Encourager March-April 2018

Volume 15 Issue 2

March - April 2018

The Encourager Eastern Shore Bible Baptist Church of Galena, Maryland Sunday Service Schedule 9:30am

Sunday School

10:30am Morning Worship 6:00pm

Evening Worship

Handfuls of Purpose by Pastor Steve Hays, M.Min,D.Min

Wednesday Service 7:00pm

Prayer Meeting

and Bible Study

Salvation God’s Way Our salvation is not based upon our ideas or politically correct guidelines.

It is solely based upon our acceptance of God’s chosen way, which is through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ Gal. 2:16. It involves our repentance of trusting everything else, and only trusting the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for payment for our sins - I Cor. 15:1-4. You cannot add Jesus Christ to your collection of saviors, He is the only Savior, and it is by His blood that our sin debt is paid - Col. 1:14.

Jesus Christ is still the only way of Salvation John 14:6

“And let fall also [some] of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave [them], that she may glean [them], and rebuke her not.“ - Ruth 2:16

monetary. That is not always the case, and understandably, you should not want it to be. If physical things and money equated happiness, Hollywood would be the happiest place on earth. I am certainly not saying those things cannot be blessings from God, I am just saying there are other, more important, blessings.

This verse typifies the care of God for us as we labour in this field of the earth. Boaz made sure to let his men know they were to leave handfuls of purpose for Ruth to glean.

Boaz is the kinsman redeemer just as Christ is for His Bride, the Church. The narrative is then to be an encouragement to us in that Jesus Christ will also leave us handfuls of purpose.

One of the blessings God gives to us in this age is the ability to “think on these things”. Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.“

A problem with this arises from our human nature. We tend to always want to think the blessings of God, the handfuls of purpose, are going to be a physical blessing or

The command to think on these things that are positive and the reality of life seem to mix like oil and water. This final admonition of the apostle

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has no caveats with it; it is what we are supposed to do.

Reality dictates that we do think on things that are not so good. As Christians and Americans, we have to pay attention to the political climate which includes the left, right, fringe, and lunatic parts. We must do so because we vote and I believe we will be held accountable. Many Christians will answer to God for voting against the righteous principles by supporting certain candidates.

In reality, we have to consider the bad things that can happen in our lives, so we carry insurance; life, health, car, house. We also have to consider a future of old age so we must be careful of money, debt, IRA’s, social security.

We lock our doors at night, watch our surroundings while out in public, and guard our online identity the best we can. So in the midst of this reality, how do we think positive and where are the handfuls of purpose?

Recently, while writing a Bible study for the Book of the Revelation, I saw some great examples of this very precept. I must say right away that I understand the Revelation covers the Tribulation and so the Church will not be here for many of

these events that take place.

H o w e v e r, t h e p r i n c i p l e remains the same and it serves as an example for us.

The Tribulation is going to be worse than anything the world has ever seen before [Matt.

24:21]. If you are a student of history, you realize that is an awful statement. God reveals to John the awfulness of the situation throughout this book.

Revelation 11, God sends two witnesses to testify of Jesus Christ. The Antichrist kills them both and the world leaves their dead bodies in the streets of Jerusalem for three days as they party. However, Rev. 11:15 records the 2nd coming of Christ whereby He defeats the power of the Antichrist.

Revelation 13 is a description of the Antichrist in great detail. It records him and his false prophet deceiving the entire world. Again, Rev. 14:14-20 reveal the 2nd coming of Christ and his vengeance against the powers of wickedness.

Revelation 16 is an account of the wrath of God poured out upon the earth. It is a great torment to the people of earth and yet they get even more wicked in their refusal to repent. Rev. 16:17 once more records the 2nd coming of

Jesus Christ and his putting an end to all the iniquity.

Finally, Revelation 17 and 18 give detailed accounts of the city of the Antichrist and the one world government that he will lead. Soon after, in Rev. 19, the glorious return of Christ in the 2nd coming is seen with Him being the King of King and Lord of Lords.

The Revelation takes you through the Tribulation and gives four separate accounts of the 2nd Coming. Every time God shows the wickedness and the power of Satan, God also shows us the return of the Lord Jesus Christ and His triumph over that power.

God is not going to let His people be overwhelmed by the reality of the wickedness around them. As the saints see the events unfold around them, God is very quick to give them handfuls of purpose; to remind them of the soon coming of the Lord of Hosts and the victory of righteousness.

God does the exact same thing for us. We do have to live in this world. As such, we also cannot fail to see the downward spiral of society and human nature. The prophecy of God is that the continued on page 7

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Stay With What Works

by Pastor Rob “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” Luke 6:31 This verse is the equivalent of the Golden Rule which older generations grew up hearing; “Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.” There are many teachings found in the Bible that are the basis for common sense instruction. A segment of our American culture is trying to dismiss the Bible, and get rid of it. Yet in doing so, they are removing a strong foundation of instruction and structure that is beneficial to the lives of all its citizens, especially to young people. The youth of America grow up to be the adults of America. Years ago the Bible was read in our schools and students were taught to follow its principles. Whether a student was a Christian or not, the principles of Scripture were a benefit not only to the child, but also to society. There is so much instruction found within Scripture, that if practiced, would tremendously help our culture.

Notice the social instruction written in the book of Ephesians alone.

Chapter 4 I. Mass shootings.

-verses 26 and 31 “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:”

“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:” In our country there is a growing problem with mass shootings. It is a terrible and heart breaking problem. The blame is often placed on the gun; “People are being killed, so we need to get rid of guns.” There may be some adjustments needed in regard to gun law, however, the problem is never the gun. A gun will never kill anyone, but an angry person will. A person harboring malice will.

Verse 26 makes it clear that there are times when being angry is warranted, but do not let anger turn to sin. Get the matter settled as quickly as possible. Do not let the day end before you have either worked the problem out or you have resolved not to let your anger fester. If an angry person will take heed to this principle, then he will never wake up the next morning and proceed to carry out a shooting or any other violence. Certainly our country would be a safer place in which to live.

II. Criminal behavior.

-verse 28 “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

“Thou shalt not steal” is found in the Ten Commandments as well.

But the fact is that sometimes people steal anyway. The New Testament acknowledges that fact and adds in vs 28 that if you do steal then certainly stop it, but also, do right, get a job and put forth effort so that you have money and resources to help someone else in need. Be productive and learn to give. Our neighborhoods across this country would benefit.

III. Bullying.

-verse 29 “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”

Another social problem our country is attempting to address is bullying. Programs are in place to encourage young people not to bully others and also to defend against bullying.

Older generations used to say, “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything.”

The Bible already has that included. This verse makes it clear that what we say to one another should not be corrupt.

Instead it should edify those listening. To edify someone is to build up, instruct, improve, cultivate, and better another person morally, intellectually, or spiritually. To minister grace to someone is doing that which is favorable to the person. They receive a blessing by what was said or done. It helped them or

page 4 encouraged them. That is the opposite intention of a bully.

This verse applies to adults as well. In today’s world, with technology as it is, there is a massive amount of communication proceeding from people’s mouths. From multiple news programs, to commentators, to talk show hosts, to a variety of other outlets, there is more being said than we can possibly digest. A good portion of it is divisive, one sided, inaccurate, damaging, and intended merely to sway the listener. What we say to each other matters. Our corrupt communication is harmful at best. What we say should be truthful, helpful, and even clean.

If hatefulness, cursing and vial language were not a part of basic communication today, our young people may actually learn how to properly communicate.

Our words should be better than that. It would help our young people.

IV. Conflict resolution.

-verse 32 “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

Resolving conflict is another matter of concern. What do you do when someone does you wrong? How long is it okay to hold a grudge? When is the right time to seek revenge? Well if young people get their instruction from watching how many adults handle conflict, they might not get the best answers to these questions. This verse begins the process with kindness. Even if you are an atheist it still would not hurt you to be kind. Especially if someone who offended you is sorry for it.

Show some kindness. Soften your heart. We all have messed up and hurt someone else. Be willing to forgive. I am thankful for those who have forgiven me in the past. As a Christian, I know God has forgiven me through Jesus Christ. Christ took my sins on Himself when He died on the cross. I repented of my sin and the Lord forgave me and saved my soul. The least I can do is be willing to forgive someone who wronged me.

Would it not be good if our kids practiced these principles?

Chapter 5 V. Unwanted pregnancies -verse 3 “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;” Teen pregnancy is handled now with abortion as an option. The girl is assured that terminating the baby is fine because what she does with her body is her choice. It is true that a woman has the right to do with her body what she chooses. If she chooses to engage in activity that could potentially produce a b a b y, a n d t h e n b e c o m e s pregnant, she has already exercised her right of choice. To kill the baby is infringing on the baby that is unable to choose and has done nothing wrong or worthy of death. It is morally wrong to kill the baby after she has already chosen. Personal accountability and personal responsibility for actions is what should be taught and is why the Bible says to refrain from that activity.

Chapter 6 VI. Domestic turmoil.

-verses 1, 2 and 4

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.”

“Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)” “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

Trouble in the home can lead to many other problems. A child may have trouble at school, develop social problems, become alienated, etc. There is a pattern to a healthy home. For a young person it begins by practicing obedience. Do what the parent asks. And it includes honoring parents. Parents are not always right and they have their own faults, but honoring them is right because it gives the child the proper respect for them. It is the first step in acknowledging authority and obeying it. Prisons would be far less crowded if these lessons were learned. Also, there is expected behavior from the father. His obligation is to raise them right. He is not to provoke them to wrath because he is abusing his authority. He is expected to nurture them in love and encourage them in the ways of the Lord. Healthy families would be a great stability to our youth and country.

The Bible is full of helps and guidance designed to support and strengthen the lives of the practicers. It does not stand to reason to disregard the foundations of Christianity, yet expect citizens to conduct themselves like “Christians”. It is not going to happen. The farther we get away from sound instruction the more problems our nation is going to have. Why not get back to the Bible?

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ESBBC Happenings

By Cindy Hays

Sunrise Service and Breakfast April 1 at 7:00 am We will have a Communion Service at 7:00 with breakfast to follow.

There will be a sign-up sheet for food.

We will also be having Sunday Services with Sunday School at 9:30, Morning Worship at 10:30.

Sunday evening is cancelled.

Something to Celebrate He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Matthew 28:6

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL June 25-29, 2018 DISCOVERING JESUS FROM ETERNITY PAST TO ETERNITY FUTURE Please set aside time to volunteer at VBS this year.

See Rachel Donnell for more information

Wouldn’t it be amazing to travel back in time and witness epic events in history? Imagine the thrill of meeting great heroes of the faith like Abraham, Moses, or Gideon. Or the fun of experiencing life in ancient cultures like Rome. Or the fascination of watching famous inventors make discoveries that change the world. Now imagine traveling through time and meeting the most important man ever—a man who was not just a man, but also God. One who turned the world upside-down. One who existed outside of time. We’ll do just that as we embark on Time Lab. Mark your calendars for time travel this summer!

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Missions Ta k i n g G o d ’s W o r d a r o u n d t h e w o r l d .

By Cindy Hays

Missi ns Sunday

& International Dinner

May 26 & 27

We are excited to have some special guest missionaries coming for our Missions Sunday and International Dinner

Sunday will be the regular service times and we will be hearing about the fields that our guest missionaries are called to serve.

Saturday we will have our dinner at 6:00 pm.

We ask each family to prepare an ethnic meal or dish that will be shared at a buffet dinner. Do some research, be brave and prepare!!

Please plan to be here for both days.

Missions is a huge part of our church and we thank God for the opportunity to minister around the world!

Encouragement from the Hymns

by Cindy Hays

Be Still My Soul

Be Still My Soul

Little is known of Katharina von Schlegel, the author of this great song. I recently played it for the invitation hymn and we also sang it that Sunday night in church. Isn’t it wonderful that this hymn written in 1697 is “a song can reach through the ages and touch us right where we are.” (copied from worldwisehymns.com).

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.

Leave to thy God to order and provide; In every change, He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

In these somewhat fearful and busy days it is good to remember the words to this song and take time out to just be still. We need to calm ourselves and remember that the Lord is indeed on our side and He will meet the daily needs we face.

A favorite recording that I listen to is one by Melody St. Clair Randuzzo part of a CD hymn collection I purchased on www.greghowlett.com and also available on Amazon.com

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake To guide the future, as He has the past.

Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake; All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on When we shall be forever with the Lord.

When disappointment, grief and fear are gone, Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past All safe and blessèd we shall meet at last.

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Antichrist will have a one world religion and a one world government. It is also prophesied that in the last days perilous times shall come [II Tim. 3:1]. That not only will governments move away from the principles of God but individuals will as well.

These prophecies of God are not mandates from God that these things are ordered by God, but they are future events that God reveals by His foreknowledge. In other words, God does not make these things happen, but He knows they will.

My point is that our living in reality requires us to understand that these things are eventually going to take place, so do not be shocked or dismayed when we see the preparation of them even now.

The mystery of iniquity already works in our society and upon people [II Thess.

2:7].

Just like the saints of the Revelation, we face these negative realities but we focus on “whatsoever things are of good report”.

For the Christian, whatever your situation may be, it will be better when the Lord Jesus Christ returns for us [I Thess.

4 : 1 - 1 8 ] . We m a y f a c e financial problems now, but

one day we will walk on streets of gold [Rev. 21]. We may have to suffer in a body that seems to find a new way to fall apart on us each day, but one day we will have a body that is incorruptible and immortal [I Cor. 15:51-58].

Relationships in this life can get messed up and fail, but there is One Who sticks closer than a brother, Who loves us as a husband loves his wife and is willing to die for her [Eph. 5:32]. There are times that we feel oppressed by the sin of this world as well as our own temptations. We can seem to feel overwhelmed with it all. Yet I read there is a place I am going to where nothing can enter that defiles or causes sin or oppression [Rev. 21:27].

The temptation of the world is to make the Christian adopt their rudiments and philosophies [Col. 2:8]. The sad part is that many Christians have done just that.

I do hope we get some political leaders that will reverse some of the trends of ungodliness in our country. I am thankful for the strides we have made in cutting down abortions. I am thankful for our country’s leadership giving honour to the life of Billy Graham. Whenever I have been with a group of people and publicly stated that

I personally know people who were saved through a Billy Graham ministry, I have always had someone respond that they know someone too.

But my hope cannot rest in a government that will one day give all to the Antichrist. I have to look for something better. This is what we need to do in regard to “think on these things”.

Look for the handfuls of purpose in Scripture. These handfuls of hope that God gives us in the midst of an evil reality. I am very thankful for the blessing we have in this life. But our hope has to be in the life to come. Everything in this life has a problem, a disappointment, or a conditional factor. Our hope in eternity is unconditional.

All it takes is being born again by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Reading through the Revelation is a daunting task when you realize what those people will go through. Yet, in the worst of times, God gave them handfuls of purpose to remind them of what is to come. He does no less for us.

There is no need for us to despair or lose our peace because of the wickedness of this life. We have a great hope that is coming [Titus 2:13].

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Fellowship of the Saints 1. Look them in the eye.

2. Smile 3. Say hello It is absolutely unbelievable the blessing these three steps can be to someone.

The Encourager 13984 Gregg Neck Road Galena, MD 21635 410.648.6744

Pastor Steve Hays, M.Min,D.Min. Assistant Pastor Rob Manaraze

Reaching the World, Beginning with the Home w w w. e s b b c . o r g

A ministry of

Eastern Shore B I B L E B A PT I ST C H U R C H Standing for the Incorruptible Word of God AV 1611

Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth.

John 17:17