The Messenger is the church newspaper that is published about one or two times a year at present. It gives brief summaries of the worship services, prayer request lists, activities that have happened, events that are coming up.
It has been treasured by many for over 20 years now.
This will be added to the Web Site when the next issue of The Messenger is printed. Janice Tallant is editor of this church newspaper.
Check back here later for the next issue.
July 14, 2006 7:45 p.m. The Youth Choir opened with ?Worship?. Prayer was led by Alex. The Youth Choir sang ?Oh What A Mighty God We Serve? & ?Holy Ground?. Carli sang ?Above and Beyond?. Kasey, Ashley, and Michelle sang ?So High?. Rev. Russ Woody brought the message from Luke 24:44-49; 25-27. God?s eternal purpose is that He might be glorified. We were put on the face of the earth to glorify God. The Bible is God?s revelation of himself. In verse 44, we know the Resurrection has already taken place. Jesus became specific and spoke about the Law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms. The stories in the Old Testament do lead to Christ. There was no ?old? testament in Jesus? time as the ?new? testament had yet to be written. Some may say the Old Testament doesn?t talk about Jesus. Read Psalm 22 which tells about the crucifixion. Isaiah 53 describes the crucifixion. Psalm 16:10 is quoted by Peter in Acts 2. The Old Testament is important to study as the whole Bible is. If you are saved, you have a role to be a witness for Jesus. Jesus was a sinless man. What is the role of the Holy Spirit? Look at John 14:16-18. The Holy Spirit gives you the power to witness for Christ.
July 14, 2006, 11 a.m. Rev. Clint Smith brought the message from Psalm 27:4-6 and Luke 18:18-22 with the text, "Something is missing." This rich new ruler realized something was missing in his life. Clint told how how he knew he was without God when he was lost. You judge being lost by what you are missing in life. When you are lost you will probably not want anything to do with the church or the preacher. There is a blueprint of how you must come to Jesus to be saved. He told about his 27 month old son missing one of his play tools. He looked everywhere for it before he came to his Dad for help. One thing above all others for Christians to do is to worship God somewhere. He talked about missing blessings because he held back. God wants 100% of our time, prayers, and study.
July 13, 2006, 7:45 p.m. The Adult Choir opened with ?We Have Come Into the House?. Greg Purcell led the opening prayer. The Adult Choir sang ?What A Day That Will Be?. Then Glenn Tribble read scripture about the cross. The Adult Choir sang ?By the Way of the Cross?. Rev. Clint Smith asked the congregation to sing ?The Promised Land?. He then read 2 Chronicles 36:11-17; Revelation 10:5-6; 20:11-15 with the thought ?There still is a remedy?. Satan is going by every bench tonight trying to pollute the church. Jesus is the only remedy to get to heaven. God has always offered his children a way out of going to hell. God has always had compassion on his people. Those burning in hell today had been given a chance to know God. With Adam, sin entered the world, but ?there has always been a remedy?. Time will end one day and everyone will stop whatever they are doing. When God returns in all His glory, it will be declared that ?time will be no more?. Hell is real. There is a remedy. If you?ve never accepted the remedy, you?ll stand before the great white throne and find ?there was found no place for them?. What saves our soul is the Blood. He also spoke of the Holy Spirit that came at Pentecost.
July 13, 2006 11 a.m. Raney Roden sang ?Sometimes? and ?The Man in the Middle?. Rev. Lee Gaddis brought the message from Ezekiel 37:13-14 with the text, ?The Lord knows?. The Lord had taken Ezekiel and showed him visions. There was a valley full of bones, the valley of dry bones. God knows the hour we are in. Ezekiel saw the bones come together and the sinews and flesh come on the bones and the skin covered them. There are a lot of ?dead bones? walking around us. Without Jesus in your life, you are walking around ?dead bones?. There is rejoicing in heaven today. Lee is thankful that his children could see a service like last night?s. God began to breathe into these ?bones? and they lived, stood on their feet, and became an exceeding great army. He read the scripture again. ?And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord.? ?The Lord knows?. God knew what was going to happen with Ezekiel. Living good is knowing the Lord.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006 7:45 p.m.Rev. Gaddis said we had MEETNG tonight. Prior to the 7 p.m. choir practice, Rev. Gaddis came in and asked Robbie to announce what had happened to him. He had just been saved. We all had been praying for him and that set everything in motion. The Adult Choir opened with "I've Got Joy". Willie Meadows led the opening prayer. The choir sang "The Cross Said It All". Olivia & Jonah sang "I Love You My Child". The Sounds of Home sang "Lean On Me", "As I Am", & "Right On Time" with a few shouts of joy during their singing. Rev. Lee Gaddis was excited in his preaching as well. He read John 8:12. A woman was brought to Christ who had been caught in the act of adultery. He told us how glad he was that we had an altar in our church. He told about how he had felt when he knew he was lost. He quoted Romans 3:23. When you get down on your knees of your heart to pray, Jesus hears. He does not listen to junk. Jesus told the accusers of the woman, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." Jesus then began writing on the ground. Sin is running rampant in our county and country and even our homes. When Jesus raised up, He asked the woman where were her accusers. She said there are none. Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn thee, go, and sin no more." Jesus then told her, "I am the Light of the World". The Sounds of Home sang several songs after the sermon and the rejoicing & even shouting continued. Robbie told the congregation that he had been saved and everyone shook hands with him and his family.
July 12, 2006 11 a.m. Rev. Russ Woody led the opening prayer. Rev. Terry Cowart joked about Lee not preaching and told that he will preach at least once. Jesus started a job and went to the end. That is our job. He read several scriptures. I have glorified thee on the earth. Jesus is the Word. When Jesus received the vinegar, He said, ?It is finished?. Think about the working of God. What would we do if we had to depend on man? Men have become smart, but have not found a new way to heaven. You must have the blood of the Lamb. There must be movement and then repentance for salvation. You can come every Sunday and sit in the same place, sing, play instrument, but if you have not accepted Christ, you are lost. The preached word has to have a start and be built on a foundation to be manifested. Noah had to lay out ark and plan everything the way God instructed. After many years, he looked and said, ?It is finished?. It was built to save Noah and his family. He had to follow the plan of salvation; it cannot happen with man?s plan. Only God?s plan will work. Sometimes it only takes a small piece of the puzzle to make things happen. You could be that piece that is needed in this revival. We have all got a place and a job. When Jesus said ?it is finished?, it was just the beginning for us. There have been changes in this county. Just a little while ago, there were only Baptist, Methodist, and Holiness churches. Now there are many other ones and they are okay if Jesus is in them. Man will never find another way to heaven, but through Jesus. Terry can?t save, but he can tell you who can. The church then enjoyed a luncheon together.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006 7:45 p.m. Hannah opened with a piano solo, "Peace in the Valley". Ashley sang a song about Jesus' Crucifixion. Dennis Woodall sang "Let Me Tell You What He Did for Me" and "I Was Filled and Fulfilled". Bealan Payne sang "I Claim the Blood". Tyler Good led prayer. Rev. Terry Cowartbrought the message. He began by telling that mothers recognize the voice of their child in a crowd. Sheep recognize the voice of their shepherd. God recognizes the voice of the mother church, Friendship Baptist. What sound is the last thing you hear before death? What sound is it going to take for you to move to know God? God loves little children. He read Naham 3:1-3; Revelation 6:1-8; 12:12. You have to be separated just a minute from your mother while Jesus saves and then you are handed right back to your mother, but saved. He told about the white horse that shows pureness. The red horse was given power and represented the blood of the Lamb. The pale horse is called Death and Hell follows. Terry preached a clear picture of what happens to someone who doesn't know Jesus as their Savior. Several testimonies were given to close this service.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006 11 a.m. Rev. Clint Smith brought the message from Ezra 3:10-13 and 1 Kings 8:56 with the theme "Rejoicing in the start, waiting on the finish". The children of Israel had wanted a king then they did not want a king. Their lives were up and down. To ever have peace in your ife, you must be saved. In Ezra 3: 2, the first thing the people did when they returned to Jerusalem was to set up the altar. They had been in bondage and captivity and now they were home. As soon as the foundation was started, they began rejoicing, then "waited on the finish". Pray! Pray! Rejoice in the start, wait on the finish. A prayer was led by Rev. Gaddis to pray for our revival.
Monday, July 10, 2006 7:45 p.m. Prayer was led by Rev. Paul Carder. The Preschool Choir sang "Jesus" songs including "Jesus Loves Me". The Junior Choir sand "I Can Only Imagine". Kayla sang "Jesus Made A Difference in My World". Rev. Clint Smith brought the message from Genesis 4:1-10; Matthew 23:34-36; Revelation 7:13-17 with the theme "the Blood talks". Cain and Abel were grown. They knew about God. It was time to make a sacrifice. Abel brought his best, but Cain did not bring his sacrifice from his heart. The Lord rejected Cain's sacrifice. Cain then slew Abel. If you're lost you can hide from us, but not from God. God asked Cain where his brother was. Cain asked "Am I my brother's keeper?" Abel's blood was crying out to God. The blood of Jesus Christ is talking to you if you are lost. Clint told about Moses telling the Israelites to place blood on the sides and over the door post. Blood talks. Without blood there is no remission of sin. For the children of Israel, the day of atonement had come. The High Priest would carry the blood to cover the people's sin. It did not do away with their sin, but covered them once a year until the Promised One came. The Blood works. The Blood talks. The woman with the issue of blood was cleansed when she touched the hem of Jesus' garment. The Blood works. The Blood talks. Rev. Smith was very excited about Jesus' Blood talking. An altar prayer was led by Rev. Gerral Richards for the lost and our revival.
Monday, July 10, 2006 11 a.m. Prayer was led by Herbert Westray. Hannah Cowart played "When They Ring Those Golden Bells". Rev. Terry Cowart brought the message from 2 Samuel 23:14-15. David was longing for a drink of water of the well of Bethlehem. Three of his mighty men broke out and went and got the water for David. When David got the water he had longed for, he poured it out unto the Lord. Many before us have longed for that water. Terry told about Elijah sitting under the juniper tree. He talked about "The Love of God" song which he and Randolph led prior to the sermon. We are in a battle this week. It is our job to go out and get a little water for the One we love.
Sunday, July 9, 2006 7:45 p.m. Prayer was led by Kenneth Ingram. Stacy & Katie Rose sang "The Champion of Love". Kasey sang "Stand Still and Let God Move". Rev Terry Cowart brought the message from 1 Corinthians 13:12 and the book of Daniel. He gave his experience of grace and told about telling his Call to preach almost 21 years ago. Belshazzar was having a big party and was doing things he should not do and touching things that he should not touch. He asked Daniel to read the writing on the wall. Terry talked about parents not talking to their children about church or about being saved. What if Jesus treated us like we treat our children? The greatest gift a parent can give to a child is carrying them to church to hear about God and be saved somewhere. Belshazzar was looking through a glass darkly. We look through a glass darkly, but Jesus helps us see. There is a heaven to gain and a hell to shun.
Sunday, July 9,2006, 11 a.m. Prayer was led by Jeff Wilbanks. Mrs. Kate Bramblett was recognized for perfect attendance by her Sunday School teacher, Bill Bass, with a certificate and corsage. The Junior Choir sang "I'm Trading for the Joy of the Lord". Rene Westray sang "Even in the Valley". Rev. Lee Gaddis brought the message from Psalm 51:12-19. "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation" (vs 12). Have you come to a place in your life where you have forgotten your joy? Revival is to restore the joy of our salvation. Even beautiful stones become tarnished. So do Christians. Let God put the luster back in your life. David said when the joy of salvation is restored, "then will I teach transgressors thy ways" (vs13). We can teach by living. "And sinners shall be converted unto thee" (vs 13) God will send miracles. God is in the miracle business. We will not see miracles unless we look for them. For every good thing that happens, God needs the praise for it. Imogean "Jean" Stinson joined the church to be baptized at the close of the service.
Friendship Baptist Church Summer Revival will be held July 8 through July 14, 2007 with morning services at 11 a.m. and evening services at 7:45 p.m. each day. Rev Gary Coffey and Rev Jerry McCormick will be our guest preachers who will assist our pastor, Rev. Lee Gaddis..There will be special singing each evening plus the Friendshp Choirs most evenings. Some of the guest singers will include: Tianna Phillips on Sunday evening; Scott & Cynthia McWhorter on Monday evening; Dennis Woodall on Tuesday evening; Rene Westray and Zion Hill Baptist Church Choir on Wednesday evening; The Sounds of Home on Thursday evening; Katey Rose Goss and Preschool, Junior, and Youth Choirs on Friday evening; Kasey McPherson and Ashley Washburn on Saturday evening . We hope to have other guest singers visit us and sing for us during the week.
Wednesday morning services have a special emphasis on our senior members. A covered dish lunch will be served in the fellowship building after the 11 a.m. services. All ages are encouraged to visit with our guest preachers as we fellowship together on Wednesday, July 11.
When possible, an update of each service will be placed on this front page so all can know what is happening at this most precious time of the year in our church.
Summer Revival Updates
Thursday, July 12: Rev. Paul Carter led the opening prayer. Janice Tallant sang ?Whosoever Will?. Rev. Jerry McCormick brought the message from 1 Kings 17:1-4, 7, 17-19, 21; 22: 1, 17. We need water on a regular basis. We can go without food longer than without water. The brook that Elijah was drinking from dried up. The Lord told Elijah to go to town and a certain widow woman would sustain him. Elijah asked the woman to make him a morsel of bread. They ate well for awhile and then the water dried up again. We are thankful for what we have experienced this week, but we now need to move on to help others find the living water. If we look ahead and see a better day ahead, ask God to sustain us until then. He read the story about the widow?s little boy. The soul had left this little boy. Elijah laid down upon him three times and then the soul came back into him again. Do you want to be where your soul is? We need to have a desire to be where our soul will be. Why did it take 3 times for Elijah to lie on the boy to restore him? One time was not enough. Jerry thought about the number 3 and the three crosses. One cross had not been enough. The second cross held the man who had a repentant heart and asked Jesus to remember him in paradise. Two crosses were not enough. The third cross was necessary. We are on our way to the third cross. The third time Elijah laid down, the child was revived. The first cross wouldn?t work. The second cross can tell you what will work. The third cross works. There is no natural life without physical water. There is no spiritual life without the living water of Christ. Jerry told about his personal experience of drilling a well for water at the house that he built 22 years ago.
Thursday, July 12: The Adult Choir opened with ?So You Would Know?. Rev. Russ Woody led the opening prayer. The Sounds of Home sang ?Working the Road?, ?Surely I Will Lord?, ?Out of Harm?s Way?, and ?Right on Time?. Rev. Gary Coffey brought the message from Ezekiel 3:17-21 and St. Luke 16:19-31. This is a real story about real people not a parable story. If your heart is right with God, the scripture will not offend you. What are the three things that hell has that the church is losing? The duty of the watchman in Ezekiel was to watch the city and sound the alarm if danger was approaching. (He mentioned our Emergency Broadcasting System tests on the airways.) Gary said that he is accountable every time that he stands behind the book-board to carry the message. If we see danger approaching and we have not warned someone, we are held accountable. Sometimes we get programmed too much in our churches. The story of the rich man and Lazarus is a real story not a parable. How many times have we left Jesus knocking at our door? What three things does hell have that the church is losing? The dogs had more compassion on Lazarus than the rich man. Both of the men died. The angel came and took Lazarus to heaven. The three things the church are losing: 1) tears (the people are afraid to cry or ashamed to cry in the house of God); 2) prayer (the people are refusing or failing to pray), pray a hedge around the church of God; 3) concern for the lost and dying world. When we are born, we are given a name. That name is recorded in heaven. When we reach the age of accountability, that name is blotted out and cannot be found in eternity until we are saved and given a new name. Too many babies are being fed with milk only and need to hear the Word of God. One of the torments of hell is to be able to see the splendor and glory of heaven. The rich man is still sitting in hell and seeing the glory of heaven. Those in heaven cannot see the agony of hell. There is a huge gulf dividing the two. We think of gold being precious here, but it is so common in heaven that they walk on it. We need the truth. 1) Cry. 2) Pray. 3) Get concerned. God has not changed over the years. We have changed the message. We need the Word of God to sustain us.
Wednesday morning, July 11: Prayer was led by Rupert Harris. Kasey McPherson sang ?Walk Around Me Jesus?. Rev. Lee Gaddis brought the message from 32:24-30 with a text of ?Why do we wrestle with God?? He expressed that he was still very burdened and felt that people had been in our midst during services and had left without being saved this week. We all wrestle with God at times. Jacob was left all alone and he wrestled with God (angel of God) from night until break of day. When we wrestle with God, He will come out on top. Jacob?s thigh came out of joint during the wrestle. The message is that you cannot stand alone without God. When Jacob realized he could not stand alone, the angel asked Jacob to let him go. Jacob told the angel he would not let him go until God blessed him. Don?t let go until you are saved. God blessed Jacob and gave him a new name. Rev. Terry Cowart led dismissal prayer and blessing. This was Senior Day of revival and we had several seniors as well as all ages join us for a wonderful lunch and fellowship.
Wednesday evening, July 11: Logan Purcell and Anna Bell Wallace joined the church to be baptized. Zion Hill Baptist Church Choir sang ?I Know A Man Who Can?, ?Still I Believe?, ?I Believe I?ll Go Home?, and ?I Went Down A Beggar but I Came Up A Millionaire?. Rev. Don Westray led us in prayer. Rev. Jerry McCormick brought the message from Matthew 25: 1-13 with ?advantage? as his text. He gave several examples of what we think of as advantages in our lives. The ten virgins were exactly alike. He asked us to visualize 10 beautiful girls who looked alike, wore same clothes, etc. They were ten pure people. (It could have been boys, etc. but the emphasis was that they were exactly alike.) The only difference was that five were identified as foolish and five were identified as wise. The foolish virgins asked for some oil from the wise virgins. The wise could not give them any of their oil lest they run out themselves. We who are saved cannot give part of our salvation to someone else. Jerry mentioned that coming to Sunday School is a product of being saved. It doesn?t save you. Sitting in a pew at church and coming to choir practice (and he gave other examples) does not give us an advantage for being saved. These are products of being saved. The foolish virgins went to purchase more oil, but the bridegroom came while they were gone. We do not know when Jesus is coming back, so we must be ready for whenever He comes. The five wise virgins were invited into the marriage supper, the five who had gone to get oil were told ?I know not you? and the door was shut on them. Jesus bore all that pain and suffering for sinners like us. After a lot of praying and tears, Joey found Jesus in his heart and later confessed that he had been saved. Praise the Lord!!!!
Tuesday morning, July 10: Prayer was led by Randolph Cagle. Rene Westray sang ?Amazing Grace?. Rev. Gary Coffey brought the message from Luke 18:10-14; 18-27; Romans 3:28. ?How much is a soul worth?? A soul is priceless. It cost Jesus Christ his life. Two men went into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee (man of great religion) and one a publican (tax collector). The Pharisee did not say a prayer but simply words to build himself up. We need to worry about where our own relationship is. This man prayed to himself. The publican went to his house to pray and was justified. Revival is worth it if even one is saved. This soul is priceless. The certain ruler wanted to know how to inherit eternal life. This man had kept Commandments # 5-9 and felt good about it. This man had not followed Commandment #1. This man was sorrowful when Jesus told him what he needed to do and he went away very sorrowful because he was very rich. This man is in hell because he let his possessions keep him from following God. He then talked about another rich man, Nicodemus, who had sought Jesus in the night and wanted to know how to have eternal life. Nicodemus is mentioned again later defending the man he had met in the night. ?Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.? Nicodemus also anointed Jesus? body after he died. Nicodemus is in heaven today. Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiving of sin. Our sin not only affects ourselves, it affects our family, our church, our community, etc. He spoke about the Shunamite woman whose son had a bad headache. He died. She took the child and ?slack not thy riding? to one who could help her. How much are you worth today? Toy Tallant led the dismissal prayer.
Tuesday evening, July 10: Dennis Woodall sang ?Let Me Tell You What He Did for Me? and ?What A Day That Will Be?. Kasey McPherson and Ashley Washburn sang ?That?s No Mountain for a Climber?. Rev. Lee Gaddis brought the message from St. Luke 8:5-16. ?What are you hearing? What have you heard?? Jesus explained the parable of the sower. Satan is out seeing that the Word will not be sowed. The devil will come by the way side and take away the Word ?lest they should be saved?. There are those who hear the Word, but do not do anything with it. They are saved, but then don?t go back to church. They miss the joy of being a part of the house of God. You cannot serve God and the world at the same time. The most important thing in our life is the decision we make with Jesus Christ. On the good ground, the seed will bring forth fruit. Get the ground ready, remove rocks, let the seed fall exactly where it should fall. The most precious fruit are the words, ?I?ve been saved.? Jesus came for all: the Jews and the Gentiles. Some parents came to the altar to pray and then Anna Bell Wallace came up for prayer and was saved. Praise the Lord!!
Monday, July 9, 2007, 11 a.m.: prayer was led by Phil Westray. Katey Rose Goss played ?Glory, Glory, Glory? on the piano. Betty Howard and Doris sang ?Good Morning Lord I?ve Been Waiting for You? and ?Peace?. Rev. Jerry McCormick brought the message. He began by talking about sweet peace and what a difference it would be in this world if everyone had sweet peace. He read Revelation 1:5-6; 5:9; 7:14; 12:11. All are scriptures about blood. Rev 5:9 talks about a new song. He said that Jesus is inspiring new songs today for the young people. We can give them the old hymns but there are inspired new songs also. He read Luke 8:43-44 about the woman with an issue of blood. Truth is not relevant, it is Absolute as seen in God?s Word. The woman was worried about dying when she touched Jesus? hem. Jesus really died. He rose from the grave. Satan thought he had won, but he didn?t. Jesus rose and never died again. Lazarus rose from the grave but he died again. Jesus lives forever to give us opportunity to live forever. He spoke about Adam and Eve hiding because they had disobeyed God. He said he wasn?t sure why this woman (with blood disease) was hiding, but when Jesus asked who touched Him, she stepped out and told what had happened to her. Jesus told her that ?thy faith hath made thee whole, go in peace.? Jerry told about his experience with a ruptured appendix. The Bible refers to our body as a temple. Our body can change from a vessel to a temple. He spoke about moral excellence. When we have Jesus, we can recognize wrong even when 1000 people say something is right. The love of Christ constrains us from doing wrong.
Monday, July 9, 7:45 p.m.: Prayer was led by Rev. John Roden. Scott and Cynthia McWhorter sang ?His Grace is Sufficient? and ?Don?t Pass By?. Rupert Harris sang ?Let Me Touch Him?. Rev. Gary Coffey brought the message about ?Your appetite?. He spoke of spiritual nourishment. He read St. Luke 14:16-24; Revelation 19:7-9; St. Luke 15:1-2 about the parable of a supper invitation. Two invitations were given out. The first invitation had gone out to the Jews and they would not have Him. They had been told their Redeemer was coming, but they didn?t think it was Jesus. He told about his belief in the Virgin Birth. When the supper invitations were given out, those invited started making excuses. A lot of preparation had gone into the supper. Those invited were more interested in the physical things of life (land, oxen, and wives) than the spiritual. Revival comes from a church that has an appetite for Jesus not from the preachers. People worry about what other people think but we must get past that and worry about what God thinks. The only unforgivable sin is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. We have responsibilities. Quit making excuses. We know where the food is but we are not willing to come to the table. Don?t leave the church hungry. People allow possessions to keep them from knowing God. Come and dine. Jesus has the table set. After hearing the excuses, the master sent his servant to go out into the highways and hedges to compel them to come in (go out where the real hungry are: those thrown away, drug addicts, alcoholics ...). Ask these people to come to the house of God. It?s hard to be saved if you?re not in God?s house. Children need to be fed. They need meat. Did you come to church for finger food or meat? If you have an appetite, you can be filled. Rev. Gaddis told about the heavy burden that he had for those coming to church and leaving services without being saved. After the altar call had been given and we had been dismissed for the evening, Logan Purcell came up for prayer and was saved. Praise the Lord!
Sunday, July 8, 11 a.m.service: Phil Westray led the opening prayer. The Adult Choir sang "I Just Feel Like Something Good Is About to Happen" (and it did). Rev. Lee Gaddis brought the message from St. Luke 18:18-27. He began by telling different things he likes about revival. He spoke about the outward man and the inward man. To have revival this week, put aside the outward man to see the inward man. God looks at the inward man. In this scripture, this certain ruler had kept most of the commandments. Jesus told him to give all his goods to the poor and follow him. The man was sorrowful because he didn't want to give up his riches. Who can be saved? Anyone can. Lee read verse 27 again. "The things which are impossible with man are possible with God." At close of service, Justin Padgett came up for prayer and then told us he was saved. Joyce Blevins joined the church under the watchcare.July 8, 7:45 p.m.: Prayer was led by Kenneth Ingram. The Adult Choir sang "It Is Well with My Soul". Tianna Phillips sang "I Know My Redeemer Lives". Jim Cox led a song and invited all to join a choir he will lead to sing at Karen Peck's home in Dahlonega on July 27-28. Rev. Jerry McCormick brought the message from Hebrews 4:2. His emphasis was on "us and them". God's word must be mixed with faith. He told his experience of grace when he was saved. He gave several examples of scripture to show the difference between "us and them". Peter and Judas. Peter was in a situation of doing something terrible when he denied Christ three times but he never sold out. Judas bargained with the world. He took the silver and did something terrible. When Jesus and Peter's gazes met after the denial, Peter changed. Judas made a mistake when he betrayed Jesus. He realized he had done something terrible and went back to rulers, but he didn't ask Jesus for forgiveness. Other examples that Jerry gave, Cain and Abel; the other two on the crosses with Jesus; Elijah and th 450 prophets of Baal. What is the difference between "us and them"? One difference between "us and them" is that we can get forgiveness. He demonstrated his story about Gideon's army and decreasing the number of men. Gideon had 32,000 in his army. The Lord said that was too many. He told Gideon to send home all those who wanted to go. 22,000 left and went home. God said that is still too many. Then he told Gideon to take the men to the brook to drink water. 9700 were then dismissed because of how they drank water. They put their supplies down and then put their face in the water without watching for the enemy. The other 300 men watched carefully for the enemy as they lapped the water. Vigilance makes a difference between "us and them". The Holy Spirit tells us how to serve. When we are saved, we should stay "mixed" with word and faith (gave an example of paint mixed at store). He gave one more example of the raven and the dove that Noah sent out during the flood. The raven didn't come back to show Noah what was happening, but the dove was faithful and came back with messages about the earth. He demonstrated the dove with the olive branch in his beak.