This post today, brings you a devotion I keep marked in my Bible. I am going to share with you the actual devotional as it is written in my Bible, but I am also going to share with you WHY I keep it marked for easy reference. The title of this post is "So What's Your Story?" This is my story.
I grew up in church. My family attended every Sunday they could. I was involved in GA's, Acteens, Children's Choir, Youth Group, Sunday School, and basically anything I could get my hands on within my church. I became a Christian in 1987. Easter Sunday to be exact. I was 12. I continued my church attendance when I went to college in 1994. I attended Campbellsville University and was an active member in their Baptist Student Union. I lead the Acteen's group at my church in Campbellsville and was even a camp counselor at GA/Acteen Camp in 1996. In all those years of service though, I didn't have a story. I went, one summer, with the Baptist Student Union to Panama City Beach, Florida to witness to others in a program called Beach Reach. All my fellow sudents and friends had testimonies to share but I felt very uncomfortable with the idea of sharing my testimony because I didn't have any major hurts or disappointments in my life to share. I felt I didn't have a story to tell. I didn't have a testimony.
Fast forward a few years and you find I got married in 1998 to my first husband. Yes, the first chapter in my story......I was previously married. Made a promise before God and broke it 4 years later. I felt ashamed and unworthy of God's love or forgiveness. I mean, afterall, in my mind divorce was not acceptable to God and I quit going to church on a regular basis. That is until, he got my attention with a bi-polar boyfriend that was somewhat mentally and verbally abusive. I needed out and the only way I knew to get out was to turn to God. I returned to church and began working with the preschool aged children. Soon after, I met my now husband. It is truly amazing how God gives us gifts. Did I feel I deserved such a wonderful man or a second chance at love....NO....but He was giving it to me anyway.
That gift God gave me became officially mine in 2006 when we married. Here comes chapter 2 of my story....we decided to build a house. We went with a reputable builder. We moved in January 2008. The Monday after we moved in, we got a lien notice on our home. I called our builder and was informed that his company had gone bankrupt. I was devastated. He had cashed the last check I had written but couldn't afford to pay all the companies that contributed materials for our home. When talking to the companies that had liens on our property (yes, there was more than one) they told us that there were about 12 other families in our same situation with our builder. This was the most devastating time in our lives. We didn't know what to do or where to go. We pressed felony charges immediately but our lives hung in the balance. The time between filing charges and getting news from our attourney was almost unbearable. I missed a lot of work due to depression and it was on one of those days God spoke to me.
I was flipping through channels and stumbled across The Church Channel. There it was! Something caught my eye! A preacher (don't know his name) was standing there next to a framed building. He was talking about God being the foundation of your life. He said, "If God is not your foundation, your house will fall in." I ran and got paper and pencil and started jotting down everything I could. At some point, I heard God telling me to write these verses and statements on the basement walls. I proceeded to go to the basement with pencil in hand and wrote on our foundational walls. Everytime I finished one verse or prayer, I would pray and then move over a few feet and write another one. This continued until I was surrounded by verses and prayers on all 4 of our home's foundational walls.
It was that day, I handed everything over to God. I had come to peace about it. It was March by the time our courtdate rolled around. We went into court not knowing the outcome but believing that God would take care of it. Our builder's attorney walks over and hands us a list of all companies that contributed to building our home with reciepts that they had all been taken care of. We walked out of that courtroom with a new faith. What strengthened it even more was when I called the lien companies to inquire about when they planned to lift the liens, I discovered we were the ONLY ones out of 12 taken care of.
Now, when I need to witness to others or someone is feeling like their faith is gone, I take them to my basement. I show them and tell them what God did for us. That's my story.
One of the other things I did while in my state of depression was to read my Devotional Bible. One particular devotion spoke to me and I keep it marked as a reminder of that trial time. It is a reminder to me to have faith in all I do.
*Taken from On the Anvil by Max Lucado:
On God's anvil. Perhaps you've been there. Melted down. Formless. Undone. I know. I've been on it. It's rough. It's a spiritual slump, a famine. The fire goes out. Although the fire may flame for a moment, it soon disappears. We drift downward. Downward into the foggy valley of question, the misty lowland of discouragement.....Passion? It slips out the door. Enthusiasm? Are you kidding? Anvil time....Pound, Pound, Pound. I hope you're not on the anvil. (Unless you need to be and if so, I hope you are.) Anvil time is not to be avoided; it's to be experienced....To escape it could be to escape God. God sees our life from beginning to end. He may lead us through a storm at age thirty so we can endure a hurricane at age sixty. An instrument is useful only if it's in the right shape. A dull ax or a bent screwdriver needs attention, and so do we. A good blacksmith keeps his tools in shape. So does God. Should God place you on his anvil, be thankful. It means he thinks you're still worth reshaping!
Powerful. You see, that experience my husband and I went through deepened our Faith in God. He put us through that storm to strengthen us. We know that to be a Christian, we have not seen the last of our trials. None of us have perfect lives where nothing goes wrong. The secret is, to have Faith that God will take care of you and that He knows what is best for you. We were blessed soon after our courtdate with the pregnancy of our precious daughter. God allows storms to happen for several reasons. He allowed the storm to happen to us not only to build up our Faith in Him.....but He gave us a story we can share with others! That testimony I never had, came from that storm. So now I ask you, what's your story? Share it with someone today! If you don't have one, you will. Allow God to be your weatherman and you will come out of the storm stronger than you were when you went in. Allow God to shapen you so that you can be a tool in His field!
Friday, July 15, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Who Are You?
Bro. Ed Deaton, yet again, shared a wonderful message with the members of Sparta Baptist Church. Each week, we are blessed by what God lays on his heart. If you are looking for a place to land and call home, please consider visiting Sparta Baptist Church. I am sure you will feel as blessed as we all do, to be listening to God's word spoken through someone as fluent as Bro. Ed.
Our message for this post comes from James 1:1.
1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
This may not sound like much of a passage to use in gathering life information but if we look deeply, we find it. Do you know who James was? It says above in the verse that James was a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. But that wasn't all. Do you know who James was? You may not since James obviously didn't brag about who he was in the passage above. Never did James brag about who he was but he certainly could have. If we were in James' shoes, we would have. James was Jesus' half brother.
You know, when people ask me where I live. I don't tell them that I live in a county between Cincinnati and Louisville. I tell them that I live in the same county as the Kentucky Speedway. Why? Because they are bragging rights and maybe, just maybe someone will say, "Oh, I have been there!" Do you think if you ran into a famous person's long lost 15th cousin they would simply tell you their name? No, they would say, "My name is so and so and I am so and so's 15th cousin." James certainly could have bragged about who he was, but he didn't. It didn't matter to him. He cared more about spreading the word of the Lord than who he was. He thought of himself as a servant to his very own half brother. He wanted us to know he viewed himself as a servant.
The number one thing killing America is our pride. We are too proud to do anything the Lord wants us to do. Think about this....who are we serving? Are we serving ourselves? Are we spending enough time serving the Lord? You have 30 minutes before bed. You have a choice to either watch your favorite show on telivision or spend time reading your Bible. What do we choose 99% of the time? Yep, you guessed it, the television because we are too busy serving ourselves to serve the Lord. You know what is going to happen? The Lord is going to look down at America for such pride. Where will you be when He returns? Will you be glued to the television or will your nose be stuck in the Good Book?
What is a good servant? The definition could be confusing and possibly leave room for argument. Some may view servanthood as a 5 minutes a day thing while others view it as an every minute of every day thing. If you think about a waiter or waitress in a restaraunt it can help with understanding the definition of a servant. When you go to a restaraunt, do you want to sit at a table where the waitress gives you 5 minutes of service or would you rather sit at a table where the waitress waits on you the entire duration you are there? Most likely you wouldn't tip the first waitress! Now, what sort of tip would the Lord give you for your service?
How can I be a good servant? The Bible says, "Deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow me." Wait, wait, wait.....what was that first part again? "DENY YOURSELF". That means get rid of your pride and selfishness! To be a good servant you must, labor for someone else, care enough about something to pick up and take care of it, spend quality time in prayer (remember, God will help you discover what he wants you to do), associate yourself with good people, music and books, and seek opportunities to witness/tell others about His love. However; be careful and choose your path wisely. Don't fall into the trap of wanting things in return for your services either! God loves a cheerful giver. You must serve without thinking you will get something in return!
A lot of people are scared to serve or feel they aren't qualified to serve. We all need to realize that we all have the same mercy upon us as the preachers, deacons and EVEN the apostles in the Bible! You are never too old to serve the Lord. Your retirement begins the time the Lord takes you home. Stop being a servant of the world and become a servant of the Lord. Your tip depends on it! You have a choice.....no tip at all and spend an eternity in Hell or the best tip ever offered.....an eternity in Heaven. What kind of tip will the Lord give to you for your service?
Our message for this post comes from James 1:1.
1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
This may not sound like much of a passage to use in gathering life information but if we look deeply, we find it. Do you know who James was? It says above in the verse that James was a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. But that wasn't all. Do you know who James was? You may not since James obviously didn't brag about who he was in the passage above. Never did James brag about who he was but he certainly could have. If we were in James' shoes, we would have. James was Jesus' half brother.
You know, when people ask me where I live. I don't tell them that I live in a county between Cincinnati and Louisville. I tell them that I live in the same county as the Kentucky Speedway. Why? Because they are bragging rights and maybe, just maybe someone will say, "Oh, I have been there!" Do you think if you ran into a famous person's long lost 15th cousin they would simply tell you their name? No, they would say, "My name is so and so and I am so and so's 15th cousin." James certainly could have bragged about who he was, but he didn't. It didn't matter to him. He cared more about spreading the word of the Lord than who he was. He thought of himself as a servant to his very own half brother. He wanted us to know he viewed himself as a servant.
The number one thing killing America is our pride. We are too proud to do anything the Lord wants us to do. Think about this....who are we serving? Are we serving ourselves? Are we spending enough time serving the Lord? You have 30 minutes before bed. You have a choice to either watch your favorite show on telivision or spend time reading your Bible. What do we choose 99% of the time? Yep, you guessed it, the television because we are too busy serving ourselves to serve the Lord. You know what is going to happen? The Lord is going to look down at America for such pride. Where will you be when He returns? Will you be glued to the television or will your nose be stuck in the Good Book?
What is a good servant? The definition could be confusing and possibly leave room for argument. Some may view servanthood as a 5 minutes a day thing while others view it as an every minute of every day thing. If you think about a waiter or waitress in a restaraunt it can help with understanding the definition of a servant. When you go to a restaraunt, do you want to sit at a table where the waitress gives you 5 minutes of service or would you rather sit at a table where the waitress waits on you the entire duration you are there? Most likely you wouldn't tip the first waitress! Now, what sort of tip would the Lord give you for your service?
How can I be a good servant? The Bible says, "Deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow me." Wait, wait, wait.....what was that first part again? "DENY YOURSELF". That means get rid of your pride and selfishness! To be a good servant you must, labor for someone else, care enough about something to pick up and take care of it, spend quality time in prayer (remember, God will help you discover what he wants you to do), associate yourself with good people, music and books, and seek opportunities to witness/tell others about His love. However; be careful and choose your path wisely. Don't fall into the trap of wanting things in return for your services either! God loves a cheerful giver. You must serve without thinking you will get something in return!
A lot of people are scared to serve or feel they aren't qualified to serve. We all need to realize that we all have the same mercy upon us as the preachers, deacons and EVEN the apostles in the Bible! You are never too old to serve the Lord. Your retirement begins the time the Lord takes you home. Stop being a servant of the world and become a servant of the Lord. Your tip depends on it! You have a choice.....no tip at all and spend an eternity in Hell or the best tip ever offered.....an eternity in Heaven. What kind of tip will the Lord give to you for your service?
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Does Your Tree Bear Fruit?
Bro. Ed Deaton delivered another wonderful sermon Sunday on Matthew 21: 17 - 19. Let us start this journey through these verses by discussing our need to read the Bible. Did you know that about 75% of the church body today doesn't read the Bible more than 5 minutes a week? And we wonder what is wrong with our world today.....it's like anything else that breaks....read the owner's manual! Something we don't do with life today. Our owner's manuals sit by our beds and collect dust. Some of us don't even have one and we just go through life trying to patch everything ourselves. What is wrong with us? Why can't we see how badly we need to rely on God's word? Now that we know that statistic, perhaps you want to now pick that Bible up, blow the dust off, and begin reading it....but not so fast! There are a few things all of us should understand about this owner's manual.....there are 4 different ways in which to read it. The first is to read it word for word physically. The second is to read it with an understanding of the historical side of it so that you can understand why things occur in the Bible as they do. The third is to read it prophetically and to look to it to make decisions and solve problems in our lives. The fourth is to read it spiritually and to be able to read a verse and understand how it was meant to be read. This particular message from Bro. Deaton did just that!
If you (physically) read Matthew 21:17 - 19 you will read this...
17And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.
18Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.
19And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
But let's read this now spiritually....
Let's say that Bethany is representing Heaven. We know that God the Father is there. Just as you and I hunger for food throughout each day, God is also hungry. God is not hungry for food, but hungry for us to accept Him, to be spreading His word and doing good works in His name.
Now, physically the verse says "And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it." The fig tree represents "us". When those Eastern skies split and the Father returns, you will either walk with God or go to Hell. He is coming back....that is guaranteed. No man knows when the Lord will return. Not even the Lord himself. But again, it is a GUARANTEE that He is coming back for his church.
The next part of the verse is the most profound...physically it says, "and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away." He found nothing on that tree but leaves. From a distance that fig tree was lush and green. It looked good but it didn't bear fruit. What good is a fig tree if it bears no fruit? What good are we if we also bear no fruit? But read on...."Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away." Wow....what does that say to us? We pray he finds something more on us than just leaves. It is one thing to do good things but unless you believe in Christ and work for His glory, we are only lush green trees without fruit. We see this every day. Look at some churches. On the outside, they look big and lush. They have all the physical things any church would want, cushions in every pew, paved parking lots, ornate architecture...and the list goes on and on...but where is their fruit? Today, too many mortal men stand where God himself should be. If we are going to be a non-bearing tree we will wither away.
What does it take to bear fruit? A lot of people claim they just don't have the time to plant the seeds and tend to their own trees. There won't be time to change your mind when those eastern skies part and Lord returns. We believe, as humans, we have all the time in the world.....we live in the "someday" era. But we MUST make the time, because though we don't know exactly when He will return for us, we know He will. It could be in the next 5 minutes, 5 days, 5 years, 5 decades....but He is coming and your time is now. Let's say, you have a new neighbor. You peer daily over into their yard. "Sure, I should really go and invite them to church. I should witness to them and share God's love with them. But this week is too busy for me. I'll do it someday soon." Someday. The enemy of risky love is a snake whose tongue has mastered the talk of deception. "Someday" he hisses. Then we try to make ourselves feel better (here comes that "lushness" we have been talking about)...."I'll just pray for them or add them to our prayer list at church." But you know the truth don't you . Some days never come. There is always something else around the corner to do.
The rewards of risky love, though, are greater than the time it took. Go to the effort. Invest the time. Write a note, bake cookies, call them, knock on their door, invite them over to dinner, take every opportunity to reach them for His kingdom. The seized opportunity renders joy. The neglected brings regret. What will you say when you are standing next to the Lord on judgement day? What will you say when He looks you in eye as He turns that neighbor away? Along with every other person, you promised "someday" to? Your time is now. Win someone to Christ. Begin to bear fruit on your tree.
If you (physically) read Matthew 21:17 - 19 you will read this...
17And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.
18Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.
19And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
But let's read this now spiritually....
Let's say that Bethany is representing Heaven. We know that God the Father is there. Just as you and I hunger for food throughout each day, God is also hungry. God is not hungry for food, but hungry for us to accept Him, to be spreading His word and doing good works in His name.
Now, physically the verse says "And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it." The fig tree represents "us". When those Eastern skies split and the Father returns, you will either walk with God or go to Hell. He is coming back....that is guaranteed. No man knows when the Lord will return. Not even the Lord himself. But again, it is a GUARANTEE that He is coming back for his church.
The next part of the verse is the most profound...physically it says, "and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away." He found nothing on that tree but leaves. From a distance that fig tree was lush and green. It looked good but it didn't bear fruit. What good is a fig tree if it bears no fruit? What good are we if we also bear no fruit? But read on...."Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away." Wow....what does that say to us? We pray he finds something more on us than just leaves. It is one thing to do good things but unless you believe in Christ and work for His glory, we are only lush green trees without fruit. We see this every day. Look at some churches. On the outside, they look big and lush. They have all the physical things any church would want, cushions in every pew, paved parking lots, ornate architecture...and the list goes on and on...but where is their fruit? Today, too many mortal men stand where God himself should be. If we are going to be a non-bearing tree we will wither away.
What does it take to bear fruit? A lot of people claim they just don't have the time to plant the seeds and tend to their own trees. There won't be time to change your mind when those eastern skies part and Lord returns. We believe, as humans, we have all the time in the world.....we live in the "someday" era. But we MUST make the time, because though we don't know exactly when He will return for us, we know He will. It could be in the next 5 minutes, 5 days, 5 years, 5 decades....but He is coming and your time is now. Let's say, you have a new neighbor. You peer daily over into their yard. "Sure, I should really go and invite them to church. I should witness to them and share God's love with them. But this week is too busy for me. I'll do it someday soon." Someday. The enemy of risky love is a snake whose tongue has mastered the talk of deception. "Someday" he hisses. Then we try to make ourselves feel better (here comes that "lushness" we have been talking about)...."I'll just pray for them or add them to our prayer list at church." But you know the truth don't you . Some days never come. There is always something else around the corner to do.
The rewards of risky love, though, are greater than the time it took. Go to the effort. Invest the time. Write a note, bake cookies, call them, knock on their door, invite them over to dinner, take every opportunity to reach them for His kingdom. The seized opportunity renders joy. The neglected brings regret. What will you say when you are standing next to the Lord on judgement day? What will you say when He looks you in eye as He turns that neighbor away? Along with every other person, you promised "someday" to? Your time is now. Win someone to Christ. Begin to bear fruit on your tree.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
I am He.....
We are so thankful to have been blessed these past 2 Sundays with God's word spoken through Ed Deaton. Brother Ed Deaton, from Grant County, has been spreading God's awesome word over the ears of Sparta Baptist Church. He and his wife have been a blessing to our church family. We also are very thankful that God is moving in our church. We had several new faces in the congregation today and pray they will return again.
The Lord's presence can be felt the minute you stick your big toe through the doors of our humble church building. You know that feeling you get when you enter an air conditioned building on a really hot and scorching day? That is the feeling you get when you walk through the doors of Sparta Baptist Church. Like the cool air from air conditioning surrounds you and envelopes you with a refreshment, God's presence immediately surrounds you and envelopes you the minute you walk through the doors. There are no words to say, yet God still hears my heart and knows my thoughts.
If you have missed the past two sermons, you missed a revival of hearts! I will allow God's message to be spread through my fingertips as it was given by Brother Ed Deaton.
"I AM HE"
Those very words are spoken and recorded 23 times in the gospel of John alone. 7 of those 23 times the words "I am He..." are connected to life lessons and metaphors.
We will go through them.
Lesson 1: John 6:35 says:
35And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. (KJV)
Hunger is very natural. We have it several times a day. When we are hungry we eat. I read a church sign recently that said, "If you don't have the bread of life, you are toast." God should be your bread of life. He should give you the same satisfaction that food does. Food alone cures our hunger pangs. God alone is all we need. To be hungry in spirit is to be lost and searching, wondering, full of worry....God says plainly, "I am the bread of life; HE THAT COMETH TO ME SHALL NEVER HUNGER! If you have God, your search is over. Your hunger pangs are gone. There is no hunger for anything. Becoming a Christian is not a death sentence, it is a life sentence.
Lesson 2: John 8:12 says:
12Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
What things can you do perfectly in the dark? Why was electricity invented if the dark was so great? We need light to see things clearly and not stumble or trip. The word is clear, "I am the light of the world, he that followeth me SHALL NOT WALK IN DARKNESS. Without light, we stumble and trip, mess up because we can't see what we are doing. Simple day to day tasks are so much easier to do with light to see by is it not? Without Christ though, we are in the dark. We stumble, trip and mess up everything simply because we have no light which to see by. God's light allows us to see our messy lives and clean them up. If you truly know the light of the world, you are never in darkness.
Lesson 3: John 10:9 says:
9I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
The only way to be saved is to accept God into your heart. Step through that door and enter his kingdom. Once you are there, you are always there. You can't get to Heaven any other way. Good things on Earth alone can not get you into Heaven. God is looking for those people willing to step through the door. You can save an entire bus of people from crashing into the river. The only reward you will get is recognition here on Earth and your name in the paper. It won't get you into Heaven. The only way to be saved is to walk through the door and accept God into your heart.
There are 3 evident truths you can spot in a lost man's heart. They are 1.) selfishness and pleasure seeking, 2.) denial in Christ and servanthood, and 3.) a focus on worldly possessions and things.
There are 3 evident truths you can spot in a saved man's heart. They are 1.) law of God is evident and written on his heart and in his actions, 2.) heart is set on serving the Lord, and 3.) sole purpose in life is to help others find the Lord without hinderence.
Your heart changes the minute you walk through that door. HE is the only way in. Your heart's focus changes from those evidences of a lost man's heart to those of a saved man's heart.
Lesson 4: John 10: 11 - 14 says:
11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
12But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
13The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
14I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
I don't know of any shepherds personally. It is no longer an occupation most people choose to do. To understand this scripture and the metaphor behind it you must understand what a shepherd's job is. A shepherd watches over his sheep like a mother watches over her newborn child. They are the sheep's protection. They would lay down their own lives for the safety of their sheep. Look at what the scripture is saying......"I am the good shepherd." God did that very thing for you. He knows you need protection each and every second of every single day. He is there watching you and protecting you. He gave his life for you just as the shepherd would give his life for his sheep. We are his sheep. He loves us that much that he gave his life for us. He paid the price so we wouldn't have to. Each sheep is important to the shepherd. There is not one sheep more important than another. All are loved and needed. If you are lost it's okay, but do something about it. Your heart is as important to God as anyone else's heart is. There is no heart more deserving or worthy than yours. God truly is the good shepherd.
Lesson 5: John 11:25 says:
25Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
This scripture is saying to you, "It doesn't matter what you have done in life, the Lord knows your heart already. Do not be ashamed of your heart or the choices you have made." Those choices made you a dead soul but with God, you are made new. The shame goes away. You have that chance to change your life and turn it around. It is NEVER too late! Satan does his best to convince people every day that there is no hope for them and it is too late. It is NEVER too late to accept Christ. There is NEVER a sin too big that God can not forgive. God is the only way to having a new life.
Lesson 6: John 14:6 says:
6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
You can try to do things your way, but you will fail. You can not succeed in this life without God. There is NO other way to have eternal life or get to Heaven than through God. You have to understand that God's way is the only way, his word is the truth, and he is the reason you have life. Without those understandings you are lost. You can claim to be a Christian, pray every day, and read your Bible, but until your heart and mind are truly with God, you are still a lost soul.
Lesson 7: John 15:1 says:
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
Every fall, we prune our rose bushes. Why? So that the next year they will bloom more abuntantly. You are a vine that God is pruning each and every day. Why? So that each and every moment of your life you can live it more abundantly. We are to bare fruit in our everyday lives. We are to share the word of God daily as Christians and sow the seed so others too can bare fruit. Our priority in life should be to have a burden for the lost man. Plant the seed in those that are lost. Teach them to allow God to prune their branches so that they too can bare fruit and sow seeds. That is our job here on Earth, to spread God's word. We are all here to do the same job. It is not left up to the preacher or Sunday school teacher. It is up to all of us. It was not a suggestion to pick up thy cross and follow Christ, it was a command.
Where is your heart? Is God your bread of life or do you hunger? Is God your light in a dark room, or are you sitting alone in the dark searching for answers? Have you entered God's door or are you hesitant to knock? Are you allowing God to be your shepherd or are you a rebellious and stubborn sheep? Do you understand that God is your resurrection and only way to a new life or are you still trying to solve all your problems on your own? Are you following God's way, using the Bible as your truth, and living your life like Christ? Are you a vine hindered by weeds and need a little pruning? Let God in. God wants you. He loves you. If you are lost and know you need God, now is the time. It is NEVER to late! He is the only way. Please come visit us at Sparta Baptist Church. He is here. You can feel him. You will never be the same!
The Lord's presence can be felt the minute you stick your big toe through the doors of our humble church building. You know that feeling you get when you enter an air conditioned building on a really hot and scorching day? That is the feeling you get when you walk through the doors of Sparta Baptist Church. Like the cool air from air conditioning surrounds you and envelopes you with a refreshment, God's presence immediately surrounds you and envelopes you the minute you walk through the doors. There are no words to say, yet God still hears my heart and knows my thoughts.
If you have missed the past two sermons, you missed a revival of hearts! I will allow God's message to be spread through my fingertips as it was given by Brother Ed Deaton.
"I AM HE"
Those very words are spoken and recorded 23 times in the gospel of John alone. 7 of those 23 times the words "I am He..." are connected to life lessons and metaphors.
We will go through them.
Lesson 1: John 6:35 says:
35And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. (KJV)
Hunger is very natural. We have it several times a day. When we are hungry we eat. I read a church sign recently that said, "If you don't have the bread of life, you are toast." God should be your bread of life. He should give you the same satisfaction that food does. Food alone cures our hunger pangs. God alone is all we need. To be hungry in spirit is to be lost and searching, wondering, full of worry....God says plainly, "I am the bread of life; HE THAT COMETH TO ME SHALL NEVER HUNGER! If you have God, your search is over. Your hunger pangs are gone. There is no hunger for anything. Becoming a Christian is not a death sentence, it is a life sentence.
Lesson 2: John 8:12 says:
12Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
What things can you do perfectly in the dark? Why was electricity invented if the dark was so great? We need light to see things clearly and not stumble or trip. The word is clear, "I am the light of the world, he that followeth me SHALL NOT WALK IN DARKNESS. Without light, we stumble and trip, mess up because we can't see what we are doing. Simple day to day tasks are so much easier to do with light to see by is it not? Without Christ though, we are in the dark. We stumble, trip and mess up everything simply because we have no light which to see by. God's light allows us to see our messy lives and clean them up. If you truly know the light of the world, you are never in darkness.
Lesson 3: John 10:9 says:
9I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
The only way to be saved is to accept God into your heart. Step through that door and enter his kingdom. Once you are there, you are always there. You can't get to Heaven any other way. Good things on Earth alone can not get you into Heaven. God is looking for those people willing to step through the door. You can save an entire bus of people from crashing into the river. The only reward you will get is recognition here on Earth and your name in the paper. It won't get you into Heaven. The only way to be saved is to walk through the door and accept God into your heart.
There are 3 evident truths you can spot in a lost man's heart. They are 1.) selfishness and pleasure seeking, 2.) denial in Christ and servanthood, and 3.) a focus on worldly possessions and things.
There are 3 evident truths you can spot in a saved man's heart. They are 1.) law of God is evident and written on his heart and in his actions, 2.) heart is set on serving the Lord, and 3.) sole purpose in life is to help others find the Lord without hinderence.
Your heart changes the minute you walk through that door. HE is the only way in. Your heart's focus changes from those evidences of a lost man's heart to those of a saved man's heart.
Lesson 4: John 10: 11 - 14 says:
11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
12But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
13The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
14I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
I don't know of any shepherds personally. It is no longer an occupation most people choose to do. To understand this scripture and the metaphor behind it you must understand what a shepherd's job is. A shepherd watches over his sheep like a mother watches over her newborn child. They are the sheep's protection. They would lay down their own lives for the safety of their sheep. Look at what the scripture is saying......"I am the good shepherd." God did that very thing for you. He knows you need protection each and every second of every single day. He is there watching you and protecting you. He gave his life for you just as the shepherd would give his life for his sheep. We are his sheep. He loves us that much that he gave his life for us. He paid the price so we wouldn't have to. Each sheep is important to the shepherd. There is not one sheep more important than another. All are loved and needed. If you are lost it's okay, but do something about it. Your heart is as important to God as anyone else's heart is. There is no heart more deserving or worthy than yours. God truly is the good shepherd.
Lesson 5: John 11:25 says:
25Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
This scripture is saying to you, "It doesn't matter what you have done in life, the Lord knows your heart already. Do not be ashamed of your heart or the choices you have made." Those choices made you a dead soul but with God, you are made new. The shame goes away. You have that chance to change your life and turn it around. It is NEVER too late! Satan does his best to convince people every day that there is no hope for them and it is too late. It is NEVER too late to accept Christ. There is NEVER a sin too big that God can not forgive. God is the only way to having a new life.
Lesson 6: John 14:6 says:
6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
You can try to do things your way, but you will fail. You can not succeed in this life without God. There is NO other way to have eternal life or get to Heaven than through God. You have to understand that God's way is the only way, his word is the truth, and he is the reason you have life. Without those understandings you are lost. You can claim to be a Christian, pray every day, and read your Bible, but until your heart and mind are truly with God, you are still a lost soul.
Lesson 7: John 15:1 says:
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
Every fall, we prune our rose bushes. Why? So that the next year they will bloom more abuntantly. You are a vine that God is pruning each and every day. Why? So that each and every moment of your life you can live it more abundantly. We are to bare fruit in our everyday lives. We are to share the word of God daily as Christians and sow the seed so others too can bare fruit. Our priority in life should be to have a burden for the lost man. Plant the seed in those that are lost. Teach them to allow God to prune their branches so that they too can bare fruit and sow seeds. That is our job here on Earth, to spread God's word. We are all here to do the same job. It is not left up to the preacher or Sunday school teacher. It is up to all of us. It was not a suggestion to pick up thy cross and follow Christ, it was a command.
Where is your heart? Is God your bread of life or do you hunger? Is God your light in a dark room, or are you sitting alone in the dark searching for answers? Have you entered God's door or are you hesitant to knock? Are you allowing God to be your shepherd or are you a rebellious and stubborn sheep? Do you understand that God is your resurrection and only way to a new life or are you still trying to solve all your problems on your own? Are you following God's way, using the Bible as your truth, and living your life like Christ? Are you a vine hindered by weeds and need a little pruning? Let God in. God wants you. He loves you. If you are lost and know you need God, now is the time. It is NEVER to late! He is the only way. Please come visit us at Sparta Baptist Church. He is here. You can feel him. You will never be the same!
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Is He Pleased With Your Image?
Today we had guest pastor, Brother Perry Spaulding visiting our church. He shared a simple message about our images. Today's message came from Colossians.
Brother Spaulding's message revolved around one quote that he referred to frequently...."God said it, that settles it." Whether you believe it or not, if God said it, that is the end of discussion. There is no, "what if's or buts" when dealing with what God tells us. Do people see you as a person who always follows God's commands or do they see you following them only on Sunday, or do they see you not following them at all?
Our image is what the world sees. Do people look at you and say, "That person is like a flooding river ready to burst out of its banks and spread the good word" or do they look at you and say, "That person is like a stagnant pool of water, never going anywhere or doing anything"?
Satan wants people to see the church as dying. Looking around at what is acceptible in today's society, you can see that less and less people are working for the glory of God. Christians need to STAND UP TOGETHER NOW and share God's word!
Think of this.....what happens as rushing flood waters sweep across the land with force? It collects debris and things along the way. It sweeps things up and they join in the rush. This is the way a christian should be living their life. They should be out there, unashamed to show their love of the Lord, ready to spread the good word with others all the time, hearts bursting with excitement, picking up people along the way and sweeping them into the arms of our loving Father.
Our Christian life should not be like a stagnant pool of water. Stagnant is defined as being a body of water with no current or flow and often having an unpleasant smell as a cosequence. The only thing a stagnant pool of water attracts is mosquitoes! If we want to win people to Christ, we must be like flood waters bursting through the flood gates!
Mark 16:15 (King James Version)
15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
GOD SAID IT, THAT SETTLES IT!
We are commanded by God to be like those floodwaters and preach the gospel to every creature.
Our image we portray to others is our biggest testimony we have of our faith! So I ask you, what do others see in you? Does your image win people to Christ or push them away? Or is your image and Christian walk "stagnant"? Does your image show people you put God first in your life or is Satan controlling your desires? Become those rushing floodwaters! Share His love and your faith with someone today! Pray that God helps you to constantly have the mind of Christ and the desire to display a Christlike image!
Brother Spaulding's message revolved around one quote that he referred to frequently...."God said it, that settles it." Whether you believe it or not, if God said it, that is the end of discussion. There is no, "what if's or buts" when dealing with what God tells us. Do people see you as a person who always follows God's commands or do they see you following them only on Sunday, or do they see you not following them at all?
Our image is what the world sees. Do people look at you and say, "That person is like a flooding river ready to burst out of its banks and spread the good word" or do they look at you and say, "That person is like a stagnant pool of water, never going anywhere or doing anything"?
Satan wants people to see the church as dying. Looking around at what is acceptible in today's society, you can see that less and less people are working for the glory of God. Christians need to STAND UP TOGETHER NOW and share God's word!
Think of this.....what happens as rushing flood waters sweep across the land with force? It collects debris and things along the way. It sweeps things up and they join in the rush. This is the way a christian should be living their life. They should be out there, unashamed to show their love of the Lord, ready to spread the good word with others all the time, hearts bursting with excitement, picking up people along the way and sweeping them into the arms of our loving Father.
Our Christian life should not be like a stagnant pool of water. Stagnant is defined as being a body of water with no current or flow and often having an unpleasant smell as a cosequence. The only thing a stagnant pool of water attracts is mosquitoes! If we want to win people to Christ, we must be like flood waters bursting through the flood gates!
Mark 16:15 (King James Version)
15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
GOD SAID IT, THAT SETTLES IT!
We are commanded by God to be like those floodwaters and preach the gospel to every creature.
Our image we portray to others is our biggest testimony we have of our faith! So I ask you, what do others see in you? Does your image win people to Christ or push them away? Or is your image and Christian walk "stagnant"? Does your image show people you put God first in your life or is Satan controlling your desires? Become those rushing floodwaters! Share His love and your faith with someone today! Pray that God helps you to constantly have the mind of Christ and the desire to display a Christlike image!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Learn to Pray
This week's sermon at Sparta Baptist was one all Christians need to hear frequently. Visiting pastor, Jason Holbrook shared another wonderful sermon. This one dealt with prayer. Though we understand that we should pray, we don't always do it. Some of us do it, but not correctly. Here is an overview of his wonderful message!
3Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
Do we pray the way God expects us to? We teach prayer but struggle to give the Lord the time he deserves in prayer.
Prayer shouldn't be rushed. Do you rush prayer because your favorite television show is coming on or you have to get dinner on the table or the yard mowed? If you are rushing your prayer time, you are failing to see the power of God in your life.
Brother Holbrook shared the best analogy: "Prayer is like fuel for your car. You might have the most desired car on the planet, but without gas it isn't going anywhere. The same is for prayer. You may be a Christian but your Christian life and walk is going nowhere without your fuel.....prayer!"
Maybe you are reading this and are thinking to yourself, "I do pray." The question is do you pray the way God wants you to? Is your heart and mind in the right place when you enter into your prayer time?
Prayer is:
1.) Talking to God
2.) Humbling Yourself Before God (God already knows your every need, but he wants you to take the time and humble yourself before him and ask for it. Ask.....Seek......Knock).
3.) Heartfelt Conversation (words flow from your heart, not from a book or memorized verse).
Prayer is NOT:
1.) A Proud Show
2.) Vain Repetitions (those prayers you say just to be saying them.....the ones you learned as a kid and just say because they sound good.)
3.) Proud Attitude/Spirit
So where does your prayer life fall? Are you truly sitting with the Lord and enjoying his presence? There are some things that can "hinder" your prayer life.
1.) Lack of Faith/Doubting God's power
2.) Unconfessed Sin
3.) Discord in the Marriage
4.) Greed
5.) Pride
6.) Jealousy
7.) Anger
8.) Gossip
Let's take a look at how the Lord says we should pray. The answer is found in Luke 11:1-4.
"Give us day by day our daily bread." "Make requests for your needs even though he already knows them......remember above.....he wants us to humble ourselves before him and ask."
"And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us." "Forgive me Lord for my sins, and help me to forgive those that have hurt me just like you willingly forgive me."
"And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil." "Lord help me in my daily walk to not be tempted by sin. Guide me to say and do the things I should. Keep evil thoughts and actions away from me."
This is what God expects from us through our daily prayer time.
"Respect His name, ask for His will to be done, make requests for your needs, ask for forgiveness, and ask for guidance and protection."
God rewards those who SEEK Him. The reward goes to those who settle for nothing less than Jesus himself. As Max Lucado says: "Don't be satisfied with angels. Don't be content with stars in the sky. Seek him out as the shepherds did. Long for him as Simeaon did. Worship him as the wise men did. Do as John and Andrew did, ask for his address. Do as Matthew, invite Jesus into your house. Imitate Zaccheaus. Risk whatever it takes to see Christ." The reward: To be more like Christ. No guilt, no bad habits, no fear of death.
He loves you just the way you are, but he refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus. The only way you can truly seek God is through prayer. Check your prayer life. Is it where it should be?
Jeremiah 33:3 (King James Version)
3Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
Do we pray the way God expects us to? We teach prayer but struggle to give the Lord the time he deserves in prayer.
Prayer shouldn't be rushed. Do you rush prayer because your favorite television show is coming on or you have to get dinner on the table or the yard mowed? If you are rushing your prayer time, you are failing to see the power of God in your life.
Brother Holbrook shared the best analogy: "Prayer is like fuel for your car. You might have the most desired car on the planet, but without gas it isn't going anywhere. The same is for prayer. You may be a Christian but your Christian life and walk is going nowhere without your fuel.....prayer!"
Maybe you are reading this and are thinking to yourself, "I do pray." The question is do you pray the way God wants you to? Is your heart and mind in the right place when you enter into your prayer time?
Prayer is:
1.) Talking to God
2.) Humbling Yourself Before God (God already knows your every need, but he wants you to take the time and humble yourself before him and ask for it. Ask.....Seek......Knock).
3.) Heartfelt Conversation (words flow from your heart, not from a book or memorized verse).
Prayer is NOT:
1.) A Proud Show
2.) Vain Repetitions (those prayers you say just to be saying them.....the ones you learned as a kid and just say because they sound good.)
3.) Proud Attitude/Spirit
So where does your prayer life fall? Are you truly sitting with the Lord and enjoying his presence? There are some things that can "hinder" your prayer life.
1.) Lack of Faith/Doubting God's power
2.) Unconfessed Sin
3.) Discord in the Marriage
4.) Greed
5.) Pride
6.) Jealousy
7.) Anger
8.) Gossip
Let's take a look at how the Lord says we should pray. The answer is found in Luke 11:1-4.
Luke 11:1-4 (King James Version)
1And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
2And he said unto them, When ye pray, say,
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
3Give us day by day our daily bread.
4And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
We have heard this prayer before but do we understand it? In fact, this may be one of those memorized prayers you say just to be saying it. You won't see God's power until you pray it with your heart and truly mean what you say.
"Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name." This is simply saying, "Lord, I respect you. I am calling out your name."
"Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth." "I understand that your will is what is best, and I am giving you total control. I trust you Lord."2And he said unto them, When ye pray, say,
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
3Give us day by day our daily bread.
4And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
We have heard this prayer before but do we understand it? In fact, this may be one of those memorized prayers you say just to be saying it. You won't see God's power until you pray it with your heart and truly mean what you say.
"Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name." This is simply saying, "Lord, I respect you. I am calling out your name."
"Give us day by day our daily bread." "Make requests for your needs even though he already knows them......remember above.....he wants us to humble ourselves before him and ask."
"And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us." "Forgive me Lord for my sins, and help me to forgive those that have hurt me just like you willingly forgive me."
"And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil." "Lord help me in my daily walk to not be tempted by sin. Guide me to say and do the things I should. Keep evil thoughts and actions away from me."
This is what God expects from us through our daily prayer time.
"Respect His name, ask for His will to be done, make requests for your needs, ask for forgiveness, and ask for guidance and protection."
God rewards those who SEEK Him. The reward goes to those who settle for nothing less than Jesus himself. As Max Lucado says: "Don't be satisfied with angels. Don't be content with stars in the sky. Seek him out as the shepherds did. Long for him as Simeaon did. Worship him as the wise men did. Do as John and Andrew did, ask for his address. Do as Matthew, invite Jesus into your house. Imitate Zaccheaus. Risk whatever it takes to see Christ." The reward: To be more like Christ. No guilt, no bad habits, no fear of death.
He loves you just the way you are, but he refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus. The only way you can truly seek God is through prayer. Check your prayer life. Is it where it should be?
Monday, May 2, 2011
We Stand Up For Jesus
The struggles Sparta Baptist Church has experienced are not over entirely but faith we will conquer is abundant. Visiting pastor, Jason Holbrook, shared a very powerful and encouraging sermon Sunday that helped the members of our humble church feel confident that what happened was God's will. He reminded us that God has not been blind to everything going on but has been there watching. His eyes have been on our church from the beginning and we often forget, in times of trouble, that he DOES see and hear everything. Brother Holbrook reminded us that this is a time to dig deep into our foundations of our church. He shared foundations a church should be built on and they are the very foundations Sparta Baptist Church was originally built on.
*The First Foundation:
The first foundation our church was/is built on is God's word. Sparta Baptist Church makes no apologies for believing in the foundations our church was originally built on. We believe the Bible is worth fighting for and worth defending. We believe that in order to defend God's word we must know God's word. It's not enough to just own a Bible. You must study it. Therefore; we have brought back regular Sunday School so that we can fellowhsip and study God's words as the Bible tells us to do with other believers. All are welcome to join us for Sunday School from 9:30 - 10:30 each Sunday. We have something for everyone.
15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
*The Second Foundation:
The second foundation our church was/is built on is His plan of Salvation. Have you ever wondered why there was so much "red tape" to go through to become a Christian or become saved or even join a new church? We at Sparta Baptist Church believe Salvation is simple. We believe Salvation is as simple as truly believing God sent his Son to die on the cross to save us from our sins and that you just accept him into your life. We believe that baptism is a public profession of your faith, but you are saved the minute you believe and accept. This is according to God's word.
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
The Third Foundation:
Our third foundation the church was/is built on is Respect. We believe that as Christians, we have to have respect for each other, respect for the church itself, and respect for God's presence. We believe the church is a place of peace and comfort, not confusion and anger. We believe church is a place to worship and spend time with the Lord. It is not a place to build yourself up by what you do in the church. The services you perform within the church should be only for the Glory of God and not for your own self-recognition. Satan can often present a "gift" of pride for those that do a lot in a church. Once pride enters your heart, respect for the Lord leaves. You then work harder on perfecting your ego instead of perfecting your heart. We believe it is up to us to keep respect for where we are and why we do what we do.
Respect is listening to God's word without interruption or distractions. Respect is keeping other worldly thoughts at bay during the study of God's word. Respect is teaching our children to have the same respect God expects from us.
The Fourth Foundation:
Our fourth foundation the church was/is built on is Faith. We believe that without Faith it is absolutely impossible to please the Lord. Faith is what pulls you through in difficult times. He expects us to rely solely on Him for everything and in order to do that, one must have Faith. The Lord reveals himself when we have Faith in Him.
20And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.
When a church body goes through the trials that Sparta Baptist Church has gone through, Satan muddies the truth even more and fills the mind with doubts. It is very difficult to have Faith that you made the best choices throughout the storm. Sunday's sermon and study of scripture helped us at Sparta Baptist Church have the Faith that the Lord pulled us through this His way. Our Faith can not be shaken. It is an exciting time for our church. We are digging down to our roots and remembering the foundations of our church.
We pray the Lord sends us a true man of God that believes in following God's word as it is written and can believe in our church's foundations, to be our pastor.
18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
If you are looking for a church, please don't let Satan convince you that Sparta Baptist's circumstances are too big for you. You might just miss an opportunity to be truly touched by His grace! All members of our church would agree, that the Lord's presence is felt more now than ever. We are truly excited about our church's future. Please come out and be a part of it! Experience the Lord's presence for yourself. Join us next Sunday at Sparta Baptist Church!
*The First Foundation:
The first foundation our church was/is built on is God's word. Sparta Baptist Church makes no apologies for believing in the foundations our church was originally built on. We believe the Bible is worth fighting for and worth defending. We believe that in order to defend God's word we must know God's word. It's not enough to just own a Bible. You must study it. Therefore; we have brought back regular Sunday School so that we can fellowhsip and study God's words as the Bible tells us to do with other believers. All are welcome to join us for Sunday School from 9:30 - 10:30 each Sunday. We have something for everyone.
2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
*The Second Foundation:
The second foundation our church was/is built on is His plan of Salvation. Have you ever wondered why there was so much "red tape" to go through to become a Christian or become saved or even join a new church? We at Sparta Baptist Church believe Salvation is simple. We believe Salvation is as simple as truly believing God sent his Son to die on the cross to save us from our sins and that you just accept him into your life. We believe that baptism is a public profession of your faith, but you are saved the minute you believe and accept. This is according to God's word.
John 3:16 (KJV)
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
The Third Foundation:
Our third foundation the church was/is built on is Respect. We believe that as Christians, we have to have respect for each other, respect for the church itself, and respect for God's presence. We believe the church is a place of peace and comfort, not confusion and anger. We believe church is a place to worship and spend time with the Lord. It is not a place to build yourself up by what you do in the church. The services you perform within the church should be only for the Glory of God and not for your own self-recognition. Satan can often present a "gift" of pride for those that do a lot in a church. Once pride enters your heart, respect for the Lord leaves. You then work harder on perfecting your ego instead of perfecting your heart. We believe it is up to us to keep respect for where we are and why we do what we do.
Respect is listening to God's word without interruption or distractions. Respect is keeping other worldly thoughts at bay during the study of God's word. Respect is teaching our children to have the same respect God expects from us.
The Fourth Foundation:
Our fourth foundation the church was/is built on is Faith. We believe that without Faith it is absolutely impossible to please the Lord. Faith is what pulls you through in difficult times. He expects us to rely solely on Him for everything and in order to do that, one must have Faith. The Lord reveals himself when we have Faith in Him.
Deuteronomy 32:20 (KJV)
20And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.
When a church body goes through the trials that Sparta Baptist Church has gone through, Satan muddies the truth even more and fills the mind with doubts. It is very difficult to have Faith that you made the best choices throughout the storm. Sunday's sermon and study of scripture helped us at Sparta Baptist Church have the Faith that the Lord pulled us through this His way. Our Faith can not be shaken. It is an exciting time for our church. We are digging down to our roots and remembering the foundations of our church.
We pray the Lord sends us a true man of God that believes in following God's word as it is written and can believe in our church's foundations, to be our pastor.
Matthew 16:18 (KJV)
18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
If you are looking for a church, please don't let Satan convince you that Sparta Baptist's circumstances are too big for you. You might just miss an opportunity to be truly touched by His grace! All members of our church would agree, that the Lord's presence is felt more now than ever. We are truly excited about our church's future. Please come out and be a part of it! Experience the Lord's presence for yourself. Join us next Sunday at Sparta Baptist Church!
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