If someone asked me, "Pastor, what do you feel is the most needed scripture for men and women to read, believe and live?", this would be me answer:
 
Matthew 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
 
When I first become a Christian there was a man who spent time praying for me, telling how great it was to be a Christian and how going to church was helping him. He also told me that one thing I needed to do was to remember this scripture and live it.
 
I decided then to plan my life around God and the things of the church. I have missed the mark once in a while but for the most part I set out to live this scripture in all that I did.
 
It has been great to see how God blesses in life when people seek God and His purpose first and then fit in the rest of life around the things of God.
 
I would encourage everyone, just give it a try, taste and see if God is not good and true.
 
Remember, be not conformed to this word but trust God and his word. He is the almighty God.
 
Desiring to see you blessed,
 
Pastor Roberts 

Deuteronomy 11:26-28
Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.
 
Looking back in history I think we will see that God is always the same.
 
This history lesson we are going back to will show us that God is one who keeps His word.
 
It will help you to read Genesis chapter 2&3;  I will just paste two or three verses .
 
1. Genesis 2:17
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
 
God was very clear, there was no way anyone could miss what God said. In fact is that way with all His direction for eternal life.
 
Be sure to read all the scriptures from 2:17 to this next one.
 
Let's break this next scripture up a little.
 
2. Genesis 3:6
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof... 
 
Right here Adam needed to have stepped up and spoke of the almighty God and what God had said. ( and the event goes on ) she ate and gave to Adam.
 
...and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; 
 
This moment in the place where we separated the scripture Adam makes a choice.
Who's words do I follow ?  The scripture says , and he did eat.
 
I am reminded of a verse from the new testament.
 
James 1:22
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
 
The last scripture I want to bring your attention to is:
 
Genesis 3:17
And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it:cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
 
These words from verse 3:17 need some serious thought as we think about our walk and obedience to God.
 
Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, 
 
What we must be aware of is this have there been times when the voice of family or friend had more influence on our life than the commands of God.
 
It is possible if we are not careful the the voice of others tell us when, where and how to live our life, and where to fit God in.
 
Give it some thought, isn't it odd what day and time people want us.
 
Matthew 4:4
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
 
With a desire to see you blessed,
 
Pastor C.W. Roberts

As I share these thoughts I always close with , a desire to see you blessed . And that truly is my purpose. Dolores ( my wife ) and I have a heart to see couples live in the abundant life Jesus came to give them or to make it possible for people to enjoy.

John 10:10
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

To many people who live in this world this scripture does not have much meaning. However to the Christian it has much meaning. We look forward to Jesus working in our daily lives to guide us, to protect us to lead us in a path that lines us up for blessings .

Let us think about this scripture in a way that maybe you have never thought of. 

John 15:9
As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you:continue ye in my love.

John 20:21
Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you:as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

Matthew 22:39
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

All of these scriptures work together with John 10:10 above. 

Much of our sorrow and pain, joy and peace come because of how people treat one another. I think we can agree with that.  It is the enemy, the spirit of the world that would cause people to bring pain into a life. It should be in the heart of Christian people to do everything they can to bring peace and joy into a life. And I am speaking about a Christian standard of life. 

In life we become friends, husband and wife and as we get to know each other better we learn of past wounds and hurts that can be very tender and easy to bring pain again. It would be of great help to Jesus in giving this abundant life if people would stop and think before speaking or acting to ensure wounds are not opened again. This is especially true with husband and wife.

Having regard for someone else will prove how much we love them. To honor the wife and help her live in the abundant life her feelings must be considered first. That is how God would have it to be. The wife must also consider her husband that he may enjoy the abundant life. What a great life it can be if we stop and think and if we have regard for each other. For this to work people must be like minded , unselfish, thoughtful and walking in the Spirit.

Galatians 5:16
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

With a desire to see you blessed,

Pastor C.W. Roberts

That's something to talk about for people to enjoy the good life. 
 
Proverbs 6:12-19
A worthless person, a wicked man, is he who goes about with a perverse (contrary, wayward) mouth.
He winks with his eyes, he speaks by shuffling or tapping with his feet, he makes signs [to mislead and deceive] and teaches with his fingers.
Willful and contrary in his heart, he devises trouble, vexation, and evil continually; he lets loose discord and sows it.
Therefore upon him shall the crushing weight of calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken, and that without remedy.
These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him:
A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
 A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil,
 A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren.
 
I think when God says He hates something, we need to get a good understanding of what it is all about.
 
Then I think we need to follow this advice :
 
2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it. Test and prove yourselves [ not Christ]. Do you not yourselves realize and know [thoroughly by an ever- increasing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you are [counterfeits] disapproved on trial and rejected?
 
God sees what kind of person we really are.
 
Hebrews 4:12-13
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight:but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
 
With a desire to see you blessed,
Pastor C.W. Roberts

Out of 100 men, one will read the Bible, the other 99 will read the Christian.” – D. L. Moody
 
The Bible tells us :

2 Corinthians 3:2 
Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men.

Matthew 5:13-16
Ye are the salt of the earth:but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
 
The fact is the Church or the Christian is the only Bible many people will read. 
 
In the sermon I preached last Sunday I asked the question, when you are read what version will people be reading. We all know that there are many versions of the Bible, one of the Church people said he thought there were about 80 versions. I have not checked into it.

But in my opinion some versions are very good and true and some seem to more of a carnal writing. I prefer a Bible that is God inspired.
 
2 Timothy 3:16
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
 
Back to the question , what version will people be reading when you are read. Will it be the mom version, the dad version, the grandmas version, the friend version, the my version? Again some of these may be very good, but some may not be so good.
 
The version God wants us to read is His version. How do we become His version?
 
Psalms 119:11
Thy word have I hid in mine heart,
that I might not sin against thee.
 
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
 
Remember it is only God's version that will prepare people to hear what God has say to them .
 
Matthew 25:23
His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
 
With a desire to see you blessed,
Pastor C.W. Roberts
​

2 Timothy 3:16-17
Every Scripture is God- breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action),So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Notice what Jesus has to say: 

Mark 7:8-13
For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups:and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered:and many such like things do ye.

Proverbs 14:12
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

2 Timothy 3:4
[They will be] treacherous [betrayers], rash, [and] inflated with self- conceit. [They will be] lovers of sensual pleasures and vain amusements more than and rather than lovers of God.

One reason this teaching gets so strict is because of the possibilities of learning their ways. Or joining them thus weakening our faith and relationship .

Mark 7:8-13
You disregard and give up and ask to depart from you the commandment of God and cling to the tradition of men [keeping it carefully and faithfully]. And He said to them, You have a fine way of rejecting [thus thwarting and nullifying and doing away with] the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition (your own human regulations)! For Moses said, Honor (revere with tenderness of feeling and deference) your father and your mother, and, He who curses or reviles or speaks evil of or abuses or treats improperly his father or mother, let him surely die. But [as for you] you say, A man is exempt if he tells [his] father or [his] mother, What you would otherwise have gained from me [everything I have that would have been of use to you] is Corban, that is, is a gift [already given as an offering to God], Then you no longer are permitting him to do anything for [his] father or mother [but are letting him off from helping them]. Thus you are nullifying and making void and of no effect [the authority of] the Word of God through your tradition, which you [in turn] hand on. And many things of this kind you are doing.

Is it possible that there are scriptures being laid aside today ?

Consider scriptures like these : 

Matthew 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Hebrews 10:25
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another:and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

1 Corinthians 15:33
Be not deceived:evil communications corrupt good manners.

Colossians 3:8
But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

Do a little study on them.

Deuteronomy 5:33
Ye shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.

With a desire to see you blessed,

Pastor C.W. Roberts

Ephesians 4:11-14
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
 
Doctrine : A belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a Church, political party, or other group.
 
The church of Ephesus was surrounded by groups of people with many different doctrines. This next scripture gives us some idea of the many doctrines in Ephesus.
 
Acts 19:17-19
And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men:and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
 
Like the Ephesus Church , we will hear many doctrines, carnal and religious some of them may even seem reasonable and good, but let us always be mindful of these words:
 
Proverbs 14:12
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man,
but the end thereof are the ways of death.
 
In the book of Matthew Jesus , in just a few words explains how people live being tossed to and fro.
 
Matthew 22:29
Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
 
In the book of first Peter we will find a God sent doctrine that will help us from being tossed to and fro. 
 
1 Peter 2:2-3
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

I hope I have helped you see that if you have a Pastor that tells you what the Bible says, and you read and study the Bible inspired by God, you should be a Christian unmovable and abounding in the grace of God.

My desire for you,

3 John 1:2
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

Pastor Roberts

In the last blog, I shared some information that brought out the fact that compromise could be harmful and even deadly.

1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

1 Corinthians 3:9-11 KJV
For we are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

I began my Christian walk in 1975 and I have found that at any time I compromised, any time I rejected or diluted the written word of God my Christian life began to weaken; even at times becoming shaky. 

I have concluded many years ago that is best to never compromise with the world or Satan. 

My family, my friends and myself will face many storms and temptations in this life, I need to be strong and as the Bible says,

1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

I have purposed not to live in compromise to the things of God. I do not want to be the one that encourages my family to compromise. 

As a Pastor, I have seen the result of substituting Gods plan for something that seems like it will work, expecting that there would be no collapse of family, friends and faith.

I believe compromise has been a destroyer of faith, family and the church.

Think on the scriptures and you will conclude that compromise has always been a tool the devil uses to break down our relationships with fellow man and God.

Jude 1:20-21 KJV
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Remember: 
Psalms 5:11-12 AMP
But let all those who take refuge and put their trust in You rejoice; let them ever sing and shout for joy, because You make a covering over them and defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You and be in high spirits. For You, Lord, will bless the [uncompromisingly] righteous [him who is upright and in right standing with You]; as with a shield You will surround him with goodwill (pleasure and favor).

My desire for you:
3 John 1:2
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

May God give you the wisdom and grace to not compromise.


Pastor Roberts

​Building collapse in Nigeria has been on the increase in recent times. There are frequent media reports of collapsed buildings in major Nigerian cities and other parts of the world. The reasons a building collapses can be due to poor structural design, poor compliance with specifications, poor quality control, faulty construction methodology, foundation failure, and corruption.

Poor compliance with engineering drawings and specifications – When structural drawings and specifications are not judiciously followed during construction, it is detrimental to the life of the structure. To avert the threat of collapse, it is important that the engineer produces explicit, clearly documented and easy to understand details of drawings which should also be made promptly available to the contractor whenever needed.

"Tragedy in life normally comes with betrayal and compromise, and trading on your integrity and not having dignity in life. That's really where failure comes." Tom Cochrane

The devil and the world says compromise, God says do not compromise.
​You decide which one is best for your life and the people around you.
 
Psalms 5:11-12 AMP
But let all those who take refuge and put their trust in You rejoice; let them ever sing and shout for joy, because You make a covering over them and defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You and be in high spirits. For You, Lord, will bless the [uncompromisingly] righteous [him who is upright and in right standing with You]; as with a shield You will surround him with goodwill (pleasure and favor).

Pastor Roberts
​

I wonder why:

• Someone wants to be around a person, and take a lot of their time, when they want nothing to do with the God they serve.
• Why would they want to come by a lot and visit when they do not respect the way someone is trying to live for the Lord.
• I wonder why they would keep coming, very persistent in not wanting anything to do with church.

 
I wonder if this warning may not apply here:
 
Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so- called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men’s ideas of the material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding [the teachings of] Christ (the Messiah).
 
I also wonder why a Christian would choose to spend a lot of time with this kind of person, rather than seeking close friendship with another Christian.
 
James 1:14-15
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
 
I wonder if this sounds familiar, then maybe this would be a good prayer:
 
Psalms 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
 
Pastor Roberts