The Sunday morning message, "Somebody's Got To Come Down Off The Mountain," was brought by assistant pastor, Brother Ryan Crawford.
The scripture reading was taken from Exodus 32:1-34, with the primary emphasis on Exodus 32:9, 10. And as always, we stood for the reading of God's word. "And the Lord said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. Now therefore let me alone that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation."
"Being in the presence of God is a good thing. Moses was in fellowship directly, physically, with God on the mountain. And Christians today are in the presence of God when we fellowship with Him by reading our Bible, meditating on His word, and praying. But just as Moses couldn't stay on the mountain, neither can we." We don't have that luxury.
"You can't walk if you don't know where you are going. (Unless maybe you are Abraham.) And as a Christian you can't follow the Great Commission, warming a pew."
"Jesus kept moving throughout His entire ministry on earth. And you need to keep moving for God too. Why? Because Jesus is coming back soon."
"Israel put a golden calf in the place of true worship. So as a Christian, what are you putting in the place of true worship?"
"Who is on the Lord's side? Come unto me," Moses said. The people had to physically move towards him. "Christianity is not your statement, it is your stance! So make being on the Lord's side count for something."
"Moses, though angry, still had a burden for people. Moses stood between God's wrath and the people. Yes, he was fed up, but had a burden for them all, still."
"It is totally impossible to give the Gospel to the wrong people. The Gospel is intended for all men -- black, white, brown, yellow, red, or someone in-between. Rich, poor, young, old." God is no respecter of persons, so don't you be either!
"Christian, ask God to give you a burden this year. Do you even have a burden for the lost?" Death is assured. Hell is real. Hell is permanent. "Are you willing to stand between the dead and the living, like Aaron did, just one more time, for a loved one, for a stranger, in 2015?"
Moses was also bold in the position, bold in the stance he took. "Boldness for God, Christians. It's not about us, it's about Him. Don't get mad at your man of God, as he is supposed to tell you about God: who God is, and what He expects from you." Both the do not's and the do's.
Moses was also built for progress. "His people still had to get to Canaan. Yes you are saved. Now progress towards the goal of reaching even more people for the Lord."
"You have to have been in God's presence for you to begin to see the Grace of God. By Grace are you saved. On the mountain God was speaking to Moses. The government of God was there. God gave man, via Moses, His Law there. And I got into this family, by the Bible, and the government of God established there. I now belong to Jesus because of the Bible. And Jesus belongs to me. No one ever gets saved except by the word of God." All tidied up and legal, "and you can't serve God outside of the Bible."
"And knowing all that, that is what being in the presence of God is. And being in the presence of God, you will have a burden for your people, and you'll stop at nothing to save them. And you will be bold in what you believe. And when you are bold in what you believe, the only option is to keep going for God. Spend time with God, daily. Absolutely. You need that. But you also have to get off the mountain, get out of your prayer closet, and get a burden for people." And like the young people say, "just 'Dew' it!"
After morning services a sit down fellowship dinner was enjoyed by all. Later, our young preachers spoke. Chris Thacker's sermon was on "Worship God With Boldness." Then Tyler Noel encouraged all to "Seek Obedience First." We are so blessed to have several young men who are following in the footsteps of Jesus, and stepping up, to preach the Gospel to every living creature. Men in the same ilk as Billy Graham, Billy Sunday and Charles Spurgeon.
Twice a day, Charles Spurgeon's words of encouragement and admonishment can be read on the church website at http://www.firstbatistchurchpineville.com.
The church pantry is accepting food and sundry items every third Sunday. See Kenny and Bobbi Bowers if you have any questions.
Infant care, nursery, and children's church is offered through the third grade on Sunday mornings, Sunday evenings and Wednesday, a nursery.
Transportation is also offered for all church services, as needed, for all ages. Please call 417-223-4433 or 417-223-1070 to get on one of the four bus routes.
The church library is available to all, during all church services. There are books, videos and music CDs to check out, for all age groups. New to the library are biographies on Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong, and Bible tracts to pass out when witnessing. See Mrs. Pat Anders for help.
Please tune in Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on 100.3 FM KURM for a message of love, inspiration, support and duty by one of our shepherds, Dr. Larry Crawford, or his son, Brother Ryan Crawford.
Religion on 01/15/2015