7:00a.m. Worship Services 2021

[Music] [Music] it's [Music] is [Music] is [Music] frames [Music] proclaiming lord [Music] do we pray [Applause] [Music] [Music] holy holy [Music] [Music] you [Music] are you ready [Music] [Applause] [Music] me [Applause] [Music] a very warm bethel baptist church greeting to everyone joining us online and on love 101 fm please join in our call to worship come people of god worship the one who listens to our prayers come people of god worship the one who watches over us deeply for us come people of god worship the one who offered his life for us we will offer thanks and praise to the one who gives us life please stand and join us in singing or opening him praise or maker praise our savior [Music] [Applause] [Music] let us let us [Music] places is [Music] is [Music] let us worship the lord let us [Music] he will guide us [Music] lord is [Music] oh [Music] [Applause] [Music] you may be seated let us offer together our prayers of adoration and confession let us pray living god artist of the changing skies builder of the steadfast earth loving christ born to walk life's journey with us spirit of life always moving in us and among us your presence surrounds us here and everywhere we go your purpose holds the world in its place your imagination engages us each step of the way in our time of worship show us how we can serve you and open our imaginations to the future you create for we seek your guidance and your grace now and always amen god of time and eternity we confess that we have long memories especially for things that hurt us for moments we resent or regret week by week we seek your forgiveness for our mistakes but we confess that we don't forgive others so faithfully sometimes we seek opportunity to even the score confront us with your mercy oh god and open our hearts to its cleansing power amen [Music] because of you [Music] brought me through [Music] this [Music] [Music] [Applause] your [Music] or responsive psalm is psalm 19 verses 1 to 14. this will be read responsibly the heavens are telling the glory of god and the firmament proclaims his handiwork speech declares knowledge there is no speech nor are their words their voice is not heard yet their voice goes out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world in the heavens he has set a tent for the sun which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy and like a strong man runs its course with joy its rising is from the end of the heavens and it's circuit to the end of them and nothing is hidden from its feet the law of the lord is perfect reviving the soul the decrees of the lord are sure making wise the simple the princess of the lord our rights rejoicing the heart the commandment of the lord is clear enlightening the eyes the fear of the lord is pure enduring forever the ordinances of the lord are true and righteous all together more to be desired are they than gold even much fine gold sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb moreover by them is your servant warmed warned warmed warned in keeping them there is a great reward keep back your servant also from the insolent do not let them have dominion over me then i shall be blameless and innocent of great transgressions let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you o lord my rock and my redeemer the gloria glory glory to the father and to the son and to the holy ghost as it was in the beginning is now and never shall be world without end amen please join us in singing the song i'm listening written by our own joy simons brown [Music] in silence [Music] i will not be shaken for you [Music] salvation [Music] even walking through the darkness [Music] is [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] for you oh [Music] our scripture reading for the morning comes from the book of philippians we'll be reading chapter 1 verses 21 to 26. i will read from the new american standard bible for to me to live is christ and to die is gain but if i am to live in the flesh live on in the flesh this will mean fruitful labor for me and i do not know which to choose but i am hard-pressed from both directions having the desire to depart and be with christ for that is much better yet to remain on the flesh which is more necessary for your sake convinced of this i know that i will remain and continue with you all for the progress and the joy in the faith so that your pride in jesus christ may be abundant because of me by my coming to you again the word of the lord our preacher for this morning is rev courtney stewart general secretary of the bible society of jamaica before he comes we will be blessed by a special item of music by members of the adult choir [Music] worthy of your calling [Music] be patient [Music] to keep the unity [Music] is there is one body there is one spirit there is [Music] there is one baptism one god there is one god [Music] there is one baptism one god and father of us [Music] oh [Music] the lord [Music] [Music] is [Music] [Applause] [Music] god who [Music] is true is [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] may the grace and peace of almighty god be with you scholars generally agree that the epistle to the church in philippi was written during paul's two years of house arrest in rome paul had established a church in philippi approximately 10 years prior during his second missionary journey and that's recorded in acts chapter 16. in the book of philippians paul conveys a powerful message the christian life is all about perspective the apostle paul had faced severe hardships poverty beatings illness and imprisonment and in every circumstance he had learned to be content the source of his joyous contentment was rooted in knowing jesus christ the apostle declared to the believers in philippi that christians can experience joy in suffering just as christ suffered he declared to them that christians can experience joy in service christians can experience joy in believing and christians can experience joy in giving perhaps two questions could be asked of the old apostle one how did you come by this knowledge and this conviction and two after all that you have been through how is it possible that you could have written a letter like this to the church in philippi while shackled between two praetorian guards i want to suggest that paul came to this realization this awareness and this conviction based on his life perspective and on his life passion perspective and passion do you not see this in verse 21 of the passage read earlier for to me to live is christ and to die is gain here is how this verse reads in a few other translations if i live it will be for christ and if i die i will gain even more the cev the nrsv says for to me living is christ and dying is gain listen to how eugene peterson in his message puts it alive i am christ's messenger dead i am his prize life versus even more life i can't lose in this 21st verse echoes more than just the apostles paul's life perspective and passion in relation to his commitment to christ the apostles assertion reflects three things that i want to briefly share and challenge you with today the first is this paul's declaration for to me to leave his christ and to die his gain his decoration was both considered deliberate and decisive his decoration was both considered deliberate and decisive now like most of you attending this broadcast i have never been incarcerated in prison i hope i never am however one does not have to be a prisoner to know several things about life in prison for one movement is restricted you are in prison two activities are limited not many options are available three there is a predictability about each day monotony is a constant struggle four visitation is limited and restricted while also unpredictable but if there's one thing that a prisoner has in abundance during his or her time of confinement it is time time to hear time to think time to reflect time to resolve paul was no different from the earlier verses in the chapter paul states that he was aware that because of his confinement the gospel was being proclaimed in increasing measure but he also goes on to advise that for some of those preachers their motives were devious and insincere riddled with selfishness and envy others he asserted entertain motives that were quite honorable and pure not unlike what goes on today in the name of the proclamation of the gospel many preachers have been labeled geneals charlatans money grabbers and other unkind though not all untrue designations because their motives evidenced by their actions are deemed questionable at best others are highly regarded because their actions and their proclamation has have a congruousness and consistency while paul is careful to make no judgment or identify any of them by name he is less careful when it comes to himself it is as if he is saying when it comes to others they must declare their hands for themselves however with me it is different i speak for myself and when i declare my position my life perspective and passion in relation to jesus christ be advised that when i declare when i say it for to me to live is christ and to die is gain my declaration is both considered deliberate and decisive i need no one to speak for me i need no apologies in fact to show consistency when you read the opening statement at the very beginning of this letter paul declared and affirmed his position in relation to christ at the very earliest in verse 1 of chapter 1 reads paul and timothy bond servants slaves for christ jesus paul voluntarily subjugated himself mark you he's a man with tremendous academic and life qualifications to be a servant of jesus christ it has landed him in prison again but he is rejoicing and not lamenting it has robbed him of his freedom but it has given liberty to the proclamation of the gospel it has limited his movement but because of his imprisonment the gospel is going out in measures so when he prefaces his decoration of his life perspective and passion with his words of self-disclosure for to me to live is christ and to die is gain it is clear that his decoration was both considered deliberate and decisive can you say like paul in the midst of adverse circumstances that when you declare your life perspective and passion it is grounded in your love for god in jesus christ is that really an honest decoration that is both considered deliberate and decisive but here's the second thing i want to suggest that paul's decoration for to me to live is christ and to die his gain reveals about his life perspective and passion his decoration makes christ the primary prominent and omnipotent force in his life his decoration makes christ the primary prominent and omnipotent force in his life how can a man incarcerate in prison perhaps with the sentence of death dangling over his head have such a kind of willy-nilly whatever happens happens attitude about his life i would want to believe that the one thing that must occupy the mind of every prisoner is freedom not a casual kind of outlook and perspective on life unless one has given up on life but paul has not given up on life though he was apprehensive that his execution was close at hand yet he was hoping that somehow he would be able to visit the philippians again it is clear that paul was a realist he knew that he could die in prison as much as he knew that he could be released life has dealt him a bitter hand but he was not bitter he affirms that he has found the answer and basis for life and living now when you read the third chapter you see a picture of a man who has made christ the primary prominent and omnipotent force in his life even though nothing about his past and his credentials could have suggested that this would have been the case he was a man like no other circumcised when he was a week old an israelite by birth of the noble tribe of benjamin a pure blooded hebrew as far as keeping the jewish law was concerned he was a pharisee he was so zealous that he persecuted the church and as far as a person can be righteous by obeying the commands of the law he was without fault paul was one bright brilliant and well-bred man a man with an impressive past unquestionable pedigree and unimaginably [Music] glorious prospects but he's in prison not lamenting what's celebrating his incarceration what happened to him what turned his world upside down he had an encounter with jesus christ who became the primary prominent and omnipotent force in his life and because of this encounter his life was actually turned right side up without remorse paul declared from prison yet whatever gains i had these i have come to regard as lust because of christ more than that i regard everything as lost because of the surpassing value of knowing christ jesus my lord for his sake i have suffered the loss of all things and i regard them as rubbish in order that i may gain christ and be found in him not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law but one that comes through faith in christ the righteousness from god based on faith these are not the words of a victim paul was clear lucid and absolutely rational he was not in this manner of life looking to work in this matter of life looking to acquire assets influence and achievements those are what he gave up rather he found something someone greater than what he could acquire and the decoration his decoration of his life perspective and passion makes christ the primary prominent and omnipotent force in his life for to me to live is christ and to die is gain as for you what is it to live what is it to gain what is your life perspective and passion assets achievements fame fortune influence politics academics family and the list goes on all honorable and commendable but how does all of that compare to the righteousness that comes from god there is no comparison in paul's life perspective and passion shared with the philippian church in verse 21 for to me to live is christ and to die is gain it is a decoration that is both considered deliberate and decisive in paul's life perspective and passion shared with the philippian church for to me to live is christ and to die is gain it is his decoration that makes christ the primary prominent and omnipotent force in his life but finally i want to state that in paul's life perspective and passion shared with the philippian church for to me to live is christ and to die is gain is a decoration that recognizes death as a defeated destroyed and disarmed reality his decoration recognizes death as a defeated destroyed and disarmed reality quoting the same apostle in first corinthians 15 verse 55 he mocks that's teasingly by asking oh death where is thy sting oh grave where is thy victory death is swallowed up in victory king james version now at a time like this when the world is under a death sentence due to kovid 19. death is all around us young and old men and women are falling victims to this virus the apostle affirms that death is real but it is temporary that is real but it must give way to life death is real but in the face of eternal life it is as ice on a hot sweltering sunny jamaican day paul does not deny the reality of death but declares that debt's victory and life suffering for the sake of christ are transient fleeting and temporary death is a defeated destroyed and disarmed reality that being so the child of god can rejoice and be open hopeful even in the midst of trying and difficult times paul was restricted but he was not discouraged he was chained but his spirit was unfettered he was uncertain about his life but his future was glorious in paul's life's life perspective and passion shared with the philippian believers for to me to live is christ and to die is gain it is a decoration that is both considered deliberate and decisive in paul's life perspective and passion shared with the philippian church for to me to live is christ and to die is gain is a declaration that makes christ the prima primary prominent and omnipotent force in his life in paul's life perspective and passion shared with the philippian church for to me to live is christ and to die is gain it is a decoration that recognizes death as a defeated destroyed and disarmed reality it is because of the truth of this reality that we can sing together all to jesus i surrender all to him i freely give to the glory of god in jesus christ whatever the circumstances may be when you are willing like paul to surrender your all to him you you can say like him for to me to live is christ and to die is gain a decoration that is both considered deliberate and decisive a decoration that makes christ the primary prominent and omnipotent force in your life a decoration that recognizes death as a defeated destroyed and disarmed reality may god grant us the grace and the courage to be obedient amen [Music] [Music] oh to jesus [Music] i will never love and trust him [Music] is [Music] [Music] with [Music] oh [Music] oh [Music] [Applause] glory glory [Music] is [Music] [Applause] [Music] oh [Music] [Applause] jesus asked his disciples what could anyone give in return for the gift of life he challenged us to take up our cross and follow him whatever we offer him speaks to how we take up his challenge so give with grateful loyal hearts let us pray generous god you poured out your love for us through jesus christ who gave up everything on the cross we bring what we have to offer you in love and loyalty receive our gratitude and bless all that our gifts can do to share your love for christ's sake amen [Music] so [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] please stand as we sing the doxology [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] holy [Music] [Applause] you may be seated together we offer our prayers of thanksgiving and intercession let us pray god of all people and places we come to you in prayer giving thanks that you are with us in all situations you bring us strength and courage when we are anxious or afraid you provide wisdom and direction when we face choices and challenges thank you for your faithfulness to us in this time of prayer enlarge our love and sharpen our vision so that we may serve the well-being of the world you love more faithfully we pray for those who dwell on the margins of the economy facing the challenges of unemployment or financial insecurity in these difficult days of lockdown and no movement give leaders in church government business and labor a mutual vision that reflects the values of your kingdom so that everyone has enough resources and respect to live well and wisely we pray for all those facing famine famine and drought this year and for those who have lost everything through fire storm or pandemic bring support to those people and agencies who work to alleviate suffering and help them rebuild lives and communities we give you thanks for those who work for peace and mercy in a world divided by bitter conflicts and for those who keep peace and lead negotiations in international disputes give them courage and perseverance we pray for those struggling with grief and loss those who bear anxiety depression or dementia and other conditions with trouble the mind and body we remember the families of those who have passed away deacon olga koch sisters maria graham gloria plourites eunice virgo edith walters ada harris and brothers kenneth bell eggbert wright and hakeem buchanan give each one your presence and peace through our prayer and friendship this we pray in jesus name amen please stand and join us in our closing hymn we are called to be god's people [Music] we are called to meet us [Music] is [Music] is [Music] taking his own task [Music] is [Music] foreign [Music] that we all may know [Music] we now offer a tribute to our brother egbert wright who was laid to rest on september 10 in lancaster district manchester life is just a stepping stone a pause before we make it home our brother egbert was one of our foundation members sharing fellowship with us from the mid-seventies he was neighbor to the late decon eunice bartley and brother bernard barkley who encouraged him along his christian walk over the many years he and his family attended bethel at both the 7 am and 10 15 am services and often returned for the evening service at 6 pm some time ago he migrated to manchester and fellowshipped at the mandeville baptist church nevertheless he still kept bethel as his church home and never requested a transfer of membership during his time with us he was quite involved in the church's activities and at one time actually volunteered to get a uniform boys club started unfortunately this was not to be a firm believer in the value of education he was quite passionate about instilling this principle as he fellowshipped with his brothers and sisters his children and grandchildren also benefited from his wise counsel two of his daughters melissa wright thomas and kay wright followed his footsteps and became members of bethel having not been in touch for a little while we were truly saddened to hear of his passing but our brother we are comforted by the knowledge that your faith in jesus in jesus christ and that you may be absent from the body but you are present with the lord as your family in christ our church offers our sincerest condolences to his children and all the immediate and extended family members and their friends who will miss him and grieve his passing rest in peace brother this is your first time worshiping with us welcome please let us know who you are by typing your name in the chat or in the comments section we also invite you to stay online for the notices please stand for the benediction go out with your minds set on the things of god take up your cross and follow jesus see to it that the words of your mouths and the thoughts of your hearts are acceptable to god and enlightening to all and may god make the holy word known to you may jesus christ lead you in the ways of sacrificial love and may the holy spirit set you ablaze with divine wisdom amen [Music] [Music] [Music] so [Music] you

Channel: Bethel Baptist HWT, Jamaica

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Length: 70min 53sec (4253 seconds)

Published: Sun Sep 12 2021