Preaching Truth

You never measure a man’s ministry by earthly measurements. 

Carey, in India for thirty-five years; and only then did he see a convert. Would anyone question the virtue of his life? Let God be the judge. Let’s bow together in prayer.

 Anybody can preach a whittled-down gospel. 

Anybody can preach some kind of a deal where you take a little dab of biblical truth and slap it together with human wisdom, and contaminate it with your own cleverness and your own views. 

But if you do that, you are a hawker and a huckster.

 Any man is adequate for that.

 But the man who preaches unmixed, divine truth, pure and clean, can only do that in power that is given from on high.”

So Paul found his way out of the gloom – didn’t he? –
 out of the gloom of a broken heart, and he found his way back 

to thanksgiving,

began to focus on God, 

and realized that he had to go back to the privileges 
and not to the problems

What a privilege

the privilege of being associated with the King of kings, and have Him as a leader; 

the privilege of a promised triumph, all through his life He’s victorious;

 the privilege of influencing men and women for eternity; 

the privilege of being pleasing to God; the privilege, the great privilege of having power in proclaiming the truth.

Rivers of Joy Baptist Church, Minford, Ohio

We begin our 13th year at  Rivers of Joy Baptist Church in Minford Ohio.  Started in July 2008,

From man's point of view, I would say it has been a failure.  I know in the end God will be the final judge of the ministry of this church and how I have been the pastor.  

What I can say is that I have to give an account of my preaching and actions to the Lord.  

Charity has been a strong supporter of me since we came to ROJBC.  She has confirmed that she has been blessed by the teaching of the Word of God.  And not necessary all of the actions that I have tried to do as pastor.

Why do I stay?  I am not real sure.  If I leave that building will be closed for good.  I don't believe there will be another church group there.  If it were possible I would love to see it happen.

I love to preach and teach the Word, and as long as I can I will do it.  

People in this area of Minford, have found the church one that they do not want to attend.  There are some really good churches in the area that are doing great.

Over the last several years we have had a number of members to die and that their family would not attend.  

I do not push our few to push others to come.  Those few who come like my teaching of the Word of God.  And those who have moved and watch on Facebook enjoy the teaching of the Word and when in town they attend the services.

Personally we like teaching and meeting with our few each week.  It is a joy.

We invite people to come, but that has not happen much.

Alan and Angie Harris

Just out of Seminary Alan came to First Baptist Church in Altoona, Kansas 1982

 

 

 

Alan has preached for us in every church we have passed

 

 

Three great boys

 

Rivers of Joy Baptist Church

 

 

Alan and Angie are a great team

 

 

Evangelist, Missionary, Gospel Singer and Friend



First Peter 2:24

live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

The meaning of the cross First Peter 2:24

Read John 10:10-29 Charles e Whisnant Pastor/Teacher
 

and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

The meaning of the cross First Peter 2:24

Read John 10:10-29 Charles e Whisnant Pastor/Teacher

 

 

WHO HIS OWN SELF BARE ^{399 OR}

AND HE HIMSELF BORE _{OUR SINS}:

Exodus 28:38; And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.
 

Psalms 38:4; Isaiah 53:4-22 Matthew 8:17; John 1:29, 36; Hebrew 9:28)
 

He Himself - MacArthur comments that this phrase "is an emphatic personalization and stresses that the Son of God voluntarily and without coercion (John 10:15-18) died as the only sufficient sacrifice for the sins of all who would ever believe
 

John 1:10-29; 3:16; 10" 1Timothy 2:5, 6; 4:10; Hebrews 2:9 and 17.
 

The very name Jesus indicated that He would "save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).
 

They shall therefore keep My charge, so that they may not bear sin because of it, and die thereby because they profane it; I am the LORD who sanctifies them.

Peter presents the ultimate illustration of unjust suffering in the Cross of Christ.

Jesus shall Bare or bore (399)( literally means to carry, bring or bear up and so to cause to move from a lower position to a higher position. It serves as a technical term for offering sacrifices, offer up to an altar

Figuratively (as used here by Peter) means to take up and bear sins by imputation (act of laying the responsibility or blame for) as typified by the ancient sacrifices.

Hebrew 7:27 Read Isaiah 53 Read John 1:29

THIS CROSS (3586)is literally wood and refers to anything made of wood, including a tree or other wooden article or substance.

QUOTATIONS ON THE CROSS There are no crown-wearers in heaven who were not cross-bearers here below. - C H Spurgeon We need men of the cross, with the message of the cross, bearing the marks of the cross. - Vance Havner

The race of Adam is under the death sentence. There is no commutation and no escape. God cannot approve any fruits of sin, however innocent they may appear, or beautiful to the eyes of men. God salvages the individual by liquidating him, and then raising him again to newness of life.

A little bit about the CROSS - tree

The suffering entailed in crucifixion naturally made the cross a symbol of pain, distress and burden-bearing. Thus Jesus used it Himself (Matthew 10:38; 16:24). In Paulinic literature the cross stands for the preaching of the doctrine of the Atonement (1Cor 1:18; Gal 6:14; Phil 3:18; Col 1:20). It shows the bond of unity between the Jew and the Gentile (Ephesians 2:16), and between the believer and Christ, and also symbolizes sanctification (Gal 5:24). The cross is the center and circumference of the preaching of the apostles and of the life of the New Testament church.

So why did Jesus have to go to the Cross

He came into the sinner’s world. — Himself sinless, he took our nature. Accustomed to the pure atmosphere of His own bright home, He allowed His ears and eyes to be set on by sounds and sight below. His blessed feet tread among the dust of death, the mounds of graves, and the traps that men laid to catch Him. And all for love of us.

THAT WE BEING DEAD TO SIN OR DIE TO SIN:

1Peter 4:1,2; Ro 6:2,7,11; 7:6; Col 2:20; 3:3; 2Cor 6:17; Heb 7:26)

Might die (581) means to be afar off, to be away from, to be removed from, to depart. It means to cease existing and implies a complete and abrupt change.

TO SIN (266)(hamartia) literally expresses the sense of missing the mark as when hunting with a bow and arrow (in Homer some hundred times of a warrior hurling his spear but missing his foe). Later came to mean missing or falling short of any goal, standard, or purpose.

True conversion is not just intellectual assent to the truth of the gospel. Saving faith always involves an exchange of masters, from self to Jesus Christ. While we spend a lifetime growing in our submission to Christ, if we are not seeking to live under His Lordship, our claim to faith is suspect.

BUT LIVE TO RIGHTEOUSNESS: (Matthew 5:20; Luke 1:74,75; Acts 10:35; Romans 6:11,16,22; Ephesians 5:9; Php 1:11; 1 John 2:29; 3:7)

Live (2198) refers to natural physical life but figuratively (as used here)is reference to how one conducts oneself. Ultimately Christ has opened the door for believers to enjoy life in its fullest, richest sense, as God intended it to be lived. And in context such a life is one that conforms to God's holy character (which equates with righteousness), for He is the essence of righteousness. When one lives to righteousness they will manifest rightness of character before God and rightness of actions before men. Both of these qualities are based on truth, which is conformity to the Word and will of God.

Righteousness (1343) Definition: Righteousness is the state of moral perfection required by God to enter heaven.However, the Bible clearly states that human beings cannot achieve righteousness through their own efforts: "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin." (Romans 3:20.