Deacons are Spiritual Leaders to Serve

Last Wednesday (May 24, 2023) we started a two-week series on Church Leadership looking at Elders last week. This week we look at the second office prescribed and described in the New Testament for the local church and that is Deacons.

It is the second office not because it is any less important than the first, but it is normally listed, as it is in Philippians 1:1, "bishops and deacons."

Deacons are first listed in Scripture as a potential office in the church in Acts 6.  Although they are not called "Deacons" there, most believe this is the position that later would be described in I Timothy 3 and other places.

There in Acts 6 seven men who had to be spiritually qualified were set aside to preserve the unity of the local body and to serve the widows who had been neglected. Unity is a missing ingredient in many churches today, but when Deacons are free to serve in their calling seeking unity, it is a great blessing for the church. Psalm 133:1 "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" Then in verse 4, "For THERE (the place of unity) the Lord commanded the blessing." 

There is a blessing commanded by the Lord at the place of unity. 

Deacons are those who serve requiring dealings with money, possibly even giving financial oversight to the church.  Thus, in I Timothy 3:8 Paul lists some of the qualifications for a deacon and one is "not greedy for money." These men must not lust for money or else they will steal some of the money that needs to go to widows or other needs or even prevent money from being used in places of ministry.

These men are to be qualified to serve with character traits and patterns of godly living rather than worldly achievement, fame, or success. They are in place to serve the Lord and His church with integrity and character.  They do not serve themselves. And may I add, they are not a House of Representatives where they represent certain areas of the church.  Deacons are to serve the whole church and always act in ways to promote unity and the well-being of the entire body.

The very word Deacon in Greek reveals more about their ministry. The word "diakonos" is simply a word for servant.  It is a word used of Jesus, and those who minister.  It is a high, and honorable position of leadership.

One of the main differences between an elder and a deacon is seen in I Timothy 3.  In verse 2, Paul says an elder must be able to teach.  Deacons have no such qualification which leads that elders serve more of the spiritual oversight of the congregation while deacons serve more of the material side of the church.

One last word, if the leadership in a church is not right, the church will NEVER be right.  God has set in order (Titus 1:5) His church and we must follow His leading.

There is a section on our church's website of older sermons and due to the importance of the subject of the church, I have nine sermons on "The Church."  I would encourage you to check them out here.

What is God Doing in the World?

We are almost 2,000 years from the giving of the Great Commission in Matthew 28: 18-20, Mark 16: 14-18, Luke 24: 46-49, Acts 1:8.  What is God doing in our world today?

The work is not completed.  According to the Joshua Project, of the 100 largest remaining unreached people groups (less than one percent Christian), 1.8 billion people are yet to be reached with the gospel, with the vast majority in India/South Asia.

Nearly 80% of Muslims do not know a single Christian.

1,708 people groups are yet to have a Bible in their own language.

But God is raising up a prayer movement that must precede evangelism of the nations.

In Indonesia, the organization Prayer Connect reports a nationwide desperate prayer movement is taking place.  In March 2023 they reported:

"After experiencing great persecution in the 1990's and the tragic devastation of the tsunami in 2004 (250,000 lives lost), the Church in Indonesia came together in united, desperate prayer.

In 2012, 9,500 leaders from 86 nations gathered in Jakarta for the World Prayer Assembly. These prayer and mission leaders came together with the Indonesians and filled up the city soccer stadium with 120,000 people - including 20,000 children ages 4-14, and 20,000 young adults, 18-30 years old.  This was combined with 385 other stadiums filled with Indonesians praying together for a fresh wave of the knowledge of the glory of the Lord to cover the earth as the waters cover the seas (Hab.2:14).

Today, Indonesia has 567 citywide prayer networks united across denominations and generations. Recently they celebrated the ten-year anniversary by coming together in a virtual World Prayer Assembly (worldprayerassembly.org).

Under this canopy of united, strategic, and sustainable prayer, the Church in Indonesia - the largest Muslim nation in the world - has been growing at an explosive rate."

Hudson Taylor said, "When we work, we work, but when we pray, God works."

Remember the Moravians?  Next Monday I will share their story with you.

This Sunday at Rainsville First Baptist Church - "The Path Is Worth the Price"

I have nothing against a gospel invitation, I give one every Sunday.  But we must be truthful to realize when Jesus invited people to follow Him, it is almost as if He said, "Go home and think about it."

There are no stronger words of what Jesus demands in following HIm than Luke 14: 25-33. And in these verses, He gives two illustrations of how someone should examine the cost before committing to follow Him.

One is someone building a house and doesn't finish it.  The second is a king going to make war against another king but fails to consider what it will take to defeat that king before he declares war.

This Sunday we will continue our series "The Path" of following Jesus with the message "The Path Is Worth the Price."  Whatever it costs to follow Jesus is worth it.  But consider it carefully.  Know to follow Jesus is not simply getting a "ticket to Heaven and out of hell."  It involves a cross, dying to self, and loving Jesus to such a high degree you love others much less.

Church Leadership is Vitally Important

 As the leaders go, so goes the organization.  Such is a benchmark principle of leadership.  Another one...an organization can only rise as high as its leaders.

These are true because they are fundamentally Biblical for leadership in a local church.  God puts so much value in leaders that one of the gifts the conquering King gave to his nation was leaders:  "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,..." Ephesians 4: 11.

The God-appointed positions of leaders in the local church are God's gift to His church.  While the quoted verse mentions four (or some say five separating pastors from teachers), in the local church there are primarily two offices:  elders (pastors) and deacons.

I will deal with the first today and then the deacons next Wednesday.  

Titus 1:5 "set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I direct you."

Elders were the first to be appointed.

Philippians 1: 1 "To all the saints in Christ Jesus, who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons." 

First, the titles of bishops, pastors, elders, and overseers are all synonymous. I don't have time to go into detail about why that is true, but it is.

But most all references to elders (pastors) in the New Testament are plural.

Acts 14:23 "And when they had appointed elders for them in every church."

Acts 20:17 Paul called for "the elders of the church."

James 5:14 "Call for the elders of the church."

Spiritual leadership is God-ordained, but just like the Trinity, the local church needs multiple men (yes, I believe it is for men only) leading the church.

Why? Mainly because the men in that position (including myself) are still prone to sin, selfishness, pride, arrogance, and flat-missing God.  So, there needs to be a plurality of leaders who can seek God to find His will and hold one another accountable.

Leadership without accountability is a dictatorship.  And there is only one dictator in the church and He is the Head, Christ Jesus.  But He leads His church through God-ordained leaders who need accountability in hearing from God.

I'm glad Rainsville First Baptist has elders who seek the Lord to give the most Godly leadership possible to His church.  I'm glad to say we have never proposed anything that was not unanimous because God is not divided and neither should the leaders.

Pray for your church leaders.  Ask God to keep them focused on Him, His Word, and to be continually filled with His Spirit. Pray for them not to be discouraged.  Leaders spend little time celebrating the good, it's their responsibility to help the church through a bad place, or situation. Then pray for God to raise up more Godly leaders in your church. Occasionally, let them know you are praying for them.  Encouragement is never out-of-place.  

Only the Lonely! by Wade Trimmer

 Most of us Western world “Baby Boomers” readily and fondly remember the 1960 hit song written and sung by Roy Orbison entitled “Only the Lonely. It’s the tale of a broken heart produced by a jilted lover. One verse cries, “There goes my baby, there goes my heart, they’re gone forever, so far apart. Only the lonely know the heartaches I’ve been through. Only the lonely know I cry and cry for you.” 

Unfortunately, this is the theme song being sung by millions of young Americans today. Although they are seldom alone, they are ever so lonely.

The recent report by the U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, prompted me to write this blog on the issue of loneliness. Dr. Murthy said in a report given a few days ago, “There is an epidemic of loneliness in the United States and lacking connection can increase the risk for premature death to levels comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day, according to a new advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General.

He went on to report: “In recent years, about one-in-two adults in America reported experiencing loneliness. And that was before the COVID-19 pandemic cut off so many of us from friends, loved ones, and support systems, exacerbating loneliness and isolation. Loneliness is far more than just a bad feeling – it harms both individual and societal health. It is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death. The mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and even greater than that associated with obesity and physical inactivity. And the harmful consequences of a society that lacks social connection can be felt in our schools, workplaces, and civic organizations, where performance, productivity, and engagement are diminished.”

Across age groups, people are spending less time with each other in person than two decades ago. This is most pronounced in young people aged 15-24 who had 70% less social interaction with their friends.

Murthy said that many young people now use social media as a replacement for in-person relationships, and this often meant lower-quality connections.

Sherry Turkle gets to the heart of why the most active in the use of social media are among the loneliest: “We are lonely but fearful of intimacy. Digital connections and the sociable robot may offer the illusion of companionship without the demands of friendship. Our networked life allows us to hide from each other, even as we are tethered to each other. We’d rather text than talk” (Sherry Turkle, Alone Together).

Loneliness may be more pervasive at the present than in previous years, but it is nothing new. In fact loneliness is the first thing that God said is, “not good!” (Genesis 2:18, “Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”)

The Psalmists said in Psalm 102:6-7, “I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I am like an owl of the desert. I lie awake, And am like a sparrow alone on the housetop.” These two verses contain what might be the most poignant metaphors for social isolation and loneliness in the Old Testament. The picture of his isolation is hammered home by the portrait of a pelican of the wilderness, an owl of the desert, and a solitary sparrow on a rooftop.

Many years ago, the late Dr. Paul Tournier, the noted Swiss Psychiatrist, said, “Loneliness is the most devastating malady of this age.”

The noted, agnostic historian, H. G. Wells, was a man with a brilliant mind. On his 65th birthday he said, “I am 65 years old and very lonely.”

There is a difference between being alone and being lonely. Loneliness is not isolation, nor is it solitude, it’s the insulation that comes from being cut-off from healthy and meaningful relationships with other people.

Crowds of people only enhance loneliness. If you have ever been by yourself in the Atlanta-Hartsfield International airport – the busiest in the world – you know what I am talking about.

Henry David Thoreau said, “A city is a place where hundreds of people are lonely together.”

Loneliness is a common human experience. All of us, whether single, married, or widowed, whether for a short period of time or for an extended season, deal with loneliness.

What is the solution for the massive problem of loneliness?

The solution can’t be bought. The prominent English poet, Rupert Brooke, was boarding a ship from Liverpool to New York. While masses of people had loved ones standing on the dock waiting to wave and blow kisses to their departing loved ones and friends, Brooke’s had no one to see him off and was overwhelmed with a sense of loneliness. Hoping to relieve his loneliness, he went down to the gangplank and offered a little boy a six pence to wave goodbye to him as he left.

The answer for Non-Christians, and for Christians as well, is found in the gospel.

The ultimate reason for what has been described as “cosmic loneliness” is alienation from God! Perhaps you have heard someone talk about a certain locale as a being a “God-forsaken place?”

The good news of the gospel is that although all non-Christians are alienated from God, there is only One that was ever “God-forsaken” in this life and that one was God Himself on the cross in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. When Jesus Christ died on the cross in our place, receiving the transfer of our sins upon him, God the Father turned His back on God the Son. Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” And because God the Father forsook God the Son as our sin-bearer, we don’t ever have to be God forsaken.

If you are alienated from God today, that is not His choice. It is your choice. Alienation from God brings great loneliness in the life of a person.

However, many Christians experience loneliness as well. What is the answer for them? They need to learn how to daily preach the gospel to themselves.

Knowing from her personal experience of loneliness, the late Elizabeth Elliot offers wise scriptural insight in dealing with the problem as she writes, “Loneliness is a wilderness, but through receiving it as a gift, accepting it from the hand of God, and offering it back to him with thanksgiving, it may become a pathway to holiness, to glory and to God himself.”

“The wilderness is that season of our lives where God, through our loneliness, teaches us that his will is to do something in us, not merely do something for us. That is, by walking by faith and not by sight, he works in us a stronger faith, leading to a deeper worship that results in a greater joy. If you’re lonely, offer it to God as a gift in worship.”

Pastor Paul Matthies adds additional insight for the Christian to fight loneliness with as he draws a distinction between loneliness and aloneness: “Loneliness is seeking to run from the presence of people and the pressures of life, and to withdraw from reality, but aloneness is experiencing the reality of God’s presence, running into the hiding place, not so you can just escape, but so you can enjoy God’s presence.”

“The hiding place can be viewed as that place or season in our lives when we run from people and circumstances, feel that the world is against us, and embrace loneliness only to encounter God, learn that he is for us, and therefore experience true aloneness.”

“Learn how to fight for community. God does want you to intentionally commune with him, but he also wants you in an intentional community. You can’t just stay with him forever. He’s not just calling you to be a monk. He’s also calling you to go out and make disciples and to get back into community.”

Loneliness is common to all of us, but because of Jesus it is not necessary that any of us remain lonely. You may be alone or lonesome, but you do not have to be lonely.

This old hymn gives great encouragement in overcoming our loneliness:

“I have seen the lightning flashing;
I have heard the thunder roll;
1 felt sin’s breakers dashing,
Trying to conquer my soul.
But I have heard the voice of Jesus
Telling me still to fight on,
He promised never to leave me,
No, never to leave me alone
No, never alone, no never alone,
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone.“

(The original blog can be viewed here.)

Praying for the Nations

The nations.  So many, so far, so overwhelming.  How can a "prayer warrior" go to the nations?

First, remember God's priority for the nations.

Genesis 12: 3 "And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

Galatians 3:8 "In you (Abraham) all the nations shall be blessed."

Psalm 2:8 "Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession."  

Matthew 28: 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, ..."

Revelation 5: 9 "You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals, For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,..."

God made the nations, God cares for the nations, God seeks to redeem the nations, and God will give the nations as an inheritance to His Son.

But how are they reached?  It begins here..."The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." Matthew 9:38 ESV

Dick Eastman says, "The degree to which prayer is mobilized is the degree to which the world will be evangelized." 

The Greek word for prayer here in Matthew 9:38 is not the normal word; it is deomai, a much stronger word meaning to "plead desperately, to beg."

So as followers of Jesus, our hearts should care deeply for the nations.  But how can we?  Especially as a prayer warrior?

1. Get a map of the world (yes, a real map, not just on your phone) and pray over the map.  Ask God to grant you a burden for a particular continent, then a nation on that continent.  

2. Learn all you can about that country:  government, history, language, culture, music, religion. Get names of current leaders, pastors, etc.

3. Watch for news and articles about that country and turn those points into prayers.

4. Seek out from the International Mission Board or other mission organizations of what type of presence Christians have in that country.  Maybe reach out to a missionary or pastor to let them know God has led you to pray for that country and seek requests from that individual "on the ground."

5. Get a flag from that country and keep it on your prayer altar.  Get some music from the country and play to hear their "heartbeat." 

6. Ask the Father for His plans and purposes for that nation.  What is He doing there?  Pray for that nation to become a "gift to the Son."

Rees Howells, one of the most notable men of prayer God used powerfully during World War II, wrote: "A prayer warrior can pray for a thing to be done without necessarily being willing for the answer to come through himself, and he is not even bound to continue in the prayer until it is answered. But an intercessor is responsible to gain his objective, and he can never be free till he has gained it."

7. Be willing to go to that country to simply walk and pray on site.  I remember when I went to a Middle Eastern country in 2000, the missionary pointed out four ladies from South Korea who were there walking the streets and praying.  From South Korea? (Yes, this is one of the most powerful missionary-sending nations of the world and it was all birthed out of prayer.). Women?  Alone?  Yes, no men; just four women there praying on site.  Anybody and everybody can GO!

Would God call you to go to Worcester, Massachusetts with us to do prayer walking?  It is the second largest city in New England and we are partnering with the Pleasant Street Church in downtown.  What an opportunity.   Learn more here.

Maybe you would go a week before we go in June to prepare the ground spiritually?  Maybe God would call you to go another time to simply pray.  Obey and go!

Let's be believers following Jesus with the nations prominent in our prayers and our going.  One more blog post next Monday about the nations.

This Lord's Day, May 21, 2023, at Rainsville First Baptist Church

Some Sundays are just so special in many ways, and this Lord's Day at Rainsville First Baptist Church looks to be one of those special days. 

First, we will celebrate thirteen high school graduates as they will parade in with cap-and-gown to be honored by their church family.  Per our tradition, the church has been writing notes and underlining favorite Scriptures in a Bible that will be presented to them this Sunday.  We will get to pray over them and give them our blessings.

We will celebrate Tinsley Andrews, Lily Boswell, Caden Clifton, Blake Cleveland, Emily Guilford, Sam Helms, Marisa Hiett, Harrison Huber, Liv Kennedy, Andrew Mays, Savannah Roper, Mia Tidmore, and Brayden York.

We will also recognize eleven college graduates who have recently graduated.

Second, we will have the unique honor to dedicate Tyler and Taelynn Traylor to the Lord as their mother, Whitney Traylor brings them to the Lord.  Whitney is our Children's Minister and has been a foster parent for these two siblings for several years.  As of May 17, she has officially adopted them and we will be celebrating this formation of a new family.  Whitney will share in the service how God has led her and brought her to this day.  

Thirdly, we are baptizing four converts.  We will hear the testimonies of Cooper Henson, Braxton Henson, Aubrey Hiett, and Mia Tidmore and then joyfully experience their Christian baptisms.  

And we will sing, pray, and hear a word about the Gospel we have seen personified.  

Then Sunday night we will host the Plainview High School Bacc Service at 6:00 PM with our Student Pastor, Max Grizzard, speaking.

Full day promising a full heart from which to give all praise to our great God.

I Still Need the Gospel Everyday in my Life

I did a P.S. (Monday) from Sunday's sermon, today I am during a P.S.S.  I will return to my normal Wednesday blogging about the church next week.  

Bear with me for just a few more thoughts about Luke 14: 25-27, 33 and taking up one's cross daily to follow Jesus.

This is a daily experience.  The Gospel is not a one-and-done, as I said Sunday.  One must daily be identified with the crucifixion of Jesus to keep from living the self-life fueled by unbelief that the plans, purposes, and provisions of Jesus are not the best for me.

But what happens when we fail. And we will...and we do.  Do we lose our salvation and have to start all over again?  Do we lose our salvation for good and are proven to be a fraud?

Well, since losing our salvation is not something we can do, then the answer to our failures is the same answer we started this life with...The Gospel.  

We recognize the failure that we were living this day selfishly resulting in us feeling used, abused, drained, confused, and overall dead.  While we might have enjoyed it for a moment, the end was not good.  So we confess our sin of selfishness, repent, and ask His forgiveness.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  I John 1: 9 (CSB). That verse is still in the Bible and it still works - every time, all the time, every day.

In our repentance, we see where we veered off the road so quickly and easily so we can put some guardrails up next time to avoid that wreck.  We recognized who we permitted to be a voice in our life that day or in that decision louder than God so we turn the volume down on that person.  We ask His forgiveness for doubting Him in that decision or day and look how we can grow our faith through this to be stronger.

I recently heard someone say we are never any more mature than our last temptation or failure.  So when we are obedient to "carry our cross" by dying to our will, opinion, plans, and advice coming from the flesh...then we will be stronger for tomorrow.  Each failure handled immediately and properly can strengthen us and each victory certainly strengthens us.

Now tomorrow the temptation will be stronger, but that's okay for our God has already proven to be victorious over sin, temptation, hell, death, and the grave.  So trust Him.  Rely on Him.  

Proverbs 3: 5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding, in ALL your ways know Him, and he will make your paths straight." (CSB)

It was Jerry Bridges who I first heard say, "I need the Gospel more today than I ever have."  And he was in his 80's when he said it.  And the same Gospel that saved us yesterday, will save us today...and tomorrow. 

Follow-Up from Yesterday's Sermon at Rainsville First Baptist

I want to interpret the Monday series on prayer to give these thoughts from yesterday's sermon and things I did not say....

As the post from Friday indicates, I preached yesterday "The Path is One of the Cross" from Luke 14: 25-27, 33.  The emphasis was we are called to carry our cross daily which means nothing more and nothing less than dying to ourselves, our plans, our opinions, and our loves so Christ alone may live through us His life.  There is no rival in our life to His love or His leading (His will, His plans, purposes).

You can read the notes from that message here.

You can view the full service here.

As I closed the message, I gave one reason we do not "carry our cross daily" and that is unbelief.  We simply do not believe it is better to die to my will, my way of making money, my decision to take that new job, and so on instead of letting Christ give us what we need and want.

I simply do not believe my state in life is better with Him completely in control no matter where that leads.

Unbelief...that we really do not believe God will take care of us, provide what we need, do what is best for us, and His life is better than my American life "living the dream."

Paul came as close as anyone to living the "Jesus" life as he was radically transformed and died to his view of religion, the purpose of life, the direction of life, relationships, and his belief in suffering.  Look at what Paul wrote:

II Corinthians 4:10 "always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body."  There is no manifested life of Jesus in us without dying first.

Paul was not sure if he was going to die or live, but in Philippians 1: 19-26 he summarizes that it doesn't really matter if he lives or dies "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain."  Either way - living or dying - it is all about Christ living in me and through me.

WOW - that is it!!!  To see life only about Christ, and death is about Christ...so if I live, it's Christ; and if I die, it's Christ.

Paul's "life verse" might well have been Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Do we live by faith?  Do we really believe He loves us?  Then let's die to ourselves so Jesus can live in us.

"The Path is One of the Cross" - Sunday Sermon for May 14, 2023

"Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, 'If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple." Luke 14: 25-27 (NASB)

This coming Lord's Day we will continue our series of sermons "The Path" based on Luke 14: 25-35 with the words that follow the "hate" speech of Jesus concerning "hating" one's own life and carrying one's own cross.

What is my cross?  What does that mean?  Many through the years see it as: 

• A bad marriage that you must tolerate.
• A crippling disease or long-lasting disease for wish you must suffer
• Natural pain that is almost unbearable
• An unusual burden you are specifically called to bear unlike someone else    

But when Jesus spoke about a cross to this crowd, there was only one thought, picture, or idea in their mind:  death.  

So what does it mean to die, and yet live?

Paul would say it this way, "I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." Galatians 2: 20 (NASB)

Join us this Sunday at 10:15 AM at Rainsville First Baptist Church or online here.

The Foundation of the Local Church is Jesus Christ

 As I briefly stated in the May 3, 2023 blog, the foundation of the church is Jesus Christ.  As Paul is talking about the foundation he is laying at Corinth, he reminds them "No other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (I Corinthians 3:11). 

Let us be clear, the foundation for any church is Jesus.  There is more, but if that is not the case then everything will fail and fall.

I remember being taught in the 80s and 90s the most effective way to build a church was with the "homogeneous unit principle."  The idea was things alike grow faster.  This principle was taught by Donald McGavern and C. Peter Wagner in a book entitled "The Bridges of God." They wrote: "people like to become Christians without crossing racial, linguistic or class barriers."  

In other words, we like to go to churches that are like us.

So, if persons do not have to cross barriers to come into your church, then it will grow faster.  Thus, we have today churches of greater and greater specificity:  latte-drinking urbanites, hip-hop loving millennials, cowboy churches, just to name a few. 

I get it.  But what I have seen is the "likeness" of the group becomes the glue that holds them together to the point it is the focus and purpose then of the group.  That is all fine unless it is a church, a Bible study class, or a discipleship group.  There the focus MUST be Jesus.  It is His church.  His blood was shed to purchase it.  His name is on it.  He is coming for THE CHURCH.

So, our church cannot be built on the same skin color, political preference, style of music, economic status, or section of the county (let alone the world). 

But you push back, but David then we might have disagreements.  RIGHT - the New Testament was written mainly around the disagreements between the Jews and Gentiles building on the one, true, solid foundation of Jesus Christ.  There are no political, cultural, economic, or social differences in our world today that could rival the Jew-Gentile hatred.  So in the midst of the worst set of differences, Jesus built His church.

Samuel J. Stone understood it well in 1866 when he wrote: "The Church's one foundation is Jesus Christ, her Lord; she is his new creation by water and the Word. From heav'n he came and sought her to be his holy bride; with his own blood he bought her, and for her life he died."

Would You Become a Prayer Walker?

There is power in praying on location.  Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, not far from the cross where He would die.  

When you pray for a school, there is added power when you can go to that school parking lot and with the school in view, pray.  Pray for the principal, administrators, teachers, nurses, custodians, bus drivers, and especially the children.  Pray for protection over the property and ask God to grant patience and wisdom to all who lead.

Walk around your City Hall, Police station, Fire hall, Courthouse, and County Jail praying "for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence."  Pray for Godly wisdom over our leaders, pray for angelic protection over our police and first responders, and pray for Godly wisdom and courage for our judges, attorneys, and their staff.

When you pray for your church, go physically to the church and walk its halls, sit in the classrooms, enter through its doors, go to the musical instruments and singer's stands, stop at the pulpit, and walk through the auditorium seats.  Even go to other churches in your community and walk around their building blessing them, the pastor, and praying for revival there.  That is Kingdom praying!!

That is why we have moved our Sunday morning prayer time  (8:30) to pray through our Auditorium.  We come to saturate the Auditorium with prayer and seek the agenda of heaven on our worship gathering and those who will come to sit in those chairs.  God knows who will be seated in every chair, and as we are sensitive to His Spirit, we can pray for that person.  Pray against demonic activity and for the Holy Spirit to have complete freedom to reign during worship. Pray for the preaching of the Word and the invitation.

What about your neighborhood?  Walk through your neighborhood slowly and observe.  If there are small toys in the yards, then pray for the parents for God to grant them wisdom, pray for the marriage to be strong and protected from the evil one, and for those parents to recognize and assume their God-given responsibility to raise their children in the "admonition of the Lord."

Pray for the children.  Ask God to protect them from the eyes and intents of evil people who would want to abuse them, kidnap them, or even worse, kill them.  Pray for them to enjoy their childhood with laughter, play, friends, and dreams.  Pray for God to grant them open eyes, in time, to see themselves as sinners and Christ who is able to save.

If the home has a boat, RV, expensive cars....give thanks to God for that home to be able to enjoy these additions to their life.  But also pray they don't use them as an excuse to not obey God's call to worship regularly and to care for others.  Pray against the idol of covetousness, greed, and pleasures of this world.

If an older couple lives there, pray for good health and happy times.  Most likely the couple has experienced grief, so pray for God to sustain them and comfort them.  Pray for them to be saved, and if they are already, to remain passionate about their Lord and His church.  Pray for them to share their Godly wisdom with others.  Pray for their family to "see" them and care for them.  Pray for grandchildren not to forget them.  

Finally, what about praying, onsite, for the nations?  We will share more about this next Monday.

This Sunday, May 7, 2023 "The Path With THE Priority"

Hate speech is a legitimate crime, even in our nation where "free speech" is a constitutional right.  The only issue with our culture's definition of "hate speech" is who decides what is "hate" and not.  Indeed, all laws are morality based, it's just according to whose morality rules you are using.

Jesus would most likely be accused of "hate speech" in our day according to some of the liberal boundaries.  Jesus even used "the" word.

"Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple." Luke 14: 25-26 (NASV)

Unlike our culture, we can trust Jesus who not only spoke the truth, He is the embodiment of truth.  However, He defines "hate" as correct.

We will carefully examine this shocking, eye-brow-raising comment of Jesus in the second sermon in this series "The Path" with the message "The Path with THE Priority."

We are excited to be baptizing this Sunday and experiencing the joy of the new life of Tyde Debter, Ali Price, and Cy Traylor.

Then Sunday afternoon, our annual church-wide picnic.  

The Importance of the Foundation of the Church

The foundation is the most important structure item in your house or building, yet no one ever sees it.  We wish to hide it with decorative brick or paint if it is visible.  The issue is, foundations are boring and not for "public view."

The foundation is the first thing a builder will do.  He will dig appropriately to the depth he needs to, but no more because this is hard work.  But the depth and width of the foundation will restrict what you can build immediately and in the future. In a structure, the foundation is unchangeable once put in.  You can add more foundation to the side, but the original width and depth are set unless one tear down the whole structure.

The foundation is just as vital to the church.  Theogoligally, Christ is the foundation of the church and of every believer.  Paul said in I Corinthians 3:11 "For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ."

The Message reads: "Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ."

We are not about laying a new foundation in the church for Christ is our true, solid foundation. 

"On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand."

But for the local church Jesus is building (Matthew 16: 18), it is ever fluid and manageable. But just like a natural building, the philosophical and practical foundation of a local church is just as vital and promising, or restricting.

The depth and width of this mysterious foundation of the church will always determine the sustainability of its growth and function.  A church can grow (numerically and spiritually) greater than the foundation can seemingly support, but that growth cannot be sustained unless there is a deepening and widening of the foundation. 

Unlike a natural building, the foundation of the church is ever-changing.  You can constantly be adding to the depth and width of the foundation so the height of the building can go taller without it ultimately collapsing.

On Wednesdays in this blog, I will examine some of the issues of the foundation of the church.  These practical elements such as its leaders, worship, small group ministry, fellowship, discipleship, and missions.

But it matters not how high the church goes, if it crumbles God is not glorified.  But when the leaders and members will simultaneously pay attention to strengthening the foundation of the church and be reaching out to others to join God's church, then the church will flourish and God will be glorified.

No one wants to live, work, or give their lives to a structure that ultimately collapses. 

And that is the ultimate goal.  In fact, our mission statement states: "Rainsville First Baptist exists for glorifying God by transforming lives through the Gospel and discipleship."

Are you a Prayer Warrior?

My mother was a prayer warrior.  My memories of her from childhood is hearing her pray in the bathroom or throughout the house.  When she got older (in her 70's and 80's), she organized a Wednesday morning prayer meeting at Second Baptist Church, Boaz, AL for a group of ladies who literally saved the church through their prayers from bankruptcy.  That's right, ladies living on Social Security saved a church; not because they were giving of their wealth, but of their prayers.

How much do we really value prayer? More importantly, how much do we value intercessory praying?  Why do I say "more importantly?" Because this is the current ministry of Jesus.

The Greek word for intercession is partly defined as "a falling in with" or "a coming together." Someone falls in with someone else to feel what they are feeling, to experience what they are experiencing, to make their case their own.

Jesus invited Peter, James, and John "to go a little further with Him" in the Garden of Gethsemane so they might experience with Him the deep sorrow of drinking the cup of wrath.  (Matthew 26:36-46). The Amplified Bible reads in verse 37 "He began to show grief and distress of mind and was deeply depressed."

The Message reads "he plunged into an agonizing sorrow. Then he said, 'This sorrow is crushing my life out."

In our modern culture of protecting one's self, most would be advised to not get involved in someone's else agony, sorrow, grief, distress.  But that is exactly what Jesus does.

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15, ESV).

So are you a prayer warrior?  Answer some questions:

1. Do you pray regularly?

2. Do you obey the smallest pull on your heart to pray?

3. Do you ever wake up with the urgency to pray and you pray?

4. Do you pray more for others than yourself?

5. Does anyone ever ask you to pray for them?  Especially in times of distress or emergency?

One reason we don't intercede for others is we feel overwhelmed ourselves.  So, "cast the whole of your care (all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all) on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully."

Make room in your life for others by unloading your personal cares on Him.  The Message says, "Live carefree before God, he is most careful with you."  When you read the word "carefree," what mental picture do you get?  A young girl in a sun dress dancing feely in the yard with her hands raised high and her head flung back? Then go ahead, dance a minute in the freedom of being carefree.  Our Father has it.

Then ask God to make you more faithful to pray for others.  Keep a prayer journal, send people texts and cards that you are praying specifically for them and tell them for what you are praying, ask people about things for which you have prayed for them.  

You will experience the closeness of Jesus as you perform His ministry here on earth.  More next Monday.