We are ever in need, ever dependent and this year perhaps even more so. We come to call on the Lord…

Day of Prayer—Sunday, June 3, 2012

(The first week of Hurricane Season)

We have the opportunity to seek the Lord for a calm season and for careful preparation on the part of families, churches, and our Disaster Relief Teams across the state.

We have often noted Jeremiah 29:7. There God gave instructions to His people at a time when they were under His chastening judgment in Babylon. “Seek the peace [shalom—multi-faceted well-being] of the city where I have sent you…., and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its peace you will have peace [well-being].”

God cares for people, even in our fallen condition. He came seeking Adam and Jesus came “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). He cares and He has shown that ultimately in the Cross. The God who knows “the very hairs of your head” and every move of every sparrow knows the needs we have… including Hurricane Season (Luke 12:6-7). Part of His caring is sending us to show that care, including praying for our neighbors and our communities… seeking God for the well-being of the place in which He has placed us.

Our state and nation are experiencing a measure of God’s chastening, His remedial judgment—more as we ignore His signals. We see that as churches and as a nation. His calls continue … through His Word, through fellow believers, and through circumstances, including calamities—storms, floods, earthquakes, economic turmoil, fires…

The well-known verse, 2 Chronicles 7:14 about God healing a land is connected to verse 13 which says, “If I shut up heaven so that there is no rain, or if I … [do other things], or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people… humble themselves and pray… seek My face…. turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear… forgive… heal their land.” We see evidence of God speaking in our day. It is time to hear, heed and pray—here are some specifics …

Pray for God’s mercy in dealing with the Hurricanes. Job 36:26-31 and 37:11-13 says God directs the winds to provide the needs of the earth, to show mercy on the earth, and sometimes as “a rod,” a measure of chastening on the earth. As a nation, we can pray for mercy and call on Him for the greater need of the works of His Spirit bringing Spiritual Awakening to our very needy land. We are the pray-ers. Those who do not know Christ will not know how to pray and they will rarely pray. We can lead the way, showing others their need to call on the Lord, first for salvation, then for the needs before them.

Pray for Disaster Relief Teams—Many have trained and prepared for a variety of disasters. They are ready to serve, to go where needed. Pray for last minute preparations that come with every new Hurricane Season. Pray for safety with equipment, with travel, with set-up, and with the ongoing needs of dealing with any disaster and the multi-faceted needs of people. Pray for Fritz Wilson, Team Strategist for the Disaster Relief and Recovery Team, and the hundreds who work with him.

Pray for those in Haiti still involved in ongoing build and rebuild. Pray for a calm Hurricane Season there. The needs continue to be critical there.

Pray for open doors where you are… to share the love of Christ, to speak the Gospel that people might know and experience forgiveness of sin, turning from darkness to light. Pray for many to come to new life in Christ and the hope of an eternal inheritance from the Lord Himself (Acts 26:31).

Pray for your church and your community as Hurricane Season approaches—that you are personally ready, that your church is ready, that your community leaders are ready. Pray for police, firemen, EMT, hospital personnel, power line and utilities workers, and others involved in disaster situations.

To help you in this Day of Prayer, we are including a simple document, 2012 Hurricane Day of Prayer BULLETIN Caring Praying. Use this as a guideline for prayer time on JUNE 3—as part of one of your Sunday services, a Sunday School or Small Group time, or a Special Time of Prayer (or all three, anytime you can gather with other believers). For further downloadable resources including the booklet Praying about the Weather go to our website www.flbaptist.org/Prayer OR www.flbaptist.org/SpiritualAwakening.

If sending gift cards or checks, make checks out to “FHBC” and mail to church office (6848 Chaffin Street, Milton, FL 32570) and write “burnout” in memo line and FHBC will give to family.

For the latest updates check out the Facebook page.

You can also Donate Online through Paypal. Click the Donate button and specify “burnout”.

Tiffany Jackson, Mom, works in medical office so needs scrubs (XL)

• 1 girl: Clothes= 3t/4t, Shoes = 8/9
• 1 boy: Clothes = 5/6, Shoes = 8.5
• 1 boy: Clothes= 6, Shoes= 8.5
• 1 boy: Clothes = 10/12, Shoes = men’s 11

5 children total: boys: 13,9,6,5; girl,4

They need it all: toys (for the kids) and household items. You can also designate a financial gift “burnout” or “blessing” and they will get it.

Clothing is coming in abundance. Toys and all household items are needed.

• Training Information
• The Florida Baptist Disaster Relief Site

The book of Acts or as sometimes referred to as “Acts of the Apostles” was written by Luke the same person who wrote the gospel of Luke. Luke was a close friend, traveling companion, and personal physician to the Apostle Paul. Paul wrote this book by building off his deep knowledge of Roman laws and customs, through pulling together documents of the day, interviewing key figures such as Peter and John, as well as writing down the events he experienced while traveling with Paul on his missionary journeys. The best way to view Acts is to think of it as part 2 of the gospel of Luke. In fact, when you put these two large books together they comprise nearly 25% of the entire New Testament. The gospel of Luke is the life and ministry of Jesus and ends in chapter 24 with His Ascension. The book of Acts picks up right where he left off and follows the life of the Apostles, the early church, but primarily the work of the Holy Spirit.

Listen to the sermon.

Worship Songs

Verses:

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Colossians 3:16-17

The primary reason we are gathered here this morning to celebrate an empty tomb is because this collection of 66 books that we call the Bible is the billboard God has placed in the hands of humanity for Him to say, “Here is who I am. (Creator, Holy, Perfect Judge) Here is who you are (My greatest creation but now imperfect/ sinner). Here is how you can get to me to fulfill your created purpose (Jesus Christ). So we have this billboard that God has placed before humanity, and I have observed many people who don’t really know what to do with it. Some have made it an item for decorating their home with and others treat the Bible almost like it is this big zit. You are embarrassed for others to see you with it and you don’t want to mess with it too much for fear of it exploding and getting all over your life.

Listen to the sermon.

Worship Songs

Verse: And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Colossians 3:15

We are embracing the three final words of Colossians 3:15; words that seem so simple to apply but are often rarer to discover than fine jewels. “And be thankful.” In verses 15-18, Paul is unveiling some overarching principles that are to be a banner over the chiseled character of the individual who declares “Christ is my life.” Last week we said that peace is the first principle as it is to be the umpire that decides how we make decisions. Our goal is not to save our reputation, but rather through the pursuit of applying God’s word at a higher level we make the call to have the peace of Christ win out. And as a result of Christ’s peace ruling our heart, Christ’s peace guards our hearts to protect us from the invasion of worry. And now we come to number two: and be thankful. So let me just begin with this question. Do you consider yourself a thankful person or at times do you go around and wander if you have anything to really be thankful for?

Listen to the sermon.

Worship Songs

Verses:

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Colossians 3:12-14

In Colossians 3:14, Paul is giving us the Liquid Nails that is to be the binding agent between all seven virtues of Christ (Compassion, Kindness, Humility, Gentleness, Patience, Endurance, and Forgiveness) that we are to clothe ourselves in – and that is love.

Listen to the sermon.

Worship Songs

Verses:

1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is your [fn] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Colossians 3:1-4, 13

Perhaps if you were to take an unedited look at your life you would say that there are people in your life who you are unwilling to or unable to forgive. We have an obligation to bear with them and forgive them because we are pursuing a heart and mind fixed on heaven because Christ is our life. We are chiseling away any part of our character that does not look like Christ and putting on new parts that do.

Listen to the sermon.

Worship Songs

Verse: Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12

In a world that prides itself in being fast and furious we don’t know what to do with a moment of silence. We are quick to get impatient because we are trying to move our life from point A to point B in record time and we fly off the handle if someone or something gets in our way. Therefore: we tap our foot in front of the microwave for the popcorn to hurry; we file a complaint because the fast food was not fast enough; or we have road rage waiting for the funeral procession to pass. Concluding verse 12, patience brings our humble interaction with people full circle.

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Worship Music