This day was a day to celebrate birthdays for Brother Don Parrish and our very devoted young man Mika Burkholder. We also ask the Lord to bless Jon and Sandra Cartwright as they have another wonderful year of married life. You know why I say wonderful? Well you just need to meet this couple and you would find out what it means to show love for your companion.
We enjoyed songs by Sister Joyce Walters who sang "Precious Memories," and Sister Geneva Testerman sang "Please Search the Book Again." We want to send out a word of love to Brother Jack Barnes during his illness, may God be with you every minute.
Pastor took us to a very informative part of the word of God. He started with II Thessalonians 2:3-4. We are told that we should let no man deceive us for the day shall not come except there come a falling away first. This is another sign of the times and coming of the Lord.
Verse 4 gives a warning that we are not to be exalted above the name of the one true Savior. To obtain the safety and protection of God we must submit ourselves completely to God, resist the devil and he will flee from us. It is so necessary that we draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to us.
Hebrews 4:15-16 are both another promise that our God is not untouchable but always feels our infirmities; He was tempted just as we are. However, we can come boldly unto the throne of grace, and obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. He will defend us against evil.
The eighth chapter of Romans is very good reading. I would suggest that you find time to read every word, but Pastor focused on the second and third verses. This is a very positive statement. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh. By the death of Jesus we were made free and given an escape from the unjust law.
In verse 26 we are told of the power of the Spirit which will make intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered. The Holy Spirit makes intersession for us when we are not sure what to pray. You see He knows our needs even before we ask. In verse 31 he affirms this by saying if God be for us who can be against us? Jesus knows our every feeling as we read in Luke 4:2-3. In this portion of the scripture we find Satan trying to tempt Jesus after he had just spent 40 days in the wilderness. He tried to get him to turn stones into bread and our Savior answered man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
We must always take a stand against evil. Hebrews 2:3 is another word of instruction where we find that we cannot neglect so great salvation; which at first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed by them that heard him. Hearing the word of God is so important in every part of our lives.
Romans Chapter 12 teaches us that in order to gain the protection of the Lord, we must present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God. Verse 2 warns that we should not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. That we may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. In closing Pastor reassured us that we do have a God who will always be there to defend His children. God is so good and we Praise Him and lift up His Name.
Come worship with us and until next week may God be with you and bless you.
Religion on 03/30/2017