We've Come Along Way....But We Still Have A Long Way to Go

Joshua 3:15–17 NRSV

15 Now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest. So when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the edge of the water, 16 the waters flowing from above stood still, rising up in a single heap far off at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, while those flowing toward the sea of the Arabah, the Dead Sea, were wholly cut off. Then the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 While all Israel were crossing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, until the entire nation finished crossing over the Jordan.

We've Come Along Way....But We Still Have A Long Way to Go

THE NARRATIVE OF BLACK PEOPLE, AS TAUGHT BY MOST AMERICAN SCHOOLS, BEGINS WITH SLAVERY. BUT THAT’S NOT WHERE OUR STORY BEGINS; OUR STORY BEGINS IN AFRICA. FOR EACH BLACK AMERICAN, OUR STORY BEGINS IN A PARTICULAR PART OF AFRICA, WITH AN ETHNIC HISTORY, CULTURE, AND THRIVING COMMUNITY.

WE COME FROM KINGS….AND QUEENS….TRIBES WITH NUBIAN WARRIORS……FROM NIGERIA….GHANA….SENEGAL….GAMBIA…ANGOLA…CONGO

SINCE THE ORIGINS OF THE FIELD IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY, HISTORIANS AND INTELLECTUALS HAVE OFFERED VARIOUS ANSWERS TO THE QUESTION: "WHAT IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY?"

• SOME HAVE SEEN IT AS AN EXTENSION OR COROLLARY TO AMERICAN HISTORY

• SOME HAVE STRESSED THE INFLUENCE OF AFRICA ON AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY

• STILL OTHERS HAVE VIEWED AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY AS VITAL TO BLACK LIBERATION AND POWER

IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY AN OHIO LAWYER AND MINISTER - GEORGE WASHINGTON WILLIAMS - PUBLISHED THE FIRST SERIOUS WORK OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY IN 1882. HIS WORK, HISTORY OF THE NEGRO RACE IN AMERICA FROM 1619 TO 1880 - BEGAN WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST SLAVES IN THE NORTH AMERICAN COLONIES AND CONCENTRATED ON THE MAJOR EVENTS IN AMERICAN HISTORY THAT INVOLVED OR AFFECTED AFRICAN AMERICANS. WASHINGTON, IN HIS "NOTE" TO VOLUME TWO OF HIS BOOK, SAID THAT HIS PURPOSE WAS TO "TO LIFT THE NEGRO RACE TO ITS PEDESTAL IN AMERICAN HISTORY" AS WELL AS "TO INSTRUCT THE PRESENT, INFORM THE FUTURE."

I APPRECIATE THE WORK OF GEORGE WASHINGTON WILLIAMS AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT UPON WHERE GOD HAS BROUGHT US FROM AND TO INSTRUCT THE PRESENT, INFORM THE FUTURE.

We've Come Along Way....But We Still Have A Long Way to Go

NOW THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WERE FACING A BIG PROBLEM. THE RIVER WAS OVER ALMOST A MILE WIDE AND THERE WERE 2 MILLION PEOPLE WHO HAD TO CROSS, AND YET THE LORD WANTED THEM TO GO OVER.

THEY COULDN’T BUILD A BRIDGE; THERE WASN’T ENOUGH TIME OR MATERIALS.

THEY COULDN’T TRANSPORT EVERYONE OVER IN BOATS; THERE WERE NO BOATS AND THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN SITTING DUCKS FOR THEIR ENEMIES.

THERE WAS ONLY ONE WAY AROUND THEIR PROBLEM AND THAT WAS THROUGH IT!

AND SO WE SEE IN OUR TEXT THIS MORNING THAT THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE, HAVE CROSSED THE JORDAN AND STEPPED INTO THEIR INHERITANCE THAT GOD HAD PROMISED THEM.

AND I BELIEVE JUST LIKE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL THAT FACED THIS MASSIVE OBSTACLE…..BUT MADE IT THROUGH….

THEY HAVE COME A LONG WAY IN THE WILDERNESS……BUT THEY STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO.

THEY STILL HAVE BATTLES TO BE FOUGHT…..HILLS TO CLIMB…….AND OBSTACLES TO CONQUER. YES THEY HAVE COME A LONG WAY, BUT THEY STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO….

AND I BELIEVE THAT STATEMENT CAN BE MADE ABOUT AFRICAN AMERICANS TODAY….AS IT RELATES TO HOW OUR ANCESTORS HAD TO FIGHT BATTLES AND STRUGGLES TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

YES…WE’VE HAD THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN PRESIDENT…..BARRACK OBAMA……….THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN VICE PRESIDENT…..KAMALA HARRIS…..AND JUST THIS WEEK, THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN TO BE NOMINATED TO THE SUPREME COURT……KETANJI BROWN JACKSON.

WE HAVE CLIMBED SOME HILLS TO FOR JUSTICE (AND I USE THAT WORD LIGHTLY) IN THE KILLINGS OF GEORGE FLOYD AND AHMAUD ARBERY.

YET WE STILL FACE THE INJUSTICES OF OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN KILLED AT THE HANDS OF POLICE OFFICERS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS.

EVERY NOW AND THEN I THINK ABOUT OUR FOREFATHERS AND WHAT THEY HAD TO ENDURE AND GO THROUGH.

BECAUSE OF THEIR ENDURANCE, I AND WE AS AFRICAN-AMERICANS CAN ACHIEVE AND LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE WE CAN EXERCISE OUR FREEDOM.

I THINK ABOUT THOSE THAT HAVE COME BEFORE ME THAT PAVED THE WAY FOR US AND ENDURED STRUGGLES, SORROWS, HEARTACHES, AND PAINS.

I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THAT THEY MUST HAVE FELT AT TIMES.

FROM SLAVERY…TO JIM CROW……TO SEGREGATION…..AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT…..TO OUR PRESENT DAY AND AGE…..

SOME OF THE GREATEST HYMNS – CAME FROM THE TIME PERIOD WHEN OUR ANCESTORS WERE GOING THROUGH – NO RIGHTS IN THIS LAND AT ALL.

• IT IS THERE THAT WE LEARNED TO LEAN ON THE LORD

• IT IS THERE WE LEARNED TO SHED THE WEIGHT OF THIS WORLD

• IT IS THERE THAT GOD ALLOWED US TO BE STRIPPED BARE

• IT WAS THERE THAT WE BEGAN TO SING SONGS LIKE SOON I WILL BE DONE WITH THE TROUBLES OF THIS WORLD

• IT WAS THERE THAT WE BEGAN TO SING SONGS LIKE NOBODY KNOWS THE TROUBLE I’VE SEEN

• IT WAS THERE THAT WE BEGAN TO SING SONGS LIKE GUIDE ME OH THOU GREAT JEHOVAH, PILGRIM THROUGH THIS BARREN LAND

• IT IS THERE THAT GOD BEGAN TO PREPARE US FOR OUR JOURNEY UPWARD

THERE ARE TIMES MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS THAT GOD MUST BRING US DOWN BEFORE HE CAN BRING US UP.

WHEN I CONSIDER THE SAINTS OF OLD – GOD HAD TO BRING THEM LOW BEFORE HE COULD BRING THEM UP.

• JOB FELT AS THOUGH HE LOST IT ALL – BEFORE GOD RESTORED HIM

• MOSES FOUND HIMSELF ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE MIDIAN DESERT – BEFORE BECOMING FIRST PASTOR OF GOD’S PEOPLE

• JOSEPH THROWN IN A PIT – BEFORE SAVING GOD’S PEOPLE

• ELIJAH RUNNING FROM JEZEBEL AND SAYING GOD TAKE MY LIFE – BEFORE DOUBLE PORTION OF HIS ANOINTING WAS PASSED ON

• JEREMIAH WEEPING IN A DUNGEON – BEFORE RESTORATION WOULD COME

• PAUL KNOCKED OFF HIS BEAST ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS AND STOOD UP BLIND – BEFORE HE WOULD WRITE MORE THAN HALF OF THE NT

• JESUS IN A BORROWED TOMB BEFORE HE COULD BE RESURRECTED AND RECONCILE MANKIND

THERE ARE GREAT LESSONS TO BE LEARNED ABOUT WHERE WE’VE COME FROM.

WE’VE COME A LONG WAY….BUT WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO……, IT IS IN OUR CONTINUED JOURNEY THAT WE MUST CONTINUE TO TRUST IN GOD BECAUSE HE IS ABLE TO HELP US IN THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD THAT WE CAN BECOME TRULY DEPENDENT UPON HIM.

IT IS DURING THE HARDSHIPS OF LIFE THAT WE LEARN HOW TO LEAN AND DEPEND ON THE LORD.

THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL HAD TO LEARN TO TRUST IN THE LORD…..AND EVEN THOUGH THEY FAILED TIME AND TIME AGAIN IN DISOBEDIENCE….WE SEE THAT THE LORD NEVER GAVE UP ON THEM AND HE WILL NEVER GIVE UP ON US.

SO LET ME REMIND YOU MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS TODAY……

YOU ARE NOT A WEAK, DEFEATED PEOPLE, BUT A STRONG VICTORIOUS PEOPLE THAT GOD HAS GRACIOUSLY BLESSED WITH THE POTENTIAL NEEDED TO SUCCEED.

WE’VE COME A LONG WAY….MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS….FROM…..

GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER, INVENTOR OF OVER 300 PRODUCTS FROM PEANUTS AND 125 OTHERS FROM THE SWEET POTATO, SARAH BOONE, WHO INVENTED THE IRONING BOARD …. MADAM C.J. WALKER WHO INVENTED NUMEROUS HAIR CARE PRODUCTS. WE’VE COME A LONG WAY…. LLOYD P. RAY WHO INVENTED THE DUSTPAN, THOMAS W. STEWART THAT INVENTED THE MOP. GEORGE T. SAMON THE CLOTHES DRYER. JOHN LOVE THE PENCIL SHARPENER.

JOHN BURR WHO INVENTED THE LAWN MOWER, RICHARD SPIKES WHO INVENTED THE AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT, GARRETT A. MORGAN WHO INVENTED THE TRAFFIC LIGHT…… ALEXANDER MILES WHO INVENTED THE ELEVATOR….. LEWIS HOWARD LATIMER WHO INVENTED THE FILAMENT WITHIN THE LIGHT BULB, CHARLES DREW WHO DEVELOPED BLOOD STORAGE AND THE BLOOD BANK, DANIEL HALE WILLIAMS WHO PERFORMED THE FIRST OPEN-HEART SURGERY , THE GIFTED HANDS OF BEN CARSON ONE OF THE WORLD’S LEADING NEUROSURGEONS…….DR. PATRICIA BATH, THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN DOCTOR TO RECEIVE A PATENT, DEVISED THE LASER TO REMOVE CATARACTS FROM THE EYES. THE FIRST MAN TO GET TO THE NORTH POLE WAS AN AFRICAN, MATTHEW HENSON.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.,THAT LED THE NON-VIOLENT AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT …….YES WE’VE COME A LONG WAY……AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE SOME OF THE BEST GOLFERS, BOXERS, TENNIS PLAYERS, TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETES, BASKETBALL STARS, FOOTBALL PLAYERS, SOCCER STARS, BASEBALL PLAYERS, CRICKETERS, MUSICIANS, SINGERS, ACTORS, BUSINESSMEN AND WOMEN, DOCTORS, LAWYERS, ENGINEERS, PREACHERS, MILITARY LEADERS, POLITICIANS, DIPLOMATS, SCHOLARS, EDUCATORS ETC.

(1) KNOW WHO YOU ARE (2) KNOW WHO GOD IS AND LOOK TO GOD.

1. KNOW WHO YOU ARE

HEAR WHAT THE WORD OF GOD SAYS TO US, WHETHER WE ARE BLACK, BROWN, RED OR WHITE. KNOW THAT GOD MADE US.

PSALMS 100:3 “KNOW YE THAT THE LORD HE IS GOD: IT IS HE THAT HATH MADE US, AND NOT WE OURSELVES; WE ARE HIS PEOPLE, AND THE SHEEP OF HIS PASTURE.”

WHY DID GOD MAKE US?

I BELIEVE THAT….. GOD MADE US FOR HIMSELF.

ISAIAH 43:21 “THIS PEOPLE HAVE I FORMED FOR MYSELF; THEY SHALL SHEW FORTH MY PRAISE.”

WE EXIST FOR THE GLORY OF GOD, TO REFLECT WHO HE IS TO ALL OF HUMANITY, THAT GOD BE SEEN IN EVERY FACE REGARDLESS OF RACE IS THE DIVINE PURPOSE. WE BELONG TO GOD, VOLUNTARILY COMMITTED TO HIM AS HIS PERMANENT POSSESSION IN ONE SENSE BUT IN ANOTHER SENSE, WE ARE MORE THAN JUST SERVANTS, WE ARE THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD.

12BUT AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM, TO THEM GAVE HE POWER TO BECOME THE SONS OF GOD, EVEN TO THEM THAT BELIEVE ON HIS NAME: JOHN 1:12

WE ARE MADE HIS CHILDREN BY HIS ADOPTION

ROMANS 8:15—16 “FOR YE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE SPIRIT OF BONDAGE AGAIN TO FEAR; BUT YE HAVE RECEIVED THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION, WHEREBY WE CRY, ABBA, FATHER. 16THE SPIRIT ITSELF BEARETH WITNESS WITH OUR SPIRIT, THAT WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD:”

KNOW WHO YOU ARE. KNOW THAT YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD.

WE ARE GOD’S OWN PEOPLE. WE ARE GOD’S CHILDREN. WHEN WE TRULY UNDERSTAND THIS AND REALLY KNOW WHO WE ARE, WE WILL BE ABLE TO FULFILL OUR GOD-GIVEN ROLE ON THIS PLANET.

2. KNOW WHO GOD IS AND LOOK TO HIM

ONE THING THAT FASCINATES ME ABOUT GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER IS THAT HE NEVER PATENTED HIS INVENTIONS. HE WAS AN AGRICULTURAL SCIENTIST AND AN ACCOMPLISHED ARTIST WHEN PEOPLE WOULD ENCOURAGE HIM TO PATENT HIS INVENTIONS HE WOULD ARGUE THAT GOD GAVE THEM TO HIM SO HE COULD NOT SELL THEM. SOJOURNER TRUTH A GREAT BLACK PREACHING WOMAN ESCAPED SLAVERY AND BECAME AN ITINERANT EVANGELIST, TOUCHING MANY LIVES FOR CHRIST. BOOKER T. WASHINGTON AUTHOR OF THE BOOK, UP FROM SLAVERY AND FOUNDER OF THE TUSKEGEE INSTITUTE WAS A MAN OF HUMILITY, WISDOM AND DEEP CHRISTIAN FAITH. THESE AFRICAN AMERICANS HAD A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WAS NEEDED IN THE STRUGGLE. THEY LEARNED TO TAKE THEIR EYES OFF THE SITUATION AND LOOK TO GOD FOR THEIR HELP, AND WHEN GOD HELPED THEM THEY GAVE GOD THE GLORY.

SO MY ADMONITION IS “KNOW YOUR GOD AND LOOK TO HIM.”

LOOK TO THE LORD GOD OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND OF ISRAEL…” LOOK TO THE “CREATOR AND RULER OF THE UNIVERSE; THE ETERNAL, THE INFINITE SPIRIT; THE SUPREME BEING, THE ALMIGHTY AND THE OMNISCIENT.”

LOOK TO:

ELOHIM GOD ALMIGHTY.

EL SHADDAI GOD OF ETERNITY

ADONAI LORD AND MASTER

YAWEH LORD

JEHOVAH-JIREH GOD THE PROVIDER (GENESIS 22:8-14)

JEHOVAH-RAPHA THE LORD THAT HEALS US (EXODUS 15:23-26).

THE HEALER OF PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL

SICKNESSES, OR THE RESTORER OF HEALTH.

JEHOVAH-NISSI THE LORD OUR BANNER (EXODUS 17:8-15)

JEHOVAH-SHALOM THE LORD OUR PEACE (JUDGES 6:24)

JEHOVAH-SABAOTH THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE LORD WHO COMMANDS A MIGHTY ARMY (1SAMUEL 1:3, 11).

JEHOVAH-ELYON THE LORD MOST HIGH, POSSESSOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH (PSALM 7:17).

JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (JEREMIAH 23:5-6).

JEHOVAH-SHAMMA THE LORD IS PRESENT, THE LORD WHO NEVER LEAVES US ALONE (EZEKIEL 48:35).

LOOK TO HIM FOR HE ALONE IS GOD. IN HER SONG MIRIAM, MOSES’ SISTER, SANG:

“WHO AMONG THE GODS IS LIKE YOU, O LORD?

WHO IS LIKE YOU— MAJESTIC IN HOLINESS, AWESOME IN GLORY, WORKING WONDERS? EXODUS 15:11.

WITH HEARTFELT CRIES KING DAVID DECLARED: EVERY BONE IN MY BODY WILL SHOUT:

“NO ONE IS LIKE THE LORD!”YOU PROTECT THE HELPLESS FROM THOSE IN POWER; YOU SAVE THE POOR AND NEEDY, FROM THOSE WHO HURT THEM.

PSALM 35:10.

NO ONE IS LIKE YOU!

GOD IS GOD BECAUSE THERE IS NONE LIKE HIM.

GOD IS “INCOMPREHENSIBLE.” GOD CANNOT BE CONTAINED, LIMITED, FETTERED OR RESTRICTED BY ANYTHING. GOD CANNOT BE REDUCED TO ANY FORM OF HUMAN MANAGEABILITY. GOD IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE.

GOD CANNOT BE BUILT, BOUGHT OR BORROWED. GOD CANNOT BE CREATED, CONCEIVED, CONCEPTUALIZED.

GOD CANNOT BE COMPARED, CONVERTED, CONVEYED, CONDENSED, CONGEALED, CONSIGNED, CONSOLIDATED OR CORRESPONDED.

GOD CANNOT BE CONTRADICTED, CONTAMINATED, CONVICTED, CONVINCED, COUNTERACTED, CONVULSED, CRUMPLED, CRUSHED, OR CURTAILED.

GOD CANNOT BE DEPOSED, DETHRONED, DETAINED, DEFACED, DEFAMED, DEFEATED, DEFAULTED, DELETED.

GOD CANNOT BE DECREASED, DECEASED, DEFILED OR DEMISED.

GOD CANNOT BE DETERRED, DETHRONED, DEVALUED, DISABLED, DISARMED.

GOD CANNOT BE DISASSEMBLED, DISMANTLED, DISCARDED OR DISINTEGRATED.

GOD IS GOD AND WE ALL NEED TO KNOW GOD AND LOOK UP TO HIM.

STOP LOOKING ANYWHERE ELSE OR TO ANYONE ELSE. LOOK TO GOD. IN PSALMS 121:1 THE PSALMISTS ASKS POIGNANTLY, “SHOULD I LOOK UP TO THE HILLS FOR HELP? AND BY THE SPIRIT HE ANSWERS PROFOUNDLY, “MY HELP COMES FROM THE LORD WHO MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH.” PSALM 46:1 GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH, A VERY PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE, THEREFORE WE WILL NOT FEAR... PSALM 124:8OUR HELP IS IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, WHO MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH. KJV

FBC….

LIFT UP YOUR RIGHT HAND NOW AND SAY,

“I AM A CHILD OF GOD.”

SAY IT AGAIN,

“I AM A CHILD OF GOD.”

SAY, “I AM BORN AGAIN.”

SAY, “I AM REDEEMED.”

SAY, “I AM A NEW CREATION, BECAUSE I AM IN CHRIST.”

SAY, “I AM THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS.”

SAY, “I AM HIS WORKMANSHIP CREATED IN HIS IMAGE.”

SAY, “I AM OF THE CHOSEN GENERATION.”

SAY, “I AM OF THE ROYAL PRIESTHOOD.”

SAY, “I AM IN GOD’S HOLY NATION.”

SAY, “I AM WALKING IN THE LIGHT OF GOD.”

SAY, “I AM AN HEIR OF GOD.”

SAY “I AM A JOINT-HEIR WITH CHRIST.”

SAY, “I AM MORE THAN A CONQUEROR IN CHRIST JESUS.”

SAY, “I AM WELL PROTECTED.”

SAY, “I AM LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD.”

SAY, “I AM A CHILD OF GOD.”

SAY, “IN GOD’S EYES I AM A JEWEL.”