July 1^st 2018

10:00 am ------------------------------------------------------------------Message by Daniel Parks

Welcome . . . brother Dan Parks and Sandy. For any visitors, brother Dan is missionary to St. Croix, U.S.V.I. Dan and Sandy are old friends of this church and we are glad to have them back with us.

THE IMPORTANCE OF WORSHIP

When the church of the Lord Jesus Christ meets, it is not the trifles of this world that should occupy her attention; she has much weightier matters to consider. The Scriptures say in Ecclesiastes 3 that there is a time for everything. There is a time for political concerns; there is a time for social action; there is a time for education and recreation. But the gatherings of the church of the Lord Jesus are a time specifically dedicated to the worship of Jesus Christ! His praise, His word, His purpose, and His work is our theme. These times must be jealously guarded against any intrusion of mundane matters. Satan, the archenemy of our Lord, will take every opportunity to divert our attention from our blessed Lord. His most effective tactic is to introduce important worldly matters into the worship services of the church. As important as these matters may be, they cannot compare with the heavenly, eternal matters of Jesus Christ and His blood and righteousness. May our gatherings, as well as our minds, be kept pure and sincere toward Our Lord Jesus Christ. – Joe Terrell, Pastor, Rocky Valley, Iowa

Symptoms of a Fatal Disease

MOST fatal diseases do not show up immediately, nor do they kill someone overnight. They generally begin with little unsuspicious symptoms, such as a sniffle, a sore, a small lump or a brief pain. Most times the person ignores these little symptoms until they become much worse; so much so that others notice something wrong with them. So it is most times with the fatal disease called Apostasy.

Apostasy means departing from the living God, forsaking Christ and His people, departing from the faith,leaving the gospel and leaving the church. It most times begins with little symptoms, such as . . . no real desire to attend the worship services (but only do so to maintain appearances), no real fellowship with believers (quick to get in and out of services), avoidable absences from the worship service, little distractions at home, little temptations to work late, ‘little sins’ indulged (even enjoyed), the pull and call of the world, which, at one time was resisted, now quickly and easily answered.

The symptoms are many and varied, and if ignored, they eventually break out into glaring problems. The person begins to be unsociable with God’s people, unreachable, not easily entreated. They begin to resent and avoid the calls and concerns of their (supposed) brethren. They begin to find fault with their ‘brethren’ and especially the preacher. Rather than defend the preacher and their brethren, they take sides with others against them. Until finally they see no need to gather with ‘those people’ anymore, or listen to ‘that fellow’ anymore. Little do these apostates realize (nor do they care), but THEY HAVE MISSED CHRIST, . . . they “went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt would have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be manifest (revealed, exposed to all) that they are not all of us. (I John 2:19). Fact is, one who leaves never had life to begin with, never was born from above, never was quickened but was and is dead in trespasses and sins.