Associate Pastor Ryan Crawford brought us our Sunday morning message: "We're not done!"
We stood for opening prayer and the reading of God's word taken from Joshua 13:1.
"Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the Lord said unto him, Thou are old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed."
Joshua's old and stricken in years. He knows it, Israel knows it, and even God knows it. But God says, "We still have land to possess."
In the next couple of chapters God tells him the land that they need to possess and how to divide up the land according to the tribes. He has his work cut out for him.
He realizes that it's not his accountant telling him what to do, or his best friend or just some random guy who has a good idea. He even realizes that it's not from within himself to go conquer, but from the God who gave it to him way back when. He wasn't going to have to conquer it. God had already given it to him. The same goes for us.
Today we have no time to get slack or satisfied on what God has done. He still has plenty for us to have and enjoy as individuals, families and the church. We are not done.
Brother Crawford remarked on Joshua's "What can I do?" attitude. Chapter 13 states, "There remaineth yet very much land to be possessed."
We, as Christians, have a lot of work to be done. Many people need to be saved. "Go ye into the all the world," Brother Crawford reminded us. "Jesus is Big Time. He is not a celebrity or a president, but BIGGER."
Joshua 24: 2-13 is a reminder of our salvation. We need a desire to call up on the name of the Lord, who died on the cross for our sins. We often need an alarm clock to wake up or water in our face, but, Brother Crawford reminded us, God rose from the dead on his own.
His mercy gives us protection. His grace is our provision, and we have salvation through the power in the blood.
In closing, Brother Crawford summed up by reminding us of the responsibility of the servant, the resolve of Joshua, response of Israel and the resurgence of Joshua.
Joshua 24:14: "Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.
Joshua 24:15: "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
Many people have that verse paraphrased on a plaque.
Brother Crawford closed with a request to repent, do away with and turn from sin. God has a mission for us. We need to get it done!
Have you read your Bible today? If not, read the book of James. It is just five short chapters.
Our new church hours start Oct. 2: Sunday school will be 9 a.m. and immediately followed by church service at 10 a.m.
If you do not have a home church, come visit us at 206 E. Fifth St., Pineville. One of the friendliest churches in town.
The Nursing Home Ministry meets at McDonald County Living Center in Anderson at 2:30 p.m. every other Saturday. The next meeting is Oct. 8.
Please check out our FBCP Teen Group Facebook Page.
Our Friday Night Bible Study Group will present the movie "God is not Dead 2" at 6 p.m. Friday in the church gym.
WMU is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 11, at the FBCP.
Hear a rebroadcast of one of Dr. Larry Crawford's services on KURM radio, 100.3 on FM dial, at 8:30 a.m. Sunday mornings or listen to our pastors' service at www.firstbaptistchurchpineville.com/Sermons.html.
Religion on 09/29/2016