Pastor's Views

Verse of the day

Quotes to live by:

"In proportion as a church is holy, in that proportion will its testimony for Christ be powerful. There can be no such thing as perfect happiness till there is perfect holiness."

--Charles H. Spurgeon

Dr. Deron S. Cobb, Senior Pastor

A few weeks ago I mentioned in a newsletter article how excited I am that for the first time in known history, it looks like Mount Olive Baptist Church is close to meeting our budget. As of the last of August, we are only $7,000+ behind what is needed.

Dennis Rainey shares about giving to God… “God owns it all and [you] are stewards of His resources... Because you are stewards of the resources God has entrusted to you, every financial decision you make is actually a spiritual decision. For many, that's a revolutionary concept. How you manage your finances is a pretty good barometer for the condition of your spiritual life.”

Making our budget would be a milestone in this church’s history that I know many of you would love to see become a reality. If any of you would be willing or have been praying about the budget, this would be a great time to make a sacrificial gift which will enable the church to continue in EXALTING, EQUIPPING and ENGAGING the community for Christ. There are many souls needing rescue from a life of sin – and Christ is the answer.

I personally want to thank you for dedication and commitment to your stewardship during this past year.

Now I want to switch gears and talk about two major groups of leadership in our church: our deacon body and Sunday School and committee leaders.

The word deacon is derived from the Greek word diakonos which is a word meaning "servant", "waiting-man," "minister" or "messenger." One speculation as to its etymology is that it literally means 'through the dust', referring to the dust raised by the busy servant or messenger.

The first selection of deacons in the New Testament church began in Act 6. Recently, here at MOBC, additional deacons were affirmed to serve during the 2010-2011 year. These men have dedicated their service to Christ’s church as true ministers. Your deacon body consists of:

Martin Ammons, Michael Barrett, Fred Berry, Delmar Blazier, George Buchanan, Jim Buchanan, Eddie Bush, Carl Cunningham, Sam Evans, Bill Harper, John Jared, Jeff Kirk, David Jerrolds, Paul Langford, Scott Langford, Lynn Mirts, Tom Pack, Greg Phelps, Pat Pierce, Brian Reed, Jack Taylor.

Pray that they will be deacons…

Who are full of the Holy Spirit and full of wisdom (Acts 6:3).
Who do not resist, quench, or grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19).
Who love the Lord and love His sheep and desire to serve both (John 21:15-17).
Who will serve as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:17).
Who are men of prayer who lift up holy hands without wrath and doubting unto the Lord (Luke 18:1; 1 Timothy 2:8).
Who will live among us above reproach (1 Timothy 3:10).
Who rule their households well (1 Timothy 3:12).
In whom the expectations of Scripture are found true (1 Timothy 3:8-13).
Who would manifest the fruit of the spirit in all of their life and not the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-25).
Who are not easily deceived but who are able to recognize and stand in the full armor of God and thereby be able to stand against the wiles of the enemy (Ephesians 6:11).
Who are godly and know the power there in (2 Timothy 3:5).
Who can set the example for us of what it means to follow Christ. (2 Thessalonians 3:9).
Who are known to belong to Christ by their love for one another and the rest of God’s people (John 13:35).
Are known for their sacrifice and surrender. Pray that they will lead the way in dying to self (Matthew 16:24-25).
Who do not think more of themselves than they ought (Romans 12:3).

Recently MOBC affirmed new Sunday School and committee leadership for the 2010-2011 church year which begins in October. During this new year, join me in praying for these leaders in preparation for the challenges ahead.

Pray that they will be leaders who will:

Study and become workmen that correctly handle the word of truth and that need not to be ashamed (2 Timothy 2:15).
Be persons who are committed to learning and to obeying (2 Timothy 3:7,14).
Be persons who speak as one who is speaking the very Word of God (1 Peter 4:11).
Avoid godless chatter (2 Timothy 2:16).
Be careful how they build (1 Corinthians 3:10).
Finish the task that is before them (Colossians 4:17).
Be still and know that God is God and His Word is Truth (John 17:17).
Be persons who chose what is best. May they be people who know how to be still and sit at the feet of Jesus before trying to serve Him and others (Luke 10:41-42).
¨ Seek to have the mind of Christ. For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct? (1 Corinthians 2:16; Romans 8:1-2).
¨ Not think more of themselves than they ought, but that they would rather think of themselves with sober judgment in accordance with the measure of faith God has given them (Romans 12:3).
Be persons who know how to listen as well as to teach (Proverbs 1:1-7).
Be teachable (2 Timothy 2:2).
Not be ticklers of the ear or men pleasers but God pleasers (2 Timothy 4:3).
Find God opening doors of utterance for them and that they will boldly and clearly proclaim the gospel (Colossians 4:3-4).
Walk in wisdom toward all men redeeming the time that God has given them. Pray that they speak with grace, seasoned with salt; that they may know how to answer every man (Colossians 4:5-6).

Remember, we Baptists are to be PASTOR LED, DEACON SERVED, COMMITTEE OPERATED, and CONGREGATIONALLY APPROVED. Let’s have a great start to our new church year come October 1.

Love ya,

Pastor Deron

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TasteAndSee/ByDate/2006/1776_Dont_Waste_Your_Cancer/

How the Bible Protects and Purifies Our Heart

Visualize the Word of God. Psalm 119:11 declares, “Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.” That’s black print on white paper! The Bible is your one true protection. Fill your mind with what’s right.
Validify the Word of God. (Psalm 119:12) Facts from the Bible are not enough. God wants to teach you His Word. Pray this prayer: God, teach me Thy Word. Lord, I want to know Your Word. Ask yourself… is there a lesson to learn? Is there sin to avoid? Are there blessings to enjoy? Are there promises to claim? Is there a new thought to carry with me?
Vocalize the Word of God. (Psalm 119:13) Begin to share it! God’s Word will move from your heart to your lips and from your lips back to your heart again. The more the Word of God you give away, the more it sticks to you. Give your testimony of what God has done.
Vitalize the Word of God. (Psalm 119:14-16) Do you rejoice in God’s Word? Do you stand in awe and have respect for it? Understand how wonderful the Word of God is – to know its riches. Don’t sell out too cheap and don’t sacrifice the importance upon the altar of the immediate. Find fulfillment in the Lord Jesus.
Virtualize the Word of God. (Psalm 119:15) “I will meditate in Thy precepts.” Meditation has the idea of rumination or the idea of humming. Do you ever have a tune get into your head, and you just can’t get it out? The Word of God is to be that way. The Word of God is such a part of you that, my dear friend, your mind is under the blood, empowered by the Spirit, and filled with the Word of God.

Here are a few of my recommendations... (including information on present issues within the Southern Baptist Convention)

(From: The Cambridge Declaration of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, April 20, 1996)

The Five Solas: http://www.fivesolas.com/5solas.htm

Have you ever wondered about how the Reformation began...and what this time period has to do with us?

In the course of history, words change. In our day this has happened to the word “evangelical.” In the past it served as a bond of unity between Christians from a wide diversity of church traditions. Historic evangelicalism was confessional. It embraced the essential truths of Christianity as those were defined by the great ecumenical councils of the church. In addition, evangelicals also shared a common heritage in the “solas” of the sixteenth century Protestant Reformation. Today the light of the Reformation has been significantly dimmed. The consequence is that the world “evangelical” has become so inclusive as to have lost its meaning. We face the perils of losing the unity it has taken centuries to achieve. Because of this crisis and because of our love of Christ, His Gospel and His Church, we endeavor to assert anew our commitment to the central truths of the Reformation and of historic evangelicalism. These truths we affirm not because of their role in our traditions, but because we believe that they are central to the Bible.

Please Pray for Our Troops and Missionaries Around the World.