Thank you for worshiping with us today this is your Wesley Chapel Spotlight on Ministry and community events at Wesley Chapel in addition to our in-person service at 10:30 a.m. there are a variety of other ways you can worship every Sunday dial into our 8: a.m. teleconference call tune in online to
The live stream service on Facebook or our YouTube channel Wesley Chapel macdon where you can view any service any time at your leisure we also offer many ways for you to connect through prayer daring on Monday evenings at 8:00 pm for corporate prayer led by a member of the
Prayer Warrior team scan the QR code to fill out a prayer request form online or call on Ministry connect line to speak directly with one of our ministers we know Prayer Changes Things attention Wesley Chapel UMC current college students who are pursuing an associate or bachelor’s degree the members of Wesley Chapel
Continue to graciously and generously give towards the higher education scholarship fund today is the deadline to submit your spring 2024 semester schedule and verification of enrollment contact chery reic at c259 yahoo.com and keep up the good work the United Methodist men is inviting all men to join them for their
Monthly meeting on Monday February 12th at 6:30 p.m. they will meet at the $ three Cafe located at 1000 Regency Place Boulevard McDon for more information C Desmond Johnson president or Eric White vice president Ash Wednesday service will be held on Wednesday February 14th at 12:00 noon
Ash Wednesday is the day that marks the beginning of the 40 days of Lent during this time we are encouraged to examine our walk and commitment to Christ as well as our individual spirituality and response of Faith come and experience the imposition of ashes and participate in this time of repentance and
Reconciliation as the Christian education and Young Adult Ministries prepare to launch campus ministry connections we’re asking everyone to submit student information if you have a child grandchild niece nephew cousin or friend or in kennes State University or Gordon College campus we would love to connect with them please call the church office
Or submit the students name email address and phone number to 329 chrch Wesley Chapel mc.org so we may contact them Wesley’s 157th anniversary will be celebrated all month and culminating on Sunday February 25th the theme is exercising our enduring Faith with love and hope the scripture is first Thessalonians chapter 1 veres 2
Through3 each person is asked to give a special offering of $100 to help burn the mortgage our goal is to reach $25,000 please invite family and friends to share in our celebration all month long next Sunday’s focus is love and the attire is shades of red February 18th focus is Hope and the
Attire is t-shirts or divine nine gear Church anniversary’s attire is Afrocentric and now we welcome you to this morning’s worship Service [Applause] N Good morning top of for the morning to you morning for this is the day that the Lord has made and we enter his court with Thanksgiving and praise for the Lord is good and his Mercy endures forever so we just thank the Lord for the opportunity to come before him and
Just praise him one more time the Lord is doing a new thing in our lives he’s transforming us for the renewing of his kingdom let’s enjoy this worship service amen Amen users Us in with the song celes Let Us stand together as we prepare to affirm our Faith I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of heaven and Earth Jesus Christ his only son our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Spirit born of the Virgin Mary suffered on the P pilot was crucified dead and buried they he rose again he ascended
Into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the father allmighty from then we shall come to judge the quick and the dead I believe in the Holy Spirit the Holy Catholic Church the communion of saints the forgiveness of sin of the body the life Everlasting amen you may be Seated S swing love swing love Swing sweet [Applause] charot coming for to carry [Applause] s Sweet us Coming For To Carry Me Home [Applause] swing Coming For To Carry Me [Applause] Home [Applause] Sweet Coming For To Carry Me Home Swing sweet ch for to [Applause] caret Coming For To Carry Me Home s down CH Let Me Ride s down CH St Let Me Ride oh me Lord Rock Me Lord and easy I got home on the other swing Downer let me ride down Cher let meide Rock Meck easy I got on
Other let me R swing down CH stop let me ride Ro me me Lord Cal and easy I got home on the other side s down CH Let Me Ride swing down Cherry St let meide rock rock Lord come and easy I got home on the other
Side down stop let me ride swing down J stop and let me ride oh Rock Me Lord Rock Me Lord come and easy I got home on I got home on I got a I got a I got a Hallelujah I got a home on the other side Beautiful thank you choir can we just give God another hand clap of Praise we greet you this morning in the mighty name of Jesus we thank God for your being here and thanking God for allowing all of us to be in the house of the Lord one more time you know the truth of the matter is the reality is it could have been a different
Narrative amen somebody but I believe that somebody on the live screen can drop in the T in the uh chat but thanks be to God who gives me the victory through our Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ it is the first Sunday already in the month of February and we thank God
For all of the carrying on that’s going to be going on in the month of February we thank God for uh honoring Black History Month we thank God as we acknowledge uh all month long 157 years that the Lord has blessed us here at Wesley Chapel thanks be to God
That his grace and mercy it still works amen the blood still works and we give God thanks and praise for all all that the Lord continues to do in our midst some persons in the building were born in the month of February if this is your birthday month
Can you stand well I don’t have to wait to ask look at happy birthday those of you on the live stream upstairs happy birthday happy birthday wow we just want to say happy birthday to each and every one of you and we celebrate you throughout the month of
February some of you may be celebrating a wedding anniversary during this month of February amen we celebrate all of you who are sharing in another year that the Lord has kept you together I’m a living witness that it hasn’t been easy but another but God experience God’s grace pulled you through amen so
We thank God for each and every one of you now for the last few quarters uh we’ve had uh person after persons who we identify as members of this body who have joined this church and let me just say um we thank God for those of you who
Have stepped out on faith and answered the call to serve in the vineyard here at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church so we want to take a pause and let you know who these individuals are uh view them on the screen amen as we welcome them can we celebrate them amen amen
Amen amen come on keep keep those hands together amen we welcome all of our new members beautiful amen amen amen come on keep those hands going amen God has been good to us hallelujah amen we just want to say to all of our new members and for those who didn’t make this
Presentation you will be on the next amen man we we just believe in celebrating all of us for the things that the Lord is doing now listen it is the Linton season and we’re preparing for a push amen call fasting praying and we’re seeking God in this
New season of reload to do exactly what God has called us to do amen so we will be participating in a churchwide Linton fast oh yes get prepared for the churchwide Daniel Fast and before you hey you can clap for that and let me just say some of you may
Have some medical restrictions whatever your restrictions are tailor the fast to your needs amen amen we don’t have to you don’t have to report about it uh you don’t have to get permission because God knows what we’re able to do we just want as a body to be on one Accord during
This season of Lent trusting God for the unthinkable to do in within our ministry um as I scan the congregation I I feel in my spirit that we have a number of visitors who is visiting with this with us this morning if you’re visiting for the first time here at Wesley Chapel can
You just stand up so we can celebrate you and welcome you to worship amen amen amen well I want to say on behalf of our entire ministry here at Wesley Chapel and our Brothers and Sisters in Christ we welcome you and we just believe that you’re in the right place at the right
Time it is our prayer that the word of God by way of singing as you have already experienced scripture prayer Proclaim word that God’s word will speak to you in your situation because we believe that Jesus meets us at our point of need amen so we welcome you today and we
Welcome you not just today but every day that our uh the doors swing open because we believe that everybody is somebody in the body of Christ and Jesus Christ is Lord of our lives so welcome you and we thank God for each and every one of you
And those who have tuned in on our social media platforms we welcome you into worship today amen amen as we proceed Now with uh uh the lifting of uh the offering after that we will move forward to our black history moment and we will continue in the order of worship amen Amen it’s giving time amen so as you prepare your hearts and your envelopes or your phones for online giving we have five contactless ways that you can give here at Wesley Chapel uh listen to this word of scripture from the Old Testament okay so it’s Malachi chapter 3 and I’m just reading at
Starting at verse 10 that says bring the whole tithe into the storehouse that there may be food in my house test me in this says the Lord Almighty and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there would not be room enough to
Store it amen amen I believe in the word of God and I have tested him he said test him in this so I implore you to do that let us bow for a word of prayer merciful father we thank you for those who have gathered here today this
First Sunday in February Lord God and As We Gather Lord we understand the word that says to bring forth the tithe and offering to you oh God and Father you have promised Lord God that you will bless you will bless the ministry of Wesley ch chel God so Lord we have uh
Witnessed that God we are witnessing it and we’re looking forward to the future plans that you have for this one of your great churches here the kingdom of God in mcdonal Georgia and now Lord bless the giver bless those who have a heart to give but maybe they don’t have
Anything to give at this time God and multiply the offering for your benefit God this is our prayer and we thank you in advance in the mighty name of Jesus Christ amen amen and amen Amen All Right he’s all right he’s all right with me he’s all right he’s all right he’s all right with me he’s all right he’s all right he’s all right with me he’s all right he’s all right he’s all right with me he’s just all right he’s just all right he’s just all right with
Me on Hallelujah he’s all right he’s all right he’s all right with me he’s all right he’s all right he’s all right with me he’s all right he’s all right he’s all right with me he’s all right he’s all right he’s all right with me he’s just all right
He’s just all right he’s all right all right now come [Applause] on he’s all right he’s all right he’s all right with me he’s all right he’s all right he’s all right with me he’s all right he’s all right he’s all right with me he’s all right he’s all all right he’s all right with me he’s just all right he’s just all
Right he just all right with [Applause] [Applause] me all right with me [Applause] I all right with me I I found out he’s all right with me I found all all he’s all right he just all right [Applause] Me [Applause] [Applause] I found he’s all right with me I tried I found out he’s all right with me I I found he’s all right with me I I found all right with I found he’s just all right he’s just all right he [Applause] [Applause] Hallelujah [Applause] all [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] PR we [Applause] [Applause] Go Good morning church good morning my name is junice Sykes and I am the co-chair of the archives and history Ministry this is the day that the Lord has made rejoice and be glad in it amen this is also the first Sunday of four during February Black History Month that we celebrate Wesley Chapel’s
57th [Applause] anniversary let let that sink in 157 years in God ‘s venard from 1867 to the present day we are thankful we’ve truly come this far by faith leaning on the Lord our theme exercising our enduring Faith with love and hope is taken from the scriptures first
Thessalonians chap 1 veres 2 and 3 today and over the next four worship Services we will share faith hope and love as we celebrate we will also include black history moments on each Sunday today’s worship includes a live black history moment demonstrating faith on the second Sunday the marriage
Ministry will share their Vision focusing on the love portion of the scripture and the color for that day is going to be red the third Sunday Our Youth and Young adults Our Hope For Tomorrow Will Lead the service please dress in your favorite t-shirts as our black history moment
Will share insights on the pen helenic Council also known as the divine nine the birth of the sororities and fraternities finally on the fourth Sunday of February we will celebrate our 150th 57th Church anniversary now today’s black history moment is live and In Living Color the interview you are about to
Hear is from our own our original James Brown [Applause] amen well my name is James Andrew Brown uh my birthday was May 14 1926 you know then on up my birthdays uh my parents and my dad was named Sam Brown and my mother name was St Clair to us that were four
Children all boys no girls and uh then from there was in Rural Life you know country life we call it we was lived here in h kind in McDonald all my life and only time we been away from here was Wasing the military service and yes uh when the members of
Wesley my parents were my dad was M crumlin sh I was a meist church connected with Wesley and we we my mom and we attended church that’s really close they closed that church down and moved everybody to Wesley but then we was um I was joined I were baptized and then there
Was Transportation problem because we live we are we couldn’t attend and at that time West was having service po Sunday and we would go to Crumley on Second Sunday but after the close that move Second Sunday to Wesley and we uh have transportation problems so we couldn’t tend with
Every Sunday a meeting day but there was churches in the community where we live they weren’t Methodist but we attended we was in church what I’m trying to say right we went to church every Sunday cuz that was uh Mount K on first Sunday and went to uh an on third Sund
And then and then we was going to crumlin until it closed so then um we just came when we could yeah uh re Swain how old were you I was eight 8 years old and did they have the baptismal pool in the church no but uh helped baptized okay see a re Stow
Ball with Pastor during that time and I work with him you know helping him with baptizing and whatever he need me do that’s what I would do and that was Joy I I like that and uh but we didn’t have too many baptized like that everybody was sprinkled well being uh that
Age now I can remember maybe about 20 something like that less it wasn’t it wasn’t a whole lot but we uh we had good service uh singing was good the preaching was good uh when Rend Swain left W came and now he’s the most oldest Pastor that I work
With because he would come out of the farm whatever we were done he would do he was uh that was no central heat I a in the church I in the parage and uh we would cut wood and uh he would help cut wood so he would
Get you know he would get wood for for heat that way he wasn’t costing anything and we were able to provide for him so he was there for a number of years involved in on a automobile accident and a few weeks after that he died and then different ones uh came yes
Uh I liked Sunday school but that was one time I can’t remember I will never forget that time uh I joined the church we were there all day long in church and uh I stay for but in Sunday school we didn’t have booklets or whatnot we had
The little cars you know and I got my little car and I said my teacher always having a good time a church service through then Revival started that night I got tired all time and so sitting on the Pew mom you better not go to sleep Mama I couldn’t talk to Mama you
Know you couldn’t talk to folk then like to and so I got in my little car and I was trying to stay awake and I guess I don’t know what she thought I was done with that car and she DW by folk looking you know so I guess she
Saw good so she didn’t hit me but she grabbed me yeah man and I thought she going to pull that leg into that’s so I had she looked at me and like you said you better not cry but she didn’t say it that’s what I feel
And her church was over I sure was glad her church was over home [Applause] that was our own Mr James Brown he was born May 14 1926 to Sam and Sinclair Brown in McDon he was married to miss Ruby there over near the door Miss Ruby Kate Sims
To this Union they had seven children and their offspring include 10 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren full of wisdom he’s a World War II veteran and he served his country well he retired from the Army on disability and began working at the Atlanta Army Depot after several years and further back
Injuries he was forced into retirement again I love how these seniors retire and work and retire and work that’s not a lesson for me but I love how they do that he’s the consumate mechanic and he dotes on his 1999 black Ford F150 pickup truck he can diagnose your car issues
EDM he’s a faithful member of Wesley he has served in many leadership roles including delegate to the annual conference at the age of 97 you can still find him entertaining his cat and his mechanical dog working puzzles with Miss Ruby word searches seduko and crossword puzzles we have a
Certificate of appreciation for Mr Brown that I will read at this point certificate of appreciation Mr James a brown senior 157th Church anniversary black history Honore and appreciation for sharing your lifelong history dedication and faithfulness to Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church in McDon Georgia presented this fourth day of February
2024 exercising our faith with love and hope we always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers we remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith your labor prompted by love and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord
Savior Jesus Christ thank you so much Mr Brown for your [Applause] service oh you stay Mr Brown we’re bringing it to you we love you amen we thank and praise God for brother Brown once again and his dedicated service to Wesley Chapel and to the mcdonal community let us stand for the reading
Of our scripture Our scripture reading will be taken from 1 Thessalonians chap 1 veres 1-10 Paul Silas and Timothy to the Church of thessalonica and God the father and the Lord Jesus Christ Grace and peace to you we always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our
Prayers we remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith your labor prompted by love and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ for we know brothers and sisters loved by God that he has chosen you because our gospel came to you and not
Simply with words but also with power with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction you know how we lived among you for your sake you became imitations of us and of the Lord for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit and so you
Became a model to all the Believers in Macedonia and AA the Lord’s message rang out from you not only in MA cedonia and AA your faith in God has become known everywhere therefore we do not need to say anything about it for they themselves report what king
Of recept what kind of reception you gave us they tell you turn to God from Idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for his son from Heaven whom he raised from the dead Jesus who rescues us from the coming coming wrath
Amen this is the word of God for the people of God thanks be to God years ago the songwriter Thomas Moore pinned the following words that Donnie Hathaway eventually made famous Come Ye disconsolate wherever you languish come to The Mercy Seat and fervently kneel here bring your wounded Hearts here tell your
Anguish for Earth has no Sorrows that heaven cannot heal more base that biblical Foundation song from second Corinthians and as the altar is open come as you are come and make your petitions known before a god of come before your fellow believers who will also reach out to you and to offer
Words of consolation in the midst of whatever you are going through for we come before a God who is full of comfort full of Mercy in trials and tribulations we are able to comfort those who are in trouble come because we are ourselves comforted Ed by God no suffering of Christ is without
Healing come let us pray though often times Lord we may find ourselves tossed around and torn we trust you as our way maker in times of need charge us to do more for your Kingdom building now and let us make haste to serve the world with the truths about our
Faith Lord daily we encounter powers and principalities that remind us to turn every care and every concern over to you let not our hearts be troubled but through prayer and supplication we make our requests known to you so G us up on every side and make
May we count it all joy that whenever comes our way we simply turn things over to you have mercy on the ones who need your grace the most but perhaps feel they need at least venture to and fro capturing and developing your witness through us keep us intentionally clear motivated
With the faith of our forefathers and mothers and sustain us in times of grief and sorrow happiness and joy as we celebrate this month at Wesley Chapel May Our Heritage and Legacy of a faith filled setting keep you high and lifted up for by faith we have arrived to a world of
Possibilities and faith will lead us on oh Lord be our Rock and Our Redeemer hear our petitions hear our humble cries breast the proclaimer of your word who will come forth and Empower this church with what thus saith the Lord and Lord in the Midnight Hour when we need to lean on you
Most be there for us when folks come our way and say help me turn them to the Redeemer and let them know that God can do all things all things at all times because through him all things become possible and may we count it ourselves blessed and joy filled to once again be
Able to rise in the morning and set at night giving thanks to God for yet another day Lord we pour out our hearts to you and ask that you lead guide and direct us every day every moment every hour for it is in your name that we ask
These things and even make our personal requests receive us as we are heal us where we need it most and allow the power of your spirit to flow from person to person so that when we touch and agree we are unified in you both now and forever more amen I Hallelujah thank you Jesus you’re worthy God Hall thank you Father PR God Hallelujah thank you Lord hallelujah thank you Jesus right yes when I come into His presence I humble myself I lift up both my hands and I began to worship him Lord yes Lord thank you Lord M I worship Him when I come into His pres I humble myself I lift up both my hands and I I began to worship him oh yes I do I do I worship him when I come into His presence I hum my myself lift up both my hands and I to worship Him [Applause] H
God when I come into His presence I humble myself I lift up both my hands and I began to worship him oh yes I do I do I I worship him for what he’s done for what he’s done for me he redeem me and and he said he free and just because just
Because he God when I come into His presence hum myself I lift up both my hands [Applause] and to to worship him yes yes Lord I do I wor for what he’s done what he done for me he redeemed me and set and he set me free me
Free and because and it’s just because just because he God he’s done for Me he redeemed me and set and he set me free you let me free and and it’s just because just because just [Applause] because he’s God oh for what is done for you and me I love you Jesus he is me he set me free yeah and because and it’s just because
Just just because you’re holy and it’s just because just because just because you’re rightous and it’s just because just because just because he God is the joy and the strength of my Life me [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] Nrow Lord we love you he’s done he’s God he’s God he’s God and he’s done he’s done he’s done he’s done God is you’re my all my all Lord my all you’re my heart yes you are God is My he he is yes he is yes he is God is my all you’re my all can you be a witness to your neighbor that God is your all in all if you know that God is blessing you right now and if you’re able to stand and give him a praise
We are going to Bear witness one to another that God is our all in all oh come on and continue to encourage your neighbor oh come on and put those hands together for who he is come on keep clapping because he woke you up this morning oh come on and keep celebrating
Him because he inhabit the Praises of his people so I don’t know what you come to do but I come to praise him on your way to your seat come on and Clap Your Hands for Jesus he’s an awesome [Applause] God I greet you my brothers and my sisters again in that mighty name of Jesus hallelujah hallelujah there’s no other name that I can greet you in who’s worthy of all of our praise and we thank him for what he’s doing right now we thank him for his Spirit how his
Holy spirit moves among us us how it moves over us how it moves through us we thank him because when we was in trouble he’s been our refuge when we didn’t see a way out nor a way in he bridged the Gap and made it possible for us to celebrate his name
One more [Applause] time I’m I’m a living witness that prayer works I’m a living witness that faith is what faith does and we thank God for right now we give honor to God we thank God for all of you we thank God for our honor read today we thank
God for one of our ebony Bishops who frequently come to see about us Bishop hosen is always good to see you we thank God for the Holy [Applause] [Applause] Spirit hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah [Applause] [Applause] You He kept my enemies away he let the sunshine through a cloudy day oh he rockes me in the bra of his arm when you knew a happy B is one so if it had not been for the [Applause] Lord me I somebody tell me where where would I be That’s a good question had it not been for the Lord on our side where would we be but thanks be to God he kept us from dangers seen and not Seen as they continue to play that tune first Thessalonians verse two says we always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers we remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith holler back at me Faith your labor prompt by love shout back at me
Love and your endurance inspired by hope shout back at me hope in our Lord Jesus Christ and I like what verse six says you became imitators of us and of the Lord for you welcome the message message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy
Spirit I want to tag a thought this morning this is the word of God for the people of God I want to celebrate the word of God in this church with this thought a church worth celebrating a church gracious God we thank you for this Rich opportunity that you have given us
Again to Proclaim your word God nothing good we’ve done but your Grace has stood us up on every side now God we pray that the word of my mouth and the meditation of your heart be acceptable in thy sight oh Lord our strength and Our Redeemer let every heart say amen and
Amen when you open up the Bible in first Thessalonians the very first verse says Paul Silas and Timothy to the Church of the Thessalonians in God the father and the Lord Jesus Christ Grace and peace to you my brothers and sisters in typical fashion Paul opens his first letter to
The Thessalonians with a greeting a Thanksgiving and a prayer and just as we have formal ways of introducing letters in the first century there was a common way of introducing letters as well and here we find Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians follows this same form he begins by telling us who it’s
From and who it’s to and then he greets his readers and we find if you study this text the Greeks just wrote the word greeting although Paul writes the word grace and here it is the word grace is derived from the Greek word greeting but is used here to sum up the
Gospel Grace depicts God’s total acceptance of a Believer apart from their worthiness or unworthiness because this grace is truly a gift and here it is the word peace is the common Jewish greeting if you will and and it doesn’t mean so much about freedom from trouble
But more of a wish for prosperity of wholeness under God and if we can continue to meander the text Paul affirms that the Thessalonian church is Central in his prayers in his prayers he began before the Lord three qualities in the church for which he give thanks he
Give thanks for Faith he give thanks for love and he give thanks for Hope and he calls out their work of Faith Paul gives thanks for their active and effective Faith uh for the business side of their faith uh uh the the doing of it if you
Will in other words the practice of Faith they just don’t say I have faith they walk in faith they talk in faith uh they worship in faith uh because they believe that there’s nothing too hard for God he acknowledged their labor of love Paul thanks God for their love a
Love that labors to the point of weariness the word for love used in the New Testament takes on its own meaning it is something that can only be understood by examining the character of God oh yes it’s a costly compassion towards another prompted by no worthiness or future Worthy
In the one so Lov such Love Can Only Be Imagined in the death of Jesus Christ on our behalf oh yes John 3:16 Says highlights this with Clarity for God so Lov the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life
And if I was a nonbeliever I would be curious to know what why would God give his son well the Bible says this is how much God loved the world he gave his son his one and only son and this is why so that no one need to be destroyed oh yes
By believing in him anyone can have a whole and Lasting life you see God didn’t go to uh to H to all the trouble of sending his son merely to point uh an accusing finger unlike us amen somebody oh yes uh he sent his son telling the world
Uh he didn’t he didn’t uh really put him in place to tell the world how bad it was but he came to help he came to put the world right again and and anyone who trust in him is acquitted uh anyone who refuses to trust him him has long since
Been under the death sentence without knowing it and why because of that person’s failure to believe in the one of a kind of Son of God when introduced to him but the problem is somebody need to go tell somebody about a man who can save anybody this is the crisis we’re in God
Light streamed into the world but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness they went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God they went for the darkness because they really wasn’t interested in serving a God that they could not see they went for the darkness
Because they they believe that that that whatever is happening in my life whether good or bad I can do it on my own see everyone who makes a practice of doing evil uh addicted to uh denial and illusion hates God’s light and won’t come near it fearing a painful
Exposure but anyone working in living and living in truth in reality welcomes God light so the work can be seen for the god work that it is so here it is Paul he he applauds their patient hope uh Paul thanks God for their patient hope and a a spirit which can bear all
Things not simply with resignation but with blazing hope uh and here it is the Thessalonians have a sure belief in God’s ultimate purpose this hope is in the Lord Jesus Christ and in an enduring hope that rest on him so life prepares us my brothers and sisters for eternity
And and as we walk with Jesus day by day we take on qualities which serve us here on Earth and which will it be especially useful for our rule with Christ in eternity the scripture the text identifies these qualities as faith hope and love our theme this year is
Exercising our enduring Faith with love and hope and Paul writing to the Thessalonian Christians has observed these three qualities in their Church Fellowship and he give thanks to God for them there are qualities that should be found in every church and in every Christian Christian Life oh yes a faith
That is active possessing a faith that is active and productive is going to be essential for our rule with Christ in eternity so here it is my brothers and sisters building the muscles of Faith requires going out on a limb for the Lord amen somebody it involves trusting
Him when all about us denies the wisdom of that truth the the Thessalonians since the departure of Paul had stood firm uh in the face of disbelief and had stood firm in the face of opposition and the Thessalonians were now on their own yet they did not waver in their Reliance
On the Lord H I come to let somebody know this morning no matter what you’re going through uh don’t waver on God no matter what you’ve been through uh just celebrate his goodness uh and all that he’s done for you uh it doesn’t matter the doctor report it doesn’t it really
Doesn’t matter the balance in the bank account I serve a god who’s able he’s able to do anything but fail so here it is H the Bible says that that the Thessalonians they possessed a labor in love say shout labor in love love is the greatest of the Eternal
Qualities in fact it sums up the very character of God God is love oh yes love is a quality that should consume us and it was Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians he said may the Lord Make Your Love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else to possess a
Love that labors for others that seeks the best for others is evidence of God’s grace a natural love cares for those we regard High highly and want to possess for our pleasure yet self-giving love the love that Christ exhibits is a miraculous love let us look to
Jesus so this love may grow in us as a gift of God’s grace but what I love about the Thessalonians Believers the community there at thessalonica had adopted the Faith with great opposition position I’m trying to help somebody this morning to understand that your opposers really are the ones that’s going to make
You greater unlike the Eternal Strife in the Corinthian assembly this church had a cohesive Faith with a sense of unity and and with a sense of purpose the many competing religious movements among the pagans in the city uh uh the the the the extreme loyalty to
Rome and uh the Imperial cult from the city leaders and fierce competition from the Jewish Centos created a survival mentality among the local Christians you got to know when things are happening around you uh you got to know Only the Strong can survive uh but you got to
Understand where your strength and your joy comes from uh there was no time for click there was no time for fancy theologies there was no time for leadership manipulation the Thessalonians were true to teaching and the example of Paul and his friends my brothers and sisters because of their
Struggles the Thessalonians gained a favorable reputation among the Christians in their region in fact Paul implied their reputation had Evangelistic power the church became an example for others why in spite of the competition and and in spite of the social pressure the Thessalonians prove themselves very
Hospitable and and very open to uh this teaching of the gospel and very faithful to their religion and let me take a pause there on get right street because we need to take our religion H uh seriously and we need to be faithful doing in it amen
Somebody we really do need to position ourselves that I’m getting there to be to really be the example of a disciple for the Lord like their contemporaries the Thessalonians should Inspire us we should emulate their quality of of gracious hospitality and and spiritual openness balanced with being faithful to
The Christian message despite opposition and despite competing messages the Bible says that they were patient and that they were steadfast and so should we but if we’re going to exercise our enduring Faith with love and hope we must be about it what is the goal of the Christian
Life it is God’s plan for each of us that we be conformed to the likeness of his son even in this life we are being transformed into his likeness with ever increasing glory and that’s the reason Paul labored with the Galatians until Christ was formed in them he told the
Ephesians that our goal is attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ and in Christ we have a new identity and a new purpose for living the new self is to be like God in in true righteousness and Holiness what a concept we are to be like God not just
In the resurrection but even to the extent possibly in this life we are becoming like Jesus who showed us what God is like when living in the flesh flesh we are not just hoping to be like him in the next life we’re to be like him in this life can I get a
Witness who do we need to look like physically we don’t need to look like Jesus physically we don’t need to try to match his carpentry skills uh nor his language skills or nor his knowledge whether we can be like him in true righteousness and Holiness in our behavior and in our
Devotion to God we are to be like Jesus that pushes me to challenge us to be transformed from something to something else how is transformation accomplished in our lives Paul says be transformed formed by the renewing of your mind our new self is being renewed in knowledge and in the image of its
Creator both heart and mind are involved but guess what behavior is too these three work together in those who are being transformed by Christ the Mind alone Reverend Rob is not enough if only the mind is involved we may be like demons who know truth about
God but don’t obey him all right all right the mind can’t be in this thing oh by itself uh yes yes yes we must not only hear but we must also somebody shout back at me do Behavior alone is not enough if we go through the motions
Without Really believing in God we are play actors even if we believe in God and and do the right action if our heart is far from God H you better believe that your worship is in vain if we sing choir God’s Praises without feeling an affection for him
We’re simply singing what we want to sing in short we need the right beliefs we need the right actions and we need the right emotions if the heart is right and our beliefs are right then the right Behavior would be the result but here it is the Apostle Paul
Knew that the Believers at thessalonica had been converted because the gospel had come to them with power somebody push back at me and Shout power power in his name Power in the Blood power in Jesus all you got to do is say power they welcomed it with joy and and
As they entered watch this the long world of discipleship yes we cannot fulfill the Great Commission minus discipleship well Pastor thank you for introducing me to the word and the term well what is discipleship I’m glad you asked it it’s really is attainable a follower of Jesus Christ who accepts and
Assists in the spreading of the good news oh yes the good news of Salvation through him discipleship involves the ministry of outreaching love and and witness to others uh concerning Christ and God’s grace and here it is in his book the cost of discipleship Theologian deedric bun Hofer says when
Christ calls a man he bids him come and die cheap Grace is the grace we bestore on ourselves the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance baptism without church discipline communion without confession cheap Grace is Grace without discipleship but he goes on to say that costly Grace is the gospel which must be
Sought again and again and again and again the gift which must be asked for the door at which a man must knock and he says it’s costly Grace because it costs a man his life and it’s a Grace because it gives a man the only true
Life so here it is my brothers and my sisters in 2024 as we celebrate 10050 years of ministry we’re not seeking the same outcomes but we’re seeking greater outcomes and we shall not limit God because we are limited God has designed the church to be the place where gifts are discovered
Where gifts are nurtured and used to build up the body of Christ and bring it into maturity ultimately all of this is for the glory of God and here it is the same Spirit who worked powerfully in the early church continues to work in and through the church
Today can I get a witness yes Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church is a church we’re celebrating but we must understand our why understand in our why gives us Clarity concerning our cause it gives us Clarity concerning our reason and it gives us Clarity concerning our purpose in this season of
Transformational ministry and only thing I want to ask you right now are you ready to do what the Lord has called us to do are you ready to get in alignment to do what God has commissioned us to do well Pastor what has God called us to do well if I
Use one word you’re going to catch it in just a second God called us to love ye one another as he so loved the church God called us to love even when you don’t feel like loving God called us to love even when you’re mad as hell God called us to love and
Sometimes sometimes uh you have to say get thee behind me Shaden uh and leave me alone I got to raise to Run I got a race to Run we have a race to run and we have much work to do all we need is love because see love encourages encourages us to do what we think we can’t do love encourages us to put our arms around each other love encourages us to give for the calls until it
Hurts you know the asking we have announced that our church anniversary Financial goal is $25,000 faith is what faith does we’ve already declared and decreed that it will be done because we know that God will do it so it doesn’t matter matter the asking was is rather $100 per person not per
Household per person but if God has blessed you to give more to this Vision we welcome that before I take my seat my husband always look at me with a side out be side eye because he said woman you have crazy faith I said without faith I have nothing or I am
Nothing because if God promised it God will see it through so I say I don’t let money I don’t let things I don’t let material things block me from trusting God to do what he’s going to do this Friday this past Friday we were leaving the church and around 4:30 p.m. we
We’re getting in our cars and a Gentleman came up to my husband he was about 645 380 lbs easy and he went directly to my husband because I had veered to go to my car he said I’m looking for the pastor and my husband said well there she is over there the
Man came toward me I didn’t know if it was an intimidation didn’t walk aggressive walk or it was an excitement but in his peripheral vision he saw my husband coming behind him and he had this FedEx package envelope package letter package in his hand and I I just
Greeted him at a distance I said you’re not trying to serve me no papers are you and he kept on walking he said ma’am God told me to come see you you today and I thought to myself well if God told you to come see me you in the
Right place but how many of you know that God will position you to be where he wants you to be even when you don’t know what’s happening that’s Faith the substance of things hoped for ah the evidence of Things Not Seen now I’ve watched this uh on Tik Tock
Where people go up to people and start counting money out on the table or put it in their hands uh he got to the back of my trunk uh and he pulled out an envelope and he start started to count Money I said sir you are the epitome of faith I said you don’t know what we have charged our members or taxed our members with for the month of February but I believe that you’re the first seed so [Applause] far I said what is your name
And and I just want to say thank you and as I was sharing his or listening my husband and I listening to his testimony I began to smile in my sanctifying SW I said I just want to be a witness to what you’re doing right now my my husband and I was
Recently on vacation and and once we got to the airport there was a lady in the bathroom attending the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said you got to sew a seed in her life today without hesitation the seed was sewn and on Friday this total stranger says God God sent me
Here to plant a seed in this church this demonstration of witness is to let all of us in the building to know that no matter what we have or don’t have God will see us through and let me help somebody who is waiting for their breakthrough in healing it’s already there
There it’s already there because God shows up every time with a message to give somebody else a [Applause] message this is public knowledge we all know that brother Greg guy is in the need of a kidney I announced that again in midday Bible study and he’s a very
Specific blood type and someone in that Bible study came up and to me and said pastor can you give me clarity about what you asked and and what you said and they identified them themselves to be the exact blood [Applause] type but although they were willing to
Give blood but not at the at the space of giving a kidney God was sending a message that the kidney is on the [Applause] Way there’s a song If you’re listening brother Greg there’s a song that says I don’t know how God’s going To I don’t know we when is going to but I can shout yes God’s going to make a way for me I know he’s going to do it the song says Victory I don’t know who needed to hear that in addition to him I can’t fix it
But I can stand firm in faith with you to know who’s going to fix it and as we extend an invitation to Christian discipleship we invite you to come just as you are if God is calling you to establish a relationship with Jesus come on if God is calling you to join this
Ministry come on if God is calling you to reset yourself come on oh yes I don’t know who we I don’t know when when is going to fix it all that thing I know that God will God’s going to make a way from me I know he’s going to do it can y’all
Say do it I know he’s going to do it I know he’s going to it Fix It Jesus I know he’s going to fix it for I know he’s going to do it for me I know he’s going to I know he’s going to do it I know
He’s going to holler back at me a victory God God is going to oh yes oh God God is going on oh yes wait for me I know he’s going to can you put it in the air fix it fix it forth fix it
Fix it for him fix it fix it for fix it fix it for us fix it fix it Jesus Fix It Jesus Fix It Jesus fix fix it Jesus fix it fix it Jesus fix Fix It Jesus fix there may be someone who is tuned in via
The live stream we are a living witness that God will fix it and all you have to do is reach out to us on our ministry connect line at 678 79125 4 we’ll be happy to pray with you we’ll be happy to to to uh put you in
Contact with our Steven Minister if you need someone to walk with you long term but whatever you do don’t give up hold on to faith hold on to hope and whatever you do know that God loves You Larry Sally Anderson Transfer amen can we celebrate Jesus come on celebrate Jesus celebrate his word and celebrate his Evangelistic power amen we welcome brother Larry and sister Sally Anderson who is coming to us from Butler Street CME Church amen they told me some months ago that very renowned Pastor sent them this
Way and I said well y’all just keep coming and however the spirit whenever the spirit leads you we welcome you in this place we thank God for your coming for your being here as we share in the work of ministry together and Miss Tony Lee who is coming to us from
Rock Church of Atlanta we welcome you in the same in the same love we are a few Believers here believing and trusting God that a brighter day is ahead amen and all of you have stated that you are already uh uh Believers of the faith it is our tradition as we welcome
You in is to ask you just a few questions questions because if you if you are able to testify to somebody sitting here that that you know that you know that had it not been for the blood of Jesus where would you be but today you have exercise enduring Faith and
Hope that’s demonstrated by the love of God do you believe that the Bible containeth the information to navigate you from this life to the life to come do you believe that Jesus died suffered and died and on the third day God raised him up from the dead will you support this
Ministry which your gifts and your prayers your presence your witness and I don’t care let excuse me one second I don’t care how old we are there’s room in the body of Christ for us to work amen I just need to help somebody out there maybe you on a sabatical but but
But but uh uh Harvest time is is right around the corner amen amen we welcome people of all ages members uh and Men Women boys and girls alike of all ages because it’s going to take all of us to do this work we’re starting to launch ourselves in kennol
Georgia as you already know on the 28th I believe of February we’re going there team members you might not be able to go but pray for us as we go to minister to young men and women on college campuses and if you would push us with
Prayer the promise of God will do the work when we get there can we pray for you as we welcome you into the body of Christ as you’re able can you kneel at the altar am amen it’s all right just stand our team members will stand around you come
Closer amen come on brother Hickman you can stand with us too amen amen father God in the name of Jesus father we cry out to you and you hear our humble cry and we pray now for sister Tony and brother and sister Anderson God as you have brought them to this place
Call your church and God we pray that as they come God you not only will activate them but continue to keep us inclined to push each other yes yes to do your will oh God it’s it’s not about us it’s all about you and we thank you God for
This season of trans formational Ministry we thank you God for a season of reloading and we thank you God for a season of pushing us out of our comfort zones now bless them keep them like only you can in Jesus name we do pray let every
Heart say amen amen and amen come on celebrate Jesus one more time he’s worthy of all of our praise thank you he’s worthy of all of our praise come on keep those hands together he’s a good god he’s a good God and we give God glory for the things that he continues
To do as we as we amen amen Amen amen amen as we’re preparing ourselves for Holy Communion want to make sure that everyone has their Fellowship cup UPS in the balcony and raise your hand High ushers please move expeditiously keep your hands up until you receive your cup a Man we have one right Here As we prepare for service of word and table Christ Our Lord invites to his table all who love him who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another therefore let us confess our sin before God and one another merciful god we confess that we
Have not loved you with our whole heart we have failed to be an obedient church we have broken your law we have broken in your law we have rebelled against your love hear the good news Christ died for us while we were yet sinners that proves
God’s love toward us in the name of Jesus Christ you are forgiven Jesus Christ you are forgiven glory to God Amen now to the great Thanksgiving the Lord be with you and also with you lift up your hearts lift them up to the Lord let us give thanks to the Lord Our
God thanks prise it is right in a good and joyful thing always and everywhere to give thanks to you father almighty creator of Heaven and Earth and so with your people on Earth and all the company of Heaven we praise your name and join their unending Hym holy are you and blessed is your son Jesus Christ by the baptism of his suffering death and Resurrection you gave birth to your church delivered Us From Slavery to sin and death and made with us a new covenant by water and the spirit and on the night in which he gave
Himself up for us he took the bread he gave thanks to you and he broke it and he gave it to his disciples and he said Take and Eat This is my body that is given for you do this in remembrance of me the supper was over he took the cup he
Gave thanks to you and he gave it to his disciples and he said drink from this all of you this is my blood of the New Covenant poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sin do this as often as you drink it do it in remembrance of
Me in remembrance of these your Mighty acts in Jesus Christ we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and Living Sacrifice in Union with Christ’s offering for us as we proclaim the mystery of Faith Christ Christ Christ pour out your Holy Spirit on us
Gathered here and those who are tuned in with with us in various locations and on these gifts of bread and wine make them be for us the body and the blood of Christ that we may be for the world the body of Christ Redeemed by his blood by
Your spirit make us one with Christ one with each other and one in Ministry to all the world until Christ comes in final Victory and we Feast at his heavenly banquet through your son Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit in your holy church all honor and glory is yours Almighty
Father now and forever more let every heart say amen and now with the confidence of children of God let us pray together the Lord’s prayer Our Father which are in heaven Hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven give
Give us this day our daily bread forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but Deliver Us from Evil thine is the kingdom the power and the glory forever and ever Amen the body of Christ is given for you you may take and eat the blood of Christ was shared on calvary’s Cross for the Forgiveness of our sins let us take and drink thanks be to God for the body and the blood of Jesus and as we continue to trust in the
Lord and lean not to our own understanding let us continue to serve him and Worship the Lord in spirit and in truth as we prepare to leave this place but never his presence we invite our aquites to come at this time Oh can I cannot negate the testimony for 68 seconds I’m going to ask you to sit back down our dear sister said she had a testimony come sister Tony Lee good morning church and thank you Jesus who’s head of My Life um before I start visiting this church I got into some
Trouble with a little dog I went and rescued a dog I’m a dog breeder okay I went and rescued a little dog that I saw on the patio in bad shape took the dog to the doctor and 30 minutes after I left the dog the doctor called me and
Said Miss Miss Lee somebody needs to go to jail about this dog I said go to jail he said yes this dog is in bad shape so Animal Control called me and I had to go to a hearing well actually I didn’t tell the people where I got the
Dog from because if I had the little lady would have went to jail so I for 4 months I went to jail I mean I went to Court about this dog so when I started coming here and start praising God and and praying and asking him to help me
Four times I went to court and they kept putting it off and putting it off until I came here the last time I went to court I asked God to go in before me and when I went into the courtroom the doctor wasn’t there the police officer who wanted to put me in
Jail wasn’t there nor Animal Control the judge say well miss Tony I don’t know what to tell you but the only thing I can do is just dismiss it and I say thank you Jesus thank you Lord thank you he he he will do it he will do it just
Keep trusting in Him Praise Hallelujah EX exercising enduring Faith come on stand to your feet and let’s give God another hand clap of Praise as we continue to celebrate the goodness of Our Lord receive this benediction May the grace of God and the sweet communion of the Holy Spirit be with you may his Love cover you may his strength build you and may the Holy Spirit protect you in the name of the Father the Son
And the Holy Spirit let’s agree by singing it Together amen ah [Applause] amen Amen go in peace and May the peace of God be with you
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