Seize the Moment

By: Rev. Michael Lee

(Heb 4:6 GNB) Those who first heard the Good News did not receive that rest, because they did not believe.
(Heb 4:7 GNB) This is shown by the fact that God sets another day, which is called "Today." Many years later he spoke of it through David in the scripture already quoted: "If you hear God's voice today, do not be stubborn."
(Heb 4:8 GNB) If Joshua had given the people the rest that God had promised, God would not have spoken later about another day.
(Heb 4:9 GNB) As it is, however, there still remains for God's people a rest like God's resting on the seventh day.
(Heb 4:10 GNB) For those who receive that rest which God promised will rest from their own work, just as God rested from his.
(Heb 4:11 GNB) Let us, then, do our best to receive that rest, so that no one of us will fail as they did because of their lack of faith.

There are moments that can change your life if you seize them and don’t let them slip away. The moment that you see the one who is to become your lifelong companion. The moment of decision for Bill Gates led to the formation of a billion dollar corporation. The moment of decision for blind BarTimeaus, to yell out ended in him receiving his sight. The moment of an anonymous women with an issue, to take matters into her own hands ended with her being cured of an incurable decease.

These are all great moments in peoples lives but there is a moment that is more important than any other moment. It is a moment like no other moment. It is the most important moment that will ever be presented to you in your life. It is a moment that can change your very destiny if you do not let it slip.

That moment that can change your destiny is the moment that you make the choice of entering into the promised Rest of God.

The writer of the Book of Hebrews argues about the Superiority of Jesus Christ. In chapter one, he speaks of the Superiority of Christ over the prophets saying that in these last days that God spoke to us by his Son whom he appointed heir of all things and through also he made the world.

And he speaks of Christ superiority to the angels saying to which of the angels did God ever say You are my Son, today I have begotten you?

In Chapter two, he argues that Christ is superior in his saving proclamation. For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard from Christ so that we don’t drift away from it.

In chapter three, the writer of Hebrews speaks of the superiority of Christ to Moses whom the Hebrews held in the highest of esteem. He shows that Moses was a faithful servant in God’s house but Christ Jesus is a faithful son over God’s house, whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and boast of our hope firm until the end.

Hebrews chapter 4 tells us that Heaven and Earth has conspired together with time to bring you a moment that is called Today! I have been wearing a yellow band around my wrist for the last three months. When I first got the band you could read it clearly. It said, "Seize the Moment." But now, if you look at the band you will have to look real hard to see it because most of it has faded away.

This reminds me that our moments on this earth are fleeting. We have to seize those things which are of ultimate importance to us. There is nothing more important than your relationship with Jesus Christ.

Jesus said that I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except by me. The thing that is the most precious, the thing that is of the value and importance to all of us is that we enter the Rest that is offered in Jesus Christ.

Jesus said that he came to finish the work that God gave him to do. On the Cross he said it is finished. The work of the redemption of man by his sacrifice. Hebrews 4:10 says we receive rest from our work if we trust in His work.

If the Lord has done a work in your heart today, if you heard him call you to repentance and to a new life in Christ Jesus, I invite you to come. Seize the moment!

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Rev. Michael Lee is an associate minister, Joshua Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, Louisville, Kentucky

Theta Omega Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Celebrates 85th Anniversary

Below are pictures and an article on the 85th Anniversary Celebration of Theta Omega Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. About 250 people attended the celebration on November 10th, including Congressman John Yarmuth and his wife Kathy along with Congressman James Clyburn, from Columbia, South Carolina, the Majority Whip and 3rd ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives, who is a fraternity member; City Councilman David Tandy also a fraternity member as well as Councilwoman Judith Green joined local and surrounding chapters’ members for the black tie gala held at the Galt House in downtown Louisville.

Awards were presented to several fraternity members. My brother Rev. Michael Lee (photo above), the chapter Vice Basileus received the Superior Service Award. I am so proud of the work his is doing in lifting up Jesus Christ within the Omega organization and throughout the community. Michael is an associate minister and the Sunday School Superintendent at Joshua Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky. He has been featured several times in the Jesus Saves Newsletter and on this blog.

Article:

http://louisvilleques.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=5&club_id=795113&item_id=3716


Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!

Dr. J. Deotis Roberts Speaks At Simmons College of Kentucky

By: Min. Angela Lee Price

Rev. Dr. J. Deotis Roberts visited Simmons College of Kentucky on May 17th to the delight of students, faculty, staff, and the community. An esteemed theologian, Roberts is best known as a founder of Black Theology or the Black Liberation Movement. He has taught at several major universities, and has written 14 books and over 100 scholarly articles over his 60-year career.

Rev. Michael Lee, an associate minister and the Sunday School superintendent at Joshua Missionary Baptist Church brought several teachers with him to the lecture. “Ordinarily, we would be in teachers’ meeting on Thursdays, but I cancelled it tonight so that we would not miss this once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Rev. Lee.

Dr. Roberts reflected on his life experiences as a theologian and opened the floor to questions from the audience. When asked why he included reconciliation in his perspective, he said he and his colleagues at Howard University felt obligated to speak on black liberation in the 1960’s, and that his career pre-dated James Cone’s, who is known as the father of the Black Liberation Movement. “James Cone’s perspective was inadequate in that it did not address reconciliation, a central Gospe1 message,” Roberts explained.

I asked him to elaborate on his position on women in the ministry. He said it was hypocritical for black male preachers to point out the errors of oppressors in literally interpreting Scripture to perpetuate slavery, "Slaves obey your masters....," while literally interpret Scripture themselves to keep women out of the pulpit, "Women keep quite in the church...."

Simmons College of Kentucky President Dr. Kevin Cosby. announced Dr. Roberts as the first renown guest lecturer in the Marshall B. Lanier Lecture Series, named in honor of Marshall B. Lanier, a past Simmons president and 50-year professor.

Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!

Sermon Excerpt: Take It By FORCE

By: Rev. Michael Lee

“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” Matthew 11:12 (KJVA)

Recently, I was listening to some gospel music over the internet, and I heard one singer quote this verse and it sounded funny to me. I said that didn’t sound right! Over the next few days I heard that same passage come up several more times and each time I said to myself that doesn’t sound right. It doesn’t seem like it makes sense in the way that it is being said. The violent take it by force. The Kingdom of heaven? What?

Finally, I looked up the verse and compared different translations and interpretations trying to get an understanding of what exactly was meant by this saying, “The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” I’ve got to tell you I got the “deer in the headlights” look after I read some of the interpretations. I wondered how on God’s green earth did they get that from this. You’ve got to be careful where you get your information. Don’t just settle on the first thing you read. Try to get multiple sources saying the same thing if possible and pray about everything.

The interpretation that was presented most often, and the one I believe makes the most sense in light of the context of this chapter, goes something like this:

From the days that John started his ministry of preaching repentance in expectation of the coming king even until this present moment there was fierce opposition to the word; however, men, thirsty for this Word of God rushed into the kingdom with a violence like that of those who are taking a city by storm. It’s like the scene of a great multitude or mob of people who trample over one another trying to press themselves through a narrow doorway, all of them hungry for the Word of God and would stop at nothing to get the best seat or a good position to hear it, or just get in the door before the doors were locked and they were shut out.

In light of this interpretation, I asked myself what is it that characterizes a person who would “take it by FORCE”? What are the people like today who fit this description? If you want to lay hold to the kingdom before it’s too late you need to “take it by F.O.R.C.E.”

Faith in God—Not the faith of the prosperity teachers and preachers. They teach a “God kind of faith” where you can call things into existence if you have enough of it. No, it’s not that. I’m talking about a radical, uncompromising faith IN God. Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” It is a radical EVEN IF kind of faith that says even if he does not raise me up off of my sick bed again, and he has raised you up off your sick bed before, but even if he doesn’t, and even if he doesn’t give me one more financial blessing, (And He has given you financial blessings, and you didn’t have to sew a seed to get it. In fact you didn’t have a seed to sew. You didn’t have a pot nor a window, but some how God blessed you anyhow.) but even if he doesn’t do it ever again, even if he stops blessing you right now today and never again, it’s the kind of faith that says I’m gonna serve Him anyhow. It’s that Job kind of faith that says, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.”

Obedience to His Word—Take it by FORCE people understand that obedience is better than sacrifice. Consequently, they understand that the Word of God needs to be memorized and imbedded into their innermost being so that they can walk the walk, not just talk the talk. Psa 119:11 says, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

Resist Obstacles—The Bible says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. As I travel on this road that leads to Glory I can light up the path with the light of God’s word so I can see clearly the obstacles in my way so I won’t be turned back. Phi 3:14 says, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” I Press on! Yes, I press on in a state of...

Continual Prayer—Jesus says in Mat 5:44, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you….” Prayer helps to focus our attention on the one from which we get our hope. “Take it by FORCE” people...pray for their friends, foes, all in authority, all elected leaders...for their eternal salvation cause it won’t be too long! It won’t be too long because we’ve got...

Eager Expectation and Anticipation of the coming King in great power and in glory and in judgment. Those who would take the Kingdom by FORCE have an eager, enthusiastic expectation of the soon coming of the King of kings, the Lord of Lords. Jesus said He’s coming back again to get his people, 1Th 4:16 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:” 1Th 4:17 goes on, “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

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Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!

The Case Of The Church Vs. Mere Man

By: Minister Michael Lee

1 Corinthians 3:1-15 (NIV)
1 Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ.
2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.
3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?

I understand that there is a trial going on here today. Oh yea, I have it on good authority that someone is on trial here today. And you came here today to be witnesses in this trail. Is that right? Well, there is a trial here today, and if you would permit me, I would like to present, The Case Of The Church vs. Mere Man.
In chapter 3, we find that the consequences of the divisions in the body have led to the stunting of the Corinthian’s spiritual growth. Paul says I could not talk to you as spiritual, but I had to talk to you as worldly. This is because you, Oh Corinthians, were mere infants in Christ. I could not feed you the meat of the Gospel because your stomachs was not ready for it. I had to give you milk, that is, the most elementary understanding of the Gospel.

In verse 3 Paul levels a serious indictment against the Corinthian believers. He charges them with acting like natural men, with acting like mere men. He charges them with acting like men and women who do not even believe in Jesus Christ, yet they carry the name Christian. They met together on a regular basis like Christians and perform many of the same duties as Christians, but something was seriously wrong. It is Mr. and Mrs. “Mere Man” who are on trial today.

First , as I’ve mentioned, Paul charges the Corinthian church with acting like Natural man. Paul says in verse 3 that they are still worldly. The word used here is the Greek word, “sarkeekos.” This word means “fleshly,” under the control of the animal appetites. It means “fleshly,” or “carnal,” one who is more inclined to fulfill the desires of the flesh than deal with spiritual things.

If your 8-month-old child is crawling on the floor with a pacifier in his mouth, and pulls up on a chair or something and tries to walk, and has one or two words that he knows and coos at you when you wave at him, then that’s cute. However, if you come back four or five years later and that same child is still crawling and cooing and saying those same one or two words, then that’s not cute at all. Something is wrong! That child is seriously retarded. He is “developmentally challenged” for the politically correct crowd. And if his parents have not already been to see about that child, then something is seriously wrong with the parents. They keep talking him being a late bloomer, when something is seriously wrong!

There is nothing wrong with loving our leaders. Nevertheless, Mere Man needs to understand that you don’t have to knock down one to build up another. All of our leaders are gifted with certain strengths and talents, and all of them can be beneficial to our growth in whatever stage of development we find ourselves.

In verse 9 Paul says that they, the Christian leaders, are fellow workers with God, working on the same building. But he stresses in verse 11 that no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. It’s not Peter, it’s not Paul, it’s not Apollos, it’s Jesus. It’s not denominations nor organizations, it’s Jesus. It’s not the Greek letters you wear nor your political affiliations, it’s Jesus. It’s not where you were educated nor how many degrees you have, it’s Jesus.

Mere Man doesn’t understand that God loves all of his children, even the ones that you can’t stand, even the ones that get on your last nerve, and even the ones that make you sick. Well, God loves them. God wants to save them, and God wants to use you to help do it!

It seems that Mere Man doesn’t understand that while he’s majoring in the minors, our minors are being taken captive by the insidious lures of this world. It is partly because they don’t see an authentic Christianity being lived in their homes.

Our adversary has been using the divide-and-conquer technique since the beginning. He knows that while there is strife and arguing and petty jealously working in the body, the church becomes less and less effective, the people of God become spiritually weak, and ineffective, or even worse, fail to develop through their normal stages of spiritual development.

You wind up with a bunch of baby chicks sitting on pews waiting for another dose of chewed up, half-digested pablum Sunday after Sunday, with no power to change anything, not even their own minds.

(An excerpt from my brother's, Minister Michael Lee's trial sermon delivered to Joshua Tabernacle Baptist Church, Louisville, Kentucky, April 23, 2006.)

Remember, it is not Muhammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Ages that saves. Jesus saves!

Ready Or Not, Here He Comes! Are You Sure You're Ready?

By: Michael Lee

My brother, Michael Lee at the Dome of the Rock and Western Wailing Wall, Jerusalem, Israel, August, 2000.


Scripture: Rev 6:12-17 (GNV):

“And I saw the Lamb break open the sixth seal. There was a violent earthquake, and the sun became black like coarse black cloth, and the moon turned completely red like blood. The stars fell down to the earth, like unripe figs falling from the tree when a strong wind shakes it. The sky disappeared like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place. Then the kings of the earth, the rulers and the military chiefs, the rich and the powerful, and all other people, slave and free, hid themselves in caves and under rocks on the mountains. They called out to the mountains and to the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the eyes of the one who sits on the throne and from the anger of the Lamb! The terrible day of their anger is here, and who can stand up against it?"

When I was a child, all of the kids in the neighborhood spent many summer days and evenings playing games. The girls would play jump rope, hop scotch, jacks, and sing those songs like "Oh, Mary Mack, all dressed in black...." I have two sisters, so I had to listen to all those songs that drove me nuts.

The boys would play basketball on tire rims or plastic crates, pitch up tackle football, and when we were a little older, we would play concrete tackle in the middle of 20th street in west Louisville. When we all would get together to play, the boys and the girls, we would play games like Softball, Tag, Frozen Catcher, and Red Light.

There was no game I liked more than "Hide and Go Seek." Whoever was “it” would have to put their face up against a tree, close their eyes, and count to 100 or what ever number everyone agreed upon. That person had to go and find everybody, and when he or she saw somebody they would shout, “I see you, Michael hiding behind that bush. You are going be it!” And the person who was found would run back as fast as he or she could to touch base before the person who was “it” got there.

The New Testament is very clear about the fact that Jesus is coming back. He’s coming back for two reasons, to get his Church and bring wrath and Judgment. The Bible says, "No man knows the day or the hour, not the angels, not the Son, but the Father only." Are you ready?

Noah preached for decades the same message. It’s going to rain. For decades, he built a ship on dry land. He had one message. It’s going to rain. Jesus says that it was just like any other ordinary day. People were eating and drinking and getting married and being given in marriage. They didn’t have a clue that God had had enough! Then the rains came suddenly and washed everyone who was not in the arc away.

When Jesus came the first time, he came as a humble servant. Revelation 5:9 says He was killed, and by his sacrificial death, he bought for God people from every tribe, language, nation and race. But when He comes again, He’s coming in great wrath, anger and judgment.

The scene depicted in Revelation chapter 6 tells of a time of great trouble. All the man made institutions are turned up side down. Natural disasters and great calamity were the order of the day. The turmoil will be such that all of the Kings of the earth, rulers and military chiefs, the rich and the powerful and all other people slave and free will try to hide themselves from God in caves and under rocks on the mountains. But you can never win a game of "Hide and Go Seek" when the one who is “IT” is the One with all seeing eyes! Are you sure you're ready?

Michael will be preaching his initial sermon on April 23rd at 4:00 p.m. at Joshua Tabernacle Baptist Church, 426 South 15th Street, Louisville, Kentucky.

(An abbreviation of a message delivered on March 19, 2006 to Joshua Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, Louisville, Kentucky. Michael Lee is an ordained deacon at Joshua Tabernacle Baptist Church, a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and brother of Angela Lee Price.)