December 18^th 2022

10:00 am ---- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ---- Message by brother Obie Williams

THE POWER OF GOD

THE power of God is that ability and strength, by which He can bring to pass whatsoever He pleases. It is His power that gives life and action to what He has purposed from the foundation of the world. How vain would the will of God be without power to carry it out? Without His power His mercy would be feeble pity, His promises empty words. - Don Bell

Brethren Pray For Us

“Finally brethren pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified . . .” 2 Thessalonians 3:1

Paul urged the church to pray for him and all who preached and taught God’s Word. Have you prayed for us this morning? Scripture says; “Ask and ye shall receive.” If it is a blessing from God’s Word that you seek, then you must ask for it. If one has not prayed for the preacher he cannot expect a blessing. Ye have not because ye ask not.

No preacher can expect a blessing from God’s Word for himself or those to whom he preaches except he pray for it. The same is true with those who hear the preached Word. There is a great deal of preparation for preaching, by way of prayer and study of the Word. And there is some preparation involved in order to hear the Word and be blessed. It is not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts (Zech.4:6). For the Word of God to be a blessing it takes the Spirit of God to bless It. Whether preaching or hearing, we must ask the Lord to bless us; ask the Lord to send His Spirit. He has promised to give the Holy Spirit to them that ask for Him.

We cannot rush into the presence of God and immediately worship. God is not mocked in such a way. He is to be approached with fear and trembling (yet boldness and expectation). We cannot be listening to the news of this world and immediately expect to receive the good news. We cannot be singing the songs of drunkards and then begin to sing the songs of Zion. We cannot have our conversation on earth and immediately turn it heavenward. No, no. There is preparation to be made; starting with Brethren, pray for us! Ask the Lord to bless His Word, for His glory, the salvation and edification of others (for the Lord will turn your captivity if you pray for others Job 42:10). Ask Him to bless His Word, bless others, bless you, and He will. Read the Word (read the announced text of the day’s message), read the bulletin articles which help turn our minds heavenward. Though the Lord must always overrule the flesh, yet He has promised to bless those who ask, seek, and knock.

Noah went into the ark BEFORE ONE DROP OF WATER FELL! If he had waited until the rain commenced, he would have been joined by thousands of false converts. True faith believes the promises of God and the warnings of God BEFORE they come to pass. A refuge built or entered during the storm is usually forsaken when the sun shines again. Be wary of those who seek the Lord when their flesh is pained. – H.T. Mahan

Many preachers today say a number of good things. But what a man really believes is most often revealed by what he DOES NOT SAY and by WHAT HE SAYS AFTER he has said the good things. What he does not say most often is that which is essential to God's glory, and what he calls upon men to do often glorifies men. – C.H. Spurgeon

The greatness of man's sin does but magnify the riches of God's free grace. Sins are debts, and God can as easily blot out a debt of many thousands as he can a lesser one. Therefore, let not the greatest sinner despair, but BELIEVE; and he shall find that where sin hath abounded, grace shall much more abound. -Thomas Brooks