This is my first chance to Blog on behalf of our church in the New Year, and I wanted to use this opportunity to address a subject that is very important as we enter this New Year.

However, I must warn that to most Christians this is a very sore subject. Some even treat this subject as if it were not apart of the will of God for our lives. I want to talk about: “Change”.

In this past year, change has been a HUGE part of my personal life. Where I live changed, I moved to Thibodaux. What I do by vocation changed, I became the Sr. Pastor of this great church. The dynamic of our home life changed, I became a father for the first time to an adorable baby girl.

Changes have even occurred in our church. Changes such as, paint colors, chairs, style of music, ministries, & staff.  Change is hard for most of us. Some of us resist change because we dislike it, but change is inevitable.

We are at the beginning of a new Year. Some of us might not have wanted to see 2013 go because it was such a good year for us. Some of us are probably glad it’s gone because we're ready for a fresh start. The point is, no matter what our personal feelings are about change, in life, changes do occur. Some changes are for the worst and some for the better.  Change just happens!!!

At this time of year many among us are making lists of goals that they hope to accomplish to help them change and become better people. Often times we neglect the most important things that can and should change in our lives & we only focus on the carnal, physical, insignificant lists of life.

However Change is something we all need. It is an ongoing part of life. With its constant flux, life demands adjustments in our schedules and plans. Essentially, change is the new norm. But people's spiritual lives call for more than slight changes to the calendar. Our lives are in need of transformation. Jesus said it this way in His day:

John 3:1-8

1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” b4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

For more information on this subject please visit our FREE archives under the "messages" button on our website at www.thibfirstag.org. The sermon is entitled New Beginnings. I spoke on this subject for the first few weeks of 2014. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you will receive change from God's word.

                                                                     In Chirst, John E. Skipworth, Jr. 

                                                                                         John 17:3

"What Worship Is Not"

      Today as a Pastor I see generations of people coming into our churches that obviously know very little about worship- if anything at all. This is apparent by the lack of emphasis that people coming into the church place on worship. This is a very alarming and troubling issue for those of us who understand the great importance and value of a powerful worship experience in ones personal life of faith. I personally feel very strongly that the Lord has given me a burden for our church on this subject. Matter of fact, this is the very first sermon series the Lord impressed upon me to share with our congregation here at Thibodaux First Assembly. I believe it is time we begin to teach the young and the old alike again today about the true spiritual experience one can have during worship. In order for me to teach our church about worship, I must teach what worship is not. In order for me to do this then I must use John chapter 4. It is here where Jesus Himself lays out for us all some of the foundational truths about worship. In verses 1-24 our Lord teaches that worship...  I.  Is not a place it’s a person,  II.  Is not an exploit of a culture it's an experience in God, III.  Is not an action it is an actuality, IV.  Is not a style it's spiritual. For more on this subject please go to www.thibfirstag.org and click on the message link. Look for the Message entitled "Jesus' Explanation of Worship". Again, it is an honor to share with you the information that God has shared with me along my life of faith. 

I       

      In Christ, Pastor John E. Skipworth, Jr.

Two Aspects of Corporate Worship Many Never Understand

Have you ever been guilty of asking the question,"Why do we have to sing/ worship when we go to church"? How about this one? Have you ever said, "I wish they would just quit singing/ worshiping and let the preacher share his message"? The reason I ask these questions is because I have heard several people make comments like this during my years in the church. Several years ago I was on another church staff with many awesome and anointed leaders, and we embarked on a study journey that would prepare us staff pastors to preach in our respected areas on the subject of worship. After much study on this subject, I was astonished with some of the Biblical information which we discovered. For example, I became aware of the fact that it is only corporate praise that builds God the Father a throne to be seated on, Psalm 22:3. Also, I discovered that many times when kings of old would be seated upon their thrones they would issue judgements. Then I found out that when God is enthroned upon our praise to Him, He is indeed speaking. He is actually commanding blessings over us, His people, Psalm 133:1-3. What is it He is saying? Does the word of God give us any insight to what is being said? Well you guessed it, the answer is yes. Actually, Jesus is present in our worship service as well, Hebrews 2:12, and He is speaking what The Father is declaring over us from the throne room of heaven. I have only shard bits and pieces with you in this blog post. For more on this subject please visit www.thibfirstag.org and go to the messages link and find the message entitled, "Life Forevermore" and listen to the full message. If you will do this then I promise you will never look at worship time the same on your church attendances days. Plus, you will see how God the Father and Christ the Son are both speaking to us all during our worship time. It is my prayer that these truths will add to your walk of faith as they have mine.

Pastor John E. Skipworth, Jr.
II Peter 2:19

Streams That Make Glad

There is a prevalent way of thinking today, in some Christian circles, that says, “We must wait until we are in heaven to experience the good things that God has promised to us in His word.” For example, the book of Revelation states in the 22^nd chapter that in the New Jerusalem there will be a stream flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb. The text also describes to us that beside the stream are trees that have leaves for the healing of the nations. Many would read this and conclude that we must wait until that dispensation (time period) to experience God’s provision. But I disagree with this form of teaching. I do agree with the truth of the text that there will indeed be a stream flowing from the throne of God & the Lamb in the New Jerusalem with trees growing beside it, and on those trees there will be leaves that are health for the nations; however, if we do not search out the entirety of God’s Word on this subject matter, then we may never come to know God’s provision to us in the here and now. There is far more mentioned in His word on this particular truth that would reveal where this stream originates from, when it began to flow, and where it is flowing now. For more on this subject please go to http://www.thibfirstag.org/551843.ihtml and listen to the message entitled, "Streams That Make Glad". I hope you enjoy the message and are taught many things you did not already know.

In Christ, Pastor John E. Skipworth, Jr.

                  II Peter 2:19

Dear my brother in Christ

Dear my brother in Christ,

It is my desire to communicate the entirety of God with my futile vocabulary in this letter. I truly know that is a huge feat with such a small upstanding. I only hope & pray that it would be the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that would reveal to you the message that He has birthed in me.

To begin, I would like to chose the text of 2 Corinthians 13:14, "May the love of God, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, & the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with your spirit." In this short verse we come to understand the tri-unity of God & the chief attribute of each person.

Creation itself bears witness that there is a Creator. This Creator also created man. Our text suggest that God is a loving God & this truth is supported in many other places in Scripture. Out of this love, we have the awesome privilege of knowing Him & experiencing His love. Truly this is why we exist. To know & experience the love of God.  Do you?

Next, we see in our text that the person of Jesus distributes grace from the Godhead. This is not a cheap grace. It is very costly; it cost Him His own earthly life- one that He willingly surrendered so that you & I could be covered with His sinless sacrifice. This grace is our cleansing that has the power to forever separate us from our past. It is also the undeserved favor that we did not earn but will be needed to go on unto higher heights & endeavor onto deeper depths.

Lastly in the text we come to address the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Let me be very plain with you: where you are, you are going to need this divine fellowship. He is a voice that will comfort & instruct. He is the power that you will need to make tough decisions. He is also the power that you will never be able to effectively witness without. One last truth, my friend; only by receiving Him can you have the love of God spread in your heart.

All of this is only received & experienced in our lives if we are honest with ourselves & will admit our need to have this God come into our lives & captivate our every desire. I simply appeal to you out of love because I now live a life that was forever changed by this God. So please search your heart, be honest with yourself, bow your knee, surrender your heart & let Him free, forgive, & fortify you.

                                Love In Christ, John E. Skipworth, Jr.

                                          2 Corinthians 13:14

Beloved in the Lord,

As this day begins I could not help but think over yesterday's blog, & I thought about a revelation that God gave to me in 2004. It was in reference to the Divine trinity. I did not receive this revelation by way of man  nor did any man teach it to me. You see, while I was in prison I was personally challenged by a Muslin imam. For the Islamic faith they, the imams, are the equivalent of our own Pastors or Preachers & are very knowledgeable about their own faith. Because the Muslims do not believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, he personally challenged me to go and study so that I would know the truths of my own faith for myself. Now, years later, I am so glad that I was challenged because it led me to the knowledge of the truth.

I would like to start this article by asking you in your own mind to imagine a cube. This cube is going to represent God. Now in this cube there are three dimensions. There is the height, we will designate the height to the Father. Next we come to the width- it will represent the Son. And last we come to the length- it will represent the Holy Ghost. This cube can be a simple man made structure such as one room. Even a room in your own home. So just for imaginations sake, transfer this image in your mind to a room in your own home. Now just one room, nothing fancy, no joining rooms.

So if this structure, such as a room in your own home, which is a man made creation, can have three parts yet remain one, how could we ever dare to think God could not be the same or even greater? You see we are discussing one room & yet this one room is made up of three entirely different dimensions, but it still remains one room. The height is not the width, the width is not the length; they are all separate from one another, but yet joined together to create one room. So it is with the God of the Holy Scriptures. The Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Holy Ghost, these three are different but yet One (1 John 5:7).

Now to close with a word of exhortation. If you were going to take our one room in the metaphor above and begin to calculate every square foot of it, you would have to gather together all three dimensions. You will need the height, width, & the length. So it is with our own understanding of God. We have to not only know that there are three different persons in the Godhead, but we also have to take the time needed to get to know each of them in their own roles. Only then can we really say that we have a complete knowledge of God. But if all someone knows is the role of the Father & not the roles of the Son & the Holy Ghost, then they do not know the true God of the Bible. This would be the equivalent of a person attempting to calculate the total square footage of a room without all three dimensions. IT WILL NEVER WORK! So as I close, I urge you to challenge the Word of God, look into It, & get to know intimately the triune God that It reveals to us.

In Christ, Pastor John E. Skipworth, Jr.

A Dwelling In His Presence

This past Wednesday night @ 6:00 p.m. the Feast of Tabernacles began for the Jewish people, & we as a church were gathered together as one assembly to remember this appointed time of the Lord, Leviticus 23:31. I personally believe that these feast days are rich with types & shadows that can be studied for our admonishment & growth. This feast commemorated the Jews dwelling in tents when they left Egypt by the arm of God, Leviticus 23:43 & also caused them to look forward to a promise land, (Canaan). During this appointed time of the Lord the Jews would gather together in the holy city of Jerusalem to present themselves before Him with a special offering & to celebrate 8 days of festivities. Jesus taught & also performed many miracles during this 8 day feast to prove that He was the fulfillment of this feast & that because of His blood we could now enjoy every one of these blessings that the Jews looked forward to in hope as the realities of our lives, if we would just receive Him by faith. For more on this subject, and many others teachings please visit http://www.thibfirstag.org/551843.ihtml, all of which are free of charge. Our hope & prayer for you as a church is that you would live in possession of all that Christ died & was raised to give you.

Pastor John E. Skipworth, Jr