Pastor's Points

Followers of Jesus Christ are anything but unconcerned about sharing the Gospel with neighbors, even in places other than their hometowns.  Our world has a need for God but does not know how to find him.  God’s vision to Paul was a clear mandate to go into another place, be it neighborhood, town, state or country and preach the Gospel to them.  While we may not always be able to travel to other places, we can give financial support to the effort.  Join us in supporting state mission today with a generous gift to the Mary Hill Davis State Missions Offering.   9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.    10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.  -- Acts 16:9-10 (KJV)

10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. John 1:10-11 (KJV) This was written originally with respect to the Jewish nation in the time of Jesus’ coming.   In their sin hardened condition and selfishness they did not because they could not perceive the gift of God that was before them.   Sadly some of us, though redeemed by Jesus’ blood, often allow sin to blind us to His perfect will for us.   We drift away as ships without rudders; we wander away blind persons on featureless ground and in our blindness do perceive His presence, hear His call not heed his word.   What’s the answer?   Here’s a great way to start your journey back to peace, love, joy and holiness.   8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.    James 4:8 (KJV)

Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.  Isaiah 51:1 (KJV) On any type of journey it is imperative that we always know where we are so we can judge how far we’ve, how much farther we must go before we arrive at our destination and if we’re still on course.  Here Isaiah speaks to the redeemed of God and reminds them to pause and measure how far they’ve come in life since being saved.  It’s important that we know if we’re on course and if we’re staying true to our calling.  Focus on righteousness stay the course, our goal is in sight.

How many things can you name that will positively last throughout eternity?  The Pyramids in Egypt perhaps?  These “Eighth Wonder of the World” though they've been here thousands of years, are crumbling today, they will not endure time without end, Eternity that is.  Yes, even you and I my friend will one day come to our personal “end of days.”  The one thing that WILL ENDURE is God’s Holy Word!  Why? Because it was uttered and is sustained by the Everlasting Eternal God of the universe.  It is God’s Word, the Gospel that you can trust in that you may spend eternity in God’s presence.  Trust in Jesus today!

“Pastor, how do I know when I’m doing God’s Will in my life?” I’ve been asked many times to those sincerely concerned about their walk with Jesus.  I point them to: “1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.   2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” John 15:1-2 (KJV)   Note that the vines that DO NOT bear fruit are removed from the vine.  I’ll have more to say about these vines at another time.   See now how the branches that “beareth fruit” (not a lot, not beautiful & not the best but some fruit) are pruned so they may bear “more fruit”.  You see how God does not expect us to initially bear a lot of fruit when we are new believers or lack training, experience and guidance but He does expect us to bear some fruit.  It is in persistent personal effort to bear fruit that brings God joy and then He will prune us that we m...

“That’s just the way I am!” was the way a friend of mine often explained his obnoxious behavior.    “Take it or leave it.” Was his usual closing remark indicating he saw no reason to alter his attitude or actions.    Does this describe your attitude with respect to your relationship to God or lack of one? This attitude, by the way, is rebellion. The Prophet Isaiah has some very timely advice for us with respect to the statement above.   6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.     Isaiah 55:6-7 (KJV)

16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? 17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.   Mark 2:16-17 (KJV) One of my first pastors used to say “Before you can lead someone to Christ you must first get them lost.”  It was his way of saying that it when one recognizes they’re guilty of sin, deserve hell and want to avoid it, that they will commit their lives to God through Jesus.  The uninformed or rebellious lost do not think they need a savior and are hell bound.  How’s your spiritual health?  If you've come to realize you’re a sinner, Jesus came to find and save you.