Marbury Church of God » Bible http://www.marburychurchofgod.org God is good, all the time! Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:02:11 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Verse of the Month — January 2012 http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/2012/01/verse-of-the-month-january-2012/ http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/2012/01/verse-of-the-month-january-2012/#comments Sun, 01 Jan 2012 10:07:50 +0000 Pastor Bob http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/?p=539 Trust

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.
— Psalm 37:5

]]> http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/2012/01/verse-of-the-month-january-2012/feed/ 0 Verse of the Month — December 2011 http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/2011/12/verse-of-the-month-%e2%80%94-december-2011/ http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/2011/12/verse-of-the-month-%e2%80%94-december-2011/#comments Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:59:12 +0000 Pastor Bob http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/?p=516 Light

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

John 1:9

]]> http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/2011/12/verse-of-the-month-%e2%80%94-december-2011/feed/ 0 Verse of the Month — November 2011 http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/2011/11/verse-of-the-month-%e2%80%94-november-2011/ http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/2011/11/verse-of-the-month-%e2%80%94-november-2011/#comments Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:59:41 +0000 Pastor Bob http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/?p=513 Nourishment

Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by your name, O LORD God of hosts.

— Jeremiah 15:16

]]> http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/2011/11/verse-of-the-month-%e2%80%94-november-2011/feed/ 0 Verses of the Month — October 2011 http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/2011/10/verses-of-the-month-%e2%80%94-october-2011/ http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/2011/10/verses-of-the-month-%e2%80%94-october-2011/#comments Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:02:52 +0000 Pastor Bob http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/?p=504 Giving

Honor the Lord with your substance, and with the first fruits of all your produce.  Then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with new wine.
— Proverbs 3:9-10

]]> http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/2011/10/verses-of-the-month-%e2%80%94-october-2011/feed/ 0 Verse of the Month — September 2011 http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/2011/09/verse-of-the-month-%e2%80%94-september-2011/ http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/2011/09/verse-of-the-month-%e2%80%94-september-2011/#comments Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:43:29 +0000 Pastor Bob http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/?p=488 Love

Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

— Romans 13:8

]]> http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/2011/09/verse-of-the-month-%e2%80%94-september-2011/feed/ 0 Verse of the Month — August 2011 http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/2011/08/verse-of-the-month-%e2%80%94-august-2011/ http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/2011/08/verse-of-the-month-%e2%80%94-august-2011/#comments Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:23:32 +0000 Pastor Bob http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/?p=474 Deliverance

I sought the LORD, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
— Psalm 34:4

]]> http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/2011/08/verse-of-the-month-%e2%80%94-august-2011/feed/ 0 Verse of the Month — July 2011 http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/2011/07/verse-of-the-month-%e2%80%94-july-2011/ http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/2011/07/verse-of-the-month-%e2%80%94-july-2011/#comments Fri, 01 Jul 2011 04:01:03 +0000 Pastor Bob http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/?p=475 Armor

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

— Ephesians 6:13

]]> http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/2011/07/verse-of-the-month-%e2%80%94-july-2011/feed/ 0 “Be Alert!” http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/2011/06/be-alert/ http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/2011/06/be-alert/#comments Sun, 05 Jun 2011 14:15:07 +0000 Pastor Bob http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/?p=457 This is the outline of a sermon preached on June 5, 2011 at the Marbury Church of God.

Text:

1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11

4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
4:13 But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed.
4:14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.
5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time.
5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.
5:8 Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour.
5:9 Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.
5:10 And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.
5:11 To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.

When Trouble Comes (and trouble always comes)…

There are three ways people suffer:  One, because that is the human condition; accidents, disasters, diseases, come upon each of us at different times; it’s no surprise.  For this, God does promise to be with us and see us through.

Two, we can suffer as a result of what we personally have done wrong; direct consequences of bad actions.  This, too, is unsurprising; we ought to take our lumps, as it were, and be glad for grace when God intervenes to alleviate this, as an expression of his forgiveness and grace.

Three:  the focus of these writings of Peter, there is suffering that comes upon us when (and because) we have done something right.  Unfair treatment, false accusations, denials, betrayals, being punished because of the wrongdoing of others; this is what the Christians Peter was writing to were experiencing, and this is the main focus of his discourse.  How should we react when we suffer unjustly?  First, recognize that in this we are sharing in the human experience of Christ.

Don’t be surprised……. (it’s a test)… Ease and comfort would be stranger!

Rejoice!? (insofar as you share in Christ’s work; -because you will shout for joy)

What To Do (in times of stress & trouble)? Peter supplies us with seven tools:

  1. Submit to God
  2. Trust God’s Goodness  (Give him your worries)
  3. Watch Yourself (not just your surroundings)
  4. Resist the devil (who wants to disrupt your peace and corrupt your spirit, “eating you alive” on the inside with anger, or fear, or similar responses, when you lose control of your reactions)
  5. Know You are Not Alone (we’re all in this together)
  6. Wait a Little While  (“Stand still and see….”  ”Be still and know….)
  7. See what God will do!  He will:

Restore

Support

Strengthen

Establish you!



]]> http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/2011/06/be-alert/feed/ 0 Verse of the Month — June 2011 http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/2011/06/verse-of-the-month-%e2%80%94-june-2011/ http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/2011/06/verse-of-the-month-%e2%80%94-june-2011/#comments Wed, 01 Jun 2011 04:03:18 +0000 Pastor Bob http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/?p=452 Coordination

We know that  all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

— Romans 8:28

]]> http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/2011/06/verse-of-the-month-%e2%80%94-june-2011/feed/ 0 Verse of the Month — May, 2011 http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/2011/05/verse-of-the-month-%e2%80%94-may-2011/ http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/2011/05/verse-of-the-month-%e2%80%94-may-2011/#comments Sun, 01 May 2011 04:09:50 +0000 Pastor Bob http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/?p=447 Shining

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

—2 Corinthians 4:6

]]> http://www.marburychurchofgod.org/2011/05/verse-of-the-month-%e2%80%94-may-2011/feed/ 0