Sunday, August 8th, 2021 • Mission Baptist Cincinnati
We began August's first Sunday Worship Service with congregational singing followed by our Adult Choir singing hymns to Honor God. Afterwards our music specials included a soloist who played guitar and sang, a quartet and a special duet sang to conclude the music service.
Pastor Bill Rains brought a message from his "What Would Jesus Do?" series entitled: “What Did Jesus Teach Us In Sending Seventy?” from Luke 10:1-9. Pastor reads the text verses and prays to thank God for all of His blessings on our church. He also prays that the Holy Spirit would work in hearts first and foremost to those who are lost and need to be saved. He also pleads with the Holy Ghost for us to learn from what Jesus teaches us from this passage from Luke regarding Christ sending out 70 who weren't Apostles but were given the same apostolic power to perform miracles to help the Apostles spread the gospel. Pastor begins by reviewing the previous sermon to give context for this weeks message...
• APPOINTMENT By Christ
Jesus APPOINTS 70 others preachers/missionaries/teachers to bring the gospel to people in pairs of two, by giving them the same power and ministry given to the Apostles but without the same recognition. Great unknown men of God who served anonymously. We are also called to go in pairs of two to personally evangelize people in the great news of the gospel. We are to find partners in relationships with those who agree with us on doctrine, beliefs, goals and minds to make as our partner in serving Christ. The only difference is we are not given the same power as Jesus appointed to the Apostles or these additional 70. This kind of power was never meant to continue after the church was well established.
Luke is the only gospel writer who mentions these 70. This is important because if these 70 were truly Apostles, surely the other 3 gospel accounts would have verified this non-fact spread by false teachers. Another proof of this was the personal testimony of Paul who demonstrated that later in his service to Christ he no longer had the power to heal or perform miracles that he'd previously done. God appoints many people to specific unique tasks or duties, but we certainly do NOT appoint ourselves to God's roles and especially the ultra important role(s) as "Apostle" or "Prophet".
* A note to consider: Stay away from other Bibles that cause confusion by their addition and subtraction of words from God's sacred scriptures. MBC only uses the Authorized King James Bible which is the providentially preserved Word of God. Other so called bibles change words, add and subtract words against God's explicit warnings NOT to do so. (Revelation 22:18-19) In this case, many of these bibles change the number sent from 70 to 72. This might seem to be a minor thing, but it causes confusion of many other number of so called "apostles". If you research this issue you'll find these other bibles make many outlandish so-called "corrections" that diminish, offend and blaspheme God! Beware!
• ABUNDANCE Of Opportunities
Jesus spoke in his parable of the "harvest" that he wanted but he mentioned the need of labourers and commanded we pray to the Lord of the harvest (God himself) that he would send workers into the harvest. This is the reason "why" for him sending these additional 70 into the ministry. Ministries in the church are not just an office to hold to, it's an OPPORTUNITY to do God's will for your life to do the most important thing we can possibly do: Evangelism! Since when is the command to "harvest" (evangelize) the "field" (the world) something for somebody else to do? We should be praying for an ABUNDANCE of Opportunities to tell others of what Christ has done for you and can do for them!
• ANNOUNCEMENT About The Kingdom Of God
Jesus spoke of the simplicity of being saved. His ANNOUNCEMENT is available to you right now. All you have to do is honestly pray to God and surrender to your creator. Admit you're a sinner and you need Jesus. Thank him for dying on the cross to pay for your sin. Believe in your heart that he raised himself from the dead for your justification. Be willing to testify your experience to others. Anyone who has ever been saved did it this way. It truly is the most wonderful thing we could ever do. Why worship the things of the world when we can worship the one who created you and the world. God loves you...don't wait to start a relationship with him! No one goes to heaven without doing this.
