A BRIEF UPDATE

27 months ago the Lord led me in a very specific way to leave full time Evangelism and assist Pastor Tim Russ at Greater Vision Baptist Church in Owensboro, KY.  At the time I had been averaging over 50 meetings a year (58 in 2013).  I made a one year commitment at the time and agreed to reduce my traveling to one week per month.  With a few off night meetings we averaged around 15 to 20 per year.  The one year commitment where I served as Administrative Pastor stretched into 27 months.  I can’t tell you how blessed and happy Nancy and I have been working with Pastor Tim Russ, Mrs. Marty and the friends we have made there.

THE NEW ASSIGNMENT  –  NORTH HARRISON BAPTIST CHURCH

Earlier this month the Lord led me to accept the pastorate at a small country church in Ramsey, Indiana.  Our first Sunday will be April 3rd.  The North Harrison Baptist Church a struggling rural church has been declining for 10 years due to the pastor’s declining health including a battle with cancer.  It will be a great challenge.  I am excited about working with the faithful members and the former pastor Paul Powell who will be Pastor Emeritus who have held the ropes and kept the ministry from dying.

GOSPEL POWER BAPTIST CHURCH

I am also delighted to have Gospel Power Baptist church, a growing young church, join with us.  Their Pastor, Shane Rodgers will serve as our Co-Pastor.  They will bring much talent and initial new life to the ministry.  You can visit our new web site http://www.NorthHarrisonBC.org to get a sense of our direction and know better how to pray for us.

WHAT ABOUT EVANGELISM?

I have called several of the pastors and they graciously allowed me to cancel Sunday meetings or exchange them for week nights.  For the most part I will only be scheduling meetings on week nights during this first year as pastor.

I do request our friends to pray for us.  It is exciting to be taking a new step of faith. Pray that God will give us wisdom and power to rebuild a Fundamental, Independent, Soul Winning, Separated, King James, New Testament Church.

Christmas is a wonderful time of year celebrating the birth of our amazing Saviour.  I’m posting a skeleton outline of a message I preached in 2001 with the hope that it will be a blessing and help to my Twitter Friends.  I claim no originality on any of my sermons.  I compose them from my personal study of God’s word, from reading the works of others, from notes in my margin that were jotted down a I listened to other preachers and other sources.

CHRISTMAS IS AMAZING         LUKE 2:1-20               12-23-01 AM
This coming Tuesday the whole world will shut down for Christmas. Stores will close, offices will close, there will be very few people on the freeway. An amazing event took place over 2,000 years ago and still has a profound impact on us here today on the other side of the world.
We even date our calendar by this event. Every time we give the date the reference point is this amazing event of the birth of Jesus Christ.
What is the big deal? Is the significance red nosed reindeer, Big red, trees etc. What is the real meaning of Christmas. What does it mean to me?

Christmas’ A, B, C s:

1. THE AMAZING ARRIVAL – God the Son left heaven a came to earth as a new born baby human being.(Philippians 2:5-7) “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: {6} Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: {7} But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:”

Jesus didn’t begin His existence at Bethlehem. He is co-eternal and the co-
creator with the triune God.  see JOHN 1:1

AT Christmas we celebrate the AMAZING ARRIVAL of the Son of God in
human form, born of a virgin, His arrival announced by angels,
AN AMAZING, AMAZING EVENT.

He could have arrived on planet earth in any form or fashion of His own choosing. He could have come as an emperor or with spectacular fire works and display. Instead, He came as a human baby, born to humble parents in a lowly stable. He wanted us to know that He loved us and wanted to identify with us. He was tempted in every manner as us and yet, WITHOUT SIN.
(Hebrews 4:14-16) “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. {15} For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. {16} Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

For 1,000s of people Christmas is a very lonely time of year. They try to drown their sorrows. They think that a season that is bringing so many happiness and joy has betrayed them. It is a time they think of lost loved ones, missed opportunities, broken homes and many other things.
What they miss is that Christmas is not about a season or a celebration it is about a person. His name is Jesus. He is the source of our Joy and happiness.

How I thank the Lord for the Arrival of His Son… an Amazing Arrival

2. THE AMAZING BENEFITS – God has made available to us because of the arrival of His Son. He came because mankind needed Him. I needed Him. You needed Him. Even when we were unaware of our need we needed Him.

I want to give you four benefits of His Arrival

A) THE BENEFIT OF SHOWING US WHAT GOD IS LIKE
Nature could show us the glory of God (order, beauty, power, Varity, ETC. but it could not show us His love, compassion, forgiveness, He has a plan for your life a reason for your existence. Only Jesus could tell us those things.

B) THE BENEFIT OF SHOWING US WHAT LIFE COULD BE LIKE
Jesus didn’t say, “I am come that ye might have religion” He said,
(John 10:10b) “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” He wants you to have real life and a full life.

Many people simply exist… up, work or school, home, tv, bed, repeat for
60,70, 80 years and die… For fun. Live in fantasy world or escape with some mind altering drug such as alcohol.

C) THE BENEFIT OF SHOWING US THAT WE CAN TRUST GOD
It is hard to trust someone that you don’t know. The better you know God
the more you will trust Him. Trust Him and spend time with Him.

D) THE BENEFIT OF SHOWING US WE CAN HAVE OUR SINS FORGIVEN
(1 John 3:5) “And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins;
and in him is no sin.”
(Colossians 1:14) “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”

Why would God become human, suffer all the indignities that He did and then bear our sins to the old rugged cross.

HE DID IT FOR OUR BENEFIT!

It was His plan from the beginning – (Matthew 1:21) “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
(John 1:29) “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT LOVE FOR US!
(Romans 5:8) “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

NO ONE EVER CARED FOR YOU LIKE JESUS

WE HAVE SEEN THE AMAZING ARRIVAL AND THE AMAZING BENEFITS

NOW LOOK AT:
3. THE AMAZING COVENANT – A definition of covenant I like is: – A binding agreement made by two or more persons.

YOU CAN KNOW GOD PERSONALLY…
YOU CAN KNOW THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE
YOU CAN KNOW THE SON OF GOD

(Romans 5:9-11) “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall
be saved from wrath through him. {10} For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. {11} And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”

Dozens of babies are being born since 9-11 to the wives of the victims. They have had special news reports and programs concerning the tragedy of never seeing their father or knowing him or being held by him. All of our hearts go out to them. We wish we could do more to help them. But, they will never know their earthly fathers here.
A greater tragedy is that God sent His Son to pay our sin debt that we might get to know him. He sent Him to rescue us from the Father of all terrorists (the devil). He is available to all who will call on Him and the really sad and grievous tragedy is that many will live and die and never know that He wants to be their Heavenly Father. YOU CAN KNOW HIM TODAY

Where Will You Spend Eternity? There is nothing in the world more important than knowing where you will spend eternity.  There is nothing as fulfilling and rewarding for a Christian than helping others know where they will spend eternity.

May I Be Of Help To You? I am well aware that there are many of you that need no help.  I have pastored folks that were far better Soul Winners than me.  However, I have never met a Soul Winner that had no room for improvement.

IF YOU ARE A BEGINNER I may be of help to you.  I have included on the menu bar a topic called ETERNITY. If you will click there you will see a 5 minute video presentation of the Gospel.

How To Use It – I suggest three possible ways. That you might use this brief video or another similar tool.

1. Use it as a training tool. With your New Testament in your hand, watch the video several times. Follow along in your New Testament. Then using the basic thoughts, using your own personality, practice going through the plan of salvation until you are comfortable.  Then set out to tell others.  Ask God to cleanse you of sin and fill you with His Spirit.  Get a partner.  Go door knocking.  Follow up church visitors.  Be on the lookout for any opportunity to share The Gospel.  If you have your phone with you, you are just a couple of clicks away from a brief Gospel presentation.

2. Use it as a preliminary presentation. When you sit down with a prospect use your phone or tablet and click ETERNITY. Watch the video with them. Then based on their response follow through by answering question, leading them in prayer, sharing additional thoughts and Scripture or however the Holy Spirit leads you. 

3. Use it as a referral. Text, write a card, call, e-mail, tweet or Etc. to friends and loved ones encouraging them to view the video by going to LonnieMattingly.com and clicking on ETERNITY. Ask them to contact you after they have viewed it to give you their opinion or ask questions.

I am praying God will use this brief video around the world.  I would appreciate any feedback that you can give me.

Having said that, I know it is not perfect and doesn’t meet everyone’s method or taste.  If that is the case my suggestion to you is, “Use what works for you.” But for Heaven’s sake and the sake of lost souls do something.

Thanks for taking time to read the post. If I can be of any further help to you personally please e-mail me at the address shown on the video.  LMattingly43@gmail.com

                     John 15:8

Nancy and I have had the privilege to conduct and participate in scores of Couples Retreats and hundreds of counseling sessions with folks wanting to get married as well as many married couples having problems.

I have been amazed at how little understanding of marriage many people have.  Biblical marriage is under attack in unprecedented ways.

I have had the following statements by children in my files for years.  I’m not sure of the source.  I do know that many adults could learn from them LOL.

I trust that you will enjoy a little humor from the answers these children gave.

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHOM TO MARRY?  

You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you  like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she  should keep the chips and dip coming.* Alan, age 10

No person really decides before they grow up who they’re going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you’re stuck with.
WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED? 

Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER  by then.  * Camille, age 10

No age is good to get married at.You got to be crazy to get married. * Freddie, age 6
HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be  yelling at the same kids.  * Derrick, age 8
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
Both don’t want any more kids.  * Lori, age 8
WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?

On the first date, they just tell each other lies, and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.  * Martin, age 10

Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen  long enough.  * Lynnette, age 8

WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON A FIRST DATE THAT WAS TURNING SOUR?   I’d run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the  newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead  columns.  * Craig, age 9

WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?  When they’re rich.  * Pam, age 7
The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn’t want to mess with that.

The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should  marry them and have kids with them. It’s the right thing to do.   * Howard, age 8
IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?  It’s better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them. * Anita, age 9
HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN’T GET MARRIED? There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn’t there?
HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?
Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a truck. *Ricky, age 10

I thought there might be some folks that could use a simple Bible study.  It could be developed into a Sermon (I plan to use it as an outline to preach at Greater Vision Baptist Church on Sunday night).  For others it might be a personal blessing or challenge.  For some it could be used as a devotion

1. THE SINNER WOMAN’S WORSHIP – V 36-38

She risked rebuke by expressions of love and godly sorrow that worketh repentance.  Though she was an unworthy sinner she demonstrated her confidence in His grace and love.

2. SIMON THE PHARISEE’S WONDER – V 39

Simon couldn’t believe what he was seeing and doubted that Jesus was a man of God.  Instead of rejoicing at the woman’s brokenness and acts of repentance he only thought about her previous bad behavior.

3. THE SAVIOUR’S WISDOM – V40-47

He knew the answer though no question had been asked.

He used a parable to teach Biblical truth and point out Simon’s faulty thinking.

He used the actions of the woman to rebuke the self-righteous religion of Simon.

He put it all in perspective. V47

4. SALVATION’S WAY – V48-50

Explain Salvation by grace through faith. It is not the amount of faith you have.  It is who you put your faith in.  Jesus is the only way to Heaven.  Repent of your sin and put your unreserved trust in Him.