Satisfaction Without God?

chris — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 05:22:04 +0000

I was recently reminded of an important question about Heaven and our devotion to God. Ask this of yourself: if God was not in Heaven, would you still consider it paradise? In Revelation 21:3 we are told that God will make his dwelling place with man, but what if he didn’t? Would you be satisfied throughout eternity if you were able to have food, comfort, and peace, but not God?

How you answer that question reveals how you understand your life’s purpose. We were not created for food or for comfort or for peace or for any other thing. We might enjoy them, but they are not the purpose and goal of our lives. We were created for God – to enjoy him, to glorify him, and to be children of his love and grace.

I wonder how many people claim to follow God out of a desire to receive his benefits rather than a desire to receive him. But we were created for him, we need to live for him. We need to fix him at the center of our affections, the center of our desire, the center of our delight. We enjoy the blessings of life because we know they come from God. We will enjoy the peace and delights of Heaven because God will be with us. So delight in the Lord even now. Rest in him now. Glorify him now. He is your life’s purpose, both now and in eternity.

Assurance

chris — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 05:22:40 +0000

In Isaiah 51:7-8 we read, “Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear not the reproach of man, nor be dismayed at their revilings. For the moth will eat them up like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool; but my righteousness will be forever, and my salvation to all generations.”

The greatest purpose for any human being is to glorify God. However, we often find this hard to do. We cannot glorify God, living for him, if we pursue the ways of the world. So we are distracted in our quest for money, for power, for comfort, for any other thing besides God. Most of us still have idols in our lives that need to be rooted out if we are to truly pursue God.

But we also face a challenge with other people. This world is hostile to Christianity and the things of God. Satan has so blinded the minds of people (2 Corinthians 4:4) that to many, the glory of God looks like a thing to be ridiculed. In our own nation, we see a growing hostility against God and his will for mankind. Those who seek to follow Christ face increasing levels of opposition and even, as the prophet says above, reviling.

But we need to remember three things. First, we must not be surprised when lost people act like lost people. They are still dead in their sins, blinded to the truth, and under the deception of Satan. Second, we need to remember our work toward them, to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, shining a beacon of truth into their lives. And third, remember the assurance above: no one can defeat God. He has the victory. His enemies will be crushed and his children will enjoy him forever.

Evangelism Conference

chris — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 05:23:37 +0000

Immanuel folks, be sure to continue praying for our upcoming evangelism conference and homecoming service, and keep them on your calendar. While the conference may not teach us anything new about evangelism, it will be a good time to come together as a body of believers to be reminded and energized to do the work of evangelism.

The world is perhaps harder to the gospel than it has ever been, which makes our task even more difficult. But no matter how the world responds, we are called to spread the gospel. This conference is designed to help us grow in our ability to do evangelism and to help us grow in our motivation, our desire, to spread the gospel.

The overall schedule for the conference is included in this newsletter. If you will be joining us for the meals, please call to register, which will help with our planning.

The Confession of Our Hope

chris — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:00:59 +0000

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ,

Sunday we will look at the need for Christians to fellowship with one another, drawing from Hebrews 10:24-25 which tells us not to neglect meeting together. I also want you to note the preceding verse, Hebrews 10:23: Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. He who promised to never leave nor forsake you (Joshua 1:5; Hebrews 13:5) is faithful. 1 Peter 3:15 tells us to always be ready to give a reason for the hope we have. Has Jesus Christ saved you? You have a testimony! You have a great confession of the hope you have received from our Lord. Never forget the kindness and mercy of our God. But also never forget his severity and wrath against sin (Romans 11:22) - wrath you have been saved from, a salvation others need to hear about.

Chris Roberts

Give Thanks to God

chris — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:00:00 +0000

My Fellow Believers,

Next week this nation will celebrate Thanksgiving. For many, Thanksgiving is little more than an excuse for a vacation, a big meal, and talk about feeling thankful (but thankful to whom?). As Christians we truly have a reason to give thanks to God. It is appropriate that Thanksgiving falls the Sunday before Advent, the season in which we celebrate the greatest gift anyone has ever been given, the gift of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. James 1:17 tells us that every good and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights... Don’t wait for Thanksgiving to show your gratitude to God. Always be thankful to him for his gifts to you, especially his greatest gift, your salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord.

I want to remind you and invite you to attend our Thanksgiving service November 25th. Ephesians 5:16 tells us to make the most of every opportunity. This will be a great opportunity for us to fellowship with one another then worship with other believers.

Chris Roberts

Feeding the King

chris — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:00:55 +0000

By the time you read this the cranberry sauce will be just another leftover item in your refrigerator. The dishes may still be stacked in your sink. Your cousin from New Jersey is still passed out in your recliner, trying to digest a stomach full of turkey and dressing. And all around us people are going hungry.

As you continue to give thanks for the blessings God has given you, don’t forget to help others who do not have all of the things they need. Bring food to help stock our food pantry. Make a donation to one of our area missions. Volunteer some time to work with the needy. Sponsor a child through Compassion International.

Consider our Lord’s words: Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food...’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you...’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ - Matthew 25:31-40

Chris Roberts

Do You Go On Sinning?

chris — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:00:46 +0000

1 John 3:6 says: No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Some have understood this to mean that if you are a Christian you do not sin. But here is one place where a little Greek is helpful. A literal translation of what John says would read, all the ones abiding in him do not go on sinning; all the ones who go on sinning have not seen him nor known him. John’s meaning here is that if you are one of his, your life will no longer be characterized by sin (you will not go on sinning in the things that you do). Throughout the New Testament we find this expectation that if you are born again your life will truly be different. It means something to be a Christian. Salvation is more than cosmic fire insurance. You were saved from something for something. What you were saved for is to glorify God through faithful obedience to Christ. Let the world know that your claim of faith really means something. Be like James in James 2:18, show the world your faith by your works. Such is the expectation of Scripture. Such is to be the behavior of all who truly believe. So which are you? A true believer in Jesus Christ, or just someone posing for the world?

Chris Roberts

Trusting God in the Storm

chris — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:06:45 +0000

As I write this I am watching the trees blowing around outside. The clouds are piling up and the sky has grown darker. The weather forecast says to expect a long day of rain, ending in powerful thunder storms. The weatherman is already telling us to be on the lookout for tornados.

There is nothing like a storm to show God’s power. The late Rich Mullins had a song, The Love of God, in which he sang about “the fury of his love”. Storms can be tragic and frightening. They can also be majestic and inspiring. Your God made these storms and your God controls these storms. And no storm is fiercer than God’s love. Trust in his love. Trust in his might. Trust in his goodness. Whether your storm be wind and rain or pain and loss and suffering, God is in control.

Never forget what takes place in Mark 4:35-41. Jesus and his disciples are out on stormy seas and the disciples are terrified, but God could not be overcome by his creation. “Peace! Be still!” Jesus called out, and the storm was silenced. He then turned to his disciples and asked, “Have you still no faith?” Have faith in God. Trust him with your storms. Rest in him. Delight in him.

God's Revelation to Panama City

chris — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:20:34 +0000

To the church of God that is in Panama City, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The above greeting is almost identical to what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:2-3. Do you see how personal it is? This is how all of the Bible should be for you. Scripture was written at particular times and particular places to particular people but it is not limited to those times and places and people. People often fall into error when they treat the Bible like some archaic book meant for those in the past. In the Bible God has given us the timeless revelation of himself and it is equally intended for all people. How we apply it might change - for example, Jesus Christ liberated us from the chains of the Law of Moses. But what Scripture is intended to teach never changes. (Be careful! You will hear some say other parts no longer apply - like commands against homosexuality or the establishment of men as leaders in church and home, but such instructions are timeless.) Read the Bible as God’s revelation to you, to your family, to your neighbors. Wrestle with the hard parts. Praise with the praises. Weep over the sinful destructiveness of humanity. And rejoice when the God-man sets us free from our sins. The Bible - the Word of God to the church of God that is in Panama City, Florida.

Reading the Bible in 2009

chris — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 21:43:16 +0000

Happy New Year to the Saints of God!

A new year is always a great time to start something new. This past Sunday I suggested the following as a new year’s resolution: Resolved this year to walk with God, to follow Christ, to deny myself and abandon fleshly pursuits, trusting Christ enough to take up my cross and follow him, giving my life as a living sacrifice for my Lord.

In addition to this you might make it your goal to read through the Bible in 2009. There are many excellent guides that will help you keep track of reading the Bible in a year. I want to recommend that we commit to reading the Bible together using The Discipleship Journal Reading Plan. Copies of this plan can be picked up from the church office or from the table in the Welcome Center. The plan has twenty-five readings a month, giving time to catch up if you fall behind. It will guide you through four passages a day and it can be cut into bookmarks to keep in your Bible. Let’s join together and read through the Bible in 2009.

Internet users, the reading plan is also available online.

The bookmark format for this reading plan was put together by Bethlehem Baptist Church.