As we gathered to worship on an usually cool August Sunday morning, Wayne Johnson opened our service with prayer. David and Kitty Collingsworth were celebrating their wedding anniversary. Special prayers were requested for the Bob Parish family, Jacob Reece family, Janice Mason, Debbie Taylor, Mertie Harmon, the teachers and students as school begins again.
Linda Abercrombie began the devotional "Have Some Fun" by asking "Do you remember the last time you had fun?" Scripture was from Psalm 127:2 "It is vain for you to rise up early to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep."
Linda talked about the hustle and bustle of life and days packed usually with not what we really want to do. We need to make a list of fun things we used to do and consider adding a little fun to our life for well being and to put our would in balance.
Tyrel Lett asked God's blessing upon the offertory and he and Rick Lett served as ushers. Karen Gardner and Becky Johnson led the congregational hymns and we were blessed with special music from Jerry Abercrombie who sang "What A Day That Will Be" and Karen who sang "How Great Thou Art".
Brother Mark Hall began God's message by asking the congregation what a hero looked like? As he read Job 1:1-5, he asked if a hero would look like Job? "Job had power, prestige, position and the perfect family.
Life was great. We all want to be like Job and his family. And then it all ended up in distress." In Job 2:7-9, the Bible tells us about Job's days that weren't so good. Then, it wasn't Job's power or prestige that made him a hero, it was his faith. "It is easy to praise and serve God when things are good. We have faith and serve God when things are good. Do we also have faith and serve God when there is illness and problems and we don't feel God is listening?"
As Brother Mark read Job 29:1-9, he told us that Job longs for the past when God looked over him. Job thinks that God has deserted him as he sits on his pile of ashes and feels sorry for himself. But in Job 38:1-30, the Lord answers Job showing him that in times of tragedy, we must trust God. "As we often wonder why we are suffering, we must remember God's ways are higher than ours, but that we live in a fallen world where bad things happen." Brother Mark reminded us, "Don't let your faith get hurt because bad things happen on this earth. All of the grief, tragedy and sorrow has only one answer." Brother Mark read Job 1:20-22 and said, "Ask God to give you an opportunity to witness for Him? You will never have a better chance than when you are in personal distress. That shows others your faith that there is a God in heaven."
Brother Mark told us, "Don't dump your Christianity for Satan. The devil's favorite thing is to find a Christian in distress and sucker them in. You can't walk with God during the day and dance with the devil at night." Job 27:3-4 says, "As long as my breath is in me, and the breath of God in my nostrils, my lips will not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit."
Brother Mark asked, "What made Job a hero? During times of tragedy is when you have to hold on tight to God. It is those high-stress times that we have to hold on to integrity, our faith and trust in God. It is easy to be a model Christian when everything is going good." Job 27:5-6 says "Far be it from me that I should say you are right; till I die I will not put away my integrity from me."
In closing, Brother Mark told us that Job was a hero, a righteous and good man till the devil got involved. God used that to serve as an example. Job 42:10 says "And the Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before." Brother Mark told us that sometimes we lose on this earth, but with God we win in the end because we have heaven waiting for us.
Our hymn of invitation was "He Was There All the Time" and Tom Sharp gave the benediction. We invite you to worship with us next Sunday as we celebrate homecoming and 113 years of worshiping our Lord at Mill Creek Baptist Church. Worship service begins at 11 a.m. with special music guest "Spring Street" followed by fellowship lunch and more music in the afternoon. Everyone is welcome. Mill Creek is located 3 1/2 miles east of Noel just off Highway 90 on Upper Mill Creek Road.
Religion on 08/17/2017