Sound The Trumpet

Yes, today was a good day. I spent the day completing the classroom requirements to become an instructor for the American Heart Association in the Heartstart program as well as the health care provider Basic Life Support.  We are in the process of setting up a Medical Emergency Response Team at our church.  On a typical Sunday, we may have three-hundred or more kids at the church. It is our responsibility to care for them. It is also our responsibility to care for the many people who regularly attend our church.  I am thankful the Lord is giving me another chance to use some of my skills and knowledge. I am also thankful our Pastor has a vision to care for his people.

How was the revival tonight? Great.  There was a young lady who was saved a few weeks ago. She and her husband have been faithful ever since.  Monday night, her brother came with them and he was saved! All three of them were back again tonight.

There is one more night of revival ... maybe. Revival may extend into Thursday. Check and see.

Oh, God is so good!

I really wish I had time this morning to tell you all how good yesterday's services were. Of course, yesterday was Mother's day. Bro. Davis preached on the mother of the home being a type of the Holy Spirit. How if the mother is out of fellowship with the Lord, the whole house will be askew. I have never looked at the mother as being a type of the Spirit, but it is quite true. In that relationship, the father is a picture of the head, the mother a picture of the Spirit and the children a picture of the son. That new perspective really put a whole new spin on things. The wife, the mother has always been an honored position in the home. Despite what others may claim, this is the Biblical view - this is the view that anyone who is a real believer in the fundamentals of the Word of God will have. Then, yesterday afternoon, I preached to the adults from Matthew 14:22-33

Matthew 14:22-33 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. (23) And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. (24) But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. (25) And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. (26) And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. (27) But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. (28) And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. (29) And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. (30) But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. (31) And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? (32) And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. (33) Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

The title of my message was Constrained to Sail. So, first, Jesus sent them from the safety of the shore into the storm. Of course Jesus knew the storm was coming. In fact, I believe the disciples could have seen the storm coming as well. Nevertheless, they chose to obey God and enter into the ship. As a result of their obedience, they were in a storm being tossed from wave to wave. Suppose they had said no. What would they have missed? We can read about four different, distinct miracles they would have missed seeing. What a blessing came from being in a storm. This passage always encourages me: it reminds me that the storms we have faced over the last few years were of God. It also makes me remember that God sent very distinct miracles for us. Then, in the PM service, Bro Davis preached from Mark 6, about being in the storm! You will want to make sure you come by this week. Bro. Eddie Davis will be preaching Monday-Wednesday night. Service starts at 7pm. Aside from my pastor, I believe he is one of the greatest living preachers around. He is certainly my hero.

I am way behind in praising God for those who have turned from their sin unto salvation over the last few months at our church. There have been four who were saved just in our group of 'tweens over the last few weeks. There have been many more throughout the church. Of course,when your pastor sets a goal of reaching 10,000 homes in one year, what should we expect?

So often, we are quick to praise the Lord over professions of faith. This is right. We should rejoice and praise the Lord when someone repents of their sinful nature and turns to God in salvation. Sadly, some of these professions are just not real. Sometimes, people will "get saved" to get out of trouble. Sometimes, people will pass through and "get saved" to try to get money or something else from the church. Sometimes, people will genuinely get saved. The proof of the fruit is watching to see who remains. If someone claims to get saved this morning, but you cannot find them tonight, were they really saved? Someone who is genuinely saved will genuinely want to serve God. They will genuinely want to please God. They will start working toward giving up their old habits. The drunkard will be convicted over drinking. The drug addict will be convicted to give up his addiction. The gossip will be convicted to stop her mouth.

I thank God for our pastor who is not quick to deal with someone who claims to be saved. The true fruit is the fruit which remains, right? Those who make a profession and disappear are likely not truly saved. No, we cannot know for sure, but we can look at the fruit. At our church, we're running a little behind. I believe it was six people who have remained and were baptized last night (I lost count). Our pastor is planning to baptize six to eight people every Sunday night for the next four weeks. Our church is, indeed growing. God is honoring Pastor's unwavering stand on the Word of God.

Mt 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.