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SPEAKER: Bishop Dr. Robert A. Merriwether, Sr.
SCRIPTURE: St. Luke 16:19-23

Today, our pastor didn’t “shrink the story” but said his message is for a mature audience to receive the gospel in its entirety—not just the love of God but His wrath as well! Certainly, we should faithfully proclaim this Glad News in its totality so hearers might repent, believe & escape the torment to come!  

The rich man and Lazarus: Jesus told the people a story about two men, one wealthy and one poor. On earth, the former lived in luxury while Lazarus lay in poverty outside the gate of his house. Eventually, both of them died. Lazarus’ soul was taken to Paradise while the rich man’s went to Hades (or hell)!

God told Moses to take off his shoes for he was standing on holy ground! The Lord’s instruction was also an art of humility (bare feet)! The request also indicated that meekness and faith are inseparable!

Worn shoes symbolize walking in “mess” from the streets, working, etc. The Almighty doesn’t want garbage or debris in His presence! Paul articulated in I Corinthians 9:27:  “But I keep under my body and bring it into subjection; lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

We are living in a time where healing, grace, prosperity, the love of God are preached but not too much concerning hell! Hades (again, a spiritual realm of evil and suffering) is under & in the earth! Preachers do believers a disservice in these last days of stressing giving (money) but not living right!

Whether rich or poor, black or white; educated/uneducated, et al., all must be saved! If not, both can end up in heaven or hell! Regarding Lazarus, we must understand that when he went to Abraham’s bosom, it was a holding place! It was not the lake of fire nor heaven but again “holding place” until God decides his/her destiny, according to a righteous or unrighteous life!

If you don’t die right, you won’t lie right! Because of man’s disobedience, he has completely taken residence in hell!   “…My people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honorable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.” Isaiah 5:13.

“Therefore, hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.” Isaiah 5:14. Purgatory increases on a daily basis! It will never run out of space! It has no limit to get to you!

Proverbs 27:20 warns: “Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.” Proverbs 30:16 also addresses: “The grave, barren womb, land is never satisfied with water and fire, which never says, enough!” There is no “cap” or seal of how many can come in!

God gives us freedom! He doesn’t want us to serve Him like a robot or zombie! Lucifer took a third of his angels with him when He was kicked out of heaven! As testified in Psalm 121:1-3:  “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.  He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber.”

The scriptures dispel that there will be no more free turning up with your cup…intoxication, loose living, partying, etc. “Weeping may endureth for a night but joy cometh in the morning.” You have to decide where you want to be! Will it be “This side of the grave” or “That side of the grave?”

The “heaven” (or good times) that you create on this side won’t compare to what will happen when Judgement Day come—if unholy! St. John 14:2-3 denotes: “In my Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you . I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

Many people believe that you are no longer conscious after death! Not so, you are still conscious after you expire! It is not “out of sight, out of mind.” We can see the beggar’s place & nothing could be done about it! Also, “and he said also unto His disciples: There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.”

Among the last things that an individual (who do not know God) is when he/she is confronted with “You refused to forgive or ask for forgiveness.” Or, doing something evil that you did not get straighten out!   When you could, you wouldn’t. Now, you want to but can’t!

The Savior doesn’t send you to hell; you send yourself because you refuse to comply accept His commandments! Remember, God is plentiful in mercy, truth & love! Don’t play with your soul!

Lamentations 3:21 reveals: “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore, will I hope in Him.”

If you dance, don’t be a “dancing devil” but a “dancing deliverer!” Be glad for your conviction…the Holy Ghost is real!” “ For the good that I would, I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.  Now, if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me” Derived from Romans 7:19-20.

Unquestionably, God’s Word is the Truth…whole Truth…Nothing but the Truth! Bear in mind the following verse:   “Then shall they call upon Me, but I will not answer; they shall seek Me early, but they shall not find Me, Proverbs 1:28. There will be a time that the Messiah will not answer you! You may seek but will not find Him!

Micah 3:4 acknowledges: “Then shall they cry unto the Lord, but He will not hear them: He will even hide His face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings.” Be careful how you treat people! You may eventually need him/her! The tables then can turn on you. Relief is not spelled r-e-l-i-e-f but J-E-S-U-S!  

“But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime received thy good things and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now, he is comforted, and thou art tormented;  and beside all this, between us and you, there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us that would come from thence.” St. Luke 16:25 & 26.

Revelations 9:6 uncovers: “And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.”

Luke communicates: “Abraham saith unto him: They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham; but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent; and he said unto him, if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.”

If you choose that dreadful place, you will hear people echo: “Don’t come to hell! There is weeping and gnashing of teeth! Souls are engulfed with eternal flames!” What will it take to cause you to believe? How can you be convinced that your soul is at stake?

If you can’t be satisfied by a dead man, how would you be assured by a living man? God has spoken, shook & scolded you and still you sit in your seat and don’t respond to the invitation of salvation! “The day you hear my voice, harden not your heart.” Avoid the “pain & the flame!”

Souls are asleep and paralyzed! “Get right with God and do it now…” “Who shall ascend into the hills of the Lord or who shall stand in His holy place? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.” Psalm 24:3-4.

I Peter 4:18-19 discloses: “And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?  Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God, commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.”

Somehow, I got to make this journey somehow! Satan on my track & he’s trying to turn me back, but I got to make this journey somehow! Come hell or highwaters, you have been deceived by the enemy! Make up your mind that you want to see the “I that I Am” in peace!!

“O when the saints go marching; when the saints go marching in. Lord, I want to be in that number, when the saints go marching in…” Don’t sit like a “lump on a log.” Make up your mind that for God I live & for God, I will die! Repent of your sins! Soon, the trump will sound and the Lord Himself shall descend from the heavens…” He’s coming back!

The church needs to repent (that includes everyone)! Romans 8:38-39: “For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, angels, principalities, powers, things present, nor things to come…shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

It is dangerous not to be baptized in Jesus’ Name and filled with the Holy Ghost! Quit playing church & surrender! As the song goes: “On a hill far away, stood an old rugged cross; the emblem of suffering and shame; and I love that old cross…”

“Salt and not Sugar” -- The message today from our orator was symbolic of salt—representing purification, cleansing & sanctification! It (salt) has the power to absorb negative energies, purify spaces & ward off evil spirits!   It was NOT “sugarcoated” – at all!!!

We also honor First Lady Shania Merriwether (FLOTA) for her services which have stamped an impressionable mark in our lives!

SPEAKER: Bishop Dr. Robert A. Merriwether, Sr.
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 124:1-2

Today, our “powerhouse” vocalist (as named above) ministered (as always) with a purpose—to glorify God and encourage people! The topic “IF” is a small word with a BIG meaning—like assuming, conceding, granted or in case of!  “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, now may Israel say;  If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us.”

The psalm is a compelling call to faith--a reminder that when faced with challenges that seem insurmountable, we can confidently turn to the Lord, our Maker and Protector. Verses 1 & 2 is a call to reflect. David starts by asking the people of Israel to consider what would have happened had God not been on their side when people attacked them.

King David is talking about a 15-song of degrees!  These melodies appear in the advocacy of Psalms 120-134. The most likely explanation is that these carols were used as pilgrim songs, sung as the Israelites traveled to Jerusalem to attend the annual feasts!

Psalm 120 and 121 are God being David’s strength. He realized that Samuel’s restraining influence had been removed and Saul would chase him with greater rage than ever. But, he believed that God would be his strength.

Psalm 122 is a pilgrim piece. It’s an expression of joy for the privilege of going up to Jerusalem to worship. Psalm 123 is an earnest call to God for help in time of trouble. The change from the singular to the plural (verses 1, 2) places the appeal on a national level.

Psalm 124 is a song of gratitude to God for His mighty salvation in time of national trouble. Psalm 125 presents the theme that the righteous can be comforted with the Lord’s protection continually. As Jerusalem is secure by its geographical location, so those who have faith in God will be safe from the wicked!

Psalm 126, some believe, celebrates the return from Babylonian captivity (Ezra 1). The second part of the Psalm (verses 4–6) presents a note of sorrow…Psalm 127 presents the idea that man’s work of building is vain unless blessed by God…

Psalm 128 is an idyllic picture of family piety and felicity...Psalm 129 is a song celebrating national deliverance…Psalm 130 is the confession of a sinner asking for forgiveness…

Psalm 131 is a song expressing childlike faith and humble surrender…Psalm 132 is a song commemorating David’s wish to build a temple for the Lord and His gracious promises to the king…

Psalm 133 is a short beautiful poem praising the beauty of brotherly unity…Psalm 134 is an alert to the night attendants in the Holy Place to worship Jehovah and their response. This short Psalm is the last of the Songs of Degrees or Ascents..

As they (Israel) went from song to song, they got louder & louder with praises & honor to the Lord! This is how praise and worship should be toward the Lord: In our life, worship, posture, attention, etc. Again, songs of degree are “ascending” or going up!

Deuteronomy declares: “Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the Lord empty.”

Israel made through their pilgrim journey with 3 songs at Jerusalem. They are lyrics of powerful degrees. “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.  My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.”

“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem…” (Psalm 122:1). Psalm 126:5-6 pinpoints: “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”  

Without fail, it is an honor to extol the Master in church! Psalm 133:1 cites: “ Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity…Indeed, pastor’s words included an educational phase! “It was free seminary lessons--right there on the scene!”  

Yes, David laid the foundation who was responsible for the victory in their lives! It wasn’t because of his leadership, bravery or skills but his obedience to Yahweh! He realized that  “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say; If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us: Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us…”

With David, it wasn’t a positive “rose” but negative---a different kind of rising—not a sign of love but hate! If it wasn’t for Jesus’ blood, we would have been devoured! Opposition can happen so fast even without notice! The psalmist said if the Lord was not on his side, he would have been absorbed! Consuming something that is dead is different than been taken alive! “But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.” Genesis 9:4.

Unexpected things can be sickness; the enemy, depression, disrespect, no money, et al. Ephesians 2:1 maintains “and you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” Is your commitment towards the Almighty or man? Don’t have a demonic spirit with death, darkness, disease, unrest, etc. There’s a solution not thru a “prescription” but “scripture!”  

Be reminded that “All things work together for the good to them who love the Lord…” Also “Weeping may endureth for a night but joy cometh in the morning.” Additionally, My God is able to supply your every need. When men rise against you, their strategy is to drown you with debt, regret, frustration, payment arrangements, suicide or whatever!

We’re design to breathe above water—not below: I can’t breathe because of raising kids; being single, married or no job! I can’t “breathe!” Don’t allow the devil to suffocate you by being overwhelmed with life/responsibilities! Lord, “When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.”

Have you experienced something that repeat itself? For example: Abuse, nick-picking; disrespect & so forth!   Such things can wear you out or grind you to a pulp—like chewing! Primary chewing is to break food down until it’s broken in a finer substance! Did you know that it takes 5 to 10 times to chew on a potato…40 times to chew on steak. The average food is 32 times!  

Our teeth and the structure of the mouth play important roles in one’s ability to eat, speak & stay healthy. We have 4 kinds of teeth: 1) Incisor is the 8 teeth used for biting, 2) Canines are your sharpest teeth & used for ripping and tearing food apart, 3) Premolars are used for chewing and grinding food, and 4)  Molars are also used for chewing and grinding food. Primary molars, also known as deciduous molars, appear between 12 and 28 months, and are replaced by the first and second premolars (four upper and four lower).

Spiritually, teeth are seen as much more than mere tools for chewing and smiling. They bear profound divine significance, symbolizing power, resilience & communication. Do not allow the enemy to bite or destroy you! Your smile is a universal language that can brighten someone’s day, convey empathy & even heal a wounded heart!   But did you know that your smile is also a window to your soul? The Redeemer can break up cancer, depression, addiction, fear, anxiety, etc. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, love and a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7.

God can crush anything (sickness, stubbornness, scheming, premeditation, etc.). Give me my “IF” -- The power of IF is in the middle of the word “shIFt!” In righteousness, you will experience a shift; also suffering for if you suffer, you will reign with Him!

“John 15:7 says: “If ye abide in Me and my words abide in you, yet shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you.”  

2 Chronicles 7:14 acknowledges:   “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, seek my face and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Psalm 139:8 speaks about “If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.”

“ What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?   as scrolled in Romans 8:31.

“If ye love Me, keep My commandments.” St. John 14:15.

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me” as proclaimed in St. John 12:32.

Positively, the message was joy unspeakable & full of glory as the Spirit of God prevailed!   Granted, Dr. Merriwether is not only a called & committed leader but a  great navigator who can “stabilize a ship!” His lovely wife, 1st Lady FLOTA is there right by his side who also focuses on the aspects of the ministry!