November 5 Liberty, Steadfastness, Praise Galatians 5:1
ANNOUNCEMENT: Baptist Tabernacle Church will be 100 years old, in 2022. A grand celebration is planned for May 22, 2022, to commemorate the first service as an organized church body! Special information, recognitions, God’s Word, and a catered meal will be a part of the celebration. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend the festivities.
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***Due to the rise in COVID19 related illnesses, we are strongly encouraging the use of Masks, within the sanctuary, and to continue to observe “Social Distancing.” Together, with a faithful reliance on God, we will overcome this present challenge!!***
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Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1)
Look at Galatians 5:1… I always thought “stand fast” was a nautical term. It is a term used often in the Navy. It means “don’t move.” So, Paul is saying “don’t move from the liberty or freedom we have in Christ.” I find the idea of Christianity, by unbelievers, to be a bit laughable. Over the years, I have heard non-believers talk about the idea that we were prisoners to some strict and unwavering code of conduct. That is not true! Paul said that “we are made free through Jesus Christ, and His freedom is not burdensome, but liberty! I am free from the long-term consequences of sin! I no longer fear physical death because Christ has paid my sin debt and spiritual death is no longer a threat to me. I am free from the power of sin. The power of sin is death, but through Jesus, death is swallowed up in victory. I am free from the power of sin in my life because Christ has forgiven me and thus made a way for me to escape the temptation of sin. I am free from guilt because Jesus has washed me clean and by grace through faith declared me “not guilty.” So many Christians walk through life racked with guilt unnecessarily. Why? Because they don’t fully understand what God has done. Because Jesus has set them free and declared them not guilty, there is reason for great joy. The right mindset is to realize our sin, then realize what God did for you, and then be in a constant state of praise and thanksgiving to God, not a constant state of guilt. We should focus on what God has done, not what we have done. And because we are no longer guilty, we are free to live our lives for God! When we were dead in our sins we could not live for God, but because of the redeeming work of the blood of Christ we are now alive and free to live for Him. Stay Strong, Stay Focused…THE BEST IS YET TO BE! (Informational Source: Sermon Central)