Mars Hills Baptist Church

Thank you Lord, for your blessings! Every day, we can look around us and see something to be thankful for. The Senior Citizen celebration this past week was a blessing to all who made the choice to go. The singing was great, the preaching was great and God was in the house.

We make choices everyday about something: what to eat, what to wear, or where to go, to name a few. Our choices affect not only our lives, but also the lives of those around us. The choice of going to heaven or hell should be an easy one. If someone offered you dirty water or clean water to drink, you would naturally choose the clean water. The choice of going to heaven or hell should be just that easy to make.

Our pastor, Bro. William Short, took the message this week from Luke 16:19-31. This is a very familiar passage, concerning the rich man who died, was buried and went to hell. Lazarus, the poor beggar, died and was carried by angel’s wings to Abraham’s bosom. Scripture doesn’t give us the rich man’s name, but in hell he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham, with Lazarus in his bosom. He remembered this poor beggar, and he knew Abraham. He cried out to him to dip his finger in water and place a drop on his tongue, for he was tormented in flames.

Friends, hell is a real place with real fire, a place that was prepared for Satan and his angels. I don’t want to go there, do you? The rich man lived a life of ease and pleasure on earth; he ate rich food and wore fine clothing. Lazarus was a beggar. He begged crumbs from the rich man’s table, he was diseased and dogs licked his sores. The rich man certainly seemed to have it made, while poor Lazarus went hungry, wore rags for clothes, and had no where to sleep. But after each man died, it was Lazarus who was comforted and the rich man that was tormented. The rich man›s choice was earthly pleasure, while Lazarus’ choice was to serve God and have an eternal home in heaven.

It’s the responsibility of every Christian to tell others of the love of Jesus Christ and what he has done for us. We should tell them about the choice of heaven or hell. There is a river of life in heaven, along with streets of gold; there is no water in hell, only fire. There is peace in heaven; there is wailing and gnashing of teeth in hell. There is no more sorrow, pain or death in heaven; in hell, your soul will not die, but will burn forevermore. Witness to those you know and love now. Don›t let them die and awake in a devil›s hell, wondering why we Christians didn›t tell them about this awful place.

Our daily choices determine if we are living according to God›s plan or man›s plan. Are we living for Jesus, or living for self? This earth is not our final home; we will spend eternity in heaven or hell. What choice will you make?

Events: Our Homecoming will be May 24, with the group “Justified” bringing special music in the morning and some great preaching to follow. Please come, bring a covered dish, stay for a while and worship God with us.

May 15 will be our fellowship supper with special recognition for our senior class.

VBS will be June 9-14.

Please pray for our church, our pastor and his family, the sick, the lost, the hurting, our country, our troops, our government and our schools. God is great, all the time. Amen.

Cedar Grove Church

Bro. Jeff Carroll’s text came from Genesis 2:7 and was titled “How Did We Get Here?” God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being.

The message title is in the form of a question in two parts: How did we get here and what is the most precious thing we possess?

Bro. Jeff pointed out most of us would speak before thinking about the answer. Some examples are: my spouse, children or health, but our answer should be, “Our souls.”

In Matthew 16:26, Paul says, “For what profit would it be to man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul? What would you give in exchange for your soul?” Do not fear the one who kills the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

When we stand before the judgment seat of God, we have already made the choice of being allowed entrance into heaven to live eternally with Jesus, or to enter hell fire for eternity with Satan.

In the evening worship service, Bro. Heath’s text came from 2 Corinthians 10:3-4, titled “Armed and Dangerous.” We hear every day on the news, “Take caution, this person is heavily armed and dangerous.” The problem in the world today is not guns, but sin, plain and simple. We may not realize it, but we are in warfare, a daily battle with Satan for each of our souls. The position we have in the strength of the Lord is all that can help us in the spiritual battle we face. Are we letting Satan defeat us with sin because we are not using the weapons of power God has given us? It is not what people think about our weapons, but power God gives us to use in the battle we are in. God will always come through; we just have to stand firm in our faith and completely surrender the battle to God, putting on the full armor of God in our everyday lives. God has made us conquerors; we just need to grab hold and use the power he has given us. Let go and let God.

Have a blessed week!

Announcements: Homecoming will be Aug. 18 (Mark the date for the third Sunday in August instead of the fourth Sunday.) Guest will be Randy Perry with revival to follow Aug. 19-21.

Prayer concerns: Billy Wyatt, Janet Wyatt, Byron Cummings, Gary Hubbard and Paula’s sister, Donna.