TBF closing (note to 9Marks and NCFIC)

After this Sunday, April 3, Testament Bible Fellowship will no longer be holding Sunday morning services.

This Winchester-based fellowship of Christians has met for two years and we now feel the time has come to move on to the next thing God has for us. Specifically the members will become involved in existing churches as the Lord directs. We hope that TBF has been a blessing to the community of believers as well as the lost. We pray that God has been glorified by our weekly fellowship and evangelistic efforts in the area. As always, we seek to honor Christ with our lives. For now, this website will remain active in the hopes that people may stumble upon our blog or messages and be encouraged or challenged.

Note to Nine Marks or Family-Integrated Church Seekers: You may have found this site through a search. Should someone be interested in starting up or becoming a part of a cross-centered, evangelistic, family-integrated church in the Winchester area, please give David a call to discuss. Just because things are closing for now, doesn’t mean God wouldn’t open something similar in the future.

May the Lord Jesus Christ receive all the honor and glory due His name!

 

Who was Jesus?

This is the question of the ages. In John 7, during the Feast of Tabernacles. people were asking this. It says in verse 12 “there was much murmuring among the people concerning Him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but He deceiveth the people.” Your eternity hinges on the answer to the question of His morality. If He was a deceiver, then look for truth elsewhere. But if He was good, then you must consider what He said and did because His statements were bold. He said He is the only way to God. That alone is huge. He also said that those who do not believe in Him, trust in Him, will perish. There is no middle road. Doing nothing with Jesus means you are not following Him.

If you already know Him, then pose this question to others and press it to the point that they know WHY He came – speak of sin, righteousness and judgment. Speak of His finished work on the cross. If you do not know Him, then be very afraid of death, because you’ll stand before God without a chance of being forgiven for all your sins. God requires perfection and face the facts – you are not perfect. But Christ was perfect and blameless and gave Himself for sinners – the just for the unjust. Repent and trust in Jesus today!

 

Convention on the Rights of the Child

Unfortunately, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is alive and well and coming to the United States unless God intervenes. The next generations will be affected by what you do or don’t do. Please pray that the agenda of this convention is stopped. God blessed parents with children and commands those parents to raise their own children in the nuture and admonition of the Lord. First, pray often for all men and women in authority and vote for godly leaders. Then visit ParentalRights.org to sign a petition for a Parental Rights Amendment, which would provide constitutional protection from the UNCRC. An hour-long audio and short video is available.

 

God is terrible

Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans? The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against his anointed one. “Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.” But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them. Then in anger he rebukes them terrifying them with his fierce fury. For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.”

Here in Psalm 2, God promises that He will place His King on the throne. Of course, this is Jesus Christ the King of kings and Lord of lords. Finally, there will be an end to ungodly kings; an end to tyranny; an end to all ruling wickedness. Our Sovereign God will complete His plan for this earth like He completed His plan for the salvation of man on the cross. Praise the Lord! But woe to those who think they are above Him:

The king proclaims the Lord’s decree: “The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son. Today I have become your Father. Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession. You will break them with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.’” Now then, you kings, act wisely! Be warned, you rulers of the earth! Serve the Lord with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling. Submit to God’s royal son, or he will become angry, and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities—for his anger flares up in an instant. But what joy for all who take refuge in him!

What are you doing to warn people about the coming of the Son of God? No one will stop Him. No one can defeat Him. He will reign forever. God commands all men everywhere to repent and believe the Good News. Go shine your light and speak the truth today!

 

 

No services March 6

We will not be meeting on March 6, 2011. Our congregation will be worshipping at Cynthiana Baptist Church, where a good friend of ours is being installed as a pastor the same day. Email us for more information.

In the meantime, we encourage you to listen to our most recent message, “The Shedding of Blood,” a history of God’s plan for using the blood of a lamb for the remission of sins.

 

The Feast of Tabernacles

In John 7, the Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. What a great backdrop for what would happen next. Jesus was about to take His ministry into the heart of the Jewish ruling authorities. All of the preparation in the first six chapters had laid the foundation for the rest of John’s account. The feast of booths was the final (seventh) feast. It pointed to Christ as our Sabbath rest. It pointed to Christ as our Sacrifice. It pointed to Christ as our reason for rejoicing.

Erecting shelters all over Jerusalem must have looked odd to the Romans and so it is with us today. We are God’s peculiar treasures in this sinful world. The booths were very temporary – they lasted only a week before falling down or being taken down. So it is with our bodies: Our sinful flesh is wasting a way, our tabernacles are failing, but our inward man is being renewed and prepared for heaven. Finally, the shelters were open to the sun and moon and stars – a continual reminder of the Creator as the Jews relaxed under these simple structures with their families and friends. We can rejoice because of an awesome God Who walks so closely with us.

“Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sancifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Hebrews 9:13-14

To listen to this message, “The Feast of Tabernacles,” simply follow the link on the Listen tab above.

 

Christ will not cast you out

We have a wonderful promise in John 6:37. The one who comes to Christ will not be cast out. Christ will receive the most vile sinner, the most heinous criminal, the most evil man or woman. We have this promise. Buddha never promised this. Krishna never promised this. Mohammed never promised this. The communists never promised this. Besides, Buddha is dead. Krishna is dead. Mohammed is dead. All the communist rulers have rotted in their tombs. But not Jesus Christ. The Centerpiece of history Who was raised from the dead the third day has the mercy to receive every sinner who comes to Him; He has the grace to cleanse them from their sins; He has the righteousness to present them to the Father and the power to raise them the last day. What glorious news this is to the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God.

 

Can good deeds get you into heaven?

Yes and no. No matter how much good you do, you can never undo all the bad you’ve already done. God sees every time you’ve lied. He sees your inappropriate sexual thoughts as adultery and your hatred as murder. As your Judge, He must punish you. But He is also patient and kind. He died on a cross for liars, adulterers and murderers like you (and me!). Jesus Christ took the punishment you deserved. Let that break your heart. When you repent and believe this great news, Christ’s Good Deeds will be credited to your bad account. By His mercy and goodness, you’ll go to heaven instead of hell. Think about it. This is the Gospel Truth.

 

Is money your God?

You cannot serve two masters. You will love one and hate the other. It is the same way with money and God. If you love money, then God will always be second place. The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some have lusted after money and strayed from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Judas betrayed our innocent Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 30 pieces of silver and later committed suicide.  Christ told the rich young ruler to sell all that he had, give the money to the poor and follow Him and that way he’d have true riches. But the young man went away sad. What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul in hell?

 

Which religion offers real and lasting hope?

Only a Christian has living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that doesn’t fade away, reserved in heaven. They are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation. In this they greatly rejoice, though now they have been grieved by various trials. This is so that the genuineness of their faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. They’ve never seen Him yet they love Him. And even though they don’t see Him now, they still believe and rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory receiving the end of their faith–the salvation of their souls.