HUH '
Covenant, Bond, Truthfulness
'And he took the book of the covenant and read in the audience of the people;
and they said, all that the Lord hath said will we do. and be obedient." (Exodus
24:7)
"And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond
of the covenant." (Exodus 20:37)
"Because they continued not in my covenant, and 1 regarded them not, saith
the Lord." (Hebrews 8:9)
We are going to be speaking to you this day a message about a covenant, a
vow, agreement between us and God.
Look with me for a moment in the Book of Genesis in Chapter TwentyEight,
Verses 11-29. A man called Jacob is alone in the wilderness. Notice the
words, "he tmTied all night because the sun was set." Jacob had left home. He
had lied to his blind old father, had anger against his brother Esau and now he
is left alone in a wilderness with nothing but stones for a pillow and a cold
ground for a bed and a sky for cover. The sun was set and Ezekiel said where
God said I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. It was here God said
to Jacob. I am with thee and will keep thee in all places. It was here Jacob
declared it to be the gates of heavtjn and a place he called Bethel (House of
Bread). Jacob realized that he was not alone. Jacob set up stones and poured
oil on them and he made a vow to God. "If God be with me and will keep me
in this way and will give me bread to eat and let me come to my father's house
in peace, then shall the Lord be my God and these pillows will stand as a witness,
here in God's house and all that thou shalt give me, I will surely give the tenth
unto thee." (Genesis 28:1 1-22) God did not ask Jacob for this vow. Jacob
voluntarily gave it. Jacob was alone and afraid, afraid because he had lied on
God and to his father. (Genesis 27:31-46). Now we see Jacob being passed
under the rod. Jacob now in the presence of God, he began to gather stones.-He
piled them up, poured oil on the stones. They may not have been much to use
for sleep, but it is not sleep that Jacob needed. He needed a witness. The sun
had set and it was getting late, the rod of chastisement was here. Jacob
remembered how he had lied to his Dad, stole his brother Esau's blessing and
above all, he had lied on God. Listen to these words, "Isaac said unto his son
Jacob, how is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said the Lord,
thy God, brought it to me." (Genesis 27:20)
I want to preach this week on how churches of today have fallen from
truthfulness to evil influence. We are now at the door of God's rod of
chastisement. The church has not done all that we vowed to do, neither have we
been obedient. "The words of their mouth are iniquity and deceit. He hath left
off to be wise and to do good." (Psalm 36:3)
My friend, one of the church's major problems today is her failure to live
what she professed to believe. Worldliness has become a problem, a serious
problem, even to the point of creating wars and division. Church folks are like
Jacob, disobeying God's word, and the rod of chastisement is here and the
church will be brought under the rod of God. The word of God has been read
in our hearing and we confess "All that the Lord hath said we will do." Have
you read your covenant lately? Most churches have them on the wall and then
don't read or obey them. Better yet read your minutes of the church. See the
standard you once held for the qualifications ofthe minister. Deacon. Have you
forgotten the covenant made by man and God? Did you not open with prayer
and scripture? Did not you agree that these things you will do? Can you not see
how far persons have erred? Do not we see how evil influences have crept into
out midst? Do we not now see and hear how so-called ministers are fathering
what is called "a love child?" Why is this? There is no fear of God before his
eyes. (Psalm 36:1)
The reason a church sets by-laws, ordinances and statutes is that they are
done so that good men obtains favor of God. Great care is to be done in the
church. "A man of wicked devices will be condemned." (Proverbs 12:1-3)
There is a reason today why there is a lack of covenant keepers and there
seems to be no concern and because ofthis lack, falsehood is no longer frowned
upon. Falsehood, deceitnow parade in our midst. The Holy Spirit who is to have
empowered us for service and for life has been rejected. So the church has
departed from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.
(I Timothy 4:1)
My friend, when the churches are no longer empowered by the Holy Spirit
they are not free from the law of sin and death. When a person has the Holy Spirit
he is empowered for life and service. In Romans 8:2 it states "For the law ofthe
spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
As we know, there are two natures in the believers, the flesh and the spirit.
(Galatians 5:17) But while the believer is still in the flesh, he does not live after
the flesh. (Romans 8:12-13) The Holy Spirit enables the believer to get constant
and continual victory over sin.
My friend, you can stand folks before you and they will promise to abide by
the rules of God's Holy Writ and in a few months or even in weeks, they can't
do it. Why? Because the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath not been in their life.
They have not been made free from the law of sin and death.
A simple act of sin a believer may commit. To live in a state of sin is
impossible for him. For the Spirit which is within him gives him not a scriptural
doctrine, sinful imperfection is certainly less scriptural.
The eighth chapter of Romans exhibits a victorious life for the believer; a
life so different from that depicted in the seventh chapter. And the difference
lies in the fact that the Holy Spirit is hardly, if at all mentioned, in the seventh
chapter, while in the eighth He is mentioned over twelve times. The Spirit in
the heart is the secret of victory over sin.
Oh my friend, one of the greatest needs in our churches today is "Spiritual
maturity." Somebody said our churches are playpens for babies instead of a
workshop for adults. Our main problem is that we have lost our sense of the
absolute. We live in the day of relativism, a day which truth is subjective,
personal and flexible.
Pilate ask the question, "What is truth?" (John 18:38) My friend, do you no
longer desire the truth? Peter in Acts 2:40-47 said "Be saved from this perverse
generation." For a moment let us view our world today. It has been said that
there is only one cultural constant- namely, the process ofchange. In this regard,
when we use the word culture, we are referring to the belief structure, the value
system and the behavior mode of a given society. Thus as we face the future,
the 21 st Century will be a new kind of world. It is said that by the year 2020
there will be 70 million Islamic followers in America with one goal, to make
an Islamic nation. By the year 2020 there will be 130 million Hispanics living
in America. By 2020 Native bom Americans will be in the minority. By 2020
there will be more missionaries coming into the United States than are sent out
ofthe United States. By 2020 we will be hard pressed to find enough qualified
pastors to pastor Christian churches.
While you have been busy allowing falsehood, deceit and evil influences to
parade in our churches, statisticians tell us that in the last 40 years in America
there has been:
500 percent increase in violent crimes; 400 percent increase in illegitimate
births; 420 percent increase of children of single parents; a 360 percent increase
in child abuse; and in our inner cities, a child is murdered every 12 minutes.
Somehow, my friend, in a world like this, we better recapture the dynamics
of the early church. We need to receive the power that fell on the Day of
Pentecost. We need to look at those who made it happen. It was with one accord,
to continuing daily with one accord in the temple, breaking bread from house
to house they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart. (Acts 2:4-6)
My friend, one accord, means unity, the state of being one; the combination
or arrangement of all the parts into a whole.
My friend, I am not your enemy. Jesus said these words- "Am I now become
your enemy because I tell you the truth?" (St, John 8:40)
My friend, our only hope to save our Christian heritage is to stand together.
I can truly say I have done no man wrong. If I am guilty of anything, it has been
serving the Lord with all humility of mind and with many tears and temptations,
saying as Paul, I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have
showed you and have taught you publicly and from house to house. (Acts 20:1920)
"Yea, doubtless and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I suffer loss of all things and do
count them but dung that I may win Christ." All things-"That I may know him
and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his suffering."
(Philippians 3:8) "And those things gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ."
(Verse 7) The Point I am making is that we are to be on one accord in prayer.
(Acts 1:14) One account in the temple. (2:46) One accord proclaiming the
word. (4:24) With one accord in signs and wonders. (5:12) One accord in
obedience. (8:6) One accord in Christian practice. (15:25) One accord in
worship. (Romans 15:6)
Listen, we don't have time for division, discord and cheap politics. We don't
have time for wounding one another and finding fault. If you have something
you want materialistic or if you envy it, take it and use it for the glory of God.
The church ofthe living God has got to come alive and to be in one accord or
we are never going to see what God wants to do in our midst.
The problem today is we have lost our sense of the absolute. As we said
earlier we now live in the day of relativism, a day in which truth is subjective,
personal and flexible. Have you not seen this in the White House? Did not you
view it on the television set? It has even involved the very heart of our church.
Are you not concerned that we have a Supreme Court that does its work
under the Ten Commandments in our public building? America is no longer
a Christian nation. As a nation we have ignored our Judeo-Christian heritage.
We are now a nation w hich has ignored the first commandment. (Y ou shall have
no other gods before me.) We have experienced a loss of fear and respect for
God with a subsequent disregard for authority in all phases of living.
We have ignored the second commandment (you shall not make for
yourselves a carved image.) Do you not see the Pagan worship, practices? We
ignored the third commandment (You shall not take then name of the Lord your
God in vain.) Our agreements have lost substance. Our language has become
base; four letter words are the order of the day. We are now at an all time high
on the Fourth Commandment (Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.) We
have robbed God of glory and made profit king with commerce as Sunday
religion. As we have ignored the fifth commandment (honor your father and
your mother) children have learned to disobey their parents with resulting loss
of respect for teachers, law enforcement officers and general authority figures.
Teenage crime is at an all time high and violence, riots, terrorism and anarchy
plague the social order.
As we have ignored the Sixth Commandment (you shall not murder) our
prisons, institutions are overflowing, human life has become cheap; murder is
the prime theme of the media.
As we have ignored the Seventh Commandment (you shall not commit
adultery) we now face over one million teenage pregnancies every year;
venereal disease is rampant; Aids isat epidemic proportions; and the very fiber
of the family has been weakened to the extent that only thirteen percent of
households represent traditional family roles.
Let me ask you this question; do you wish for me to stop? There are those
who are out there working, whispering, deceit wishes so and it is not because
there is fire shut up in their bones. No my friend, truth is decaying in our midst
and because of this we have a serious problem. We have lost our sense of the
absolute.
We also have ignored the Eighth Commandment (you shall not steal) and
burglary has increased 200 percent in the past ten years. We have been forced
to learn the art of self defense. Personal property rights are constantly
threatened and security business is a booming investment of the decade.
As we ignored the Ninth Commandment (Ye shall not bear false witness),
contracts have lost validity, agreements are frequently ignored, and only in rare
cases is a man's word his bond.
As we have ignored the Tenth Commandment (you shall not covet), greed
has replaced responsibility, the big rip off is an accepted way of life, fraud and
deceit are too often tolerated as a necessary part of the business scene.
Now let us go back to absolute, we need to remember Exodus 19:5 "Now
therefore if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant then you shall
be a special treasure to me above all people; for all the earth is mine."
Next week: Little Preachers
The Church atthe Forks
by Envin Jacobs '
Today is a very spec ial sunny blue
sky, but a very windy day as I sit under
my carport writing this report. The
Dogwood trees are getting petals on
them, getting ready for full blooms
soon, tne forsythias are a bright yellow,
the plum trees have bloomed and
I walked around the yard looking at
other plants and trees coming to life.
The mocking birds are serenading me
as I write and letting me know it is
good to be able to sit outside for a
change and enjoy the fresh air stirring
the tree tops.
On March 7th (Wednesday
even ing) 2001 the Board had its Quarterly
meeting to discuss what was going
on at West Robeson United Methodist
Church at the Forks. A very few
people showed up for this meeting.
We have a large number of our members
out sick and many others are
unable to attend for various reasons.
Lay Leader Mr. Terry Marshall who
is the Chairperson for West Robeson
called the meeting to order shortly
after our Wednesday night Bible
Study. Ms. Aggie Deese was asked to
take minutes for the meeting.
On the agenda were several discussions
about work needs to be
performed like two new doors for the
Kitchen at the fellowship hall, UMC
Women's Auction and inviting everyone
to come help this worthy cause on
April 6th at 6 p.m. Food and drinks
will be sold at this fund raiser for the
church's many needs,.
Thanks to a generous donor who
wishes to be anonymous who gave
Mrs. Lucille Locklearacheckforour
church youth. You were an answer to
Mrs. Lucille's prayers in this much
appreciated kind act.
Rev. Marshall Locklear is conducting
Bible Study with the prisoners on
Highway 711 west ofLumberton. This
is a Disciple Program Thursday nights
from 6 to 8 p.m. He reports the prisoners
are very interested in his teachings.
(We regard him as a great teacher
every Wednesday night at our church
also.)
I thank the United Methodist
Women for the kind words in the
article about my helping hand recognition,
also the gift and Certificate
presented to me. Many acts of kindness
rendered by people in this fast
moving world are never recognized.
The church had an appreciation meal
and it followed a great sermon by a
great preacher, Mr. Jones from the
Wakulla area for Mr. and Mr., Kenneth
and Wanda Lowry. They were
voted and recognized as the Lay Persons
of the year at our church. This
event took place Sunday, March 18,
2001. The meal was catered by KFC
for the occasion. The food was excellent
and enjoyed by everyone in
attendance.
If you do not attend a church, we
invite you to come and worship with
us at West Robeson United Methodist
Church. We are in the area of Cabinet
Shop Road, Baker Road at the Forks
where Harpers Ferry Road and 74
join- south side of 74 highway. We
have Sunday School at 9 a.m. and
worship service begins at 10 a.m. Sundays.
Prayer meeting Monday
evenings and Bible Study Wednesday
evenings at 6:30 p.m. We visit Dial's
Nursing Home each second Sunday at
2:30 p.m. and everyone is so happy to
see us come through the doors at the
three buildings. We receive a blessing
as we minister and sing with those
dear people. Come join us in all or any
of the above services.
May God bless you at this Easter
Season and remember we love you as <
God's children.
Faith Community Targeting Syphilis
Provisional data for 2001 from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention states that Robeson County reported the 17th highest number of
Primary an Secondary syphilis cases of any county in the Country. The total
number of new syphilis cases has increased to epidemic proportions totaling
150 cases by the end of2000. With the incidence of cases Robeson County is
33 times higher than the national average.
March 16,2001 ameetingwasheldattheBumtSwampBaptistAssociation
in Pembroke with area faith leaders from different denominations throughout
Robeson County. The purpose of this meeting was to bring awareness to the
faith community and how ministers and laity of the church can begin addressing
this issue in their churches and communities. The main goal that developed 1
from this first meeting is that a training program will be initiated to train
ministers and laity to go out in various communities in Robeson County to
speak about the syphilis epidemic and other health issues.
If you are interested in participating in any way, please contact April
Locklear Oxendine at the Robeson County Health Department at (910) 6082271
or Rev. Robert Mangum at sandy Plains United Methodist Church at
(910) 521-8600. The next meeting is March 29, 2001 at the Burnt Swamp
Baptist Association at 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Light refreshments will be served.
**
Navy Blue Angels to highlight the 48th
Annual Azeala Festival Air Show
marK your calendars ana ten your
friends! The Blue's are back in
town!
The United States Navy Flight
Demonstration Squadron, the Blue
Angels, will perform two spectacular
aerial demonstrations at Naval
Station Norfolk. April 28 and 29,
during the 48th Annual International
Azalea Festival Air Show.
The Blue Angels are the world'srenowned
premier aerobatics precision
team created at the end of
World Was U to Showcase naval
aviation. April 2001 will mark the
Blue Angels return to Naval Station
Norfolk following a two-year
absence.
This free, family oriented event
will also showcase the Navy's parachute
team, the Leap Frogs, in addition
to many military tactical
demonstrations. Many top civilian
aerobatics performers, such as
Sean D. Tucker and his Oracle
Challenger, will also grace the skies
over Naval Station Norfolk.
On the ground, watch the amazing
"wall of fire" pyrotechnic display
as well as the Hawaiian Fire Department
jet truck. Expand your knowledge
of aviation as you view up
close, both vintage and new aircraft,
from the many static displays
that will be available at the show.
There will be many hands-on ,
events for the young aviation enthusiast
and an impressive midway
for the older enthusiast. The show
will truly be an event for all to enjoy!
Each Spring for 47 years, the Navy
and the City of Norfolk have
worked together to produce the
Azalea Festival and air show to
demonstrate appreciation to the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
and its only U.S. based headquarters,
Supreme Allied Commander
Atlantic. This year's most honored
nation is Spain.
For more information about the
upcoming 48th Annual International
Azalea Festival Air Show,
log on to
www.norfolkairshow.com, or call .
the Air Show Hotline at (757) 4452844
College students can make
the world their classroom
Pembroke, NC- Don't let your
teenagers spend another summer
hanging around the house when
they can earn college credit and
explore exciting countries on a
summer program from the American
Institute For Foreign Study
(A1FS).
AIFS, the premier study abroad
organization for 37 years, offers
more than 20 different summer programs
in the Czech Republic, England,
France, Italy, Poland, Russia,
South Africa and Spain, as well
as three multi-country traveling
available in business, economics,
communications, social sciences,
language ( Czech, French, Italian,
Polish, Russian and Spanish), literature,
art history, performing arts,
studio art, music and history. Since
its founding in 1964, more than one
million students and teachers have
participated in AIFS programs.
Studying abroad often helps college
students achieve academic and
career goals, including enhanced
prospects for graduate school acceptance
as well as employment.
Students develop an understanding
of global issues and knowledge
of a specific culture. Study abroad
not only expands the student's international
awareness, but increases
their maturity, adaptability,
flexibility and sense of adventure.
These summer programs are also
open to interested adults who wish
to broaden their horizons.
To receive the AIFS Summer 2001
catalog, contact David Greenberg
at (800) 727-2437, ext. 5163, via
e-mail, at dgrwnfrrgffiijfKPtn
or write to Summer Catalog Request,
AIFS, River Plaza, 9 West
Broad Street, Stamford, CT
06902.
Interested Students can also get
more information, as well as apply
on-line, at www.aifsabroad.com
The application deadline is April
15, 2001.
Easter Baskets: A Sweet Tradition
The tradition of the Easter basket is more than two hundred years old.
The first baskets were actually nests made of leaves and twigs which
would be left out the night before Easter with hopes that the Easter
Bunny would fill these nests with colored boiled eggs. Candy filled baskets,
as we know them today, did not become popular until the late
1800's, with American mass production of chocolate.
Today, Easter is the second largest candy holiday in the United States.
More than fifty million chocolate bunnies are made for this holiday each
year. Easter baskets filled with chocolate bunnies and eggs, marshmallow
chicks, jelly beans and other sweeter treats are as much a part of the
holiday as bonnets and the Easter Bunny himself. This year, surprise
your loved ones with a homemade confection in their basket, like this nofuss
fudge recipe from GREATFOOD.COM:
3 cups semisweet chocolate chips 1/4 cup milk
1 cup chopped walnuts 2 cups mini marshmallows
Coat a 9x9 square pan with wax paper
Melt chocolate and milk together in a pot over low heat. When mixture
appears blended and creamy, remove from heat and stir in marshmallows
and walnuts.
Pour mixture into coated pan and put in a cool, dry place. Allow to cool
until firm to touch. Cut fudge into small squares and serve.
Visit greatfood.com on the Web for delicious selection of Easter treats,
such as our Easter Basket with Chocolate Eggs & Bunny, and for more
recipes.
J.J. Johnson Scholarship
Committee Accepting Applications
The J. J. Johnson Scholarship Committee is now accepting applications
from the graduating seniors of the Public Schools of Robeson County.
The scholarship was established in December of 1996 to help deserving
students in achieving their post high school educational goals. Applications
can be obtained from First Baptist Church, Post office Box 1087,
Fairmont, North Carolina 28340.
This scholarship was established in honor of Dr. Joy Joseph Johnson for
his forty-five years of service to the First Baptist Church, the Fairmont
Community, the county of Robeson, and the state of North Carolina.
The scholarship's theme is Dr. Johnson's motto: "You Can Do It, If You
Put God First". ' .
The deadline for all applications is May 1,2001.
For more information, please call (910)628-6844.
Kindergarten Registration
to be held at Union Chapel
Union Chapel School Kindergarten registration will be held April 6,2001,
between the hours of 9:00 A.M.- 1:00 P.M. in the school gym. All children
who will be 5 years of age on or before October 16,2001 need to register.
Please bring with your a certified birth certificate (not mother's copy),
completed immunization record, social security card, Tribal Enrollment
Card ( if applicable), Insurance Card/Information and a physical form
completed by a physician (forms may be obtained from school office).
For further information contact the school at 521 -4456.
1J' 1^ Tf StniHf Reiiton ^
P a., ,s y.M
CHIROPRACTIC
q i .. - , CENTER
Specializing In
Auto Accident Injuries
Most Insurances Accepted
"APPOINTMENTS PLEASE"
Free Initial Consultation
Ofl
OFFICE: 739-5751 ??
Emergency Home Number
^Dr. Woodrow W. Beck, Jr.: 738-3126
I PROGRESSIVE I
SAVINGS & LOAN, LTD. I
check^ba^nce 1 I
1 Nof.H4C^5L(LA?COUNT
I _____ Charge for Checking*This
$100 Minimum Balance Checking Account Allows You ToB
Write Checks WITHOUT A SERVICE CHARGE As Long As!
The Balance Does Not Fall Below $100.00.
If the Balance. Does Fall Below $100.00, A $6.00 Monthly I
Charge And 30 Cents Per Check Is Necessary. This Account I
Does Not Pay Interest.
DEPOSITS FEDERALLY INSURED TO $100,000.00.
Substantial Penalty For Earty Wthdrawal. Rata Subject 7b Change Wthout Notice.
PROGRESSIVE I
SAVINGS & LOAN, LTD. I
30? N. Cbtataat 4406 FayectertUe Rd. 720 Harris Armae 410 E. 3rd Stmt I.
Lumbertoa, N.C. Luabertoo, N.C. Raefbrd, N>C. Pembroke, N.C. I