Chick-Fil-A and Service

"I hate, I despise your feast days, And I do not savor your sacred assemblies. Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, Nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs, For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream.” Amos 5:21-24 (Micah 6:6-8)

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 (1 Tim 6:18)

“having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.”1 Peter 2:12

   If you keep up with news at all, whether online, TV, Facebook, or otherwise, you know that the President of Chick-Fil-A has opened a political firestorm recently through some comments about the political agenda to redefine marriage.  Since his comments the internet has buzzed with support on one side, and with gnashing opposition from the homosexual community.  Many of you have showed your own support on Facebook through ‘likes’ and ‘shares.’  In similar fashion, an op-ed piece submittedby Samaritan’s Purse leader, Franklin Graham, to the Washington Post, has rekindled opposition also.  Graham’s piece advocated Christian groups to address the HIV/Aids pandemic like Christ ministered to the lepers of his time.  Our culture will certainly persecute or oppose the expression of Biblical values because it conflicts with their own desires.  How should we respond?

   Jesus did not lead with his views of what constituted sin, and demands for holiness.  Neither did he teach a perfect life before (or after) salvation and we should not either.  Instead He taught us to lead with good works, love, and the gospel.  We were called to care for the helpless, advocate for those with no voice, and do good works.  Then as the world looks at the selfless works we do, they ask, “Why would anyone do these acts to which they gain no benefit?”  A door is then opened for the gospel.  Then once the gospel is heard and believed, the Holy Spirit will continue to help us remove sins (stumbling blocks) from our lives. 

These organizations have done a lot of good, and are good examples overall.  Their excessive opposition is partly in response to the deficiency of Christian service in the United States.  If we had shown them the love commanded us, the accusers would come to nothing as Peter said.  We must return to the good works modeled by Jesus.  Christian cannot be just a label for a comfortable, church attender.

Power of the Holy Spirit

“Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem a until you are endued with power from on high." Luke 24:49

“Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.” John 5:19

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak : and he will show you things to come .He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I , that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.” John 16: 13-15

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:8

  Man is obsessed with power of all types.  Power tools, big motors, fame, influence, authority, wealth, etc... If it can make things change or move, man has struggled with it.  We often speak of seeking, or living in the power of the Holy Spirit, even more in the context of revivals.  All power is derived from God the Father, yet He has seen fit to empower man, the one created in God’s own image. 

  God is eternal, omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), and omnipresent (present everywhere.)  He needs no help and no outside power source to keep the universe under control, and accomplishing His will.  He is the definition of self-sufficient.  We, on the other hand, are none of those things.  We must be given any knowledge and power we possess, or can attain.  For our purposes today, let’s discuss the power of the Holy Spirit.  God in his wisdom has prescribed how we should receive power from Him.

  The Bible portrays God as triune; God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  God the Father is where all the ‘power’ resides.  Without a connection to the Father, neither the Son nor the Holy Spirit could accomplish anything (John 5:19, 16:15).  We find Jesus persistently returning to the Father in prayer, asking for His glory and power.  Then the Holy Spirit is described as proceeding from Jesus.  In our minds, it appears there is a chain of command, like a ‘spiritual corporate ladder.’  However this view forgets the perfect sharing of the members of the Trinity.  Jesus expresses their relationship as being one (John 17:11.) 

  So how is it that we receive any power from God?  Jesus prayed that we receive glory as He, by staying as “one” with God.  We must commune with God through prayer.  We pray with God showing agreement with the scriptures we understand, and then proceed back to his Word to know Him fuller.  Then share with the World!

My Favorite Online Resources

During my week, and during study time, I often turn to the internet.  Almost any ministry has a website, and there are hundreds of others places also.  Here are some of my favorite online resources: 

Ministries

Vhttp://rowlettsbaptist.blogspot.com/ Devotionals are posted here every week.  You can discuss or insert in an online reader.

Vwww.facebook.com/RowlettsBaptist Rowletts Baptist on Facebook – prayer requests, pictures, announcements, devotionals, and such added.

Vwww.northpointministries.org Andy Stanley, Atlanta, GA

Vwww.gty.org John MacArthur, Sun Valley, CA

Vwww.desiringgod.org John Piper, Minneapolis, MN

Bible searching/study, resources:

Vwww.biblestudytools.com/ 30+ translations and several other resources for deeper study. Also www.blueletterbible.org

Vwww.crossway.com/ Collection of articles, blogs, email devotionals, and many other links (keep in mind, not only Baptist)

Vwww.oneplace.com/ Collection of radio ministries, podcasts, sermons, and more available to listen and download, many for free

Vwww.focusonthefamily.com website of the popular radio show, also has many helpful articles. Including ‘Plugged in’ movie review

Southern Baptist Resources:

Vwww.sbc.net The home page of the Southern Baptist Convention. 

Vwww.bpnews.net Baptist Press News – Articles on current events, politics, culture, and more from a Baptist/Christian point of view

Vwww.lifeway.com Shop for Christian books, ministry materials, music etc.  Also More material for Sunday School studies.

Vwww.imb.org International Missions Board – Find stories, prayer concerns, videos, and reports of how our Cooperative Program and Lottie Moon offerings are taking the gospel to the ends of the earth.

Vwww.namb.net North American Missions Board – Much like its international counterpart, just listing the work done here in North America.  Including Disaster Relief Ministry reports.

Vwww.kybaptist.org Home page of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.  Resources even closer to home.  Links to trainings and opportunities.

Vhttp://libertyassociation.wordpress.com/ Liberty Association announcements, Liberty Lights monthly newsletter, links to churches

As you find more, please share, we all strengthen each other.

Southern KY Hispanic Ministries

Each week in our church we take up an offering to God in order to see His will to be done with those funds.  Much of that money goes to operate our church and its ministries.  Some of this money goes on to the other associations we are a part of: our local Liberty Association, state – Kentucky Baptist Convention, and national Southern Baptist Convention.  Each of these associations help us as a church, and individuals to fulfill our own Acts 1:8 challenge to reach the world for Christ.

A quick example of how God can use a ministry in a big way, is right here in our Liberty Association.  Southern KY Hispanic Missionary, Heriberto Torres  has been serving our association and others in our area for over 4 years.  His ministry is funded by 5 local associations, the state KBC, and the North American Missions Board.  The ministry has also received funding for projects from the Eliza Brodous State Offering and Annie Armstrong National Offering.  Despite his willing heart, he would not be able to do the work he is doing without the support from each individual through their churches.

As of the Liberty Baptist last annual meeting, there were 4 churches established in his field, with other works in progress.  Classes are taught for English as a Second Language (ESL), worship and Bible-centered teaching in Hispanic’s heart language, evangelism, and missions through the 10^th Annual Health Fair are being accomplished through this ministry.  Some of this work is accomplished right here in our association at Horse Cave Baptist, El Faro Church, and Iglesia Emanuel; with other works being done in Taylor, East Lynn, Russell Creek, and Monroe Associations.  Over 400 men have accepted Christ during the Migrant ministry at Horse Cave alone.

If that wasn’t enough, there have been many of the migrants who attend during the harvest season, to return to their home countries, and continue the works there.  A number of them have won their families to Christ, and even started churches there.  These men are preaching the gospel in their own Jerusalem, from a base they received while staying in ours.  The Southern KY Hispanic Ministry is just one example of many how our local efforts can reach people in Hart Co, KY, North America, and around the globe.  Praise the Lord who blesses our meager offerings, and glorifies His name throughout the world!