JULY 2024
Eastlawn Baptist Church
432 North Sellars Mill Road
Burlington, NC 27217
(Psa 11:3 NIV) When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?"
1 Timothy 2:1-6 (NIV) I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men--the testimony given in its proper time.
HOW DO WE LIVE IN THESE LAST DAYS?
WHEN THE FOUNDATIONS ARE BEING DESTOYED WHAT CAN THE RIGHTEOUS DO? AS CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WE NEED TO…
CELEBRATE
WE NEED TO CELEBRATE OUR HERITAGE AS A CHRISTIAN NATION! WE NEED TO REMIND EVERYONE OF OUR TRUE HISTORY. WE NEED TO CELEBRATE GOD’S SHEDDING HIS GRACE ON US. WE NEED TO CELEBRATE OUR FREEDOMS. WE NEED TO CELEBRATE ALL OUR BLESSINGS WITH THANKSGIVING!
EVALUATE
(Mat 22:15 NIV) Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words.
(Mat 22:16 NIV) They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are.
(Mat 22:17 NIV) Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"
(Mat 22:18 NIV) But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me?
(Mat 22:19 NIV) Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius,
(Mat 22:20 NIV) and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"
(Mat 22:21 NIV) "Caesar's," they replied. Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."
(Mat 22:22 NIV) When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.
WE HAVE TO EVALUATE WHAT BELONGS TO CAESAR AND WHAT BELONGS TO GOD. WE HAVE A DUTY TO RENDER UNTO CAESAR THE THINGS THAT PERTAIN TO HIS RESPONSIBILITIES…TO ESTABLISH JUSTICE, ENSURE DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY, PROVIDE FOR THE COMMON DEFENSE, PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE, AND SECURE THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY. WE NEVER OWE CAESAR OUR ULTIMATE LOYALTY. OUR SUPREME ALLEGIANCE IS TO GOD. OUR CITIZENSHIP IS IN HEAVEN! CEASAR IS NOT GOD. JESUS CHRIST IS OUR SAVIOR, LORD, AND KING!
WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO RESIST AND TO OPPOSE GOVERNMENT WHEN IT IS ATTEMPTING TO BE ABSOLUTE AND ULTIMATE. WE HAVE TO SEEK FIRST GOD’S KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. GOVERNMENT’S POWER IS ALWAYS LIMITED.
PARTICIPATE
THE SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES. ANY LESS DEDICATION, FAITH, AND RISKING OF OUR OWN LIVES FOR OUR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM WILL RESULT IN THE LOSS OF THOSE PRECIOUS FREEDOMS FOR WHICH THEY LIVED AND DIED. WE MUST FAITHFULLY PARTICIATE IN OUR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT. WE MUST PRAY, VOTE, LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY, BE LAW ABIDING CITIZENS, AND LAY DOWN OUR LIVES TO SECURE OUR NATION!
SEPARATE
2 Corinthians 6:17 (NIV) "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you."
IF WE ARE GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE SEPARATE FROM THE WORLD. WE MUST BE HOLY. WE MUST LIVE BY THE WORD OF GOD. WE MUST BE AMBASSADORS OF CHRIST. BEING SEPARATE DOES NOT MEAN TO ISOLATE OURSELVES. HOW WILL THEY HEAR THE TRUTH IF WE DO NOT SHARE WITH THEM? WE ARE TO BE IN THE WORLD BUT NOT OF THE WORLD. WE ARE TO BE THE SALT AND LIGHT OF JESUS CHRIST.
CONGREGATE
Hebrews 10:25 (NIV) Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
WE NEED TO BE MEETING TOGETHER AS THE BODY OF CHRIST, THE CHURCH! WE NEED TO BE TEACHING THE TRUTH TO COUNTER A CULTURE OF LIES. WE NEED TO BE FAITHFULLY WITH THE FAMILY OF GOD LOVING ONE ANOTHER, ENCOURAGING ONE ANOTHER, PRAYING FOR ONE ANOTHER, AND SPURRING ONE ANOTHER ON TO FAITHFUL SERVICE.
PROPAGATE
WE NEED TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL! THE HOPE OF OUR NATION IS JESUS CHRIST! GOD HAS BLESSED AMERICA TO LEAD THE WORLD TO JESUS!
ANTICIPATE
WE NEED TO ANTICIPATE THAT THE END IS NEAR. JESUS IS RETURNING SOON FOR HIS CHURCH! THAT SHOULD UPLIFT US! WE SHOULD BE EXCITED AND ENERGIZED! WE SHOULD BE MOVED TO SHARE THE GOSPEL AND SEE PEOPLE SAVED BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. WE SHOULD BE CRYING OUT FOR A SPIRITUAL AWAKENING…A MIGHT MOVEMENT OF GOD….CRYING FOR MULTITUDES TO BE SAVED!
Great Newsletter!