Will you pray for these men and their families? Let's pray for God's Protection, Power and Anointing upon them! O how we need men of God that God will use in a powerful way in these days we are living in.

Missionary Jamiey Smithey & Family- Chile,South America
Missionary Shane Rice & Family- Italy
Missionary Tony Ledbetter- Haiti
Evangelist Dr. John N. Hamblin
Evangelist Justin Cooper
Missionary/Evangelist Chuck Harding/Awake America
Chad Connelly-
Evangelist Caleb Garraway
Missionaries The Skean Family- Russia
Missionary Robert Murray & Family- Bolivia,South America
Missionary Johnny Leslie- Croatia
Missionary Sam Ward- Croatia
Pastor Sam Robinson- St.Louis Arnold Baptist Taberncle
Evangelist/Missionary- Harlan Barnett
Pastor Crosby Nicholson- Northpointe Baptist Church
Pastor Stephen Cox- Bible Baptist Church
Pastor Larry Eaton- Old Paths Baptist Church
Bro. Joseph Delp- Church Planter Philly

I find it interesting that in the book of Acts we read, “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them.” (Acts 4:8a) The religious leaders of the day were filled with indignation- “Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation.” (Acts 5:17)  A fisherman who walked with the Lord Jesus was filled with that which is of God, but the so called trained in religion were filled with that which was the opposite.

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Ephesians 2:1

Another year is drawing to a close and for me it is another opportunity to praise and thank the Lord for saving me. I am quite certain that there are those who feel that I am a bit over the top when it comes to my gratitude for being saved. As the song says,

Some may say that I'm too noisy
But I'll tell you the reason why
If they only felt the glory
They would shout as well as I.

I will never be able to completely convey the joy and victory that I have in my Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ. Born again at the age of 36 and now as I am writing this as a 51 year old man it has never gotten old. I pray that the Lord continues to stir the white hot Holy Ghost fueled fire in the depths of my very being when it come to the gratitude for my salvation and in the power to preach His Word in 2018.
I remember a New Years eve Church service at Lifeway Baptist Church 11 years ago where I preached for the first time in front of the Church. Our Pastor had a popcorn preaching night for the preacher boys and he asked me to preach. I was the oldest preacher boy at the age of 40. My life has never been the same. I am thankful the investment that those folks made in me.
I Praise the Mighty Name of the Living God and I thank Him once again for His mercy, grace and love for me who is not deserving of any of it. I deserved hell! Praise God I am saved! What a Saviour!
Let's dream big in Christ Jesus in 2018! Let's stay in the fight and continue in the race for the Lord! Let's Pray without ceasing! Lets Praise the Lord!Let's encourage someone! Let's share the Gospel! Let's give our all for Him who gave His best for the whosoever!

Happy New Year,
Evangelist Tracy

I would like to present to you some questions and only ask that you be completely honest and transparent not only with yourself, but more importantly with Almighty God. It is past time that we get serious and sincere when it comes to our relationship with our Lord. Before we get to the questions I would like for you to consider this prayer, “Search me O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24.)

The Questions
1. If your spiritual temperature were to be taken what would the thermometer read?
2. Has your Love for the Lord increased or decreased since you were saved?
3. Has your time in God’s word been replaced with other things?
4. Has your prayer time become drive-thru in its nature?
5. If the trumpet were to sound what condition would the Lord Jesus find your heart and life in?

I want God’s people to be encouraged, strengthened and at the same time challenged in a way that will draw them closer to the Lord.

"God offers life, but not an improved old life. The life He offers is life out of death. It stands always on the far side of the cross. Whoever would possess it must pass under the rod. He must repudiate himself and concur in God's just sentence against him.

What does this mean to the individual, the condemned man who would find life in Christ Jesus? How can this theology be translated into life? Simply, he must repent and believe. He must forsake his sins and then go on to forsake himself. Let him cover nothing, defend nothing, excuse nothing. Let him not seek to make terms with God, but let him bow his head before the stroke of God's stern displeasure and acknowledge himself worthy to die.
Having done this let him gaze with simple trust upon the risen Saviour, and from Him will come life and rebirth and cleansing and power. The cross that ended the earthly life of Jesus now puts an end to the sinner; and the power that raised Christ from the dead now raises him to a new life along with Christ.

To any who may object to this or count it merely a narrow and private view of truth, let me say God has set His hallmark of approval upon this message from Paul's day to the present. Whether stated in these exact words or not, this has been the content of all preaching that has brought life and power to the world through the centuries."
A.W. Tozer

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is. Psalm 63:1

A. Prominence
“O God”
B. Possession
“Thou art my God”
C. Plan
“Early will I seek thee”
D. Personal
“My soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.”

David made a choice to Desire God. He did not allow circumstance to dictate his desire for God! He was all in

O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. Psalm 34:8

Do we derive more joy from the secular world and the sin that it peddles or do we draw and glean more joy and life from the Saviour and the Scriptures. I have to wonder if many of the redeemed struggle continually with putting this world down and continuing in the things of God. Many Christians seem to be rummaging through the trash bin of this world when Almighty God has a bountiful table that is full of goodness and that which is satisfying. The Bible says, “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him” (Psalm 34:8). Oh to have a sweeping reviving in the hearts and lives of God’s people. A revival that would take a hold of God’s people and that would in turn shake the very being of a lost and hurting world.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Many clamor for something that might give them relief from the knot in their nerves and the emptiness that fills their heart and soul.  People are willing to go to great extremes to calm such storms, even if it is at the cost and sacrifice of their own wellbeing or dignity.  The problem is that man is looking for relief from a source that only adds to the loneliness and pain they are already enduring-SIN

Sin does not provide Satisfaction.
Sin does not provide Stability.
Sin does not provide Security.

People, from all walks of life, are thirsting for a cool and refreshing drink of soul satisfying water.  Man comes time and again and dips his cup into the well of the world and forces down another drink of salt laden water.  It neither comforts nor quenches the longing in their soul. They do not know peace.

Man’s thirst can be traced back to the Garden of Eden.  At the very moment that Adam sinned, man’s relationship with God was broken.  That moment in time has had an effect on everyone who has been born since.  Sin left its indelible mark on man.   The Bible says, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a.) But the good news is the rest of the verse, “But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  On a glorious night years ago, the angel of the Lord made this announcement, “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11.) The Lord Jesus is The Prince of Peace.

The Lord Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6.) Christ has bridged the gap between man and God and by doing so, has made it possible for there to be true peace between God and man.

Spiritually speaking our nation has driven a wedge between its self and Almighty God.  We have not simply drifted we have made a conscious decision to steer away from God.  We should not be surprised by what we see in the days we are living in. 

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and forever. Hebrews 13:8

We live in an ever changing world that seems to be built more upon sand than anything that has any substance to it.  Everything seems to be disposable and not built to last for any length of time; whether it’s a razor blade, a microwave oven, or an air conditioner.  The philosophy seems to be, make it cheap, get it out the door, and soon they’ll be back for more.  People change and often come and go, but my friend there is one who does not change, the Lord Jesus Christ. Take a hold of this and don’t let go.

Always and forever, we can count on Him!  In darkness and defeat, we can count on Christ Jesus.  When all seems lost and others let us down, Christ Jesus does not change.  Our Saviour; our anchor; our rock is the Lord Jesus Christ.  He is the provider and our sustainer, the light of our lives that fades not away.  The Prince of Peace is our shelter when the wicked winds blow and dark clouds boil.

Before I was saved the only hope that I had was in the things of this world.  It was a lonely life built upon that which is fleeting and fading away. Here today and gone tomorrow.  Christian, be strengthened and encouraged that hope is certain, hope is a reality.  Hope is real- Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3).  The Bible says, “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand forever” (Isaiah 40:8).  Always and forever we can trust our Saviour and His Word. At this very moment! If you are struggling on the street of discouragement merge on over to the Super Highway of the King of kings and the King of GLORY!  Get yourself up shake the dust of discouragement off and walk in victory that is rightfully yours in Christ Jesus.

“And I brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.  For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.  And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”
1 Corinthians 2:1-5                           
 
If we aren’t careful, we can allow ourselves to place mere men on the throne and look past the Lord Jesus Christ.  We will make an idol out of anything or anyone.  The Apostle Paul communicates to the church at Corinth a wonderful lesson that we should apply today when it comes to men and the power they seem to have in their preaching.  Paul lets them know it did not originate from him.  As we break down today’s verses, I believe you will see for yourself just what Paul was getting at.
I. The Power wasn’t in Paul’s Wisdom- (Verses 1-2) When our wisdom is determined by God’s Word, it will never be earthly wisdom, but heavenly truth.  The preaching of the Cross and Christ certainly is a heavenly truth.
2. The Power wasn’t because of Paul’s Strength- (Verse 3) It was not Paul’s strength he depended on.  All through Paul’s ministry he depended on the strength of God in any and every situation.
3. The Power wasn’t found in Paul’s Words- (Verse 4) It wasn’t Paul’s enticing words- It was the Power of the Holy Spirit.  Paul’s preaching was a demonstration not a performance or show.  When God’s man shares God’s Word, God’s power and God’s authority will flow from that Word when God’s man preaches it and  the message will stir, convict and comfort God’s people and those who are unsaved who hear it.  The glory does not belong to the man, but to God.

Beware not to put too much stock in a man.  The Bible says, “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man” (Psalm 118:8). Look beyond the Man and to the true source of power- GOD!