Early last week, a number of Answers in Genesis leadership members traveled to Pigeon Forge for the groundbreaking ceremony of a new outreach—a 5D virtual reality ride and planetarium.

? Temple Baptist Church - 4-28-2024Psalm 119:129-136? Introduction:? A. Psalm 119 contains 176 verses broken down into 22 stanzas with each stanza corresponding with a letter of the Hebrew Alphabet and each stanza containing 8 verses with each verse in the Hebrew beginning with the identified letter. In Psalm 119, we find the ultimate magnification of the Word of God. It is the belief in the Word of God that both identifies and separates the Biblicist from all else.? B. PE -? פ– the 17th? letter of the Hebrew Alphabet. PE means “mouth” or by extension “speech” “breath” “vocalization” Its numerical value is 80 which carries the meaning of strength or maturity. “Three score and ten or fourscore by reason of strength. Moses was 80 years old when he led Israel out of Egypt.? C. When speaking of the Word of God, we often use the expression “God Breathed.”? 1. God breathing out is Expiration. Inspiration is to infuse or to breathe in. When you die, you breathe out for the last time and expire. When you place someone on a ventilator or give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, the patient breathes in which is Inspiration.? 2. The best definition of Inspiration is found in Genesis, chapter 2.? Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and Adam became a living soul.? 3. God breathed into Adamis nostrils the breath of life. God infused eternal life into Adam and he became a living soul.? 4. All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God or is infused by God. God breathed into men the Word of God. These men breathed out the Word of God under the power and control of the Holy Ghost. The Word of God was infused or Inspired when properly recorded.? 2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.? 5. Many of the original manuscripts were a preservation of what the inspired speaker said.? This scribe was known as an “amanuensis”? A·man·u·en·sis (scribe, writer, copyist).? D. The First Mention of Said is found in Genesis, chapter 1.? Genesis 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.? E. The First Mention of Breath is found in Genesis, chapter 2. Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.? F. The First Mention of Voice is found Genesis, chapter 3.? Genesis 3:8-10 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. (9) And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? (10) And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.? 1. God spoke to men. An audible Voice.? 2. God spoke through men. An Inspired Voice.? 3. In both instances, the Word of God came from God, not man!? G. This 17th? Stanza begins with Wonder and ends with Weeping. You either love the Word of God and finding its wonder in the Volume of the Book or you reject the Word of God and find that weeping will be the result of such denial. You love the Bible, or you do not love the Bible. There can be no middle ground.? 1. Verse 129. God's Word inspires Wonder in the loving reader. Wonder of God's Word inspires Obedience to it. The Testimonies of the Word of God show both the Mind of God and the Will of God.? 2. Verse 130. God's Word giveth Light. The Light of God's Word gives Understanding. Obedience leads to Understanding. Once again, we revisit Psalm 119:105. “Thy word? is? a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Our understanding of the Word of God defines the what, how, and when of God. We understand what is going on in our day through the Light of the Scriptures. What God is doing, how God is doing it, and when God will do it.? 3. Verse 131. God's Word brings Desire and Thirsting. To pant after is to seek something with all your heart. Understanding leads to Desire. The Desire for the Word of God brings forth a desire for God!? Psalms 42:1 To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.? Psalms 63:1-2 A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; (2) To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.? 4. Verse 132. The Word of God introduces us to Goodness and Mercy. God is both Good and Merciful throughout the history of His people. Desire leads to Love. Desire leads to I have heard it said, “I want to get what I deserve.” My cry is the opposite: “I'm glad that I will not get what I deserve!” The word “mercy” in one form or another is found 277 times in the Bible, God's Breathed Word. God gave David that promise when He breathed out the 23rd? Psalm, a story of David's life in Christ Jesus from salvation until eternity.? Psalms 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.? 5. Verse 133. The Word of God Orders our Steps. Love leads to Guidance. God's footsteps are hidden but through the Word of God, they are ordered. God has both ordered and secured the steps of the righteous and clarified in the Word of God.? Psalms 77:19 Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.? Psalms 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.? 6. Verse 134. The Word of God brings us Deliverance. Guidance by the Breathed Word of God leads to Deliverance. Here we find deliverance from the enslavement of sin, the deception of Satan, and the oppression from sinners. Though battles had to be fought, Israel's victory had been assured through the Word of God.? Psalms 56:1-3 Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me. (2) Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High. (3) What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.? 7. Verse 135. The Word of God gives us Freedom. In Deliverance, we find Freedom. The Truth is the only thing that will make the child of God free. When King David repented of his sinfulness, God delivered him and answered his request. “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation!”? John 8:31-32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; (32) And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.? Psalms 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.? 8. Verse 136. The Breathed Word of God causes Weeping. In Freedom, we find Weeping. Oh, that this world would turn their eyes upon Jesus! The spoken Word became the Inscribed Word, and the Inscribed Word became the Incarnate Word! The Word of God is “God Breathed!”

Today's category: DrunksGive Me A Push? ? ? ? ? ? A man is in bed with his wife when there is a rat-a-tat-tat on the door. He rolls over and looks at his clock, and it's half past three in the morning. "I'm not getting out of bed at this time," he thinks, and rolls over.? ? ? ? ? ? Then, a louder knock follows. "Aren't you going to answer that?" says his wife.? ? ? ? ? ? So he drags himself out of bed and goes downstairs. He opens the door and there is man standing at the door. It didn't take the homeowner long to realize the man was drunk.? ? ? ? ? ? "Hi there," slurs the stranger. "Can you give me a push?"? ? ? ? ? ? "No, get lost. It's half past three. I was in bed," says the man and he slams the door. He goes back up to bed and tells his wife what happened.? ? ? ? ? ? "Dave, that wasn't very nice of you," she says.? ? ? ? ? ? "Remember that night we broke down in the pouring rain on the way to pick the kids up from the babysitter, and you had to knock on that man's house to get us started again? What would have happened if he'd told us to get lost?"? ? ? ? ? ? "But the guy was drunk," says the husband.? ? ? ? ? ? "It doesn't matter," says the wife. "He needs our help and it would be the Christian thing to help him." So the husband gets out of bed again, gets dressed, and goes downstairs. He opens the door, and not being able to see the stranger anywhere, he shouts, "Hey, do you still want a push?" And he hears a voice cry out, "Yeah, please." So, still being unable to see the stranger, he shouts,? ? ? ? ? ? "Where are you?"? ? ? ? ? ? "I'm over here," the stranger replies, "on your swing."View hundreds more jokes online.Email this joke to a friend

? Temple Baptist Church - 4-17-2024John 15:11? Introduction:? A.? In verse 11, we find two kinds of “Joy.”? ? 1.? My Joy.? “remain in you”? A Joy that is found ONLY in Jesus Christ!? ? a)? The Joy of Salvation.? The Joy of Sanctification.? The Joy of Security.? The Joy of Serving.? ? b)? The Key words are “remain in” which implies that the joy of God is given to every believer and can be removed by the believer.? ? ? ? c)? “Living for Jesus” is a song that describes our Joy that is found in abiding in Jesus Christ:? Living for Jesus, a life that is true,Striving to please Him in all that I do;Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,This is the pathway of blessing for me.Refrain:O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne;My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.Living for Jesus Who died in my place,Bearing on Calv'ry my sin and disgrace;Such love constrains me to answer His call,Follow His leading and give Him my all.Living for Jesus, wherever I am,Doing each duty in His holy Name;Willing to suffer affliction and loss,Deeming each trial a part of my cross.Living for Jesus through earth's little while,My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.2.? Your Joy.? The key words here are “be full.”? The implication here is that the believer can have Joy to some degree and still not have fulness of Joy.? To have fulness of Joy is totally tied to the “My Joy” that is found only in our abiding in Christ.? “I had rather be an old time Christian that anything I know!”? Nehemiah 8:10? Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.? 3.? “Your Joy!”? I hear so much “Woe is me” preaching in our day.? People live lives of quiet desperation because of circumstances while God wants His people to enjoy life!? He wants them to enjoy His creation!? Proverbs 15:13? A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.? Proverbs 17:22? A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.? Ecclesiastes 2:24? There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.? Ecclesiastes 3:10-13? I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.? (11)? He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.? (12)? I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.? (13)? And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.? Ecclesiastes 3:22? Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?? Ecclesiastes 5:18-19? Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.? (19)? Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.? Ecclesiastes 8:15? Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.? Ecclesiastes 9:7-9? Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.? (8)? Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.? (9)? Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.? B.? What is this joy of Christ?? I want to look at the best definition that I have ever seen, and it comes from your Bible because “My Joy” is not found in our circumstances which are subject to change.? It is completely found in the “God of my salvation” and the “God … my strength!”? *** Habakkuk 3:17-19? Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: ? (18)? Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. ? (19)? The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.? 1.? In these verses, we find both the “Cause” and “Effect” of the Christian's Joy.? The cause and effect is certainly not found in our circumstances as our days are so full for sin and sorrow!? Noah's Day, Lot's Day, Falling Away Days, Laodicean Days, Perilous Times all work together in our day to cause God's people to fret and fear.? Habakkuk used the word “Yet” to introduce “I will rejoice” and “I will joy!”? 2.? In Verses 18-19, we find the Cause of Joy:? a)? The God of my Salvation.? True Christian Joy comes from God in the form of Eternal Salvation.? John 15:13? Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.? b)? The LORD God, my Strength.? True Christian Joy is maintained in the spiritual Strength that comes from God, not circumstances.? John 15:5? I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.? 4.? In Verses 17-18, we find the Effect of Joy:? a)? Though things go wrong, and they do; though life is hard, and it is:? b)? Rejoicing comes from our inner fountain of Joy.? ? ? ? ? ? ? 5.? There was a day when praise and rejoicing were spontaneous, not something “worked up” by emotion.? “Popcorn Testimonies” have become a thing of the past.? We need to get our Joy back and Rejoicing will follow without having to be stirred or worked up.? Rejoicing is more than an emotion; it is a realization brought about by relationship and remembrance!? 6.? We live in days when pastors feel the necessity to stir our emotions with fleshly music and preaching as to produce rejoicing.? Thus, they become Promoters—not Pastors, Entertainers—not Preachers.? ? a.? A Pastor is none of these things.? He is to feed the flock of God, not stir them up.? Churches now have “Praise Leaders!”? ? b.? I find that preaching the Word is a divider because the Word brings about the knowledge of sin, the need for repentance, and division from the world.? c.? Rejoicing should be a spontaneous result of an inner Joy found in the Lord.? Rejoicing is a product of that inward Joy, not the cause of Joy.? Romans 12:12? ? Rejoicing in hope;? patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;? Philippians 3:1? ? Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord.? To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.? Philippians 4:4? ? Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.? 7.? The hymns of the Faith no longer cause Rejoicing, so the modern day “church” is now in the “Entertainment Business” instead of reproving, rebuking, and Exhorting with all longsuffering and doctrine.? Modern day preaching and music reflect the world because most professing “Christians” are more worldly than spiritual.? C.? Both rejoicing and joy are to be despite our circumstances, not because of them!? Most Christians live in discouragement with little joy.? ? Why?? The answer is simple.? 1.? Because Of Sinfulness - Matthew 24:12? And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.? ? (God's people are not drunks and harlots, but sin creeps in and we now walk at a guilty distance from God and the joy is gone.)? 2.? Because Of Our Situations - Matthew 14:30? But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.? ? (God's people have their eyes upon the “wind and waves” of circumstance and not upon Christ.? When Peter looked up instead of looking down, he saw the Lord of the “wind and waves” and once again walked on the water.)? D.? Many Christians live in defeat with no joy at all.? 1.? For The World, Joy Is Found In Circumstances – Luke 12:16-21? And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:? And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.? ? And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.? But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.? 2.? For The Christian, Joy Is Found Despite Circumstances - 2 Corinthians 7:4? Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.? 2 Corinthians 8:2? How that? in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty? abounded unto the riches of their liberality.Colossians 1:11? Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power,? unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;? 1 Thessalonians 1:6? And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord,? having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:? E.? Loss of joy comes through:? 1.? Losing the freshness of our salvation.? 2.? Losing the burning love for our Saviour.? 3.? Losing the excitement of our service.? WHERE THE CHRISTIAN FINDS HIS JOY? 1.? Christian Joy Is Found In Salvation - Luke 10:20? Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.? Psalms 35:9? And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall? rejoice in his salvation.? Psalms 51:12? Restore unto me? the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.? Psalms 132:16? I will also clothe her priests? with? salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.? Isaiah 12:3? Therefore? with joy? shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.? 2.? Christian Joy Is Found In The Holy Ghost - Romans 15:13? Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,? that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.? Joy Is Not Found In The Things Of The World - Romans 14:17? For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink;? but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.? 3.? Christian Joy Is Found In God's Word - Nehemiah 8:9-12? And Nehemia

Today's category: CreationWhy God Created Animals? ? ? ? ? ? A newly discovered chapter in the Book of Genesis has provided the answer to "Where do pets come from?" Adam said, "Lord, when I was in the garden, you walked with me everyday. Now I do not see you anymore. I am lonesome here and it is difficult for me to remember how much you love me."? ? ? ? ? ? And God said, "No problem! I will create a companion for you that will be with you forever and who will be a reflection of my love for you, so that you will love me even when you cannot see me. Regardless of how selfish or childish or unlovable you may be, this new companion will accept you as you are and will love you as I do, in spite of yourself."? ? ? ? ? ? And God created a new animal to be a companion for Adam. And it was a good animal. And God was pleased. And the new animal was pleased to be with Adam and he wagged his tail. And Adam said, "Lord, I have already named all the animals in the Kingdom and I cannot think of a name for this new animal."? ? ? ? ? ? And God said, "No problem! Because I have created this new animal to be a reflection of my love for you, his name will be a reflection of my own name, and you will call him DOG."? ? ? ? ? ? And Dog lived with Adam and was a companion to him and loved him. And Adam was comforted. And God was pleased. And Dog was content and wagged his tail.? ? ? ? ? ? After a while, it came to pass that Adam's guardian angel came to the Lord and said, "Lord, Adam has become filled with pride. He struts and preens like a peacock and he believes he is worthy of adoration. Dog has indeed taught him that he is loved, but perhaps too well."? ? ? ? ? ? And the Lord said, "No problem! I will create for him a companion who will be with him forever and who will see him as he is. The companion will remind him of his limitations, so he will know that he is not always worthy of adoration."? ? ? ? ? ? And God created CAT to be a companion to Adam. And Cat would not obey Adam. And when Adam gazed into Cat's eyes, he was reminded that he was not the supreme being. And Adam learned humility.? ? ? ? ? ? And God was pleased.? ? ? ? ? ? And Adam was greatly improved.? ? ? ? ? ? And Dog was happy.? ? ? ? ? ? And the Cat didn't give a hoot one way or the other.View hundreds more jokes online.Email this joke to a friend

Most pastors will tell you of the importance of small groups. Speaking from personal experience, I know that if someone is connected in a small group, there is a greater likelihood that they'll be involved in a wider mission and more involved within the local church's life. They also have a built-in support system to help them grow in Christ. A recent LifeWay study found what I already knew through personal experience—small groups are important. Scott McConnell summarized the study with these words:"Small groups and Sunday School classes provide the relational glue that allows a local congregation to be a place where people love one another. Groups and relationships that are centered on the Word of God unify a congregation and motivate people to work together on the mission of the church. Churches with few people participating in groups are not in a healthy position to make more disciples."? [1]We also know that, just as with Sunday morning attendance, there are more women than men in attendance—about 60-40. Why is it harder to get men to be actively involved in small groups? Do they not like going? Or are there other reasons?Before answering these questions, I should say that in my own experience, I have witnessed many men absolutely love going to small groups. If a man is engaged in other disciplines within the body of Christ, these "reasons" are usually not a big enough hurdle. And in my experience, many of the men who attend small groups say it's their favorite time of the weak. Nevertheless, it can be a tough hurdle for some to overcome. Here are some of those reasons: ? [1]? https://research.lifeway.com/2023/03/07/research-reveals-importance-of-small-groups-evangelism-assimilation-for-church-growth/Photo Courtesy:? ? Jantanee Rungpranomkorn from? Getty Images

Why should any of this be of great concern to Americans? To ask that question is to answer it.

Answers in Genesis is producing a brand-new Christian school Bible curriculum that is like no other—Twelve Stones Curriculum! Grades K–2 now available for preorder.

Fractured TrustDr. John GoetschThu, 04/11/2024 - 00:10 Every relationship is formed and perpetuated by an invisible link called trust. That binding link is forged through loving communication, meticulous integrity, and honest transparent motives.Trust is defined as “confidence, faith, belief, sureness, reliance, certitude, and conviction.” By its very nature, trust is generally built over time, yet it can be fractured instantaneously by a single word, action, or attitude. Though it's not impossible to rebuild trust, once it has been fractured, it's like a fractured bone—it doesn't heal immediately, and it has a huge impact on every aspect of one's life.? Our relationship with Jesus Christ is built on this trust factor. Most of us did not get saved the moment we first heard the gospel. It took some time for the Holy Spirit to gently draw us to the honest truths of God's Word as they were preached or shared with us. We listened to others share their testimonies of their confidence in God and eagerness to grow in their relationship with Him. We realized something was missing in our life, but we wanted to be certain that our faith was based on something concrete, real, and trustworthy. We recall the overwhelming assurance we received from God the moment our sins were forgiven and we became a child of God. Our trust then grew as we worshiped Him, obeyed Him, and served? Him.? Satan knows that the only way we can truly please God is with this whole-hearted trust and unwavering faith. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews? 11:6). Because Satan knows this, he is wholly and completely set on fracturing our trust in God. Note that he is not content with a slight stress fracture of your spiritual pinky finger. He has a sledgehammer, and he wields it with every intent to break every bone in your spiritual being. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).How exactly does Satan go about fracturing our trust? Let's go back to the beginning. God provided a beautiful place called the Garden of Eden for the first man and woman to live. After placing them there, He gave them a commandment: “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:16-17). This was a simple command, and in it God emphasized the freedom He was giving man: of all these trees “thou mayest freely eat.” God was in no way prohibiting man, but rather protecting him through His guidance and instruction.? When Satan enters the Garden in Genesis chapter 3 his strategy is quickly seen. He begins by planting a doubt in Adam's and Eve's minds about God. “. . . Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” (Genesis 3:1). He plants the thought in their minds that God is not trustworthy—that He is perhaps withholding something good from them and that He really does not have their best interest in mind. Satan then proceeds to suggest the opposite of God's words: “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die” (Genesis 3:4). He is slandering the very character of God by challenging His holy integrity and the trustworthiness of His Word. Adam and Eve took the bait, and the entire human race plunged into sin. All because of a fractured trust!Now let's be honest: we are not looking at a myriad of trees in a garden trying to figure out what we can eat and what we cannot. But the subtle strategy of Satan never changes, and we must likewise guard against a fractured trust.? We clearly read in God's Word that God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1), but we entertain thoughts of perhaps other possibilities based on scientific theories.? We read that God made two genders—male and female (Genesis 1:27)—and we look in the mirror and know that we are one or the other yet wonder if perhaps we should choose the opposite.? We read that “marriage is honorable” and sanctioned by God (Hebrews 13:4), but we imagine we might be missing out on something by remaining faithful to our spouse.? We read that God founded, empowers, and protects the local church (Matthew 16:18), but we think we might be happier with less involvement or commitment.? Once we allow ourselves that sliver of doubt, uncertainty, question, fear, suspicion, or distrust—we are in trouble. We then begin to look at everything in God's Word through that lens of uncertainty.? So, what do we do when we have allowed Satan to fracture our trust in God? What do we do when we find ourselves with doubts that are subtly displacing the solid trust we had in? God?The answer is simple: we go back to the truth. We remind ourselves that it is never God who fractures our trust. “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19). Indeed, we serve a God who “cannot lie” (Titus 1:2).? Jesus Himself is the truth: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). Rebuilding trust in God is a matter of turning to Him in faith and getting to know Him as He is. “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee” (Psalm 9:10).Just as it would be nearly impossible to walk a mile with two broken legs or to carry a heavy object with two broken arms, it is impossible to love God and live wholeheartedly for Him with a fractured trust. But when we turn in trust to God, we are blessed. “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him” (Psalm 34:8).? ? Category Christian Living Tags Faith Christian Living

? Temple Baptist Church - 4-7-2024Hebrews 13:1? Introduction:? A.? Chapter 13 is the “capstone” of the Book of Hebrews.? ? 1.? As all Hebrew Christian Epistles, the Book of Hebrews is a transitional book.? ? 2.? By interpretation, the Book of Hebrews is written to the Jewish believer.? ? 1 Peter 1:1? Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,? 3.? By application, the Book of Hebrews is written to every believer.? B.? It helped the Jewish believers transition:? 1.? From the Old Covenant to the New Covenant? 2.? From Law to Grace? 3.? From Mount Saini to Mount Zion? 4.? From “DO” to “Done”? 5.? From Atonement to Propitiation? 6.? From the Temple to the Local Church? 7.? From the Levitical Priesthood to the Individual Priesthood of the Believer? 8.? From the Mediation of Moses to the Mediation of Christ? 9.? From Individualism to Corporatism.? ? 10.? From Abraham's Bosom to Heaven? C.? Chapter 13 is all about the unity and innerworkings of the local church and the individual responsibilities within the body to each other, to the pastor, and to the church.? ? Paul begins this chapter with the “tie that binds our hearts in Christian love.”? The spiritual “glue” that holds together the individual pieces, believers, into a single piece, the local church.? Hebrews 13:1? Let brotherly love continue.? (Let or let not!? Let means to allow something to take place that would not naturally occur.)? 1.? In order to continue in love, you must start in love.? ? 1 John 4:7-8? Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.? (8)? He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.? 1 John 5:1? Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.? a.? So many profession believers have no real desire to be close to those who possess salvation.? You can tell by their desire to assemble or lack thereof.? You can tell by their distancing or closeness.? b.? They come to church because they feel that they must to be right with God but have no love for the church nor its people.? c.? “Have you started right?” is a question that needs to be answered as eternity hinges on it.? D. Temple Baptist Church cannot have unity, nor can it survive without Christian love permeating its pews.? The Bible says so much about this love that must continue so, let's let God define brotherly love for us.? John 13:34-35? A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.? (35)? By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.? John 15:17? These things I command you, that ye love one another.? Acts 2:1? And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.? Acts 2:46-47? And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,? (47)? Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.? Acts 4:32? And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.? Romans 12:9-10? Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.? (10)? Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;? Galatians 5:13? For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.? 1 Thessalonians 4:9? But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.? 2 Thessalonians 1:3? We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;? 1 Peter 1:22? Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:? 1 Peter 3:8-9? Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:? (9)? Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.? 1 Peter 4:8? And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.? 2 Peter 1:5-8? And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;? (6)? And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;? (7)? And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.? (8)? For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.? 1 John 2:7-10? Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.? (8)? Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.? (9)? He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.? (10)? He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.? E.? Brotherly love is also found in the word? charity.? ? 1 John 4:7-8, 12? ? (3)? Beloved, let us love one another:? (1)? for love is of God; and (8)? He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love ... ? (12)? No man hath seen God at any time.? (2)? ? If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.? 1.? Brotherly love issues from God –? “for love is of God”? 2.? Brotherly love is instilled in the believer by God –? “If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.”? 3.? Brotherly love must be maintained by the believer –? “Beloved, let us love one another:”? F.? Brotherly love must be a universal love, a consistent love, an overlooking love, an equal love of the brethren.? ? 1.? Brotherly love has nothing to do with social status.? 2.? Brotherly love has nothing to do with financial clout.? 3.? Brotherly love has nothing to do with ethnicity.? 4.? Brotherly love has nothing to do with gender.? 5.? Brotherly love has nothing to do with faithfulness.? 6.? Brotherly love is uniform from the pulpit to the pew.? From the pew to the pulpit.? From the back pew to the front pew.? ? G.? 1 Corinthians gives a Biblical definition of Charity or Brotherly Love.? I will not take the time to do a verse by verse exposition of chapter 13 but will give you the gist of it.? Brotherly love is the binding love of the brethren.? It is what holds the local church together.? ? 1.? Charity is longsuffering.? 2.? Charity is kind.? 3.? Charity is unselfish.? 4.? Charity behaves itself.? 5.? Charity is overlooking.? 6.? Charity hates evil but not the sinner.? 7.? Charity loves in truth.? H.? ? Brotherly love? is an unfailing love.? Times change but biblical charity endures.? 1.? In 1 Corinthians, chapter 13, Paul names three remaining gifts: faith, hope and charity.? 1 Corinthians 13:13? And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.? 2.? The greatest of the three remaining gifts is charity: brotherly love.? Our faith and our hope are anchored in the greatest of the three, Charity.? 3.? Over these past 37 years, we have had a multitude of people come THROUGH our church.? We were not what they were looking for!? Our church has endured a lot of things: trials, division, etc.? ? BUT? our church has endured because of its love for Christ and love for one another!? 4.? ? “LET BROTHERLY LOVE CONTINUE!”? ? I do not know what the future holds for Temple Baptist Church, but I do know that our love for Christ and each other will carry us through whatever comes our way.? a)? Let means that brotherly love may or may not continue.? Think about it.? b)? Let means that we, each one of us, has control of brotherly love's continuance.

? Last night we saw an answer to the prayers of many people. It has been our desire for many years now to have the opportunity to serve in the local jail by leading Bible studies. Over the last year, especially, Joseph Reidy has kept this prayer requests before us. We are so thankful this […]The post New Ministry at the Forsyth County Jail appeared first on Vision Baptist Church of South Forsyth.

Will your church be open this Sunday? This question has become more and more common over the last couple of months. Each time I answer with “Most certainly and I hope you will be able to join us!” I have felt like my answer has been missing something. Meeting as a church is vitally important. […]The post More than the Doors are Open appeared first on Vision Baptist Church of South Forsyth.

? Temple Baptist Church - 3-24-2024Psalm 119:97-104? Introduction:? A. Psalm 119 contains 176 verses with 22 stanzas and 8 verses per stanza with each verse in a stanza beginning with the corresponding letter of the Hebrew alphabet. An acrostic.? B. Tonight, I want to look at the 13th? stanza, verses 97-104, and the Hebrew letter MEM.? 1. This letter MEM has two different forms – the regular letter? מ, which is open at the bottom? and the special final letter? ם, which is closed. I wanted to mention this without spending a lot of time on it. We are not here tonight to learn the Hebrew language. We are here to convey a simple truth.? 2. The regular MEM? מ, represents everything that we understand while the special letter MEM? ם, represents everything that we do not comprehend.? 3. In Genesis, chapter 1, we find both uses of MEM in one verse.? In the story of the Creation, the text mentions that God separated the waters above the firmament and below it. The first? MEM? represents the waters above the firmament, which we and the second? MEM? the waters below the firmament. Therefore, this letter is connected to the element of water.? Genesis 1:7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.? 4. God made a division between the waters above the firmament, which we can see, and the waters below the firmament which we can only see that which is above ground with the water underground not seen.? 5. There are parts of the Bible that we know and understand. There are spiritual truths found in the Bible that are later grasped through continuation of study of the Scriptures.? 6. The numerical value of MEM is 40, an important number in the Bible as it signifies ripeness and maturity.? a) The life of Moses was split into three segments of 40 years. Each segment of 40 was a stage of development in his life and ministry.? b) The rains of the Great Flood lasted for 40 days.? c) Moses stayed on Mount Sinai for 40 days to receive the Law.? d) Jonah the prophet told the people of Ninveh that they had 40 days to repent.? e) The Children of Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years.? f) The LORD Jesus fasted 40 days before the Mount of Temptation.? C. MEM represents water. In this portion of the 119th? Psalm, I want to look at the Word of God in relationship to our spiritual understanding. Many of God's people have only head knowledge of God's Word but, in life, the Word of God has little practical use. Putting the Word of God into practice, especially in decision making.? D. In your Bible, water represents the Word of God.? Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,? John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.? John 4:10-14 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. (11) The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? (12) Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? (13) Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: (14) But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.? E. The common thread in these 8 verses is learning.? Proverbs 4:5-7 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. (6) Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. (7) Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.? 1. Verse 97. Knowledge. “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” The motivation for growing in God's Word is found in this verse. There are two aspects vital to our learning:? a. Love. “O how love I thy law! The words “O how” are exclamatory. This is a strong statement exemplifying the strength of “love I thy law!” Though punctuation is not a part of the actual text, the exclamation point at the end of the statement agrees with the wording. We will never gain knowledge of the Word of God unless we love the Word of God.? Job 23:11-12 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. (12) Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.? ? b. Meditation. “It is my meditation all the day.” Another key to knowledge of Scripture is meditation. Emersed in the Bible! Controlled by the Bible. As we saturate our minds and hearts with the Word of God, the Spirit of God can bring the Word to our remembrance when needed.? Isaiah 55:8-11 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. (9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (10) For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: (11) So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.? c. So, what's the problem in our day? Two-fold:? 1) It is a Pew Problem.? Hosea 4:1 Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.? Hebrews 5:11-12 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. (12) For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.? 2) It is a Pulpit Problem.? Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.? 2. Verse 98. Wisdom. “Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies.” Spiritual wisdom is greater than the wisdom of the world and will overcome the wicked.? a. The Master. “Thou … hast made me” is key to adding wisdom to knowledge. By my definition, wisdom is the right application of knowledge. When we love and meditate in God's Word, God the Holy Ghost will teach us how to use it in our daily lives and future days.? b. The Median. “through thy commandments”? Instead of the wisdom of the world which is good to some degree, the wisdom that comes through the application of the Word of God which is all good.? 3. Verse 99-102. Understanding. “Spiritual Engineering.” Knowledge is learning facts; wisdom it learning to put what you learn to work; Understanding is knowing why they work. What does understanding of God's commandment do?? a. Verse 98. They make you wiser than your enemies. You are not ignorant of Satan's devices.? b. Verse 99. They make you wise enough to be an example in both word and truth. You eventually become a teacher of teachers.? c. Verse 100. They make you wiser because you do not follow the wrong paths others before you have trodden.? d. Verse 101. They make you wise enough to know that sinfulness brings about a woeful end.? e. Verse 102. They make you wise enough to not think that you have “arrived” and are foolproof. Satan often attacks us in our strengths in stead of our weaknesses. Never get too wise to be smart!? 4. Verses 103-104. Never get to the place where you are no longer a learner. Often, teachers quit being students and become spiritually stale.? a. Keep the Word of God Sweet so as not to get Stale.? b. Keep the Word of God Faithfully to prevent going into the False Way.

Temple Baptist Church - 3-17-20242 Timothy 4:7? Introduction:? A.? March 22nd? will mark 37 years? that Barbara and I have been at Temple Baptist Church.? ? 1.? That is almost half of my lifetime!? ? Our children grew up here!? Laurens is our home!? Every day is a special day for this pastor when I walk through those doors and see our church family.? I often stop by the church while out visiting and many times just sit on the back pew where I can see the whole church or sit on the platform and look over the church.? I love to come here and sit and pray.? 2.? There has never been the slightest doubt? that this is where the Lord has placed me and never a time when I considered leaving or looking for another pastorate.? I am satisfied with God's amazing grace and providence that brought my family here so long ago.? I can still say that I love you better than Butter Pecan Ice Cream!? B.? We laughed and we cried!? Two special men went home to be with the Lord last year, Bro. Harold and Bro. Carroll!? What a loss for our church but what a gain for our heavenly home.? We will see them again soon.? C.? This last year, Barbara and I stood with you, and you have stayed with us.? ? I could ask for no more!? There have been good times and bad times.? There has been sickness and there has been health.? There have been fat times and there have been lean times.? There has been spring, summer, fall, and winter with times of growth and times of pruning.? Temple Baptist Church, you have proven yourself true and have positively affected this county and the world for Christ.? D.? Temple started right physically!? ? 1.? We started small but right!? Our faith was in the Lord and our foundation was in God's Word.? We were happy!? My family moved into the little house by the church, and it was home.? ? 2.? Today, we will eat? in a beautiful Fellowship Hall.? Then, we fellowshipped in the “hall!”? We were happy because we were in the perfect will of God, and we could lay our heads on our pillows at night knowing that what we were doing and had done was scriptural.? ? God blessed.? We began to take on missionary families and made this church a safe haven for them.? We have always taken good care of these special people and God has blessed us for it.? I have not tallied the numbers, but my estimate would be that we have put 3 million dollars or more on the mission field.? ? 3.? We chose to stay? in our building and remodel it as needed instead of building a larger one and allowing our debt to dictate our missions giving.? I am not knocking churches that build when they need to build but the bible says to be content with such things as you have.? In God's time, we paved our parking lot.? Remember the days when we had to push cars out of the red mud when we outgrew our graveled lot?? Those were special days.? ? 4.? When it was time,? God gave us a Fellowship Hall with SS classrooms.? When it was time, God gave us one of the most beautiful Prophet's Chambers that missionaries and evangelists have ever stayed in.? Now we also have a beautiful, cozy, feel right at home Mission House for God's special people.? E.? We started doctrinally right!? 1.? We taught our Sunday School? from the King James Bible; we filled our pulpit with the King James Bible; our people treated this property with respect; our people treated the pulpit with respect; our people have treated this pastor with respect.? We got rid of the Church Constitution and voted in the King James Bible as our authority for faith and practice.? 2.? We maintained the Old Paths? of doctrinal purity and separation.? We believed the Word of God and honored its doctrines.? We culled out the preachers and missionaries who compromised the bible and held the ones that we supported to the same standard that the church had.? We have never been “in your face” with who we are but we also have never apologized or capitulated.? ? "The New Testament Church did not depend on a moral majority, but rather on the holy minority. The Church right now has more fashion than passion, is more pathetic than prophetic, is more superficial than supernatural. The Church the Apostles ministered in was a suffering Church; today we have a sufficient Church. Events in the Spirit-controlled Church were amazing; in this day the Church is often just amusing. The New Testament Church was identified with persecutions; today many of us are identified with prosperity, popularity, and personalities.""Why Revival Tarries", Leonard Ravenhill? F.? I have preached from this verse? over the years but want to make a spiritual application on Homecoming Day, 2024.? Paul is ending his race and is summing it up in three aspects: he fought a good fight, he finished his course, and he kept the faith.? That is all God expected from this great man of God and that is all that God expects from Temple Baptist Church!? 1. We must Fight!? ? The Fight is not over!? We have had to fight from the very beginning and have continued to fight through these years.? Their faces have changed but the fight is the same.? As a church, we have weapons:? ? a.? ? The weapon of unity.? We must fight together.? When the enemies of God's Word begin their work of division, we must band together.? We are a “Band of Brothers and Sisters” here.? Too many churches have failed because people will not “answer the bell” for each round.? Most people do not like to fight and, unfortunately, most heretics or religious devils love to fight.? b.? ? The weapon of prayer.? The Lord is on our side because He loves the church more than we love it.? The church is His and we need to saturate our problems in prayer.? Pray and fight.? ? c.? ? The weapon of righteousness.? ? Our cause is just!? We war to keep our church right with the Lord.? We war to keep our church a nest in which to raise our young.? We war to keep our church's mission's outreach vibrant.? ? 2.? We must Finish!? We started right but it is possible to finish wrong or not to finish at all.? The bible does not say to finish “big” or to finish “popular.”? We are to finish our race with our spiritual integrity intact!? Today's mentality is “bigger” means that God is blessing, but many churches are “bigger” because they have allowed their churches to be worldly places for worldly people.? Starting right is great but finishing right is even greater.? 3.? We must keep the Faith!? We do so by maintaining or contending for:? ? a.? The Word of God.? ? The unending battle for Truth will continue as liberal theologians constantly undermine the foundation of our faith.? If the foundations can be destroyed, then what can the righteous do?? b.? The Old Paths.? The old ways are now being forsaken and mocked as liberal churches contend for our young people with the straw man of bridging the generation gap.? I find no place in the bible for a generation gap as the youth are to walk in the paths of their fathers!? ? c.? Separation from the world.? Church needs to be treated like church.? I, as a pastor, never come to this pulpit without a coat and tie on.? Do I wear a coat and tie all week?? I am a denim shirt and blue jeans man!? I believe it is right for the pastor to follow the old ways instead of the open shirt, casual dress of many.? When the church becomes casual, the worship will become casual!? The respect for God's house will be gone and it just becomes another building.? Conclusion:? Temple, we started right—we have remained right—let us finish the task that God has given us right!

? Temple Baptist Church - 3-10-2024Psalm 119:81-88? Introduction:? A. Tonight, we come to the 11th? stanza of Psalm 119? along with the accompanying 11th? Letter of the Hebrew Alphabet. These 22 stanzas of the Psalm show the relationship of the believer to the Word of God.? B. The 11th? letter of the Hebrew alphabet is CAPH? כַּ.? Once again, each of the 8 verses in this 11th? stanza, when written in Hebrew, begin with the letter? CAPH. With that being said, we need to have a proper definition or meaning for the letter.? C.? CAPH? כַּ? –? A hollow place such as the palm of a hand, a bowl, or a basin. A container. In type a place where the believer seems to be trapped and cannot get out of or a point which he cannot pass.? D. In this portion of Psalm 119, we find that the Psalmist is in an extreme situation? from which he can neither resolve nor can he escape it. There is a Latin phrase,? in extremis,? meaning “at the point of death" or “in the farthest reaches.” His situation is grave.? E.? Verses 88-89 are the two middle verses of Psalm 119 as verse 88 ends the first half? and 89 begins the second half.? Our stanza, the 11th? (verses 81-88) out of 22 stanzas, this forms the octave which has been called? “the midnight of the psalm.”? The Psalmist's? enemies have brought him to the lowest condition of anguish and depression; yet he is faithful to keep the Word of God (testimony) while remaining trustful in his God.? F. At some time in life, most of us find ourselves is such a strait.? A place that seems like we will never escape or get victory over in our own strength. Thus, the importance of the Word of God to the needy.? G. Let's look at three of our verses? as they make up the introduction and meaning of the stanza.? Psalms 119:84-86 How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me? (85) The proud? have digged pits? for me,? which are not after thy law.? (86) All thy commandments are faithful:? they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.? 1. The promise of persecution.? “persecute”? is used twice in these three verses.? 2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.? a) This world hated Christ before it hated us. We to him “without the camp” as bear His reproach. The “god of this world” has reproduced from himself “God” haters! John 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.? b) This world hates ALL who try to live godly lives as that kind of life exposes the world's ungodliness.? Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.? 2. The individuality of persecution.? “me”? There is and, from the days of Cain and Abel, always has been individual hatred. Why? Because Abel's sacrifice was godly, and Cain's was not! They persecuted Christ, and they will persecute us!? 3. The trap of persecution.? “have digged pits”? Pits means a “pit fall” or a “chasm.” These were normally traps for large animals, dug deep and camouflaged by covering with wood and sod. A place of no escape such as Joseph's brothers placed him into.? Psalms 119:85 The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.? 4. The injustice of persecution. “not after thy law … persecute me wrongfully”? These persecutors use the law unlawfully. We see much of that today as the justice system is weaponized against an enemy or opponent. Psalms 94:20 Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?? H. It is such a condition that we find the Palmist. It is not a place of his making. It is a place of containment from which there is seemingly no human way of escape. A place of impending death.? 1. Verse 81. The darkness of the hour. “My soul fainteth for thy salvation:? but? I hope in thy word!”? a. This is not fainting for a few minutes they then regathering of self allows one to get over it. I try to drive home to our people the importance of these supposedly “archaic” words so described by the liberal theologians.? b. “fainteth!” The result of open-ended waiting. The “eth” ending of faint means that it is in the continuing present tense. He has been here for a long time and sees no change coming in the immediate future.? c. The Psalmist knows that the only deliverance that will negate the persecution must come from the Lord.? d. “for thy salvation” Though fainting, the Psalmist is “hanging in there!”? Isaiah 40:29-31 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. (30) Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: (31) But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.? e. His faith is rightly placed. “I hope in thy Word.” The relationship of the Word of God and our hope!? 2. Verses 82-83. The dimness of the eye. “Mine eyes fail … I am become like a bottle in the smoke!”? a. Smoke, like the morning fog, obscures from seeing properly. I remember driving across Florida when the wildfires were out of control and smoke was so thick on the highways that they shut some of them down. No one could see well enough to drive.? b. Thus, it is with ongoing troubles in life. They begin to shroud life in general as they completely occupy our thinking and lives while dimming our spiritual eyes. When you cannot track God, you then learn to trust Him.? c. One of my favorite verses:? Psalms 77:19 Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.? d. The Psalmist's comfort will be found in the seen promises of an unseen work. “When wilt thou comfort me? … yet do I not forget thy statutes.”.3. Verse 84. The dilemma of the saint. Will justice come in my lifetime?? Psalms 119:84 How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?? a. The Psalmist did not know the length of his life. There are times when God answers prayers or brings about justice after the death of the one seeking it. God's time is not on our time, His thoughts are not our thoughts nor His ways our ways.? Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. (9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.? b. The Psalmist asks that oft asked request. When not if? One day, we know that God will bring to light the things of darkness and His justice will be swift, sure, and full.? 4. Verse 87. Relying on the promises of God. The Lord maketh no mistake in His operations. The Psalmist may not know how long, but he knows that God is faithful to both His Word and His people.? 5. Verse 88. Resting in the love of God. The Psalmist rests on the knowledge that the Lord will not forsake His own but will raise them up to sit on high. There is life before the trial and there will be life during the trial and there will be life after the trial.? Conclusion:? Hebrews 10:35-39 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. (36) For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. (37) For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. (38) Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. (39) But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

? Temple Baptist Church - 3-6-2024John 14:1-6? Introduction:? A.? Disclaimer time.? Don't you just love having to give a disclaimer because of the lack of biblical knowledge of most people?? So many people who never read the Bible get their “theology” from people who never read the Bible!? Oh, they read but they have no spiritual understanding.? B.? Some years back, the “Left Behind” series hit the bookstores and people everywhere what to know what was coming and where they stood with God.? This series was heretical.? Its vdery premise flew in the face of God as it contradicted what the Bible teaches about Eschatology.? I am not here tonight to either discuss or fix that.? ? C.? We teach these verses to show the unsaved how to be saved!? Jesus Christ alone!? His death, burial, and resurrection called the gospel is where salvation is found.? I have no problem at all with the application of the verses but that is not the interpretation within the context.? D.? The context is to saved men who feared being left behind, supposedly alone, and told that they would be with the Lord later not understanding where He was going or how to get there.? Both Peter and Thomas along with the other disciples (they allowed these two men to be the spokesmen), were afraid and confused.? E.? The questions asked:? 1.? Peter's problem was two-fold:? ? John 13:36-37? ? ? Simon Peter said unto him,? (1)? Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.? (37)? Peter said unto him,? (2)? Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.? 2.? Thomas' problem was two-fold:? ? John 14:5? Thomas saith unto him, Lord,? (1)? we know not whither thou goest; and? (2)? how can we know the way?? 3.? Now, I want to give these disciples a break!? Don't you just hate it when someone will not even give you the benefit of a doubt?? They had no Bible!? When the Lord spoke of resurrection, they had no examples other than Lazarus and it was the Lord who visibly and publicly raised him from the dead.? F.? Verse 6 does not settle a salvation problem though it does settle Who salvation is found in.? Christ!? These disciples did not need to be saved and the understood that salvation was through Jesus Christ. They were both saved!? Peter called Jesus Lord twice and Thomas called Jesus Lord once in the context.? G.? The context of verse 6 is both directional and correctional.? ? 1. Their questions were not caused by a lack of salvation but of insecurity in the impending absence of the Lord.? Lord, you are leaving, and we cannot go with you, but you said we will follow you to where you are.? ? 2.? ? Jesus' answer? was correctional.? How do we know where that is, and how do we get there?? ? a)? Religions and denominations here and around the world believe that the way to heaven either before salvation or after salvation is a “path” of their own making.? If you try to live right, treat your neighbor right, keep all the rules and regulations, you just might make it to heaven.? ? b)? Jesus Christ is the only Way of salvation, and He is the only Way to get to heaven!? 3.? Jesus' answer was directional.? ? a)? How do we get from this life and place to our eternal life and place?? ? b)? The answer is the same!? Jesus Christ!? He said that it is My Father's house (heaven) and I, Jesus, will take you there!? H.? Though we are saved, and have the truth, there are times when we are fretful and insecure.? 1.? “I am the Way!”? Not just the way of salvation but because Christ is coming back for them.? The way to somewhere has a starting point, a traveling point, and a finishing point.? ? a.? Jesus did not say that He was the end of the trip because He would be in His Father's house.? He simply said that He was the Way!? That is from the start of the trip throughout the trip until we end up where He is in the Father's house.? b.? As the Lord stood on the right hand of the Father as Stephen was dying, He will be with us from start to finish when we go through the Valley of the Shadow of Death.? c.? They, as well as we, will not have to cross Jordan alone.? ? d.? If we live until the rapture of the Church, it is the Lord Himself who will descend from heaven with a shout and the voice of the archangel.? If we die first, we will fear no evil because He will walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death with us.? Psalm 23.? e.? Jesus is the Way home!? He said that He would come and get them!? 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.? 2.? “I am the Truth!”? The Lord's promises for both the present and the future are secure.? ? 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.? Our Lord told His disciples that He must go while they must abide.? Yet, the Truth would remain with them.? b.? The disciples did not know at this time about the revelations that our Lord would later give to them and neither did they know about the fullness of the Holy Ghost Who would descend upon them.? He simply said, “Trust Me!”? c.? The Lord will say in a later chapter of John that it was expedient that He go away, otherwise the Comforter would not come.? Instead of dwelling with God, God would be dwelling within them.? d.? Grace and strength for every mile of the trip.? Their needs constantly being met by their Lord.? Sometimes, in our lives during hard times, God's promises happen a thrill per minute as He is always on time to meet our needs.? e.? The Truth that they would one day be “where I am.”? God's promises sure and secure!? 3.? “I Am the Life!”? The lives of the apostles are getting ready for a drastic change. It is in Christ that we live, move, and have our being.? ? Colossians 3:1-4? If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.? (2)? Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.? (3)? For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.? ? a.? Christ? is? their spiritual life.? Acts 4:12? Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.? b.? Christ is their temporal life.? ? It is in Christ that we live, move, and have our being.? ? Colossians 3:1-3? If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.? (2)? Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.? (3)? For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.? ? c.? Christ is their eternal life.? Matthew 28:20? “and, lo, I am with you alway,? even? unto the end of the world.”? Colossians 3:4? When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.? 4.? “No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.? Simply said, you have nothing at all to worry about it.? As salvation is all of Christ, the rest of the trip at that point is all of Christ.? We will all end up at “where I am!”? Conclusion:? Their hearts were troubled because their future seemed to be insecure.? Often our hearts become troubled and insecure.? The answer to troubled hearts is the same for both the disciples and us today.? The Lord Jesus used these verses to reassure them that they would shortly be “where I Am!”

What Does “Woke” Mean? And Why Does It Matter?Dr. Paul ChappellFri, 03/01/2024 - 16:49 Woke is an odd word—and not just because it is a past tense verb that is now commonly used as an adjective. It's odd because it has vague connotations without clear definitions. This ambiguity allows those who appreciate the word's implications to write off those who criticize its implications as “just not understanding its meaning.”? In conversations like this, clarity is always our friend. That's why I was thankful when someone from our Sheriff's Department recently asked me what I meant in using the word woke. This individual is not a believer, and I was happy to answer his question from a Christian perspective.? Below is a lightly-edited copy of the letter that I wrote him. I thought it may be helpful to readers of this blog who have similar conversations with law enforcement or others who are seeking clarity on our concerns over the radical changes in our society that are being furthered under the banner of wokism.? Thanks for asking about the definition of “woke.” I wasn't sure if the question was asked personally or on behalf of the Sheriff, but I am happy to share a few thoughts.? Many of us had never heard the term woke until a few years ago. Prior to that time, it was used simply to describe people who felt awakened to the injustices of racism. In recent years, however, it seems the word has been highjacked by political activists who are often far-left or socialistic in their views and have a larger agenda in mind than standing against racism.? Although I cannot in this short space define the whole woke philosophy as is commonly applied today, I can point out a few frequently used terms and highlight some of their implications.? Social Justice: This is a broad term that often defeats the principles of “equal justice under the law.” Social justice focuses on enforcing equal outcomes for everyone. In this way, it leans into socialism. And amazingly, “social justice” doesn't bring justice to the average citizen, as it focuses on groups rather than on individuals' misconduct or good accomplishments. The end result, as philosopher Friedrich Hayek observed, is that people must be treated unequally in order to create equal outcomes: “And that's what social justice amounts to. It's a demand that the state should treat people differently in order to place them in the same position. . . .To make people equal a goal of governmental policy would force government to treat people very unequally indeed.”? Critical Race Theory (CRT): Under the guise of exposing racism, CRT actually suggests a reverse racism by insisting that the color of one's skin determines whether or not he or she is racist. As one author explained, “Even if a white person has never had a genuinely racist thought…he is still a racist, white supremacist, because he is white and belongs to the majority” (Ronnie W. Rogers, “Understanding the Terms…” blog post). This kind of insistence on seeing everything through the lens of race brings division to communities.LGBTQ Promotion: For many years, the LGBTQ movement has sought to align with the woke activists to gain influence, and that strategy is working. Woke activists aggressively promote sexual behavior and lifestyles through celebrations and legislation with new laws and vocabulary introduced regularly (cisgender, transgender, cultural appropriation, intersectionality, conscious capitalism, etc.). They have enshrined these numerous terms which are now being forced upon the public. The woke agenda also belittles the nuclear, or biblical, family model. Yet strong families are a strength in any society. While claiming to be marginalized, the woke and LBGTQ lobbies in this state are well-represented in government positions and dominant in political circles. Most concerningly, they are now targeting children and prohibiting parents and teachers from speaking up. For instance, CA Bill AB 957 which was put before the California legislature and passed both houses before being vetoed by the governor, said a non-consenting parent of an under-aged child would lose custody if that parent refused a mastectomy or castration (sex re-assignment surgery) for his or her child. Only the “gender affirming” parent is deemed fit to parent a child who may actually be suffering from dysphoria. Additionally, teachers have been fired from their jobs for refusing to go along with these new ideals. (One local example is Jessica Tapias, a teacher in Riverside County, who was fired just this year for refusing to hide gender transitions from parents of young children.)Economic Equity: This aims to reduce the income gap between the poor and middle class—not by increasing economic opportunity for minority groups, but by taking from the middle class by way of taxes and/or not prosecuting theft. Wealth redistribution is a common theme in woke literature.Again, this is a very high-end summary, and more could be said. But the larger point is that, while every American should stand against racism, wokism actually focuses on emphasizing differences between race and seems to have an end agenda of the disruption of society.? In particular, it leads to concerning philosophies as it relates to law enforcement. The interpretation of social justice by woke activists has led to practices such as zero-bail policies, refusing to prosecute crime, and large-scale defunding of and/or disrespect for law enforcement.? These policies, which are supported by left-leaning financiers such as George Soros and others, have been adopted by the Los Angeles District Attorney. The training of these policies has been disseminated throughout Southern Californian governmental agencies. What has been the result?? Increase in crimeIgniting class and race warfareDiscouragement and apathy among law enforcement, including many LA County deputiesFor instance, another bill recently passed the California legislature (AB 852) that requires judges to base their sentencing on race, rather than on crime. The essence of the bill is that someone who is a minority should not be prosecuted to the same extent as someone who is Caucasian because of past injustices. This is the actual opposite of Martin Luther King Jr.'s aspiration that people “not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”The woke philosophy applied to law enforcement has essentially emboldened the criminal element of communities. No doubt, you have seen this with grab-and-go robberies of high-end stores and hit and run accidents. In places where the criminal element of a community is emboldened, the rank-and-file deputies as well as law enforcement in general have become discouraged. I know the citizens of the Antelope Valley as well as anyone, and I can tell you they are discouraged by the emboldened attitude of those who run red lights, commit robbery, and worse.? As a pastor of thirty-seven years here in Los Angeles County, I care about the safety of our citizens and the wellbeing of our law enforcement community. I am concerned to see crime on the rise and criminals emboldened. I'm saddened, too, to see these issues tied to race. I've preached here in our community for nearly four decades against racism, and I know that all people are made in the image of God.? Theologically and biblically, I believe that all humans fall short of God's perfection (Romans 3:23). None of us are better than others. We have all broken God's law, and we all need redemption through the finished work of Christ for us (Romans 6:23). Whoever calls to God, acknowledges his or her sin, and receives Christ as Savior may have forgiveness and peace with God. I realize this last point is another, although related, topic. But I am happy to discuss it with you at some point in time.? I realize there is political pressure because many woke activists are political donors. Yet, I believe the Sheriff's Department must not be guided by the woke agenda, but by the law. Without law and order, nothing else works in society. Certainly, our new Captain in Lancaster or anyone in the department should be advanced based on integrity, respect, leadership, and a history of good policing. They should not be affirmed because of adherence to a particular dogma such as “wokism.”Thank you for your service to our community. Please know that I am here to help you and our law enforcement community in any way that I can.? Your Friend,Paul Chappell? P. S. I'm happy to provide additional resources on wokism and woke interpretations of social justice if these would be a help to you. A few that may be a help are Fault Lines by Voddie Baucham Jr. and Woke, Inc. by Vivek Ramaswamy. I have written a minibook on this topic titled Which Justice? which I would be glad to send you. Category Christian Living

Jesus' Answer to Overcoming AnxietyDr. George CrabbThu, 02/01/2024 - 02:00 A Biblical Treatment for the Anxious Mind All of us desire to live with greater faith in God. We want to “trust in Him”—not just as a mantra, but as a way of life. Yet, for many believers, crippling anxiety has become their norm. Over and over, anxious worries play at their minds, stuck on an unwelcome? repeat.? Where do we turn when anxiety takes hold? And how can those of us who serve as biblical counselors guide anxious Christians to a renewed trust in the Lord?? There are many passages throughout God's Word that redirect our thoughts from worry to trust, from fear to faith. But perhaps my favorite passage to turn to and to walk others through is Matthew 6:25–33. In fact, I would encourage you to take a moment to read this passage before reading the rest of this article.? One encouraging observation from this passage is that the very fact Jesus included this topic in His “Sermon on the Mount” in Matthew 5–7 tells us that worry and anxiety are common struggles and ones that God cares to help us overcome.? Three Gentle RemindersJesus begins with statements and rhetorical questions that point to the futility of anxiety. Read through the passage, and then notice these points He makes:? Anxiety is senseless. Anxiety is a lot of work for no positive return. We expend an enormous amount of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual energy when we allow anxiety into our lives with no benefit gained. Anxiety drains and immobilizes us. It doesn't empower or motivate us.? Anxiety is sinful. According to Jesus in Matthew? 6:30 anxiety is a fruit of unbelief. It is a lack of faith, and as such, it dishonors and displeases God. Anxiety envisions circumstances which may never occur while forgetting the realities of God's nature which has never changed. God's provisions are powerful and plentiful. God deserves more than little faith; He deserves our complete trust.Anxiety is slanderous. A continually anxious Christian is a poor witness to a watching world. It indicates that God cannot or will not provide for our needs. In reality, God will always provide for our needs. In fact, remembering His plentiful faithfulness is part of the answer to overcoming anxiety.? Three Needful Actions? Thankfully, Jesus didn't only point out the shortfalls of worry; He also prescribed a treatment for the anxious mind. Notice these three parts to the prescription:Renew your mind. Throughout this entire passage, Jesus renews our thinking as He puts our anxious thoughts into a perspective of the faithfulness of God. (Philippians 4:4–8, another passage that is so helpful in fighting anxiety, follows a similar pattern.)? A stable, non-anxious mind thinks biblically; it rests upon the sure foundation of God's Word. On the other hand, an anxious mind dwells on things that are not God-centered or Christ-exalting. We must move toward a mind that is settled upon the truth found in God's Word.? Isaiah 26:3 makes a similar point: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” As we focus our mind on God, He gives us peace.Reevaluate your priorities. Jesus began with the admonition, “Take no thought for [all of the things you tend to worry about].” And then He pointed His listeners instead to consider the “fowls of the air” and the “lilies of the field.” And why are we to consider these things? Because God meets all their needs without their help worrying. Jesus then poses the question, “Are ye not much better than they?”? Our Savior's argument is simple: anxiety arises when we place a high value on the wrong things. This is further seen as the passage closes with a verse many of us know but sometimes forget its context: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto? you.”Jesus is instructing us not to overvalue the temporal and undervalue the eternal. The disciples were anxious about food and clothing instead of about their lives and walk with God. They needed a fresh understanding of what God deems significant which is a deep, dynamic, and daily fellowship with Him. When we grasp this truth, it will stop our fussing and fretting.Remember your Heavenly Father. As Christians, we have a relationship with God the Father through the finished work of His Son, Jesus Christ. We are His children, and, as Jesus pointed out earlier in the same sermon, He is “Our Father which art in heaven . . .” (Matthew 6:9).? Remembering the relationship we have with our Heavenly Father builds our faith. “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee” (Psalm 9:10). As we focus on God's lovingkindness and faithfulness, we realize we have no need to be anxious. Our Heavenly Father knows what we need, and He has the ability to supply it (Philippians 4:19).? More grace is what we all want and need, and God will give us the perfect amount of grace at the perfect time (2? Corinthians 12:9). In light of this, we can live moment by moment without anxiety, because the same Father who takes care of all creation knows what we need before we are even conscious of it. Our Heavenly Father will breathe out grace upon us, perfectly proportioned to cover our needs as we prioritize Him in our lives and passionately pursue fellowship with Him.? Careful or Considering?Perhaps because of the commonness of anxiety or perhaps because of the stranglehold it so easily develops on our minds, many Christians write anxiety off as something to simply be endured.? Yet, the Bible is clear that we are to “Be careful for nothing . . .” (Philippians 4:6). The word careful means “to be full of care.” It's the perfect word for what Jesus warned against in Matthew 6. There are no ifs or buts in this command. Anxiety is not a personality trait; it is a lack of trust in God. It amounts to a kind of functional atheism—thinking and living as if God does not exist, or at least as if He is not concerned with my? needs.? The way to combat this anxious, full-of-care tendency so many of us fight is to instead consider what is true. Consider God's care for the birds and the lilies and His love for you. And then, with these realities in mind, follow the instruction of Philippians 4:6 to take every one of your cares to Christ in prayer: “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”When you find yourself full of care, remember instead to consider your Father's faithfulness and His care for you.? Category Christian Living Tags Biblical Counseling Stress Worry

Rediscovering the Power of Prayer for Local Church MinistryClark GrahamThu, 01/18/2024 - 09:00 Throughout the New Testament, we see that crisis prayers are often ineffectual without being preceded by communion prayers. Ministry is filled with unexpected moments of crisis. In these times, we find ourselves praying for God's miraculous intervention. Throughout the New Testament, however, we see that crisis prayers are often ineffectual without being preceded by communion prayers.? For instance, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus engaged in a season of unimaginable, agonizing prayer (Matthew 26:36–44). However, John 17 records that Jesus had prayed in the upper room just before Gethsemane. These two prayers—Gethsemane and the upper room—are profoundly different. While the garden prayer was about imminent crisis, the upper room prayer was about intimate communion.? In June of 2017, twenty-one-year old Alex Honnold climbed the world's most famous climbing rock: El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. He ascended the three thousand-foot face in just three hours and fifty-six minutes. But his real achievement was not just in what he did, but in how he did it. Honnold specializes in a climbing technique known as free solo climbing, meaning he does not use any ropes or equipment. His climb was celebrated as one of the greatest athletic feats of any kind because it would either be a perfect climb or death.But Alex Honnold didn't just wake up one day and decide to scale El Capitan without a rope. He went through a two-year preparation process. On the day of his climb, every hand hold, foot placement, and body movement had been carefully choreographed in precise detail. Alex's preparation had determined his performance.? In Mark 9, while Peter, James, and John are on the mountain with Jesus witnessing His transfiguration, the remaining disciples find themselves in a situation for which they are wholly unprepared (Mark? 9:14–29). A man whose son has been suffering day and night because of demon possession approaches the disciples begging for help. Despite all their efforts, they are powerless to cast out the evil spirit. Jesus arrives on the scene and miraculously heals the boy, ministering to the once-hopeless father in the process. After the ordeal is over, the disciples ask Jesus privately why they were not able to cast out the demon. Jesus' answer is simple but soul-shaking: “This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:29).? The disciples were certainly praying men, but they lost, or perhaps had not yet discovered, power in their praying.? When we find ourselves in such a place—serving and yet unequipped and powerless in ministry—how do we rediscover the power of prayer? Here are three ways:Regain the Focus of Our Imperative MissionThe church's mission was defined by Jesus in Matthew 28:18–20. At the very core of this mission, two actions are essential: to represent the Savior and recover sinners.? In Mark 9, the father of the demon possessed boy came to the disciples because he had heard of Jesus. In Jesus' absence, the man naturally looked to His disciples who were ministering in His name. Sadly, the disciples did not represent the Savior well nor were they able to recover sinners from the grip of Satan. “And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not” (Mark? 9:18).? Paul explained that God has given all believers the “ministry of reconciliation.” We are able to carry out this mission as we remember that we represent the Savior. We “are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God” (2? Corinthians? 5:18, 20).Remember the Futility of Impotent MinistryBefore this father begged the disciples for help, the disciples had already been sent out to preach the gospel and were given authority to cast out devils and heal the sick (Luke 9:1–2). Why then were they not able to minister to this family when they had been given the authority to do so? Jesus had given authority to His disciples, but that authority was only effective when exercised by faith. Christ has given His church the authority to minister for Him, but our authority will be ineffective and lack power when we operate faithlessly: “He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me” (Mark 9:19).? Jesus warned against trying to produce results on our own: “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John? 15:5).Renew Our Faith in an Impeccable Master? Faith unlocks the invisible and completes the impossible. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Jesus affirmed this to the desperate father in Mark 9: “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth” (Mark 9:23). When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we can ascribe limitless possibility to God by completely trusting Him.If we are to truly live by faith day by day, we will need to, like the desperate father, acknowledge that we are a limited people: “And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief” (Mark 9:24).? Some of the greatest prayers in the Bible were motivated by an acknowledgment of one's human limitations. Moses prayed for mercy (Numbers 14:11–20). David prayed for cleansing (Psalm? 51:2–12). Solomon prayed for wisdom (1? Kings? 3:5–12). The apostles prayed for courage (Acts 4:23–31). These men, and countless others, could have full assurance and confidence in their crisis prayers because they regularly had communion prayers.? That power is for us, too. When we regain focus, remember the futility of ministering in our own power, and daily renew our faith in our impeccable Master while we commune with the Lord in prayer, we will discover or rediscover the free-flowing power of God upon our lives, ministries, and churches.? ? Category Christian Living Tags Prayer Local Church

Walk by Faith: Choosing Faith on a Daily BasisTerrie ChappellTue, 01/02/2024 - 01:14 Take a walk with me through what many have called “the great hall of faith”—Hebrews chapter 11. The men and women listed in this chapter are people whose lives were pivot points in Bible history.? Notice the portraits lining the walls in this hall of faith. Here we find Abel, whose faith to obey God's command for a blood sacrifice singled him out as the first martyr. Here is Enoch—a man who by faith, walked with God so closely that he was privileged to skip death. Here is Noah, whose faith changed the entire course of human history.We move on and see Abraham and Sarah, the father and mother of God's chosen people. The landscape of the Old Testament was shaped through the faith of this couple. Then there are Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph—three more great heroes in Scripture. Further on we see Moses, Rahab, Gideon, David, Samuel, and others—all people we recognize and admire.? All who are portrayed in this chapter lived lives of great significance, not because they were powerful people who could control others and manipulate their circumstances, but because of their extreme faith in God. Most of them were ridiculed, misunderstood, and knew what it was to suffer defeat. Most of them started as insignificant and would have been labeled as very unlikely to succeed. They just didn't have what we think people need to favorably shape their destinies.So how did they do it? The key is faith. These people lived and walked by faith. A life of godly significance is always a life of faith. And this faith is developed one day at a time.? Exercise Your Faith to See it GrowPerhaps you've heard the statement, “Faith is not a pill you take; it is a muscle you use.” As we exercise our faith, it grows.? True faith moves beyond belief to action. Faith is not simply a feeling, but rather a choice to obey God and trust that He will come? through.I've been privileged to closely observe a man of great faith—my husband. In the forty-two years of our marriage, I've watched him over and over seek God's vision for our family and our ministry and then by faith move forward into humanly impossible undertakings. And every time, I've seen God honor his faith.I know that my faith often isn't great. Sometimes when I see the great faith of others, I question if my faith is too small for God to even bless. Matthew 17:20 gives a promise that I have learned to love and claim: “. . . verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”? The very essence of faith is remembering our great God and trusting Him to do what we cannot. When we place our focus on how little our faith is, we forget to focus on how great our God is. Furthermore, if we wait to use our faith until it is great, we will never do anything by faith. Faith grows through use.? Nurture Your Faith by Walking with GodFrom our earliest years we've learned to be cautious of trusting those we don't know. We drill this into our children as soon as they are old enough to walk and wander away from us in public places. Many times this caution explains why we struggle to trust the Lord. We simply don't know Him.Notice in Psalm 9:10 that the people who trust God are the people who know God: “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek? thee.” We may know in our head that God is absolutely and completely trustworthy, but until we grow in our relationship with Him, we will struggle to trust Him.Faith doesn't come just because we want it. Faith comes as we read God's Word and discover who God is. As we grow in our knowledge of Him, we learn that He can be trusted. Romans 10:17 explains, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”Additionally, there's nothing like seeing God answer prayer to increase your faith. I've found over the years that keeping a prayer journal provides a written record of God's answers and becomes a great faith-booster. I simply record the date I begin praying for a particular request. Then, when God answers, I record that date and a brief description of how He answered.? Build Your Faith by Claiming God's PromisesWhen you are faced with overwhelming circumstances, open God's Word and remember the unchanging promises of God.There are two important keys to claiming God's promises.? First, we must know God's promises. For many women, the promises of God mean nothing—simply because they don't know them. As you read your Bible, begin marking the promises that speak to you. Write them down in a journal. Memorize them. Make them accessible for easy reference when you need to claim them.Second, we must use God's promises. Like a check that is only valuable when cashed, God's promises do not help us unless we trust them.? Trust God One Day at a TimeWalking by faith is a daily journey. As A.W. Tozer said, “Faith is not [just] a conclusion you reach; it is a journey you live.”? God calls us to a continuing journey of faith as we grow in our relationship with Him. Hebrews? 11:6 reminds us that the diligent exercise of faith is key to our growth in the Lord: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” God desires to reward your life as you pursue Him in faith one day at a time.? Category Christian Living Ministry Resources The Choice Is Yours The Choice Is Yours Terrie Chappell Tags Women Ladies Ministry Faith Christian Living

Four Keys for Raising Up a New Generation of MissionariesDr. Paul ChappellFri, 11/10/2023 - 16:24 One of the highlights to me of World Impact Missions Conference at Lancaster Baptist Church is seeing missionaries who grew up at Lancaster Baptist and/or graduated from West Coast Baptist College and and are now serving the Lord on mission fields around the world. (The picture above is of WCBC alumni who were here for Missions Conference '23 earlier this week and are now planting churches around the world.)? The Lord has allowed us to see many young people from our own church family—kids who grew up right here in our Sunday school classes and, in many cases, whose parents trusted Christ through the outreach ministry of our church—who are now preaching the gospel in foreign countries. Additionally, there are hundreds of WCBC alumni serving the Lord on over forty foreign fields.? One of the trends that concerns me, however, is a decline of young people across America surrendering their lives to missions. The world population is growing, but fewer American young people seem burdened to reach the world with the gospel.? Certainly God is still calling young people to surrender their lives to preach the gospel. Why then does it seem that fewer are responding?There are certainly many contributing factors we could cite to answer that question. But I believe there are four simple areas of emphasis that could change the trend. And when these four are working together, they can bring a monumental shift.? What is needed to raise up a new generation of missionaries?? 1. Parents who believe it would be a privilege if God calls their childChildren are the gift of God and entrusted by God to parents to raise for God's honor and glory.Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. (Psalm 127:3–5)Yet, too often Christian parents raise their children with goals of personal satisfaction. These parents are measuring by the world's goals of financial security and career success.? It's good for young people to grow up knowing that their parents' greatest goal for their lives is that they would serve God in whatever way He calls them—including the foreign field.? 2. Churches that emphasize missionsIn Acts 13–14, we read of the first organized program for missions in the New Testament. It began as the church at Antioch sent out Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. After preaching the gospel through many cities and establishing churches, Paul and Barnabas returned to report on all that God had done.? And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. (Acts 14:27)Can you picture what it was like for the children and young people listening to this first missionary report? They heard about the hardships and the blessings, and I can imagine the sense of wonder and even adventure that Paul's stories stirred in their hearts. No doubt some of them eventually became missionaries themselves.? One of the great strengths of the independent Baptist model of missions, based on Acts 13–14, in which a church sends out missionaries who then come back and report of all God has done on the field, is that young people are exposed to missionaries on a regular basis.? To raise up a new generation of missionaries, churches need to keep the Great Commission of Christ—“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15)—before young people. Encourage children to pray for missionaries. Host regular missions conferences. And highlight the need for laborers in spiritually-dark places around the world.? 3. Christian schools with vibrant chapel services, emphasizing a life of surrender to JesusIn Acts 13, it was the Holy Spirit who called Paul and Barnabas to the work of missions.? As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. (Acts 13:2)But this calling happened in an environment of total dedication to Christ and service for the Lord. These were people who were already ministering to the Lord and fasting.? Effective Christian schools are not just a place to keep your children from the harmful influences of secular education and cultural brainwashing. They are places that proactively encourage a life of surrender to the Lord and are filled with teachers who model the joy of serving Christ.4. Bible colleges led by soulwinning pastors and instructors who teach missions and bring missionaries to campusIt was striking to hear how many of our West Coast Baptist College alumni who came as missionaries to this year's conference mentioned that they had sensed God's call to missions during their time at WCBC. Several even mentioned that it was during one of the Lancaster Baptist Church missions conferences.? Many young people who have surrendered to serve the Lord in full time ministry do not know right after high school in what capacity God would have them serve. Whether or not they ultimately serve as missionaries, being in a Bible college environment where missions is emphasized will strengthen their understanding of and commitment to being part of the Great Commission of Christ to go into all nations with the gospel.? Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:19–20)About a year and a half ago, while hosting Spiritual Leadership Conference Egypt, I had the opportunity to visit the gravesite of William Borden in Cairo. Borden was a young American missionary living in Egypt to learn Arabic while preparing to preach the gospel to Muslim people in China. While still in Egypt, he contracted meningitis and died at age twenty-five.? As Terrie and I walked through the American cemetery there in Cairo, I was stirred to see the gravesites of other missionaries as well, many who, like Borden, gave their lives for the sake of the gospel on foreign soil. I couldn't help but pray that God will raise up a new generation of men and women who will fully and freely surrender their lives to the spread of the gospel around the world.Whether you are a parent, pastor, Sunday school teacher, Christian educator, or someone with any other influence in young people's lives, I challenge you consider how you can be part of helping young people obey the instruction of Christ to “Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest” (John 4:35). Category Christian Living

? Temple Baptist Church - 2-25-20241 Chronicles 29:10-13? Introduction:? When mentioning the sovereignty of God, because of the Calvinistic Movement of our day, I always give an opening disclaimer.? We totally reject the damnable heresy of Calvinism, also called Reformed Theology.? Theology has never need reformation!? Theo – God? logy – knowledge or study of.? A.? God is ABSOLUTELY SOVEREIGN!!? He does what He desires, when He desires, where He desires.? He answers to nothing or no man.? 1.? God stands alone, the pinnacle of all existence, self-existing (Jehovah God – LORD), all powerful (omnipotent), all knowing (omniscient),? everywhere present (omnipresent), creator of all things, ruler of all things, sustainer of all things, He needs nothing, and He needs nobody!? 2.? God is Absolutely Sovereign:? ? completely, entirely, totally, utterly sovereign!? HE TRULY STANDS ALONE!? ? 3.? God has no comparison. God has no competition.? ? B.? The word “sovereignty” or “sovereign” is not found in your Bible, but neither are the words “trinity” or “rapture” found there either.? Since the word “sovereignty” is not a bible word, let us look at its definition for clarification:? Sovereignty? – Free from all external control; reigning or royal authority; the dominion of a monarch, the complete authority to govern a state; exclusive in right to control one's thoughts and actions; autonomous; greatest in status, authority, and power; supreme; exceptional in quality.? C.? The doctrine of the “Sovereignty of God” is one of both the least understood and the most misunderstood.? Many believe that things happen by chance instead of through divine providence.? I do not believe in luck.? I believe in the providence of an all-knowing, thrice holy God!? D.? Sovereignty is a doctrine that we have allowed the Calvinists to “hold hostage.”? Every time I use the word, I feel that we must give a disclaimer concerning Calvinism.? ? E.? By the sovereignty of God, it is to be understood that—as Creator of all things both visible and invisible—God is both owner or and ruler over all things. There are many verses in the Bible that show God's absolute sovereignty and I have listed some for you if you receive or want to receive this sermon in print.? Deuteronomy 32:39? See now that I,? even? I,? am? he, and? there is? no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither? is there any? that can deliver out of my hand.? 1 Chronicles 29:11? Thine, O LORD,? is? the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all? that is? in the heaven and in the earth? is thine; thine? is? the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.? Psalms 115:3? But our God? is? in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.? Isaiah 45:9? Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker!? Let? the potsherd? strive? with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?? Ezekiel 18:4? Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.? Daniel 4:35? And all the inhabitants of the earth? are? reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and? among? the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?? Matthew 6:13? And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.? Matthew 20:15? Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?? Romans 9:20? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed? it, Why hast thou made me thus?? Colossians 1:16? For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether? they be? thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:? Revelation 4:11? Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.? F.? Because God is sovereign:? 1.? He Requires No Counsel -? Romans 11:34? For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?? 2.? He Seeks No Advice -? 1 Corinthians 2:16? For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.? 3.? He Lacks No Wisdom -? James 1:5? If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all? men? liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.? 4.? He Asks No Permission –? Job 33:13? Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.? 5.? He Answers To No Man -? Romans 9:20? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed? it, Why hast thou made me thus?? G.? In our text, 1 Chronicles 29:10-13, for this morning, we have another Full Mention Principle of Bible Interpretation.? If there had been no other of the afore mentioned verses in the Bible, THESE VERSES SAY IT ALL.? 1.? Verses 10.? God is Sovereign in His Person.? “Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.”? 1 Timothy 6:15-16? Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; ? (16)? Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.? There was none before Him, there will be none after Him, and there is none like Him! You cannot do anything about Him.? You cannot change Him.? You cannot circumvent Him.? You cannot ignore Him.? And you had better not die without Him!? 2.? Verse 11.? God is Sovereign in His Power.? “Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty”? Matthew 28:18? And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.? 3.? Verse 11.? God is Sovereign in His Possession.? “for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine;”? Colossians 1:15-16? Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: ? (16)? For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:? 4.? Verse 11.? God is Sovereign in His Position.? “thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all”? 1 Timothy 1:17? Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.? 5.? Verse 12.? God is Sovereign in His Performance.? “Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.” ? ? Psalms 75:6-7? For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. ? (7)? But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.? 6.? Verse 13.? God is Sovereign in His Praise.? “Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.”? Revelation 4:9-11? And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, ? (10)? The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, ? (11)? Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Fort Payne, AL. February 14th — In a time of uncertainty, we want to reach out to our community for support and heartfelt prayers for Tony Lewis and his family as he undergoes further comprehensive medical testing today. Tony’s health condition demands additional investigation, and we are earnestly seeking answers to guide his treatment and Read More

“If you were to die today, tomorrow, or 100 years from now, are you sure you would go to Heaven?...The post The Question and Answers first appeared on DevotionsFromTheBible.com.