A Solution for Suffering Saints

A Solution for Suffering Saints was the title of my morning message. It felt good to be back in the pulpit at St. Luke I love preaching at home and St. Luke is definitely my home. We are still in the book of Philippians, 4:6

Outline:
Knowing how to pray and what to pray for. Paul was in a prison cell telling us not to be anxious for nothing, not to be careful for nothing, careful meaning full of care. My question was how can Paul tell us to be careful for nothing when he was locked up in prison himself. How can he tell us not to worry.

A. Just to know to pray and not take things for granted. Do not go to GOD always with a Gimme List, learn what to pray for.
B. Pray with Supplication, meaning to always pray. The Bible says that we should always pray, not only when things are going bad or when we need things.
C. Pray with Thanksgiving. We should never offer up a prayer without giving GOD thanks. A lot of times we get so caught up with our problems and what we want GOD to fix for us that we forget to give GOD thanks. He knows all of our problems and he can fix them all but he wants us to offer them up to him in prayer and with thanksgiving.

We had to worship with Greater Freeborn for the evening service for the "Sisters in Unity" in which my cousin Jean belongs to. I was glad to see her and my friend and her pastor Rev. Eric Sawyer. It was a very spirit filled service The St. Luke Choir showed up and showed out, I thank GOD for them and the congregation of St. Luke.

I preached a sermon that I had preached before at another church. It was entitled "Pressing On" Philippians 3:13, 14. I told the "Sisters in Unity" to Press On, if it had been some bad times in the past or whatever happen in the past, leave it in the past. We need to only look back at those things if they help us move on in to the future, if they keep us in the past we need to leave them alone, if we can;t use them as a stepping stone forget about it.

"The Ten Who Ran"

My brother Rev. Earl W. Drake Jr. spoke yesterday. He spoke about the ten disciples who were left after the Crucifixion. He said that we know Judas was dead, and John was with his mother. But where were the other ten? They ran cause they were scared, they didn't know what to do without Jesus until they got the holy spirit. A very well put sermon. I was extremely proud of my brother.

We also welcomed a new choir member into our choir today Mrs. Rivers. Her and her husband Rev. Rivers, they joined our congregation last Sunday. Rev. Rivers taught Sunday School yesterday. He used a different format but it was effective.

And also yesterday GOD sent to us a ordained deacon. You know I have been praying for God to send us men, and we have had three men join in three weeks. My good friend Ben Howard joined our congregation yesterday. I am here to tell you that when you sincerely ask GOD for something and it is in His will you will get it. GOD has gave us an ordained minister and an ordained deacon and a young man willing to learn in the last three weeks. I praise God for what he is doing at St. Luke. Keep us in your prayers.

Tuesday & Wednesday Night at the Conference

Tuesday Night started off on a high note with the Moderator of the Central District Rev. Bernard Crayton Lecturing on the Book of Philippians 3rd Chapter "Pressing On" He told us we have to move on put some things into action. "If God be for us he's more than the whole world against us".

Then the St. Luke Choir blessed us in song and the message for the evening was "Naaman is coming" 2Kings 5: 1-6, Rev. K. Gray. He let us know that we've got to change our methods of reaching the unchurched and the members of our churches. They don't understand the old way of doing things we have got to change our methods not the word. The word endures through all generations. It was very well put.

Wednesday Night started off on a high note also with Rev. Lance West's (Pastor of Riverview MBC) Lecture on the book of Philippians. It was the first time I heard him he really blessed my soul. Then the New Mt. Zion Choir blessed us in song and the message of the evening was "The Manifested Presence of God" Mark 5: 1-6 It was the story of the demon possessed man living in the graveyard and how when Jesus stepped off the boat the man come and worshipped him. Just the presence of Jesus the demon in the man had to flee. Then the highlight of the evening came when we had two young people (brother & sister) gave themselves to Christ the sermon was good but the young people were the highlight of my evening.

Monday Night at the Conference

Our 2008 Word & Worship kicked off lastnight and it kicked off with a bang. Rev. Kevin Nelson kicked it off with a lecture on Philippians 3:1-15. He even had handouts for his lecture I am tellin" you this man is bad. He was telling us to forget those things that are behind. It's good to remember those things from the past if they push you through to the future but if they keep you in the past forget them. It was good. With me coming in as a new pastor we have to look to the future. It was very enlighting for me and I hope for the church also.

Then we also had the brotherhood from Greater St. Mark their musician didn't show up but I couldn't tell they did a wonderful job with the music for the evening, I thank GOD for them and their dedication and it brought me joy to see their pastor in the house Rev. William Nelson.

Then we had the speaker of the hour Rev. Kilen Gray. IJohn 1: 1,2. He told us we have to stop trying to please everybody but GOD. WE go out of our way to please the wrong people. We need to be ourselves and please GOD.

I can't wait til tonight our Central District Moderator will be our guest lecturer and we will get another word from Rev. Gray, and The St. Luke Choir will be bring us the music. If you are reading this you better come out tonight, believe me you don't want to miss this.

2008 St. Luke MBC Word & Worship Conference

Tomorrow starts our "2008 St. Luke MBC Word & Worship Conference"

Welcome from the Pastor:

Hello to all my brothers and sisters in Christ,I greet you in the name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and welcome you to Our Word & Worship Conference (Fall Revival) at St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church.

We are blessed by God to have some of the best preachers and teachers in the city and nation in our midst this week as we revive our spirit with the Word of God and “Encourage Ourselves” to “Press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

I truly believe we will be blessed as God allows his spirit to fall fresh on us this week. So let’s come together on one accord and pray that this will be a week of that will be pleasing to God. Please except our humble welcome in His presence.

Rev. Robert C. Drake Sr.

Prayer Changes Things

I AM BACK. Sorry I have been gone so long, I have been kind of busy trying to get adjusted to preaching every Sunday and sermon preparation, it takes some time and some getting use to. Please pray for me.

Today was a good day at St. Luke, we had two new workers added to the congregation. Rev. & Mrs. Earl Rivers, we can never have enough ministers. I have been praying and asking God to send us some men and he is doing it right before my very eyes. We are blessed at St. Luke, God is giving us what we ask for we just have to be prepared to receive the blessings and do something with the blessings he is giving us.

My sermon for today was "Prayer Changes Things" Exodus 33: 12-23
I preached about prayer and how to pray the way Moses did on Mt. Sinai I had three points:

• Moses prayed for himself (V. 13) - He prayed for God to equip him to minister to the people.
• Moses prayed for the people (V. 15, 16) - He prayed an intercessory prayer. He went to God for the people.
• Moses prayed for the impossible (V. 18) - Moses prayed for the impossible to happen. God had been so good to Moses and answered the two previous prayers so I guess he thought he would ask the impossible. He wanted to see the face of God.

It was very enlighting sermon for me. It helped my prayer life. Read that passage of scripture and I guarantee you it will help your prayer life.