" Where were you when I........ ? "

   

    

     GOD's question to Job is a question for all who have ever lived.  We all, from time to time, seem to think that we know better than the ALMIGHTY and we act according to this mistaken assumption.  

     Job was a man who lived long ago and among the Books of Scripture it is considered to be one of the oldest.  The Book starts with a conversation between GOD and Satan in which the LORD says to Satan about Job,  " Have you considered MY servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears GOD and shuns (turns away from) evil ? "  Satan, with his evil and twisted heart, looks at GOD and says, " Does Job fear GOD for nothing ? "   In other words Satan was accusing GOD of pampering Job and prospering him and that was the only reason that Job was a godly man. Satan went even so far as to say if you take everything from Job, he will curse you to your face.

     Now anyone who has a True Spiritual knowledge of GOD and HIS WORD knows that GOD is Omnipotent and knows all things.  So HE already knew what Job would do and declare, no matter what was done to him.  As the story continues, GOD allows Satan to do his worst except he was not allowed to outright kill Job; and Satan took all he had, except his wife. Satan left Job without his children, his livelihood, his flocks and herds; and left him in an ash heap scrapping boils from his body.

     Job's reply, to all that happened to him, are in 2 very special verses. The first is in Chapter 1 vs. 21, right after he had lost everything he said, " Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;  Blessed  be  the name  of  the  LORD. "  and vs. 22 sums it up, " In all this Job did not sin nor charge GOD with wrong. "    Then when Satan left Job covered in boils on the ash heap, Job's wife came to him and said, " Do you still hold to your integrity ? Curse GOD and die ! " (2:9)  But Job said to her in vs.10 " You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from GOD, and shall we not accept adversity ? In all this Job did not sin with his lips. " Women, when your man is down, don't kick him and act like a foolish women.  Some sound advice for married couples.

     Now of course like all of us, we have friends who like to give us advise ! Some advice may be good, but most advice from well meaning but ungodly friends may do more harm than good.  Job's first 3 friends kept silent for awhile but then they started to speak and tell Job that he must have done something pretty awful to bring down the wrath of GOD on his head !  You see we don't know everything because we don't see everything the way GOD sees it. GOD's plans and purposes for our lives are so intricately woven together that HE masterfully orchestrates each moment to fulfill a much larger picture, purpose and plan within the history of the ages. 

     Now as I said, Job's " friends " were not of much help to him; in fact they moved him to start feeling that he needed to contend with the ALMIGHTY or rebuke GOD for what he must have brought on him unjustly ( Job 31:35-40 ). We are going to pick up the conversation between GOD and Job in Chapter 38 and we'll see what Job would come to learn about his GOD and the CREATOR of all things.........

" Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:  Who is this who darkens counsel, by words without knowledge ? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer ME.  WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I laid the foundations of the earth ? Tell ME, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements ? Surely you know ! Or who stretched the line upon it ? To what were its foundations fastened ? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of GOD shouted for joy ?

Or who shut in the sea with doors, when it burst forth and issued from the womb; when I made the clouds its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band; when I fixed MY limit for it; and set bars and doors; when I said, ' This far you may come, but no farther, and here your proud waves must stop !'

Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place, that it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it ? It takes on form like clay under a seal, and stands out like a garment. From the wicked their light is withheld, and the upraised arm is broken.

Have you entered the springs of the sea ? Or have you walked in search of the depths ? Have the gates of death been revealed to you ? Or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death ? Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth ? Tell ME, if you know all this.  

Where is the way to the dwelling of light ? And darkness, where is its place, that you may take it to its territory, that you may know the paths to its home ? Do you know it because you were born then, or because the number of your days is great ? Have you entered the treasury of snow, or have you seen the treasury of hail, which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war ? By what way is light diffused, or the east wind scattered over the earth ?

Who has divided a channel for the overflowing water, or a path for the thunderbolt, to cause it to rain on a land where there is no one, a wilderness in which there is no man; to satisfy the desolate waste, and cause to spring forth the growth of tender grass ? Has the rain a father ? Or who has begotten the drops of dew ? From whose womb comes the ice ? And the frost of heaven, who gives it birth ? The waters harden like stone, and the surface of the deep is frozen.

Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades (the Seven Stars), or loose the belt of Orion ? Can you bring out Mazzaroth (the Constellations) in its season ? Or can you guide the Great Bear (Arcturus) with its cubs ? Do you know the ordinances of the heavens ? Can you set their dominion over the earth ? 

Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that an abundance of water may cover you ? Can you send out lightnings, that they may go, and say to you, ' Here we are !' Who has put wisdom in the mind ? Or who has given understanding to the heart ? Who can number the clouds by wisdom ? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven, when the dust hardens in clumps, and the clods cling together ?

Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions, when they crouch in their dens, or lurk in their lairs to lie in wait ? Who provides food for the raven, when its young ones cry to GOD, and wander about for lack of food ?

Do you know the time when the wild mountain goats bear young ? Or can you mark when the deer gives birth ? Can you number the months that they fulfill ? Or do you know the time when they bear young ? They bow down, they bring forth their young, they deliver their offspring. Their young ones are healthy, they grow strong with grain; they depart and do not return to them.

Who set the wild donkey free ? Who loosed the bonds of the onager (rock badger), whose home I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwelling ? He scorns the tumult of the city; he does not heed the shouts of the driver. The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searches after every green thing.

Will the wild ox be willing to serve you ? Will he bed by your manger ? Can you bind the wild ox in the furrow with ropes ? Or will he plow the valleys behind you ? Will you trust him because his strength is great ? Or will you leave you labor to him ? Will you trust him to bring home your grain, and gather it to your threshing floor ?

The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, but are her wings and pinions like the kindly stork's ? For she leaves her eggs on the ground, and warms them in the dust; she forgets that a foot may crush them, or that a wild beast may break them. She treats her young harshly, as though they were not hers; her labor is in vain, without concern, because GOD deprived her of wisdom, and did not endow her with understanding. When she lifts herself on high, she scorns the horse and its rider.

Have you given the horse strength ? Have you clothed his neck with thunder ? Can you frighten him like a locust ? His majestic snorting strikes terror. He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength; he gallops into the clash of arms. He mocks at fear, and is not frightened; nor does he turn back from the sword. The quiver rattles against him, the glittering spear and javelin. He devours the distance with fierceness and rage; nor does he stand firm, because the trumpet has sounded. At the blast of the trumpet he says, ' Aha ! '  He smells the battle from afar, the thunder of captains and shouting.

Does the hawk fly by your wisdom, and spread its wings toward the south ? Does the eagle mount up at you command, and make its nest on high ? It dwells on the rock, and resides on the crag of the rock and the stronghold. From there it spies out the prey; its eyes observe from afar. Its young ones suck up blood; and where the slain are, there it is.

Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said:   Shall the one who contends with the ALMIGHTY correct HIM ?  He who rebukes GOD let him answer it.

Then Job answered the LORD and said:  Behold,  I am vile; what shall I answer YOU ? I lay my hand over my mouth. Once I have spoken, but I will not answer; yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:   Now prepare yourself like a man;  I will question you,  and you shall answer ME:   Would you indeed annul MY judgment ? Would you condemn ME that you may be justified ? Have you an arm like GOD ? Or can you thunder with a voice like HIS ? Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, and array yourself with glory and beauty. Disperse the rage of your wrath; look on everyone who is proud, and humble him. Look on everyone who is proud, and bring him low; tread down the wicked in their place. Hide them in the dust together, bind their faces in hidden darkness.  Then I will also confess to you that your own right hand can save you. "                                                                            Job 38 - 40:14

GOD continues to ask Job if the things that GOD can do, can Job also do.  Or the things that GOD knows, does Job also know them in the rest of chapter 40 thru chapter 41. Then comes the dawning of what this whole journey with Job and GOD was all about. Remember I said that GOD is Omnipotent and knows all things, so this conversation was NOT for HIS benefit but for Jobs, and for ours.

" Then Job answered the LORD and said:   I know that YOU can do everything and that no purpose of YOURS can be withheld from YOU.  YOU asked, ' Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge ?'  Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.  Listen, please, and let me speak; YOU said, ' I will question you, and you shall answer ME.' I have heard of YOU by the hearing of the ear,  BUT  NOW my eye sees YOU.  Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. "   Job 42:1 - 6

Jobs ordeal was a testament to GOD's grace and mercy. The end of the Book of Job, GOD blesses Job in 42:10,  " And the LORD restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. "    What we have seen by the life and trials of Job are vast.  I could not pretend to even fathom all the applications that can be made from this Book, but I do see that a godly man named Job had everything and then he had nothing and knew where it all came from and by WHOM it had all been taken away.  Never did that one fact escape Job, but his lesson was to let GOD be his source of strength and reason for being.   We are not here for  " our good pleasure "   but  we are here for  " HIS good pleasure "  for HE ever delights to bless HIS children.   So the next time you want to know what HE is up to and why HE has allowed this or that in your life;  as a Truly Born Again Christian we are to take heart like Job and  " no longer just hear HIM by the hearing of the ears, but our eye (singular, the eye of faith) sees HIM "  and we understand and repent in dust and ashes ( in humility ).
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie

                                                                                       

" JUSTIFIED by FAITH in CHRIST "

     " Then after fourteen years I(Paul)went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me.  And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that Gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain.  Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek was compelled to be circumcised.  But this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in CHRIST JESUS, that they might bring us into bondage), to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the Gospel might continue with you.  But from those who seemed to be something--whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; GOD shows personal favoritism to no man--for those who seemed to be something, added nothing to me.

But on the contrary, when they saw that the Gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the Gospel for the circumcised was to Peter (for HE WHO worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles), and when James, Cephas (Peter), and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me(Paul) , they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.  They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.

But when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles, but when they came he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision, and the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the Gospel, I said to Peter before them all, ' If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews ?' 

We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is NOT justified by the works of the Law, but by faith in JESUS CHRIST, even we have believed in CHRIST JESUS that we might be justified by faith in CHRIST and NOT by the works of the Law;  for by the works of the Law no flesh shall be justified.  But if while we seek to be justified by CHRIST, we ourselves also are found sinners, is CHRIST therefore a minister of sin ? Certainly not !  For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.  For I through the Law died to the Law that I might live to GOD.  I have been crucified with CHRIST;  it is no longer I who live, but CHRIST lives in me;  and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the SON of GOD, WHO loved me and gave HIMSELF for me.  I do not set aside the grace of GOD;  for if righteousness comes through the Law then CHRIST died in vain(for nothing)."

  HOLY  SPIRIT is Given by FAITH,  NOT by WORKS

     " O FOOLISH Galatians !  Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth before whose eyes JESUS CHRIST was clearly portrayed among you as crucified ?  This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the SPIRIT by the works of the Law, or by the hearing of faith ? Are you so foolish ?  Having begun in the SPIRIT, are you now being made perfect by the flesh ?  Have you suffered so many things in vain--if indeed it was in vain ?  Therefore HE WHO supplies the SPIRIT to you and works miracles among you, does HE do it by the works of the Law, or by the hearing of faith ?--just as Abraham believed GOD, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.  Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.  And the Scripture, foreseeing that GOD would justify the nations by faith, preached the Gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ' In you all nations shall be blessed.'  So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

For as many as are of the works of the Law are under the curse; for it is written, ' Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the Book of the Law, to do them.' But that no one is justified by the Law in the sight of GOD is evident, for, ' The just shall live by faith.'  Yet the Law is not of faith, but  ' The man who does them shall live by them.' CHRIST has redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us(for it is written, ' Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree '), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in CHRIST JESUS, that we might receive the promise of the SPIRIT through faith.

Brethren, I speak in the manner of men:  Though it is only a man's covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it.  Now to Abraham and his SEED were the promises made.  He does not say, ' And to SEEDS,' as of many, but as of one, ' And to your SEED, ' WHO is CHRIST.  And this I say, that the Law, which was 430 years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by GOD in CHRIST, that it should make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is of the Law, it is no longer of promise; but GOD gave it to Abraham by promise.

What purpose then does the Law serve ? It was added because of transgressions, till the SEED should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.  Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but GOD is one.  Is the Law then against the promises of GOD ?  Certainly not ! For if there had been a Law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the Law.  But Scripture has confirmed ALL under sin that the promise by faith in JESUS CHRIST might be given to those who believe.

But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the Law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.  Therefore the Law was our tutor to bring us to CHRIST, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor(the Law).  For you are all sons of GOD through faith in CHRIST JESUS.  For as many of you as were baptized(by the SPIRIT at conversion)into CHRIST have put on CHRIST.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in CHRIST JESUS. And if you are CHRIST's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."  Galatians 2 - 3

     " Tell me, you who desire to be under the Law, do you not hear the Law ?  For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage which is Hagar--for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children--but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.  For it is written: ' Rejoice, O barren, you who do not bear ! Break forth and shout, you who do not travail ! For the desolate has many more children than she who has a husband.'  Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the SPIRIT, even so it is now. Nevertheless what does the Scripture say ?  ' Cast out the bondwoman and her son for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.'  So then brethren we are not children of the bondwoman(the Law) but of the free(promise).

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which CHRIST has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.  Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, CHRIST will profit you nothing, and I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law.  You have become estranged from CHRIST, you who attempt to be justified by Law; you have fallen from grace.  For we through the SPIRIT eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.  For in CHRIST JESUS neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.  You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth ?  This persuasion does not come from HIM WHO calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump.  I have confidence in you, in the LORD, that you will have no other mind;  but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is . And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision(the Law), why do I still suffer persecution ? Then the offense of the cross would have ceased.  I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off !!!     Galatians 4:21 - 5:12

Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in CHRIST alone.
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie

" Are You a Thriving Christian "

WHY I BELIEVE IT TAKES THREE TO THRIVE

             PASTOR  TOM  SEXTON

Hebrews  10:23-25, v.25,  " Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is;  but exhorting one another:  and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. "

Introduction:  To thrive means more than to survive; it means to flourish, to grow vigorously.

The  LORD  JESUS said, " Seek ye first the kingdom of GOD, and HIS righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. "  Matthew 6:33

We have certainly turned that around.  We put ourselves and our things first and if we have time we give GOD a few minutes.

I have heard people say, " I'm too busy to give GOD what HE wants. " Well to be honest, that is not how they say it.  They say, " I'm too busy to come to church Sunday morning and Sunday night.  It's my only day that I have for me. "  A true faith in CHRIST changes our life to meet GOD (2nd.Corinth. 5:17 ).  It does not change GOD and HIS WORD to meet our busy lives.

The question that all must answer is, " Who is going to be on the throne of our life, self or the LORD ?" There is no god more difficult to dethrone than self.

Why should GOD's people come to church Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and the midweek service ? Why do we say that it takes, " Three  to  Thrive ?"

I have never met a strong Christian who did not faithfully attend all the services of their church. I have never met a man who had a family that wanted to follow him that missed church.  " Be a Three to Thrive Christian."

1.) Why Do We Worship on Sunday ?

Acts 20:7, " And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. "

A. Sunday is the First Day of the Week

Acts 20:7, "And upon the first day of the week..."

Sunday is not the Sabbath (the seventh); it is the first. Christians always give the LORD the first fruits (Proverbs 3:9) - the first part of every day, the first of our income, etc.

B. CHRIST Rose from the Dead on Sunday

Mark 16:9, "Now when JESUS was risen early the first day of the week..."

Every Sunday we celebrate the resurrecting of our LORD. The LORD JESUS never told the disciples to keep the Sabbath.  HE said that HE was LORD of the Sabbath in Mark 2:24-28.

C. The 1st.Century Believers Worshiped on Sun.

Acts 20:7,  " And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. "

1st.Corinthians 16:2,  " Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as GOD hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. "

When they went to the synagogue on Saturday, it was for witnessing and preaching CHRIST.  It was to win the Jews.  Believers gave their offering on Sunday. (1st.Corinth.16:2)

D.) The Day of Pentecost was Sunday

Acts 2:1-4, v.1, "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place."  and v.4a, " And they were all filled with the HOLY GHOST..."

Pentecost was fifty days after the resurrection of CHRIST.  It was the seventh Sunday after the Resurrection. The church was empowered and the believers were filled with the HOLY SPIRIT that day.

The Gospel was preached (1st.Corinth.15:1-4). That HE died for our sins and that HE was buried, and on the third day HE rose from the grave.

That Sunday, 3000 souls were saved.  It was the practice of the 1st.Century Christians to worship on Sunday and to preach the Gospel and rejoice in the Resurrection of CHRIST.

" Be a Three to Thrive Christian " and don't miss the Sunday morning service ! We are to give the next generation the "same" (2nd.Tim.2:2).  If we change one thing, it is not the "same."

2.) Why Do We Have Church on Sun.Night ?

John 20:19, "Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came JESUS and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, PEACE be unto you. "

A.) The Resurrected CHRIST Met with the Disciples on Sunday Night

"Then...came JESUS and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, PEACE be unto you."  John 19:19b

Thomas missed that first Sunday evening service. He missed all that the LORD had for the disciples.

"But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when JESUS came." John 20:24

B.) What did Thomas Miss by Missing Sunday Night Service ?

" Thomas ...was not with them..." v.24

     1.) He missed seeing JESUS

          " JESUS...stood in the midst..." v.19

     2.) He missed having the peace of GOD

       "...and said unto them, PEACE be unto you..."

          v.19

     3.) He missed a fellowship with the disciples

          " Then were the disciples glad, when they

          saw the LORD." v.20

     4.) He missed seeing the wounds CHRIST had 

          for us

          "...HE showed unto them HIS hands and HIS 

          side." v.20 (Isaiah 53:4-5)

     5.) He missed the anointing of GOD

          "...HE breathed on them, and said unto them,

          Receive ye the HOLY GHOST." v.22

     6.) He missed getting direction from GOD

          " Then said JESUS unto them again, PEACE 

          be unto you: as MY FATHER hath sent ME, 

          even so send I you." v.21

How much do we miss when we miss church ? Can you imagine exchanging any one of these six things for a TV program or a ball game ?   " Be a Three to Thrive Christian "

3.) Why do we have a Mid-Week(Wed.)Serv.?

Acts. 2:41-47, v.46, " And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart."

The 1st.Century believers had services daily. They continued in fellowship. We have a midweek service for several reasons.  Here are two.

A.) To be Encouraged and to Encourage Others

Hebrews 10:25, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

Believers who miss church are going to lack encouragement. The closer we get to the coming of the LORD, the more we need to be encouraged, "and so much the more..."

B.) To be Refreshed

Romans 15:32, " That I may come unto you with joy by the will of GOD, and may with you be refreshed."

1st.Corinth.7:13, "Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all."

It is refreshing to be around people who love the LORD and who love you. People who have the same purpose and goals in life know how to encourage one another and refresh one another.   " Be a Three to Thrive Christian "

          QUESTIONS  TO  CONSIDER

1.) What do you miss when you miss church ?

     * We miss the opportunity to prove our faithfulness.

     *  We miss what the LORD has for us.

    *  We cannot take out of life what we don't put in it.

ILL. - The bank has lots of money, but you can only take out what you put in.

2.)  What are we teaching our children and other family members when we miss church ?

     *  That the LORD's work is not as important as ours.

     *  Sports are more important than worship.

     *  That our life does not have to be all about CHRIST.

3.) How does our unfaithfulness affect others ?

     *  Other church members may excuse their absence.

     *  New believers are disappointed and may develop the same habit.

     *  Pastor and church leaders cannot make plans with you.

     *  The one accord spirit is broken.

4.)     Will we miss out at the Judgement Seat of Christ because of unfaithfulness ? I want you to have a good day at the Judgement Seat of CHRIST.

     *  We will not hear, " Well done thou good and faithful servant."

     *  On many occasions we hear the need that we can meet in an evening service.

Someone said, " Why don't we do things like they did in the Bible ? "

O.K.

1.  They came to church every day.

2.  All believers were telling the message of CHRIST.

3.  They sold houses, land, etc. and gave to the work of the LORD. They gave everything they had, not just a tithe and offering.

     A Word About the Differences in the 3 Services

All three services are different.

Sunday  Morning  Service

The Sunday Morning Service has a spirit of evangelism. The special music and congregational hymns are geared to the Gospel.  Christians are encouraged to be faithful and to make a difference in the world. Most visitors come to our morning service, and there is an excitement about what the LORD is going to do in their life.

Sunday  Evening  Service

The Sunday Evening Service is geared more to the family and the children have a part in the service. There is always a sweet spirit in the evening service, and the fellowship of believers is strengthened.

The  Midweek  Service

The Midweek Service is geared more to the individual;  there is a refreshing and encouraging spirit in this service.  It is the Midweek Service that we offer the programs for children, teens, etc. to make a difference in the individual.

Pastor Tom Sexton

Gulf Coast Baptist Church

312  SE 24th.Ave.

Cape Coral, FL  33990

1-239-574-1000

Presented to you by:

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

" GOD's WORD - Genesis Chapt. 1 "

                       CREATION

In the beginning GOD created the heavens and the earth.  The earth was without form, and void;  and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the SPIRIT of GOD was hovering over the face of the waters.  Then GOD said,  " Let there be light "; and there was light.  And GOD saw the light, that it was good; and GOD divided the light from the darkness. GOD called the light Day, and the darkness HE called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.

Then GOD said, " Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters." Thus GOD made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so.  And GOD called the firmament Heaven.  So the evening and the morning were the second day.

Then GOD said, " Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear "; and it was so.  And GOD called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters HE called Seas.  And GOD saw that it was good.  Then GOD said, " Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields see, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth "; and it was so.  And the earth brought forth grass, the  herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind.  And GOD saw that it was good.  So the evening and the morning were the third day.

Then GOD said, " Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth "

; and it was so.  Then GOD made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night.  HE made the stars also.  GOD set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness.  And GOD saw that it was good.  So the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

Then GOD said, " Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens."  So GOD created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to its kind. And GOD saw that it was good.  And GOD blessed them, saying, " Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth."  So the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

Then GOD said, " Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind; cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind "; and it was so. And GOD made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And GOD saw that it was good.

Then GOD said, "Let US make man in OUR image, according to OUR likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." So GOD created man in HIS own image; in the image of GOD HE created HIM; male and female HE created them.( Just a note Adam was made first, then Eve was made later as a helper for Adam ) Then GOD blessed them, and GOD said to them, " Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

And GOD said, " See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food "; and it was so. Then GOD saw everything that HE had made, and indeed it was VERY GOOD.  So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.        Genesis 1:1-31

Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished.  And on the seventh day GOD ended HIS work which HE had done, and HE rested on the seventh day from all HIS work which HE had done.  Then GOD blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it HE rested from all HIS work which GOD had created and made. Genesis 2:1-3

Sometimes there is just nothing more that a person can say after GOD has done HIS work.

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie