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You Were Asked To Pray For:
All of Our Military, Their Family’s
& All the Civilian Workers in The Middle East, Zee Mink Fuller and
Family, Her son’s Bryan Armstrong and Hunter Hackie, Daughter Shannon, and
Brother Philip & Sondra Thornsberry, Virgil
Hoskins and his daughters Liz Janis and Debbie Gray, Frank & Dawana
Reigel, Andrew Preston, Helen Maggard, Renee
Jackson, LarryMollette, Larry Mollette
II & Family, Linda Mollette, Kirby Mollette, Kerry Pennington, Kim
Butler, Danny & Nita Mollette, Verna Mae Allen, Wendell
Henderson, Judy Dunn, Joshua Kidd, Matthew Kidd, Donnie
Henderson, Kevin Henderson, Ricky Henderson, Rosalie Graves, Terry Hanson,
Jim Stagner, Bro. & Mrs. Hammond, Don Hammond,
Archie & Barbara Griffin & son Daniel, Larry Platt, Edna Garvin, Bro.
& Sister Bob Keller, Wanda Fowler, Kathy Rosinbaum,
Brenda Galusha and Jewel, Mary Ramsey, Donna
Johnson, Fay Johnson, Bobby Walker, Luann Reynolds, Bro. & Sis. Curtis
Pugh and his brother Billy Jack Cooper and family, Abigail Cattemull, Timothy and Nathan Fails, Jacob Ramsey, Jim
& Linda Meier, Brother David & Sister Anne Shortt, Brother Manuel
Seymour, Zach Seymour, Doris Hammock, Letha Langford, Leacho
Tittle, Bro. David Green and Family , Pastor Kelley
and Sister Eyvonne Hinson and Wesley, Anita Marsh,
Brother Frank and Sister Cyd James, Charles Boyd
Sr. and Jr., Brother Larry Wilson, Billy and Jo Hobbs, Michael Hiem, Jerry Hughes, Nita Bookout’s
Niece, Kim McCool’s Mother and Father, Pastor G. L. Burr, Alicia Lightsey, Melody Carr, Bryan Thompson Jr., Betty, Tommy
Walker, and Bro. Sergey Mochalov and the Churches in Russia.
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A Thought From Our Pastor:
“O
nation not desired”
Zephaniah 2:1-2 “Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not
desired; (2.) Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the
chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of
the LORD'S anger come upon you.”
We had the
privilege a few weeks back to study this passage of scripture and it was an
eye opening study. The Lord is speaking to His beloved Nation Israel here,
the only nation on earth that had God’s love, and God’s grace, but also a
nation that dishonored God on every action. It has to make one wonder why God
had such a love for Israel
and why God blessed them so and why God continues to bless them and even
promises to bless them in the Tribulation period. Although we do now know in
hindsight that because of their unruliness toward God, and His word that God
has stopped using them as a ministry of His word, and has started to use the
Gentile churches to minister His word. The Lord told the first church at
Jerusalem to “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” Matthew 28:19 and
when they failed to do as Christ Jesus had directed them, then God allowed
persecution to drive them out “And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at
that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout
the regions of Judaea and Samaria,
except the apostles. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every
where preaching the word.” Acts 9:1, 4 only once they were forced out, did
they do as Christ Jesus had directed them in Matthew 28:19.
It seems we as
Americans have learned nothing by the sufferings of the Israelites. We have a
nation that God has over and over blessed; we have accomplished more in 200 plus
years than the rest of the world combined and we like Israel
continue to spit in God’s Holy face. God has given us warning after waning
through the example of Israel
of what happens to a nation that is blessed of God and then shoves Him aside
as though we do not need Him or His blessings. We have reached the conclusion
that God is now worthless to us and we know more and better than Him. Only
when a national disaster hits us do we seek God’s compassion and help i.e.
911. Well beloved that is not good enough! The Lord called Israel “…O
nation not desired...” meaning they were no longer desired of God and no
longer a leader in the world. We, the greatest nation on the earth are no
longer a desired nation to the Lord. We were blessed (as a nation) to be a protector
of Israel
and now we are turning our backs on them. Now we are at a point (as a nation)
where laws are being written that will mute pastors in the pulpit about moral
wrong. Beloved we as churches and members in particular better get on our
faces in churches everywhere and pray to God for our nation’s forgiveness.
The Lord said “Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together…” that is
come together and cry to God for mercy, grace, and forgiveness. And this must
be done today “Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the
chaff…” that is before the day passes suddenly away and “…before the fierce
anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD'S anger come upon
you.” Beloved we are there; it is time for God’s anger because the last great
and blessed nation has failed God just as Israel did. The Tribulation
period is at hand, there is no other place for God to take this world. Israel failed God, England
failed God and now the United
States has failed God. When we read the
account of the flood in Genesis chapter 5 we see that God was very angry with
man that they had associated themselves with wickedness and wickedness had
taken over and He destroyed mankind. Well beloved we are again at that point
and the flood of tribulation is on the way. Oh how we as believers can truly
thank God that He has not appointed us to wrath as believers in Christ
Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 “For God
hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus
Christ,”
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The sword of God's Truth
"Their
speech is filled with flattery." Psalm 5:9
This is the
identifying mark of the "hireling," the false pastor. He aims at
pleasing his hearers, making them feel satisfied with themselves, ever
patting them on the back.
"But he who
has My Word—let him speak My Word faithfully" (Jeremiah 23:28), no
matter how unpalatable it may be to the flesh, how much of a weariness to
those who wish to have their ears tickled with novelties, or how loud the
outcry against it is!
Ministerial faithfulness
includes loyalty to his Master, devotion to His interests, steadfast
adherence to the preaching of His Word, dispensing the Truth unto those whose
souls are committed to Him—not mixing it with his speculations, much less
substituting false doctrine. A far higher motive than the pleasing of his
hearers must actuate and regulate ministerial service. Faithful preaching
will render the minister unpopular, and will 'empty' churches—not 'fill'
them!
"Then you
will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free." (John 8:32) Souls
are caught fast in the meshes of Satan's lies—and nothing but the sword of
God's Truth can cut them free!
"A faithful
man—who can find?" (Proverbs 20:6). Why is this? Because it is the part
of fallen human nature to take the line of least resistance, and choose the
path easiest to the flesh. But remember, my reader, whoever you are, that,
"Lying lips are abomination to the Lord; but those who deal 'faithfully'
are His delight." (Proverbs 12:22)
"Be faithful
unto death—and I will give you a crown of life!" (Revelation 2:10)
By Arthur Pink, " from his article
“Faithfulness"
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