Friday, August 31, 2018

Friday, August 31, 2018....From the Shepherd's Heart

This coming Lord's Day is in the midst of Labor Day weekend, and I hope you have a wonderful time off with family and friends enjoying the unofficial close to summer.

But if you are in town, make every effort to be present for Sunday morning at Rainsville First Baptist for we have the unique opportunity to host and hear Jess Jennings.

Jess and his wife, Wendie, serve our Lord through the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention in the Philippines and is the Founder and Director of The Nehemiah Teams.  RFBC has had a long history with the Nehemiah Teams as several of our students have served with them through the years and we always host all the men here at our church during the training and debriefing each summer.

Jess is preaching in the 10:15 service and at 9:00 to all the youth and college students in a combined session in the Student Center.  What a privilege to get to hear this great man of God.

There are no Sunday evening services and the church office is closed on Monday. 

There is more detail on our website. Click here

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Wednesday, August 29, 2018...From the Shepherd's Heart


Tonight Rainsville First Baptist Church gets back to a full Wednesday night schedule.

5:00 - Wednesday night meals
6:10 - Arrow Kids' Clubs begin tonight
6:10 - Student Ministry with Bro. Zac Gardner preaching
6:10 - the Adults are watching the DVD of "Getting to the Heart of Parenting" with the session "What is a Family?"

Monday, August 27, 2018

"The Highest Honor Belongs to God Alone"


The last three weeks I have been writing about restoring honor to our culture.  We need to honor our parents, police, principals, pastors, and presidents.  But the highest honor belongs to God, and God alone.

I Timothy 1: 17 “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”

There is no one like our God.  There is no one who is as wise, eternal, loving, sacrificial,  and authoritative as our God.  “To whom then will you liken God?” (Isaiah 40:18)  There is none.

So if you are going to give honor to where honor is due, then you must give your highest honor to Him who deserves it the most.

Three times (Isaiah 29:3; Matthew 15:8; and Mark 7:6) God says “these people draw near with their mouths, and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far removed from Me.”

God does not recognize those who just say they honor Him, but only those who from the heart with full conviction, priority and passion give Him the place of authority in their life.  That place is number one to such a degree that others are so far down the list it appears you “hate your father and mother, wife and children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also…” (Luke 14: 26).

You honor Him by obeying God.  You obey quickly, completely, and continually. If you are Noah, you build a boat for 120 years no one has ever heard of.  If you are Abraham, then you offer your only son. If you are David, even when you fail to honor God then you repent.

You honor Him even if others do not honor Him.  You are not riding the wave of popularity, but you are following your passion.  You know God is great and greatly to be praised, so you give Him your life, lips and love.

Do you honor God with your life?  If not, the problem is not what you do, but what you believe about God.  Your life is perfectly lined up with what you believe about yourself and your God.  So, “turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of this world will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”



Friday, August 24, 2018

Friday, August 24, 2018.....From the Shepherd's Heart

This Sunday we will hear from Zac Gardner, our Student Pastor, who will be preaching in the 10:15 service.

Then Bro. Damon Olson will be preaching in the 6:00 service.

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Wednesday, August 22, 2018....From the Shepherd's Heart

It's Wednesday so it means tonight is church night.  We have the privilege of gathering with God's people and I can't wait.

I will be teaching through Psalm 4 tonight when the Scriptures promise "I will both lie down in peace, and sleep."

Bro. Keith will be back with us tonight leading music which is always a highlight for Wednesday nights.

At 5:00, there is a Leadership Training for those who are serving in Arrow Kids' Clubs.  The full Wednesday night ministry for kids begins August 29 at 6:10 including Wednesday night meals.

Can't wait...see you tonight. 

Monday, August 20, 2018

How to Honor Government Leaders by David O. Cofield


I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior…” I Timothy 2: 1-3 (NIV)

1.  We are to be thankful for them.

How long as it been since you were thankful for our government leaders?  More importantly, one who is not in your political party?  God does not say to give thanks for those who are in our political tribe, but for “all people – for kings and all those in authority.” 

Being thankful for someone will begin to change your attitude toward them and will help calm down your hateful rhetoric.

2.  We are to honor God who alone gives power to govern.

“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”  Romans 13: 1

When Jesus was being questioned by Pilate and the earthly king was angry Jesus was not answering him, Jesus responded, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.”  John 19: 11.

No Democratic, Republican or Independent is put into power without God establishing them.  Before you get too excited that “your person” is now God’s choice, we know from the Scriptures God permitted evil men to rule as His act of judgment on the people and in order to give them what they wanted.    

3.  We are to pray for them.

There is no clearer commandment than this…pray for those in authority.  We are to pray for their health, well-being, for protection over their life, for their families and their physical protection, for God to grant them wisdom and for them to be surrounded by wise people.

4.  We are to always be respectful.

There is never any Scriptural reason to ever be disrespectful to those in office.  Even if you don’t like the person or their policies, we are to respect the office no matter who occupies it.  You can disagree and even debate, but watch your attitude, your words and your tone.

America is quickly sinking in the sand of dishonor.  Return by honoring God and honoring His commandments. 




Friday, August 17, 2018

Friday, August 17, 2018.....From the Shepherd's Heart

This Sunday is a packed day of blessing as we seek to gather for worship as a church family.

Sunday night will be a special time for Rainsville First Baptist Church as we will ordain three men as Deacons.  It has been a while since the church has set men aside to serve as Deacons and this as been a process that began over two years ago.  These three men, Gary Blevins, Michael Helms and Dewitt Jackson, have served a year under watch-care and then were confirmed by both the Deacon body and the church body as men worthy to serve in the office of a Deacon.  This Sunday night in the 6:00 service we will set them aside. 

Roger Graham, Pastor, Bellevue Baptist Church, Gadsden and Keith Willilams, a deacon at RFBC, will both be speaking bringing charges to the men and our church.  It will be a high moment for us as a church.

Then Sunday night we have our special meeting for all ministry leaders (Sunday School, Arrow Kid's, nursery, VBS, Youth Council, Upward, etc.) who serve with minors and parents as we prepare for the new year with opportunities for updating background checks, filling out paperwork (Medical Release forms, Communication Forms, etc.). 

The meeting will be held in the Large Fellowship Hall, not the Auditorium (as indicated above) and it begins at 5:00 p.m. 

Then Sunday is our New Member class immediately following the morning service.  If someone would like to participate, email me here.  We will serve lunch and spend about two hours talking about the vision and heartbeat of Rainsville First Baptist Church. 

Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Wednesday, August 15, 2018....From the Shepherd's Heart

Today is Wednesday which means tonight is the mid-week service at Rainsville First Baptist.  So, let me talk about what is happening on Wednesdays at RFBC.

Tonight, Bro. Keith Beatty is leading our service during my absence as I am preaching in a revival.  The youth have just returned from their summer retreat and they will be meeting at 6:10 for worship with music led by their youth praise band and a message from God's Word through Bro. Zac.  Kids are meeting at 6:10, as well.

In two weeks, I am doing something that I seldom do and that is showing a DVD series for five weeks.  Why am I doing it?  It is simply, hands-down, the best parenting material I have ever seen.  I showed it twice to the same congregation over a period of twelve years at CrossRoads Baptist Church in Elgin, AL.  That is how good it is.

And the underlying theme is not just about being a parent...it is about developing the heart of a disciple.  The series is entitled "Getting to the HEart of Parenting" so, yes, it's about how to shape the heart of your child.  As believers, we are children of God whose main focus should be our heart being shaped by our Father.

So this series is for everyone, but especially those who are raising children.  It all starts on August 29 and we will show two sessions each night.  The schedule is listed above.

August 29 is also the first night of Arrow Kid's Clubs for the fall.  So it will be a BIG night for the whole family.  Next Wednesday night at 5:00 is the Leader Training for Arrow Kid's Club. 

Monday, August 13, 2018

Three Ways Parents Can Pray for Their Prodigal Children by Sarah Walton

There are few things in life as difficult and painful as watching your children walk away from Christ. For those whose hearts have been broken by their children’s rebellion, never give up on them. No matter how difficult their struggle, as long as they’re alive, God can change them.

Pray for your children (and grandchildren). Once they’re grown and on their own, sometimes it’s nearly the only thing you can do for them. But it’s always the best thing. Since God is on the throne, and your power is so limited, walk away from your efforts long enough to ask Him to exercise His omnipotence to do what’s best in your children’s lives.
I appreciated this beautiful article, originally posted on Desiring God, which was written by a prodigal who has come home. Sarah Walton shares three prayers parents can pray over their lost children. —Randy Alcorn
(Parents may also like to check out the book Prayers for Prodigals, recommended by one of our staff members.)
I once was that prodigal child — lost, angry, and struggling to find my identity. Hardened on the outside, but deeply hurting within. The pain of my choices was not only destroying me, but creating heartache within our family and severing my relationships with the people who loved me most.
By God’s grace, my parents did not give up on me — despite how tempting it must have been at times. Instead, they entrusted my life to God, prayed for my brokenness, and fought for me in prayers that God eventually answered.
Parents, if you are raising a seemingly hard-hearted, rebellious son or daughter (whether outwardly or inwardly), I challenge you to take up your arms, fight the spiritual battle that rages over them with all of your God-given strength, and refuse to give up on their life.
I encourage you to pray these three prayers over lost children.
1. Pray for a heart of brokenness, no matter the earthly cost.
It’s incredibly hard to pray for anything but a comfortable, successful, and pain-free life for our children. But as Christian parents, the greatest eternal good that we can pray for them is their salvation over their earthly happiness or comfort. We have to fight for them in this world filled with temporary pleasures, self-gratification, and blurry lines — entrusting their lives to our Lord — even if the path of salvation comes through pain.
I am eternally grateful that my parents loved me enough to pray for my brokenness, a brokenness that would lead to healing.
And my path of brokenness nearly killed me.
After a devastating loss of my identity as an athlete and hidden abuse from peers, my life spiraled out of control. I searched for identity and purpose in anything but Jesus. As self-destructive patterns drove me deeper into despair, I longed for an escape from this world, ultimately landing me in the protection of a hospital.
In that stark white hospital room, the choice before me was clear: be crushed by the weight of my sin or lay the broken pieces of my life at his feet. By his grace, he led me to my knees and has been redeeming those broken pieces ever since.
We will only be bold enough to pray a prayer of brokenness over our children when we ourselves have been broken before God and trust his love for our children and us. It’s only when we have completely surrendered our children to him that we can pray, “Father, use what you must to save my child from an eternity apart from you, no matter the cost.”
2. Pray against the enemy’s desire to have them.
A battle is being waged over our children’s lives. We have to fight for them, especially when blindness keeps them from fighting the battle themselves.
I remember my mom telling me the story of a time when I was standing in the kitchen with her, angry at the world, and taking it out on her. She looked at me and said boldly, “I am fighting for you, and I won’t let Satan have victory over your life!” After she spoke those words, I fell into a heap on the floor and burst into tears.
Although we don’t have a guarantee of our children’s salvation or the outcome we may desire, we can be confident that God is faithful to his promises and hears our prayers. One of the great weapons God has given parents to fight against the world’s pull and the enemy’s schemes over their children is to pray the way Christ did for Peter: “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31–32).
Although Peter was a believer and the children we are praying for may not be, we can still pray to God that he would rescue our children from the power of Satan, give them faith in Christ, and use their lives to advance the gospel and strengthen other believers.
3. Pray specific Scripture over their life.
Even if your child wants nothing to do with the truth and hates to hear the word of God, they can do nothing to stop you from praying Scripture for them. This is another mighty weapon God has given to parents.
My parents prayed Psalm 18:16–19 over my life and prayed it often:
He sent from on high, he took me;
he drew me out of many waters.
He rescued me from my strong enemy
and from those who hated me,
for they were too mighty for me.
They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
but the Lord was my support.
He brought me out into a broad place;
he rescued me, because he delighted in me.
It truly amazes me to look back and see how faithful God was to answer this prayer. I was drowning in self-destruction, abuse from others, rebelliousness, and sorrows too deep to understand at the time. God, in his mercy, drew me out of many deep waters, and rescued me from my own flesh and Satan’s desire for me.
As I sat in a hospital room, no longer wanting to live, God rescued me, brought me out into a broad place, and showed me that he delighted in me (despite my unworthiness). He has continued to be faithful to this prayer, upholding me through many deep waters and carrying me through many dark days.
Parents, no matter how far your child seems to be from Jesus or what path they are on, you can fight for their life with the powerful weapon of God’s word.
The Power of a Praying Parent
The truth is, while we must teach and train our children, and put boundaries in place, we have no control over their hearts. Ultimately, God alone can fill their hearts with a love for Christ and open their eyes to see the beauty and glory of who he is.
I am learning this on a new level and from a different perspective as I now face struggles with my own children that often tempt me to despair. But we are not helpless, and we are never hopeless. Whether our children are young or old, have soft hearts or hearts of stone, we have the power of prayer, God’s living word, and a sovereign God we can trust.
Our Father in heaven loves to take seemingly hopeless lives, like my own once was, and show himself merciful and mighty. Give your child the gift of prayer, and trust that God will use his or her life for his good purposes — growing and transforming your own life in the process.
This article originally appeared on DesiringGod.org. It is used by permission of the author.