Good Words from God’s Word
 
Today being the 5th Sunday of the quarter, our church family will observe the ordinances of the Lord’s Supper and Baptism. Literally, an ordinance is a “decree” or a “command.” Jesus commanded the observance of the Lord’s Supper when he said, “…do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19b). He also instructed the church to observe the act of baptism through his “Great Commission,” which says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit…” (Matthew 28:19).
 
Baptism pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.  It provides a living, up-to-date example of our salvation accomplished through the cross and empty tomb, “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). Baptism pictures the believer’s death to sin. It depicts the complete surrender and transformation of life. Baptism is a living testimony of what happens when the believer turns away from self and is made alive in Christ.
 
Adoniram Judson, Baptists first international missionary from the United Stated pictured baptism in the following poem:
 
                           “We sink beneath the water’s face,
                          And thank You for Your saving grace;
                              We die to sin and seek a grave
                          With you, beneath the yielding wave.
 
                             And as we rise with You to live,
                                 O let the Holy Spirit give
                            The sealing unction from above,
                                         The joy of life,
                                       The fire of love.”
 
The Lord’s Supper takes us back to the cross. It is a living demonstration of His atoning death. Bread and grape juice do not become the body and blood of Jesus. These elements represent what Jesus did for us through the giving of His body and the shedding of His blood at Calvary.
 
Receiving the bread demonstrates what Jesus did as our Suffering Servant, “All we like sheep have gone astray.  Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). We deserved death because of our sin, but Jesus became sin for us so that we may live through Him, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Eating the bread in the Lord’s Supper reminds us of what Jesus did for us, but it also bears witness to others of what He did for them. It proclaims Christ as redeemer and savior..
 
The cup is filled with grape juice and represents the blood of Jesus. It is a symbol of forgiveness and cleansing, “…how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:14). Every time I receive the cup when taking the Lord’s Supper, I hear the old hymn tune in my mind, “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” Jesus said, “This cup is the new covenant established by my blood” (Luke 22:20).
 
Baptism and The Lord’s Supper will lead us in worship today. Let the presence of Jesus flood your heart as you watch and as you participate.  Jesus has done what no other can do. He died, He was buried, He rose from the dead so you and I can be forgiven and live forever through Him.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

Good Word from God’s Word

It is amazing that we begin today to preach in our Walk Through the Bible series sermons from the prophets of the Old Testament. We have completed sermons from the Pentateuch, which includes the first five books of the Old Testament. The Historical section of the Old Testament beginning with  Joshua and ending with Esther was covered in 12 sermons. Then, we explored the Wisdom literature from sermons on Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon. In all, 22 sermons have been preached getting us to the point where we begin our Walk Through the Prophets.

We know from God’s word that prophecy does not originate from man, but comes to man from God himself, “…no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:21). Prophecy does not address our preferences. It always conveys God’s plan and His purpose. Prophecy commands our attention.

Prophecy is always for our good, “On the other hand, the one who prophecies speaks to people for their upbuilding, and encouragement, and consolation” (1 Corinthians 14:3, ESV). Prophecy does not break down or destroy. Even when God’s judgement is involved, the aim of prophecy is to redeem and restore God’s people to fellowship with Him.

Prophecy is born out of the awesome mystery and power of inspiration. The prophet Ezekiel claimed His source of inspiration as powerful and direct, “The word of the Lord came to me…” (Ezekiel  37:15). The word of God came to Hosea through his agonizing marriage experience. It came to Isaiah in a life-changing worship encounter. God gave Ezekiel phenomenal visions from which he could never escape. Habakkuk kept waiting on the watchman’ stand while Jeremiah struggled with God over his youthful innocence. In Prophecy, God showed his spokesmen how to formulate into language their deeply personal experiences with Him. The Prophets teach us that God can speak anywhere and at any time. Joel Barker said, “The function of prophecy is not to tell the future, but to make it.” When we examine the prophets we encounter God who never gives up on His people. The prophets teach us that God is at work for the good and redemption of His people. Do not be afraid of prophecy. When you read it, open your eyes to see what God is about to do for your good.

Tom Landry, noted coach of the Dallas Cowboys, many years ago said, “The role of a football coach is to make men do what they don’t want to do, so they can become what they’ve always wanted to be.” God used His prophets as His coaches to discipline, change and rescue his people. I look forward today to preach from these great servants of God. I pray that, through this study of the prophets, God will take me to a new level of obedience and faithfulness in my own personal walk with Him.

Good Words from God’s Word
 
There is one committee and one team functioning right now within our church that deserves our appreciation and commendation. The Nominating Committee is charged with the responsibility of filling all of the leadership positions outlines in the Constitution and Bylaws of our church. This committee has been faithful in its praying that God would impress upon those He has chosen to step forward and assume the responsibilities required to guide our church forward. Paul said, “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the quipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-12). God knows what He wants our church to do for His glory. He knows our needs and He also knows who he plans to use to lead us to where He wants us to go. I thank God for our Nominating Committee consisting of:
 
              Edward Grant
              Amy Ferguson
              Betty Gabriel
              Misty Freeman
 
I praise God also for our Facilities Dream Team. This team is working to pray, study and implement God’s plan for how our church may best utilize the facilities and space He has provided here in our current location. The Apostle Paul prayed, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful to Christ Jesus…” (Ephesian 1:1). The place where God plants His people and the space from which they apply God’s mission to the world is vital to the growth of God’s kingdom. We need to be good stewards of the facilities God has provided. I give thanks to God for:
 
              Phil Peters                          Doug Bryant
              Carol Childers                     Michelle Callahan
              Ken Pethel                          Becky Guyton
 
These have also been faithful to pray and seek God’s direction. The team has been full of ideas as to what we can do to beautify our space and multiply its effectiveness. We can be thankful that this past week our Stewardship leaders and Facilities Dream Team established a new savings account which will be designated as our Future Property and Space Fund. This fund was initiated with $10,000 from our general account generated through the faithful giving of our members. Our members have contributed through tithes and offerings in 2015 approximately $180,000. The 2015 Church Budget called for $164,500 to fund our ministries and fixed expenses. The resources utilized to create our Future Property and Space Fund were transferred from the general fund overage. TO GOD BE THE GLORY! Take time this morning to give thanks and pray for the work of these dear people.