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Pastor's Messages

Message - May 10, 2020
Message - May 3, 2020

                   PRAYING FATHER KNOWS BEST (Matthew 6:5-8)

In what’s called the Model Prayer, God’s Son, His Only Son, draws a life altering conclusion concerning praying;

“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 “Therefore do not be like them (and then Jesus says) For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”

So many people have asked this question based on Jesus’ words, “If God already knows what I’m going to ask of Him as well as how He plans to respond, then why pray?”

In Romans 8:26-27 we are told we don’t know how to talk to our Father who knows us best, so His Spirit interprets our prays in accordance with our Father’s wisdom. The Christian should find comfort in that. Talking with a surgeon the other day he said, “The human body is a marvelous and amazing creation and I need the Creator to provide oversight of my work.”

In the 70’s there was a TV show called, “Father Knows Best!” It was popular in a day that fatherly wisdom guiding the family was a desired virtue based on the Bible’s teaching that our Father in Heaven, not only knows best, but provides what is absolutely best for His children (Matthew 10:29-31).

God’s Son taught us that we, as His children, are watched over and cared for by our loving Heavenly Father:  as the clay in the Potter’s hand being molded to His liking (Isaiah 29:15-16), to respect Him as Holy Father and thank Him for providing what is best, to respect Him as the Sovereign One who opens our eyes for seeing His hand at work in all things, and as a caring Father that guides us carefully along in a fallen world that temporarily abides under His permissive will until we arrive home where His perfect will is the norm. His children come to realize Father truly does know best! This should produce praise in our hearts every day in knowing He is in control and knows what’s best for all who pray.

Bethany Service - April 26, 2020
Message - April 19, 2020
Bethany Baptist Easter Service

CHRIST REMOVES THE STING OF DEATH

(I Corinthians 15:55-58)

April 12, 2020​

When we get stung by a hornet, what do we do?                                                        

  1. FIRST, we slap it to the ground and stomp it for its infliction of pain (just as Jesus came to do  (Genesis 3:15).                                                                                                                                  

  2. SECOND we pull out the, still pulsating, stinger (Galatians 2:20-21).                                                                             

  3. THIRD we apply a soothing ointment (Galatians 3:13 & I Peter 1:18-19)

 

We all know the following things are for certain:                                                                                                     

1. The death ratio is one to one and everything dies (Hebrews 9:27).                                                                                                             

2. We brought nothing into this world, and we can carry nothing out (I Timothy 6:7).                                                                                                                                      

3. If we gain all this world has to offer and yet are uncertain of our connection with our Maker, all else becomes meaningless (Matthew 16:26):                                                                                                     

 

LOSS OF LIFE - Jesus said fear not, storms, sickness (viruses), or even murder for they can only destroy your flesh, but not your (eternal) soul!”  (Matthew 10:28).                                                                                                                   

LOSS OF MATERIAL THINGS, Jesus said, “Lay not up treasures on earth” (Matthew 6:19-20).                                                                                                                                     

LOSS OF SOUL, “Jesus said, “the accuser of mankind,” has been disarmed.  The Destroyer can’t destroy us (John 19:30 & I Corinthians 15:20)

The STING of death is the LAW, not the law of men, but the law of God.   What most people don’t know is, “God has decreed all mankind serious offenders of His law and therein under the penalty of death” (Romans 3:10-20). For the Sovereign Almighty know even the thoughts of the mind as well as registers the deeds of the flesh and has declared that no one is able to stand in His court of justice (Matthew 12:36). But Christ has dealt with the entirety of man’s sin debt at Calvary (Galatians 3:13). That is why the church (the people, not the building) is commissioned to preach this message, even if it gets us sent home early (think of the missionaries who put their lives in harm’s way daily for sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ).             

                                                              

This world needs to know Jesus came, Jesus died, Jesus rose, and Jesus lives to intercede for all who need a Savior. That we all need to repent and trust Jesus to cleanse us from ALL our unrighteousness (I Timothy 1:15 & I John 1:9).

Solomon, the richest and wisest man ever, drew this conclusion for us Ecclesiastes 12 (NKJV)

12 Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth,
Before the difficult days come,
And the years draw near when you say,
“I have no pleasure in them”:
2 While the sun and the light,
The moon and the stars,
Are not darkened,
And the clouds do not return after the rain;
3 In the day when the keepers of the house tremble,
And the strong men bow down;
When the grinders cease because they are few,
And those that look through the windows grow dim;
4 When the doors are shut in the streets,
And the sound of grinding is low;
When one rises up at the sound of a bird,
And all the daughters of music are brought low.
5 Also they are afraid of height,
And of terrors in the way;
When the almond tree blossoms,
The grasshopper is a burden,
And desire fails.
For man goes to his eternal home,
And the mourners go about the streets.

6 Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed,
Or the golden bowl is broken,
Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain,
Or the wheel broken at the well.
7 Then the dust will return to the earth as it was,
And the spirit will return to God who gave it.

8 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher,
“All is vanity.”

9 And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Preacher sought to find [d]acceptable words; and what was written was upright—words of truth. 11 The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. 12 And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh.

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

Fear God and keep His commandments,
For this is man’s all.
14 For God will bring every work into judgment,
Including every secret thing,
Whether good or evil.

 

Pray this prayer; “My Father in Heaven, thank You that death can’t hurt me, for I know in whom I have believed and that He is able to keep me in the day of Your righteous judgment upon sinful mankind. Thank You for letting Jesus Christ take the punishment I deserve. My heart and life will be driven for Your glory and His honor” (read Romans 8:1, 33-39, II Timothy 1:12 & Jude).

 

Hope you have a Blessed Passover on this, and every, Resurrection Sunday.

Pastor Rick

    “FAITH TO NOT PANIC IN A PANDEMIC”

FAITH everyone has, but not everyone has biblical faith.   

SAVING FAITH has its basis is being able to believe God is faithful, trustworthy, and truthful to His word of promise that one can bank on for their redemption. 

POWER OF POSITIVE THOUGHT is often perceived as faith but it’s not. Some think faith is the ability to stay positive even in light of negative circumstances.

 

When Jesus said things like, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one can come to His Father but through Him,” (John 14:6) all believe His word of promise, possess saving faith. God, our Heavenly Father, carefully explains true faith:

FAITH is the substance of things hoped for, without evidence (Hebrews 11:1-6).                                   

FAITH comes by hearing God’s word of promise (Romans 10:17 & Hebrews 1:1).                                                                  

FAITH believes Christ was God’s word in the flesh, as stated (John 1:1, 14 & Hebrews 1:1-5).                                                                                                   FAITH believes the promised word that saved our patriarchs (Romans 4:1-8) just as it does those who believe those promises today (Romans 10:7-13).

To have faith in a pandemic like we’re experiencing, one must search God’s word for promises they can hold to.   

PROMISES LIKE:

  • He will never leave me or forsake me (Hebrews 13:5).

  • He will be my helper in time of trouble (Psalms 46:1).  

  • When I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, He will be with me (Psalms 24:4) 

  • He will keep me in perfect peace because my mind is fixed on Him (Isaiah 26:3).    

 

Pray, “I trust in You as the God of endless possibility (Matthew 19:26) and as one who repents of their sin, and humbles themselves before your holiness, I trust You’ll give me the faith to trust in You as the God of hope, even during this Corona pandemic.”          

                                                                                                                                                                       

The promises found in God’s word are endless and we can trust in Him while living in this sin cursed world. Jesus said the God who cares for the little birds of this world provides so much more for you as His child (Luke 12:6-7).   

God will not give us a spirit of fear (timidity) but one of power (courage) love, and soundness of mind, even in a time of uncertainty (II Timothy 1:7).  Do not reason, but have faith, and TRUST in His promises (Proverbs 3:5-8).

 

God Bless and keep you,  

 

Pastor Rick

April 5, 2020

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