Transitional Pastor, Bro. Shep Johnson
click on the link below to view
Bro Shep Johnson message
June 21, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orXsJfWvjn0
June 28, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYv2BC431VE
July 5, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiuZ_fq4whs
Wednesday Bible Study and Prayer
Reedy Branch Baptist Church
October 21, 2020
Dear Reedy Branch Family:
Don’t forget that we are collecting food during October to provide Thanksgiving Food Baskets for needy families in our community. Please bring your food Sunday for this important mission.
Join us for worship this Sunday at 10 AM. Please remember to follow all proper precautions regarding the Coronavirus. Let’s be sure we take care of one another.
If you know of someone who might benefit from receiving this email Bible Study each Wednesday, please send me their email address.
I look forward to seeing each of you this Sunday. Please, invite a friend.
Here’s today’s Wednesday Bible Study ...
“Courage in the Face of Death”
Jeremiah 26:1-15
Shortly before the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, God sent Jeremiah to deliver a message to the nation of Judah. That message is recorded in Jeremiah 26:1-15 (NLT2):
“This message came to Jeremiah from the LORD early in the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah. ‘This is what the LORD says: stand in the courtyard in front of the Temple of the LORD, and make an announcement to the people who have come there to worship from all over Judah. Give them my entire message; include every word. Perhaps they will listen and turn from their evil ways. Then I will change my mind about the disaster I am ready to pour out on them because of their sins.’”
“‘Say to them, “This is what the LORD says: If you will not listen to me and obey my word I have given you, and if you will not listen to my servants, the prophets—for I sent them again and again to warn you, but you would not listen to them— then I will destroy this Temple as I destroyed Shiloh, the place where the Tabernacle was located. And I will make Jerusalem an object of cursing in every nation on earth.”’”
“The priests, the prophets, and all the people listened to Jeremiah as he spoke in front of the LORD’s Temple. But when Jeremiah had finished his message, saying everything the LORD had told him to say, the priests and prophets and all the people at the Temple mobbed him. ‘Kill him!’ they shouted.”
“‘What right do you have to prophesy in the LORD’s name that this Temple will be destroyed like Shiloh? What do you mean, saying that Jerusalem will be destroyed and left with no inhabitants?’ And all the people threatened him as he stood in front of the Temple.”
“When the officials of Judah heard what was happening, they rushed over from the palace and sat down at the New Gate of the Temple to hold court. The priests and prophets presented their accusations to the officials and the people. ‘This man should die!’ they said. ‘You have heard with your own ears what a traitor he is, for he has prophesied against this city.’”
“Then Jeremiah spoke to the officials and the people in his own defense. ‘The LORD sent me to prophesy against this Temple and this city,’ he said. ‘The LORD gave me every word that I have spoken. But if you stop your sinning and begin to obey the LORD your God, he will change his mind about this disaster that he has announced against you.’”
“‘As for me, I am in your hands—do with me as you think best. But if you kill me, rest assured that you will be killing an innocent man! The responsibility for such a deed will lie on you, on this city, and on every person living in it. For it is absolutely true that the LORD sent me to speak every word you have heard.’”
Confronting evil in the name of the Lord God can make a prophet rather unpopular. Jeremiah obeyed the Lord and spoke exactly the words the Lord commanded him. As a result, the leaders of Jerusalem and surrounding communities threatened to kill Jeremiah.
What would you do in such a situation?
Many of us might be unwilling to confront evil in the first place. Even if we did deliver God’s message, we could be tempted to recant when threatened with death.
Throughout the Scriptures, God asked His servants to say and do some very difficult things that could have and in some cases did cost them their lives. Were they afraid? Yes, they were afraid. So how did they do it?
How did Moses face Pharaoh? How did David face Goliath? How did Elijah face the prophets of Baal? How did Daniel face the lions? How did Stephen face a group of stone throwing Pharisees and scribes? And how did the Apostle Paul face an endless stream of powerful enemies and long periods in prison?
Weren’t these men filled with fear? Yes! All across the ages God has called on men and women to stand up, speak up, and obey Him. It has cost millions their very lives. So how is paralyzing fear transformed into glorious courage? The answer is simply this, LOVE.
Jeremiah didn’t want to die. Jeremiah didn’t want to suffer. And God asked of Jeremiah a very hard thing. But Jeremiah was able to stand up and speak up because he loved the Lord his God with all his heart, all his soul, and all his might (See Deuteronomy 6:4-9).
The year of 2020 has given many of us good reason to be afraid. But how can we run away from an entire year? We can’t. What we can do is let the love of God drive out the fears we face.
The Bible says in 1 John 4:18 (NASB95), “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear ...”
Love always wins out over fear because in love we discover the ones who mean more to us than life itself.
According to the American Transplant Foundation about 6000 living donations take place every year in the United States. A living donation occurs when a living healthy individual donates a kidney, a portion of a liver, or even a portion of a lung to a sick person who faces death without receiving such a transplant.
Can you imagine how frightening it must be to have a surgeon tell you that he will be removing one of your kidneys or a portion of your liver tomorrow morning and that the risks of such a procedure will be substantial? Yet thousands of people submit to that very surgery every year SO THAT THEY CAN SAVE A LIFE ... the life of a brother, sister, parent, child, or friend.
Jesus said in John 15:13 (NASB95), “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”
Love in the ultimate motivation for courageous acts. Love transforms even the most fearful among us into brave warriors. Jeremiah put his very life on the line because of his great love for God. Jesus did more than that. Jesus sacrificed His own life by enduring an excruciating death on the Cross. He did it for sinners like you and me. He did it for us out of love.
There are many things which arouse fears within us. But love can drive out every one of those fears. When God asks you to take a stand, don’t allow fear to rob you of an opportunity to give Him glory. Instead, think of how much the Lord has done for you and then love Him with all your heart, soul, and might. Your fear will dissipate and you will be filled with a courage that only love can inspire.
Brother Shep
Weekly Prayer List (October 21, 2020)
If you know of names that should be added or removed from our prayer list please call me at (912) 381-4896 or email me at shepfbc2@gmail.com
The Need for Revival in America
The Upcoming Election
Our Church, Community, Nation, and World as we battle the Coronavirus.
Unity and Love among our fellow Americans
Teachers and Students
The Upcoming Election
Pastor Search Committee
Ellen Deen
Frank Brown
Evelyn “Mom” Weniger Family
Lisa Martin
Matthew Humphrey
Shirley Simmons
Johnny Cecil Newell (back surgery)
Freddie Lewis Tanner (hip surgery)
Blake and Halley Peagler and their twin girls
Earl Hewlett (brother of Marilyn Rish)
Roy Trowell
Roger Trowell
Woody Trowell (pneumonia)
Jerome Steptoe (son-in-law of Early and Tommie McQuaig)
Mark Spivey
Henry Medders
Betty Braswell
M.L. Harrison
Paul Carter
Earl Merritt
James and Bonnie Brown
Marilyn Rish (Recovering from hip surgery on September 21)
Deborah Wooten (upcoming hip surgery)
Gerald Hulett
Johnny Day
Jody Jowers
Mike Justice
Wanda Smith
Eugene Tate
Danny Tuten
Buddy Phillips
Mary Veazey
Alison Woodward
Andrea Strong
Tony Howard
Buddy Stevens
Darrell Wooten
Jason McCollum
Barbara and Raymond Lane
Grady and Margaret Mimbs
David Barnes
Mickey Jowers
Melanie Marshall
Jamie Kight
Betty Ann Ford
Shirley Trowell
Bobbie Stewart
Lonnie and Addie Mae Myers
Nell Green and her sister, Sharon
David Green
Clarence and Sandra Dockery
Geneva Mobley
Helen Jones
Jean Corbitt
Bill Whiddon
Grocery Store Employees
Farmers
Businesses
All medical and healthcare personnel
All first responders
All law enforcement
All those who are sick with the Coronavirus or have family members and friends who are sick with the Coronavirus.
Military
Missionaries
Our President and Governmental Leaders
Those who need Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior
Many UNSPOKEN prayer concerns
If you know of names that should be added or removed from our prayer list please call me at (912) 381-4896 or email me at shepfbc2@gmail.com
