Religion

We Must Learn to Recognize the FOG (FAVOR of GOD) in Difficult Places

Published

9 years ago

April 1, 2015

Oakland Post

by Pastor E.A. Deckard
Special to the NNPA from the Houston Forward Times

“It’s part of life to have obstacles. It’s about overcoming obstacles; that’s the key to happiness.”

– Herbie Hancock

“If you’re trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I’ve had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.”

– Michael Jordan

Genesis 39:2-6 Amplified Bible (AMP)

2 But the Lord was with Joseph, and he [though a slave] was a successful and prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all that he did to flourish and succeed in his hand.

4 So Joseph pleased [Potiphar] and found favor in his sight, and he served him. And [his master] made him supervisor over his house and he put all that he had in his charge.

5 From the time that he made him supervisor in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the Lord’s blessing was on all that he had in the house and in the field.

Forward Thinkers, the bible says The Lord was with Joseph; Joseph prospered, The Lord gave him success, and Joseph found favor with The Lord and man.

Forward Thinkers, if I was conducting a pep rally or if I was a motivational speaker trying to pump you up, I’d stay right there and focus on the Lord being with Joseph, prospering him, and giving him favor; but because I’m a Shepherd, a caring Pastor, a Leader in my community and my generation I have to tell you the whole story.

Forward Thinkers, Joseph had the FOG “Favor of God” but Joseph was also going through all kind of hell at the same time. Sometimes we have to recognize the FOG “Favor of God” in a difficult place.

Genesis 39:1Amplified Bible (AMP)

39 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain and chief executioner of the [royal] guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there.

Forward Thinkers, Joseph was a slave. Don’t read verse one too fast because, Potiphar didn’t hire Joseph, he bought him from the Ishmaelites on the open slave market.

Forward Thinkers, Joseph was not only a slave but he had been bought and sold and relocated more than once.

Forward Thinkers, Joseph was a victim of circumstances but the FOG favor of God was still with him. I know we would rather enjoy the FOG “Favor of God” in the sun but sometimes the FOG is heavier during a storm.

Forward Thinkers, the negative and difficult events of Joseph’s life could not erase the FOG off his life. I’m declaring today in the midst of some difficult times you can still recognize the FOG in your life, even when things are going bad God is still good.

Forward Thinkers, this week I have to minister to three families in the Greens Point community dealing with the loss of love ones who were murdered on Friday night. Terrell Payne, DeMarquise Edwards, and Kaira Jackson were all in their early 20’s when their lives were taken and I had to convince their families that God is still in control.

Let’s look at the early stages of Joseph’s life:

Genesis 37:5 Amplified Bible (AMP)

5 Now Joseph had a dream and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him still more.

Forward Thinkers, Joseph had a dream to be somebody special, somebody God was going to greatly bless, and somebody that would be in charge, somebody with great influence and power. Forward Thinkers, his brothers hated him because of his dream to be somebody.

Forward Thinkers, this is not the first time in the bible we see brothers hating on brothers because of God’s favor. Remember Cain killed Abel because Cain could not handle the FOG in Abel’s life.

Forward Thinkers, today in America, right here in our communities brothers and sisters are being killed by brothers and sisters. It’s time for the church to put aside the gospel of prosperity and all the other gospel being preached and start declaring the “Gospel of Jesus” where all lives matter. Forward Thinkers, when people know their value with God it becomes more difficult to harm someone else because you also understand how valuable their life is.

Forward Thinkers, Joseph’s brother didn’t see themselves being special, therefore; it was easy for them to harm their brother. We have failed this generation by misguiding them into believing their value in life is based on what they have. Forward Thinkers, this mind set has created a generation willing to kill to acquire things.

FOG “Favor of God Warning”

Forward Thinkers comes with built in haters.

Genesis 37:18-19 Amplified Bible (AMP)

18 And when they saw him far off, even before he came near to them, they conspired to kill him.

19 And they said one to another, See, here comes this dreamer and master of dreams.

Forward Thinkers Joseph’s brothers plotted to kill him. Forward Thinkers are you still standing in the FOG in spite of others plotting against you?

Genesis 37:28 Amplified Bible (AMP)

28 Then as the Midianite [and Ishmaelite] merchants were passing by, the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the well. And they sold him for twenty pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took Joseph [captive] into Egypt.

Forward Thinkers his brothers sold him to the highest bidder.

Forward Thinkers in life we expect to be let down or mishandled by outsiders but when it comes from the inside it hurts more but it can’t remove the FOG favor of God from our lives.

Genesis 37:36 New International Version (NIV)

36 Meanwhile, the Midianites^[a] sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard.

Forward Thinkers, I’ve discovered God does some of His best work in the meanwhile. While I’m dealing with something bigger than me, God is setting up my next chapter in life in the meanwhile. Miracles and breakthroughs are being preformed behind the curtains in the meanwhile.

Forward Thinkers, Joseph’s brothers sold him to the Midianites who then sold him to Potiphar but none of that stopped the favor of God from being with Joseph.

Forward Thinkers, I know it’s hard sometimes, but today I need you to recognize the FOG “favor of God” through it all.

Forward Thinkers, whatever you’re going through right now remember this is not how the story ends.

Pastor E. A. Deckard is the Senior Pastor/Founder of the Green House International Church located, 16711 Ella Blvd. Houston, Texas, 77090. To contact Pastor Deckard for speaking engagements contact him at pr.ghic@gmail.com or the church website www.ghic.net

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COMMENTARY: Prayer is Your Power

Published

1 year ago

February 6, 2023

Oakland Post

Prayer is about faith. It is believing that God hears us.

Faithful Utterances

By Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew | Texas Metro News

This week, a friend informed me that she was following the ambulance to the hospital with her husband. Her husband was going through a major health crisis. She wasn’t the only one who reached out—a friend’s mother had unexplained pain and another friend contacted me about her friend’s son who was hospitalized with pneumonia. Each of them asked that I pray for them.

I consider it an honor to pray for others. Prayer is powerful and I love that I have a group of friends who I can turn to that I call the “prayer warriors” that when I send a text to lift up the concerns and issues of others before God, they go into battle mode.

Prayer is a weapon and I think many of us don’t understand its power until we need it. For many of us, it’s a routine, something that’s more about religion than it is about relationship. We have gotten prayer twisted as some exchange solely for stuff. God is not a celestial Santa Claus dropping off gifts. Prayer is an opportunity to go before to God sincerely in relationship. “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others.

Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” (Matthew 6:5–8)

Prayer is about faith. It is believing that God hears us. “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16) I realize that my prayers are even more powerful when I am in relationship with others seeking God: “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them” (Matthew 18:20). It’s dangerous when we see prayer as a way to manipulate God into doing what we want. There is nothing wrong with bringing your requests before God but it’s important to check our motivation and intention. It’s also important to know that just because God doesn’t answer our prayers in the way that we want does not mean that God doesn’t love us.

It doesn’t mean that God does not hear us. It does not negate the omnipotence or goodness of God, either. We must believe that God is able. “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) It’s easy to blame God when things don’t go the way we want them to—”the rain falls on the just and the unjust” (Matthew 5:45).

Terrible things happen to good people often. We live in an unjust world with people making decisions that are informed more by profit than people. We cannot take those principles into our relationship with God. We must believe that “… all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) …. God is concerned with our hearts, with people and cares for us even when things don’t go the way we’d like. I can report that all of the individuals we prayed for had excellent results.

God is good! Yet, I realize that this isn’t always the case. Prayer is powerful. God wants us to have this daily form of communication. 1 John 5:14, tells us: “And this is the boldness we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” Don’t use prayer just when you need something. Just as all relationships require consistent communication for growth and results, the same is even more important in our relationship with God. Prayer is a powerful partnership with God that can move mountains when we believe!

Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew is the host of the Tapestry Podcast and the author of three books for women. She is also the Vice President of Community Affairs for the State Fair of Texas. To learn more, visit drfroswa.com.

Oakland Post

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Black History

AFRICAN-ISH: The First Christmas Story

Both Joseph and Mary were of the lineage of David, Joseph descended from David’s son Solomon (and Bathsheba), and Mary extended from another son Nathan. Therefore, they were required to go to the little town of Bethlehem, in Judea and there, in a cattle shed Jesus was born. (Bethlehem is 70 miles south of Nazareth and 5 miles southwest of Jerusalem).

Published

1 year ago

December 26, 2022

Oakland Post

The four Gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke and John chronicled the full theme of Christ as the universal Savior.

By Simon Burris

The narrative of Jesus’ birth and proof of his Hamitic (Black) African bloodline* began in the Old Testament in the book of Genesis chapter 10, in the Land of Ham, located in southwest Asia and Africa. Three most prominent Hamitic personalities: Abraham, Isaiah and David.

People and places of Hamitic origins are underlined.

(1) Abraham the patriarch was Babylonian (Ethnic Ethiopian). Gen. 11:31; (2) Isaiah a prophet lived 750 years before Christ, predicted the virgin birth was a nephew of Amaziah a Judahite (Canaanite) king; and (3) David the great king of Israel was a descendant of Abraham, also of Tamar and Rahab (Canaanites).

The (Hamitic) Genealogy of Jesus Christ: Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-34

The Birth of Jesus: (about 6-4 BC)

Mary the virgin mother of Jesus and her husband Joseph the “foster” father of Jesus, a carpenter, lived in Nazareth, a town in northern Palestine.

At this time Emperor Augustus of the Roman Empire decreed that a census would be taken. Everyone in his domain had to go to his or her hometown to register. He probably ordered Cyrenius ( Quirinius ) the Afro Roman governor of Syria / Judeadistrict to take charge and supervise the mandate.

A short time later shepherds from the countryside as well as Wise Men (Magi) from neighboring countries Arabia, Babylonia,and Persia traveled to the nativity site, paid homage and worshiped the infant-Savior.

Now Joseph was warned by the Lord in a dream that Herod the Edomite king of Judea was plotting the murder of the child, fled with his family to Egypt, returning to Nazareth after the death of Herod.

Jesus had siblings, brothers Joseph, Simon, Epistle writers James, Jude, and several sisters. The last mention of Joseph occurs in the Gospel of Luke when he and Mary take the 12-year-old Jesus to Jerusalem. Mary played a vital role all through Jesus’ life, from the day He was born till the time of the crucifixion.

Conclusion: The four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John chronicled the full theme of Christ as the universal Savior. *Descendants of Ham’s sons Cush (Ethiopia), Mizraim (Egypt), Put (Libya) and Canaan (Ancient Palestine/Israel). Genesis 10: 6-20

Footnotes: Why is Christmas celebrated on December 25?

The ancient Romans celebrated the winter solstice on December 25 as the birthday of the SUN; the Babylonians and Persians -SON of the SUN. Some 300 plus years after Jesus’ earthly demise, Roman Emperor Constantine in 336 legalized this date as the birthday of the SON of GOD – JESUS the CHRIST! Originally: Christ’s Mass.

Eurocentric racism: Pope Julius II in 1508 commissioned Michelangelo, Raphael and other Renaissance artists and church scholars to portray and depict almost all major biblical characters as Europeans (Caucasians), save servants and slaves.

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Activism

SDA Churches Join Outreach Efforts to Find Solutions to Upsurge of Violence

the Northern California Conference of Seventh Day Adventists (SDA) held their annual Convocation at Grand Avenue Seventh Day Adventist Church in Oakland. Seven hundred people came together in celebration and worship. The theme was “Embracing Change.”

Published

2 years ago

October 16, 2022

Oakland Post

From left to right: Pastor Raymond Lankford, Elder Busayo Alabi, Pastor Damon Washington, Sister Rose Robinson, Pastor Garrett Anderson, Pastor Edwin Brown, Pastor Willie Johnson, Pastor Virgil Childs.

By Post Staff

On Oct. 8, the Northern California Conference of Seventh Day Adventists (SDA) held their annual Convocation at Grand Avenue Seventh Day Adventist Church in Oakland. Seven hundred people came together in celebration and worship. The theme was “Embracing Change.” The guest speaker was Dr. Myron Edmonds, who pastors in Cleveland, Ohio. He spoke about how Christ wasn’t a traditionalist, and the work isn’t being done because some in the church don’t wish to change and they tend to demonize new ideas.

Throughout the day, the Mobile Medical Health Van operated by Immanuel Temple Seventh Day Adventist Church out of Oakland sat in front of the church and provided health screenings and community resource information to the general public. The Medical Van, which was gifted to the church by Pastor Raymond Lankford of Healthy Communities, has provided free health care services throughout Alameda County for the last few years. The prayer of Pastor Damon Washington of Immanuel Temple Church, who was ordained during the afternoon program, is for their health ministry to partner with the other providers like OPIC and Oakland Workforce Agencies and to combat the ongoing health disparities and violence within the city and beyond.

They have pledged to work with the Chaplains, the OPIC and the Formerly Incarcerated Giving Back, who want to make amends for the damages they have done to harm Oakland.