Heartland Events
Sunday August 23
8:30am - 9:35am Worship Service
10:00am - 11:05am Worship Service
Monday August 24th
9:00am - 10:00am Grandmas in Prayer
Tuesday August 25th
7:00pm - 9:00pm Celebrate Recovery
Wednesday August 26th
6:30pm - 8:00pm Men’s Bible Study
Thursday August 27th
6:30pm - 9:00pm Bible Quizzing
Sunday August 30th
8:30am - 9:35am Worship Service
10:00am - 11:05am Worship Service
Want to print the sermon notes? Here is the PDF printable version:
https://storage.snappages.site/P7SC73/assets/files/20-8-23-Be-Loyal-to-Gods-People-outline-65.pdf
Be Loyal to God’s People
In Why I Still Believe, Mary Jo Sharp shares her struggles with loving God’s people. Growing up in a nonreligious West Coast culture, Mary Jo quickly fell in love with Jesus after she started reading her Bible. But the hypocrisy in the church really bothered her. Every culture has its biases and blindness and God’s people are no exception. Today Mary Jo is a professor at Houston Baptist University and is still learning and growing in grace.
Three People Groups Who Teach Us About Loyalty:
“By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.” —Hebrews 11:29-30
The Israelites were a fickle people. They begged Moses to return to Egypt despite seeing many miracles.
An entire generation of Israelites perished in the desert due to their disobedience. Is there a form of faith that doesn’t save us? “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead…; Faith without deeds is useless…; A person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.” James 2:17-24.
A new generation of Israelites attacked Jericho after God parted the Jordan River (Joshua 4:13). Marching, blowing trumpets, and shouting had no military significance. God wanted them to know that He knocked the walls down! But they were required to act and obey.
Although some professing Christians act with hypocrisy, far more act with sincerity and integrity. Either way, we’re called to love one another.
“By faith, the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.” —Hebrews 11:31
Faithful Rahab only heard of Israel’s miracle-working God while many unfaithful Israelites actually saw the miracles.
Rahab honored God by protecting his spies.
“Those who honor me I will honor.” —I Samuel 2:30
If you take a stand for God, he’ll take a stand for you! Are you willing to risk your neck to protect God’s people?
Rahab’s story is contrasted with Achan’s story (Joshua 6-7). While Rahab laid down her life for a couple strangers and a God that was foreign to her, Achan betrayed both God and his family for material treasure.
“By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.” —Hebrews 11:31
The first set of spies acknowledged the riches of the Promised Land but cowered in fear. The Israelites were deflated by their report (Numbers 13-14). Although we should count the cost, if God is in it, we should press forward!
We must hold fast to God’s Word even when it goes against the world system.
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.” —Isaiah 5:20
“The time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” —II Timothy 4:3-4
The second set of spies brought an optimistic report.
“The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.” —Joshua 2:24
Are you someone who inspires your fellow believers? Do you bring a message of hope in the Lord?
On the evening of July 3rd, a young lady went missing while kayaking on the St. Croix River. Her husband frantically searched for her while notifying the authorities of her disappearance. Eight officers and rescue workers responded to the call. As the sun was beginning to set, an officer located her, seven miles downriver!
Thank God for these unsung heroes, eight public servants who loyally gave of themselves to serve their community on a hot, humid, holiday weekend! Will you extend that kind of loyalty to your fellow believers?