Dear Editors and friends,

Please freely print this weeks Penny Pulpit Column in your papers, bulletins, emails, bloggs and twitters .  Thank you for this consideration.
Pastor Ed Rice,  Good Samaritan Baptist Church, Dresden NY 14441

These Baptist Penny Pulpits are an asset to many Missionaries and young Christians, Please Use the FORWARD below.


Msg #1134 Silver Linings
What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Sometimes we Christians laboring in apostate, agnostic America grit our teeth, set our jaw, and determine to do what is right no matter what. We forget that “the law is not of faith,” and that “whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Some have set more standards than God has, and some have abandoned all standard and wondered off into the apostasy. I am reminded of Peter who once rebuked the Lord for teaching his pending death, and once he filled with self righteous zeal to say “Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee.” See therein that our self determination and our zeal for the Lord will be worse than ineffectual and illicit the Lord's response, “Get thee behind me Satan.” In his denial Peter had minimized his potential to sin, misunderstood Jesus' call to prayer, and mingled with the wrong crowd. To often we ignore that written record and do the same with our determination and zeal. When our labor is fruitless, and the power of God to change lives around us seems vain I bolster up my zeal and determination to not grow weary in well doing; when I should bolster up my faith and determine to not fall asleep in the prayer garden. Things sure looked bleak on that threshold of victory. They always do. That is why we have profound sayings about 'silver linings.' When God seems miles away, when your labor is vain, when you're weary in well doing, in the dark of the midnight remember Gethsemane. “Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. ... tarry ye here, and watch with me.” There is coming a silver lining.

 

An Essay for week #34 Sun, Aug 28, 11

Posted at http://www.GSBaptistChurch.com

In paper back at http://stores.lulu.com/GSBaptistChurch