Announcements
SYMPATHY: to Todd & Brenda Dodson and their family at the passing of Brenda’s aunt, Evelyn Miller, on Wednesday, October 23. Arrangements are pending.
SYMPATHY: to Pastor Todd & Tammy Comstock, Todd & Rachel Comstock, and their family, at the passing of their brother/brother-in-law/uncle, Rodney Frace, on Friday, October 18. A memorial service was held on Thursday, October 24.
SYMPATHY: to the family and friends of Carol Stonesifer, who passed away on Friday, October 18. The funeral was held on Thursday, October 24, in Taneytown.
CHURCH-WIDE PRAYER TIME: You are invited to join us for a special prayer time, for the upcoming election, to be held at the Church tomorrow evening, between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Security will be onsite.
UPCOMING ELECTION: If you are in need of transportation to vote (early or on November 5), please contact the Church Office to make us aware of your need - (410) 876-3838, ext. 303.
TITHING ENVELOPES: for 2025 will be available for pick-up in the Church hallway beginning next Sunday, November 3.
DEACONS: Please pick up your packets at the Welcome Desk.
From My Heart
In the Book of Jeremiah, God calls a man into the ministry as a Prophet who was so mightily blessed for the task he was given. In 1:9, we are told the Lord put His “words” in Jeremiah’s mouth. What a great privilege to have the hand of the Lord touch your mouth and put His words in your mouth. So, the natural question would be, “Why did the Lord touch Jeremiah’s mouth and put His words in his mouth?”
The answer to that question is found in v. 10. The Lord says, in effect, that the reason for touching his mouth was because of the monumental task that was set before him. The Lord told Jeremiah that he had some specific things he was to do in his ministry - which would turn out to be a long and arduous journey.
In verse 10, the Lord told him to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down - on the negative side. But then on the positive side, he was to build and to plant. I want you to know that a Prophet cannot root out, pull down, destroy, and throw down - without angering a lot of folks along the way. It is human nature to rebel and to protest against any rebuke we receive from others.
We see this reaction everywhere when it comes to rebuke. A parent can rebuke a child, and in most cases, the child is angered. It is that old sin nature within us that causes us to rebel against a rebuke. And the Lord told Jeremiah that the very people he was trying to help would turn against him. In verse 8, the Lord told Jeremiah not to be afraid of those folks who would turn against him. The reason Jeremiah was not to be afraid was because of the promise the Lord gave him, “for I am with thee to deliver thee.”
In this 8th verse, the Lord did not say that Jeremiah wouldn’t go to prison - but that if he did go to prison, the Lord would deliver him. It does not say that Jeremiah would never be persecuted - but if he was persecuted, the Lord would deliver him. And the Lord certainly did deliver Jeremiah from all the efforts to stop his ministry or to silence his voice.
Jeremiah’s name is also one with a message. You see, Jeremiah’s ministry was to a backslidden nation. The nation was trapped in sin, greed, and false religions and had forgotten their God. Jeremiah’s name means, “Jehovah sets free.” And that was Jeremiah’s message from beginning to end! He challenged the people to follow the Lord and to turn from their rebellious and backslidden ways! So, in that promise, if the people would listen to God’s chosen Prophet and turn from their sinful ways, the Lord would certainly set them free.
In a similar situation, the Lord Jesus said in John 8:32, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” The truth will set us free to do what? Free to serve God! When we believe the truth, that truth sets us free from the bondage of sin and unbelief and gives us the freedom to now live our lives to serve the Lord. And that is all Jeremiah was trying to accomplish! He was simply trying to get folks to believe the Word of God, and in so believing, the people would be free.
Have a wonderful day!
Pastor Norris