A T T E N D A N C E
Sunday Morning: 520
Sunday Night: 445
Wednesday: 295
Saved Last Year: 470
Saved This Year: 3
Saved through visitation: 28
On Sunday morning February 5, 2012, Brian Baer preached. His text was Genesis 6:5-8, 14-16 & 2 Peter 2:5 and he preached on the subject of “Thank God for Grace.” In verse 8 of our scripture, this is the first time that grace is mentioned in the Bible. Let’s look at the signs of grace. First, where there is grace there are shadows of judgment. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Grace is not found until judgment has been passed. When judgment comes grace will show up. Grace cannot be experienced until you know that you are a sinner. Second, where grace is there will be signs of Jesus. We have a kinsmen redeemer who loves us not matter what the world thinks of us. Have you ever wondered about the type of wood that was used to build the ark? Gopher wood was a one of kind type of wood and there was no other wood like it. This reminds us of Jesus Christ because He is one of a kind and there is no one else like Him. The gopher wood was the only type of wood that was capable of withstanding the storm. When we get on Jesus’ boat we can withstand the storms. The ark was pitched within and without. The pitch was a covering or atonement. In other words the storm couldn’t get to Noah because of the covering. Verse 16 tells us that God put only one window in the ark. This was so that Noah couldn’t look around and see all the water, the only way Noah could look was up. There was one door on the side of the ark and when Noah walked through the door he found grace. This is a picture of Jesus when His side was pierced and that was our door way to Heaven. The ark had three levels to it and this is a picture of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. When Noah found grace he had access to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. And third, where grace is there are sermons of justification. In 2 Peter 2:5 Peter taught us some things about Noah. Noah was a builder, a preacher and the 8th person. What does the 8th person mean? It means that Noah was the last person on the ark. He stood outside of the ark and continued to preach asking those to come inside and be saved. Judgment is coming and you need to get into the ark. Grace can be found but you have to get in the ark.
On Sunday evening February 5, 2012, Brian Baer preached. His text was Genesis 8:1-4, 6, 20-22 and he preached on the subject of “Floating by Faith.” Our scripture says that God remembered Noah. Does this mean that God had forgotten about him? No, it means that Noah was smack dab in the middle of God’s will. Noah probably thought this is not what I thought His will would be. But when the will of God is different He sends grace our way. Noah was floating by faith and He was in the Lord’s will. We too can be in the center of the Lord’s will and still ask Lord where are you. Just remember even in the midst of the storm God has not forgotten you. First, we see that Noah was floating by faith and the wind that was blowing was guiding them. There were not steering devices on board and the only way for them to go was for the wind to blow and take them where God wanted them to be. They were on the boat for one whole year and the wind could have taken them anywhere but God wanted them on Mount Ararat. All Noah could see was water but God could see what was under the water. We need to take our hands off and let the wind carry us. Second, we see that the word consumed them. The window was Noah’s responsibility and the door was God’s responsibility. God won’t force you to pray because it is up to you to open the window to Heaven and pray. Third, we have the worship that called to him. Sometimes God will put us in a place where we cannot worship Him like we want. Sometimes we just don’t feel like praising God because of the situation we are in. But let me tell you that you will get off of the ark and praise Him again. We need to keep the line of communication open at all times. God has not forgotten you so stay on the boat until He tells you it is time to get off. Make sure that you stay smack dab in the middle of God’s will even if it is not what you thought it would be.
On Wednesday evening February 1, 2012, we were privileged to have Roger Lavender in to preach for us. His text was 2 Kings 10:15-16 and he preached on the subject of “Is Thine Heart Right?” Let me start out by asking the question who is on the Lord’s side? There are only two sides. You are either on the Lord’s side or you are on the devil’s side. It is time that we take a stand for Jesus. There is so much apathy and no concern with spiritual things. People don’t seek God like they us to. It is time that we declare ourselves, stand up and say that we love Jesus. It is time that we stand up and say that we are for Jesus and not the devil. We need to eagerly and earnestly be for Jesus. If you are not for Jesus then you are for the devil. We all ask questions such as how are you today, how is your health, how are your finances, how is your social status and so on the questions go. But the most important question that should be asked is thine heart right with God. The question is not is your heart right in the eyes of your neighbor, your friends, your co-workers, your loved one and not even in your own eyes because you can be deceived. The question was is your heart right in the eyes of the Lord? You can be a good person and still die lost because being a good person means nothing in the eyes of God. Your good works won’t get you to Heaven but God will. No man cometh to the Father except by me (Jesus). Jesus is the only way out of spending eternity in hell. You may be asking yourself how our hearts can be pure. The answer is to be washed in the blood of Jesus Christ. Here is how you can tell if your heart is pure. First, you will have a repenting heart. This is a heart that is right with God. Second, you will have a believing heart. Do you believe in God, Jesus, Heaven, death, hell & eternity? Do you believe that God can heal? There is nothing too little for God to do. Belief produces action. Third, you will have a forgiving heart. God forgives as we forgive. Forgiveness to the Christian is not optional we must forgive others. It is time to bury the hatchet and quit living in the past. An apology can repair just about anything. Fourth, you will have an expectant heart. You will see that good for good is man’s way, evil for evil is the devil’s way but good for evil is God’s way. A right heart is a repenting, believing, forgiving and expectant heart. Are you looking for His coming? Are you fearful as to where you will spend eternity? Come to Jesus and get your heart right with God. There was one precious soul that was saved tonight that our church has been praying to get saved for a long time. Hallelujah!!!!
