Good Words from God’s Word

Today we welcome Tim D. back to Grace from the mission field in the Republic of Georgia. Grace is Tim’s home church in which he was saved and responded to God’s call to preach the gospel. He is back in our state for a short stay after having preached at First Baptist Church of Flowery Branch last weekend and leading in a mission’s rally in North Carolina. Our church undergirds Tim and his family in our prayers having them regularly lifted up to the Lord during our Wednesday night prayer services. Grace also supports his work through monthly contributions from our church budget.  Every time you give your offering, a portion of your gift goes to help Tim do what God has called him to do overseas. This is simply another way God is extending His kingdom to all nations. From the prayer and financial support our church sends, God blesses the ministry of this gifted missionary family through each new church the plant, every young person they reach through outreach retreats and summer camps, each leader they equip to share the gospel, and multitudes of people they encounter who need to hear about Jesus. We welcome Brother Tim back to Grace this morning and rejoice in the opportunity to hear him preach God’s word today and share how God is at work where he serves.

Tonight is MOVIE NIGHT AT GRACE. We will enjoy family fellowship and food, be entertained and spiritually captivated by the movie we will see entitled, DO YOU BELIEVE? It is a movie produced by the creators of God Is Not Dead. It is a movie about the power of the Cross of Jesus to bring people together to change their lives. It conveys a great message about the love of Jesus and the power we all have to make a difference in others. I WANT YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY TO SEE THIS MOVIE. I have never seen a clearer presentation of the gospel. We will all be challenged to take our belief in Jesus and His to another level of commitment and action. You cannot really believe in the cross without doing something about it. So, invite a person who needs Jesus to come with you tonight. Take this opportunity to share Jesus with your unsaved family members and friends by bringing them to movie night.

We will ask our youth to help us by watching after our children. We will have a great movie to show them while mom and dad are watching DO YOU BELIEVE?  We will also need a couple of adult volunteers to oversee the youth as they ministry to our children. Let us know if you will be available to help.

God continues to do amazing things at Grace every Sunday. Lives are being changed. People we may have never met are being led by the Lord to join in worship and service with us. Today is no exception.  Expect God to touch your heart today. Do not be surprised when He speaks to you from His word. Ask Jesus to show you what He wants you to do for Him and for His glory. You may come to church this morning feeling and thinking one way, and Jesus may change you so radically that you leave totally different. Let Jesus have His way in your life today.

Good Words from God’s Word

Sunday I will be preaching from the book of Hebrews.  It is hard to believe that we have been through almost all of the New Testament in our Walk Through the Bible Series over these months.  Hebrews is the FAITH book of the New Testament because in the eleventh chapter it says, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is the rewarder of those who seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).  Faith is the key that unlocks our relationship with God.   We are told in James chapter one, verse six that the devils believe that God exists, but they do not exercise faith which drives the will to do what is right and good.  Real faith is living faith which not only involves what we believe, but also our initiative which guides everything we do.  That’s why James said, “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead” (James 2:26).

A 7-year old was asked by his parent if he thought it was important to have faith.  The child replied, “Yes, so I can talk to God and He helps me.”  The parent asked further if the child talks to God, to which he replied, “Yes, last night God told me what I needed to do better next time and I listened…I felt better.”  That’s what faith does.  It “listens” and “does better” next time.  Faith helps us to hear God and follow what God wants us to do.

Martin Luther King said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”  Faith is being so certain of God’s presence that you step forward because you know He is there.  Grace is a community of faith.  We are people who have trusted in Christ and are saved by “…Grace through faith” (Ephesians 2:8).  Everyone who comes into our fellowship to worship the Lord and serve Him this morning is here because of their faith in Jesus and for what He has done to redeem us from sin.  The Bible says that, “…faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).  Grace would not be Grace and we would certainly not be capable of being the people of God apart from faith in Jesus.

I look forward to preaching about faith today and rejoicing with you that God has given us all a lively and vibrant faith by which we can “listen” and “do better” every day for His glory.  God truly is blessing our faith and growing us to be more and more like Jesus.  Let God increase your faith.  Pray that He will strengthen your faith.  Use every opportunity to demonstrate your faith to others.  By faith, according to the apostle Paul, we are “the children of God” (Galatians 3:26), we have “access and boldness” to come before Him in worship (Ephesians 3:12), and through faith He “dwells” in our hearts “grounding” us firmly in the love of Christ (Ephesians 3:17).  Let FAITH have its way in your life today.