Weekly Encouragem
Good Wednesday Everyone,
Blessings everyone. We missed our Bethel Baptist congregation this Sunday, but we are so thankful the Reverend Larry Lane, a familiar face at Bethel Baptist filled the Lord’s pulpit. This is a short week for most, but as always just as busy. Tonight, we meet for our Wednesday Night Fellowship, prayer time, and Bible study. The menu is fried chicken, and any side or dessert you bring will be most appreciated. The adults and youth continue their study in Revelation as we examine what Christ said to the church at Sardis. This is the fifth church addressed in the Revelation, and Christ’s fifth pronouncement to Christianity. The children will continue with “Mission Friends” together.
Brother Larry Lane continued with us in our latest sermon series, “God’s Way Is BELIEVED Through God’s Church.” Never underestimate the need of the Christian Church in our world, nation, state, or our community. The only way people will hear and believe God’s way of truth is through His church. The first two sermons in our series have answered two questions: Who is Jesus Christ? And the second: What does Jesus Christ do? The answer to the first is Jesus Christ is our God and our Saviour. The answer to the second is Jesus Christ raises people from the dead. Now the rest of the series answers the question: What does Jesus Christ want from me?
What Jesus wants from each of us and for each of us is to build and expand His Kingdom on earth. Remember this profound truth about God’s Kingdom: It is a place that has always existed; a place to live in now, and it is a place to be reached in the future. That’s a “mind blowing” concept. God’s Kingdom is a place where we live NOW and will live FOREVER. The Kingdom is where God’s way, His truth, and His life is believed, preached, shared, and seen. God’s Kingdom on earth is His Christian Church. If we at Bethel Baptist are going tell about the Kingdom, live for the Kingdom, and bring others to the Kingdom, we must be the kind of church God commands us to be.
The first step for us as a church and as individual Christians is to check the condition of our heart. This coming Lord’s Day we must allow God to be our spiritual cardiologist. We need to enter Bethel Baptist’s sanctuary as patients of God ready for a “heart check”. We must believe with the Holy Spirit’s conviction that God’s way is RIGHT. We can fool people, but we cannot fool God. Our God knows every motive behind what we do for others, and He also knows the thoughts and attitude of our heart in whatever we do for others.
Remember our sermon series Scripture focus, 1 Timothy 2:1-6. Read this passage often, daily, and please do so prayerfully before Sunday morning. This passage will prepare us to see our church, ourselves, and other people properly. This passage will also tell us what we must tell others about Jesus Christ. People will not figure out the truth of this passage alone. The truth of these verses will produce doubts, questions, and FEAR in people, maybe it will in you. But the Christian Church, specifically Bethel Baptist can and will help people with their doubts, questions, and fears. Everyone wants to, “lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” The only way this can happen is to allow Jesus Christ to be our “one mediator between God” and us. This is the “proper time” for Bethel Baptist to act, to preach, to reach, and to teach others for the sake of the Gospel. Once our friends, and family, and our neighbors taste what is good, “They will really BELIEVE what we have, they just don’t know it yet.” I look forward to seeing you this Lord’s Day.
In Christ Jesus,
Pastor Michael
