Articles
2009 Spring Gospel Meeting With Jeff May
Brother Jeff May from Athens, Alabama delivered 6 outstanding messages during our 4 day gospel meeting. The titles of his messages were as follows:
- “This Story Is Your Story”
- “The God Of The Towel”
- “Satan’s Threefold Plan For Ruining Your Life”
- “What Does God Want From Me In Regard To Sin”
- “Calvary’s Fourth Cross”
- “Just As I Am”
This Story Is Your Story – Sunday Bible Class
Brother May pointed out at the beginning of his lesson how the Israelites journey from Egyptian bondage to the Promised Land is very much like our journey from living in a sin-sick world to Heaven. The children of Israel were in Egyptian bondage and we were in bondage to sin. The children of Israel were “baptized” in the Red Sea and we were baptized in water to have our sins washed away. The children of Israel had to spend some time in the wilderness and we must continue to sojourn in this world until God calls us from earth to glory. Our life is our wilderness and it is in the wilderness we must have a warrior mentality. We must fight for ourselves, our marriage, abandonment, our kids, our friends, humanity, and even the local church. Sounds difficult, but isn’t it good to know God is the master of breakthroughs. Therefore, we must embrace the wilderness because God is making us who we need to be in our wilderness. For this reason, God is not in a hurry. The children of Israel had to cross over the Jordan River before they could inherit the Promised Land and there is a “river” we must cross before we can live an eternity in Heaven. It is called death. So, now we must make a choice. Are we going to cross Jordan or die in the Wilderness? If we cross Jordan, then like the Israelites, the Promised Land (Heaven) will be our home.
The God Of The Towel – Sunday Morning
Brother May pointed out in this lesson how Jesus spent His final hours with His disciples teaching them. The disciples were arguing about who’s the greatest. Instead of our Savior getting mad, He simply got a basin of water, a towel, and began to wash the disciples’ feet. By doing this, Jesus was changing their idea of greatness and teaching them how to serve. From this message, we must understand greatness comes through serving, seek opportunities to serve, seek only God’s rewards, and as a result of all these things, get ready for a happy life.
Satan’s Threefold Plan For Ruining Your Life – Sunday Evening
The devil does have a plan for ruining our life. First, he wants to discourage us from worshipping God, then he wants to distract us from serving God, and finally, he wants to deceive us into disobeying God. Let us remember the following from this lesson: 1) Untested faith is no faith at all, 2) Faith means something when exercised in darkness, 3) Worry is like a rocking chair; it gets you moving, but you go nowhere, and 4) Satan always comes right after a great success, when we are tired, when we are alone, and when we are waiting on God.
What Does God Want From Me In Regard To Sin? – Monday Evening
Good question. God wants our view and attitude of sin to be the same as His. For this reason, God calls us to be perfect. What keeps us perfect is God’s grace and forgiveness. We must understand grace is incentive to live godly. At times, we will fail, but the key is to “fail forward,” this is how we grow spiritually and mentally tough. Perfect and completeness prohibits us from abusing God’s grace. God’s grace is not here to give us permission to mess up, but it is here just in case we do fall short of the glory of God. Ultimately, when it comes to perfection, completeness, and living a sin-free life, God is looking for progress. We may not be what we ought to be, but let us remain thankful we are not what we used to be.
Calvary’s Fourth Cross – Tuesday Evening
When we read about the crucifixion of Jesus, we read about 3 crosses on Calvary: the cross of Jesus, the cross of the thief on the right, and the cross of the thief of the left. Brother May eloquently made the case of a 4th cross being at Calvary and the 4th cross belongs to us. Jesus teaches us we must take up our cross and follow Him. We must understand the cross was an instrument of death and it always gets the job done. Our cross will mean the end of the old man. It will mean the end of our former life. In order for Heaven to be our home, we must die with Christ, be buried with Christ, arise with Christ, and walk in the newness of life with Christ. We must not fear the cross for the cross reminds us continually of how we are “dead to sin” and “alive in Christ” AND it helps us to be selfless toward others.
Just As I Am – Wednesday Evening
Brother May on the last night of the meeting used the words from one of the frequently sung invitation hymns “Just As I Am.” He beseeched and implored the hearers in attendance to come to Christ just as they are. Yes, we are guilty of violating God’s law. Yes, we are guilty of lacking faith. Yes, we are guilty of unrighteousness. Yes, we are even guilty of knowing to do good and not doing it, yet Jesus still shed His blood on the cross for us and bids us to come to Him, so He can give us rest. So, why are we tossing side to side, back and forth, being burdened down with sin? There is nothing hindering us; there is no reason to wait, for if we truly believe in the promises of God, then God will welcome us, pardon us, cleanse us, and relieve us. OH LAMB OF GOD, I COME.
