Success Is Not Final And Failure Is Not Fatal

As we gathered to worship Sunday morning at Mill Creek Baptist Church, Eileen Hawkins and Barbara Cory were celebrating birthdays.

Wayne read a Thank You from the Hall family and opened our service with prayer. Special prayers were requested for Jerry Abercrombie, Steve Mason, Kaylee, the Bob Frazier family, Dot’s nephew Daniel and Braylen.

“Decision Making and God’s Peace” was the devotional as Linda Abercrombie read Psalm 37:23-24. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord upholds him with His hand.” Linda told us, “Decisions are tough to make. We can become confused and anxious about life’s decisions. How can we experience God’s peace when we make decisions? We need to make every decision with the proper goal in sight — God’s will. Psalm 32:8 tells us we need to notice and pay attention to our spiritual feelings — faith, hope and charity — when making decisions that move our hearts toward God. Decision-making doesn’t have to be chaotic if we seek God’s will while doing it.” Psalm 32:8 says, “I will instruct you and teach you on the way you should go; I will guide you with my eye.”

Congregational hymns included “Where The Soul Never Dies” and “I’m Bound For the Kingdom” led by Becky Johnson and Karen Gardner. Special music included “Troublesome Times” by Wayne and Karen. Tyrel Lett asked God’s blessing, and he and Rick Lett served as offertory ushers.

Brother Mark Hall brought us God’s message as he began with a quote from Winston Churchill: “Success is not final and failure is not fatal.” He then read Philippians 3:12-16 about pressing toward the goal. Brother Mark talked about those who believe they have sinned themselves out of heaven and just on their way to hell. Proverbs 25:16 tells us, “For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity.” Ecclesiastes 7:20 says, “For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin.” Brother Mark told us we need “CRG” — confession, repentance and grace. “We need grace everyday. Then we need the mindset we have made it. The spiritual superior doesn’t need CRG because Proverbs 26:12 tells us “Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than him.”

Brother Mark continued by telling us that success is not final. That is why we still come to church. We still press on. Philippians 3:12 and 14 says “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me … I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Brother Mark said, “We should never be able to get enough of Jesus. The devil doesn’t want us to. We have enough energy to go hunting and to ballgames, but not to church. We have time to watch TV, but no time for Bible study. If we get it and maintain it, we become a danger to the devil. The world hates conviction for the same reason it hates Jesus Christ.”

Jesus tells us in John 7:7 that “The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.”

In closing, Brother Mark asked, “What kind of love relationship do you want with Jesus? Do you want to know, learn and love enough to know you are there?”

Brother Mark finished Winston Churchill’s quote, “It is the courage to continue that counts” and then asked, “Do you have that courage to continue to keep working and getting closer to Jesus Christ? Did you ever hit a time when you slowed and stopped after you were saved? There is more — confession, repentance and a big helping of grace. Draw near to Jesus Christ and He will draw near to you.”

Our hymn of invitation was “Near The Cross,” and Brother Mark gave the benediction. As we approach Easter, we invite you to come worship with us and share in the glory of knowing Jesus Christ. Sunday school begins at 10 a.m., worship service at 11 a.m.

Everyone is welcome at Mill Creek Baptist Church, located 3.5 miles east of Noel just off Highway 90. Come see what you are missing.