November 22^nd , 2015

9:30 am Bible Study---------------- Trials, Patience & Wisdom – James 1:1-5

10:00 am Service---------------------------------This Is Life Eternal – John 17:1-3

*** NO WEDNESDAY NIGHT SERVICE THIS WEEK ***

Nursery Today: Second Service: Mary P. , Alt. – Hannah P.

Cleaning Schedule: This Week: Torrences , Next Week: John & Irene

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Birthdays: December: 1^st – John Sheesley, 9^th – Andrew Polk, 17^th -- Wendy Bobbitt

The Iniquity of Sodom

“Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I say good.” -- Ezekiel 16:49-50

The city of Sodom was very rich and affluent. Its inhabitants had it all; and therefore were full of pride, full of food (living a lavish and indulgent lifestyle), abundantly idle and lazy, doing little work, but mostly sitting and talking idle talk and playing foolish games. And they cared nothing for the poor and needy, but were proud, arrogant, egotistical, haughty, high-minded big talkers. And were open, defiant and proud homosexuals and perverts; but still religious. And God finally took them away, as you would throw away stinking refuse. Is this not America and the world today? O’ may the Lord, be merciful to us and lay hold upon our hand, and upon the hand of our wives, husbands, sons and daughters . . . and bring us forth and set us without the city (Gen.19:16). And though we seem as one that mocketh, because of our sins and iniquities; may we warn our neighbors and fellow citizens of Sodom to flee from the wrath to come; flee to the city of refuge which is Christ the Lord.

I wrote an important personal letter to someone recently and as I was mailing it, I thought, “I hope this letter is delivered and received; I hope it is not returned to me.” The recipient wrote to tell me they received it, thankful for it, and blessed by it. Every preacher feels the same burden concerning the preaching of God’s Word.

The Word of God is His personal epistle to His people and is a matter of life or death. Every true preacher of the gospel hopes and prays for a gospel message to deliver to God’s people and hopes and prays that they will receive it. “Now thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge (the gospel) by us in every place” (2Cor.2:14). For my own joy and peace of mind, and for all my preacher brethren who read this, rejoice! If the gospel message is preached, it will be delivered by the Spirit of God, and will be received by those to whom it is given to receive. And quite often, to our great encouragement, a few hearers will write, call or say, that the message was received and a great blessing. Thanks be unto God. But we must still pray every time and beseech the people to pray for us.

Backsliding and Prayer