SUNDAY MORNING AT FAITH BAPTIST

Pastor Nathan Cook

This morning at FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH of Riverside, CA., I taught my Sunday school lesson on "GRACE." I then preached my sermon "THE ANSWER IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE QUESTION." Have you ever noticed in the Scriptures how little time God spends with the problem and how long he spends dealing in the solution.

* John 14:1-3, "Let not your heart be troubled..." being the problem and the rest  of it deals with the solution. There are 66 words here and 6 of these words deal with the problem and 60 deal with the solution.

* I John 2:1-2, 51 words in these two verses with 5 dealing with the problem and 46 dealing with the solution.

* I John 1:9, five of those words deal with the problem while 17 deal with the solution.

* II Chronicles 7:14, the problem is only hinted at in "forgive their sins and heal their land." It implies this is about sin and a need for healing, but there are 35 words of solution.

*Ps. 1:1-3, There are 81 words. The problem is only assumed. 81 words deal with a solution to a problem that is assumed.

For us to continue to dwell on the problem causes several things to occur.

1) It makes the problem bigger

2) It makes the solution smaller

3) The more attention given to the problem the more confusion about the problem

4) It takes valuable time you need for the solution

5) It brings self-pity and despair

6) It will cause you to give up

What to do with your problem!

1) Glance at it and define it

2) Do not talk about it

3) Go to the Word of God and the man of God

4) Help someone else with the same problem

5) In helping them you will find the solution to your own problem

6) Do what you tell others to do

GOTTA LOVE SERVING GOD!

FLYING TO CALIFORNIA TO PREACH

At 4 This morning I will be driving to Shreveport, LA., to fly to DFW and then on to Ontario, CA., where I will be driven to Riverside to preach for my friend Pastor Nathan Cook. He pastors the FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH. This is a church with a great spirit and a love for souls. 

I will be speaking Saturday night at their SOUL WINNER'S BANQUET, teaching Sunday school, preaching Sunday morning and night. Monday at noon we will have a luncheon for area pastors and Monday night a service at 7 pm. If you are in the area please call 951-522-2816 for directions and to reserve your spot at the noon luncheon.

This past week I had the honor of leading 7 folks to Christ and 3 of those followed the LORD in baptism. Yesterday I checked on some recent converts and hopefully two of those will also be baptized this coming Sunday. GOTTA LOVE SOUL WINNING!

WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT LBT

I am very rarely at home and when it is possible I thoroughly enjoy our church. LONGVIEW BAPTIST TEMPLE of Longview, TX., has been a bright shining light for the Gospel since 1960. Her founding pastor is Dr. Nihl Bulkley who is retired. God bless that dear man of God. 


I was honored to be her pastor longer than all the other 5 pastors put together. To see her continuing on is warming to the heart. America can still be reached with local independent Baptist churches doing it the old fashioned way! GOTTA LOVE THE OLD TIME RELIGION!

There are 40,000 Southern Baptist Convention Churches and over 22,000 of those reported not one baptism two years ago and the list continues to grow. They are going to "Worship Teams" and "Contemporary Services" to reach an unsaved world. It is not working! This contemporary move to win the hearts of the younger generation is failing. All these churches do is perpetuate worldliness and bring God down to man. They are destroying the orchard! God's men are to teach and preach to bring man up to God for we are made in His image not the other way around. SBC churches are using Willie Nelson and others to reach the lost.

Holiness and godliness provide an unbeatable combination. Holiness is knocking on Heaven's door while godliness is knocking on a sinner's door. You cannot succeed without both. 


To change the prelude from the organ to a rock n' roll band will not garner Heaven's attention. This unstable world needs a stable local church. God responds to holiness and godliness. Without the Holy Spirit there will be no conviction and thus no conversion! GOTTA LOVE THE OLD TIME RELIGION!


By the way, coming soon will be the launching of the INDEPENDENTBAPTIST.COM web site. I am excited about this project that will include regional conferences, a publishing house, and daily "Town Hall" type articles. Please go there and sign up. There will multiple contributors with multiple articles on multiple subjects. If you wish to advertise then email ibaptistcom@gmailcom or email me at bgraysr@me.com and I will forward your request.  We are in the final weeks of preparation. I will let you know when they let me know the launching date. 


If you will go to the end of this email and click "read more" then go to the BLOG you may subscribe to ensure you will receive the BLOG. If you wish to not receive these emails just simply let me know. GOTTA LOVE THE CAUSE OF CHRIST!

A NEW BOOK FOR LADIES

Many years ago in the early 70's I heard Dr. Jack Hyles mention that every one had at least one book in them. I have often thought of that and have mentioned it myself through out these many years of traveling and speaking. God has allowed me to pen 31 books and I am constantly encouraging others to write.

Many months ago I received a manuscript  "LACKADAISICAL LOVE."  I could not but help think of the tremendous truths and more than that the helpful truths it contained. I have always been impressed with the Rife family as they have been wonderful hosts to me when preaching in their home churches for many years. The author Mrs. Trish Rife has written what is a very needed book on a very needed topic. When my wife read the book when it arrived her first statement was this lady sounds like another Mrs. Marlene Evans. She loved the book, which says a lot in my mind about the book. 

You may order the book directly by calling 720-240-1241. If you have a bookstore you may receive a bookstore rate for your order. This book will help the local church to retain those whom we win to Christ and those who through service become hurt while serving. This is a handbook for hospitality. 84 % of the people who attend a local church do so because someone there cares for them as an individual. AMEN!

SUNDAY IN A LOCAL CHURCH

I am worried about our earth worship and our seeming obsession with Socialism. The earth was created by God for man and not man for earth. God has given us plenty of gas and oil. We do not worship the planet earth. God has given mankind the wherewithal to extract such from the earth for use. 


Our God is a capitalistic God. God rewards the work and the worker! Capitalism does not hate their customers and wishes harm to them. They are all service oriented. Occupy Wall Streeters are no different than the ones I went to Michigan State University with in the 60's. They all want something for nothing. This class warfare has a built in Socialistic menu of so-called "fairness." Life is not fair! If you do not work you should not eat! What is the answer - DRILL BABY DRILL!

James Thomas singing a special

Jonathan Painter leading music

This past Sunday I preached at THE BAPTIST HOUSE OF FAITH located just outside of Kilgore, TX., pastored by my good friend Pastor Frank Sturrock. This is a young work of 4 years and God certainly met with us in a powerful way Sunday. No, there was not a great attendance of people, but there was a great attendance of the Holy Spirit. We had 4 saved and 2 baptized with more lined up to be baptized next Sunday.

TEXAS BAPTIST COLLEGE has an intern program where pastoral students volunteer in local churches to help and to learn at the same time. These young men are learning on the job. They handle the song service, announcements, teach Sunday school, and organize the soul winning programs. God bless these young men of God!

This has been a good week of personal soul winning for me. God allowed me to have 7 saved and 3 of those follow the LORD in baptism. I wish every pastor in America could be challenged to give the Gospel out 15 times in a one 7 day period and to have 5 lined up for the baptismal pool by Saturday night for the coming Sunday and do it every week of the world. They would be thrilled at the results. Take the challenge!  GOTTA LOVE SOUL WINNING!

GREAT SUNDAY AND WEEK IN MESQUITE, TX

It was an honor to preach for my good friend Dr. Mike Wells who pastors the PARKSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH of Mesquite, TX.  Sunday there were 59 professions of faith and 9 baptisms. This is a great soul winning church with a vision.

On Sunday morning I had the honor of preaching for Pastor Steve Hamm who pastors the PATRICK BAPTIST CHURCH of Ferris, TX. The LORD gave us 7 souls and we had a great time with some great people. 

On Monday night Dr. Larry May joined me and we had a great crowd and a great spirit. Mrs. Beverly Hyles attended on Monday night and Mrs. Earlyn Stephens, Dr. Jack Hyles' sister, attended Tuesday night. I was so excited to see them. My mind could not but go back to those early days under the preaching of Dr. Hyles. My heart was warmed by their very presence.

Dr. Mike Wells

WHEN PRINCIPLE WAS KING

Pastor Todd Poynter

"For someone who grew up under the ministry of First Baptist Church, WHEN PRINCIPLE WAS KING was a refreshing book at a man I love and at the principles that governed his life and ministry. I appreciate Dr. Gray's boldness and his loyalty to principle."

This is still one of the best selling books in independent Baptist circles. Please go on solvechurchproblems.com and order it NOW while this printing lasts. If you will order it through the web site I will send you an autographed copy. You may also call 903-576-1307 or 903-237-9019 to order today! Please do not wait unti it is too late! GOTTA LOVE OLD TIME RELIGION!

50 FREE MOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS!

Please call now 414-301-9319 and pre-register for free motel rooms for Monday and Tuesday. The conference is free! Exciting old time music! Spirit-filled teaching and preaching. Classes on Tuesday for pastors and staff, laymen, ladies, and youth. Free luncheon on Tuesday hosted by Dr. Russell Anderson.

The classes will be worth the trip as well as the refreshing night services. I wish every church in America could experience what Dr. Paul Duckett Sr. has to offer with his congregational singing. He led singing for J. Frank Norris, Dallas Billington, and led 300 plus voice choirs. He is a sweet man and has much to give to young men. 

We must gain from these great men before they go to Heaven. Dr. Russell Anderson will be 81 soon and our laymen need to learn the Bible principles he used to build 7 successful businesses. He was a Kentucky coal miner without any formal education yet God blessed him.  Behind every great move of God you will find a man of God and behind that man of God you will find a layman of God! He will be teaching laymen on Tuesday morning.  GOTTA LOVE THE SERVANTS OF GOD!