Ye Are My Witnesses
Deep within the heart of every Christian is the desire for the salvation of others, whether kin or strangers. However, the process of people becoming interested, unto repentance and faith in Christ, often seems so overwhelming that saved people are gun shy to get involved. It may seem easier to avoid the hassle, yet we still have the pangs of guilt for not engaging to do it.
Let’s get the monkey off our back! It is no harder for God to save a sinner today than it’s ever been, as His power is still the same. It’s no harder to invite someone to hear God’s Word than it’s ever been. The problem is, there are less people willing to respond than there used to be. I have heard of days past, when a church held special services, there would be standing room only. Now, the preferred response is to avoid going to church. We need to understand this not to be the problem of those serving God, but rather the indifference to God and His Word in these last days. As it was in the days of Noah, rejection on the part of the people did not dampen Noah’s desire to build the ark. Our going forth is to be for the Lord, to be His witness, to accomplish His purpose.
Let’s be clear about what affects true repentance and conversion. It is the Word of God that does the work of God. It is the law of the Lord that the Holy Spirit uses to indict and convict a person that they are a guilty sinner, under condemnation before God. Only when a person becomes convicted of their lost, sinful, spiritually dead, condemned, unworthy condition, can their belief about Christ be unto their salvation.
“For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:10 Thus the sinner, by his own volition, receives Christ as his own personal Saviour, and by his own words, confesses this before others. Salvation is no more a matter of getting people to repeat a sinner’s prayer, than prayer is a matter of reciting from a prayer book.
God’s messengers sow and water the seed (God’s Word) but true salvation is God giving the increase, being born again of incorruptible seed by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever (1 Peter 1:23).
“BE NOT WEARY IN WELL DOING”
“PRAY ALWAYS AND FAINT NOT!”
Stay The Course
In the upper room fellowship, where the only ones present were disciples, Peter was very adamant in declaring, “Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee.” But out in the cold, when the forces against Christ had the upper hand in that hour, it seemed beyond Peter to do anything but say, “I know not the man.” Unquestionably, this was a very traumatic moment for Peter. But no matter how you slice it, it was as the Lord had warned: “Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.” Peter had not successfully stayed the course.
Being a soldier has two phases: The first is training to be a soldier; the second is performing as a soldier. The real test of a soldier is not how well he displays himself in training, but how well he endures the hardness of being a soldier in the heat of the battle. In training, one may be aggressive, zealous, and at the head of their company. But if, on the battlefield, they lose heart to withstand the rigors of battle, and do not stay the course of fighting a good fight, they will go down in defeat.
The Bible teaches us to remain steadfast, unmovable, to quit like men and be strong, with the promise that God will give us the victory in Christ. But if, under the strain of circumstances, we decide we do not want to face the consequences of standing firm, and we choose to give in to escape the conflict involved, then we shall not overcome, but rather will be sifted as Peter was.
In the process of child birth, at that point, a mother must not decide she does not want to go through with giving birth because of the hardship involved. Rather, she must meet it with all her strength, with all her determination to see it through, for the sake of having the child.
“Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.” Proverbs 19:18 Thus our “hope” in dealing with our children is in staying the course, rather than giving in. As with child birth, the difficulty of having children must not be allowed to prevent us from staying the course to do that which is right and necessary for the proper outcome.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand…, having done all…stand.”
SHARING52nd Anniversary Of Faith Baptist Church: Jan. 1 1968-2020
The Vision
The first part of November 1967, Bro. James Gardner, pastor of Moore’s Fork Baptist Church, in Clermont County, felt led to see if an interest existed in the Lynchburg area for a sound New Testament Baptist Church. Upon inquiry, interest was found.
God Opened The Door
An empty church building was found on Freiburg & High Streets in Lynchburg, which was leased with the option of buying at the end of the lease. The work opened with a two week meeting, January 2-14, 1968, with Bro. Gardner preaching each night, except Thursdays, with Bro. James Head of Wilmington filling in. Sunday, January 7, 1968, Bro. Robert Miller of Dayton, KY, preached, at which time there were 5 requests for membership, plus 2 confessions of faith. On January 14 & 28, Bro. Terry Parnell of Dayton, KY, preached. January 21, Bro. Alwin Pflueger of Moore’s Fork preached.
A Pastor Called
February 1, 1968, Moore’s Fork Baptist Church extended the call to Robert Miller to pastor the Lynchburg mission. He is to give full time to the work. He is to lead the people there in complete accord with the position of the sponsoring church in all matters of doctrine and practice. At such time that the mission and sponsoring church agree, the mission will be organized into a local Independent Baptist Church. Bro. Miller accepted the pastorate, and with his wife, Cinda, and son, Robby, moved to 301 S. Main St., Lynchburg, on February 24, 1968.
An Independent Baptist Church
January 9, 1971, the mission was organized into the Faith Baptist Church, with 32 charter members.
SHARINGConsider The Footprints We Are Leaving
“I shall not pass this way again; let me now relieve some pain, remove some barrier from the road, or lighten someone’s heavy load.” -Eva Rose York
Find Us Faithful
by Jon Mohr
“We’re pilgrims on the journey of the narrow road,
And those who’ve gone before us line the way;
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary,
Their lives a stirring testament to God’s sustaining grace.
Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
Let us run the race not only for the prize,
But as those who’ve gone before us,
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness passed on through Godly lives.
After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone,
And our children sift through all we’ve left behind;
May the clues that they discover, and the mem’ries they uncover
Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find.
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful;
May the fire of our devotion light their way;
May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe;
And the lives we live inspire them to obey,
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful.”
ASK THE BIG QUESTIONS!
–What are the footprints that I’ve left behind?
–What story do they tell to others?
–Are they a testament of self denial and cross bearing to follow the Lord?
–Do they reveal the importance of faithfulness to one’s profession?
–Do they demonstrate consistency with one’s commitments?
–Are they true to one’s calling?
–Are they the example of a believer?
Where do they ultimately lead?
SHARINGThe Word Made Flesh
By Thomas Smith
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:14
This is a wonderful time of the year for those who understand the greater significance of the holiday message. The exact date of Jesus’ birth is not important. We do not worship a day, nor even a tradition, but a Person–the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not wrong to celebrate the fact that God became a man; our Savior was born of a virgin. We rejoice that the “Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” The incarnation, as God robed Himself in human flesh, is one of the most glorious and absolute essential of Bible doctrines.
From this wonderful truth, we are able to appreciate many other aspects of God’s greatness. The faithfulness of God is seen in the birth of Christ. The Old Testament prophesied many times that a Messiah would come. Isaiah said that He would be born of a virgin and that His name would be called Emmanuel, meaning “God with us.” God kept His promise; and when the fullness of time had come, He sent forth His Son. God is faithful and His Word can be trusted.
The love of God is also seen in the incarnation. God loves us so much that He sent His only Son to become the sacrifice for our sins. The love of Jesus caused Him to leave the glories of Heaven to become our Savior. We should never doubt God’s love for us, for it is clearly seen in the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ.
The condescension of God is also made clear in the Word being made flesh. This is the nature of God. He created us to fellowship with Him. When our sins prohibited us from rising to where He is, He came to us. Jesus humbled Himself and became a man that He might redeem sinful men. He took upon Himself the form of a servant and was obedient unto the death of the cross.
The virgin birth also speaks of the completeness of salvation. Sinful man could never provide a sinless sacrifice for our lost souls. The sacrifice had to be both sinless and eternal. The best of men could never qualify. God Himself became the sacrifice. Since the sacrifice of Christ on the cross was sinless and eternal, we can receive forgiveness of sin and everlasting life.
What a wonderful truth it is, that God would come and dwell among us, allowing us to behold His glory, and to know Him as Savior.
SHARING
