Sunday, October 27, 2013

WHEN GOD LETS YOU HURT

How do we respond to suffering that we don’t deserve?  How do we deal with pain that is not just punishment for our sins? And why, why does God even let such situations happen?

The Bible doesn’t ignore these questions.  God answers them.

Open your Bible to the book of Job and hear a message about WHEN GOD LETS YOU HURT.

Listen well.
---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

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

A WORD TO THE WISE. Proverbs 31: 31. "Last Verse: Final Grade"

Proverbs 31: 31     Give to her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Proverbs 31: 31.  Last verse of the last chapter of the book of Wisdom.  Class is about to be dismissed and the Teacher explains how you will be graded.

You will get credit for your work. 

The question at the close of this series is:  When a wife receives credit for what she has given as a wife will the grade place her on honor roll or in remediation?

First, a review.

God created male human beings to work and to think and to be fruitful.   For most men that destined productivity is divinely ordained to occur in the context of marriage---- God’s original social institution.  Marriage is the only social institution that was created under perfect conditions.  God put together the first marriage in Eden.  Every other human institution, including organized religion, was organized after the Fall in the context of a fallen,  already corrupted world. 

Marriage is something special.

And so, God proclaims that it is not good for man to be alone.  God gave His already gifted, talented, doubly employed, PERFECT man----- a wife. 

Therefore, a wife is something special.

But admittedly, that’s not for every man.    Marriage is special, and therefore marriage in this sinful world is especially difficult.

At one point as Jesus was teaching about marriage and laying out the difficulty and depths of the marriage commitment,  Jesus’ disciples said to Him, “If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry.”  (Matthew 19: 10)

Jesus acknowledged that not every man can handle it.He said to them, “All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given”.   (Matthew 19: 11)

But, as Jesus explained, if a man is meant to be a father then he is also meant to be a husband.  Cause if he doesn’t want the deal with a wife, then he should be celibate. 

“For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.”  (Matthew 19: 12)

O.K., so now you’re wondering, “Anderson, what’s your point?”

Right, right.  My points? 

Here are my points:

First, not every man is husband material and not ever woman is wife material, and nothing is wrong with a man or woman who doesn’t want to get married. 

But if you don’t consider yourself to be marriage material then don’t present yourself as sexual partner material either.

To my brothers:  If you are a present or future husband, then your potential for success/ fruitfulness is inextricably tied to the woman you do or will call “wife.”  Choose well.  Your life may not depend on your choice of mate; but the quality of your life does.

To the sisters:  If you and he are truly meant to be together as husband and wife, then you must understand your crucial role in his success.   If God has indeed joined you together, then God has proclaimed that he will never realize his full potential------- without YOUR help.  No matter how good, godly, talented, anointed, hardworking, and driven he is------ if you don’t wife him right, he will never be as good as he could be.

But not every woman can receive this saying.  It is a difficult thing to be a good wife, especially since your man isn’t perfect.

As Paul wrote, “If a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.  (1 Corinthians 7: 28)

As a wife, you have to walk the erratic and razor-thin line between helping your man and trying to run his life.  You’re supposed to help him fulfill his calling without dictating to him what his calling is. 

I understand why a woman wouldn’t want to deal with that kind of drama, but that’s the job.

Your husband cannot do it without you.  

He can’t succeed without you, but if he also can’t succeed WITH you, then what are you there for?

Read this:
I’m not sure how much of this story is true, but the underying principles are spot-on, Biblically accurate.

Ladies, you are the queens who make us kings.  Or not. 

You will be graded on your work.  Show your work.
Make the way you wife----- speak praises in your name.

And let her own works praise her in the gates.
---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).


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

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

A WORD TO THE WISE. Proverbs 31: 30. "Hoding on to Your Throne"


Proverbs 31: 30    Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

Proverbs 31: 30.  Women are charming creations.  Most women have the  ability to effortlessly project--- possibilities.  And when a beautiful woman deliberately sets her charm to work, it is a marvelous thing to behold. 

But beauty is  a temporary phenomenon (except with my wife, who gets prettier every day).   Women who live will live to see themselves pass and fall from all of their physical peaks.

Beauty is fleeting, and charm can fool you.   Not all men wrap around all feminine fingers.   A sister who relies on her charms will one day be suddenly and unpleasantly reminded that she should have paid more attention in class.

A princess’s beauty may turn the prince’s head.  Her charms may win his favor. But if that’s all she’s got, she won’t sit on the throne very long.  A wise king will not share his kingdom with a beautiful fool.

 

In Proverbs we learn that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1: 7; 9: 10) and that a woman who fears the Lord, SHALL BE praised.

The throne is held by the queen who fears the Lord.  The future belongs to the wise woman. 

My sisters:  More than anything else you should want to please God.   Be more afraid of offending God in the way you treat your husband than you are of offending your husband, and guess what? 

You will love your husband better than you would have being all insecure.   Aaannnnd, your love will be firmly aligned with the favor of God, so that he’s blessed because he’s with you.

Be more concerned about pleasing God with the way you raise your children than you are with making your kids like you, and guess what?  

You will love your children better.  You will deliver them into adulthood with all of your issues and baggage.  Aaaannnnnd you will send your babies out into the world lined up on the path of God’s favor and grace. So, you will be a continuous blessing to them even when you aren’t around.

Be less afraid of losing your looks and less anxious about whether or not you “still got it.”   Instead, think on how you can please God with your life right now.   Look at how you God can use your gifts and resources for His work.  

Instead of treating every wrinkle and stretch mark like the mark of the beast.  Think, pray, learn, and act like you are still a daughter of the Most High God.

Whether or not you still got “it,” act like you still got Him!

That, my dear queens, is how you secure your throne.  Whatever changes the future brings, a woman who fears the Lord, SHALL BE praised. 

---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).


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

THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST(IANS)

Romans 8:17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. 

2 Corinthians 1:5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 

1 Pet 4:13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

The Bible repeatedly says that we Christians suffer with Jesus.  We participate in Jesus’ suffering.  Jesus’ pain is our pain.

How is that even possible?

In the past, Christians have misunderstood this concept to refer only to Jesus’ physical pain.  Some went so far as to whip themselves and physically nail each other to crosses in order to partake of Christ’s suffering.  We have to admire their commitment to the process, but they missed the point.

Jesus’ suffering didn’t begin with physical torture and crucifixion, and it didn’t end there (Hebrews 6: 6).

Every day that Jesus walked in a world that He had created and loved and experienced rejection (Luke 13: 34) ----- He suffered.  Every time Jesus told people the Truth, the liberating, soul-saving, life-abounding Truth, and they called Him crazy (Mark 3: 20, 21), and they called Him possessed (Mark 3: 22), and they talked about His mama (John 9: 34)----- Jesus suffered.

The sufferings of Christ were not limited to the excruciating physical pain of the Passion.   They hurt Jesus’ feelings.  They broke Jesus’ heart.  They betrayed Jesus.  They refused to receive Him.  They cut Him off from the support of the established institutions of worship.  And it hurt because He loved them.

Most Western Christians won’t ever have physically suffer for the gospel, but  to the extent that we expect to participate in Jesus’ glory, we should expect to also partake of Christ’s suffering (1 Peter 4: 13).

Today, Christians generally understand that they don’t have to be physically beaten or fed to lions in a coliseum as a condition of church membership.   But somehow we have adopted the incorrect idea that the absence of physical suffering means also the absence of ANY suffering. 

It’s an enticing view.  The problem is that it’s exactly the opposite of what Jesus said.

Jesus said In the world you will have tribulation (John 16: 33).

He promised that we would overcome this world and it’s tribulations, but in the meantime---- it would still hurt.

Paul preached that There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit (Romans 8: 1).  Believers are exempted from eternal condemnation.   We are not exempted from earthly pain.

Isaiah declared that no weapon formed against us can shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment has to face the condemnation of God.  But read the rest of Isaiah and see that the weapons will strike you.  Read the rest of Isaiah and see that those hateful tongues will speak their hateful words.  Those words and those weapons will hurt.

In Christ, we cannot be defeated.  But we can be wounded.

In Jesus there is no condemnation.  But, there is suffering.  

The power of the Christian life is that though we suffer from time to time, we have consistent, crazy, doesn’t-make-sense-to-feel-so-good-while-things-are-going-so-bad peace that passes understanding.

The power of the Christian life is that though bad things happen to good people, good people do not have to become bad.

Our victory is already assured, but so also is our suffering. 

When we misunderstand the Biblical truth of suffering then we force ourselves to live lies of self-inflicted suffering or self-deluding denial of suffering .  The Lord does not want you to hurt yourself.  It is not piety to make yourself miserable.   But the Lord does want you to endure suffering when it comes instead of blaming yourself for not being invulnerable to it in the first place.

It’s O.K. to hurt. It’s Christian to feel pain.  Stop pretending it doesn’t hurt “in the name of Jesus.”  Jesus wept.  It’s all right if you want to do the same.
Two truths that are true at the same time:
     Weeping does endure for the night.
     And JOY DOES COME IN THE MORNING.

As Paul wrote,
We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed;
We are perplexed, but not in despair;
Persecuted, but not forsaken;
Struck down, but not destroyed—
Always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus,
that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
(2 Corinthians 4: 8-10)

---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).


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

Sunday, October 20, 2013

WHEN GOD PICKS A FIGHT WITH YOU

We wrestle with many issues and situations in our lives, and we assign a lot of blame for it.  We blame haters, and enemies, and the devil himself.   But what if the one attacking you is-----God?

Does God even do that?  The answer may surprise you.  The whole truth will definitely violate your comfort zone.

Open your Bible to Genesis 32 and hear a message about WHEN GOD PICKS A FIGHT WITH YOU.

Listen well.

---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

Monday, October 14, 2013

A WORD TO THE WISE. Proverbs 31: 29 "We're Number 1!"

Proverbs 31: 29     “Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all.”

Proverbs 31: 29.  Marriage should be like a losing football team in Alabama. 

(Stay with me on this.)

In Alabama, football is almost like a religion.  People cheer by faith, not by sight.

Walk into any business or gathering  in the state and you will find people passionately arguing that their team is in fact the best team in the country, even if all empirical, observational, and statistical data indicates that their team sucks.     Any given Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or Monday, men and women can be heard shouting, “We’re number 1!” even when their team is ranked at the bottom.

In Alabama football, your belief in your team’s greatness, in your team’s superiority to all other teams really has very little to do with anything other than this one factor:  They are YOUR team.
 
And that, according to Proverbs 31: 29 is how marriage should be.

Proverbs chapter 31, verses 10-31 is a series of statements about the Virtuous Woman.  Each of those verses relates a wise and objective principle about women in general.  All except verse 29.

Verse 29 changes from the 3rd person “she” to the 1st person “you.”  This change in pronouns means that King Lemuel isn’t just generally talking ABOUT women, he is talking TO HIS woman.

And Lemuel tells his woman, “Baby, you’re number 1!”

 Lemuel concedes that his queen isn’t the only woman whose children rise and call her blessed.     She isn’t the only wife whose husband safely trusts her.  She probably isn’t the best at negotiating real estate deals, and cooking breakfast, and spinning cloth.  Statistically speaking there are certain to be more chartable women somewhere.  On an empirical scale, Lemuel’s wife might not even be in the top 10 of Proverbs 31 women.
But Lemuel doesn’t care about all that “evidence” anymore than a die-hard Auburn University fan cares what the NCAA or the SEC say about their team.  Auburn fans still shout “War Eagle!”  Auburn fans still declare and decree that “We’re number 1!”

Why?  Because it’s their team.

King Lemuel is his queen’s #1, ride-or-die fan

A husband and wife have to be each other’s #1.  He’s your #1, and you’re his #1 fan.  She’s your #1, and you’re her #1 fan.

No matter how good your mama’s fried chicken is, your wife’s chicken is #1. 

When the 6-pack of abs turns into a case of rolls, it’s still “Baby, you’re the best!”    

When them other chicks drop hints about how much more they’d appreciate a man like you, you don’t switch teams.  You hold up your ring finger and tell ‘em, “This is my team.  Ride or die. We’re number 1!”

Many other daughters have done well.  Yea.  Yea. Yea.  Whatever.   Baby, you’re #1!

WE’RE #1!

---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).


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