Georgetown Kentucky (KY)

Permanently Closed; Ceased operations: December 31, 2008

Piedmont Alabama (AL)

What The Bible Says Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

Lessons Overview – 30 Minutes

Missionaries to Paraguay

? Temple Baptist Church - 4-21-2024Psalm 119:121-128? Introduction:? A. I keep reiterating this so as to not lose our perspective on the Psalm as a whole. There is an old saying, “You can't see the forest for the trees.” When we spend many weeks in Psalm 119, we see individual passages within the Psalm but can lose the perspective of the Psalm in its entirety.? B. Psalm 119: 176 verses, 22 stanzas, 8 verses in each stanza, each verse in the Hebrew begins with the corresponding letter of the Hebrew Alphabet. An amazing example of Divine Design.? 1. In Psalm 119, we find the magnification of the Word of God.? 2. In Psalm 119, we find a reciprocal relationship.? a) The relationship of the Word of God to the believer and? b) The relationship of the Believer to the Word of God.? c) The Word of God cannot maintain a relationship with the believer who does not maintain a relationship to the Word of God.? C. AIN –? ע? -? 16th? letter of the Hebrew Alphabet.? 1. AIN is translated “eye” or “sight.” Our sight brings things into perspective. Of all the organs or senses that can be lost, I believe that our sight would be worst case scenario.? 2. Some people such as Fanny Crosby and Hellen Keller, were born blind. To never have seen a sunrise or sunset, to have never seen a beautiful flower such as the rose, to have never seen the face of mother or father or sibling or friend, is to learn to operate in total darkness.? 3. There are other people who have lost sight through accidents or physical failures. The born blind know not what they are missing, but to have seen and lost sight is a terrible thing. Macular degeneration is one of the things that has affected members of our families.? 4. To be blind to the Word of God is to change our perspective of our circumstances and surroundings.? a) First Mention of “Vision” – 1 Samuel 3:1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days;? there was no open vision.? b) Short sightedness caused by a lack of the Word of God or the understanding of the Word of God. “Precious” – valuable, made rare, scarce.? c) Second Mention of “Vision” – Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.? d) “No vision” is tied to not keeping the Law or the Word of God.? D. We live in days of perplexity (confusing times) and spiritual disappointment (sorrowful times). Everything that is good is now bad, right is wrong and wrong is right, and there is no quick fix in sight. Sound bad enough for you. The reason that I continue to tell you this is because of our propensity to allow these days to discourage you.? E. The Word of God, in Psalm 119:105, is called a “lamp unto my feet” and a “light unto my path.”? Psalms 119:105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.? 1. Our Light is right but is no good to one who cannot see. Our perspective also needs to be right.? 2. A lamp and light are of no avail to one whose vision is impaired. To properly see the world and what is transpiring, there needs to be a right perspective which involves seeing it through the eyes of the Word of God.? F. Here in AIN, we find the biblical solution. Seeing things correctly through the “Lens of the Word of God!” Now, let me explain:? 1. I have impaired vision and have had it for many years. Therefore, I wear glasses that have tri-focal lenses. My vision is impaired up close, intermediately, and afar off. With my corrective glasses, I see well up close, intermediately, and afar off.? 2. The Word of God allows us to see this confusing, disappointing world through the eyes of God who knows the end from the beginning.? 3. I know that this introduction to this stanza is lengthy but feel that it is imperative that we know that, when seeing the world and circumstances through God's eyes, our perspective changes from disappointing to encouragement.? 1. Verses 121-122. The Word of God and Oppression. I have done right and am oppressed for it. For the first time in Psalm 119, we find the words “oppressors” and “oppress.” Through the lens of God's Word, we find that God is our surety, and He will not “leave” us at the mercy of those who hate us.? a. Oppressors are the wicked people who now control our nation and choose to persecute all who believe in God and are trying to live right with good citizenship. We are not their enemies, but they have become ours.? b. Oppression nowadays is an abuse of power, taking advantage of the underprivileged.? Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.? c. The Bible declares that God will take care of those who continue to do right.? 2. Verses 123-125. The Word of God and Salvation or Deliverance. Salvation for the Servant from the Sovereign. Through the lens of the Word of God, we see that God holds today and tomorrow in His hands. “I don't know about tomorrow … but I know Who holds tomorrow … and I know Who holds my hand!” Teach me and give me understanding through Thy Word.? a. We are His Servants.? b. He is our Sovereign Saviour.? c. Our lives are secure.? Isaiah 43:1-2 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. (2) When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.? 3. Verses 126-128. The Lord is Righteous. Through the lens of the Word of God, we can see the end from the beginning. God allows our suffering for a reason. He could deliver us from our problems but chooses to deliver us in our problems. The Lord is Righteous, and the Lord is Just. The Righteous Judge of all the earth will both reward the just and the unjust. As one man said, “Leave God's ‘toys' to God!” He knows what He is doing and everything will turn out alright in the end.? Psalms 58:11 So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.? a. Verse 126. It is time for Thee to work. Lord, it is about time that You do something to help. The world has made void God's Word in their hearts but cannot make God's Word void! His Word will stand after the Satan, the world, and the wicked are no more.? b. Verse 127. We are to love the Word of God and desire it above all earthly treasures. Job said to desire it more than our necessary food.? c. Verse 128. Through the lens of God's Word, we find that it is right in all things. We can see our up close problems, our intermediate future problems, and our long range problems with clarity and trust through the Word of God.

The power and importance of eloquence in the beautiful sermon.

A diverse coalition of religious groups was at the New York Court of Appeals yesterday to continue their fight against the state's abortion mandate. In? Diocese of Albany v. Harris,? a group of? Anglican and Catholic nuns, Catholic dioceses, Christian churches, and faith-based social ministries sued New York after it mandated that they cover abortion in their employee […]The post Catholic Nuns Fight in Court Against New York Mandate Forcing Them to Fund Abortions appeared first on LifeNews.com.

Escaping the nunnery to follow Christ led to a life full of service alongside one of the most seminal figures in Christianity.

? Temple Baptist Church - 3-31-2024Psalm 119:105-112? Introduction:? A.? Psalm 119: 176 verses, 22 stanzas, 8 verses in each stanza, each verse in the Hebrew begins with the corresponding letter of the Hebrew Alphabet.? An amazing example of Divine Design.? ? 1.? In Psalm 119, we find the magnification of the Word of God.? 2.? In Psalm 119, we find a reciprocal relationship.? a)? The relationship of the Word of God to the believer and? b)? The relationship of the Believer to the Word of God.? 3.? In Psalm 119, we find that a one-way relationship is no relationship at all!? If the Bible means little or nothing to the believer, then the Bible is of little or no help to him/her.? B.? Thus, the importance of our Bible, the Word of God is magnified in this Psalm.? Think about it.? 1.? What would we do without our Bible?? 2.? What would we know about God, Jesus Christ, creation, sin, and salvation without our Bible.? 3.? How would we fare in this life without our Bible.? We would be like sheep without a Shepherd!? A life of accident with no meaning.? C. Tonight, the Hebrew letter NUN is the fourteenth letter of the Hebrew Alphabet.? NUN means “faithfulness.”? ? The Psalm begins with Guidance in verse 105.? The older that we get in the Lord, the more we understand His faithfulness.? 2 Timothy 2:13? If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.? D.? In the first verse of NUN, we find the faithfulness of God in guidance from beginning to end.? Psalms 119:105? NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.? 1.? A Lamp to guard our Steps.? Our walk with God has a beginning and the Lamp of God's Word begins to guide each step.? Job 23:11? My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.? Psalms 37:23? The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.? 2.? A Light to light our Path.? Our walk with God has an ending as God's Word lights our Path till the end of the road.? ? a)? His Paths are Old Paths as God does not change.? Jeremiah 6:16? Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.? b)? His Paths are often hidden Paths as to keep our eyes upon both our steps and ultimate home.? Psalms 77:19? Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.? E.? The Word of God shows the Believer that God is Faithful to guide and teaches the Believer to be Faithful to follow!? 1.? Verse 105.? We will be Faithful in our Walk with God.? a.? The Word of God is faithful to guide our Walk.? Each step we take is a step in the light of the Lamp of God's Word.? If you have ever walked with a lamp, you will understand what the Psalmist is saying.? You cannot see much around or ahead of you when using a lamp.? But it shows you where you are stepping.? So many, when come to a place where a hard decision is made, we must rely on the Bible to show us the next step to take.? One step at a time and you will be fine.? b.? The Word of God is faithful to guide our Path.? While working in the coal mines, I wore a light on my hard hat. You could turn the button on the side of it to broaden the beam of light as to use it for close work.? You could also narrow the beam of light and see at a great distance.? We would call it a seal beamed light.? It show you down the path but did not reveal the individual steps that it would take to get there.? c.? We can see up close so as not to stumble and we can also see afar so as not to waver.? 1 John 1:5-7? This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.? (6)? If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:? (7)? But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.? 2.? Verse 106-108.? The Word of God is faithful to guide our Words.? a.? Verse 106.? Faithful to Keep our Word.? Our words or vows made to the Lord are to be kept in faithfulness.? So many begin right but end wrong.? They begin down the road of service but are distracted and enticed by other things that take precedence.? ? b.? Verse 107.? Faithful in our Afflictions.? So many serve the Lord when the going is good and great things are happening, but the Word of God helps us to trust the Lord with trial come and discouragement soon follows.? They use such words as “I used to do this or that but no longer do.? Faithful to death is what Paul said in 2 Timothy, chapter 4.? “I finished my course.”? c.? Verse 108.? The Word of God is faithful to guide our Worship.? Our offerings to God will be directed by being Bible oriented.? In Bible College, most young preachers with families were about as poor as a “church mouse.”? One preacher said that he was to broke to pay attention.? There was some thing that we said to encourage each other:? “Just praise the Lord anyhow!”? Worship is not based upon good or bad.? Worship is based upon Who and What our precious Lord means to us.? 3.? Verses 109-110.? The Word of God is faithful to guide:? a.? Verse 109.? The Word of God is faithful to guide our Thinking.? Our soul is in our hands.? The Word of God will help us to keep our hearts in line.? In order to remember something, we must have seen something, heard something, experienced something, or read something.? The value of having God's Word to read, hear, and study can expose us to Truth and have Scripture to remember when needed.? We also have the precious Holy Spirit to help us to recall what we have read, heard, and studied. The Old Testament believers did not have a house full of Bibles or carry electronic devices that have the Bible on them.? b.? Verse 110.? The Word of God is faithful to guide us around the Pitfalls and Traps of the wicked.? Satan is devious in his ways and his followers joy in watching the godly fall.? John 8:32? “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”? ? Job 33:26-28? He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.? (27)? He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;? (28)? He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.? 4.? Verses 111-112.? The Word of God is faithful to guide:? a.? Verse 111.? The Word of God is faithful to guide our Heart and our ways.? Many believers have not had a godly heritage and have, after salvation, adapted to the ways of God's Word and people.? What a wonderful spiritual heritage we have in common.? The same Father, the same Bible, the same family.? Proverbs 23:19? Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.? 2 Peter 1:1-3? Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:? (2)? Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,? (3)? According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:? b.? Verse 112.? The Word of God is faithful to guide our Lives for the rest of our lives.? Philippians 4:9? Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.? Philippians 1:20-21? According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.? (21)? For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.? Conclusion:? We live in a “dark world.”? A world darkened by sin and wickedness.? A dark world where right has become the enemy and wrong the friend.? The Word of God will Faithfully Guide the believer from beginning to end.? The Word of God is our Friend!