FIRST AME ZION CHURCH VIRTUAL WORSHIP

SUNDAY JUNE 28, 2020

 

Our hearts are filled with thanksgiving for your presence today.  God is great and greatly to be praised.  Join with us as we lift our hands in praise and worship.  Kneel with us as we give reverence to His presence and ask Him to abide with us.  It is our sincere prayer that something will be said today that will enrich your life and help you to strengthen your walk with Christ.  And, if you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, we invite you now to extend your hand virtually to us and to give your heart to Christ.

 

 

Call to Worship and Invocation

 

O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together. Come, sing praises to God! Rejoice in His presence! For He is our God: a Father to the fatherless, and the defender of all who need protection; the One in whom the lonely find a home, and the prisoner finds release. Bless the Lord, the God of our salvation, who sustains and strengthens us.

 

 

Song of Inspiration– Jesus Will

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scripture Reading (Acts  16:1-6, 9, 10 NIV)

 

1 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek.

 

2 The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.

 

3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

 

4 As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.

 

5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.

 

6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.

 

9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

 

10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

 

 

Gloria Patri 

 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen, Amen.

 

 

Apostles’ Creed

 

I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;

The third day he rose from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of  God the Father Almighty, from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic* Church, the Communion of Saints, the Forgiveness of Sins, the Resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.  Amen.

 

 

Altar Call/Pastoral Prayer – The Battle Is Not Yours Its the Lords

 

 

 

 

We are praying for you,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rev. Keith Johnson, Octavian Rodriquez, Angelikka Carter, James Spaulding, Rev. and Mrs. Braxton, Dwaine Giggans, Johnie Mae Williams, Christine Ferguson, Rev. Michael Henderson, Rev. Veronica Buckner, Brother Daniel, Sister Simone, Presiding Elder Rogers

 

Our Beloved Heavenly Father,

 

It is once more and again that we come into your Holy Presence.  We come with a bowed head and a heart heavy with remorse for the sins that we have committed against Thee.  We beg your forgiveness and ask that you renew within us a spirit to be more steadfast in keeping your commandments and doing your will. 

As we go into another week of uncertainty and doubt, we ask that you lead and direct us.  We pray that you will be a hedge of protection around us.  We pray that your loving hand will guide us away from those things of the world that would hurt us and that you steer us to your place of safety and refuge.

 

Lord, we pray for those who are less fortunate.  Those who find themselves on the margins of life.  Those who feel lonely and afraid.  We ask that you will give us the courage to extend our hand to them so that they might see your love and tenderness through our actions and deeds.  Heavenly Father, We bow before you with a contrite spirit as we approach Your throne of grace.  

 

Father, we pray for our families and friends and for all those who are sick and suffering through the Coronavirus.  We know that you are a physician and that you can deliver us, and we claim the victory in your precious Name.  

 

Please bless First AME Zion Church, our members, and our leaders as they stand as a witness for You.  We pray special blessings for our Pastor and Presiding Elder, Rogers that he will remain steadfast and unmovable as he serves you.   Amen.

 

 

 

Song of Praise - Don't Wait 'Til the Battle 

is Over

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tithes and Offerings

 

"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."  2nd Chronicles 9:7

 

Visit our Gift section on the Gift tab.  You may give via credit cards, PayPal Givelify.com (Download Givelify to your Smartphone).  If you prefer,  mail your tithes and offerings to First AMEZ Church, 95 S. 20th Street, San Jose CA 95116

 

Givelify.com (Download Givelify to your Smartphone) or mail your tithes and offerings to First AMEZ Church, 95 S. 20th Street, San Jose CA 95116

 

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Sermonic Scripture Reading - 1 Samuel 30:6

 

 

And David was greatly distressed for the people spake of stoning him because the soul of all the people was greived, every man for his sons and for his daughters; but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.  (King James Version)

 

 

Song of Preparation - 

Jehovah Sabaoth (God of Angels Armies)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sermon - Pastor Rogers

Getting Fit for the Battle:  Encourage Yourself

 

 

I like this scripture and history of David because it reminds us of how we are to encourage ourselves.  Yes, it’s good when people encourage you – but there are times when people you have trusted and befriended get so bitter you just have to encourage yourself.

 

 That’s what happened to David.  This kind of “defeat” can happen so fast that you forget that the battle is not yours – it’s the Lords!  So, in your dismay, you start trying to please this one—and that one – and this group – and the other group – and, as Yolanda Adams says, “life has no meaning” and, even more than that, life starts to play tricks on you. 

 

Sometimes it seems like everything we touch goes wrong!  We – like old man Job – sit around and scratch our heads and wonder where we went wrong.  If by chance you fall somewhere within these words, then I come to tell you this.  God has placed you wherever you are for a purpose and HIS will must be done!

 

In 1st Samuel, Chapter 16, we find that God was sick of Saul reigning as King of Israel.  So, HE sent the Prophet Samuel to anoint one of Jesse’s sons to be King.   Jesse had eight sons, but God chose David, the youngest.

 

Now God knew that David would obey him because he had already used David.  And we read in Chapter 17 that David smote Goliath with his slingshot and took Goliath’s sword and cut his head off.

 

There are some Goliaths still around.  That’s the way it is today – you are trying to do what’s right and stay strong, but those “Goliaths” in your life won’t leave you alone.   You may say to yourself, “I thought I had gotten things together, but Goliath keeps messing with me.  I went to work on Friday and Goliath met me at my job.”  Church, Unfortunately, we all face some Goliaths!  So, in spite of what men or animals had tried to do to David -- he always came out ahead because God had ordained that he would be king of Israel.

 

Now here in this scripture text, we find David at Aphek with the Philistines.  This time he was trying to fight against Saul.  But, because of jealousy, he and his men were sent back home to Ziklag without going into battle.

 

When they arrived home they discovered that, while they had been away, the enemy had come in and burned their city and took their wives and children captive to sell them as slaves in Egypt.  Chapter 30, verse 4 says:

 

“Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.”

 

 In other words, they cried until they could not cry anymore.  This brings us to our scripture text 1 Samuel 30:6,

 

“And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.”

 

David realized that he could place little confidence in people.  They were talking about “stoning” him.  But because David knew that what had happened to his people while he was away was not his fault, he went to God in prayer.

David took strength from the Lord.  David knew that sitting there crying was not the answer to his problems.  Feeling sorry for himself was not the solution to his trouble.  The men were mad and wanted to kill him, but David took courage in the Lord.

 

The Word says, “And David inquired at the Lord.”   What happened was that for a short time, David had let God’s promise to him slip from his mind.  So, he began to despair.   Listen, First Church, we must not lose sight of the promise.  What promise? “I will never leave you or forsake you.  As I was with Moses, so shall I be with thee.”  David had been commissioned by the Lord to do a work.  Remember First Church’s Mission Statement and what Jesus said in Matthew 28:19-20,

 

19   Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20   Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”     

   

I don’t care what men say or do, don’t let fear cause you to lose sight of what God has commissioned you to do or on his PROMISE.  You’ve got to be prayed up because people will try to harm you.  If you’re not prayed up, you’ll fall into their traps.

 

• Listen, David almost fell for the Okie-Doke when they tried to stone him to death.  But, thanks be to God, he remembered to encourage himself.

• And, when he did, he remembered he could not die then because God’s purpose had to be done and his Word must be fulfilled.

 

I know you are afraid sometimes.  I hear the lions roar, but we serve a mighty God and he can shut the lion’s jaws.  When life seems hard to bear, just ask the question that David asked, “What would you have me to do?”  David prayed to God:  “What shall I do?” Have you ever been at that point?  “Lord here I am – standing out here on your Word.

 

• What shall I do?

• Shall I sit still, or shall I move?

• Shall I pursue?

 

Church, trials and dangers come in your life where the only wise thing to do is to be quiet, patient, and passive.  Your strength is in your ability to sit still.  I hear somebody saying, “I can’t sit still Pastor.  I’ve got to fight my battle.”  Well, I told you earlier, it is not your battle.  You belong to God and when satan is attacking, it’s God’s battle.  God says, “Be still and know that I am God.”

 

Yes, after David returned home to see the destruction and realized that his own wives had been taken -- David prayed and asked the Lord, “Shall I chase them?  Will I catch them?”  And, the Lord answered, “Yes.”

         

Church, because David had a little talk with the Lord, responded to God’s direction, encouraged himself, and remembered the promise, he was blessed and the men who wanted to stone him were blessed through David.  They got their families back and all their goods, and everything that the enemy had taken from them.

 

Another man who can testify as to God’s presence with us in battle is Daniel.  You know Daniel.  He was the one in the lion’s den.  Listen to Daniel’s testimony as he tells us what happened to him.  Daniel says,

 

•        They tried to beat me down, but I didn’t stop praying.

•        It was my duty to pray three times a day – Psalm 55:17 says that ‘I am to pray evening, morning and                   noon.’  So, I prayed and cried, and cried and prayed and the Lord heard my voice.

•        They threw me in the lion’s den.  I didn’t fight.  I didn’t cuss them out.  I just laid down and went to sleep.

          I made a pillow out of that old lion because it was not my battle to fight him.

 

We’ve had some doubtful times, but I’m here to encourage us to keep our trust in the Lord.  We’re going to make it through our trials and tribulations.  We have seen him at work.  We are confident that He is with us.

God has been with us all of our lives and He is still in the blessing business.  We know what God can do.  When things seem impossible, encourage yourself.  The Roberta Martin Singers put it this way:

 

• Have you any rivers that you think are uncrossable?

 

• Have you any mountains that you can’t tunnel through? God specializes in things thought impossible, and He’ll do, what no other power, Holy Ghost Power, can do.

 

• Have you any afflictions that seem incurable and the doctors have done all they can do? God specializes in healing all kind of diseases, and He’ll do what no other power, Holy Ghost Power, can do.

 

My brothers and sisters, whatever the battle is in your life, you have to be like David and Daniel, get fit for the battle, and encourage yourself.  Amen.

 

        

 

         

        

 

          

 

Benediction– Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy;  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now  and ever. Amen.