As the boys at Fenimore Street United Methodist Church (FSUMC) in Brooklyn celebrated “A New Starting” two Sundays in the past, the church’s pastor, the Rev. Roger Jackson, urged them to thrill extra in “God’s presence.”
“Brothers, males of God, the extra we enjoyment of God’s presence, the extra fruitful we are going to discover ourselves turning into – males of God, who’re extra the conquerors in Christ Jesus; males of God, who’ve been reworked by the renewing of your thoughts; males of God, who can do all issues by Christ Jesus who strengthens you; males of God, who’re empowered by the Holy Spirit to work collectively for the glory of God,” preached Rev. Jackson in his sermon, throughout “Males’s Day” Worship Service on Sunday, based mostly on Psalms 1-3, 6a.
“Previous to today, this second within the timing of God, the boys as a gaggle have been in a holding sample,” he added. “The lads, whether or not they acknowledged it or not, had been ready for the accredited flight plan, not from the management tower earlier than making their technique to the runway within the airport, however they had been ready for the accredited flight plan of God earlier than taking off in what they’ve now declared to be a brand new starting.”
Rev. Jackson mentioned the boys of Fenimore Avenue United Methodist Church, on the nook of Rogers Avenue, have declared, through their theme, “A New Starting,” that they’re “re-focusing, re-tooling and on the transfer otherwise than prior to now, and it simply so occurs that the Psalmist gives us with a blueprint for achievement.”
He mentioned the “blueprint” has nothing to do with adjustments in management and/or assigned duties however that “the blueprint for achievement has all the pieces to do with the way in which through which God’s designed plan for achievement turns into our actuality within the right here and now.
“Every man has to resolve for himself that he desires to re-focus, re-tool, and transfer in another way for the previous, in a roundabout way, form or type, after which use God’s blueprint for achievement to realize this newly-declared starting as a gaggle,” mentioned Rev. Jackson, noting that the primary three verses in Psalm 1 “communicate of the way in which through which we’re blessed on account of our trustworthy response to God’s revealed directive for all times.
“As a result of we’re already in a proper relationship with God, God measures our religion by our response to His revealed will for our life,” he added. “We’re blessed with unspeakable pleasure once we observe the blueprint for achievement that’s specified by the Phrase of God for our lives.
“Brothers, new beginnings are seen within the lives of males who’ve their priorities so as,” he added. “And on the high of their listed priorities is being in and staying linked to God, whose knowledge is accessible by His Phrase.
“We may be simply as assured in being and doing issues in another way because the prophet Jeremiah was after God advised him, ‘I do know the ideas that I’ve for, plans to prosper you and never hurt you plans to present you hope and a future,’” continued Rev. Jackson, stating, nonetheless, that there are additionally some “distinctive behaviors and choices that males who’ve determined to start anew make because it pertains to – not solely the way in which through which they continue to be within the presence of the Lord, but additionally with who and the way we work together with others.”
He famous that the psalmist says that the primary distinguishing conduct made by males starting anew is that they’re blessed “as a result of they don’t stroll within the council of the depraved.
“Put plainly, if my blessings come from being linked to God in a private approach, and the phrase of God is designed to be a lamp unto my toes and a light-weight on my pathway, and I’ve residing inside me the Holy Spirit, whose job is to consolation, train and information me in all issues pertaining to God, how on the planet can I be blessed by God whereas taking the recommendation of those that will not be serving the one and solely true and residing God?” he requested.
“It’s not that we are able to’t have yet-to-be-saved pals and associates, however we should guard in opposition to permitting their ungodly methods to grow to be ours after which begin justifying the change that has taken place inside us as being the actual me,” he added. “And what finally occurs is that the pure development will happen and, earlier than it, you’ll start saying the identical disparaging issues about those that are correctly linked to God, together with those that are ridiculing our religion and belief in God.”
Nonetheless, Pastor Jackson mentioned the excellent news for males who stay faithfully linked to God in wholesome methods is that “each certainly one of our wants will likely be met.”
He mentioned the psalmist factors out the Godly written prescription “that retains us within the will of God, even whereas we work together with pals and associates who’re among the many but to be saved.”
In line with Pastor Jackson, the psalmist says, “to thrill ourselves within the legislation of the Lord, and, on his legislation, meditate day and evening.”
In different phrases, he mentioned Godly males search steerage from the Phrase – each for choices in life and for ministry initiatives inside the family of God – “and and never from anybody or anyplace else.”
Rev. Jackson additionally famous that the psalmist says, “By residing inside the ordinances of God, we’re like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf doesn’t wither.”
“I like that this Psalm is speaking a gift actuality and never a future hope for individuals who reside in keeping with God’s legislation,” the pastor mentioned. “He says that we’re like a strongly rooted productive tree, and never that we’re going to grow to be like such a tree.
“Put plainly, as we eat the Phrase, which is the legislation and the knowledge of God, our nature and the character of our productiveness change, and God’s goodwill turns into a gift actuality for us,” he added.
Rev. Jackson mentioned that prosperity has “completely nothing to do with the receiving of materialistic stuff or cash, however the strengthening of our religion as a result of we live with a sin nature.
“Because of the disobedience of Adam, our Spirit man must be always nourished to ensure that it to stay wholesome and productive,” he mentioned. “So, because the tree is continually being nourished by streams of water, in order that it bears fruit in its season and in order that its leaves will not be malnourish on account of inadequate water, the legislation, which is the knowledge of God, nourishes and sustains us, as we meditate on it each day and evening.
“The phrase of God, which is the legislation and knowledge of God, will re-train you for this new starting that you simply need to have,” Pastor Jackson advised the boys.
The service was punctuated with distinctive picks from the Males’s Choral and Bro. Edward Hyde, a member of FSUMC’s Males’s group.
