Our God is a Jealous God

In many Baptist churches, Old Glory will fly especially
high on Sunday morning. The music will be uplifting
and patriotic. We will pledge our allegiance to the flag
and to the United States of America. Our hearts will
beat hard within our chests. We will remember the
price that has been paid and continues to be paid for
our freedom. Our emotions will be made tender by
the sacrifices and our resolve will be strengthened
to fight all who would seek to tread on the USA. God
help us to be faithful citizens and God Bless America.

Old Glory will be the star as the state goes to church
this weekend. Our God is a jealous God!

mtc 2009

My Personal Testimony

At the age of seven, I made a conscious decision to
become a Christian. I made this decision the very
same day that I learned that I was a born sinner
and was spiritually estranged from God.

A Christian is one who has breached this estrangement
by accepting Christ's offer to restore their spiritual
relationship with God. Christ said that He came that
we might have life and have life more abundantly.

Though I did not feel like a sinner, God revealed to me
through a sermon from the Bible that I was old enough
to be accountable. That same day, I placed my trust in
Christ for my spiritual rebirth and reunion with God.

I am immortal. Now my spirit is protected by Christ
forever. My earthly destiny is determined by the degree
to which I yield to the Spirit of God who resides in each
Christian. As I yield, I experience abundant faith in Christ
and love. The fruit of the Spirit "LOVE" produces joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and
self control.

I am a member of a local church, the First Baptist Church
of Farmersville. And like all Christians, my mission through
the church is to go into all the world with the good news that
each persons' relationship with God can be restored. My mission
through the church is to teach other Christians what the Bible
says about the abundant life and love. My mission through the
church is to help one another maintain spiritual accountability as
we seek to become more like Christ and less like Adam. My
mission through the church is to worship God with one another, to
fellowship with one another and to minister to those in need.

In addition to human talents, God gives each church member
one or more, supernatural spiritual gifts which empowers the
church to accomplish its spiritual mission. These gifts are for the
church and are only effective when used through the church. A
spiritual gift can not be learned, improved or selected. God gives
gifts based on the availability of Christians and the needs of the
church. As such, my spiritual gifts may change.

Most unfavorable circumstances and crises in my life can be
traced to my sins or the sins of loved ones. Through it all, God
has always been faithful. God has always provided. God has
never left me unprotected. And, God has always made his will
apparent though I have not always been obedient to follow.

My testimony is that God is good and His mercy endures
forever. I can depend on the Holy Spirit to use Bible
scriptures and prayer to deepen my relationship with God
and inspire me to servanthood.

mtc 2001

Church and the New Covenant

Before Christ formed His church there was the Old Covenant

Believers under the Law, Sacrificed to cover sin,
Worshipped, Sung Psalms, Studied Scriptures,
Prayed, Tithed and gave Alms, Performed Weddings and
Funerals, Helped and Comforted the needy, and
Trained Moral Values

So, Why did Christ form His Church? Why a New Covenant?

He founded His Church on Peters' confession that Jesus is the
Christ - the Messiah. The final sacrifice and a New Covenant
Christ said, "I will build My church"

Christ made the church the steward of the Keys to the Kingdom
Which is that He is the way the truth and the life and that
No one comes to the Father but through Him.
One must come to Christ to receive God's Grace and Mercy

One must hear, accept and trust Christ to have Sins forgiven
And to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. What the church does
With the keys to the kingdom impacts who hears and may
Choose to be loosed for heaven

Jesus gave the church its purpose in the Great Commission to
Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you

He commanded his followers to love the Lord your God with
All your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind and to
Love your neighbor as your self

Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts and empowerment for Christian
Church members to operate the church to accomplish its purpose.

As local Church members we must constantly prioritize and
Evaluate Organization, Activities, Events, Resources and Time
To determine if we are doing critical works or only good works.

mtc 2004