What the Church Needs Today (E.M. Bounds)

“These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication…” Acts 1:14a

“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Acts 2:42

 

“The church is looking for better methods–God is looking for holier men.

 

What the Church needs today is not more or better machinery, not new organizations or more and novel methods–but men mighty in prayer.

 

The Holy Spirit does not flow through methods–but through men.

He does not come on machinery–but on men.

He does not anoint plans–but men, men of prayer.

 

Prayer is our most formidable weapon, the thing which makes all else we do efficient.”

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Pastoral Thoughts on a New Sermon Series

This past Sunday, I began a new sermon series through the Gospel of Mark. I am looking forward to what the Lord has in store for our church family as we work verse-by-verse through this book of the Bible.

Yesterday, I shared some practical ways to get the most out of our new sermon series. Because the things I shared apply to any sermon series, I want to share some of what I shared with the church family.

1) Be Present

Be faithful in church attendance. Don’t forsake the ‘assembling of yourselves together’ (Heb. 10:25). The matter of church attendance should not be a matter of convenience but should be a matter of conviction that grows out of a desire to honor and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ!

2) Come Prepared

Prepare yourself and your family with prayer. Pray that God would save sinners, the saints would be edified, and that Christ would be glorified. Pray that God would speak to your heart and have His will accomplished in your life.

Pray for the preacher that God would open his mouth to preach in God’s power and according to His will. Or as Paul requested prayer from the church at Ephesus “…that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel.” (Eph. 6:19)

Come to church ‘hungry’ (that is, spiritually hungry). Come to church like you come before a bountiful, feast. Come hungry and eager to partake of the spiritually nourishing ‘meat & drink’ of God’s Word.

Having a good spiritual appetite for God’s Word begins with having a teachable spirit. If I have a proud spirit, I’m not going to come to church hungry because either I think I know it all or I have the attitude that nobody’s going to tell me what to do (both attitudes come from a heart of pride).  

Cultivate an attitude like young Samuel who said- “Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth” (1 Sam. 3:9). If you come to church with a hard heart, a distracted heart, or a heart that is set on worldly things, don’t be surprised when you don’t get anything out of church.

1 Pet. 2:2- “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.”

Be rested– a rested body/mind is essential for being prepared to worship God. I’ve said it before- “Sunday worship begins on Saturday evening.”  

3) Stay Plugged In (during the preaching time)

Recognize that whenever the Word of God goes forth, Satan is working overtime to keep you from hearing the Word and receiving the Word into your lives.

Just as a bird plucks away newly sown seed, so Satan is working overtime to pluck away the truth of God’s Word from your heart and mind.

Recognize the value of the Word of God and just how desperately you need it!

Come before the Word like the Psalmist- “Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way. Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them. The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments…Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.” (Ps. 119:127-131, 140)

During the preaching time, ask God to help you listen with your full attention. Don’t settle for listening to sermons in a halfhearted way.

Luke 19:48 speaks of those who listened to Jesus as He taught in the temple- “…for all the people were very attentive to hear him.”

They were hanging onto every word that He said! And that ought to be our response to God’s Word. Every time the Word is opened, God is speaking to us. The question is: Are we listening?

Here’s some questions to ask yourself as you listen to a sermon:

  • What is God trying to teach me from His Word?
  • What are areas of my life that God wants me to change?
  • How can I respond in obedient faith to the Word of God?
  • What can I put into practice this week in obedience to God’s Word?
  • Do I have a meek and submissive spirit towards the Word of God?
  • Am I resisting the influence of Satan who is doing all that he can to steal away the seed of truth that has been planted in my heart?

4) Put the Word into Practice

Hebrews 2:1- “Therefore we ought to give more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.”

It is important, not only that we hear the Word, but that we don’t let the things we have heard ‘slip away’.

What can we do to keep God’s truth from ‘slipping’ out of our minds?

  • Pray and ask God to instill the truth in your heart.
  • Meditate on the truth through the week.
  • Strive to respond in obedience to every sermon you hear.
  • Diligently practice (live out) the Word through the week.
  • Go back and review notes you have taken during the sermon.
  • Go back & re-listen to the sermon.
  • Talk to your children about the sermon.
  • Talk to fellow believers about the sermon.

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Chained, Changed, Commissioned

A skeptic can attempt, albeit futilely, to deny things that are contained in the Bible; however, one thing that cannot be denied is the testimony of a life changed by God. There are many people throughout human history who were once lost, but now found; once shackled by sin, but now liberated from the dominion of sin; once blinded to God, but now walking in the light of Christ.

In Mark 5, we read the account of a man who was once controlled by demons.  This man dwelt among tombs and was bound by the chains of sin. This man could not be controlled by other men and was, therefore, relegated to an isolated existence “in the mountains, and in the tombs” where he was found “crying, and cutting himself with stones” (v. 5). This man was alone, possessed by demons, and living out a miserable existence on earth.

The day came, however, when this man would meet the One who would turn his life upside down and would transform him from the inside out. Jesus Christ journeyed across the Sea of Galilee to the country of the Gadarenes where He would meet this man and cast demons out of the man into a herd of pigs who “ran violently down a steep place into the sea” (v. 13). Those caring for the pigs were frightened and fled the countryside to go to the city and publish what had happened.

When those from the city came out to see what had happened, they found a rather surprising change. The man who had formerly been an outcast due to his destructive, sinful behavior, was now “sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind” (v. 15). In other words, this man who had been so tormented by sin and demons had been radically changed because of Jesus. The man who was chained by sin was now changed by the grace of God.

This man, so grateful for the work of Jesus Christ on his behalf, had a desire to stay with Christ. But Christ had other plans for him. Christ gave this man a commission to “go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee” (v. 19).

This man who was once chained by sin, was in a moment of time changed by Jesus and commissioned to spread abroad what Christ had done.

Is this not a picture of the testimony of every believer? Do you remember the time when you were still bound by those chains of sin? Do you remember the day that Jesus saved you and changed your life? Are you being faithful to go and tell of the great salvation that Christ has wrought on your behalf?

AW Tozer said, “If we are not changed by grace, then we are not saved by grace.” May we be faithful in demonstrating and proclaiming this wonderful change that Christ has wrought in us!

~Pastor Aaron Francis

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Our Greatest Priority

In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus gave His disciples the marching orders for the present church age. Many have labeled these verses as the Great Commission. Whether you use that title or not, I think that every Christian would agree that these final words of Christ are: 1) “great” [i.e., important; weighty], 2) a “commission” [i.e., a charge; order; mandate]. This is the great charge for NT churches to fulfill in this present age. 19th century missionary, J. Hudson Taylor stated the seriousness of this charge: “The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed.”

Let’s consider the words of Christ in this passage: “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

This command is repeated in all four Gospels and again in the book of Acts. In each of these passages dealing with the Great Commission, we are given a fuller understanding of this great task that Christ has left with His disciples. In Mark 16:15, Jesus said: “…Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” In Luke 24:47, Jesus said: “…that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” In John 20:21, Jesus said: “…as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” In Acts 1:8, Jesus said: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Although we could spend much time unpacking these passages and showing how they inform our understanding of the Great Commission, I want to focus in one main truth: These passages teach us what the chief pursuit, the main mission, the clear purpose of every NT church is!  

The chief purpose of the church is the fulfillment of the Great Commission. It has been stated that the Great Commission was Christ’s last command and ought to be our first priority!

In this digital, fast-paced, busy society in which we live, it is easy for us to become side-tracked and to lose our focus on keeping the main thing [the Great Commission] the main thing [our first priority].

The elements of this Great Commission involve: 1) Preaching the Gospel [evangelism], 2) Baptizing Believers [a public profession of an inward transformation], 3) Discipling Believers in the Faith [intentional discipleship through the local church].

As a local church and as individual believers, we must regularly ask ourselves these questions: “Is the fulfilling of the Great Commission my chief pursuit in life?” “If somebody looked at my life, would it be clear to them that the Great Commission is my chief pursuit?” “Is the way I use my time, resources, words, and energy reflective of the importance of the Great Commission in my life?”

 Like a vehicle being put back into alignment, we must regularly check and make sure that our lives are in alignment with God’s will! Pray today and ask God to refocus your mind and heart on the fulfilling the Great Commission! Let’s endeavor by the grace of God to keep the main thing the main thing!

~Pastor Aaron Francis

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“You Are Always Good”

This year, our church’s new congregational theme song is “You Are Always Good”. This song focuses on our minds on the truth that, no matter what we go through, God is always, only good! Enjoy the music video put together by the Hamilton Family and also check out the doctrinal notes underneath the video that help explain the Scriptural truths contained in the lyrics of the song. Enjoy the spiritually enriching words to this song! ~Pastor Aaron

DOCTRINAL NOTES
by Chris Anderson

Because God delights in worship that is biblical, thoughtful and passionate—what we often call intentional—please consider the following overview of the biblical texts and doctrinal themes behind the hymn “You Are Always Good”:

Verse 1 recalls God’s sovereignty—His fingerprints upon our lives—even as it acknowledges the times when His plans are a mystery to us (Romans 8:28-29; Psalm 115:3). Even in the most trying of times, God is faithful to His oft-repeated promises that He will never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5; Deuteronomy 31:6; Isaiah 43:1-2).

The refrain reminds us that God is always good and only good. Though the word may seem simple, Scripture uses it repeatedly as a testament to God’s benevolence (Psalm 34:8; 84:11; 100:5; John 10:11, 14). He acts for the glory of His name and the good of His children. We believe it, even when we can’t see it.

Verse 2 encourages us that God’s faithfulness to us in entirely in spite of us. When we examine ourselves, we see only sin and weakness. Thankfully, the Lord’s grip on us is stronger than our grip on Him. On our worst days, the Lord’s love for us is unchanged. He is ever with us, sheltering and sustaining us (Psalm 37:23-24; Deuteronomy 33:27a; John 10:27-29).

Verse 3 prompts Christians to look upward, not inward. There we see a God who is full of compassion (Psalm 103:8-14). We are justified in doubting ourselves, but our God is entirely trustworthy (2 Timothy 3:13; Lamentations 3:23). The crowning expression of God’s great goodness is the giving of His own Son to be our Savior and to secure our eternal fellowship with Himself (Romans 8:32; 1 Peter 3:18).

May the Lord use this song to remind us of His unfailing goodness, even on our darkest days. Grace!

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The Heart of the Matter

Although each person is different, researchers have estimated that the average person uses between 7,000-10,000 words per day! At the 7,000 word per day rate, that would mean that the average person speaks around 49,000 words per week and over 2.5 million words per year! Imagine what that number would be over a lifetime.

The way we use our words is very important to God. There is a reason why the Bible gives so many warnings about how we use our words. Consider a few examples:

Exodus 20:7- “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD the God in vain; for the LORD will not hold guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”

Proverbs 10:19- “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.”

Proverbs 21:23- “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.”

James 1:19, 26- “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath…If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.”

Although there are many warnings against the wrong use of words, we must recognize that God made us to communicate with one another and with Him through the use of words. We are relational people and verbal communication is an important part of maintaining healthy relationships. However, the Bible has much to say about the words we use. And the words we use reveal what is contained within our hearts.

In Matthew 12:33 Jesus said- “Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.” In the natural realm, if a tree is producing rotten fruit, it’s an indicator that the tree is diseased. If the fruit is good and healthy, it’s an indicator that the tree is healthy.

In Matthew 12, Jesus had been responding to the hypocrisy of a religious group in His day called the Pharisees. These Pharisees were very strict about outward observances of the law and their extra-biblical traditions they added to the law. However, on the inside they were full of corruption and sin. Jesus knew their hearts and He knew why they continued to speak against His miracles. Jesus would go on to say to them some very direct words that exposed the rottenness of their hearts. He said, “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things?” Jesus knew that it was impossible for them to speak good things about God because their heart was evil. He reminded them that it is “out of the abundance of the heart [that] the mouth speaketh.” Their blasphemy against the Lord was indicative of their heart attitude toward Him. Just as a diseased tree produced rotten fruit, so the Pharisees revealed the spiritual corruption in their hearts by the blasphemous words they spoke against Christ.

Jesus went on to say that “a good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things” (Matthew 12:35). A man who has been saved by the grace of God and is walking under the control of the Holy Spirit will, out of his heart, bring forth good things. His words will be wholesome, truthful, edifying, holy. But an evil man will bring forth evil words. His words will be blasphemous, deceitful, profane, and destructive.

That is why the Bible warns that “every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgments. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words though shalt be condemned” (Matthew 12:36). The Lord reminds us to guard our words. He also reminds us that our words reveal what is on the inside. Clean up the heart and the words will follow. A clean heart comes through: 1) Salvation, 2) a Spirit-filled life, 3) Sanctification.

May we pray with the Psalmist- “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in they sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)

~Pastor Aaron Francis

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New Beginnings

When a new year begins, many people take up resolutions and make plans for the next 365 days of the year. Some resolve to get out of debt, to reach a new goal, to get better grades, to lose weight, or one of a thousand other ideas that people begin the year with and usually give up by the end of January. As people enter the new year, they often see it as a blank slate that can be used to accomplish all the goals that were left undone in the previous year. It is another chance to reach a goal. It is a new page in the book of life. It is a new and fresh beginning.

As we enter a new year, I want to draw our attention to four important words found in the first verse of the first chapter of the first book of the Bible: “In the beginning God…” (Genesis 1:1). The book of Genesis means “origin” and it has been called the “book of beginnings.” In it, we see the beginning of Heaven, Earth, mankind, marriage, God’s Sabbath, sin, sacrifice, prophecy, human government, nations of the earth, and the family of Israel. We see the beginning of time and matter. All that we have and know has its origin in the book of Genesis. Genesis acts as the fountain head for many of the major doctrines that flow through the Bible.

Just as the first book of the Bible begins with God, so we must begin this new year with our hearts aligned with God’s will. All our planning and organizing is vain if it is not submitted to God’s will for our lives. We can scheme and plan but the Bible says “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it…” (Psalm 127:1). Unless the Lord is the director of our plans, we are laboring in vain. James 4:13-15 says, “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the LORD will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” All our resolving, our planning, our arranging must find its origin in a life that is submitted to God. It is only by God’s good grace that we have another breath, another day, another month, another year. May we begin our year by making a resolution to honor and serve the One who gave us both physical and spiritual life.

Another year I enter
Its history unknown;
Oh, how my feet would tremble
To tread its paths alone!
But I have heard a whisper,
I know I shall be blest;
“My presence shall go with thee,
And I will give thee rest.”
(Unknown author)

~Pastor Aaron Francis

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What is the Meaning of Christmas?

Consider the meaning of Christmas from John 1:1-14 by watching the video below from last year’s (2021) Candlelight service: 

 

  1. The Incarnation of Christ (v. 14)
    • The Miracle of the Incarnation
    • The Humility of the Incarnation
  3. The Identity of Christ (vv. 1-5, 9-10)
    • Christ is the Eternal God
    • Christ is the Creator of All Things
    • Christ is the Giver of Life
    • Christ is the Light of the World
  4. The Invitation of Christ (vv. 11-13)
    • “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.” (1 Peter 3:18)
    • Friend, your greatest problem is sin…your greatest hope is a Savior!
    • When Christ went to the Cross, He was punished for our sins…and He became our substitute! And now God offers you the ‘gift of spiritual and eternal life’!
    • Romans 6:23- “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through the Jesus Christ our Lord.”
    • Friend, the greatest gift you will ever receive is not something wrapped under the tree at home…the greatest gift you will ever receive was wrapped up in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger!
    • That gift is Christ! It is the ‘gift of God’s amazing grace’ that can save a wretch, that can give spiritual sight to the blind, that can bring the lost into the family of God.
    • The Bible says that God is “…not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9).
    • John 1:12- “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
    • Has there ever been a time in your life, when you have received the gift of salvation in Christ?

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Christmas Candlelight Service (2022)

We invite you to join us for a Christmas Candlelight Service at Legacy Baptist Church!

When: Wednesday, December 21st at 7 PM

Where: Legacy Baptist Church (302 Oakland Ave., Oakland, IA 51560)

Join us for a special evening of singing Christmas carols

and reflecting on the true meaning of the Christmas story!

“For unto you is born this day…a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)

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Welcome!

Welcome to the “Pastor’s Page” on Legacy Baptist Church’s website! I trust that you have been able to smoothly navigate our website and find what you are searching for.

The most important message on this website is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you have never received by faith the message of the Gospel, please visit the following page: “The Gospel”. If you have any questions about God, the Bible, Jesus Christ, or the Gospel message, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. 

The purpose of this page is to provide timely articles, devotionals, and quotes that strengthen one’s faith and point to the sufficient Word of God for clear answers in these uncertain times! 

To God Be the Glory,

Pastor Aaron Francis

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