Happy Monday to all! Yesterday we worshipped Almighty God and focused on the beauty and majesty of His creation and the grace of His redemption toward us. Then from 2 Corinthians 10, we looked at the spiritual battles Paul faced as he sought to carry out the Great Commission to reach people with the good news of Jesus. From this we realized we, too, are in true spiritual battles. We saw that God has provided us with spiritual weapons to fight and win those battles. We don’t win those battles by deceit, manipulation, or other worldly weapons. We realized that the victory has already been won for us in Christ. We reminded ourselves that greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. We win those battles one by one and deal with opposition by not seeking the destruction of our enemies but seeking to destroy false teaching and ideas. We saw we can deal boldly with opposition by using spiritual weapons and not weapons of the world. We understood that we can deal boldly with opposition by recognizing wrong understanding and thinking. We realized that we can also deal boldly with opposition by seeking God’s glory in the area of service He has assigned to us.We learned this timeless truth: Believers face intense spiritual opposition which will be overcome through the spiritual weapons God has provided.
If you have not given to the Annie Armstrong Offering for North American Missions, you still have time. The envelopes for that offering are at the back table in the sanctuary. You can make your check out to East Madison and then we will forward all that is given to Annie Armstrong on to where it needs to go.
On Thursday, May 1, East Madison will host the spring meeting of the Greater Wisconsin Baptist Association from 9:00 AM until 1:00 PM. You are invited to come and join this meeting.
Remember to keep praying continually for each other. None of us know fully the burdens our brothers and sisters in Christ might be carrying.
Love being your pastor!
Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church