New Antioch Primitive Baptist Church: Recent Episodes
New Antioch PBC
This collection of sermons was preached at the Tuscaloosa Primitive Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa, AL on 5/17/24 – 5/19/24. They are arranged in the order that they were preached from first to last. We pray that these sermons will be a blessing to your discipleship.
This collection of sermons was preached at the Tuscaloosa Primitive Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa, AL on 5/17/24 – 5/19/24. They are arranged in the order that they were preached from first to last. We pray that these sermons will be a blessing to your discipleship.
This collection of sermons was preached at the Tuscaloosa Primitive Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa, AL on 5/17/24 – 5/19/24. They are arranged in the order that they were preached from first to last. We pray that these sermons will be a blessing to your discipleship.
This collection of sermons was preached at the Tuscaloosa Primitive Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa, AL on 5/17/24 – 5/19/24. They are arranged in the order that they were preached from first to last. We pray that these sermons will be a blessing to your discipleship.
Our most Holy faith. The Faith that was once delivered to the saints. The Faith of God’s elect. What is this faith, and what are we to do with it?
What do preachers mean when they say, “The Law”? What is the difference between the “Gospel” and the preaching of the Gospel? And How do both of them relate to Jesus?
There are many ideas about how to get to Heaven. Some say this and some say that. What did Jesus say? What did He mean when He said: “I am the way”? This Sermon was preached at Zion Primitive Baptist Church near Gordo, Alabama (Pastor: Elder Chris McCool) on Sunday PM May 5th, 2024.
This collection of sermons is from the 2024 Annual Meeting of Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church located near Gordo, Alabama (Pastor: Elder Tim McCool). The invited speakers were Elder Josh Winslett and Elder Paul Blair. We pray that these sermons will be a blessing to you and your family.
This collection of sermons is from the 2024 Annual Meeting of Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church located near Gordo, Alabama (Pastor: Elder Tim McCool). The invited speakers were Elder Josh Winslett and Elder Paul Blair. We pray that these sermons will be a blessing to you and your family.
This collection of sermons is from the 2024 Annual Meeting of Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church located near Gordo, Alabama (Pastor: Elder Tim McCool). The invited speakers were Elder Josh Winslett and Elder Paul Blair. We pray that these sermons will be a blessing to you and your family.
This collection of sermons is from the 2024 Annual Meeting of Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church located near Gordo, Alabama (Pastor: Elder Tim McCool). The invited speakers were Elder Josh Winslett and Elder Paul Blair. We pray that these sermons will be a blessing to you and your family.
This collection of sermons is from the 2024 Annual Meeting of Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church located near Gordo, Alabama (Pastor: Elder Tim McCool). The invited speakers were Elder Josh Winslett and Elder Paul Blair. We pray that these sermons will be a blessing to you and your family.
These sermons were preached by Elders John Yadamec and Paul Blair at Zion Rest Primitive Baptist Church in Jasper, AL on April 27 – 28, 2024. We pray that these sermons will be a blessing to you.
These sermons were preached by Elders John Yadamec and Paul Blair at Zion Rest Primitive Baptist Church in Jasper, AL on April 27 – 28, 2024. We pray that these sermons will be a blessing to you.
These sermons were preached by Elders John Yadamec and Paul Blair at Zion Rest Primitive Baptist Church in Jasper, AL on April 27 – 28, 2024. We pray that these sermons will be a blessing to you.
These sermons were preached by Elders John Yadamec and Paul Blair at Zion Rest Primitive Baptist Church in Jasper, AL on April 27 – 28, 2024. We pray that these sermons will be a blessing to you.
These sermons were preached by Elders John Yadamec and Paul Blair at Zion Rest Primitive Baptist Church in Jasper, AL on April 27 – 28, 2024. We pray that these sermons will be a blessing to you.
A candlestick is not a candle or lamp. It is the vessel that a candle or lamp is placed upon. It holds it upright to give more light. Where is your light placed?
There is a growing sentiment among “Christianity” that promote the idea that Jesus Christ did not actually raise from the dead. If not, what does that mean? What are the logical ends of no resurrection?
We use tokens to help us remember covenants everyday. Our wedding rings are tokens that we wear to not only help us remember the covenant we made with our spouses, our vows and our love, but they also are tokens to others that we have entered into a covenant with someone. God entered into the everlasting Covenant with Himself. But He gave various tokens, or signs or banners of it. Now a token is not the covenant itself, but it is representative to help us both recognize and remember the covenant.
A covenant is an alliance, pledge or promise, entered into by two or more parties. A covenant is of much more force than a contract because it is perpetually binding. There are covenants between man and man, and there are covenants the God made with man and there is a covenant between God and Himself. A covenant is only as strong as the ones that are entered into it and are conditional to the keeping of it by both parties
“God is love”. It is how most every “Christian” defines God. Can you be defined in one word? But that is the one character trait that is preached from pulpits every Sunday around the Globe. It is the only thing many, if not most, are taught about God. But God is oh-so much more.
There are many different ideas of who Jesus is both in and out of the “Christian” churches. Some report Him to be a friend, others follow Him for what He provides for them. Who is Jesus to you? and why do YOU follow Him?
You cannot reap what has not been sown. You cannot pick fruit from a tree that has not been planted. Reaping is a process. Are you reaping what has been sown?
Given all that Jesus did and said during his 3 ½ year ministry with the disciples, and the things that COULD have been written, what great importance there must be for every word that the Spirit divinely inspired Holy men of God to write in what we DO have. In John Chapter 4 there is an often referred to interaction between Jesus and a Samaritan woman – The woman at the well.
Many mountains are mentioned in God’s word. They are all His by creation. Many of them have special significance such as Mt. Moriah where Abraham offered up Isaac. But there are two mountains of God that are of great significance. God’s presence was manifested in both, but not in the same way.
No one likes to be disciplined, either by their parents, or by God. It is our natural inclination to push back against authority when it does not agree with what we want to do. The purpose of all discipline or chastisement is to bring about some change, both in behavior and in thinking. Sometimes the punishment is harsh, but it always is given at the correct level by our Heavenly Father.
People fear many things. There is a phobia for every letter of the alphabet. Some fear snakes, some fear spiders. Some fear failure or the unknown. But when we examine our soul, when we really get down to the heart of the matter, the one thing we all fear is being alone
Who do you worship? What do you worship? How do you worship? In our society today, we have replaced God in our lives by reducing Him to a sentimental figure at best. We have been conditioned to rely on anything other than God, and our comfort has replaced God as the object of our desires. Little by little, without realizing it, we have replaced God with ourselves. We apologize for the static in the background throughout this message
Why did God become a man? What was His purpose? Was He successful? Many people answer these questions in different ways. First answer the questions, then Question the answers of men against how God answered them in His word.
In every case of Jesus speaking these words, it was after the petitioner came to Him. If it were the exercising of their faith that made them whole, why did they need to come to Jesus? Their faith should have been sufficient for their healing without coming to Jesus. What did Jesus mean?
Ro 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.What we do with the faith that God gave determines whether we are exercising “No Faith, Little Faith, or Great Faith”. What are you doing with the measure of faith God gave you?
Faith purifies, justifies, and sanctifies us. We stand by faith and overcome the world by it. Are you winning the struggle with the world?
Between the Authorship and Finishing of our faith, we live by it. We can’t please God without it. Who can live by it? What does it mean to live by faith? Are you living by faith?
Faith is something that we hold dear. We are nourished up in the words of faith and told to hold the Mystery of Faith. Faith is what God gives us so that we can know what He already knows. We are instructed to draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, and to hold fast to the profession of our faith.
The dictionary defines faith. We think we know what it is. But God’s definition of faith is the standard.
The hearing of faith is when we hear with our ears what the Spirit put in our heart, and we “receive” or “LAY HOLD OF” the power of the Spirit. The Hearing of Faith fills in the blanks and makes the puzzle pieces fit correctly.
In Every conflict, there is a struggle between two opposing forces. In the child of God, the struggle is between good and evil, the Spirit and the Flesh. The conflict takes place first in our mind, and then on the stage of our lives. Who is winning in your conflict?
Since Faith is given to us in the new birth by the Spirit, and true faith has Jesus Christ as its object, and faith has a view of future things, expected but not realized, Faith must be finished, or perfected. It must have an end. Who will finish it?
An author composes thoughts, ideas and information and writes them down on paper. The purpose of any author is for his book to be read. We read textbooks for the purpose of obtaining information about a subject. It requires the book to be read to obtain the information. The information presented in a book may be good or bad. It may be helpful information, or useless. The book may be read, or not. God authors differently.
In Romans Chapters 1-3, The Apostle Paul says that no nation or people is excluded from having the Gospel preached to them. No one is too good, or too bad to hear it preached. The RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD is revealed through the Gospel – FROM FAITH – TO FAITH. From the faith of the God-called, Spirit-led preaching of it, to the faith of the hearer that has it given in the new birth. From the delivery of it internally by the Spirit to the external manifestation of it in our lives. From having the law written in our hearts, to the understanding of who fulfilled the law. Moving forward from being changed, to knowing why you were changed and who changed you. It is putting a name to a face. It is putting in our ears what God has done in our hearts. It is attributing the righteousness of God to Jesus Christ. The Just shall live by faith. Faith is not what makes one JUST. Faith is what the JUST LIVE BY.
Our faith is on trial to a greater or lesser degree each day. Tragedies, Accidents, loss of life, afflictions, persecutions, and general opposition to the kingdom of God all put our faith on trial. Let’s imagine a courtroom. Your faith on trial.
When struggling with a difficult decision or a tragedy in our lives, or just something that we want, such as a new job, moving to a new place, or to be a millionaire, we have all heard someone say, “Just have faith”. Maybe they just don’t know what to say in times of trouble and blurt out the phrase in a vain attempt to comfort you in your struggle. Or maybe, they are telling you that if you have enough faith, whatever you desire will be yours. The word “faith” has been so abused, misused, and widely promoted this way in Christianity that God’s people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Should we have faith for anything? Will God grant our prayers for whatever we desire?
The term “Blind Faith” comes up often in discussions, articles, and comments as a negative description of those that believe in and follow Jesus Christ. Those that argue against God and His Son say that Christians have “Blind Faith”. Blind Faith is defined as: a belief in something without reason to believe it. It can also be defined as an unquestioning belief in something, even when it is unreasonable or wrong. Is the faith you have “Blind Faith”?
Abraham’s faith was righteous faith. What made his faith righteous was that God was the object of it. But Abraham exercised his faith and it was counted (imputed, reckoned) to him for righteousness. The exercising of his faith did not render him righteous, it declared, or published that he was righteous. When we exercise our faith, and believe in Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, the same righteousness will be imputed to us also.
(Note: In this sermon, I mistakenly attributed the opening of the “door of faith” as being said by Peter, when it actually was said by the Apostle Paul and Barnabas in Acts 14:27 to the saints at Antioch.)
There are many things to consider about faith. The first thing is that you must have it to exercise it. You can’t exercise a muscle you don’t have. You can’t stir the contents of an empty bucket. All men have not faith. Faith is the fruit of the Spirit. And God gives to every man the measure of faith in the new birth. The question is not “Do God’s people possess faith”, but “Do God’s people exercise it?”
What does Jude mean when describes our faith as “most holy”? Whatever it is, we are instructed to build up ourselves on it.
Are you starving spiritually? Where does your nourishment come from? Jesus used natural things to teach us about spiritual things. We take nourishment every day to sustain our bodies. Do you nourish your soul daily?
What do you do when your soul grieves over the poor condition of your country, the church, or your home? This the second of two sermons on the subject of building back broken walls.
What do you do when your soul grieves over the poor condition of your country, the church, or your home? This the first of two sermons on the subject of building back broken walls.
The interaction Jesus had with the Rich, Young, Fit ruler is an interesting one. What can we glean from this interaction?
In the first verse of Paul’s letter to Titus, Paul uses a phrase that is only found one time in the scriptures, “The faith of God’s elect”. Now, Paul writes this letter to Titus, whom he describes in verse 4 as, “mine own son after (or according to) the “COMMON faith”. What is the “Faith of God’s Elect”? What is the “Common Faith”? Are they the same thing?
How would you like to be beaten? With many stripes, or few? Or would you rather not be beaten at all? The question seems like a “no brainer”. Who would say, “I would like to be beaten with many stripes”, or even a few, When given the choice to not be beaten at all?
God did not require sacrifices of animals, or our firstborn to redeem us from our transgressions, but He does expect his children to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with their God.
The Gospel is Simple. There some deep and hard to understand things contained in it, but how we approach reading it and understanding it, are simple. The Bible is plain when it speaks of Jesus Christ: His ministry, His work, and His promises.
Ps 85:10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed [each other].
How did Mercy meet Truth? How have Righteousness and Peace kissed each other?
John the Baptist came preaching into all the country about Jordan. [Lu 3:5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways [shall be] made smooth;] What could the preacher mean by this?
Jesus compared the men of “this” generation to children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, “We have piped to you and you have not danced. We have mourned to you, and you have not wept.” What could Jesus have meant by using this illustration?
Children are trained every day, in every home. There is active training, and passive training. Active training involves training on purpose towards an expected end. Passive training occurs when parents neglect to train on purpose. Children are trained regardless of the methods used. In our society today, most children are trained using the passive method.
Once Saved – Always Saved? To preserve something is to keep it from being destroyed or perishing. One of the fundamental doctrines of the Bible is the absolute assurance that all of God’s children are preserved in Christ by the atoning sacrifice of His blood and God’s acceptance of Jesus’ offering to Him, forever securing those that He died for.
The phrase “That’s The Gospel Truth” used to be used when I was a child. I haven’t heard anyone use that phrase in many years. It was used to convey the assurance that something was true based on the fact that the Gospel is True. The reason people don’t use it anymore is because very few people know what the Gospel is, and even fewer people know what truth is.
Romans 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises [made] unto the fathers: 9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for [his] mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.
Why do you glorify God?
What is in the heart will come out of our mouths in speech eventually. What we say, how we say it, why and why we say it is an evidence of what is in our hearts and displays where our treasure is. What is coming out of your mouth? The battle of the tongue is hard-fought. May we all fight to tame it.
The heart can be cold, stony, deceitful, and blind. It can also be warm, fleshy, pure, and enlarged. Our actions and words declare what is in our heart. What is in the well of the heart will be drawn out in the bucket of speech.
God’s word never sugar-coats or glosses over the lives of His saints. His saints are still sinners, saved by grace. But that does not give us the excuse to sin willfully. Our choices have consequences.
0It is easy to destroy something. The tools used for destruction are simple and it does not take much intelligence to tear something up. But building takes intelligence, skill and precision. Upon the dedication of Solomon’s temple, Solomon said, 1Ki 8:27 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?” But God built Himself a house. Isa 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner [stone], a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
It doesn’t take high intelligence, nor many tools to destroy something. But it does take high intelligence and varied tools to build something. Many things are spoken of in the scripture as being destroyed as well as those things that are built. Are you a destroyer, or a builder?
We have all asked that question at some point, either out loud or in our heart. David asked that question of Goliath, King Saul asked the question to David, Goliath asked that question to David, The Pharisees asked that question to Jesus, God asked that question to Job. God still asks that question to us today.
The word Road only appears in the Bible one time in 1 Sam. But there are many other terms used to describe a road: “the way”, “the Highway”, “a traveled way”, or a “path” or a “journey”. You have probably heard of “The Roman Road to Salvation”. It is a collection of verses from the book of Romans that is used to witness to sinners and is a “road map” for the purpose of them getting to Heaven. It usually includes 4 basic parts. 1. The Human Condition. 2. Humanity’s Hope in Christ. 3. The Sinner’s Response. 4. The Result of Salvation. But I have a few questions.
The Cross has been diminished to something we wear as jewelry, see on Christmas and Easter cards, and even tattoo on our skin. We are so far removed from what the cross was that if we saw a man actually hanging on it, we would be outraged at the cruelty, or maybe, we would mock the one suffering on it. What is the cross, and what was it’s purpose?
17 times in the OT and NT, God declared Himself, or others declared that God was the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Over 200 times, various forms of this appear, sometimes as “the God of Israel” and “The God of your fathers”. But the Spirit never inspired any of the writers to refer God as the God of any other specific men. What does this mean?
Abraham is such a prolific character spoken of in the scriptures, both the Old Testament and the New Testament. God gave him many promises regarding his “seed”. Then God told him to give his promised and long-awaited son as an offering. God called Isaac “thine only son”, even though Abraham had fathered Ishmael, and he was obedient and faithful.
Abram is mentioned in the OT 50 times and Abraham is mentioned 230 times, in both the OT and NT. He is called “Faithful Abraham” Galatians 3:9, “The Father of us all” Romans 4:16, and “the Friend of God” James 2:23. Since Abraham is so prominent a figure in both the OT and NT, it is imperative that we find out more about this “friend of God”.
Not all clothes hide what we really are. Adam and Eve found that out. Our clothes may be able to hide what we really are to men, but God sees us in His reality. People only see what is on the outside, but God see’s the substance of what we really are. He knows the thoughts and intentions of our heart.
The Following Sermon was preached at the annual Big Sandy Fellowship Meeting held at Hollow Rock Primitive Baptist Church in Bruceton, Tennessee on March 3rd and 4th, 2023. We pray that these sermons are a blessing to our listeners, as they certainly were a blessing for those present at the meeting. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
The Following Sermon was preached at the annual Big Sandy Fellowship Meeting held at Hollow Rock Primitive Baptist Church in Bruceton, Tennessee on March 3rd and 4th, 2023. We pray that these sermons are a blessing to our listeners, as they certainly were a blessing for those present at the meeting. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
God’s children desire to “experience” God. We all long for that. But, sadly, we do not enjoy that “experience” as much as we would like. Why is that?
The Following Sermon was preached at the annual Big Sandy Fellowship Meeting held at Hollow Rock Primitive Baptist Church in Bruceton, Tennessee on March 3rd and 4th, 2023. We pray that these sermons are a blessing to our listeners, as they certainly were a blessing for those present at the meeting. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
The Following Sermon was preached at the annual Big Sandy Fellowship Meeting held at Hollow Rock Primitive Baptist Church in Bruceton, Tennessee on March 3rd and 4th, 2023. We pray that these sermons are a blessing to our listeners, as they certainly were a blessing for those present at the meeting. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
The Following Sermon was preached at the annual Big Sandy Fellowship Meeting held at Hollow Rock Primitive Baptist Church in Bruceton, Tennessee on March 3rd and 4th, 2023. We pray that these sermons are a blessing to our listeners, as they certainly were a blessing for those present at the meeting. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
The Following Sermon was preached at the annual Big Sandy Fellowship Meeting held at Hollow Rock Primitive Baptist Church in Bruceton, Tennessee on March 3rd and 4th, 2023. We pray that these sermons are a blessing to our listeners, as they certainly were a blessing for those present at the meeting. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
The Following Sermon was preached at the annual Big Sandy Fellowship Meeting held at Hollow Rock Primitive Baptist Church in Bruceton, Tennessee on March 3rd and 4th, 2023. We pray that these sermons are a blessing to our listeners, as they certainly were a blessing for those present at the meeting. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
The Following Sermon was preached at the annual Big Sandy Fellowship Meeting held at Hollow Rock Primitive Baptist Church in Bruceton, Tennessee on March 3rd and 4th, 2023. We pray that these sermons are a blessing to our listeners, as they certainly were a blessing for those present at the meeting. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
The Following Sermon was preached at the annual Big Sandy Fellowship Meeting held at Hollow Rock Primitive Baptist Church in Bruceton, Tennessee on March 3rd and 4th, 2023. We pray that these sermons are a blessing to our listeners, as they certainly were a blessing for those present at the meeting. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
The Following Sermon was preached at the annual Big Sandy Fellowship Meeting held at Hollow Rock Primitive Baptist Church in Bruceton, Tennessee on March 3rd and 4th, 2023. We pray that these sermons are a blessing to our listeners, as they certainly were a blessing for those present at the meeting. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
The Following Sermon was preached at the annual Big Sandy Fellowship Meeting held at Hollow Rock Primitive Baptist Church in Bruceton, Tennessee on March 3rd and 4th, 2023. We pray that these sermons are a blessing to our listeners, as they certainly were a blessing for those present at the meeting. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
The Following Sermon was preached at the annual Big Sandy Fellowship Meeting held at Hollow Rock Primitive Baptist Church in Bruceton, Tennessee on March 3rd and 4th, 2023. We pray that these sermons are a blessing to our listeners, as they certainly were a blessing for those present at the meeting. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Some prayers are prayers for deliverance, some for healing, some for want, some for praise, and some for thanksgiving. But some prayers are special. Solomon dedicated the Temple with a prayer. Jesus had a prayer of dedication also.
Given the 185 times God used the word Elect and chosen in the OT and the 51 times the word Elect, election and chosen in the NT, I think that God intends for us to acknowledge His authority and power in making His own choices. Election is a positive word. We all make choices based upon what we desire and want to do. God does the same, though His basis for making choices are always from love and keeping His promises.
There are many subjects spoken of in God’s word that people read and disregard, or don’t acknowledge them. Either the subject does not fit into their doctrine, or they don’t know how to explain it. Predestination is one of those subjects.
Have you ever heard the saying, “There’s an elephant in the room?” Or “They’re burying their head in the sand?” These Idioms or sayings reflect the idea that there is a big problem that no one wants to talk about it, but they all know it’s there. They don’t want to be confused by the facts that are all around them. It doesn’t matter what the issue is, there are always people who don’t want to talk about the elephant or get their head out of the sand. Today, the elephant is big. Every room has one. Everyone in the room sees it, but no one wants to acknowledge it. If you ask them about it, they will deny it’s there. It’s uncomfortable to talk about. The elephant is Truth. More specifically, where we stand in relation to the truth.
Countless times, I have heard someone say, “We’re not under the law anymore, we’re under GRACE!” as they attempt to forego judgment for something they are doing. People cry “We’re under GRACE!” as if GRACE permits everything. I would like to look at some passages today that reflect what the Law demanded and what GRACE compels.
The subject of Peace is abundant in the scriptures. There were “peace offerings” under the law. Jesus said in Matthew 5:9, “blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” Jesus also said in John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” There is a difference between the peace of the world and the peace that comes from the God of Peace. Have you experienced it?
Job asked the question. Millions have asked the question. The Bible is clear and consistent with itself. Justification is the result of the Atonement, Reconciliation and Redemption that Jesus made. This sermon discusses Justification and the several aspects of it cited in God’s word.
Atonement and Reconciliation is the overwhelming theme of the whole Bible, both OT and NT. Atonement is basically satisfying what justice demands, “righting a wrong”, or settling a grievance. For reconciliation to be made, the aggrieved party must be satisfied. God is the aggrieved party. God never needed to be reconciled to man, man needed to be reconciled to God. But what wrong did Jesus right? What grievance did He settle? What did Divine justice demand? And what could satisfy it?
David, upon seeing Goliath’s mocking challenge, went through the army of Israel as a young man and said, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”. His brother Eliab asked David, “with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness?” David replied, “Is there not a cause?” Jesus stated His cause and advent into the world several times. Do you know His cause?
Can we lose our salvation? Yes and no. Are our lives preserved? Yes and no. Are we kept from perishing? Yes and no. Sounds confusing, doesn’t it? How can the answer be yes and no? It all depends on the subject in question and the context. There are so many scriptures dealing with salvation, perishing and our lives, no wonder so many people are confused. Since the scriptures are ALL TRUTH, we must harmonize our belief with what the Bible says, not try to harmonize the Bible with what we believe.
The born-again children of God share the same qualities and the same struggles. Have you ever felt vulnerable, insufficient, and incomplete? You are not alone. Since there is a general feeling of lacking and incompleteness in the world, the world will try to explain it, and offers many ways for you to feel complete, fulfilled and satisfied – in vain.
If we endeavor to learn about the Kingdom of God, it is also vital and necessary to first learn about the King and how He rules and reigns in His kingdom. God is the King, and He has many attributes and characteristics. Do you know your King?
How did the early church flourish?
They didn’t have the Gospels or any of the epistles written until about 50-69 AD. The Jews had the OT scriptures and prophesies to verify that Jesus was the Messiah. The Gentiles had nothing to look back on. They had no historical records, or prophesies. They were “without hope and without God in the world” and yet they had part in His Kingdom written in the OT. “A light to lighten the Gentiles “, and “in thee will the Gentiles Trust”. But they didn’t know that.
The Bible speaks of salvation in terms that we can understand, as timely creatures. We view things in the past, present and future, but God, who hath declared the end from the beginning, views salvation as an accomplished act, and ever present. God determined and purposed our Eternal Salvation, Jesus secured it, The Spirit administered it, and yet there is a present salvation available to us. This “NOW” salvation is consistent with God’s Salvation determined and purposed. But this NOW salvation is dependent on our actions and responses, and is a matter of Discipleship, or learning from the MASTER.
What is salvation? The word salvation in the Bible is to convey deliverance, liberty, to save, rescue, avenge and defend. In both the OT and NT, there is the idea of past deliverance, present deliverance and future deliverance. There is also the meanings of one who brings salvation, the one (or ones) the salvation is brought to and the idea of future salvation – hoped for, or expected.
Christ is many things. He is God’s Son. He is co-equal with God. He is the second person in the Trinity. He is Eternal. He is God’s own elect. By Him were all things created. He is all in all. Several times the Bible records that “God is not a man”. Man was created in His image, but Adam lost that image in the garden, he became a sinner and passed that trait to all of humankind – depraved, powerless and unrighteous. So, man is not like God. There are no similarities between the natural man and God. But according to God’s purpose and time, God did become a man. His name is Jesus.
There is no condition that typifies sin that affects us spiritually as the condition of leprosy affects the body. Leprosy affects the infected physically, mentally, socially and spiritually. There was no relief from it grip, as it’s victims lived long in banishment and shame among other lepers. It is a loathsome condition from which death does not come quickly and there is no cure, aside from the healing of God.
Hearing is a complex process naturally. Many things have to be present for us to correctly perceive the sounds we hear. We don’t understand languages that are foreign to us. The natural man cannot hear spiritual things – that language is foreign to him, until the Spirit quickens him, or he is “born again”. Jesus said many times, “He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear”. (This sermon was cut short due to some technical difficulties.)
Fellowship means that you are identified with a group, have part in it, and are actively engaged in promoting its interests and goals. You are “Fellows in the ship”. You are all rowing in the same direction in the same vessel with common purpose to row together toward your destination. You are working together, not against each other.
Ac 9:11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
Prayer was the one thing that God used to show Ananias that he had been approved. Saul of Tarsus had prayed many times before, but his former prayers were Pharisee prayers. His praying now was different. It went up to God.
This Sermon was preached by Elder Martin Onyoni from Kisii, Kenya at New Antioch on his visit to the US. The Resurrection has many facets to it, and in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, there are many things that we need to know concerning the resurrection. One of those things is that Jesus Christ is the firstfruits of them that slept.
What is prayer? Prayer is many things. First, it is a declaration that you are in subjection to God. Just like a child asks his father for permission to do anything, or to ask for help, or to ask for something he needs, or wants. The fact that he can’t get it without his father granting it declares that he is subject to him. It is the father’s will or purpose that determines whether he grants the thing petitioned for or not. He is not obligated to give the thing asked for just because he was asked.
Prayer has many forms and subjects. It is enquiring, consulting, requesting, begging, meditating, and giving thanks. Prayer is communion with God. Our approach to God must be with the attitude of subjection, humbleness, impotence, and weakness. Sometimes God grants our requests as we ask, and sometimes the answer is “No”. Sometimes the answer is given in ways that we could not have imagined. In all cases, our attitude should be with a quiet reservation to His will.
Sometimes we need to go back and review what we know. We know that God is the Creator. Man is part of God’s creation. Adam fell from his uncorrupted state into corruption and darkness. He broke God’s law and brought sin and death upon all men. The darkness was the shadow of death, but those that sat in the shadow of death, hath a light shined.
Elder Paul Blair preached this sermon on Saturday Morning of the 2022 session of the Tombigbee Fellowship Meeting at Sulphur Springs Primitive Baptist Church in Caledonia, MS.
How do you enter into a conversation about God, your faith, your belief system, or your church? When someone asks you “What do you believe?”, or “What is different about your church than the others?”. Do you freeze like a deer in the headlights? What if the person asking you is “churched” individual, or an “unchurched” individual? What if they are asking you from a non-Christian background? There are many biblical examples to help you.
The eye is said to be the “window to the soul”. Not only does it indicate the point of entrance into the mind and soul, but it also is used as a term to indicate the status of the mind, heart and soul: what it desires, it’s lusts and motivation. Jesus described the status of our heart and motivations using the status of our eye being single or evil. Which one is yours?
Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the world”. Who was he speaking to? What is light? Who are we supposed to be the light to? He likens the light to a city and a candlestick, both elevated. Then He connects our light to good works. For what purpose are our good works? These questions and many others are answered in today’s sermon. May God be glorified.
The Bible has much to say about salt. It is very useful, beneficial and valuable. It is a preservative and keeps meat from becoming rotten by bacteria. It keeps the flies away. Just as salt is to meat, Jesus says in Matthew chapter 5 (and other places) of the children of the Kingdom, “Ye are the salt of the Earth”. How salty are you?
The “Beattitudes” are the first subjects of Jesus’ sermon in the mount and are usually presented as “attitudes that we ought to display”. While I agree with that statement, Jesus is not presenting them from the standpoint that we will be blessed when we display them. On the contrary, Jesus is stating the fact that: the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful, the mourning, etc. ARE BLESSED. Jesus is describing the children of the Kingdom, not telling people to “Be these in order to be in the Kingdom”.
Many people offer a “road map” to salvation, and there are many man-made routes. Today, we will look at the the only route presented by the scriptures.
There are some things that it is impossible for God to do. It is a short list. Then there are also some things that it is impossible for us to do. It is a much longer list.
There are many curses spoken of in the Bible. Some were unconditional, some were conditional. Today, we will discuss three curses that have relevance for each one of us today.
Jesus prayed many times in the scripture. But He prayed a special prayer just before he entered into the Garden to pray. It was in the ears of the 11 apostles, and heard by the Father. Jesus prayed for many things in this petition, and one theme he mentioned over three times – being “one” with “us”. This prayer is weighty in its implications, comforting in its surety and compelling in its truth. Let us worship Him, for He is worthy.
Many people asked Jesus many questions. Most didn’t understand his answers. The disciples didn’t understand him often. Towards the last Passover, just before the betrayal and crucifixion, his disciples asked Jesus 5 questions and they understood his answers with more clarity. Have you been searching for answers?
Jesus said much about the water of life and living waters. Where does it come from? What does it do? The “man” showed it to Ezekiel. The woman at the well didn’t understand, the disciples didn’t understand at the time. But they understood after the outpouring of the Spirit. Have you tasted the Living Waters?
God is omniscient. He has infinite knowledge, awareness and insight. Jesus, as the Second Person of the Trinity also knew what was in man’s heart without having to hear them speak with their mouth. Every word Jesus spoke was truth and all His judgments righteous. That caused (causes) at least two very different responses. What is your response to the omniscient God?
All of us have had broken relationships. Parents and children, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, and friends. It is hard to reconcile differences. But the hardest relationship to reconcile was that of the broken relationship between God and man. How can that relationship be restored? When was it restored?
Everyone has doubts. Am I good enough? Will I fit in? Am I doing a good job? Am I pretty enough? They may even escalate to – Have I done enough, or am I good enough to go to Heaven? What do you doubt? The Bible has the answers?
There are many things that we think are sure things. If we put our trust in anything that is not sure, we will be disappointed at the very least. What are you sure about?
Every person has a conscience. Only the born-again have a struggle between two of them. Let us live according to the good conscience, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water, and hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering.
What do we do if your conscience conflicts with mine? In our society today, people judge others by their own conscience, but it is not a new practice. The Bible has much to say regarding how we conduct our lives not only according to our conscience, but considering the conscience of others.
Our conscience is a gauge that alerts us to our status regarding a set of values. For the born-again children of God, His values have been put in our minds and written in our hearts. How are you doing?
Have you ever heard anyone say, “Let your conscience be your guide”? Should we? That depends. Today’s sermon is about the conscience. What does it mean to have a conscience? What is the purpose of a conscience? Who has a conscience? All these questions, and more, are answered.
Elder Paul Blair – Receiving “The Word” In John Chapter 1, The Creator was in the world, and the world knew him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not. But the ones that were born from God received Him. Have you?
The idea of resurrection was not a new idea. The Pharisees believed there would be one. Martha declared of her brother Lazarus, “I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last the last day.” They had witnessed Jesus raising Lazarus, Jairus’ daughter, and the widow’s son when Jesus touched the bier in the funeral procession. Jesus told the Pharisees that there would be no sign given except for the sign of the prophet Jonas: “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Ninevah shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.”