"The Influence of the Company You Keep"

Scripture: "He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm." -Proverbs 13:20, NIV

As I thought about today's topic, I am reminded of how each and every one of us had a childhood. Within our respective childhoods, we learned various lessons such as paying attention to the teacher at school, do not be disrespectful to adults, hit someone if they hit you first, and other things. However, there's one lesson our parents drilled into our hands, which brings up today's message. They told us to be careful of the company you keep. Throughout my adult years, this same lesson has been applied to an even greater level. As men and women of God, two things will occur when you are a part of a given group: you are going to influence the group or the group is going to influence you. Within today's text, God uses Solomon to discuss the two outcomes of influence based on the company you keep.

Solomon begins this particular scripture by saying, "He who walks with the wise grows wise". One of the best things I ever done in my life was hang around older and elderly people. As I hung around these people, I learned and absorbed their wisdom about God, about life, about respecting my parents, about doing the best I can in school, about making something out of myself, and the list goes on and on. Even now, God has placed my wife and I amongst a circle of friends where they glean off of us and in turn, we glean off of them! If you want to be wise in your finances, hang around wise financial people! If you want to be wise in your spiritual walk, hang around wise spiritual people! If you want to be wise in your workplace dealings, hang around those who have the wisdom of working at your job for a number of years! I guarantee you if you hang around wise people, God will in turn your seed into a beautiful plant, flourishing with wisdom!

There's a flip side when it comes to the influence of the company you keep. Solomon pens here "but a companion of fools suffer harm". I heard the old cliché say, "If you hang around with dogs, you are bound to get fleas". Another cliché says, "If you play with fire, you bound to get burned". If we think about it for one second, we have known someone, whether it was a family member or friend, who had a child to get in trouble because they hung around the wrong crowd. Brothers and sisters, it's on you, and it's on me, not to place ourselves in a circle of people that will not grow you. People are going to do two things within your life: add to you or subtract from you! That's why it's imperative to check people out and see what they are working with, spirit wise (1 John 4:1). It's imperative to check people out and where they are emotionally, mentally, physically, and any other way because if you do not check people out and they turn to be "a companion of fools", you are going to suffer harm!

In closing, the company you keep is very important. They are going to influence you either in a positive sense (growing wise) or a negative sense (suffer harm). Today, God asks you, "Are you going to get wiser with your walk or are you going to get weaker with your walk?" The choice is yours!

"Doing Things the Right Way"

Scripture: "In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality." -Proverbs 12:28

Recently, my wife and I have purchased some patio furniture for our deck at our home. One beautiful Saturday morning after I had bought breakfast for my wife and son, she hits me with the proposition, "I want to eat breakfast on the deck". There's one caveat necessary here in order to make this achievable: I had to take the furniture out of the box and fix the table. Thirty or so minutes later, I had completed constructing the table and now we were able to eat on the deck. Two weeks later, I go out and try to move the table and next thing you know, it falls apart. Much to my chagrin, I had to re-construct the table and this time, it will not fall apart on me again. If truth were told, we have all tried to fix something and come to find out, we eventually had to go back and fix it again. It's important to strive and do things the right way. God challenges us, as men and women of God, to do things the right way. Today's text provides clarity on why one should do things the right way.

Within Chapter 12, Solomon dealt with many issues, as he has throughout this book. Some of these issues include discipline, the worth of a good wife, how to be a real person instead of a fake one, and the distinction between a righteous man and an unrighteous man. Within this particular text, Solomon allows us to understand the worth of doing things the right way. He begins the text by saying, "In the way of righteousness there is life". Do you remember when you were a child and you got in trouble in school and knew if your parents found out that you had to deal with their wrath? Have you ever been in a situation where you have done individuals so wrong that you would do your best not to hang around them? Have you done God so wrong that you knew His wrath was coming amongst you? Well, if you answered yes to any one of these questions, then you get the gist of this part of the text. Unrighteousness causes us not to feel favorable. It has like a "deathly" feel around us. On the other hand, when you operate righteously, there's life! When you serve God with the right Spirit, then you have a joy that the world did not give you nor the world cannot take away! When you serve others the right way, God has a way of using them to bless you like you have never been blessed before! When you operate in righteousness and do the right things to progress you and your family, God will open up life's doors like never before so you can explore places and do things you only dreamed of! I can recall serving God at my home church in Greensboro while going through graduate school and my Ph.D. program. As I served God in the right way, He provided me the chance to visit places like Monterey, California, Reno, Nevada, Tucson, Arizona, Chicago, Illinois, and other places on the school's dime where I did not have to pay one red cent! Doing things the right way has a way of paying off!

Not only does doing things the right way provide life, but if you keep going down this road, there's even a greater payoff! Solomon concludes the text by saying, "along that path is immortality". Brothers and sisters, if we continue to do things the right way, Heaven will be our destination! Yes, we have sinned and come short of His glory (Romans 3:23), but that does not stop us or impede our progress of traveling down this road of righteousness! Granted, we will experience a detour, here and there. We will detour down the street of fornication! We will detour down the street of backbiting! We will detour down the street of tattling! We will detour down the street of disappointment! One thing about it, when you are striving to get to your destination, you'll either MapQuest it or use your GPS (the Word of God) to get you back on the right road! Aren't you glad that He gave you a GPS, just in case you get lost!

In closing, it would've been right for me if I had put the table together the right way the first time. The blessing is I had the opportunity to do it right. Many of us have made initial mistakes on things, but aren't you glad that God gave you a second chance, a third chance, and many more chances after that? When you do things the right way, it brings life and its path leads to immortality! Don't you want to be immortal down the road? If so, continue to do things and live your life the right way!

"How Driven Are You?"

Scripture: "The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied." -Proverbs 13:4, NIV

One of my favorite teams to watch in the NBA is the Cleveland Cavaliers. I love to watch these guys mainly because of LeBron James and his ability to make his teammates better and their ability to come together in the clutch. During the offseason between the 2008-2009 season and the 2009-2010 season, they signed a free agent to help in their frontcourt by the name of Jamario Moon. Moon was undrafted in 2001, and played in the NBA Development League with teams such as the Huntsville Flight, the Arkansas RimRockers, and the Mobile Revelers. He had also played in such minor leagues as the Continental Basketball Association (CBA), the revised American Basketball Association (ABA), the United States Basketball League (USBL), and the World Basketball Association (WBA). Through playing in various minor leagues and various teams, Moon remain driven and focused to make it to the NBA. Through his diligence and hard work, the Toronto Raptors signed him in 2007 and made his dream come true. Today, God asks you the question, "how driven are you?" He provides two answers through His servant Solomon in today's text.

Solomon addresses us by letting us know that "the sluggard craves and gets nothing". Have you ever had a day when you were at home and you felt like doing nothing? Throughout this day and not wanting to do anything, time creeps up on you and all of a sudden, you are hungry. You would sit there and say that I crave a pizza, but I just do not want to get it. If that's you at one time or another, then you can identify with this sluggard. He craves nourishment and gets nothing. Many of us have craved for success, but we have been too lazy to go for it! Many of us have, at one point or another, wanted a stronger relationship with God, but we did not pray with Him or commune with Him to get it because we were spiritually lazy! Many of us want to get out of debt, but we are financially lazy not to do anything about it!

On the other hand, Solomon addresses us finally in stating, "but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied." I know that in one season or another, each one of you as my readers, have experienced success! You may have experienced it in completing a project! You may have experienced it with passing a class you worked so hard on! You may have experienced it in receiving an unexpected award at your job! Heck, you may have experienced it by making your spouse/mate happy! What Solomon is telling us here is if you are diligent, then your desires can be satisfied! If you diligently seek God on matters, He reward those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6)! When you diligently work towards fixing your finances, God will allow your financial hunger to be satisfied! When you diligently work at understanding His Word through reading and commentary, He will allow your Wordly hunger to be satisfied! When you diligently pray to God for someone's healing and deliverance, if it's His will, He will allow your prayer hunger to be satisfied! Whatever you diligently want from God, keep plugging away and He will make sure that you are not just satisfied, but fully satisfied!

In closing, Jamario Moon would not stop until he made it to the NBA. Through his diligence and never say die attitude, he made it. He was driven! Again, the question God poses to you: How driven are you? Will you be like the sluggard or will you be like the diligent? The choice is yours!

"God's Criteria for Loving Him"

Scripture: "And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother." -1 John 4:21, NIV

Within the world we live in on today, most of the jobs available on the market has certain criteria. If you intend on working at a hospital as a doctor, your criterion may include graduating from med school, had experience working within a hospital, cordial to patients, etc. If you intend on becoming a superstar basketball player, your criterion may include having a decent dribble, being able to score, being able to play defense, and demonstrate your athletic ability that makes you and only you a worthwhile investment. If we cut the grass short enough, we even have criteria for our spouses, mates, and perspective mates or spouses. In the case of my ladies, you want a man who will cater to you, provide for the house, cover you in prayer, be a God-fearing man, and other things. In the case of my men, you want a woman who respects you, loves you for you, be the help-meet you need, pray for you, balance you out, and other things. I am encouraged on today because our Heavenly Father did not have criteria for us to join His family. All He told us was to confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in our heart that Christ rose from the dead, then we would be saved (Romans 10:9). Today, God allows us to know that there's a simple criteria for loving Him and our text will expound upon this point.

Today's main scripture is located in the book of 1 John. The author of this book, the Apostle John, also wrote 2 John, 3 John, and the Gospel account according to John. This book was written approximately between 85 - 95 A.D. Scholars reveal the purpose of 1 John was to set boundaries on the content of faith and to give believers assurance of their salvation. Within this fourth chapter, the Apostle John deals with how you should test spirits (verses 1 - 6) and discusses God's love and our love (verses 7 - 21). Within the last theme is where we draw our topic and obtain clarity on God's criteria for loving Him.

Our text simply says, "And He has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother". From the days of the Ten Commandments to the Apostle John, God has been preaching through His many vessels about love. He tells us that we ought to love our God, with all of our heart, soul, and mind, and the second is like unto it that you should love your neighbor as yourself. When you demonstrate and give love, then you have accomplished the other nine commandments. Jesus even tells us that if we are a follower of Him that we ought to love our brothers. Scripture also reminds us of God posing the question, "How can you love me whom you never seen before, but hate your brother who you see daily?" Through this one text, He has gave us His only criteria for loving Him: If you love God, you must also love your brother! We cannot preach the Gospel and yet not show the sinner man love! We cannot teach God's Word and yet do not know how to encourage our brother along the way! We cannot sing God's melodies and yet not help our fellow man in their time of need. We cannot proclaim to be Christians (Christ-like) and yet not display His characteristics! When Jesus lived on this Earth, He did not discriminate. He hung around His disciples, but He also met with the prostitutes, He also cared about people who were not from His own race, He even talked with the "big dawgs" in the area of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. At the end of the day, Christ loved everyone and if He loved everyone, why can't we?

In closing, criteria is good to separate the right ones from the wrong ones for a particular job, assignment, or relationship. I bless the Father on today that He only gave us one criteria for loving Him and that's to love our brothers and sisters! For those who are reading, if no one else tells you that they love you, I love you with the love of God! May His blessings continue to find you!

"It's All in the Walk"

Scripture: "People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will slip and fall." -Proverbs 10:9, NLT

In today's world, there's a word, in urban vernacular, that lets you know how one carries himself. This word is swagger or "swag" for short. A brother with swagger walks with confidence, exudes confidence, talks with confidence, and lets it be known that he's the man. A sister with swagger does the same thing like the brother with "swag" does; however, nine times out of ten, she is profiling in 3" heels or higher, makeup just right, hair flawless, lip liner or gloss right, etc. Brother, if you see a woman with some "swag", it makes you respect the sister. Sister, if you see a man with some "swag", it makes you respect the brother. At the end of the day, you can truly tell who is comfortable in their own skin because it's in all the walk! Within today's first "Power Point from Proverbs", Solomon reveals this principle in the spiritual realm.

In the beginning of today's text, Solomon pens, "People with integrity walk safely". One of the things I use to hear about and even experienced for a moment or two was being able to leave your front door open at night. If you could leave your front door open at night, it meant that your neighborhood or where you lived was safe. You know that people would not try to invade or intrude your space. People who lived in those types of neighborhoods could walk safely and not have to worry about the threat of being jumped, the threat of potential rape, the threat of potential robbery, the threat of a potential one-on-one fight and so on. Guess what? You can still walk like that! When you are a child of God who possesses integrity, you can walk safely! You can walk safely because you have the fence around you known as Jesus! You have the best security money cannot buy in God's angels! When you have Jesus, His angels, and solid integrity, you can display a "swag" containing holy boldness, godly confidence, good self-esteem, etc.

On the flip side, Solomon completes the text by saying, "but those who follow crooked paths will slip and fall". We have all went/are going down some crooked paths; however, do not make it your business to be a permanent walker/driver down these roads. If you do that, then Solomon says you will slip and fall. Matthew 7:14 encourages us to understand that "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." In other words, this Christian journey is not an easy one. It is not an easy one because few will walk down this road. It's on you, my brother, and my sister, to walk this road. Whatever you do, strive not to detour off of this road. The enemy has "potholes" awaiting you. The blessing is despite the "potholes" the enemy sets up, God always has a way of providing "roadside assistance" after a pothole has blown out your tire or caused a leak! Aren't you glad for the "roadside assistance" known as your Heavenly Father? Aren’t you glad that He walks with you and talks with you and lets you know that you are His own? Aren't you glad that you know that you are striving to walk with swag and not drag?

In closing, "swag" turns any man/woman on when exuded correctly. It makes God happy when He views our "swag". He sees it when we walk with integrity; therefore, knowing that we are safe. On the other hand, when we walk down the crooked paths, it's like a woman wearing heels that are too tall for her, you will slip and fall. The choice I ask you on today: Are you going to show the world that you have Christ's "swag" or demonstrate that all you can do is drag?

"He's the Straw That Stirs Your Drink"

Scripture: "for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose." -Philippians 2:13, NIV

If I had to do a poll amongst the readers, I know that everyone of you would say that within the last month, you have been out to eat at a restaurant. You may have went to an Outback Steakhouse, a TGI Friday's, a Ruth's Chris, a Ruby Tuesday, and the list is endless. When we first get to the restaurant after being seated, the waitress comes to your table and asks you "What would you like to drink?" Some of us will say water with lemon. Some of us will say an Arnold Palmer (half tea / half lemonade). Some of us will say our favorite Pepsi product. Upon return with the beverages, if you ordered an Arnold Palmer or a water with lemon, you tend to take the straw out of its package and begin to stir the contents together. You stir because you want to create an overall taste throughout the drink. If you have stirred correctly, then you will be saying, "This is good and it quenched my thirst!" If we look at this thing from a spiritual perspective, someone uses His straw from Heaven to stir His drinks (us) on a regular basis. This someone is our Heavenly Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the blessed Holy Spirit. Through today's main scripture, this point is further emphasized.

Today's main scripture is located in Paul's letter to the church at Philippi. This book was written approximately in 61 A.D. Scholars state that Philippians is about Christ in our life, Christ in our mind, Christ as our goal, Christ as our strength, and joy through suffering. Within this particular chapter, Chapter 2, Paul delivers messages on imitating Christ's humility (verses 1 - 11), shining as stars (verses 12 - 18), and talking about his co-laborers in ministry, Timothy and Epaphroditus (verses 19 - 30). Within Paul's discussion of shining as stars is where we find today's thought. This will disclose how God is the straw that stirs your drink.

Paul begins our text for today by saying, "for it is God who works in you". Right off the bat, Paul identifies that it is God who "stirs" us up. There was a song sung back in the 1990's entitled "Stir Up the Gift". The song writer said, "Lay your hands on me, stir up the gift! Touch me, Lord, stir up the gift!" How many of you on today are asking God to stir up the gifts that reside in you? How many of you are asking God to touch you? How many of you realize and recognize that it is not anything good you have done, but it's because of God that we are able to exercise the gifts He has placed in us! Paul lets us know in Acts 17:28 that it is in God that we live, move, and have our being. Aren't you glad to know that it is God, not Satan that stirs your drink?

Since God is the straw that stirs His drinks (us), we can go out and be a service to His people! Paul concludes this thought by saying, "to will and to act according to His good purpose". Some of you on today may be the drink of encouragement someone needs. Some of you on today may be the drink of prayer someone needs. Some of you on today may be the love someone needs. Some of you on today may be the drink of happiness someone needs. Everyone who reads this message serves as someone's drink! When you are the drink that comes from God's kitchen, you are willed and acting according to His good purpose! We never know how we, as believers, bless people. As God stirs you, allow Him to properly mix His Spirit, His anointing, and His other ingredients inside of you because you have a world to serve and a God to glorify!

In closing, we all like a good drink/beverage, especially if the contents have been properly stirred. Just in case the drink makers did not accomplish this, that's why we have straws. On today, I am blessed to know that God serves as the straw to stir us up as His drinks to be served to His people! He works in us that we may be willed and act according to His good purpose! Ask yourself this question: Are you servable where someone can be refreshed by your drink? If not, allow God to stir continuously in your life!

"Blessed by Your Testimony"

Scripture: "Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith." -1 Thessalonians 3:7, NIV

About two and a half years ago, the Lord allowed a friend of mine and his wife to share their testimonies about the things God had done in their lives. My friend testified to the fact of how God brought him to his federal job and within a couple of years, was promoted two levels from a GS-7 to a GS-11, thus making more money than he ever had his life. His wife got up to testify how God allowed her to go from employment to unemployment to employment again, making more money than she ever had in her life. The vital message the two brought was the fact that they held on to God's unchanging hand and believed in Him. Upon completion of their testimony, many of their church family members came to them and told them how blessed they were by their testimony. I don't know about you, but there are times where God will allow you to be blessed through other's testimonies. Today's text conveys this point in a clear manner.

Today's main scripture is found in Paul's first letter to the church at Thessalonica. Paul's intent in writing this letter was to clear up the misunderstandings the church had about the return of Christ. In addition, Paul writes this letter to provide the church holy instruction. Within the third chapter, Paul and Silas had intentions on visiting the church in Thessalonica, but due to Satan's plan (Chapter 2), they stayed back in Athens and sent Timothy. The location of our main scripture shows Timothy giving an encouraging report to Paul about what is going on in Thessalonica, thus setting the backdrop for today's topic.

The text begins with, "Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution". This piece to me is important. It's important because it allows us to re-affirm the feelings of Paul because he could not get to the church in Thessalonica. It re-affirm the feelings of what Paul and Silas were going through while doing the work of the Lord. It allows us, as readers, to see that they were in distress and were persecuted. If we cut the grass short enough, we are all going through some kind of distress and/or persecution. It may be the distress of not taking care of your financial obligations. It may be the persecution of people at your workplace. It may be the distress of a painful situation at home with your spouse. It may be the distress of a child who has strayed away from the fold. At the end of the day, we are all going through something!

As we are going through our situations and circumstances, God has a way of sending you a blessing! This point is conveyed when Paul wrote "we were encouraged about you because of your faith". Though you may have problems in your marriage, God will send you a couple that can tell you their story and bring you encouragement that your problem is not as big as you thought! Though you may have problems with your children, God will send parents so you can hear their story and give you encouragement to know that the child will be fine! Though you may be ailing in your body, God will allow you to hear a testimony about someone's healing from a disease to bring you hope! Though you may have not received a promotion on your job in years, God will send someone to testify how they waited years at a time and God blessed them with a promotion! Those who are testifying have this testimony because they had faith in God! They had the vision to know it was going to happen, but just did not know when it was going to happen (Hebrews 11:1)! When you have people like that testifying about the goodness of God, it ought to bless you and re-charge your batteries to go on a little further!

In closing, it blesses me to hear how God has moved in the lives of His people. It gives me encouragement to fight on and potentially be the one giving the testimony! Allow your ears to be opened and receive the goodness of God through other's testimonies! If you do that, I guarantee you that you will be blessed and make you thank God just a little bit harder!

"He Came Down to Your Level"

Scripture: "… that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich." -2 Corinthians 8:9, NIV

One of the most challenging jobs/tasks I ever had was teaching Heat Transfer at North Carolina A&T State University to a group of senior level Mechanical Engineering students, though I was in pursuit of my PhD. What made this task challenging was making sure I broke down the material where the students could understand and eventually pass their tests and exams. Though I was not the full-time professor, the students appreciated my talents as I was able to come down to their level. When the course was said and done, many of them passed the course and were able to graduate from NC A&T with their B.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering. If truth were told, someone else came down to our level: Jesus Christ! This point of emphasis is displayed through today's text.

Today's main scripture is found in Paul's second letter to the church at Corinth. Scholars believe that this book is viewed as the Apostle Paul's most biographical book and least doctrinal book. This book shows us more of Paul, the man, the minister, more than any of his twelve other epistles he wrote in the New Testament. Within this eighth chapter, the message relayed was one of encouraging generosity. Today's main scripture not only shows generosity in action, but it provides clarity on how He, being Jesus Christ, came down to yours and mine level.

Paul begins the text with saying, "that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor". As previously stated, the He in this case is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God knew that once Adam and Eve ate of the fruit, sin had entered the world. Because of their sin, sin grew out of control and God knew He had to do something drastic to clean the world of its sin versus killing the world off again! He looked for some volunteers to redeem man. He spoke to Abraham, but he could not do it because he was a liar! He spoke to Jacob, but he could not do it because he was a trickster! He spoke to Moses, but he could not do it because he was disobedient in the clutch! He spoke to Solomon, but he could not do it because he loved women too much! Within the God-head (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), Jesus said that I will go and redeem man! Jesus left His lofty throne, left His riches in Heaven, came into this world, born of a virgin Mary, placed in the manger where there was no room in the inn and became poor for you and for me! Through His being poor, He poured out redemption! He poured out health! He poured out resurrection! He poured out greater love! He poured out compassion! He did this on our level!

The text is concluded when Paul writes, "so that you through His poverty might become rich". I am reminded of a song by Brent Jones and TP Mobb and it's called "Rich". Within this song, Jones emphasizes that the riches we should treasure and desire is Christ. Through Christ's poverty, through Him not having the best of everything, through His work as a carpenter, through His using of donkeys and colts to ride on Palm Sunday, through His suffering on Calvary's cross, through His life period, He has afforded you, and me an opportunity to be rich! He has afforded us the opportunity to be rich in Him, which in turn, will allow us to bless our world, our family, and our friends! Aren't you glad that Jesus came down on your level so that you may be rich? As Christ came down on our level, we ought to come down to the levels of the brokenhearted, the unsaved, and win souls for Christ!

In closing, my PhD experiences taught me a lot about myself. One of those things it taught me was that I can come down from the PhD level and make things plain for a undergraduate senior taking Heat Transfer. In this same light, Christ came from Heaven, left His riches, became poor, gave up His life, that we may be rich on today! He came down and hung with the drunks! He ate with the whores and prostitutes! He hung with those we would not dare hang around on today! If He came down to your level here on Earth, then we ought to compel others and reach them on their level so they too may be rich in Jesus Christ!

"Access Granted"

Scripture: "He shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and take its blood behind the curtain and do with it as he did with the bull's blood: He shall sprinkle it on the atonement cover and in front of it." -Leviticus 16:15, NIV

The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. -Mark 15:38, NIV

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." -Hebrews 4:16

If you are reading this message on today, there's a very good chance you are reading this from your phone or your computer (laptop or desktop). Within this day and age of identity theft on the Internet and theft of important documents and information, wherever we go, the computers require a password. At my workplace, our password is to be at least twelve characters with the use of at least a special character ($, !, etc.), a capital letter, and a number. As you type your password on your computer, it will provide you access to your machine and your files. If we flip the switch spiritually, God has also said to you and me, "access granted". Today's text will provide further understanding on how this statement is reality.

Within today's message, the Father has directed us to three different books. The first of our main scriptures comes from the book of Leviticus. This book, the third in Moses' five Law Books, was written to discuss worship and how the Levites (priests) were to carry out their duties. Within the sixteenth chapter, Moses writes about the Day of Atonement and the things that must take place on this sacred day. The second of our main scriptures comes from the Gospel account according to Mark. Within this chapter, we find our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on the cross and the events that occurred while He was on the cross. The final of our main scriptures comes from the book of Hebrews. Within this chapter, the writer discusses the Sabbath rest for the people of God and Jesus being our Great High Priest. These scriptures will bring together the thought and the message of "access granted".

In Chapter 16 of Leviticus, Moses provides the Levites instructions for one of the greater days of the year, known as the Day of Atonement. On this day, Aaron, the chief priest who, along with his sons, was anointed by Moses in Chapter 8, sacrificed two goats on behalf of the sins of him and the Israelites and their rebellion. As Aaron would perform these tasks, he did behind a curtain. This curtain, in Old Testament days, was indicative of where the priests could only go in the Holy of Holies. As a means for payment for the Israelites' sins, blood was required to obtain forgiveness. As one of the main priests, Aaron was charged to slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people, take the blood from it, and sprinkle it on the atonement cover and also, in front of it. The Israelites' access to continue living life was granted through Aaron sacrificing goats and using their blood for their sins.

In the 15th chapter of the Gospel according to Mark, as previously stated, we find Jesus on the cross. Within the juncture of when this scripture was written, Christ gave up the ghost. In other words, He gave His Spirit back to God and He died for you and for me. Even before Christ gave up the ghost and died, He was lashed many times and because of those lashings, He bled! Just as Aaron sacrificed blood for the sins of the Israelites, so did Christ for you and for me! Upon His death, access became granted! It became granted because Mark tells us that within the Temple, "the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom". That ought to stir your pot right there! What it tells me on today and what it ought to tell you is that no longer do I have to confess my sins to a priest who in turn will pray to God! What it tells me is that I have access to God Himself! If I have access to God Himself, then you have access to God Himself! You have the opportunity to ride the Metro and commune with Him! You have the opportunity to drive your vehicle and commune with Him! you have the opportunity to lay in your bed and commune with Him! You have the opportunity to be working at your computer and commune with Him!

Because you have the access to talk with God through Jesus Christ at anytime, He gives you the way you ought to come to Him. He tells you and I that "let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need". He is telling us not to sugar coat our prayers and talks with Him! He is telling us not to go around the world in 80 days when you can say what's what in 10 minutes. He wants us to come to Him boldly! As we come to His throne of grace boldly, mercy is granted! Grace is granted! Opportunity is granted! His good and perfect will for your life is granted! If you come before the Father genuine, real, and boldly, He will boldly grant you access! He can grant you access because His Son gave His life that we may be able to talk to Him directly! Aren't you glad that you can tell your story to God?

In closing, I am thankful for passwords on today's computers. We could lose some valuable information if we live them out where others can get it. I am even more grateful for the scapegoat, the Lamb, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ, who when He died, rent the curtain in two in the Temple, signifying the days of Aaron were over and I have access granted to talk to God myself! Aren’t you glad for the access God has granted to you?

"Period (.)"

Scripture: "… It's finished …" -John 19:30, NIV

If you are reading this message, then you have been to school somewhere. As you have attended school, one of the most essential courses taught in school is English. When you matriculate through high school, there are some classes you do not have to take every year, but English is one you must take every year. Within English, we were taught about the various punctuation marks within a sentence including the comma, semicolon, exclamation point, question mark, and period. Commas and semicolons bring a pause to the middle of a sentence, and continues on afterwards. The exclamation point denotes a thought that's being closed with excitement or with an edge. The question mark denotes that a question is being posed to the reader. Last, but not least, the period denotes closure to the end of a sentence. There are no more thoughts after it and if you want to begin some new thoughts, you must write a new sentence. Brothers and sisters, God wants you to know today, during this Passion Week, you can place periods on the end of your bad seasons! You can place periods on the end of your miseries. How can I make such a proclamation? Today's text will place a "period" on how.

As many of you will hear on tomorrow, whether it's morning, afternoon, or evening, Christ delivered Seven Last Words before His death. These words can be found in the Gospel accounts according to John, Luke, and Matthew. Matthew contains the 4th word, found in Matthew 27:46, Luke has three of the words: the 1st word in Luke 23:34, the 2nd word in Luke 23:43, and the final word in Luke 23:46. Our focus book, the Gospel according to John contains the other three words: the 3rd word in John 19:26-27, the 5th word in John 19:28, and today's main scripture, the 6th word, located in John 19:30. Within this Word, we find out how we can place a period on some things.

The portion of the text God has led me to is this simple phrase: "It is finished". This Word ought to give you hope on today. Many of us have cried out to the Lord on when my season of hurt will end. On today, He says period! It is finished! You have cried out wondering when will my finances turn around, because of Him saying these words "It is finished", so are your financial woes! Many of us have had some things that were not good occur in our lives. God wants you today to place a period at the end of those things. That sentence is completed, now write a new sentence! Okay, your children are acting up. Place a period at the end and write new thoughts in your mind saying, "God will bless my children to turn around and be better". Okay, your job is not giving you the recognition for the work you have done. Place a period at the end of that sentence and write a new sentence saying, "I will work unto the Glory of God, knowing He will bless me when others will not". Okay, you have a sickness in your body. Place a period at the end of that sentence and write a new sentence saying, "By His stripes, I will be healed". Whatever you want closure to on today, place the period there because Jesus place the period on our sins when He said, "It's finished!"

As I close, Passion Week is a tremendous time to remember and thank God for His Son Jesus Christ and the sacrifices He made for you and for me. I'm grateful that He took on our sins on Calvary's cross and finished them once and for all! Because He finished our sins, we can commune with Him daily, place a period on yesterday, and write a new chapter today. Are you ready to go into your new season? If so, place the period on the bad times and strive towards the good times ahead of you!