Wednesdays
I have a friend who refers to Wednesday as “Hump Day.” In using this term, she is indicating that Wednesday is the middle of the work week. If she could simply get past this day, that is, over the hump, the rest of the week would go downhill right into the weekend. How often have we stated the days of the week without even understanding what the name of each day actually means? The word Wednesday is derived from an Old English word called Woden’s Day. The word “woden,” though it refers to the name of a heathen god, also means spiritual arousal. The Hebrew word for this day is translated as Fourth Day. The number four, in the Bible, is the number of Creativity (Proverbs 30:24; Mark 2:3). The Quaker religion, in an effort not to call this day of the week by its heathen god’s name, also refers to Wednesday as Fourth Day. Whether it’s spiritual arousal or creativity, I believe God wants to use this day as a time for our congregation to pause, refocus, and recalibrate our spirits towards His Holy Spirit. Prophet Kathleen Verna stated that we must quiet our human minds and emotions, and awaken our spirit toward God. FASTING during the middle of the week arouses our spiritual man in order that we might receive creative ideas from the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 58:8-11). It’s these creative ideas that will help us to accomplish our life purposes (Jeremiah 29:11) as well as our individual kingdom assignments (Matthew 6:33). So, let’s put God to the test! For the next three months, we will reinstitute Wednesday as the official Day of Prayer & Fasting for Pentecostal Tabernacle. I want each of you to keep a record of what God says and does in your life on this day or in direct correlation to this Day of Fasting. I believe that at the end of this three month period, we will see tangible results from our dedicating this day to seeking God as a...
read moreThe Bishop’s Blessing for 2010
As we have entered not simply a new year but a new decade, I felt compelled by the Lord to bless (favor, provide preferential treatment, promote, support) His people in His name (reputation). Therefore on December 31, 2009 at 11:45PM, after anointing everyone, I declared the following blessing on each person who attended that service: Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron [the Priest] and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing: ‘May the LORD bless you and protect you. May the LORD make His face [i.e., His Presence] shine on you and be gracious to you. May the LORD show you His favor and give you His peace.’ For whenever the Priest blesses the people of Israel in My name, I, the LORD, Myself will bless them.” (Numbers 6:22-27, NLT) “If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully keep all his commands that God has given you in His Word, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the world. You will experience all these blessings if you obey the LORD your God: Your [professional] fields will be blessed. Your children and your [harvests] will be blessed. Your fruit baskets and breadboards will be blessed. Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed. “The LORD will conquer your enemies when they attack you. They will attack you from one direction, but they will scatter from you in seven! “The LORD will guarantee a blessing on everything you do and will fill your storehouses with prosperity. The LORD your God will bless you in the [promised place] He is giving you. “If you obey the commands of the LORD your God and walk in his ways, the LORD will establish you as his holy people as he swore he would do. Then all the nations of the world will see that you are a people claimed by the LORD, and they will stand in awe of you. “The LORD will give you prosperity in the land he swore to [the ancestors of Pentecostal Tabernacle] that he would give you, blessing you with many children and abundant [harvests]. The LORD will send rain at the proper time from his rich treasury in the heavens and will bless all the work you do. You will lend to many nations, but you will never need to borrow from them. If you listen to these commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today, and if you carefully obey them, the LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you will always be on top and never at the bottom. And Finally: You must not turn away from any of the commands God has given you, nor follow after other gods and worship them.” (Deuteronomy 28:1-14, NLT) I believe that we have entered the greatest decade in the history of our congregation. So please use our ten day consecration (January 4th – 13th) to prepare yourself to listen for God’s direction for your life for the upcoming...
read moreFresh Bread: New Decade, New Friends
Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable? (Proverbs 20:6, NLT) Four days ago, the Associated Press named Tiger Woods their “Athlete of the Decade.” By now, almost any person who keeps up with current events is well aware of the problems facing Tiger as he enters the next decade. I am certainly not writing this article to further bash Tiger. My real thought is who will be his real friends as he moves into a new year and a new decade. I am convinced that part of his problem in this decade was those whom he considered “his friends.” There is a saying that goes, “Association brings about assimilation”. In other words, we will become similar to those with whom we regularly associate. Show me who your closest friends are, and I will have a good idea as to the direction in which your life is heading. Thus, over the approaching holidays, you and I may want to take a year-end inventory as to who and what type of close friends surround us. Over the next month and a half, I want to help you not only to evaluate and choose good friends, but also to be a good (God) friend. As believers, we all should be friends who have been sent to people from God. Thus, in these articles, we will study the Book of Ruth in order to discover what a God Friend looks like. Why Ruth? Because the meaning of the name Ruth is simply one word: Friend. As we are now eleven days from entering a new decade, I will simply challenge you to begin your new year by asking God in prayer: Who are the friends You want to give me for this new decade? Trust me. He will answer and you will be glad that He...
read moreThank You for a Great Year!
As we conclude not only this year, but also this first decade of the new millennium, I want to officially thank all of our PT partners and regular attendees. 2009 has truly been a banner year for our congregation! With our theme being “God’s Spirit to Serve,” 2009 could not have ended with such success were it not for the giving of your Talent, Time, and Treasure in service to Pentecostal Tabernacle. In addition to all the things that we were already doing in 2008, here’s a list of some of the new things we were able to accomplish this year: 1. Held Two Easter Services (9 & 11 AM) at St. Paul AME Church for the very first time 2. Marriage ministry re-established (retreat, hiking, date night, workshops) 3. First C4L Play Production (An original: “What is Love? Do You Really Love Me?”) 4. Video/DVD ministry established 5. First church picnic in years at Castle Island (connecting people who attend PT) 6. First Soccer Nights’ Outreach (in partnership with four other Cambridge Churches) 7. Men’s work-out partnership with Windsor St. Clinic (Fitness Brothers) 8. PT now on Boston and Cambridge Cable Television (CCTV). 9. Change Agents Coffee House Outreach uses restaurant in Central Square for first time. 10. MOVE/REACH Programs expanded (AmeriCorps workers & Interns added) 11. Part-time YES (Youth Enrichment Services) position added to focus on the next generation 12. Harvard Divinity School Intern served on staff, making PT a training site for seminarians 13. First Annual “Running with the Big Dogs” Fitness Race (Focusing on “P” in S.P.I.C.E.) 14. Two Summer Gospel Outreach Concerts in Jill Brown Rhone Park (PT was the first to do so) 15. PT Choir established 16. International Students Dinner established 17. Overflow space established in lower auditorium for Sunday services (purchase of large-screen TV to televise service live) 18. Espresso Church (Third Service experiment) 19. Refurbished Pews for the Sanctuary 20. Renovation of Lower Auditorium There is no way this could all be accomplished, in addition to all of the other things we are doing, were it not for God’s grace and favor on our ministry. Again, I thank you for your support! But remember: we must give thanks and all of the credit to our...
read moreProverbs 22 on November 22nd
A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. (Proverbs 22:3, NLT) As a congregation, we are continuing our reading program. On October 18th, I challenged our congregation to read one chapter in the book of Proverbs each day. Whatever the date is on that particular day, I encouraged each person to read that chapter in the book of Proverbs. Therefore, today we should be reading Proverbs 22. Again, our objective is to gain God’s wisdom as we approach a new decade. It is imperative that we be prudent people in the upcoming years. In Matthew 25, Jesus teaches His disciples a story involving ten virgins. Five were wise, but five were foolish. The only difference between these two sets of individuals was that one group was prepared when the door (of opportunity) opened, and one group was unprepared. One group took precautions, and the other group did not. As Bishop of our church and organization (United Pentecostal Council of the Assemblies of God), I am determined to make sure that we do not miss our opportunity when the Lord opens His wonderful doors for our good. However, that means we must be able to foresee (see what’s up ahead) what God is doing, and the doors He is opening. One of the best ways to prepare ourselves is to fast, that is, to go without food or particular kinds of food. Fasting opens our eyes to see what God is doing in ways that we would not see otherwise. For only the Holy Spirit (who is the oil in our lives) can prepare us for where God desires to take us. Beginning Monday, January 4th, Pentecostal Tabernacle will be going on a ten-day Daniel Fast (read Daniel Chapter 1). The purpose is to consecrate ourselves (set ourselves apart from our regular activities) to God so that we might foresee, take precautions, not proceed blindly, and thus avoid suffering consequences from which it may take years to recover. We will conclude our consecration together on Wednesday Evening, January 13th. On that day, the church will be open all day starting at 6:00 AM. I believe that in taking this precaution in the month of January, God is going to honor us in ways that will benefit not only us, but those whom He has chosen us to help during the upcoming...
read moreProverbs 15 on November 15th
The LORD…loves those who pursue Godliness…Fear of the LORD teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor. (Proverbs 15:9, 33, NLT) This weekend, the Harvard Graduate School Christian Fellowship (HGSCF) honored one of our church partners (members), Reverend Jeff Barneson, for 25 years of ministerial service on the campus of Harvard University. It’s actually 26 years of service, for Jeff came to Harvard as a Campus minister in 1983. To work 26 years at any one place is something that should be commended. However, to serve in ministry for 26 years in any one place, let alone a college campus like Harvard’s, is a feat that’s worth recognizing and celebrating. I’ve known Jeff for over 8 years, and as long as I have known him, he has lived a life of one who pursues Godliness. Jeff’s devotion, holiness of character, reverence for God, and passion for people to find Christ as their personal Savior has been exemplary, not only to Pentecostal Tabernacle but throughout the Body of Christ. So, today we salute Reverend Barneson, even though he is one who would certainly find this moment and this article uncomfortable. But that’s the problem with the Scriptures; they are always true. For, another way to quote Proverbs 15:33 is “…honor follows humility.” Thank God for the humility with which Jeff has served the Body of Christ in this part of God’s vineyard. And now, for this weekend, it’s Jeff’s moment to be honored. May God continue to bless Jeff in his service to...
read moreProverbs 25 on October 25: Are You a Quarrelsome Wife?
Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife. (Proverbs 25:24, Today’s New International Version) This proverb seems pretty self-explanatory. However, before you jump to a conclusion that may offend you, please continue to read what God may be communicating to us. When I first read this, I thought this Scripture certainly did not apply to my life. First of all, I am not a wife. Secondly, my wife is not quarrelsome. But as I read this Scripture again, the Lord asked me “Are YOU a quarrelsome wife?” As the Bride of Jesus Christ (See Ephesians 5:24-28; Revelations 21:9), who currently lives in the Father’s House, are we quarrelsome? Are we: argumentative, bad-tempered, belligerent, cantankerous, combative, contentious, crabby, dissentious, fractious, carrying a chip on our shoulder, hotheaded, huffy, irritable, ornery, pugnacious, snappy, tempestuous, thin-skinned, or touchy? Are we unforgiving, disagreeable, unfriendly, unhappy, or impatient with Jesus and what He is doing with our lives? How does Jesus feel about sharing the same living quarters or space (your heart) with us? Is our attitude towards life in Christ so bad that He would rather live on the outside? That’s something we ought to think about. I know I am. NOTE: I encourage you to join our reading program. Read one chapter in the Book of Proverbs every day beginning today at Proverbs Chapter...
read moreProverbs Chapter 18 on October 18th
The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?…Words satisfy the soul as food satisfies the stomach; the right words… bring satisfaction …for the tongue can…nourish life. (Proverbs 18:14 & 20-21, KJV/NLT) It has been said that if a person repeats an action or a task 21 days in a row, it will become a habit. One of the habits we so desperately need in Pentecostal Tabernacle is the habit of reading God’s Word on a daily basis. And Joshua 1:8 informs us that reading God’s Word daily is tied to our success in this life. With this in mind, I want to challenge our entire congregation to join me on a Bible reading program. I’ve been reading one chapter a day from the book of Proverbs. Why? Because, first of all, it is a book full of wisdom, which is the most important thing a person can get (Proverbs 4:7). Secondly, the word “Proverbs” means “for or on behalf of words.” Words are so important that they can literally shape a person’s destiny and strengthen their life. The book of Proverbs can teach us how to use our words judiciously in order to produce the effect God desires in the lives of those whom receive of our words. Thus, I challenge you to join me in reading one chapter per day in the Book of Proverbs. With today’s date being October 18th, you can start today by reading Proverbs Chapter 18. I believe that by November 7th you will experience the benefits and satisfaction that can only come from God’s words of wisdom. I invite you to join me, and I can hardly wait to see the...
read morePressing the Refresh Button
Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:24-25, NLT) Many of us have come to understand that the refresh button on our computer allows a static (i.e. showing little or no change or movement) page to update information that has changed. Refresh means to provide new vigor and energy by rest, food, etc., to stimulate (the memory), reinvigorate, cheer, or freshen in appearance, color, etc. The word translated refresh in this Scripture is the Hebrew word ravah, which means: to soak or water (abundantly). Far too often when we are feeling drained, tired, dry, or exhausted our response is to do something that often makes matters worse. Reverting to actions such as eating far too much, sitting in front of a television or computer screen far too long, or hanging out with people who are far too far from God can only lead us to feeling more exhausted spiritually and emotionally. This Scripture informs us that we can press the refresh button on our spirit and soul (mind, emotion, and will power) if we would choose to not be self-centered but instead experience new vigor or energy by bringing reinvigoration and cheer to others. Maybe this is the week for you to take time to send a card, an email, a text, or an old-fashioned telephone call to someone for whom the pages life have grown static. These are folks where there’s been little or no change in their lives. Daily they are trudging through the monotony of raising children, a boring or dead end job, constant financial pressures, academic stress, the list goes on… And though some of us may say that the situations just described sound more like our own lives, this Scripture indicates that our actions can have restorative powers not only in the lives of those to whom we decide to extend God’s generosity, but in our own lives in the...
read moreFresh Bread: Not Added Favor but Multiplied Favor
Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord (2 Peter 1:1-2, KJV) One of my favorite scriptures in the Bible is found in Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (NKJV). I love the “things added” part. However, when it comes to good stuff from God, I’d much prefer to have things “multiplied” to me as opposed to simply added. Peter tells us that we can actually put ourselves in a position where we can cause God to switch from simply adding His blessings to us, to multiplying them. A simple definition of the word “grace” is the word “favor”. I use an acronym that helps me define the word “favor”. It is the word P.A.S.S. God gives me His grace and His favor because He wants to pass me and not fail me. P.A.S.S. means: Promote Appreciate (as oppose to depreciate) Side with (Psalm 118:6), and Support. The Scripture tells us that we can have God’s grace, favor, P.A.S.S. multiplied to us, but it occurs “through knowledge of God and Jesus.” The etymology (original definition) of the word “knowledge” is “The practice of perceiving the truth.” The Bible—God’s Word—is truth. (John 17:17; John 8:31-32, NLT). Thus, the more we read the Bible, the more we perceive the truth about God and Jesus. But there’s a problem! In a poll taken by the Gallup Organization in October, 2000, 59% of Americans reported that they read the Bible at least occasionally. This is down from 73% in the 1980s. The percentage of Americans who read the Bible at least once a week is 37%. This is down slightly from 40% in 1990 (see: Americans and the Bible). And if these statistics were trending downward in the 90s, then they are probably even worse as we head into a new decade. With statistics such as these, can there be any wonder as to why we are experiencing only added grace instead of multiplied and abundant grace? How do we change this? Joshua 1:8 and Psalm 1:2 instruct us to meditate (spend a lot of time) in the Word of God. It’s been said that if a person does something 21 days in a row, it will become a habit. So, here’s your homework: This month, read one chapter in the Book of Proverbs every day. Do not read two in one day and nothing the next. The goal is to establish the discipline of practicing the perception of the truth about God and our Lord Jesus. Get ready for multiplied favor is waiting for you. I invite your...
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