The purpose of ordination is to set apart individuals whom the church chooses as qualified and spiritually called to special service and leadership responsibilities. The early church in Jerusalem called for ordination to be done as a means to handle a need regarding the fellowship of the church,
 
“Therefore brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.” (Acts 6:3)
 
The first role assumed by Deacons in the ministry of the church was to attend to the needs of its fellowship.
 
The setting aside of these called men of God was done formally,
 
“And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.” (Acts 6:6)
 
It is very important to see how the Holy Spirit blessed this work of obedience through significant growth that took place as many disciples were added to the church. The difference was even being felt throughout the community,
 
“The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.” (Acts 6:7)
 
Ordination is an act of obedience by which believers follow the biblical principles laid out in scripture.
 
The month of August has been designated by our church as the time in which each member participates in the Deacon selection process. It is important to note that the Deacon Body of Grace is not appointed, but rather, it is chosen by the active members who participate in the process. The process is based upon Acts, Chapter 6. This year, our church chose 2 active members from within the fellowship, Chuck Whitehead and Trent Campbell. Chuck is already an ordained Deacon having served previously. Trent is to be ordained this morning according to the biblical principles recording in Acts, chapter 6.
 
Reverend Edward Grant served as chairman of the Ordination Counsel which met last Sunday afternoon to pray with and question Trent regarding his testimony of salvation, calling to serve our church in the office of Deacon and his love for and grasp of the scriptures as God’s truth and guide for faith and practice. The Ordination Counsel unanimously approved Trent’s moving forward to the church family for ordination today. Brother Grant will make that motion to the church family this morning. Our Chairman of Deacons, Mike House will bring the Charge to the Candidate. Our Pastor Mike will bring the Charge to the Church. Then all the ordained pastors and deacons present will participate in the Laying on of Hands. 
 
The Laying on of Hands is a biblical practice. It verifies the intentions of the congregation. It connects the one being ordained to the fellowship of those who have been ordained and connects the candidate to the prayers and encouragement of those who share in this calling to special service. Each ordained person will place their hands on Trent’s head or shoulders. Each ordained person will pray or maybe quote a scripture or convey a verbal blessing to him. The apostle Paul urged the young preacher Timothy,
 
“Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.” (1 Timothy 4:14)
 
This act is a spiritual exercise by which Trent will be uplifted and the entire church edified.
 
Today is certainly special day for our church. We obediently follow God’s word to set aside one of our own young men together with his precious family for leadership and service that will significantly add to God’s kingdom and to the ministry of our church for years to come.

Tonight at 6:00 pm our church family will gather for its annual Thanksgiving Feast. This is a special time in which our folks gather around the table to enjoy the blessing of fellowship and great food reflecting on the many ways God has worked in and through us during the year to accomplish His kingdom work. We have seen God add to our number new members who have committed themselves to worship and serve the Lord alongside us. Every new member is a blessing from God who brings with them gifts and talents which add value to the ministry of our church. We give praise to God for each one who has been led by the Holy Spirit to become part of the Grace Baptist Church family.
 
God is doing a great work this year growing and developing our ministry to Children. Children are the life force in any church and to be involved in a congregation where children are a priority displays the very heart of God. Jesus said,
 
“…whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all” (Mark 10:15)
 
Seeing our church filled with children who love Jesus and are eager to give themselves to Him in faith is something wonderful to be thankful about. Let’s thank God this thanksgiving for our children.
 
Last night, Wednesday, I met with our Student Ministry Team to plan the first quarter’s work with our teenagers. The room where we met was “electric” with the flow of energy, ideas and passion for the things God wants us to accomplish during the Christmas season and into the coming 2019 church year. Our Students have been invited to participate and volunteer in this year’s Lighting of the Christmas Tree in Flowery Branch.
 

 
Our young people will serve as greeters and helpers during the event serving hot chocolate to children, passing out fliers and brochures with the message about Jesus’ birth extending the fellowship and Christmas greetings of our church to everyone attending. Our church in this one event will have the privilege to lift up the name of Jesus to hundreds of people. Boy, is that something awesome to the Thankful about!
 
I was told in Prayer Service last evening that our church has just past the 5th Mile Marker in our “One Mile for God’s Glory” Capital Campaign. There is only one more “Mile Marker” remaining. We have exceeded $133,000 in donations with only $16,900 left to complete the total Campaign. We are so close to Victory Sunday on which we will celebrate the completion of our total $150,000 goal.
 

 
When we first began the campaign 2 years ago, the goal seemed so far away and frankly, according to our pledges, out of reach. However, we serve a great God who is able and has done more than we could even imagine. We should be ecstatic with THANKSGIVING for what God has done.
 
Be ready tonight to share something that you are ready and eager to THANK GOD for during our gathering. The Bible says,
 
“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” (Colossians 3:16-17)
 

The Psalmist wrote:

“Behold how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious oil upon the head,
Coming down upon the edge of his robes.
It is like the dew of Hermon
Coming down upon the mountains of Zion;
For there the Lord commanded the blessing—life forever.”
(Psalm 133)

 
Rick Warren said, “Unity in the church is so important that the New Testament gives more attention to it than to either heaven or hell. God deeply desires that we experience oneness and harmony with each other. Unity is the soul of fellowship. Destroy it, and you rip the heart out of Christ’s body. It is the essence, the core of how God intends for us to experience life together in His church. Our supreme model for unity is the Trinity. The Father, Son and the Holy Spirit are completely unified as one. God Himself is the highest example of sacrificial love, humble other-centeredness, and perfect harmony.”  
 
Unity within the Body of Christ is the supreme desire of our Lord Jesus. Jesus prayed for His disciples,
 
“…that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John 17:21)
 
The love we display for each other offers the most powerful antidote to the contention and hard-hearted divisions of our day. Our love for each other proves the love which God displayed in Jesus. We love because He first loved us.
 
I have noticed recently that some of our church family is returning to participate again in the worship and ministry of our church. Sometimes life challenges our devotion. Sometimes situations hinder our loyalties and interfere in our relationships with each other. I rejoiced in my spirit this past Sunday to see beloved members that I have not seen in some time return to the congregation. I did my best to get to them and greet each one of them. I wanted them to know that I missed them and that I was filled with joy at their return. When even one person is lost, outside the circle of our fellowship, the unity of our church suffers. It was the Good Shepherd that left the 99 to find the one lost sheep in order to return it to the fold (Luke 15:1-6). Jesus said of the one lost sheep that was returned,
 
“I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents that over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” (Luke 15:7)
 
Will you join me this morning and recommit yourself to the unity and fellowship of our church family here at Grace? Will you rekindle within your soul the love of Christ that binds us together as the people of God? Will you care about your fellowship believers, Sunday School Class Members, Team Leaders and Co-Laborers together with Christ. I am praying that it will be exponentially more difficult for one of our beloved members to stay away or leave the fellowship of God’s people in this church than it is to join it.

This week is an important one in which we all have the great privilege to exercise one of the most sacred and honored privileges of any people on the face of the earth. We get to vote and elect people who will serve in places of leadership and authority here in Georgia. Millions of people will be doing the same thing all over this country. Samuel Adams, one of our founding fathers said,
 
“Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote…that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.”
 
This is what I did not do last Monday morning before I voted. I did not turn on the television to listen to news broadcasts. I did not get out my smart phone to read any news stories or reports. I did not pick up the newspaper. I did not ask Robbie or any of my children who they were planning to vote for and they did not ask me. I did not turn on the radio to talk stations on my way to the polling location.
 
Here’s what I did. I opened my Bible early that morning and I read the Sermon on the Mount written in Matthew, chapters 5-7. I read it again and again. I meditated on what Jesus said about human conduct. I thought about what Jesus taught us to do when we pray. I focused my attention to the things that are important to God like our attitude toward the poor, how we should conduct ourselves when facing our enemies, how we treat others, manage our wealth, and overcome our worries. I listened again to God’s Golden Rule,
 
“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)
 
I read about the man who built his house on the sand and what happened when the wind blew and the rain fell. That man’s house did not stand. Then I read about the man who built his house on the rock. That man’s house stood strong in the face of the storm.
 
While reading these life-giving truths from God’s word, I felt myself being relieved in my spirit. I found my heart being encouraged by the word of God. I became motivated to pray and ask God to guide my hands that would soon touch boxes beside people’s names who were running for offices of responsibility. I wanted to be true to what I read in God’s word, so I asked God to literally guide my hands to touch the names of people who would govern according to what the Bible says and what I had just read.
 
When Robbie and I finished early voting, we went to I-Hop and celebrated. We got the senior’s 2 x 2 x 2 breakfast: Two eggs fixed anyway you like, Two pieces of bacon or sausage, and PRAISE GOD – Two pancakes. We rewarded ourselves. There is nothing better than pancakes after you vote. I recommend it. SPLURGE! Do something good for yourselves after you vote this Tuesday, because voting is one of the most sacred opportunities we have in this country. Your vote matters not only to your family and this country. It matters to God.