Bulletin / Prayer List 11-1-15

Prayer List
Betty Harris will receive several test results on Nov.. 11.
Ben Harrington’s stint procedure will be Nov. 3.
Sue Morgan is in a Nursing Home and still needs our prayers.
Charles Counts’ sister Wanda Peterson is home but will need heart stints inserted.
Kathy Hill’s friend Terry Turner has asked for our prayers.
Jerry Foster is in Carrus for rehab. He is in room 214.

Leta Embry, Jerry and Betty Harris, Nell Hall, James and Florene Griffin, Don Hickerson, Lester and Billie Phillips, Shirley Quinn, Jack and Diane Arnold, Betty Clark, Dale Counts, Debbie Kluge, Sonny and Doris James, Beryl Miller, and Dean and Della Price.

Serving in the military: Travis Counts Cody  Blomstedt   Dakota Smitherman

Let us pray for our country and government leaders and those who are in harms way, military and civilian personnel.
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much…

The Men’s Business Meeting is next Sunday Nov. 8 after evening worship services. All men are invited and encouraged to attend.

Pantry Item: Canned Tomatoes

Nov. 8th Prayers – Morning: Robert Embry – Jack Cawthon
Evening: Charles Counts – Jerry Harris
Scriptures: Greg Counts
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Seek First the Kingdom in
Walking According to the Spirit
By Jim Poland
Walking according to the Spirit can only be done “in Christ”. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1, 4). To be “in Christ” requires that we are baptized into Christ (Romans 6:3,3). This is the only way God has provided that we may put on Christ (Galatians 3:27). Therefore, we can only walk after the Spirit by obeying what the Spirit has inspired to be written as they did on Pentecost, 33 A.D. (Acts 2:38). Baptism into remission of sins removes those sins that separate us from God and His service (Isaiah 59:1, 2).

Walking according to the works of the flesh, we “will not inherit the kingdom of God…” (Galatians 5:21). It is a condition that must be practiced to be free from condemnation and that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us (Romans 8:1, 4). The smallest deed is better than the grandest intention.

Our ability to “walk” does not earn commendation. The righteous requirement is “fulfilled in us, “not by us. Some think God saved them and converted them just to hear them and condemn sin. That’s like the rooster who thinks the sun comes up just to hear him crow. Righteousness does not consist in being a little less bad than someone else. It comes as a gift through obedient faith in Christ Jesus (Romans 5:1, 2; Ephesians 2:8, 9).

Seeking the kingdom first requires a certain state of mind. Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). The Spirit must have priority in our thinking to “set” our minds on the things of the Spirit (Romans 8:5). This is not what comes from just any meditation of mankind. That which comes from man’s spirit still minds the flesh. The state of mind that puts the kingdom first must come from the Word that the Spirit reveals (John 14:25; 16:13)! Priorities determine life or death spiritually/ “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:6). The carnal mind is an enemy of God (Romans 8:7; James 4:4). The carnal mind cannot please God (Romans 8:7, 8).

Seeking the kingdom first requires a certain manner of life. Galatians 5:16-26 was written to the “children of God” (Galatians 3:26, 27). The lust of the flesh and walking in the Spirit are opposed to one another (Galatians 5:16-18). We must stop practicing the works of the flesh, or we cannot inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21). We must produce the “fruit of the Spirit” as we walk through life, or we have not truly set our lives to seek the kingdom first (Galatians 5:22-26).