Weekly Encouragement
Good Wednesday Everyone,
Weekly blessings to all. As another reminder, we are suspending our Wednesday Night Fellowship (WNF) for tonight. It seems we are predicted to have heavy storms throughout our area. Pray for physical safety, protection of property, and check on others you have not spoken to in a while. The inclement weather may give you a divine opportunity to share the Gospel or offer an invitation to church this Sunday.
Thank you again Bethel Baptist for permitting Heidi and I to be away this last weekend. We had a wonderful time visiting our children in Atlanta. When we were driving in the traffic, we felt like we never left Fort Deposit. Wow, wow, wow the traffic!! We had a blessed time at Christ Covenant Church as we were led biblically by Pastor Jason Dees, worshiped as a family, and shared in the Lord’s Supper together. However, we missed being away. There truly is, “No place like home!” And our home is here with all of you.
This week is a festive one for most of us at Bethel Baptist. Saturday, at 9:00 am begins the 52nd year of the Calico Fort Arts and Craft Fair. Much preparation has been applied all week by many in our congregation. Preparation is everything in something like Calico. So, when you are able, come out to see the vendors, share in the incredible food, and enjoy fellowshipping with people. While you are at Calico, talk about Bethel Baptist while you support a great event in our community.
It seems we have not been together in a while. We were away in Atlanta, then we cautiously suspended our WNF, and we will have an abbreviated schedule this coming Lord’s Day. It is a blessing so many of us are involved in Calico, but if you are not, come to Bethel Baptist. We will not share in regular Sunday School, but we will begin our worship service earlier at 10:00 am. The following week, Sunday, 04/21/2024 all things return to our regular schedule.
Now, if you are at Calico on Sunday morning, please join us for the 7:30 am worship service. Mrs. Janet Hartsell graciously asked your pastor to give the message. It is a blessing and a humbling experience to be asked to lead others in God’s Word. This is a testament to our fellowship at Bethel Baptist Church.
On 04/21/2024, we return to our “normal” schedule, and will begin a new sermon series called, “Meet the Messiah”. The Lord will walk us through the Gospel of Matthew. Your pastor loves a new sermon series as change is always good, yet nothing ever changes in God’s Holy Word. But it is incredible how new and illuminating God’s word is every time we read it. We all are likely very familiar with Matthew’s Gospel and God will certainly show us all something we have never “seen” before. Matthew successfully proved Jesus Christ to be THE Messiah to all his Jewish brethren. Today, Matthew with equal success tells us something much better and vastly more personal: Jesus Christ is OUR Messiah. Jesus Christ is YOUR Messiah. Jesus Christ is MY Messiah.
The Messiah. We don’t hear the name, or the word Messiah much outside our Judeo-Chrisitan faith. Messiah is never a name we give to someone else. Messiah describes who someone is. So, what does “Messiah” mean. The simplest definition of “Messiah” is this – “The Deliverer.” Listen closely church – EVERYBODY wants and is waiting to be delivered. Precious babies in their mother’s wombs want and are waiting to be delivered. Children want and are waiting to be delivered into academics. Teenagers want and are waiting to be delivered into adulthood. Adults are wanting and waiting to be delivered from anxiety, finances, or hardships, and into careers, relationships, and satisfaction. THE deliverer is Jesus Christ and nobody else.
Everybody wants and is waiting to be delivered, “They just don’t know it yet.” Being delivered from something old and into something new is wonderfully mysterious. Only the Christian knows the right way to be delivered. Only the Christian Church teaches the right way to be delivered. The multitude of ways the world is trying to deliver themselves will never work. The only right Deliverer is Jesus Christ. Only His way works. We know Him. We have Him. We share Him. Join us this Sunday early morning at Calico Fort at 7:30 am, or later at 10:00 am Bethel Baptist. You will be blessed.
In Christ Jesus,
Pastor Michael
