February 5, 2023

 Welcome from Brown Chapel/Avant & Mt. Pleasant

Prayer: Rev. Pelton

Bible Topic: The Whole Armor of God - Ephesians 6:10-20

The Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Roll Call:

Rev. Pelton

Debra & Marceal W.

Ginger R.

Thelma W.

Clark M.

Violet W.

Evelyn H.

Rhonda L.

Closing Prayer: Rev. Pelton

May 27, 2018 - Memorial Service

Sunday School

The Whole Armor of God - Part 5

Shod Your Feet - The Gospel of Peace; The Shield of Faith; The Helmet of Salvation

• We must be ready to preach the Word; the ready in season and out of season - reprove, rebuke and exhort with complete patience and teaching. 2 Timothy 4:21
• Remember that our position in Christ is not based on our own abilities or worthiness. Titus 3:5 - He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.
• God expects us to take the gospel of peace to others. 1 Peter 3:15 - but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.
• Sharing ones faith is one of the best ways to maintain our own sure footing.
• God knows that, when we are actively speaking about Him to others, we are marching into Satan's territory and digging our shoes more deeply into truth and strengthening our faith in God. 
• 2 Timothy 2:15 - Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the Word of truth.
•  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
• Real living faith should motivate our actions of faith. Do not allow the following to weaken you: insecurity, fear, doubt, temptation, anxiety, guilt, hopelessness, hateful thoughts, discouragement of self, stress, feelings of no purpose in life, etc.
• Satan wants to distract us that he can blindside us. He's not just indiscriminately firing arrows at us. The arrows are tailored to each person's life. Aren't you glad that we have the Shield of Faith to protest us?!
• The shield is the first line of defense.
• The shield guards.
• The shield deflects
• The shield can incapacitate the enemy.
• There is strength in the number of shields. We are not alone in this fight with Satan. Ecclesiastes 4:12 - Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
• Acts 4:12 - Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.
• Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.
• John 3:16-17 -  For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.
• Without the helmet of salvation, we would be unprotected from the cares of this world which bombard our thoughts and feelings daily.
• Psalm 27:1 - The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
• With the helmet securely fastened, we have confidence. Romans 8:18 - I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
• In other words, no matter what trials we face in life, we know that at the end of it all waits God's Kingdom and an eternity of His perfect reign.  Now, what could possibly be better than that?! 

Sermon
1 Samuel 17:32-37 - David said to Saul, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him."  Saul replied, "You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth."  But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it  and killed it.  Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.  The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine."
Subject:  "The Importance of Remembering"

• Some things have eternal consequences when we forget where we've come from.
• We are living in the last days, remember that Satan is a lair and a deceiver.
• The army was afraid of Goliath who was a braggart.
• Will the real children of God please stand up?!
• David's family tried to discourage him. They were afraid for him but David knew that God was on his side.
• Three things about David: 1. David was willing when he said, "Your servant will go and fight...." 2. David had faith in God. He believed that God would deliver and aid him in the battle with Goliath. In Romans 4:19 - Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be."  3. David remembered his own testimony when he told Saul about the lion and the bear.
• Remember where God has brought us from.    

Memorial Photos

 Today, we salute our Armed Forces living and passed on. Their service is invaluable to us all.

May 13, 2018 - Happy Mother's Day

Sunday School
The Whole Armor of God - Part 4
Review of precious lessons

• Shod your feet - The Gospel of Peace - we must be ready to preach the Word in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 2 Timothy 4:2
• Shodding your feet has two purposes: to defend ourselves against the flaming arrows of the evil one. Ephesians 6:16 - in all circumstances take up the shield of faith , with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one. We must have confidence of or position in Christ and we must stand firm in the truth of God's Word.
• 1 John 5:14 - And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. We must understand grace without abusing it.
• Romans 6:1-6 - What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into Hid death. We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too, might walk in newness of life. For we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His.  We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

Sermon
Psalm 103:1-2 - Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. 
Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits.
Subject: The Purpose of Praise

• Praise means to acknowledge; to bow down in the presence of an awesome God.
• God is worthy to be praised
• Praise is to honor God; all the glory and honor belong to God.
• We gather to worship God.
• We should have a personal relationship with Jesus.
• God is the one who woke us up this morning.
• In Christ, we live.
• God is the author and finisher of our faith.
• Benefits are from God for us.
• There's a whole lot of knowledge but God gives us wisdom.
• Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think of yourself more highly than you ought to think.  Romans 12:3
• I have a reasonable portion of my health and strength.

Mother's Day Luncheon Photos

             Happy Mother's Day!!!

 

March 11, 2018

Sunday School
The Whole Armor of God - Part 3
References: Priscilla Shirer (Lifeway); Bible Hub; GotQuestions.org; Google; Matthew Henry; StudyLight.org

Satan's Tactics and Believers Way Back

#1 against the believer’s passion – The enemy wants to dim our whole desire for prayer & spiritual things.  Ephesians 6:10-20 – The Whole Armor of God

#2 against the believer’s focus – The believer tends to focus on the wrong thing such as a person, life situation, money, etc.  2 Corinthians 11:14 – And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

#3 against the believer’s personality/character – Satan magnifies insecurities in one’s self, so that doubt creeps in.  Ephesians 1:17-19 – I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.  I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.  That power is the same as the mighty strength.

#4 against the believer’s family – the enemy will try to fragment/divide the believer’s home, pitting father against mother and children against parents and one another. Genesis 3:1-7 – Now the serpent was craftier than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”  “You will not certainly die,’ the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”……

#5 against the believer’s confidence – remembering past mistakes, wishing you could go back and change things.  Revelation 12:10 – Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah.  For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.

#6 against the believer’s own calling – Satan magnifies your worries, fears and anxieties so that we lose confidence.  Joshua 14:8 – But my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear. I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.

#7 against the believer’s purity – the enemy tries to move the believer towards the sins of the world.  Isaiah 59:1-2 – Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But our iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not heart.

#8 against the believer’s rest & contentment – the enemy seeks to stress your life to the breaking point.  Deuteronomy 5:15 – Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord you God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.

#9 against the believer’s heart – the enemy uses every opportunity to keep old wounds, hurts and bitterness uppermost in the believer’s mind so that there seems to be no way forward.

Hebrews 12:15 – See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

#10 against the believer’s relationships – the enemy disrupts friendships and community affiliations that wreck our true relationship with Christ.  1 Timothy 2:8 –Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up hold hands without anger or disputing.

Remember, that believers need to have a plan, a way to see and act on whatever comes unto them. And remember that prayer is one of the greatest tools.

Sermon
Psalm 100:1-5 - Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.  Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endures to all generations.

Topic: What Should We Bring To Church?

• Parents bring to church for their children: candy, gum, toys, baby bottles, smartphones with games.
• Adults bring to church: books, word puzzles, note paper and sometimes their bibles.
• We should be making a joyful noise!
• We need to bring a right spirit to the Lord....one that is constant, steadfast and immovable in the Word of God.
• The word noise means a shout.  We should raise an anthem of praise to the Almighty God.
• Psalm 40:1-3 - I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.  And He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.  Blessed is that man that makes the Lord his trust, and respect not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
• 1 Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
• We need to bring a serving spirit to the Lord...willing to be in bondage to God's will; serving God with gladness and a spirit of laughter.
• We need to bring a submissive spirit to God......willing to bow down. Remember, God made us and not we ourselves.  We should submit to God's purpose for us.
• God took clay and molded it into His image and breathed life into our souls.
• God saved us that we might serve Him.
• Bring a spirit of sacrifice to God.  We are meant to praise God.
• Psalm 150:6 - Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

 

February 25, 2018

Sunday School
The Whole Armor of God - Part 2
References: Priscilla Shirer (LifeWay), Bible Hub; GotQuestions.org; LifeHopeandTruth.com

Review:  The Bible tells us that we are at war with the enemy (Satan) who is bent on destroying us. Paul warns us to beware of the tactics of Satan (2 Corinthians 2:11 - so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are very familiar with his evil schemes).
How can we defend ourselves from Satan's stealthy and deadly attacks?
Paul address this when he compares the Roman soldier's armor to the Armor of God. (Isaiah 59:17 - God put on righteousness as His breastplate; and the helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped Himself in zeal as in a cloak.)
So we see that we do not have to be worried or disheartened by Satan's devices. We are not in this battle alone. We have access to the greatest power. We have God on our side.

Identifying Satan's characteristics so that we are able 

to know what we are up against.

Satan means the adversary of God. He is the antagonist to the plans and purposes of God. His will always seek to misconstrue and malign the character of God and attempt to thwart the purposes of God. Job 1:6 – One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them.

Devil means slanderer.  He intends to defame and malign the character and intentions of God and others. He will whisper lies in hopes of denigrating God’s reputation and diminish our confidence in God and mistrust God’s direction.  Matthew 4:1 – Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  Ephesians 4:25-27 – Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.  “In your anger do not sin”   Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

Lucifer means day star or shining star.  His appearance is attractive, alluring and charming. Because of this, he can approach you in an appealing way to entice and lure your attention.  He doesn’t appear to be repulsive or foul so that you don’t see it coming. Isaiah 14:12-14 – How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.  I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”  Luke 10:18 – He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

Tempter means one who tempts people for the purpose of enticing them to sin.  He seeks to mislead you so that you will become perverted.  He will intentionally set personalized temptations in your path that are not the gifts God set for you.  Matthew 4:3 – The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 1 Thessalonians 3:5 – For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.

Ruler of the World means the enemy is not isolated to one place or one individual. He has global methods of mayhem and destruction. He has carefully planned misleading perspectives, philosophies, doctrines and strategies for all societies.  John 12:31 – Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. – The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Prince of the Power of the Air/Prince of Darkness means the devil does not work alone. He is the leader of the dark forces and his invisible realm effects everything in this physical realm.  Ephesians 2:1-2 – As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.  Ephesians 6:12 – For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Accuser means the one who condemns. He wants to weaken the believer’s confidence and convey condemnation and guilt into their lives by bringing up the past sins and mistakes in the believer’s lives.  Revelation 12:10 – Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:  “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah.  For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.

Father of Lies means liar and falsifier.  There is no truth or light in the enemy.  He will twist, misconstrue and falsify the truth of the Word.  John 8:44 – You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Shoring up or defenses against the enemy is important. Remember that the enemy is sorely vexed in two specifics areas: (1) The biggest threat to Satan is the believer's strong FAITH in God and when the believer uses that faith in their daily lives. (2) When the believer admits/acknowledges/recognizes/confesses/concedes his/her weaknesses to him/herself.......A light is shone on the enemy's plans and the believer can begin the fight against Satan.  But you must keep a close eye on the weaknesses because Satan certainly is.

Sermon

Psalm 42:1-5 - As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, "Where is your God?" These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shots of joy and praise among the festive throng.  Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.

Subject: An Answer for Your Trouble

• We must put our trust in God.
• We are often worn out and longing for God.
• Remember that God is Omnipresent - everywhere
• Do we allow Satan to creep in?
• Common sense has become uncommon.
• Is there an answer? YES, there is.
• We sometimes tend find "Trouble in my way."
• If we live for Christ, we will experience trouble.
• Are you circled with trouble, stress, depression, worry, a feeling of anxiety, etc.?
• Be not anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.  Philippians 4:6-7
• Concentrate on a right relationship with God.

 

January 14, 2018

Sunday School
The Whole Armor of God!
References: Bible.org; Matthew Henry; David Guzik - Blue Letter Bible; Bible Hub; Google
Ephesians 6:10-20

• We Christians are in a life's spiritual warfare with Satan. Our battle cannot be fought with metal, bullets, iron, or stones.
• In order to resist temptations and survive the many trials we face, God has provided a proper defense to stand firm in when Satan crosses our paths.
• For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
• The name Satan means adversary. Devil means accuser or slanderer. He is also called Adaddon which means destroyer.
• Satan is a spirit and so are his demons. He delights in bringing chaos into our lives.
• Satan and his demons are very powerful but God limits their power. They are not omnipresent or omniscient.
• We can't see Satan and since we cannot see him, temptations and trials seem to come out of nowhere.
• Satan uses deception to tempts us into sin. He portrays sin as so very attractive.
• But God provided the Whole Armor.
• We are to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. v10
• The belt is the first piece of equipment. it represents truth or sincerity to fight against lies and decept.
• The breastplate of righteousness. When we've repented and been forgiven of our sins and done right in the eyes of God (obeying God), our breastplate will protect us.
• Shod the feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.  We should be ready and eager to preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God.
• The shield of faith, above all, which enables us to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  Faith protects the Christian in many ways just like Daniel in the lion's den; like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
• The helmet of salvation. Salvation is free, provided by the incredible sacrifice of Jesus Christ. With salvation, we have the hope of eternal life.
• The sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.  In Hebrews 4:12 it says, "For the Word of God is living and powerful, and shaper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
• Jesus used the Word of God against Satan in the desert. Matthew 4:1-10
• We must remember to sharpen our swords by regularly studying the bible.
• Pray is last. We are to pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.....
• Praying reminds us of the battles we face and strengthens our defenses against Satan. Prayer lets God know that we are fully committed to Him, praising Him in good times and bad times.

Sermon
Philippians 3:13-14 - Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Topic:  New Beginnings

• Everything has a beginning.
• In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Genesis 1:1
• We have a new beginning because of what Christ did on Calvary.
• In life, we need to have a process of the order of things, one step at a times, to appreciate our daily lives.
• To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1
• We should forget about the past. But we tend to want to hold onto it because it seems easier.
• Stop being chained to the past. You can't go and fix it.
• Do not be conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  Romans 12:2 
• Jesus died so that we may be forgiven and have a new beginning.
• Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.  And above all these put on love, which binds everything in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:12-14
• Focus on looking within yourself rather than on someone else.
• If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  Romans 12:18
• Restore right relationships.
• Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.  2 Corinthians 5:17