Another day of the Lord to enjoy the blessings! We were very happy to have visitors again this week.
We had three wonderful special songs this morning. Sister Linda Gardner sang “I fell on my knees and cried holy”. She has so much spirit when she sings. Then Brother Tim Tucker blessed us with the old hymn “The Old Rugged Cross”. We are so happy that God sent him and his precious wife to be part of our church family. “Just Hold on a Little Longer” was sung by Sister Joyce Walters.
Pastor Bob began his message with a word from Ephesians 1:6-7. This scripture refers to our acceptance as Gentiles into the family of God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, which has given us redemption and forgiveness of sin. Do we really realize what this means? God sent his only son to hang and die on a cruel cross. We are so blessed to be among those who receive the blessings of the true and living God.
As Brother Tim sang this morning, we’ll hold on to the sturdy old cross and someday exchange it for a crown. After we are forgiven, we are told in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to show yourself approved unto God as a worker who need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” In verse 19 of 1 Timothy we read that “the Lord knows those who are his. And let everyone who names Christ depart from iniquity.”
We are given a road map in the Word that will guide us along this walk. We must walk straight before God if we plan to make Heaven our eternal home. Then we went to 1 Peter 4:18, where we are reminded that if the righteous are barely saved, where will the sinners and the ungodly appear? Where do you feel standing? I would pray that we are not among those who have rejected the call to salvation.
You very rarely hear where these lost souls will spend eternity because no one wants to say that as sure as there is a heaven there is a hell prepared for the wicked who choose to go their own way and feel that they don’t need God. As children of our Heavenly Father, we know that one day we will hear him say enter into you, good and faithful servant. In John 15:16 he proclaims that we did not choose him, but he chose us. And he has commanded us that we go forth and bear fruit and that our fruit shall remain firm – that whoever produces lasting fruit may ask anything in the name of the Father, and it shall be done if it be the will of the Lord. He even said, in due time, He will give us the desires of our hearts. 1 Corinthians 5:10 confirms that we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Also in Romans 14:11 it is written, “As long as I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow before me, and every tongue shall confess unto God.” We were bought with a price, God sent his only son Jesus to hang on a cruel cross and die for our sins. What a glorious day it will be when we can see the face of Jesus!
In closing, Pastor Bob Cartwright once again told us that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit and He is the protector of our spirits. So when Satan tries to torment you, all you have to say is, “Damn, you and your demons can’t touch me. I am covered by the blood of Jesus, and you cannot come by the blood.
If you enjoyed our church news, we invite you to join us for more truths taught at the Cove Mission of Hope. Our Sunday services are at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., and we have a great Bible study at 6 p.m. on Wednesday evenings. We are located in Lanagan, Mo., at the top of the hill. Our church is the one whose steeple directs souls to Calvary.
The opinions expressed are those of the author.
