t have a relationship with a pastor is anybody here today who wants to become a part of
The historic Spirit Creek Baptist Church I’m not a perfect man by any means but I guarantee you every single Sunday I will preach to you I will teach to you my associate ministers will do the same we will tell you about a perfect God you’re not going to find any better
Church than here I’m a man of integrity I promise you I live I live what I preach I live what I teach amen glory to God if you want to become a part of a church like that then step out on faith come down this aisle and come be a part
Of the historic Spirit Creek Baptist Church does anybody need to make that decision if not this is the final call let’s thank God for what he’s done in this place amen give glory to God did you learn something did you learn something on this morning amen that is
All our goal and our aim again we thank the brothers of the S Omega chapter of Omega SI 5 for being here with us on today once again they look great in their uniforms amen we love that purple and gold amen the color of Jesus’s robe amen gold being the most precious Medal you can remain standing for the benediction don’t forget this coming Wednesday Bible study 6 o’clock p.m. don’t forget to lift up and cover our sick and shut in check in on our bereaved families as well now unto him that is able to keep us all from falling may his
Grace and his Mercy keep us hold us and sustain us in every good and perfect way now father dismiss us from this place but never from your divine presence bring us back together again to worship you in spirit and in truth and all the people of God set it together Threefold Aen may the Lord bless you may the Lord keep you happy Founders and achievement week brothers be blessed thank you for being with us on this morning children’s church all right get your children yes all right don’t forget your children amen amen get your Children
source
