As most of our members know, Mt. Zion has experienced the passing of 5 members (Minister Candice Walden, Sister Alice Shorts, Minister Cynthia Whitney, Sister Barbara Stephens, and Deacon Jess Ward) all within 2 months. How are we to understand so many deaths in a short amount of time? This is where we must strap on our armor lest we fall for lies from Satan.
Ephesians 6:16 (ESV): In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one
Satan can so easily send his "flaming darts" at us to get us to doubt God's faithfulness. Satan can "whisper" to us that there must be something wrong at the church, we are being punished, or we are under a curse. But we don't operate by our feelings. We walk by faith NOT by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). So we look to the Word of God.
First of all, God is sovereign. Death can't take one of God's children before God says so. Neither can we stop or prevent the death of our loved ones. God is in control.
Job 12:10 (ESV): In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.
Secondly, death is NOT the worst thing that can happen to us. Dying in your sins to face the just wrath of God for all eternity is far worst! But to die in Christ is gain (Phil. 1:21)! So if you are not sure if you're right with God, then I implore you to trust Christ today.
Romans 3:22-26 (NLT): We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.
Thirdly, perhaps like Job and the apostles, God has counted us worthy to suffer this time of sorrow and bereavement so that our faith and hope may continue to be in Christ.
Lastly, it's a reminder that we all have an appointment with death (Heb. 9:27). So, church, we have no time to play or simply go through religious rituals but we must be on God's mission (Matt. 28:18-20)!
Stay encouraged and keep your eyes focused on our great Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Soli Deo Gloria
Ephesians 6:16 (ESV): In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one
Satan can so easily send his "flaming darts" at us to get us to doubt God's faithfulness. Satan can "whisper" to us that there must be something wrong at the church, we are being punished, or we are under a curse. But we don't operate by our feelings. We walk by faith NOT by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). So we look to the Word of God.
First of all, God is sovereign. Death can't take one of God's children before God says so. Neither can we stop or prevent the death of our loved ones. God is in control.
Job 12:10 (ESV): In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.
Secondly, death is NOT the worst thing that can happen to us. Dying in your sins to face the just wrath of God for all eternity is far worst! But to die in Christ is gain (Phil. 1:21)! So if you are not sure if you're right with God, then I implore you to trust Christ today.
Romans 3:22-26 (NLT): We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.
Thirdly, perhaps like Job and the apostles, God has counted us worthy to suffer this time of sorrow and bereavement so that our faith and hope may continue to be in Christ.
Lastly, it's a reminder that we all have an appointment with death (Heb. 9:27). So, church, we have no time to play or simply go through religious rituals but we must be on God's mission (Matt. 28:18-20)!
Stay encouraged and keep your eyes focused on our great Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Soli Deo Gloria
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