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June 18, 2008

"Whose voice am I following?"

This past Sunday was a great day as we celebrated Fathers Day and learned about hearing & obeying the call of God. Samuel was just a boy when he first heard the voice of God and he did not recognize who it was speaking to him - 1st Samuel 3:7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.

J.D. challenged us with the question of how anyone could spend their time / life in God’s temple / church and yet not know God’s word. From his question I thought of the scripture: 2nd Timothy 2: 15 & 16 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.

Here is the desire of God, for us as His children, to study His scriptures, those "Love Letters" He has left, and to regard as Holy those instructions from which we can live / function, grow / increase. But in so doing, we must avoid inventions of man’s imaginations. We must learn how to divide truth from fiction, the voice of God from the voice of man. This only comes about by much attention to the ways of God presented from God’s Holy word and association with God’s people. This does not mean we disassociate ourselves from the lost of this world but rather that we become more familiar with God’s ways than being inundated by the ways of this world. We must be a light shining in the darkness; a city on a hill must not be hid. We must shine the light of Jesus and His light only.

Jump forward to the book of John and find Jesus saying this - John 10:14-16 & verse 27 14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-- 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
 

Now, let’s ask ourselves:
"Whose voice am I following?"
 

This Sunday our Youth plan to bring us testimonials and skits which should allow us a peek into their Mission Trip endeavors from which they have recently returned. Each time we witness their ministry efforts we should be thrilled...Thrilled that our Youth have grown through instruction of God’s word and God’s ways, and have chosen to be a reflection of all they have heard. Thank you Lord for those who work all year long with the children and youth of Mt. Zion Christian Church.

Also, Vacation Bible School will be here before we know it and as quickly as it comes it will be gone. Plan now to help out with these few days which mean so much to the children God will send our way.

These are great days at to be alive as I told a former attendee which was inquiring as to our health. This same person then said they thought they would bring their children to VBS and I was elated...and I was elated!!!

This Wednesday night June 18th leaders of Mt. Zion are meeting to discuss areas of need within Mt. Zion and ways to best fulfill those needs. I pray each person who receives this email would consider being used of God in some way for the furthering of the Lord’s Kingdom in Winchester...more specifically, Mt. Zion. Please let one of Mt. Zion’s Elders know if there is a way we could better utilize your talents, abilities or even you availability. I am sure we will find a place where you will be best suited and most effective.

I want to apologize for something I said this past Sunday. I had two men from our church come up on stage and I announced that they would be voted on this coming Sunday for the position of Elder, which in itself is not what the Bible or our By-Laws state as being the "Descent" and "in order" way of doing this. When it comes to Elders, according to Scripture and our By-Laws, they are to be appointed. Deacons however, according to Scripture, are to be voted on by the Church members. It is stated that way in our By-Laws as well. I should have been more up on my game than I was and I want to apologize. Who knows where my head was.

We should be able to ordain these two men in a few weeks unless anyone has evidence why they should not. If so please contact Elders - Craig Mayer, J.D. Miller or myself and present the appropriate accusation and evidence.

I close this week’s message from the book of Ephesians Chapter 4 beginning with verse eleven. It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
 

"Whose voice am I following?"
 

For the Cause of Christ,

Kenny

P.S. – I don’t usually forward emails and such but this one form Ollie Puckett made my day. Just highlight it, copy and paste into your computers web site. It’ll be worth it.

http://www.frontiernet.net/~jimdandy/specials/onedayatatime/onedayatatime.htm


P.S. P.S.- Talley Trio will be bringing a Gospel Concert at the Leeds Theater, June 27th and the cost is $10.00 per person. For further information, please call 744-6437.