Hold On Tight

Scripture

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.

~Hebrews 10:23, NLT

Quote

Tenacity is the ability to hold on when letting go is easier and much more attractive.

~Ya’akov

I love Hebrews chapter ten; especially verses 19-25. The future reality foreshadowed in the Old Covenant was fulfilled to the fullest extent in Christ. In the Old Testament, the high priest went into the most holy place one time a year and never without blood–the blood of sheep, goats or bulls– but it was impossible for the blood of animals to take away our sins. Jesus voluntarily came into this world to become the One sacrifice that would cleanse us of all our sin. By one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy {Hebrews 10:14, NIV}.

Note the differences in tenses: By the sacrifice of Christ, we have been made perfect [past tense–already happened] but we are being made holy [presence tense] day by day. Our regeneration makes us perfect in God’s sight but we are not yet perfect in each other’s sight. Understanding this truth:

1. Let us draw near to God with a truthful heart and full assurance knowing that Jesus has cleansed us of all sin. {v.22}
2. Let us hold tightly [firmly] to the HOPE we profess, for He who promised is faithful. God can be trusted to keep His promise. {v.23}
3. Let us think [consider] of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.{v.24}
4. Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. {v.25} NLT

In a nutshell, let us pray, believe, motivate and encourage. The first two are personal: praying and believing. The second two are social: motivating and encouraging others.

• Our Hope…Day one was very rough due to physical problems. Hope is not well physically. Her stomach was bothering her on Monday and she is not eating. They did not make her work yesterday which is a good thing and I think she may get checked out by the clinic next door. At present, Hope does not have the stamina to do this program but we are hoping that she will get stronger. We desperately need your prayers.
• VBS has been changed from June 6-10 to June 13-17. Commencement Picnic on June 19 {Sunday Night}. Pray for Holly, she has the three year olds and there are about 17 of them and most of them are pistols with Chloe at the head of the pack. If we got a perfect teacher/student ratio for this class, we would need 34 workers.
• For those attending the PRAYER RALLY: we are going to leave the church parking lot at 9:00 am and stop in Prattville for Brunch. Joe David has to be home by 4:00 and I want him to drive.

NEW YORK – JUNE 25: Franklin Graham, with Bible in hand, addresses the crowd before his father Billy Graham speaks during his Crusade at Flushing Meadows Corona Park June 25, 2005 in the Queens borough of New York. Flushing Meadows Corona Park is the site for Graham’s sermons on June 24-26, which looks to draw thousands of people from across the country, and will purportedly be the aging Christian evangelist’s final crusade. (Photo by Stephen Chernin/Getty Images)

Word Perfect Or Perfect Word

SCRIPTURE

God’s way is perfect. All the LORD’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.

~Psalms 18:30 NLT

QUOTE

If God’s word is not perfect, how can God be perfect: if He be perfect, how can His word not be perfect!

~Ya’akov

Gary Anders favorite verse is Proverbs 30:5. In you don’t believe me, asked him to quote for you Sunday. It goes like this, “Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to Him for protection.” The KJV reads…Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. When I was a boy, some preacher came up with a cliche that went like this: God said it, I believe it and that settles it. Later someone changed it, If God said it, that settles it whether you believe or not.

• TODAY WE PRAY FOR MINISTERS AND MISSIONARIES. This a travel week for J.D. who has to go to Birmingham and to New Orleans. Remeber Haley Rae is in seminary also.
• Praise the LORD for two additions yesterday: Mylee Reese Garner on Profession of Faith and Jeanie Sims by letter. I love ending the services with a celebration.
• Great attendance yesterday and phenomenal offering, $31,355.00. Also the benevolent offering was over $500.
• Cain and Keri were both at church yesterday but we need to continue praying for them. Mrs. Irene Pope is very low and Judy’s mom, Beatrice Freeze is in HH.

Purity

SCRIPTURE

And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in Him.

~I John 3:5, NLT

QUOTE

All those who were close to Jesus had the same testimony, He was the Lamb of God, spotless and unblemished.

~T.W. Hunt

Jesus was pure but He never talked about it, not in relationship to Himself. No man ever lived who had more adoring women around Him than Jesus. They followed Him and supported Him with their means [Luke 8:3]. They were there at the cross, unafraid to be close, they stood vigil until His suffering was over and then they watched the men put Him in a tomb. If Jesus had been lustful, He could have taken advantage of their affection but He was not lustful, nor was he puritanical as are so many men of the cloth. Jesus was not worried about reputation: He befriended prostitutes and tax collectors which earned Him the title “Friend of Sinners.” He also had meals with the Pharisees. According to the testimony of those who knew him, He never yielded to lust in any form or fashion: He was pure, perfectly and completely pure.

• TODAY WE PRAY FOR SENIORS
• LCBS at 9:15, Worship Celebration at 10:15 and 6:00. This morning we will be talking about Jesus before Pilot and tonight the unnecessary mocking and abuse that Jesus endured.
• Beautiful Weather: LORD we thank You for Spring.

Jesus Did What The Law Could Not Do

SCRIPTURE

As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.

~Matthew 17:2-3, NLT

QUOTE

The law could not get Moses into the Promise Land but Jesus could.

~David Dykes

The thing about the law is: you have to keep it all or you have fallen short. In other words you have to make a hundred, 99 is failing. I wouldn’t dare enroll in a school where 99 was failing. Jesus made a perfect score and this makes Him unique.  He kept the law, the whole law without breaking a single one. How did He do it? He was the Son of God and Son of man. He had Mary’s human nature but He did not have Adam’s sinful nature. Jesus aced the law exam: made a perfect score and we get credit for His grade if we put our trust in HIM.

• Today we pray for SENIOR ADULTS: We have a Senior Adult in our church who is going to teach twice today [Lord willing] and preach twice. Pray for this Senior to have the energy and to have sharpness of mind is recalling what he studied. He also has some traveling in between.
• MISSION OFFERING TODAY GOES FOR HOUSE IN GUATEMALA.

• DEACONS AND WIVES at 9:00 and today we are going to focus on Kerri and Kane…try not to be late.
• Joe David will be preaching at DBC tonight.