Bethsalem Baptist Church

We had another great service worshipping in song and praise. Bro. Cleve opened the service by recognizing those celebrating birthdays and anniversaries, and Bro. Justin gave the announcements and welcomed everyone.

The Celebration Choir sang “Had It Not Been.” Bro. Justin then preached his sermon “To Be Like God” from Ephesians 4:17-5:1.

There was no evening service.

Our youth is currently attending Mfuge in Nashville. Please pray for them to have a safe trip.

Happy birthday to David Lightsey, Gary Elbon, Chris Clark, Kevin Owens, Corgulia Carter, Mark LeBlanc, Sheryl Smith, Vickie Mosley, Matthew Shaw, Rickie Smith, Macy Barnes, Dylan Courtney, Marshall Wells, Angie Carroll, Michael Grant, Kennly Hunter, Haiden Boyles, Austin Courtney, Joe Cox and Conner Willis.

Happy anniversary to Ralph and Marie Smith (57 years), Jay and Teresa Pierce (31 years) Justin and Renie Thomas (25 years) and Crest and Amanda Arnold (15 years).

Pray for our country and its leaders, our youth, our shut-ins, assistant living and nursing home residents and those on our prayer list.

Our students will share about their trip to Mfuge during the morning service on July 12.

Come and worship with us on Sunday. Have a blessed week.

Submitted by Elvie Patterson

Bethany Baptist Church

Service opened with the song “There Shall be Showers of Blessing” and a devotion titled “Divisions Reveal Carnality” from 1 Corinthians 3:1-4.

The church at Corinth was divided amongst themselves as to which pastor they chose to follow. The reason for this is that they were following their own desires. Just as a baby is unable to digest solid food, when we are first saved, we are not mature enough to handle the more complex meat of God’s Word. These members had not grown spiritually; therefore they still needed the milk of the Word.

Churches today split because the members are not mature enough to let God’s will take over; instead, they hold to their carnal desires. God’s work cannot be done when we put our desires ahead of his will and his work.

Following a prayer and Sunday School, we sang “Heavenly Sunlight,” “It Is Well with My Soul,” “Each Step I Take” and “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus.”

Bro. Aubry then brought the morning message from Genesis 2:18-24.

Marriage was instituted by God because it was not good for man to be alone. No helpmate for him was found, so God took a rib from the side of Adam and made a woman.

The Bible is clear on the institution of marriage. The first marriage was perfect before sin entered in.

We have human government to help us in our daily lives. The constitution was formed because of the belief in The Ten Commandments. We should obey the laws of the land as long as they do not go against God’s Word.

In this century, the divorce rate has risen over 700 percent. In 1960 there were about 393,000 divorces; today there over 1.2 million per year—that’s one divorce for every 1.8 marriages. The divorce rate may go down due to a decrease in marriage. People as a whole who live in the United States couldn’t care less about the Word of God and the laws of the land.

In Genesis 2:18-24, God gives his definition of marriage. It was not good for man to be alone. Marriage has God’s backing. He formed every beast of the field, but he was concerned for the man. Adam had no mate, as did all the animals; he wasn’t a whole person without the woman.

Two males or two females cannot reproduce. It is not always God’s intention for man to be alone (Matthew 19:4-6), but concerning working for the Lord, as with the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 7:7-9, it would be better to remain unmarried if possible.

A single person does not have the cares of a family on his mind, so he can do more work for the Lord. The apostle Paul goes on to say that if men could not control their fleshly desires, it would be better for them to marry. Read 1 Corinthians 7:32-40 to understand where God stands on marriage.

The Lord’s conclusion on the matter of marriage was to provide a helpmate for Adam, one that helped him to fulfill what was lacking in his life. A husband and wife should complement each other. The woman was made to compliment or complete the man. God’s intention was for marriage to be between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:19-21). God was trying to awaken a desire in man for companionship.

If you do not have a relationship between yourself and God, listen to the Holy Spirit while he is dealing with you. God will restore your relationship with him if you ask him to; if you are not saved, he will give you a relationship with himself through salvation.

We closed morning service with a prayer and the hymn “Where He Leads Me.”

In the evening service, we sang “Free Waters,” and Bro. Aubry continued the morning message:

God created in us a deep-seated desire for companionship. He never awakens a desire in us that he is unable to fulfill.

We need to wait on God’s timing in our desires for a husband or wife. There were three things involved in obtaining a helpmate for Adam:

(1) Sleep: Adam fell into a deep sleep. Wait on God. It is normal for us to choose our own mate, but we should do so after much prayer, asking God to send the right person to us.

(2) Surgery: God made woman from a part of man, a rib. We must learn to trust God at difficult times in marriage. Talk out your problems with each other.

(3) Symbolism: Woman was made from the side of man. It is a relationship in which a husband and wife should walk side by side as equals. She was taken from under his arm, so he should protect her and keep her near his heart; he should love her.

God’s plan for marriage is always between a man and a woman. It involves two things:

(1) A response: When Adam awakened, he saw a beautiful woman and said “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.” He had a heartfelt knowledge, which should be the feeling between a husband and wife.

(2) Responsibility: This must be carried out by members of the opposite sex; two persons of the same sex cannot carry out the responsibility of marriage. Your spouse should be your best friend. Every activity outside the marriage relationship other than God must take a back seat. In Genesis 2:24, we see that a man is to leave his mother and father and cleave to his wife. The word “cleave” means to be bound together by strong bonds. Work on your marriage all the days of your life.

Last but certainly not least, God has a plan for everyone, and that plan is salvation. God prepared a plan for salvation before the creation of the world. You need only to admit you are a sinner (Romans 3:23), confess to God that you are a sinner, repent of your sins (Acts 2:38, 17:30) and ask Jesus to save you (Romans 10:13). Salvation is a free gift (Romans 6:23). Be saved today.

We closed service with a prayer and the hymn “Pass Me Not.”

Our prayer list includes our church, Bro. Aubry, Shirley, Grace, Billie, Jackie, Lisa R., Jenny H., Colyn, Barbara T. W., Debbie R., Frankie, Jeanette, J.C., Vikii, Helen, Mary, missionaries and missions, and most of all the unsaved.

Submitted by Jane Vines