The Prophet Bessie

Good Monday Morning To You!

Let me begin by speaking to the men. Is your wife a prophet? Mine is. This past week I was working on a four point message titled “Coming With His Coming.” Miss Bessie asked me what I was preaching, and I told her a four point message. She said, “Do you mean a four part series?” I told her that it would be one message with four main points. She said, “No it won’t. You’ll preach a series.” This was her prophecy. I said, “No, not this time.” She stated that I would. I told her she was mistaken and set out to prove it. When all the sermonizing was complete and it was time to preach, I preached part one in a four part series called, “Coming With His Coming.” The Prophet Bessie was right again!

Yesterday was an awesome day at Friendship Harmony. We had a good service, and one came forward requesting Baptism and church membership. We welcome Bro. Tom into our fellowship.

Now, getting back to those notes I told you about, here is part one called, “The Coming Day.” I hope they are a blessing to you. The video will be available Tuesday afternoon. To view it go to www.youtube.com. From their homepage type in Friendship Harmony Baptist Church, then select the message you wish to see. Yesterday’s was, “Coming With His Coming.”

Coming With His Coming
Acts 1:9-11
Second Coming Series 1 of 4 By Victor Cooper
03/18-23/13

Intro: The Bible clearly affirms in many passages that Jesus is coming again. What happens with that coming?

#1 The Coming Day

I. The day of His coming will glorious for believers.
A. The day begins at the rapture of the church and will be the greatest day believers have ever seen.
Read I Thessalonians 4:13-18
1. The dead will be raised.
2. The living will be changed.
B. Believers will be in the presence of Christ. Read Revelation 4:1
1. A door is open in Heaven. Remember an open door is an invitation to enter.
2. The trumpet call in voice. This is what Paul spoke about in
I. Thessalonians 4:16-18.
3. These are the things John experienced, but are a picture of things to come for God’s children when the great day of the Lord begins.
II. That day begins a time known as the Tribulation and will be the most devastating time this earth has ever seen.
Malachi 4:1 (read)
A. The Anti-Christ is revealed. 2 Thess. 2:8-9
B. The Lord will laugh at the wicked. Psalm 37:13.
C. A cleansing is coming. Malachi 3:2

The question for the week comes from a reader who asked if a Pastor had to be ordained, and where was I ordained and when. Although ordination is not an absolute requirement, for legal reasons a man should be. Many states require a minister to be ordained in order to solemnize a wedding, and hospitals prefer ordination in order to receive clergy privileges. I was ordained by the Georgetown Baptist Church in Georgetown, Ohio in November of 1973. It was a special time for me, but I could feel the weight of responsibility as I undertook a lifelong commitment to serving Christ through the church. Don’t forget if you have a Biblical question, send it to me at fhbcsjc@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

I am told that many of you up north are experiencing some pretty bad weather. It looks like Old Man Winter wants to make one last attempt before he gives way to spring. Please stay safe, warm, and dry. I don’t want to hear about any accidents involving any of you. I’ll see you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic!!!

Can I Live A Holy Life?

Good Monday Morning To You.

My how the time flies. It seems like just a day or so ago that I wrote to you in last week’s blog. Last week I told you about a new feature in this blog; answering your questions. If you have any, please submit them to fhbcsjc@gmail.com. If you want a private answer, just let me know. In any event, I’ll never reveal your name.

This week’s question comes from someone who heard a message I preached several years ago. “You said there was only one archangel. All my life I have been taught there are several. Why do you claim there is only one, and which one is it?”

To answer, let me begin by naming the angel, and by defining the term, archangel. Michael is declared to be the archangel. The word archangel means “chief angel,” and comes from the Greek, “archaggelos.” I would direct your attention to the following two passages of Scripture.
Jude 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
Rev. 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels…

You will notice in Jude’s passage Michael is called “the archangel.” not “an archangel.” The idea of multiple archangels comes from writings known as “The Apocrypha.” These writings, while providing excellent historical and cultural information, are not part of the 66 books which make up our Holy Bible.

The passage in The Revelation says Michael and his angels fought the dragon and his angels. The dragon is Lucifer, the fallen angel, better known as Satan, or the devil. Some have even suggested that Lucifer was an archangel. This, however is Scripturally impossible as Ezekiel chapter 28 twice refers to him as a cherub, not an archangel. It has also been suggested that Gabriel is also an archangel, but the Bible is silent on this. Let your rule for Biblical interpretation be this: Where the Bible is silent, we must be silent.

Yesterday was another awesome day at Friendship Harmony. Some of our winter visitors are beginning to leave, and our church prays for their safe travel and for a healthy summer, but the attendance was still very good.

The message was called, “Holy Living.” The notes are below and the video will be posted on youtube possibly later today. I encourage you to watch the video. You can see it at www.youtube.com. From their homepage type in Friendship Harmony Baptist Church, then scroll to the message you’d like to see. If you find the videos useful, please tell your friends and family. If you have any suggestions as to how we can make our video ministry better, please feel free to share your ideas with me. You can send me a e-mail at fhbcsjc@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Holy Living
2 Corinthians 6:17
By Victor Cooper
03/13-16/13

Intro: In today’s world it seems that it is getting harder to tell believers and non believers apart. Christians must get back to holy living if the Church is to be relevant in our day.

I. Holy living begins with holy thinking.
A. Philip. 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
1. Keep focused.
2. When your mind wonders, return to your focus.
a. Choose from the list in Philip 4:8 and concentrate on that.
3. Exercise your mind.
4. Dr. Cooper’s Rx for holy thinking:
a. Upon awaking, read a devotion in a quiet place, maybe with your morning coffee or juice.
b. At some point in the day, take 5-10 minutes `with some soothing music and think about one or some of the things in Paul’s list.
c. At bedtime read a few passages of Scripture. Let yourself drift off to sleep meditating on the verses you have read.
d. Don’t give up at any point if your mind wanders; just get back to your focus.
B. Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13 both say, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Quote: “Many believers want to live a holy life until it’s time to live it.” Pastor Victor Cooper 3/17/13
1. Jesus said it is a choice - one that must be made!
2. Some believers do not want make the sacrifices needed in order to live a holy life. Jesus says they are neither hot nor cold. (Rev 3:15)
a. They full well understand the concept of a , “living sacrifice.” A living sacrifice wants off the altar when it starts getting hot.
3. Some believers do not know how to make the sacrifices needed in order to live a holy life.
a. It is usually due to some misconceptions.
Examples: You can’t laugh or joke; you can’t go to a sporting event; you can’t have non Christian friends; etc…

II. The result of holy thinking is holy living. Evidence of it is holy speaking. Matthew 15:11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
A. Isaiah wanted clean speech.
Isaiah 6:5-8 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. [6] Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: [7] And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. [8] Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
B. Jesus taught that what was in a person’s heart would be reflected in his/her speech.
1. holiness
2. un-holiness
3. fence straddling

Conclusion: Holy living is a choice. What will you do. Not what do you want to do, but what will you do?

I hope it is your heart’s desire to live a holy life before the Lord. Study the notes. Watch the video. In both you will find some easy and practical suggestions you can use in order to live a life that pleases our LORD. Have a good and a safe week. Contact me if I can ever be of service to you.

I’ll see you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic!!!

Some Promises From Jesus

Good Monday Morning To You!

What a pleasure it is to get to stop by and visit from week to week. I am so blessed to be able to communicate with you through this blog, and on our YouTube site. I know if Paul the Apostle would have had internet access in his day, he would have taken full advantage of it. Although he did not have it, we do. Because we do, we should use every means available to spread the Gospel. The Bible says in Luke 12:48 … For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required… We in 2013 have been given much. We must give back in return. We give back by using what God has given for His glory. Are you using your gifts and talents for Him? The story is told of a young clerk in a dry goods store who was converted to Christianity. He was taught the concept of tithing. He was told that you give a tenth of your income to God, and the other ninety percent you keep for yourself. The boy did not think this was fair. He felt it was more proper to give God the ninety percent and keep the tenth for himself. The young man was true to his word. His name? J. C. Penney. Need I say more?

Yesterday was an awesome day at Friendship Harmony. The congregational singing was such a tremendous blessing. Someone asked me a while back if we had a choir at our Church. I told them we certainly did. I told them our whole Church was the choir. Our folks really know how to, “raise the roof.”

The message came from John chapter 14. Although I love the entire word of God, John 14 is especially dear to me. In this chapter are many promises from Jesus. I cited three of those promises in the message, but in the actual sermon notes there are seven. I preached three of them, but on the notes I will give you below, you will find all seven. To preach all seven would have required a ninety minute message. I am not the kind of preacher who could hold a person’s attention that long. I’m simply not that good. I don’t even try to be. I enter the pulpit as a man who loves to preach and simply is who he is. I learned a long time ago that I cannot be anyone else but Vic Cooper. Here are those notes. The video should be posted by tomorrow afternoon and can be seen by going to www.youtube.com. From their home page, type in Friendship Harmony Baptist Church then select the message, "Some Promises From Jesus.

Some Promises From Jesus
selected from John 14
Victor Cooper
delivered 3/10/13


I. The promise of a future home. John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
A. Mansion or room?
1. room - RSV; NIV; NLT
2. dwelling place - NAS; NRS
3. mansion - KJV; NKJV; ASV; YLT
B. Which ever, it’s a place of constant fellowship with the LORD, so it’s all good.
C. John gives us a description in Revelation 21:1-22:5.

II. The promise of a face to face meeting with Him. John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
A. Your glorified body will allow you to see Him in all His glory.
1. If you’re blind in this life, don’t worry about it; you will see Jesus!
2. If you’re poor in this life, don’t worry about it; you will see Jesus!
3. If you’re nothing by this world’s standards, don’t worry about it; you will see Jesus!
B. Job believed it. Job 19:27a Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another…
C. Paul believed it. 1 Cor. 13:12a For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face:
D. Mrs. Breck in 1927 believed it. She wrote: “Face to face with Christ my Saviour, Face to face what will it be - When with rapture I behold Him, Jesus Christ who died for me?”

III. The promise of serving Him mightily. John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
A. Greater works than Jesus??? The apostles would not necessarily do more stupendous miracles than Jesus did (e.g., feeding 5,000) but their outreach would be greater (e.g., Peter in one sermon had 3,000 converts). This was possible because Jesus had gone to the Father and had sent the Spirit. Miracles are important, but some evangelists have done even greater things than these by preaching the good news to many thousands of people. Bible Knowledge Commentary
B. “What are you doing for Jesus? I challenge each of us to ask ourselves, then God that question. Then be still and wait on His response.” Pastor Vic Cooper

IV. The promise of supplied need. John 14:13-14 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [14] If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
A. Paul testified, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philip. 4:19
B. Notice, Paul taught supplied need. need> Gk. chreia>requirement
C. Jesus promise is not a blank check.
1. Jesus is not a cosmic Santa Clause.
2. His promise to supply your need is so that, “…the Father may be glorified in the Son.” v.13
D. Jesus taught us to, “…seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

V. The promise of earthly companionship with God.
A. The Holy Spirit is God. 1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
His divinity is established (1) from the fact that the names of God are ascribed to him and (2) that divine attributes are also ascribed to him: omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotence, and eternity. (3) Creation is ascribed to him, and the working of miracles. (4) Worship is required and ascribed to him. Easton’s 1897 Bible Dictionary
B. The Holy Spirit is real; He is referred to as a person.
His personality is proved (1) from the fact that the attributes of personality, as intelligence and volition, are ascribed to him. He reproves, helps, glorifies, intercedes. (2) He executes the offices peculiar only to a person. The very nature of these offices involves personal distinction.
Easton’s 1897 Bible Dictionary

VI. The promise of peace. John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
A. peace> Gk. eirene (I ray’ nay)> by implication, rest; quietness
1. Peace, here, is not the absence of strife. That’s called Heaven. Jesus said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
2. “Peace means you can sleep beside Jesus during the storm.” Pastor Vic Cooper
B. What is wrong with the peace the world gives?
1. The world can’t give something it doesn’t have.
a. The peace that means the absence of strife is not something the world possesses.
b. The peace that Jesus spoke of, eirene, quietness and rest, is not something the world possesses.

VII. The promise of rejoicing. John 14:28 Ye have heard how I saidunto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
A. Jesus staying meant the Holy Spirit could not come.
B. Jesus staying meant the promises He had just made could not be fulfilled.
C. Jesus going to the Father meant they could one day go as well.

Do you have a question that I can answer from Scriptures? Each week I will attempt to answer a question or two submitted from you, the fine readers of this Monday Morning Blog. E-mail your questions to fhbcsjc.com. If you would prefer a private, non public response, that is fine too.

Before I say goodbye, could I ask your help with something? As you know we are in week five of a six week building fund campaign. I set a challenge goal of $5000. To date we are less than $1600 from reaching our goal. Would you consider sending a gift of any size to help us one day buy land and erect a building? Your gift is tax deductible and can be mailed to Friendship Harmony Baptist Church; 2296 Date Street; St. James City, Florida, 33956. We thank you for whatever you can do.

Pray for me as I continue to prepare next Sunday Morning’s message titled “Holy Living.“ We will discuss what it means and how to do it. In the meanwhile, have a safe and healthy week, and I’ll see you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic!!!

Closed Doors

Good Friday Morning To You!

Yes, you read it right, I said good Friday morning. It seems that some of you did not receive last Monday’s blog, so I’m going to try again. I’m sure the problem was, “pilot error.” Any of my kids can tell you that I am not computer savvy. As a matter of fact, any tool in my hands: electronic, electrical, hand, or otherwise is a dangerous thing. My dad was very good with tools, as are my two boys, Jason and Kevin. That kind of talent skips a generation I am told.

Here is Monday’s blog, slightly updated.

Sunday at Friendship Harmony was a celebration of the Lord’s Supper. We have Communion with our Lord the first Sunday of every month. As we receive the bread and the juice, we think of the great sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf. It is hard to imagine Jesus loving me so much that He would suffer the horrors of the cross for me. I believe that if I was the only person on earth in need of redemption, Christ would still have gone to the cross. When I traveled the country singing Gospel music, we sang a song called, “When He Was On The Cross, I was On His Mind.” One of the most striking lines in the song says, “He knew me, yet He loved me.” Jesus loved me when I was in the filth and degradation of my sin. The Apostle Paul told the Romans, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. [7] For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. [8] But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8

Sunday was the final message in the four part series “Open Doors.” The title was, “When God Closes The Door.” God not only opens doors, but He also closes them. According to the text verse, Rev. 3:7, when God closes a door, it stays closed. It also teaches when God opens a door, no man can close it. Has God closed some doors in your life? Are you just as thankful for the closed doors as you are for the open ones? You should be. When God closes a door, it is for the best. If you were wandering aimlessly and about to go into a place full of danger, when suddenly someone closed the door to protect you from going in, would you not be grateful? I’m sure you would. That is what God does for you when He closes a door. The sermon notes are below and the video is posted on YouTube. You can view it at www.youtube.com. From their home page type in Friendship Harmony Baptist Church. When our icon comes up, find the message you’d like to see. There are several to choose from, so be sure to take in the entire series. Thank you for being a faithful reader of the blog. Here are the notes.

God’s Open Doors
Revelation 3:7
Series: God’s Doors By: Pastor Vic Cooper
4 of 4

When God Closes The Door

I. Only God can open or close one of His doors.
A. Angels can, also, but only at God’s calling.
1. Angels never act independently from God.
B. “To try to open a door God has shut is an exercise in futility and foolishness.” Pastor Vic Cooper

II. When God closes a door, it stays closed until He decides to reopen it.
A. God closed the door of the ark.
Genesis 7:16 (NASB-Updated) Those that entered, male and female of all flesh, entered as God had commanded him; and the Lord closed it behind him.
B. Noah and all family stayed aboard until God told them to leave. Genesis 8:15-16 And God spake unto Noah, saying, [16] Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee.
C. God closed a door to Daniel. Daniel 12:9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
D. God opened that door to John. Rev. 1:1, 19 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: [19] Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

III. Some doors God has no intentions of ever reopening.
A. Satan’s destiny is sealed and it is for ever. Rev. 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
B. The sinner’s punishment is also for ever.
Rev. 20:15; 22:10-11 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. [11] He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
1. The rich man of Luke 16:26 was told his punishment was for ever.
2. Psalm 37:9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.
C. The backslidden Christian can also face a closed door. Jeremiah 15:6 Thou hast forsaken me, saith the Lord, thou art gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee, and destroy thee; I am weary with repenting.

Conclusion: If God has opened a door, walk in. If God has closed a door, walk away.

I hope you are blessed with a safe and healthy week. Don’t forget to set your clocks ahead when you go to bed this coming Saturday night. If you’re in the area this coming Sunday, be sure to come to Friendship Harmony for a joyous time in the Lord. If not, be sure to visit us on YouTube, and again next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic!!!