1. We are asking everyone to do the following:

• Practice social distancing
• Please do not hug one another
• Sing from the screen
• Be seated after the invitation
• To practice social distancing, you will be dismissed by rows
• As you exit the building, take time to worship by giving back to the Lord
• The nursery and children’s church will be open
• You are encouraged to wear a face mask, but not required
• If you are sick, have a fever or other underlying health conditions, please worship by livestream

2. Thank you for a great attendance on Sunday, June 7th & June 14th (approximately 140 in person & live streaming both Sundays)!

3. Church Offerings as of the week of June 7th: June Budgeted Income-$21,916.60 Undesignated Offering-$13,475

4. We will be having a wedding shower for Rachel Brown on June 28th 2-4pm in the fellowship hall. She is registered at Belk, Bed, Bath & Beyond, and Walmart.

Hosea 2:2-23

Chapter 2 reflects the moral and religious conditions in Israel around 750 B.C. Chapter 2 describes the effect of those conditions upon God— and God’s reaction to Israel as a result of these conditions.

This morning let us look at:

I. Israel’s unfaithfulness

II. God’s first reaction to Israel’s immorality

III. God’s ultimate response to Israel’s shame

I. Israel’s unfaithfulness

Verse 2- Israel like Gomer was unfaithful— yet Hosea loved Gomer, and God loved Israel. What a terrible sin Israel had committed. She had become unfaithful to the one who loved her most— God. Do not judge Israel. What a terrible sin it is for one who professes Christianity to become unfaithful to God, who has redeemed you and who loves you.

God says— Go to your mother Israel and contend with her. Tell her to come back. Tell her to turn from idolatry.

Verse 5- Israel’s unfaithfulness was further characterized as harlotry. Gomer was in prostitution for money. The same was with Israel. The people had turned to idols— spiritual adultery. The people of Israel were giving the idols credit for providing for them.

“I will go after my lover that gave me bread, water, flax, oil, and my drink”, while all the time Jehovah God was providing for all their needs. Israel had totally become ungrateful to God.

Verse 8- There was total denial of Yahweh. There was total denial that anything came from God. So much of a denial— that silver and gold given by God was used to worship Baalim.

Verse 13- Israel was so involved in the cultic activities of the worship of Baal that she had totally forgotten God.

Yes, Israel had been unfaithful. Her unfaithfulness had gone into harlotry. Israel was totally denying God. Israel had forgotten God.

II. What was God’s first reaction to Israel’s immorality?

Verse 2b- God’s first reaction was to disown Israel. God would no longer be God’s bride.

Verse 3- He declared that He would strip her naked— a thing often done to unfaithful women. He would deny her fields their fertility, thus famine and starvation.

Verse 4- God will judge the people of Israel as illegitimate children— God would judge them as a nation turned to idols.

Verse 9- God’s first response was to take back all He had given Israel. That leads to this question— Has the U.S.A. been judged by God? Yes.

• The Dust Bowl of the Depression
• World War II
• Vietnam Conflict
• 911- World Trade Center
• Covid-19

Is judgment eminent today? Yes, it is when murder is considered a social problem instead of sin. It is when homosexuality is considered a lifestyle instead of sin. It is when abortion is considered a convenience instead of sin. The list gets long. Yes, God will judge America. History ought to teach us that.

Yes- God’s first reaction was to disown Israel, strip her naked, and to take back all He had given her.

III. What was God’s ultimate response to Israel’s shame?

Verse 6- He chose to convince her of the folly of her way— by the path’s she had chosen.

Jeremiah 2:19 says, He chose to hedge her about with constraints. Her pursuit of Baalim would be so disappointing they would serve as a deterrent to an unknowing Israel.

Verse 7- There comes a day when a harlot is no longer beautiful and her lovers lose interest in her. She finds herself being put out. This is what was happening to Israel. The people were saying, “Now we will turn back to God.”

Verse 10-11- He chose to expose Israel as the shameful creature she had become. The gods she chose to serve would be one more disappointment after another. What a tragedy it is to forget God.

Verses 14-15- God simply said to Israel, I will judge you of your sin. After I have judged you, there will be a glorious, wonderful hope for you in the future. Notice “the valley of Achor”— which means valley of trouble. After your trouble, there is hope.

IV. What was the effect of God’s reaction upon Israel?

Verse 7- God chose to woo her back by means of disappointment, suffering, and trials. Man would have destroyed Israel. God wanted to restore her.

Because of what God did and because of how Israel did not benefit from Baal, Israel was determined to return to her first husband. In addition to Israel’s own declaration to return— God announced that the nation would respond positively.

Verse 16- “Ishi” means, my husband. What is the husband relationship? It is one that is intimate, personal, and based on love.” The Song of Solomon refers to this as, “I am my beloved, and my beloved is mine.”

When will this take place? Verses 18-23

Verse 20- “In that day”, refers to the 1000 year reign of Christ. Yes, in that day— the Jew of Israel will finally know the Lord.

Does unfaithfulness, on a nation’s part, pay? Ask the Jews, whose ancestors rambled for years— whose country fell out of existence and into captivity.

Ask the strayed Christian who was once on fire for God— and then got far from God. As you and I will find, the cost is too great.

Have you ever considered the word “water”? Just how essential is water to you and me? Water to the human body is essentially the same as oil is to gasoline engine. When the human body is low on water, the medical people call this dehydration. Dehydration is corrected by placing water back into the human body. Very complicated health issues take place in the human body that end up in dehydration, just as a deficiency of oil to the gasoline engine. Extremely low oil can cause an engine to over-heat, and in the case of no oil, the engines seizes.

How essential is water to you? Turn it off at your house, and you will see. No water= no clean clothes, no water= no coffee, no water= no bath, no water= no tea, no water= thirst. The list of the negatives that occur when no water exists continues.

When I think of water— during childhood— oftentimes I drank water from a spring along with cows, dogs, turtles, snakes, and anything else that needed a drink. A few years ago, I toured a hydro power plant where a huge volume of water was allowed to run into what looked like a tunnel which propelled generators into action. The end result was electricity. At 211 degrees, water is hot. At 212 degrees water boils. With boiling water comes steam, and steam can power a locomotive.

Consider this thought— the drops of rain make a hole in a stone over an extended period of time. Water is essential to you and me. What does your Bible say about water? Carefully read Psalm 148:4-5. Did you note verse 5 which say that God created water? Why did God create water? Could it have been that He created man He knew needed water to live? Could it be when he created plant-life He knew plants needed water. Maybe He created water because He knew that fish, which were his creation, would die without water?

Could it have been that He looked through the pages of time and saw His people in bondage and decided to do away with the Pharaoh’s army by drawing them into the Red Sea. Oh, maybe He created water to teach you and I to walk by faith. Your Bible teaches that Peter walked on water until he took his eyes off Jesus, and then we find Jesus walking on water. After all, water was created by the Creator and Jesus simply walked on what He created. This we read in the Bible where Jesus took water and turned it into wine.

Turn to your Bible to John 4:14. Jesus had met with the woman of Samaria at Jacob’s well. He was attempting to get her to understand that she needed more than physical water to meet her eternal need. Jesus, in verse 13 explains to her that, “whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again.” Note what He said in verse 14, “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

Oh, what a difference in physical and spiritual water. Both are needed to fulfill God’s will in our lives. How essential is the word “water” to you? If you want to live, physical water is a must. If you want Heaven as your home— you must drink from the spiritual well that never runs dry.

Remember we will begin “in house” worship on June 7th at 10:30am. Live streaming of services will also occur for those of you who have underlying health conditions. I ask you to pray daily for the services on June 7th. To God be the glory!

Bro. Don

A servant girl gave the following definition of a Christian: “People that go to church and chapel, that talk about religion, and take the Parson home for tea.” No doubt— this is what the little girl had gathered as she watched those who professed Christianity.

Thought: Christian names are everywhere. Christian men are rare.

In Acts 11:26, we see the attitude of a city towards Christianity.

In Acts 26:28, we see the attitude of a convicted sinner towards Christianity.

In 1 Peter 4:16 we see the attitude of a Christian towards suffering.

The city of Antioch was one of the most sinful, ungodly, unrighteous, unholy, and sensual places on the face of the earth. In the midst of all this, a handful of Christians began to attract attention.

This is the way it ought to be in 2020. God’s people ought to live in such a manner, talk in such a manner, and act in such a manner that they get a sinful world’s attention.

Question: What are you doing in your neighborhood or workplace to get a sinful man’s attention?

Question: What constitutes a Christian?

I. Faith makes a Christian. How?

A) Faith saves. Hebrews 11:6 and Ephesians 2:8-9

B) Faith justifies. Romans 4:1-5 and Romans 5:1

C) Faith keeps. 1 Peter 1:3-5

Yes— faith makes a Christian.

II. Life proves a Christian.

A true Christian is one who does not say— but lives a transformed, separated, Godly, and dedicated life.

What are the marks of a true Christian? 1 John

A) A true Christian cannot walk in darkness. 1 John 1:6-7

B) A true Christian cannot be disobedient. 1 John 2:4-5

C) A true Christian cannot hate. 1 John 2:9-11

D) A true Christian cannot love the world. 1 John 2:15

E) A true Christian cannot live a life of sin. 1 John 3:4-10

F) A true Christian cannot doubt God’s Word. 1 John 5:9-11

Yes— faith makes a Christian. Life proves a Christian.

III. Trials confirm a Christian. 1 Peter 1:7

A true Christian will persevere in the midst of a storm. Oh— the lions may frighten him, doubts may lead him into captivity, flattery may ensnare him— but he keeps on.

John 8:31- What did Jesus tell the believing Jew?

1 Peter 4:12-13 tells the true Christian to not be surprised at the trials and suffering— just keep rejoicing.

Yes— faith makes a Christian, life proves a Christian, trials confirm a Christian and…

IV. Death crowns a Christian. 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Oh— if you are a Christian, look for and love the doctrine of the coming of Christ. You will have earned the crown of righteousness. What a crowning day— that day you give up this old body and step into the presence of the Savior.

What is a Christian?

• In faith, a believer in Jesus
• In relationship, a child of God
• In influence, a light
• In communion, a friend
• In conflict, a soldier
• In experience, a pilgrim
• In expectation, an heir

Are you a real Christian or just one in name only?

Join us as we honor our 2020 graduates🎓

Come To The Light Parade at KSBC
Saturday, May 23, 8 pm

Genesis 5:24- “Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.”

Are you walking with God? What does that mean? “Enoch walked with God.” Walking with God simply means living in the presence of God. Are you living life regulated by His will? Are you living life inspired by His spirit? Are you living life devoted to his purpose?

Yes, Enoch walked with God.

To walk with God implies:

1) Self Surrender- The name Enoch means dedicated one yielded to God— to be conformed to His mind and His will. If you and I walk with God, we surrender ourselves to Him.

To walk with God implies:

2) An Unbroken Fellowship- Amos 3:3 asks this question, “How can two walk together except they be agreed?”

You see— if you walk with God, you are not in rebellion, you are not in sin, and you want what God wants— not anything else.

Folks— churches need a dose of this. When we want what God wants, there is agreement.

To walk with God implies:

3) Continual Progress- To walk with God means a growing knowledge of Him. There is no standing still with Him. Are you growing in His knowledge— and not the world’s knowledge?

His Knowledge:

• Are you thinking as Jesus would have you think?
• Are you asking— “What would Jesus do in this situation?”
• It does matter what Jesus would do.
• It does matter that we want what Jesus wants personally or as a church.
• There is no standing still with God.
• When God is in it— there is continual progress.
• When you and I walk with God, the light on the path shines more and more.
• The path gets clearer and even more clear.

Thought: There is a pathway back home I walked a many a time. As the sun beat down on it— the pathway was clear, but at nighttime it was a dark path. There were no lanterns or streetlights. So, it is with us— when we walk with God— the pathway is always clear.

If we walk away from God— our path gets darker and darker and the first thing you know— the world and all its affairs have consumed our lives. Are we happy on the world’s dark path? No, we are in bondage and slaves to what the world offers.

To walk with God implies:

4) Complete Separation- You could not think of Enoch taking part in the world’s sinful pleasures. Leviticus 20:7- “Be ye holy, for I am holy.”

Beloved— God is light and those who love the light do not walk in darkness.

To walk with God implies:

5) Unfailing Perseverance- It was for Enoch— an unfailing perseverance— for 300 years he walked with God. Not once a week, not only in the morning, not only at nighttime for a few minutes, but continually— Enoch walked with God.

To walk with God implies:

6) A Fearless Confidence- There is not a doubt in our finite mind that God is not with us. No wonder the Psalmist said, “For thou art with me.”

Does that describe your walk? Yours is a walk of confidence? Not one question about it?

To walk with God implies:

7) Intense Satisfaction- Hebrews 11:5- “He hath this testimony, that he pleased God.”

While there are those whom we displease— it is interesting that we can please God. Yes, there are those who don’t understand us. There are those who make fun of us.

Teenager— if you please God some of your classmates who are not pleasing God will ridicule you and make fun of you. Yes, you may live in the world, but you are not required to act like the world. To please God is always the best.

To walk with God implies:

8) Future Blessedness- Read Genesis 5:24. God took him— no funeral home, no wake, no burial— God took him.

To walk with God implies:

9) Simple Faith- You see— Enoch had simple faith. By faith Enoch was translated.

Are you walking with God? Colossians 1:10 says, “Walk worthy of the Lord.”

Conclusion:

To walk with God implies:

1. Self Surrender
2. Unbroken Fellowship
3. Continual Progress
4. Complete Separation
5. Unfailing Perseverance
6. Fearless Confidence
7. Intense Satisfaction
8. Future Blessedness
9. Simple Faith

Are You Fit for the Master’s to Use? 2 Timothy 2:19-21

• To be a lineman, one must be a grunt.
• To be a machinist, one must first be an apprentice.
• To be a teacher, one must first practice teach.
• To be a drive, one must first learn how to drive.

I. To be fit for the Master’s use, one must:

A) Build on God’s foundation

B) Be known by God

C) Be responsible unto God

Read 2 Timothy 2:19. The foundation of God stands sure. How could Paul write this to Timothy? Paul simply writes to Timothy about the local church. What does he say? The local New Testament church has a solid foundation (not the church building), but with the church.

Read Ephesians 5:25-27

God’s church is a glorious church— having no spot or wrinkle— Holy— without blemish. All has been made possible because of the blood sacrifice on Calvary.

Thought:

• The earthly house I live in always needs repair.
• The earthly car I drive is headed to a junk yard.
• The earthly clothes I wear are fading and soon need to be replaced.

Not so with God’s church— why? Because, it was built on a blood bought foundation. Blood redeemed— that has, is, and will stand all the test of time.

Yes, when the trumpet sounds— God’s redeemed will win the battle— Why? It is because God’s redeemed are standing on a solid foundation.

His name is Jesus.

To be fit for the Master’s use— you must be on the right foundation.

II. To be fit for the Master’s use, you must be known by God- 2 Timothy 2:19

Having this seal— the Lord knoweth them that are His.

Read Colossians 1:14, 20-22 and 1 Peter 2:21 and 24.

My soul— your soul is very precious unto the Lord. He knows us one by one. You and I were bought with a price. 1 Corinthians 6:20

Does God really know me?

Read Nahum 1:7

John 1:48

John 10:3

John 10:14

2 Tim 2:19

Are you known by God? To be fit for the Master’s use, you must be known by God.

III. To be fit for the Master’s use, you must be obedient and responsible to Him.

Read 2 Timothy 2:19-21

Thought: You and I are called— chosen in Christ. We should be Holy and without blame. Not only is God’s house on a solid foundation, not only is God’s house sealed— God’s house also has vessels. These are of honor— gold, silver, and, there are those of wood and clay.

The saved— those of honor.

The lost— those of dishonor.

Are you fit for the Master’s use?

• Only is you have built on the right foundation.
• Only if you are known by God.
• Only if you are separated— set apart unto honor.

Read 2 Timothy 2:19-21.

My friend— are you fit for the Master to use?

As you survey the Cross— you may hear the following:

I. “Nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Matthew 17:20

It is possible

• To cast all our cares upon Him
• To have the thoughts and imaginations of our heart purified
• To see the will of God in everything and to receive it not with sighing, but with singing
• To take complete refuge in Divine Power and to become strong through and through

Nothing shall be impossible unto him that believes. What is God saying to you as you survey the cross on this April Sunday morning?

II. “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” Psalm 37:7

Have you prayed and prayed and waited and still no answer?

Are you tired of seeing nothing move?

Are you at the point of giving up?

Perhaps you have not waited in the right way. Romans 8:25- “But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”

Patience takes away worry. Patience takes away weeping. (He knows your need better than you do.)

James 1:4- “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire— wanting nothing.”

Think about what God could be saying to you.

III. “My grace is sufficient for thee.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

“My grace is sufficient for thee.” (2 Cor.12:9.)

There is always a large balance to our credit in the bank of Heaven waiting for our exercise of faith in drawing it. Draw heavily upon His resources.

IV. “All things are possible to him that believeth.” Mark 9:23

Faith adds its Amen to God’s “Yes” and then takes it to hands off and leaves God to finish His work.

Its language is, “Commit they way unto the Lord, trust also in Him.” Psalm 37:5a

I simply take him at His Word. I praise Him that my prayer is heard and claim my answer from the Lord. I take; He undertakes.

Active faith says— I believe it, now I take.

Yes, I know that God is able and full, willing all to do.

He bids me to go forward.

V. “Launch out into the deep” Luke 5:4b

In the devotional, “Streams in the Desert”, we read the following:

“Launch out into the deep.” (Luke 5:4.)

How deep He does not say. The depth into which we launch will depend upon how perfectly we have given up the shore, and the greatness of our need, and the apprehension of our possibilities. The fish were to be found in the deep, not in the shallow water.

So with us; our needs are to be met in the deep things of God. We are to launch out into the deep of God’s Word, which the Spirit can open up to us in such crystal fathomless meaning that the same words we have accepted in times past will have an ocean meaning in them, which renders their first meaning to us very shallow.

Into the deep of the Atonement, until Christ’s precious blood is so illuminated by the Spirit that it becomes an omnipotent balm, and food and medicine for the soul and body.

Into the deep of the Father’s will, until we apprehend it in its infinite minuteness and goodness, and its far-sweeping provision and care for us.

Into the deep of the Holy Spirit, until He becomes a bright, dazzling, sweet, fathomless summer sea, in which we bathe and bask and breathe, and lose ourselves and our sorrows in the calmness and peace of His everlasting presence.

Into the deep of the Holy Spirit, until He becomes a bright, marvelous answer to prayer, the most careful and tender guidance, the most thoughtful anticipation of our needs, the most accurate and supernatural shaping of our events.

Into the deep of God’s purposes and coming kingdom, until the Lord’s coming and His millennial reign are opened up to us; and beyond these the bright entrancing ages on ages unfold themselves, until the mental eye is dazed with light, and the heart flutters with inexpressible anticipations of its joy with Jesus and the glory to be revealed.

Into all these things, Jesus bids us launch. He made us and He made the deep, and to its fathomless depths He has fitted our longings and capabilities.—Soul Food.

“Its streams the whole creation reach, So plenteous is the store;

Enough for all, enough for each; Enough forevermore.”

Have you launched out into the deep?

Some people have cornstalk faith. Oh, so tall and green it stands, until a hard wind blows and down to the ground it goes.

Genesis 13

Arguments cause worry and trouble in the family.

Has your family ever faced a problem that caused worry and trouble.

Have you ever become involved in an argument with another member of your family over something that you both wanted? Most families have experienced this.

If this has happened in your family, you will understand better the experience of the two families in today’s Bible study. The Bible passage relates how two families felt and acted when they were confronted with a serious problem.

“The herdsmen schemed to outsmart each other. Arguments and fights developed among them. Arguing did not settle the disputes. A bad spirit existed among the families of the herdsmen.

Here are some possible solutions to the problem between the herdsmen: (Remember Abram was the chief of the tribe.)

1. Ask Abram to command Lot and his servants to leave and find other pasturelands. Abram already owned the land according to God’s earlier promise.

Abram could have ordered his herdsmen to fight until they defeated Lot and his men. Not only would this have given Abram more grazing lands, but he could have taken what remained of Lot’s flocks, also. There isn’t much doubt that Abram had more men to fight for him.

2. Ask Abram simply to issue a command that the fighting must stop and that those who disobeyed would be punished. He was the chieftain of the tribe and had the authority to do such.

3. Suggest that Abram divide the land and give Lot that portion that he wanted Lot to have and take the rest for himself. By doing this Abram could have assured himself of adequate grazing lands.

However, Abram did not use any of these possible solutions. Abram made this suggestion to Lot to settle the problem. Abram said, “Let there be no strife or fighting between us and our herdsmen.” Abram solved the problem by doing what God planned for families to do when they have problems. Abram acted unselfishly in the situation. Genesis 13:5-18 contains the solution Abram offered. As you read this passage, you will discover how Abram acted unselfishly to overcome trouble.

In many families today there is strife similar to that which Abram faced: fighting, quarreling, and disagreement. Does today’s scripture passage offer some helpful approaches to solving problems within your family as well as outside your family? How?

Lot made his choice. His choice was greedy. He selected the best land, filled with large areas of grassy grazing land and an oversupply of water. Thinking only of himself was the tragedy. Lot had learned many lessons from his Uncle Abram. But Lot forgot the most important lesson— in times of trouble, think about the other fellow.”

Note: The lesson today was printed in 1971 from the Sunday school department of Convention Press, Nashville, TN.

A forty-nine year old Sunday school lesson that is very applicable in 2020.