Midway Baptist Church Sermons

6.1.25 Communion Service by Midway Baptist Church

5.25.25 Saved for Service by Midway Baptist Church

5.21.25 Revival Lewis Smith by Midway Baptist Church

5.20.25 Revival Lewis Smith by Midway Baptist Church

5.19.25 Revival Lewis Smith by Midway Baptist Church

5.18.25 REVIVAL SUN. EVENING by Midway Baptist Church

5.18.25 Revival Kick-Off Pastor Lewis Smith by Midway Baptist Church

5.11.25 .mp4 Models for Mothering by Midway Baptist Church

5.4.25 Prayer for Revival by Midway Baptist Church

4.27.25 Easter's Marching Orders by Midway Baptist Church

4.20.2025 The Best Side of the Cross by Midway Baptist Church

4.13.25 Jesus Bore it All by Midway Baptist Church

4.6.25 I Love You to Death by Midway Baptist Church

3.30.25 Singing and Baptism by Midway Baptist Church

3.23.25 The Deacon and the Church by Midway Baptist Church

3.16.25 A Love that Leads to Eternal Life by Midway Baptist Church

3.9.25 The Things Prayer Can Open by Midway Baptist Church

2.23.25 The Urgency of Sharing the Gospel Audio by Midway Baptist Church

2.16.25 The Worth of Just One by Midway Baptist Church

2.9.25 Hearing is Not Listening by Midway Baptist Church

2.2.25 Made for Contribution Not Just Consumption by Midway Baptist Church

1.26.25 A Church with an Open Door by Midway Baptist Church

1.19.25 Living Life on Purpose by Midway Baptist Church

1.12.25 It's Time to Move Forward by Midway Baptist Church

1.5.25 New Year New Opportunities by Midway Baptist Church

1.7.24 - The Importance Of Reading The Bible by Midway Baptist Church

Text: Ruth 1:6-17 Opening Statement: In each of these widows there are lessons to learn. In one we have a troubling example, in one a tragic example, and finally in one a thrilling example. These three widows illustrate three responses of people. First, we see in Naomi: I) A DISCOURAGING WIDOW (6-13) Naomi illustrates how the life of a believer that is not living for God, is often a discouragement to others knowing God. As we view this scene, we see that: A) Naomi Was Being Observed When she started back her daughters-in-law followed her. In their hour of grief, they looked to her for guidance. They were watching to see what Naomi would do. Whatever she did, they would do. Every action and step of Naomi was being observed. We as believers need to be constantly reminded that we are being watched by the unsaved. Whether we admit it or not, accept it or not, or acknowledge it or not, we are being watched by those around us. As we continue looking at this scene, we also see that: B) Naomi Was Being Obstructive One of the chief occupations of a believer is to try and lead unbelievers to the Lord. A person going to heaven is to work to take people to heaven. Naomi was only thinking of their material circumstances rather than their spiritual condition. She was only thinking of their physical needs and not their spiritual needs. Naomi reminds us of those who are professing Christians but are not practicing Christians. The second widow in our story that I want us to consider is Orpah. In her we see: II) A DEPARTING WIDOW (14) Orpah illustrates those who turn away from God and reject Him as their Lord and Savior. As we look at Orpah, we first see her: A) Returning To Moab Orpah chose to stay in a cursed land. She chose to live in a place of spiritual darkness and desolation. Orpah reminds us of those who are given the opportunity to be saved, yet they reject that offer and choose to live a life without God. We not only see Orpah returning to Moab, but we also see her: B) Remaining In Moab How tragic it is for someone to have heard the Gospel; to have been given the opportunity to be saved; to say no, and then die lost without God. The great tragedy is that not one person in hell had to go there. All could have been saved, but they like Orpah rejected the opportunity to be saved. The third widow in this story is Ruth. In her we see: III) A DECIDING WIDOW (16-17) We see Ruth making a decision that changed her life. We read that instead of leaving Naomi, “Ruth clave unto her” (Vs.14). The decision Ruth made gave her a: A) New Life Salvation gives a person a new life. Paul said, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things pass away and behold all things are become new” (II Cor.5:17). Salvation makes us a new person and gives us a new life. We also see that her decision gave her a: B) New Lord No doubt she had worshipped the false idols and false gods of Moab. She had known nothing but paganism. Now she has a new Lord in her life. Her life is now centered around Him and His people. Finally, we see that her decision gave her a: C) New Loyalty Ruth was saying, “This decision is for the rest of my life.” She had no desire to go back nor plans to return. Her decision was for time and eternity. There is nothing behind us and everything before us. Closing Statement: Which of these poor widows best represents the life you are living right now? If you are saved and away from the Lord, I invite you to come home. If you are lost and are thinking about a life of faith, I invite you to receive Jesus today. If you are saved, secure and settled I invite you to come before Him to worship, praise and thank Him for grace. Watch us here on our YouTube channel, our website or our Facebook page https://midwaybaptistnc.org https://facebook.com/midwaybaptistnc

2023.4.30 - The Mercado Missionaries by Midway Baptist Church

Text: Ruth 1:1-7 Opening Statement: In the book of Ruth there are scenes that are tragic, domestic, romantic, dramatic, historic, and prophetic. Yet each scene is a mine filled with precious gems. The Book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of Christ's great love for us, and the redemption He purchased for us. The opening scene of the book is tragic for we find three graves in Moab. Let's notice the story behind these 3 graves. First, notice: I) THE DEPARTURE FROM THE LORD (vs.1-4) As we look at this departure from the Lord we see: A) Where They Were Leaving Their home was the town of Bethlehem in the country of Judah. The name “Bethlehem” means, “House of bread.” “Judah” means “praise.” This was the place we find Elimelech and his family leaving. They first left the city limits of Bethlehem and then left the borders of Judah. They first got out of the House of God and then out of the will of God. We also see: B) Where They Went to Live We read that they “went to sojourn in the country of Moab” (Vs.1). In Psalm 108:9, we find an interesting description of Moab. We read, “Moab is My washpot.” Elimelech's journey to Moab is illustrative of a Christian leaving God and going back to the old life. We see that not only did they settle down in Moab, but their children took to themselves wives of the Moabites (Vs.4). Marriage among the pagan nations was strictly forbidden by God. The parents' departure only led to a further departure in the children. We see a departure from the Lord, and we also see the results of leaving God. II) THE DISCIPLINE BY THE LORD Just as an earthly father will discipline a disobedient child, God will discipline His disobedient and straying children (Heb.12:6). The writer of Hebrews describes both a process and a procedure of God's discipline. When we look at Elimelech and his family we see this process and procedure of discipline. A) The First Acts Of Discipline (V.2) It would appear that Elimelech and Naomi, had begun to drift from God in their hearts, before they ever left Bethlehem-judah. A departure from God always begins on the inside long before it is seen on the outside. The names of their children would seem to suggest that God had already begun a work of discipline to get their attention. These boys seem to be the first acts of discipline in their life. Both of their children would seem to suggest that God was trying to get their attention. B) The Fatal Acts Of Discipline (vs. 3,5) First God chastens us, and if that does not get our attention, He scourges us. The first warnings were ignored and finally God's discipline was drastic and fatal. Whenever a Christian gets out of the house of God, and the will of God, God will discipline. He will deal with them patiently and lovingly. But in time, if there is no repentance and a return to God, He will deal in a more drastic measure. A departure from the Lord will always bring the discipline of the Lord. III) THE DESIRE FOR THE LORD (vs. 6-7) She heard of how God was blessing His people again. The famine was over at last. The people had come back to God. It was this news, coupled with all that had happened, that created in her heart a desire to return to God. In her desire we see: A) Her Repentance It is interesting how her actions are described. It was not just that she returned to Bethlehem-judah. She was turning her back on Moab. She was leaving Moab. That is repentance. In her desire we also see: B) Her Return She returned to the place of blessing. She came back to the will of God. She is leaving the place of sin for the place of blessing. In Closing: Just like Naomi and the prodigal son, if you find yourself in a foreign place don't make your home there. Come home, your Heavenly Father is waiting to receive you with open arms of forgiveness. Return to him today.

Easter is Over, Now What? Text: Matt. 28:18-20 Opening Statement: It's clear from all four Gospels that, after His Resurrection, Jesus is single-minded on His mission to share the good news throughout the world. Jesus fulfilled the earth-bound portion of His mission. It would soon be time for His followers to fulfill their part in the mission to take the Gospel to the nations. That was then, and this is now! The Great Commission still stands! God still expects His people to take His message to a lost world so that they might hear the wonderful words of life. I) WE HAVE A DIVINE MANDATE (v. 19) The mandate of The Great Commission is to “Go”. There are two ways we can do this. 1) It involves our Lifestyle (Matt. 5:13-16) Like salt, our life should create a thirst in people for the Lord. If He is the focus of our lives, men will see Him lived out through our lives, day by day! 2) It involves our Lips We are told to “teach”. That word has the idea of “making disciples or to instruct”. It is not enough to just show it, we must also say it! II) WE HAVE A DIVINE MESSAGE (v. 20) Jesus tells His followers to share a specific message: “…to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you…” As we go and as we tell the world about Jesus, the message we are to share is very clear. We are to share the Gospel. There is no other message that God will use to draw the sinner to Himself and there is no other message He will use to save lost souls! III) WE HAVE A DIVINE MISSION (v. 19) He tells us that we are to “Go…and teach all nations”. He is telling us very clearly that our mission is to every person in the world. If they are sinners, they are candidates to hear the message of the cross. If they are lost, they need a Savior. If they do not know Him, they need to, and we have been authorized and commanded to reach them! IV) WE HAVE A DIVINE MENTOR (v. 20) Jesus doesn't send us in to the lost world without any resources. 1) We Are Promised His Presence When you are standing there sharing the Gospel with that friend, that family member, even that total stranger, the Lord Himself is right there with you. You will never share the Gospel alone if you are a child of God! 2) We are Promised His Power The Spirit of God will take our efforts and He will use the words we share to convict the hearts of the lost. In Closing: The question we need to ask, and answer is, has “The Great Commission” become “The Great Omission” in your life and mine? Are we as a church doing everything we can to find inroads of outreach into the world around us? Or are we sitting back watching the world around us slip into Hell?

2023.04.09 - The Emptiness of Easter by Midway Baptist Church

This event we are looking at today in Jesus' life is often called the Triumphal Entry. We all know the scene well: Jesus entering Jerusalem accompanied by the waving of palm branches, the cheering of the crowds and great anticipation. If you were a visitor to Jerusalem on this day, if you were unfamiliar with Jesus' life and teachings, you would probably be wondering what this was all about. You might even ask, “What makes Jesus worthy of worship?” I) Jesus Reveals that He is the Messiah (28-34) There are three ways Jesus reveals himself as Messiah. A) He starts from the Mount of Olives (28-29) The starting point of the Mount of Olives is important because the Mount of Olives is more than just a geographical marker here. The Mount of Olives has Messianic implications. Ezekiel 11:23 and Zechariah 14:4 B) He rides the tethered colt (30) For the Jewish person in Jesus' day, steeped in the Old Testament as they were, this tethered colt here in Luke's gospel would evoke associations with this prophecy in Genesis 49:10-11 and provide yet another reason to see Jesus as the Messiah. C) Jesus alludes to the position of “Lord” (31-34) The name “Lord” was a title that was used for the coming Messiah. For example, Psalm 110:1 “The LORD says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.'” II) The People Reveal Jesus as Messiah (35-38) We see this in a number of ways. A) They place him on the donkey (35) By placing him on the donkey and then going before him into the city of Jerusalem, the people clearly proclaim Jesus as Messiah and king. B) They spread their cloaks before him (36) The spreading of the cloaks was a sign of respect for the king. (2 Kings 9:13) C) They shout his praises (37-38) The word “hosanna” literally means, “Lord save us!” (Matthew 21:9) The praises of the people are the third way that the people proclaim Jesus as Messiah as he enters Jerusalem. III) Jesus Relishes their praise of him as Messiah (39-40) Not everyone was happy about Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. A) The Pharisees object to the people's praise of Jesus (39) They understood the implications of all these things. Jesus was revealing himself as Messiah, and the people revealed Jesus as Messiah. And so, they tell Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples. Tell them to stop!” B) Jesus relishes the people's praise (40) In fact, instead of rebuking them, Jesus relishes the people's praise instead. Look at verse 40: “I tell you that, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” I love that phrase. It is wonderfully ambiguous, and yet at the same time such a clear affirmation that Jesus accepted the people's praise of him as Messiah. In Closing: We started out asking the question, “What makes Jesus worthy of worship? So, what does Jesus' triumphal entry say to us today? Let me leave you with three words of application. 1) Believe that Jesus is the Messiah. 2) Serve him as King. 3) Proclaim his praises. How do you respond to Jesus' Triumphal Entry today?

Strange Fire - Leviticus 10:1-3 I. Worship Worthy of a Holy God II. God is a Consuming Fire III. God Will be Treated as Holy

Jesus says, “What is it that I should do for you?” “That our eyes should be opened.” That's it, and then 3 things immediately happen. He touched them, they regained their sight, and then they follow him. We can learn a lot when Jesus stops. We learn at least three lessons in this miracle. I) The Need for Persistent faith (29-31) The blind men asked what was going on? And when they hear that Jesus is going by, they begin shouting, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” A) A Cry for Mercy Their cry for mercy is an expression of faith. Faith in Jesus begins with the acknowledgement of your need. These two blind men knew their need very well. They were blind and could not see. Their cry for mercy was an acknowledgement of their need and a demonstration of faith. B) A Cry of Acknowledgment When they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” The expression “Son of David” is another name for the Messiah. They call on Jesus as Messiah and Lord, believing that he has the power to heal them. C) A Cry that Won't be Silenced These two blind men cried out for mercy. They called on Jesus as Messiah and Lord. And then they also persevered through the obstacles. They didn't give up, did they? These two blind men demonstrate persistent faith. They cry for mercy. They call on Jesus as Messiah and Lord. They persevere through the obstacles. II) The Need to Respond to Penetrating Questions (32) So, how does Jesus respond to these two men's faith? He asks them a penetrating question. A) Jesus: “What do you want me to do for you?” (John 9:39-41) Jesus asks the two blind men who are crying out for mercy, “What do you want me to do for you?” What do you want Jesus to do for you? Jesus stopped and called them to himself. The gospel call of salvation still goes out today. Many still do not respond. Don't be one of them! III) The Need to Receive the Most from God (33-34) A) What they Received on a Physical Level So, on the physical level the two men told Jesus, “We want to see.” They demonstrated faith in Christ. They received their sight and followed him. B) What they Received on a Spiritual level Jesus' miracles always have a spiritual meaning as well. And on the spiritual level, we demonstrate faith by recognizing our spiritual darkness and need. When you cry out for mercy, when you ask Jesus to open the eyes of your heart, he will have compassion on you. He will touch you. He will give you the sight you need. In Closing: There's an old saying: “There are none so blind as those who will not see.” Is that you this morning? Jesus asks you this morning, “What do you want me to do for you?” What better response than: “Open the eyes of my heart, Lord, that I may see and follow you.” Watch us on our YouTube channel, our website or our Facebook page https://www.youtube.com/@midwaybaptistnc1670 https://midwaybaptistnc.org https://facebook.com/midwaybaptistnc

We are going to look this morning at the prayer life of Jesus. Luke gives us a summary statement here. This is not any particular day. This is a day that happened over and over again in the three years of Jesus' active earthly ministry. I) Surveying the Prayer Life of Jesus 1. Jesus Prayed Alone (Matthew 14:23) 2. Jesus Prayed During Special Events (Luke 3:21) 3. Jesus Made Prayer a Priority (Luke 5:15-16) & (Luke 6:12) 4. Jesus Prayed Both Privately and Collectively (Luke 9:18) & (Luke 9:28) 5. Jesus Prayed During Times of Distress In the Garden (Luke 22:44) On the Cross Jesus prays out three times. First, (Luke 23:34) Second, (Matthew 27:46) Third, (Luke 23:46) II) Specific Principles from the Prayer Life of Jesus What do we learn from the prayer life of Jesus? What can we apply to our own prayer life as we meditate on the example of Jesus? 1. First, we see the priority to prayer in the life of Jesus. The discipline in Jesus' prayer life stands out in several respects. A) A Certain Place (Luke 11:1) This phrase lends itself to the idea that Jesus had “certain places” He went to pray. Wilderness (Luke 5:16) Mountain (Luke 6:12 and 9:28) Garden (Luke 22:39) B) A Consistent Practice (Luke 5:16) Despite the many demands that are being made upon Jesus. He knew of the importance to slip away and pray on a regular basis. C) A Concrete Pattern (Luke 11:1) The teaching that follows in verse 2-4 serves as a model for praying—not words to necessarily be mimicked, but a pattern that serves as a concrete pattern. D) A Continuing Process Luke 22:44, 23:34, and 23:46 show us the continuing prayer life of Jesus. Paul said 1 Thess. 5:17 that we are to pray unceasingly. 2. Second, we see the purpose of prayer in the life of Jesus. If we have learned “how” he prayed by the discipline (priority) in His life, then we can learn “why” we pray by examining the things that Jesus prayed. Jesus prayed . . . • For refreshment (5:16) • In times of important decision (Luke 6:12) • In times of distress—In garden and on the cross • For the faith of the disciples (Luke 22:32) • For the unity of the disciples (John 17) Closing: Prayer is the key to unleashing human participation in the works of God. and Prayer is the key to unleashing Divine participation in the works of humanity. If Jesus prayed, how much more do we need to pray? Watch us on our YouTube channel, our website or our Facebook page https://www.youtube.com/@midwaybaptistnc1670 https://midwaybaptistnc.org https://facebook.com/midwaybaptistnc

As I was praying about what we should focus on for this year, the idea of jubilee kept coming to mind. This morning I have three R's that you can remember that may help in understanding the meaning and purpose behind the Jubilee and the Day of Atonement. Then I want to transition to our theme of “A Good Time for a Jubilee” and share with you three R's of Midway's Jubilee. As we consider celebrating Jubilee, I want us to see what the Lord has done, is doing, and is going to do for us here at Midway. First, we must consider: I) The Biblical Three R's of Jubilee 1) Release That is our first R: A release. They would release all the slaves that is to say if you were in bondage to someone for financial reasons you would be set free. Once you and I were slaves to sin, you were slaves until the Jubilee. Jubilee is about forgiveness it is about being set free from bondage to sin. We are released just like those slaves were released from their enslavement. That is something to be jubilant about. 2) Return That is our second R: Return. In Leviticus 25:23-28, God gives them instructions about returning the land back to its ancestral owners in the year of the Jubilee, as well as redeeming the land. They must give back the land in the year of Jubilee as a sign of faith that all the land belongs to the Lord. I think for us - what a great reminder. Who owns us? Well, God owns us, doesn't He? Jesus made a way through His sacrifice on the cross for all of us to return to our rightful owner which is God. 3) Revitalize Now the third R is Revitalize. You see the land was to lay fallow, uncultivated. It was to just sit there. It was resting. Isn't that interesting? How was the land regenerated? It was by resting; by not being worked up; by not having crops. It was replenished; it was restored by rest; it was revitalized. These people were taking a risk when they didn't plant in that 49th year. Well, are we ready to take a risk to show that our faith is a living faith that is dependent on God? Now we must consider: II) The Three R's of Midway's Jubilee 1) Remember We need to remember where God has brought us from to where we are now. Have you ever wondered why God told Israel to celebrate a Jubilee every 50 years? The short answer is so that every generation would learn the lessons that God was teaching. Many folks who set in this building today that the Lord has blessed us with have no idea of what it took to get us from where we were to where we are now. Many, have no idea of the praise we owe God for leading us through so much to get us to this place. Remembering is vital for moving forward. 2) Regroup Last year brought us to the end of an amazing journey. What I mean by this is that we finalized a “Vision of Victories” of a new sanctuary and fellowship hall that is now paid for. It brings us to the place where we can stop and remember and regroup as to what God would have us to do for the kingdom next. This is a time of rest and regroup before the next journey of faith begins. 3) Resolve I want us to begin our next journey of faith with a Resolve, which means to, “decide firmly on a course of action; an earnest determination to do something.” My thought here is that as we remember the goodness of God on us as a church and as a people that we will regroup with a plan to move forward for the glory of the Lord, with a resolve that won't and can't be stopped by the things of this world. In Closing: I think this is A Good Time for a Jubilee; how about you? Watch us on our YouTube channel, our website or our Facebook page https://www.youtube.com/@midwaybaptistnc1670 https://midwaybaptistnc.org https://facebook.com/midwaybaptistnc

Love. There are few things so universal and yet so challenging. Love for God. “The most important” commandment, says Jesus (Mark 12:29–30), and one that both the old and new covenants portray as necessary to enjoy God's sustained favor. In verses one through six of chapter two John has already made the point that one of the ways we know we know Him is if we obey Him. And now, he follows that insight up with another one; We know that we know Him if we have His love. He tells us that if we love Him, we will grow to be more like Him and that is a love worth having. Notice these three things. I) The priority of love (7-11) In these five verses John draws our attention to three things, concerning a love worth having. A) The origin of love (vs. 7) Beginning in the earliest books of the Old Testament, God's desire was that we would love Him and love others. John is reiterating what they had known, from the beginning. Love God and love each other. This is foundational to what it means to know God. B) The operation of love (vs. 8) Jesus' commandment did not have to do so much with the decision to love, that was the old commandment. The new commandment had to do with the depth of that love, or the kind of love we are to have for one another. Jesus says, I want you to love each other like I have loved you. C) The opposite of love (vs. 9-11) John is contrasting true love with hatred. True love, Christian love, the kind of love God has for us, the kind of love Jesus expressed on the cross, is sacrificial and active. There is no room for neutrality, we either love others or we hate them, we cannot, according to John, ignore them and at the same time say we love them. II) The process of maturity (vv. 12-14) In these three verses, John gives us two sets of three parallel statements. He addresses three different groups of people in the church. A) The children - those who are young in the faith B) The Fathers - those who have been believers a long time C) The Young Men - those who presently carry the responsibility for the furtherance of the gospel. III) The perils of the world (vv. 15-17) Whereas we are told to love God and one another, here we are strongly warned against loving the world and the things of the world. A) The lust of the flesh (v. 16) The cravings of sinful man. They are the desires that come from the human desires which are shaped by the world and the spirit of the age, rather than by the Spirit of God living within us. B) The lust of the eyes (v.16) Greed, materialism, envy, are strong desires which come from wanting what we see. In all of our lives the enemy tries to tempt us with that which we see. That's why we must be careful what we set before our eyes. C) The pride of life (v.16) This is the sin of self-sufficiency, self-reliance, and pride. That desire to get more at any cost, consider the pride of life it took for Judas to betray Jesus. In Closing: Where is your love this morning? Do you love the world, or do you love the Lord? Do you have this love worth having? And if not, what are you willing to do to get it? Watch us on our YouTube channel, our website or our Facebook page https://www.youtube.com/@midwaybaptistnc1670 https://midwaybaptistnc.org https://facebook.com/midwaybaptistnc

How we treat others and how we act is an outward expression of how we see God. If you view God as a loving Father, then chances are you will love unconditionally. If you view God as only a just God that will just punish sin, then you may view people with little tolerance. How do you see God? I) The Description of God's Love (vv. 8, 11, 13, 17) How do you describe a rose to a blind person? How do you describe the infinite love of God to impure, finite humans? One of the most vivid characteristics of God is that he is a God of love. The Psalmist was descriptive in recording the love-nature of God. (Psalm 103:8), (Psalm 103:11), (Psalm 103:13), and (Psalm 103:17). II) The Definition of God's Love (v. 2) The point is not simply that God "loves," but that he is love itself. Love is not merely one of his attributes, but his very nature. God has your best interest in mind. He wants to give you good gifts and provide you with "all his benefits" (Psalm 103:2). III) The Benefits of God's Love (v. 2) The Psalmist uncovers all the phases of life that God's love has touched and in turn benefited and blessed the recipient. A) Spiritually (v. 3, 12) B) Emotionally (v. 3) C) Eternally (v. 4) D) Authoritatively (v. 4) E) Physically (v. 5) F) Judicially (v. 6) IV) The knowledge of God's love What should I know about God's love? A) God's love is all consuming The number of times the three-lettered word "all" is used in this text reminds us that God's love is all consuming. His love touches every area of our lives. There is nowhere we can go to escape his love. B) God's love is personal The Bible cuts through all the philosophical abstractions and declares that God is a Person. As a personal being God is capable of loving and being loved. And as a personal being he loves each one of us intensely personal. C) God's love is beyond comprehension (vv. 13-14) Amazing, isn't it? God knows me and still loves me. Like a father's love for a wayward and rebellious son that waits anxiously for him to return home so he can grant him a new start, is God's love for us. That's a glimpse of the kind of incredible, incomprehensible love God has for us. In Closing: If you ever wonder if God loves you, look to the cross. The cross is God's way of saying, "I love you this much," with his arms outstretched. God's final words to us are etched on a Roman cross. They are blood red. They scream to be heard. They say, "I love you." Watch us on our YouTube channel, our website or our Facebook page https://www.youtube.com/@midwaybaptistnc1670 https://midwaybaptistnc.org https://facebook.com/midwaybaptistnc

Today, we will begin by looking at our need for love. 1. Our Need to Be Loved One of the deepest needs of our hearts is to be loved by others. Not only do we want to be loved, but we want also for others to make that love known to us. 2. Our Need for God's Love An even deeper need is to be loved by God and to see a demonstration of His love. We must realize that even when others do not love us, God intensely loves us. My desire is to show you that the love we all need is found in God's love for us. I) God's Expressed Love God demonstrated His love for us. 1) The God who Loves Who is this God who loves us? We believe in the Triune God. God is One God, but He has three Persons. He is God, the Father, God, the Son and God, the Holy Spirit. There was, is, and ever will be perfect love and fellowship within the Trinity. We can build a relationship with Him, but that interactive relationship requires the giving and receiving of love. 2) The Evidence of God's Love When we think about it, we see much evidence of God's love for us. We see the love of God in all aspects of life. a) Nature b) Achievements c) Actions The love of God for us stands out in the actions of people who love us and the rest of God's creation. 1 John 4:19 3) God's Ultimate Show of Love Many have asked, “Why did Christ have to die?” “Could not God have forgiven our sins and redeemed us in some other way? The answer to both questions is clearly “No.” God loves us, but He is also just. Only Christ was sinless. Only He was a worthy sacrifice for our sins. If another plan would have worked, God the Father so love God the Son that He would have chosen the other plan. We could only be forgiven and redeemed if God loved us enough to give His Son. II) God's Gracious Love Christ died for us as ungodly people not as godly people. If we had been righteous, He would not have died for us. 1) Because None are Righteous We were born with a tendency to sin. Therefore, as we begin thinking about God's love, we have to admit that we are not claiming the right to be loved, but we are calling upon God in His mercy to love us. 2) Because God Is Gracious In contrast to the bad news, the good news is that God the Father graciously loves us. God overcame the bad news with the good news of the gift of His Son who paid the penalty for our sins. III) Christ's Sacrificial Love The love of God, through Christ, is a sacrificial love. It is higher than any other love for us. 1) A Display of Love Jesus understood that dying for someone else was the supreme sacrifice. (John 15:13) It was the ultimate display of love. Jesus is the ultimate hero for His display of love. 2) An Expression of Love The love of Christ for us is an exalted love. Now, we should note how exalted is the expression of the love of Christ. Christ went beyond dying for a good man and died for sinners. His love for the ungodly is unequaled. He laid down His life for them. In Closing: Allow me to make this very personal. Christ loves you personally and individually. St. Augustine said, “He loves each one of us, as if there were only one of us.” He died for you. If you had been the only sinner, He still would have died for you. Watch us on our YouTube channel, our website or our Facebook page https://www.youtube.com/@midwaybaptistnc1670 https://midwaybaptistnc.org https://facebook.com/midwaybaptistnc

Jonah went from running from God to trying to run God. By the way, if you preached to a city, and every person in the city repented of their sin, how would you respond? Most likely, not the way Jonah does. But that depends on where your heart is at. Look how Jonah responded when Nineveh repented. I) The Response of Jonah to God's Grace (Jonah 4:1) We should not be too hard on Jonah here. We all sometimes wonder why God doesn't judge a certain person or group of people. We see the wicked seemingly getting away with evil and we wish God would just rain down on them. Sometimes we might pray as Jonah prays here in verse 2-3. II) The Honest Confession of Jonah (Jonah 4:2-3) Here, at last, we see why Jonah would rather flee to Tarshish than preach fire and brimstone to Nineveh, and why he would rather die than obey God. The answer to both is that he knew God was gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm. Jonah, in his anger, is attacking God's actions saying that the people of Nineveh do not deserve God's grace. What Jonah forgets, and we do as well, is that no one deserves God's grace. III) The Probing Questions of God (Jonah 4:4-9) A) A Question of Misdirected Perspective “Is it right for you to be angry?” Jonah 4:4 This is a question of perspective. Jonah looked at the city of Nineveh and got angry that God had shown them mercy. God basically says, “Listen, Jonah, we're looking at the same situation, yet we have two different perspectives. Which one do you think is reasonable?” Which leads to… B) A Question of Mistaken Priority “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” Jonah 4:9 The second question, in response to Jonah's plea to die, exposes a mistaken priority. Jonah declares, "Yes, I have a right." But did he have a right? He did nothing to produce the plant. He did nothing to grow the plant. He did nothing to save the plant. It wasn't Jonah's plant; it was God's plant. C) A Question of Misguided Passion “should not I spare Nineveh?” Jonah 4:11 God's third question focuses on Jonah's misguided passion. He had become concerned about the perishable but not the permanent. God compares 120,000 souls to one plant asking where should one's passion be? IV) The Lasting Lesson of Jonah (Jonah 4:10-11) And with that, the story ends. Why does the story end this way. It seems like the story should have ended after chapter 3. God has mercy on Nineveh. The End. But that wasn't the end. Why not? Because the story is not about Nineveh. What is this story about? The story is about you and me. The text leaves us hanging because it asks the question, “What about you? What does God see in your heart?” In Closing: Here is the question the book asks of you: What are you concerned about? What is God concerned about? Do these match? The question is not “Where can God use me the most, but where can God change me the most?” Watch us on our YouTube channel, our website or our Facebook page https://www.youtube.com/@midwaybaptistnc1670 https://midwaybaptistnc.org https://facebook.com/midwaybaptistnc

So, let's look at our passage together and marvel at what God once did, and pray that He does it again…. Spirit led words though they are few; will amaze the world in what they will do. Ask the Ninevites. I) Revivals Demand a Stern Message (3:4) Jonah entered the outskirts of the great city and began to preach sermons on judgment, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown" (Jonah 3:4). I think this was the title or subject of Jonah's sermons. We do not have a record of his entire sermons in the Bible. This only seems to be the subject that he spoke on. He preached on the judgment of Almighty God against the city, because God said, "Their wickedness is come up before me" (Jonah 1:2). But the people of Nineveh did not stone Jonah, or imprison him, as he doubtlessly expected they would do. Instead, when he preached on judgment, "The people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast" (Jonah 3:5). II) Revivals Follow Sincere Repentance (3:5–9) Repentance is hatred of sin and turning from it unto God in the light of his mercy. Scripture highlights four parts of the sincere response of the Ninevites, which serve as a model of genuine repentance today. A) Repentant People Believe God's Word of Judgment (v. 5) From whatever preaching Jonah did, the Ninevites gathered enough of God's true identity not only to believe in him and trust his mercy, but to recognize God's sovereignty despite the predicament in which they found themselves. The most basic response to a confrontation with God is to believe him. Without believing God, there is no salvation. The question is for each of us to answer: Do you believe God? B) Repentant People Grieve Their Wicked Condition (v. 8) The Ninevites' grief was blatant; they wore it! In the ancient Near East sackcloth and ashes externalized inner grief and mourning (Job 1:20; 2:8). They were using the body as an auxiliary to the soul. By fasting they afflicted their bodies to bring them into harmony with their afflicted souls. Sin isn't a joke to repentant people. It is a tragedy. When confronted with their sin the Ninevites “were sorrowful, miserable, broken, and grief-stricken over their sin as they suddenly realized that their wickedness had offended God . . . A similar experience of repentance is needed today.” C) Repentant People Put Away Their Sin (vv. 8, 10) A truly penitent person turns from his evil ways. Sinners cannot draw near to God simply by affirming he exists or by regretting their shortcomings. The king told each Ninevite to turn from “his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands” (3:8). We can't expect salvation if we refuse to part with the sins for which Christ died. D) Repentant People Appeal to God for Mercy (vv. 5, 9) The thought of being rejected by God so horrified the Ninevites that experiencing God's mercy became their main concern. The king's decree asked, “Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish?” Even this modest hope “should quicken you and stir you to cast yourselves upon his free grace.” Why assume that you must remain unsaved? The Ninevites didn't. The Ninevites are our sign. They teach us how to repent. They warn us to lament our sins now or to lament them forever in hell. III) Revivals Depend on God's Mercy (3:10) The Lord is not the God merely of second chances, but the God who accepts even those who have squandered their entire lives in rebellious living. God didn't change his mind; he changed the Ninevites! The proud, wicked, atheistic people against whom he had threatened judgment ceased to exist when they were made into a new creation by God's grace. Watch us on our YouTube channel, our website or our Facebook page https://www.youtube.com/@midwaybaptistnc1670 https://midwaybaptistnc.org https://facebook.com/midwaybaptistn

12 views Streamed live on Jan 1, 2023 Text: Jonah 3:1-5 Opening Statement: Have you ever noticed in scripture how many times the Lord called or came "the second time?" Sometimes, it brought stern warning, while other times it extended profound grace and abundant blessing. But, in every case it implied the Lord was not through yet! In each of our lives there have been moments when our spiritual obituary was written, and our tombstone engraved. The world had given up on us, and friends could scarcely be found. Were you not deeply humbled and speechless when the Lord called or came "the second time?" Today being New Year's I thought it was a good day to pick up where we left off in Jonah. New Year's always reminds me of a second chance in that an old year has passed, and a new one is beginning. Today Jonah reminds us that we are Serving a God of Second Chances. I) A Fresh Start Jonah 3:1 . . . the second time . . . Wow, what a phrase! What grace and forgiveness are bound up in these three words – the second time. "The second time" of the Lord signifies a fresh start. The world may be limited in its love and chances, but the love of the Lord gives more than a second chance. He gives us a second wind! Imagine the thrill of Jonah the prophet as he heard the word of the Lord coming to him again – the second time. II) A Faithful Summons Jonah 3:2 It is interesting to me that this is the same commission Jonah first received in chapter 1. However, the first time, Jonah is told of the wickedness of the people of Nineveh, but in this second commission, Jonah is not reminded of their wickedness. Instead, he is challenged by God with the sacred task to, “deliver to them My word”. Jonah is given a second chance and now, he is given a faithful summons. This charge is nothing less than to preach the word. It is the same charge given by Paul to Timothy, and to every pastor since, [Timothy], preach the word... (II Timothy 4:2a) "The second time" of the Lord submits a faithful summons. What is the Lord saying “the second time” to you? III) A Fruitful Season Jonah 3:4-5 "The second time" of the Lord suggests a fruitful season. The word “overthrow” means literally, “turn upside down”. The tense of the verb indicates thoroughness, so this would be a complete destruction or overturning of the city's foundations, walls and gates. This is the same verb that is used to describe the total destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Is it really surprising then, to read in the very next phrase in verse 5, Then the people of Nineveh believed in God... Imagine this – they believed in God. By the way, it does not say they believed in Jonah. The people of Nineveh may not have been all that swept away by Jonah. However, they were swept away by the warning of this Sovereign; they were swept into the mercy of Jonah's God. God not Jonah brought about a fruitful season. In Closing: How thankful I am that the Lord has never given up on you or me. Watch us on our YouTube channel, our website or our Facebook page https://www.youtube.com/@midwaybaptistnc1670 https://midwaybaptistnc.org https://facebook.com/midwaybaptistnc

2022.12.25 - Merry Christmas by Midway Baptist Church

Midway Baptist Christmas Eve Candle Light Service

Christmas is a wonderful story, but it is so much more than a story. It is a true story, it is history, and it is our story, the story of when love came down in the person of Jesus Christ. I would like to share with you three simple truths from our Scriptures passage of how love came down at Christmas. I) Love comes from God (7-8) Have you ever wondered where love comes from? Most people agree that love is the most beautiful thing in the world. But where does all this love come from? Did you ever wonder that? The Bible gives us the answer. Love comes from God, because God is love. There has never been a time when there was not God, and so there has never been a time when there was not love. Where does love come from? Love comes from God, because God is love. That's our first truth for today. Love comes from God. II) Love came down to earth (9) Love began in heaven among the persons of the Trinity, but love came down to earth at Christmas. God sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. The miracle of Christmas is that the baby in the manger was God in human flesh. God became a man. The Son of God became the son of man. Jesus who had lived with God the Father for all of eternity entered our world on Christmas day. He left the glories of heaven and came to earth as a tiny baby. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. Love began in heaven. But love came down to earth at Christmas. III) Love came down to the cross (10) Love comes from God. That's our first truth. Love came down to earth. That's our second truth. And finally, love came down to the cross. God loves us so much that he not only sent Jesus to earth. He sent him to the cross at Calvary. This was God's plan all along. It's part of the Christmas story. Jesus lived his entire life in the shadow of the cross. Love not only came down to earth at Christmas. Love came down to the cross to pay the price for our sins so that we could be saved. As the angel said to the shepherds that first Christmas Eve: “ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11) This was the true gift of Christmas. Not simply the gift of a Son, but the gift of a Savior. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Love came down all the way. Love came down to the cross for sinners the likes of us. In Closing: Christmas is all about love. Where does love come from? Love comes from God. How did God show his love among us? He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. Love came down to earth. What is love? This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Love came down to the cross. Listen to us here on Soundcloud or watch us on our YouTube channel, Facebook page, or website. https://midwaybaptistnc.org https://facebook.com/midwaybaptistnc https://www.youtube.com/@midwaybaptistnc1670

We all long for peace in our lives, and yet peace is sadly lacking in our world. People are full of worry and anxiety. Relationships are full of conflict and stress. The world is full of conflict and wars. But that's where Jesus comes in. Part of the Christmas story, part of the Christmas message is that Jesus brings us peace. We will be looking at four aspects of the peace that Jesus brings this morning. I) Jesus brings peace with God – Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 1:21; Luke 1:26-30, 76-79; Romans 5:1 The Bible tells us our sins have separated us from God, and it is only through Jesus and faith in him that we are brought into a relationship of peace with our God and Creator. Romans 5:1 How did Jesus do this? By what Jesus did at the cross. Jesus was born into this world to die on the cross so that our sins could be forgiven, and we could be restored to a right relationship of peace with God. As we read in Isaiah 53:5 II) Jesus brings peace with self – Luke 2:28-31; John 14:27; Philippians 4:6-7 Sin not only separates us from God. Sin also brings separation within our own being. We are conflicted beings. We are constantly fighting anxiety and stress and inner turmoil. We desperately need inner peace, and Jesus came not only to bring peace with God but also personal peace within ourselves. Hear these beautiful words of Jesus: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27) Jesus not only brings peace with God. He also brings peace with self. III) Jesus brings peace with others – Matthew 1:20; Ephesians 2:14; Colossians 3:15 And then thirdly, Jesus brings peace with others. We have a wonderful example of this early in the Christmas story. When Joseph first heard that Mary was pregnant, he considered breaking off the engagement. If Mary was pregnant with any other child, Joseph would most likely have broken the engagement. But this wasn't any other child. Jesus, even before he was born, brought peace between Joseph and Mary and kept their marriage from coming apart. As believers in Christ, we are called to follow in his footsteps. Paul says: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.” (Colossians 3:15) Jesus brings peace with others. IV) Jesus will bring peace on earth – Isaiah 2:4, 9:6-7, 11:6-9; Luke 2:13-14; Colossians 1:19-20 The angels who announced Jesus' birth to the shepherds that first Christmas also proclaimed the peace that Jesus would bring to our planet. (Luke 2:13-14) But it gets even better than that! Because the Bible tells us that Jesus will not only bring peace on earth but will bring peace to the whole universe and that he will reconcile all things to himself in heaven and on earth. We read in Colossians 1: “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” (Colossians 1:19-20) Closing: Those verses in Colossians brings us right back to where we started. The reason Jesus can bring peace with God, peace with self, peace with others and peace on earth all goes back to the cross. Without Jesus being born as a baby at Christmas, there would be no cross. And without Jesus shedding his blood on the cross, there would be no peace. Listen to us here on Soundcloud or watch us on our YouTube channel, Facebook page, or website. https://midwaybaptistnc.org https://facebook.com/midwaybaptistnc https://www.youtube.com/@midwaybaptistnc1670

The baptism of believers in Jesus Christ by immersion is one of the distinctions of the Baptist Church. While other Churches may teach & practice baptism, very few require it for church membership. Why should we be so specific about what we believe about Baptism? The simple answer is: Because the New Testament teaches believers baptism by immersion, and the early Church in obedience to Christ's command, practiced it. I) The Authority Behind Believer's Baptism (Matthew 28:18-20) The authority for baptism comes directly from our Lord Jesus Christ. The command to baptize is associated with the authority given Him by the Father. One of our Lord's last commands to the Apostles was to baptize. The point is that we do not receive authority from any human source to baptize, not even the Church. The Church did not invent baptism, Our Lord did. The Church is to administer Baptism. II) Who Should be Baptized? (Acts 8:36-38) 1) All who hear the Word and come to faith in Jesus Christ. Those who have come to trust Him alone as their Savior and Lord. Rom 10:8-9 On the day of Pentecost, the First day of the Church, the day of birth for the Church; After Peter preached that first Sermon we read; Acts 2:41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. The order in Preparation for baptism is hearing the Word of God, trusting in or receiving Christ as Savior and then Baptism follows. III) The Method of Believer's Baptism (Rom 6:3-4) How should a believer be baptized? Since baptism is a symbol, it is vitally important what method is used, since the reality of the event pictured must agree with the symbol. What is the real event that is pictured by baptism? It is the believer's participation in the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Rom 6:3-4 Crucial to our belief that immersion is the proper and only New Testament method of baptism is: 1) The meaning of the word. Baptizo which meant at the time the New Testament was written, “To dip” or “to immerse”, “to put or go under water”. IV) The Symbolism of Baptism (Romans 6:3-5) Believer's Baptism is an outward symbol of an inward condition. It is a picture of what the Holy Spirit has done within the believer; He identifies the believer in Jesus Christ with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Baptism is like a wedding ring: they both symbolize transactions. In Closing: Why should a believer be baptized? Christ commanded it in Matthew 28:18-20. Obedience to Christ requires it in John 14:15-24. The Scriptures clearly state that the early Church practiced it in Acts 2. Listen to us here on Soundcloud or watch us on our YouTube channel, Facebook page, or website. https://midwaybaptistnc.org https://facebook.com/midwaybaptistnc https://www.youtube.com/@midwaybaptistnc1670

Text: Deuteronomy 26:1-11 Opening Statement: To harvest crops is to bring them in, out of the cold and storms. Harvesting is a sheltering, a keeping after growing is done and a celebration at year's end. In the Old Testament, the harvest was observed by the feast of Succoth or the Feast of Booths. The feast was a reminder of God's bountiful goodness and the blessing of God's providence in the lives of his people. We celebrate Thanksgiving. This Thanksgiving, as farmers and families are giving thanks for a bountiful yield, as in the days of old, we pause to ask ourselves: • What, in our lives, by divine grace, has been safely gathered in, sheltered from the storms of life? • What relationships have been restored? • What financial difficulties have been resolved? • What health problems have been cleared up? Now that is “A Reason to Be Thankful!” Let's consider three reasons to be thankful today. I) A reason to be thankful is remembering God is the source of all good things. The ability to give thanks with a joyful heart begins with recognizing God as the source of all good things and that God is always faithful toward his children. James 1:17 Remembering what God has done, made possible, or mercifully prevented doesn't just provide us with a sense of self-satisfied gratitude. Rather, the writer of Deuteronomy teaches to remember, which is the first step to thankfulness. We are to remember God is the one who is faithful and provides, not us. II) A reason to be thankful is sharing God's gifts and blessings with others. Few farmers hoard what they harvest. Jesus tells us about one and it didn't end well for him in Luke 12:16-21 They must part with their crops so that both they and their neighbor may eat. As Christians, we can't hold on to what isn't ours to start with. Psalm 24 declares, “The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, and they that dwell therein.” Sharing God's generosity with others is the very act of giving thanks. Giving thanks is sharing God's blessings with others. III) A reason to be thankful comes from thanking God with a joyful heart. We've all heard said, “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7). But we rarely quote all of what Paul originally wrote to the Corinthian church, “Each one of you must make up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” We too are compelled to make up our minds to offer what we have with joyful hearts. In Closing: May God continue to remind us that a thankful heart creates thankfulness and thankfulness leads to Thanksgiving. Watch us on our YouTube channel, our website or our Facebook page https://www.youtube.com/@midwaybaptistnc1670 https://midwaybaptistnc.org https://facebook.com/midwaybaptistnc

A Desperate Man's Desperate Prayer | Text: Jonah 2:1-10 Opening Statement: When last we left Jonah, he was in the belly of the great fish. He was in a bad fix and a bad way. As Jonah drops down into the belly of this fish, feels the great heat perhaps, and breathes the putrid air, he realizes where he is, even though he is in the dark, and further recognizes that he is without hope and beyond help. God is allowing Jonah to experience a taste of what the Ninevites will experience in judgment – hopelessness and helplessness if no one goes to them. Today we are going to discuss “A Desperate Man's Desperate Prayer.” I) God Teaches Us When to Pray (2:1-3) I suspect that the most fervent and powerful prayer Jonah ever prayed was from the belly of a fish. The first ingredient of Jonah's prayer is admission. Now, notice that Jonah admits this is God's hand of discipline in verse 3. At this point Jonah is no longer resisting the will of God; he is no longer rejecting the word of God – he is about to re-enlist in the work of God. However, first, there is admission of his wrongdoing and the right of God to discipline. Now he is on his way to restoration. II) God Teaches Us What to Pray (2:4-7) The second ingredient of Jonah's prayer is restoration. Notice verse 4. Up to this point, everything about the life of Jonah has been in the opposite direction of God's authority. Now, Jonah is admitting his sin and turning back to the temple of God – a statement of recommitment for the Old Testament saint. Did you catch this? Jonah would not pray before – he wanted to run from God; he did not want to speak for God. He would not even pray to God for the sake of these frantic sailors who were afraid of drowning, “I'm not on speaking terms with God.” Now, however, Jonah says, yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God. Sinclair Ferguson writes, “Isn't it marvelous that God has mercy upon His servant Jonah before Jonah will preach that God will have mercy on Nineveh.” III) God Teaches Us Why We Should Pray (2:9-10) The third ingredient of Jonah's prayer is appreciation. Keep in mind that Jonah has not been given a promise of deliverance. He was not thankful because he was back on dry land. He was not thankful that he had not drowned. He was thankful that God had turned his heart from rebellion and had caused him to call on the name of the Lord once again. Jonah was thankful for his salvation. What can Jonah sacrifice? He cannot sacrifice an animal – he has been swallowed by one. So, what can Jonah sacrifice to God now? He has gone too far – what can he offer to God? Jonah can offer to God the same thing we can. When David repented and wrote Psalm 51, a great hymn of repentance, he wrote, The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. (Psalm 51:17) As Jonah offers up to God the sacrifices of a repentant heart and a humbled spirit, God sends down the biggest case of indigestion any fish has ever experienced, and this fish spits up Jonah onto dry land. In Closing: Is there something in your life that God is desperately trying to get your attention about? Is there something God wants you to repent about? Remember running from God always leads down, while repentance always takes us upwards. Watch us on our YouTube channel, our website or our Facebook page https://www.youtube.com/@midwaybaptistnc1670 https://midwaybaptistnc.org https://facebook.com/midwaybaptistnc

You Can Run but You Can't Hide We need to be reminded of the same lesson Jonah learned, “You can run but you can't hide.” Let's take a look at how God begins the process of bringing Jonah back home. As we see how God deals with Jonah, we'll discover that God deals with us in the same way when we disobey. I) He Sends Storms to Get Our Attention (1:4-5) Jonah is starting to learn that it isn't as easy to run away from God as he may think! In fact, it's starting to look like even the elements and nature itself is rebelling at his rebellion! A) Our Storms Affect Us in Different Ways We all know that life can turn on a dime. God knows exactly how and what to get our attention. Our God is infinitely creative. He can send the storm in so many different ways. B) Our Storms Affect Others Around Us Everyone on board is endangered by Jonah's sin. Jonah was the sinner in this situation, and yet his foolish rebellion endangered everyone around him. Please ponder these four words: We never sin alone. Every step we take out of the will of God hurts those around us. II) He Sends Someone to Challenge Us (1:6-9) How could a man sleep during a terrible storm like this? The answer is simple. The devil has his sleeping pills too. He knows how to put us to sleep while the world crashes in around us. Look what happens next: A) They Expose his Slumbering (v.6) Seeing the danger, he wants Jonah to wake up and start praying. The world doesn't want our sermons. The world wants our prayers. Ponder that thought for a moment. The lesson is clear. The world waits for us pray. The world wants us to pray. The world wonders why we don't pray. Are we hearing what Jonah heard? “Wake up! Wake up!” “Why aren't you praying?” “My life is falling apart. I need you to pray for me.” B) They Expose his Disobedience (vs.7-10) Verse 7 says the sailors cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. Casting lots was an old way of answering an unanswerable question. Roll the dice and let God (or in this case, the gods, as the pagan sailors believed) decide where it falls. For it to fall on Jonah means this was no mere coincidence; it was divine providence. III) He Sends Salvation in an Unusual Way (1:11-17) A) Man's Attempt at Salvation (vs. 11-13) The sailors asked Jonah, “What do we need to do to you in order to save ourselves from the storm?” He said, “Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea….” After Jonah told them what needed to be done, verse 13 says, “Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought and was tempestuous against them.” It is the same today, God has put a plan of salvation into action but instead of accepting His way we try to do it our way. B) God's Plan of Salvation (v. 17) This verse tells us that God provided Jonah with a great fish. Notice this about God's plan of salvation, there was no other person able to do what Jonah could do for those men. Similarly, only the death of Jesus is sufficient to stem the tide of God's wrath and save us from our sins. Therefore, Peter said, "there is no other name” whereby we can and must be saved apart from the name of Jesus. In Closing: Perhaps there is someone here today out of the will of God. You are headed for a big storm and a great fish. Please heed my advice. Turn around now. Most importantly, if there is someone here today living without the assurance of a personal relationship with the Lord. Come to him today. Believe on Him today. Repent of your sins and receive Him into your heart today - for this is the day of Salvation. Watch us on our YouTube channel, our website or our Facebook page https://www.youtube.com/@midwaybaptistnc1670 https://midwaybaptistnc.org https://facebook.com/midwaybaptistnc

Life on the Run | Text: Jonah 1:1-3 Opening Statement: Rather than heading toward Nineveh in obedience to God's word and will you're headed to your Tarshish in disobedience to God's word and will! Which direction are you headed? Nineveh or Tarshish? Obedience or disobedience? That's what chapter 1 is all about! We find this prophet like some of you running in the wrong direction. Let's see what Jonah's story meant then, what it means today and what it means for us personally. I) Jonah Gets a Word from the Lord (1:1-2) A) Jonah Received a Personal Word. Now remember Jonah was a real man who lived in a real place and like today God called him to a task. God had a personal word to say to His servant. You need to know that God still speaks a personal word to us! How? He speaks to us through the Scriptures! He speaks to us through His Spirit! He speaks to us through His Saints! B) Jonah Received a Pointed Word. Verse 2, Do you sense the urgency in those words? “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city” Just the mention of their name brought out the passions of the Israelites. And how they longed to see God wipe them off the map! In fact, I think the main reason Jonah ran was that he knew that if they heard the gospel that they would repent, and that God would forgive them. And rather than forgive them he wanted God to destroy them 4.2! C) Jonah Received a Purposeful Word. And now God instructs His prophet to go THERE to the wicked and godless city of Nineveh to preach the gospel! It was the last place on earth Jonah wanted to go! Verse 2, “cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” II) Jonah Gets Away from the Lord (1:3) And don't think that Jonah was simply running from the will of God, he was running from the presence of God. Now as he tries to run from the presence of God, I want you to notice with me a few things you need to know especially for you who are running from God today! A) Consider the Direction of His Steps. (3) What direction were his steps as he began running from God? D O W N! “He went DOWN to Joppa …. and went DOWN into it ...” Do you see it? He went down to Joppa he went down into the boat. Later we're going to read that he went DOWN into the belly of the fish. Jonah's life was spiraling down, down, down. Learn this: you will never go up while you're living in rebellion against God! Down is always the direction when there is rebellion against God! B) Consider the destination of his ship. (3) By the way whenever you run from God the Devil will make sure that there is a ship for you to get on! Why Tarshish? I'll can tell you why! Because Tarshish was as far away as any place on earth in that day! Most believe that Tarshish was in Spain over 2000 miles from Joppa! Tarshish was as far West as you could go. C) Consider the desperation of his soul. (3) Every time you run in the wrong direction it's going to cost you! There is a price to pay! In fact, the rest of the book of Jonah shows us just how much running from God cost. Have you ever stopped to consider the price you're paying for running from God? Remember the old saying, • Sin will take you further then you ever wanted to go; • Sin will keep you longer than you ever wanted to stay; • Sin will cost you more than you ever wanted to pay. There's a high price to pay for running from God. In Closing: You can run, but you cannot hide from God. It's time you stop running from God and enjoy the fellowship and blessing He longs to give you! Watch us on our YouTube channel, our website or our Facebook page https://www.youtube.com/@midwaybaptistnc1670 https://midwaybaptistnc.org https://facebook.com/midwaybaptistnc