DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHOSE WORDS ARE COMING OUT OF THEIR MOUTH?

The first sermon in the new series, preaching through the book of Hebrews. 

The title is a question you may (kinda) recognize: DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHOSE WORDS ARE COMING OUT OF THEIR MOUTH?

Listen well and leave a comment.

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---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 

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.

Support by check or money order may be mailed to 

Miles Chapel CME Church

P O Box 132

Fairfield, AL 35064

PREPARE FOR THE INEVITABLE

The following is a forecast not a prophesy, but it’s based on patterns in the prophetic record.

The prophet Jeremiah had the depressing task of telling his people what they didn’t want to hear.  Jerusalem was under attack from Babylon and the Lord called Jeremiah to announce that Jerusalem would lose.

The holy city would be taken by pagans.  The people of the land would be shipped off to Babylon.  Other prophets were giving much more pleasant predictions.  They were declaring and decreeing victory.  They were speaking life and prosperity into the atmosphere that the weapons the enemy had

formed against them would not prosper.  But Jeremiah had to say what God said.

For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed. For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them, says the Lord. (Jeremiah 29: 8,9)

In this particular case, God’s message was:   You don’t like Babylon.  You don’t want Babylon.  Based on history, identity, and deeply held principles you are opposed to everything about the Babylonians system.  But, Babylon’s gonna happen to Jerusalem.

Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit.  Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished.

And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace. (Jeremiah 29: 5-7)

Prepare yourself.

Learn their system.

Position yourself for success and growth.

Make it work for you.

In his letter to the exile in Babylon Jeremiah wrote:  For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.

Eventually this too will pass.

But not for a long while.  

For the record, I don’t like charter schools.  I don’t want charter schools in Alabama.  Based on history, identity, and deeply held principles I am opposed to everything about the charter school system.

Charter schools are gonna happen in Alabama.

Prepare yourself.

Learn their system.

Position yourself for success and growth.

Make it work for you.

Eventually this too will pass.

But not for a long while.  

I know.  I don’t want to hear that either.  I could be wrong.  But when we go there come back to what’s been written that you may be increased there, and not diminished.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29: 11)

Here’s a link to the Alabama Charter School Bill being considered.

---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

WATCH WHERE YOU PUT YOUR HANDS

Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure. (1 Timothy 5: 22)

When Paul refers to "laying hands on" he is talking about blessing, anointing, “speaking into the life of…”, “ prophesying over...” and whatever else we call it today.

Paul did not prohibit the practice or tell Timothy, young pastor born four or more generations after Jesus’ Earthly ministry, that “We don’t lay hands on people anymore.”  Paul did warn Pastor Timothy not to just run around declaring and decreeing over people randomly or upon request.

The act of laying on hands and blessing someone imparts a connection that flows in both directions:  from God through the blessor to the blessee and his/her life; and from the blessee’s life  to the blessor and before the eyes of God. 

When a preacher lays hands on people to ordain them or to bless them into a particular season of life, the preacher is vouching for that person before God. 

That’s not a light thing to be doing.

Yes, each of us is judged for our individual actions.  No, you can’t control what someone does when they’re not under your direct supervision. 

But.

We are each also responsible to God for the quality of what we set before Him, and that includes the quality of WHO we set before Him.

When God sent the prophet Samuel to anoint a son of Jesse to be the next king, Samuel saw the eldest son and immediately started to lay hands on him.

Samuel  looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him!”

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  (1 Samuel 16: 6-7)

You can’t possibly know what’s in someone’s heart except when you know what’s in someone’s heart because you know what in that person’s life. 

Do not lay hands on anyone hastily.

Lay hands, bless, anoint, prophesy where the Lord tells you.  But are you sure that the Lord told you to speak that over EVERY body who came down to the altar?

Or were you looking on the physical appearance of people who LOOKED like they wanted a Word from the Lord?

And by the way, when did what individuals want from the Lord start deciding what preachers do more than what the Lord wants for those individuals?

When they come to you to be blessed and exalted, and God wants them to be convicted and humble because of their sin, but you bless and exalt them anyway----- you connect yourself to their sin.  You walk them into God’s presence and say, “I’m good with what’s going on with them.”

Are you sure about that?

In Acts 8: 9-24, Simon ,an ex-sorcerer and new Christian, asked Peter to ordain him as a bringer of the Holy Spirit.  He even offered to “sow a financial seed to the man of God” for his time.

But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God.  (Acts 8: 20-21)

It’s not your job to anoint people.  It’s your job to obey God.   And from time to time, if you are following God, not just fulfilling human expectations, you will have to say “No” to somebody who expects you to speak great things over their life.

No, it’s not for you to judge the quality of another’s soul.  No, it’s not for you to judge what God can or can’t do in someone’s life.  No, it’s not for you to say who’s worthy of a calling that only God can give.

That’s not your job.

It is your job to obey God rather than men or women or yourself. 

There’s more at stake than your popularity.

Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure. (1 Timothy 5: 22)

---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 Hall Memorial CME Church in Montgomery, 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).

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com
Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

To hear sermons, read devotions, and learn more about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme.blogspot.com .

You can read more on Pastor Graves's personal blog at www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com  .

If this message helps or touches you, please help support this ministry. Send a donation of any amount by check or money order.

Mail all contributions to :
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116

WATCH WHERE YOU PUT YOUR HANDS

Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure. (1 Timothy 5: 22)

When Paul refers to "laying hands on" he is talking about blessing, anointing, “speaking into the life of…”, “ prophesying over...” and whatever else we call it today.

Paul did not prohibit the practice or tell Timothy, young pastor born four or more generations after Jesus’ Earthly ministry, that “We don’t lay hands on people anymore.”  Paul did warn Pastor Timothy not to just run around declaring and decreeing over people randomly or upon request.

The act of laying on hands and blessing someone imparts a connection that flows in both directions:  from God through the blessor to the blessee and his/her life; and from the blessee’s life  to the blessor and before the eyes of God. 

When a preacher lays hands on people to ordain them or to bless them into a particular season of life, the preacher is vouching for that person before God. 

That’s not a light thing to be doing.

Yes, each of us is judged for our individual actions.  No, you can’t control what someone does when they’re not under your direct supervision. 

But.

We are each also responsible to God for the quality of what we set before Him, and that includes the quality of WHO we set before Him.

When God sent the prophet Samuel to anoint a son of Jesse to be the next king, Samuel saw the eldest son and immediately started to lay hands on him.

Samuel  looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him!”

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  (1 Samuel 16: 6-7)

You can’t possibly know what’s in someone’s heart except when you know what’s in someone’s heart because you know what in that person’s life. 

Do not lay hands on anyone hastily.

Lay hands, bless, anoint, prophesy where the Lord tells you.  But are you sure that the Lord told you to speak that over EVERY body who came down to the altar?

Or were you looking on the physical appearance of people who LOOKED like they wanted a Word from the Lord?

And by the way, when did what individuals want from the Lord start deciding what preachers do more than what the Lord wants for those individuals?

When they come to you to be blessed and exalted, and God wants them to be convicted and humble because of their sin, but you bless and exalt them anyway----- you connect yourself to their sin.  You walk them into God’s presence and say, “I’m good with what’s going on with them.”

Are you sure about that?

In Acts 8: 9-24, Simon ,an ex-sorcerer and new Christian, asked Peter to ordain him as a bringer of the Holy Spirit.  He even offered to “sow a financial seed to the man of God” for his time.

But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God.  (Acts 8: 20-21)

It’s not your job to anoint people.  It’s your job to obey God.   And from time to time, if you are following God, not just fulfilling human expectations, you will have to say “No” to somebody who expects you to speak great things over their life.

No, it’s not for you to judge the quality of another’s soul.  No, it’s not for you to judge what God can or can’t do in someone’s life.  No, it’s not for you to say who’s worthy of a calling that only God can give.

That’s not your job.

It is your job to obey God rather than men or women or yourself. 

There’s more at stake than your popularity.

Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure. (1 Timothy 5: 22)

---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 Hall Memorial CME Church in Montgomery, 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).

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com
Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

To hear sermons, read devotions, and learn more about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme.blogspot.com .

You can read more on Pastor Graves's personal blog at www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com  .

If this message helps or touches you, please help support this ministry. Send a donation of any amount by check or money order.
Mail all contributions to :
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116

AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT

The book of Amos is named for a man who didn’t have time to spend away from his business.  But, he did.
Amos didn’t have time to pursue a full-time religious vocation. But, he did.

The result was a prophetic adventure, a dire warning, and a challenging message for modern American Christians.

Prepare to reassess your priorities and your expectations. 

The sermon is called AIN’T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT.

Listen well.

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---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 Hall Memorial CME Church and the executive director of SAYNO (Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization) in Montgomery, Alabama.

Call  334-288-0577
Email atgravestwo2@aol.com
Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

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

If you enjoy our work, please help support our work in the community. Send a donation of any amount by check or money order.
Mail all contributions to :
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116

 

A WORD TO THE WISE. Proverbs 29: 18

Proverbs 29: 18     Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but happy is he who keeps the law.

I want my children to worship because they grasp something of the greatness of God and they feel honored by ever chance to praise His name.  Still, it’s good for them to go to church just because I say so.

I want my children to be generous and charitable because they realize the depths of Jesus’ love and sacrifice on their behalf.  In the meantime, they can put money in the offering and participate in community service because I told them to, and that’s O.K.

A deep, personal revelation provides the most real reason for living a holy life.  Without that revelation within you, there’s no reason to resist the urges and impulses of your flesh.  There’s no reason, unless you know that the Bible says so.

If you don’t get understand the theology behind the 10 Commandments, it’s O.K. to just take them at face value and be obedient.

It’s good to do what God says just because God said so.

There are times and places in which the revelation of God is scarce in a society (1 Samuel 3: 1; Psalm 74: 9).  Today, some churches reject out of hand the possibility that God still speaks in visions, performs miracles, or calls men & women to prophesy.  In other churches, what are called prophetic utterances are little more than educated guesses and empty promises based on the demographics and body language of the crowd. 

In these settings of prophetic and revelatory void, the people act a fool.  They perform any and every sin they can conceive of because God doesn’t visibly shock them into compliance.

…Scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they werefrom the beginning of creation.”  (2 Peter 2: 3, 4)

They’ll tell you to question EVERY thing about your faith and reject EVERY rule and restriction  that you don’t feel is properly proven and justified.    (Interestingly “they” never tell you to question “them” about “their” authority to tell you how to live.”)

If you’re serious about the questions and attentive to the Source of answers, God does show how His way is right and best.   So, it’s O.K. to question your assumptions (and not just your religious assumptions).

But, it’s also O.K., to do what God says just because He said so.

I’ve asked God the hardest questions I had, the ones that stood between me and real faith.  I’ve studied and studied, and I’ve fasted and prayed, and I’ve struggled in my spirit and wrestled with the Holy Spirit; and God has proven Himself right and true and smarter than every alternative we’ve come up with.    He hasn’t answered all of my questions, but He’s answered more than enough for me to trust that He’s right about the other stuff, too.

I’ve come to the point that I’m happy just to obey His Word ------just  because it says so.

In that uncertain time between your question and God’s answer, you have to choose between acting a fool while you figure it out and obeying God even though it doesn’t all make sense. 

Choose to obey God.  Choose to follow the Bible in the meantime.

You’ll be happier for it.

--Anderson T. Graves II

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is the pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church

Call/ fax: 334-288-0577
Email us at hallmemorialcme1@aol.com
Friend Pastor Graves at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

If you want to be a blessing to this ministry, contributions may be made by check or money order.

Mail all contributions to :

Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116