Monthly Meditations with Dr. Michael L. Hargett, Sr.

Ephesians 4:1-32 We are living in a time when one can join just about anything without having to change anything or make any serious commitments. My email is flooded daily with requests to join everything under the sun. The qualifications are usually stated something like this: "Nothing down" "No minimum purchases required" "You can't be turned down" "No payments until next year" "You don't have to do anything now" “Last chance to get in on the ground floor” In other words, all you have to do to qualify is be living and breathing … oh, and have money! Let me assure you that in God's kingdom IT IS DIFFERENT, big changes are expected, and required! This is much different from a New Year’s Resolution, which many we never intend to keep. Check this out… Here are the percentages of resolutions that people have promised to make for 2008. Now, if you are into making goals and wanting to set them there is a website just for you.

John 3:16-18 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. How do you explain the meaning of Christmas in just a few words? The best way I know is today’s scripture John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." No one could out do what God has already done. No one could give a greater gift than what God has already given. I would like to consider what the meaning of Christmas this week. Christmas means a lot of things to a lot of different people. To some, Christmas is… • A time of shopping and spendin

Matt 1:18-23 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man , and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privately. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had b

Matthew 5:1-12 1And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which wer

Psalm 118:1 1O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his Mercy endureth for ever. How do you give thanks to God in the midst of desperate situation? You may have lost your job. May have been given a bad medical diagnosis or maybe you are in the midst of losing a loved one. Despite what you are going through, God is still in the blessing business. Let’s take the woman in Mark Chapter 5. This woman had been suffering for a long time, just like some of you. She had a female problem, more than likely it was ovarian cancer, she was bleeding nonstop for 12 years. She went to many doctors. She spent all her money and was getting worse by the day! For all intent and purposes she was probably ready to just give up. No more money. She could not work in her condition. Husband probably left her. Children probably abandoned her. She was probably all alone in a desperate and seemingly hopeless situation. It was all over for her. She was probably told by her family just give up and

Luke 2:8-11 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, 11 Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. This year Black Friday seemed to be in all the headlines. “To help save the American economy- SHOP!” Media outlets encouraged us to get out and spend, spend, spend! “If you do have the cash then charge it!” One ad proclaimed. It pains me to see that as we begin the Season of Advent. (Advent means the arrival of an event or a person.) The birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ… All we can think about is the material aspects of our lives. What about the true meaning of Christmas. When a Wal-Mart opened in New York the day following “Thanksgiving” a man was trampled to death! A mob of people, I am sure many

(KJV) ISAIAH 55:4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. This is a great time to be an American! This is a great time in American History! We have entered into a new era with the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States . To God be the glory! The glass ceiling has been forever shattered! Many of us believed that we would never see this in our lifetime. This is just another testament that man’s greatest impossibility is God’s simplest possibility. But what now? What does this really mean for our nation? What does this mean for the body of Christ? What does this mean for the black community? I was proud to see all the people gathered here in Chicago in celebration of his victory. In my spirit, I wondered where would these same people be on Sunday? In church perhaps? NOT! I was amazed at how much money President Elect Obama raised in rather short periods of time. In my spirit, I wondered why so many churches are lackin

Psalms 31:10 9Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly. 10For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed . Failure can either break us or make us. Have you ever failed at something? Perhaps a test or a class while attending school. Or maybe you have failed at your marriage or your health is failing now? Have you ever failed at something in your life? The definition of failure is to lose strength – or to be unsuccessful. My daughter Peyton’s soccer team just won the local leagues’ championship, in fact they were 10 and 0. All of the parents were excited about their success and so was I. Nevertheless I have also been in prayer that the children grow to understand that life is not all about winning, but how one reacts and responds to failure. Our economy is on rather shaky right now. The Associated Press reports that suicides are on the ri

Galatians 5:16-26 16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25If we live in the Spirit, le

Acts 3:1-11 1Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 4And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 7And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 9And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 10And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of

John 10:10 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. I was listening to one of my favorite Gospel songs. "Faithful is Our God" The song says, “I’m reaching the harvest God promised me – Take back what the Devil stole from me and I rejoice today, for I can recover it all!” I love this song! I can listen to it all day everyday. It simply gets me ready for the spiritual warfare I face everyday. It is saying that as true believers and followers of Christ; We have the power to take back what God has blessed us with and Satin has stolen. We have the power to take back what we have given to Satin. We have the power to take back what he has stolen from us! You can take back your life! We have power over sin and it does not have to consume us! It is time to take it back! We have control over our finances; it is time to take it back! We have control ov