Faithfulness Is God's Measure of Success

Greetings once again from the empty auditorium of beacon Baptist Church. We come to life. Thankful that you been able to join us tonight by means of your computer by means of the Internet.

We are I think a little bit surprised at how long this covert situation has lasted and is continuing. I think all of us. Many of us, at least assumed that it would be more short-lived than it is but here we are still laboring under restricted conditions yet still trusting in the Lord and wondering and looking to see what he may be doing through all of this confident that it's all under his control, and confident that it is serving his eternal purposes and confident that in his way of working things out. This is bringing honor and glory to Jesus Christ, and we pray that it may be doing so in such a way as to bring revival to the United States of America. Well I hope you joined us early enough to get in on the recorded element that we sign as our Prelude music tonight before the beginning of the service to him, entitled his robes for mine, a wonderful exchange.

I don't have the words in front of me now, but that is the gospel, and it is a marvelous presentation of the gospel and if anyone would take that him and think through it.

Think through the words as they are being sung, he would understand the gospel in a new and a deeper way that him as one of the many hymns written in modern days in the last 20 years or so by pastor Chris Anderson who now pastors in the Atlanta area and the first time I heard that particular him was in our team room on Wednesday night we use to the pastors used to go in there, regular basis to join the teams on Wednesday night.

Maybe once every couple months or so. We have been doing that as much lately but anyway I always look forward to those times and I heard that for the first time and I loved it and I actually emailed Chris Anderson after we started using it for the entire congregation that I emailed them to tell them how much we were enjoying this particular him and to tell them that I first heard it in a team meeting in our church on Wednesday night and he wrote me back to say he was quite amazed that our teens were singing a song with such a theological depth is that I don't know too many teens that would be singing about about the propitiation propitiation one, but our teams sing that and I think they understand what that means, that is due to the solid teaching which they received in their homes and in the church and in our teen ministry. Well glad you're here. The verse of the top of our Wednesday prayer sheet is from Matthew seven 2123 very sobering text it says not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my father in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name cast out demons in your name, and done many wonders in your name and then I will declare to them I never knew you depart from me, you practice lawlessness. I don't think Christians in general consider often enough the text in Scripture. Those profess to be Christians to examine themselves to be certain that they are in the faith, the warnings that there are is this text tells us many there will be many who will be shocked. I suppose when they discover that they have arrived in eternity without the new birth without the oil in their lamps without true salvation, even though they had the Christian religion. Be sure dear friend that that is not you examine your own heart.

Very, very carefully, but just a couple of words by way of announcement. There aren't that many. We are continuing our Sunday mornings surface with people present at 930 on Sunday morning.

We started at three or four weeks ago. It's going well. We are well I guess we started the longer ago than that, but for the last two weeks we have been doing it wearing our masks like our governor has requested of us. In fact, I think instructed us might be a better a better way to phrase that and so believing that God requires us to obey duly constituted governing authorities Wednesday instructed us to do something that is not an contrary not contrary to the word of God that we are to obey and so we have and what that has done has it has made it possible for us to resume congregational singing which we were not doing before, but since and it's true masks so it's not the full congregational singing, but I've been pleased at how good the congregation sounds singing, even with everybody wearing their masks and it certainly has been a joy to me to be able to join in by voices with others in hymns of praise to God in the assembly of the saints.

So we are doing that now. Thanking the Lord were able to do that so we invite you to join us this Sunday at 930. Of course if you are a member or regular tendered beacon. You are already aware of that you are a friend who is perhaps not a part of our congregation, but perhaps your church does not have a service yet. Some churches have not opened up to people present meetings. Yet, and if you would like to join us at 930 on Sunday just bring your mask and come on will be delighted to have you join us.

Other than that Sunday night at 6 o'clock and Wednesday night at 7 o'clock, as were doing now the services will be live streamed and we ask everyone to join us by way of Internet. The only other announcement is that our elders and pastors will be conducting our July meeting this coming Tuesday night July 14 at 715 in the fireplace room of the Fellowship all the fireplace room is is a bigger space than where we normally meet and that allows us to properly socially distance we did that last month for the first time and we are good going to do that again or dwelling this Tuesday night.

We need to keep the operation of the church moving forward in these challenging days and I am reminded of the verse that Paul the apostle wrote in if I can find the deer. I had it in front of me not to too long ago, but I'm not putting here it is. It is in second Timothy 29 and he was writing about being in prison and therefore not able to be out traveling and preaching like he normally did.

But he said, though he is bound the word of God is not bound that is as true today as it was then that we are somewhat bound somewhat restricted by the pandemic that is going on now God's word is not bound and there are other ways then the customary ones to proclaim the word of God and we are trusting the Lord to use it for his glory, even as we proclaim it tonight. I turned to prayer requests at this time, beginning with praises.

Praise the Lord that William Bart the infant child of Jeff and Carolann barked of our church is much improved.

He was bitten by a tick. The doctors were concerned they administered antibiotics and he is doing much better but Tommy Blanchard recently had eye surgery and is recovering nicely. Angela Boyd got good news from her kidney test.

She has one kidney that has been transplanted.

She has another one that is her own and they saw something on that one that concerns them but turned out to only be assessed. It is not cancer.

It is not dangerous, we praise the Lord for that. And then we thank the Lord that the Robert suite is recovering nicely from a heart catheterization.

He had on Monday.

Our government official of the week is Alamance County Commissioner Amy Scott Gailey. Let's be sure to pray for her throughout the week. Sarah Cardwell, one of our members who had knee surgery that's been several months ago now has a small tear in her meniscus that happened subsequent to her original surgery and shall be going in this coming Tuesday, July 14 for minor surgery to repair that meniscus won't be long recovery like her last one. If everything goes well, but she still will be incapacitated for a little time and she has of course to young ones. So please pray for Sarah Cardwell and please continue to pray for Pastor Bob mature, who is recovering from a recent heart attack.

Just praise the Lord that he was taken to the hospital in time to a deal with a heart attack and to prevent a second one is about about to have a second one on the verge of it, but he was in the hospital at the time and they were able to prevent that, and he is recovering. He was in church with us this last Lord's day he was present at our weekly staff meeting this afternoon. He tells us that he is walking a mile and 1/2 a day now to gain his strength, being careful not to exceed with the doctor told her to do peacekeeping check on his his heart and the doctor said not to let his heart rate get above 100 at this time. So he's walking at a pace that keeps him under 100 and he's going to be starting physical therapy. I think next week so everything's going along well with him. Thank the Lord. Please continue to pray. We continue to pray for the covert hotspot and Alamance County, which is why don't manner. They've had a couple of additional infections. They now have 49 staff members who have tested positive 85 residents who have tested positive and 31 residents who have died. Covert, 19. Please pray for staff and residents and family of those who are resident. Why don't manner I'll be reading an update from Paul Snyder. I will mention the missionary Trevor Johnson is in the United States to get additional help in recovering from his a greatly impaired health which has been damaged because of his ministry in Papua, Indonesia, and Paul Snyder likewise was a was a companion missionary to Trevor Johnson. Both of them laboring on the same station in Papua, Indonesia, and he's also in the states, but he's improved and I'm going to read a letter. Him him that will express that in the moment. Under sympathy we are extending our sympathy to the family of Rev. Alan Smith, the faithful preacher of God's word for many years and we extend our condolences to his wife, Dorothy, and pray for her as she is continuing in in their residence in the Roanoke Virginia and that I received a call not long before the service tonight from Sue Vestal to say that her cousin who was on our prayer sheet under cancer.

Leslie White, who had brain tumors passed away on Monday no Sunday from reading my handwriting passed away on Sunday and Sue Astley pray for her husband will was left behind. She says the both profess to know the Lord trust. Indeed, that is the case. Let me read the words of this hymn by James Montgomery Boyce entitled Christ alone. If centers could be saved from sin by philosophical debate, the winds, the brilliant Mike Gedeon. But what of those of low estate if Jews who strove to keep God's law and trusted circumcision to might stand before God's throne in all, what then would godless Gentiles do, but we preach Christ crucified the gospel wicked souls count on. They think it foolishness. We despised but we the power and grace of God.

Our gospel simply Christ alone for we know God sent him to give a righteousness that is not our own, and holiness that we might live Christ.

Christ alone is what we say, our praise address to heaven strove and to the world this morning. Bring no boasting save in Christ alone and I read the hundred and 46 Psalm very appropriate for these days in which we live.

Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord of my soul while I live I will praise the Lord I will sing praises to my God while I have my D do not put your trust in princes nor in a Son of Man in whom there is no help. His spirit departs, he returns to his earth in that very day his plans perish is happy rather is he who has the God of Jacob for his help whose help is in the Lord his God who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them, who keeps truth forever who executes justice for the oppressed who gives food to the hungry, the Lord gives freedom to the prisoners. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord raises those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous Lord watches over the strangers he relieves the fatherless and widows, but the way of the wicked. He turns upside down. The Lord shall reign forever your God was IN to all generations.

Praise the Lord, shall we pray father we bow in your presence to give you praise. We bow in your presence to affirm that our trust is not in man, it is not in politicians.

It is not a political party, it is not in anything that is of human origin but father, our trust is in you, the eternal living God, from everlasting to everlasting you are God and we are trusting in you and we are trusting in the merits of your son, the Lord Jesus Christ, whom you gave as a propitiation for sinners that we might be reading. We ask you to meet with us and to help us tonight as we consider those things which are eternal.

As we ask it in Jesus name, amen now so missionary communications we get. Give the short thank you note from David non-Jew Anderson with capital commission in the state of Virginia and outreach to representatives, government officials in that state dear Pastor Barkan Menon beacon Baptist family. God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble. We are praying for you in these difficult times. How are you doing we would love to hear from you. Thank you for all you do for Christ kingdom in your partnership with us to reach our leaders love David and on June by the way, today is David Anderson's birthday and yesterday was his wife. Non-Jew Anderson. All right, let's begin with a letter from Larry and Carol Bunyan to the Blackfeet Indians in Montana where they have served for many many years.

And of course they like us and like everyone are ministering in altered conditions because of covert. He writes our last church gathering in Hart Butte was March 8 stay-at-home orders were issued except for essential trips for food supplies and medical needs. All social gatherings were banned for many weeks then in early May, the state of Montana began to allow social gatherings of 50 people or fewer with social distancing protocols.

However, the Blackfeet tribe did not ease any restriction. Thus, we could not meet in Hart Butte. The tribe has maintained the social gathering restrictions to the end of July and possibly beyond. In response to the Cova 19 protocols would begin doing online sermons which we are still doing and expect to continue even after we begin meeting in a more normal way. We wrote letters and made phone calls to try to stay in contact with our church folk. There are four households of our regular church attendees who have no Internet so we tried to call them regularly. When the city of Montana open the opportunity together groups of 50 or fewer in early May we obtained permission to use a community hall in a small off reservation community that is centrally located to the homes of many of our church people. We have been using that building for the last two months and plan to continue doing so until the tribe allows us to resume meeting in Hart Butte.

The hall is very functional for a church meeting, though no place for children's classes, but we praise the Lord for the opportunity to have in-person meetings first Sunday meeting at the community hall.

Many of our folks said. We are thankful for the online messages, but we sure missed congregational singing the Christian group home where Nathan lives.

That's their special needs grown son in order to limit limit the number of residents and reduce the possibility of potential and full infection requested that residents go home with their families were able to accommodate them. So Nathan was home with us for six weeks during the height of the shutdown's 39th birthday occurred while he was home and he was very happy to enjoy his mother's cooking during his stay during the shutdown the Cova 19 numbers in Montana were among the lowest in the nation, per capita. We have had good attendance in a positive spirit among our people.

As we continue to adjust to these challenging times. Carol and I have recently read portions of the book discussing the issue of spiritual grit, the determination to keep moving forward, seeking the will of God, obeying the commands of God regardless of the external circumstances.

We all like comfort and familiarity the proverbial comfort zone and we have all been pushed out of that nest in the last few months. That is a good thing he said in regard to prayer request and praises. He writes several of our unsaved rancher friends have been listening to the gun line sermons and one has been attending our Sunday service regularly. Please pray that we will be able to return to our church facility in Hart Butte. We thank the Lord that we remain healthy including Nathan who is a musician system is weaker than average. There has been a recent spike in cases on the reservation. Thank you to all our supporters who have been consistent in faithful and generous in your sport support. Despite reports of declines in church giving across the country.

We are humbled and grateful. Carol and I celebrated our 45th, 41st, rather wedding anniversary. June 22.

I think the Lord for granting me the privilege of spending 41 years with a Proverbs 31 woman. She has been a true soldier in service to the Lord Jesus continue to pray for JSE six the Lord Cova 19 has limited many opportunities for personal contacts in recent months. Pray that our church youth and young adults will develop spiritual grit and commitment to Christ due to Cova 19 restrictions we were unable to conduct a summer Bible club for the first time in 35 years and for the last more years and I can remember our church has sent a team to Montana to to help conduct that ministry of what able to do that this year he says recently, a pickup load of kids in the post office parking lot were pleading with us to have Bible club in past years, there were kids all over town riding bikes and playing basketball in recent years. Everyone seems to be inside playing video games and surfing the net. Pray that in these unusual times, people young and old seek the Lord from Paul and Larry from Larry and Carol Bunyan in Hart Butte, Montana. Ellis will from Paul Trish Lane and Marianne Snyder difference. My neurologist gave me a positive report in June. Most of my blood work came back with better results.

My iron is still law which is causing fatigue and low energy by doctors giving me a new supplement for this to see if my iron little levels will increase.

I'm waiting to start treatment to heal my nerves and muscles in my eyes and face is scheduled for the end of July. The neck and facial cramping still bothers me but has improved some the twitching is still happening but not as often.

I have a great wife that takes care of me in the good and bad days. Marianne is doing much better with her anger and some noises. Please pray for her. She battles us every day.

As you know, Trish Trish and I have been working alongside heart cry missionary society for many years while serving in Papua recently. Trish and I visited the staff at heart, cry, and came away encouraged and strengthened. After that visit the elders of Christ Church and the staff at heart, cry invited us to move to Radford Ridge, Virginia. While the state's recovery are sending church which is in Michigan has agreed with this and we have decided to move to Radford, Virginia this August.

I will be helping in any way like we I can with the work that heart cries doing overseas, especially in Asia. Plus we will be worshiping a Christ Church and sitting under great teaching Trish and I believe that this is the will of God, especially the way all of this has transpired. Please pray with us as we moved to Radford, Virginia next month and join the heart cry staff while in the states. I have a recent letter very recent July 3 from the Anthony Walhalla family serving in the Czech Republic, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we are excited to share with you that we see God moving in the church plant in Estrada God is calling together a new body of believers.

About a month ago we were able to meet for the first time since the pandemic lockdowns, although under various restrictions.

The turnout was great. We had close to 40 people and some had to be turned away because of the covert restrictions.

Even then we ran out of space and people had to stand in the hallway to listen in. These people are hungry for God's word want to grow my friend Lance who has been a missionary in check for almost 20 years said he has never seen anything like it.

Estrada is the third-largest city in check and the potential here is great. The possibility to influence many people for the kingdom of God is substantially a single mother and her young son have recently started attending the Sunday services as well as midweek Bible study she just came to Christ and is now being discipled and is very active in the life of this church plant. Praise the Lord.

Since our original location became too small.

We had to rent a larger auditorium for this past Sunday worship service. We had close to 50 people, several were missing. I cannot even begin to explain this miracle that is in and of itself amazing for the check context.

In the past month.

There has been someone knew almost every week, inquiring and coming to this church meeting. As you may recall from our last newsletter. Anthony has been approached by many people from Estrada as well as elders from our trip church here in chrome areas to consider taking a leading role in planting the church. He has assumed this position by leading the midweek Bible study as well. As the Sunday service. Once a month trusting God that he will guide whether this should become a permanent commitment. This would necessarily include relocation to that area. About an hour northeast of where we live now.

It is a great as well as challenging opportunity, especially in light of the fact that after four years of praying and looking for a home. We finally found one and began to settle in for the first time in the past 8 1/2 years. It also poses a challenge in terms of our many connections to cross to job. We need God's direction and sense of contentment as to whether we are to stay and cross the job or relocate to Estrada.

That's all out share from that particular letter. We are involved in sponsoring two or possibly three pastors in Brazil. I thought it was stupid. We got letters from three this this week thanking us for our support so maybe it is more that I'm aware of but it's a delight. Are monthly commitment allows them to receive a book in the Portuguese language.

A good Christian book every month as well as the funds to attend an annual conference Bible conference, the feel conference so that's what our support does.

I've got a couple of those letters but I think I'll just be one of them, considering the time tonight, so this one that comes from pastor Carlos Andre received and translated July 6 just a couple days ago, right Grace and peace brethren of beacon Baptist Church, North Carolina. Is everything well with you. I trust it is because our Lord always cares for us, even in the midst of this pandemic.

We have seen the hand of our powerful Lord upon our lives. Not every day is good, but I always carry this verse with me in everything give thanks, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus, brethren, I thank you for being this channel of blessing of our Lord Jesus Christ to bless me with books very important tools for my sermon studies. I'm grateful to the brethren of FI EL publishing house for every book that comes into my hands. They are excellent. The latest received was entitled the rule of love by Jonathan Lehman.

That's a nine marks author and publication a book to cause us to think about the importance the church has of reflecting the love and authority of God. The book leads us to introduce the love of God in all areas of our life with the intention of impacting others also received the book entitled making all things new. Restoring joy to the sexually broken by David Paulison.

The book has a very interesting review about restoring that which the world has it is obscured in regard to sex today sex is lost its value and importance and privileges in the world. This brick book brings to light God's gift of restoration to those broken by sexual deviation, and I also received the cost of discipleship. The doctrine of imitating Christ by Jonas by Julia in this book Pastor Jonah shows the importance of discipleship and how to be a disciple or shows the importance of looking to Christ as our greatest model for discipleship. Pastor Jonah shows us that we need to come to Christ to be discipled by him and receive the work of discipling others from him. This book is really good is always faster. Jonas is a wise man. May God continue to bless it.

Beloved once more. Want to thank you for everything in my library. The few books that I have 80% because of you.

Thank you a big hug and a gratitude to the Lord for you, alright. I brought some others but time will not allow I'm opening my Bible to Galatians chapter 6. We are looking again at verses 11 1211 and 12 as we talk about five symptoms of self-serving religion. Paul comes to the end of Galatians and returns to the main problem of the book that was introduced earlier in the book in the first couple of chapters, namely the false teachers who were introducing a false gospel to the Christians in this the cities of Galatia and trying to entice them away from the pure gospel of Christ, which is salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone and he writes this as many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh.

These would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cause for the cross of Christ for not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may boast in your flesh. I identified five symptoms of self-serving religion from these two verses. I will review the first three that was already covered in them will look a little more carefully at numbers four and five to conclude tonight but number one is image instead of reality, as many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh. Those who emphasize them in their religion in the practice of what they call Christianity that emphasize image the way they are perceived by others over reality what they really are in their hearts and lives before the Lord and the main point of this is the is that they are more concerned with impressing men in pleasing God. That symptom number one old dear friend, do everything you can before the throne of grace, to have God work that out of your life that God route that out of my life as well. Number two psychology instead of Scripture. They compel you to be circumcised, the compulsion is not physical but mental. It is manipulation. It is, it is mental pressure. It is psychological coercion is depending upon psychology instead of Scripture and the main point here is, those who pursue a style of Christian religion in Christian ministry that does not trust the Scriptures fully.

They do not trust the Scriptures to be sufficient to accomplish God's work in this world. They do not trust the power of Scripture empowered by the Holy Spirit of God to accomplish God's work.

They think that something more is needed in addition to Scripture we need the you fill in the blank. That is a symptom of self-serving religion. Number three comfort instead of truth. We read in verse 12. Of these, that they may not suffer persecution for the cause of Christ.

The point is to avoid being looked down upon by either unbelievers or influential pseudo-believers to a crave to crave the approval of men or than the approval of God that must be avoided. Now we come to number four, which is symbolism instead of obedience for Rita verse 13 for not even those who are circumcised. Keep the law. What is circumcision well. It is a tenant of the law. The Jewish law. It is a major tenet of the Jewish law that all males be circumcised on the eighth day it is a sign of inclusion in the Abraham a covenant and was reiterated under the law of Moses and it became a very important symbol for Jewish people that they be circumcised and have this physical evidence of their godliness. This outward proof of their right relationship with God. Symbolism instead of obedience.

They are counting on the wrong thing. They are depending upon that which is not pleasing to God, not even those who are circumcised keep the local points out other words, he saying they are critics they are insincere. They don't keep all the law they don't even try to keep all the law they don't intend to keep all the law, but they pretend that they do. By emphasizing a handful of items out of the law that they can parade that they can accomplish such as circumcision, such as dietary laws, they can can eat according to the kosher requirements of the law they can do that and when they do that they show that they hold that up as evidence of their right standing with God. This proves that I am one of God's people. This proves that I am pleasing to God.

I keep God's law, unlike Gentile Christians who say that you are God's people by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. But you have in the circumcised. You gotta add that you are keeping the dietary laws of Moses. No no no you're not.

You're not doing what is required of you and their adding things to the gospel of Christ and looking to these outward ceremonies as the evidence of godliness rather than word godliness. Change of heart. Change of desires change of attitude before God symbolism instead of obedience.

Now that problem has not disappeared from the Christian seen today. He can take many different forms. For some it is an emphasis upon liturgical ceremonies as being what is most important.

I'm not saying that all liturgical ceremonies are wrong or ungodly.

They could be some cases, but they are all necessarily what they are when they are depended upon.

Instead of true heart faith instead of a change of heart.

Instead of the fruit of the spirit instead of love toward God and love toward neighbor when one is depending upon whatever it may be, candles, investments in cathedrals inquires and water baptism, and who knows what else.

Liturgical ceremonies chanting and various things I probably shouldn't even say this, but I I've had a few occasions over the 47 years that I pastored this church with someone would visit our church and and I would contact them thank them for coming in and invite them to come back again and they would say well were not interested coming again because you didn't pronounce the benediction the right way. That's what they're looking for something similar. You didn't offer the invocation in the right way. The prescribed way that I'm saying that I faithfully preach the word of God. Well yes, but you didn't adhere to this particular religious ceremony and that's what we look at as biblical, which Isaiah has genuine Christianity.

That's what were looking at symbolism more than obedience to be all kinds of things for some people it is adherence to the latest trend and technique. They are the kind of people instead of like the ones I just mentioned who seem to be hung up on tradition and age-old ceremonies you people at the other extreme, who seem to be determined to follow the latest fire is the latest fad in Christianity.

And that's how they measure what is genuine, so the newest musical styles to view the newest way of doing church. It's a funny thing. I probably am bug stepping on some toes here, but I'm going to do it anyway.

I have been known to do that from time to time to funny thing that some of the people who are doing church in a new way in order to get rid of the old stuffy traditions. One of follow the traditions of men so were not going to follow this old stuffy custom of of the preachers dressing up in suits and ties were going to wear jeans and a T-shirt and preach that way and that type of thing. But the funny thing about it is to me that whatever the latest trend is all the people who who are inclined to select that all copy one another to a T in the name of rejecting conformity to traditions as being antithetical to genuine Christianity, what are they doing, but conforming as quickly as they can to new traditions.

That's all they are just traditions and their just falling right into a pattern of copying something, although I'll decry you are just doing that because your copying the way you grew up for the way somebody else did it so you think it's necessary to wear a coat and tie. I remember this is been a good many years ago now. Remember preachers explaining to me how that he was invited to preach at one of these contemporary churches and he went wearing a coat and tie, because that's what he always wore and before the service when he and the several pastors a large church with multiple pastors were gathered together to talk about the service and to pray for the service and the lead pastor said no, it's not necessary were a time. This church, and he said thank you. I I appreciate knowing that, but he didn't remove his tie-in. So about five minutes later the lead pastor said again that you understand it's not necessary that you wear a tie.

This church is a thank you understand that I appreciate you mentioning that about five minutes what he said again the third time, now it's not necessary that you work tie-in this church and he said something like this. He said look I don't mind if you don't wear a tie. Would you mind if I do if you choose not to wear is fine with me if I choose to wear one. Is that okay and in the truth of the matter is that pastor to that pastor was okay. He was nervous about a man wearing a tie because they were conforming to the latest trends and the latest trend is that you don't wear ties so if he shows up wearing a tie that somehow going to be a problem for these people are what we talking about symbolism over substance. Symbolism over obedience. Looking at certain outward things that are absolutely no cut of no consequence not more godly for wearing attack you not more godly for not wearing a tie. Absolutely no consequence. I'm not wearing a tie, but you do need on Sunday are tender.

Sunday I will be why I can't tell you why necessarily just the way it is, does it make any difference does it make me any less or more godly because I do or don't. I had a phone call the other day from man that I was in school with no nearly 50 years ago down in college and in the I haven't had any contact with him for 35 years and he called out of the blue. We had a nice conversation and one of the things he said to me said one of things I remember you from you from school is that you are always a good dressing was dressed nicely and I said well thank you I I had a part-time job working at Belk's department store and I worked in the shoe department. I was right next to the men's department had a lot of friends there.

So I was able to to pick up some nice closing when they went on sale in learn something about dressing nice by working there and he said no it's not. It's interesting you mention shoes. He said I remember that about you. He said you shoes were always shined cut and then he said this, he said, do you still wear a coat and tie. You preached I said yes as he doesn't ask for many years and it's fine I'm not offended that he doesn't and I don't think he was offended that I do just a matter of curiosity with him which you see the point these things that are of no consequence can take on extremely consequential dimensions in the minds of people and they substitute these peripheral things. There totally inconsequential as to true godliness, but they substitute that in the place of genuine godliness that is a symbol of self serving religion instead of God honoring religion. Let's be more concerned about truth. Let's be more concerned about righteousness.

Let's be more concerned about inward holiness. Let's be more concerned about the development of the fruit of the spirit in our lives.

Let's be more concerned about about personal integrity in our relationship with others. Honesty and let's be more concerned about faithfulness in our marriages and being faithful in our giving to God and and working to suppress pride and envy and jealousy and anger in our lives. Let's let Scott focus on these things that are our true manifestations of godliness and not be so hung up about whether wearing a coat and tie or not see them talking about for even those who are circumcised, for not even those who are circumcised and keep the law there hung up on symbolism and then finally statistics instead of substance. The last phrase here says that they may boast in your flesh, you read it again were not even those who are circumcised keep the law with a desire to have you circumcised. They may boast in your flesh. What I want. Do they want to report to others that they logged X number of circumcisions that they may boast in your flesh talking about statistics reporting statistics bragging about statistics.

We've had X number of circumcisions in Lister in Derby, and I caught him in Antioch churches in Galatia. We've had so many and that's what many people focus on you go to some pastors meetings and all the pastors are doing among themselves as comparing church attendance. My church is bigger than yours number baptisms have had more baptisms you have size of membership. Regardless of evidence of genuine conversion in the lives of these people who have been baptized and added to the church will I use too many years ago.

Get a mail out from a church in another area, another location that had a very aggressive evangelistic ministry, they reported all of their numbers in the stretch paper they mailed out and gave a review of their statistics at the end of the year in one year I noticed that in that year they had baptized 800 people and their average attendance had gone down from the before now I suppose we could come up with some reasonable explanations of how that might occur but I think the most obvious one is that they were baptizing people by the hundreds and they were discipling virtually none of the Bible doesn't tell us to make decisions.

The Bible doesn't tell us count baptisms. The Bible tells us to make disciples. Now part of discipleship making disciples is baptizing them in the name of the fathers and the Holy Spirit that's commanded by Christ. It's not that that is of no consequence which you seek. When you start getting hung up on statistics instead of reality, repeating the same problem. The same error.

They desire to have you circumcised, that they may boast in your flesh. I used to know a pastor who is now with the Lord of another large aggressive church used to boast about the number of members of his church and and then I don't live he told me this, I'd rather imagine somebody else because I would be embarrassed to for this to be notified of the pastor, but they discovered one day that they had miscounted their membership by thousand honey. Listen thousand members but they were so eager to get to a bigger number and when they got up to 2000. They skipped 3000 went up from there and reporting of 3200 3300 members of their church. When the actual number was 2200 2300, but I actually have been to that church and the attendant was more like eight or 900 something wrong. It used to be. I don't know if this is still true or not but in the average Baptist Church in America. There are approximately four times as many members on the church roles as members as the average attendance of the vacant going to see a church to to look at their beautiful building many years ago and it was recommended to me that I go and see what they done get some maybe some ideas there and the secretary showing me around and she was so excited because they had taken in their 1000 member that Sunday Sunday before and I looked when I went by they had a numbers board in the vestibule and the attendance that Sunday was something like 275 they had taken in the 1000 members. Where are all those people who are members of the chair, but you see statistics instead of substance. They desire to have you circumcised that they make boast in your flesh. They desire to have you baptized that they may boast in your flesh they desire to have you added to their membership will believe me, I strongly believe in church membership. Every Christian ought to be an active member of the local church and shame on you if you're not, but they desire to have you on their membership will so they can count you boast in your flesh, and on and on it goes. May God deliver us from these errors we need to be more concerned about the way God measures success than the way people often measure success and it's not easy to do because we get immersed in the world, even in the work of the church we get immersed in a worldly way of thinking we need to ask God to deliver us from that as many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh. These would compel you to be fit circumcised only that they may not suffer persecution for the cause of cross of Christ for not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may boast your flesh, shall we pray father keep us cleaving to you and to your word. Keep us oh Lord from focusing upon things that are visible and fleshly, rather than those things which are invisible and spiritual want to praise you for the good improvement with William Barton. We pray for his continued health and thank you Tommy Blanchard came through his surgery well and re-re-rejoice with dad and Angela Boyd in his good report regarding her kidney and we thank you, Robert.

Sweet has recovered well from his heart cath. We pray for his continued recovery. We pray for Alamance County Commissioner Amy Scott Gailey that you will give her wisdom from on high, as she makes decisions that affect all of the pray for Sarah Cardwell.

She has her meniscus surgery on Tuesday we pray for Pastor Bob the tour that you might help them to continue to gain strength from his recent heart attack.

We pray for those who are associated in any way with white Oak Manor will come to them and help them as they are dealing with the ravages of this pandemic. Pray for Trevor Johnson missionary Trevor Johnson that you bless his recovery here in the states and likewise missionary Paul Snyder and his family. We pray for Stuart Waugh. Thanking you that he's not home from the hospital out of ICU but father. We understand that someone near him in the hospital was was that tested positive for covert, 19, and so now they're going to have to test him again. Lord, we pray that you spare him from the pray for the family of Alan Smith, his wife Dorothy in Roanoke and also the family of Leslie White and her husband Bill and father we pray that you will be with our nation that is being upended in so many ways politically and healthwise and economically.

Father, we can't help but think that these are things that you have sent to cause our attention to be upon things eternal rather than things temporal Lord use it. To that end, to bring a focus upon Christ and upon your word as we ask in Jesus name