New Covenant Fellowship - Union County Baptist 4 Valley Road, Clark New Jersey
Exit 135 off the Garden State Parkway

Thank you for coming by to visit. I pray you will return often; and whenever you have an opportunity please come by and join us. We meet Sundays 8:00-9:30 am; and Tuesday nights 7:00-9:00pm

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October Theme: Spiritual Investment

Scripture Reference: Genesis 4:1-12
Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, "I have acquired a man from the LORD." Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. So the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?" And He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground. So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth."

Stock That Never Fails

I thought I'd start this month off by mentioning the current financial crisis we face in America. It's imperative that we (the people of God) place it in proper perspective. I was on my job when I first heard of the massive losses people were taking at the Stock Market. My co-workers we're frantically moving money from one financial vehicle to another. They were worried, frightened and annoyed. I on the other hand just looked at them and smiled because in my mind I just knew everything for me was just fine. When I got home that night I relayed the activities of the day to my wife who immediately informed me that we too lost big over the last few days. The next day I joined in with everyone else in the office crying and trying hopelessly to recover some of our lost money.

As funny as my story may be to some of you, it reminded me how vulnerable and common we all are when we connect our interest and resources to those the world has to offer. If it wasn't apparent before, this present financial meltdown ought to be evidence that our treasure must never be combined with the Enemies. Our treasure must be registered in heaven.

As we review the word of God found in Genesis 4, we note the two sons of Adam making spiritual investments unto God. Cain took his from the earth, while Abel from his livestock. The bible says God respected Abel's offering, but not Cain's. Now we could surmise what Cain did wrong and speculate as to the condition of his offering; but this one thing is for sure - God does not accept just anything. There is a gift that God will accept. There is an offering he has respect for. And there is an investment you and I can make in God that will never fail.

The more I looked at this scripture, the more I began to see something marvelous happening for us even at the very beginning of time. Please note, Abel gave a blood sacrifice, while Cain gave an earthly offering. I can only imagine that Cain was insulted and angry because he considered what he was giving to be of great value. I'd dare say he may have deemed his gift superior to Abel's; but God said, "No". And because Abel's gift challenged the piety and religious conviction obviously held by his brother, Cain killed him!

Well dear Child of God, doesn't that sound familiar? When our Lord Jesus challenged the religious notions of his day, his brethren killed him. But here's the blessed part. Remember what God said about Abel when Cain denied involvement with his disappearance? He said, "The voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground"!

God responded to the cry of the blood. For it was the atoning properties in the blood of animals that were later used for remission of sins for the people of Israel. And for those of us that know Jesus to be the perfect Lamb of God, it is his sinless blood that not only blots out our transgressions but also empowers and quickens our bodies to good works.

Dear child of God, don't get caught up in the snares of the world system. While we may use money as a means of exchange, it is neither the objective nor the goal. At best it is a tool to amass an audience to demonstrate the real riches of God - you and I. God doesn't want money or things; God wants you. The proper investment is you. He wants your life force, your essence, your body covered in His blood as an atoning force to bring others to him.

As one writer put it, 'the blood will never lose its power'.

God Bless.

Milton B. Hobbs
Pastor
New Covenant Fellowship

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