Pastor's Points

4 Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness. Psalms 30:4 (KJV) What a special time of year today is! God is worthy to be praised and thanked always but today the day is set aside especially to raise our hearts and voices in thanksgiving. Take a few minutes today and list the things you’re grateful for today and then recite them to God in a prayer of praise and thanksgiving.   ________________, ________________, ______________, ___________, ________________, ________________, ______________, ___________. Need more space? Thank God for His rich blessings in your life!

1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. Psalms 121:1-2 You ever find yourself at your “wit’s end” and it seems like nothing will ever be right again.  We all have and most likely will again at some time.  Believers are fortunate in that we do have somewhere else to turn; upward!  The scripture above tells us where our help will come from.  The scripture below shows us the way to accomplish success in overcoming life’s challenges.  To quote a movie line, “God is good all the time; all the time God is good!” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from .      you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye       sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning,  ...

Have you ever had conflicting feelings about your choice to seek and follow God when you see the unsaved apparently “living it up” and “living large” while you seem to just eek by and don’t seem to do enough “fun” things?   King David was having such a “Pity Party” a Major Pity Party!   He actually wondered if maybe he’d made a mistake in surrendering life to God and righteousness.   He momentarily considered going back into a life of sin (v. 15) but held back.    Then in verse 16 he considers the pain this action would cause.   How many would never come to Christ? How many would fall away from the faith?   How many lives would be damaged or destroyed because he had faltered.   Like David; let’s go into the “sanctuary of God” and understand that the reward of the wicked is still awaiting them.   We will reap what we sow.   Sow righteousness today, someone important to you is waiting to follow your lead. 12 Behold, these are the ungo...

8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.  Luke 21:8 (KJV) Four times in the New Testament we find the phrase “Be not deceived” each a warning to guard against a serious danger that can derail your life and render your testimony inert.   I Cor. 6:9 warns us to guard against false salvation doctrine.  I Cor. 15:33 warns us to guard against listening to and using evil language that ultimately spoils our image as Christians.     Gal. 6:7 warns us to stay true to God as we cannot truly serve Him and the world.   Our greatest danger is not from external physical or political attacks but from personal lackadaisical attitudes which attacks our morality and spirituality.  We hold the key to a wholesome relationship with God; we can refuse to be deceived.     Choose today to stay informed of God’s ...

One thing, that if practiced, will render everyday Christian living effective and genuine is found in this passage.  We’re to love without pretense.  Life is not a game and people are real with real needs and feelings.  Jesus did not “pretend” to love us, He demonstrated it on Calvary’s cross.  I dare ask, you do not “pretend” to love God, do you?  We’re commanded to love our brother as we love God (1 John 4:21) and for good reason.  The sincere expression of true love for our fellowman will encourage the weak, increase trust and fellowship and above all, please God. If you love God, love your brother also and without dissimulation.  

Have you ever considered that at times you’re your own worst enemy?   I have, and it’s disconcerting.   In many ways it’s worse than having an inflated ego!   We often limit ourselves by responding “I can’t” when we can and should.   We can be overly considerate of others by simply say “What will others say?” instead of caring about what God says.   Many can advise you, but true wisdom is found only in God.   “5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.  8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones."   Prov 3:5-8 (KJV)

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)