SANCTIFIED SUBMISSION TO UNGODLY GOVERNMENT, part 1 (audio)

From the opening verses of Romans chapter 13, this is the first of a 2 part message on an uncomfortable but timely topic.  The title of the sermon is:  SANCTIFIED SUBMISSION TO UNGODLY GOVERNMENT (part 1).

Listen well.

If you can’t get the audio on your device, visit the main podcast page at http://revandersongraves.podomatic.com/   

The podcast is on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/anderson-graves-podcast/id918990482

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a pastor, writer, community organizer, and consultant  

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Bailey Tabernacle CME Church in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He writes the popular blog: A Word to the Wise at www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com

Email: BaileyTabernacleChurch@comcast.net

Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

Follow me on twitter @AndersonTGraves 

Click here to support this blog with a donation.  Or go to andersontgraves.blogspot.com and click on the DONATE button on the right-hand sidebar. 

Support Bailey Tabernacle CME Church with a donation through Givelify

Or visit baileytabernaclecme.org

Support by check or money order may be mailed to 

Bailey Tabernacle CME Church

1117 23^rd Avenue

Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401

A CHILD'S PLACE (audio)

The 5th message in the sermon series:  HEALING WOUNDED FAMILIES.  The title of this message is:  A CHILD’S PLACE.

Listen well and leave a comment.

If you can’t get the audio on your device, visit the main podcast page at http://revandersongraves.podomatic.com/   

The podcast is on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/anderson-graves-podcast/id918990482

 --Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Bailey Tabernacle CME Church in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He writes the popular blog: A Word to the Wise at www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com

Email: BaileyTabernacleChurch@comcast.net

Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

Follow me on twitter @AndersonTGraves 

Click here to support this ministry with a donation.  Or go to andersontgraves.blogspot.com and click on the DONATE button on the right-hand sidebar. 

Visit the ministry’s website at baileytabernaclecme.org

Support by check or money order may be mailed to 

Bailey Tabernacle CME Church

P.O. Box 3145 

Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35403

A BLESSING FOR THE GATEKEEPERS

Long ago a man of God rebelled against his fellowship and split the church of his day.   In a spectacular display of Divine wrath, God destroyed the spiritual mutineers.  Generations later, the Lord used a great king to redeem the descendants of that disgraced rebel.  And that is why churches have ushers.

Learn the whole story and how what happens at the doors of the church affects every one of us every day.

The sermon is about: A BLESSING FOR THE GATEKEEPERS.

Listen well.

If you can’t get the audio on your device, visit the main podcast page at http://revandersongraves.podomatic.com/

The podcast is on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/anderson-graves-podcast/id918990482

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church in Fairfield, Alabama;  executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO);  and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Subscribe to my personal blog  www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com .

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com

Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

Follow me on twitter @AndersonTGraves  #Awordtothewise 

You can help support this ministry with a donation to Miles Chapel CME Church.

You can help support Rev. Graves’ work by visiting his personal blog and clicking the DONATE button on the right-hand sidebar.

Support by check or money order may be mailed to 

Miles Chapel CME Church

P O Box 132

Fairfield, Al 35064

NORMAL OR IDEAL? THE MOTHER GOD WANTS MAMA TO BE

The Mother’s Day message examines the difference between: NORMAL OR  IDEAL? THE MOTHER GOD WANTS MAMA TO BE.

Listen well.

If you can’t get the audio on your device, visit the main podcast page at http://revandersongraves.podomatic.com/

The podcast is on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/anderson-graves-podcast/id918990482

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church in Fairfield, Alabama;  executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO);  and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Subscribe to my personal blog  www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com .

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com

Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

Follow me on twitter @AndersonTGraves  #Awordtothewise 

You can help support this ministry with a donation to Miles Chapel CME Church.

You can help support Rev. Graves’ work by visiting his personal blog and clicking the DONATE button on the right-hand sidebar.

Support by check or money order may be mailed to 

Miles Chapel CME Church

P O Box 132

Fairfield, Al 35064

YAY, I WIN! YAY, YOU LOSE!

  

When we've been wronged we want justice.  Actually a lot of the time, we don't want justice. We want vengeance. And we want God to give it to us.

And God promises to deliver.  In the New Testament, Paul referenced the Lord’s assurance that:

Vengeance is Mine, and recompense;

Their foot shall slip in due time;

For the day of their calamity is at hand,

And the things to come hasten upon them.’ (Deuteronomy 32: 35)

David was so happy about it that he wrote these lyrics: :

 It is God who avenges me,

And subdues the peoples under me;

He delivers me from my enemies.

You also lift me up above those who rise against me;

You have delivered me from the violent man.

Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles,

And sing praises to Your name.  (2 Samuel 22: 48-50/ Psalm 18: 47-49)

Like David, we rejoice when we win.

Or, are we rejoicing that our adversaries have lost?

Does your praise mean, “Thank you, Lord, that I won”?

Or does your praise mean, “Thank you Lord, that they lost”?

Nope.  It’s not the same thing.  Not according to the Bible.

David’s son, Solomon, wrote:

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,

And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;

Lest the Lord see it, and it displease Him,

And He turn away His wrath from him. (Proverbs 24: 17,18)

God very specifically states that He doesn’t like it when we like it when our enemies catch a beat-down.  In fact, it bothers God so much to see us gloating that He might stop in the middle of administering said beat-down and just let your enemy go ---- unpunished.

Jesus said,  “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.  Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.” --- Jesus (Luke 6: 27-28)

You can’t honestly love, pray for, and bless people while you’re celebrating their destruction.

Of all David’s enemies, the one who caused him the most stress was his predecessor, King Saul.   David was unwaveringly loyal to Saul, but the old king was psychotically jealous of David. (It all started in 1 Samuel 18: 5-9.)  

Saul tried to set him up to be killed in battle.  He tried to have him assassinated.  He threw a spear at David with premeditated intent to drive it through the young man’s chest so hard that David would be left hanging from the far wall.   He tried that twice.

But God was on David’s side.  God put Saul in a completely vulnerable position where David could have easily killed the crazy old king.  The Lord did that twice (1 Samuel 24 & 26),

But David wouldn’t take the shot. 

Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath (Romans 12: 19)

Way back in the Old Testament, David understood that vengeance belonged to God.  God would deliver payback--- in God’s own time.    

…for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. (Romans 12: 19b)

David sincerely loved his enemy.  And when bad things happen to someone you love, you don’t rejoice; you mourn.  When David heard that Saul had been killed in battle,

David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him.  And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening… (2 Samuel 1: 11, 12)

David became king.  Saul was killed, but not by David or David’s orders.  David totally won because he didn’t try to make his enemy totally lose.

Maybe that’s why we can’t completely win.  Maybe that’s why we have to keep fighting enemies we’d already beaten:  because we’re so happy to see our enemies fall.

And when we celebrate their defeat, God sees and it displeases Him and He stops beating them down, and we have to deal with them all over again.

Kinda explains a lot of American history.  

Kinda explains a lot of personal history, too.

   

Be glad you got the job.  Don't be glad them other fools are still broke.

Be happy that your son's team won.  Don't be happy that the opposing quarterback got hurt.

Thank God for the undeserved redemption and grace He purchased for you by the blood of Jesus Christ.  But don't do the that's-what-you-heathens-get dance when you hear about a Muslim or Hindhu girl disfigured by an acid attack or honor killing.

Cry out for deliverance.  God will answer.  Thank God, and move forward.  But don’t gloat.  Don’t brag.   Don’t forget that your salvation isn't justice.  It's mercy.

Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.  (Matthew 5:7)

Be merciful to your enemies.  Treat your haters with love.    

If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat;

And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;

For so you will heap coals of fire on his head,

And the Lord will reward you. (Proverbs 25: 21, 22)

Love those who want you to lose. 

It’s the only sure for you way to win.

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church in Fairfield, Alabama;  executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO);  and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Subscribe to my personal blog  www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com .

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com

Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

Follow me on twitter @AndersonTGraves 

#Awordtothewise

You can help support this ministry with a donation to Miles Chapel CME Church.

You can help support Rev. Graves’ work by visiting his personal blog and clicking the DONATE button on the right-hand sidebar.

Support by check or money order may be mailed to 

Miles Chapel CME Church

P O Box 132

Fairfield, Al 35064

WALKING WITH DADDY

The other day for some reason my wife decided to teach our 12 year old son how to walk cool.  For some reason my 16 year old daughter decided to help.

They marched Anderson back and forth through the den. 

“Pull your shoulders back.”

“No don’t lean so much.”

“Keep your feet apart.”

“No.”

“Not like that.”

“Oh, my gosh, boy! Walk like a man!”

I was at the kitchen counter with my laptop not saying a word.  After several stressful and HILARIOUS minutes, I pushed the barstool back, motioned for Anderson to come to me, and put my arm around his shoulder.

Then we silently walked across the room together.

My wife looked at Anderson and said, “You walk fine when you’re walking with Daddy.”

When he’s walking with Daddy he walks just fine.  He walks like a man.

There’s a certain way that a man is supposed to physically, financially, emotionally, and spiritually walk through life.  A houseful of women can sometime with much effort, frustration, error, and failure ultimately teach a boy how to walk through life like a man; but the best, most effectively way is for him to just walk with Daddy.

When I was my father’s son, tender and the only one in the sight of my mother, my father taught me, and said to me, “Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commands, and live.” (Proverbs 4: 3-4) 

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church in Fairfield, Alabama;  executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO);  and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Subscribe to my personal blog  www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com .

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com

Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

Follow me on twitter @AndersonTGraves 

You can help support this ministry with a donation to Miles Chapel CME Church.

You can help support Rev. Graves’ work by visiting his personal blog and clicking the DONATE button on the right-hand sidebar.

Support by check or money order may be mailed to 

Miles Chapel CME Church

P O Box 132

Fairfield, Al 35064

NOSES OR NECKS

You can either dip your nose into other people’s business

Or you can stick your neck out and help.

Dipping you nose in somebody’s business is easy.  You control how much information you get.  If things get too deep for your comfort and people start expecting you to invest in an actual solution, you can always pull back, brush your face off and walk away.  You don’t risk much.  You don’t have much “skin in the game.” You’re just being nosey.

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. (Proverbs 26: 22)

Nosey folks don’t want to help.  They “just wanna know.”  To them, your problems are entertainment to them.   Your life is just a live version of social media.  They’ll look, like, unlike, comment, and share it with other friends.  But they aren’t going to actually DO anything to make it better.

They won’t get that involved.  They just want to stay cool, and take a dip in your business. 

 

Let’s say you heard that a couple in your church was having marital problems.  You could just “dip” a little to find out what she said he did.  It would surely be a juicy conversation, and might even make you and your friends feel better about your relationships.  You’d feel better and safe, having heard much and risked nothing.

Sticking your neck out is risky.  In Romans 16: 3, 4, the Apostle Paul commended a couple named “Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.”

Priscilla and Aquila had gotten all up in Paul’s  business.  At some point Paul’s personal problems with persecution or sickness or poverty, got so bad that he was about to die.   Priscila and Aquila, wife and husband, took some of that weight onto their own shoulders. And when you put a weight on your shoulders, you have to stick your neck out.

If you’re a follower of Christ, the only reason for you to get in someone else’s business is to help them carry the weight of the problem. 

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  (Galatians 6: 2)

And make no mistake, the weight of their burdens will cause you pain.  It won’t be entertaining.  You may end up carrying more than you’d intended for longer than you’d planned.

If you helped bear the burden with that couple with marriage problems you’d have to pray with them.  You’d have to talk to them both.  You might have to convince your spouse to invite them over.  You could end up talking to them long after it stopped being entertaining.  You might learn more about them and yourself than feels comfortable.

The information could begin to feel like, well, like a burden.

Getting involved by the neck is stressful, inconvenient, painful, and dangerous.

When Paul said that Priscilla and Aquilla “risked their necks,” it probably wasn’t a metaphor.   They might have been beheaded for associating themselves with a man whose issues included:

in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.  Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness (2 Corinthians 11: 23-27)

As Christians we are commanded to stick our necks out for other Christians with histories and issues like THAT.  And sometimes, the very people you are risking your neck for are the ones who put the blade to it.

 

At any point, after all you’ve done to help that estranged couple, one or both of them could turn on you.  They might blame your advice for their problem. They might say some mean things to you about your relationship.   Hurt people tend to hurt people.

That is the risk of sticking your neck out.

But if you aren’t willing to risk your neck to help them, then don’t dip your nose in their business.

Writing to the Thessalonian church, Paul (who had experienced the difference between people who dipped their noses and people who risked their necks) wrote, “: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat” (2 Thessalonians 3: 10).

We repeat that quote as a statement on personal economic responsibility, which it is.  But, the immediate reason why Paul said that is in verse 11.

For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.

A busybody (Greek  periergos) was somebody who as in/about other people’s labors/ work/ business.   

Allow me to contemporize all of that.

Paul basically said, “In the church, if all you’re gonna do is go around dipping your nose in other people’s business, then you should just go off somewhere and starve.”

I’ll just leave that right there, cause I could keep going 

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church in Fairfield, Alabama;  executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO);  and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Subscribe to my personal blog  www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com .

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com

Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

You can help support this ministry with a donation to Miles Chapel CME Church.

You can help support Rev. Graves’ work by visiting his personal blog and clicking the DONATE button on the right-hand sidebar.

Support by check or money order may be mailed to 

Miles Chapel CME Church

P O Box 132

 Fairfield, Al 35064