To God’s Beloved At Cloverdale Baptist Church:
Time is a funny thing, and sometimes it feels like we entered into this era recently, and yet it is now coming onto the third year where the world has struggled in responding to Covid, and all it has brought.
I am thankful that God is Sovereign and at work during times like these, and that we can trust Him completely, and know with absolute confidence He not only holds us in His hands, He has a plan for us to accomplish His will. He has placed us in these times for His glory, and that is a tremendous privilege. I love the book of Esther, and one of the key areas she teaches followers of God is in the preciousness of His timing for His servants, even in chaos (Esther 4:14).
We need to be ESTHERS at such a time as this!
I often jokingly say that I can’t wait for this time to be over, and yet if we truly believe in His Sovereignty, I should be more aware of His plan, and confident in His timing, that is always perfect, and instead say, "I can't wait too see what He has planned for me today".
So, as we live in this time, how can I be used by Him to encourage you today to stay faithful? Want to encourage you with three ways you can
- Trust Him Fully: Psalm 46
When we entered this time, we focused on Psalm 46, and then called for us to be reminded of it. As you trust Him fully, call for those around you to do the same. I suppose this is true in all times, but perhaps COVID will be a valuable reminder of this for all of us.
Fix your eyes on Jesus, and call others to do the same! Trusting Him means that we can rest, and live with a peace with Him and others, because He guards our hearts (Philippians 4:4-6).
- Remember Jesus Is Lord Of The Church:
He leads it through His Word and His servant leaders the Elders, and He is worthy of being trusted. Nothing is outside of His Sovereign Plan (Ephesians 1:11) and not only can He be trusted, He should be followed.
He will build His church, and He uses His children to do it. This is something that each of us, if we belong to His church need to be a part of! Actively look for what Jesus would have you do to be His Servant, of His bride…which leads to my third encouragement…
Stay committed to God's family, and serve and support her. Yes it is difficult, and there are many distractions, but that will show us the depth of our commitment to Jesus and His bride.
- Find A Way To Build The Church:
Most importantly pray for her, and join her in worship and prayer. In other words be faithful to her in prayer. Reminder we have our next corporate prayer meeting, Sunday, February 6, encourage you to join us in a time of worship & prayer.
Encourage others around you. This is so important to building others up. Encouragement means help them to focus on Jesus and the Gospel, and to be fully trusting of Him always, and serving of Him fully.
Pursue people you haven’t seen for a while (while not neglecting those you have seen). If each of us will pursue three or four people we haven’t seen for a while, we will not let anyone through the cracks. We did this very well early, but the more time that we are in these times, the harder this gets. WE NEED YOUR HELP as a part of this family, to actively own the responsibility to pursue others with love and encouragement. Send a card, make a phone call, send an email…PURSUE. People need love, and these times have separated some of the most vulnerable from the contact they need, so if each of us actively engages and pursues others, we will find NO ONE FALLS THROUGH THE CRACKS.
God has made you for such a time as this, and placed you where you are at so that you can do the good works He has prepared in advance for you to do. This means, choose to be an Esther, choose to use this TIME for His glory!
We used to say…Share the Gospel with one person this week, encourage 3 from the church family. Please do this! Don't stop! We need you to be a healthy church!
Read this week that an Angus Reid Pole showed that 1/3 of Canadians are struggling with mental health issues, and this will include people you know, perhaps even you…so Trust God, remember His Lordship, and encourage one another, and you will find and offer HOPE that is beyond what can be found in earthly sources.
Review Esther, focus on 4:14, and choose His path as she did, even if it takes a few risks and a lot of prayer...or perhaps, especially if it does this!
I was teaching the New Members class for Dan this week, and found myself referring to normal a number of times, meaning, pre-Covid. As we await the new normal (with eager anticipation), let us not forget that this time is in His hands, and He has a plan for us IN IT, as well as AFTER IT, and look for ways to serve Him at this time, with eager anticipation.
What a privilege to be His, and in His family! Join me in His time, serving His people, for His glory!
We continue to want to be a church that DOES NOT COMPROMISE God’s Word. This means we don’t add to it, or take away from it, but seek to obey it in all we say and do.
This means we must know His Word, and stick to it. So encourage you to always start, stay and finish the day with God and His Word!
Be encouraged, God has good works for you to do today, which He prepared in advance…walk in them, and you will be a great encouragement to others!
Sunday Is Coming
Title: Following Jesus Faithfully In A Fallen World
Text: Revelation 3:7-13
Read the text a few times as you prepare your ears to hear what the Spirit says to the our church, and to you.
- Why should the brokenness of the world not surprise the follower of Christ?
- How is Jesus revealed to this church?
- Why is keeping Jesus in view at all times so important to being a healthy church?
- How does the view of Jesus presented here help us to stay firm in difficult times?
- What does Matthew 7:21-27 teach us about being faithful to God’s Word?
- Why is this so important in difficult times?
- Why is keeping eternity in mind so important? What are some practical ways you can do this?
- What is the reward that this precious church is offered?
It is a privilege to be a partner in the Gospel with you at THIS TIME, and God willing, through this time!
Your servant because I am His,
Pastor Rob