Z
Z
z
Devotions
(click title to jump to devotion)
|
|
|
SUNDAY - JULY 25TH
TODAY IS THE LORD'S DAY! LET'S REMEMBER TO KEEP IT HOLY - LET'S BE LIKE JESUS AND FIND OURSELVES IN GOD'S HOUSE WORSHIPPING, PRAISING AND THANKING HIM FOR ALL OUR BLESSINGS. WE DON'T GO TO CHURCH TO BE SAVED AND THEN QUIT, BUT WE GO TO CHURCH BECAUSE WE ARE SAVED. ATTENDING CHURCH EACH WEEK, WITH OTHER BELIEVERS IS ESSENTIAL IN FULFILLING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD, AND OUR CHRISTIAN COMMITMENT. OUR PASTOR HAS A SAYING THAT IF YOU'RE IN GOD'S HOUSE ON SUNDAY, THEN YOU ARE EXACTLY WHERE YOU OUGHT TO BE. ARE YOU GOING TO BE "EXACTLY" WHERE YOU OUGHT TO BE? THOSE WHO DO NOT ATTEND CHURCH REGULARLY, RUN THE RISK OF FAILING IN THEIR CHRISTIAN WALK. HERE'S THE QUESTION; CAN YOU MAINTAIN YOUR CHRISTIANITY AND DEVELOP A SPIRITUAL FULFILLMENT BY NOT ATTENDING CHURCH WITH OTHER BELIEVERS? IT'S A FACT, WE CANNOT DO THAT ALONE. . . WE NEED EACH OTHER. SEE YOU IN CHURCH!
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** **** *******
THIS WEEK'S DEVOTIONS - HOW IMPORTANT IS SUNDAY SCHOOL?
MONDAY - JULY 26TH -
THIS WEEK OUR DEVOTIONS WILL FOCUS ON ASSEMBLING OURSELVES TOGETHER WITH OTHER BELIEVERS IN GOD'S HOUSE, NOT ONLY BY ATTENDING CHURCH, BUT ALSO WE'LL LOOK AT THE IMPORTANCE OF SUNDAY SCHOOL. OUR PASTOR HAS CHALLENGED US, BEGINNING THIS COMING SUNDAY, AUGUST 1ST, TO REACH AN ATTENDANCE OF 60 IN SUNDAY SCHOOL, DURING THE MONTH OF AUGUST. IT'S CALLED, 'BACK TO SUNDAY SCHOOL." THE SECOND WEEK OF AUGUST, ALL SCHOOL SYSTEMS WILL HAVE BEGUN THEIR REGULAR SCHOOL YEAR, AND VACATIONS, HOLIDAYS AND FAMILY TRIPS OUT OF TOWN, WILL START TO DECLINE, AND EVERYONE WILL SETTLE DOWN TO STAYING HOME OR AT LEAST A LITTLE CLOSER TO HOME. THIS ALSO MEANS THAT YOUR WEEKEND PLANS SHOULD INCLUDE GETTING BACK TO CHURCH. THROUGH OUR DEVOTIONS THIS WEEK, LET'S LOOK AT THE REASONS IT'S IMPORTANT, IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN, A BELIEVER, OR BELONG TO A LOCAL CHURCH, THAT YOU ATTEND SUNDAY SCHOOL AS WELL AS THE WORSHIP SERVICE. THE FIRST THING WE'LL LOOK AT, AND AS WE MENTIONED, IS THE ATTENDANCE. SUNDAY SCHOOL IN ALL CHURCHES IS FACING SERIOUS PROBLEMS. NOT JUST OUR CHURCH, BUT OTHER CHURCHES AS WELL, IS FACING LOW ATTENDANCE IN SUNDAY SCHOOL. EVEN OUR REGULAR MEMBERS AND THOSE THAT USE TO BE FAITHFUL TO ATTEND, ARE NOT AS REGULAR AS THEY USE TO BE. YOU MAY ASK WHY? IN OUR CHURCH SOME OF THE MORE FAITHFUL HAVE BECOME SICKLY AND THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE, BUT THOSE THAT TEND TO JUST NOT SHOW UP, THAT'S A MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM. IT COULD MEAN THE DESIRE TO STUDY AND KNOW GOD'S WORD, MIGHT NOT BE AS IMPORTANT AS IT SHOULD BE. SUNDAY SCHOOL IS NOT ONLY A SOURCE OF TEACHING GOD'S WORD, BUT IT IS FOUR OTHER THINGS. IT IS THE ARM OF THE CHURCH THAT REACHES, TEACHES, SOUL-WINNING, AND CARES FOR EACH AND EVERYONE THAT ATTENDS. SUNDAY SCHOOL IS ALSO IMPORTANT BECAUSE REAL DISCIPLESHIP TAKES PLACE IN SUNDAY SCHOOL. RELATIONSHIPS ARE ALSO BUILT IN SUNDAY SCHOOL. OUR CHURCH DEFINITELY LIKES TO TALK AND FELLOWSHIP, BUT IF YOU ARRIVE AT TEN MINUTES TILL ELEVEN, HOW CAN YOU TALK TO 70 PEOPLE IN TEN MINUTES? WHEREAS, IF YOU CAME TO SUNDAY SCHOOL, YOU HAVE LONGER TO FELLOWSHIP WITH A LOT MORE OF THE CONGREGATION, YOU CAN BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, AND DEVELOP MORE CLOSER FRIENDSHIPS. TOMORROW, CLICK IN FOR SOME MORE REASONS YOU SHOULD BE ATTENDING SUNDAY SCHOOL. HAVE A GOOD DAY!
TUESDAY - JULY 27TH -
HOW IMPORTANT IS SUNDAY SCHOOL TO A BELIEVER? OF COURSE THE ANSWER IS "VERY IMPORTANT." SOME PEOPLE MAY SAY, "SUNDAY SCHOOL IS FOR CHILDREN." NO .. SUNDAY SCHOOL IS FOR EVERYONE, THAT'S THE REASON THERE'S A CLASS FOR EVERY AGE FROM 1-100. OUR PASTOR SAID LAST SUNDAY MORNING, THE STRENGTH OF A CHURCH IS IN ITS SUNDAY SCHOOL. GOD HAS BLESSED US WITH A GENERATION OF SUNDAY SCHOOL. BACK IN THE DAY, CHURCHES USED TO HAVE AN EVENING DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING TIME, CALLED TRAINING UNION. HOWEVER, NOW, REAL DISCIPLESHIP TAKES PLACE IN SUNDAY SCHOOL. IF YOU ONLY ATTEND THE WORSHIP SERVICE, YOU ONLY GET A SMALL PORTION OF WHAT THE PASTOR CAN PREACH IN ABOUT THIRTY MINUTES. YOU MISS THE BIGGEST PART OF WHAT OUR CHURCH IS DOING WHEN ALL YOU DO IS COME TO THIS ONE SERVICE. THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT; FINANCES, MARRIAGE, ABORTION, FAMILY, TEENAGERS, POLITICAL ISSUES. THERE'S AN ANSWER, ACCORDING TO GOD'S WORD, ABOUT EVERY ONE OF THESE ISSUES AND IT CAN BE FOUND IN SUNDAY SCHOOL OR OUR SUNDAY EVENING BIBLE CLASS, WHEN WE BREAK OPEN THE BIBLE AND STUDY, AND RESEARCH WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT EVERYTHING WE ENCOUNTER IN OUR DAILY WALK OF LIFE. IT'S IN SUNDAY SCHOOL THAT WE LEARN WHAT BEING A DISCIPLE REALLY IS. IT GIVES US AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE CAN CHALLENGE ONE ANOTHER AND ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER TO BE WHAT WE OUGHT TO BE. WHEN A CHURCH GROWTH IS BUILT ON THE STRENGTH OF THE PASTOR'S PERSONALITY, IT WILL NOT LAST. AND WE'VE SEEN THIS HAPPEN RIGHT HERE IN OUR CHURCH, BUT IT HAPPENS IN OTHER CHURCHES ALSO, THAT WHEN A PASTOR MOVES ON, THE ATTENDANCE DROPS, EVEN IN YOUR WORSHIP SERVICE, ESPECIALLY SUNDAY SCHOOL. SO, WHEN YOU COME TO WORSHIP SERVICE ONLY BECAUSE YOU REALLY LIKE THE PREACHER, THEN YOU ARE MISSING AN IMPORTANT PART OF TRUE WORSHIP. SUNDAY SCHOOL HELPS MOMS AND DADS TO BE BETTER ONES. SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHES KIDS WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT BEING A REAL FRIEND AND PEER PRESSURE. SUNDAY SCHOOL IS ABOUT HELPING YOU TO KNOW THE LORD AND HOW TO SERVE HIM TO THE FULLEST. HAVE A GOOD DAY!
WEDNESDAY - JULY 28TH -
WITH THE THOUGHT OF SUNDAY SCHOOL BEING VERY IMPORTANT TO YOU. YOU MUST KNOW THE FIVE "P'S" OF SUNDAY SCHOOL. PEOPLE: SUNDAY SCHOOL IS ALL ABOUT PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER TO STUDY THE WORD OF GOD. AND BY USING AN AGE-GRADED CLASS STRUCTURE, THERE'S A CLASS FOR EVERY AGE GROUP. WE CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH, IT'S NOT JUST FOR CHILDREN... IT'S FOR EVERYBODY. WE GET TO KNOW OUR FELLOW BELIEVERS AND FORM A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM. FROM THE ELECTRIC GARAGE DOOR OPENER TO THE INTERNET AND ESPECIALLY FACE BOOK, PEOPLE ARE QUICKLY LOSING PERSONAL CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER. INSTEAD OF TALKING ON THE PHONE, WE TEXT. INSTEAD OF ACTUALLY SPEAKING TO EACH OTHER, WE E-MAIL. FELLOWSHIP IS IMPORTANT, AND IF YOU E-MAIL AND TEXT ALL WEEK, THEN SUNDAY SCHOOL WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER. PRIORITY: THE PRIORITY OF SUNDAY SCHOOL SHOULD BE TO TEACH GOD'S WORD AND EVANGELIZE THE LOST. FROM THE BIRTH CLASS TO THE DEATH CLASS, IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE AT STAKE AND THEY WILL HEAR GOD'S TRUTH PROCLAIMED TO ALL AGES. PRESENTATION: THE MESSAGE NEVER CHANGES BUT SOMETIMES THE MESSAGE IS PRESENTED ON A LEVEL THAT'S INTERESTING AND COMPELLING. PLACE: GOD'S HOUSE, THE CHURCH IS THE PLACE THAT SUNDAY SCHOOL HAPPENS. EVERY SUNDAY MORNING AT 10:00 A.M. OUR CHURCH DOORS ARE OPEN TO EVERYONE WHO WILL ATTEND SUNDAY SCHOOL AND THEN EACH ONE ASSEMBLES IN THEIR OWN RESPECTIVE CLASS. POSITION: SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS AND LEADERS NEED TO BE IN A POSITION TO BE PREPARED TO PRESENT GOD'S WORD THROUGH THE WRITTEN LESSON EACH WEEK. THAT'S THE REASON WE HAVE A COUNT OF WHO ALL "STUDIED THEIR LESSON." THE WORD OF GOD IS MORE THAN JUST DRY HISTORY, AND IT'S MORE THAN JUST DOCTRINE, IT'S MORE THAN JUST KID'S STORIES. JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES THAT THE "THE WORDS THAT I SPEAK UNTO YOU, THEY ARE SPIRIT AND THEY ARE LIFE." SUNDAY SCHOOL IS VERY IMPORTANT TO YOU. HAVE A GOOD DAY!
THURSDAY - JULY 29TH-
IN DEUTERONOMY 6: 4-9, WE READ MOSES' WORDS TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL, AND MORE SPECIFICALLY, TO THE PARENTS AMONG THE PEOPLE. IT READS LIKE THIS: "HEAR, O ISRAEL, THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; AND THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL THINE HEART, WITH ALL THY SOUL, AND WITH ALL THY MIGHT. AND THESE WORDS WHICH I COMMAND THEE THIS DAY, SHALL BE IN THINE HEART AND THOU SHALT TEACH THEM DILIGENTLY UNTO THY CHILDREN, AND SHALT TALK OF THEM WHEN THOU SITTEST IN THINE HOUSE, AND WHEN THOU WALKEST BY THE WAY, AND WHEN THOU LIEST DOWN AND WHEN THOU RISETH UP. AND THOU SHALT BIND THEM FOR A SIGN UPON THINE HAND, AND THEY SHALL BE AS FRONTLETS BETWEEN THINE EYES, AND THOU SHALT WRITE THEM UPON THE POSTS OF THINE HOUSE AND ON THY GATES." THE PROBLEM WITH THE ISRAELITE PEOPLE WOULD BE THAT IN THEIR PROSPERITY THEY WOULD FORGET HOW GOD HAD BLESSED THEM. SO, WE NEED TO PUT THE LORD FIRST IN OUR LIVES. EVERYTHING THAT LIES WITHIN YOU - LOVE THE LORD. LET'S DRAW OUR ATTENTION TO WHAT GOD WAS ALSO TRYING TO SAY TO THESE PEOPLE. IT'S ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE THAT CHILDREN LEARN THE WORD OF GOD. IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT, NOW MORE THAN EVER, THAT OUR CHILDREN BE TAUGHT THE WORD OF GOD. IT'S IMPERATIVE BECAUSE THE FUTURE OF THE HOME, THE FAMILY, THE CHURCH, AND SOCIETY AS WE KNOW IT TODAY, DEPENDS UPON THEIR KNOWING AND LIVING THE WORD OF GOD. NOTICE HOW GOD SAID TO TEACH YOUR CHILDREN, "DILIGENTLY." BE SERIOUS ABOUT IT, BE PROACTIVE ABOUT IT. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THOSE TEACHABLE MOMENTS YOUR KIDS GIVE YOU. THAT'S WHY GOD GOES ON TO SAY, TALK ABOUT IT WHEN YOU'RE WALKING, TALKING, SITTING, BEFORE YOU GO TO BED, HAVE IT ON YOUR DOORPOSTS AND GATES, HANDS AND EYES. IN OTHER WORDS, THERE OUGHT NOT TO BE ANY MOMENT OF YOUR LIFE, OR PLACE IN YOUR LIFE WHERE YOU DON'T HONOR THE WORD OF GOD AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR OPPORTUNITIES TO TEACH IT TO YOUR CHILDREN. PARENTS - GOD HAS GIVEN YOU THE EXPRESS RESPONSIBILITY OF TEACHING YOUR CHILDREN THE WORD OF GOD AND HIS COMMANDS. TEACH THEM WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT - LIFE, DEATH AND THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS, THE TRINITY, THE INERRANT WORD OF GOD, THE CHURCH, SERVING OTHERS, LOVE, HUMILITY, GRACE, KINDNESS, FORGIVENESS, AND THE RELEVANCY OF THE BIBLE IN TODAY'S ETHICS, POLITICS, FINANCES, MARRIAGE, RELATIONSHIPS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. IF YOU, AS A PARENT, NEED HELP, WHERE ELSE WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE FOR THEM TO BE TAUGHT GOD'S WORD, THAN SUNDAY SCHOOL? THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF GROWN-UPS THAT HAVE NEVER FORGOTTEN SOME OF THE THINGS THEY LEARNED IN SUNDAY SCHOOL. SUNDAY SCHOOL IS IMPORTANT TO YOUR CHILDREN. HAVE A GOOD DAY!
FRIDAY - JULY 30TH-
HAVE A GOOD DAY!
SATURDAY - JULY 31ST -
IN OUR SERIES OF "WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT ABOUT ATTENDING CHURCH?" NOT ONLY SUNDAY SCHOOL BEING VERY IMPORTANT TO A BELIEVER'S LIFE, BUT CHURCH ATTENDANCE IS VERY IMPORTANT. HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND!
DEVOTIONS FOR NEXT WEEK:
WHO IS JESUS?
IN CHEMISTRY, HE TURNED THE WATER TO WINE;
IN BIOLOGY, HE WAS BORN WITHOUT THE NORMAL CONCEPTION;
IN PHYSICS, HE DISPROVED THE LAW OF GRAVITY WHEN HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN;
IN ECONOMICS, HE DISPROVED THE LAW OF DIMINISHING RETURN BY FEEDING 5000 MEN WITH TWO FISHES AND FIVE LOAVES OF BREAD;
IN MEDICINE, HE CURED THE SICK AND THE BLIND WITHOUT ADMINISTERING A SINGLE DOSE OF DRUGS;
IN HISTORY, HE IS THE BEGINNING AND THE END;
IN GOVERNMENT, HE SAID THAT HE SHALL BE CALLED WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, PRINCE OF PEACE;
IN RELIGION, HE SAID NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH HIM. . . . . SO WHO IS HE?
HE IS JESUS. . . HE IS WORTHY . . . THE GREATEST MAN IN HISTORY. . . JESUS HAD NO SERVANTS, YET THEY CALLED HIM MASTER; HE HAD NO DEGREE, YET THEY CALLED HIM TEACHER, HE HAD NO MEDICINES, YET THEY CALLED HIM HEALER. HE HAD NO ARMY, YET KINGS FEARED HIM. HE WON NO MILITARY BATTLES, YET HE CONQUERED THE WORLD, HE COMMITTED NO CRIME, YET THEY CRUCIFIED HIM. HE WAS BURIED IN A TOMB, YET HE LIVES TODAY. HE IS JESUS AND HE LOVES YOU RIGHT NOW. . . . .
WHAT IS 100%?
FROM A STRICTLY MATHEMATICAL VIEWPOINT:
WHAT EQUALS 100% ? WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO GIVE MORE THAN 100%? EVER WONDER ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY ARE GIVING MORE THAN 100%? WE HAVE ALL BEEN IN SITUATIONS WHERE SOMEONE WANTS YOU TO GIVE OVER 100%- HOW ABOUT ACHIEVING 101%? WHAT EQUALS 100% IN LIFE? HERE IS A LITTLE MATHEMATICAL FORMULA THAT MIGHT HELP YOU ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS:
IF: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z -
IS REPRESENTED NUMERICALLY AS: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 -
THEN:
H - A - R - D - W - O - R - K
8+1 + 18+4 + 23 + 15 +18+11 = 98%
AND THEN
K - N -- O - W - L - E - D - G - E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4 +7 + 5 = 96%
BUT
A - T - T - I - T - U - D - E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%
AND BETTER YET - LOOK HOW FAR THE LOVE OF GOD WILL TAKE YOU:
L - O - V - E - O - F - G - O - D
12+15+22+5 +15 + 6 + 7 + 15 + 4 = 101%
THEREFORE, ONE CAN CONCLUDE WITH MATHEMATICAL CERTAINTY THAT: WHILE HARD WORK & KNOWLEDGE WILL GET YOU CLOSE, AND ATTITUDE WILL GET YOU THERE; IT'S THE LOVE OF GOD THAT WILL PUT YOU "OVER THE TOP."
HAVE YOU CHOSEN A LIFE COURSE THAT LEADS TO A DESTINATION THAT MATTERS? RELATIONSHIPS MATTER! NOT WORLDLY POSSESSIONS.
FROM THE BIBLE: READ MATTHEW CHAPTER 5: 3-6
1. PRAY THAT GOD WILL ALLEVIATE SUFFERING. EVERY OUNCE OF COMPASSION WE FEEL FOR OTHERS COMES FROM GOD. (LAM. 3:20)
2. PRAY THAT THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING IN THEIR SIN WILL NOT CURSE THE LORD, BUT RATHER WILL CALL ON HIS NAME. GOD PROMISES TO TRANSFORM PEOPLES LIVES. (PSALMS 107)
3. PRAY THAT FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS WHO ARE SUFFERING WILL SEE THEIR TROUBLES IN LIGHT OF ETERNITY AND WILL NOT LOSE HEART. (II COR. 4:16-18)
4. PRAY THAT THOSE WHO ARE CRYING TO GOD IN THEIR NEED WILL PERSEVERE IN PRAYING. (LUKE 18:1-8)
5. PRAY THAT GOD'S PEOPLE WILL NOT PASS BY THOSE WHO ARE HURTING. (LUKE 10: 30-35)
6. PRAY THAT MISSIONARIES WHO CONSTANTLY MINISTER TO SUFFERING PEOPLE WILL NOT BECOME DISCOURAGED OR HARDENED. PRAY THAT THEY WILL BECOME OVERWHELMED BY THE NEED.
7. PRAY THAT GOD WILL FLOOD YOU WITH HIS COMPASSION FOR THE HURTING AND WILL SHOW YOU SPECIFIC WAYS TO EXPRESS HIS LOVE. A CARD, A PHONE CALL, A HUG, A VISIT, THE SMALLEST THINGS CAN SOMETIMES BE A LIFELINE TO A HURTING PERSON.
ALWAYS REMEMBER GOD IS FAITHFUL AND HIS COMPASSIONS "ARE NEW EVERY MORNING." (LAM 3:23) IF SOMEONE YOU KNOW FEELS LIKE PRAYER ISN'T HELPING JUST REMIND THEM THAT YOU ARE PRAYING.
THE REASON SO MANY PEOPLE KNOW THE SOLUTION IS BECAUSE THEY CREATED THE PROBLEM - DEPEND ON GOD FOR EVERYTHING!
EACH MEMBER OF EVERY CHURCH IS IMPORTANT, SO LIKENED UNTO THE BODY OF CHRIST. EVEN THE MOST SMALLEST JOB IN THE CHURCH IS IMPORTANT.
IN A CERTAIN MOUNTAIN VILLAGE IN EUROPE SEVERAL CENTURIES AGO, A NOBLEMAN WONDERED WHAT LEGACY HE SHOULD LEAVE TO THE TOWNSPEOPLE. AT LAST HE DECIDED TO BUILD THEM A CHURCH. NO ONE SAW THE COMPLETE PLANS FOR THE CHURCH UNTIL IT WAS FINISHED. WHEN THE PEOPLE GATHERED, THEY MARVELED AT ITS BEAUTY AND COMPLETENESS. THEN SOMEONE ASK, "BUT WHERE ARE THE LAMPS? HOW WILL IT BE LIGHTED?" THE NOBLEMAN POINTED TO SOME BRACKETS IN THE WALLS. THEN HE GAVE EACH FAMILY A LAMP THAT THEY WERE TO BRING WITH THEM EACH TIME THEY CAME TO WORSHIP. "EACH TIME YOU ARE HERE THE AREA WHERE YOU ARE SEATED WILL BE LIGHTED," THE NOBLEMAN SAID. "EACH TIME YOU ARE NOT HERE, THAT AREA WILL BE DARK. THIS IS TO REMIND YOU THAT WHENEVER YOU FAIL TO COME TO CHURCH, SOME PART OF GOD'S HOUSE WILL BE DARK."
YOU ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF LIGGETT BAPTIST CHURCH AND EVERY TIME YOU'RE NOT HERE, THERE'S A DARK SPOT, THAT SPOT THAT MISSES YOU WHEN YOU'RE NOT HERE. YOU ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE SUCCESSFULNESS AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS CHURCH.
SCRIPTURE PASSAGE: GENESIS CHAPTER 3
SATAN IS A MASTER AT TAKING THE BLESSINGS OF GOD AND TWISTING THEM INTO SOMETHING THAT BRINGS A CURSE INSTEAD. IF GIVEN THE CHANCE, HE'LL CONVINCE YOU TO SEEK THE BLESSINGS OF MARRIAGE OUTSIDE THE BONDS OF MARRIAGE, TO EXCHANGE THE WORSHIP OF THE CREATOR FOR WORSHIP OF THE CREATION (AS WE HAVE SEEN THIS SUMMER WITH "SUN" WORSHIP) TO SUBSTITUTE WHAT IS CONVENIENT FOR WHAT IS OBEDIENT. THE TEMPTATION WILL BE CUNNING; THE PROMISE, INVITING, BUT AS ADAM AND EVE DISCOVERED, THE PAINFUL CONSEQUENCES FAR OUTWEIGH THE TEMPORARY PLEASURES.
STRIVE TO BE OBEDIENT TO GOD EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE. FOR MANY CHRISTIANS, RESISTING TEMPTATION IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO DISCOURAGE IT COMPLETELY. BE STRONG, IN THE LORD!
DURING WORLD WAR II, A U.S. MARINE WAS SEPARATED FROM HIS UNIT ON A PACIFIC ISLAND. THE FIGHTING HAD BEEN INTENSE AND IN THE SMOKE AND THE CROSSFIRE HE HAD LOST TOUCH WITH HIS COMRADES.
ALONE IN THE JUNGLE, HE COULD HEAR ENEMY SOLDIERS COMING IN HIS DIRECTION. SCRAMBLING FOR COVER, HE FOUND HIS WAY UP A HIGH RIDGE TO SEVERAL SMALL CAVES IN THE ROCK. QUICKLY HE CRAWLED INSIDE ONE OF THE CAVES. ALTHOUGH SAFE FOR THE MOMENT, HE REALIZED THAT ONCE THE ENEMY SOLDIERS LOOKING FOR HIM SWEPT UP THE RIDGE, THEY WOULD QUICKLY SEARCH ALL THE CAVES AND HE WOULD BE KILLED.
AS HE WAITED, HE PRAYED, "LORD IF IT BE YOUR WILL, PLEASE PROTECT ME , WHATEVER YOUR WILL THOUGH, I LOVE YOU AND WILL TRUST YOU. AMEN."
AFTER PRAYING HE LAY QUIETLY LISTENING TO THE ENEMY BEGIN TO DRAW CLOSE, HE THOUGHT, "WELL, I GUESS THE LORD ISN'T GOING TO HELP ME OUT OF THIS ONE." THEN HE SAW A SPIDER BEGIN TO BUILD A WEB OVER THE FRONT OF HIS CAVE.
AFTER HE WATCHED, LISTENING TO THE ENEMY SEARCHING FOR HIM ALL THE WHILE, THE SPIDER LAYERED STRAND AFTER STRAND OF WEB ACROSS THE OPENING OF THE CAVE. "HAH, HE THOUGHT, WHAT I NEED IS A BRICK WALL AND WHAT THE LORD HAS SENT ME IS A SPIDER WEB. GOD DOES HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR.
AS THE ENEMY DREW CLOSER HE WATCHED FROM THE DARKNESS OF HIS HIDEOUT AND COULD SEE THEM SEARCHING ONE CAVE AFTER ANOTHER. AS THEY CAME TO HIS, HE GOT READY TO MAKE HIS LAST STAND. TO HIS AMAZEMENT, HOWEVER, AFTER GLANCING IN THE DIRECTION OF HIS CAVE, THEY MOVED ON. SUDDENLY, HE REALIZED THAT WITH THE SPIDER WEB OVER THE ENTRANCE, HIS CAVE LOOKED AS IF NO ONE HAD ENTERED FOR QUITE A WHILE. "LORD FORGIVE ME," PRAYED THE YOUNG MAN. "I HAD FORGOTTEN THAT IN YOU A SPIDER'S WEB IS STRONGER THAN A BRICK."
WE ALL FACE TIMES OF GREAT TROUBLE, WHEN WE DO, IT IS SO EASY TO FORGET THE VICTORIES THAT GOD WOULD WORK IN OUR LIVES, SOMETIMES IN THE MOST SURPRISING WAYS.
REMEMBER: WHATEVER IS HAPPENING IN YOUR LIFE, WITH GOD, A MERE SPIDER'S WEB CAN BECOME A BRICK WALL OF PROTECTION
BELIEVE HE IS WITH YOU ALWAYS. JUST SPEAK HIS NAME THROUGH JESUS, HIS SON, AND YOU WILL SEE HIS GREAT POWER AND LOVE FOR YOU.
LIGGETT BAPTIST CHURCH
HERE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS GOD IS SIMILAR TO:
BAYER ASPIRIN: HE WORKS MIRACLES
COKE: HE'S THE REAL THING
HALLMARK CARDS: HE CARES ENOUGH TO SEND HIS VERY BEST.
TIDE: HE GETS THE STAINS OUT THAT OTHERS LEAVE BEHIND.
GENERAL ELECTRIC: HE BRINGS GOOD THINGS TO LIFE.
SEARS: HE HAS EVERYTHING
SCOTCH TAPE: YOU CAN'T SEE HIM, BUT YOU KNOW HE'S THERE.
DELTA: HE'S READY WHEN YOU ARE.
ALLSTATE: YOU'RE IN GOOD HANDS WITH HIM.
DIAL SOAP: AREN'T YOU GLAD YOU HAVE HIM? DON'T YOU WISH EVERYBODY DID?
A PERSON WHO ALWAYS KNEELS BEFORE GOD,
CAN STAND UP TO ANYTHING!
TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE TO ATTEND CHURCH NEXT SUNDAY, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A SPECIAL “NO EXCUSE” SUNDAY. HERE ARE SOME THINGS WE WILL DO TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE.
1. COTS WILL BE PLACED IN THE FOYER FOR THOSE WHO SAY, “SUNDAY IS MY ONLY DAY TO SLEEP IN.”
2.
MURINE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WITH TIRED EYES FROM
WATCHING T.V. TOO LATE ON SATURDAY NIGHT.
3.
WE WILL HAVE STEEL HELMETS FOR THOSE WHO SAY, “THE ROOF
WOULD CAVE IN IF I EVER CAME TO CHURCH.”
4.
STEEL-TOED SHOES WILL BE PROVIDED FOR THOSE WHO DON’T WANT
THEIR TOES STEPPED ON.
5.
BLANKETS WILL BE PROVIDED FOR THOSE WHO THINK THE CHURCH IS
TOO COLD AND FANS FOR THOSE WHO SAY IT IS TOO HOT.
6.
WE WILL HAVE HEARING AIDES FOR THOSE WHO SAY “THE PREACHER
SPEAKS TOO SOFTLY” AND COTTON FOR THOSE WHO SAY HE PREACHES TOO LOUDLY.
7.
FOR THOSE WHO USUALLY GO FISHING ON SUNDAY, INSTEAD OF COMING
TO WORSHIP, THE BAPTISTERY WILL BE STOCKED WITH BASS AND BLUE GILL, (BRING
YOUR OWN POLE).
8.
SUNGLASSES WILL BE IN THE PEWS FOR THOSE WHO SAY THE LIGHTS
ARE TOO BRIGHT AND MINITURE FLASHLIGHTS FOR THOSE WHO SAY THEY CAN’T SEE
TO READ THE HYMNALS
9.
THE AUDITORIUM WILL BE DECORATED WITH BOTH CHRISTMAS
POINSETTAS AND EASTER LILIES FOR THOSE WHO ONLY ATTEND CHURCH TWICE A YEAR.
10.
SCORE CARDS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO LIST THE
HYPOCRITES PRESENT.
11.
THERE
WILL BE T.V. DINNERS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO SAY THEY HAVE TO STAY HOME FROM
CHURCH AND COOK.
12. SOME RELATIVES WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE, FOR THOSE WHO SAY THEY LIKE TO GO VISITING ON SUNDAY.
FINALLY, TIME CLOCKS WILL BE INSTALLED FOR
