Good morning...
I have faith. You have faith.
But a sinner lost and undone next door does not.
A co-worker may not.
A family member or a friend may not.
Everyone is saying, what’s the difference between going to the grocery store where a lot of people are gathered & going to church?
What’s the difference between having a drive in church service and going to the drive in Sonic Restaurant?
Some local governments like the city of Chattanooga just yesterday are saying it’s now ok for the church to have drive in services.
I didn’t know we needed permission? I thought we were just caring for the safety and well being of our fellow man until the storm passed.
Attorney General Barr comes to the rescue of a Baptist church in Mississippi.
3 church members from the Maryville Baptist Church are sueing the Governor in the State of Kentucky. Are these churches being selfish or do they want to press the issue of their freedom & there right to assemble.
Their cause is this,
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution...
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Selfish? In a way yes. But so are many others who don’t follow the guidelines issued by the CDC, the federal government & experts. No one knows who has the correct answers right now. We are in unfamiliar territory & just feeling our way through this darkness.
As your Heavenly Father & The Lord Jesus Christ called Pastor, I don’t have the answers. But I am praying for direction and what's next...
States all over our great country are pushing back against the Shelter at home recommendations.
Who is it? Those who are young? Those who are strong? Those who don’t care about others? Church folks?
Do we really have to force the issue to prove how “religious” we are?
If he can go why can’t I go?
If she can go why can’t I go?
Like a bunch of children complaining & whining about what each are doing & what they think in the eyes of mankind that we all should be doing.
Republicans & Democrats still blaming each other & using this virus for their future political advantage. Of course local & state leaders are gona cross what we call is our religious freedom lines...
The leaders in Jesus’ day didn’t care about his religious freedoms either.
There may be a battle over our religious freedom today, but it was there before the virus, & it will still be a waging war long after the virus. Satan will not let up his destruction.
I sometimes wonder if God wants us to “suffer” in our place right now.
After we suffer for awhile, how will it change us toward togetherness?
After we suffer for awhile, what will happen when we can pray together again.
If I could hear my Mother pray again. Just like that song... O God I long to hear my church pray together again!
I want you to notice something from God's Word...
Genesis chapters 30, 31, 32
Jacob and Laban separated. Jacob took his family and his wealth and were going back to his fathers land. The Lord said to Jacob in chapter 31 "Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee."
Then in chapter 32, the very first six words say, "And Jacob went on his way,"
Looking at the rest of the story, it doesn't look much like Jacob trusted in God's words...
He argued with Laban over what was his, but was willing to give it all away to his brother Esau because he was afraid.
He separated his family into bands and his wealth into flocks in case Esau killed a company, the others could flee and survive.
He sent messengers to Esau to bribe him or flatter him because he was afraid.
He got his immediate family up in the night and fled over the brook with them because he was afraid.
Jacob did all these things which does not look like he is trusting the words of God very much!
We the church are still trying to figure out what's going on and what The Lord's will is... And we are doubting ourselves and not trusting God just like Jacob.
But I want you to notice something else... It was during this time that Jacob was left alone, and there he wrestled with Christ and Jesus touched him strengthened him!
Not only did God touch him but he gave Jacob a new name!
If we will get alone with God during this time of separation, we will get new names from God.
Faithful, Obedient, Strong, Watchful, Prayer Warrior, Devil fighter, etc!
I think it’s time we the church get in our sack cloth & ashes & beg God for forgiveness & understanding & strength & a determination to be strong & faithful to THE CHURCH OF GOD when this pandemic is passed.
I have only missed one preaching invitation to share Gods Word over my entire 21 year ministry. That one time, I had to call the Pastor at the last minute & apologize to him for not being to come because I was so sick.
"Brian, that’s something to brag about! Amen!"
NO. I'm not bragging, I’m not boasting, I’m terrified to hurt the BODY.
I shutter at the thought of making a mockery of the church of Jesus.
I’m afraid the church will look bad before a lost & dying world.
I’m afraid you will be discouraged.
I’m afraid you will fall into the hands of the Living God!
The Lord knows my heart.
I don’t have to give an account for my scientific inabilities to know what’s next.
I will though have to give an account for my hope & you will give an account of the hope that is in you!
Give that account today!!! Give that account tomorrow!!! From your homes. At your essential workplaces. To your families. To your loved ones. To your neighbors. To your friends.
Do we really have any rights? You may say, I’m an American. I can do what I want. Nobody tells me what to do.
I wonder how those Christians all over China in the underground church TODAY feel about your arrogance?I don’t see them running out into the murderous hands of the Chinese Communist Party to make their issues to be known, to complain about their rights being infringed upon.
Do you think we are entitled because we are not of this world? This is not our home, we’re only passing through... that's what the good book says right...?
How insensitive can we be to those who have no faith today.
God help us to pray our great & Almighty powerful Heavenly Father that HE will fight our battle & that we will just pray & praise in our place & stick together as the Church of God and call sinners unto repentance!
Christ commands us to respect those in authority over us.
Please don’t add to the disrespect that the church already gets from the world.
Are we citizens of “One Nation under God” or not?
When we reassemble I will be joining in the celebration of the liberties we have as Americans and praying for those who don’t have it, both freedom in this country and freedom from sin in Christ... will you join me?
Heavenly Father, thank you for your guiding Spirit. In Jesus name, Amen.
Please remember our church prayer requests and all those listed in our church bulletin.
Pray for one another. Pray for our Nation and ALL people.
Pray for our military, their families and the churches missionaries all around the world.
Pray for our Police Officers, Fire Fighters, and First Responders.
Pray for all those in the medical field, hospitals and doctors offices as they provide patient well care and also to protect themselves.
Finally Pray for the lost, those seeking after The Lord today.
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed by thy name
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, for ever. Amen
"Wherefore edify(encourage) one another..." 1 Thessalonians 5:11
still wrestling but the day is breaking...
In Christ,
Pastor Brian
Have a great day!