Bryant Stokes

About Bryant Stokes

Bryant Stokes is currently the Central Worship Director at Love Church, something he wouldn't trade for the world. If there is one thing you should know about him, he loves Jesus and fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies!

Posts by Bryant Stokes:

July 22 2021

Why Faith?

Bryant Stokes Blog, Contributor, new

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Why does having faith in God have to be so difficult? Why didn’t He just say, “Hard work is the solution to all things”? I mean come on, get real; wouldn’t my life be better if I worked harder at the things I wanted? Hard work has its rewards, no doubt about that. However, to accomplish all God has for you, it’s going to take more than your coordinated motor functions to achieve.

Faith is a spiritual concept and habit that has tangible rewards. The truth is that we are so used to our plans and agendas being at the center that the idea of faith creates an instant hurdle for us. To put it more bluntly, we want to be – and have been – lord of our own lives. Control much?!

If we are honest, we put our faith in lots of menial things that have no spiritual genesis. We believe chairs will hold us up when we sit down. We believe our tastebuds will work when we eat that delectable slice of cake. We even believe when we jump, we will come back down and land on our feet that thrust upwards in the first place. It’s like we’ve simplified our life and our own abilities into a simple equation: if/then.

Why the difficulty then when it comes to believing in God? You understand how a chair works, you understand how your tastebuds work, you even understand how your legs and feet work. The plan of God rests in the unknown.

What if I told you your life could be greater than it is now

The Bible in totality offers us heaps of narratives that give us experiential knowledge into the person of God and His plan for the earth and ultimately His plan for you. Most of us don’t actually take time to understand the character of God, so, when a pivotal decision comes up that requires faith, we default to our own abilities and understandings. If we follow our simple equation that we established earlier, it looks something like this: if I don’t know God, then I will not trust his plan for my life. A little bit deeper. If I don’t trust the infallible character of God, then I won’t trust the results either.

“No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them.”
Joshua 1:5-6 NLT

Joshua had seen, heard, felt and experienced the God of Moses, and it was incredible to say the least! But Joshua still needed a little push to be courageous and brave to step into a new place of leadership. I like to define faith as trusting God to be everything He says He is. So, God reassures Joshua that He will continue to be who He says He is. The God that Joshua has seen, heard, and felt. That, in itself, eliminates the unknown at the beginning of our equation. Now, let me propose this. If the infallible character of God starts the equation and we leave the results to the same infallible character, the only variable is… us and our lack of faith.

As Joshua moved forward in faith, we see God’s plan become tangible for Him and all of Israel. Pastor Tony Lutyk says it like this: “Faith is progressive in what it demands of us.” The difficulty is in continuing to trust God in the unknown. What if I told you your life could be greater than it is now and the only hurdle for that was you? Do you trust that God has incredible things planned for you and the only thing required is total faith in Him? Let me lay it out more simply:

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June 10 2021

Who’s Gonna Tell Them?

Bryant Stokes Blog, christian, Contributor, new

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Growing up, Juneteenth wasn’t something that my family and I readily celebrated. In all honesty, I think we were ignorant to a pretty significant fact in American History, more specifically African American History. After President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation (1863) freeing slaves, there was still a portion of slaves in the Confederate South who had not yet received word but, even if they had, wouldn’t have been legally able to apply such proclamation to their lives. It wasn’t until after the Union won the Civil War (1865) did this proclamation apply, legally, to EVERY slave. This proclamation no doubt held in its sub-text very strong socio-economic implications for the Confederacy at that time and the enforcement of that proclamation would have only come from the Union army. Imagine the tension, as word and enforcement finally made it to Texas.

From the mouth of General Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865, came to those slaves probably one of the most life changing moments. The proclamation they had been longing for. The legal separation from racially and economically motivated violent oppression. While those slave states which made up the confederacy held on to their principles for more than a hundred years after this proclamation, its historical significance is what we celebrate.

In observance of Juneteenth, I applaud those who were bold enough to stand for freedom in the face of adversity. I also recognize the insidious nature of sin to keep people bound. Time plays a huge part in this historical narrative. I see it in the limited but growing authority of President Lincoln, and the lack of submission and slothfulness to that authority by the confederate states. I see it in our current sociopolitical climate. The old saying goes: “Time heals all wounds.” To that I add, “Time also reveals all wounds.” As we progress, it becomes important that we observe our history so that we don’t repeat the same mistakes.

Time has taught me this. Restoration begins with equality. You cannot restore what you think less of. The cross levels the playing field for all people.

Time has taught me this. Restoration begins with equality. You cannot restore what you think less of. The cross levels the playing field for ALL PEOPLE. While we are equal at the foot of the cross, the process of working out that freedom will be relative to the person. Jesus came from heaven and put on human form to identify with humanity. Then, set us free by living a perfect life. Then, dying on the cross and being raised from dead with power over sin and death. His plan for all humanity all along was to restore us back to God. He accomplished that plan from the inside out. Similarly, the Emancipation began the tedious work of restoring humanity to African Americans.

Now, take a deep breath because I’m coming down your lane.

“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.” – Romans 5:6-9

As I was thinking about Juneteenth, our ignorance of it, and the correlation to power of the gospel, I kept coming back to this question: Why didn’t someone tell me earlier?

Here we are some 2000 years after the cross. After precedent and legislation in heaven has been set by the blood of Jesus to free us from sin, and there are some who are still ignorant to the violent oppression and bondage of sin. We, my Christian brothers and sisters, have people in our community who are still ignorant to the power of the gospel, simply because YOU haven’t told them. For what? I think we’ve lost the fervor and boldness to share the gospel because we have become too comfortable and are concerned with our own freedom. Too comfortable. Too comfortable with occasionally posting a scripture on social media as a means of evangelism. Too comfortable with the pastor being the one who wins souls. Too comfortable with criticizing our churches but not investing time or money in the success of it. Snap out of it saints, that comfort is making you lazy. You, having been made free, have an accountability to this freedom declaration.

According to Matthew 28, Jesus commanded the eleven disciples to now “go and make” disciples. This is what should encourage you. As stated by Roger Connor in his book, General Gordon Granger, General Granger was known for, “his strict attention to all the details of making a well-disciplined body of soldiers out of a mass of awkward men from every walk of life.” This well-disciplined man, although not infamous in comparison, was the man that carried a message that generationally changed lives. General Granger is now celebrated for his seemingly mundane execution of his duties.

Isaiah 61:1 says it like this: “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.”

Now we, like the disciples, have the opportunity having been taught the faith to carry this life changing message of emancipation to the oppressed because we’ve been equipped for it!

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March 11 2021

Keep it Holy

Bryant Stokes Blog, christian, Contributor, grace, holiness, holy, new, sacrifice, Trust

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Living biblically is living holy. The truth of the gospel demands spiritual submission. PERIOD. Yikes! There’s no easy way to say, read, or write that, but now that I’ve gotten that out of the way…

One reason I believe we struggle with the truth of holiness is this: God is perfect, and we aren’t. First off, holiness isn’t acquired by a litany of good works, but it is freely attributed to us because of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus and the blood He shed on the cross. That sacrifice not only covers us but presents us pure and holy (set apart) before God the Father. Therefore, holiness is not subject to, or a result of, your opinion or emotions. By definition, to be holy is to be consecrated unto God. Putting to death our sinful nature requires recognition of causal effect.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”

Romans 12:1 NKJV

Holiness isn’t about our perfection, it’s about submission to His perfection.

Not only was the sacrifice of Jesus great, but it was complete and necessary to redeem us from our fallen and sinful state. And, if we receive salvation by faith through grace, then we live holy by that same grace. I like to think of it like this: Grace covers the gap. Here’s what I mean. Even in the middle of my sin, which caused separation from me and a holy God, His grace, freely applied, actively fights for me to have communion with God because and through the blood of Jesus. Knowing that, His perfect sacrifice begins to take on a more impactful and practical form and inspires us to present ourselves as an offering to God as well. Holiness isn’t about our perfection, it’s about submission to His perfection. This is the part that keeps us humble. How much are we willing to give over to the Lordship of Christ? Is my sin — my broken patterns of thinking — more valuable to me than uninterrupted communion with my Heavenly Father? Holiness in every essence of the word will make you feel unworthy, and that’s ok because you are. We all are. You’ll begin to realize that the only reason that you are presented holy before God is not because of anything you’ve done or try to do, but because of what Jesus has done. Simply put, the death He died in your stead is what makes you holy.

Pastor Josh in the “How To Be A Christian” series put it like this:

If you underestimate the holiness of God, you will underestimate the severity and consequence of your sin.

If you underestimate the consequence of your sin, you will never understand why Jesus had to come.

If you don’t understand why Jesus had to come, you will never fully understand the finished and complete work of the cross.

If you don’t understand the finished and complete work of the cross, you will never understand the magnitude of your forgiveness.

If you don’t understand the magnitude of your forgiveness, you will never be fully passionate about Jesus.

When you are fully passionate about Jesus, you will pursue a life of holiness.

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

Titus 2:11-14 NKJV

The things listed above — the grace of God, salvation, and redemption — are all received by faith. In addition, denying ungodliness and worldly lust requires the grace of God to empower us to do it. When we are convicted of sin it doesn’t always feel good, but it is good. Conviction of sin is a sign that the gospel is working in you and at some point, or many points, our character becomes a better reflection of the character of Christ. If you haven’t caught it yet- Jesus is the beginning, middle, and end of this equation. Because of love, He came to earth. Because of love, He gave His life for us. Because of love, He conquered death, hell, and the grave and now presents us as righteous and holy before God the Father. And because of love, we offer our lives back to Him as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable.

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December 29 2020

Why Locusts?

Bryant Stokes Contributor, new Acceptance, Anxiety, Blog, Christ, Church, Disappointment, Doubt, Encouragment, Expectancy, Expectation, Faith, focus, Growth, Perspective, Prayer, Steadfastness

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.6.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-82px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||12px|||” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”0px||||false|false”][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.6.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”|0px||0px|false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.6.0″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https://8kwd60.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/WhyLocusts.jpg” title_text=”WhyLocusts” disabled_on=”off|off|on” _builder_version=”4.7.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||8px|||” border_radii=”on|8px|8px|8px|8px” box_shadow_style=”preset1″][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Neue Montreal||||||||” inline_fonts=”Ogg Medium”]Why Locusts?

I hate bugs. They always seem to strike a particular annoyance with me. Those little creatures seem to pop up at the most inopportune times. My first response is always to kill what annoys me, especially when the fate of its life is dependent upon my jolted emotional state. And if you’ve ever been bitten/stung by a bug, the bite stays for much longer than desired.

Ironic right?! that something God created can be so annoying? Why would God do that? Doesn’t He care how I feel about bugs? Doesn’t He know that when they bite, sting, or are just present that their effects carry long lasting impressions? Clearly he knows. He has to know.

I can think of three instances in the Bible where bugs, locusts in particular, were certainly necessary.

God will use whatever is necessary, whenever necessary to acquire and retain our attention.

In Exodus, locusts were used as a weapon against Pharaoh and the Egyptians. God used the stubbornness of Pharaoh to show His miraculous power on behalf of the Israelite slaves and through the command of Moses the swarm of locusts ate everything that grew from the ground.

In Joel, we receive word through the prophet that God will restore what the locust has eaten. The words of the prophet are incredibly specific to how it was lost and the fact that it will be restored.

“The Lord says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts…’” Joel 2:25 NLT

Lastly, in the Book of John, we find the Prophet John who lives in the wilderness eating wild locusts and honey. They were provided as a form of sustenance, as abnormal as it may be.

Here’s the epiphany. God will use whatever is necessary, whenever necessary to acquire and retain our attention.

In all three instances we see the character of God being reveled: as divine protector and deliverer, as a restorer, and as a keen provider. The small things in your life are merely signals that God is there with you. Prayer helps us navigate our emotions to find God in every situation.

According to Genesis, God created every living creature. His purpose and intention for each of them is divine and harmonious. The same goes for you. No matter what may annoyingly insert itself into your ecosystem, God is the sovereign sustainer of life and remains in complete control. My warning is this; don’t kill what God is using to protect, provide and restore you.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.6.0″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”80%” width_phone=”80%” width_last_edited=”on|tablet” max_width=”1920px” module_alignment=”center” locked=”off”][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.7.4″ background_color=”#ffffff” width=”100%” max_width=”1920px” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|true|true” custom_padding=”51px|60px|51px|60px|true|true” custom_padding_tablet=”60px|40px|60px|40px|true|true” custom_padding_phone=”40px|20px|40px|20px|true|true” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.1)” locked=”off”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.0.3″][et_pb_blurb title=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3IiLCJzZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJiZWZvcmUiOiJCeSAiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsIm5hbWVfZm9ybWF0IjoiZGlzcGxheV9uYW1lIiwibGluayI6Im9mZiIsImxpbmtfZGVzdGluYXRpb24iOiJhdXRob3JfYXJjaGl2ZSJ9fQ==@” image=”https://8kwd60.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/bryantbiophoto2020.png” image_max_width=”150px” content_max_width=”860px” image_tablet=”” image_phone=”” image_last_edited=”on|desktop” image_max_width_tablet=”150px” image_max_width_phone=”150px” image_max_width_last_edited=”on|tablet” _builder_version=”4.7.4″ _dynamic_attributes=”title,content” header_font=”New Montreal Medium|600|||||||” header_text_color=”#333333″ header_font_size=”22px” header_line_height=”1.4em” body_font=”Neue Montreal||||||||” body_font_size=”16px” body_line_height=”1.9em” text_orientation=”center” animation=”off” header_font_size_tablet=”18px” header_font_size_phone=”17px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” body_font_size_tablet=”15px” body_font_size_phone=”17px” body_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_css_main_element=”font-weight: 400;” border_radii_image=”on|200px|200px|200px|200px” box_shadow_style_image=”preset1″ box_shadow_vertical_image=”10px” box_shadow_blur_image=”20px” box_shadow_color_image=”rgba(0,0,0,0.1)”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3JfYmlvIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIifX0=@[/et_pb_blurb][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

October 13 2020

Deadly Silence

Bryant Stokes Contributor, new

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Praying the same prayers over and over can be discouraging. Where is God? Why is He taking so long to help me? Thoughts of despair, frustration, and shame can creep in quickly and be difficult to get rid of. I’ve discovered that the more I pray, the more I recognize I need God, and the more I recognize I need God, the more I pray. The act of prayer is not a heavenly ATM card, but it’s a way to build your faith. Prayer aligns our will, our thoughts, and our actions with Heaven and its timing.

David, the one who killed lions and giants, found himself in a compromising and potentially deadly predicament. The jealous and insecure King Saul sent numerous capable warriors to find David and kill him. The Bible says that King Saul pursued him relentlessly for a long period of time. I don’t know about you, but if someone was trying to kill me, my prayer life would be incredible. But in the same breath, I don’t think I would be singing praises to God while hiding and running for my life — just to be honest.

I’ve discovered that the more I pray, the more I recognize I need God, and the more I recognize I need God, the more I pray.

Our problems can sometimes feel that way. Problems can be oppressive, aggressive, and deadly to our inner self. Catch what David says in Psalms:

“But I will sing of Your power; Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; For You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble.”
Psalms 59:16 NKJV

While God hadn’t yet intervened, David was smart and bold enough to magnify the character of Christ in the middle of his deadly situation. He recognized that the Great Defender could still come through. He actively chose to look to God for the resolution of his situation. Sometimes the most simple thing can be the most difficult. Offering up prayer and praise while being pursued seems like too much to ask. In truth, it’s not, because it’s a matter of focus. Place your focus on The One who handles all things well. Here’s the hope; difficult things prove to us the strength of God. God isn’t scared of your problems; He’s waiting to handle them. He will handle them.

When we pray and couple our praise with it, Heaven stands at attention. I challenge you to find out who God is. Declare His word. Praise His character. Pray in faith. Then, watch Him come through for you. Breakthrough waits for faith filled prayers AND praise. Don’t be caught being silent.

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August 4 2020

Common Ground

Bryant Stokes Contributor

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Have you ever met a stranger and you struggle to come up with meaningful conversation? The awkward silence and pending social catastrophe can be too much to bear. Will they like me? Will I say something silly? Does my breath smell ok? Yes, I know I am being slightly dramatic, but I think you catch my drift.

Some of us overcome this fear by prying deeper, while others leave the fleeting initial interaction happy with shallow small talk. Either way, there looms a point where you have to decide if the conversation is worth having. Do I really want to know this person, or am I just going through the simple pleasantries?

Meeting new people can be hard, and finding common ground can prove more difficult.

If you press through, at some point you’ll discover the spark, the passion, that thing, and the conversation takes on a new trajectory. It’s as if the moment of mutual discovery was a gift, and the genesis for a new-found friendship.

“I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.” 1 Corinthians 1:10 NLT

As Paul begins to establish the church in Corinth, we come across this verse, in a series of foundational and unifying statements. He encourages the Corinthians believers to be “unified in thought and purpose”. Paul knows these believers come from many different walks of life, have been taught by different teachers, and are in the early stages of their faith.

So what is it that unifies them? Is it worth saying? Will they even understand?

To that end I graciously submit a simple truth in a complex time. That simple, unifying truth is this: Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

That may seem too simple to be impactful, but let’s dig a little deeper. For these believers in Corinth, this simple truth seemed to elude them regularly. They argued over who was the best teacher of this truth. They consistently reverted to the deceptive and destructive secular culture trying to sabotage this truth. They publicly quarreled over the most trivial things, and for whatever reason seemed to forget that Christ is the reason they found themselves together in the first place. Paul swiftly and intently reminds them to keep Christ at the center by standing on his apostolic authority given by the aforementioned Man.

I am particularly challenged, especially since isolation is a path easily taken. The difficulty of navigating disagreement seems too strenuous and the divisive political climate is tumultuous to say the least. It just seems so much easier to keep my faith to myself, ironically when most of my disagreements have been with people who read the same Bible I do. My mind is constantly filled with thoughts of acceptance and rejection, agreement and disagreement, peace and strife, right and wrong. I am so busy getting caught up in complex insecurities and fears, I forget this most simple truth and its invitation to relationship.

Like the Corinthian church, we are at that precipice of decision in navigating a time where faith and unity seem out of place. Sometimes we forget what our “yes” to Jesus actually means. We all share this common thread; that faith which began with Jesus. His life and death bring us new life, and we are now the righteousness of God and joint heirs with Christ. When we said “yes” to Jesus, our common ground was established, and the beauty of this discovery is the foundation for something much more impactful: Discipleship.

Bryant Stokes is currently the Manassas Campus Worship Director. Something he wouldn’t trade for the world. If there is one thing you should know about him. He loves Jesus and fresh baked chocolate chip cookies!

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Heavy Love

Bryant Stokes Contributor Love, Racism

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No doubt we are living in tense and turbulent times. Whether on the side of ignorance or advocacy, our current social climate is a storm few are ready to trek into. What do I say? What do I do? Who do I talk to about what I’m feeling?

No matter how well crafted the argument I may have, it will not be received without the driving force of change; Love. Intellect pales in comparison to a love expressed. Jesus knew it. He knew it to a depth that he was willing to give his life for it.

But it’s just a simple four letter word?!

Somehow, Paul an apostle of Christ, articulates this incredible revelation as he writes to the church in Corinth. A church planted in a region dominated by intellectual thinkers, savvy businessmen and loose morals. A church filled with people who had ideas about how things should go, how to handle civil disputes, and which teacher knew more concerning the hidden meanings in God’s word. Sounds all too relevant if you ask me. It’s ok, I’m not talking to you I’m talking to your neighbor! Secular culture can be erosive to the simplest things in life. So I offer you this…

“If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NLT

Next time you part your lips to say anything to anyone: if it is not laced with love, BE QUIET! To the atrocious injustices that flood the news, let love be your motivator for change, or STAY AT HOME! Simple statements, big action. As a Christian, that is the weight of your discipleship. A heavy love.

Injustice cannot stand when I love my brother and I hold myself accountable to a fierce love that was freely given to me. So, let’s not beat around the bush, the deeper question still arises. Do I love my brother? For some people who are reading this article your love is biased to people who look like you, or live where you live, or more deceptively dangerous you hold a color-blind love.

Peter, another apostle of Christ became afraid to eat with Gentiles in mixed company according to Galatians 2. Peter had an excuse for his divisive behavior, fear of rejection from other Jewish leaders. Paul confronts this contagious hypocrisy and superiority complex head on.

“When I saw that they were not following the truth of the gospel message, I said to Peter in front of all the others, “Since you, a Jew by birth, have discarded the Jewish laws and are living like a Gentile, why are you now trying to make these Gentiles follow the Jewish traditions?” Galatians 2:14 NLT

This distinction is important because at that time it was culturally frowned upon to eat with someone who wasn’t Jewish. When we realize the breadth of the unifying power of the cross we also recognize its depth of power for ALL people. Jesus died for me as a black man just as much as you. To discredit the difference is to amplify division. It is foolish for you to be Christian and understand the power of the cross if your private thoughts and public actions remain divisive. Injustice of the black community is injustice to the community as a whole. Let’s call it what it is: prejudice and racism. Ignorance to the pain of your brother is a silent crime, whether through willful overlooking or deflection. It then becomes way too easy to ignore a pain you are not a victim of. I challenge us all to see each other, skin color included, with the eyes of God. Through the eyes of love. Take up the pain of people who were excluded and, in this case, ignored. The justice that comes with love can never be silenced. This LOVE WILL NEVER BE POLITICIZED but those who carry it can be. I know I’m ruffling those subjective feathers now.

Paul defends this love and the understanding of it not only to his ministry equal but to those who are learning the faith. There is a responsibility to this heavy love. To express it properly, without reservation and without labels. Inherent in this love is an accountability to our differences and thus the far-reaching power of the cross.

Bryant Stokes is currently the Manassas Campus Worship Director, something he wouldn’t trade for the world. If there is one thing you should know about him, he loves Jesus and fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies!

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Your Light Has Come

Bryant Stokes Contributor Doubt, Fear

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As a child I was incredibly afraid of the dark. There wasn’t a thing you could say to me that would subside that fear. I can recount many nights where sleep was scarce, and the “night” time crawled by at a glacial pace. I dreaded bedtime because it also meant the unavoidable dark and that thought was bone-chilling.

One night my parents came into my room and had one of “those” talks. My dad sternly began with this question, “Do you think I would ever let anything happen to you?” I knew the answer was no but the fear I felt stood in protest. No matter how many nights went by I couldn’t seem to shake the lingering doubt in my father’s question.

One night, fear and I had a fight, and because I knew my mother to be a fiercely praying woman, my words were exactly this. I yelled at the top of my little boy lungs, “JESUS SAID YOU HAVE TO LEAVE ME ALONE!!”. Everyone in the house woke up and the lights revealed an emotionally stirred, tear drenched boy winning the internal struggle with fear.

May I propose to you that doubt and fear live in the dark. Like me, sometimes we question the validity of our Heavenly Father’s promises because of what we’ve experienced no matter what the situation may be. There is no question that we all have seasons of our lives that can be filled with confusion, doubt, fear, angst, anxiety, etc. Let me introduce you to doubting Thomas.

After being with Jesus as His disciple and making prolific statements to his loyalty and mission, Thomas experienced Jesus’ death and burial. Yet, somehow, he seemed to be absent when Jesus was back from the grave and visited the other disciples in miraculous form, according to John 20. The sun would set eight times before Thomas would have an encounter that propelled his faith in the man named Jesus. On the ninth day, Thomas experienced a reality that couldn’t be shaken.

Jesus invites us to experience the truth of who He says He is, like Thomas. His words are not empty, and He will certainly never leave you behind in the dark to struggle with doubt and fear. He will appear at just the right time to prove just how powerful He is. All you have to do is come out from under the covers and see the light and life that is Jesus. The faith filled victorious boy in me says you will win if you fight!

The bible describes Jesus as the complete fulfillment of the law and the embodiment of God’s redeeming plan for the earth. I want to challenge you to put God’s words to the test. Stop repeating mantras of fear that will keep you paralyzed and in states of unrest but instead declare the Word of the Lord over your life and circumstances.

Declare over your life, that your light has come.

No more living in darkness. YOUR LIGHT HAS COME

No more living in doubt and fear. YOUR LIGHT HAS COME.

No more anxiety and stress. YOUR LIGHT HAS COME.

As you declare the word of the Lord, you see the work of the Lord.