Dr.Barclay with Something to Think About - SAVED

 SAVED

One of the basic themes of the Bible is the concept of being saved. People often ask “Are you saved?”, “Have you been saved?” or remind you that “It’s important that you be saved.” Of course, being saved implies that just, actually being saved from something. The Bible gives many examples of something being saved. For humans, for example, it’s “our lives” (Genesis 47:25) or another example is “Israel” 2 (Exodus 14:30). It talks about being “…saved from my enemies…” (2 Samuel 22:4) or how God “…Himself saved you from all your adversities and your tribulations…” (1 Samuel 10:19).

These are all specific examples, however, and although it’s nice to realize that help is there for our problems on this planet, such help is not what is really inferred with the question, “Are you saved?”  So, what then is the “something” we are being saved from? Also, how does this relate to God’s mercy and grace which we now hear about most of the time.

If God’s attributes are all love and mercy, what is there really to be saved from? Certainly not from these attributes of God because they should be what we strive to obtain. The problem is that we no longer talk about sin and the relation of this to the other attributes of God which we also no longer like to think about. The Bible states that: “…all have sinned…” (Romans 3:23) and as result of this “…the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23). To put it another way: “The labour of the righteous leads to life, the wages of the wicked is sin” (Proverbs 10:16). So, does being saved mean that we can avoid death? No, because “…it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgement,” (Hebrews 9:27).

Really, in essence, one cannot even be saved from the judgement of God if the above statement is true. What then is that something we are to be saved from? It’s something we no longer talk much about. It’s really the wrath of God; not a temper-tantrum type of behaviour but a fairness and holiness that cannot tolerate sin. And since we have all sinned, we are all in the same situation: headed for death. Not the physical death mentioned before, but a spiritual separation from God. The death referred to by Satan in Genesis when he said in reference to the forbidden fruit: “You will not surely die” (Genesis 3:4), although God had said that they would.

This holiness of God prevents us from retiring into His presence after our physical death. And if we cannot enter into His presence, then we are forever separated from Him and will experience a spiritual death as well as His wrath which is reserved for those who have been convicted of sin.  There is only one way to prevent this separation and that is to accept His gift of grace embodied in the death of Jesus and His resurrection. Such acceptance is a guarantee of being saved from the separation and wrath that sin commits us to.

“Are you saved?” A simple question and an easy answer, but one with eternal ramifications if not responded to correctly. Only one way is possible and that is why the comment “Jesus Saves” has such significance because only His sacrifice has made it possible for us to avoid the penalty of sin and the wrath of God

You can be saved, by Jesus, from eternal separation and for eternal life with Him.

It’s certainly something to think about. 

Pastor Caroline - August 8, 2021 - God, Our Protector

Pastor Caroline - Wednesday August 4, 2021 - God is My Strength

 

God is my Strength

God truly is our strength. In Exodus Chapter 15 Verse 2 in the Good News Bible we read:

(2) The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.

Wow isn’t that beautiful?  We have our strength in the Lord, He gives us a song and we are assured off our victory. Now that is the way to start your new day. Confident in the Lord because of His word.

 

God is always caring for us. Even in our sleep He watches over us. That is a very comforting and peaceful thought.

 

In the trials of life, we can count on God. His resources are unlimited and we can avail ourselves in His resources because He wants to help us every day. We are told not to be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Now these are not my words, these are words found in our Bible in Philippians Chapter 4 Verses 6 and 7 (NIV)

 

I know every day I need the Lord. In my strength and in my weaknesses, I need Him every hour of every day. And dear friend, so do you. Tell others what God has done for you, pray with and for others, help someone build their faith as you example God‘s love and power in your life. Be bold —speak of the blessings God has given you and always give thanks to God, sing His praises for He loves to hear us in song and in word. Speak victory before you see victory and claim the completion of any work before the Lord, and then watch it come to pass. Praise the name of the Lord!! Be kind, loving and grateful and people will see this in you and then you can boast on the Lord by declaring:

The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.

 

No matter where life begins, in the lowest of lows or the highest of highs, our God is always the same. He is no respecter of persons and therefore treats everyone of us the same, offers everyone the gift of salvation, loves us equally and He will never change. We are truly blessed by the Father who is our strength, song and victory.

 

Enjoy your day in Jesus in strength, in song and in victory!! Be blest!!

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Galatians Part 10

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - OBEDIENCE

 OBEDIENCE

How often do we obey what we are told to do when we are given instructions or advice?  More often than not we tend to do our own thing rather than listen to what we have been told.  Hence the phrase ‘When all else fails, read the directions.’

We are more likely to listen to what family or friends say than to hear what experts or leaders request.  It seems that we are also more likely to listen to someone, anyone, other than the one who has given all the advice we really need to know - God.  Sometimes we are tested in our obedience more that we might know.

In Jeremiah 35, the story is told of an attempt to have a group called the Rechabites drink wine.  This was a redial nomadic sect who were committed not to drink any wine on the command of their father.  “…We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us saying: ‘You shall drink no wine, you nor your sons, forever’” (Jeremiah 35:6).

Then God, through Jeremiah, rebuked Judah by using this example saying: “…Will you not receive instruction to obey My words?…” (Jeremiah 35:13). “The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, which he commanded his sons, not to drink wine, are performed; for to this day they drink none, and obey their father’s commandment.  But although I have spoken to you…you did not obey Me” (Jeremiah 35:14).

God used the example of the tempting of the Rechabites and their subsequent refusal as a contrast to the people of Judah.  They repeatedly refused to heed God’s instructions even though He repeatedly brought His commands to them through prophets. David Guzik, in his commentary*, makes the following points:

• “The Rechabites obeyed a fallible leader, the people of Judah disobeyed the eternal God.”
• “The Rechabites received their command only once from their leader and obeyed; the people of Judah received their command from God again and again and still disobeyed.”
• "The Rechabites obeyed regarding earthly things; the people of Judah disobeyed in regard to eternal things.”
• "The Rechabites obeyed their leader’s commands over about 300 years; the people of Judah continually disobeyed their God.”
• “The Rechabites would be rewarded; the people of Judah would be judged.”

And judged they were for God said: “…‘Behold, I will bring on Judah and on all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the doom that I have pronounced against them; because I have spoken to them but they have not heard, and I have called to them but they have not answered’” (Jeremiah 35:17).

Are we any different today? Have we not been told many times through His Word, His Prophets, and even history that He sent His Son to us to redeem us and to give us the gift of eternal life?  But we still do not listen. In our proud and haughty attitude, we continue to try our own ways to meet God rather that listen to His commands.  But listen we must at some time, or face His judgement. In the words of a Booth Brothers Song:**

See the humble hearts adore Him

Jesus saves, Jesus saves

And the wisest bow before Him,

Jesus saves, Jesus saves 

We can be proud and haughty or humble and wise but the only thing we can be sure of is the need to be obedient for it is only Jesus who saves.

Just something to think about.

*   David Guzik Commentary from Blue Letter Bible 

** Jesus saves by Travis Cottrell, David Moffitt and sung by The Booth Brothers

 

 

 

Communion Sunday with Pastor Caroline - Aug 2, 2020

 

As you know, Pastor Caroline is enjoying a well-earned vacation break and she asked if we could share communion today while re-watching this sermon from one year ago.

Communion Sunday August 2, 2020

Birth Announcement

 

Kevin and Jean (Austin) Cornett want the world to know that on Friday July 30 2021 at 4:44 a.m. their daughter Lydia Doreen Ruth was given to them as a gift from God. Lydia weighed in at a little over 8 pounds and she and Mommy are doing well. Kevin is blessed now with 2 loves in his life to cherish, love and care for.

Congratulations to them from all of us, and our prayers are with them for much health and happiness in the years ahead.

Jesus loves the little children of the world, and His instruction in Matthew Chapter 10 Verse 14 is:

“Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, because the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these”.

 

We welcome Lydia and hopefully one day soon we will all get to meet her when Kevin and Jean come home for a visit.