These Signs Shall Follow Them

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.   He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.   And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;   They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Mark 16:15-18 KJV

What a refreshing verse for this holiday weekend, to offset the attention giving to individuals kneeling during the ceremony of raising the flag as a sign of protest.  As believers, the Savior’s words about signs that will follow them seems to capture my attention instead of the normal festivities. Unlike Fake News, this Scripture unfold signs that we as believers must recognize in our lives:

1) They shall speak with new tongue. I believe this phase focuses on the believers’ behavior as reflected in their conversation. For instance, many individuals’ life purpose centers on selfishness to improve ones’ status. Therefore, believers will focus on others while they set a new life purpose away from the accumulation of things.

2) Take up serpents and drink any deadly thing, it shall not harm them. Even though, in our modern society snakes tend to remain in wooded area instead of congregating in our homes; yet, I think this verse references the unexpected incidents that easily put humans in perilous situation. As believers, we tend to walk away from fatality by an unforeseen protection. Remember, believers war against unseen forces in a spiritual warfare with aid from heavenly beings.

3) They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 4) They shall cast out devils. These last two signs of healing the sick and casting our evil spirits are collectively benefits within believers. These benefits result from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. As believers pray for others who requires healing, the deliverance of sickness and even from evil spirits will occur. Yet, believers realize that such deliverance transpires from the work on the Holy Spirit instead of themselves.  

Scripture recognizes the location of the Savior as sitting by God the Father in heaven. (Mark 16:19) Now this setting demonstrates more than ever the fulfilling of the Savior’s words found in John 14:12, “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” So I am pondering whether I have allowed the Holy Spirit to perform such works through my vessel like the Savior preformed while on Earth for the Father. This revelation alone causes me to pray as follows:

Dearest heavenly Father who is omniscient and omnipotent knows my limitation and weaknesses yet YOU provided a source for empowering me. Therefore, allow me to become that vessel to demonstrate your love to others who feels hopeless and despair. Then, I know that when I display your LOVE, these individuals will come to know you like I know you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!

Increase knowledge vs increase sorrow

For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. (Ecclesiastes 1:18 KJV) A theology professor wanted my view on the Scripture about increase knowledge and sorrow. So my perspective on this scripture is as follows:

This verse reminds me of the popular slogan during the 2016 Presidential Campaign about Fake News. "Fake news or pseudo-news is a type of propaganda that consists of deliberate disinformation or hoaxes spread via traditional news media or online social media." (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fake_news)

Like fake news, worldly knowledge produces fake truth that tends to bring glory to oneself while fostering a path of sorrow. Mainly, this knowledge encourages a lack of fulfillment unlike Godly knowledge that leads to fulfillment. For instance, advances in sexual identity during pregnancy allow a couple to question the sex of the unborn because now one can change his/her sex after birth. Such knowledge can lead to grief when one thinks he or she was born with the wrong sex. This knowledge replaces God's selection of one's sex while fabricating that God made a mistake when he created me. As one changes his/her sex, this transformation leads to sorrow by family members especially the parents.

Therefore, as we recognize the advancement in scientific methods without the advancement of spiritual enlightenment, one can acknowledge the parallel of increase knowledge leading to increase sorrow within our society.

Pastor Tribute

Pastor Vincent Brown
Abbeville Memorial COGIC

A pastor is a spiritual overseer for a group of believers. As a spiritual overseer, he must ensure that the spiritual development of believers will continue toward the path of maturity in both wisdom and knowledge. In other words, the pastor has a call to draw people closer to God. Therefore, the term change becomes a permanent aim for him when ministering to body of believers. The body of believers must undergo change to reach maturity just as a new born child changes to adulthood. Yet, when we listen to Pastor Brown’s applications in his sermons, each application becomes a vital nugget on how to grow closer to God to ensure this change. Pastor Brown employs a changed methodology to stir growth when preaching. For instance, he referred to the call of Abraham from Ur to the land of Canaan as an increase. Likewise, God wants us to increase by improving ourselves so at times He employs a change concept that will eventually lead us to improvement.

Pastor Brown wants AMC members to improve and continue to increase toward God. Remember, God created the universe and if you noticed there is an ever expansion ongoing around us. I have heard people say that we are living in the Last Days. Yet, Pastor Brown understands that we are living in two existences – this presence world and the spiritual world. Such awareness leads him to foster a need for AMC to grow spiritually instead of focusing on the material prosperity. 

Finally, the primary purpose of a spiritual overseer centers on  Kingdom work by reaching lost souls. Likewise, Pastor Brown's vision at Abbeville Memorial Church produces ongoing Kingdom work within this community like ministering to our seniors at the Henry County Health and Rehab Facility, the youth at Camp SAYLA, Back to School Bash, the Boys and Girls Club of Abbeville, and even the homeless as an outreach ministry in Atlanta. This body of believers seems small from a natural perspective but from the spiritual perception, we are mighty in God which is why the Apostle Paul referred to us in the Scripture as waiting for a change. 

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  (I Corinthians 15:51-52)

For this reason, Pastor Brown employs a change concept in preparation of the ultimate change for the believers at AMC.

End Times

End Times what does this term really means when people say that we are living in the End Times.  Usually, such a term reference the end of existence as seen in this presence reality. However, such a meaning can easily suggest that the world is constantly in a state of change unfolding the rationale for climate change, imminent nuclear war, or any pending pandemic outbreaks or national disaster.  This presence existence moves like an evolving state toward an unseen external destination but simultaneously producing an unction only seen by a selected few who announces, “End Times are upon us.” Therefore, I tend to ponder the comparison of this presence existence with an eternal experience.

Nevertheless, I believe if you look closer to ones’ surroundings there are clues that suggest this notion of living in the End Times. First, eternity lacks a starting point. Since this presence existence birthed from eternity when the Creator breathed life into this existence while causing life to materialize giving us that impulse to return to your Creator. Remember Scripture notes, for in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven. (II Corinthians 5:2 KJV) Therefore, one can interpret that the term End Times really speaks to ones’ eternal existence in which we are longing to return to our heavenly home in eternity.

Another clue reflects in the universe in form of sounds known as music.  Music has a tendency to touch ones’ soul. Even if you hear a song in a foreign language the tunes vibrate a rhythm that calms your spirit. Therefore, the Psalmist states, with trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King. (Psalms 98:6) In other words, music in the formation of joyful sounds connect your inner man with your eternal Creator while signifying an impulse to return to your heavenly existence.  Therefore, one can easily say that when we produce music and rhythmic sounds that portion of our being formed by the Creator’s breath becomes awaken like a lost puppy yearning to return home.

Now the next time you hear the term End Times, start recognizing the clues of two existences – the presence world and the eternal world. Then these clues will awaken your awareness enabling you to experience the eternity from your inner self. This awareness will lead you to foster an understanding that your temporal existence coexists with your unseen existence.  Upon that epiphany, you will realize a temporal coexistence while longing to return home to your eternal existence.

That You May Know

Notes from Rev Rufus Grant at New Beginning Missionary Baptist Church in Miami.

You can KNOW the Way, but your faith in Christ provides eternity. Yet, believers tend to struggle with doubt.  Why do believers struggle with doubts in their lives? Here are some points to remember when struggling with doubts.

Hard times allow you to believe the KNOW. The KNOW brings about a change. Then this change allows you to perform better than what you did in the past. 

Basically, the Holy Spirit creates the change because your inner spirit connects with the Holy Spirit simultaneously syncing with your changed behavior.

Change allows you to practice righteousness instead of practicing sin since sin leads to death. Therefore when believers who are born of God overcome the World because sin enslaves you with sinful practices. 

Lastly, as believers we must realize that everything works for God's goodness since we are created in His image and His Spirit lives within us. So when you are struggling with doubts focus on these truths located in I John 5:13-20.

¹³ These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

¹⁴ And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

¹⁵ And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

¹⁶ If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

¹⁷ All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

¹⁸ We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

¹⁹ And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

²⁰ And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

My Uncle Billy - Celebrating Life

During times of bereavement, you may wonder why the feeling of sadness overwhelms so many of us. Memories can cause grief while creating a sense of melancholy. Such an experience happened to me while attending my Uncle Billy Memorial Service. For instance, while reminiscing an interaction with Uncle Billy when I realized his son's real name was Robert Jr. Basically, I had grown up with his son as childhood cousin, and I never realized that he was a junior until his demise. After I learned this new revelation, I was eager to ask Uncle Billy how Robert became a junior. When I inquired, Uncle Billy quickly uttered, "I should know his name since I named him.  I was there when he was borne and I told them to name him after me." Then I realized Uncle Billy real name was Robert too.  In other words, names are truly meaningful because they prove the richness of your character. Like my Uncle Billy whose reputation far exceed his personality within the community of East Chicago since the  meaning of  "Robert" is fame. Truly, my Uncle Billy's fame will forever be cherish by his family. 

So check out the definition of your name and notice how it matches your true character.

Father of the Bride Words of Encouragement

Alloparenting is an individual other than the biological parent of an offspring that performs the functions of a parent. Today, we have a host of alloparents witnessing this marriage. Remember marriages, like births, mark a new beginning. Yet, I realize that Bridget and DacQuan are overwhelmed just like Debra and I were 35 years 3 months ago. Yet, the anticipation removes the fears as you build your life together in a relationship that will stand the test of time. Be true to each other always; share your joys and your burdens; love much and laugh much; be each other's best friend. Always speak well of one another, even in private. And when things don't go well, forgive as often as it is required.

Married life is an adventure and you embark today on that adventure together. Even though, you are two different individuals, the covenant that you have entered binds you to pursuit life together.

One day, if you are as fortunate as Debra and I are in the amidst of alloparents, you will stand in awe when you see a new beginning entering your family. So this apprehension and anticipation will transfer when you develop the same level of love and commitment to your marriage. Then, you will experience the same level of overwhelming joy that Debra and I are feeling right now.

Congratulations!!