To God's Beloved At Cloverdale Baptist Church:
Last week in history (November 12), John Bunyan spent his first day in prison for preaching the Gospel (1660). Bunyan had a young family, including a daughter with special needs, and so his time in jail was extremely difficult. What makes this confusing to many in our culture was that for much of the time that he was forced to be away from his family, Bunyan's prison had no locks or bars. He was free to walk out at any time as long as he was willing to promise that he would not preach the Gospel. Bunyan felt so strongly about his call from God to preach the Bible, that to leave the lockless prison would be to disobey God, and so he stayed even as he suffered and his family endured painful consequences of God's call on his life. There is much to learn from Bunyan's books (especially Pilgrims Progress) and we can also learn from his life. God has not called us to a life of ease, rather a life on mission for Him. Few of us would endure what Bunyan did for the sake of the call of God on his life, and few of us have the impact he did. May we know Him as our greatest treasure, and journey with an all consuming passion to the Celestial City.
May a brief look at history remind (for more, https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/to-live-upon-god-that-is-invisible) us that serving God, and obeying Him is more valuable than life, or comfort. May we find joy in our pursuit of being like Him, and our joy in accomplishing His mission for our lives while we are here on earth. May we be willing to joyfully give up comfort for Christ!
Church News: This Saturday we are having a more modern worship in song night. One City Worship, 7:00 P.M.. Pastor Ray is sharing his testimony and we are hoping that this is a night of celebration in song and delight in the greatness of our living God who is still at work in our lives with power.
Baptism Service: November 26, please if you are interested in learning more about this step of baptism talk with one of our elders or pastors and we will seek to help you take this step of obedience!
Sunday Is Coming:
Review: Foundations: God Is Holy: Isaiah 6:-8
:I Am Holy In Jesus: 2 Corinthians 5:21
Title: How In The World Can I Be Holy: Choosing The Holiness Path Part 1
Text: 1 Peter 1:13-17
Can you think of stories from the Bible where practical holiness is important to God?
Why do people who don't treat God as holy seem to suffer what we might consider extreme consequences?
Hebrews 12:14 makes practical holiness a pre-requisite for seeing God...why is this? How can this be, in the context of the Gospel?
Why is it so important to have Gospel motivation for our pursuit of holiness?
What does dependent obedience look like?
How can we emphasize love in our pursuit of holiness (1 Peter 4:8)?
Awed by His holiness, overwhelmed by my declared holiness, and passionately pursuing purity with you,
Pastor Rob
What in the world is happening?
As missionaries continue to work around the world God is using them to draw people to Himself. I received a report last week of a family who is reaching out with the Gospel in Papua New Guinea. A man was sent to their village who had a deep fear of death. He was sent to the village with missionaries to hear the good news as soon as possible because he was old and feared death, and spirits.
After four months of teaching, Anka came up to the missionaries overflowing with joy, "Now I know that Jesus paid for MY Sins and now I'm a child of God. I do not fear death anymore, I will die and be with God".
May God continue to work through His servants around the world, and may we also see much new life hear in Canada. Anka has since gone to be with Jesus, and his confidence in the face of death is now sight. May we experience this confidence and share it with those around us as we seek to display the beauty of our Saviour.
Bunyan Quote: PRAYER WILL MAKE A MAN CEASE FROM SIN, OR SIN WILL ENTICE A MAN TO CEASE FROM PRAYER