Articles
Dependence
Dependence
By Steve Melton, March 17, 2025
Heavenly Father, I need You today.
For sure, I will need You tomorrow.
I need You when I’m happy.
I need You in my sorrow.
I depend on You for everything.
I depend on You for my every need.
You supply them beyond measure.
Strengthen my faith I plead.
I know You help the humble.
In my weakness You make me strong.
Help me flee from Satan.
It’s only to You that I belong.
Like a toddler who takes his first steps.
To You I hold out my hand.
On my walk with You to heaven.
If I waver, hold me, let me stand.
Like a blind man searching for truth.
Open my spiritual eyes to see.
To be with all the Saints in glory.
Next to Jesus on His throne is my destiny.
A Life of Joy
By Paul R. Blake
"Rejoice in the Lord alway; and again I say, Rejoice" (Phil. 4:4). This instruction was written by the apostle Paul who was enduring strong trials while being inspired to write the book of Philippians. He suffered oppression from civil government, interference from his countrymen, and jealousy from some of his brethren. How could this sorely tried saint find cause to rejoice under these circumstances? His answer is in Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Paul found strength in Christ to be joyful in the most difficult of times, because his joy as a Christian was the product of a right relationship with God. True joy cannot be generated and maintained by the purposes and plans of men.
What is Christian joy? Joy is the resolutely happy, peacefully content condition that comes from knowing and serving God. It is the emotional frame of mind that is excited by gaining what is good and by anticipating better things to come. Joy is not directly related to happiness, for happiness is dependent upon circumstances that are subject to change. On the other hand, the Christian's joy is rooted in things that do not change, such as God's promise of a home in heaven for the righteous, the forgiveness of our sins through the blood of Jesus Christ, and our fellowship with God through His word.
In fact, joy can be experienced during affliction, and it can thrive in the hardest of times. Paul told the Corinthians that from one perspective he had cause to be sorrowful, but instead he found himself rejoicing (2 Cor. 6:10). He further states: "I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation" (2 Cor. 7:4). This is easily understood when we remember that our joy is based on a right relationship with God. Can suffering separate the devout from God? On the contrary, suffering draws the disciple closer to the Lord. Can a persecutor force himself in between the faithful and the Lord? Under persecution, children of God are refined and strengthened (1 Pet. 1:3-9). As long as our fellowship with God continues, our joy remains steadfast. Remember what Paul said in Philippians 4:4... "Rejoice IN THE LORD."
What is the source of Christian joy? "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness" (Isa. 61:10). We have great joy in God because it is through Him that we have obtained remission of sins. He made it possible for man to be free from all unrighteousness and its attending consequences. How can one be unhappy who has had all guilt removed? How can one not be joyful who has had the sentence of spiritual death lifted? Paul pronounced a blessing on the Romans by saying "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing..." (Rom. 15:13). God gives us joy through the happy condition of sinlessness.
The Father also grants us joy through anticipation of a home in heaven. Jesus, because of the joy to which He looked forward, was able to endure the temporary suffering on the cross just by focusing on the promised reward (Heb. 12:2). Likewise, when we anticipate heaven, we are able joyfully to endure the temporary trials in the present life.
God is also the fountain of our joy in daily living. Through Him we have joy in our families (Prov. 5:18), joy in food and things that sustain us (1 Tim. 4:4-5), and joy in our fellowship with other Christians (Phil. 4:1). God, as the Giver of all things good, has certainly blessed us with strong cause to be filled with joy.
A Moments Wisdom
--In many churches today, it is considered worse to judge evil than to do evil. (Burk Parsons)
--The biggest communications problem we have today is that we don’t listen to understand, we listen to reply.
--Judging a church worship service based on how it made you feel is one key sign that it wasn’t God you were going there to worship.
--The greatest evils in this world will not be carried out by men with guns, but by men in suits sitting behind desks. (C.S. Lewis)
--Never judge someone based on a single season of their lives. One season, David was a shepherd; the next season, he was a king. One season, Ruth was a poor widow working in a field; the next season, she owned the field. One season, Mordecai was neglected sitting outside the king’s palace; the next season, he was respected sitting inside the King’s palace. We serve God Who turns the seasons around.
--You are not lazy, unmotivated, or stuck. After years of living your live in survival mode, you are exhausted. There is a difference. Rest a bit and return to living. (N. Homer)
--A great man is hard on himself; a small man is hard on others. (Confucius)
--Sometimes you must accept the fact that some things will never go back to how they used to be.
--So you don’t want to go to His house in this world, but you want to live in His mansion in heaven. Think about that statement.
Upcoming Sermons
3/30/25 AM - Guest Speaker: Elijah Dean - Believing a Lie; PM - Guest Speaker: Doug Sanders: House of the Lord
4/6/25 AM - Guest Speaker: Jared Sink; PM - Themed Worship in Song: “If You Love Me, Keep My Commandments”
4/13/25 AM - Guest Speakers: Titus Davis; PM - Todd Hounchell: Peace
4/20/25 AM - Authorized to Make Promises; PM - Exceedingly Great and Precious Promises
4/27/25 AM - Long Spirit; PM - Good Works Done in Secret
