Good Words from God’s Word
 
Memorial Day is an important day in the life of our country. It is a day to remember. It is the most solemn holiday of the year because on this day the whole nation honors the men and women who have given their lives in the service of their country. This day was founded soon after the Civil War and was first called Decoration Day. The Civil War claimed more lives than any war in history leading to the creation the first national cemeteries. These were fitting places for people all over the country to gather to remember those who had given their lives. It is unclear where the first Memorial Day observance took place, but in 1966 the federal government declared Waterloo, New York as the official birth place. In 1968, congress declared Memorial Day as the official title for the day when all of us are called upon to remember those who have died in the pursuit of preserving our freedom.
 
God himself wants us to remember the good things He has done for us, “Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live an increase and may enter and possess the land that the Lord promised on oath to your forefathers. Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commandments” (Deuteronomy 8:1-2). Remembering what God has done for us is a spiritual discipline that keeps us humble and honest before Him. Abraham Lincoln said, “I remember my mother’s prayers and they always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.” We need to be careful about what we remember. We need to be thankful that we can remember.
 
I read this story the other day: A young man saw an elderly couple sitting down to lunch at McDonald's. He noticed that they had ordered one meal, and an extra drink cup. As he watched, the gentleman carefully divided the hamburger in half, then counted out the fries, one for him, one for her, until each had half of them. Then he poured half of the soft drink into the extra cup and set that in front of his wife. The old man then began to eat, and his wife sat watching, with her hands folded in her lap. The young man decided to ask if they would allow him to purchase another meal for them so that they didn't have to split theirs. The old gentleman said, "Oh no. We've been married 50 years, and everything has always been and will always be shared, 50/50." The young man then asked the wife if she was going to eat, and she replied, "Not yet. It's his turn with the teeth."
 
Let’s remember tomorrow those who wore the teeth of democracy’s freedoms into battle and sacrificed themselves for us and for our children. We need to wait before the Lord tomorrow and be grateful for the blessings He has bestowed upon our nation.

Good Words from God’s Word
 
Today is another MILE-STONE in the history of Grace Baptist Church. There have been several of these special occurrences from the Lord in recent years. I can remember when we were praying that God would give our church 100 people in worship on a regular basis. That one was reached in July of 2015 and we have seen over 100 in worship with few exception ever since.
 
We prayed that God would give us 200 people in attendance this Easter. Up until that time, our highest Sunday was 194 which was Mother’s Day in 2015 with a Baby Dedication special emphasis. God answered our prayers and sent 204 people to worship here at Grace this past Easter Sunday morning. We have been praying regularly that God would bring 100 to Bible Study through Sunday School. As of yet, our highest Sunday has been 86 on several occasions. We are very close to meeting this MILE-STONE. I believe that God will answer this prayer very soon, and we will be overjoyed to have 100 people meeting regularly to study God’s word.
 
Other MILE-STONES have been met which we witness now on a regular basis. Let me just name a few:
 

• Baby Dedication – This past Sunday 3 babies were dedicated to the Lord.
• Paying Off Debt – The loan with United Community Bank was paid in full on March 13, 2015.
• Increased Baptisms – Already this year Grace has baptized 8 into the kingdom of God.
• Discipleship Groups Starting – This month we have a small women’s discipleship group started with Experiencing God.
• Nominating Committee work with committees and teams elected – This has been accomplished this year.
• Constitution and Bylaw Approved – Accomplished in 2015.

 
All of these important stepping stones give us concrete evidence of God’s mighty work within our church. God is moving us forward. We have seen miracles take place that only God can do.
 
Today is a MILE-STONE Sunday that only God could have caused to happen. Today is a MIRACLE Sunday.  As we vote today to step forward from our rented location to a permanent place of ownership and responsibility, give God the glory. I have searched the scriptures and have chosen this verse to be our MILE-STONE WATCHWORD: “Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21). Today, honor Jesus. Do that which is pleasing to Him. Whether we choose to move, or stay where we are, let’s give Him glory. Let’s be His glory as His people desiring only to do His will.

Good Words from God’s Word
 
Today is a special day in that our church recognizes the young people who have reached the graduation milestone in their lives. There are occasions which deserve a moment to congratulate people for successfully attaining a level of fulfillment and accomplishment due to their diligence and hard work. I know that their families are rejoicing today for what their children have achieved. The Grace Baptist Church family joins in the celebration. Give God praise and thanksgiving for what He has done in and through these special young people:

Miss Jennifer Pace, Gainesville High School
Mr. Che Buffington, Gainesville High School
Miss Sarah Hoover, Flowery Branch High School
Mr. Dallas Wright, West Hall High School
Haley Wilson, West Hall High School
 
Mr. Wesley Gerrin, University of Georgia
 
Mrs. Sara Beth Gerrin,

We also give praise today for the new lives God has given to our church family. We know that God blesses His church when people are added to its fellowship through baptism and church membership. It is also a great blessing when God adds to the household of faith through the birth of children He provides to the young families of the congregation. We need today to recognize and give God praise for each new life born into our church:

Isabel Zuleta
Keegan Baker
Vaida Grace Roberts

Baby dedication is a wonderful worship experience for the families of little ones God has given, but it is also recognition of what God his done for the whole church. It is a time of commitment for both parents and church members who bear the responsibility to raise the children so that they may come to love Jesus and, in the right manner, receive Him as their Lord and savior. While the children with the parents stand in the altar to lift up their children to God we also join with them to pledge ourselves to be a good church which makes every child’s faith a supreme priority. Grace Baptist Church is a church that is safe for children. Grace is a church that loves its children and provides whatever is necessary to grow them in Christlikeness. Give thanks today for our graduates and our babies. God has blessed Grace with great young people and great children. Today is a day of praise.

Good Words from God’s Word
 
The Bible says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth” (Ephesians 6:1-3). Paul in his letter to the church at Ephesus quotes the fourth commandment to explain how Christians must conduct themselves before others. He says, “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16). In an age in which evil seems to be everywhere and growing stronger every day, people who are wise in their walk with Jesus, should commit themselves to live honorably at home.
 
The word from “HONOR” in the Bible means “WEIGHTY” or “HEAVY.” When we honor in the since that God requires, we feel a heavy weight of responsibility. Honor builds up our stamina. Honor is a spiritual muscle builder especially when it is given to parents. Honor is a visible demonstration of spiritual strength. Many times the word “HONOR” is used in the context of giving glory and praise to God, “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come…” (Revelation 19:7). God is the real heavy-weight who deserves first priority honor from His people.
 
Today, we “HONOR” the mothers of our church. Most of the heavy lifting in our homes falls on our mothers. Remember what Proverbs says, “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future. She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and bless her; her husband also and he praises her…” (Proverbs 31:25-28). Our mothers bear the heavy weight of providing strength and dignity. They know how to heal what hurts with a simple smile. At the same time, wisdom and kindness flow continuously through their ample supply of grace and love that never seems to run short. Mothers tirelessly attend to the endless needs of everyone. They find little time for themselves because they work for the good of others from dawn until dark. All these great words define mothers.
 
I miss my mother today. She went to be with the Lord in October of 2008. While I miss her, today I honor her by remembering her memory. I remember how hard she worked. I remember the care and delight she possessed in cooking every meal. I remember her kindness, her firmness, her love for my dad, my sister and me. I remember her reading her Bible. I remember her telling people about Jesus. I remember her praying. I remember my mother and by doing so, I honor her.
 
There are two great mothers in my life that virtually made me what I am today. One is Maxie Lee Williams who gave birth to me on January 6th, 1948. The other is Robbie Anne Williams who married me on August 16th, 1969. “Lord, I honor your amazing gift of mothers in my life.” Honoring them today on this horizontal plain with a Mother’s Day tribute is a simple way to give honor to God. He commanded us to honor our moms and dads. “Lord Jesus, look upon the honor we give to our mothers today and bless us all as you promised in your word, ‘…that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.’”

Good Words from God’s Word
 
I will be preaching today about the second Beatitude in the Book of Revelation, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on?” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them” (Revelation 14:13). Many times you hear this Beatitude preached at funerals. It is the passage from which I preached my mother’s funeral. Much of what I know about the Bible and the seeds of faith in my heart were planted and nurtured by the teaching of my Godly mother. I certainly know she is a part of that “Blessed” congregation that now worships in the presence of Jesus in heaven.
 
Don’t miss today what this Beatitude says, “…FROM NOW ON…” The message of this Beatitude should be viewed in the “Here and Now” of our daily lives. Being “BLESSED” is an everyday promise from God’s word that happens to everyone who is redeemed by the blood of Jesus. It is a mark of our relationship with Jesus and it stays with us forever. Think about it: We can live today like we are “BLESSED” forever. That is a world view that is worth preaching and sharing with everyone.
 
You’re going to need a pencil today, because we are going to cover a lot of territory in Revelation. Here’s a preview of what we are going to learn:

• The Work of the Beasts (Revelation 13)
• The Place Called Heaven (Revelation 14)
• The Lamb of God (Revelation 14)
• The 144,000 (Revelation 7 and 14)

 
One point I will not have time to cover this morning is the Mark of the Beast in Chapter 13 of Revelation. You know that number to be 666. What does that number mean? There have been many theories. Some have attempted to use these numbers to decode the name of the antichrist. Names like Euanthas, Lateinos, and Nero Caesar have been suggested. Nero is the best known. Other names have surfaced like Hitler, Stalin, Napoleon and even the Pope. Other ideas about the number 666 make it more symbolic as a depiction of evil and imperfection. People have suggested these numbers represent a signal of the end times.
 
My own feeling about the number is that it is a counter influence to the number 7 in Revelation. The number 7 is used 52 times in Revelation. It represents a holy number and is God’s favorite number. The influence of the Beast in chapter thirteen is anti-God and anti-church. The number 6 falls short of God’s number and thus, demonstrates the work of the Beast in our world. The number 666 is not merely a symbol for the end times, but for any time the evil of Satan’s influences are at work against the things of God.
 
Jesus told us that in the judgement the sheep will inherit the eternal reward prepared for all who are, “…blessed by my Father” (Matthew 25:24). But, on the His left hand are those 666 folks who are a part of Satan’s dominion, “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). The best news about the number 666 is that there is a pathway out of its influence. Trust Jesus. Live for Him and you will not ever have to worry about the number 666.