True Worship

First I would like to give honor to God who is the head of my life, to Jesus Christ my Savior and Redeemer, and to the Holy Spirit who is my comforter. I would like to start by saying that my family is asking that you pray with us. My son is in the hospital. For those of you that dont know, my son has Sickle Cell Anemia. Please keep my family lifted up in your prayers.
I would like to take a few moments of your time to talk to you about Thorns of the Flesh. We are living in a world full of temptations and desires. We are living in a time where being politically correct is the right thing to do. If there ever was a time that we should look at ourselves and stop passing blame, the time is now. I would like to turn you attention to 2 Corithians 12:7-9 ( I would like to encourage you to read the entire text for yourselves.)
"(7) And lest I should be exalted above measure throught the abundance of this revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the fles, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. (8) For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. (9) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness."

My brothers and sisters we see that in this text Paul is talking to be people of Corinth. He is leting them know that even though he has achieved great things doing the work of the Lord, he still had a weakness. Paul is letting us know that there will be things in this life that we will not be able to overcome. I want you to know that those things that are in your very life that you cannot over come are a part of your testimony. You cannot have a testimony without first going through a test. When I look at this letter that Paul has written to the church of Corinth, I am reminded of the story of Jacob(later known as Iseral). Jacob wrestled with and angle of God. Jacob told the angle that he was not going to let go until he got his blessing. At the rising of the sun the angle touched Jacob's side giving him a permanate limp. I want you to understand is that when we are tempted by this fleshly case that we are in

I watched a movie called, “Interview With God”. It was about a reporter that had a chance to interview God. He had so many questions to ask Him. He had just finished a story about a war, so you can imagine, he had a lot of questions for God. So that got me thinking, I know that we all would have so many questions about everything and God would be just the one to answer them. 

I thought it would be a great idea to include this movie into one of my Sunday School lessons with my youth department at the time. Now this happened a few years ago but from time to time with the ministry that God has blessed me to lead and with my own family. 

I was taking the young people back to the beginning of the Bible and we were going to work through the entire bible, but the first lesson that I taught took about 2 weeks to teach. We ended up going over this one lesson during Bible Study as well because as you can imaging, young people have a lot of questions. On a side note, I loved teaching youth, because you can learn so much from them. Well to say the least this lesson became the talk of the church and I was asked to present it to whole church. Well lets get into this lesson. 

Adam and Eve were in the garden and Eve had been tempted by the serpent(snake) to eat from the forbidden tree. After she had eaten and her eyes were opened, she then gave the fruit to her husband, Adam and he did eat. Some time after they had eaten from the tree, they heard God walking in the Garden, looking for Adam and Eve. Now the Bible tells us that they hid from God. 

This is where the lesson took a turn that lasted two Bible Study sessions and two Sunday School lessons. 

I paused and asked what I believe is one of the most important questions that a believer can be asked. This question tells how deep your faith is and how spiritually mature you are. So, here’s the question:

“What would you give up in this life to interview God for 24 hours?”

I had to remind the youth and young adults in the class that what ever they give up would be a sacrifice and that they could never get it back. The room was silent for a few minutes before an 8 year old raised his hand and said that he would give up his video games. Another said his phone. You know what, although those answers were good ones, I was not moved until a 21 year old young lady raised her hand and said, 

“I would give up my life style. I would give up smoking weed, the drugs, the crowd I’m hanging out with. I would give it all up to spend 24 hours with God.” 

I was moved my this because this young lady was having a hard time coping with a lot different aspects of her life. She really was having a hard time. 

After I took a minute to console her, I looked at my class of youth and young adults and said,
“All your answers are good but let me ask you something. 

‘If God loved you so much that he gave the life of his only begotten son to save you from a wicked angel, why then would you give anything less than your life to be with him?’”

There was no answer for a few moments. Then one of the young adults in the room said, “I would give my life, because he saved mine so many times. I would rather give my life to be with him than to give my life for fake people.”

Well as you can imagine this was the start of a whole new lesson that just happened to be centered around a simple question, “Why would had from the presence of God?”

Some of the young adults accepted Christ during that Sunday School lesson that day. 

So I want to ask you, Children Of God, the same question. 

“What would you give up in this life to interview God for 24 hours?”

As we enter the new year we must remember that we are somebody. We have to tell ourselves, I am somebody. We are living in a time where young people are being told that they will not amount to anything just because their parents where nothing. I am here to tell you that just because your parents did not amount to anything doesnt mean that you have to live that same life or life style they did. You are first need to know that no matter who your earthly parents are, you come from royalty. You come from the Almighty King of Kings and Lord of Lords. King David tells us in God's Word that he has never seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread. We must come to the understanding that what God ordains, he will maintain. If you are a believer then it is time for us to stand up and bold about our faith. I am somebody. I am glad to be a child of the King. I know that because I am a child of the King, I know that no weapon formed against me shall not prosper. I know that God is a rock in a weary land and a shelter in the time of storm. I know that I am somebody. I can still hear my childhood pastor say for a long time "I am glad to be in the house of the Lord, where everybody is somebody and Jesus is Lord of us all." I have discovered that the house of God is anywhere that I feel like praising his name. So, that means I can praise him any where. At this point, we need to have the audacity of hope. 

I don’t know about you, but I am glad to be in the house of the Lord where everybody is somebody and Jesus is Lord of us all. I would like to use the subject from which to preach “Is there no more balm in America?”

What will it take to find the balm in America? It will take more than the traditional "revival ministries" of earlier years. God has asked some questions in the book of Jeremiah that will help on the understanding of what it is going to take to find the and use the balm in America.

Jeremiah 8:19-22 Behold the voice of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the Lord in Zion? Is not her king in her Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities? [20]The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. [21]for the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me. [22] Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?


This is a text that is not often looked at but is used in song to minister. Now Gilead is a region of ancient Palestine known for its balm. Lets look at where this balm comes from. This Balm comes from a small evergreen African and Asian tree. This tree produces a type of cream or ointment that was used to soothes, relieve, and or heal the body.


In our text we find that God is asking the people of Gilead some simple questions.

The first question that God asks the people of Gilead is “Is there any more balm in Gilead?”

I want to look at balm in the since of healing power(anointment and appointment if you will). So God is asking the people if there is any more healing power in this land. I can image what was going thorough God’s mind. I put all that healing power in that and it seems as if it is all gone. Then God asks another question. “Is there no physician there?” now wait just a minute. God put the power of healing in this land and he put doctors in this land so that there can be healing done in the land. This goes to last question that God asked the people of Gilead. “Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?” Now this question answers the first two questions but still leaves one at a miss because in order for god to ask the third question the first two had to be yes. I want to bring this back home before I take me seat. Is there no more healing power in the nation called America? Is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?


1} do we as the children of the most high God still believe that he is able to do exceedingly and abundantly according to all that is asked of him. Where is our faith as a nation that was built on the foundations and the Words of GOD.

2} do we not have any more real preachers and teachers that believes that greater is he that is me than he that is in this world. Do we not have anymore god fearing teachers that want to serve the Lord. There is no other help I know. What do you believe God for? What do you believe him to be if you are a preacher and teacher of the Great Gospel. The foundation was laid over 2000 years ago. Why cant the real children of God please stand up?


3} I found out that America still has the power to heal but the will is gone. The question was asked “Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?” I’ll tell you why. The will has gone and the church is getting more and more like the world. The church is starting to be all about entertaining you and making you get happy. I heard the Late Bishop G.E. Patterson say that the Holy ghost should sometimes make you angry. Let me explain something to you right now. The holy ghost is nothing but the spirit of God. and When we don’t do what we are told to do he gets mad. I am here to tell you that we need to go back to the old time way. We have to do bible study the way it was when we and some to the older folk where coming up. We are reminded that we are not to remove the old land marks for they are what we know today was founded.


I grantee you that if we start calling on the name of God and go back to the old land marks there will be some healing in this world. The hymnologist said “There is a Balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole. There is a Balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul. If you can't pray like Peter, if you can't preach like Paul run and tell your loved ones he died to save us all.”

How many of you want to healed by that Balm. When you are healed by this Balm you will never hurt again. The healing power that comes from the Balm in Gilead heals the body mind soul. I want you to know that Jesus is the Balm in Gilead. He is a healer. I have heard them of old times just he is the doctor that has never lost a patient. He is a doctor that still makes house calls. Do you know who I’m talking about. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is the root and offspring of David. He is the Rose of Sharon, and the Lily of the Valley. He is Alpha and Omega the first and the last. He is Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end.

Let me just make it easy for you to know who it is that I am talking about.

A - Alpha - the first living of the dead

B - Blessed - he was given to give sight to the blind

C - Comforter - when the physical left his spirit stayed

D - Deliver - the true life saver

E - Elevated - if I be lifted up I will draw all men unto me

F - Faithful - Faithful is Our God

G - Grace - Blessed me just because he is

H - HOLY - man without one sin

I - I am that I am

J - Justified by his word

K - King of kings

L - Lord of Lords

M - merciful - When sin tried to stop redemption Mercy said no

N - No not one - There’s no friend like Jesus

O- Ordained - Cant no body take his place no matter how hard you try

P - Peacemaker - He can calm any raging sea with the palm of his hand

Q - Qualified - and there was no sin found in him

R - Raised 

S - Set-apart from the rest to do and be Gods best

T - True Light and Redeemer

U - Understanding

V - Vigilant

W - Way maker.

I am going to start a series of lessons entitled, "Seeds of Purpose". After attend service on yesterday, I was compelled to bring back this series of lessons. There are 4 parts in this series - Knowing the Seeds of Purpose; Understanding the Seeds of Purpose; Cultivating the Seeds of Purpose; Harvesting the Seeds of Purpose.  It is important for every believer to know what there purpose is in the Body of Christ. This series to help every believer to get a better understanding of what their purpose is. I want to encourage you to study this and don't be afraid to ask questions. I want this to be an interactive series.

Do you know what you are suppose to be doing in the Body of Christ? Do you know
what you talents are and how to use them in the Body of Christ? Well, if you
don't then your wait is over and if you already know, I hope these series of lessons will help you get a better understanding of your purpose.

I. Introduction to the Seeds of Purpose
    A. Knowing that you have a purpose no matter how insignificant you think you are, no matter how much of a sinner you feel that you are. You have a purpose in the Body of Christ.

II. Knowing the Seeds of Purpose
    A. What are the Seeds of Purpose?
    B. How can I find out what my Purpose is?
    C. How can my Seed of Purpose be used in the Body of Christ?

III. Understanding the Seeds of Purpose
    A. Understand why you have a purpose
    B. Understand that your purpose is not greater that your neighbors, just different.
    C. Understand that your purpose has always been there. Now it is time for you to use it.
    D. Understand what it means to have a purpose in the Body of Christ

IV. Cultivating the Seeds of Purpose
    A. How are you suppose to use this Seed of Purpose in the Body of Christ?
    B. What does it mean to Cultivate a purpose in the Body of Christ?
    C. How can Cultivating my Seed of Purpose help me and the Body of Christ?

V. Harvesting the Seeds of Purpose
    A. What is a Spiritual Harvest?
    B. How am I apart of a Spiritual Harvest?
    C. How is my Spiritual Harvest important to the God's Kingdom and His Body?

When I saw the previews, I told my wife that it was going to be a good movie and that I wanted to see it. So my family and I sat down and watched it. Well this movie was better than I expected. First the children the girls in this movie were great. They were able to capture my family and I. We were able to feel the emotions that they were felling. Great work girls. Vanessa Williams, nothing shout of amazing (what do you expect form a diva life her) as the caring teacher.  As for Rockmond Dunbar, he was just as amazing. I do wish there was a little about his story. Through out the movie you could since that there was some issues with having children of his own. Great Job casting directors. This movie is truly a must have for my family. The message that this movie gave was that God is not a right now God in the since of "I want it now". There are times when our right now does not match God's right now. 

I would like to encourage everyone to watch this movie at some point. 

I'm gonna do what the spirit say do. What the spirit say do, I'm gonna do, my Lord. I'm gonna do what the spirit say do.
If there ever was a time that we needed to get back in tune with the Spirit of God, the time is now. We live in a time where everybody is about feeling good in the spirit. We think that when the preacher is preaching he is supposed to make us shout. When the choir sings it is supposed to make shout, dance and feel good. I am sorry to inform you that this is not the purpose of the Spirit of God, the preacher, or the choir. The purpose of the Spirit of God and the preacher is to teach you. The purpose of the choir is to send praises up to the good Lord through music. We must understand the that our praise should not be brought about because of our location, not because of how good the music sounds. Your praise should come from the God that is in you. Your praise should be a response the the blessings that God has given you. Your praise should be a response to how God has picked you up and turned you around. We need to start singing those old spirituals and hymns. This new music is ok, but it seems to me that we are more about how a piece of music sounds rather than the message behind the song. I can hear an old mother in the field singing, "I don't feel no ways tired. I've come to far from where i started from. Nobody told that the road would be easy. I don't believe he brought me this far to leave me." Saints there was something therein that song. She has been laboring in the field for over 10 years now. She has had Lord knows how many children sold from her arms. Lord knows how many time her master raped her. Lord knows how many times she has been beaten. Yet her spirit has not been broken. Yet  she has kept the faith. She has labored long in the vineyard. She board the burden and the heat of the day but some how this mother is in the field talking about how she don't believe that the Lord dint bring her this far to leave her. We need to get back to this faith. Saints  i have come here to let you know that time is winding up.

Gal 6:1-10
Chapter 6
Bear One Another's Burdens
1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load.
6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived:God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
(ESV)

With a new year comes a new season. In this new season we should strive to elevate ourselves as well as others in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My brothers and sisters this is a years for elevation in God's Word. As the Word of God says in the 6 chapter of Galations that we are to help our fellow brothers and sister in Christ. In this new season we are to know and understand that we shall reap if we faint not. It continues to tell us that we are not to be deceiced for God is not mocked.Whatever a man soweth that shall he also reap. So remember that this is this is the year of restoration and not destruction.

 Dear Lord, I thank You for this day, I thank You for my being able to see  
and to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me. 
Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you. I ask now for Your forgiveness. Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. 
Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. 

Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You. Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things. Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over. And give me the best response 
when I'm pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart. 
Continue to use me to do Your will. Continue to bless me that I may be 

a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may help the weak... 

Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others. 

I pray for those that are lost and can't find their way. I pray for those that are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who don't know You intimately. 
I pray for those that will delete this without sharing it with others I pray for those that don't believe. But I thank You that I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For each and every family member 
in their households. I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes; that they are out of debt and all their needs are met. I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no
problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight. I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees it 
in Jesus'  name.  Amen! 

In this world we never know how long we are going to be here. Everyday somebody looses someone dear. So give those that you care about and love their flowers while the blood is still running warm in their vains as well as yours. When that time comes that you loose a loved one, do just what the song writer said, "Hold to God's unchanging hands. Build your hopes on things eternal. Hold to God's unchanging hands."

Be Blessed
Your Servent in Chirst
Elder A. Stephon Hogan, Sr.

First giving Honor to God, who is the head of my life, to my Lord Jesus Christ, who is my Savior, and to the Holy Spirit, who is my keep. I would like to use the subject from which I will attempt to teach, “True Worship and Worshipers”. As I sat on my front porch I asked the Lord our God to bring back to my remembrance the text what it said that to truly worship God is in spirit and in truth. With that being said, let’s take a look at our text. In the book of St. John the 4th chapter and the 23rd and 24th verses you will find these words, “23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth for such doth the Father seek to be his worshipers. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth. As I began to study this text, I came to realize that there is no such thing as fake until you make. I have discovered that it is only those that worship our Lord and God in spirit and in truth obtain the favor of God. A believer that worships God in spirit and in truth goes through a life time of pain. I have stopped by here to let you know that even though there is pain in your life there is a reward that is far better than any man on this Earth can give you. When I think of a true worshiper, I am reminded of a book that read back in high school called “Jesus Freaks,” by DC Talk. In this book there was a story about a young girl that was only 5 years old that died for Jesus Christ. While this young girl attended Sunday morning service at her church, the church was taken over by some masked men with guns. They told the members of the church that if they wanted to walk out of the church they had to spit on the bible. Well, it saddens me to say the pastor of the church was the first on to spit on the bible. When he spat on the bible he said, “Please forgive me.” After he left the church this young girl went to the bible and wiped the spit off with her dress. She then said a pray and asked God to forgive the pastor for betraying him. After the young girl did this, one of the gunman walked up to her and shot her in the head. She died instantly. When I read this story tears began to form in my eyes and my heart became heavy with sorrow and grief.

This child was only 5 years of old when she died. I am here to tell you that her death was not in vain. She was so bold in her faith that she was willing to give her life for Jesus Christ. I do recall that Jesus Christ himself said in Luke 18:16, “But Jesus called them unto him saying, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” He went on to say in verse 17, “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall no wise enter therein.” My brothers and my sisters, I want to let you know that I doesn't matter how old or how young you may be, true worship begins within you as a child.

Praise is something that God has ordained of all the Redeemed. It is a response that is initiated from the innermost parts of your very being. I need you to understand; you cannot be depressed and praise God at the same time. You can be suicidal and praise God at the same time. You can’t be sad and praise god at the same time. You know what the bible says, “If you want to make an exchange; I’ll give you a garment of praise, for your heaviness. Let me tell you what God is saying, “You can chose to be sad or walk in the joy of the Lord. And all you have to is start surrendering and lifting your hands up to the Lord. The Lord say from the rising of the sun till the going down of the same, the Lord is to be praised. It is a command that the Lord is to praise. I need to tell you this because when you praise God, it is your action. It originates with you. There is a difference between praise and worship. Praise is initiated by you, but while you’re in praise, God in worship responds to your praises. Some people say that when the praises go up blessings come back down. I’m looking at the flowers, beautiful flowers that were once seeds in dirt. I want to talk to some folk that’s been in dirt. God use nature and these plants to show us the importance of praise. That seed says that even though I am a seed in dirt, even though I am buried in darkness, I am going to continue to lift myself up to the hills from which cometh my help. You need to understand that it might take a day, it might take a week, it might take a month, but I know that weeping endureth for a night and joy cometh in the morning. If the flower didn’t give up in dirt, if the tree didn’t give up in the dirt, if the grass didn’t give up in the dirt, if they didn’t give up in the dirt how dare you walk around with your head down. God deserves all of our praise. Bless him as he elevates you from the dirt to the marvelous light.

May God continue to bless you
Elder Stephon Hogan Sr.
Sr. Pastor | Ministry Establisher
Trinity House Ministries