This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it. This is what being thankful is all about.
We pray that you had a very blessed Thanksgiving. The God of us all be with you and pour out many wonderful, bountiful years for you and your family.
We had two very special birthdays this morning. Brother Garland Walters and our very precious Bailey Taylor are now another year older.
Pastor spoke to us about an account in Zechariah 4:2-3. This unfolded with an angel telling of a candlestick with a golden bowl on top that had seven pipes, which ran to seven golden lamps. The oil came through the pipes and kept the seven lamps burning. The oil came from two olive trees which stood on each side of the bowl.
Now, you may ask "What does this mean?" It is a very important message given to us through the Word of God.
First of all, we need to realize that the number seven is referred to as the perfect number. During the time of this bowl being filled with anointed oil from the olive trees, seven pipes and seven lamps tell us that without the anointing we cannot gain our eternal home. You see, when we accept Christ as our savior, we are drawn by the Holy Spirit.
When the angel was asked who the olive trees represented, his reply was "These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord watching over the whole earth."
In other words, the Comforter was sent from God to lead and guide us through the journey from here to our eternal home. In Psalms 121, we read that if we will lift our eyes toward the heavens we will find that our help is sent from God. He is truly our keeper, and He watches over us day and night. He never slumbers. Again, Pastor kept the example of the golden bowl and lamps, filled with oil, in our hearts. He said that just as the lamps shined to light the path, we too must let our light shine. Pray daily for a refilling of the holy oil.
As in the song we have heard from the children, we should never hide our light under a bushel. You see, the world is often a dark place filled with trouble and confusion. People cannot find their way. That is when you step forward and send the message of light that will lead the lost to the place of peace in the Lord.
In Matthew 5:13-16, we are assured that our light is to shine so that the world may see our good works and want to share in our joy. A gloomy Christian will never have the influence that a happy, devoted child of the King does. I'm sure you have all heard that Christ is the true vine and we are the branches. Just like our trees, we must bear good fruit or they will have to be pruned. We too have to lay aside the unproductive limbs and renew our commitment to be fruitful.
Let's try to find our golden bowl, which could be our church, and the pipes, which are the Word of God that furnishes the light that will help us in dark times.
In closing, Pastor Bob made us to realize that we have a promise that we will do greater things than our Lord, for he went away and left us with the Holy Ghost to show us the way.
I guess everyone will now be getting ready for Christmas. Just remember Jesus is the center of our holiday and give him praise for all he has done for us and our loved ones.
We are still waiting for you to come to the Cove and visit a family that knows for sure that Jesus is the reason for the season.
God bless you all.
Religion on 12/08/2016