God’s Word has many references to the concept of passing our faith from generation to generation. What a blessing it is to see three and four generations of one family walking in the fear of the Lord. And, surely nothing validates the authenticity of our faith quite as well as seeing our children embrace the Word of God and its teaching. III John 4 says it best, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” It could also be said that there is no greater disappointment than to hear/see your children reject the truth.
Sadly, many churches and families have backed away from the clear teachings of God’s Word in an attempt to keep their children “in the church.” What our children need to see is parents and pastors who are committed to the truth and are passionate about passing it on. If God’s Word is preached, taught, and lived; if the truth is spoken in love, and if we will pay the price to have the presence and power of God in our lives, homes, and churches; we will see many of our young people choose to seek after God.
In a day of compromise; our children need to see Biblical convictions lived consistently from the heart. In a day when entertainment is substituted for worship; our children need to see the power and holiness of God. And in a day when for many families Christian devotion is a Sunday affair; our children need to see meditation on the things of God day and night. (Joshua 1:8 and Psalm 1)
If our faith is successfully passed on to the next generation, it will not be by accident. It will because of an intentional, passionate desire inspired by our love for God, and it will be fueled, energized, and enabled by prayer and the Spirit of God. Parents; let’s pay the price and trust God to do a great work in the hearts and lives of our children!
God was so good to include both the good and the “not so good” words and actions of those men and women we commonly refer to as Bible characters. The truth is; some were real characters!
Look for example at Hezekiah. Verse 5 of chapter 18 in the second book of Kings states: So that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. What a testimony! Yet, sadly we find that he didn’t end his reign as well as he could have or should have.
The tragedy of this king’s ending, and his apparent lack of judgment is most clearly seen in the statement recorded in verse 19 of chapter 20 (II Kings). Isaiah the prophet had pronounced the word of the Lord (judgment) against Hezekiah after the king had shown all of his house and treasures to the Babylonians. Part of the judgment was that the king’s sons would be taken away and made eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. After hearing this sentence of judgment, Hezekiah made this statement: Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?
How sad to see a man think only of his own generation, and his own time on this earth! But the awful truth is, today our society is filled with “fathers” who think only of themselves with little or NO regard for the children coming along behind them.
May God give us true men with a heart for Him who will strive to lead their families in the way of truth. Because it is God’s way and His truth that will bring blessing from generation to generation.
Progress Baptist Church will have a special day on Sunday, July 3.
That afternoon we will begin our “evening” service at 5:00 P.M. Then, after the service we will combine our normal monthly fellowship meal with our July 4th celebration. We will grill hamburgers, and the church will also provide buns, baked beans, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and potato salad. The church family will bring chips, drinks, and desserts.
Last, but not least, bring your ice cream church with your favorite homemade ice cream recipe! We will end the evening with some music and a campfire, so bring your guitars, harmonicas, banjos, mandolins, and fiddles!
Visitors are encouraged to come to the service that afternoon and to spend the evening with us as we enjoy some good, Christian, summer-time fellowship.
On Saturday, June 25, we will continue our outreach into the communities surrounding our church. For those who would like to go to Smiley’s flea market near the church, we will meet at the church at 10:00 A.M. For those who will be unable to come that morning, we will go out again at 3:00 P.M. into neighborhoods in the greater Hendersonville area. Don’t forget: Spanish service that afternoon at 5:00 as well!
Let’s be sure to prepare our hearts with PRAYER this entire week. Jesus said, “Without me, ye can do nothing!”
NOTE: Thanks to all who made it out today! God blessed with many tracts and church post cards handed out, and the response today was very good! Let’s remember to pray for the seed that has been sown. God has to give the increase!
Each Saturday during the month of June, we have had a Spanish service at 5:00 P.M. in the fellowship hall of the church.
The church family is encouraged to continue to use the new Spanish tracts we have in the vestibule to invite folks to the service. Service times, directions, and contact information are all included on the tract, which has a very thorough presentation of the gospel.
During visitation on Saturday, June 25, we met a young family with quite a bit of interest in coming to our service. Their work schedule conflicts with our currently-announced service time. For now, we will continue to meet at 5:00 P.M. but may be adding another time slot and/or starting an in-home Bible study in a trailer park to reach this interested family. Please pray for Jaime and his family. God was certainly going before us today and preparing hearts! Praise the Lord!
God’s Word has much to say about the responsibility and influence of a father in the home. Join us this Sunday as we recognize those men whom God has allowed to be a father. With the Lord’s help, we’ll also look in the Word and find admonition from the only real source of truth we have! God’s Word is still changing lives, and when consistently applied can make us the men/fathers we ought to be.
David wrote in Psam 27, “ONE thing have I desired of the LORD,” and Paul wrote in Philippians 3:13, “ONE thing I do.” What a blessing it is to be focused on one thing! Satan, the great deceiver, is masterful when it comes to distracting us from the most important thing in life. For the sinner, the temptation is to put off salvation until a more convenient season. For the saved, the problem is sacrificing the best on the altar of the good.
If we are spending more time serving Him than we are worshipping Him, we have fallen into the “Martha trap” of being consumed with “much serving” when ONE thing is needful; sitting at His feet. Our service would be so much more productive and meaningful if we would first sit at His feet and adore Him for Who He is.
It is interesting to see how harried we have become in our American culture. Think of all the inventions and gadgets that were supposed to give us more time! Our grandparents and great-grandparents never had all of these conveniences, yet they had time to sit on the porch and visit with friends! Most parents in this generation spend little to no quality time with our own children, not to mention friends or extended family. Quality, quiet time with the Lord? Who has time for that?
Jesus said in Matthew 5:30, “If thy right hand offend thee, cut it off.” In 2011, He is probably saying to His children, “If thy computer, Ipod, Ipad, cell phone, etc., offend thee: CUT IT OFF!” What our family, friends, and fellow church members need are prayer warriors who are in touch with God, not someone who is accessible 24/7. May God help us focus on ONE thing.
A couple of months ago I was at a Christian radio station’s Share-a-Thon (WGCR – Pisgah Forest, NC) and heard Bro. Lee Davis, pastor of Georgetown Baptist in Leicester, NC, preach. He made reference to a bumper sticker you may have seen. It says, “Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History.” Brother Davis used this quote early in the message, and then followed quickly with one of his own, “No, but their children often do!”
While meditating on the influence of a Godly mother and just how much the Bible has to say about women/mothers, my mind went to a short devotion, borrowed from Our Daily Bread, that was used in the May newsletter at our church. While the church family has seen it, my prayer is that it will be an encouragement to visitors to our website as well. May God richly bless those mothers who are prayerfully striving to influence their children for God and His glory!
Many Godly men of the past have been richly blessed by what they learned from their mothers. Consider the Biblical characters Moses, Samuel, and Timothy. The maternal influence experienced by these spiritual leaders bore rich fruit in their lives. Think too of men like Augustine, John Newton, and the zealous Wesley brothers. Their names would probably never have lighted the pages of history if it hadn’t been for the Godly women who raised them in homes where the law of love and a Christian witness were their daily guide and inspiration.
Susannah Wesley, for example, spent one hour each day praying for her 17 children. In addition, she took each child aside for a full hour every week to discuss spiritual matters. No wonder two of her sons, Charles and John, were used of God to bring blessing to all of England, and much of America. Here are a few rules she followed in training her children:
(1) Subdue self-will in a child and thus work together with God to save his soul (emphasis added). (2) Teach him to pray as soon as he can speak. (3) Give him nothing he cries for and only what is good for him if he asks for it politely. (4) To prevent lying, punish no fault which is freely confessed, but never allow a rebellious, sinful act to go unnoticed. (5) Commend and reward good behavior. (6) Strictly observe all promises you have made to your child.
Let us honor our Godly mothers today, not only with words of praise, but with lives that reflect the impact of their holy influence!
Proverbs 31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
Of all the wonderful attributes ascribed to the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31, none are as powerful as this one described in verse twenty-six. Compare it to I Corinthians chapter 13 where Paul, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, declares that all of our good works and sacrificial living are to no avail if we, “have not charity.”
It would be impossible to overestimate the power of a mother’s words. How many children have conquered obstacles in their lives because of mom’s encouragement? How many husbands have said, “I’ll give it one more try!” just because a wife believed in him and told him, “I know you can do it!”? How many of her friends have mustered the strength to go another day simply because of the kindness of a friend?
In a society that increasingly prides itself on crudeness and crassness, may God give us more virtuous women who will demonstrate, “The Law of Kindness” in their speech.
Just a reminder to the church family that we will collect our “Disaster Relief Boxes” on Sunday, May 8. As you collect your items, please pray that God will use the gift to touch the hearts of those who receive them. It is a blessing to be able to reach out to those who have suffered such catastrophic losses. Our main concern, however, is for their souls. So let’s pray that the gifts will soften their hearts, and that the tract and Bible in each box will point them to the Saviour!
UPDATE
On Friday and Saturday, May 27-28, a team of twelve folks from our church family returned to the GA/TN/AL area affected by the devastating tornadoes during the month of April. They were able to help a missionary family as well as many others. Tired and sore, they returned late Saturday evening with full hearts! Their hearts were full of praise to God for: the opportunity to go and serve, the sweet testimony and spirits of many who had lost everything, and the wonderful fellowship they enjoyed laboring together!
Continue to pray for those who have suffered such great loss. God is able to bring beauty from the ashes.
