Phillips Temple Lay Ministry

01/16/2023

So grateful for everyone who came to participate in our National Day of Service Project! Blessing bags were filled and we had a great time doing it!

12/18/2017

It’s that time of year again! Join us at Phillips Temple CME church (971 E. 43rd St, LA 90011) on December 23rd, beginning at 10 am. We look forward to food, fun, fellowship, ministry, and music! A special shout out goes to Second ii None motorcycle club for joining us in giving again this year!

01/22/2017

Scripture for today's lesson: Habakkuk 2:4 - God has the last word...

01/02/2017

Want to do something special for the New Year? It's not too late! Set this month apart and start the new year with a renewed focus on God and His word! Join us as we fast and pray...You won't be disappointed!

08/28/2016

And the word is going forth... the 2016-2017 annual conference year is a season of REVIVAL! Check Ezekiel 37:5...

04/03/2016

Bible Thought of the Week

May the Force Be With You



Recently, there has been a revival of all things Star Wars, complete with the introduction of new characters and plot lines. The new characters, however, faced many of the same challenges as the characters of old – they are battling the forces of the “dark side”. Some of the newer characters, however, have a special something that makes them different from the others. It heightens their ability to discern the truth and they are stronger in battle. These Jedi warriors have tuned into the force. Once they have turned into it, they live a different lifestyle, engaged in study to understand how to use the force effectively. What a perfect analogy for believers who have received the Holy Spirit!

Most people, when thinking about the Holy Spirit, key in on the book of Acts, chapter 2, when the day of Pentecost had come. Those who attended Sunday School know full well the story of how the people were gathered on one accord and suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:2-4) According to the text, people thought they had had too much to drink, but it was only nine o’clock in the morning! (Acts 2:15) The story goes, that as a result of this day, many were added to the number of believers. If we leave it here, the Holy Spirit seems very much like the dynamic, electric force of God that sets things in motion.
The Holy Spirit, however, was there at the beginning of creation. Those who believe in the Holy Trinity would assert and assure you of that fact. In Genesis 1, the Bible says:
In the beginning [re'shiyth] God ['elohiym] created [bara'] ['eth] the heaven [shamayim] and ['eth] the earth ['erets]. And the earth ['erets] was [hayah] without form [tohuw], and void [bohuw]; and darkness [choshek] was upon the face [paniym] of the deep [tehowm]. And the Spirit [ruwach] of God ['elohiym] moved [rachaph] upon [`al] the face [paniym] of the waters [mayim]. http://www.theholyspirit.com/faq1/default.asp?a=4&q=111
Ruwach is Hebrew for the breath or wind of God, which is referring to the Holy Spirit in this scripture. In this verse, it feels like an ever present force that represents God’s strength. But God is not limited, and neither is the Holy Spirit. There is so much more to it than that! The Bible also has these things to say about the Holy Spirit:

Isaiah 11:2 - And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

John 14:26 - But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Romans 8:26 - 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.



1 Corinthians 6:19 - What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
Luke 11:13 - If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall [your] heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Acts 1:8 - But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

According to the Bible, the Holy Spirit is a teacher, a leader, a comforter, a guide, a healer, a helper, and so much more! Who wouldn’t want this with them at all times! The only way to keep this with us at all times is to live within the Will of God. When you live within the Will of God, you feel His power and anointing. You feel it when you speak life with authority. You feel it in prayer. You feel it when you address circumstances and challenges. That power permeates every area of your life. It is a wonderful thing! But, when you decide that you want to do things your own way, and that maybe (just this once) you’ll try something that maybe you shouldn’t try, that’s when you run into problems. Your power wanes. You have stepped outside of the Will of God and you can’t hear His voice. You don’t feel His presence. That’s because God is Holy and the Holy Spirit, as evidenced by its name, is Holy, there are certain things that They cannot tolerate. They will withdraw from you until you make a concerted effort to return to them. You’ll know when you’ve reconnected. What was dark will seem brighter. You will feel refreshed, revived, and rejuvenated. The power behind the authority in your voice will return, and you will begin, again, to speak life into situations.
Just like the force of Star Wars God’s Holy Spirit is a powerful tool against the wiles of the devil. It is something that you can call on when you are in need. But, much better than the Star Wars force, it is not fictitious. This Holy Spirit is real and intercedes on your behalf. It is not like the light saber waiting on the shelf to be used. The Holy Spirit will go before you, will teach you, guide you, comfort you. It is an ever present help sent by God Himself through Jesus Christ. And, unlike the force, the Holy Spirit is available to everyone who repents of their sins and believes that Jesus died for their sins and rose again.
Do you have the Holy Spirit? Is the ruwach that is used 378 times in the Old Testament and is translated "spirit" 232 times (http://www.evidentcreation.com/PRS-Trin4.html) present in your life? If you can’t answer yes, then maybe it’s time to see where you are standing. Are you operating within the Will of God, or do your actions cause the Holy Spirit to grieve? Take a moment, now is the time. May the force, the ruwach, be with you.

-Lay Ministry

The Holy Spirit: Who is He? Why do I need to know Him? Facts about the Holy Spirit, fruit of the spirit, Jesus, Holy Ghost, God, tongues, prayer, speaking in tongues, pentecost, trinity, Bible, scripture, Father, Son

03/13/2016

Bible Thought of the Week

No Other gods Before Him



As students in Sunday School long ago, one of the many things we had to learn was the Ten Commandments. Some of us even received a prize for being able to recite them. We were put on program to showcase our new knowledge of the Bible and received awards for demonstrating mastery of the subject. As we have progressed in life, we may be amazed at our ability to recall such things from our long term memory. We may have even taken the time to pass them on to our children or grandchildren, remembering to “train up a child in the way he should go.” But, there is a big difference between knowing the commandments and understanding them. Many teachers will even tell you that there is a big difference between recall and comprehension. Do we really understand what God is commanding us, demanding of us, when He says, thou shalt have no other gods before me?

If we look across the expansive history of time, it is clear to see that many gods were worshipped. There were gods in Babylonian mythology. There were the gods of Egyptian mythology. Native Americans believe in polytheism, as do many other cultures around the world. On the surface, this seems like a very easy commandment to follow. Very simply we think, if I don’t subscribe to those other religions, I’m doing what God says. But, are we sure? Is it really that simple, or is there more to this commandment than that?

First, let’s think about it. What is a god? From www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/god, we get the following definitions: 1 (cap): the Being worshipped as the creator and ruler of the universe. 2: a being believed to have more than human powers 3: an object worshipped as divine. The first two definitions, perhaps, we all understand, but what about the last definition – an object that is worshipped as divine. It may sound silly, but when we worship according to Merriam-Webster, we show reverence and adoration for something, and to reverence something is to show a deep regard for it or treat it with deep respect. The dictionary also uses words like adoration, or veneration, which both point back to reverence and respect.

Think about a time when you were really in need. You asked the prayer warriors to touch and agree with you for God to fill that need, and then the blessing came. Did you forget about where it came from, or Who it came from? Sometimes, without meaning to, we place more emphasis on the blessings we receive than the Blesser. We praise the gift and not the Giver. When we do that, when we show all that adoration and reverence for that object, we have just violated God’s commandment. Or, think back to a time when you were so in love that you fogot yourself and your upbringing (no judgment). You went out of your way to impress that person, to gain their attention, and then that person became your whole world. Where was God in that? Did He take a backseat to your love interest? You just violated God’s commandment. Was there ever a time that you put off worship or prayer or Bible study for something or someone else? Was there ever a time when you made a conscious decision to follow someone else’s advice instead of God’s counsel and commands? You just violated God’s commandment.

The Bible tells us that He is a jealous God. He wants all of our praise, adoration, and worship. He will not share it with anyone or anything. If you find yourself in the midst of a dry place where you don’t feel God’s presence or don’t hear His voice and aren’t receiving what you’re praying for (if you’re praying at all), then check your priorities. Are you living according to God’s expectations? Is He first in your life, or has something (or someone) slyly slipped into the number one spot (even if only temporarily)? Take a moment and make it right. Do it now. Tomorrow is not promised.

-Lay Ministry

God : the perfect and all-powerful spirit or being that is worshipped especially by Christians, Jews, and Muslims as the one who created and rules the universe See the full definition…

01/08/2016

The fast continues. .. " We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised." - Hebrews 6:12

01/04/2016

Join us in our 21-day Daniel's Fast as we consecrate the New Year and give it over to the Lord!

Prayer and scripture for the day: Father, I pray that You would generously give wisdom to me as You promised.
James 1:5

01/03/2016

Bible Thought of the Week
Do You Know Who God Is?: Jehovah-Mekoddishkem

Several events take place near the start of a new year. People gather to celebrate and/or to pray in the New Year. People reflect on the past year and make resolutions to do or be better. Many believers, however, fast and pray to consecrate the New Year, dedicating it the Lord. For three weeks at the beginning of the year, believers engage in corporate fasting and prayer in order to break the yokes and strongholds in our lives. But, what happens to the remaining 49 weeks of the year? Is that three week faith walk enough to please God? Is that all He wants from us? Surely not! If you know anything about Jehovah-Mekoddishkem, the God who sanctifies you, you know that He requires much more than that!
Readers discover more about Jehovah-Mekoddishkem in Exodus 31:13 and in Leviticus 20:8. By the time Bible readers reach Exodus 31, the children of Israel have escaped from Egypt, crossed the Red Sea, and have wandered in the wilderness eating manna and quail, murmuring and complaining most of the way. Moses is on the Mountain and has spent quite some time there, receiving the Ten Commandments and instructions for setting up the Tabernacle and altar. It is during this time that God also confirms His covenant with the children of Israel and reviews the laws that they must follow. What is interesting, is that of all of the laws that God specifies for them, He is adamant about the Israelites observing the Sabbath, saying, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my [S]abbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you. (Exodus 31:13) The Lord, through His covenant, has set the Israelites apart from other individuals, and observing the Sabbath is an outward display of that covenant. They are special because God deemed them so. What is equally as fascinating is that just as soon as God declared them special, sanctified, and set apart, the Israelites at the bottom of the mountain had done the very thing that God instructed them not to – they made an idol and began to worship it! According to the Bible, about 3,000 lost their lives that day, and later the remaining individuals suffered a plague of some sort. (Sanctified does not mean sinless, but there should be a concerted effort to please God!)
There are several other places in the Bible where God calls for us to be Holy because He is holy:
• Leviticus 11:44-45 – 44 For I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy. Neither shall you defile yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth. 45 For I am the LORD who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
• Leviticus 19:2 – 2 “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.
• Leviticus 20:7-8 – 7 Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am the LORD your God. 8 And you shall keep My statutes, and perform them: I am the LORD who sanctifies you.
• I Peter 1:16 – 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
If nothing else, remember this: God brought the Israelites out of Egypt to be their God (see Leviticus 11:45). He chose to have a close relationship with them, and because Jesus Christ was born to save the world from sin, those who believe are invited to have that same close relationship with God the Father, our Jehovah- Mekoddishkem. 9 Then he [Jesus] said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:9-10)
While the God who sanctifies, our Jehovah- Mekoddishkem, wants us to live a holy life because He is holy, He first wants us to recognize that we are marked for a close relationship with God. God has identified believers as special, and as such, there should be a distinction between our character, attitude, behavior, and belief and those who don’t believe. Think about any new relationship you’ve ever been in. Your behavior changed, didn’t it? Why? Because you wanted to please the person with whom you were in that relationship. It should be no different with God. We can’t expect to maintain a healthy relationship with anyone, let alone the Creator of the Universe, by taking the person for granted and doing whatever we want. That relationship won’t last! Paul tells us in Galatians 2:20, I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
As you begin the New Year and resolve to be better people, consider what it means to be sanctified. How have you set yourself apart from others in the world who are not believers or in close relationship with God? Do you communicate with Him regularly? Do you spend time in His word? Do you remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy? Do you harness your tongue and your thoughts so that you don’t make room for sinful gossip or wicked thoughts? Before you take another step into the New Year, think about what it means to be set apart; what it looks and sounds like to be in a special relationship with God, and let that be your guide.
-Lay Ministry

12/22/2015

Finally! There is video of the Annual Lay Day presentation! Find it on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY8i1KrHK6Q

On our Annual Lay Day, 2015, Phillips Temple CME Church in Los Angeles experienced The Takeover. This speaker talks about what it means to be about our Fathe...

12/20/2015

Thank you Second ii None and Hogg Life for a wonderful partnership! We look forward to it again next year (and maybe throughout the year)!