Forty-Fifth Street Baptist Church

The friendliest church from the parking lot to the pulpit

Let It Go

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45 – Let It Go

Philippians 3:13
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.

When people leave you, let them go.  Their part in your story is over.

I. Understand the Value of Time
We don’t have forever to get it together. Stop wasting time on things that don’t matter. Things that don’t add value.  Learn how to say goodbye and Let It Go.

How valuable is a month?  Ask a mom who’s baby was born a month early.
How valuable a year is? Ask a child who failed a grade.
How valuable is an hour? Ask someone who is nearing death and is waiting for someone to arrive.
How valuable is a week?  Ask someone who gets paid weekly and they don’t get paid that week.
How valuable is a minute? Ask someone who has missed a flight.

Time is a human convention.  We created today, tomorrow and yesterday.
2 Peter 3:8 One day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

We are limited in our scope.

In a 76 Year Life Span
3 years acquiring an education
7 years eating
14 years working
5 years riding in an automobile/airplanes
5 years talking
1 year sick or recovering from sickness
24 years of our life sleeping
3 years reading
12 years watching tv, movies, fishing
= 74

Church is less than 5 1/2 months.

II. Don’t Be a Slave to the Past
Learn how to value time and don’t be a slave to the past. Don’t see people or ourselves with yesterday eyes.

Paul said…..if he can forget his past….when he was Saul (the chief sinner).
But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind.

Not forgetting is only hurting you.  It is not hurting them at all.  It is a burden in your life, not theirs.

Let the bags of the past go. Can’t enjoy the things from now.

III. We Need to Establish a Priority in our Lives
Paul said this…..a PRIORITY, not priorities.  “But this ONE THING I do….reach forth to what God has for me.”

Made tents
Preached
Wrote books
Healed sick
But his one priority was

If anything and everything can pull you away from the main thing, then it isn’t the main thing.  The main thing should not be optional.  If it is optional, it isn’t the main thing. Don’t expect Him to be the main thing for you if you don’t treat Him as the main thing.

What is your focus?

Don’t hold on……Let It Go!

Tamala R. Maddox, Ph.D.
Principal
R.F. Bumpus Middle School

Not What i Expected

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45-Not What I Expected

Acts 18:1-11
Disappointment……by others and we disappoint ourselves. Deal with the fact that you will be disappointed.
Prepare yourself in the good times for the bad times.
How do you do that?
Our assumptive world….if we do certain things, people will treat us a certain way; assumptions must match reality for good mental health to exist.
Accept reality of where you are or it will wear you out
Life is not letting you down….your expectations are
Paul was disappointed because the Jews were not receiving what God told him to preach. He left and went to preach Salvation to the Gentiles.
Similar experiences…
Moses Numbers 11:15
Joshua Joshua 7:7
Elijah
Job he cursed the day his mother had him
Paul wasn’t used to failing; he had been taught by the best; he had been successful killing Christians
Misplaced Expectations
We have the promise of God’s presence (vs. 10); when you’re in the valley (Psalm 23); Jesus is compassionate and understands what you’re going through; He wept also; He is with us even through death
We have the promise of God’s protection; vs. 10; He takes care of us until you fulfill the purpose He has for your life
We have the promise of God’s provision; just keep striving; the applause man gives you is not the success God has for you
Tamala R. Maddox, Ph. D.
Principal
R. F. Bumpus Middle School

My Grown-Up Christmas List

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45 – My Grown-Up Christmas List

II Corinthians 8:9
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”
So here’s my life long list,
My grown-up Christmas list
Not for myself but for a world in need
Lyrics from Kelly Clarkson’s version
No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end, oh
This is my grown up christmas list
This is my only life long wish
This is my grown up christmas list
Because Heaven knows that packages and bows will never heal
Be more mature in your asking and in what life is all about.
Do you know what Christmas is about?
God has already given you your gift.
The gift of life.
Some grown folks should be able to say they’re already blessed.
Where did Santa Claus come from?
St. Nicholas was a leader in the church who was known for his generosity.
He wouldn’t stop talking about Jesus.
He was put in prison but still wouldn’t stop talking about Christianity.
How did we get from St. Nick to Santa Claus?
Chris Kringle was celebrated in German.
Our Christmas vision came from writers in America.
Poem from 1822 – ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
I. Take a look at your focus.
Xmas takes away from the celebration of Christmas
II. Take a look at your faith.
What is your faith?
Kids need to learn about Christ as well as Santa Claus.
III. Take a look at your giving.
Is it Christmas giving or Christmas swapping?
IV. Take a look at your love.
Pastor’s Grown-up Christmas List
No sickness
Marriages will be whole
All will tithe
Come to be with Jesus and not just to sit with folks
Jesus stay with me until I die

Tamala R. Maddox, Ph.D.

Principal
R.F. Bumpus Middle School

Saul’s Conversion

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Our guest minister for our 101st anniversary is Pastor Cedric Hrabowski of Galilee Baptist Church of Fairfield, AL.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Galilee-Baptist-Church-of-Fairfield/113622218671197

The Fullness of Time

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45 – The Fullness of Time

THE PROMISE OF THE CHILD
Galatians 4:4-7
In chapter 7 Isaiah makes promise to the Israelites.  The promise was made to King Ahaz through Isaiah.  The Israelites were struggling and depressed at that time because the king on the throne did not love The Lord.  He didn’t understand the God that David served.  The promise was not for Ahaz’s sake it was for his father’s (David) sake and for the Israelites’s sake.
The Old Testament Records a Promise
Isaiah
God is so good that even when we won’t do good, He’ll let good fall over us.  The verse starts with “Therefore” because God was saying He was going to do this anyway.
God told them that a virgin was going to conceive a baby and that it would be a son and He would be the Savior
The last time the Israelites had heard from God was in Micah.  400 years went by.  And then “The fullness of time” occurred.
He expects you to show up and do your job…if you’re faithful, He will fulfill His promise.
The New Testament Reveals a Promise
Galatian
The conditions were right for a Savior to come.  There was one government in place and it was wrong.  Caesar Augustus sent out a decree that the entire world would pay a tax.  This was the Roman rule.  The people were praying mightly for someone to come and rescue them. The world needed some help.
The reason why we celebrate Christmas is because God kept His promise.  It became “The Fullness of Time”  The people were confused….how confused, they referred to Caesar as God.
God determined that enough was enough.  He came to rescue His people.  God had given Ahaz the promise.  God decided to send a rescue plan.  The “Superhero” comes in the form of a baby.  He sent someone who could be like us, walk like us, celebrate like us…..so that He could understand us.
II. THE PURPOSES OF THIS CHILD
a) He Came to Remind Us that God Loves Us
b) He Came to Reveal God
c) He Came to Represent Us
d) He Came to Redeem Us
Your access to Heaven is through your relationship with Jesus
Fix your mind on something in the future that will be a gift for you.  You have a trusting authority that will keep their word and ensure that it will come true.  God promised He would send us a Savior and He kept His Word.  He has promised to send Him back again.  One day He’s coming back.  He’s going to keep His promise.

 

Tamala R. Maddox, Ph.D.

Principal

R.F. Bumpus Middle School