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

Monday, September 21, 2009 I was recently appointed to serve as Pastor of WINGS OF FAITH II on the West Side of Chicago. First allow me say what a blessing it has been to have served under such a great man and woman of God, Pastors Drs. Gary and Patricia Stern, Peace of God Outreach Ministries. Waukegan, IL. I have learned a great deal under their teaching, preaching, and leadership. Nevertheless, God has placed this assignment on my heart and although leaving such a good ministry is hard to do I am stepping out on faith and launching out into the deep. “Not my will but your will be done Lord!” I am excited about being the new Pastor of Wings of Faith II as a part of Open Arms International Ministry, under the leadership of Bishop Dr. Jerry Herron, Chief Apostle and Presiding Prelate. Wings of Faith II will be operating under the banner of “TAKE IT BACK MINISTRIES, INC.” based on 1 Samuel 30:18&19 18 And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued hi

Monday, Sept. 7, 2009 1 COR 15:58 (NIV) Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. Ever feel like the work you do in the Lord is not worth it? You pray and testify and the very people you desire to share in the Kingdom ignores your teachings, testimony and the truth. Can you just imagine how Jesus must have felt, knowing the rejection and pain he was had to face? When I was at Lowes the other day, working on an Accutinter, I spent most of my day inside and under a computerized robot of sorts in the Paint Department. Because I was inside a machine full of colorant and paint no one noticed me around much. The customers were rude and very rarely said “Thank You” to the sales associates. One even commented that she had a “Thankless job!” “Everyone wants something but does not care about the one assisting them in getting want they want.” Brothers and Sister

Romans 8:26-27: 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. I have been focused on prayer for the last month and it is no wonder! On yesterday, Pastor Dr. Gary Stern gave 20 reasons why our prayers are not effective. It was a word that confirmed all that God has been saying to me. Prayer is the center of our faith and without it you can not have a personal relationship with God. Nevertheless, There are many different kinds of prayer available to us. There is prayer alone, maybe in our prayer closet or out in the open under the stars, there is prayer with the family, there is prayer in the social meeting, and then there is prayer in the great assembly. There

Proverbs 16:20, NLT "Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord." First giving honor to God! To my Mother Martha. To my Wife Cheryl. To my Pastors Drs. Gary and Patricia Stern. To my good friend Dr. Mary Lacey, and to Bishop Dr. Jerry Herron, President of Open Arms Bible College and Seminary, and to each one of you! God bless you this morning. I am humbled and grateful for the honors bestowed upon me this past weekend. I thank God for carrying me through the challenges of life. Everyday, I thank God for all that he has bestowed upon me. I use to walk around after receiving a blessing such as this waiting for the enemy to attack. After reading the story of Job, I realized that what God has for me is for me. I am not afraid to prosper in the Lord. I'm not worried about losing anything that God has for me. I have on the Armor of God! We are designed to be blessed by the Lord when we trust in Him. I am now answering

Psalm 34:17-19 17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth , and delivereth them out of all their troubles. 18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. Have you ever been so let down by life that you simply cried out to the Lord and he answered your prayer? Then God moved and changed that situation? Healed that loved one? Delivered you personally? We all have been there. Broken down, hurt, disappointed, with no more tears to cry. And then we cry out to God and he hears our cries and delivers us out of all our troubles. MY GOD! These are prayers that move God to act on our behalf and what I love about this week’s scripture is that it says “… and delivereth them out of all their troubles.” Not some, not a few, but all your troubles! (SHOUT!) This is what excites me about God. When he steps in everything is taken care of.

Isaiah 55 1Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. 3Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. 4Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. 5Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. 6Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him retur

Hebrews 12:1-2 1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. First, I would like to thank my new friend, Pastor Rev. Dwight D. Gill and the entire New Hope Baptist Church of East Orange New Jersey for having me and my family. Everyone was so kind and showed such great hospitality and love for God. We enjoyed the spirit filled service and I have taken a little bite of New Hope back to Chicago with me! I feel as if I have known Rev. Gill all my life and I look forward to spending more time with him in the very near future. We enjoyed the fellowship and feel that we have a church home when we are there in New Jers

Psalm 37:25 “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” Many of you may be feeling like God is absent in your life. You are in a bad situation? And God is not answering your prayer. If you do not feel that way right now, you probably will somewhere down the road of life or perhaps you have felt that way in the past. But always remember what it says in Hebrews 13:5 it says, “…….for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Some of you here this morning have been running for Jesus a long time. You have come a long ways from where you started from. My testimony this week is that I am in a partnership business (ministry) which gives computers to churches and other community originations. It has been a struggle for us as we have been doing our best to meet state and federal requirements for our not for profit status, pay the bills, and staying focused on giving. Last week someone broke into our warehouse and

1 Corinthians 15:58: 58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. I was talking with my sister Angela from New Jersey last week and she shared a testimony with me. She was telling she was gaining a greater understanding of living with Christ. A young man who cuts her grass did not have the proper tools and lawn mower. Having these things would probably increase his business. She spotted a very good mower on sale for a $100.00 so she got it for him. After giving it to him, he began to call her and ask “Is there anything else I can do for you?” My sister was so proud to see her seeding in this young man grow. Perhaps she set him on the path to building what can become a multi-million dollar business. Nonetheless, she met a physical need and the young man is better off for it. But as a Pastor I also wanted her not to miss the ministry with this

I would be lost this morning without giving God thanks for the many blessings that he has bestowed upon me. Thank you to all of you that were able to attend my retirement from the Navy. Words cannot do justice to the depth of my gratitude for making such a monumental effort just to see me say goodbye to the Navy. God continues to bless me, as on Last Friday I had the opportunity to begin a new chapter in my life. Yes, this was a day that the Lord has made, I rejoiced and was glad in it. The word says that no eyes have seen no ears have heard what God has for those who love him. Seasons come and go, yet God’s presence is forever faithful. No moment from the past can cloud the vision that God has for us right now. With God all things are possible and we must trust in God to guide us into a new beginnings. And Yes, even after the Navy. I must first share our dreams and goals with God in prayer, and then led by his divine wisdom. This is why I center myself in the presence