Pastor's Blog

We are studying the book of Romans in Adult Bible study on Sunday mornings. We are directed to the truth of our responsibility to experience the power of the Gospel and then share the Gospel with a lost and dying world. The possibility of why we don’t share the Gospel is we have not experienced the Gospel. We just cannot talk about very convincingly that which we have not experienced. For example. i am a grandfather but before i became one i could talk in general about grandchildren but now i have 5 i can talk very specifically about being a grandfather.

The writer of Romans is Paul under the inspiration of the Spirit. Paul is first a converted sinner, he met Jesus face to face and Jesus changed his life. Then Paul speaks as a confident saint, he knew what and who he was talking about. Last Paul was a concerned soul winner. I quote,”  I am debtor both to the Greeks and to the Barbarians; both to the wise and the unwise. So as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the Gospel to you that are in Rome also. For i am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Paul knew the Gospel has power because he had experienced that life changing power, Have You?

My real concern is for today’s families. God intended  the family to be a reflection of His Glory and Power.  For dad and mom to give their children and society a picture of God. As a husband and wife submit to Gods authority and power, and operate the family according to Gods word and way’s as He designed.

However many homes today are not following His design, this is why as a pastor i pray for the families that God has placed in my care. Parents have such a responsibility but also have the instruction manual to follow, which is the Word of God. There are  many diversions calling for the attention of the whole family that all families must work hard at staying focused of Gods plan.

Parents must focus on, teaching their children to read and talk about the Word of God, Pray together and develop a personal prayer life, worship together as a family so the family can resemble Gods intended picture. So the children will not be confused but know that they can make a difference in this world! The family today can pierce the darkness.

Easter is just a few days away, We will celebrate the Risen Savior. I pray you are preparing your heart for that day. We are fasting and praying until Easter asking God to move in our services. Prayerfully Easter will not be an ordinary day but one in which our Savior in truly worshiped and recognized as man’s only hope.  What does the Cross mean to Christianity?

Death to the old life, self life, flesh life and life by worldly standards. Galatians 2:20 ;5:24 and 6:14 are verses that remind us of the power of the cross and whats available to the Christian.  One life is over and another, greater begins with purpose and power.

At the end of your life, what will it point to? Worldly ways or a life lived Crucified with Christ? Will your treasures be eaten up with moths, rust, or will your treasures be secured in Heaven?

There will always be challenges before us, all kinds and strengths coming from directions we never expected. There will be Spiritual challenges, Physical challenges, and  Emotional challenges. How you and i face and respond to these challenges is most important. How we respond reveals whats in us and shows us what adjustments we need to make.

Our response should be by Faith and not by Sight. Sight living or sight walking is allowing the things of this life to touch you in such a way the kingdom of darkness benefits. Faith living or faith walking is you touching things in life in such a way the Kingdom of Light benefits. 2Corinthians 5:7 Those who walk by Faith will experience tougher opposition, do much for the Kingdom of God draws attention from the enemy!

Success is based solely on obedience to the Word of God. We need to demonstrate obedience in our personal walk with Jesus, in our spiritual leadership in the Home and in our witness in the community. Now that’s Real truth, Real strength, Real life!

Sunday was such an awesome day, The Spirit of God was present, souls were saved and Jesus was exalted. God is certainly moving in Southside Baptist Church and i want to thank you for your steadfast prayers and your commitment. Sunday night we watched the movie Courageous, what an impact this movie is having in the lives of men and women alike. Please continue to pray for families and for a move of God in each of their lives.

Would you make a commitment to God, to pray and fast, seek God for your spiritual power and for His power to be present in every service?

Will you commit to be faithful to witness using your personal salvation experience to share Jesus with others?

Will you begin now asking God to show up in great power in our Easter Services?

Thank you for praying for me and the staff of SSBC, we love you very much!

The last two weeks have been fast and furious to say the least. I have traveled from Birmingham to Jacksonville Fl. and from Birmingham to New York City for both work and pleasure. People are living in the fast lane, going and coming at record speeds. Some seem to be enjoying while others seem to be enduring and there is a big difference in the two.

New York was the most interesting, now i have been to Big Cities before but never New York. It appeared to me those in New York were just enduring. While i observed the pace and the face of people i wondered how they got to where they are. Even the beggars on the street came from somewhere as did you and i. How do you get from one place to the other?

A tragedy, loss of job, sickness, neglect or just a series of bad or even stupid choices? It doesn’t really matter at this point. Some move into survival mode while others don’t fare so well. The truth of the matter they are there and they are living people with souls and will spend eternity either in Heaven or Hell.  The Bible says in the valley of Trouble God makes a Door of Hope through faith and trust in Jesus Christ! Yes we all need Jesus. The Risen Jesus who changes lives and gives hope to whosoever will come to Him.

2012 can be a great year. We never know what lies ahead but we can be prepared through the Power of Gods Word. We know we have an enemy who is seeking to destroy our lives any way he can. there are three areas we need to powerfully guard so 2012 will not be a disaster.

1. Our thinking: how we think toward Christianity. The Christian life is a Privilege and a Responsibility. Yet our enemy says to us its a burden, its weak, is it worth it? What do we think about being called Children of God? Joint heirs with Jesus? Kings and Priests? Always hold to a Biblical view of yourself and your relationship with Jesus.

2.Our Progression: staying Faithful to grow Spiritually! We tend to grow weary and complacent because of hardships or difficulty. We must not neglect our spiritual health, we must feed our spiritual nature just as we feed the physical aspect of our lives. Through the Word, Prayer, Worship, Fellowship, and sharing our spiritual journey we Grow!!

3.Our Influence: Everyone is influential in the lives of others. Our enemy does not want us talking to others about eternal matters or what God is doing in our lives today. Others need to see the evidence of spiritual growth, and need to hear us talking about how great God is. You cannot argue with a changed life!!

2012 is in full swing, things may be quite around your world but just wait a few days. You can be ready for whatever comes your way, or whatever circumstance you find yourself in.

Morally and Spiritually our world is at an all time low. At the end of the rope! Read Isaih chapter 1 and He describes America. But God call us to meet with Him, and let Him take us and clean us up, and He will if we obey. Jesus was a man of Prayer and teaches us through Prayer how to face life. Examine Luke 11 with me and discover Prayer Principles that will help.

1.Prayer helps face what lies ahead: 1-2 Jesus knew His future, but you and i don’t. But through prayer we can prepare ourselves for our future whatever that may be. Approach God regularly, and occupy your mind with His will.

2.Prayer enables us to experience daily Victory:2 Thy Kingdom come They Will be done. Gods will is for you to be Saved, Sanctified, Serving in His Kingdoms work. Every day we should Pray Gods will and not our will.

3.Pray that as Believers we will Exhibit the Spirit of Jesus:3-4 Worship, Surrender, Giving, and Forgiving.

4.Pray for Discernment:4 Temptation,Know the Spirits. I John 4:1-4

5.Through Prayer we Prepare ourselves:5-8 Will you prepare yourself to Witness? Study the Scriptures and hide Gods Word in your Heart and obediently share His Word with a lost person.

6.Pray Persistently:9-10 Ask, Seek, Knock. Never give up!

Praying is Power! We need Power, Gods Power to face each day in 2012,To God Be The Glory!!

Christmas time is my favorite time of year for several reasons. First God gave me a personal gift, the gift of salvation. My life has not been the same and the joy in my heart is just unbelievable. Second i love to watch children get excited about Christmas. I know they may not be excited for the right reason but moms and dads have the responsibility of telling them the real reason for Christmas. then i like Christmas because we study the Christmas story in the Word of God. A story that never grows old. Why?

1.God set His redemptive plan in motion on Christmas. Giving the Savior of the world.

2.Gods desires for ruined mankind to experience; peace, power, and purpose.

3.God wanted to meet our deepest need which is spiritual. Give us confidence and direction. Bring us through life’s fires. To point us to  brighter days and a secure our future.

4.God wants to live through us to reveal His power and glory to a dark world.

The greatest any Christian can do is practice what Jesus practiced, seeking the lost. Less than 5% of Christians ever lead another person to faith in Christ, yet leading another to Christ will cause you to grow faster spiritually and in your own faith.  The one thing many Christians say they are afraid to do but will have the greatest effect on the one sharing and the one being shared with. Soul winning, witnessing, telling your Jesus story, call it what you want we must be about our Fathers business!

Your greatest influence and most effective tool is your own personal story. How your life was before you met Jesus, how you met Jesus and your life after you received Jesus.

You cannot argue with a changed life. And that is what Jesus does, changes lives. He changed mine and can change yours. The power of the Gospel. Ive seen it happen so many times and then I’ve seen the lives of those who claimed to have met Him but who’s lives are more like the world than how Jesus describes a person is to be after being saved.

One thing is for sure Jesus says there is an endeniable, distinguishable difference in the person He now lives in.  You simply can’t fool God!