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Trust in the Salvation of the Lord

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Psalm 13:1-16 – by Dennis Barker

This psalm was probably written by David during the difficult years of exile from King Saul. During his exile David confessed that, “there is a step between me and death” (I Samuel 20:3). By God’s grace, David turned his suffering into songs that help to encourage the believer in times of trials. The Lord allowed David to pour out his anxiety before him. But by the end of the psalm, David’s prayer ends with God giving him a correct perspective of the situation. In this brief psalm, David deals with his feelings, his enemies and his faith.

In verses 1-2, David pours out his heart concerning his inward struggles and feelings. God had promised David the throne of Israel, yet he saw King Saul doing evil things and it seemed like God was not judging him. Yet David was doing good things and he felt like God had abandoned him. The phrase “How long, O Lord” indicates that David was disturbed by what the enemy was doing, but he was more concerned about what the Lord was not doing. When we are in trouble and pray for help, but none comes, we tend to feel deserted. David felt like God was ignoring him and that God’s alienation was final. He also, felt that God was hiding His face from him instead of smiling upon him.

Feeling like he was abandoned by God, David tried to devise ways to overcome the enemy, but nothing seemed to help. Faith is living without scheming; not leaning on our own experiences and skills and trying to plot our own way. We must not deny our feelings and pretend that everything is going well. It is not sin to ask, “How long?” But, we must realize how deceptive our feelings are, and that God is greater than our hearts and can lift us above the emotional storms of life.

David learned to replace the question “How long, O Lord?” with “My times are in your hands.” Psalm 31:14-15. This is a lesson that we must all learn.
Verses 3-4 speaks of David’s outward struggles with his enemies. When the mind and body are weary, it is easy to be discouraged. David requested that the Lord “Consider and hear me.” David felt that God had hidden His face from him, and he wanted God to turn His face toward him again. A second request, “hear Me,” was that the Lord would answer him and send some kind of encouragement. David felt he had been deserted and that his prayers were accomplishing nothing. A third request, “enlighten my eyes” involved spiritual explanation and physical and emotional vitality and strength.

David was concerned about his own needs, but he was more concerned with the glory of God. God had chosen David and had commanded Samuel to anoint him King. If David failed, God’s name would be ridiculed. “Don’t allow the enemy to gloat over me.” The word “moved” in verse 4 means “to waver, to be troubled. If David began to waver, the faithful people of the land would think that God was unable to fulfil His own promises.
Verses 5-6 declares David’s Faith. The word “but” indicates a transition from fear and questioning God’s promises to faith. David’s feelings had been on a roller coaster, but God was still on the throne, and His character had not changed. God’s mercy (steadfast love) was all David needed, for it would never fail. God’s people don’t live on explanations; they live on promises, and those promises are as unchanging as the character of God.
Relying on the Lord leads to rejoicing in the Lord and His salvation. The word “bountiful” focuses on the goodness of God and His generosity in dealing with His people in grace.

March 2020 – Mission Director’s Report

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Missions:

It was a joy to be invited to be with the First Baptist Church of Matthews on World Missions Sunday and to also be able to join them for the Camp Garwood Breakfast Fundraiser that Saturday. It was a blessing to see several from other churches, even as far away as St. Charles, attend the breakfast which raised $1,704 for camp.

My wife and I enjoyed the fellowship and hospitality of the folks at Matthews and were impressed with their generous support of Missions as they gave their entire offering that day to BMA of America Missions.
I also had the privilege of attending the meeting of the Meramec Association missions committee at Westview Baptist Church in Jefferson City February 29th. Host Pastor Mike Hearst and the entire committee made me feel welcome and asked me to give an update on BMAMO Missions and the Missouri Missionary Baptist paper.

One thing that has been very noticeable as I have visited these meetings and filled pulpits over the last few weeks is there seems to be an increased interest in reaching others with the Word everywhere I go. Especially is this evident in various meetings among our churches in Missouri.

It was encouraging to sit in an impromptu meeting following the Meramec Association meeting in Jefferson City, about the possibilities of Bro. Matt Barker being led of God to plant a new work within our state in the near future.

Perhaps this is the year we will see a vibrant new work in our state! Everyone seems ready to see this become a reality.

In view of this, I encourage Pastors and Staff Leaders to make plans to attend the Renewal Retreat at Camp Garwood March 27-28, and the Missions Symposium and Mid-year meeting of the BMA of MO at New Testament Baptist Church in Sullivan May 15-16.
Each of these meetings can and will be used of God to increase our interest and burden to do more for God!

These are challenging yet exciting times in which we live and we should cultivate an attitude of joyfully serving God and looking forward with excitement about what He is doing in and through His churches around the world. Please pray that we will experience a revival among our churches and departments that will have a God-honoring effect in our State and bring glory to God for years to come!

The Missouri Missionary Baptist Paper:

When invited to speak about the paper at the meeting in Jefferson City I shared that our finances continue to be a great concern, but 3 different experiences this past month have given some encouragement.

• A church that has been without a pastor for a couple years sent 2 checks: 1 to missions and 1 to the paper. Each check was marked “offerings for 2018-2019. They had been setting aside their offerings while having no pastor and since they now have one they sent the entire 2 years at once!
• Another experience was a couple that live in the northern part of our state for the last 17 years, where there are no BMA churches, noted that they had not renewed their subscription since 2003 and sent a check for $170 to cover the 17 years they were behind.
• The special offering of the Meramec Association, for which I am deeply grateful, was another encouragement.

When I told this story using the first two experiences at the meeting in Jefferson City I ended it by saying, “Go thou and do likewise!”
I appreciate all the support that keeps this ministry going Thanks for supporting with finances, prayers, and actions!

2020 Missions Symposium & Mid-Year BMA of MO Meeting

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New Testament Baptist Church in Sullivan, MO has been blessed with the opportunity to host the 2020 BMA of Missouri Mission Symposium & Mid-year meeting on Friday & Saturday, May 15th &16th. We hope that you will make plans to join us!

The theme for our Mission Symposium will be “Helping Our Churches Excel.” This theme is based on I Corinthians 14:12b- “…seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.”

Come hear how God is using the New Testament Baptist Church and Missionary, Stan Scroggins to plant the New Testament Tigbawan Baptist Church in Tigbawan, Southern Leyte, in the Philippines and be challenged as we seek to work together to see our current BMA churches in Missouri excel and see new churches planted in Missouri in the future for the glory of God.

The Missions Symposium will be at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 15th. There will be testimonies from Pastor Josh Wright, church member Mae Lahmann, missionary Stan Scroggins, and church planter JayR Suico. As well as congregational singing, special music and a challenge from Pastor Josh.
The Mid-Year Meeting will be Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. Missionary Stan Scroggins will be preaching and a meal will be provided following the meeting in the church fellowship hall.

Here are a few area motels that would be suitable for your stay during the meeting:
Comfort Inn • 736 S Service Rd. W, Sullivan, MO 63080 (573) 468-7800
Baymont by Wyndham • 275 N Service Rd. W, Sullivan, MO 63080 (573) 367-2211
Budget Lodging • 866 S Outer Rd., St. Clair, MO 63077 (636) 629-1000. Please make your reservations as soon as possible while there are plenty of rooms available.

We look forward to seeing and enjoying our fellowship with many pastors, deacons, and church members of our BMA of Missouri churches. Please feel free to contact New Testament Baptist Church with any questions you may have about these meetings: (573) 468-3334.

WORLD MISSIONS DAY February 23, 2020!

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by John David Smith

World Missions Day is a significant event for BMA Missions as churches around the association pray and give a special offering to support our partnership in global missions. Pastor, this year I am personally asking if you will lead your church to prayerfully support global missions on World Missions Day with a special offering. BMA Missions – Your PARTNER in global missions. In the New Testament we get a picture of the early church and a multiplication movement that was fueled by missionary endeavors supported through the partnership of local churches. Partnership is at the heart of our missions philosophy. Here’s how it works: Local Churches are both the source (sending) AND the goal (planting) of missions.

BMA Missions provides the assessment, training, and support missionaries need for effective global ministry. U.S. Missionaries spread the gospel, make disciples, and plant churches around the world. ChangeMaker Missionaries are the product of our missions partnership. They are local missionaries planting churches in their native countries. We want to be YOUR partner! Will you help us send more missionaries to develop more disciples and train more local ChangeMaker missionaries to plant more churches so more people will hear the gospel? Register your church for World Missions Day 2020 at https://bmamissions.org/ worldmissionsday/ and we will send your pastor a FREE rain jacket! (Read ChangeMakers story on Page 5.)

WORLD MISSIONS DAY 2020

BMA of the Philippines Disaster Relief Fund

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December 2, Typhoon Kammuri brought damaging winds and heavy rain to the Philippines after making landfall in the Bicol region, about 240 miles southeast of Manila. The Category 4 storm affected approximately 250 families from BMA Philippines churches in that region. Widespread power outages have displaced storm victims and resulted in a lack of work that is affecting their livelihoods.

BMA Philippines and local BMA churches in Bicol are helping coordinate and carry out the response to the affected area. If you would like to donate to these individuals and families in need of assistance you may give online at bmamissions.org/disasterrelief/ (Designate “Philippines” in “add a message.”) or send to BMA Missions, P.O. Box 878, Conway, Ark. 72033. Thank you for your steadfast support of BMA Missions!

Promised Comfort

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John 14:1, “Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me.”

The hearts of the apostles were troubled because Jesus had announced to the apostles that He was going to leave them and return back to the Father. The apostle’s lives were about to be turned upside down, things were going to change. They were afraid because in their mind their leader and Savior was leaving them. All of this change would be a test of their faith.
Jesus promised comfort to the apostles that even after He returned to the Father, they could be assured that they would be in His presences both in this life and life after death. The believer in Jesus Christ can be assured that Jesus will always be present in their lives.

Jesus promised comfort to the believer by promising that they will go to heaven. In Scripture, heaven is a place where God dwells. Heaven is described as 1) a kingdom, II Peter 1:11, “For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2) an inheritance, 1 Peter 1:4, “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.” 3) a country, Hebrews 11:16, “But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” and 4) a home, John 14:2, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” Heaven is a place where Jesus dwells. John 14:4, “And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” The believer in Jesus Christ can have comfort in the knowledge that no matter what we face in this life we will go to heaven!

Jesus was claiming to be God. When the believer discovers that Jesus is the God of creation and the Governor of the universe, he will also discover that there is no need for his heart to be troubled. The believer can be assured that God is in control.

The success of the disciples would be based on communication with Jesus through prayer. When the task seems impossible the believer can pray. We can accomplish great things for God because we are able to communicate with the Father through prayer.

The Christian cannot live the Christian life without the help of the Holy Spirit. II Peter 1:21, “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” The same Holy Spirit that helped to write the Scriptures helps the believer to understand the Scriptures. Jesus promised, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;” Only the believer can know the comfort of the Holy Spirit because He dwells in the believer. He can rest assured that the Holy Spirit will guide, guard, and teach him the things of God as taught in Scriptures.

Jesus assured the disciples that there was no need for the heart to be troubled because He would give them the gift of peace. Jesus was going back to the Father, but He assured the disciples that they would have fellowship with Him through study of Scripture, prayer, and the Holy Spirit.

John 14:28, “Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.” Many will face death, but death is not the end of God’s comfort in the life of the believer. Jesus stated in John 14:3, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” Jesus assured the disciples that they knew the way home. John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

The Christian life is a personal walk with the living God through increased knowledge of God found in study of the Scriptures, prayer, and the Holy Spirit. It is a wonderful journey! It is interaction with The living God!

December 2019 – Mission Director’s Reprt

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My wife and I wish each of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year as you serve the Lord and look forward to His blessings each day.
Thank you for your support of our Mission Program and the Publication Ministry of our association with which we have been associated for over 30 years.

Please join us in prayer as your Special Missions Committee searches for a new Missions Director and the Publications Committee seeks a new editor and as both committees seek God’s direction in planning the future of these departments.

Please pray for God to lay these opportunities on persons who are qualified and dedicated to the task of serving in each capacity. Remember – the deadline for receiving resumes is January 1, 2020! (Note the information on page 1 of this issue.) This deadline will only be a few weeks away by the time you receive this paper.

Our offerings for Missions are holding steady and are ample to cover the expenses as we are operating at the present, but we hope to have at least one missionary to consider supporting in the next few months and this will require additional funds coming in each month.

At this time we are barely keeping our Publication Funds in the black and if things do not pick up soon we will have to appeal to the churches with a “Special Emphasis” to build our bank account to be adequate for the transition to a new Editor. Please pray about helping with this need without us having to make a “special” appeal. Thank you for considering this.

Another matter of prayer that I call to your attention is the need of more preachers (pastors) coming to work with the churches in Missouri. It seems over the last several years we have had more leave our state than we have had coming to work with us. This is a cause of concern for many I have talked to this past year and we need to pray that God will lead some more workers to come and work with us. When we visit other states we need to let people there know we would welcome them to come and join us in this area.

As we look forward to the year ahead we should do so with anticipation about what God can and will do if we pray, seek His face, and do the work He has given us to do.

There are lost souls wherever we are and we need to ask God to make us “conscious” of the opportunities we have to tell them about Jesus. God is still saving souls and we are still commissioned to take the message to them, so let’s rededicate ourselves to carry out His program for reaching those who need Jesus before it is too late.

As we think of gifts at Christmas let’s remember that the greatest gift a person can receive is JESUS and the greatest gift a Christian can receive at Christmas is to know their family and friends have received the Gift of Eternal Life through Jesus!

7 New Year Resolutions for Christians

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As we approach the end of a year we often hear the expression, “It’s out with the old and in with the new!” Here are seven things that many of us need to replace in our lives.

  1. Replace Pride with Humility.
    “But He gives more grace, therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’” James 4:6
    “He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.” Psalm 25:9
  2. Replace Anger with Self Control.
    “An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.” Proverbs 29:22
    “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
  3. Replace Unbelief with Faith.
    ““See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”
    Hebrews 3:12-13
    “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
  4. Replace Revenge with Forgiveness.
    “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.”
    Romans 12:17-19
    “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” I Peter 3:9
  5. Replace Complaining with Praise.
    “Do everything without complaining or arguing.”
    Philippians 2:14
    “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise — the fruit of lips that confess His name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Hebrews 13:15-16
  6. Replace Wicked Thoughts with Pure Thoughts.
    “The things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’ For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” Matthew 15:18-19
    “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think on such things.” Philippians 4:8
  7. Replace Gossip with Encouragement.
    “Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down. Proverbs 26:20
    “Do not let unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:29-32

Journey to a Quiet Time in 2020

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Dear churches,
As I have stated in the past I have a goal of submitting an article each month just to do my part in helping Bro. Jim fill out this paper and he has regularly encouraged any of us to do just that, submit an article. So here we go! I would like to share with you my journey to a quiet time and what God orchestrated to what I still do today after about 30 years.

Now I know that quiet times can be about as different and personalized as finger prints and as long as they are God honoring they are not wrong. Let’s first answer the question, “What is a quiet time?” Simply put, it is spending time with God, having a personal daily worship time with God. It also envelopes the term discipline, and putting God First, etc.

So let’s make some assumptions: These are not deal breakers but preferences for sure.

The place you have your quiet time needs to be quiet. It needs to be a place and time that you can enter into solitude. Being alone with God.
Now let’s answer some questions: “Why a quiet time?”
God has clearly delineated in His word that this is His desire! He wants all of you all the time but work, family, and life’s demands have to be experienced, so He desires at least “some” daily moments.
David said, “Early will I seek thee…. in a dry and thirsty land where no water is.” (Psalm 63:1) “Seek ye first the kingdom of God…. and all these thing will be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)

And, we seek God because “man doth not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)
When? I think we have already answered that! The morning, if possible. But, if the morning is a no go a quiet time at night is better than no quiet time at all.
Where? Again probably already answered that, somewhere where you can focus. I know a lot of people who have their quiet time in the car on their way to work.
That’s alright!
So lastly, How? Because you know The Who?

So here’s my story: I went to college never hearing the term “quiet time,” but it seemed that in the internal fraternity of Christian colleges, this was a sacred rite and practice in which only rank heathen did not participate..
Therefore I quickly adopted the language and gave tepid practice to the discipline of spending a daily quiet time with God; but if the true story is to be told it wasn’t until a year or so into my youth director job at Bethel that Keith Ragsdale approached me to participate in a study on how to have a structured quiet time.
Needless to say it changed my life for good and for God.

So I am going to end this article with the actual verbiage that I pray each day and, no it is not a ritualistic prayer as much as my daily discipline in approaching God in a time of solitude.
The basic approach is that you have two types of prayer. You first respond to God’s holiness with confession, God’s attributes with Praise, To God’s Glory with worship, To God’s blessings with thanksgiving, Then you ask God, as your Father, what you need for that day, and then you ask God, as your Master, for the kingdom needs.

Here is my rough outline that I use each day:
I respond to His Holiness with confession. Dear Father if there is any unclean way in me please forgive me and cleanse me….
I respond to His attributes with praise. I praise you for being all knowing, all powerful, ever present, sinless, immortal, unchanging, wrathful, just, merciful, kind, compassionate,…
I respond to His Glory with worship.
I worship you…. Worship is the response of an adoring heart to the magnificence of God in the highest sense of the word. It is the occupation of the created with the creator. It is the pure joy of knowing that you’re worshipping the One who’s name is above every other name, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

I respond to His blessings with thanksgiving. I thank you Lord for Jesus your son, our Savior; your Spirit; and You! Your heaven – your Word – your armor – your people – purposes – your ways – (the church) – Your wife, Dawn – your daughter, Molly – your son, Benjamin – your son, Tony – your salvation health and personality – Your future salvation – health and personality – your clothes – food – cars – trucks – vans – riches – houses – and lands…

Now I ask Him for what I need since He is my Father. I ask you to fill me with your Spirit, conform me to your image, please put on the armor – Your helmet of salvation, it is your salvation – The breastplate of righteousness, it is your righteousness – The girdle of truth, it is your truth – The shoes of the preparation of the gospel of peace, it’s your gospel and your peace, and peace with you – The shield of faith It’s your faith (Ephesians 2:8,9) – The sword of the Spirit, it’s your Word – And with all praying for all saints
Then I ask Him as my Master for what I need to accomplish His kingdom work. Dear Father, help us to know you – Let us in on your kingdom work – help us to bear your fruit in Jesus name, I pray amen.

May the Lord bless you as you seek His face each day.If you do not already, please find what works for you and seek Him daily.

by Ben Kingston, Pastor • Bethel Baptist Church, Lonedell, MO

Happy New Year

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2020 Happy new yearMay God bless you with a prosperous and joy-filled new year!