HOW ARE YOU HONORING GOD?

For a Free Audio Download of this message, visit the Ministries’ Homepage at http://owprince.wordpress.com/2012/05/16/how-do-you-honor-god-audio-podcast/

Happy Mother's Day

Praise the Lord Everybody!
I want to wish all of my FaceBook friends, Bible Scholars and faithful followers a wonderful and happy Mother’s Day weekend. God bless you!
Here is a Mother's Day Greeting just for you.

You may view the greeting by clicking here:
http://www.123greetings.com/send/view/05311112809703019376

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

" Can Fashion be a Distraction?"

Question: (Sender’s Identity Is Always Protected)
I am a pastor of about 250 souls and I have noticed more and more half naked female church members coming to church in an ever increasing number. I was warned by the church board members that I should just leave this alone and it will go away. But I have a number of young teenage boys in the church who are easily distracted and affected by this phenomenon. What do you think I should do?
Thank You Bishop!

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Answer (Part 1):
First let me say that I am honored that a pastor would seek advice from me. It is my experience that pastors are the most difficult to advise and don’t often seek advice from non-acquaintances. Thank you for this opportunity to share.

In addition, I would like to say that your church board of advisor may have a point. However, not knowing their motives, I would encourage you to exercise pastoral authority and privilege and operate in the fullness of the office for which you were called and do whatever the Holy Spirit of God advices you to do—always operating in love and careful instruction. (2 Timothy 4:1-5)

Answer (Part 2):
As to the heavier part of your question, I too share your concern.
On last Sunday morning as I drove past a church, I could not help but notice a woman attempting to walk toward the church. Her stumbling and unsteady behavior initially drew my attention. Then I noticed why she was stumbling and weaving as she walked. She had about 4 inches of stiletto heels on her feet and a dress that was skin-tight and 6 inches above her knees. She kept pulling at it as if it were going to get any longer.

I began to think to myself that “maybe that is all she had to wear — may God bless her soul for trying to make it to a house of worship.” But then I noticed a few women of varying ages making their way toward the church who were dressed in similar attire—some with elaborate headdresses and hats. I then changed my assessment of the situation. I began to think that their appearance was planned and well thought out, coordinated and purposeful. They knew what they were doing and they knew what they were revealing. They were dressed to attract attention and invoke sensuality. They knew what message that they were sending through their appearance. But what message is the church sending by tolerating this behavior and offering them stares of compliments and admiration?

I know that sinners sin and other sinners will only approve of their sins but the House of the Lord should be a House of Prayer, Decency, Order, Propriety and Holiness.( 1 Corinthians 14:40) Church is not a night club or a pick-up bar and should not be treated as such. However, that is exactly what appears to be happening in many of our churches. It looks as if many are walking right out of the night life into the church without making any distinction between the two.

Parenthetically speaking, this is not speaking to the financially and spiritually impoverished or unchurched individuals who just don’t know any better or cannot do any better. But it is speaking to those who have been exposed to Christian teachings and who have been in the church for a long time, yet purposely buy and dress themselves in apparel that expresses irreverence toward God and His House of Prayer.

I don’t espouse that we come to worship looking our worse. Too little attention to dress apparel is just as bad as too much attention. Worship should not be about worldly fashion trends or who looks the best in what they have own – although I am aware that this is a concern of many parishioners. Our attention should be on God and His Word and not on fashion distractions.

Let’s be honest. The world determines fashion trends and Satan is the god of this world. It is inherent that anything worldly is against God. (James 4:4) Fashion has the potential to be destructive in the church. Folks will continue to wear whatever they want to wear but what a person has on in church can distract from the worship experience. Modesty is the key. (1 Timothy 2:9-10 & Titus 2:3-5) God purposely directed women to dress modestly. I may discuss this further in another lesson. At this time, suffice it to say that God knows what is best for us. “Understanding God is not a prerequisite to obeying God.”

I would like to suggest a non-confrontational and peaceful approach to addressing some of the fashion offences in the church today. Simply ignore them. Totally and completely ignore them. Refuse to acknowledge them in any way. Make no reference to them at all. Do not draw attention to them. Attention and approval is what they want so don’t give it to them. Many folks cannot stand to be ignored. And in contrast, praise the ones who dress appropriately. Show open admiration for the women who dress like ladies and are modest in decorum. Assign positions of honor and responsibility to those who represent Christ well and avoid any private interaction with those who are dressed provocatively. (1 Corinthians 15:33) And hold classes and/or private lessons on how a Christian should represent Christ in every area of his/her life, including dress. (Romans 13:14) This will also work on the men who are wearing sagging pants.

I hope this provides you some useful answers and methods to addresses your concerns. 

All Glory, Honor, Praise and Thanksgiving belongs to God through Christ Jesus.

Keep Looking Up!

Your Friend,
Bishop O.W. Prince

"The Great Cover-Up"

"The Narrow Way"

This Week’s Word
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
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In this passage of scripture, the term Broad is to be understood as meaning wide-ranging. The words Narrow and Strait are words that signify a constricted passage; a slim firm way with no room for deviation or change. (Malachi 3:6)

The Lord Jesus Christ spoke these words to his disciples as he taught them The Kingdom principles of being wise, identifying false prophets, asking and trusting God and discerning judgment. In Matthew’s Gospel chapter 7 verses 13-14, Jesus admonished and encouraged his disciples to follow the path least traveled. And he taught them how to identify the road to destruction from the narrow path to eternal life.

As I read this scripture passage I thought of the wide-range of belief systems and methods of salvation that exist today in Christendom. I thought of the relatively recent phenomenon of the mega church. I thought of the great crowds of followers that are drawn to glamorous worship facilities. I thought of the mega star preaching personalities that entertain and persuade millions of people to join their ministries. I began to think of the popular gospels of prosperity, wisdom and seed faith giving. I thought of the phony but popular method of salvation called the “sinner’s prayer.” I thought of the many false prophets who have populated their churches with countless lost souls by teaching the doctrines of demons – denominationalism. And I have become acutely aware of the glamorization of Christianity as a commodity available to anyone willing to call themselves a Christian. According to contemporary Christianity, wide is the gate and broad is the road that lead to salvation.

However, Jesus said, “Wide is the gate and broad is the road that lead to destruction and many enter through it.” It is obvious that the world’s view of Christianity is diametrically opposed to genuine Christianity. The world presents Christianity as being available to all regardless of their unbelieving and unrepentful state. For no one can say that they believe in God while yet disobeying God’s Commandments and instructions. If they do, they are liars! (1 John 2:4)

Contrary to popular Christianity, Jesus teaches us that the way to eternal life is a narrow unchanging path and only a few will find it.

With so many claiming to be saved, it is disturbing to me that only a few will actually find the way of salvation. Only a few will actually be submissive enough to surrender to the voice of God’s divine plan of salvation and be saved. Only a few will hear and obey. With so many mega churches springing up over the land and so many televised churches claiming tens of thousands as church members, only a remnant will have repented, been baptized into water in the name of Jesus Christ and endowed with the Holy Spirit as evidenced by the speaking in tongues. (John 3:3-7, Acts 2:38, Acts 19:1-7) Only a few will adhere to God’s strict moral code of holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14)

Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23:
²¹ “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. ²² Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ ²³ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Only a few will walk the narrow path to eternal life.

REPENT!

This Week’s Prayer
Father, I pray to You today in the name of *YeHoWsHua HaMashiach – Jesus the Christ. I come praising Your name and giving You honor and reverence for Your great love for me. You are the God of my salvation. I realize that I have been wrong. I have been walking on the broad road to destruction. I have been serving the false gods of denominationalism, worldly prosperity and human wisdom. I have followed the crowd more than I have listened to You. I repent today. Lord have mercy on me. I diligently seek Your True Path and Your Way of salvation. Help me to truly repent of my sins and be submissive to Your instruction to be baptized into water in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of my sins whereby I might receive Your promised gift of the Holy Spirit. I cannot do anything without You Oh Lord. Help me to live a life of holiness—Trusting and Obeying only You—keeping all of Your Holy Commandments—Loving and forgiving as a Christian ought to. I want to be numbered among the few that find You. This is my prayer today in the name of the LORD YeHoWsHua* (Jesus) the Christ, Amen.
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Footnote:
The Hebrew spelling of the name of Christ is used in this prayer for educational purposes. Yehowshua is often shorten to Yeshua but out of respect for my Lord I chose to use the spelling of His proper name to demonstrate that His name s above every name and that even the spelling of His name is relative to the spelling of The Father’s name – remembering that there were not any vowels in the Hebrew alphabets. Thus, YHWH (Yahweh) and YeHoWsHua (Yahweh is salvation) are grammatically and uniquely related.
For more information of the authentic name of God, please follow the link below:
http://www.therockofmontgomery.org/Yahweh.html
Please pray for this ministry.

John 14:15



Advice from the Master’s Table

A Final Sign of the End

“Time is just about up. Let evildoers do their worst and the dirty-minded go all out in pollution.” (Rev. 22:10b-11a [MSG])

“You cannot tell a person the Truth if they refuse to hear the Truth.  Leave them where they are.” ~ Bishop O.W. Prince

“If they don't welcome you, quietly withdraw. Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way. You can be sure that on Judgment Day they'll be mighty sorry—but it's no concern of yours now.” (Matthew 10:14 [MSG])

“Don’t frustrate yourself over those who have chosen damnation over salvation.  Move on and continue to do the work of The Kingdom of God with passion and careful instruction.  Never give-up!” ~  Bishop O.W. Prince

“God is looking over your shoulder. Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead. He is about to break into the open with his rule, so proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don't ever quit…” (2 Timothy 4:1-2 [MSG])

“Don’t Ever Quit!”