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God invites you to become involved with Him in His work

8/20/2015

Some examples from the Scriptures:

Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (Gen 12:1-3)

God called Abraham to move from where he was to where God wanted him to be.

Abraham answered and went to a land he knew not where and became the Father of faith.

Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. (Exo 3:9-10)

God called Moses to deliver His people from their oppressors.

Moses answered and stood before Pharoah.

And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? (Jdg 6:14)

God called Gideon to lead God's army against the enemies of Israel.

Gideon answered and led God's people to victory.

Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit: And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel. (Amo 7:14-15)

God called a farmer to speak His Word to His people.

Amos answered and prophesied Truth.

And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. (Act 9:10-12)

God called a disciple to disciple a new believer.

Ananias answered and taught Saul, who would become Paul, the apostle to the gentiles.

Some things to think on:
    Has God ever invited you to become involved with Him in His work?
        What work (Not necessarily "work" at church)?
        How do you know it was God?

    If it has been a while, what has changed?
        All who are His by faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary and repentance of their sins are saints of God.
        His saints have work to do, not to gain any favor, but because of who He is and because of His love for us.

        God is not done with His saints until He takes us Home to be with Him. His retirement is out of this world.
        Are you a castaway of the faith once delivered to the saints.

    If not, why do you suppose God has never invited you?

        Are you deaf, not hearing the words of God because you are not His?
        He is calling you to His great Salvation, that you may repent and receive Him by faith.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Eph. 2:10)

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God pursues a continuing love relationship with you that is real and personal

8/13/2015

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And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent. (Joh 17:3)

In light of the realities of experiencing God, we are encouraging you to consider your relationship with the living God:
Meditate on this: Is your relationship with God and your Salvation testimony abstract, remote, impersonal?

According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Eph 1:4-6)

Are you in the beloved, have you been adopted, has God accepted you because of your repentance and faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary?

If you pass from this life, will we "See ya later"?

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the Law, and the service of God, and the promises;
(Rom 8:15, 23, 9:4)

Is there a deep affection between you and God? Are you under God's rules, because of His love for you, as dear children, or are you living "your" life?

To redeem them that were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (Gal 4:5-7)

Are you a child of God, having been born again by His Spirit because of your faith in Him and your repentance of your sIns?
What is God doing around you?, in you?, through you? Have you surrendered to Him on His terms and received Him?

We encourage you to join us in our journey as we experience God together as His church.

The staff of First Baptist Mossy Head

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Realities of Experiencing GOD

8/6/2015

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1. God is always at work around you.
2. God pursues a continuing love relationship with you that is real and personal.
3. God invites you to become involved with Him in His work.
4. God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes and His ways.
5. God’s invitation for you to work with Him always leads you to a crisis of belief that requires faith and action.
6. You must make major adjustments in your life to join God in what He is doing.
7. You come to know God by experience as you obey Him and He accomplishes His work through you

Some thoughts to consider as we approach the Experiencing GOD Together study:

Do you believe that GOD is always at work around you? If so, think about what you see GOD doing...

How would you describe your answer: Is it personal life support (as any person who is alive and fairly healthy would ascribe)? Is it personal spirituality (Worship, blessings, as any spiritually minded person might claim)? What is GOD doing, that can only be ascribed to Him?

Think about specifics, what do you see GOD doing around you, that only He can do?

Are we comfortable with what we are doing with and for GOD?
What can He do through us if we are surrendered and obedient to Him?
If we are not surrendered and obedient to Him and His Word, why not?
What is in the way of our being meet for the Masters use?

There are no answers from us today, as we prepare our hearts for our Experiencing GOD Together weekend and study, only thoughts. But the Bible does have answers, and we encourage you to get deeper into GOD's Word, and in communication with Him to find them.
But if you don't know GOD, and can't answer these questions because you have never put your faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, we encourage you to seek Him and His great Salvation that you might be born again and have new life in Him. Then you can hear from Him and His Word, and know not only eternal life, but forgiveness and reconciliation with GOD through repentance from your sins and faith in Christ.

The staff of First Baptist Mossy Head

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A meditation for Revival

7/30/2015

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The LORD is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works. The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear Him: He also will hear their cry, and will save them. (Psa 145:17-19)

Why does revival tarry for GOD's Church? Think on these things:
Why is it that GOD is with us and within us, yet so many of us live our lives with little awareness of His presence?
If an unbeliever were to ask you, "what's it like to be filled with, or lead or guided by, the Holy Spirit?", what would you tell them?
Do you really want to have a daily dependence upon Him? Or are you simply looking for instant help from the immediate problem of the day?
Do you wish to partake in a rich and full relationship with the King of all kings? Or are you concerned that He might interfere with the way you want to run your life?

Only when we finally come to a sincere desire for Him, as Psalm 145 indicated, will we discover what He has wanted us to have all along. And we can only receive that which He has for us if we know Him, and have His great Salvation, by faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary.

Edited for web publication from Dr. Bill Ferrand's Wednesday night devotion, Feb 25, 2015, by Jefferson Sweet.

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Where is the witness?

7/16/2015

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And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. And when He went forth to land, there met Him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with Thee, Jesus, Thou Son of GOD most high? I beseech thee, torment me not. (For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.) And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him. And they besought Him that He would not command them to go out into the deep. And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought Him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And He suffered them. Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked. When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country. Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed. Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought Him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and He went up into the ship, and returned back again. Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought Him that He might be with Him: but Jesus sent him away, saying, Return to thine own house, and shew how great things GOD hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him. And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received Him: for they were all waiting for Him. (Luk 8:26-40)

    It's been a while since our revival meetings, and we want to share the teaching from our prayer meeting devotion:

There were several points from this passage that were brought out:
    The best part of the demon-possessed man's life while he was tormented and possessed was the end of it. During that time, he was in bonds, he lived in the tombs and couldn't keep himself in clothes or his right mind. He was the living dead, just as many today, bound by their sIn, caught in cycles of corruption, and unable to save themselves.
    The possessed man reacted in opposition to his encounter with Jesus. He falsely accused Jesus and His agenda. Many we encounter as we witness will be hostile and even falsely accuse us, even as they continue to make false statements about our Lord.
    The community reacted in fear and loathing of all Jesus had done for this man. They didn't want him delivered from his bondage, nor in his right mind, and they certainly wanted their pigs back (though as Jews they should not have been involved with them). They asked Jesus to leave. Many today do not want to hear about Jesus, they react in fear and loathing toward Him and us, and wish us to leave.
    Jesus left in response to the widespread rejection of His actions and message. He didn't force Himself on anybody. We should leave in as good a relationship as they will let us, but when faced with hostility, we leave and pray, not for good, but for the moment.
    This response and strategy worked, because the delivered man testified of all that GOD had done, and those that heard and were waiting for Jesus rejoiced and were glad to see Him when He returned to them. We must not give up on people that or lost, but trust lost people to GOD, and return when the Spirit prompts us, that they who hear may be glad and receive Him.

    So the question then is, what great things about Jesus have you experienced, and what have you published, as this man did, and to whom?
    Have you experienced the new birth that Jesus came to give all who will repent of their sins and believe in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary? Have you been delivered from the power and presence of sIn and redeemed? Has GOD saved you and given you a brand new life in Him that you can share with others?
    If so, what provision and guidance has GOD done in and through you lately? What is He telling you to do for Him? Have you shared Jesus with your neighbors, your friends, your coworkers, or your family?

Church: where is the witness in your community? in your neighborhood? in your county? in your state? in your country? in our world?

Dr. William Ferrand, Pastor
and Rev. Jefferson Sweet, Associate Pastor

(From Bill Ferrand's Wednesday devotion and teaching, 15 July 2015, edited for web publication by Jefferson Sweet.)

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Pray for Revival

5/7/2015

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints

2/12/2015

The First Baptist Church of Mossy Head is saddened to announce the passing of our Pastor Emeritus; Bro. Robert LaFavre, who went Home to the arms of His Lord, Weds Morning, Feb 11, 2015.

We rejoice in the assurance that he is Home, and forevermore with Jesus Christ, but are saddened by His passing. We will miss our Brother in the Lord, our pastor (Emeritus for some), our mentor and fellow labourer, and our friend.

The staff and congregation of FBCMH.

Dr. Bill Ferrand
Rev. Jefferson Sweet
Dr. Lew Dolan
Mrs. Ginnie Patrick

In memory of Bro. Robert LaFavre, 1934-2015

What are GOD's people going to get?

10/20/2014

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And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host; And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore. (Jos 3:1-4)

Dr. Tom Kinchen from The Baptist College of Florida gave a challenging message during our 37th Annual Homecoming celebration.

He challenged us as GOD's people to get up, get focused, get ready, and get going.

    We are GOD's people on GOD's mission and must get up from our complacency and out of our comfort zone to do the work of GOD.
        Arms won't do it, politics won't do it, judges won't do it. We must take the Gospel we live in the Power of GOD to the people who need it.

    We are GOD's people and so must focus on Him and the work He has for us to do.
        All else that distracts or deceives must be put away while we look only unto Jesus.

    We are GOD's people and need to be sanctified, discipled, and prepared to take the land.
        Only with the Gospel of Jesus Christ can people's hearts and minds be changed.

    We are GOD's people and must follow Him wherever He leads us, in complete surrender and submission to our Lord.
        Whether it is across the world, across the country, or across the street, we must be obedient to all that GOD asks of us.

Are you willing to get up from your place, get focused on Jesus, get ready in the Word, and get going where He sends you?

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Servant Leadership

7/28/2014

Like jumbo shrimp or Military Intelligence, this term may seem at first to be an oxymoron, but the Bible teaches that leaders and those in positions of authority are to serve or minister to those in their care, not to lord it over them. However, I am not here today to inform you of that, but to celebrate what GOD has done and will do in the Sunday school department of the First Baptist Church of Mossy Head. On this occasion, we commemorate the last five years of the Sunday school. We do so because of the servant leaders we have as class teachers and assistants, administrative workers, and our current director. There are many good things going on and we celebrate the Sunday school of the First Baptist Church of Mossy Head.

           The First Baptist Church of Mossy Head formed as a mission in 1959, and incorporated as a congregation in 1977. Five years ago, the previous director of the Sunday school department resigned his position, and the church by the direction of GOD, approved by election the call of our current director to this position, the ninth director of the Sunday school. Since that time, our director has completed the curriculum from the Bible Training Centre for Pastors, a series of courses in doctrine, ministry, and leadership for potential pastors and leaders, which he now teaches, and upon the advice of our pastor, has recently returned to college for advanced ministry education. He also spent some time as the Sunday school director of the Walton County Baptist Association. We celebrate the director of the Sunday school of the First Baptist of Mossy Head.

            During the past five years, while our average monthly attendance numbers have not changed a great deal, there have been changes in classes available, and changes in the teachers as well as new helpers for several classes. Other classes have made changes in their curriculum and course of study and we are encouraged by the quality and growth demonstrated by our teachers. Our teachers are experienced and continue to take training sessions to improve their teaching. Our classes are a wonderful place for fellowship, Bible study, and ministry to one another. We celebrate the small group Bible study classes and those who teach in the Sunday school.

           All programs have paperwork and the Sunday school is no exception. In response, the Sunday school of the First Baptist Church of Mossy Head has streamlined the attendance and recordkeeping process, with the considerable help of the Sunday school administrative assistant, as well as the church secretary. Those who take attendance, those that facilitate and record the praises and prayer requests of the class members, and those that coordinate the outreach programs to the members and visitors of their individual classes are truly concerned about the people in their classes. We have integrated small group outreach and more directed prayer time into the Sunday school classes and will continue to improve this area of our Sunday school through training and practice. We celebrate the administrative workers throughout the Sunday school.

            We look forward in the coming months and years to what GOD will do for His Church and the congregation in Mossy Head and in the Sunday school. We know that we have several classes that are ready to expand and become new classes, and we are prayerfully looking to our facilities for a place for these classes to meet despite our space problems, and for the teachers that we need to teach the new classes. We are also looking at changes and space for our current classes in where they meet as they grow, and new curriculums and study materials for the classes that need them. We celebrate the potential for growth and continuing opportunities for ministry in the Sunday school.

            The small group Bible studies that occur during the Sunday school hour are a important part of the Evangelism and Outreach, Ministry and Missions, and personal discipleship that occurs at the First Baptist Church of Mossy Head and we praise GOD for what He is doing. We are thankful to GOD for the pastor, the leaders, the teachers, and the class workers. On this occasion, we give praise to GOD, and appreciate all the dedication, faithfulness, and leadership of the servant leaders of the Sunday school department of the First Baptist Church of Mossy Head. We celebrate GOD’s blessings and we look to Him for strength and direction as we continue to “engage and enable people to enjoy Jesus Christ”1.

Rev. Jefferson Sweet, Associate Pastor
Sunday School Director
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1 Ferrand, William. First Baptist Church of Mossy Head.

The Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father

6/15/2014

Some one said that I should have known better, more than 50 years ago, when our third child was born, to use the chairman of my deacons to deliver the baby. He had five girls. And our third child was again a girl, giving us three daughters.
A couple of the men at the church had boys, and were ragging me for a few weeks with: "That's OK, Robert. We understand; it takes a man to have a son." After a while, I had had enough, and replied: "You know, you're right, it takes a man to have a son, but it takes a Daddy to have a Daughter." They never said anything else to me.
Now, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren later, I can attest to the fact that there is a special relationship between a daddy and his daughters. I have never regretted having three girls.
The word "Abba" is used at least three times in the New Testament in connection with God the Father. It is basically an ancient word which conveyed a closer relationship than the more formal "father." Jesus used it as He prayed to His Father in Mark's Gospel, and Paul used it in writing to the Romans and the Galatians. Many would translate the term "Abba' as "Papa" or "Daddy," indicating the very close relationship with God the Father.

Can you call God your "Daddy" on this fathers' day?
If not, here's how you can know Him and the forgiveness and Salvation He has already provided for you on the Cross of Calvary.

Happy Fathers' Day
Bro. Robert E. LaFavre, Pastor Emeritus

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The staff of First Baptist Mossy Head.
Dr. Bill Ferrand, Pastor
Rev. Jefferson Sweet, Associate Pastor, Minister of Education
Dr. Lew Dolan, Minister of Music
Mrs. Ginnie Patrick, Admin

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