“Learn To Be Thankful For God”

(1Thess. 5:18) “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” It has been said that the happiest people in the world are those that are thankful, and they are happier because they have learned to trust the Lord in every circumstance in life. If we by faith come to the place where we believe that everything happens for a purpose (Rom. 8:28), then by faith we will be able to thank the Lord even when bad times come our way. For some reason many of us believe that if we are faithful to God, then only good things will happen to us, but that's not always true. God wants all of us to see that both good and bad things happen to all men alike, but the difference between those that are thankful and those that are not, is simply in their ability to trust God's will and Word. Brethren, God is there for you every hour and every minute, and especially during those times that you hurt so deeply that you can't find comfort. Jesus promises us grace in our greatest times of need. So yes, thank God for the good things in life, but learn to trust God while in the bad, and be thankful for His ever present presence, and promises during those times of need. Learn to be thankful for God “in every- thing!”
 
 

“Local Church Membership, Right or Wrong”

Over the years I have talked with many Christians about the subject of Church membership. Some Christians believe that because they are saved, that they are automatically a member, while others simply just deny the fact that they need to be. Well, does it really matter if you are member of a local church? Biblically, Yes! Two words that our generation does not like today are accountability, and commitment. Why, because both words place oneself under a mutual obligation with another. For example, marriage is a covenant before God between two people, while living together is not. One cannot walk away from a marriage easily, but where no agreement or commitment is, one can. The same is true with being a member of a local church. Becoming a member means that you must place yourself under the accountability of that church and commit yourself to it. Not becoming a member means that you are accountable to no one, but is that biblical? Be careful not to adopt the world's philosophy of saying, I don't have to when God commands us in His Word to become a part of a local church. The reason that so many Christians today avoid a commitment to a local church is not due to fear, but rather accountability!
 

The Keys To The Kingdom

(Matt. 16:18) "…and the gates of hell will not prevail against it."
The Church of Jesus Christ is the most powerful entity in the world today. Its strength however is not found in its numbers or its membership, but rather in its founder Jesus Christ and his promises. 1) Jesus promised us that the gates of hell would not prevail against us. Why? Because the power of Satan was crushed at the cross, and when Jesus arose he was given the keys "to both hell and death" (Rev. 1:18), meaning that hell and death have no more power over the church. 2) Jesus also gave the church the keys to victory. The Apostle Peter 1st used the keys to open the door of salvation to both the Jew and the Gentile (Matt. 16:19), but after, he gave the church the keys to govern for God, by "binding and loosing on earth" (Matt.18:19). Binding is accepting, where loosing is casting away. The church has the authority on earth to both govern and correct itself when it agrees together to do so. Therefore, our true power is not found in division but rather unity. If the Church then desires to prevail against the gates of hell, we must do it together and in agreement and not alone.
 

Unbelief Makes Miracles Impossible

(Mark. 6:5) "And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief." This passage explains to us why Jesus was not able to do many miracles in his home town of Nazareth. "Unbelief" is a terrible thing because it hinders God from answering our prayers. (Heb. 11:6) says, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." 1) Without faith it's impossible to please God. We cannot please God unless we demonstrate to Him that we trust solely in Him and His Word. 2) Without faith it's impossible to prove God. God rewards only those that trust in Him. Faith is trusting God to keep His word, and if we believe it, He is obligated to prove its truth. Therefore only those who believe will see answers to prayer, for those who don't believe, won't receive. 3) Without faith it's impossible to pursue God. God can only be found by those that faithfully and diligently seek Him. Only by our continually coming will we see the miracles of God, for God is not pleased  by unbelief, but he is pleased by the faith  of those that both prove and pursue Him.

 
 

The Church

Pastor's Corner (Matt. 16:18) "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
In (1 Tim. 3:15), God calls the Church, "the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth." The word "church" in the Greek text, is the word "ekklesia, " meaning  "a called out assembly." Jesus began his church with Peter's preaching on the day of Pentecost, but founded his Church upon himself, the solid Rock. God's Church is not the church of a dead Peter, but rather the church of the living Christ. God sent Jesus (and his church) into the world to both save men, and assemble them together as an army. The church is a living and breathing entity of born again believers, empowered by the Spirit, and very much able to prevail over the gates of hell. God's power however is perfected in local fundamental independent assemblies, who reproduce Jesus both in themselves and in those they teach.