Praying For Your Safety

Good Monday Morning To You!

I understand that most of you in the United States are fighting some nasty winter conditions. Wherever you are, please stay safe and warm. If you have to get out in it, please use extra caution, regardless of if you are riding OR walking. One slip on the ice could be very bad, so please be careful. I would much rather be praying for your safety than the healing of broken bones. I would like to make one observation however. It seems like when December is nasty, January is not too bad. When December is descent, January is miserable. That is how it is back in my hometown of Cincinnati. Hopefully the worst of winter will be out of the way before too long. Does that seem true for where you live? How about some of you from places like Green Bay, Baltimore, and Detroit. Send me an e-mail and let me know about the winter habits of where you live.

Yesterday at Friendship Harmony was a tremendous day. The attendance was excellent, and the congregation sang like a choir. It was such a joy to be in the house of the LORD. The Holy Spirit was surely there with us. The message was about the second Sunday of Advent: Proclamation. The notes are below and the video will be ready to view Tuesday. To watch simple go to www.facebook.com/friendshipharmony. You do not need a facebook account to view it. Be sure to let your friends and family who might not be able to make it to a church know we would be honored to have them join us by way of video. Here are those notes.

Second Sunday of Advent - Proclamation ©
Isaiah 7:14
2nd in a series of 4 By Victor Cooper
11/29; 12-7,8/13

Intro: Advent means “coming.” The birth of Jesus was the first advent; the first coming of Christ. Although most Baptists do not use the term “advent,” they certainly believe it. We call it Christmas.

Why the proclamation?

I. There was an expectation.
A. Adam and Eve had been told to expect a deliverer.
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
B. Jacob reiterated it when prophesying concerning his son Judah. Genesis 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

II. The people needed to know who and what to look for.
A. A virgin shall conceive --- an impossibility without a God sent miracle.
1. Liberal theologians tell us that a virgin is simply a young lady They claim that it is young ladies that bear children; certainly not miraculous.
2. The Hebrew word ‘almah translated virgin indicates otherwise. It means a young unmarried woman of marriageable age who has had no relations with a man.
B. His name will be Immanuel, meaning “God with us.
C. His attributes were given. Isaiah 9:5-7For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace

III. The proclamation was clear.
A. A son would be born; not a child, but a son --specific.
1. Not only was it impossible for a virgin to conceive, but in that day predicting the sex of an unborn child was a 50/50 guess.
B. A prophet would b e given Deut. 18:15 The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
C. An intercessor was coming. Isaiah 59:16 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.
1. A current function of Jesus.
Romans 8:34 (NKJV) Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

Conclusion: The expectation is hereby proclaimed. He is coming!

May the LORD bless your upcoming week. As Christmas draws closer, be sure to enjoy the season, but do not fail to remember whose birthday we celebrate. I enjoy our weekly visits, and I’ll see you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic!!!

Relaxing With Friends

Good Monday Morning To You!

Last week Miss Bessie and I took a few days to get away and relax. One of my favorite things to do is to spend time with friends I do not get to see often enough. Two of our dearest friends, Gene and Sally Middleton, live in Astor, Florida, and we were with them for several days. It was good to just sit back, rest, and have good conversation with them. The first night we were there, Gene grilled some steaks that were better than I’ve been getting at my local steakhouse. Sally made potato salad just for me. The only potato salad I have ever liked is Sally’s. For whatever the reason I do not like it, but Sally’s is excellent. It was really good seeing them again. I would ask you to pray for Gene. He is having a total knee replacement surgery done today.

One word describes the day at Friendship Harmony yesterday: AWESOME!!! The Spirit of the Lord is mighty upon our congregation! Several of our visitors who have been coming regularly told me that Friendship Harmony feels like home. I believe several will unite their membership with us. We have two awaiting baptism, and yesterday we had a class for our young people who have been coming. These younger people range in age from 15 to 20, with a 13 month old cutie named Violet who is the best baby I’ve ever had in a service. She is quiet, but very alert. At our church, people sit at tables. While we were singing a rather lively song, Violet was on the table swaying to the music. She was really into it. I looked at her and thought, “She is the only one here who gets it.” She had no inhibitions. She simply “got into the service.” She preached a much better sermon on how to worship than I ever could!

I’m excited about our new small group starting this Wednesday evening. It is designed for people who are new to the faith, those seeking answers about Christianity, and those who have been in church for many years, but would like to look into God’s word a little more. The exciting thing is that I did not initiate this class. Several people asked about starting it. I am totally convinced this is from the Lord. I cannot wait to see where He goes with it.

Yesterday I preached the message, “We Have Heard The Joyful Sound,” from Psalm 89: 15-18. Here are those notes. You can view the message by going to www.youtube.com. From their home page type Friendship Harmony Baptist Church into their banner and hit enter. Click onto our icon and look for the message title, “We Have Heard The Joyful Sound.” The video should be posted by tomorrow.

We Have Heard The Joyful Sound!!!
Psalm 89:15-18
By: Vic Cooper
04/21/06
updated 5/13

Blessed > eh-sher’ > happy

The verse could be otherwise stated,
I. Because the happy people know the joyful sound:
A. (v15b) they shall walk in the light of thy countenance.
ie. face
Isaiah 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
John 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
B. (v16a) they shall rejoice all day long!
1. rejoice > to spin around ex. When a top is spinning, it is
rejoicing.
C. (v16b) they shall be exalted in His righteousness.
1. not in their righteousness - that is their position
2. in His righteousness - that is their privilege
3. exalted > room > to be held high
4. Believers are held high:
a. above the law.
b. above the world.
c. above the power and ferociousness of Satan.
d. above death.
e. above accusation. Romans 8:33-34

Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. [34] Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Spurgeon Quote By the Lord's righteous dealings the saints are uplifted in due time, however great may have been the oppression and the depression from which they may have suffered. In the righteousness which the covenant supplies, which is entirely of the Lord, believers are set on high in a secure and blessed position, so that they are full of sacred happiness.

II. The joyful sound!!!
Quote Leviticus 25:9 (NKJV) Then you shall cause the trumpet of the Jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement you shall make the trumpet to sound throughout all your land.
The joyful sound is that:
A. (v17a) He is the glory of our strength.
1. It causes us to consider our natural weakness.
2. It causes us to consider our strength in Him. Col. 1:11 (Living) We are praying, too, that you will be filled with his mighty, glorious strength so that you can keep going no matter what happens--always full of the joy of the Lord.
B. He is the One who lifts us on high.
C. He is our defense. ie. shield; buckler, the scaly hide on an
alligator
D. He is our King.

Don’t forget our new small group which begins this Wednesday at 6:30. If you are in the area come on by. Contact me for directions. You can reach me at 239 283 8331, or e-mail to fhbc@gmail.com. Have a good week and I’ll see you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic!!!