02
Jul '20
Kansas was Wrong
02
Jul '20
Psalm 31:15, “My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.”
Don’t have all the answers? Don’t even know all the questions? Ever wonder: Where is my sanity and security? The first six words of Psalm 31:15 provide the answer. All we are is not dust in the wind. Our times, short or long, rich or poor, sad or happy, sick or healthy, are in God’s hands. There is no cause to be anxious about tomorrow if you trust and rest in the Father’s hand. We are invited to lay down all our burdens, fears, anxieties, heartaches, disappointments, and victories before the Father. Take advantage of that opportunity. Live underneath His sheltering hand and discover true and lasting rest (Matthew 11:28-30). Trust God the Father. He knows best.
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26
Apr '20
Ultimate Issues
26
Apr '20
God is in control. That has always been true. That is true now. That truth will always be.
Last Sunday we walked through Daniel 1. That chapter is a full-on display of God’s sovereign power in and through His servants and world events. God gave Jehoiakim the king of Judah to Nebuchadnezzar. The same goes for the Temple vessels. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were Babylonian captives because God allowed their captivity. Just as He did the destruction of Judah. God brought Daniel into favor with his Babylonian overseers (1:9), and God gave these four men knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom (1:17-20). God was in control. The sovereign Lord was working out His purposes through these nations and individuals. He ruled and over-ruled in all these situations, and that truth becomes all the more evident as the sensational events of Daniel two unfold.
Chapter Two Outlined
Daniel two is a long chapter, with forty-nine verses. A good outline for them goes like this:
- The King becomes troubled.
- Daniel gets involved.
- The dream is deduced.
- The King gets religion.
- The wise men are delivered.
- Daniel and the boys get promoted.
That’s an outlined summary of Daniel two’s forty-nine verses. Now don’t lose heart this morning and think you’re in for a long sermon. My plan is to stick with what we should learn from Nebuchadnezzar’s troubled disposition. Lord willing, we will handle the others in the future. This morning, Daniel 2:1-13 will be our text, and from those thirteen verses we will seek to understand why the king was so troubled. I believe we’ll learn that we are not so unlike Nebuchadnezzar.
Ultimate Issues
Sure, there are differences. He lived 2700 years ago, was a warrior-king, and a Babylonian. We share none of those characteristics, but we are human. The ultimate issues and questions about our lives today in Kentucky are the same he faced then in Babylon. The Answer is also the same. We hope you will join us this morning.
The service begins at 11am, and today we will have a drive-in service. You will sit in your car and listen over the radio as we transmit the message. We also will do our best to livestream the service.
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19
Apr '20
Keeping the Faith
19
Apr '20
Daniel is a marvelous book of prophecy. But do not forget that Daniel was a real man. So were Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, and all the other players mentioned in this book. Daniel experienced real visions from God. The Holy Spirit inspired him to record those visions during real-life situations. As you read through the book, the difficulty of those real-life situations is immediately and consistently apparent. I believe it’s safe to suggest that, much like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, we are living during challenging times, and not just because of COVID-19. Like those four men, we are living in a faithless age. We are to be faithful. Just as they were.
The prophetic teaching of Daniel begins in earnest with chapter 7. From there through chapter 12 we learn of God’s sovereign power and rule over future events. The evidence of God’s sovereign power and rule over past and current events is what gives weight to those future claims. God’s ruling and over-ruling past and current events is what we find in Daniel 1-6. In those first six chapters we are reminded in dramatic fashion how God intervenes on behalf of His people for His glory, which is always for their good. We also see that His intervention takes shape both in the form of discipline and blessing.
This morning our text will be Daniel 1. We will be encouraged by examples of men from the past who kept their faith in the same God we serve during their own difficult days. May we do likewise. The livestream will begin at 11am.
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BBC and the Pandemic
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Dear Bible Baptist Church:
None of us have lived through a time like this. While such times are not unprecedented in human history, this is unprecedented in our history. Thankfully, our God is sovereign at all times and sufficient for our every need. Truly, our times are in His hands, and our trust is in Him.
As we mentioned just last week ago, information about COVID-19 is fluid, and our response to this virus must be as well. The White House recently released (Monday, March 16) the “Coronavirus Guidelines for America,” and one of those guidelines is to avoid gatherings of more than ten people for fifteen days. Given the circumstances this is a reasonable request, and one our church will follow. This means that beginning now and for the next two weeks, at least, we will suspend all church gatherings. Our Sunday 11am services will be livestreamed, and we will be sure to inform you how to view that live feed.
New information keeps coming. If the current restrictions are lengthened, we may need to get creative in how we meet, such as “drive-in” services up on the hill. We don’t know what is around the corner, but here is what we do know. We will wholeheartedly press on together.
Even though we won’t be meeting face to face for a while, we are still able to connect with one another in smaller groups, over the phone, with text messages, or even social media. Let’s be ready to help those in our church who are at high risk due to their age and/or their health. We may need to get groceries, pick up prescriptions, or just check on them.
This virus is an ugly thing, but our Lord and His truth are beautiful. These are difficult and uncommon days. I’ve heard it said that “Affliction prepares ordinary Christians for extraordinary service.” This is true. We have never had such an opportunity to proclaim the gospel, to love each other and our community like we now have. Let’s pursue this opportunity with all our might.
Grace and Peace!
Pastor Travis Gilbert
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Concerning the Corona Virus
As everyone is well aware, information about the Corona virus is fluid and abundant. Just how much of it is useful is hard to discern. We do know that this matter is serious and should be treated as such. With so many cancellations and closures, and with Governor Beshear’s suggestion that churches cancel their worship services, I thought it best to let you know what the plan is for Bible Baptist Church.
First and foremost, as in every situation, our confidence is in our Lord who is sovereign in and over all things. Our trust is in Him. Our prayers are to Him. Every decision we make in issues large or small should be made for His glory, which is always for our ultimate good. We should not panic. We must be prudent and prepared. Faith and common sense are not enemies but friends who happily walk together.
Bible Baptist Church averages less than 200 for Sunday morning attendance. This places us in a different category from schools, arenas packed with fans, or churches that average several hundred or more. With that in mind, and as the situation now stands, here is our plan. For the next two weeks (March 15 and 22) we will meet at our usual times with the following exceptions. We will not have our usual time of greeting during the song service where we go around shaking hands and giving hugs. For the next two weeks, during the “shake and bake” time we will just “stand and wave.” Also, for the next two weeks we will not pass the offering plates, but our ushers will be positioned at the exits with them. You may also give online through our church website. As is always the case, if you feel sick you should not go anywhere but to the doctor’s office. If you believe that, due to your health conditions, being out is too risky, by all means stay inside. Caution is not the lack of courage.
Many in our community and country are very anxious right now. A time such as this provides us with a unique opportunity to love each other well and to proclaim the gospel, calling on others to turn in repentant faith to Jesus. Let’s be sure to demonstrate the hope and joy we have in our Lord and Savior by our patience with one another and our confidence in Christ.
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