Family Matters

It was almost a week ago today that I was apart of a Memorial Service for one of my younger cousins Jason Love Stewart. Jason was only 31 years old. Yea, another black male shot down in his early years.

When I really think about it I couldn't find peace in this situation. Here is my problem – just a couple of months ago I had the privilege of preaching the morning service at New Salem Missionary Baptist Church – celebrating the “1st Year Anniversary of Pastor Matthew Adams.” Now, I considered that an honor because in 2008 Pastor Adams taught and preached from his assigned pulpit every Sunday morning, except maybe two or three times.

Jason Was Saved!

On this particular Sunday the Spirit was high and Adams prayer in the Pastor’s Study loosed me to freely share with New Salem. As a result two young men came and gave their lives to Christ. One of those who came was Jason.

Before Christmas Pastor Adams baptized Jason. Jason was committed to serving in ministry. Adams, New Salem and Jason L. Stewart had plans to get folks saved. Win souls for the King.

So why would God allow Jason to be struck down right when he seemed to be on the right track? What could God be trying to teach us? Why couldn’t I find peace in all of this? After all the boy was saved, had confessed Christ, had made a commitment to serve under pastoral guidance. God what are you doing?

I, being a pastor, man of the cloth, and experienced preacher, couldn’t find peace to face my family and try to explain what the Lord had done and was doing. Peace escaped me until the funeral. It was there I saw all the young people in t-shirts with Jason’s picture, that’s when I knew God was up to something big. That’s when Pastor Matthew Adams recited Philippians 4:7 from the King James Bible:

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,

shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The Preacher Preached!

Adams shared three points from this verse and I share this brief outline with his permission.

  1. Peace - And the peace of God……Adams defined peace from God -vs- peace from man.
  2. Protection - …shall keep your hearts and minds…Adams shared the power of God’s peace to protect our feelings and thoughts.
  3. Position - …through Christ Jesus…Adams illustrated that the only way to have God’s peace in times of trouble, times of calm or anytime during life is to be in the right position.

Somebody Got Saved!

By the time Pastor Adams closed the story he shared about what Jason said when he came up out of the water from baptism “now let’s get some souls saved,” I understood that I could have peace and my family could have peace because all the folks in the room young and old knew Jason didn’t die in vain. It was at that moment the doors to the Church were opened and seven, SEVEN people came to Christ….

Did you hear me? Can you read? I said not one but seven (7) people surrendered to do the will of God. What we saw as goodbye to a family member, God used as a welcome to the family of God for (7) seven new members.

Let me tell you something FAMILY MATTERS!

Comments

  1. Pastor Rev. Ray E. OwensJanuary 13, 2009 at 6:48 AM

    Praise God for Pastor Adams and how God used this to be a wake-up call for 7 other people to give their lives to the Lord. To God be the Glory,

    Keep running Staples,

    Owens

    ReplyDelete

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