Posts Tagged :

brotherhood

Brotherhood: Men’s Fishing Tournament

 150 150 admin
By:
0

Greetings Brethren,

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for the brethren to dwell in unity! The Brotherhood is growing strong and more active in the Lord.

On September 17th, the Brotherhood held its first annual fishing tournament. The men had a great time fishing and good food afterwards. Bro. Butch Wilkinson (Ozark Heights) took 1st place, Bro. David Hays (First Baptist, Potosi) took 2nd place, and Bro. Hunter Moorman (Central Baptist) took 3rd place. Congratulations to the winners! I suppose I didn’t have enough faith in us so I brought fish to cook for the men. Thank you to Bro. Chris Dicus for helping cook all of that fish for the men and to Bro. Don Burke for coming out to take pictures. We were able to raise some money for missions and enjoy time together.

We are already looking forward to the next tournament, and we are looking forward to other fellowships as well. Some things in the works include: a spring fishing tournament, the Brotherhood retreat, and a fall golf tournament.

Please pray for the Brotherhood as it grows. Remember, your church does not have to have a local Brotherhood to participate. Let us encourage and pray for one another to be the men God has called us to be.

Your humble servant in Christ,
Brotherhood President, Bryan Buckley

A Prayer for Help in Hopelessness

 150 150 admin
By:
0

Psalm 88:1-8
by Dennis Baker, BMAMO Brotherhood President

Heman, the son of Korah, was a temple musician during the reign of David. The Psalm begins with pain and perplexity but, unlike other psalms of lament, it closes without triumph. The psalm speaks of darkness (vs.1, 6, 12, 18), life in the depths (vs. 3-4, 6), the immanence of death (vs. 5, 10-11), feeling of drowning (vs. 7, 16-17), loneliness (vs. 5, 8, 14, 18), and imprisonment (v. 8). Heman was a servant of God who was suffering intensely and did not understand why, yet he persisted in praying to God and did not abandon his faith. Not all of life’s experiences have happy endings, but that does not mean that the Lord has forsaken us. From Heman’s experience we can discover instructions to follow when life falls apart and our prayers seemingly are not answered.

Come to the Lord in faith, vs 1-2. Heman’s life had not been an easy one and it seemed like it was getting even more difficult, and he felt that death was very near. Heman spoke as if he was ready to give up. But he did not give up! He still trusted in the Lord of his salvation. Heman prayed day and night believing that God would hear his prayers. No matter how we feel and no matter how impossible our circumstances, we can always come to the Lord with our burdens.

Tell the Lord how you feel, vs 3-9. There is no place for hypocrisy in personal prayer. When we pray, we need to be completely transparent and not tell the Lord anything that is not true or that we do not really mean. Heman confesses that he was “full of troubles” and felt like a “living dead man.” He was without strength and felt forsaken by the Lord. Heman told the Lord that He was responsible for His servant’s troubles! God’s hand put him in the Pit (the grave), and God’s anger was flowing over him like breakers from the sea. Whatever sickness he had was caused by the Lord and made him so repulsive that his friends avoided him He was without health, without light, and without friends. He felt like he was without God! He was a prisoner and there was no way to escape. Like Job, Heman wanted to know why all this suffering had come to him.

Defend your cause before the Lord, vs 10-14. The Scottish minister Samuel Rutherford (1600-1661) who suffered much for his faith wrote, “It is faith’s work to claim and challenge loving kindnesses out of all the roughest strokes of God.” He also said, “Why should I tremble at the plough of my Lord, that maketh deep furrows in my soul? I know He is no idle husbandman; He purposeth a crop.” Heman’s argument was simply that his death would rob God of a great opportunity to demonstrate His power and glory. What service could Heman be to the Lord in sheol? Heman prayed for healing and strength. Heman felt rejected and knew that God’s face was turned away from him. But he kept on praying.

Wait for the Lord’s answer, Vs 15-18. It appears that Heman could not even look back to a time in his life where he enjoyed good health, v 15. The billows that had almost drowned him (v 7) now became fiery waves of torment (v 16) as God’s “burning anger” went over him. The flood was rising, and he felt he was about to drown, and there was nobody near enough to rescue him. He was alone! The darkness was his friend because it hid him from the eyes of those who observed his suffering and may have said (as Job’s friends),“He must have sinned greatly for the Lord to afflict him so much.” He continued to pray and to look to God for help! “Though he slay me, yet will I trust him” Job 13:5. “I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage, yes, wait for the Lord” (Psalm 27:13-14). The Lord always has the last word, and it will not be “darkness.” When life falls apart and our prayers seemingly are not answered, come to the Lord by faith, tell the Lord how you fell, defend your cause before the Lord, and wait for the Lord’s answer. Not all of life’s experiences have happy endings, but that does not mean that the Lord has forsaken us. No matter how we feel and no matter how impossible our circumstances, we can always come to the Lord with our burdens.

Beware of Empty Philosophies

 150 150 admin
By:
0

Colossians 2:4-7
by Dennis Baker, President of BMAMO Brotherhood

There was once a pastor who was concerned about some unsavory businesses that had opened near a school. His protest led to a court case, and the defense attorney did all he could to embarrass the concerned pastor.

“Are you not a pastor?” the lawyer asked. “And doesn’t the word pastor mean ‘shepherd’?”

To this definition the pastor agreed.
“Well, if you are a shepherd, why aren’t you out taking, care of the sheep?”
“Because today I’m fighting the wolves!” was the pastor’s quick reply, and a good answer it was.

Because of the enemies that were attacking the church in Colosse, Paul offered encouragement that would help them overcome their enemies. He encouraged them to continue making spiritual progress in their Christian life.

There is a need for spiritual progress because Satan is deceptive. Satan uses enticing words to lead believers astray. Satan is a liar and by his lies he leads believers down the wrong path. John 8:44, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” In order for the believer to have spiritual discernment, it is important for the believer to continue to grow in his knowledge of biblical truth.

Paul used several vivid pictures to illustrate spiritual progress. In verse five the words “order” and “steadfastness” are military terms. They describe an army that is solidly united against the enemy. “Order” describes the arrangement of the army in ranks, with each soldier in his proper place. Not everybody can be a general, but the general must have an army to fight the enemy. “Steadfastness” pictures the soldiers in battle formation, presenting a solid front to the enemy. Christians ought to make progress in discipline and obedience, just as soldiers on the battlefield.
The Christian life is compared to a pilgrimage, and believers must learn to “walk.” We are to walk in Christ the same way we originally received Christ-by faith. The false teachers wanted to introduce some “New truths” but Paul encouraged them to continue in Christ. The only way for a believer to make spiritual progress in his Christian life is by faith. Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

The word “rooted” in verse seven is an agricultural term. The tense of the Greek word means “once and for all having been rooted.” Christians are not to be tumbleweeds that have no roots and are blown about by every wind of doctrine. Ephesians 4:14, “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” Nor are we to be transplants that are repeatedly moved from soil to soil. Once the believer is rooted by faith in Christ, there is no need to change the soil! The roots draw up the nourishment so that the tree can grow. The roots also give strength and stability. The words “built up” is in the present tense: “being build up.” When we trust Christ to save us, we are put on the foundation; from then on, we grow in grace. Continual growth should characterize every Christian’s walk with Christ.

It is the Word of God that builds and strengthens the believer. Christians who study the Word become established in the faith. Satan has a difficult time deceiving the Bible taught believer.

The word “abounding” pictures a river overflowing its banks. The believer’s first experience in the Lord was drinking the water of life by faith. The well should become a river of living water, which gets deeper and deeper as we grow in our spiritual life. John 7:37-38, “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

“Thanksgiving,” a thankful spirit is a mark of Christian maturity. When a believer is abounding in thanksgiving, he is really making spiritual progress!

By reviewing these pictures of spiritual progress, we see how the growing Christian can defeat the enemy and not be led astray. If his spiritual roots are deep in Christ, he will not want any other soil. If Christ is his sure foundation, he has no need to move. If he is studying and growing in the Word, he will not be enticed by false doctrine. And if his heart is overflowing with thanksgiving, he will not even consider turning from the fulness he has in Christ. A grounded, growing, grateful believer will not be led astray.

Preservation of God’s Salvation Plan

 150 150 admin
By:
0

Revelation 12:1-6

by Dennis Baker • President BMAMO Brotherhood

From the beginning, Satan has tried unsuccessfully to prevent the coming of the “promised Seed.” Genesis 3:15, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

The establishment of the nation of Israel as chosen people has been God’s avenue for introducing His salvation plan to the world. Matthew traces the lineage of Christ through Joseph via King Solomon back to Abraham. Luke traces the lineage of Jesus through Mary via Nathan back to Adam. The text, through the three characters of the woman or the nation of Israel, the red dragon or Satan, and the man child or Jesus Christ explains how Satan has stood over the woman Israel to destroy her child as soon as Christ was born into humanity. Since the beginning of time there has been a spiritual battle going on in heaven for the souls of mankind.

Genesis 6:5-10 records an attempt of Satan to prevent the coming of the” Promise Seed.” “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.” Satan had corrupted all of mankind except Noah and his family. Only Divine intervention preserved mankind from a total overthrow. The promise of Satan’s defeat was preserved through Shem.

Satan attempted to break up the “royal line” by which the “seed of the woman” was to come. On the death of Jehoshaphat, his son Jehoran killed all his brothers with the sword reducing the royal line to himself. Jehoran had children but the Arabians killed all of them except Ahaziah as they fought against Judah. Ahaziah was the only living descendant of the “Royal Line” of the “seed of the woman” through David, Abraham, and Shem. Ahaziah had children but at his death in an attempt to destroy all the “royal seed” of Ahaziah, Athaliah his mother (II Chronicles 22:10) attempted to kill all the descendant of Ahaziah. Satan would have succeeded but Jehoshabeath the wife of the high priest, daughter of King Jehoran, “took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons that were slain and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber.” (II Chronicles 22:11). II Chronicles 23:3, “And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said unto them, Behold, the king’s son shall reign, as the LORD hath said of the sons of David.”

When the time came for the “seed of the Woman” to enter the world the Devil used Herod to kill all the babies in Bethlehem two years of age and under. Satan though he had devoured the seed of the woman. Matthew 2:13.

When Satan saw Christ on the cross, laid in the sepulcher, the stone sealed and the watch set, Satan thought he had conquered the “seed of the woman.” But when Christ was raised from the dead and ascended to the Father, Satan was defeated.

No wonder Jesus declared that He is the only way to heaven. Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” God has no other plan for the salvation of mankind. Romans 10:9-10, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” The death, burial, and resurrection were, and are, God’s only plan for the payment of our sins. Since Satan’s desire is to be like the most high it is no wonder that he has worked so hard to destroy God’s plan of salvation. But it is more amazing that despite the failures of mankind and the power of Satan, God has preserved His salvation plan throughout history.

Implications of the Second Coming of Christ

 150 150 admin
By:
0

II Corinthians 5:10
by Dennis Baker, Brotherhood President
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Could 2016 be the year that Jesus returns? With all the turmoil going on in our country and world, many Bible students are getting excited about the possibility. The Bible speaks of many implications surrounding the Second coming of Christ. However, we will only focus on two: the basis of judgment and the finality of judgment.

All must appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according
to the he hath done, whether it be good or bad. John 5:28-29, Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

While some might conclude that judgment will be based on good or bad deeds, Jesus indicated that some who claim and
even appear to have good deeds would be told to depart. Matthew 7:21-23, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord,
shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in
that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many
wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

The standard on which the evaluation will be made is the revealed will of God. John 12:48, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” Even those who have not heard the law will be judged; “For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law,” Romans 2:12.

Once judgment is passed, the judgment will be permanent and irrevocable. The saved and the unsaved will be sent away to their respective final places. There is no hint that the verdict can be changed. Jesus concluded His teaching about the last judgment by saying, “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal,” Matthew 25:46.

If Jesus does return in 2016 will you be ready?

Reviewing Our Own Reconciliation Experience Colossians 1:21-23

 150 150 admin
By:
0

Colossians 1:21-23
As a believer in the Jesus Christ, it is encouraging to examine our own heart and review our experience of reconciliation.
In our text, Paul suggests three things that we can focus on.

First, look at what you were before reconciliation. You were alienated and were an enemy of God. Ephesians 2:11-12, Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flsh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. Your mind and attitude were “actively hostile to God. You were at war with God! You needed to repent, or have a change of mind, before you could be reconciled to God.

Second, Your present reconciliation is complete. You did not reconcile yourself to God; it was God who took the initiative in His love and grace. The Father sent the Son to die on a cross that sinners might be reconciled to God. Romans 5:6, For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:8-10, But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. In His human body, Jesus bore our sins on that body on the cross. 1 Peter 2:24, Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

The purpose of reconciliation is personal holiness. The word “holy” expresses the idea of “being set apart, being devoted to God.” Unblameable means, “without blemish.” It is amazing that God looks at His children and sees no blemish on them! Unreproveable mean, free from accusation.” Once we have been reconciled to God, no charge can be brought against us, Romans 8:31-34. We have perfect standing in Christ, so why seek anything else?

Third, you have a firm foundation. Verse 23, If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am
made a minister… This statement seems to cast a shadow on the assurance of the believer’s future. However, the “if”
clause does not suggest doubt or lay down conditions by which we “keep up our salvation.” Paul uses an architectural image of a house firmly set on a foundation. The town of Colosse was located in a region know for earthquakes, and the word “moved away
could mean “earthquake stricken.” Paul was saying “If you are truly saved, and built on the solid foundation, Jesus Christ, then you will continue in the faith and nothing will move you. You have heard the gospel and trusted Jesus Christ, and He has saved you.

In other words, continuing in the faith does not save us; but we continue in the faith and thus prove we are reconciled.
Paul challenges every professing Christian to examine his own faith and heart to be sure he is a child of God. II Corinthians 13:5, Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

by Dennis Baker, Brotherhood President