Leading up to Easter, and especially since Easter, we have seen people growing in their faith and deepening their walk with the Lord. We’ve had several people join the church, and we have seen several people give their heart to the Lord! We didn’t have a baptism this past week, but we did the Sunday before that 4/7, and we will have at least two baptisms this coming weekend (4/28), if not three!

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I can say with all confidence that these decisions are a direct result of our preaching, teaching, and discipleship, and the burden people have on their heart for most people around them and lost family members! I don’t say that with personal pride, but rather with satisfaction that we are doing the right things, and we are achieving what a congregation of people should be achieving in their own community.

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It’s so great to see the gospel that is being taught and preached having an effect on people, and to see the hunger that people have to deepen their relationship with Christ. Contrary to what the world would have you believe, God is not dead, and people are still hungry for God’s Word.

In their heart, they know they are not right with God. They look at the world around them, and they know things are not good. They know that Jesus could return at any time, so not only do they want to be prepared, but they also want their family and friends to be prepared as well!

If we will just teach and preach the Word of God faithfully and boldly, God will do the rest! God’s Word says that His Word will not return to Him void but will accomplish what it was intended to accomplish!

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This is the direct quote from God’s Word, ““For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; 11 so will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55.10-11

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Praise God for his powerful and effectual Word! And what that does for us is it gives us hope! We are not discouraged, but rather encouraged! We are not downtrodden, but rather excited about what God is doing right now! The Bible says, “For you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13 “Instead of the thorn bush the cypress will come up, and instead of the nettle the myrtle will come up, and it will be a memorial to the Lord, for an everlasting sign which will not be cut off.” Isaiah 55.12-13

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In other words, when you are following the Lord and proclaiming his Word, then you see his hand everywhere you look! It gives you a passion for serving God and you are filled with excitement seeing what he is doing in the lives of those around you!

 

jlk