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Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard | Tim Perkins
Faith
May 17, 2016 - Sunday was the Day of Pentecost. Pentecost’s meaning “50” is because it’s 50 days after Easter. For Christians, Pentecost is seen as the birth of the church, but it was also an ancient Jewish religious day. Originally it was an agricultural celebration in which the first fruits of the harvest would be given at the Temple. After many conquests and Jews being taken far from their homeland, Pentecost became a day to celebrate the Torah—which was instrumental in keeping the Jews together, at least in faith. The second chapter of Acts describes the situation that morning as the Jesus followers coming alive with hope and joy. Only a month or so earlier, they were fearful and hopeless after Jesus’ death.
Outside the early Christian writings and letters, the only mention of Jesus is in Josephus’ history of the Jewish people. He wrote one paragraph about Jesus and his followers, ending with: “And up until this very day, the tribe of Christians has not died out.” That was written in the first century of the Common Era, and two thousand years later is still true.
Fannie was back this morning after a quick trip to Austin to see family. She had a good Sunday School lesson, stressing the importance of humility. Most of us, I am sure, consider ourselves humble but I imagine we all have our moments—maybe being proud of our humbleness! We need to remember that humility is one of those human traits pleasing to God.
We had our usual crowd (not very crowded) Sunday morning for worship. Joy and Gene Hutto have an anniversary this week, so we sang to them in honor of this special day. Joe and Hilda organized our music this morning, and Liz helps us sound pretty good! Evie is a big one-year-old now, busy clapping at everything and so alert. Everyone sure enjoys making a fuss over her! During the month of May we are collecting cans of fruit for Community Christian Services. On Tuesday this week at 2:00 we will head off to Holiday Nursing Center for our monthly ministry.
“Whoever you are, in whatever faith you were born, whatever creed you profess; if you come to this house to find God you are welcome here.” Paxton United Methodist Church is an inviting church that takes to heart the idea of “Open Doors, Open Hearts, Open Minds.” Sunday School starts at 9:15 and Worship begins at 10:00. Our email address is paxtonumc@yahoo.com. If you would like the weekly email newsletter about Paxton Methodist you can send me your email address to the Paxton email address and I will add you to the list. God’s Speed!
May 17, 2016 - The future, how shall you face it? In this wicked, twisted world that we must live in there is no much to fear, so much to run away from each day.
As Christians, though we are no longer of this world we must still live in this world and endure it's persecutions every day as we stand up for the gospel of Christ our Lord.
Let me show you in the scriptures what we have to look forward to, let's look to Isaiah Chapter 35 for our answers to this question.
The future is bright for those who do follow Jesus, as the scriptures say, the desert shall rejoice, it shall blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly. This is the dry, arid desert the Lord is speaking of here, saying it will blossom abundantly as if it were a rose. "The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice." (Isaiah 35:1-2)
Verse 4 tells us to be strong and not to fear for our God will come with a vengeance and He will save us with His recompense (reward for service). (VS 4) "Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you." Verses 6 & 7 say streams shall burst forth in the desert and the parched ground shall become a pool. There shall be grass where before the jackets lay and there was nothing. (VS 6) "For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. (VS 7) "The parched ground shall become a pool and the thirsty land springs of water, In the habitation of jackets, where each lay, there shall be grass."
Verses 8 & 9 speak of a road there, a highway called the "Highway of Holiness", a place where the non-believer cannot pass. (VS 8) "A highway shall be there and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall shall not pass over it, it shall be for others." Only those who do not go astray will be able to walk there, no lion or other animal will be there, it will be a safe place of travel. (VS 9) "No lion shall be there, now shall any ravenous beast go up on it. It shall not be found there. But the redeemed shall walk there."
At the end of our journey through this world a new time will come, a new age will begin as the temple of Christ is set up in Jerusalem and He rules there for 1000 years. The redeemed will be there, living with Him, serving Him each day, what a time of blessing and rejoicing that will be.
(VS 10) "And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrows and sighing shall flee away." AMEN
So you see, we have so much to look forward to IF we are saved. We need not worry about the sufferings we may have to endure here, the rewards for faithful perseverance are so much greater than our trials it should be a joy for those who are redeemed to endure for Christ.
Keep your eye on Isaiah Chapter 35; knowing our rewards in the future will strengthen us for the trials of the present. May God bless you and keep you..
May 16, 2016 - “…for you shall receive power…” Acts 1:8
We recently sent our son Mark a professional digital camera for his early Christmas present. Since he isn’t a photographer, he has spent a lot to time learning how to use it. He called one day and said that when he tried to take a shot, an “error” warning kept popping up.
He thought he’d taken some beautiful wildlife pictures one day, but when he tried to view them, his card had no images on it. He read the troubleshooting section of the camera’s manual, but still couldn’t find his problem. Just before concluding that it was the camera’s fault, he decided to replace the batteries and… (!)… it began working perfectly! I should’ve told Mark that checking the batteries should always be his first step in troubleshooting.
We Christians don’t function properly on low batteries either. Spiritual energy from God comes through prayer, Bible study, and dedication to His will. It’s foolish to blame God for our spiritual problems when we’re trying to run on dead batteries. God has the power to keep us charged…
…but plugging into it is up to us.
May 16, 2016 - Come catch the wave of God's Amazing Love at the Surf Shack. Vacation Bible School at Old Home Baptist Church will begin Monday, June 13th at 6:00 PM and continue until Thursday, June 16th. There will be classes and activities for Ages 3 and up. Everyone welcome to come out and ride the waves. Call or text for details 936-332-9293.
May 11, 2016 - As we read our New Testaments we find an abundance of accounts of demon possession. For example Mary Magdalene had seven demons (Lk. 8:2), the demon possessed man in the temple (Mk. 1:23-26), the demon that the disciples could not cast out (Matt. 17:14-16), and who could forget “legion” (Mk. 5:2-9).
We also read that Jesus had given the apostles power to cast out demons. “These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans,6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay” (Matt. 10:5-8).
With these things in mind it is evident and a Biblical truth concerning demon possession. But is there demon possession today? As Jesus sent out the seventy and upon their return He said, “...I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” (Lk. 10:18). And when Jesus was being charged with demon casting by the power of Satan He said, “And he called them to him and said to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. 27 But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house” (Mk. 3:23-27). So you see, Satan has been bound and his personal and direct power over people has fallen and he is bound by Jesus.
Jude tells us, “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day” (Jude 6). And Peter says, “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;” (2 Pet. 2:4).
So you see, the devil and his demons are chained up in darkness awaiting the day of judgment. So if they are chained they are not free to roam around and possess people today. Satan does work however but he works through the avenue and medium of sin. John writes, “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother” (1 Jn. 3:8).
The devil controls us today when we let him through temptations and sin. He no longer has the power nor the ability to take possession of people as he once did. Remember he is now chained up (Jude 6).
And James said that we can resist Satan and when we do he will flee (Jm. 4:7). The only power Satan has today is that in which people give him through temptations. As Paul said do not give the devil an opportunity (Eph. 4:27) and we defeat him by putting on the whole armor or God (Eph. 6:11). Which also indicates that no supernatural demon casting is required today.
Church email: northsidecoccenter@gmail.com
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May 11, 2016 - East Liberty Baptist Church will be celebrating their annual Men and Women Day on Sunday, May 15th at 3 pm.
Pastor Charles Tutt and the New Hope Baptist Church of Nacogdoches, Texas is the guest speaker for this celebration, everyone is invited.
May 11, 2016 - Pastor Marlin Cloudy, Sr. and the Abundant Love Ministries family will be hosting a Senior Recognition Service, on Sunday, May 22nd at 2:30 pm.
All area 2016 graduates and their families are invited to attend. Refreshments will be served. 1426 Shelbyville St Center, Tx 75935
May 11, 2016 - Mt. Zion C.M.E. Family & Friends Day Sunday, May 15th at 3p.m. Special guests are Rev. Sherman Kossie and The New Creation Nations Christian Center of Nacogdoches, TX. Ministry in Dance by Jayy Dimery, Dance Education student at SFA. Rev. Robert Gipson, pastor. Anita Williams, chairperson.
May 10, 2016 - Mt. Olive Baptist Church would like to invite everyone to the 6th annual "Firing Up the Faith" Youth Rally with guest speaker Brother Steven Carroll. The Rally would be from Saturday, May 21st at 7:00 pm to Sunday, May 22nd at 11:00 am.
Brother Steven has been in the student ministry for over 20 years. Visit his website at www.wedigit.org. Come and experience what the Lord can do in the your life as we lift His name up in praise and worship! We will have a port luck lunch following the services on Sunday. Bring your favorite dish! Mt. Olive Baptist Church, FM 415, Timpson, TX.
May 10, 2016 - Can we ever have complete trust in anything of this earth?
The Prophet, Micah tells us in his book; "Do not trust in a friend, Do not put your confidence in a companion" (Micah 7;5) "I will wait for the God of my salvation; My God shall hear me" (Micah 7:7)
So to the writer of Proverbs says in (3:5-8), we are to trust in the Lord and not in things or people of this world. President Reagan had a famous saying, "trust but verify" that is a good reminder for us, I think. As Christians we must live and deal with the people of this world, but we must use caution in our dealings. We see and hear so many things each day which are professed to be the truth, but are they? How can we know? Only by calling upon God in His wisdom can we truly know the truth, only by study in His Word can we discern the truth from the lies.
Proverbs 3:5 tells us to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart". In order to survive this life and yet prepare for eternity we must learn to trust in Him alone.
Verse 5 also tells us that we must not only trust in the Lord, but that we must trust only Him and to; "lean not on your own understanding." To me, this means to ask Him for His guidance in all things, first, before going on our own.
Verse 3:6 tells us in everything to "acknowledge Him in all ways".
If we can learn to completely trust God with our lives, then we can walk with confidence, we can be assured that He will direct our paths and that we will surely walk in the paths of righteousness as God would have us to.
Verse 3:7 cautions us against feeling that we are wise or thinking that we have all the answers to life's questions. "Do not be wise in your own eyes."
Any time we begin to feel secure in our own wisdom we are surely destined to fall, for only God has the wisdom to direct our paths in the proper direction each day. On our own we are certain to fail, but in God's hands we are sure to prosper.
Verse 3:8 offers a reward for our complete trust in the Lord. "It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones."
We will experience difficulties, we will most certainly have illnesses and pains, that is a part of life, a part of our testing, our purifying, by our difficulties we are made pure and ready for God's presence.
Jesus told us about trusting anything "of this world " when He said; "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away." (Matthew 24:35) Clearly, Christ is telling us not to trust or depend upon the things of this world, for in time, all we will have will be our knowledge of His Word to trust and hang on to.
(Psalm 32:10) sums it up very well; Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; but he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him."
May the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you each day. Please feel welcome to join us each week for Bible study on Wed. evenings at 6:00 PM.
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