READ YOUR BIBLE!

 🛑COMPLETED READING THRU THE BIBLE AGAIN! God be praised! Though I’ve read it thru many times; this time was different. (I began after my wife passed & took my time, to complete the reading in under 1 year). This was for strength. This is how I stand! The Word works! Praise, worship, prayer, fasting etc., are all important disciplines. But, there are some valleys that are so treacherous; that they are only survivable by hearing from God (through Bible reading). What’s my next step? Go back to Genesis & start all over again! (Reminds me of the late Bishop G. T. Haywood, that required ministers in his church, to read the Bible through annually). #IveGotWorkToDo

Ps 119:105 ERV. “Your word is like a lamp that guides my steps, a light that shows the path I should take.”

Jer 15:16 TLB. “Your words are what sustain me; they are food to my hungry soul. They bring joy to my sorrowing heart and delight me. How proud I am to bear your name, O Lord.”

Happy Memorial Day!

Save the Date!

 

"Tell God, I Want It All!"

TELL GOD, “I WANT IT ALL!” Note in each passage below, it is referring to the same group (plus or minus a few people) and the same Holy Ghost. As you look at the definition of each word that Jesus uses; ask God to give it all to you! #IveGotWorkToDo #HolySpirit #HolyGhost #Pentecost #PilgrimageToPentecost

 

Jn 20:22 NASB. And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

 

Receive. Get, take, lay hold of.

 

Lk 24:49 NASB. And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

 

Endued/Clothed.  Clothed with (in the sense of sinking into a garment).

 

Acts 1:5 NASB. …for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

 

Baptized. Dipped or submerged.

 

Acts 1:8 NASB. but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.”

 

Come upon. Arrive, come on, come upon, attack.

 

Acts 2:4 NASB. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with different tongues, as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out.

 

Filled. Supply, complete, furnish.

 

Join Me Sunday In Mansfield Ohio!

 

Clean!

 

SANCTIFICATION (defined as, “Set apart, distinct from a secular use to a divine use.”) makes you ready to receive the power of God in your life! We are not pitiful, powerless & barely making it. God always causes us to triumph (no matter what “life” throws our way), because we are His “set apart” people. We are picked up, cleaned up & ready to serve! #IveGotWorkToDo #Pentecost #PilgrimageToPentecost #Pentecost2022 #Holy #Sanctification #Sanctified

 

Before the disciples received the Holy Ghost on Pentecost, Jesus prayed for them to be “sanctified.”

 

John 17:17 NKJV. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

 

Before the disciples received the Holy Ghost on Pentecost, Jesus said that they were “clean.”

 

John 15:3 NKJV.  You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

“44 Church Planting Principles Lesson 3 of 6.”

 

Wicked People

Yes, mental illness is a reality. Yes, there are some broken people in the world; that will in turn harm others. But we must also acknowledge the fact that there are some wicked people in the world that have no conscience. Many have a “reprobate mind,” where God has rejected them and turned them over to their depravity. While many of us teach in a pre-tribulation “Rapture,” we really have been in a form of “tribulation” for a while now; exhibited by an influx of wickedness. I am praying for the saints to endure until the end. #IveGotWorkToDo

 

2 Timothy 3:13 NLT. But evil people and impostors will flourish…

 

1 Timothy 4:2 ERV. …These evil people cannot see what is right and what is wrong. It is like their conscience has been destroyed with a hot iron.

 

Matthew 24:21-22 NLT. ²¹ For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again. ²² In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen ones.

 

Matthew 24:13 TLB. But those enduring to the end shall be saved.

 

Jesus Frees Us From Sin!

 JESUS DID NOT DIE TO LEAVE US IN SIN! He died to free us from sin. A sinful life separates us from God. But Jesus died and rose to make us right with God. Justification: just as if you have never sinned. We are friends of God. This is the Good News of the Gospel, the great news of Holiness: we no longer have to be bound by the one thing (sin) that jeopardizes our relationship with God. #IveGotWorkToDo

 

Romans 5:12-18 ERV ¹² Sin came into the world because of what one man did. And with sin came death. So this is why all people must die—because all people have sinned. ¹³ Sin was in the world before the Law of Moses. But God does not consider people guilty of sin if there is no law. ¹⁴ But from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, everyone had to die. Adam died because he sinned by not obeying God’s command. But even those who did not sin that same way had to die. That one man, Adam, can be compared to Christ, the one who was coming in the future. ¹⁵ But God’s free gift is not like Adam’s sin. Many people died because of the sin of that one man. But the grace that people received from God was much greater. Many received God’s gift of life by the grace of this other man, Jesus Christ. ¹⁶ After Adam sinned once, he was judged guilty. But the gift of God is different. His free gift came after many sins, and it makes people right with him. ¹⁷ One man sinned, and so death ruled all people because of that one man. But now some people accept God’s full grace and his great gift of being made right. Surely they will have true life and rule through the one man, Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ So that one sin of Adam brought the punishment of death to all people. But in the same way, Christ did something so good that it makes all people right with God. And that brings them true life.

 

 

CLEAN HOUSE!

“CLEAN HOUSE!” That was this morning’s message. Join us Tues morning for the message entitled, “CHECK YOUR MOTIVES,” as we continue in “prayer revival” this week! Dial 848-220-3100 Code 8074434#. 5:00 AM CST daily. #IveGotWorkToDo

 

Repent!

 THERE IS A BLESSING IN REPENTANCE: Turning from sin, turning to God, revolting what God hates, rededicating to what God loves. #IveGotWorkToDo

Jeremiah 4:1-2 Living Bible. O Israel, if you will truly return to me and absolutely discard your idols, and if you will swear by me alone, the living God, and begin to live good, honest, clean lives, then you will be a testimony to the nations of the world, and they will come to me and glorify my name.

“War & Peace” Rom 5:1-10

 

REVIVAL REVIVAL REVIVAL!

 

REVIVAL! Join us this week. 5A CST daily! #IveGotWorkToDo

ENDURE!

 🙏🏿SATURDAY IS THE 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF MY LATE WIFE’S CANCER DIAGNOSES. No, it hasn’t been easy. But, God has blessed my family to survive not only this tragic loss; but the “trauma” we experienced, dealing w/hospital staff (No, I’ve never mentioned that publicly. But, trust me, God gives you grace to endure hard times & difficult people). Rachel endured in faith till the end. However, at that point I did not want to be kept, in “this life.” I was ready to leave (aka “pass on”) & go to Heaven as well. But, GOD kept me & continues to do so. Perhaps you are dealing w/people that are unbearable. Maybe you have endured emotional trauma. Yes, we as the Church do a disservice to the saints, when we teach people everything else; but how to suffer & endure. Many times, you WILL have suffering in this life. But, be bold & courageous, in God’s strength. You WILL stand the test. What you endure is only going to make you stronger. #IveGotWorkToDo

Rom 5:3-4 ERV And we are also happy with the troubles we have. Why are we happy with troubles? Because we know that these troubles make us more patient. And this patience is proof that we are strong. And this proof gives us hope.

Jam 1:2-4 ERV My brothers and sisters, you will have many kinds of trouble. But this gives you a reason to be very happy. You know that when your faith is tested, you learn to be patient in suffering. If you let that patience work in you, the end result will be good. You will be mature and complete. You will be all that God wants you to be.

DON’T STOP PRAYING

 JEWS THAT ARE ATHEISTS? During one of my trips to Israel (as pictured here, years ago) our group was honored to meet w/some members of the Knesset (Israel’s parliament). Once the meeting was concluded (as is our custom), some of the ministers asked could we say a word of prayer. One Knesset member flat out said, “No.” We wrongly assumed that this was because we pray, “in Jesus’ Name.” Our tour guide assured us that this was not the case. He told us that “some” Jews are “secular” or “atheist.” While they are proud of their Jewish heritage (& even participate in holidays), they do not believe in God. He said that “some” of these persons are bitter over the Holocaust.  Basically, if God is good & answers prayer; He would have never allowed such an atrocity to occur. My point for the saints is, no matter whether your prayers are answered like you desire or not, DON’T STOP PRAYING. No matter how much we confess, declare, decree, speak in tongues, “sow seeds,” etc., none of this overrides the sovereignty of God. What He does or does not, is totally in His hands. We will never understand fully; until we see Him face to face. So prayer really does not have the purpose of changing God’s will. Prayer conditions our heart to be in sync w/God’s will. No, it is not easy, but we are the most effective, the most anointed & the most productive, when we are in sync w/God. That’s really what, “YES LORD,” means: total surrender to the will of God. #IveGotWorkToDo

Isaiah 55:8-9 ERV. This plan of mine is not what you would work out, neither are my thoughts the same as yours! For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than yours, and my thoughts than yours.

1 Cor 13:12. TLB. In the same way, we can see and understand only a little about God now, as if we were peering at his reflection in a poor mirror; but someday we are going to see him in his completeness, face-to-face. Now all that I know is hazy and blurred, but then I will see everything clearly, just as clearly as God sees into my heart right now.

“44 Church Planting Principles Lesson 2 of 6.”

 

35 YEARS IN MINISTRY!

 

35 YEARS AGO TODAY, @ the age of 15, I was filled w/the Holy Ghost🙌🏿🔥 & the same year “entered” ministry (even though I received Christ earlier @ 8 years old & was “called” into ministry @ 12 yrs old). Since my daughter (Raquel) mentioned it @ my inaugural banquet, yes, @ 15 God placed it upon my heart that I would one day serve on the General Board of the COGIC. I knew then, that if I was going to be anointed & “useable” for God’s service; that there was a strict, ascetic, consecrated life I would have to live. He showed me then (@ 15) that there would be suffering & pain along the way; but He promised to do everything He showed me. No, it has not been easy; but, yes, God has been faithful. God filled me on the day of my pastor’s (Bishop T. L. Westbrook’s) birthday. He is pictured here, presenting my certificate of ordination to the Gospel ministry. #IveGotWorkToDo #COGIC #TeamCOGIC #Pentecost #PilgrimageToPentecost #ToGodBeTheGlory

Num 23:19 ERV ”God is not a man; He will not lie. God is not a human being; His decisions will not change. If He says He will do something, then He will do it. If He makes a promise, then He will do what He promised.”

1 Tim 1:12 TLB “How thankful I am to Christ Jesus our Lord for choosing me as one of His messengers, and giving me the strength to be faithful to Him.”

1 Pet 5:10 ERV “Yes, you will suffer for a short time. But after that, God will make everything right. He will make you strong. He will support you and keep you from falling. He is the God Who gives all grace. He chose you to share in His glory in Christ. That glory will continue forever.”

SENDING PEOPLE TO HELL!

SENDING PEOPLE TO HELL. While there may be people that you would like to send to Hell (and turn the heat up on high; because of how they have treated you) the reality is this; a lot of people we think will be in Hell will not & a lot of people we think will be in Heaven will not. God knows those who are His. Our focus should be ensuring that we ourselves have peace w/God by faith in Jesus Christ #IveGotWorkToDo

 

Matthew 8:11-12. Easy-to-Read Version. ¹¹ Many people will come from the east and from the west. These people will sit and eat with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in God’s kingdom. ¹² And those who should have the kingdom will be thrown out. They will be thrown outside into the darkness, where people will cry and grind their teeth with pain.”

 

2 Timothy 2:19. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

The Attack Will Sputter Out

THE ATTACK WILL SPUTTER OUT! Everyone is not out to get you. Most people are trying to survive themselves & do not have the energy to focus on you. Nevertheless, there are hurdles, attacks & pitfalls that you must deal w/in life, on a regular basis. Perhaps there are unexpected repairs, the death of loved ones, a long-term illness, unemployment, a business that is struggling, distractions to you getting your degree & the list goes on. And yes, there are even attacks from people that mean you harm. Attacks will come; but they only have the advantage if you give in. Never give in & what was designed to destroy you will “sputter” out. Among many synonyms for the word “sputter” (on Google), are the words: falter, halt, pause, stumble, etc. #IveGotWorkToDo

Isaiah 7:1-2 The Message. During the time that Ahaz son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram & King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel attacked Jerusalem, BUT THE ATTACK SPUTTERED OUT. 

 

 

Nothing Will Come Of It!

NOTHING WILL COME OF IT! When life throws the worst at you; that is the time to be bold, courageous and unmovable. Realize that what is in you, is much stronger than external circumstances, which are adversarial to you. The storms of life will crush you, IF you let them. Put your trust in what God says. He said that nothing will come of it. #IveGotWorkToDo

Is. 7:6-9 MSG. …Listen, CALM DOWN. DON’T BE AFRAID. And DON’T PANIC over these two burnt-out cases, Rezin of Aram and the son of Remaliah. THEY TALK BIG BUT THERE’S NOTHING TO THEM. Aram, along with Ephraim’s son of Remaliah, have plotted to do you harm. They’ve conspired against you, saying, ‘Let’s go to war against Judah, dismember it, take it for ourselves, and set the son of Tabeel up as a puppet king over it.’ But God, the Master, says, “IT WON’T HAPPEN. NOTHING WILL COME OF IT.”

 

You Have A Right To Ask God Questions

 

GOD DOES NOT HAVE AN ISSUE W/YOU ASKING HIM QUESTIONS. Questioning God (being adversarial to His character) & asking God questions are two different things. The colonial version of Christianity has taught (erroneously) to, “sit down, be quiet, don’t ask any questions & do as you are told.” However, that is not biblical. How can you learn if you do not ask questions? God is not intimidated nor insecure for us to ask Him questions; when we do so in a respectable manner. Many of the giants of faith in the Bible asked God questions; & sometimes (amazingly) He even considered their point of view. The last days are stressful enough, to not be able to have a discussion with our Father (speaking to Him & He speaking to us). Many believers are unduly stressed, frustrated & irritated; when we have a loving, heavenly Father; Who is willing to hear us out, minister to us & give us wisdom, knowledge & understanding. Whatever you need to know today, God is waiting for you to ask Him. Now, we may not always like the answer that He gives. For example, Jesus asked for the bitter cup to pass; but the Father’s unspoken answer was that He had to drink it (Matt 26:39); but He will minister to us. #IveGotWorkToDo

 

Genesis 18:17-26 TLB. ¹⁷ “Should I hide my plan from Abraham?” God asked. ¹⁸ “For Abraham shall become a mighty nation, and he will be a source of blessing for all the nations of the earth. ¹⁹ And I have picked him out to have godly descendants and a godly household—men who are just and good—so that I can do for him all I have promised.” ²⁰ So the Lord told Abraham, “I have heard that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah are utterly evil, and that everything they do is wicked. ²¹ I am going down to see whether these reports are true or not. Then I will know.” ^22-23 So the other two went on toward Sodom, but the Lord remained with Abraham a while. Then Abraham approached him and said, “Will you kill good and bad alike? ²⁴ Suppose you find fifty godly people there within the city—will you destroy it, and not spare it for their sakes? ²⁵ That wouldn’t be right! Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, to kill the godly with the wicked! Why, you would be treating godly and wicked exactly the same! Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth be fair?” ²⁶ And God replied, “If I find fifty godly people there, I will spare the entire city for their sake.”

 

Isaiah 1:18 TLB. Come, let’s talk this over, says the Lord; no matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can take it out and make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you white as wool!

 

Matthew 27:46 TLB. About three o’clock, Jesus shouted, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

 

Luke 2:46-47 TLB. ^46-47 Three days later they finally discovered him. He was in the Temple, sitting among the teachers of Law, discussing deep questions with them and amazing everyone with his understanding and answers.

 

“44 Church Planting Principles Lesson 1 of 6”

We Draw Or Drive People To Christ

 

WE ARE GOD’S CUSTOMER SERVICE RERESENTATIVES. No one that we know has seen God. But Christians are seen every day. We deal directly w/the public. Many people will make a decision for Christ or not, based on their interaction w/us. Years ago, Jet Blue was my family’s favorite airline for vacations. The seating was comfortable & they had TVs in the back of the seats that the kids could watch.  We flew Jet Blue for many years. However, one day we ran into a ticket counter agent who had the worst attitude. I could deal w/the mistreatment. But, once my kids were affected, I vowed to never fly Jet Blue again. It seems harsh that out of all the good that a company does; just one bad interaction w/an employee & the entire company is condemned. Yet, this is how it is w/the Kingdom of God. People are in the “valley of decision,” & our actions can help determine whether that soul chooses to follow Christ or not. Today let us pray that the way we live & conduct ourselves draws people to Jesus Christ & does not drive them away. #IveGotWorkToDo

 

Malachi 2:8-9 MSG. “It’s the job of priests to teach the truth. People are supposed to look to them for guidance. The priest is the messenger of God-of-the-Angel-Armies. But you priests have abandoned the way of priests. Your teaching has messed up many lives. You have corrupted the covenant of priest Levi. God-of-the-Angel-Armies says so. And so I am showing you up for who you are. Everyone will be disgusted with you and avoid you because you don’t live the way I told you to live, and you don’t teach my revelation truly and impartially.”

 

Matt 5:15-16 TLB. Don’t hide your light! Let it shine for all; let your good deeds glow for all to see, so that they will praise your heavenly Father.

 

 

 

There's A Time And A Place To Be Stubborn

SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO BE STUBBORN! Stubborn means, “Having or showing dogged determination not to change one's attitude or position on something, especially in spite of good arguments or reasons to do so” (google dictionary). Life will throw at you every reason to get sidetracked and derailed. But, be stubborn, as described in these Scriptures:

 

1 Corinthians 9:24-25. Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.

 

1 Timothy 6:12. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

 

Philippians 3:14. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

 

#IveGotWorkToDo

 

Happy Mother's Day!

Especially:

Gen. Supv. Barbara McCoo Lewis

Lady Karen Clark Sheard

Lady Mae Blake

Supv. T. Marie Brown

Ms. Esther ("He's Named After His Grandfather" smile) Hankerson

Mother Thelma McCain

In Loving Memory of Lady Rachel LaNora Hankerson

 

For those who are sorrowful this day, remember (as my family has) what the Word says, Is. 40:29, "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength."

 

Bishop Elijah H. Hankerson, III

#MothersDay #Mother #Motherhood #Mothers #HappyMothersDay #MothersDay2022 #IveGotWorkToDo #LCIC #MMEJ #COGIC #TeamCOGIC #EveryTimeITurnAround #NeverForgetRachelLHankerson