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"Exalting Christ, Equipping Christians"Stallings Memorial Baptist ChurchText Box: Volume 40
Text Box: Number 2
Text Box: January 12, 2010
The VOICE of the People's ChurchText Box: From Your Pastor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   
     
Over the last several weeks, I have mentioned a number of times that I believe that God wants to do some great things through our church in 2010.  I will continue to ask us to think of ways in which we can accomplish the tasks that God will place before us during this year.  This Sunday, I will be preaching on the power of God.  I want to share with you a couple of short stories which contrast two ways of thinking about God and his power.
   A young boy traveling by airplane to visit his grandparents sat beside a man who happened to be a seminary professor.  The boy was reading a Sunday school take-home paper when the professor thought he would have some fun with the lad.  "Young man," said the professor, "If you can tell me something God can do, I’ll give you a big, shiny apple."  The boy thought for a moment and then replied, "Mister, if you can tell me something God can't do, I’ll give you a whole barrel of apples!" 
    In 1715 King Louis XIV of France died after a reign of 72 years. He had called himself "the Great," and was the monarch who made the famous statement, "I am the state!" His court was the most magnificent in Europe, and his funeral was equally spectacular. As his body lay in state in a golden coffin, orders were given that the cathedral should be very dimly lit with only a special candle set above his coffin, to dramatize his greatness.
    Do you have the faith of the little boy who believes that God can do anything?  Or do you fall more in line with King Louis that you do it yourself and make yourself great?  My prayer is that we will have child-like faith that believes that God can do all things.  What happens in our church in 2010 will be dependent on that faith.  If we attempt to do things ourselves, we have glorified ourselves.  However, if we allow God to be in control, we glorify Him.  C. S. Lewis once stated, “He who has God and many other things has no more than he who has God alone.”
   I want to close on a personal note.  Thank you to each of you who have been praying for the sale of our house in Tennessee.  We have signed a contract on it for a lease to own.  While it is not exactly what we were hoping for, we are placing it in God’s hands and giving Him thanks that He is taking care of it for us.

Sunday, Jan. 17

 

10:30 AM           “The Power of God”          

                             John 2:1-11

 

 6:00 PM            “Great is Our God”

                             Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14

John 2:1-11 (NKJV)                     Water Turned to Wine

 

 1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.

3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”
4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”
5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
6 Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. 9 When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. 10 And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”
11 This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.